JONATHAN, LAWMAKERS' BATTLE HOTS UP: NASS to override veto on constitution review

...towards a better life for the people

**

VOL. 25: NO. 62403

ONLINE | www.vanguardngr.com

N150

TUESDAY, MAY 12, 2015

Fuel scarcity worsens as oil marketers suspend importation

BOKO HARAM: I don't know where Shekau is hiding 8

—CHADIAN PRESIDENT

9

JONATHAN, LAWMAKERS' BATTLE HOTS UP:

NASS to override veto on constitution review •Faults Supreme Court's ruling on stay of action •Kick-starts process to override Jonathan's veto •What the Constitution says on overriding President's veto

By Emmanuel Aziken, Political Editor

L

AGOS—THE N a t i o n a l Assembly is set to override President Goodluck Jonathan’s veto of the Fourth

Continues on Page 5

COLUMNISTS: Does our Presidentelect intend to keep his word?

•P.17

Frozen embryo battle grips America

•P.47

Mr & Mrs

ACCIDENT—An accident scene at Olodo Garage area of Ibadan, Oyo State, yesterday. Photos: Dare Fasube.

Citizens open up on e South-South govs See Insid C M Y K

Buhari's administration won't persecute 9 anyone — APC

2—Vanguard, TUESDAY, MAY 12, 2015

C M Y K

Vanguard, TUESDAY, MAY 12, 2015—3

C M Y K

4 — Vanguard, TUESDAY, MAY 12, 2015

$330,000 FRAUD: Witness confirms court registrar’s involvement

By Abdulwahab Abdulah & Bartholomew Madukwe

L

AGOS—AN officer of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mr Emmanuel Afanda, yesterday told an Ikeja High Court that his team found a document which emanated from a Lagos socialite, Fred Ajudua, in the residence of a court registrar, Oluronke Rosolu, who is facing trial over alleged involvement in defrauding a former Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Ishaya Bamaiyi of $330.000.

Rosulu, a former registrar to Justice Joseph Oyewole, was arraigned before Justice Lateef Lawal Akapo on a twocount charge of conspiracy to obtain money by false pretences and obtaining money by false pretences.

EFCC alleged that the court registrar (Rosulu) helped Ajudua to siphon the money from Bamaiyi between November 2004 and June 2005 while both of them were being remanded at Kirikiri Prisons for separate offences.

The anti-graft agency agency said Ajudua obtained the money from Bamaiyi by claiming that it represented the professional fees charged

by Chief Afe Babalola (SAN) to handle his case.

Led in evidence by the EFCC counsel, Mr Seidu Atteh, Afanda told the court that he was a member of the team which investigated Bamaiyi’s petition to the EFCC regarding the scam.

The matter was adjourned till today for continuation of trial.

Fayose vows to secure release of kidnap victims ...As ASUU wants abducted OAU lecturer freed

By Gbenga Ariyibi & Gbenga Olarinoye

A

DO EKITI—EKITI State governor, Mr. Ayo Fayose has vowed that the state government will work assiduously with the police and other security operators in the state to bring back alive those that were abducted in different parts of the state in the last two weeks.

The governor spoke yesterday while addressing the staff of the Federal Teaching Hospital, Ido Ekiti.

Fayose said: “Mrs. Aladeneka would soon be with us. I

L

AGOS—A medical expert, Prof. Emmanuel Bamidele, has said that asthma patients usually possess higher IQ than non-patients.

He spoke during the free screening exercise and lecture organised by the Nigeria Thoracic Society, one of the societies in the fore-front of caring for asthma patients to mark this year’s world asthma day.

The theme for this year’s event is; ‘You can control asthmapreventing asthma death. ‘ According to Professor C M Y K

to get the kidnapped released and put paid to such occurrences.

“If they were robbers, we can go after them, but kidnappers, you have to strategize first because the kidnapped is still with them. I can’t expose our strategy. The kidnappers have agents among the security apparatus and the public. What Aladeneka and others need now is your prayers. “ When we had a jailbreak, they regrouped and started terrorizing Ekiti but we subdued and got them. We have rearrested over 199 and others have fled the state.

“My government will do everything to protect lives and property. We will strengthen the

borders and the streets. Let experienced people handle this.

"They are already working. You have elected me to do this. You know I have the capacity. You are important to us. If you have any issue, call me. My number is in the public domain,’’ he said.

Explaining the employment issue which the Ido Vanguard Youths protested over, the week before, Fayose said: “The Chief Medical Director (CMD) is doing his best for you all. There were about 50 slots available and they were to be shared across the state.

The CMD, showed me everything and we discussed it. There is no perfect leader.’’

The CMD, who expressed appreciation to the governor for visiting the Hospital to address the people, also assured his staff and the people of the community that the kidnapped would soon be rescued to rejoin her family. He also said that efforts are being made to ensure their security.

ASUU demands release of abducted OAU lecturer

PRESENTATION: From left: Mr. Akeem Muri-Okunola, Perm Sec, Ministry of Land Bureau; Governor Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State and Mrs Adejoke OrelopeAdefulire, Deputy Governor, during the presentation of Certificate of Occupancy to 40 Exercised Villages In Lagos by Gov. Fashola yesterday. Photo by Bunmi Azeez.

SCHOOL RETURN: 91-yr-old threatens to occupy Fashola’s office

By Innocent Anaba

L

AGOS—A 91-year-old woman, Madam Roseline Ololo has given the Lagos State governor, Mr Babatunde Fashola, a seven-day ultimatum to ensure the return of

Asthmatic people usually have high IQ – Expert Bamidele, “ Studies have shown

By Elizabeth Uwandu

appreciate you for being your brothers’ keeper. It could be anybody. It could be your brother.

"Let me tell you that I share this sorrow with you. This is one of the burdens I carry with you. I am sure that she will come back to join us.

“It is not about APC or PDP whether you are politician or not, everybody must join hands with government to unravel the security issue, and bring it to an end."We are calling on all Ekiti indigenes, irrespective öf their party affiliation and all security agencies to support the government to bring this unholy development to an end in a bid

that asthmatics have higher IQ than the normal population out there. Some great personalities with asthma include a former president of United States of America, the world’s richest man, Bill Gates and various people who have won world championships in athletics.

According to the expert; “A person should be confident to say I have asthma.”

Asthma, which is a long-term lung disease that inflames and narrows the airwaves resulting in wheezing, difficulty during breathing and coughing.

It is commemorated world-wide on every first Tuesday in May.

Metropolitan College and Isolo Secondary School to her, failing which she will permanently occupy the governor’s office.

Madam Ololo, in a statement by her counsel, Malcolm Omirhobo, threatened to permanently occupy the governor’s office until her demands are met.

Madam Ololo and her late husband, Chief Michael Ololo, had through their company, Akaix West Africa Limited, established Metropolitan College in 1955 with the first batch of 19 students in Surulere area of Lagos.

For expansion purposes and to move away from the thickly populated residential area of Surulere, the owners acquired the present site at Ire-Akari, Isolo in 1966 and eventually moved there in 1974.

In 1976, through the Education (Private Secondary Institutions Special Provisions) Law, the Military Government of Lagos State took over 48 Private Secondary Schools from their owners, including Metropolitan College. In the process, Isolo Secondary School was carved out

of Metropolitan College on the same land hosting the college.

However, in 2001, the administration of Bola Tinubu repealed the law and returned the said 48 private schools to their owners, but Metropolitan College was curiously not returned, a development that brought about a law suit.

Meantime, the Academic Staff of Union of Universities, ASUU Obafemi Awolowo University OAU chapter has demanded unconditional release of one of its members, Dr. Femi Omisore who was kidnapped in Ado-Ekiti at the weekend.

The OAU’s ASUU chairman, Dr. Caleb Aborisade while speaking after an emergency congress of the union yesterday lamented the kidnap of Omisore and debunked the rumour that Dr Omisore has been killed by his abductors.

“The whole congressmen condemned the abduction of our colleague and the killing of the driver. We sympathise with the family of Dr Omisore’s driver, who was killed by the kidnappers and identified with the family of our colleague. We demand the immediate release of Dr Omisore.

Omisore, a lecturer at the Department of Environmental Design Management of OAU was abducted on his way to attend a funeral at Oye Ekiti in Ekiti State on Saturday.

Fashola receives National I.D card

By Monsur Olowoopejo

L

AGOS—GOVERNOR Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State, yesterday, said the attendant stress in the search for Permanent Voter’s Card, PVC, by Nigerians would have been unnecessary if Nigeria had succeeded at his previous attempt on national identity card.

The governor made the remarks while receiving his national identity card from the Director General of the National Identity Management Commission, Chris Onyenmena

at the Lagos House, Alausa, Ikeja.

Fashola, after receiving his Unique Identification Card, remarked that the country is paying for his previous attempt at capturing the entire individuals in the country in a common data base.

According to him: “I need to emphasis that this is a very important undertaken for all Nigerians. What we have not got right in the previous exercise; we are all paying for it now. One cannot really overemphasise the role of common and reliable identity management exercise will play.''

Vanguard, TUESDAY, MAY 12, 2015—5

POCKET CARTOON

FELLOW—President and Chairman of Council, Nigerian Institute of Management, Dr. U. N. Uwaga (right) decorating Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan of Delta State (left) as fellow of the Nigerian Institute of Management during the inauguration of five new chapters in Delta State in Asaba, yesterday.

Photo: Henry Unini.

NASS to override veto on constitution review Continues from page 1 Constitution Alteration Act earlier passed by the two chambers of the National Assembly.

The move by the National Assembly is despite the Supreme Court ruling last Thursday, asking the Assembly to stay action

on the amendments pending further hearing on the suit filed by The Presidency to stop the legislature from further action on the alteration of the constitution.

The move to override the veto commenced, yesterday, with the gazetting of the bill in the House and the Senate, preparatory to a fresh passage by the two

TAKE HEART

BY ELLA RANDLE

The human voice is the most powerful instrument and sound in the world, probably because it’s the only one that can start a war, or that can say I love you —Julian Treasure

M

any people have the experience that when they speak, people don’t listen to them. Why is this so? We use our voice to speak powerfully and to make change from within and the world only when we have mastered how to overcome the seven deadly ills against speaking rightly.

The first on the list is gossip, speaking ill of somebody who’s not present is not a nice habit and we know perfectly well the person gossiping to us, just five minutes later will be gossiping about us to someone else.

The second ill is judging, and it’s very hard to listen to somebody, if you know that you’re being judged and found wanting. The third is negativity.

Try being around someone who takes the sunshine away from everything, it’s hard to listen when somebody’s that negative.

The fourth is constant complaining. Some people just love to do this, just about anything…and actually complaining is a viral misery, the fifth is blame, a blame thrower, just pass it on to everybody else and don’t take responsibility for their actions and again hard to listen to somebody like this.

The sixth of the ills is exaggeration, when we make every expression into an hyperbole, people do not believe anything we say and don’t take us seriously.

Of course we do not listen to people, when we know they are lying to us.

And finally dogmatism, the confusion of fact with opinions. It is hard to listen when you know somebody is bombarding you with their opinions. I conclude with this quote from desiderata, say your truth but know too that others have their say.

chambers.

The bill, Vanguard gathered, was listed as HB/781 in the House and as SB/548 in the Senate.

Senate spokesman, Senator Enyinnanya Abaribe had last Sunday faulted the Supreme Court ruling, saying that it was inconceivable that one arm of government would stop the other arm from exercising its constitutional duties.

Anger in the Assembly The National Assembly members, V anguard learnt, are furious that the President and his aides kept low while the process of altering the constitution was on without submitting their views on the issue. Many members especially of the PDP, who lost out in the recently concluded elections are also embittered and want to make a last dent on the image of the President by impugning his legislative record through the plan to override his veto.

If the planned override of the bill titled, “A Bill for an Act to further alter the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and other matters,” is successful, it would be the second time that the National Assembly would have successfully overridden a presidential veto.

The first and only time that a veto was

overturned in the annals of the Fourth Republic was in 2000 when the Senator Chuba Okadigbo-led Senate and the Ghali Umar Na‘Abba-led House of Representatives overturned President Olusegun Obasanjo’s veto on the bill to establish the Niger Delta D e v e l o p m e n t Commission.

What the constitution says Section 58 (4) and (5) spelling the procedure for overriding a presidential veto wielded by the President reads thus: (4) Where a bill is presented to the President for assent, he shall within 30 days thereof signify that he assents or that he withholds assent.

(5) Where the President withholds his assent and the bill is again passed by each House by twothirds majority, the bill shall become law and the assent of the President shall not be required.

President Jonathan had last month written the Senate and the House of Representatives stating his decision not to sign the Fourth Constitution Alteration Act on the claim that the National Assembly over-reached itself by seeking to make the provision of

healthcare, education and other social services justiciable.

The President also faulted the splitting of the office of Attorney General of the Federation from the office of the Minister of Justice and alleged that the National Assembly failed to include the votes and proceedings of the chambers to verify that the legislative houses achieved the needed quorum to pass the amendments to the constitution.

The President’s decision received mixed reactions among lawyers but a near-unanimous opposition in the National Assembly which immediately commenced the action to override the veto.

A number of legislators alleged that the President had signed the bill but subsequently changed his mind. In that regard, the Senate passed a resolution demanding that the President returns the bill as passed on to him and especially the “signature page” of the bill.

In response, the President dragged the National Assembly to the Supreme Court, seeking that the legislative body

be compelled to stop further action on altering the constitution.

Last Thursday, the apex court in an interlocutory ruling asked the National Assembly to maintain status quo until June 18 when hearing in the suit is to resume. By that time, however, the incumbent President and the life of the present National Assembly would have expired.

The Senate on Sunday rejected the court ruling, saying that the Supreme Court could not under any circumstance prevent it as an independent arm of government from proceeding with its constitutionally assigned duties.

“The Supreme Court is wrong. The law does not allow one arm of the government to stop another arm of government from performing its duties,” Senator Abaribe told newsmen.

“The Supreme Court cannot stop us from legislating and if they say that the Supreme Court is stopping us from making laws, it is misleading and it amounts to misreading the powers of the Supreme Court,” he said.

TAN confirms attempt on Ifeanyi Uba’s life

By Jude Opara

A

BUJA—THE Transformation Ambassadors of Nigeria (TAN), yesterday, confirmed reports in a section of the media of the alleged attempt on the life of its founder Dr. Ifeanyi Ubah in Abuja last week.

In a statement issued by the Director of Media, TAN, Afam Ilounoh, the organization said security agents were already investigating the issue.

The statement further stated that the development calls for a sober reflection by all Nigerians given the fact the incident happened in the Federal Capital

Territory (FCT).

“We can confirm that the incident happened and it is a subject of intense investigation by security agents to unravel those behind it and their motives. For that reason we shall give limited response for now in order not to jeopardize the ongoing investigation.

We shall, however, give a detailed briefing at the appropriate time.

“This incident calls for concern and a sober reflection by all Nigerians about the safety and security of lives in the country. The fact that it happened in the Federal Capital Territory makes it more worrisome.”

6—Vanguard, TUESDAY, MAY 12, 2015

Police nab 15 suspected cultists in Lagos

By Esther Onyegbula

Okadaman suffers epileptic attack, asks passenger to alight

By Perez Brisibe

U

GHELLI—THERE was a mild drama, yesterday, at Osia Junction Roundabout, Ughelli, Delta State, as an epileptic commercial motorcycle operator, popularly known as

Okadaman, suddenly started convulsing and slumped in the middle of the road.

It was gathered from witnesses that the Okada rider (names withheld) in his early 50s, on noticing an impending crisis, quickly stopped in the

middle of the road, told his passenger to step down from the motorcycle and immediately slumped to the ground, convulsing in spasms.

When Vanguard visited the scene at about 9a.m., the victim was still on the ground

with passers-by and sympathizers trying to get a glimpse of him.

After his recovery about 10 minutes later, other Okada riders, who later identified him, took him off the road and carried him home.

F

IFTEEN suspected cultists alleged to have been terrorizing motorists, pedestrians and residents around Amuwo-Odofin area of Lagos State were, yesterday, arrested by the Police in Lagos.

The suspects reportedly pose as members of Eiye confraternity and cause commotion in the area, after which they freely attack and rob residents and commuters in the vicinity.

Vanguard learned that the police at Festac, led by the Divisional Police Officer, Ifeanyi Owoh, stormed the hide-out and succeeded in rounding up the cultists who converged on their operational base located in an abandoned building on 41 Road.

They were said to have come from neighbouring communities such as Ijanikin, Ojo, Ajangbadi, Ajegunle and Satellite Town.

It was gathered that efforts are ongoing to recover their arms and apprehend fleeing members of the gang whose activities had been giving residents of the community sleepless nights.

Confirming the arrest, Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Kenneth Nwosu, said: “Investigation is still ongoing and the suspects would be arraigned in court soon.”

Fire razed houses at Constain Ilaje, along the railway line, Lagos, yesterday; displaced residents taking refuge under a nearby bridge.

PHOTOS: Biodun Ogunleye.

Candle light fire razes 100 dwellings; 300 homeless

By Bose Adelaja

N

O fewer than 300 people, mostly women and children, were displaced yesterday as fire razed about 100 dwellings in swampy Otumara, Ebute Metta West, in

Lagos.

Before the inferno, attributed to candle light and fuel, which occurred around 3am, the affected structures served both commercial and residential purposes for the occupants.

An eyewitness attributed the

... as diesel fire guts 109 shops in Lagos

By Esther Onyegbula

O

NE person has been reportedly injured in a midnight fire that gutted more than 109 shops and residential buildings in Ijora Area of Lagos State.

It was gathered that the victim sustained severe injuries from the inferno which started from a shop that served as a storage facility, filled with drums of diesel.

According to Mr. Ibrahim Farinloye, South-West Zonal spokesman of the National Emergency Maintenance Agency, NEMA, who spoke to Vanguard, “we were alerted at about 6a.m. and by the time we got there, we discovered that the

Remains of the day, after the fire. PHOTO: Lamidi Bamidele. affected buildings belonged to Bayelsa State Government.

About 109 shops and residential buildings, located beside 7-Up Bottling Company, Ijora, were consumed in the fire.

One person, who sustained serious burns, was rescued and taken to the hospital.

He said: “The fire started from a shop filled with drums of diesel. People are also using the space as residence.”

inferno to carelessness on the part of two residents, who were neighbours.

The eyewitness, Madam Sherifat Hassan, said the fire started when one of the occupants lit a candle and slept off.

His neighbour was transferring Premium Motor Spirit, PMS, from one power generating set to another, unknown to him that there was a naked light nearby.

No life was lost in the inferno, which was later contained by Lagos State fire fighters.

When Vanguard arrived the swampy area yesterday, some of the victims had taken shelter under Ijora Flyover Bridge.

Victims’ story A mother of five, Mariam Sharafa, said she operated a salon business and did not envisage the fire before she went to bed the previous night.

She said: “I was fast asleep with my five children when the alarm was raised and we rushed out. I could only save my children as all my belongings were consumed by fire.”

A petty trader, Rukayat Semiu,

said she could only rescue her three children while her belongings got burnt.

She said: “Many of us moved to this place due to high house rent in other parts of Lagos, but the inferno has reduced us to ordinary citizens once again.”

Other displaced victims were seen gathering the remains of their property, while they said life in their current abode was quite affordable, compared to other parts of Lagos.

Rent

They said it costs a monthly rental fee of between N2,500 and N4,000 per structure, compared with what goes on in other parts of the state.

In a chat with Vanguard, Director of Lagos State Fire Services, Razaq Fadipe, condemned the use of candles for domestic use, but advised people to go for rechargeable lamps in place of candles.

He said: “There are rechargeable lamps, which are affordable. We should go for these instead of endangering our lives by burning candles.”

Fadipe said two fire trucks were used to combat the inferno.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, MAY 12, 2015—7

Protest in Ovwian as escaped suspect kills police informant

By Egufe Yafugborhi & Perez Brisibe

W

ARRI—THOUSANDS of Ovwian youths and women stormed the Divisional Police Station at Ovwian/Aladja in Udu Local Government Area of Delta State, weekend, after a robbery suspect, who reportedly escaped from police station, trailed and murdered Bestman Okome, an indigene, who had earlier pleaded against the suspect’s release from police custody.

The suspect reportedly escaped from the police station, last Thursday, during interrogation, but the angry demonstrators accused the police of connivance with the suspect to aid his escape and murder Okome, alias Agbari.

Trouble started when a robbery gang invaded Ekrimowhe Quarters in Ovwian

two weeks ago, terrorizing and robbing residents of cash and other valuables.

It was gathered that two weeks after the robbery, a victim simply identified as Kess, identified a member of the gang and dragged him to the community which in turn handed him over to a police anti-crime team, popularly known as Clement’s Squad, under the Ovwian/Aladja Division.

It was further gathered that after making some confessional statements, the police squad, led by one Clement, took the suspect to one of the buyers of property allegedly stolen from Kess.

Identified

In the process, Okome identified the suspect as an unrepentant criminal and pleaded with the police to

ensure that the court remanded him so peace can return to the community.

Surprisingly, during further interrogation at the station, the suspected robber was said to have escaped and regrouped with his gang to murder the said Okome.

Meanwhile, community youths, women and elders have demanded the sack of the Divisional Police Officer, DCO 1 and 2, and the officer who led the arrest of the suspect.

Speaking on behalf of the protesters, Olorogun James Omori wondered how a suspected criminal could escape from the custody of several armed policemen, calling on the Acting Inspector General of Police, Mr. Solomon Arase, to investigate the issue, produce the suspect and his gang who murdered Agbari.

He said: “We are sad with this

news from the police over the escape of the hardened criminal; we want the new IGP to do his job in eradicating corruption as promised, by fishing out the robbers and his gang so that peace would return to Ovwian.”

Police explain suspect’s escape

Contacted, Delta State Police Public Relations Officer, Celestina Kalu, said the suspect did not escape as portrayed by the community.

According to her, “the suspect escaped while being interrogated and owing to his criminal involvement, the police did not shoot to avoid stray bullet shitting innocent persons.”

On the death of Okome, the PPRO said: “He was killed in different circumstances and his death has nothing to do with the escaped suspect.”

Court fixes June 24 for ex-NBC manager's trial over N68m fraud

By Onozure Dania

L

AGOS—MAGISTRATE O. I. Adelaja of an Ebute Metta Chief Magistrate’s Court has fixed June 24 for the trial of a former manager with Nigerian Bottling Company, NBC, Plc, Mr. Olubusoye Abayomi, who is alleged to have stolen N68,703,480 from the company.

Olubusayo, the NBC Plant/Logistics Manager, was charged before the court by the police on a two count-charge bordering on conspiracy and stealing.

The offences, according to the prosecutor, Inspector Richard Odigie, are contrary and punishable under Sections 409 and 285(7) of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011.

Odigie had informed the court that the defendant and others at large, committed the offences between June 2011 and June 2014, at NBC, in Iddo House, Lagos.

2 jailed for 31 yrs over kidnap

By Bartholomew Madukwe & Jane Echewodo

A

VANDALS: Oyo State Police Public Relations Officer, Mr. Adekunle Ajisebutu (left) and state Commissioner of Police, Alhaji Mohammed Katsina (3rd left), parading suspected telecommunications equipment vandals arrested yesterday. INSET: Equipment recovered from the suspected vandals. PHOTOS: Dare Fasube.

760 killed, 20,590 animals lost in Zamfara—FULANI LEADER

By Salisu Maradun

G

USAU—NO fewer than 760 Fulani have in the last five months lost their lives to self-security volunteers, otherwise known as Yan Sakai, in Zamfara State.

State Chairman of Miyetti Allah Association, Alhaji Tukur Jangebe, who disclosed this while speaking to Vanguard in Gusau, Zamfara State capital, said the group also hauled away 6,790 cows, 13,400 sheep, over 400 camels, food items, motorcycles and burnt many

houses within the last four months.

He said reports received by the association across the state indicated that every week, members of his association were killed by the group.

Jangebe lamented the free movement of the group along with their dangerous weapons from one community to another, including local council headquarters of the state without hindrance.

He appealed to the federal and state governments to come to their aid by stopping the

activities of the group.

He said: “Last Friday, I was in Sokoto when my people called and told me that security volunteers have stormed Tungar Lada of Talata Mafara Local Government with sophisticated weapons.

“I immediately called the attention of the state Commissioner of Police and Commanding Officer, One Based Ammunition depot, Gusau, and sought their assistance and intervention.”

A source at 232 Battalion of the Nigerian Army, Gusau, who

pleaded anonymity, confirmed to Vanguard that about 200 selfsecurity volunteers were arrested by security personnel.

When contacted, state Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Sanusi Amiru, confirmed the incident in Talata Mafara Local Government, which left many Fulani with various degrees of injuries.

He added that a team of joint securitymen dispatched to the area had rescued all the animals carted away by the group and that efforts were on to arrest the perpetrators.

N Ikeja High Court, yesterday, sentenced two persons to 31 years imprisonment after finding them guilty of conspiracy to commit robbery and kidnapping of a mariner, Omosebi Oluwafemi.

The convicts are Sunday Akala, 35, and Monsuru Odutan, 38, while Tunde Fayomi, 32, who was 2nd defendant, died in the course of trial.

Akala, a Master degree holder, was said to have arranged with Odutan and others to kidnap his friend, Oluwafemi, because he was in need of money to pay his house rent and his friend was not willing to assist him.

The duo were arraigned

by Lagos State government on a three-count charge of conspiracy to commit armed robbery and kidnapping, for which they pleaded not guilty.

Presiding judge, Justice Lateefa Okunnu, held that “the sentences are to run concurrently.”

8—Vanguard, TUESDAY, MAY 12, 2015

Fuel scarcity worsens, as oil marketers suspend importation

By Michael Eboh, Ediri Ejoh & Ojo Babatunde

A

BUJA — THE recurrent fuel scarcity being witnessed in many parts of the country, particularly in Lagos and Abuja, continued yesterday, showing no signs of easing up, while respite seems not in sight for motorists and residents.

This was even as oil marketers disclosed that they have suspended the importation of Premium Motor Spirit, PMS, into the country due to the failure of the Federal Government to pay them their claims.

A top source in the depot a n d Pe t r o l e u m Pr o d u c t s Marketers Association, DAPPMA, told Vanguard that majority of the oil marketers are yet to be paid by the Federal Government, making it impossible for them to secure fresh funds from the banks to finance fuel import.

The source called on the Federal Government to pay the marketers the amount being owed, stating that out of the huge amount owed DAPPMA members only about N4 billion was paid to some of them a few days ago while others are yet to be paid.

The source said: “The money that the marketers were paid by the Federal Government was, according to the banks, like a tip of the iceberg, compared to the huge amount the marketers owe the banks. Majority of the marketers are not able to repay their indebtedness to the banks, making it impossible for them to secure new facilities from the banks to finance fuel import. “ We w a n t t h e Fe d e r a l Government to pay the debt owed marketers as it is only then will we be able to repay our debts to the banks and secure fresh credit facilities from the banks to enable us finance our fuel import.”

The source further stated that majority of the oil marketers have stopped importing fuel, despite the fact that they have gotten the approval of the Petroleum Products Pricing Regulatory Agency, PPPRA, to import.

The source noted:“We have approval to import fuel, but we do not have money to finance the import. The banks told us that they have a ceiling for borrowing and they have reached their borrowing limit, with oil companies accounting for a

zPetrol sells for as high as N250 per litre in Abuja zMotorists, commuters groan in Lagos zWomen, children now hawk petrol

Oshodi-Apapa expressway, yesterday substantial portion of the loans. “ We a r e a s k i n g t h e Federal Government to pay us the claims we are being owed so that we can have money to offset our debts and finance fuel imports.”

Petrol goes for as high as N250/l in Abuja Furthermore, with the worsening s c a r c i t y, majority of the petrol stations now engage in sharp practices.

Specifically, most of the petrol stations in a bid to make huge profits, sell at between N120 and N140 per litre, while others prefer to sell to black marketers. The shady dealings, in most cases, were consummated in the night in a bid to escape sanctions from the authorities.

In Abuja, petrol stations sell to the black marketers at between N120 and N140 per litre, with the black marketers reselling same to motorists at between N160 to N250 per litre.

Scores of the black marketers were seen at the front of almost all the petrol stations in the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, beckoning motorists to patronise their wares which they carry in 10-litre plastic gallons.

All the petrol stations along the Airport Road were shut, while only the NNPC mega station and

Conoil were selling, with queues stretching for about three kilometres, impeding traffic around the area.

The prolonged scarcity has also brought in its wake, a hike in transport fares, commodities and services in the FCT. The scarcity has lasted for about four months and has defied solutions, despite several meetings and promises by the Ministry of Finance; the Nigerian National Pe t r o l e u m

One of the hawkers confessed that their trade is thriving because they get their products very early from the filling stations, which they later resell to motorists who cannot spare many hours queuing for the product in the outlets

Corporation, NNPC; Department of Petroleum Resources, DPR; PPPRA; Pipelines and Product M a r ke t i n g C o m p a n y, PPMC, and oil marketers.

Some motorists who s p o ke to Va n g u a rd expressed anger at the persistent scarcity, adding that the scarcity is fast becoming a way of life.

Motorists, commuters groan in Lagos As in Abuja, all the filling stations, be it independent or major marketing outlets, which had the scarce commodity, are selling petrol above the regulated price of N87/litre to motorists and other users of the product.

Pe t r o l s t a t i o n s a l o n g areas like Ajagbandi, Iyana-Ishashi, Amukoko, Festac, Cele, Okota, Isolo, Oshodi, Apapa, Badagry Road, were all selling above the approved pump price.

Specifically, those at Ojo Road in Ajagbandi (Adekam Oil, Ralhamed), Isolo/ Okota in Cele Road (Mobil, Rainoil, Conoil, PM), Amukoko sold between N110 and N160 per litre.

While others are making brisk businesses, many petrol stations had since last week, shut their gates to motorists. These include Forte Oil, NNPC, MRS,

Mobil at Festac, Forte Oil, To t a l , M o b i l a t M o b i l Road, Apapa.

Va n g u a rd also discovered that like their peers in Abuja, some of the outlets preferred to sell their products to black marketers carrying plastic gallons at premium costs.

O n e o f t h e a g g r i e v ed motorists at Ishashi Road opined that it was easier to buy from the jerry cans than from the pumps.

A n o t h e r m o t o r i s t , M r.

Robert Chukwuka, wondered why the government has refused to ease the plight of the common man, who has to pay between N250 and N300/litre depending on the area in the black market.

“Against these odds, we have not heard any comment from the Federal Government or its officials trying to checkmate this situation, which has continued to affect every sector of the economy,” he said.

Women, children now hawk petrol To g e t a p i e c e o f t h e action, even women and children don’t want to be left out from the fast money and are seen hawking petrol in strategic locations around the state.

One of the hawkers confessed that their trade is thriving because they get their products very early from the filling stations, which they later resell to motorists who cannot afford many hours queuing for the product in the outlets.

“We are making more sales this period because from what I heard from one of the managers in charge, some of these marketers are trying to recover as much money as possible owed them by the government before the President-elect takes over.

Due to the suspension of loading at the depots in Apapa, residents, commuters, and ports users have continued to suffer unending hardship along the Oshodi/Apapa Expressway, as tankers simply abandoned their truck along the road, thereby restricting vehicular and human movement.

Efforts to reach DPR officials or representatives of both the major and independent oil marketers as well as the Petroleum Tanker Drivers, PTD, were not successful.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, MAY 12, 2015—9

I don't know where Shekau is —Chadian President

By Ben Agande

A

BUJA — THE Chadian President, Idris Deby, saisd, yesterday, that he did not know the whereabouts of the leader of Boko Haram, Abubakar Shekau.

President Deby had in a widely circulated claim some months ago said that he knew where the Boko Haram leader was hiding and had warned him to surrender or risk being killed by Chadian forces.

But speaking with State House correspondents after a meeting with President Goodluck Jonathan, Deby said even if he knew where the terrorist was, he would not say where he is.

"I cannot tell you today that I know where Shekau is hiding and even if I knew I won't tell you," he said tersely in an answer to a question.

Deby said the inability of the Nigerian and Chadian army to carry out joint operations might have affected the success of the ongoing operations in the NorthEast to tackle Boko Haram.

"It is regrettable that the two armies, that is the Nigerian Army and the Chadian Army, are working separatly on the field, they are not undertaking joint operation. If they were operating jointly, probably they would have achieved more results," he said.

On the fight against Boko Haram, President Derby said: "As you all know we both work together to fight Boko Haram. I thought it was important that before Mr. President leaves office, I will come for us to have overview of what we did together, what we achieved together in the fight against Boko Haram.

"It is true that Boko Haram has not been completely eradicated but the group has been tremendously weakened."

Deutsche Welle State House correspondent's accreditation withdrawn

Meanwhile, the state House correspondent of Deutsche Welle, a German radio station, Ubale Musa had his accreditation withdrawn and ordered out of the Presidential Villa for asking the visiting Chadian President a question which was considered embarrassing by the aides of President Goodluck Jonathan.

Mr Musa, a veteran reporter of the State House dating back to President Olusegun Obasanjo's regime had asked the visiting Chadian President the relationship between the multinational joint task force and mercenaries alleged to be fighting with the Nigerian troop to dislodge the Boko Haram from the north east.

Although the Chadian president denied knowledge of the existence of any mercenary in the North East, it was enough for president Jonathan's securitymen to immediately seize Ubale Musa's accreditation particulars and escort him out of the villa, after he was guided to retrieve his work tools from the press gallery.

His accreditation was yet to be restored even after the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity Reuben Abati reportedly told a delegation of state House correspondents that the matter would be amicably resolved.

Why I'm in Nigeria

He said he was in the Presidential Villa to consult with President Jonathan on the fight against terrorism and to congratulate him for setting a good record for Africa by conceding defeat in the just concluded election.

He said: "I came to consult with my brother, President Goodluck Jonathan. As you all know Nigeria and Chad are two countries that have a lot of similarities in fighting insurgents.

"Chad has had its own problems in the 70s and 80s and Nigeria assisted Chad during those difficulties times.

"On the 2015 general elections, I came principally to congratulate Mr. President for the statesmanship he demonstrated during the elections. We all know that elections in Africa is always contested but Mr. President demonstrated a lot of statesmanship, that he is a real democrat by conceding defeat and congratulating the President-elect.

“You all know that when Nigeria sneezes the neighbouring countries catch cold. If Mr. President had not taken that laudable initiative, you all know what would have happened now.

Nigeria is still living in peace, you all are living in peace and that would not have happened but for that laudable initiative he took.

"So I came to congratulate him for leaving a legacy not only for Nigeria but for Africa as a whole."

On fight against Boko Haram

VISIT: President Goodluck Jonathan (right) and Presisdent Idris Deby of Chad Republic during the Chadian leader's one-day visit to President Jonathan at the State House, Abuja, yesterday. Photo: Abayomi Adeshida.

Buhari's govt won't persecute anyone — APC

By Gbenga Oke

L

AGOS — THE All Progressives Congress, APC, has stated that the incoming administration of General Muhammadu Buhari (retd) will not persecute anyone contrary to a statement credited to President Goodluck Jonathan.

The party also maintained that Buhari is a man of integrity and will not engage himself with endless probes when he assumes office.

In a statement issued yesterday in Abuja by the party ’s National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, it said those who have played poker with the nation’s destiny must be willing and eager to clear their conscience before man and God. According to the party, “that the President-elect is a man of integrity is not an issue for debate and he has made it clear that he will not be bogged down by endless

probes. However, the hands of the incoming government will not be tied by those who have chosen to play the victim and exhibit a persecution mentality. Whoever has any reason to be afraid must lay bare such reason before Nigerians.”

It further maintained that only the guilty will be afraid of the incoming government of General Buhari, noting: “Under the climate of change that Nigerians have ushered in with their votes, only the guilty needs to be afraid and those with a guilty conscience on account of their actions in the public sphere must clear such so they can be at peace with themselves. The last time we checked, this does not fit the definition of persecution.”

APC, however, queried the rationale behind President Jonathan’s public outburst when he could have done so during private meetings with the President-elect.

He stated: “The party wondered why the President chose a public forum to

express his fears when he could have done so privately during his meetings with the President-elect. Since the presidential election was won and lost, the President and the President-elect have met privately a number of times.

So why didn’t President Jonathan express his apprehensions during these meetings” “Even if the two have not met, the President could have reached out to the Presidentelect over any fears that he may be nursing instead of engaging in an action that seems like he was being preemptive and seeking to curry public sympathy.”

The party, however, insist that the priority of the incoming government will be the welfare and security of long-suffering people of Nigeria just as he enjoined all citizens to support the incoming administration in charting a new path for the country away from the rapaciousness and impunity of the past years.

Why we sacked 2 officers —EFCC

A

By Soni Daniel

BUJA — THE Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, said yesterday, that it sacked two of its officers, Juliet Ibekaku and Michael Nzekwe, for absconding from duty and nothing more.

A human rights group had raised an alarm that the two officers were sacked because of their tribe and their refusal to compromise internal corruption in the commission.

The commission in a statement signed by his spokesman, Wilson Uwujaren, yesterday, said both officers deserted their duty posts without justification, thereby violating laid down employment rules.

In the case of Nzekwe, the commission said he deliberately absconded from duty and went with two of his children on pleasure trip for three weeks only to return and claim that he went to India to seek medical attention for his sick wife.

It said: “When the officer was queried for absenting himself from work without authorization, he claimed he travelled to the United States to shop for medical options for his wife, Agatha who had an alleged renal challenge and was hospitalized in India.

“This information was found to be false, as evidence emerged that the officer went on a pleasure trip to the United States with his two daughters.”

In the case of Ibekaku, the commission claimed that she was also fired for not reporting at her duty post for 81 days and refusing to respond to series of queries addressed to her.

The commission expressed disappointment that a clear disciplinary action by the commission had been turned into an ethnic agenda by the so-called human right groups and its apologists.

It wondered where the human right activist was when the commission also dismissed seven other staff who are not from the South-East earlier this year for indiscipline.

The commission warned individuals and organisations to desist from reading ulterior motives into its activities as it would not fold its hands and allow ethnic jingoists to dictate to it under the guise of human right activism.

10 — Vanguard, TUESDAY, MAY 12, 2015

Lagos PDP implodes, chairman sacked zThey are jokers — Shelle; Youths protest zSack laughable, says Lagos PDP

By Dapo Akinrefon

L

AGOS—THE crisis rocking the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, seems to have extended to its Lagos State chapter as the state chairman, Mr Tunji Shelle, was yesterday sacked by 34 members of the State Working Committee.

Shelle was sacked by the committee after being found guilty of unspecified allegations levelled against him.

Also, the committee accused Shelle of mismanaging election campaign funds and manipulating the party ’s primaries last year which led to the defeat of the PDP at the polls.

He was immediately replaced

by Kamaldeen Olorunoje, who will manage the affairs of the party.

Olorunje, before his new appointment, was the vice chairman of the party.

But in a swift reaction, the embattled chairman, described the sack as null and void.

Speaking with Vanguard over his removal, Shelle described those involved in the plot as jokers.

State Working Committee sacks Shelle

The party, while taking the decision, accused Shelle among others of being responsible for the loss the PDP suffered during the March 28 and April 11 elections elections.

Addressing newsmen at the party secretariat, the PDP state secretary, Alhaji Wahab Owokoniran, who spoke on behalf of others, said the decision was arrived at to protest the way the party was being run, leading to the last elections.

Owokoniran said: “We members of exco have all agreed that the way the party is being run should not be allowed. You will all agree with me that this party is not well run before, during and after the elections.

There is need for restructuring.

If we want restructuring, there is no way the Chairman can continue in office.”

Owokoniran said the Disciplinary Committee set up by the party had recommended expulsion or impeachment of Shelle having found him guilty of all the allegations levelled against him.

While disclosing Shelle’s refusal to appear before the panel, the party chieftain said the party resolved to “impeach” the PDP chairman.

Outlining some of the allegations, Owokoniran accused the party chairman of unilaterally rendering the PDP structure inactive before, during

.George

.Shelle

.Obanikoro

.Agbaje

and after the 2015 general polls without the approval of the State Executive, allegedly allocating “funds to various party members and officials according to his wishes of seeking the approval of the State Working Committee.”

Accusing Shelle of allegedly hijacking the functions of treasurer and the party secretary, he alleged that “the money received by the party was outsourced to a third party who keeps it in his bank account and disburses from it.”

In addition, he said “he (Shelle) calls party official meeting without consultation.

Lawful duties were neglected especially refusing to consult with the State Electoral Commissioner until four months after he was deployed to the state. Party guideline on payment for nomination form was breached by allowing his favoured aspirants to collect forms without payment.”

“In Epe LGA, he manipulated a draw situation between two aspirants in the party primaries to favour his preferred candidate.

His candidate defected to APC after losing the election,” Owokoniran alleged.

Chairman, Olorunoje, promised to bring about a new lease of life to the Lagos PDP, saying “the party shall be reorganised, renewed and reformed to face future challenges.”

Olorunoje, who highlighted the need for accountability to make progress in any endevour, promised to probe the causes of poor showing the party recorded in the last elections.

“The causes of the poor performance at the last elections will be reviewed and corrected before the forthcoming local government elections,” he noted.

Youths kick

Shortly after the news broke out, some youths stormed the secretariat of the party at GRA Ikeja to protest Shelle’s removal.

The youths led by one Shamsideen Lawal said they will not allow the acting chairman, Olorunoje and his team to function until the decision is reversed.

According to them, Shelle’s removal as the party chairman is “unfair, unjust, uncalled for and constitutional”.

He said the state chairman should be commended and not condemned for his sterling I’ll reorganise Lagos PDP— leadership as witnessed in the just concluded general elections.

Ag chairman He said the aim of the In his acceptance speech, the newly appointed Acting Olorunoje faction is to destabilise

the party ahead of the local government elections so as to give the APC which is sponsoring the faction an edge.

According to him, “we will not accept this kangaroo impeachment. How can you say you impeach a man who gave us five seats in the House of Representatives and eight seats in the House of Assembly in a state that is the stronghold of APC. It is unheard of.”

I remain the chairman —Shelle

Faulting his removal, the state chairman, who said it was contrary to the PDP constitution, arguedthat it is only the National Executive Council, NEC, of the party that can remove him from office.

He said “they are jesters, they are jokers. They are a set of irresponsible people, I do not even know them because they do not belong to the PDP. They have not followed the party’s constitution and in any case, the South-West leadership has already rebuked them. I was at a meeting of the South West leaders when I got the message and the South west has already reacted on it. Similarly, the national leadership has rebuked them because I am a member of the National Executive Council of the party, they do not have the powers to remove, impeach

or even suspend me.”

Asked whether the leadership of the party will be taking disciplinary steps against those involved in the plot, he said “definitely, they will.”

Shelle, who described the alleged impeachment as an exercise in futility insisted he remained the state chairman of the party. his words: “They have committed a huge blunder because they will regret getting involved in the first place.”

“I have worked for the party, I have done what no other person has done for the party before. The party has never won elections in the past but in my time, we won some seats. Now these nonentities have been sponsored to remove me. They must have been sponsored because they are a group of hungry people, they do not have pedigree.”

Exonerating himself from the accusation that he manipulated the primary that produced Jimi Agbaje as the governorship candidate of the party in Lagos State he said Agbaje “remains the credible candidate that I know”.

He said “I am not a controversial person. I believe in doing my best.

I have the singular opportunity to serve the party and I have done my best. Jimi Agbaje remains the credible candidate that I know and my pedigree and integrity remain impeccable. Only the NEC of the party has the powers to impeach me, definitely not Owokoniran and Olorunoje”.

“They have missed it because they failed to follow the party constitution. I remain the chairman”, he said.

Lagos PDP says sack laughable

In its reaction, the Lagos state chapter of the PDP described Shelle’s purported sack as “laughable, null and void”.

In a statement by its Publicity Secretary, Taofik Gani, the party called on party members to discountenance the said sack whilst also admonishing the brains behind the preposterous action to retrace their steps and allow peace to reign in the party.

The statement reads “the PDP reiterates that the State Chairman leading the present state exco has delivered the best unprecedented electoral result to the party members. It is therefore very irrational for any persons to provoke acrimony in the party by claiming that the State Chairman has not performed to warrant continuing in office. The party also faulted the modus operandi employed by the detractors which offends the provisions of the party’s constitution on the sack of a State chairman.”

The statement further read: “the State Chairman is a member of NEC and can only be removed or suspended by the consent of the NEC. There is no NEC approval to the action. It thus stands, Null and Void. For sake of clarity, Capt.

Tunji Shelle remains the legitimate chairman of PDP in the state. All dealings with the party in the State should be through him”.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, MAY 12, 2015 — 11

Why I want to be gov again — AUDU

By Boluwaji Obahopo

L

OKOJA—FORMER Governor of Kogi State, Prince Abubakar Audu, has said that he would heed the call of the people of the state to contest the forthcoming governorship election

slated for October this year in the state.

Audu who spoke yesterday at his Ogbonicha country home in Ofu Local Government Area of the state at a victory reception he organised for the All Progressives Congress, APC,

Books on Gov Fashola for launch

L

AGOS—THREE books that captured the activities of Mr Babatunde Raji Fashola as Governor of Lagos state will be launched on Friday May 15, at the Shell Hall of Muson Centre, Onikan, Lagos at 10 am.

The books are: The Great Leap: Selected Speeches of Babatunde Raji Fashola; In Bold Prints: Thoughts of Babatunde Raji Fashola and The Lagos Blow Down: West Africa’s First Controlled Demolition.

The first two books were complied and edited by Governor Fashola’s Special Adviser on Media, Mr Hakeem Bello while the third book was edited jointly by a seasoned writer, Dapo Adeniyi and Hakeem Bello.

A statement issued by Hakeem Bello yesterday said, “the three

books being presented serve to set on permanent record some of the achievements of Governor Fashola”.

According to the statement, the first book is a careful selection of some of the speeches delivered by the governor, revealing him as a highly organised, systematic and well-focused man.

The second book puts together some of the thought provoking statements the governor made during the period of his governance while the third book sets down for history the different stages of planning, and executing the controlled demolition of the former Bank of Industry building located in Broad Street Lagos following its partial collapse in 2006.

national and state assemblies members-elect in the state said the state was his ‘’baby’’ which he would not abandon.

“The voice of men are the voice of God, the people are yearning for me to come back because of my performance between 1999 and 2003.

A lot of people have been wallowing in abject poverty with Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in power in the state. A lot of people are dying in the midst of many.

As a matter of fact, Kogi is my baby and if I turn my back against my baby, it means I am an irresponsible father.

“I am coming back to salvage; rescue the state and place it back to where I left it in 2003 and even go beyond that. Crude oil was selling between $9 to $12 during the state,” he said.

Audu who said the performance of the APC in the past general election in the state was a pointer that the party would win the governorship poll, also hinted that the President -elect, General Muhammadu Buhari, rtd, would not disappoint the nation.

“We have just finished the state assembly, National Assembly and presidential elections and we

performed very well. We are prepared for the governorship election in the state. Even if it is tomorrow, APC would win the election.

“With the emergence of General Buhari; a well

disciplined manager and a great leader, things would come to shape in Nigeria. The problem of the country is that the nation has had bad and non prudent managers in the past.

“Though the people’s expectations are so high but what Buhari would do in four years would be more than PDP’s 16 years of misrule,” he added.

Zik’s first son, Chukwuma, dies at 75

By Vincent Ujumadu

A

WKA—CHIEF Chukwuma Bamidele Azikiwe, the first son of first President of Nigeria, Dr Nnamdi Azikiwe is dead. He was aged 75.

He passed on at the Borommeo Hospital, Onitsha, a missionary hospital just a stone throw to his Inosi Onira country home, Onitsha in the early hours of Sunday.

A family source said last night that Chukwuma had been battling protracted respiratory ailment for some years, which had kept him out of public view.

Chukwuma until his death was the Owelle of Onitsha,a traditional position he inherited from his late father in 1996 . As Owelle, Chukwuma was sixth in the title ranking in Onitsha.

He had, in 1991, aspired to govern the old Anambra State and after that unsuccessful bid, he never contested for any other public office.

According to a family source, details about his funeral would be announced later in accordance with the Onitsha customs and tradition.

.Late Chukwuma Azikiwe

12—Vanguard, TUESDAY, MAY 12, 2015

Rivers Assembly suspends 3 LG bosses, summons 9 commissioners

By Jimitota Onoyume

P

ORT HARCOURT— RIVERS State House of Assembly, yesterday, suspended three caretaker committee chairmen over allegations of financial impropriety and issue of insecurity in their councils.

The affected caretaker committee chairmen are Mr Cassidy Ikegbedi, Ahoada East; Mr Ojukaye Amachree, Asari Toru, and Mr Derrick Mene for Khana Local Government Area.

The House, during its sitting presided over by the Deputy Speaker, Leyii Kwanee, also set up a committee to investigate allegations against the council chairmen.

The Assembly also summoned nine commissioners and four heads of ministries, agencies and departments to appear before it today.

Kwanii explained that the Assembly took the action to get clarification from some of the commissioners on the economic

position of the state, adding that the lawmakers were not out to witch-hunt anybody.

“As an arm of government, we are not out to witch-hunt the executive. We are out to strengthen things. You are aware that the seventh Assembly is gradually coming to an end. We have been seeing a lot of conflicting reports. The other day, the Commissioner for Information,

Mrs. Ibim Semenitari, was on air saying that civil servants have been paid up to March. So, we feel very embarrassed as an arm of government,” he said.

Those to appear before the lawmakers include the Commissioners for Finance, Agriculture, Power, Health, Tourism, Information, Budget, Works and Transport.

Others to also appear are the

Accountant-General, Chairmen of Board of Internal Revenue, Rivers State Assembly Service Commission and Secondary School Management Board.

Deputy Leader of the House, Nname Ewor, representing Ahoada East Constituency 1 in two motions he presented before the House, had expressed worries with the conflicting reports on the economy of the state.

PDP chieftain decries cultrelated killings in Edo

By Gabriel Enogholase

B

ENIN—A chieftain of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Edo State, Chief Solomon Edebiri, has decried the rising spate of cult-related killings in the state, describing same as alien to Edo customs and traditions.

Edebiri, former governorship candidate of the defunct All Nigeria Peoples Party, ANPP, in the 2012 election in Edo State, in a statement, yesterday in Benin, said: “I totally condemn this wanton destruction of lives of our young brothers in the hands of their fellow brothers. This situation where our youths waste their lives in their prime in the name of cultism is barbaric and alien to our customs and traditions as Edo people.

“This development is sad and if not urgently nipped in the bud, will jeopardise the state’s desired promotion of tourism and economic growth. I plead with our youths who are still flexing muscles over mundane things to sheathe their swords and desist forthwith from these shameful acts and engage in meaningful ventures that will better their tomorrow."

ACCIDENT: An articulated kerosene tanker along Agbarho-Ughelli axis spilling its contents on the ever busy East-West road after a crash, yesterday. Photo: Akpokona Omafuaire.

Re-strategise, build strong opposition ahead of 2019, Ekiyor tells PDP

A

By Festus Ahon

SABA—DELTA State Commissioner for Commerce and Industry, Dr. Chris Ekiyor, yesterday called on the national leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, to re-strategise and build a strong opposition with a view to reclaiming the government at the centre in 2019 rather than trade blames on the outcome of the 2015 presidential election.

Ekiyor, a former National President of Ijaw Youth Congress, IYC, in a chat with newsmen in Asaba, blamed President Goodluck Jonathan's failure to secure a second term on PDP's leadership and the president's political appointees.

Advising the PDP leadership to take responsibility for the poor outing of the party at the presidential election, he

appealed to them not to add to the pains of throwing the PDP into opposition.

He said: “Many of our party leaders and President Jonathan’s appointees lost the election in their units, wards, local governments and states.”

Ekiyor insisted that the party would have fared better, if the party leadership had provided direction to its followers.

He held that the party's

hierarchy should be more sincere with itself and work towards 2019, lamenting that some of them spent their personal funds and time for the party during the elections.

Reiterating that the party leadership should allow the sleeping dog to lie, Ekiyor said; “As a party, we need to go back to the drawing board and start working because 2019 is just around the corner."

Oshiomhole lauded on youth inclusion policy

S

ENIOR Special Adviser on Entertainment to Edo State governor, Mr Roland Igbedumhe, has lauded the decision by state government to include youths in its administration, saying that the democratic process in Nigeria was now evolving beyond the mere political structure of parties to a synergy that is breeding young, dynamic youths with enormous potentials.

Speaking yesterday, in Benin, the Edo-born comedian, said: “Today, entertainers are benefitting from the political structure. For instance, the introduction of entertainers in some states of the federation, and Edo State in particular, is a welcome development. It is on record that Edo State Government, led by Mr. Adams Oshiomhole and his deputy Dr Pius Odubu, has engaged the services of four entertainers, all serving as Senior Special Assistants to the Governor on the entertainment, tourism and protocol duties.”

Igbedumhe, who goes by the stage name, Youngest Old Man, admitted that he was overwhelmed by the opportunity given to them to serve in Oshiomole’s administration.

“We have all agreed that it has been wonderful working closely with the governor of Edo State.

The opportunity given to us has been very beneficial to me, the call to service has helped transform my personality and has given us the opportunity to become role models to youths around us,” he added.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, MAY 12, 2015—13

Farmers take Shell to court over oil spill impact in Bayelsa

By Samuel Oyadongha

Y

ENAGOA—FARMERS impacted by the Shell Petroleum Development Company, SPDC, Kolo Creek oil fields spill in Otuasega, Ogbia Local Government Area of Bayelsa State, have gone to court over the April 15, 2015 spill, which polluted their farms.

According to the farmers, they were excluded from a Joint Investigation Visit to probe the impact of the spill despite their attempt to draw the attention of the team to their impacted farms.

A fish farmer, Mr. Aku Asei, whose three ponds were impacted, said the affected farmers numbering over 50 resolved to take legal action over the incident in the wake of the alleged claim of sabotage by Shell.

“This is a clear case of the powerful and rich oil firm against the weak and poor farmers. They are claiming that the spill was caused by sabotage and abandoned the polluted environment. The regulations which they relied on to absolve themselves clearly stated that the operator of the field where pollution occurs must clean up the site irrespective of the cause but SPDC officials declined to capture the farms as impacted areas.

“We have always believed that the judiciary is the last hope of the common man, and we shall tell the court that the spill was as a result of negligence by SPDC surveillance contractors deployed to guard the facility.

“We have decided not to resort to self help but to seek justice in court and we are appealing to public interest organisations to

come to our aid as we are currently counting our losses,” Aseimo lamented.

The farmers, made up of fish farmers, banana and plantain plantation owners in the area also appealed to Bayelsa State Government to assist them in prevailing on the oil firm to clean up the areas and pay compensation to them.

Bayelsa State Commissioner for Environment, Mr. Iniruo Wills, had said the state government would verify the reported exclusion of impacted sites from the ongoing clean up.

“We have to look at the information and verify it and if it is true that the impacted area was larger than what was originally captured, we shall find a way of addressing those concerns," he said.

AGM: From left: Mr. Dhamesh Gordhon, Managing Director, Nestle Nigeria Plc; Mr. David Ifezulike, chairman of the company and Mr. Bode Ayeku, Company Secretary, during the 46th Annual General Meeting of Nestle Nigeria Plc, in Lagos, yesterday. Photo: Bunmi Azeez.

NULGE grounds LGs in Delta over unpaid salaries

By Festus Ahon

A

SABA—THE industrial action embarked upon by local government workers in Delta State under the aegis of National Union of Local Government Employees, NULGE, recorded 100 percent compliance in Oshilmili North and South, Aniocha North and South, Ika North-East and Ika South Local Government Areas of the state.

The secretariats of the six councils were under lock and key at press time, as workers were not seen in the premises of the councils, except a handful of union officials who refused to come close to journalists who were at the gate seeking for information.

It was gathered that the directive to the workers was to remain at home indefinitely and not to be seen around the local government secretariats until further directives were issued to them.

The union officials sighted at the premises were said to be monitoring events to ensure total compliance with the strike order.

State Chairman of NULGE, Mr David Ofoeyeno, had in a statement addressed to the Secretary to the State Government, alleged that most of

C M Y K

the council workers in the state were owed backlogs of salaries ranging from four months and above.

Ofoeyeno regretted that the development had brought untold hardship to members, adding that the state leadership had already directed workers in the affected local governments to embark on

indefinite strike from May 11, 2015.

The state NULGE Chairman who is also the Delta State Chairman of Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, named the affected councils to include, Aniocha North and South, Patani, Isoko North and South, Udu, Ika South, Ika North East,

Oshimili North and South, Ukwuani and Ndokwa East and West.

Others are; Ughelli North and South, Okpe, Sapele, Ethiope East and West, Warri South and Uvwie Local Government Areas, insisting that the strike would not be called off until all backlog were paid.

Rivers Commission of Inquiry sits against court order

By Jimitota Onoyume

P

ORT HARCOURT— RIVERS State Commission of Inquiry into politically motivated killings in the state sat, yesterday, in Port Harcourt despite a subsisting court order restraining it from sitting.

Counsel to Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in the state, Mr Emmanuel Aguma, who drew the attention of the commission to the court order described the action of the commission as a violation of the rule of law.

He said his client, the PDP, had instructed him not to appear before the commission anymore so as not to aid and

abet its alleged illegalities.

Aguma said that since the attention of the commission was brought to the court order what he expected was for the commission to immediately hear the issue rather than defer it to Wednesday this week and still go ahead to take witnesses yesterday.

“We brought a copy of the court order to the commission yesterday. The commission, after our appeal, decided to take full argument on the matter on Wednesday. The least the commission could have done was to hear the court order. It is an ex parte motion that lasts for 14 days and it lapses on May 13.

“My clients have instructed that we no longer appear

before the commission, so, that we don’t aid and abet the flouting of the subsisting court order that restrains the commission from sitting. To appear before it will violate every known principle of rule of law," he said.

Chairman of the Commission, Professor Chidi Odinkalu, said he got to know of the court order only yesterday. While accepting a copy of the order, Odinkalu adjourned till Wednesday to hear arguments on all sides on the issue.

Meantime, the Commission went ahead to entertain witnesses. Some of them who appeared lamented the violence they suffered during the electioneering period.

INEC ad hoc staff in Edo protest over allowances

B

By Gabriel Enogholase

ENIN—SOME ad hoc staff of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, during the 2015 general elections, yesterday, took to the streets of Benin, Edo State, protesting alleged under-payment of their allowances by the commission.

The protesters, who were at the premises of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ, said they were engaged by INEC as Collation Officers, Returning Officers and Supervisory Presiding Officers and decried an alleged plan by the commission to pay them N35,000 as against the N65,000, which they said was obtainable in other states.

One of them, Edegbe Uyi, said: "INEC needs to explain why it refused to credit our accounts as stipulated by law, why there are discrepancies between the amount we received as collation officers in Edo compared to those of other states."

Edo govt not owing workers' salaries — Commissioner

By Simon Ebegbulem

B

ENIN—EDO State Government has denied owing workers salary arrears, insisting that it was up-to-date in its obligation to the workers.

The state government, in a statement in Benin City, yesterday, insisted that the state should not be lumped in the league of states in default of payment of salaries as it meets its wage obligations before the end of every month.

The state Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Mr. Louis Odion, in the statement, said: “We read with deep shock claims that the Government of Edo State owes workers five months salary arrears.

Nothing could be more misleading and mischievous."

14—Vanguard, TUESDAY, MAY 12, 2015

Dogara's supporters push to defy APC on zoning .As APC North-West senators split on Saraki, Lawan for Senate President

By Levinus Nwabughiogu

A

BUJA—A major test for the All Progressives Congress, APC, was unfolding last night, as canvassers for a major contender for Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, were setting machinery to defy proposals by the party’s governors on the zoning of the office.

The development came as members of the Northwest caucus of the party split on the candidatures of the two leading contenders for the presidency of the Senate, Senators Ahmad Lawan from Yobe State and Bukola Saraki from Kwara State.

Dogara was at press time in a meeting with scores of members-elect who have identified with his aspiration to be speaker of the House.

The momentum for Dogara was despite the fact that the party ’s governors had last week reached an agreement that the speaker should be zoned to the Southwest and the Senate President be zoned to the North-Central.

The report of the governors was passed on to the president-elect, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, who according to multiple sources, accepted the recommendation on the basis that the proposal should not in any way impede the popular choice of the lawmakers. Those behind Dogara it was learnt yesterday were working on the basis that the party would give heed to the desire of the majority of members and avoid the Tambuwal effect as happened in the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP in 2011.

Besides Dogara, others in contention for the speaker position in the 8th House are the incumbent minority leader, Femi Gbajabimila from Lagos State, Abdulmumin Jibrin from Kano State, Tahir Moguno from Borno State and Pally Iriase from Edo State.

A joint press conference scheduled to announce a collaboration between Gbajabimila and Jibrin in the leadership contest was twice cancelled yesterday after both men reportedly failed to address knotty issues that

arose after a tentative agreement on Sunday night.

Vanguard gathered that the meeting taking place at the Nigerian Air Force, NAF, Conference Center, Abuja was called to fine-tune strategies of reaching out to more members-elect besides the 143 that had already signed up for the Dogara project.

A source who spoke to Vanguard in confidence said that the meeting was evaluating strategies already in place to realise the success of Dogara in the leadership contest.

On the issue of zoning, a source in the camp disclosed that they had passed the point of zoning, saying that no one was talking about zoning anymore.

“Zoning is as good as dead in APC. General Mohammadu Buhari went through the hurdles of primaries with other contestants, later emerged winner, campaigned and won the general elections to become the president-elect,” a

source confided last night.

“Besides, the body language of the General and even the leadership of the party has always been to give free hand to the members to choose their own leaders. So, it is obviously what everyone is doing now.

“Let anyone who has the capacity to win the support of the members both old and new

emerge as the next speaker.

Hon. Femi Gbajabimila is in the race with Dogara. That is normal. But I can tell you that Dogara would win at the end of the day.

“But that is not to say that Gbaja is not qualified but they are essentially looking at a candidate that would be seen as their own.

UNESCO supports Samsung digital village to provide access to health, education

By Emeka Aginam

W

ITH THE support of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, UNESCO, the Managing Director of Samsung Electronics West Africa, Brovo Kim has said that Samsung first Digital Village launched, weekend, would provide access to innovative healthcare and educational

needs for the people of Oban community, in Akamkpa Local Government Area, Cross River State.

Kim said that a sizeable proportion of rural areas across the continent do not have access to electricity, resulting in isolated communities with limited access to education, healthcare and connectivity, which are necessary components of socio-economic development.

“We are not only bridging the

Poverty, ignorance complicate Nigeria’s devt —IRWA

T

HE OUTGOING president of the International Right Of Way Association, IRWA, Chapter 84 Nigeria, Mr. Charles Ebiai, has assured that the association would continue to support strides being taken by the Federal and state governments in the area of infrastructure development in spite of complications created by poverty and ignorance.

“Challenges to infrastructure development are complicated by Nigeria's situation of poverty and ignorance, thus a body that seeks to provide discipline and integrity, and properly educate, enlighten and guide the practitioners in the field of acquisition of Right of Way is most welcome and desirable,” he said.

Ebiai disclosed this in Abuja during the IRWA Second Educational Conference and Induction ceremony for its executive board, entitled, ‘Problems and Prospects of Right of Way Acquisitions in Infrastructure Project Implementation.’

He pointed out that owing to the growing

population, the government was tasked with providing public services and infrastructure, which required compulsory acquisition of land, especially with respect to power, roads, mass housing and oil and gas pipeline infrastructure which had led to numerous problems that practitioners and acquiring authorities had continued to grapple with.

The incoming president, Mr. Eze M.C Odigbo, said: “The advent of IRWA Chapter 84 Nigeria could not have happened at a more opportune time, as Africa was witnessing massive investment in infrastructure development which naturally gives rise to compulsory acquisition of 'Right of Way.' The managing director and chief executive officer of the Niger Delta Power Holding Company Ltd, NDPHC, Mr. J.A Olutu,in his keynote address, noted that a substantial part of Right of Way acquisition dealings revolve around the transfer of property interests to allow for linear regional infrastructure development such as electricity transmission lines, gas pipelines, rail lines, roads, among others.

digital divide but also providing a facility that meets the most critical health and education needs of the rural community,” Kim said.

Meanwhile, recent UNESCO report has indicated that there are still 58 million children out of school globally and around 100 million children who do not complete primary education, while healthcare in remote areas is nonexistent due to shortage of facilities and urban-rural gap.

The components of the Samsung Digital Village include: a Solar Powered Internet School, built to accommodate up to 24 learners; a Solar Powered Tele-Medical Centre, and a Solar Power Generator that powers up the Admin Centre which can be used as office space for local entrepreneurs and any other nearby school or community centre personnel with limited electricity supply.

Apart from the providing the appropriate technologies, Samsung is also working to ensure that people of the Oban community take ownership of the Digital Village and receive adequate training to optimise use of the facilities.

The solar-powered technologies to the people of Oban community is expected to bridge digital divide and serving as a catalyst for local business development and government service delivery.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, MAY 12, 2015 —15

Court orders police to vacate Enugu Assembly complex

Lecturers' strike grounds IMSU

By Chidi Nkwopara

....'Virement’ not unconstitutional —Chime

By Francis Igata

E

NUGU—THE Federal High Court sitting in Enugu, yesterday, ordered the Nigerian police to vacate Enugu State House of Assembly complex.

This came on a day the state government dismissed as baseless and legally untenable allegations by some members of the State House of Assembly loyal to the former Speaker, Eugene Odoh, that it was in breach of the constitution when it applied the process, popularly known in the public service as “ virement” to reallocate funds in the 2012 budget.

The order subsists, pending the determination of a suit brought by the Speaker, Odo, on behalf of 15 members of the House who issued an impeachment notice against Governor Sullivan Chime penultimate Monday.

The court, presided over by Justice D.V. Agishi, also restrained the police from curtailing the personal liberty of the Speaker.

It ordered that policemen should not be seen around the House of Assembly complex except at points determined by the Speaker.

It ordered that the Speaker and other 15 members of the House should be allowed to have access to the legislative complex, particularly the chambers.

The orders were made in an interim injunction granted in favour of the Speaker who filed a suit before the court on behalf of 15 members of the House.

The respondents in the suit are the eight members of the House loyal to Governor Chime and the Nigerian Police.

Justice Agishi adjourned the matter to May 19 for further hearing.

Police Public Relations Officer,PPRO,Mr. Ebere

Amaraizu,DSP, said: “We are not aware of any injunction. ‘’The issue is that police are there to prevent break-down of law and order. We are not part of the legislature, neither are we the executive. Our business is to maintain law and order.”

Meanwhile, Enugu State government has dismissed as baseless and legally untenable, allegations by

some members of the State House of Assembly loyal to the former Speaker Eugene Odoh, claiming that the government was in breach of the constitution when it applied the process popularly known in the public service as “ virement” to reallocate funds funds in the 2012 budget.

A statement by Chukwudi Achife, Chief Press Secretary to Governor Sullivan Chime, said

those making the allegations were either ignorant of the law and the facts surrounding the matter or were merely blackmailing the government for ulterior reasons.

Achife contended that there was nothing unconstitutional about virement, more so, when the House had on its own, approved the adjustments made by the executive in that year’s budget.

O

COMPETITION: Mr. CCO Osuya, Mrs. Toritseju Akharume, Managing Director, Ridos House Montgomery School; Mr. Bode Bernard, a guest; Mr. Orits Ojeikhoai, MD, Brand Optimal, and Mr. Dave Akharume, Chairman, Ridos House Montgomery School, during the first Inter-house competition of the school, in Lagos, weekend.

Elechi commissions uncompleted projects in Ebonyi ...As labour unions shun exercise

By Peter Okutu

A

BAKALIKI—GOVERNOR Martin Elechi of Ebonyi State, yesterday, commissioned the uncompleted Ochudo State Secretariat blocks and international market for the use.

Giving reasons for the commissioning, Elechi said the implication of allowing the projects to depreciate in value would be enormous if allowed, since the state had no funds to complete them before the end of the present administration.

However, the leadership of Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC and Trade Union Congress, TUC in the state shunned the commissioning exercise over alleged intimidation and victimization of workers in the state.

The secretariat, with 11 blocks of four floors building with 6,000 offices and 7,070 lock-up stores in the international market, were among the projects started seven years ago by the Elechi-led administration in the state.

The governor noted that the secretariat and market had not attained the final stages of completion, even though he had programmed to complete the projects before last December.

He added that despite the additional provisions of N2 billion and N3.2 billion for the completion

of the projects respectively, funds were not available for the completion of the projects.

He said: “If we do not commission these projects, if we do not put them to use immediately, the depreciation effect will cost us more to bring them back to this stage we are now. ‘’So it will make sense that we should start using them now, given the state of below 100 per cent completion.

“If we had completed the way we wanted, the environments would have been asphalted. The contractors prepared for that but the funds were not forthcoming."

WERRI—THE indefinite industrial action embarked upon by Imo State University, IMSU, Owerri, chapter of Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, has stalled academic activities in the institution.

Vanguard had exclusively reported that the university teachers were spoiling for an indefinite industrial action, following the nonpayment of arrears of their monthly wages by the university management.

The indefinite strike, which took effect from May 7, 2015, was declared by the leadership of IMSUASUU after its congress to press home their demand on the payment of their two months of unpaid salaries.

A cross section of students who spoke to Vanguard, yesterday, on the issue, expressed displeasure over the inability or Imo State g o v e r n m e n t ’ s unwillingness to pay its workers as at when due.

“The indefinite industrial action has negative impact on students and their parents. ‘’The strike is doing a colossal damage to our academic pursuit,” a female student lamented.

Her male counterpart in the Faculty of Law, said: “These strikes destroy the university ’s academic calendar, as well as prevent us from completing our courses of study on schedule.”

The students were unanimous in their belief that previous industrial actions had badly affected their studies, as well as lured some of them into engaging in despicable acts.

Gowon to chair Foursquare anniversary lecture

F

ORMER HEAD of State, Gen. Yakubu Gowon, is billed to chair a special lecture to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the Foursquare Gospel Church in Nigeria.

The event holds on Thursday, May 14, at the National Headquarters of the church at Alagomeji, Yaba, Lagos.

Lecture, entitled, ‘The Church and the Nigerian Nation: Impact, Challenges, and the Way Forward,’ will be delivered by Professor

Adeniyi Agunbiade, Vice Chancellor of McPherson University, Ogun State.

Expected as Royal Father of the Day is His Royal Majesty, Ogiame Atuwatse II, the Olu of Warri, while General Overseer of the church, Rev. Felix Meduoye, is the chief host.

Gen. Gowon, Nigeria's former Head of State from 1966 to 1975, is founder of Nigeria Prays, a body set up to intercede for the country in prayers.

16—Vanguard, TUESDAY, MAY 12, 2015

Harsh business climate cripples business in Nigeria

By Chidi Nkwopara

O

WERRI—THE Federal and state governments have been reminded that every attempt to reduce unemployment may remain a mirage, if the prevailing multiple taxation and unfriendly business climate persisted.

The chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Rapido Foods Limited, Mr. Frank Nneji, who stated this during the third customers’ forum in Owerri, yesterday, however, restated the company’s commitment towards reduction of unemployment and job creation in the country.

“It is sad to note that a number of industrial concerns across the nation have been forced to close shop as a result of most unfriendly operational climate in the country.

Speaking earlier, the company ’s Managing Director, Mrs. Ngozi Nneji, represented by the Chief Operating Officer, Mr. Isijola Ignatius, discribed the forum as not only an avenue for stock-taking of all the activities of the past year, but also a veritable opportunity to brainstorm on the years ahead.

FRSC tasks Nigerians on less privileged

By Chimaobi Nwaiwu

N

NEWI—THE Federal Road Safety Corps, FRSC, yesterday, called for implementation of a programme by government, groups and individuals to support less privileged people in the society.

The FRSC Co-ordinator of Special Marshals and Partnership, Mr. Ben Osaka, made the appeal after leading FRSC Special Marshals to visit and present gift items to some motherless babies and children homes in Onitsha.

The visit by the FRSC was part of activities marking the end of United Nations Safety Week, entitled, 'Children and Road Safety.

Osaka said there was need to give special attention to motherless babies and less privileged in order to create a sense of belonging for them.

EFCC arraigns 5 suspects over N26m internet fraud

By Austin Ogwuda

E

NUGU—THE Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, yesterday arraigned five persons before the Federal High Court, Enugu, for allegedly obtaining money under false pretence to the tune of N26

million.

Arraigned before Justice D.V. Agishir were Uchenna Nwako, Ejikeme Oluchukwu, Nnamani Ikechukwu, Ibeh Kodili Martins and Nwako Victoria Ifeoma.

The suspects were arrested on February 27, 2013 upon intelligence report and were

granted administrative bails.

They were, however, arraigned yesterday on 16- count charge.

Part of the charges read: “That you Uchenna Nwako, Ejikme Oluchukwu, Nnamani Ikechukwu, Ibeh Kodili Martins and Nwako Victoria Ifeoma sometimes in November 2012 in

INDUCTION: From left, Deputy Speaker, House of Representatives, Emeka Ihedioha; DirectorGeneral, National Institute for Legislative Studies, NILS, Dr. Ladi Hamalai; Senate President, David Mark; former Speaker, House of Representatives, Umar Ghali-Na'aba, and Sen. Ita Enang, at the induction for members of the state houses of assembly, in Abuja, yesterday. Photo: NAN

Enugu, Enugu State within the jurisdiction of the Federal High Court of Nigeria, conspired among yourselves to commit an unlawful act to wit: obtaining money by false pretence and thereby committed an offence contrary to section 8(a) and punishable under section 1(3) of Advance Fee Fraud and other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2006.

“That you Nwako Victoria Ifeoma and Uchenna Nwako on or about 18th October 2012 in Enugu, Enugu State within the jurisdiction of the Federal High Court of Nigeria , concealed and disguised the origin of the sum of (N8,940,000) Eight million nine hundred and forty thousand naira only, which is proceed of an unlawful activity by causing the said money to be paid into the Zenith Bank account number 1013144345 of Ifechina Enterprises Limited, a private limited company jointly owned by both of you, and you thereby committed an offence contrary to section 15(2)(a) and punishable under section 15(3) of the Money Laundering Act , 2011 (As Amended).’’

They pleaded not guilty, while the matter was adjourned to May 13, 2015.

Family petitions Police over alleged murder of son

By Luka Binniyat

K

ADUNA—KADUNA State Police Commissioner, Alh. Umar Shehu, has been petitioned by a family alleging the murder of a member by one Abdul Haladu, son of General Aliyu Haladu (retd) The petition, which receipt was acknowledged and stamped by the office of the Police Commissioner on May 7, 2015, from the family of Jafar Y. Mugero of 5Q, Kawo, New Extension, in Kaduna North Local Government Area, LGA, read: “With due respect and honour, I wish to complain of the above named person (Abdul Haladu) ‘’On May 2, 2015, one of my sons by name, Samaila Adamu, residing at Amana Mai Malaci, Igabi Local Government Area, went to a wedding ceremony.

While there, Abdul Haladu arrested him, shot him and killed him.

"He then took his corpse to the

Divisional Police Headquarters, Rigachikun. ‘’He told the police that he suspected him to have stolen his cows. All efforts by our family to know what really happened proved abortive.

“We would like you to use your good office and cause

investigation into the matter with a view to bringing any culprit to book.”

Jafar Mugero, father of the deceased, told journalists that upon receiving the information of the death of his son, he drove down to the Riga Chikun Police divisional office where he met the

Nigeria can’t progress without leaders of integrity —Anya

By Ikenna Asomba

T

HE PRESIDENT of Ndigbo Lagos and a member of the 2014 National Conference, Prof. Anya O. Anya, yesterday, expressed concern that there was a huge deficit of integrity in the country, pointing that the nation at this critical point needed leaders of integrity to move forward.

Professor Anya made this remarks in Lagos, while being

conferred with the African Leaders of Integrity Merit Awards (ALIMA), by Proven Integrity Communications Network (PICN), publishers of Integrity International Magazine (IIM).

Eminent Nigerians who graced the event were the President, South East South South Professionals of Nigeria (SESSP), Mr. Emeka Ugwu-Oju; former Group General Manager (Finance & Account), Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Chief Cyprian Nwuba;

Delta APC mourns Okobia, Emerhor consoles family

By Christopher Njoku

A

LL PROGRESSIVES Congress, APC, in Delta State has been thrown into a mourning mood as it lost one of its key stakeholders and a chieftain, Chief Napoleon Okobia, JP, who died at the University of Benin Teaching Hospital,UBTH. Chief Okobia hails from Eku

Divisional Crime Officer, DCO, and Divisional Police Officer, DPO. He said that after meeting the police at Rigachikun, he was promised that the corpse of his son would be released for burial, but only on the condition that he would not make trouble.

in Ethiope East Local Government Area of Delta State.

He was aged 68 and until his death, he was a vibrant politician and business mogul, described by many as a forthright politician.

Delta APC 2015 governorship candidate, Olorogun O’tega Emerhor, in a statement by his Director of Media and Political Communication, Dr. Fred Oghenesivbe, said: “Chief

Okobia will be remembered for his lofty political ideas, strategies, foresight and leadership skills, which helped positively to project the party in Delta State.

“APC family is pained by the exit of our leader and true statesman at a time his wealth of political experience is needed more than ever, especially as we take strategic steps to rescue our oil rich state from 16 years of mismanagement."

Chairman/ Chief Executive Officer, Bethel Living Limited (BLL), Chief Dominic Ekesi; Legal Adviser, Ndigbo Lagos, Zik Obi; President/Editor-in-Chief, IIM, Onwordi Onichabor; Head, International Operations and Relations, IIM, Dr. Joseph Ododo; Secretary, Abiriba Communal Improvement Union (ACIU), Elder Uche Okonkwo among others.

Receiving the award, Anya who also advised the youths to imbibe the values of integrity, said: “I am really happy to accept this honour conferred on me today. However, my first inclination was not to accept it because the whole idea of honours and awards have been bastardized. But after doing an investigation about the Proven Integrity Communications Network, and looking at some of the questions I asked, it gave me sufficient confidence that they are trying to do a good job. As there is strong deficit of integrity in our country, it is important to focus on it. If focusing on integrity means that I become a sacrificial lamb for that purpose, I accept the honour as well as the burden.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, MAY 12, 2015—17

D

URING the presidential election campaign, General Buhari observed in his “Manifesto and Vision for Nigeria” that: “The general trust level of politics, politicians and political leaders is at an all-time low.

One may ask why? And we can as well understand why after years of broken promises.”

But now that the election is over, Vanguard reports that, in a confession to APC governors: “President-elect, Major-General Muhammadu Buhari (rtd), has said that he is currently at a loss on how best to tell Nigerians that his promise of turning the economy around quickly upon assumption of office on May 29 may not be feasible after all.”

In effect, our presidentelect himself provides the latest edition of the broken promises he derides in his manifesto. Many of those promises were made in complete disregard of the parlous state of the Nigerian economy given dwindling oil prices.

Father Christmas During the election, Buhari promised that under his administration, the Nigerian economy would achieve GDP growth-rate of 10-12% annually. He would create a Social Welfare Program providing 5,000 naira monthly for the 25 million poorest Nigerians; provide allowances for unemployed Youth Corps graduates for twelve months; provide one meal a day for all primary school pupils; and create one million jobs for Igbo youths by revamping the huge coal deposits in Enugu State.

He would also bolster the Nigerian middle-class by an additional 4 million new home-owners benefiting from a national mortgage of singledigit interest-rates; generate, transmit and distribute electricity on a 24/7 basis; and build 5,000 km of superhighway and up to 6,800 km of modern railway all by 2019, among other absolutely wonderful things But when APC governors went crying to him that their treasuries are empty, in spite of the fact that they either emptied them themselves, or are in no position to determine their status because they are yet to take over the reins of office; Buhari pleaded for understanding.

He said: “The expectation is too high and I have started nervously to explain to people that Rome was not built in a day. For this to be corrected, please, give the incoming government a chance.”

However, the expectation is high because Buhari and the APC built them up during the campaign. They should blame themselves if they are now victims of their own deceitful success. PDP C M Y K

Does our President- elect int end tto o intend keep his word?

Publicity Secretary, Olisa Metuh observed that: “The APC has successfully used propaganda and lies to get to power. Now, let us see how they will use the same strategies to sustain it.”

Apparently, many of Buhari’s promises during the election were never intended for fulfillment. Many of them were made for the singular purpose of winning the election. Having won the election, Buhari clearly has no more use for them.

Therefore, he has been busy discarding them one-by-one.

Recently, he advised Nigerians on a TV Continental interview that, unlike the Quran and the Bible, the APC position during the election is now subject to change.

One chance At the APC South-East rally at Dan Anyiam Stadium in Owerri, Buhari declared that he would make the naira equal to the dollar if voted into office. He continued: “It is sad that the value of the naira has dropped to more than 230 to one dollar. This does not speak well for the nation’s economy.” But now that he is president-elect, Buhari no longer talks about naira-dollar parity. All he does is complain about the devaluation of the naira.

When a Channels TV presenter asked him during the election campaign how he would manage the economy in the face of dwindling oil prices, he replied that he would first stabilise the oil market. But instead of telling us how he proposes to do this miracle now that he is president-elect, all Buhari does is complain to the newly-elected legislators of the Senate and House of Representatives that the decline in Nigeria’s revenues due to falling oil prices poses great danger to his development agenda.

Buhari even promised during the campaign to kill corruption in Nigeria. He said: “If we don’t kill corruption in Nigeria, corruption will kill us. So, the choice before us is to resolve to kill corruption and free our country from the firm grip of corrupt men and women.”

However, Buhari is no longer talking about killing

corruption. All we are getting from him is that he and his ministers will declare their assets, and corrupt officials will be prosecuted.

Surely Buhari knows that in no country in the world has corruption ever been killed; least of all in Nigeria. When he said he would kill corruption, he was merely using hyperbole to pull the wool over the eyes of Nigerians. But now the time for hyperbole is over.

However, Bola Tinubu does not seem to have received the memo to that effect from APC HQ. Speaking after the election at the Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomosho, Tinubu declared that the APC would eradicate poverty in Nigeria. He said: “A progressive government must turn its face from the austerity policies of the outgoing administration that tried to manage poverty, but not end it. Such policies serve only to deepen and prolong the hardship of the average person.”

APC eradication of poverty is yet another pie-in-the-sky.

There is no template from any APC-controlled state in this regard. On the contrary, virtually all of them are in arrears with workers’ salaries for several months. Even Jesus the Messiah admits that poverty cannot be eliminated in this world. He says categorically: “You will always have poor people with you.” (Matthew 26:11).

Read Buhari’s lips At a Town-Hall meeting in Abuja in March 2015 during the presidential campaign, Buhari made a solemn promise to bring back home the kidnapped Chibok schoolgirls. He said: “I will give all it takes to ensure that

Buhari asked for the vote and got the vote. But now that the election has been won, it is excuses galore!

our girls kidnapped from Chibok are rescued and reintegrated with their families.”

However, with the election over, Buhari is now the paragon of caution and “double-speak.” In a speech made during the one-year anniversary of the Chibok kidnapping, Buhari said: “We do not know if the Chibok girls can be rescued. Their whereabouts remain unknown. As much as I wish to, I cannot promise that we can find them.”

What are we to make of this volte-face from our president-elect who nevertheless fashions himself as a man of integrity?

In an interview with Christiane Amanpour on CNN during the campaign, Buhari boasted that he would defeat Boko Haram within two months if elected. Hear him: “We know how they started and where they are now and we will rapidly give attention to security in the country.

And I believe we will ef-fectively deal with them in two months when we get into office.”““ But now that he has been elected, Buhari categorically denies ever making such a promise. He now says in an interview with journalists: “I think I am too experienced in internal security to give two months deadline on Boko Haram. I don’t think I would have made that statement. I didn’t.”

However, the record of his interview with Christiane Amanpour speaks for itself. It shows our president-elect can be economical with the truth.

Anti-corruption flip-flops In order not to scare off dodgy members of his party with his anti-corruption rhetoric, Buhari promised to let corrupt sleeping dogs lie if elected. In his Manifesto, he says: “I, Muhammadu Buhari, have resolved that the task ahead of me is that of securing our nation and prospering our people, not looking backward to the failed policies and promises of the past.”

At the North-West APC rally in Kaduna, Buhari declared: “Whoever that is indicted of corruption between 1999 to the

time of swearing-in, would be pardoned. I am going to draw a line, anybody who involved himself in corruption after I assume office, will face the music.” This means as long as you steal money between 1999 and 2015, you have nothing to fear under a Buhari presidency.

But now that he has been elected, Buhari is singing a different tune. He now says he will revisit the issue of the allegedly missing $20 billion from NNPC accounts. At a meeting with APC stakeholders from Adamawa, Buhari insisted that: “This issue is not over yet. Once we assume office, we will order a fresh probe into the matter.

We will not allow people to steal money meant for Nigerians to buy shares and stash away in foreign lands.”

This shows our presidentelect is not a man who believes in keeping his word.

He says whatever is expedient for him to say at any given moment. With so many failed promises, even before the inauguration of his government, it is clear that Buhari is in for a very short honeymoon. Nigerians are not likely to accept having excuses for breakfast, lunch and dinner.

Excuses galore Buhari asked for the vote and got the vote. But now that the election has been won, it is excuses galore!

However, Nigerians voted for change: they did not vote for excuses. When you go to a restaurant, you don’t go there to listen to excuses. You go there to eat food. It is really not the business of the clientele to know the difficulties encountered in cooking it. Buhari asked repeatedly to be president, making all sorts of promises.

Now he is president-elect, we need no excuses from him.

If everything is so bleak and bad, why did he ask for the job? Why did he make all those highfalutin promises to a gullible electorate? What Fela said about Buhari’s firstcoming is equally applicable to his second-coming. He said: “The people wey no sabi dey jubilate, the people wey sabi dey shake their head.”

Buhari discouraged Nigerians from being patient with Goodluck Jonathan. It is unrealistic for him to now expect Nigerians to be patient for him. What he promised during the election was magic. What he needs to provide now is that magic.

We want to see the magic and we want to see it now. This demand is necessary in order to ensure that Nigerians will not fall for this same trick any time soon in the future. We must hold Buhari and the APC accountable for every single one of the empty promises they made during the election campaign.

18 — Vanguard, TUESDAY, MAY 12, 2015 SAFETY is just a word in Nigeria . Its importance is entirely lost on us. Everyday we act in ways that show our preference for words. We speak loftily of safety when we know it is the right word, usually at conferences on it. Our involvement with safety ends once the curtain falls at those events.

One area where safety is a major issue is in aviation. The worries increased after the series of air crashes in 2005 and 2006.

Preliminary reports of each crash pointed to the poor safety standards of our airports. The authorities did not act. In fact, they have resorted to celebrating the low standards of our aviation facilities – from re-surfaced runways to installation of navigational aids.

News of the downgrading of the Asaba Airport over safety concerns should be received with commendation for the authorities for averting possible dangers from continued use of the airport. The measure also calls for quick completion of the works in the affected areas, so that the airport can return to full normal service soon.

Since its opening four years ago, Asaba has

Downgrade of Asaba Airport become an important part of the nation’s aviation map, and has facilitated travels to the commercial city Onitsha , its next door neighbour across the River Niger and as far as Kano , a recent connection from Asaba.

Asaba’s challenges also call for another look at all our airports. Are they safe? A 2009 audit of our airports, in response to some crashes, rated Lagos as the only one that met the requirement of three fire service trucks. The Nnamdi Azikiwe in Abuja failed the test.

Abuja’s runway, then, had expired by seven years! By International Civil Aviation

Organisation standards, the life span of a runway is 20 years.

Port Harcourt, the oil and gas capital of Nigeria, ran its airport without a functional fire service truck. It took the 2005 crash that claimed young lives, for the nation to know that the fire truck that sat pretty in its tent was not working.

All the talks about providing adequate fire fighting equipment – there was no functional one on the day of the crash – were uttered in haste. The Rivers State Government donated N2 billion to the airport authorities for the provision of fire trucks. There is no evidence fire trucks were bought.

The downgrading of Asaba, on account of the safety of its facilities, again reminds us of the N20 billion aviation intervention fund the Obasanjo administration created. Was the money ever used to upgrade our aviation facilities?

If we cannot maintain safety of our airports, we are compromising the barest standards for existence in a modern world that depends on speed for decisions.

OPINION

Cry not for the Igbos (2)

By Nwobodo Chidiebere

Continued from yesterday pg 20

I

CAN say it authoritatively without mincing words that Igbos will still vote for Jonathan a thousand times again without regrets if he chooses to contest again in the near future; as long as we continue to sense that scent of justice, equity and freedom in him.

Anyone accusing Igbos of being gullible for voting for justice and selfemancipation in the name of Jonathan, is either drowning in the ocean of naivety or wandering in the desert of illusions, which is the hallmark of a person crying more than the bereaved.

Most of the self-righteous opinion writers are of the School of thought that it would be difficult for an Igbo man to govern a heterogeneous nation like Nigeria base on the current political permutations. Unfortunately for them, an average Igbo person is productive, progressive, industrious, self-determined, republican in nature; and independent of government at the centre to survive. This explains why Igbo has remained the most C M Y K

adventurous nation in the entire black race, which positioned them as the engine propelling Nigeria’s economic development.It is an irrefutable assertion that Lagos State as the economic capital of Nigeria attained this enviable status because of economic dexterity and investment prowess of the wise men of the East who migrated to the City of excellence in search of greener pasture as a result of their metropolitan nature and adventurous spirit.

Why it is that other regions expressed their franchised without fear, but Igbo nation is being vilified and insulted for upholding their fundamental human rights by voting for candidates of their choice?

Political power or not, Igbo nation would continue to thrive, survive and progress in any corner of the globe where human beings have the innate ability to survive.

Therefore, those crying for the Igbos for expressing their quest for justice, equity and freedom should spear their tears for other noble cause. President Jonathan lost the election, but the Igbos won the war against agents of divide-and-rule by uniting and speaking with one voice for the first time, which is sending jitters down the spine of those who have being using divide-and-rule to incite Igbo brothers and sisters against each other. Never again will any Nigerian with Igbo blood flowing in his veins be treated as a second class citizen in this forced marriage called Nigeria.

Why it is that other regions expressed their franchised without fear, but Igbo nation is being vilified and insulted for upholding their fundamental human rights by voting for candidates of their choice? Must everyone be intimidated into voting for a particular candidate?

Igbos are not against President-Elect, Gen.Mohammadu Buhari but against the proponents of marginalisation and inequality, who view Igbos as a conquered and defeated race that must be kept down at all cost.

Igbo nation is ever ready to give their maximum support to the incoming administration provided it will prove to us through its policies and programmes that the civil war has ended and Nigeria of the 21st century is no longer the same country of 1960s, that every Nigerian irrespective of his language and faith is free to live and work in any part of this country without fear of intimidation or segregation.

As long as humanity persists, Igbos will continue to co-exist peaceful with other fellow Nigerians in any part of this country. To my fellow Igbo opinion writers, who insult the sensibilities of Igbo nation in other to project themselves as pan-Nigeria, or those who have sold their conscience and birth right to be able to eat the crumbs falling from their masters' table, posterity beckons! Why I am at a very high risk of being tagged an ethnic bigot for standing up for justice and freedom of my people, I will like to state clearly that a man, who is not ready to die for the cause he believes in; is not worthy to live, apology to Martin Lutherking, Jr. Concluded *Mr. Chidiebere, a social commentator, wrote from Abuja.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, MAY 12, 2015— —19

The successor abandonment syndrome

By Sunny Ikhioya THE title of this piece is not original to me. I picked it from Nasir Ahmad El-Rufai’s book The Accidental Public Servant. Keen observers of the political space know that El-Rufai is a key player in the incoming All Progressive Congress, APC, government, as the governor elect of Kaduna state. The successor abandonment syndrome (sas) is the penchant for successors to overturn lofty programmes and policies of their predecessors in office, either for personal gains or outright vindictiveness, in the process leaving the people and the country to suffer the consequences. El-Rufai treated the issue extensively in his book and it is only apt that we refer to him now.

President elect Gen. Muhammadu Buhari had also been in government as head of state and he observed how most of the policies he instituted together with Tunde Idiagbon were overturned by the Ibrahim Babangida led regime. So, he knows how it feels and what it means to have well intentioned policies overturned by successors who are in a hurry to create impressions and to make personal and political gains at

the expense of the overall interest of the people.

The APC party is at the verge of taking over governance, a lot has been said about how they won the 2015 elections and made history, how the PDP managed to implode through mismanagement and corruption in the last 16 years of their being in office. How will the APC manage the affairs of this country? Are they going to chart a new path? We wait and see.

Judging from their statements and body language, the tendency is in the direction of change, but, what kind of change are we looking at here?

Structural and institutional changes that will outlast several generations or the change of personnel for change sake? For some of us, the problem is not with our personnel as we have capable hands to deliver performance in the country, if given the right leadership and direction, a leadership that will set the right examples for subordinates to follow, free from sentiments of ethnicity and religion, free from corruption and focused on genuine change, that is what the APC has promised us with the Buhari government.

As we go about this change, we must be very careful of the ‘herd

mentality’- as my good friend Dan Ekoko will put it – that is, the band wagon effect, we must not be carried away with the hysteria, so that we can successfully separate the baby from the bath water. Governance is serious business and it must not be left to the whims of a few persons who have personal grudges to settle. Thus, the APC must not be in a hurry to engage in the mass sacking of persons who have not been on their side and institutions that have been set up for the public good must be allowed to continue.

The debate on the solution to Nigeria’s problems has been on before the advent of Buhari. So,

In developed democracies, these institutions are independent and separated from the activities of politicians.

Buhari must allow our democracy evolve to this standard

Who is afraid of NDIC's amendments?

we can either go for structural and institutional changes driven by focused leadership or a mere change of personnel. In other words, is Nigeria’s problem that of personnel or structures? People expect dramatic things to happen, beginning with the mass weeding of people presumed to be cogs in the wheel of progress or under performers. I will advise that we take our time to study the situation. Buhari should specify clearly the direction he wants his government to take and draw up a framework that will guide the achievement of such goals. Make it clear to all and sundry and demand compliance accordingly, through the instruments of appropriate rewards and punishment. Those who cannot cope will be seen openly and weeded out, this way, transparency of the government is readily visible. We must not put the cart before the horse and people must not be victimised for not supporting politicians in power or for any other purposes.

President Bill Clinton of the United States was talking about shared prosperity on Christian Amanpour's, CNN programme of Wednesday 6th May, 2015.

Clinton believes that the target of every focused government is to give shared prosperity and for there to be shared prosperity there must be inclusiveness of all.

We must move away from resentment politics to shared

misconceptions in the various publications to the proposed amendments as follows:

Power to license banks

By Bashir Ibrahim Hassan

T

HE appearance of Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation (NDIC) at the public hearing organised by the Senate Committee on Banking, Insurance and other Financial Institutions to defend its quest for amendments of its 2006 Act last March has ignited a debate on the pros and cons of the proposed amendment. The debate is welcome in a democratic set up like ours, in that it afforded the Nigerian public the opportunity to know what the amendments were meant to achieve. It is remarkable that the media is playing a very crucial role in providing the public platform to air these relevant arguments.

However, lately, some members of the anti-amendment camps are increasingly employing lots of spins in their narratives that smack of desperation. And, unfortunately, some media are being employed to unwittingly advance their evidently unhelpful sophistries.

For example, the editorials published on Monday, March 30 editions of The Punch (“NDIC law’s contentious amendment”) and the Sunday April 26, 2015 edition of Leadership ('CBN, NDIC as Sector Regulators’) as well as an opinion article published in the Monday, April 27, 2015 edition of Nigerian Tribune (‘’Change that set CBN, NDIC on war path’’) were quite misleading. These publications conveyed information that stands the truth on its head, and clearly aimed to misinform the unsuspecting public. Only desperation will lead to such open “yarn spinning”. And one is inclined to ask the question: who is/are afraid of the amendments NDIC is seeking? These are amendments that seek to strengthen the legal framework NDIC urgently needs to adequately protect the depositors of our banks, primary mortgage banks and microfinance institutions.

The issues that compel amendments to the Act are already in the public domain, but since not all members of the public will have the time or access to these amendments some people quickly cash in

C M Y K

on these weakness to dish out propaganda and twist facts. Therefore, those who believe that depositors need the kind of protection NDIC is proposing have the responsibility to refute the claims and set the facts straight.

Before addressing the misinformation, a brief background on the NDIC is necessary to set the argument in perspective.

It is a known fact that the Corporation was established by the NDIC Decree No. 22 of 1988 (now NDIC Act No. 16 of 2006).

Since it commenced operations in 1989, the Corporation has discharged its mandate creditably in the areas of Deposit Guarantee, Bank Supervision, Failure Resolution and Bank Liquidation.

However, the NDIC has been handicapped in the effective discharge of its mandate by a lack of enforcement powers.

For example, major challenges arise from its inability to effect payout when there is a bank liquidation. Consequently, the NDIC presented proposed amendments to its enabling law before the National Assembly to strengthen its capacity to effectively discharge its mandate. The proposed amendments are in line with the International Association of Deposit Insurers’ (IADI) core principles of effective deposit insurance. It is instructive to note that the Corporation has not made any new proposal on its functions or powers but has simply reechoed what has been its mandate and powers since its inception in 1988. Its concern is to ensure safety, soundness and stability in the banking system.

Now let us look at some of the areas of

The Corporation has not made any new proposal on its functions or powers but has simply re-echoed what has been its mandate and powers since its inception

On the issue of power to issue licences to banks, the publications allege that “the Corporation is requesting that applicants for banking licences should simultaneously submit to the CBN and NDIC their applications for licences to enable the Corporation determine whether or not it will grant Deposit Insurance Status to the bank if and when licensed”.

However, the proposed amendments contain no such proposal. The power to licence banks in Nigeria is strictly within the purview of the Central Bank.

However, the Corporation has observed that banks, particularly microfinance banks (MFBs) and primary mortgage banks (PMBs), have closed shop shortly after being licensed and that some of them whose licences were revoked by the CBN could not even be located at their last known addresses after taking away depositors’ funds. Even the promoters could not be traced by both the NDIC and CBN. In practice, therefore, the Corporation is desirous of being involved in the process of licensing the banks, particularly in the area of carrying out “fit and proper persons test” in order to forestall the reoccurrence of events where promoters disappeared with depositors'money.

Power to supervise banks

On the power to supervise banks by the Corporation without reference to the CBN, the Corporation is portrayed as having requested that “the banks be shared between both organisations with each party able to exercise regulatory and supervisory powers over its "share" without reference to the other”. As a matter of fact, again, there is no such proposal in the amendments proposed by NDIC – indeed, there was no need for such a proposal. It should be noted that the existing provisions in the NDIC Act, 2006 gave the Corporation powers in Sections 27-31 to examine banks and issue reports and such reports were exchanged between the two institutions. Such was the practice until the assumption of office by the immediate past CBN Governor, Mallam Sanusi Lamido Sanusi in 2009,

inclusiveness, all parts must come together and be allowed to have their say in government affairs, whether they are in government or the opposition, no victimisation.

The cable online of may 4 carried an headline; “Buhari will overhaul the military, physical planning and urban development”. Overhauling structures and institutions does not mean that existing personnel are sacked. People are can only sack when they do not fit into the picture created for that function.

From the days of Murtala/ Obasanjo, we have carried out mass retrenchments in the past and the actions did not augur well for the country. Buhari also had his share with Idiagbon and this has gone on with successive regimes. Having spent billions of naira to train our personnel in the military and other institutions, it will be foolhardy to have them retrenched because they are not from a part of the country or did not support a particular candidate. This should not not happen.

In developed democracies, these institutions are independent and separated from the activities of politicians. Buhari must allow our democracy evolve to this standard. *Mr. Ikhioya, a commentator on national issues, wrote from Lagos.

who requested that the NDIC and CBN should jointly examine banks and issue joint reports. However, the NDIC was of the view that it should revert to the status quo to maintain its operational independence. And what is the meaning of its operational independence if it must issue joint report?

Power to terminate licences of banks

On the power to terminate the insurance status of banks, one of the publications also alleges that “the Corporation seeks power to terminate the deposit insurance status of a bank with a mere notification to the CBN”. The reality is that the power to terminate the insurance status of any licensed bank has been in NDIC’s Act since 1988 and is therefore not a new proposal. However, due to the observation by the CBN with respect to this clause, the Corporation decided to amend that section from ‘’Notification’’ to ‘’Consultations’’ whenever such need arises.

Power to appoint Liquidator

Self

as

On the power to appoint itself as Liquidator, one of the publications alleges that “subsequent to the power to determine the licence of a bank as detailed above, the Corporation also seeks the power to appoint itself as liquidator of the same institution.” It is pertinent to note that both the CBN and NDIC share responsibility for failure resolution.

However, with respect to the appointment of the NDIC as liquidator, it was agreed between the CBN and NDIC that the provision be inserted to cater for situations where insured institutions, such as primary mortgage banks (PMBs) and microfinance banks (MFBs), would have closed shop for long periods and the CBN had not revoked their licences of insured institutions.

Although the provision on appointment of NDIC as Provisional Liquidator had already been tested with the revocation of the operating licences of some MFBs, its effectiveness was very much in doubt, given the experience with the cases of the defunct Fortune and Triumph banks.

Continues tomorrow on pg 18 •Mr. Hassan, a finance expert, wrote from Abuja.

20 — VANGUARD, TUESDAY, MAY 12 , 2015

Child theft, trade: When mothers, relations are culpable

By Chioma Onuegbu, Uyo

I

N recent times child theft and the trading in children, especially babies, have become disturbingly prevalent in most states across the country, including Akwa Ibom State. Records in the last two years, according to the State Police Command and other law enforcement agencies, indicate that the crime is on the increase.

However, the most shocking aspect of this heinous crime is the discovery that the biological mothers who are usually young and single, out of a desire for monetary gains, voluntarily sell their babies after putting to bed.

This they successfully carry out by conspiring with some members of their immediate families - parents, aunties, cousins.

Unlike the ‘baby factories’ that operate illegal homes, some cases uncovered by the police in the state shows that these teenage girls stay at home, get pregnant and then look for ready buyers/ patrons immediately after putting to bed and in some cases the children are stolen by close family members who now sell them to unknown persons.

Recently, one Esther Joshua Johnny from Nsit Ibom Local Government Area was paraded at the State Criminal Investigation Department, SCID,Uyo and she actually admitted that she sold her three-day-old baby boy, David who is currently three months old, at a cost of N300, 000.00.

In an interview with Vanguard Metro, 18-year-old Esther who is a single mother, claimed that she sold the baby, her third child, so that she could cater for herself and her two other children. She, however, refused to disclose who collected her own share of N150, 000.00.

“I sold my baby because I don’t have anybody to assist me take care of him and the other two children. I don’t know who the father is, so I decided to sell him.

I take care of myself and sometimes men give me money to sleep with them and that is how

I got pregnant. I sold him for N300.000.00 with my own share being N150, 000.00. But I was not the one that collected the money”.

Also the SCID arrested and paraded one Christiana Ezekiel for illegally selling one of the twin babies she delivered two months ago at the cost of N90, 000.00 .

Similarly, on March 3, the State Police Command paraded a fouryear-old boy, Bright Mbaka, who was stolen on February 17, 2015 by one Grace Uwem, Bright Mbaka mother’s cousin. He was sold for N55,000.00.

Briefing newsmen in his office, the Assistant Commissioner of Police, SCID, Mr. Mike Okoli, disclosed that the victims were recovered through intensified, proactive efforts and investigations. Okoli who decried the increasing incidence of child theft, trafficking and trading in the state, however, attributed the recorded breakthroughs in the recovery of the stolen and sold children to encouragement and supports in terms of provision of logistics by the Commissioner of Police, Mr. Gabriel Achong as well as useful information from concerned citizens of the state. But he also solicited for more cooperation from members of the public over the worrisome trend.

“You will recall that in my previous briefing last month, where we showcased people arrested in a case of child stealing, I did mention of one quack Dr. Innocent Ehiemere of Joanna Clinic Port Harcourt we detained over a case involving a three-dayold baby boy. The quack home, Joanna Clinic, according to investigation, is where they do illicit business of buying and selling of children.

“We also found out that the biological mother of one Esther Johnny actually sold the baby at the cost of N300, 000. During interrogation she swore to us that she will not sell her child again.

She is yet to be married and having the kids at home. You can see the trend- you take in, you give birth and then sell”.

Reacting, Uyo based lawyer, Mfon Peters, who described the trend as criminal and worrisome,

Esther John with recovered son David at SCID, Uyo however, attributed the increasing incidence in Akwa Ibom to high level of poverty and poor governance.

Peters said: “Poor governance contributes to high incidence of crimes. Developed societies

Government needs to enforce these laws, and I agree with the school of thought that poverty is one of the major sources of crime; so I suggest that proper empowerment, training of girlchild programmes should be put on ground to cushion the effect of poverty in Akwa Ibom

anchor their programmes on people and not on infrastructure like roads and bridges. That is why we are preaching and advocating for good governance. If the human person is not properly developed, empowered and equipped, it is possible that the rate of these crimes will be very high “We know that the State government in 2008 enacted the Child Rights Act and there are many laws in this country to promote the right of the child. But the problem is with the implementation. Government needs to enforce these laws. And I agree with the school of thought that poverty is one of the major sources of crime; so I suggest that proper empowerment, training of girl-child programmes should be put on ground to cushion the effect of poverty in Akwa Ibom.”

Contributing, a retired midwife, Mrs. Udeme Johnson, who blamed most parents for not taking care of their children lamented: “It is condemnable. Children are special gifts from God. There are so many women, families out there looking for children. So, if these young women know that they will not be able to cater for the child they should not even go into it in the first place. And there is no moral justification for the

young girls and their conspirators to indulge in the wicked act.

“The society must discourage this because it has after effect, the consequence is always there.

Even the Bible condemns it. I retired 15 years ago and I can assure you that this kind of thing was not there. Adoption of children was very rare because people were not giving birth to babies to sell them like we are hearing today.

“The solution to this problem is for parents, especially mothers, to teach their young children to stay away from peer group pressure; they should instill the fear of God into them, to be contented with what they have. Most parents today are so materialistic that they neglect the welfare and upkeep of their children” There is no gain saying the fact that the present administration of Governor Godswill Akpabio has put in place several efforts aimed at nipping the crime in the bud.

Apart from the Child Rights Law enacted in 2008, Governor Akpabio had on July 27, 2014 pronounced death penalty on child abductors in the state under the Child Rights and Anti-Terrorism Act to ensure the protection of the life and rights of innocent and defenseless children.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, MAY 12, 2015

— 21

Dormant SIM cards on telecom networks dropped to 47.9m in February, says NCC

T

MoU SIGNING : From left: Prof. Austin Obiekezie, Deputy Director, Research, University of Calabar; Christos Giannopoulos, C.E.O. PZ Cussons Nigeria Plc; Engr. Tunde Oyelola, Vice Chairman, PZ Cussons Nigeria Plc; Professor Kyari Mohammed, Vice Chancellor, Modibbo Adama University of Technology, Yola; Dr. Umar Buba Bindir, D.G. NOTAP and Dr Nurudeen Yusuf, Deputy Director,Research, National Research Institute for Chemical Technology (NARICT), Zaria during the signing of MoU for the upgrade of chemical laboratories in the institutions, in Lagos.

Revenue woes heighten as traders shun Nigeria’s crude

By Michael Eboh with agency reports

N

igeria’s dwindling revenue is set to worsen, as international crude oil traders have shunned the country’s export of Bonga crude oil grade for the months of May and June 2015, making it difficult for the country to find buyers for the product and putting the price of the commodity under pressure.

According to a report by Platts, the differentials for Nigerian crude grade, Bonga, are sliding due to the accumulated oversupply from the May and June program ahead of the release of the new July program this week.

“On the demand side, Cepsa, Total, ExxonMobil are not buying Bonga at this stage and India’s strategic petroleum reserve alone cannot support the grade,” a trade from Europe stated.

Market participants blamed the development on the oversupply of the Bonga crude grade, stating that the action is putting pressure on the already distressed prompt end of the curve primarily traded on a CFR/CIF (Cost & Freight/ Cost Insurance &

C M Y K

Freight) basis.

One of the traders told Platts that May overhang affected grades like Bonga and Forcados, adding that the whole June Bonga program is open and unsold.

However, other market players said that Bonga might find some support because of the Forcados force majeure and the fall in freight rates.

Another trader told Platts

If the oversupply of Bonga continues, further along the curve, then the grade could move closer to flat to Dated Brent once the new Nigerian programme is released

that, “Forcados is losing its shine on the back of the force majeure. Sometimes you see switching between Bonga and Forcados, but the latter has been so lethargic and with so much length that the current delay has barely dented any sentiment.”

One other trader also stated that if the oversupply of Bonga continues, further along the curve, then the grade could move closer to flat to Dated Brent once the new Nigerian program is released.

Industry participants told Platts that a late May Bonga CFR cargo was sold at Dated Brent plus $2.00 per barrel, while the freight rate for the WAF-UKC Suezmax route was around Worldscale 75, while Vitol offered a 950,000barrel cargo of Bonga at Dated Brent plus $4.30 per barrel for arrival into Rotterdam on May 25-31.

Platts said offers heard for May Free On Board (FOB) basis parcels were at Dated Brent plus $1.00 per barrel and for June loaders at Dated Brent plus $1.50 per barrel.

Additionally, a trader said, “Best interest I am hearing for second-half June Bonga cargoes from relaxed refiners were in the Dated plus $0.30-

HE Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) says the inactive Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) cards on telecommunication operators’ networks have reduced from 51,284,804 in January to 47,985,908 as at February 2015.

This is contained in the commission’s ‘Monthly Subscriber Data’, obtained by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Sunday in Lagos.

The data showed that connected numbers on the telecom networks also reduced from 192,107,641 recorded in January to 190,575,684 in the month under review.

It explained that of the 47,985,909 dormant SIM cards in February, the Global System for Mobile communication (GSM) operators shared 46,135,318.

According to the data, of the unused 47,985,909 lines in February, the Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) operators shared 1,665,845.

The data showed that there was a decrease of 19,686 dormant lines on the CDMA networks in February, compared to 1,685,531 recorded in January.

$0.40 per barrel range.”

Nigeria’s revenue profile nosedived, when Shell, a couple of days declared force majeure on exports of Nigeria’s Forcados crude oil stream following a series of leaks in the Trans Forcados pipeline that brings the oil to the export terminal.

Reuters had also noted $133.65 0.75 that several cargoes of Forcados for May $2,955.00 33.00 loading were still on offer, with around $13.45 0.03 189,000 barrels per day (bpd) scheduled for export in six cargoes, $64.78 -0.61 noting that the June export programme, with a total of 158,000 59.26 -0.13 bpd, had not yet started trading.

CURRENCY BUYING CENTRAL According to Reuters, 196 196.5 197 an overhang of light DOLLAR 298.9551 299.7158 sweet crudes in the POUNDS 298.1944 221. 5388 222.104 2 22.6691 Atlantic Basin has EURO FRANC 214.2779 214.8245 215.3712 depressed differentials YEN 1.6448 1.649 1.653 to dated Brent and CFA 0.3164 0.3264 0.3364 limited the impact of WAUA 274. 6889 275.3897 276.0904 recent supply RENMINBI 31.5774 31.6584 31.7394 disruptions on some RIYAL 52.2639 52.3972 52.5305 29.8327 West African crude oil KRONA 29.6812 29.75 SDR 276.4384 277.1436 277.8488 grades CBN Exchange Rate as at 11/ 05 /15

22 — Vanguard, TUESDAY, MAY 12, 2015

,

In what symbolizes a robust shareholder value, Vitafoam Nigeria grew its earnings per share (EPS) by 69 per cent by posting an Earning Per Share, EPS of 81 kobo per share in the current period compared with 48 kobo per share in the previous year.

INVESTOR'S ,

TOP 10 PERFORMING STOCKS

BY PETER EGWUATU

V

itafoam Nigeria Plc last week topped the gainers chart as it led the 32 equities that appreciated during the week, higher than thirty one that appreciated penultimate week.

The company emerged as the top 10 equities, rising by 32.51 per cent to close at N6.40 per share from N4.83 it opened with the during the week under review.

Vitafoam, recently released its results to the Nigerian Stock Exchange, NSE as it proposed a dividend of N246 million, translating into 30 kobo per share in addition to a bonus share of one for every five Ordinary Shares held by each shareholder as rewards from the c o m p a n y ’ s outstanding performance in its current (2014) financial year.

By the company’s f i n a n c i a l performance, it posted an after tax profit of N659 million in the current year as against N395 million recorded in the previous year, an increase of 67 per cent. In what symbolizes a robust shareholder value, the company grew its earnings per share (EPS) by 69 per cent by posting an Earning Per Share, EPS of 81 kobo per share in the current period compared with 48 kobo per share in the previous year. The result is expected to be endorsed by the c o m p a n y ’ s shareholders on June 4, 2015 at the annual general meeting when the Chairman, Dr Bamidele Makanjuola would present the score card.

Trailing behind Vitafoam Nigeria on the top ten chart was C & I Leasing which gained 14 kobo, representing 26.92 percent growth to close at N0.66 kobo from N0.52 kobo.

C & I Leasing last year paid N83.5 million as dividend for the2003 financial year, representing 4 kobo for every 50 kobo share held by shareholders.

C & I Leasing in the first quarter ended March 31, 2015 recorded a revenue of N4,763,836, 000 as against N3,039,725,000 in the corresponding period of 2014, while Profit After Tax stood at N219,702,000 as against N114,630,000 in 2014.

Red Star Express Plc came third on the top ten chart , rising by 24.34 per cent to close at N4.70 per share from N3.78 it opened with during the week under review.

Red Star Express Plc is the fastest growing Courier Company

in Nigeria. The company began operation on the 12 October 1992.The Company is a servicedriven logistics solution provider.

The company provides transportation, warehousing and other supply chain management service.

The company was listed on the exchange since 14th April 2007.

Red Star u n a u d i t e d statement of comprehensive income for the third quarter ended 31 December, 2014 showed that revenue increased by 6 per cent to N5 billion from N4.716 billion in the corresponding period of 2013. Profit After Tax, PAT increased marginally to N309 million from N308.7 million in 2013, while Earnings Per Share, EPS stood at 52 bobo, the same recorded in the corresponding period of 2013.

Honeywell Flour Mill Plc occupied the fourth position on the gainers chart as it garnered 68 kobo, representing a growth of 20.73 per cent. The company’s shares closed last week at N3.96 from N3.28.

The company recently released its unaudited third quarter results in which it reported a 52.2% drop in profit from N2.027 billion in the comparative period of 2013 to N968 million in 2014.

This draws from a 69 devaluation loss and a 21 per cent increase in finance cost.

Revenue also drop, though marginally by 8 per cent from N41 million in third quarter of 2013 to N37 million in the quarter under review.

Low consumer demand, Naira devaluation and over all challenges in the economy have continued to have a toll on not only Honeywell Flour Mills Plc but on manufacturing concerns in Nigeria generally.

Meanwhile, other top ten gainers last week include: CAP Plc gaining N7.34 kobo to close at N43.00 from N35.66, followed by Ecobank which inched up by N3. 79 to close at N24.49from N 2 0 . 7 0 ;Caverton Offshore Support Plc appreciated by 15.00 per cent to close at N3.45 from N3.00, followed by University Press Plc gaining 65 kobo to close at N5.48; International Energy Insurance Company up by 11.76 per cent to close at N0.57 and May & Baker rose by 9.82 per cent to close at N1.79 from N1.63 per share it opened with during the week under review.

CBN, how long will the depositors of Savannah Bank suffer?

By Babajide Komolafe

A

bu is always wearing the countenance of somebody who just lost a dear one. But it is not the demise of a dear one that

makes him wear a mournful look. It is his money that has been trapped in Savannah Bank since 2002.

The operating license of Savannah Bank was revoked

in February 2002 by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN). The owners of the bank however challenged the revocation in court, thus preventing the Nigeria

From left: Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Fidelity Bank Plc, Nnamdi Okonkwo; Chairman, Board of Directors, Fidelity Bank Plc., Chief Christopher Ezeh and Executive Director, Lagos and South West, Ikemuefuna Mbagwu at the signing of the bank's N30bn 16.48 per cent fixed rate bond due in 2022, in Lagos.

MARKET NEWS

Shareholders approve Fidelity Bank’s 18 kobo dividend payout

S

hareholders of Fidelity Bank Plc. unanimously approved the 18 kobo per ordinary share of 50 kobo dividend payable to shareholders whose names appeared on the bank’s Register of Members as at the close of business on April 17, 2015 as earlier proposed by the directors of the bank for the financial year ended December 31, 2014. With this, Fidelity Bank has, for 10 years, consistently paid out dividends to its shareholders.

Speaking yesterday at the bank’s annual general meeting held at the Civic Centre, Lagos, the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Fidelity Bank, Nnamdi Okonkwo noted that the 2014 performance is a

positive reinforcement of the medium term strategic objectives which are anchored on the following pillars: improving the efficiency of the balance

Operational efficiency improved as the bank leveraged on alternative electronic channels to reduce the cost to serve

sheet; growing the retail and SME businesses; focusing on niche corporate banking segments; increased migration of customers to electronic channels and improving the customer experience across all service channels.

He explained that the bank has a solid platform for growth, underpinned by strong customer loyalty and significant investments in physical and electronic distribution channels. “Our retail banking strategy gathered increased momentum in 2014 with the bank acquiring over 471,000 new retail customers, consumer loans growing by over 21 per cent and core low-cost retail deposit by 18

Vanguard, TUESDAY, MAY 12, 2015 — 23

,

For the incoming government, if there is no reform, it is going to discourage FDI, the foreign investors can decide to withdraw their investment from the banking sector because the cash reserve requirement from the CBN is on the high side

S FORUM Deposit Insurance Corporation (NDIC) from taking over the assets of the bank as liquidators, and pay depositors like Abu, the maximum insured deposit, which was then N50,000. On October 20th2006, the Abuja High court ruled in favour of the owners of the Bank saying the CBN had acted improperly in revoking the bank’s licence.

The judgement was appealed by the CBN, but the Appeal Court affirmed the Abuja High Court ruling, ordering the reopening of Savanah Bank.

The Court also ordered the CBN and NDIC to pay N100 million to the bank as damages.

The ruling of the Appeal Court brought hope to the thousands of customers of the bank whose money was

The process of relaunching the new Savannah Bank will be handled in a very deliberate manner in order to ensure that we build a world-class institution that can compete favourably with other banks in Nigeria and indeed globally per cent which lowered our average cost of customer deposits”.

Pointedly, the bank boss said that operational efficiency improved as the bank leveraged on alternative electronic channels to reduce the cost to serve adding that the efficiency gains saw operating expenses, excluding regulatory costs, grow by just 3 percent in 2014 which was significantly below the inflation rate.

On sustaining efficiency and cost effective service quality, Okonkwo explained that the bank communicated and implemented a service programme centered on building a superior customer service franchise on the back of product innovation and service turnaround time early in 2014. He stressed that the programme was designed to improve the quality of services by speeding up

trapped when the license of the bank was revoked. Their expectation was that the bank would re-open for business within one year after the legal victory. This optimism was fuelled by the comments by the former Chairman of the Bank, Chief Jim Nwobodo, when the CBN and NDIC formally handed the bank over to the owners.

Nwobodo said: “The process of re-launching the new Savannah Bank will be handled in a very deliberate manner in order to ensure that we build a world-class institution that can compete favourably with other banks in Nigeria and indeed globally.

“In line with this, the bank has put together a very strong team of advisers in virtually all business and technical areas to assist in managing the takeover process as well as the business-planning activities preparatory to the formal relaunch of the new bank.”

The interim chairman of the bank, Mr. Richard Abraham, also said that over the coming weeks and months, the management would actively keep all stakeholders, including customers and shareholders adequately informed about the bank’s plans regarding the eventual take-off of the new bank. “We will also work closely with the CBN, Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and all other regulatory bodies to ensure the bank takes off on a sound footing and complies with all regulatory requirements,” he said. processes and reducing response time to customer enquiries/complaints. To achieve the objective, the bank Chief said that the bank flattened its sales structure to improve its speed to market, deepened customer interactions and centralized some of the processes previously performed in branches which availed branch staff more time for attending to customer needs and enquiries.

“We have also restructured our sales force into a flatter and more nimble organisation which is closer to the customers and aggressive enough to drive our market share aspirations in order to achieve our corporate strategy”.

On cost optimization, Okonkwo said that the bank is centralizing its processing functions which will reduce cost to serve and improve uniformity of customer service.

,

INVESTORS SPEAK

High requirement of CRR'll lead to constriction in credit market —Shareholders The high requirements of the Cash Reserve Ratio (CRR) f'or banks by the CBN is alarming and affecting the bank’s dividend pay out, Shareholders lament, stating that the role of the apex bank is not limited to protecting depositors alone, but to also protect investments due to the overwhelming Foreign Direct Investments (FDI) in the last three years.

•Lawrence

•Owolabi

By Providence Obuh

M

r. Segun Owolabi, Director General, Western ICON Shareholders Association of

Nigeria: CBN as a regulator should regulate to favour all the stakeholders. CBN role is not limited to protecting depositors alone, but should protect investments as many FDI in the last three years are overwhelming.

Shareholders will no longer tolerate a situation where CBN in the name of CRR keep substantial funds of investment to control liquidity in the system. Investors want appreciable returns on their investments. CRR is depriving the banks of huge working capital that would make them to lend to make profit and declare dividend for sharehiolders.

For the incoming government, if there is no reform, it is going to discourage FDI, the foreign investors can decide to withdraw their investment from the banking sector because the cash reserve requirement from the CBN is on the high side, it is a lesson or a pointer to the incoming government that there must be a reform in the CBN so that the cash requirement ratio can drop down for FDI to increase their investment. Also the high CRR is going to discourage many investors and high network individuals will begin to divest from the bank because you can imagine banks declaring 10kobo, it is very unprecedented in the history of banks that banks are declaring such ridiculous dividend, especially First Bank 's which is one of the biggest bank in the country. It is a lesson for Buhari’s government to note that the first reform should be the CBN. 50 percent of the public sector fund that is

with the CBN, from 15 percent they increased it to 50 percent. Private sector fund remain at 15 percent that one did not change, that is the rate that is kept with the CBN in order to arrest excess money in the system. This development will lead to constriction in the credit market.

Mr. Oguntoye Lawrence of Distinct Shareholders Association of Nigeria: The CRR that is with the CBN is not yielding interest where it is,and it is weakening banks and by this singular act, the banks have vowed to deprive shareholders of their right, based on this we are trying to write them, we, particularly shareholders, gather together to write the CBN, failure of them to withdraw from that angle, we will sue them to court because it tells on the capital market, it affects most banks and most of the banks are just coming up now, they have not even gotten to their bearing if care is not taken, they may die off.

SEC, I recall are facing serious issues, but I know they will see to that very soon but ,we shareholders are suppose to make the shout out so that SEC can listen to us. Most of the things SEC is doing since the inception of the new DG is to set up a new agenda seeing what has happened in the past. So if we make the shout out, the SEC will quickly see to that. The CBN is wicked, assuming that the money is yielding interest, it would have been of a great benefit for the shareholders and the banks. If they are using the money to trade on behalf of the bank in order to yield interest, it would have been of great benefit to the bank, the shareholders and the capital market in general, I want to say that the CBN is not encouraging the banks in that area.

Assuming that money is yielding interest, it would have been of a great benefit for the shareholders and the banks

24 — Vanguard, TUESDAY,

MAY 12, 2015

PIB: Legislators have failed Nigerians — Okwuosa T

HE Executive Chairman of Oilserv Limited, an indigenous oil service group, Chief Emeka Okwuosa, has accused the legislators of failing in their responsibilities to Nigerians and the country by deliberately refusing to pass the Petroleum Industry Bill, PIB, which is meant to boost the fortunes of Nigeria’s petroleum economy.

Okwuosa, who spoke to journalists on the sidelines of the just concluded Offshore Technology Conference, OTC 2015, in Houston Texas, spoke against the backdrop of the fact that the PIB has remained at the National Assembly for over a decade without being passed into law.

He noted that so far attention has been focused on the executive arm of government for the failure of not passing the bill, and insisted that the blame is more on the lawmakers than any other arm.

According to him, “When you talk about government people tend to concentrate more on the executive alone; it’s not just the executive, the legislature also have a huge duty, and I can tell today that so far the previous parliaments have failed us in not addressing PIB adequately.”

He noted that the executive alone cannot initiate the bill, pass it and also execute it, as the issue of governance is a chain, adding,

“We need government in totality to come in and understand that oil and gas is the bedrock of our economy and we should not play with it.

“Oil is a natural resource that ought to benefit all Nigerians in one way or another, so the value has to trickle in a way that makes sense and is sustainable” Expectations from Buhari Against this backdrop, he urged the incoming administration of Gen.

Muhammadu Buhari, to take charge and manage the situation, and to appreciate the fact that the governing law for petroleum - exploration and production is outdated and is not addressing the current challenges.

He said: “There is a need to have a change - call it PIB or call it whatever you want to call it; it is overdue, and there is indeed a need to look at the best practice in the industry as far as international standards are

concerned.

“The passage of PIB will be a welcome development for the industry. But make no mistakes that whatever is passed as the PIB, make sure it is fit for purpose and addresses the requirements that we need in Nigeria as a country, of investors, of communities and every impacted systems or entities; it has to be well looked into so that we don’t have a law that will send us backwards.”

Balkanising the PIB

With regard to the current clamour that the PIB should be broken down into segments to enable the legislators pass the agreeable sections of the bill,

CONFERENCE: From left: Group Executive Director, Gas and Power, Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation,NNPC, Dr. David Ige, who represented Group Managing Director, NNPC, Dr. Joseph Dawha, and Managing Director, Kaztec Engineering Limted, Mr. John Niezner, at the Kaztec booth while on tour of the Nigerian Pavillion at the just concluded Offshore Technology Conference, OTC 2015, in Houston Texas.

while the contentious portions should be further reviewed until resolutions are reached Okwuosa argued that the issue is not about the structure, but the content of the bill.

He said: “The PIB the way it is structured today is not a matter of whether it is one law or that it is too big and should be broken into 20; what is important is its content. The content should address technical issues, legal issues and other issues that concerns oil and gas industry. “...So what is important is adequate and proper management of the oil and gas industry and that is what is key.

And that means we have to be able to manage it in a way that will look at all the variables and all possible conditions and be able to address that.”

Against this backdrop, he expressed the hope that the Buhari’s administration will do a lot better, saying: “We can say incoming government, but it is still a government just like the outgoing one. What we expect to see is for the government to address the basic issues that align in the oil and gas industry, especially the things that are holding the industry from growing the way it should grow.

“We’ve mentioned the PIB, four years ago I raised this issue, subsequent years i also raised the issue, but we are still here, nothing has happened.”

Despite assurances from the legislators that the PIB will be passed into law under the current legislative session, majority of Nigerians do not believe that this will happen, as similar promises had been made in the past under previous legislative sessions, but never fulfilled.

NPL: Sterling Bank grants energy firms N253bn ... As Conoil struggles to pay N19.5bn

By Michael Eboh

S

TERLING Bank exposures to energy firms in a two year period between 2013 and 2014 stood at also N253.33 billion.

The development comes as Conoil Plc, one of the beneficiaries of the loans struggles to pay off about N19.5billion borrowed from the bank during the period, thereby reinforcing the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN’s fears over the huge debts owed Nigerians banks.

The CBN in a circular to all banks and discount houses, titled, ‘Recovery of delinquent credit facilities,’ signed by Mrs. Tokunbo Martins, Director of Banking Supervision, had expressed concern over the rising trend of non-performing loans, NPLs in the banking

sector.

The CBN, as result, ordered banks to henceforth, observe prudent credit underwriting and monitoring standards in a bid to ensure that industry NPL ratio does not exceed the prudential limit of five per cent.

Sterling Bank, in its Financial Statement for the year ended December 31, 2014, disclosed that of the N19.5 billion borrowed by Conoil during the period, the oil and gas company was only able to repay N4.245 billion, leaving an outstanding indebtedness of N15.255 billion.

Giving a breakdown of the Conoil loan in 2013, Sterling Bank said the facility was granted in December 5, 2013 and was expected to run through January 29, 2014.

Specifically, the overdraft facility, according to the bank,

was initially N7.9 billion, with Conoil repaying N1.865 billion, leaving an outstanding balance of N6.035 billion in 2013. In 2014, Sterling Bank extended another N11.6 billion overdraft facility to Conoil, with

Despite the huge outstanding balances, Sterling Bank still classified both facilities as performing

an outstanding balance of N9.22 billion after the oil firm was only able to repay N2.38 billion.

The bank listed the facility under the related party transaction, with Osunsade Olufunmilola, a director of the bank being the individual linked to the facility in 2014, while Osunsade Olufunmilola’s brother listed as the beneficiary of the loan in 2013.

Despite the huge outstanding balances, Sterling Bank still classified both facilities as performing, stating only that it has a negative pledge clause on Conoil’s assets in respect of the loan.

A negative pledge clause is a lending agreement designed to prevent borrowers from pledging the same collateral to multiple lenders or otherwise taking actions that might jeopardise

the security of existing lenders.

Giving a breakdown of the N253.33 billion loans granted in the 2013 and 2014 financial year to energy firms, Sterling Bank said it gave out N231.316 billion to oil and gas companies and N22.014 billion to power firms.

Further breakdown of energy loans revealed that in 2013, the bank gave out total loans of N108.004 billion, with oil and gas firms receiving N99.733 billion while power firms got N8.271 billion.

In 2014, the bank gave out a total of N145.326 billion, with oil and gas firms and N13.743 billion to power companies.

Generally, the bank put its total loans to various sectors of the economy at N328.665 billion in 2013, and N380.924 billion in 2014, leading to a total of N709.589 billion.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, MAY 12, 2015 — 25

FG urged to strengthen local content law

T

HE Chairman, Lee Engineering and Construction Company, Chief Leemon Ikpea, has called on the Nigerian Government to further strengthen the local content law to enable more indigenous companies, especially those in the oil and gas sector, participate in the development of the Nigeria economy.

Speaking in Houston, Texas, on the sideline of the just concluded Offshore Technology Conference, OTC, Ikpea argued that said if enforced the move will further boost Nigeria’s economic development and help tackle the nagging problem of unemployment in the country.

According to him, the jobs and other allied services, which were hitherto handled by foreign companies, will be handled by competent Nigerian companies thus creating opportunities for them to become big players in the oil and gas sector as well as other sectors of the econmy with the utilisation of local content materials including the abundant human resources in the country.

He said: “My own view about this local content issue is that when you give indigenous companies the opportunity to play in the oil and gas sector, as well as in other sectors of the economy, Nigeria will be better for it because the indigenous companies would be able to support the government in tackling the problem of unemployment.,” He adding that “the nation will also be saved capital flight as well as help boost our foreign reserve. The monies that would have been entering the hands of foreign companies will now be domiciled in Nigeria.”

Ikpea also noted, “I am able to be where I am today because the nation gave me the opportunity to participate in business. I fully support the local content law and urge the administration of our new president to do more to empower Nigerians who are willing and qualified to work in the oil and gas sector as well as other sectors of the economy. On the long run, Nigeria and the Nigerian people are going to be the ultimate beneficiaries.”

While thanking President Goodluck Jonathan for signing the law, he urged Nigerians to support the administration of PresidentElect Mohammadu Buhari to enable him bring the dividends of democracy to the Nigerian people.

By Ediri Ejoh

M

IXDD reactions have followed the advice given by Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, Mr. Godwin Emefiele, to the President-elect, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, over the sale of about 30 per cent out of the 55 percent stakes held by the Federal Government in Nigeria’s Joint Venture, JV operations with international oil companies, IOCs, to enable the new government raise funds for developmental purposes.

Some industry experts, who spoke with Vanguard, corroborated the CBN boss’s position on the possibility of generating about N14.9 trillion, which could be ploughed into providing the needed infrastructure development in the country amidst revenue decline.

Although some pundits described Emefiele’s advice as ill-conceived and capable of putting the new administration in a difficult corner, b u t Mr.Odetola Seyi, an economic analyst based in the United Kingdom, UK, thinks otherwise.

He argued that the advice is the best the government could adopt in view of the rot and corruption that has characterised the downstream sector of the oil and gas industry.

His words: “The huge attention placed on funding the downstream sector by the government recently, has further deepened the spate of corruption in the sector. The Federal Government has no business in owning stakes in oil business.

“The business of government should end in collections of taxes. Local refineries must be given the opportunity to buy crude oil like any other businesses while the government pays attention to the collection of tax as well as giving of tax credit and other investment benefit to the

Mixed reactions trail proposal to sell 30% JV assets

* Oil refinery operators.”

Odetola explained that the UK Government collects only tax from the companies, adding that this is what the country depended on from the oil industry, adding that the government has no stakes in any oil business.

“Government should focus more attention in the regulation of the sector, through ensuring that about 50 per cent of the crude oil explored is refined locally.

“The regulation of the sector should be such that owners of oil blocks must also operate a refinery within the country. The country’s stake in the JVs must be sold as the stake in its present form has not impacted the revenue of the country,” he said.

He further noted that Nigerians should not be quick to condemn ideas just because the individual behind the idea is part of the present administration, saying that the CBN despite its forte in monetary policy could also offer advice across board to the government.

Also contributing, the Director

of Strategic Planning, Research Intelligent institute, Lagos State, Mr. Olubunmi Martins, said the CBN is permitted by Law and the mandate establishing it to do what its Governor proposed on the sale of Nigeria’s JV equity in a selected number of upstream assets.

He added that this may not necessarily mean that Nigeria will completely relinquish her interests in the downstream sector, or influence commercial inputs in the operations of such assets.

It is not appropriate to sell the assets of the country, especially at a period when oil prices are low

He said, “The proposal sounds reasonable considering the negative impact on Nigeria’s inability to meet her JV obligations on projects development especially in the area of cash calls.”

He however called for caution in implementing the advice, saying that the suggestion should be subjected to further analysis.

“Curiously though, why is the CBN Governor unwilling to submit this proposal to President Goodluck Jonathan who employed him?”

On his part, the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Global Analytical Consulting Limited, also an Economic Analyst, Mr Tope Fasua, challenged the CBN boss, and described Emefiele as an economic saboteur, adding that his advice to the incoming administration is not sustainable.

According to him, it is not appropriate to sell the assets of the country, especially at a period when oil prices are low.

Speaking also, the Principal Consultant of Lonadek Oil and Gas Consultants, Dr.Ibilola Amao, maintained that the CBN should focus more on monetary policies, adding that the Monetary Policy Rate, MPR, should be structured with a view to optimizing the country’s hydrocarbon assets.

She argued that rather than focusing on stakes in Public Private Partnership, through offsetting parts of the country’s asset in the downstream sector, Government should instead tackle corruption in the administration of her investments especially in the sector.

“Any well monitored asset by patriotic and honest Nigerians would do its 170 million population so much good,” she stated.

Mines Sector: President-elect urged to consolidate on success

By Gabriel Ewepu

A

BUJA- THE Presidentelect, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (rtd), has been urged to consolidate on the success recorded in the mines sector as he takes over leadership of the nation on May 29.

Speaking on expectations from the solid minerals sector, the Managing Director, Promethean Resources, Mr. Demola Gbadegesin, said it will be good for the sector if the incoming administration continued with the development and attraction of investors into the nation’s mining business.

Gbadegesin said: “We expect the President-elect, Gen Muhammadu Buhari to

continue to leverage on the work that has been done by the present administration.

“We have had a good one in development of the sector with the framework put in place. I expect that the new administration will build on those successes and continue engagement with all operators in the sector.

“I think the outgoing administration has done a lot in different areas to improve the development in the sector.

One of the benefits in the sector is the stability in the regulatory framework of the sector.

“In the past we use to have where ministers were changed every year but in this situation we had a consistency for quite a long time and that is what a

sector like ours need because our sector is a long term sector we carry out projects from five to 10 years, so it will be very detrimental if the policy is changed from one year to the next.”

He also advised the incoming administration to explore more avenues to create the enabling environment that will attract more investors into the sector, thereby open up job opportunities for Nigerians and facilitate industrialisation.

“The incoming administration should look for opportunities that would boost operations in the sector and attract more investments. This will create the enabling environment for the investors and operators, therefore open up job

opportunities for Nigerians and also facilitate the nation’s industrialisation,” he stated.

Meanwhile, speaking on his company’s projections in the mining sector, Gbadegesin expressed the optimism of becoming one of the largest tin mining companies in the world by 2020.

“From now to 2020 we expect to be one of the largest Tin mining and processing companies in the world.

“We expect also to be fully in operation and having up to 20 mines operation, generating employment, trading as the catalyst for communities, and also look for opportunities for international expansion and be a global player, and all our plans are focused in that direction,” he said.

26 — Vanguard, TUESDAY,

MAY 12, 2015

Nebo, Elumelu, others listed as drivers of Africa’s power sector

By Michael Eboh

T

HE successes recorded in Nigeria’s electricity reform process have been recognised by stakeholders in the African power sector, as the Minister of Power, Prof.

Chinedu Nebo; Chairman, Heirs Holdings, Mr. Tony Elumelu, and other chief executives were listed among ‘ESI Most Influential Figures of African Power ’, by ESIAfrica, a power journal.

Others are: Chief Executive Officer, Genesis Energy Global, Mr. Akinwole Omoboriowo II; Managing Director, Kaduna Electricity Distribution Company Plc, Alhaji Idris Mohammad; Chief Operating Officer, CO, North-South Power Company, owners of Shiroro hydroelectric generation plant, Mr. Daudu Abdul-Aziz; Managing Director of Aiteo Power, Dr. Ransome Owan; and Head, Procurement and Power Contract in the Nigeria Bulk Electricity Trading Company, NBET, Mr. Yesufu Alonge.

According to a statement by ESI-Africa, these Nigerians have contributed immensely to ongoing developments in Africa’s power sector.

ESI noted that these individuals, amongst others, have furthered the frontiers of continued efforts under what is considered to be the boldest privatisation initiatives in Africa’s power sector.

ESI-Africa said, “Through their various efforts in government-led initiatives, their multiple investments in various segments of the African Power sector, f o rwardthinking policies and regulations as well as innovative technologies which they deploy, these individuals have kept the electricity industry in North, South, East and West Africa running seamlessly.

The magazine explained that the individuals were selected from the pruning of

nominations sent in by industry stakeholders, adding that it expected to see continued investments in clean sustainable electricity generation and distribution, as well as increase in independent power productions through the efforts of these individuals.

Continuing, the magazine said, “Nebo as Minister of Power has taken up from where his predecessor, Prof. Barth Nnaji left off, pulling through with the settlement of protracted labour issues to

hand over privatised power assets to their owners, while Elumelu through Heirs Holdings has ensured a steady upgrade in the capacity of the Ughelli thermal power plant which it bought in the privatisation process.

“As for Omoboriowo II, Genesis Energy ’s reported ability to provide Fast-track electric power projects and a broad spectrum of multiple energy solutionsin several countries in Africa through long-standing strategic partnerships with key players

A

BUJA: A Chinese company, Skyrun Meter Solution, said it has completed plans to establish an electricity smart-meter in the Free Trade Zone, FTZ, in Calabar, the Cross River State capital.

This development was one of the fruitful results of several Memoranda of Understanding, MoUs, signed between the Ministry of Power and some Chinese companies since the successful privatisation of the power sector by the outgoing administration.

The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Power, Amb. Godknows Igali, disclosed this while receiving the company’s management team in his office last week.

He expressed delight that establishing the metering company in Nigeria would enhance revenue generation for distribution companies thereby curtailing the incidence of estimated billing as being experienced by the electricity customers in many parts of the

Epileptic power: Nigerians charged on alternative sources

By Ediri Ejoh

N

SAFETY DAY: From left: Safety and Environment Manager, Shell Nigeria Exploration and Production Company (SNEPCo), Mrs. Elizabeth Usen; Regional Occupational Manager, Dr. Olusola Taiwo; Managing Director of SNEPCo, Mr. Tony Attah; Shell’s Associate General Counsel for Nigeria and Gabon, Mrs. Barbara Blum; and SNEPCo’s Finance Director, Mr. Ralph Wetzels, at the 2015 Shell Safety Day in Lagos.

Chinese firm to establish meter assembly plant in Calabar

By Chris Ochayi

like General Electric-USA (GE) and Engro Corporation of Asia has endeared it to the industry and thus earned it the recognition continent-wide.

country.

Igali urged SkyRun, which has been in Nigeria for 10 years to collaborate with Distributions Companies, Discos, to meet their specifications as the Discos are distributors to the end users.

He also directed the company to get appropriate license from the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission, NERC, and the Electricity Management Service for safety standard and specification as dictated by law.

He decried the situation where about 60 per cent of customers are not metered, noting that manufacturing meters in Nigeria will significantly close the metering gap and create employment opportunities for the teaming youths, while also enabling investors re-coup their investment as planned.

He further revealed that this administration will give more incentives to local manufacturers, so as to encourage them to establish more companies for the production of meters in the country.

He expressed appreciation for the invaluable contribution of the

Nigerian Embassy in China for wooing investors into the Nigerian power sector, saying that posterity will acknowledge their patriotism in this regard.

He also commended the Nigeria – China Business Council, NCBC, for its efforts in establishing the meter company in Nigeria.

Earlier, the Nigerian Deputy

This administration will give more incentives to local manufacturers to encourage them to establish more companies for the production of meters in the country

Chief of Mission to China, Amb. Patrick Onadipe, said Skyrun Meter Solution are also manufacturers of water dispensers, fans, fridges and other home appliances.

Onadipe recalled that the company had earlier signed a Memorandum of Understanding, MoU, with the Ministry in January 2015, for the manufacturing of electricity smart meters in the country, adding that the visit to the Ministry is therefore to build on the gains already recorded in their relationship.

He said the plant would be commissioned in the last quarter of 2015 and that the company will collaborate with the Enugu Electricity Distribution Company, as a test-run for the planned pilot study.

He also revealed that the company employed more than 500 indigenous workers on its site in Calabar, and is currently manufacturing a single- phase and three-phase smart meters, and would boost the revenue base of distribution companies in Nigeria

IGERIANS have been urged to explore alternative sources of power as a way of tackling the challenges of the current epileptic power situation in the country.

Noting that the very poor power situation has been threatening both economic and social life, the Simba Group, has advised Nigerians to embrace the use of inverters and other power backup systems for alternative power generation.

Speaking at the 2015 Social Media Day organised in partnership with National Youth Service Corps, NYSC Lagos, the Manager, Sales, Simba Industry, Miss Ojukwu Adaku Linda, said that shortage of power and the huge amount required to maintain generating sets has denied many Nigerian’s the opportunity to tap into the global opportunity available through the Internet.

“With the current level of unemployment in the country and the huge number of youths involve in this saga, it is pertinent for youths to engage in social media, which can help them to showcase to the world the potential in them.

But it is regrettable that the light which plays a major role in this crusade are not available for the youth.

Ojukwu noted that in response to some of these challenges, Simba Industries has introduced family friendly Genus Home UPS, Inverters, Solar Power Pack, batteries and online UPS “Our inverters are very unique in a way that is very fast to charge, is stress free and it is automatic. We give our customer one year warrant and it is avoidable.

“There is also a student inverter, which work with 2 amps and can last for 10 hours when used to charge laptop, watch television, two

27 — Vanguard, TUESDAY,

MAY 12, 2015

NERC moves to review CAPMI implentation

Katsina 10MW wind farm attains 98% completion — FG

By Chris Ochayi

By Ediri Ejoh

T

HE Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission, NERC, has assured electricity consumers in the country of it preparedness to review the Credited Advance Payment for Meter Implementation, CAPMI, a substitute electricity metering scheme, to determine how well the initiative passed on to distribution companies has been implemented in 2014.

The Chairman, NERC, Dr. Sam Amadi, disclosed this recently during the inauguration of the Nigerian Electricity Consumers’ Advocacy Network, NECAN, a consumer advocacy network set-up to advocate for issues related to consumers’ rights in the country’s electricity sector.

According to him, the Commission is prepared to set up new measures to reduce the challenges faced by consumers in the procurement of the prepaid meters from the distribution companies, DISCOs, as part of the appraisal for the scheme.

He said, “As part of continuously improving the sector, we are reviewing the challenges of procuring and installing meters. In the next few weeks, we’ll be initiating a process to re-engage the Credited Advance Payment for Meter Implementation (CAPMI) so as to make the financing of metering more effective.

“We are similarly considering the introduction of auction based system for renewable energy especially solar and wind that will significantly improve electricity supply in clusters and can be embedded into the distribution system.”

He added that, “We will need to reconfigure system grids to scale up interconnections between new production sites and the demand centres.

Infrastructure especially transmission network will need to be reviewed with a view to unbundle and regionalise the transmission network.”

However, the Chairman of NECAN, Mr. Tomi Akingbogun, told journalists at its inaugural press briefing that the network will push for the NERC to sanction distribution companies who failed to provide electricity meters to its customers within a given time frame.

He said that there is the need for a permissible time frame for metering of customers by distribution companies, adding that the process should not be open ended.

A

BUJA: The Federal Government disclosed last weekend that the 10 mega watt, MW, Katsina wind farm has attained 98 percent completion.

The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Power, Amb. Godknows Igali, who

said this in Abuja noted that the test running of the 37 turbines in the facility had since begun with five already successfully test-run.

He also said the transmission line for the evacuation of the power to be produced is ready through the Transmission Company of Nigeria,

CONFERENCE: From left: Executive Chairman, Oilserv Limited, Chief Emeka Okwuosa in a warm handshake with the Chairman, Petroleum Technology Association of Nigeria, PETAN, at a Panel and Luncheon sponsored by Oilserve at the just-concluded Offshore Technology.

TCN, as confirmed by their officials.

Igali disclosed further that Government is committed to ensuring the smooth running of this pilot scheme, adding that it planned to replicate it in the entire Northern region, where wind velocity is high, stressing that the harnessing of wind resource is an integral part of the newly approved National Policy on Sustainable Energy and Energy Efficiency.

It would be recalled that the delay experienced in the completion of the Katsina wind power project was occasioned by the ugly incident of kidnapping of a French national, who was in-charge of the project and the need to subsequently engage on French company to complete the project.

He explained that the wind farm was only one component of the renewable energy programme of the Federal Government, which is being boosted with the recent approval by the Federal Executive Council of the first-ever National Policy on Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency.

The Permanent Secretary identified other renewable energy projects to include small, medium, large hydros as well a solar power projects and bio-mass.

He also said that Government has put in place measures to check the menace of power infrastructure vandalism, and appealed to communities and new owners of power facilities to collaborate with Government by being vigilant in exposing the activities of vandals, hence they would be protecting their assets and also provide electricity to the people would make more profit from the project.

Lekoil posts N6bn loss in two years

L

By Michael Eboh

EKOIL Limited, yesterday, announced a loss of $11.9 million, about N2.38 billion for its 2014 financial year.

With this performance, Lekoil, an oil and gas exploration and development company with a focus on Nigeria and West Africa, has posted a total loss of $30 million (N6.01 billion) for two consecutive years, 2013 and 2014.

In its 2013 financial year, the company posted a loss of $18.1 million, an equivalent of N3.62 billion.

The company, in a statement announcing its audited result for the year ended, December 31, 2014, however, failed to state the reasons for the loss.

Directors of the company on the other hand, stated that the ability of

Lekoil to continue to operate as a going concern is dependent on the continuing of exploration and evaluation activities on Oil Producing License, OPL 310.

The directors also added that it is important that ongoing development activities on Otakikpo continued as planned and the availability of sufficient cash resources to fund ongoing operations.

In this regard, the company said, “Having evaluated these factors, the Directors believe the use of the going concern assumption to be the appropriate basis for the preparation of the 2014 financial statements, for the following reasons: “The Company and its partner on Otakikpo are working on an agreed plan to achieve first oil by mid-2015.

On OPL 310 the parties are working on a 2015 provisional plan, which

includes completion of interpretation of 3D seismic data and drilling of an appraisal well.

“The Directors are of the view that the current cash balance, together with the cash inflow from Otakikpo production, will be sufficient to fund the development and production activities on Otakikpo and the completion of the interpretation of the 3D seismic data on OPL 310.”

It further stated that economic evaluations, in respect of the Otakikpo estimated net 2P reserves and 2C contingent resources under the Phase I and II development of Otakikpo is a robust project with a NPV (10 per cent) of $77.2 million net to Lekoil. At a $40 oil price scenario on marginal field terms the NPV could rise to $85.2 million if provisional pioneer status is obtained.

28—Vanguard, TUESDAY, MAY 12, 2015

UPDC flags off construction of N5bn ‘home by the sea’

By Jude Njoku

M

essrs UACN Property D e v e l o p m e n t Company, UPDC PLC, last week, added to his rich property portfolio when it flagged off the construction of a N5 billion premium estate described as “a home by the sea” in the highbrow Lekki Peninsula in Lagos.

Named James Pinnock Place, after one of the progenitors of UPDC, the estate which would be sited on three hectares of land, is the third phase of Pinnock Beach Estate development.

The entire Pinnock Beach Estate scheme occupies 84.11 hectares of land in the Lekki axis.

Speaking at the groundbreaking ceremony of the new estate, the Managing Director of UAC Group, Mr. Larry Ettah said UPDC has promoted the development of some landmark estates which include Cable Point, Treasure Gardens, UPDC Estate, Romay Gardens and Metro Gardens in the Lekki corridor.

He described James Pinnock estate as a value proposition for the company’s customers in view of its “unique designs, expansive spacing, alluring greenery and world class facilities and amenities”.

Ettah who is also the Chairman of UPDC said the estate was “ envisioned and would be developed into a best in class residential community with a picturesque, serene and secure environment.

Emphasis is placed on communal living in a neighbourhood with the provision of green areas and recreational facilities for the children, adults and families”.

Managing Director of UPDC, Mr Hakeem Ogunniran said James Pinnock estate would be delivered in 18 months time, The estate, according to him, will consist of four house types comprising 11 units of five-bedroom detached Houses with servant quarters; 28 units of fourbedroom semi-detached Houses with servant quarter; 42 units three-bedroom apartments with servant quarters and two units of four-bedroom Maisonette with servants quarters. The prices, he said, range from N50 million to N120 million.

Ogunniran who said interested buyers have the opportunity of choosing from finished or semi-finished options, assured them of good returns on their investments. He further told

the guests that first class recreational facilities to be provided in the estate, would be managed by company.

The facilities include, swimming pool, gymnasium and children’s playground.

“The rooms in the estate will be equipped with air conditioning system, fully fitted kitchen, en-suite rooms and external CCTV. Other facilities include 24/7 power supply, borehole and water

treatment plant, fire alarm system, burglar alarm system and ample parking space for residents and visitors,” he said.

•The model of ‘Home by the Sea’

Group introduces precast concrete technology to Nigeria’s construction sector

By Kingsley Adegboye

A

PRECAST concrete technology described as fast-pace building system has been introduced into Nigeria’s construction industry as an initiative aimed at bridging the ever increasing housing deficit in the country.

The automated precast concrete technology which is known globally for speedy housing construction, was presented by CTSR Group, a Nigerian company with franchise from Broad Homes Industrial International Co. Ltd, the promoters of the technology at the just concluded Lagos Architects’ Forum tagged LAGOS 6.0. The group is a subsidiary of Broad Homes Industrial International Co. Ltd. According to the officials of CTSR Group, the company which offers technical services and consulting in the area of precast concrete manufacturing and construction, is a leading enterprise in precast concrete construction worldwide, pointing out that Broad Homes is specialised in providing integrated solutions of precast concrete construction for residential buildings, commercial

buildings, public facilities, industrial facilities and infrastructure, for almost 20 years.

“By 2014, Broad Homes had expanded the annual production capacity up to 10 million square metres of construction area, operating 15 precast concrete factories. With the introduction of advanced precast concrete construction technology and providing expertise, Broad Homes International is engaged in helping the customers to fully understand precast concrete construction technology by delivering the smartest precast factory solution, and providing engineering services, technical consulting services and technical support in the whole life cycle of construction projects”, the officials noted, The officials said two representatives of Broad Homes, Mr. Pradhan Kumar and Mr. Bo Huang visited Nigeria recently to reinforce their company’s partnership with CTSR Group.

Presenting the technology, the Chief Executive Officer of CTSR Group, Mrs. Funke Otti said the automated precast technology is a one-stop shop for housing solutions covering research and

development, design and construction.

According to Otti, the technology provides factory made sustainable buildings, featuring reinforced concrete precasting and is 5 times more efficient with its energy saving technology, explaining that the technology will deliver such advantages that will include quality through the standard manufacturing and assembly processes, predictable schedule and on time delivery which will

Broad Homes International is engaged in helping the customers to fully understand precast concrete construction technology by delivering the smartest precast factory solution

result in cost savings by reducing market risks and variables.

She added that the technology was originally from Germany and that the CTSR’s Chinese technical partners simplified the process and made it more affordable.

She said her company intends to revolutionalise housing construction, explaining that to do this, they will initiate a new city development with affordable high-rise apartment buildings. Mrs. Otti informed that the technology can enable construction go up to 30 floors and save up to 70 per cent of construction time when compared to the traditional construction processes.

According to her, setting up the factory is capital intensive but, the cost of not adopting the technology, which has been widely adopted in other parts of the world, could be counterproductive to the set goals. “The initial stake is quite high but we have decided to take the bull by the horn. We believe we need to develop our people and add value to the built environment.

This is the reason we have decided to set up a factory here, which is currently under construction.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, MAY 12, 2015 —29

Lagos developer appoints contractors for N5bn Clara’s Court

By Kingsley Adegboye

P

•A housing estate in Abuja

FG tasks estate developers on maintenance of standards

By Caleb Ayansina

T

he Minister of Lands, Housing and Urban Development, Dr. Akon Eyakenyi, has called on the newly elected executive members of the Real Estate Developers Association of Nigeria (REDAN) to ensure that stakeholders in the sector maintain quality in pursuit of affordable housing for Nigerians.

This, the Minister added, would further curtail incidents of collapsed buildings in the nation. She stated this when the Association led by its President, Rev. Ugochukwu Chime, visited her in her office in Abuja at the weekend.

The Minister commended the transparent process that brought up the new executive and urged them to continue to maintain an open and all-inclusive administrative policy that would benefit stakeholders in the sector. “If you have an open administration, you will succeed,” the Minister said.

While commending the effort of the out-going administration and in particular President Jonathan’s genuine concern and support to the sector, she noted that government is a continuum, expressing hope that the in-coming administration will continue with the laudable programmes and projects in the sector.

The Minister further advised the executive to ensure that ongoing projects are duly completed, assuring that the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria (FMBN) as a government institution would continue to render relevant financial assistance to developers.

However, she admonished that such financial assistance should be well utilized for the benefit of providing affordable and quality

C M Y K

housing for Nigerians.

Responding, REDAN President, Rev. Chime commended the Minister for the various strides recorded during her tenure, noting that she had

commissioned more housing estates than any Minister who had ever served in the Ministry, attributing it to her inspirational and outstanding leadership qualities.

He added that the Minister’s vibrant policies and synergy with stakeholders had helped to boost the sector, stressing that she will be leaving behind “a good taste in the heart”.

Lagos warns residents against encroachment of wetlands

By Kingsley Adegboye

T

he Lagos state government has decried the encroachment of its wetlands by residents of the metropolis. The government said such encroachments frustrate its efforts to conserve the green areas.

The State Commissioner for Environment, Mr. Tunji Bello who spoke at the 2015 ministerial press briefing to mark the eighth year in office of Governor Babatunde Fashola, said the government is committed to the preservation of its wetlands because they help to prevent flooding.

Bello who recounted the Ministry’s efforts to minimise incidents of flooding in the state, disclosed that so far, the ministry has cleared over 75,273.62m length of drains located in different parts of the state.

According to the commissioner, Lagos was able to attain a floodfree season last year because of alliance between it and the Nigeria Institute of Meteorology, NIMET as well as Ogun-Osun River Basin Authority.

Recalling what happened in 2011 when Lagos was submerged in flood due to water released from Ogun and Oyan rivers and the unprecedented rains of the year, the intensity of which combined to cause flooding round the whole state, Bello said “We are happy to report that through the special

grace of God, our team of determined engineers and through the collective support and cooperation of Lagos residents, the state did not record any flood related disaster or major incidents of flooding last year”.

He noted that since then the government had kept its promise of a flood – free state through effective flood management.

Bello stated that the m aintenance of a cordial working relationship with Ogun-Osun River Basin Authority contributed immensely to the de-flooding process and storm water management during the rainy seasons in the state. “Our resolve is also to attain a flood-

Our resolve is also to attain a floodfree state through efficient management and preservation of its storm water through the deployment of innovative approach and strategies

free state through efficient management and preservation of its storm water through the deployment of innovative approach and strategies”.

According to him, new drainage projects have been completed in areas such as Lagos Island, Orile Agege, Ikorodu, Alapere, Kosofe, AbuleEgba, Agbado Oke-Odo, Ifako, Egbe-Idimu, Ijaiye, Somolu, Mushin, Itire, Ojo, Alimosho, Eti-Osa and Epe. Similarly, erosion control has been intensified in areas such as Agbado Oke–Odo, Igando, Ikotun, Ejigbo, Iju, Ikorodu, Agbowa–Ikosi, Suru-

romoters of Clara’s Court Estate in the Ibeju-Lekki Local Council Development Area of Lagos state,, Messrs Le’ Venue Property Development Co. Ltd, has appointed contractors to midwife the construction of the N5 billion residential scheme.

The contractors include Lexil Development Nigeria Limited, Pentland Nigeria Limited, Aron Nigeria Limited, Springfield Concept Global Limited and Pektej Projects Limited. Others are Toun Tere Bofa Limited, Messrs Ayantola Bello & Sons, Arctic Infrastructure, G-Frames Concept Nigeria Limited, Trident Oil & Gas limited as well as Gak Projects Limited.

The Group Managing Director of the company, Mr. Jemine Adollo, said in addition to the appointment of contractors, the company is also partnering with three financial institutions and the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria, FMBN to ensure a seamless mortgage loan for buyers who need a mortgage to fund their acquisition.

Mr. Adollo added that Le’Venue Property will also implement it’s own flexible, mid-term payment plan for various classes of income earners. The firm, he said, is passionate about ensuring that there is availability of affordable housing for Nigerians. He assured that Clara’s Court Phase1which construction is about to kick off, is the best option in maximising anyone’s dream of living in a serene environment in the new Lagos.

Unique interiors exhibition 2015 to focus on safety, healthy living

T

he 12 th edition of the annual Unique interiors exhibition billed to take place between 20 th and 22 nd of this month in Lagos, will focus essentially on safety and healthy living, according to Flair Finishes, organisers of the annual forum.

A statement by the organisers said the 2015 edition of the exhibition with the “Unique Beyond Borders”, is expected to have seminar sessions that will

improve knowledge in areas such as safety and healthy living, sustainable buildings, energy efficiency and management as well as lifestyle.

The statement added that choosing and using colour, improving facility interior life cycle, problem of ceilings, the role of good architecture in design, designing spaces, rejuvenation of aging buildings ,health and wellness will also be in focus at the three-day event.

30—Vanguard, TUESDAY, MAY 12, 2015

•Kia Sorento assembled in Nigeria.

Dana unveil made in Nigeria all-new Kia Sorento D

ANA Motors Ltd, representative of Kia Motors in Nigeria has unveiled the latest edition of the all-new Kia Sorento sport utility vehicle at the just concluded Lagos Motor show.

The new Sorento was assembled at Dana assembly plant in Lagos with world-class features.

Presenting the all-new Sorento to the Motoring Press, the Chief Operating Officer, Dana Motor, Mr. Sandeep Malhotra noted that for over a decade, Kia brand has remained the leading Korean brand in Nigeria, offering best in class cutting-edge technology at affordable price.

He pointed out that the local production of Kia models demonstrates Dana Motors commitment to the Nigerian automobile industry. The Sorento comes in two engine variants, a 2.4 litre four-cylinder powerplant with outstanding performance and the top-ofthe-range 3.3 litre V6 engine which offers 5000 pound towing capacity.

The all-new Sorento, which was first revealed at the Paris Motor Show late last year, has continued to reel in different awards globally for its outstanding and iconic automotive technology which include the prestigious iF product design award and reddot award 2015 honourable mention. The Kia Sorento unites the classic poise of an SUV with a premium look and feel that is parC M Y K

ticularly tangible in the cabin. It offers the very highest design quality and excellent value for money.

The all new KIA Sorento is redesigned with a sleeker, more sculpted exterior; the Sorento exudes sophistication with an edge. It has a wider stance and longer wheelbase for even more versatile cabin space with available seating for up to seven. The Sorento is one highly stylized, modern utility vehicle with improved handling and dynamic power.

With the available Dynamax™ All-WheelDrive (AWD) system, the Sorento delivers a smooth, refined drive even on rough roads. It presents two engine trims to fully customize your experience.

The 2015 Sorento guarantees comfort at its peak. It’s a spacious cabin with clean, modern styling

The 2015 Sorento guarantees comfort at its peak. It’s a spacious cabin with clean, modern styling. It’s driver-focused, featuring a 14-Way Power-Adjustable Driver’s Seat. From Nappa Leather seat trim to the quality soft-touch materials, the Sorento is premium comfort everywhere you go.

The seven seater thirdgeneration Sorento SUV received the ‘Top Safety Pick’ award by achieving a ‘Good’ rating in every one of the IIHS’s demanding tests, thanks to an even stronger bodyshell and a wide array of passive and active safety equipment.

This is the latest accolade from a globally-respected crash safety organization – the allnew Sorento has already been awarded the maximum five-star crash safety rating by Euro NCAP. The car’s passenger compartment came in for particular praise for remaining stable in the event of a collision, and offering good protection for passengers of different physiques, no matter where they were seated in the car.

The new Kia Sorento is a stylish and practical SUV with exceptional versatility and practicality.

The smoother, swept-back profile and deeply sculpt-

ed surfaces give the Kia Sorento a lithe, elegant appearance. The spacious interior follows the horizontal lines of the overall design concept and delivers a luxurious look and feel with topquality materials throughout the cabin.

The new Kia Sorento, which comes with seven seats, has a longer wheelbase and provides more passenger room than its predecessor. The luggage area is larger, and thanks to the sliding, 60:40-split seat row it is even more versatile, holding up to 1,732 litres.

The Kia Sorento has a powerful and efficient 270 ps engine with four-

wheel drive fitted with Kia’s new Dynamax™ All-Wheel-Drive system with torque vectoring.

High-tech specifications and a range of premium features including the rear camera and smart parking system that makes it easy to manoeuvre and park. Smart Key entry with Push Button Start makes it outstandingly easy to get in and drive the sporty Sorento.

Mood lamp, led combination rear lamp and illuminated Door Scuff adds to the interior luxury feel of the SUV. Other unique features that makes the Sorento stands out for other SUV in the country with its 6 speed automatic drive and a touch screen sound system with six premium surrounding speakers. Aligning with Nigerian’s densely populated urban centres that are characterized with traffic logjams; the Sorento Eco Mode helps minimize the fuel consumption.

The structure of the new Sorento is significantly stronger, thanks in large part to the more widespread use of ultrahigh tensile steel (UHTS). The previousgeneration model was made up of 24.4 per cent UHTS, while the bodyshell of the new model consists of 52.7 per cent UHTS, aiding the integrity of the car ’s core structure in the event of an impact and also improving torsional rigidity by 14 per cent.

The new Sorento also features more than twice as much ultra-strong hot-stamped steel as the outgoing model, up from 4.1 per cent to 10.1 per cent in the new model, greatly strengthening the A- and B-pillars.

7.3m Hyundai Sonata sold globally in 30 years

H

YUNDAI is cele brating the 30th anniversary for the iconic Sonata mid-size sedan.

The Sonata made its debut in 1985 in Korea, playing a pivotal role in Hyundai’s growth and reputation. With more than 7.3 million Sonata models sold since its introduction, Sonata has become a family sedan loved by customers all around the world.

“The Sonata has been a huge factor in Hyundai’s growth not only in the U.S., but around the world,” said Dave Zuchowski, president and CEO, Hyundai Motor America. “During its 30-year history, we have been able to craft and evolve Sonata to the ever-changing needs of

our customers. And, with the Sonata family growing this summer to include the all-new Sonata Plug-In Hybrid, we’re expanding an already diverse lineup with

something for everyone.”

In the U.S., Sonata was introduced in 1988 and helped Hyundai grow into one of the country’s top automakers. Since

then, Hyundai Motor America has sold more than 2.3 million units in the U.S., including nearly 80,000 Sonata Hybrid models since its 2011 U.S. Introduction.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, MAY 12, 2015—31

By Theodore Opara

C

OSCHARIS Motors has unveiled the all-new Land Rover Discovery Sport into the Nigerian market. At a well attended launch at Oriental Hotel, Victoria Island, Lagos, the president of Coscharis Group, Dr. Cosmas Maduka highlighted the qualities of the all new Discovery Sport.

According to him, following up on the heels of the successful introduction of the design direction of the Range Rover model range, the Discovery Sport is equipped with a similar range of class-leading designs, technologies, innovations and safety features, all of which has led to the Discovery Sport being awarded with a Five Star Euro NCAP rating.

With so many first, the new Discovery Sport is the world’s most versatile and capable premium compact SUV, featuring a 5+2 seating (optional) in a footprint no larger than existing 5-seat premium SUVs. It is designed as an extraordinary every day vehicle that combines the legendary Land Rover capability with premium elegance. It is a true Land Rover with more contemporary offerings.

The Discovery Sport is loaded with innovative technologies and delivering high levels of practicability, luxury, style and efficiency; it is the next chapter in the life of the Discovery family.”

Design direction and versatility The new Discovery Sport’s sleek, aerodynamic silhouette, with legendary Land Rover capability and a flexible interior, add up to a great looking vehicle that does so much more.

Its progressive new design approach defines the new Discovery family with optimised volume, proportions and stance. The design leadership combines with engineering integrity to result in a dynamic profile and the ultimate use of interior space. It is engineered and designed to be preferred by both male and female.

According to Gerry McGovern, Land Rover Design Director and Chief Creative Officer; the “...challenge has been to combine premium design with exceptional versatility; the two attributes must work in harmony.” This was achieved in the new Discovery Sport. “Discovery Sport’s dynamic design will resonate on an emotional level with consumers, and this vehicle is more versatile than any other premium compact SUV on the market.”

The Discovery Sport is equipped with a range of C M Y K

Discovery Sport settles in Nigeria

Discovery Sport, top notch – Obih

T

•The Discovery Sport launch at Oriental Hotel, Lagos.

•The Discovery Sport interior. four-cylinder turbocharged Si4 2.0-litre petrol engines for our market, which is dominantly petrol based. This all-alloy petrol engine features stop-start technology, high-pressure direct injection, low-friction internal components and smart regenerative charging for outstanding performance and economy.

The Si4 2.0-litre petrol engine is also fitted with the 9-speed automatic transmission as standard and all powertrains are four-wheel-drive.

With a wading depth of 600mm and a ground clearance of 212mm; the Discovery Sport boasts of an approach angle of 25° and departure angle of 31° respectively. Other features of the Discov-

The Discovery Sport is loaded with innovative technologies and delivering high levels of practicability, luxury, style and efficiency

ery Sport include a wheelbase of 2,741mm, rear wheel track 1,630mm, length 4,599mm, Width 2,173mm (mirrors out), front wheel track 1,621mm and Height 1, 724mm. It enjoys a turning circle – kerb-tokerb 11.6m and turns lock-to-lock 2.43.

Comfort and Convenience A host of innovations have allowed Discovery Sport to introduce the

versatility of 5+2 seating into the premium compact SUV class for the first time. An allnew multi-link rear axle not only provides engaging driving dynamics but it also provides ample and flexible cabin space behind the second row.

Coupled with supple long-travel suspension, the innovative rear axle also ensures the Discovery Sport is comfortable, refined and re-

warding to drive onroad, while retaining the breadth of all-terrain capability for which Land Rover is world-renowned. In fact, with approach, departure and breakover angles of 25, 31 and 21 degrees respectively, Terrain Re s p o n s e ® technology, and the ability to wade to 600mm, Discovery Sport offers class-leading capability in all conditions.

HE all new Land Rover Discovery, launched into the Nigerian market last Thursday has been described as a top notch by auto freaks.

Mr. Henry Obih, Executive Director, ExxonMobil, who was one of the dignitaries that attended the unveiling of the new Discovery Sport, described it as top notch in the automobile industry.

“I have some other European brands, but the Land Rover in my garage is a top notch,”he said.

The Executive Director, who stated that his romance with Land Rover started in 2008 with the purchase of Land Rover Discovery, said he never looked back since then because it takes him where others cannot.

It is an outstanding brand, refined, rugged and luxurious to ride in.

Mr. Obih recalled that “when they used to drive on bad road along Lekki, which was covered by mud, sand and water, his Land Rover Discovery demonstrated outstanding performance.

For that reason, he said, when he saw the new Discovery Sport in London recently, he wished it could come to Nigeria and hence his presence at the launch of the Discovery Sport in Lagos.

According to Mr. Obih, he had no doubt that this car had taken ability and capability to a new level.

“The features of the all new Discovery Sport is world class.

Land Rover Discovery Sport, class leader — Maduka

T

HE President of Co scharis Group, Dr. Cosmas Maduka, has described the all new Land Rover Discovery Sport as a class leader and a ‘Catcher’ for customers.

Dr. Maduka, who spoke to the press during the unveiling of the Land Rover Discovery Sport at the Oriental Hotel ,could not hide his excitement over the new Land Rover Discovery, which he also described as a wonderful piece of art.

“I am very excited to see this wonderful piece of art

by Land Rover and I have no doubt that it will give us the opportunity to take the market in the Nigeria middle auto segment”he said.

According to him, the character of the all-new Discovery Sport and what it can do is out of this

world.

“When you drive the Discovery Sport you can confidently do what you can’t imagine doing with other cars in its class,”he stated.

“You can descend at 90 degrees, and the braking is amazing which defines the safety in the new Discovery Sport,'' he added.

The Coscharis boss, who noted that the taste of the pudding is in eating, urged their customers to take a test drive of the new Discovery and discover what it is made of.

“We invite customers to do us a favour by testdriving the car. The beauty is not only in the looks but in the way the car divers,”he said.

Maintaining that only few cars does what the new Discovery can do, Dr.

Maduka wondered how Land Rover rediscovered itself to churn out the kind of cars it is producing presently.

“Land Rover that was the sleeping giant has woken up to churn out powerful cars like the new Discovery Sport, Range Rover Sports, HSE and the Evoque,'' he said.

He noted that though Nigerians don’t do adventures, the Land Rover models can conquer any terrain no matter how tough and difficult.

“When you talk about 4x4 by far, the Land Rover series will never disappoint you,”he said, adding that the new Discovery Sport is a peace of mind introduced by Land Rover.

He said: ''The technology is amazing. It can park itself, I am sure in the near

feature, Land Rover can produce cars that can drive itself.''

On how they are positioning the all-new Discovery Sport, the President said: “With the introduction of the Discovery Sport, we have been able to carry everybody along. It is affordable and the basic model in the Land Rover and Range Rover model line-up.

The brand, he said, has been able to help them widen their presence, adding: “You have other Range Rover series and you have the Discovery Sport. It is all about meeting the demand of the customers.”

With the introduction of the Discovery Sport, and the pricing, Land Rover is getting more aggressive in the market, Dr. Maduka concluded.

32—Vanguard, TUESDAY, MAY 12, 2015

By Theodore Opara

Hyundai, FCMB launch customer-friendly bonanza H YUNDAI Motors Nigeria in collaboration with First City Monument Bank (FCMB) PLC has introduced a joint marketing incentive known as the ‘Power of 2’ to help perceptive customers procure new generation Hyundai cars of their choice without necessarily parting with the value of the car in one fell swoop.

The incentive which is currently trending and financed by FCMB would allow customers including those without functional FCMB account to access the scheme and procure latest Hyundai cars with

series of other incentives ranging from comprehensive insurance cover for the loan tenor, free registration, free maintenance service for six months/10, 000kms and a free tracking devise.

Successful customers would also be availed of fantastic discounts on choice cars with unwavering interest rate throughout the loan tenor. Couple with this is preferential access to loan, three-year warranty or 100,000kms (depending on whichever comes first) and lots of gifts items like FCMB branded goody bags and umbrellas.

Announcing this offer in Lagos, Hyundai Motors Nigeria head of sales and marketing Jatin Nadkarni said the ‘Power of 2’ initiative is an offshoot of Hyundai latest brand direction - ‘Modern Premium’ and slogan - ‘New Thinking, New Possibilities’ which isn’t only focused on increasing sales but aimed at making Hyundai one of the brands that customers genuinely love.”

He said the dealership wouldn’t cease to invest in new marketing activities that could endear Hyundai Motor ’s unique premium experience to

customers and “We are convinced this initiative will attract perceptive customers and subsequently raise our market share,” Nadkarni said.

He enjoined customers to take advantage of the endorsement by simply walking into any Stallion Motors accredited Hyundai dealership in the country to get a profoma invoice for a choice Hyundai car and thereafter a deal is struck with FCMB. Some of the Hyundai passenger-car range listed in the ‘Power of 2’ promo with varied equal monthly instalments

(EMI) starting with Grand Xcent’s N55, 527 are Sonata, Elantra, Azera, iX35, SantaFe, Accent, Veloster, i20 and i10.

Mr. Nadkarni said Hyundai is committed to becoming a lifetime partner in automobiles and beyond adding that the Korean automaker offers topquality best sellers that have won internationally acclaimed reputation.

Hyundai Motor brand value ranking had lately rose three notches to reach the top global 40 ranking for the first time in 2014 and posted another two digit growth, fuelled by the successful launch of

game-changing products such as the all-new Genesis and Sonata as well as implementation of its Modern Premium brand direction which has been creating not only a unified image for the brand worldwide, but also an emotional connection with its customers.

Interbrand a global brand rating agency recently states: “Hyundai Motor is one of the fastest growing automobile brands in terms of both volume and brand value while adding unique convenience features across a broader range of vehicles to enhance driving experience and customer satisfaction.”

GM builds 500m vehicles in 106 years

G

ENERAL Motors celebrated 500 million vehicles built globally over the past 106 years, the highest by any automaker in the world GM is the first vehicle manufacturer to achieve this milestone and remains focused on being the most valued automaker in the world.

While GM celebrates this achievement, General Motors South Africa (GMSA) is proud to have produced 2.76 million of these vehicles in the country since it started manufacturing operations in 1926.

Ian Nicholls, Vice President GMSA Operations, said GM attributes this momentous milestone to all its loyal customers.

Nicholls emphasized that they could not have reached this milestone had it not been for the customers. “Five hundred million vehicles means 500 million customers.

“We want to build on the solid foundation and the positive contribution GMSA has made to the lives of people since 1926.”

Nicholls believes that buying a GM product from a dealer is not just a purchase, it is a memory.

This memory is further nurtured by excellent aftersales service and customer support.

“We are committed to providing outstanding levels of service to our Chevrolet, Opel and Isuzu customers through our 200 dealers across Sub-Saharan Africa,” said Nicholls.

With a footprint in the region since 1913 when the first Chevrolets were imported, GMSA’s long heritage bears testimony to years of experience in sales and after sales service.

Today the South African plant continues to proudly build the Chevrolet Spark, Chevrolet Utility, the Isuzu Pick-up and Isuzu Trucks.

C M Y K

Uduaghan redeems image with eleventh hour exploits PAGES 6

Mind-boggling tale of mystery grave in Edo PAGE 8 school

VOL. 1: NO. 49

TUESD AY, MA 2, 20 15 TUESDA MAYY 112, 201

•South-South governors: From left— Seriake Dickson, Bayelsa; Godswill Akpabio, Akwa Ibom; Liyel Imoke, Cross River; Adams Oshiomhole, Edo; Emmanuel Uduaghan, Delta, and Rotimi Amaechi, Rivers.

NO-HOLDS-BARRED:

Citizens open up on South-South govs

By Emma Amaize

E

XCEPT for Gover nors Henry Dickson and Adams Oshiomhole of Bayelsa and Edo States, who will be finishing their tenures in February and November , 2016, four of the governors: Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan (Delta), Senator Liyel Imoke (Cross River), Obong Godswill Akpabio (Akwa-Ibom) and Rt Hon C M Y K

Chibuike Amaechi (Rivers) will hand over to the governors-elect of their states in 17 days .

Virtually all the governors presume they have put in their best but the verdict is for the people, and not them to proclaim.

Niger Delta Voice purposely spoke to the only the laypeople in the six states of the region and their pronouncement is decisive as it is true-life.

In Cross River, the people see Governor Akpabio as a go-getter, who does not stomach dispar-

Virtually all the governors presume they have put in their best but the verdict is for the people, and not them to proclaim

agement; Bayelsans believe that the gusto with which Hon Dickson started in 2012 has faded, and in Edo state, the downtrodden believe that despite his first-rate performance, Oshiomhole’s government lacked human face.

In Delta, Uduaghan was earlier written off for dreary performance, but many seem to have altered their judgment in his last few months in office following the up-to -theminute accomplishments re-

corded in his “finishing strong” agenda.

For Senator Imoke, the masses said he is an excellent man who allowed wrong advisers to encase him while in Rivers, not many inhabitants could deny the fact that Hon Amaechi did extremely well as governor. They, however, picked holes with his explosive and voluble temper.

Read the people's verdict inside.

2 — Niger Delta Voice, TUESDAY, MAY 12, 2015

•Uyo

Akpabio, a high flier who hates criticism -Residents AKWA IBOM...

LAND OF PROMISE

By Chioma Onuegbu, Uyo

U

YO- MANY residents of Akwa Ibom state accept the statement that the leadership of Governor Godswill Akpabio, aka Óno Mkpo Inam’( the great achiever) is one of the best in terms of infrastructural development in the state since it was created in 1987.

Massive strides

The massive construction of roads, including federal roads such as the Afaha Obong-Etim Ekpo-Ika Iwukem road, NungUdoe-Itak-Oko-Ita-Use -Ikot

Amama road as well as his free and compulsory education policy at primary and secondary school levels endeared him to the people and even non indigenes in the state.

Many also admire his massive strides in establishing Tropicana Entertainment Galleria E-Library, 20th Anniversary Hospital, Ibom International stadium, the new governor’s lodge, the deputy governor’s lodge and other key projects.

The manner the governor tackled crime and insecurity, which bedeviled his first tenure, is among the things that won him several awards and names like ‘Ono Mkpo Inam’, (the great achiever) by the residents.

He confronted criminality through proactive crime fighting and preventive measures,

including ban on commercial motorcyclists within the state capital with robust participation of all the security operatives, and declared zero tolerance to crime and criminality in the state immediately he was returned for second term.

There are still sections and certain category of people in the state, who for one reason or the other, feel unimpressed with the outgoing governor’s style of leadership

Uduaghan has no secret motive to scrap DESOPADEC— Urhobo, Isoko oil communities

By Emma Amaize

W

ARRI- OIL and gas pro ducing communities in Urhobo and Isoko ethnic nationalities of Delta State, yesterday, disproved the accusation that the state governor, Dr Emmanuel Uduaghan, had a clandestine intention to do away with the Delta State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission, DESOPADEC. In separate press statements, they said the bill sent to the Delta State House of Assembly by the governor to create development agencies and investment corporations for the five ethnic nationalities in the state was in the best interest of oil communities because C M Y K

the 13 per cent derivation would be paid directly to the communities.

Mrs Becky Tega of Olomoro community and 21 others representing Isoko host communities, said, “This is to inform the general public that they should not be misled, that the intention of the state governor, Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan is not to scrap the Commission, but that the DESOPADEC, which is their fear will remain and the entire workers will not be dismissed as the public is speculating.”

“Rather, it will enlarge the coast of employment whereby the issue of unemployment will be a thing of the past, as more youths, women and men qualified for employment will be gainfully engaged, thereby, we

HOSTCOM, will have our representatives in the new arrangement,” they added.

Congratulating Uduaghan for proposing the bill, Chief Sylvster Kohwo and 20 others representing host communities of oil and gas flow stations in Urhobo land, reminded the governor that it was the turn of Urhobo to produce the next chairman of DESOPADEC. “We wish to strongly appeal to all and sundry to see reasons with the governor because of the good intention the bill. The bill currently before the Delta State House of Assembly will virtually increase the level of participation of the people of oil producing communities and alleviate their sufferings,” they asserted.

•Governor Godswill Akpabio The governor while commissioning the ‘Global Positioning Recording System, GPRS, procured at the cost of $4 million in 2010 , had said, “It is our duty to keep this state safe and there will be no peace for criminals in the state. This is why we are investing seriously to ensure security in the state.”

A trader and resident, Sunday Inyang, said, “What I like most about our governor is that if he says he will do something, he will do it. He assured the people immediately he came back for second tend term that crime will reduce in Akwa Ibom and he did it. People were scared then and even packing out of the state, but he kept his promise and since then, this state has been very peaceful like it used to be.”

Weak points

Meanwhile, there are still sections and certain category of people in the state, who for one reason or the other, feel unimpressed with the outgoing governor’s style of leadership in the past eight years.

Some complained that he does not allow people to freely express their opinion or criticize his policies and programmes without being intimidated or victimized.

A citizen, who spoke on grounds of anonymity, said, “The governor has done well in other areas like roads but we are not happy that he did not establish the industry he promised each local government area. Poverty and unemployment are major problems we have in this state, so if he had fulfilled his promise to build industry for each local government area; it would have helped the people a lot, especially the unemployed youths.”

Also, the Oro axis of the state, comprising Mbo, Oron, Udung Uko, Urue/Offong Oruko and Okobo local government areas are unhappy with Governor Akpabio’s ad-

ministration because it allegedly marginalized them in terms of infrastructure development and allocation of key political offices.

A motorcyclist in Ini local government area, who simply identified himself as Monday, said “All I can say is that this government has not been fair to the people of Ini. The first time the governor came here, he promised to tar our road, but you can see for yourself that that the road has been abandoned.

“This is the local government area where the Commissioner for Women Affairs comes from but Iam telling you that in the whole of this area, there is no light. In all the villages of Nnaenim, Itieikpe, Nkana, Obotme, Ibam Ukot and Ekoi, there is no light. As far as I am concerned, the governor has not done well and our people are not happy with his government.”

However, the governor, during the 2014/2015 electioneering campaign, assured people of the areas, who did not benefit from his administration that his successor would continue from where he stopped to ensure spread of development in the state.

THE TEAM Emma Amaize, Editor Jimitota Onoyume Samuel Oyadongha Simon Ebegbulem Gabriel Enogholase Festus Ahon Egufe Yafugborhi Emmanuel Una Akpokona Omafuaire Godwin Oghre Tom Moses Chioma Onuegbu Ike Uche Davies Iheamnachor Emem Idio Brisibe Perez Barnabas Uzosike Nath Onajoke Chijioke Nwankpa

Niger Delta Voice, TUESDAY, MAY 12, 2015 — 3

S

UCCESSIVE administrations indeed grappled with the challenges of infrastructure, but Dickson left no one in doubt about his desire to bridge the gap of infrastructural deficit. He actually came at a time when governance was at its lowest ebb and with disillusioned Bayelsans crying development. Conscious of the mood of the state, he rolled out populist agenda making transparency and accountability the mantra of his administration.

He went to work with great gusto and enthusiasm, awarding huge capital projects left, right and center, all over the state. At a time, critics of his administration described the government as “biting more than it could chew”. The government fired back: “In just two years, the complaint is that we are doing too much.”

Capital projects languish However, with the administration expected to wind up its mandatory four years on Valentine Day, next years, critics appear to have been vindicated as nearly all the capital projects are at standstill. This, the government blamed on dwindling allocation from the federation account.

Bayelsa is solely dependent on crude oil production earnings from the federation account and given the volatility of the global oil market, mono -economy states are at the mercy of the forces of demand and supply.

With the situation of things on ground, it will take a miracle for Governor Dickson to complete many of the ongoing capital projects scattered all through the state, among which are the three senatorial roads, 500- bed general hospital, Tower hotel, Cargo Airport, Civil Servants Housing State and Igbogene-ElebeleOpolo link road.

Yenagoa, an overestimated slump

The enthusiasm that greeted the fervor with which the Dickson administration went to work has ebbed due to paucity of funds, especially the many link roads which could have opened up the state and push the frontiers of development further into the swamps.

Bayelsans seem not satisfied that Yenagoa is still a glorified slump. Many said that the government should have concentrated in raising the status of the state capital by constructing more internal link and access roads and residential estates to check the problem of flood and housing needs of the masses.

Nothing is happening – Citizen Timiebi

A

n unemployed artisan, Prekefa Timiebi, while lamenting the lull in construction work in the capital city where most of the firms have abandoned sites due to the cash crunch in the state ,said, “For as long as construction jobs are hard to come by, hunger will continue to torment me.”

The young man who stated

•Bayelsa State. INSET: Governor Dickson

Our gov’s original zeal has waned — Bayelsans YENAGOA- EXPECTATIONS were high on Valentine Day, February 14, 2012, three years ago, when Hon Henry Seriake Dickson assumed the leadership of Bayelsa State as the fourth Executive Governor. This was because infrastructure development in the state had been a burden every administration has had to grapple with.

BA YELS A ...

BAYELS YELSA THE GLORY OF ALL LANDS

By Samuel Oyadongha & Emem Idio, Yenagoa that he earned a living working as laborer at construction sites, lamented that for nearly seven months, he has been idle and living from hand to mouth, as virtually no construction sites are working.

“Nothing is happening in this state, you can see that no major construction is going on and we have been surviving as laborers. For instance the civil servants Housing Estate under construction has been abandoned for eight months and there is where I have been working before the contractors left because the state government has not released money for the jobs to be completed.

We are hungry because we do not have jobs. We are begging our governor to release monies to contractors so that they can return to sites and we too can have something to help ourselves with,” he said.

For a state with great sporting potentials, the lack of a

befitting stadium has continued to undo athletes and sportsmen in the state who are now compelled to use facilities from neighboring states for their training and preparations for national sports meetings.

As it were, Bayelsa United FC, the state government owned football club has been forced to adopt Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium, Edo State, for its home games due to the ongoing renovation

work at the Samson Siasia Stadium, Yenagoa, which is crawling at snail speed.

Another critical area where the present administration dashed the hope of the people is the failure to provide potable water for the people.

Water reticulation in Yenagoa and its environs is almost nonexistent. Residents, including government institutions depend on water vendors for the supply of water for homes and offices.

Our gov spends more time outside the state

F

Another critical area where the present administration dashed the hope of the people is the failure to provide potable water for the people.

or High Chief Julius Ilebere, the Dickson administration should return to the basis by making development all embracing.

He said, "We all needed change in the state, went to our various wards and voted overwhelmingly for the governor but what we agreed for him to come and do is not what he is doing. We agreed he should come and transform the state and let the hunger and intimidation come to an end.” ?

We have enough to develop Bayelsa but we are still battling with the expansion of the expressway. We have no stadium. Our governor spends more time outside than in the state he promised to live with

us. If you are developing everywhere without the people, you are doing nothing. And if the people are hungry and you are hosting all events which have no direct bearing on the lives of the people, it is nothing but wasteful ventures," he asserted.

Many agree with him on this. They, on the other hand, said the governor himself is not leading by example, as in their words, “Our governor hardly stays in the state for a whole week without traveling.

It is either he is away to Abuja or overseas in search of elusive investors. Everything revolves around him that whenever he is not in town he goes with the soul of the state. This though has been the pattern since the inception of democratic rule in this state which we want to see a change."

Unique management style and energy

N

otwithstanding the twist in fortune, Dickson has surely left no one in doubt that he is fully in charge with barely nine months to go. His distinctive leadership style is rare, his energy and passion for service is addictive. He is noted for fiscal discipline and holds the view that government budget should dwell on capital expenditure and less on recurrent.

His reforms in the state civil service as stated earlier has yielded fruit and made immediate impact in administration. Apart from the elimination of ghost workers syndrome, the biometric clock in, clock out exercise, has encouraged punctuality and absenteeism which hitherto was the order of the day in the service.

C M Y K

4 — Niger Delta Voice, TUESDAY, MAY 12, 2015

By Ike Uchechukwu

C

ALABAR- CITIZENS of Cross River State have made plain the inventive ness of their governor, Senator Liyel Imoke, in the last eight years, describing as a rare political breed.

Mr. Oka Abam, who works with the Federal Nero-psychiatric Hospital, Calabar, said, “Imoke remains one of the most articulate, well focused and calculated politicians that Nigeria has ever produced in recent times.”

“As far I know, Imoke is a political tactician, some people only think that he is slow in executing plans but it is not true. What is, however, true is that there are so many sycophants around the man and despite their backward contributions, the governor has been able to move the state to another level in terms of development and I love him for that,” he said.

An entrepreneur, Mr Emmanuel Onoh, who runs an cyber café at Ekpo Abasi, Calabar South, said, he (Imoke) has a soft spot for the people as well as the means of reaching out to the grassroots, but some people misused the opportunity he gave them to serve.

An achiever

“This made many to believe that he is slow in policy implementation, no one could have achieved what he accomplished with the resources available and the kind of people he has around him because they do not tell him the truth, they just want to grab what they can before they leave office,” he said.

According to him, ” Among other governors in Nigeria as a whole, how many of them kept their cabinet as long as Imoke did, some had six to seven commissioners within the last years, but in his case it was not that way. Without mincing

•Calabar

•Governor Imoke

Imoke, good man surrounded by bad advisers CROSS RIVER… THE PEOPLE’S PARADISE

words, he will remain one of the best leaders that Cross River state has produced.

“Some also believe that taxation is too high in Cross River, but how many of them know

that what we get in four years is what our sister states get in one year? Yet the man has been able to develop Cross River to this level, as a matter of fact , he will always be cherished by those who believe in truth and natural justice,” Onoh added.

Transformed rural communities

Fish seller, Mrs. Isu Ekesi, who trades at Lagos Street , Calabar, told Niger Delta Voice that Imoke has eradicated a lot

of abnormalities, extended basic amenities to rural areas and that people living in places like Boki, Yakuurr ,Obudu, Obanliku even interior area of Calabar south and Calabar Municipality, cannot deny what Imoke has done.

Her words, “It is true that he has many bad advisers but the man has tried. Oil theft has really reduced along our water ways even though we are now the victim of those that were stopped from oil bunkering

business, but he has done so much to uplift the living standards of the common man in Cross River.”

“If I have an opportunity to vote for governor of the decade or year for Cross River, I will vote him again and again,” she added.

Madam Priscilla Asuquo, a plantain seller at Palm Street, Calabar, said it was during Imoke’s tenure that buying things from the bush became

Continues on page 5

‘Amaec hi a vvolatile, olatile, vvocif ocif er ous ac hie ‘Amaechi ocifer erous achie hievver’ RIVERS… THE TREASURE BASE OF THE NATION

By Davies Iheamnachor

P

ORT HARCOURT- DE SPITE the hard luck that befell the All Progressives Congress, APC, in Rivers State in the last governorship election and how some opponents view his actions since he dumped the PDP, the governor, Rt Hon Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, is loved by the people of the state.

Though, many did not like his temperamental outbursts and combustible nature, they could not deny the fact that he has done well in the area of infrastructural development of the state in his eight years in the saddle.

Allegedly neglected widows

A trader from Apani, Ikwerre local government area of the state, Blessing Amadi, told C M Y K

•Governor Amaechi Niger Delta Voice that since she started seeing leaders in the state, Amaechi stood out best based on his developmental strides.

She asserted, “Amaechi has tried so much as the governor of the state. He built Apani road, now the terrible road has become smooth, he built health centre for the community and brought modern school to our place. But he does not give attention to widows. There are

•A school in Rivers widows suffering everywhere in the communities but he is not remembering them.”

Gave less attention to the underprivileged

“He has never made out time to come to the rural settings to really find out what the poor people are facing. He does not visit the communities that a having communal conflict to know what is actually happening as the chief security officer of the

federation.”

“He has tried but the common people in the village need more of his attention. I have not seen him before, but I like him. He should try and be visiting the people so that we can tell him our challenges directly. I also plead with him to bring somebody who will work like him,” she added.

Bicycle repairer from Rumuji, Emohua local government area, Ehagbule Okparike, said, “I like

Amaechi because he built schools in all the communities in the state, he even provided school uniforms and for the students.”

Why the wealthy hate Amaechi

“Some of the rich people in the state today hate him because he did not share money to them like other past governors did.

Continues on Page 5

Niger Delta Voice, TUESDAY, MAY 12, 2015 — 5

Prohibited fishes

H

owever, the fine species of fishes from the river are a no-go-area for indigenes and nonindigenes alike, as those who dared to consume it in the past, were reported to have died mysteriously.

But, that is not the incomprehensibility of Idim Enim, Niger Delta Voice learned that the river disappears and reappears at certain times of the season under prying circumstances.

The Ekpurikpu Oku Iboku (Clan head of Oku Iboku) and chairman, Itu Traditional Council of Chiefs, Ete Idung Effiong Uruk Okon, who confirmed the strange trait, said it was a taboo for anybody to catch fish from

IDIM ENIN: Akwa Ibom River that vanishes and resurfaces OKU IBOKU – IDIM- ENIN, located at Oku Iboku, a fishing community in Efit clan, Itu Local Government Area, Akwa-Ibom State, is a river highly revered by the people.

The name Idim Enin is interpreted as elephant spring, meaning gargantuan river.

The people of Oku Iboku are generally known for buxom agricultural produce and rich aquatic life blessings, which translate to huge economic and financial blessings to people, and Idim Enim provides potable water for the villagers.

Idim Enin and eat; else the person stood the risk of dying inexplicably.

According to the monarch, his forebears had investigated to know why it was suicidal and sacrilegious to consume fishes drawn from Idim Enim to no avail, except that the unexplained deaths of persons, who consumed fishes from the stream in the past, were traced to it and since then, nobody had dared to eat any fish obtained from the stream.

Free to drink water

W

hile eating of fishes from the Idim Enin could attract death, drinking of water drawn from it is not forbidden. Ete Idung Okon said the water fetched from the Idim Enin “is usually very clean, extraordinarily cold and appetizing when drank.”

He said that those who farm in the vicinity of the stream more often than not have bumper and high quality harvests compared to the farm produce from other environments.

‘Amaechi a volatile, vociferous achiever’ Contiunes from page 4 “The only thing I do not like about Amaechi, my governor, is that he talks too much. He does not hide anything. If he sees anything he must comment on it. This is the only aspect of his life that I do not like. I am not also happy with him for joining others to stop our brother, the President from coming back as President in 2015.

If he and others did not pull out of PDP and joined forces with APC, President Goodluck Jonathan would not have lost,” he said.

A woman from Okehi, headquarters of Etche local government area, who does not want her identity disclosed, also confirmed the magnanimity of the governor, but said: “I do not like the fact that Amaechi is always aggressive. When you do him anything, he reacts. If he should control his temper, then he will even be the best man in the whole Nigeria,” she said.

Those who farm in the vicinity of the stream more often than not have bumper and high quality harvests compared to the farm produce from other environments.

•Ete Idung Effiong Uruk Okon

Disappearing and Re-appearing

W

hat, however, makes the stream dreadful till date despite the incursion Christianity, he informed, was the fact that sometimes, the stream would appear almost dried up and the next moment, it would be in a full tide, irrespective of the season of the year.

“When the stream undertakes its movement, which is crossing from a side of the road to the other, it is only those who are extremely lucky and opportune that witnesses the movement,” he added.

“It is usually very terrifying and electrifying seeing the stream cross itself from its natural location to the other side of the road and that of course, usually happens when the environment is very quiet and when most people must have gone out to work or to their farms,” Ete-Idung Okon disclosed.

•Idim Enin

Imoke, good man surrounded by bad advisers Contiunes from page 4 more lucrative for her. She added. “Before now, most of the communities that I normally go to buy plantain and other items do not have access roads, but the governor has changed all that at least, people can now bring out farm produce easily .So he has made things a lot easier for the masses in Cross River, especially those living in rural area and indirectly for those in the metropolis.

75-year-old palm wine tapper in Bekwarra, Oki Araga, told Niger Delta Voice that he never believed that in his life time, electricity and tarred roads will get to Ugboro community, emphasizing. “I am glad and grateful to God for giving us someone like Imoke, we have been able to enjoy some basic amenities through his humane policies,

many people have also criticized him that he is too slow, but been quiet does not in any way translate to been slow or docile, I am glad he came in my time.”

Man of integrity

"Sincerely, we do not have such Cross Riverians any more, they are very few. When I finished Standard five in the 70s, that was the last time I saw such breed of politicians but Imoke is among the few that are in this generation of politicians who are truthful and have integrity, they (others) only look for how to box him into a corner but it did not work for them, the only means they adopted is sycophancy just to achieve their selfish aims,” he said.

Widow and akara (beans cake)

seller, Mrs Gloria Ibe, said, “What I fry is beans cake, it is not easy to survive in this town, but since Imoke came into government in 2007, things have changed. From last three years when he started fixing rural roads and giving them light, things are becoming cheaper in the urban area because people now have a lot of means to bring their finished products here for us to buy.”

“Apart from my akara business, I also go to bush market and this has helped me and my children lot since I lost my husband in 2012. Because of access roads alone, things are becoming better, I just pray that the next governor will continue from where he will stop,” she said .

C M Y K

6 — Niger Delta Voice, TUESDAY, MAY 12, 2015

PODIUM…

Uduaghan redeems image with eleventh hour exploits

By Emma Amaize

A

SABA- WHEN the Gover nor of Delta State, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan, was asked lately by journalists in Warri to evaluate his eightyear tenure, he said the verdict - excellent or appalling, would depend on who is making the assessment.

For the heavy with child woman receiving free treatment from government hospitals, he said it is kudos; for the students on scholarship, the retort is well done; and for the underprivileged that have received micro-credit loans to expand their businesses, it is a pass mark. He, however, said they were those who think otherwise and they were entitled to their opinion.

He didn’t perform As adumbrated by Governor Uduaghan, he is viewed from diverse standpoints by different people. A spare parts dealer at Effurun, Mr. Chukwudi Anusi, told NigerDelta Voice, “The man has not performed; I score him 35 per

EDO... HEARTBEAT OF THE NATION

By Simon Ebegbulem BENIN CITY-IN terms of infrastructure development, the nastiest critics of Oshiomhole whose tenure expires, November, next year, will concede that the labour activist has done reasonably well in giving Benin City, the state capital, a facelift and remodeling schools in the state, but quite a number in the lower social rung feel his administration has not empowered the youths and women.

is the uncompleted Ughelli-Asaba dualization road and the Bus Rapid Transit, BRT, in Warri.

cent.”

Innocent Okorodudu, an estate agent in Asaba, said, “Yes, he has done some roads in Asaba, the state capital, but go into the town, most of the internal roads are bad, he has not done anything, I score him 40 per cent.”

They misapprehend him A bricklayer, Mr John Ogbodu from Isoko, said, “I think some persons, not everybody, however, mischievously opted to misrepresent Uduaghan and paint a bad picture of him, but for me, this man has added solid blocks to the foundation laid by ex-governor, Chief James Ibori.”

Mr. Isaac Preyor and Mrs.

•Governor Uduaghan (middle) commissioning Warri fly-over

Janet Igbinoba, who spoke in a similar vein, said it is later that those who are criticizing Uduaghan would appreciate the things he has done for the state.

“I see him as a visionary who dreamed about the state and did his best to actualize his vision, it is time for him to hand over the baton to somebody else to continue from where he will stop,”

Mrs. Igbinoba asserted.

Because of the status of Delta as an oil-producing state, the citizens expected so much from Uduaghan, but the dwindling federal allocation to the state due to falling oil prices and bombing of oil pipelines by ex-militants adversely affected his plans.

Point of understanding He realized in his second tenure

that people wanted more that the Delta Beyond Oil agenda, Asaba Airport, scholarship and micro credit loans of his government and came up with a “Finishing strong” programme.

Not many believe his finishing strong agenda until he started crystallizing them. And up till the last few days, he is still on the course of finishing strong. The projects which stand as sore points for him

Oshiomhole tried but didn’t empower youths, women

should not be abandoning those who worked very closely with him during the elections,” he said.

“I want to also say that the roads in Government Reservation Area, GRA, are not good but I am not surprised because he said he would build roads where the poor live first, which is what he, has been doing. I do not blame him for the poor state of the roads in GRA but I will like to appeal to him to fix it if he has money so that the roads will be motorable. But it is also sad that the rich people in GRA do not want to assist the government in repairing some of these roads. Government cannot do everything, “he added.

No money to expand our business

A beans cake (akara) seller, Mrs Rhoda Omorodion, told Niger Delta Voice, that the governor has done well in the area of infrastructural development, but admonished him to look towards their direction of the poor financially to expand their carry business.

“Oshiomhole has transformed the state to our surprise; we never knew that our state has this kind of money for work. We love what the governor is doing in our state; those people who are fighting him are the same PDP people that do not like the poor people like us.

They are fighting Oshiomhole because he loves the poor and he has been working for the poor and they do not like it.

“But we will continue to pray for him, God will continue to protect him for us because he is the governor of the poor people. The big men are not happy that he is remembering us, before now, they are the only people eating the C M Y K

Proving critics wrong The several road projects in the state, remodeled schools, upgraded hospitals, human capital development efforts, peace and stability that reign in the state speak eloquently for him, but he proved critics wrong when his administration, last month, commissioned the Flyover projects in Asaba and Warri, which many believed he would never deliver till he leaves office, May 29. This was after the commissioning spree of Umeh road, Umunede –Mbiri road and other projects, few months ago.

He clarified the constraint on the BRT, which has to do with land acquisition/space for the project, while the Ughelli-Asaba dualization was more of contractual failure by the contractors, but he assured that that since government is a continuum, the incoming PDP government would continue from where his administration would stop. But, the major shocker of the Uduaghan government is the completion of Shoprite, Delta Mall at Effurun Roundabout, Uvwie, Delta State, which is due for commissioning in the next few days. Nobody believed it will be completed by Governor Uduaghan even with the spate of work going on in the place in the last few weeks, but a visit to the mall showed that he even stunned himself.

What we want from Oshiomhole

•Benin. INSET: Governor Oshiomhole money. But Oshiomhole now came and decided to work for everybody and we are happy. I know he has done well, but I want to appeal to him to help people like us by giving us money to expand our market, “she said.

“My husband was a commercial motorcyclist before government banned Okada, so if it is not this business, we would find it very difficult surviving. He has done many things for market women; I want to beg him to do the same for us who are not in the market. I am saying this because they come here to buy akara for the governor, so as he is eating my akara, God will be giving him the money to work for our people and also help people like us to open bigger

places for our business,” she added.

Mrs. Omorodion asserted, “The governor may not know, they buy my akara and take to Government House. It is not only the governor that eats my akara, many government officials also eat my akara.

Oshiomhole has done very well for Edo state and I will advise all those always abusing him to look at the good things the man has done and encourage him to do more.”

Use and dump mentality

A less privileged man whose admiration for Oshiomhole predated his governorship, Lucky Bazuaye, told Niger Delta Voice, “The Comrade Governor is some-

body we all loved even before he became governor because of how he fought for Nigerians as Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, president. We all were glad when he decided to come and run as governor of our state. We all went into the streets to work for him and thank God he is governor today.”

“And he has not disappointed us because he has built roads, beautiful schools; many of our youths are employed today. Things have really changed in Edo state. But my only problem with him is that some of us who worked for him sincerely have been abandoned.

You know as governor, it is difficult to reach him, if not, I would have told him, so I want to use this opportunity to tell him that he

A stylist, Juilet, who also commended the governor for his development pace regretted that market women were still being harassed by some youths in the name of revenue collection.

She urged the governor to empower stylists and women involved in tailoring, saying, “Many people have learnt that trade but there is no money to buy machines and open their own businesses. Sometimes they will stay at home for years managing other jobs and before you know it, all they learned are wasted. So the governor should do more and empower our youths so that they will stop going to Ring Road to harass innocent people over one levy or the other.”

Also speaking, Mrs Cecilia Okereke, who manufactures grinding stone, urged the governor to set up a committee to discover skilled workers who do not have the wherewithal to open their own businesses.

PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION:

Our gun battles with Presidency men in N-Delta creeks

— ‘Commander’ Bibi, Buhari’s security aide

•Says Ijaw gods‘ve endorsed Buhari DELTA...

FINGER OF GOD

By Emma Amaize EX-MILITANT leader, Oduku Bibi, popularly known as Commander Bibi in the Niger-Delta was accused of betrayal when he dumped his kinsman, President Goodluck Jonathan, to work for General Muhammadu Buhari (retd) of the All Progressives Congress, APC. He and his followers were threatened and attacked for their effrontery. In this interview with Niger-Delta Voice, he recounts the horrifying experiences and why he energetically believes in the PresidentElect.

W

hat is your involvement with the All Progressive Congress, are you a politician?

I have done a lot of things in the APC like organizing all the ex-militants who left the creeks in the Niger Delta to work for General Muhammadu Buhari (retd), including the youths and women. We tried our best and God made us victorious and I can tell you that ex-militants in the region are supportive of Buhari.

You mean that while top exmilitant leaders were working for President Goodluck Jonathan, you were organizing differently for Buhari, what did you see in him?

I see Buhari as a man who is capable of moving Nigeria forward. He is not a selfish and greedy man; he is a man who has a good heart for every human. Why I love him is that his past history is useful and impactful on Nigerians. My working with him in collaboration with other ex- militants, youths and women is to bring proper change to the Niger Delta and even the gods of land have approved that he should be there.

When you say gods of the land, do you mean that Egbesu, the Ijaw god of war has also endorsed Buhari?

Yes, all the Ijaw gods in the Niger Delta and even some strong men of God have also

•Commander Bibi

said it. All of them have already endorsed Buhari, not just Egbesu.

Did other ex-militant leaders try to stop your group from working for Buhari before the presidential election?

Yes, a lot did, they called me a betrayer for leaving President Jonathan to work for Buhari and they attacked us in the river with guns and their boys, but we did our best to secure our votes and voters at great risk to our lives. Before the elections, we had a technical approach to security issues in the region approved by the security heads in the Buhari team.

We knew that the challenges are there and we planned to fight the challenges. In Delta, Cross River, Bayelsa and Edo, we faced a lot of challenges but our men were so strong that no matter how they did it to protect our votes even with all their oppression and government power.

Our men were attacked in Cross River state and even on the day of the election. One of our leaders in Cross River called to alert me about what is happening in the river, I alerted some of our men and there was exchange of gunfire by both sides, the same thing played out in Rivers, Bayelsa, Warri North, Warri South and Warri South West areas in Delta state. There were lots of gun fires, the people in that vicinity know the issues I am talking about. I will not mention names but we know them who were behind the gun fires but by the grace of God, we will bring a lot of them to book. The day of the election was a proper gunfire in Warri North and Warri South West, we were

My working with him in collaboration with other exmilitants, youths and women is to bring proper change to the Niger Delta and even the gods of land have approved that he should be there. monitoring the polls in Egbema and Itsekiri communities in and trying not to allow the opponent party to use their criminal ways put things that they are not supposed to put. But in that way of challenging them, it is like we are fighting against them and in that regard, gun battle ensued. Also at Oghara, Ethiope-West local government area, on the day of the election, they even attacked the Buhari Support Organization, BSO, chairman in the state, Dr. Isaac Tobore Ajuashi at his houseEven before his attack, we were attacked in the same Oghara but we fought back. .

(Ajuashi was allegedly kidnapped May 9 at Oghara by unknown gunmen).

How do you think oil pipelines can be better protected in the Niger-Delta?

I have the men who know all the pipelines in the region and when General Buhari takes

Niger Delta Voice, TUESDAY, MAY 12, 2015 — 7 over, I am assuring that we will protect the pipelines if the man- they are some of them that pardate is given to us. We have ticipated in the amnesty proalready put in place a techni- gramme that fought for Buhari cal board concerning the pipe- based on principle. They will line and the federal waterways all benefit when Buhari comes to secure the pipelines and in. Youths and women of Niger waterways.

Delta are involved in our crusade for change under Buhari.

Attacks on people by pirates on the waterways of the NigerWhat is our reaction to the Delta are on the increase, what call for the scrapping of the is the plan to overcome it? amnesty programme for ex We actually observed so and militants?

I had called the chief security I know there are files well officer to Buhari to alert him of documented to benefit those the happenings, but I cannot who participated in the amnesty take laws into my hands by programme, but the way things sending my men to confront have gone, some of them have them for now. However, I be- not benefited what they ought lieve that when General Buhari to have benefited. I am, howtakes over and things are prop- ever, optimistic that all these erly structured, we will work things will be taken care of in with the military as a team to the Buhari government. protect all the pipelines if I am saddled with the responsibilAggrieved ex militants in ity. Whatever they are doing Urhobo and Isoko areas of now, we know the people in- Delta state are bombing oil volved and when the time pipelines to demonstrate their comes for us to act and we will dissatisfaction with the manbring them to book. ner the federal government awarded the pipeline surveilBut the Jonathan govern- lance contracts, are you in ment has done what you are touch with them? saying, ex-militant leaders are Yes, when the issue came to already partnering with the my attention, I contacted Joint Task Force to secure the Urhobo and Isoko ex-generals pipelines and make the water- under my command and subways safe? sequently held a meeting with They are a lot of criminals in them. They complained they the midst of the people the were abandoned after droppresent government is working ping their arms, I appealed to with and the followers are an- them to calm down, that the gry. When the followers are coming administration will not angry, the government will forget them. never have peace. That is why all these things are still hapYou speak and sound so conpening. Am using this medium fident of Buhari, are you sure to plead with ex-militant lead- that you will not be speaking ers, who are angry at the way from the other side of your they were treated to simmer mouth later? down, as the Buhari governAs far as I know, there will ment will not forget them. I can be no failure with Buhari in the tell you that if the relevant promises already made to susstakeholders were all carried tain the peace in the Niger along, the things you are talk- Delta. He has a strong detering about now will happen no mination to do the right things more. and a committed team to drive his vision in the Niger Delta.

You speak as if the problem It is God Almighty that has deis about ex-militant leaders that signed this change and I bewere forgotten and once they lieve in it. I appeal to everyare fished out and accommo- body in the Niger Delta to emdated, things will normalize? brace this change because I No, not just ex-militant lead- know General Buhari will not ers that the government forgot, betray us.

Cultists kill ex-member in presence of mother

By Ike Uchechukwu te cultists in Cross River Sta ALABAR- RAMPAGING member, Emmanuel, who ted have shot dead a suspec up. gro lt cu ir the d denounce r Delta Voice ase the dece d, told Nige d with the Mrs. Bassey, mother of rke e that his son, who wo at her Calabar residenc ar South before his demise, was lab Keke Task Force in Ca al. the window killed like an anim into her room through door and He said the killers broke the force their way through when they could not e an animal, dragged his son out. a common criminal, lik “They killed him like sence despite d Emma right in my pre they shot and butchere ll judge them wi ow him go, but God my plea with them to all such a thing to me after eating my do God,” she one by one if they could handing them over to am I er, salt and my pepp used to be a said. admitted that her son Mrs. Bassey, however, d its memce un no de up but had gro lt cu t cre se a of er memb the inception from the family before bership due to pressure of the current clash.

C

C M Y K

8—Niger Delta Voice, TUESDAY, MAY 12, 2015

Mind-boggling tale of mystery grave in Edo school EDO...

HEARTBEAT OF THE NATION

By Simon Ebegbulem

U

HUNMWINDUNMWUNIT was not established at the time of this report if Uhunmwindunmwun in Oredo Local Government Area is the community with the longest name in Edo State, but last Monday, the people encountered a long problem that jolted them.

A freshly dug grave was found in one of the classrooms at Iguodala Primary School in the community. The grave site with stains of blood was said to have been ?discovered by one of the teachers and some pupils at about 7.16 am that Monday shortly after the morning assembly.

Hullabaloo They instantaneously raised an alarm as they scampered for safety, drawing the attention of acting Head Mistress, Mrs Georgina, who quickly ordered evacuation of the pupils from Primary 1A. Shocked by what she saw, the headmistress dashed to the homes of the community leaders and elders to inform them.

She also alerted the police at Esigie Police Station, Benin City, There was pandemonium in the entire community at this point as the scared out of your wits pupils abandoned learning and raced to their various homes. The next day, Tuesday, the school was like a grave yard as parents stopped their children from going to school.

Elders of the community described the incident as baffling and a taboo, and vowed to get to the root of the matter.

The headmistress told Niger Delta Voice, “When I visited the scene, all the teachers were raising alarm and people around trooped into the school compound. I called the attention of inspectors from the ministry, NUT chairman, PTA chairman and the Odionwere of the community, who told us to call the police. When the policemen came, they said that they would assess the scene today (Tuesday). We were all surprised because since I started teaching here, I have not experienced such things."

Niger Delta Voice observed the newly dug grave had not been cemented with a pair of shorts and t-shirt on the floor of the classroom.

Police surveillance Some of the police officers from the Esigie Police Division were said to have kept watch? from Tuesday night until an C M Y K

evacuation was carried out by some cemetery staff from local government council.

Nothing incriminating – Oredo LG, Police But the men suspected to be grave diggers were instructed by health officials from the council to stopped exhumation, after digging three feet into the ground, saying that there was no sign that a corpse had been buried at the site.

"We have removed the earth that was dug and got to the stronger part, an indication that no further digging was done and nothing was found. So at this point, maybe the police may further investigate; but at our end, we did not find anything there," a deputy director ?in the health and environment department of the council, Mr. Sylvester Usoboh, told journalists. ?

The Divisional Police Officer, CSP Akeke Eni, also allayed the fear that the remains of an unknown person could have been buried in the school. “It's an empty site, it was initially suspected to be a grave site but we have discovered that there is nothing inside. It has allayed the fear of everybody that a human being could have been buried there. So, that concludes

the matter.”

Criminal hideout But, residents of the Uhunmwindunmwun community have called on the state government to reconstruct the school, which they said had become a hideout for hoodlums due to its dilapidated condition.

Chairman of the Community Development Association, Mr Charles Ugiagbe, said, “The problem there is that the school is not like other schools constructed by the comrade governor, this one is virtually abandoned, no fence, no good structures, so hoodlums took over the place, using it as hideout.”

“Suppose the school is in

The place is now a hide out for criminals and those who smoke Indian hemp

•The grave

•Pa Lucky Onaiwu

good shape, we would have had security in the place but it is not and that is why we are using this opportunity to appeal to the comrade governor to come and help us rebuild the school. The buildings have collapsed, we have written series of letters to the state government and the NDDC to come and rebuild the school so that this kind of thing will not happen again,” he said.

An elder in the community, Greg Ugiagbe, asserted, “ I feel what we have been praying for in this community is coming to reality, we have been praying that God and government should recognize us because we have been neglected for a long time, that very primary school is the oldest in this area after Uwa Primary school, founded in 1938. We do not know what we have done wrong that after repairing other primary schools, our own was abandoned.”

“But we know that our action governor has done a lot, if not for him, Benin City would have looked like that old city but he has changed it. He has done well but we are appealing to him to come to our rescue because that primary school is a hideout for criminals, when it is 8.00 pm, you do not go to that area because you will be hearing gun shots. People that go to market are harassed and robbed all the times. So if government can help us rehabilitate the school and fence it, there will be better security and robbers will no longer make their safe haven,” he said.

Another community leader, Lucky Onaiwu, asserted, “The truth is that that school has been neglected for years, every other school around us here has been modernized. We in this community are shocked that the only primary school in the heart of this community was abandoned.

The place is now a hide out for criminals and those who smoke Indian hemp.”

Youth leader, Appiah Ehigiaduwa, pleaded with the governor to come and rebuild the school, stressing, “Cultists and criminals always use that place as their meeting point every night and it is disturbing the community. “ His kinsman, Osaigbovo, also appealed, “Government should help us repair the school and fence it for us so we can fortify security in the place. We do not want cultists to take over the community through that school.

The children in that school are not enjoying comfort like their colleagues in other schools, which is what the comrade governor promised our children with the invention of red roof in all the schools in the state.”

•Iguodalo primary school...taken over by criminals

DELTA FISH LAKE BRAWL:

Uneasy calm as gunmen kill youth, injure 2 others

By Ochuko Akuopha

T

WENTY-SIX-YEAR-OLD Otuwho Osuoruye has been shot dead and two others seriously injured in a violent clash between youths of Igbide and Uzere communities, both in Isoko South Local Government Area, Delta State, over the ownership of a fish lake.

A source, who spoke to Niger Delta Voice on condition of anonymity, disclosed that the lake identified as Ugbokwe, had from its origin been adulated as a deity, adding that it was a taboo for the people to indulge in fishing activities in the fishpond.

He said six youths from the Igbide community had gone for fishing at the lake on Sunday

20, April, 2015, when they were allegedly accosted by some indigenes of Uzere community.

The deceased was shot dead in the ensuing battle while the two others were left with bullet and machete injuries.

Reacting to the incident, the president general of the Igbide community, Chief David Edegware, stated, “The place is our bush but they are saying it is theirs, we have documents establishing the ownership from West Africa Court of Appeal sitting in Ghana over 80 years ago.”

“What happened was that some of our boys went to the lake to fish and some few persons from Uzere came and they saw them and they fought. The boys from our community were

just six and in the process, somebody was shot dead and two others sustained fatal injuries,” he said.

He disclosed that the people of Uzere took those that were injured to the Cottage Hospital in Uzere for treatment while the body of the deceased had been deposited into the mortuary.

Edegware added, “The position presently is that they are begging to pay compensation for what they have done. They know what they have done is wrong. They are the people taking care of those that have been shot and they are asking that we discuss so that we can settle.”

Contacted, president general of the Uzere community, Comrade Columbus Oguname, said there was no dispute over the said fish-

ing pond owned by his community.

Alleging that the boys from Igbide had come to the pond to steal, he said, “our boys caught them and they opened fire and in the process, one of them died.”

Disclosing that there had been several cases of theft from the pond over the years, he said, “When we catch them, the matter is usually resolved, but this time they became hostile.” He however said the matter was being resolved amicably by the two communities.

Police Public Relations Officer, Delta State Police Command, DSP Celestina Kalu, confirmed the incident, saying that a 45 –year- old man has been arrested by the police in connection with the matter.

She added that preliminary investigation on the incident was in progress.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, MAY 12, 2015—33

Brian Greenwood, a researcher in tropical medicine at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, who is involved in the trial, noted: “Despite the falling efficacy over time, there is still a clear benefit from RTS,S/AS01. An average 1,363 cases of clinical malaria were prevented over four years of follow-up for every 1,000 children vaccinated, and 1,774 cases in those who also received a booster shot. Over three years of follow-up, an average 558 cases were averted for every 1,000 infants vaccinated, and 983 cases in those also given a booster dose.

“Given that there were an estimated 198 million malaria cases in 2013, this level of efficacy potentially translates into millions of cases of malaria in children being prevented.”

THIS WEEK

May 14-15, 2015

Human Health in the Face of Climate Change: Science, Medicine, and Adaptation, Barcelona, Spain.

May 17, 2015 World Hypertension Day. established to highlight the preventable stroke, heart and kidney diseases caused by high blood pressure and to communicate to the public information on prevention detection and treatment

May 15, 2015 International Day of Families celebrates the importance of families and the work started during the International Year of Families.

Science World

More sex doesn't lead to increased happiness

C

OUNTLESS research and self-help books claim that having more sex will lead to increased happiness, based on the common finding that those having more sex are also happier. Scientists now report that simply having more sex did not make couples happier, in part because the increased frequency led to a decline in wanting for and enjoyment of sex.

In the first study to examine the causal connection between sexual frequency and happiness, Carnegie Mellon University researchers experimentally assigned some couples to have more sex than others, and observed both group's happiness over a three month period.

In a paper published in the Journal of Economic Behaviour & Organisation, they report that simply having more sex did not make couples happier, in part because the increased frequency led to a decline in wanting for and enjoyment of sex.

Continues on Page 36 C M Y K

• Search for a universal malaria vaccine has been on for several years. The World Health Organisation, WHO, says malaria vaccines are considered amongst the most important modalities for potential prevention of malaria disease and reduction of malaria transmission.

Malaria vaccine less effective than expected •But there are clear benefits, say researchers

By Sola Ogundipe

H

OPES of a universal, commercially licensed malaria vaccine this year may have dimmed as the first candidate malaria vaccine to reach phase III clinical trials, though safe, has been found to provide only modest protection for infants.

Results of the RTS,S/AS01 vaccine clinical trial that is being conducted across 11 research centres in Burkina Faso, Gabon, Ghana, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique and Tanzania, indicate that the vaccine is not as effective at protecting young African children against malaria as was hoped.

The participants were enrolled between March 2009 and January 2011 in the trial, conducted by GlaxoSmithKline, in partnership with the PATH Malaria Vaccine Initiative (MVI) funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.

The phase three trial of the vaccine candidate showed a 54 percent reduction in cases of clinical malaria over the first year of follow-up and a 36 percent reduction in clinical malaria over a 48 month period among children vaccinated between 517 months old who received four doses of the vaccine. On average across the trial sites, more than 1,700 cases of clinical malaria were averted per 1,000 children vaccinated.

A publication in The Lancet, revealed that in 15,459 infants aged 6–12 weeks and children, 5–17 months, the reduction in clinical malaria was 26 percent over a follow up period of 38 months.

There is currently no licensed malaria vaccine but at least 20 vaccines are under various stages of development.

According to the World Health Organisation, WHO, malaria vaccines are considered amongst the most important modalities for potential prevention of malaria disease and reduction of malaria transmission.

Early trial results published in 2014 found that the recombinant protein vaccine RTS,S/AS01 was more effective in children than infants, reducing malaria cases in children by almost a half and by just over a quarter in infants at 18 months after vaccination.

The latest results show that the effectiveness of the vaccine drops over time, although this can be boosted by a booster dose to reduce a third of cases in children at four years from vaccination.

Despite the setback, however, researchers say the vaccine is still worth deploying because millions of children could benefit from vaccination in areas of high transmission.

The latest results show that the effectiveness of the vaccine drops over time, although this can be boosted by a booster dose to reduce a third of cases in children at four years from vaccination

Vaccine worth deploying A director of the Jenner Institute at the University of Oxford, Adrian Hill, says the assertion that the vaccine may be worth deploying in some settings because it prevented large numbers of uncomplicated cases was controversial.

“There was no impact on malaria mortality and no significant effect on severe malaria: non-significant reductions of just 1 percent and 10 percent were observed in the children and infants studied over the full trial period using a three dose regimen. This is clearly lower than the efficacy of impregnated bed nets,” Hill says.

New evidence of a rebound in malaria susceptibility after vaccination was “worrying”, he adds. “After 20 months, vaccinated children who were not boosted showed an increased risk of severe malaria over the next 27 months compared with non-vaccinated controls.

“It should be possible to make the vaccine more effective in some settings with improved scheduling, but that will probably increase delivery costs substantially,” he argued.

The safety and efficacy of RTS,S/ AS01 is being reviewed by the European Medicines Agency’s (EMA’s) Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) under an article 58 procedure, which allows the CHMP to give opinions, in coContinues on Page 34

Liberia’s achievement against Ebola is monumental — WHO Page Page 36 36

Page 59

34—Vanguard, TUESDAY, MAY 12, 2015

Hospital harvests 23 organs from brain-dead donors

By Chioma Obinna

I

N a remarkable act of humanity, Apollo Hospitals, has harvested 23 organs from five brain dead organ donors even as it carried out 10 transplants in one day at its flagship Hospital in India.

The organs were harvested under the watch of the donors’grieving families, setting a record for first ever maximum number of organs harvested in one day.

The rare gesture of kindness displayed by the five families who donated the organs of their loved ones gave a fresh lease of life to 23 other people on the same day.

Expressing gratitude, the Founder/Chairman of the Hospitals, Dr. Reddy and Vice Chairperson, Ms. Preetha Reddy, on behalf of the clinical clinical team said: “These wellmeaning families have given patients with end-stage organ failure, a second chance to live – and this act will inspire more people to donate organs.

“It takes an extreme sense of human kindness and an elevated sense of social responsibility from families to help hospitals and doctors to give a fresh lease of life to those in need. Human life is priceless, and when an individual’s life can give life and hope to so many others in need, it is truly priceless” Explaining the life saving procedure, Reddy said a multidisciplinary team of 100 doctors utilised seven state-of – the-art operating theatres simultaneously to harvest 23 organs and carry out 10 transplants at the same time.

Reddy said the doctors and support staff have worked round the clock to help realise this remarkable feat by Apollo

Group’s success in running the busiest and most successful transplant centre in the world.

“If only the kindness exhibited by these five families, in donating the organs of their beloved ones, were to be a torch-bearer for others to follow, it will mean that a lot more patients who are in end-stage organ failure and who are in dire need of organs would have a fresh lease of life.

“Apollo Hospitals is a major referral centre for minimally invasive surgeries and receives a large number of patients from all over the world looking for

affordable, superior quality medical care along with less waiting time and minimum hospital stay.

Over 200,000 foreign patients from over 120 countries have been successfully treated for various illnesses at the hospital, recently awarded the ‘Golden Peacock’ Award by the Institute of Directors, in partnership with the Department of Industry Policy & Promotion, Government of India, a highest award for Business Excellence in Healthcare, considered a benchmark in Corporate Excellence awards.

Group offers free blood pressure checks

By Gabriel Olawale & Jennifer Aladetan

T

EAM Up For Health, TUFH, a Carlisle Healthcare initiative has start a free blood pressure check campaign aimed to nip in the bud chronic diseases that may result from high blood pressure.

In an announcement, the initiator of the campaign, Pharm.

Shade Animashaun called on all Nigerians to take their health serious. "The rate at which people are coming down with hypertension is alarming. One in every three persons is hypertensive and

•From left: Tender/Market Access Manager, Abass Sanni, Group Product Manager, Ijeoma Eruchalu, Communication & Engagement Manager, Bolaji Sanyaolu all of GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) and Founder, Elias Nelson Oyedokun Foundation (ENOF), Lola Ilaka at the 2015 World Asthma Day Symposium organised by GSK in collaboration with ENOF in Lagos tlast week.

the sad story about it is that if not taken care of on time can lead to other chronic diseases like heart failure, stroke and kidney disease to mention view.

"To prevent chronic diseases, TUFH is starting a community campaign to alert people on the need to monitor blood pressure.

We believe that once the rise in blood pressure is detected on time, it is easy to prevent it from leading to chronic cases which can eventually result to death.”

Animashaun disclosed that the TUFH campaign was designed to provide free blood pressure checks for every member of society as they need to know their numbers; once they know their numbers they will know what to do and not to do.

Animashaun said the free check exercise is available to all. “ The campaign is structured in such a way that any organisation, group of people, or religious gathering can invite us and we are ready to render the service any time any day at no cost."

"The idea behind our campaign is that we do not want anybody to develop chronic disease that will now stand as a death threat.

With simple awareness, many lives can be saved."

On this year’s World Hypertension Day with the theme: “Team Up For Health” there will will be a walk-a-thon on 16th of May. Take off point is Ikoyi Baptist Church at 7am. The event is open to the public.

Blood pressure is measured with a systolic number (SBP) and a diastolic number (DBP). Systolic pressure occurs when the heart contracts and is the higher of the two numbers.

Diastolic pressure is the lower number and it occurs when the heart relaxes and fills with blood.

The higher your systolic or diastolic pressure, and the longer it stays high, the more damage there is to your blood vessels.

Malaria vaccine less effective than expected Continued from Page 30 operation with the World Health Organisation (WHO), on medicinal products for human use that are intended exclusively for markets outside of the EU. If a positive opinion is obtained and the vaccine is pre-qualified by the WHO, malaria endemic countries will need to decide whether to license and use the vaccine and, if so, what schedule to use, say the researchers.

The results suggest a malaria vaccine ultimately has a role alongside mosquito nets, indoor spraying, prompt diagnostic testing, effective anti-malarial medicines and other tools in reducing the disease’s impact among children in sub-Saharan Africa.

C M Y K

In April 2015, the WHO issued updated Guidelines for the Treatment of Malaria, recommending the use of Artemisinin-based Combination Therapies (ACTs) and diagnostic testing for all suspected malaria cases to ensure that malaria drugs are used only by those who have the disease.

Vulnerable groups: WHO also recommends that the most vulnerable groups in malaria-endemic areas of subSaharan Africa — pregnant women, children under 5, and infants — receive preventive treatment to reduce the risk of malaria infection.

In a related development, a malaria vaccine was 67 percent protective against infection in an early-stage

trial involving adults in Kenya, according to a study in Science Translational Medicine. Researchers say the results are encouraging, because many malaria vaccines that work well in the lab fail to show the same efficacy in the field. But low malaria infection rates in the region at the time of the study put a damper on the results.

“The vaccine "shows promise, but we can't know if the vaccine would perform as well in areas where the risk for malaria is high," said Philip Bejon, an infectious disease researcher at the University of Oxford and a co-author of the study.

The researchers found that the vaccine was safe overall.

Blood tests showed that the

men built up a strong immune response against infection. In addition, the vaccine provided partial protection — it was 67 percent effective — against infection with the malaria parasite for at least two weeks following vaccination. But because of weather-related fluctuations, the transmission rate of malaria was "much lower than expected" during the study period.

Over the years, researchers, clinical trialists and vaccine developers have been working on many approaches to bring forward the availability of a universal malaria vaccine.

Vaccines take 8-10 years to produce: According the National Malaria Elimination Programme, NMEP, it takes 8-10 years for a vaccine to be fully developed.

The RTS,S/AS01 vaccine is first in line and is undergoing the last stage of trial which is the phase 3. Nigeria is one of the countries where the final stages of the trial was carried out in Jos and Enugu.

Calls for more research into development of indigenous vaccines have made the rounds.

Statistics reveal that 97 percent of the Nigerian population is at risk of malaria infection and malaria has remained a major public health problem.

The country harbours an estimated 100 million malaria cases with over 300,000 deaths per year; 29 percent of childhood deaths, 25 percent of infant mortality and 11 percent of maternal mortality due to malaria.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, MAY 12, 2015—35

Hypertension: Experts advocate regular screening, free anti-hypertensives

By Chioma Obinna

W

ITH over 70 percent of hypertensive patients guilty of non-compliance with their drug regimens in Nigeria, experts have harped on the need for Nigerians to develop the culture of regular blood pressure checks even as they expressed worry over patients’ drug inconsistency.

Meanwhile in a renewed war against hypertension, the Nigerian Health Foundation, NHF; Neimeth International Pharmaceuticals Plc and Microlife, have strengthened collaboration to ensure that Nigerians with problem of hypertension have access to their medicines.

Speaking during the anniversary of “Fight the Good Fight Against Hypertension, FITGAH”, in Lagos with the theme: “Hypertension Never Sleeps”, President of the Nigeria Heart Foundation, Dr Kingsley Akinroye regretted the unacceptable rise of some known lifestyle driven factors of heart disease in the country.

Akinroye who is also Vice President, World Heart Federation, WHF, identified ignorance as a major factor militating against management of the condition and urged Nigerians to know their numbers.

He said the theme for this year’s World Hypertension Day, entitled “Know your Risks” had the goal of increasing high blood pressure awareness in all population around the world.

Lifestyle driven factors of heart disease which is on the increase in Nigeria include high blood pressure, obesity, tobacco consumption, excessive intake of salt and urban lifestyle where people eat more of

junk foods as part of efforts to check heart disease.

He said heart disease which is the world’s number one killer, accounts for 30 percent of deaths around the globe in 2010 at an estimated economic cost of US$850 billion dollars On the partnership with Neimeth, Akinroye expressed hope that it would

draw attention of Federal and state governments and health ministries’ policies on the condition.

The renowned cardiologist also stated that the prevalence among Nigerians is between 25 percent and 40 percent depending on the area of location and commended Neimeth for slashing the price of its anti – hypertensive drugs –

• Managing Director, Carslisle Healthcare, Mrs Shade Animashuan presenting the

Microlife high blood pressure check device to CEO, Neimeth Pharmaceutical Plc, Pharm. Emmanuel Ekunno, while the President, Nigeria Heart Foundation, Dr. Kingsley Akinroye, looks on during the anniversary of FITGAH in Lagos last week.

Normoretic, Amlovar and Miniplus by half.

The Chief Executive Officer, Neimeth, Pharm. Emmanuel Ekunno, who spoke on achievements of FITGAH, said evidence show continuous rise in hypertension among Nigerians, noting that under the programme out of a total of 525 people screened in Lagos, 219 people were hypertensive.

Stressing the need for locally made anti – hypertensive products, he said 1 in 10 adults have hypertension hence the need for available, affordable and accessible drugs.

He said the decision to halve the price of the company’s anti – hypertensive was to ensure affordability of the drugs to Nigerians.

Maintaining that hypertension is assuming an epidemic status in the country, Ekunnor alerted that hypertension never sleeps, hence the need for people to be more committed in checking their blood pressure as well as adhere to their routine drugs.

Advocating for free anti–hypertensive in the country, he called on coorporate organisations and the incoming government to support FITGAH in the war against hypertension, even as he disclosed plans to establish a Cardiovascular Support Group where hypertensive patients will learn from medical experts on how to control and manage their conditions with ease.

On her part, Chief Executive Officer, Microlife, Mrs. Shade Animashaun who donated electronic blood pressure checks warned against self medication among hypertensive patients.

“Most people are hypertensive but not aware because they do not check their blood pressures. Most people live in denial while most people cannot afford blood pressure check device. In checking blood pressure, there is need for accurate reading device.”

COMMON SEXUAL PROBLEMS AND THEIR NOVELTY BASED SOLUTIONS (ADVERTORIAL)

I

WAS watching a movie the other day with my children and I was on the phone. The next thing two men began to kiss and I was desperately looking for the remote to change the channel. By the time I changed the channel, my young children began asking me why the two men were kissing. What do I tell them? MrsOjo That kind of incident can be shocking but you know what? Children are a lot smarter than we know. Tell them the truth. Tell them that in this world, some people are attracted to the same sex.

Don’t give too much detail. Just a few words and change the subject. They will just nod their heads and continue playing their video games. This is the world we live in.

No matter how much we try, we cannot always prevent our children from seeing all the things they are not supposed to see at their age – Uche I want to do something special for my husband.

Tomorrow is his 55th birthday and I don’t want to do the same missionary sex position, which is what he wants to do every other time. What do you suggest? Grace Dear Grace, there are a million things a couple can do sexually. I think it is best I just recommend a book and a movie that can act as catalogues of sexual acts. You can then go through them and chose what you want to try on any given day. So for the book, I recommended the 365 Sex Positions. It has enough options to make your head spin. For the movie, get the Revised Guide to Kinky Sex and Other Erotic Perversions.

If you are looking for something really different, this adult movie is it. But more than anything else, men just love a woman who is generous and up for some fun.

Men are simple creatures and while they appreciate the kind of thing you want to do for your husband, most will be content with plain old sex. But well done for trying.

The world needs more women like you – Uche I have nonstop itching on my penis and some things that look like boils. This started a few days after I had sex. I need your help – Mike C M Y K

Dear Mike, what you are experiencing requires medical examination so you have to go to the hospital immediately. Yes it is likely to be a sexually transmitted disease but only a medical test will reveal which type it is. Candida itches as well and so does herpes but they are not the same thing. So stop having sex for now until you have been treated and please use a condom next time around – Uche I am into beauty products and I have a client that is interested in anal toys. Do you happen to have that range of products? Mariam Yes we have a variety of anal toys, from the vibrating to non-vibrating types. Examples are the Flex Vibrating Anal Beads, Vibrating Anal Pleaser and the Booty Call Booty Beads. You can see the rest at www.zeevirtualmedia.com – Uche I got a reminder from your staff that Rhino 5 erection enhancer is now available. Is it true? I have been waiting for it since Christmas – Sam Yes Sam the almighty Rhino 5 is here. I don’t know how long it will last but it is in stock at the moment – Uche I have been looking around for Big Bam Boo penis enlarger and I cannot find it anywhere. Infact I suddenly cannot find a single penis enlarger anywhere. Can you help? Chinwoke A lot of people want these products so sometimes they go out of stock. We may have a few units left but I am sure of ExtenzePlus Penis Enlarger.

Call the numbers below and find out – Uche And that is it for today. Adults in need of the above novelties and treatments can call us on 08027901621 or 08051924159 or any other number here to order or they can order online at www.zeevirtualmedia.com.

We deliver to you wherever you are in Nigeria.

For enquiries email us at custserv@zeevirtualmedia.com - Uche Edochie, MD/ CEO, Zee Virtual Media.

36—Vanguard, TUESDAY, MAY 12, 2015

Liberia’s achievement against Ebola is monumental — WHO

By Sola Ogundipe & Gabriel Olawale

T

HE campaign to eliminate the Ebola virus marked a significant milestone on Saturday 9 of May, as the World Health Organisation, WHO, declared Liberia free of the Ebola disease.

At the time the announcement came, 42 days after the safe burial of the last confirmed Liberian victim of the Ebola, a period equal to twice the virus' incubation period, Liberia was the first of the three worst affected countries to be rid of Ebola.

To date, Liberia recorded the most deaths with 4,716, followed

by Sierra Leone with 3,903 and Guinea where 2,386 have died.

The success which was described by WHO as a "monumental achievement for a country that reported the highest number of deaths in the largest, longest, and most complex outbreak since Ebola first emerged in 1976."

"At the peak of transmission, which occurred during August and September 2014, the country was reporting from 300 to 400 new cases every week. During those two months, the capital city Monrovia was the setting for some of the most tragic scenes from West Africa's outbreak: gates locked at overflowing treatment centres, patients dying on the hospital grounds, and bodies that were sometimes not collected for days.

"Flights were cancelled. Fuel and food ran low. Schools, businesses, borders, markets, and most health facilities were closed. Fear and uncertainty about the future, for families, communities, and the country and its economy, dominated the national mood.

"It is a tribute to the government and people of Liberia that determination to defeat Ebola never wavered, courage never

• Liberia has defeated Ebola, but there is need for caution, says the World Health Organisation, WHO, as it plans to mantain enhanced staff presence, especially in the borders, until the end of 2015. Photo: Courtesy Reuters. faltered. Doctors and nurses continued to treat patients, even when supplies of personal protective equipment and training in its safe use were inadequate. Altogether, 375 health workers were infected and 189 lost their lives.

Local volunteers, who worked in treatment centres, on burial teams, or as ambulance drivers, were driven by a sense of community responsibility and patriotic duty to end Ebola and bring hope back to the country's people. As the number of cases grew exponentially, international assistance began to pour in. All these efforts helped push the number of cases down to zero.

The last case was a woman in the greater Monrovia area who developed symptoms on 20 March and died on 27 March.

While WHO is confident that

Let us celebrate, but stay mindful and vigilant. This Ebola outbreak is a scar on the conscience of the world. For some, the pain and grief will take a generation to heal

Liberia has interrupted transmission, outbreaks persist in neighbouring Guinea and Sierra Leone, creating a high risk that infected people may cross into Liberia over the region's exceptionally porous borders.”

Liberia's President, Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, remain cautious however.

"Let us celebrate, but stay mindful and vigilant," she stated.

While praising the international community's help in getting Liberia to zero cases, Johnson Sirleaf said: "This Ebola outbreak is a scar on the conscience of the world. For some the pain and grief will take a generation to heal," she said. "Therefore, let today's announcement be a call to arms that we will build a better world for those Ebola could not reach ...

It is the least the memories of our dearly departed deserve."

...As scientists investigate why the Ebola virus ‘hides’ in the testicles

E

By Jennifer Aladetan

VER since a Liberian woman was diagnosed with Ebola after having sex with her spouse who is a survivor of Ebola, doctors can no longer tell for certain when it’s safe for Ebola survivors to return to a normal sex life.

According to a report in Popular Science, It used to be the belief that the Ebola virus could live on in a man’s semen for up to 82 days,but there wasn’t any evidence of the virus within the man’s blood, yet tests revealed that his semen contained genetic material of the Ebola virus, closely matching the strain that infected the woman.

C M Y K

Previously the World Health Organisation had advised Ebola survivors to abstain from sex or use a condom for up to three months after getting sick. But latest findings show that Ebola can be spread up to five months later, doctors no longer know when it’s safe for Ebola survivors to return to a normal sex life.

So how is it possible for Ebola to live longer in the testes than in other parts of the body? It likely has something to do with the body’s “immune privileged” areas, the report noted.

A person’s brain, eyes, and gonads are so important to survival and reproduction that they’re actually shielded from the

body’s own immune system.

That’s because the same molecules that can fight off foreign invaders can also damage nerves and other cells. And it doesn’t help that the immune system doesn’t play nicely with sperm.

White blood cells see the little spermatozoa as invaders-probably because males don’t start producing semen until after the body ’s immune system has already been established.

The testes are protected from the immune system by a wall of cells.

This blood-testis barrier surrounds the tubes where sperm are made, making sure immune cells can’t move from the blood

into the tubes. Should the barrier be breached, the testes are armed with immunosuppressive molecules that would cripple any invading immune cells.

While the testes do have a resident population of macrophages and T-lymphocytes (both cells that fight infection), their ability to kill intruders is also suppressed to protect the developing sperm.

Suppressing the immune system may be good for sperm, but unfortunately it's also good for pathogens. Once a virus infiltrates an immunologically "privileged" area like the testes, it can be hard to get rid of. This is one of the factors that makes HIV so difficult to treat.

More sex doesn't lead to increased happiness Continues from Page 33 One hundred and twenty eight healthy individuals between the ages of 35-65 who were in married male-female couples participated in the research. The researchers randomly assigned the couples to one of two groups. The first group received no instructions on sexual frequency. The second group was asked to double their weekly sexual intercourse frequency.

The couples instructed to increase sexual frequency did have more sex. However, it did not lead to increased, but instead to a small decrease, in happiness. Looking further, the researchers found that couples instructed to have more sex reported lower sexual desire and a decrease in sexual enjoyment. It wasn't that actually having more sex led to decreased wanting and liking for sex. Instead, it seemed to be just the fact that they were asked to do it, rather than initiating on their own.

Explanation

In an explanation, the study's lead investigator, George Loewenstein, said: "Perhaps couples changed the story they told themselves about why they were having sex, from an activity voluntarily engaged in to one that was part of a research study. If we ran the study again, and could afford to do it, we would try to encourage subjects into initiating more sex in ways that put them in a sexy frame of mind, perhaps with baby-sitting, hotel rooms or Egyptian sheets, rather than directing them to do so."

Loewenstein, the Herbert A. Simon University Professor of Economics and Psychology in the Dietrich College of Humanities and Social Sciences, continues to believe that most couples have too little sex for their own good, and thinks that increasing sexual frequency in the right ways can be beneficial.

One of the study's designers, Tamar Krishnamurti, suggested that the study's findings may actually help couples to improve their sex lives and their happiness.

“The desire to have sex decreases much more quickly than the enjoyment of sex once it's been initiated. Instead of focusing on increasing sexual frequency to the levels they experienced at the beginning of a relationship, couples may want to work on creating an environment that sparks their desire and makes the sex that they do have even more fun," said Krishnamurti, a research scientist in CMU's Department of Engineering and Public Policy.

VANGUARD, TUESDAY, MAY 12, 2015—37

Intriguing battle for Senate President

By Emmanuel Aziken, Political Editor

T

he battle for the office of Senate President in the Eight Senate was in the perspective of many classically redefined by the outcome of the March 28 National Assembly elections.

Before the elections the prospects of unseating Senator David Mark from the number three position in the land was in the opinion of many far-fetched given Mark’s seemingly cowing of the opposition to his eightyear stay in office. Before his emergence in June 2007, Mark

By Emmanuel Aziken, Political Editor

IT is a kind of nostalgic feeling in the Senator Bukola Saraki camp.

Coming from a family of three senators which produced Nigeria’s iconic Second Republic Senate Leader, the Office of Senate President is perhaps the only bridge remaining for the Saraki dynasty to cross in parliament.

had been the major power broker in the Senate between 2003 and 2007 when he had the control of the G86 senators. The insinuation in some quarters at that time was that he strewed the banana peels on the pathway of Senate Presidents not beholden to him and threw them out of office as he pleased.

However, since his emergence, the Senate has been relatively peaceful with no incidence of banana peels to discomfort him. His associates and detractors share the common anecdote that he knows where the banana peels are or that he has packed them away.

Senator Mark’s judicious and apparently transparent allocation of

funds may have helped his longevity.

However, the national political remapping of the country by the landslide victory of the All Progressives Congress, APC may have now undercut permutations of Mark stretching his record eight-year leadership of the Senate beyond the seventh Senate.

With the APC in the majority with 64 senators and the PDP with 45 senators, the signs are that the APC could easily form the leadership since it is a simple majority to elect a Senate President. But the figures are not that rosy for the APC as it gives opportunity for the PDP to exploit internal divisions within the APC to truncate the plans of the APC

leadership. Should Senator Mark successfully lure ten senators from the APC and keeping his 44 other senators, he could then be in position to project whosoever he desires for the leadership. It is an issue that the APC is not ignorant of and hence repeated entreaties by party leaders for a peaceful resolution of the zoning controversy.

The battle in the APC which was initially a direct face-off between Senators Bukola Saraki and George Akume both from the North Central was later eclipsed with the entry of Senator Ahmad Lawan from Yobe State.

Saraki’s Senate swagger The new Peoples Democratic Party, nPDP bloc from where Saraki came, his supporters claim, is yet to be settled

S

enator Bukola Saraki, elder brother of former Senator Gbemisola Saraki and son of Senator Olusola Saraki, has come into the Senate leadership contest well prepared. His head start came from the early support he reportedly gave to each All Progressives Congress, APC senatorial candidate ahead of the March 28 Senate election.

Besides impressive financial contributions, the Kwara born senator also gave his presence to the candidates especially in his NorthCentral geopolitical zone.

It is no surprise then that all but few senators from the North-Central have lined up behind him making the zone a Saraki fortress that not even other prospective Senate President aspirants can boast of more than two supporters.

Senator Saraki’s campaign is also pushing the case of ideological balancing within the APC. The argument by supporters of Saraki is that the senator’s ideological platform is the only one yet to find a position in the party’s official hierarchy among the four major tendencies that are in the APC. They claim that the former Congress for Progressive Change, CPC has the presidency in the person of General Muhammadu Buhari, the former Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN has the vice president in the

•Saraki

person of Yemi Osinbajo, and that the All Nigeria Peoples Party, ANPP, has the national chairman in the person of Chief John Odigie-Oyegun.

The new Peoples Democratic Party, nPDP bloc from where Saraki came, his supporters claim, is yet to be settled.

Given his background in the PDP, it is no surprise that

Saraki’s bid is seriously being backed by his former colleagues in the PDP who crossed over with him to the APC and also, by those who remained in the PDP. Given his lockout from the Southwest by senators from the zone who are backing Lawan, he has gravitated towards the South-South and Southeast where the PDP is in firm control.

Saraki is also believed to be working in arrangement with a ranking senator from the Northeast with the prospect of supporting that senator ’s ambition to be Deputy Senate President. The former governor from the Northeast was one of those that came out to disown the reported endorsement of Senator Lawan by the Northeast.

Senator Saraki is also

cultivating support through serving and former governors in the South-South and Southeast. The outgoing deputy chairman of the Senate Committee on Environment and Ecology, Senator Ben Ayade who is the governor-elect of Cross River State is also believed to be throwing support for him given the fact that Saraki is the outgoing chairman of the committee.

Senator Saraki’s wellknown relationship with former Governor James Ibori of Delta State would also be an advantage to help him galvanise the three senators from Delta State.

His main challenges are the alleged opposition from a senior party leader from the Southwest.

There are also insinuations that the emergence of Prof. Yemi Osinbajo as vice-president would make it illogical to have another Yoruba man at the number three position. But such assertions are put down by the fact that superiority of numbers would determine the emergence of the next Senate President.

38—VANGUARD, TUESDAY, MAY 12, 2015

By Emmanuel Aziken, Political Editor

If the contest for Senate President were simply a matter of ranking, Senator Ahmad Lawan simply would have been the only one in the race. He is the longest serving member of the National Assembly in the rank of those elected on the platform of the All Progressives Congress, APC, the party that is set to form the majority party in the next Senate.

S

enator Lawan, a former lecturer, turned politician was first elected to the House of Representatives in 1999 and re-elected in 2003 before moving up to the Senate in 2007. He again won re-election to the Senate in 2011 before his latest re-election last March.

His only competitor in the Senate and nay, National Assembly in terms of political longevity is perhaps Senator David Mark, the outgoing president of the Senate, who is set for his fifth-straight term in the Senate.

Given the avalanche of scandals and stories that circulate around politicians especially in the National Assembly, it is remarkable that Senator Lawan in his 16 year spell in the National Assembly is yet to attract any notoriety to his person.

A selling point in his aspiration has been his ability to cross political borders in his time in the National Assembly.

As a member of the House of Representatives and even from the opposition All Nigeria Peoples Party, ANPP, he emerged as one of the people that sold the candidature of the Peoples Democratic Party’s, PDP’s Aminu Masari as speaker and was in the inner power caucus in the Masari House.

He has also to the irritation of some opposition extremists also played a similar role in the David Mark Senate since 2007 but then not to the point of forsaking his political party’s position and platform on issues.

His capacity to criss-cross party boundaries and not attract scandals is one point that his enthusiasts in the race for Senate President have been pushing forward about him.

Senator Lawan’s bid for the job is being backed crucially with the home support of his governor and reportedly by caucuses in the Northwest and Southwest. The support of the Northeast caucus and NorthCentral caucus, understandably are not his for the taking given competition by some other senators from the two zones. Senator Ali Ndume, Danjuma Goje are believed to be showing interest in the race and so also is the first time senator, Binta Garba, who has ranking experience from the

•Lawan

Lawan’s advantage of service without scandal House of Representatives.

However, the solid support for Lawan from the Southwest zone is to be challenged by the near unanimous support his main challenger, Senator Bukola Saraki has from the NorthCentral leaving both senators to look for advantage in the PPD strongholds of the SouthSouth and the Southeast.

A week ago some Northeast senators-elect had publicly disclaimed the alleged backing they were reported to have given Lawan at a press conference. That situation seemed to have changed last weekend when a senior senator from the region, Senator Abba Ibrahim countered with an endorsement on behalf of the people and government of Yobe State.

“Lawan possesses the required qualities, character and the frame of mind to make a qualitative Senate President.

He is energetic, hardworking and possessing progressive values.

“Senator Ahmad Ibrahim Lawan has demonstrated clear commitment to progressive values. He is energetic and hardworking, and he has what it takes to lead the 8th Assembly,” Ibrahim said as he noted that his experience placed him above his peers.

That endorsement was again publicly confirmed by Governor Ibrahim Geidam of Yobe State

in a public announcement at the weekend that apparently dismissed insinuations of the governor’s alleged objections to Senator Lawan’s candidacy.

In a statement issued by his press secretary, Abdullahi Bego, the governor implored “all senators-elect to consider Senator Lawan’s experience, his goodwill, capacity and reach and, therefore, support

him to be the next president of the Senate.”

Dismissing a report that he was opposed to Lawan’s emergence, he said: “The report was totally false and unfounded. Even before the governor travelled to Saudi Arabia for the lesser pilgrimage, he has worked, made, and continues to make extensive contacts in support

of Senator Ahmad Lawan’s quest for the Senate presidency.”

The governor believes that Lawan’s emergence as President of the Senate will serve Nigerians well...”

However, Lawan’s main advantage in the ensuing race is the support he is receiving from the Northwest where it is reported that a number of returning and incoming senators are strongly backing his move.

The endorsement was said to have been articulated at a meeting of the caucus presided over by Senator Abu Ibrahim from Katsina where members threw him up as their favourite.

A source at the meeting disclosed to newsmen that the support was upon Lawan’s determination to act as a facilitator to the change being inspired by the Northwest’s favourite son, Muhammadu Buhari.

“He has promised to render total support for the quality agenda of change of the APC, which the North West has always championed,” the source disclosed.

“The caucus also impressed it on Lawan to support the anti-corruption agenda of President-elect Muhammadu Buhari of which he promised to,” added the senator.

He continued, “You know that out of 109 Senators, Lawan needs just 55 votes to clinch the Senate presidency. With my caucus (Northwest) already guaranteeing him one-third of the required number, it would be an easy ride for him.

“If you add the endorsement he got early in the week from the South West APC caucus in the Senate to what we gave him today (yesterday) it may have nailed the coffin of any aspirant for the position of Senate president in the0 chamber,” he declared.

The Tambuwal Effect

By Emmanuel Aziken, Political Editor

THE emergence of Alhaji Aminu Waziri Tambuwal as speaker of the House of Representatives in 2011 upset the apple cart that had been ordained by his then party leaders in the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.

F

our years later and with Tambuwal about to leave office as speaker on May 29 for the Sokoto Government House, the consequence of his action is about to reawakened in the House of Representatives but this time without him being in the battle.

The position of speaker of the House of Representatives just as it was about four years ago was almost a no contest among the geopolitical zones. The office was simply primed for the Southwest and in the frontline for the battle then were two

returning lawmakers, Murina Ajibola and Mulikat Akande. In the end none of the favoured two got the position despite the PDP’s endorsement of Akande. From the sidelines emerged Tambuwal who was swept to power on the popular enthusiasm of the majority of members who sought to create an independent bearing for the House.

Four years later, the indices of rebellion against the perceived inclination of party leaders to zone the office to the Southwest is again stirring signs of rebellion.

The outgoing minority leader of the House, Mr. Femi Gbajabiamila had been in pole position to emerge as speaker of the House under the new regime of the All Progressives Congress, APC. Remarkably, Gbajabimila’s quest had for weeks gone almost unchallenged in the

Continues on page 39

VANGUARD, TUESDAY, MAY 12, 2015—39

NASS OFFICES: Northwest shouldn't be blackmailed —Jibrin R ep. Abdulmumin Jibrin who hails from Kano State, represents Kiru/ Bebeji Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives. He is the Chairman, House Committee on Finance and in this interview with some journalists in Abuja, Jibrin bares his mind on why he supported Governor Rabiu Kwakwaso for the All Progressives Congress, APC presidential ticket, why he has now changed his loyalty to the President- Elect, General Muhammadu Buhari, retd; why he wants to be the speaker and his relationship with Femi Gbajabiamila among other salient issues. Excerpts:

By Henry Umoru

W

hat do you think gives you an edge to be speaker and what is your relationship with your other colleagues?

I came into the House four years ago and I have been chairman of the finance committee since then. I have participated in a lot of parliamentary investigations. I’ve served in a lot of ad-hoc committees and I’ve been in the centre of everything that has happened in the last four years. I’ve mastered the rules of the House. I understand the dynamics of working and leading equals.

Some people say that the problem with your aspiration is that you’re from Kano State and the president-elect is from Katsina State in the same North West; how do you marry the aspiration with this?

In the first place I think we are getting the interpretation of the zoning completely wrong. The president is not supposed to be zoned; he is the president of Nigeria. General Buhari was never presented as the candidate of the North West; he was presented as the candidate of Nigeria. He is supposed to be neutral and not show bias to any zone.

The whole idea was for the president to emerge first. After the emergence of the president, then the six geopolitical zones will now sit down and distribute whatever positions that are left, particularly those of the parliament. I think we need to get this properly right.

So, it was never zoned to the North West. Yes, of course Mr President will be very proud that he is from the Northwest, but this idea of trying to exclude the Northwest from other offices because the president comes from the zone is very unfair and is tantamount to blackmail and I don’t think anybody should blackmail the Northwestern part of the country.

We have the largest contingent of state assemblies’ members, the largest contingent of senators and the House of Reps, and we gave the highest number of votes in the presidential election. Now if you exclude us, what do you want us to tell our people?

What do you want us to go back and tell all the people that gave all those votes to the president? The president is for the entire country, so, we

want other offices that we’ll take back to our people for them to be able to hold back to something. We don’t want to see the president-elect as that of the North.

You talk well of Buhari now and it is surprising given that you openly opposed his aspiration to be APC presidential candidate and that you wanted somebody younger;

•Dogara

•Gbajamiala

when did you change?

A lot of people have come up to say to me that during the build up to the APC presidential primaries I was an ardent opposition to the gen-

eral. Of course I did that without any apology. They said it is a sharp contrast from my present position with the kind of totality of support I’m giving Buhari and also mobilizing people to extend same

support to him.

In the build up to the primaries, I was supporting my governor, a very great Nigerian Dr Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, and I particularly mentioned the issue of age because Dr Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso has that comparative advantage of age over General Muhammadu Buhari, and I thought age is also a factor. That was why I made that statement then and I meant it and wanted Kwankwaso to win the primaries, but we went and met all the delegates in Lagos. They voted massively for General Buhari; we came second in the race and the party collapsed all as one and we became a family.

Since then, I’m sure you never heard me again criticizing the president-elect. He is ours and we’re going to give him 100 percent maximum support from the point of view of legislators to ensure that he delivers all the promises that he made to Nigerians during the campaigns. I have no issues with the president-elect, but I also have no apology for the position that I took then.

The Tambuwal Effect Continues on page 38 Southwest and most of the country until the recent momentum of some rivals from outside the region.

The most conspicuous rival has been Mr. Yakubu Dogara, a two term lawmaker from Bauchi State who has captured the imagination of many party stalwarts and enthusiasts and is said to have gained the momentum among returning and new members of the House.

Also in the race is Tahir Moguno from Borno State and Pally Iriase from Edo State. The inclinations of on.

Abdul-Mumini Jibrin from Kano State, a second term member had largely been mixed given insinuations that his bid was to help project his ascendancy in the next House.

Whatever, there is no doubt that the game is between Gbajabiamila and Dogara. While Gbajabiamila has been largely exposed to the nation as the articulate leader of the minority who fought the PDP to a standstill on issues in the House, not much has been projected about Dogara, who even though not well known to outsiders, has nevertheless inspired momentum from serving members of the House.

Dogara’s aspiration according to members has largely become a House project in the same way that Tambuwal was gravitated to the leadership upon the groundswell of popular support from members of the Fifth House of Representatives. What many say is going for him is the fact that he has emerged wholly clean from his service in sensitive positions such as chairman of the House committee on Customs and lately, the chairman of the House Services Committee, the epicentre of the welfare of members of the House.

•Tambuwal The gist of his rejection of a $5 million dollar bribe from concerned interests while serving as chairman of the House Committee on Customs has become a selling point among his supporters.

While supporters of Dogara bask in their claim of having the majority of returning and new members on their side, they would however, be faced with the challenge of breaking party unity should they proceed with their plans to foist their man on the House irrespective of the party’s decision on zoning.

At a recent meeting with members-elect, the issue of what he would do should the party leaders ask him to step down was met with a classical Dogara response “When we get to the bridge we will cross it.”

That was vintage Tambuwal, whose supporters in the House are said to be at the heart of the campaign for the emergence of Dogara as speaker of the eight House of Representatives.

Gbajabiamila on his part is, however, not giving up. The minority leader has besides the strong support he is believed to have from a strong party leader from the Southwest is also enjoying the support of an influential returning member from Kano State.

The support from Asiwaju Tinubu is, however, like a double-edged sword. While it gives him the bloc vote from the Southwest, those envious or against Asiwaju’s dominance in the party are crying foul over the fact that Asiwaju produced the vice-president and could be in position to produce the Senate President and Speaker of the House, giving him strong leverage over the number two offices to the number four positions. It is a suggestion that some in the party hierarchy are strongly peeved against but given Tinubu’s capacity to overcome the odds, it is something that Gbajabiamila could count on to an advantage.

While Gbajabiamila is unquestionably seen as more visible in the APC, however, Dogara’s supporters believe that his entrenchment in the engine room of the Tambuwal leadership makes his election as speaker as an opportunity to continue the strides of the Tambuwal leadership.

The feeling is that while Tambuwal is set for his exit, the phenomenon he created through his rebellion of four years ago is a prospect still waiting to happen. How the leadership of the APC handles it could well define the relationship between the next ruling party and the incoming legislators.

It is thus not surprising that party leaders in meetings after meetings continue to ponder their steps.

40 — Vanguard, TUESDAY, MAY 12, 2015

By Ikenna Asomba

I

t is not yet the best of time for the Lagos State University, LASU, Ojo, as there has been an unending restiveness in the 31-year-old institution, since September 2011, when Governor Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State, sent a White Paper to the Governing Council of the Lagos State University, LASU, Ojo, pronouncing the implementation of a new fees regime, which jerked tuition fees from N25, 000 to as much as N348, 750.

Like a baptism of fire, Prof.

John Oladapo Obafunwa, who assumed duty as the school’s substantive 11th Vice Chancellor on November 1, 2011, took over an institution already thrown into turmoil, owing to students protests and rampages occasioned by the fees hike.

Ridding LASU of rot

Recall that Obafunwa on assumption of office vowed to rid LASU of rot by introduction certain administrative and academic policies, among which were: ensuring students do their registration for semesters’ courses online, online payment of tuition fees through Quick Teller, assessing students’ results and updated academic profiles online latest two weeks after examinations, ensuring there is uninterrupted convocation ceremonies, as well as ensuring that graduates now get their certificates immediately on graduation.

But despite these policies, there seems to be no end in sight to LASU’s crises, as the restiveness of students has continued, as well as unending imbroglio between the university management and staff unions- the Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, Senior Staff Union of Universities, SSANU and the Non-Academic Staff Union, NASU, over issues bordering on staff welfare.

Closed-down thrice

In this ensuing melee, aside the six months nationwide ASUU strike between July and December 2013, the school has been closed thrice for several weeks within four academic sessions (2011/2012, 2012/2013, 2013/2014, 2014/2015), thus paralysing especially academic activities.

The latest of the shut-down was done on Monday, March 23, in the wake of the last general elections scheduled for March 28 and April 11 respectively. LASU authorities had in a statement, directed students and staff to vacate the campus immediately, on an election recess, noting that the resumption date will be

•LASU students in a prayer session at the Governor’s Office in Alausa, during one of the fees hike protest

Intrigues prolong LASU crisis zVarsity to remain closed until…— LASG zOpen LASU now or...— Students, staff unions announced later.

Vanguard learnt that the recess was necessary to allay the fears of parents who wanted their children to vacate the campus during elections.

However, with about 1 month and 19 days since the gates of the institution were closed, leading to the total paralysing of academic activities, there is a resumed disquiet in the university community.

Vote of no confidence

First to throw its hat into the ring in the call for LASU authorities to re-open the school was ASUU-LASU. On April 17, the union’s Chairman, Dr Adekunle Idris called on the institution’s governing council to re-open the institution, saying “the openended recess and aborting of academic activities without approval by the University Senate was illegal, unnecessary, an act of impunity and general ineptitude on the part of the vice-chancellor, in disregard for LASU laws and regulations.”

The don affirmed that the union has passed a vote of no confidence againt the VC, asking the government to suspend him. But contrary to

ASUU’s demand that the VC be suspended, the LASU Students Union Government, SUG, on March 20, passed a vote of confidence on him, urging him to remain in office to complete his 4-year tenure which will be expiring six months from now.

LASU ‘ll remain closed

However, following the May 1 #ReopenLASU protest by students, which grounded activities in Fashola’s Alausa office, the government on May 5, gave a shocking statement that the indefinite closure of the

institution will continue until the staff unions, students and management agree to maintain peace henceforth.

Special Adviser to the Governor on Education, Otunba Fatai Olukoga, who made the remarks at a news briefing in Alausa, Ikeja, warned that government would no longer tolerate indiscipline on the part of the students, lecturers and other stakeholders in the institution, adding that it was wrong for the students and staff to demand for the sack of VC, since his appointment was based on merit and due process.

Violent protests

Despite the closure, our members have been working, thus the reason why the institution’s 2013/ 2014 graduating set were able to be mobilised

The students, in a swift reaction, kicked against the statement credited to Olukoga, disassociating itself of being part of the reasons while the institution is still shut-down.

The students in a statement signed on its behalf by the LASU-SUG Public Relations Officer, Comrade Adebanjo Fatai, described as erroneous and unacceptable the statement made against them.

Similarly, the SUG President, Comrade Adeyemi Onikoro, disclosed that following the continued closure of the

university, it has written several appeal letters to Governor Fashola, and also copied to the Lagos State House of Assembly, LAHA for urgent measures to be taken in reopening the school.

According to Onikoro, the patience of the students was already wearing thin, adding that they may be forced to embark on a violent protest, since that is the only language government and university authorities understand.

SSANU reacts

Also reacting to the closure, SSANU-LASU Chairman, Saheed Oseni, disassociated its members from the crises rocking the institution, pointing that the union has no right to shut the university.

Oseni revealed that despite the closure, its members have been working, thus the reason why the institution’s 2013/2014 graduating set were able to be mobilised like their counterparts from other tertiary institutions for the ongoing nationwide National Youth Service Corps, NYSC, 2015 Batch ‘A’ Orientation Course.

Rather than blame SSANU as part of the reasons why the school is shut-down, he argued that the statement of the SA was unfortunate, adding that he (SA) is fully aware of the issues his union and others such as ASUU and NASU have been clamouring for.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, MAY 12, 2015 — 41

Hoodlums disrupt Lagos carnival zScores wounded, as 3 carnival revelers hospitalized

By Ediri Ejoh

H

OODLUMS during the weekend disrupted the activities at the Lagos Carnival, held at Tafawa Balewa Square, Lagos Island leaving scores injured and three carnival revelers hospitalized.

The event which started around 2pm behind schedule was marred by poor organization and low turnout of fun-seekers. It was later hijacked by uncontrolled crowd who overwhwelmed the few security officials deployed to the venue.

The first attack occurred during the procession of the Oko Faaji Carnival group at the Awolowo Way, Ikoyi , marked as one of the carnival routes.

According to Eye witness account, the attackers who were attracted by the costumes of especially the female carnival revelers came out from the Warder ’ Barrack on Awolowo way, to harass them during their procession.

The carnival coordinators who attempted to bring the situation under control, it was learnt were over-powered by the hoodlums, who wielded various dangerous weapons.

The attacks went on, as the

hoodlums also unleashed mayhem on other carnival groups, including the Obalende and Isale Eko carnival groups who were unaware of the earlier incident.

According to Captain Lateef Hadaji, a coordinator of Oko Faaji carnival group, the carnival train was attacked because the hoodlums intruded into the procession while attempting to sexually molest some of the female dancers.

Hadaji said: “We made several attempts to appease them but we were overpowered by the street urchins who attacked us with dangerous weapons including machetes, axes and broken bottles. More than ten revelers were attacked and some have been hospitalised,” adding that “the attackers also dispossessed some of the carnival revelers of their phones and wallets of some of the dancers.”

However, the officials of Lagos State Emergency Management Agency, LASEMA, who later arrived the scene forty-five minutes later, however took some of the victims to a nearby general

•Some of the carnival revelers during the 2015 Lagos Carnival

It was unfortunate that the Lagos State Government did not put adequate security measures in place to checkmate activities of intruders

hospital for further treatment.

One of the carnival revelers, Benjamin Olatunde, who was injured by hoodlums blamed the inadequate security provided by the state government for the mayhem.

Olatunde said: “It was unfortunate that the Lagos State Government did not put adequate security measures in place to checkmate activities of intruders.”

In another development, the Tafawa Balewa Square (TBS), venue of the final parade also recorded disruptions by the surging crowd, which overwhelmed the security operatives, immediately after

the Governor of Lagos State, Babatunde Fashola had finished his address.

The street urchins, Vanguard gathered also disrupted performances by other carnival groups who had not performed.

Two disk jockeys, Kelexy and Jamalot who were performing during the event were attacked by the hoodlums who pelted both of them with cans of table water. This forced the event to an abrupt end.

Meanwhile, it was gathered that security operatives at the venue later arrested two teenage boys who allegedly had pistols and other dangerous weapons in their possession.

Tourist attraction: Lagos unveils Africa’s longest canopy walkway

By Olasunkanmi Akoni

I

n a bid to harness the economic potentials of tourism, thereby enhancing its contribution to the country’s Gross Domestic Product, GDP, the Lagos State Government, LASG, has partnered with the Nigerian Conservative Foundation, NCF to construct the longest canopy walkway on the continent. It is located in the Lekki Conservation Centre, LCC, Ibeju-Lekki council area of the state.

The state government said the partnership became imperative in its determination to block the loophole in the huge revenue lost to other tourist destinations across the world.

The Features Other features of the beautiful landscape of the giant walkway include: a Family Fun Park, situated at the degraded portion of the NCF Biodiversity Park that has fish pond with exotic fishes, sections for family games, barbecue section, gazebos, jungle gyms and many others. At the park, there is so much to do and every

member of the family from the youngest to the oldest would have something to busy with.

The LCC canopy walkway, built with metal pillars, is the main attraction to the destination, which is the latest innovation to the tourism sector of the country. The aerial foot bridge is 401 metres long, 0.6 meters wide and 22.5 metres high.

According to the construction

•The Canopy walkway

firm, like other canopy walkways, there are safety measures which must be adhered to. “It is not recommended for persons below the age of 14 years. Even for adults, it is very challenging and for those afraid of heights, they should not venture into it while, nursing mother should not back their child to climb.”

Governor Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State, while

addressing tourism stakeholders, who attended the official unveiling of the structure, said “This is the longest skywalk in Africa and the second longest in the world.

This is perhaps, the most defining thing to this environment itself. The skywalk is a lovely view. For those who are yet to visit it, they cannot understand what they are missing. I think this is one of the lovely things that I think that we can keep here.”

F a s h o l a , however, warned that the Tour-Guide should, “continue to emphasis the safety element and the rules of engagement on the facility. It was a lovely experience, when I walked on it.”

The reason for the innovation, Fashola explained was aimed “to keep tourism in the country and to

reduce what we spend outside the country, looking for destinations to relax and recreates by keeping those within the country. This is our contribution as a government to reduce the level of foreign exchange. If we spend the money we spend elsewhere in the country, it will help boost the country’s economy.”

Speaking further, he said: “Our investment in tourism is not accidental. It was a well thought out vision and it explains our investment in transportation, on a very expansive base. It is the bases for the expansion of the LagosBadagry Expressway, for choosing the blue-line of the seven rail project that the state government will commit to.

“This was because over 60 kilometers of coastal waterfront of the Atlantic Ocean is on the Badagry axis. There will be no tourism without transportation.

It is about destination and if people cannot get to the location, there will be no tourism. So the expansion of the Lekki-Epe Expressway is all for tourist based initiative,” he added.

42—Vanguard, TUESDAY, MAY 12, 2015

Rights group urges Buhari to appoint credible Nigerians A

Non-governmental organisation, Centre for Peace and Environmental Justice, CEPEJ, has advised President-elect, General Muhammadu Buhari, to appoint credible Nigerians with integrity into his cabinet, agencies, commissions and boards to ensure good governance.

Chief Executive Officer of CEPEJ, Sheriff Mulade, in a statement, said: “We charge the incoming government not to betray the confidence that Nigerians reposed in the president-elect by appointing politicians without questionable character and corruptible minds that could stall the change which Nigerians clamoured for.

“We urge the president-elect to shun and beware of politicians who are being probed by anti-graft agencies such as Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC and

Delta community flays media reports on kingship

By Festus Ahon

A

SABA—UWHERU Traditional Council, Ughelli North Local Government Area, Delta State, has condemned media reports calling on Agbaovwe Ofobeye to stop parading himself as the Odion r’ode of Uwheru Kingdom.

Secretary to the traditional council, Chief Benjamin Ohworeko, who fielded questions from newsmen, yesterday, reiterated that Agbaovwe Ofobeye was duly recognised as the Odion r’ode of the kingdom, describing the reports as mischievous and intended to bring disharmony amongst the peace loving people of the kingdom.

He contended that the state High Court sitting in Ughelli had, in its judgment of March 24, 2015, held that the “male son of the quarter who was the first to join or enter the ‘Ukoro’ Society is recognised as Odion of Erovie quarter.

“I want to put it to the people behind the publication that it is not the duty of the Delta State Government to crown traditional rulers. It is the kingdoms that crown their traditional rulers."

Independent Corrupt Practices Commission, ICPC. We also want the All Progressives Congress, APC-led government to fulfill its promises made during the electioneering campaigns,

towards eradicating corruption from all sectors of the nation’s economy beginning with the cabinet members.

“We urge the president-elect to be father to all, irrespective of religious, ethnic and regional

differences and express love and care to all Nigerians. All political parties, corporate and professional bodies must work with the president-elect to fast track the change needed in the Nigerian economy.”

BIRTHDAY: From left: Engr. Godwin Onabedje; Prince Emmanuel Ogbon; Chief Simeon Ohwofa, current president of Urhobo Social Club, Lagos; Evangelist Evue, the celebrator and President Emeritus of the club and Mr. Francis Ewherido, during Evue's 60th birthday celebration.

Bayelsa gov race: Let’s join forces with Dickson —Okorotie

By Samuel Oyadongha

Y

ENAGOA—AN elder statesman in Bayelsa State, Chief Thompson Okorotie, has called on all Bayelsans and the entire Ijaw nation to join forces with Governor Seriake Dickson to regain political relevance at the federal level.

He spoke in Yenagoa, ahead of the November governorship election in the state, shortly after a meeting with leaders and members of a sociocultural group, the Bayelsa Development Forum, which is at the vanguard for the emancipation and economic development of the Niger Delta region.

Okorotie, who reviewed political developments in the state in recent times and the implications for the future, said the choice before Bayelsans and the entire Niger Delta region was to ensure the protection of their common interests now and in the future.

This, he said, must also be founded on demonstrated actions in the past and now, by those who are angling for leadership positions.

He said: “Having lost power

at the centre, we have to come together and be united for a common purpose that can realistically help us reposition Bayelsa State and the Niger Delta for greater political relevance.

“It is imperative for all Bayelsans and the entire Niger Delta region to remain committed in our support for

Dickson’s Restoration Government. We have seen what he has done and his resolve towards the key interest of the Ijaw nation, which no one can wish away.”

He cautioned the people against politics of greed and self-centeredness which, he said, were the bane of underdevelopment.

Edo 2016 governorship: It's Esan's turn, says EPF

By Gabriel Enogholase

B

ENIN—AHEAD of the 2016 governorship election in Edo State, a group, the Esan Political Forum, EPF, has insisted that it was the turn of the Esan people to produce the next governor of the state as demanded by equity, fairness and justice.

Coordinator of the forum, Mr. Abor Airelogbe, in an interview in Benin, said that the Binis have had their turn in the person of Chief Lucky Igbinedion (1999-2007) and Edo North, as represented by Governor Adams Oshiomhole (2008-2016), adding that equity demands that it was now the turn of Esan to

produce the next governor.

He said: “It is now the turn of Esan people to produce the next governor of the state because since the creation of Edo State in 1991, an Esan man has never been allowed to occupy the office except the brief period of Prof.

Osereimhen Osunbor and this was bungled due to a number of factors and this cannot be allowed to continue.

“I know that the Esan people cannot make it alone to the Government House and I equally know that Edo people are reasonable and we can solicit the support of Edo South and Edo North senatorial zones to get it in 2016."

Delta community protests noncompletion of road

By Ochuko Akuopha

O

L E H — RESIDENTS of Oleh community, Isoko South Local Government Area, Delta State, have staged a protest against the alleged abandonment of the Eriye Avenue Road project embarked upon by the Delta State Oil Producing Areas D e v e l o p m e n t C o m m i s s i o n , DESOPADEC. The protesters, who marched round some of the major streets in the town, alleged that the project was awarded to a faceless contractor, lamenting that the bad state of the road was adversely impacting on their socio-economic lives.

Displaying placards which bore various inscriptions, they called on Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan and the member representing the Isoko ethnic nationality on the board of DESOPADEC, Mr. Johnson Ogeh to compel the contractor handling the project to return to site.

A-Ibom Poly graduates told to take advantage of Quantum Petroleum

G

RADUATES of Akwa Ibom State Polytechnic, Ikot Osurua, in Ikot Ekpene Local Government Area of the state have been charged to take advantage of Quantum Petroleum which is building a methanol plant in the state by studying hard to fit into the company.

G o v e r n o r GodswillAkpabio, who gave the charge during the fifth convocation of the polytechnic for the award of fellowships, diplomas, certificates and prizes, said this was necessary since they were going into work environment.

He said that government accorded priority to training of staff and will leave no stone unturned in ensuring the polytechnic produces the needed manpower for Nigeria’s economy.

43—Vanguard, TUESDAY, MAY 12, 2015

Jonathan approves Enugu Free Trade Zone

Igbeke, an asset to APGA, says Obi

...as Chime commissions Sunrise Flour Mills

By Francis Igata

E

By Vincent Ujumadu

NUGU—PRESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan has given the final approval for the establishment of Enugu Free Trade Zone.

Governor Sullivan Chime of Enugu State, who disclosed this during the commissioning ceremony of Sunrise Flour Mlls Enugu, weekend, said the President was expected to commission the project on May 21, 2015 in Enugu.

He noted that the project, when fully operational, would go a long way in alleviating poverty and enhancing the economy of the state and that of its residents.

The governor, who was represented by the State Commissioner for Commerce and Industry, Dr. Jude Akubuilo, stated that the Sunrise Flour Mills which ceased production more than two decades ago, was reactivated in partnership with a Vietnamese

A

WKA—THE All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, in Anambra State has described the party ’s Director General during the last general elections, Senator Alphonsus Igbeke, as a great asset.

Consequently, the party urged him to remain undaunted in his effort to strengthen it in all the states of the federation.

The APGA organizing secretary in Anambra State, Mr. Ogonna Obi, said in an interview in Awka that it was Igbeke’s hard work and u n s h a k e a b l e determination that ensured the success of APGA in Anambra State since he became the Director General of the campaign organization.

Obi said: “It was Senator Igbeke’s outstanding accomplishment and unwavering dedication to duty that contributed to the victory of APGA in Anambra State.

“With his special campaign machinery and exceptional team spirit, Igbeke was able to get liaise with the 177 communities in the state during which he sensitized them on the enormous benefits they stood to gain if they continued to vote for APGA in all elections.”

According to Obi, Igbeke’s success as the Director General of APGA campaign organization wAs not a surprise.

concern, DAO VTV International Trading and Investment Company LTD. He described the development as a pleasant outcome of his administration’s initiatives towards enhancing production and the creation of employment opportunities for the people .

The governor assured that the

government would continue to maintain a conducive atmosphere for both local and foreign investors to thrive.

In her remarks at the event, Chief Executive Officer of Dao VTV Huyen Tuyet Phuonh, commended the state government for its commitment to the reactivation of the company,

.... He was fair to Ndigbo, says Igbo group ...frowns at demonization of President, wife

By Charles Kumolu

F

OUNDER OF Igbo Youth Movement ,IYM, Mr. Elliot Uko, has dismissed reports that President Goodluck Jonathan deceived the South-East geo-political zone on the construction of the proposed Second Niger Bridge, noting that the President was fair in his dealings with

Ndigbo.

Uko also frowned on what he described as the constant demonization of Jonathan and his wife, describing it as unfair.

Uko in a statement said those behind claims that the President failed the Igbo were political jobbers, seeking attention from the President-elect, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd) His words: ‘’Ndigbo are

APGA stakeholder wants President-elect to implement National Confab report

By Enyim Enyim

O

NITSHA—A stakeholder in All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, Chief Okoli Akirika, wants the President-elect, General Muhammadu Buhari, to implement the report of the National Conference as a way of addressing vexed national issues.

Addressing newsmen in Awka, Akirirka also advised Buhari to follow due process in the probe of the missing $20 billion in the NNPC which he had promised to further investigate on assumption of office.

“Let Buhari have a recourse to the confab whose report has been submitted and has been accepted to be a working document. It will

assuring that it would produce products that would meet international standards.

She noted that the company would not only ensure employment opportunities to youths in the state, but also provide qualitative training for its staff and distributors while boosting the economy of the state.

help us (Nigerians) to heal many national wounds, to take Nigeria to the next level.”

“Let the issue of federal character be taken into consideration. Those are some of the things that have been holding this country back. So, Buhari should have a re-think to the resolutions of the National Confab.”

Okoli said that Buhari’s decision to probe alleged missing $20 billion in the NNPC should not cause alarm, saying there was nothing wrong in trying to correct wrong deeds by a past government and should not be allowed to heat the polity.

“If actually money was missing, for goodness sake, it should be traced. But let it be done

procedurally, let it be done in accordance with the law, let it be done within the ambit of due process.”

He charged the incoming government to tackle head-long the age-long epileptic power supply in the country as well as overhaul the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to conduct free, fair and acceptable election in future.

“So what I am saying is that Buhari should target the welfare of the common man, he should target taking Nigeria to the next level no matter the political party that is coming in. Let the federal high ways be properly reconstructed, let the local government system be made functional,” he said.

proud, courageous people whose world view is built on truth and justice. Whereas political hustlers and job seekers have the inalienable right to lobby General Buhari for accommodation in the APC groovy train, such lobbyists certainly do not have the right to tell white lies, especially when they claim to be speaking on behalf of Ndigbo. ‘’No government in Nigeria since 1960 has treated Ndigbo justly or better than the outgoing Jonathan administration.

Therefore, people who use the very strong and negative word 'deception' in describing President Jonathan’s relationship with Ndigbo as concerning the 2nd Niger Bridge, simple went too far. ‘’The fad of demonizing Jonathan and his wife, especially in the social media, is unjust and uncalled for.

"Ninety-nine per cent of Ndigbo hold that President Jonathan remains the first and only Nigerian leader to give them a sense of belonging since 1966.

They also know that he was equally fair to all sections of the country during his five year stewardship.

"Denouncing him so soon is unkind, and un-Igbo. It is not in our character to show such vile ingratitude to the man who truly tried his best in service of his father land.’’

By Bartholomew Madukwe (08102479985) nwamad@yahoo.com

PEOPLE SPEAK

What is your view on continuous fuel scarcity?

P

eople hoarding the fuel will lose when the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, fuel hits the market; all schemes to hoard fuel will then become completely unprofitable. They should better sell the fuel now. -Mr. Okechukwu Nene, Personal Assistant

I

have always said the problem with Nigeria is implementation of policies.

NNPC can’t be only saying there is enough fuel, it has to show it. They should fill up the tankers and park them in front of each NNPC retail store. -Mr. Chukwudi Mudueke, Businessman

I

t is very clear that marketers are behind this fuel scarcity. The relevant authorities should move in and checkmate some of the excesses of these fuel station owners who try to make life harder for Nigerians. They should pity us. -Mr. Ismaila Aremu, Worker

S

ince GEJ came to power, we hardly had fuel scarcity. If there is a President that has stabilized the availability of petroleum products in Nigeria, it is President Jonathan. He ensured that the commodity was available. -Mr. Abayomi Usman, Student

I

t happens anywhere in the world.

No government resigns because of fuel scarcity. If it were so, Obasanjo and Yar’Adua would have resigned. To a large extent, this administration did well right from inception. -Mrs. Ifeoma Anyambuba, Businesswoman

S

omeone will soon start blaming APC for the fuel scarcity. Mark my words. Everything is not about politics. I do not belong to any political party but when there is an issue, it is expected that all the parties come together and look for a solution. -Mr. John Marseil, Bricklayer

44 — Vanguard, TUESDAY, MAY 12, 2015

Middle Belt group roots for Akume as Senate President

NYAKO'S IMPEACHMENT: Court rules May 22nd

By Umar Yusuf

Y

By Marie-Therese Nanlong

J

OS—A youth group, Middle Belt Youth Assembly, has urged Senators-elect to support Sen. George Akume from the North Central zone to emerge as the Senate President in the 8th National Assembly.

The group, yesterday, which briefed newsmen in Jos, Plateau State, through its President, Mr. Solomon Ndam, said that there was a need to get a credible Senator to man the seat and that Sen. Akume was the most eligible for same.

He insisted that Akume gave the opposition a voice in the Seventh Assembly, adding that it was only natural that he emerged as Senate President.

“Senator Akume was very effective as Minority Leader in the Senate, therefore, it is natural that the man who did well with little responsibility should be given higher responsibility.

Besides, Senator Akume had proved to be a leader of people and resources, having single-handedly built the opposition in Benue State, a hitherto Peoples Democratic Party, PDP- controlled state.

SEMINAR: From left; Mr. Martins Awofisayo, MD, HarvestField Industries Ltd; Mrs. Adjo Mfodwo, Manager, Anglophone W' Africa; Mr. Sylvestre Jobic, Country Group Manager, SubSaharan Africa, both of Bayer Environmental Science and Mr. Ayo Ogunyadeka, President, Pest Control Association of Nigeria (PECAN) at a stakeholders training and seminar on pest control held in Maryland, Lagos yesterday.

NASARAWA GOV: Maku granted access to inspect election materials

By Abel Daniel

L

A F I A — T H E Governorship Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Nasarawa State, yesterday, ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to allow the counsel representing the governorship candidate of the All Progressive Grand Alliance, APGA, Labaran Maku to inspect all INEC election materials.

Maku, who is challenging the victory of Governor Umaru Almakura, alleged that Al-makura concocted the result of the April election using security agents and INEC to rig the election.

The order came following an

‘E-commerce'll boost economic growth in Nigeria' penetration and

T

HE Federal Government has been advised to invest on infrastructures to aid e-commerce operation in Nigeria, so as to boost its economic growth.

Chief Executive Officer of Rothschild Nigeria, Mr. Stephen Nwatu made the call during the inauguration ceremony of Rothschild, one of Nigeria’s online shopping malls in Festac town, Lagos.

He added that e-commerce has potential of contributing immensely to the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) annually. ''The organisation’s priority is to ensure a first-class customer online experience as the growth potential for e-commerce in Nigeria is enormous'', he said, adding that ''Rothschild is working to create an online shopping experience to bridge the gap between online and offline shopping.

According to him, it has been discovered that there is a correlation between teledensity, internet

online shopping. He cited that a report

by Ericson Ltd states that 84% of phones now in Africa have internet access, while phones and desktops are being replaced with smart devices with higher internet capabilities.

In his words: “When we look at this terrain, we felt there are still gaps to fill, needs that are waiting to be attended to and we decided to join the bandwagon and set the pace. When the telecommunication sector was deregulated in 2001 with the attendant introduction of the GSM, our teledensity leapfrogged from a paltry volume of below 300,000 lines in 2001 to 20 million lines in 2005, 90 million in 2010 and about 140 million in 2015 respectively.

The internet penetration on the other hand moved from 78,140 users in 2000 to about 68 million users in 2014 thereby allowing us to know the true meaning of what makes the world a global village”.

application by Maku, seeking leave to inspect all INEC election materials used in all the 13 local government areas and 1,495 polling units of the state.

In a short ruling, Chairman of the tribunal, Justice Halima Mohammed granted the order to the APGA candidate and its counsel Michael Okwori to inspect all INEC forms EC8A, EC8B, EC8C, EC8D, EC8E in all the 1495 polling units of the

state and local government areas.

Justices Halima also instructed INEC to allow the APGA candidate to inspect the list of all registered voters, list of all INEC ad hoc staff, list of all Permanent Voters Card collected per ward per polling unit, list of all card readers and other relevant documents used by INEC for the election for the purpose of maintaining the petition pending before the tribunal.

OLA—A Federal High Court sitting in Yola, yesterday, adjourned till May 22nd, 2015 for ruling on the impeachment of former Governor Murtala Nyako, who is challenging his impeachment by the Adamawa State House of Assembly.

Trial judge, Justice Bilkisu Aliyu, adjourned for ruling after counsel adopted their written addresses arguments.

At the resumed hearing in the matter, counsel to Nyako, Ogunyele Olukoya, prayed the court to quash the impeachment of Governor Nyako since his impeachment did not follow proper procedure.

Counsel argued that the applicant’s complaint in the case bordered on the violation of his right to fair hearing guaranteed him under Section 36 of the 1999 constitution as amended.

However, counsel to the Adamawa State House of Assembly, Leonard Nzadon, who objected to the srgument, observed that the plea was “grossly insufficient.”

According to him, the case brought before the court has no connection with fundamental human rights but borders on impeachment and therefore, asked the court to dismiss the suit.

DELTA POLLS: Onokpasa tackles Uduaghan, says PDP eyeing ministerial slot Addressing newsmen, yesterday

A

LL Progressives Congress, APC, chieftain in Delta State, Jesutega Onokpasa, has faulted Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan's recent claim that the South-South and South-East geo-political zones massively voted for the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, to the tune of over 90 percent.

The Punch newspaper had

quoted Governor Uduaghan as having made the claim at a lecture he delivered at the University of Ibadan a few days back, insisting that the voting pattern in the elections had revealed deep divisions in the country, which requires the President-Elect, General Muhammadu Buhari, to embark on a unification and healing process of the nation.

Court orders banks to freeze JGSG, council's accounts

By Aliyu Dangida

D

UTSE—A Federal High Court sitting in Dutse, Jigawa State, has directed all the commercial banks operating in the state to freeze accounts bearing the names of Governor Sule Lamido, Birnin-Kudu Local Government and the Jigawa State Government with immediate effect. The court also summoned the banks to appear before it with statements of their accounts.

The court’s decision followed the refusal of the governor and state government to obey the court’s order to pay the sum of N50 million as damage compensation to All Progressives

Congress, APC senator-elect, Muhammad Nakudu and one other in the court judgment.

Trial judge, justice Sabiu Yahuza made the order, when the plaintiffs went back to his court through their counsel, Umar Aliyu, complaining that the defendent did not comply with the court judgment and refused to pay the damage compensation.

Speaking after the court order, the plaintiffs’ counsel, Umar Aliyu expressed satisfaction with the decision, saying “We dragged Lamido and the state government, Birninkudu council and state’s Commissioner of Police to court for illegal tresspass, attacking my client resident in Birninkudu town and violation of his right.

in Warri, Onokpasa however refuted the governor’s assertion, alleging that the electorate in the South-South was prevented from voting in a free fair atmosphere and that even if the South-East had substantially supported the PDP, the results therefrom were fraudulently manipulated in favour of the party.

Also, he accused the PDP of plotting to grab the ministerial slot of Delta State.

His words: “Governor Uduaghan is not a member of our party and we insist that no member of the PDP can come in at this stage, to pollute General Buhari’s incoming government by seeking appointments in his administration. Uduaghan, in his capacity as governor, presided over massively rigging out the APC by his party, thereby potentially endangering General Buhari’s overall chances of victory. He is certainly not in a position to lecture or dictate to our President-elect to embark on a quixotic mission of so-called unification and national healing. ''Uduaghan’s call is simply a ploy by the PDP to snatch the ministerial slot of Delta, a position that should naturally go to the governorship candidate of the APC, Olorogun O’tega Emerhor.”

Vanguard, TUESDAY, MAY 12, 2015—45

C M Y K

GOV'S ID CARD: From left— Mrs. Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire, Deputy Governor of Lagos State; Governor Bababtunde Fashola; and Mr. Chris Onyemenam, Director-General, National Identity Management Commission, NIMC, during the activation of Governor Fashola's multipurpose national identity card in Lagos, yesterday. PHOTO: Bunmi Azeez.

MTN GOLF: From left— Mr. Tony Ojobo, Director, Public Affairs, Nigerian Communications Commission, NCC; Mr. Mike Ikpoki, Chief Executive Officer, MTN Nigeria and Mr. Usman Bawa, Deputy Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Communications, at the 2015 MTN Golf Championship dinner in Lagos.

6TH SYNOD: From left—Rev. Abel Ajibodu, Bishop of Bishop Vining Cathedral Church; Bishop Olusola Odedeji, Bishop of Lagos West, Anglican Communion, and Ven. Abiade Adeniji, Administrative Assistant to the Bishop, during the briefing on First Season of the 6th Synod of the Diocese of Lagos West, Anglican Communion, in Lagos. PHOTO: Diran Oshe.

ORHII'S BIOGRAPHY: From left— Mr. Olusegun Kowontan Jr., President, Project FIX Nigeria; Prince Adelusi Adeluyi, Chairman of the occasion; Mrs. Eugene Orhii, wife of Dr. Paul Orhii; Director-General, National Agency for Food and Drugs Administration and Control, NAFDAC, Dr. Paul Orhii, and Mr. Nnamdi Okafor, Managing Director, May and Baker Nigeria Plc, at the public presentation of Dr. Orhii's autobiography, The Odyssey of a Survivor, in Lagos. PHOTO: Biodun Ogunleye.

FIDSON'S CSR: From left— Mr. Oladimeji Oduyebo, Corporate Services Manager, Fidson Healthcare Plc; Mrs Abosede Oyeleye, Executive Director, Children Emergency Relief Foundation, CERF; and Mrs Adejoke Alli, Head, Human Resource, Fidson Healthcare Plc, during the cheque presentation to CERFas part of Fidson's corporate social responsibilities, CSR, programme for scholarship.

DARE2DREAM: From left— Mr. Aderemi Sanusi, Head, Premium Banking of First City Monument Bank, FCMB; Miss. Onyeka Nwobu, participant, Dare2Dream youth empowerment competition; Mrs. Yoanna Chikezie, Senior Brand Manager, Spice TV; Miss. Tolulope Balogun, winner of the competition, and Caterina Bortolussi, Chief Executive of Kinabuti Fashion House, at a briefing on the competition in Lagos.

ICF: From left— Mrs Ajibola Ponnle, President, International Coach Federation, ICF, Nigeria chapter; Mr. Lanre Olusola, Director, Media and Publicity, and Mrs Habiba Balogun, Director, Membership, at a briefing in Lagos, yesterday. PHOTO: Shola Oyelese.

OJO PDP: From left— Alhaji Saka Olarewaju, Secretary, Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Ojo Local Government chapter; Mrs Aishat Obasa, and Mr. Tajudeen Obasa, House of Representatives member-elect, Ojo Federal Constituency, at PDP's stakeholders meeting in Ojo, Lagos.

46—Vanguard, TUESDAY, MAY 12, 2015

SYNERGIES OF THOUGHT AND EXPERIENCE:

Ekweremadu’s contributions to good governance

By Obiora Chinedu Okafor

O

N the occasion of the fifty-third birthday anniversary of Senator Ike Ekweremadu, the Deputy President of the Senate of Nigeria and Speaker of the Parliament of the Economic Community of West African States, it is just right to reflect on the life and contributions of a great leader, a remarkable statesman, a distinguished subregional politician, and a notable lawyer.

My aim in this short piece is to ponder and articulate a very few of the many contributions to public service of a man whose political praxis - at least in my own view - straddles and synergizes (more remarkably than is usually the case) the bounds of thought and experience; a man who is at once a thinker and a doer, a visionary and a builder, and an innovator and a conservator.

Rarely do these apparent dualities coincide in one and the same person. And such coincidence more often than not portends greatness.

It, therefore, is a great privilege and honour to contribute to this celebration in honour of the distinguished Senator by highlighting only one aspect of Senator Ekweremadu’s remarkable and large body of contributions to humanity during the first fiftythree years of what will hopefully be a much longer and even more fulfilled life: i.e. his contributions to good governance in Nigeria.

obsequies of the leader of the defunct Republic of Biafra, Chief Chukwuemeka Odumegwu-Ojukwu, Senator Ekweremadu expressed his passionate longing for a Nigeria “where corruption is a thing of the past; where every Nigerian is free and able to actualize his or her legitimate dreams and aspirations unmolested in any part of the country, irrespective of religious, political, and tribal affiliations and origin”. Clearly embedded in this statement is a conception of good governance as at a minimum requiring a largely corrupt-free leadership and administrative class, and the guarantee to the citizenry of actual social conditions of relative freedom, non-discrimination and peaceful co-existence.

Aside from his successive elections, four times as a Senator (including the March 28, 2015 election), twice as Deputy President of the Senate,

C M Y K

and also as Speaker of the ECOWAS Parliament, one of the most defining “moments” in Senator Ekweremadu’s career as a national legislator and leader in Nigeria is his successful leadership of the Senate Constitution Review Committee between 2007 and 2015. This project had suffered serial failures before he came on board. But, guided by his strong beliefs, correctly reported by Awopeju, that flaws in our successive Electoral Acts have tended to facilitate the rigging of elections and the consequent negation of good governance by those who have been “elected” through such flawed polls, and that protracted electoral litigation, which extend deep into the tenure of elected officials is a serious embarrassment to our electoral process (Awopeju 2011), Senator Ekweremadu was able to guide this committee to effect the very first democratic amendment of Nigeria’s military-imposed 1999 Constitution.

Consequential reform

Characteristics of good governance According to the UN Educational and Scientific Organization, UNESCO for short, “Good governance has 8 major characteristics. It is participatory, consensus oriented, accountable, transparent, responsive, effective and efficient, equitable and inclusive and follows the rule of law. It assures that corruption is minimized, the views of minorities are taken into account and that the voices of the most vulnerable in society are heard in decision-making (UNESCO 2005).”

In the present connection, it is interesting that Ekweremadu has himself repeatedly exhibited a rather deep and sufficient understanding of the concept of good governance.

For example, in a high profile speech that he delivered on the occasion of the funeral

Deputy Senate president, Ike Ekweremadu

It is our fervent hope that far from resting on his oars, he will think on and march on into the even more glorious future that is his to grasp

But it is not merely the fact that Senator Ekweremadu led the 2011 and 2015 Senate Constitution Reform Committees to do their jobs successfully that should interest us here. For example, we should also be impressed by the fact that this able statesman led the 2011 committee to (along with the counterpart committee in the House of Representatives) cause the enactment of far-reaching and consequential reforms aimed at ensuring fairer electoral processes, and therefore a greater chance of good governance, in Nigeria. This committee helped enact reforms that gave the Independent National Electoral Commission of Nigeria (INEC) political, financial, and administrative autonomy (The Nation, 1 June 2011), and required all political

parties to choose their candidates through democratic primaries.

With regard to the strengthening of the autonomy of the INEC, Senator Ekweremadu led the committee to amend sections 81, 84, and 160 of the 1999 Constitution which mandated that INEC’s funds be a first line charge on the Federation Account of Nigeria, and stated that INEC’s power to make its own Rules and regulate its procedure is not subject to Presidential approval.

These contributed in no small measures to the independence demonstrated by the INEC in the 2015 general elections.

The committee also led the amendment of the Electoral Act to make it mandatory that votes cast in elections be counted, documented properly, announced and notified to all party agents at each polling booth or centre.

With regard to the strengthening of internal democratic process within political parties, quite apart from mandating the use of a primary system to select candidates, section 33 of the relevant Electoral Act (as amended) goes further to also prohibit political parties from substituting the names of candidates who have been duly elected at such primaries, except in the case of their death or withdrawal.

Public campaign Other indicators of the extent and quality of Senator Ekweremadu’s contributions to good governance in Nigeria are his strong advocacy for “quality, free and compulsory basic education in Nigeria” (The Will, 23 October 2011), and his public campaign for the allocation of 26% of the total budget of the Federal Government to the educational sector, a level of allocation that would more than quadruple the amounts normally allocated to that sector.

Needless to say, good

governance would be impossible to attain in this country without such efforts to ensure access by all Nigerians to high quality education. He has also practically supported education in his constituency through scholarship and adult education schemes. As importantly, Ekweremadu has also exhibited a deep appreciation of the gendered nature of governance and the gender imperative of good governance the world over, but even more so in Nigeria. It is no wonder then that he has, for example, recently noted the role that Nigerian women play and can play as pillars of development in our country.

In recounting and appreciating some of the distinguished Senator ’s contributions to good governance in Nigeria, the fact of his strong belief in Nigeria’s unity, and his campaign for the peaceful co-existence and unity of the country, should neither be discounted nor marginalised. Such is the stuff of which great national statesmen and women are made, and it is no wonder that at least one branch of the Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC) has seen fit to publicly salute Senator Ekweremadu’s contribution in this connection.

Distinguished statesman In conclusion, it is fair to state that only a very few illustrative examples of the contributions to good governance in Nigeria and beyond of Senator Ike Ekweremadu have been discussed here. But consistently implied in the offered examples was how this distinguished statesman and great Nigerian has synergized and forged such contributions at the juncture of thought and experience; how he has at once been a thinker and doer, much to the benefit of Nigeria and West Africa.

On the occasion of Senator Ekweremadu’s fifty-third birthday anniversary, it is our fervent hope that far from resting on his oars, he will think on and march on into the even more glorious future that is his to grasp.

As our much endowed country Nigeria suffers the painful spasms of its incomplete institutionalization and development, the need for the great minds and able hands (like the distinguished senator) who can make the even greater effort needed to salvage our collective future has become even more acute; and the need for a just governance transformation even more pressing. For, as the great Christopher Okigbo once put it, “except by rooting, who can pluck yam tubers from their base?”

Prof. Okafor is Chairperson, United Nations Human Rights Council Advisory Committee and The University Research Chair in International and Transnational Law, Osgoode Hall Law School, York University, Toronto, Canada

Vanguard, TUESDAY, MAY 12, 2015—47

Youths protest incessant killings in Plateau

By Marie-Therese Nanlong

‘Frozen embryo’ battle grips America

T

HIS story is about a “frozen embryo” battle in a U.S. law court. It has two main characters.

Character 1: Sofía Margarita Vergara is an American actress of Colombian origin. She is reputed to be the highest paid and richest actress on U.S. television. She acts in the television series, Modern Family.

Last year, she reportedly earned $37 million and Forbes magazine wrote this about her: “Vergara, 41, reigns supreme as the top-earning actress on television for the third year in a row.” She has a 23-year-old son from a previous marriage.

Character 2: Nick Loeb is a Florida-based businessman and son of a former U.S. diplomat and banker. He will be 41 years old this August.

Nick has no children and is divorced from his Swedishmodel wife.

Nick and Sofia’s paths crossed and they began dating in 2010. By 2012 the gossip industry was abuzz that the couple’s relationship was falling apart. But in the same year the couple announced their engagement. However, by 2014, Nick and Sofia had gone their different ways.

And, that was when this story began.

Sometime in 2013, Nick and Sofia decided that since their very hectic lives hardly gave them time to conceive and raise a baby, they would use modern technology to preserve her eggs for the future. They opted for in vitro fertilization technology to freeze their embryos. Then, Sofia told the world that “I wanted to make sure I already froze some eggs so, you know, I wanted to take advantage of the science and why not?”

When the couple split almost a year later, what to do with the frozen embryos (for two girls) became problematic. In a nutshell, Nick wanted to proceed and grow their two babies, but Sofia who had become engaged to actor, Joe Manganiello, was not entertaining the idea of having her former boyfriend’s baby.

Matters rose to unanticipated heights when Nick went to court incognito to have it declare that he could have the embryos implanted in a surrogate mother and have the babies. But his cover was blown and the issue became public. That was when it became known that Nick and

Sofia had entered into a legal agreement over the frozen embryos. The agreement stipulated, among other things, that “no unilateral action can be taken with regard to the embryos unless both parties consent.”

Sofia has not come out to say that she wants embryos destroyed. Neither does she want the process of having the embryos become babies to commence. She just wants the situation to remain as it is.

Nick says that he is determined to have the embryos grown to life.

“I asked her (Sofia) to let me have the embryos, offering to pay for all expenses to carry our girls to term and raise them (but) she has refused,” he says.

A child needs a mother

The issue is not about money because Sofia has plenty of it.

She told an interview that she has an “embryo” contract with Nick and there was no way he could unilaterally do anything about it. Besides, she contends that “a child needs a mother.

More than a mother, it needs a loving relationship of parents that get along, that don’t hate each other ...” She added that “it would be so selfish” to bring a child into the world where both parents were already at loggerheads and would not provide a good environment to nurture it.

Sofia’s attorney added his

This form of battle is what results when the rich and powerful continue to use modern technology to toy around with conception and human life

voice to the dispute some weeks ago when he released a statement claiming that his client “has never wanted to destroy her embryos…Vergara, who has happily moved on with her life, is content to leave the embryos frozen indefinitely as she has no desire to have children with her ex, which should be understandable given the circumstances.”

This idea of letting the embryos be put under lid in perpetuity is part of what irks Nick. He put his thoughts this way in a newspaper article he wrote on the matter: “Many have asked me: Why not just move on and have family of your own? I have every intention of doing so. But that doesn’t mean I should let the two lives I have already created be destroyed or sit in a freezer until the end of time.”

Nick, a self-declared Catholic and a Republican by political party affiliation, raised another issue in his article. According to him, “When we create embryos for the purpose of life, should we not define them as life, rather than as property? Does one person’s desire to avoid biological parenthood (free of any legal obligations) outweigh another ’s religious beliefs in the sanctity of life and desire to be a parent?

"A woman is entitled to bring a pregnancy to term even if the man objects. Shouldn’t a man who is willing to take on all parental responsibilities be similarly entitled to bring his embryos to term even if the woman objects? These are issues that, unlike abortion, have nothing to do with the rights over one’s own body, and everything to do with a parent’s right to protect the life of his or her unborn child.”

No one can predict how the court will rule on this matter.

But, if precedents are things to go by, eight largely similar cases have been thrown out by the courts on previous occasions. Nick is undaunted.

He wants to fight on, even as Sofia is busy with wedding arrangements with her new man, Joe, to whom she is now engaged.

While Nick and Sofia play their “embryo” games, some voices on medical ethics are being raised that this form of battle is what results when the rich and powerful continue to use modern technology to toy around with conception and human life.

Jos — A coalition of youth groups in their numbers, yesterday, blocked major roads in Jos, Plateau State, protesting the incessant night attacks and killings in Riyom, Barkin Ladi and Wase Local Government Areas of the state.

The youths, carrying placards, said they will petition the Federal Government and the military before the International Criminal Court, ICC, for crimes against humanity and killing of unarmed civilians.

Leader of the youths, Dr. Daniel Meshak, who spoke at the Old Airport Road Junction in Jos, condemned the killing of innocent citizens across the state and called on all authorities concerned to appropriately address the matter from its root.

He said: “The military should make known the outcome of their two weeks operation in parts of Barkin Ladi and Riyom, where the killings continue till this moment. Plateau State has become known for incessant night attacks by daring marauding attackers who are either identified as unknown

gunmen or Fulani herdsmen.

“What is more worrisome is the fact that these attacks were carried out when the military formation by the Special Task Force, STF, are in full operation in Plateau State, instead of facing the attackers as their training and mandate required, the personnel of the STF have become so relaxed that the life of a Plateau man could be equated with that of a mosquito and none of the culprits of this madness is ever prosecuted.”

He said “a thorough search should be done in Mahanga, Bangai, Shonong, Atakar, Kwi, Rim and Sopp villages of Riyom Local Government Area as well as parts of Barkin Ladi and Bokkos to fish out those unknown men who have been terrorizing the areas.”

Meanwhile, Chairperson of Riyom council, Mrs. Josephine Piyo, has said that the damage done in the locality would have been avoided if security personnel had promptly responded to the distress calls from citizens and called for a change in attitude.

Dearth of midwives, threat to maternal/child survival — Bauchi PHCDA

By Suzan Edeh

B

AUCHI — THE Bauchi State Primary Health Care Development Agency, BPHCDA, has identified shortage of midwives at the primary health care level as the major factor threatening maternal, new born and child survival in the state.

Chairman of the agency, Mr Ibrahim Gamawa, at a one-day roundtable on maternal and child health in Bauchi, said inadequate number of skilled midwives in most PHCs, especially at the grassroots, contributed to the high rate of maternal mortality in the state.

According to him, “a current survey conducted by the agency showed that there are one million pregnant women in the state which is as a result of the influx of migrants to the state due to insecurity challenges experienced in some parts of the North-East region.

“Bauchi State has 1,200 health facilities which cut across the state but there are less than 300 midwives employed in the state. This is

a big challenge which is threatening the maternal, new born and child survival in the state.

“You can now see that the number of the midwives employed is not commiserate with the number of health facilities across the state and this is caused by factors ranging from recruitment, delay in payment of salaries, refusal of posting to rural areas and lack of training and retraining programmes for health workers.”

He said skilled care during pregnancy, childbirth and the immediate postpartum period by healthcare professionals such as midwives with appropriate skills were key interventions in the reduction of maternal mortality.

He urged the three tiers of government and stakeholders in the health sector to also ensure the deployment of midwives with adequate remuneration to the rural areas where most of the maternal deaths occur.

48—Vanguard, TUESDAY, MAY 12, 2015

C M Y K

Vanguard, TUESDAY, MAY 12, 2015—49

C M Y K

50—Vanguard, TUESDAY, MAY 12, 2015

Vanguard, TUESDAY, MAY 12, 2015 —51

C M Y K

52 — Vanguard, TUESDAY, MAY 12, 2015 YOUR LUCK TODAY

LEISURE

By Joshua Adeyemo Phone 08056180139

CANCER; Many of you may be tempted and give in to the urge to gamble either with love or other important issue to the detriment of your cause. Be practical.

LEO; This is not the right time to take happenings along your career line for granted. Prepare for important domestic challenge. Keep your family secrets.

VIRGO; You may over inflate your ego to the resentment of people that matter. Watch what you do with money before 12.31pm. Try to be more diplomatic.

LIBRA; If care is not taken you would mislead others before 12.31pm while you are close to minor but costly mistakes from 12.31pm. Be wise with money.

THOUGHT FOR TODAY

By Richard Eromosele

T

HE inner cup and the outside, which is more important? I mean the contest of the cup and the cup itself, which is more important?

This question becomes pertinent be-

The Beauty Without cause of the way we are going about our re-branding project.

Can you reform evil?

Can you start the process of reformation without? Can the body be well when

TERROR MUDA

the head is sick? Look at the motor vehicle truck/trailer, when on the reverse, the other body stands still. This is so because the head give direction to

in “Never say goodbye”

the body. Nigeria is like a trailer.

We don’t need to waste billions on rebranding. All we need is the right leadership. When the leader does the right thing, Nigerians will do the right thing too.

Think about it!

By Lanre Kehinde

SCORPIO; After initial confusion before 1pm you find your bearing and assert yourself but you will need to prepare to take care of oppositions that may come up suddenly.

SAGITTARIUS; It is important you don’t allow friends mislead you before 12.31pm no matter how genuine their intention. Watch what you do with your health. Tomorrow is your best day.

CAPRICORN; Take it easy along your career/ business line during the morning period so that costly mistakes will not make things difficult for.

Take your social life seriously.

AQUARIUS; What may look like a very good advice from younger members within your base of operation may eventually lead to avoidable trouble.

PISCES; Miscalculation is possible before 12.31pm that is why you will need to be as practical as possible and refuse to take people for granted throughout.

KAPTAIN AFRIKA

in

“Pretty Lunatic’

By Andy Akman

ARIES; Yes it is good to take partnership related issue seriously but priority attention must be given to money. Watch what you tell others before 12.31pm.

TAURUS; If you take your new ideas too seriously they would mislead you. But taken good advice from your influential friends can prove helpful. As the Moon fluctuates during AM period it is important you practical till after 12.31pm.

GEMINI; Provided you don’t allow mid-morning blues to get better off you will eventually live up to expectation at work. Take good care of your health, please.

ASTROLOGICAL COUNSELLING Send yyour our dat th ttoo the As tr ological datee and place of bir birth Astr trological Counselling, PP.M.B .M.B 1100 00 7, Apapa, Lagos 007,

What’s my sesitive part?

VIRGINIA

dadadekola@yahoo.com

Dear Joshua, I ma interested in your daily analysis in Vanguard Newspapers. The truth is your daily horoscope column always work for me and now I just cant do without reading my Star in your papers.

My believe is since you can be as accurate as possible writing daily horoscope you are in a better position to analyse my health which is very important to me. I want to know which area(s) of my body should be taken more seriously.

Emmanuel, Kano.

Dear Emmanuel, According to your natal horoscope you have gone above danger zones of your life health-wise. But then what you will find here-under will be of benefit. Thanks for your commendation.

Opposition between the Sun (an indicator of basic selfhood) and difficult Saturn during your birth hour pointed to a very tough beginning in life but luckily for you both Spiritual Neptune in powerful Scorpio and steady Pluto in healthy Virgo were at positive angles to your natal Sun thus, your chances of surviving are more than the delicate ones. More so as your natal Sun and Moon are members of strongest Star signs-health wise.

Certainly Saturn must have brought you a few number of health related challenges raging from skin, bone, sometimes the stomach and importantly headache .

Since you were able to survive infancy and middle age you have very good chances of living to a very old age.

While the ailments stated here can easily be managed by yourself one important organ of your body that must be managed by medical expert is your HEART because of many placement in heart related Star sign. This is not to say you must have heart problem but here is an organ you in particular must take very seriously. Yes fever is common in Africa and today fear of STDs is the beginning of good health. STDs are mentioned here because of your natal planets is sexual Scorpio. Mind you nothing fatalistic here, but mere warnings.

HOME & ABROAD

By Lawrence Akapa

Vanguard, TUESDAY, MAY 12, 2015—53

C M Y K

54—Vanguard, TUESDAY, MAY 12, 2015

Osanebi assures constituents of fruitful representation

M

E M B E R representing Ndokwa East state constituency in Delta State House of Assembly, and Deputy Chief Whip of the House, Mr. Friday Osanebi, has dedicated his victory to God. The lawmaker expressed his gratitude while speaking to his supporters shortly after collecting his Certificate of Return.

Urging his team, friends and well-wishers to join him in thanksgiving, Osanebi reassured his constituents of adequate and fruitful representation.

... as Arewa community seeks inclusion in Okowa's administration

T

HE Arewa community in Uvwie Local Government Area of Delta State has said the victory of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, candidates in the justconcluded general elections, was victory for them as the community was glad to have been associated with PDP at the polls.

Alhaji Suleiman Jauru, leader (Sariki) of the Arewa community in Uvwie, said they were celebrating Okowa and other PDP candidates’ victories in Delta Central because the community gave its support to the party.

He said: “We are grateful to Allah that our support for Senator Okowa, Chief Ighoyota Amori and Chief Evelyn Oboro was not in vain.”

Alhaji Jauru, however, appealed to PDP elected candidates to keep to the promises made to the Arewa people, saying they desired appointment as Special Adviser on NonIndigenes Affairs to the governor-elect and appointment of Arewa leader in Delta Central senatorial district for proper interface with government.

VISIT: From left— Captain Bala Shagari, his father, former President Shehu Shagari and President-elect, General Muhamadu Buhari (retd), during Shagari's visit.

PDP NEC meeting stalled as Mu'azu travels

By Henry Umoru

A

BUJA—STRONG indications emerged, yesterday, that the move by some senior members of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, to oust its National Working Committee, NWC, would end in futility following the continued absence of the party’s National Chairman, Alhaji Adamu Mu‘azu.

Mu‘azu is out of the country, reportedly on a medical trip, and his return today has reportedly been put on hold.

He is required to summon a meeting of the National Executive Committee, NEC, of the party, the only body that has the power, beside a National Convention, to discipline or remove a national officer of the party.

Sources in the party told Vanguard yesterday that a NEC meeting does not look feasible until after May 29, when President Goodluck Jonathan would have stepped down from office.

Following the poor performance of the party in the March 28 presidential election, senior party stakeholders had sought for a NEC meeting to review the development.

A NEC meeting, under normal circumstances, would have taken place before the May 29 hand over date. But it does not look feasible that the embattled NWC members would oblige calls for a meeting before that day.

At the National Secretariat of PDP, Vanguard gathered that there were no signs of the party holding a NEC meeting, as staff bluntly told Vanguard that no date had been fixed.

The National Chairman, through the National Secretary, has the power to summon a meeting of NEC. In his absence, the Deputy National Chairman would summon a meeting. Mu’azu and his deputy, Prince Uche Secondus are, however, presently not in the country.

The last NEC was held last September before the March and April elections.

Vanguard gathered that while Mu’azu is out of the

country for medical attention, his deputy travelled to attend to some family issues that were left unattended to prior to the elections.

Statutory members of NEC are the President, Vice President, President of the Senate, Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, governors in the party, NWC members, former chairmen and secretaries, Chairman and Secretary of BoT, among others.

ICF to raise personal, business performance

By Gabriel Olawale

I

N a bid to raise personal and business performance in Nigeria and Africa, the International Coach Federation, ICF, yesterday flagged off its operation in Nigeria to ensure that both individuals and organizations are inspired to maximize their personal and professional potential.

Speaking at a press conference to officially launch its activities and line up programme in celebration of ICF week, the President of ICF Nigeria Chapter, Mrs. Ponnle Ajibola, said their activities in Nigeria were designed to increase the visibility, understanding and impact on personal lives, professional success, as well as business performance in the country.

She said: “We have an overriding passion to help African people raise their level of awareness and consciousness to unleash our continent’s unlimited and untapped potential, increase our

productivity and life success.

“We are set to help individual and organizations achieve their visions.

“What coaching intends to do in Nigeria is to partner with clients in a thoughtprovoking, creative and outcome-oriented process that inspires them to maximize their personal and professional potential.

“Professional coaching helps to brings many wonderful benefits which include fresh perspectives on personal challenges, enhanced decision-making skills, greater interpersonal effectiveness, and increased confidence among others.

“Those who undertake coaching can also expect appreciable improvement in productivity, satisfaction with life and work, and the attainment of relevant goals.”

Also at the briefing were ICF's Director-Media and Publicity, ICF, Lanre Olusola; and Mrs Habiba Balogun, Director, Membership.

Okolugbo urges Delta elite to support Okowa

T

HE commissioner representing Ndokwa nation in the board of Delta State Oil Producing Areas Development C o m m i s s i o n , DESOPADEC, Sir Kenny Okolugbo, has called on the elite and associations in the state to support the incoming administration of governor-elect, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa.

He made this call when he donated a new Toyota Hiace bus to Ukwuani Foundation Union, UFU, on behalf of DESOPADEC. He said even at the twilight of this administration, Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan was still executing his human capital development programme, which he said had made it possible for him (Okolugbo) to give out over 20 vehicles in his 30months stewardship.

He agreed with the President of UFU that the quantum sharing pattern of the commission needed to be subjected to a review as Ndokwa nation deserves more than nine percent.

Speaking further, Okolugbo lamented the percentage accruing to his mandate area, saying “so much more could have been achieved if not for the constraints in funding due to the issue of quantum sharing.”

Vanguard, MONDAY, MAY 11, 2015 — 55

Gov Ahmed sacks commissioners, aides

By Demola Akinyemi ILORIN—The newly re-elected governor of Kwara State, Alhaji Abdulfatah Ahmed yesterday sacked his commissioners as well as special advisers, senior special assistants, special assistants, liaison officers and youth employment coordinators with immediate effect.

This is contained in a statement signed by the Secretary to the State Government, SSG, Alhaji Isiaka Gold in Ilorin, the state capital.

Also affected according to the statement are all boards of government owned companies, commissions, parastatals and organisations other than those of statutory status.

Ahmed asked the former commissioners to hand over government’s property in their possession to their permanent secretaries, while heads of other MDAS must hand over to the most senior officer in their establishment.

Meantime, the governor has thanked all the affected political office holders for what he described as their immeasurable contributions to the success of his administration in the last four years and wished them success in their future endeavours.

He also looked forward to a continued robust partnership with the former political office holders to move the state forward.

By Chioma Obinna

T

GLO WELCOME PARTY FOR CORPS MEMBERS: From left; Lagos State National Youth Service Corps, NYSC Coordinator, Cyril Akhananhe; Globacom Group Business Director, Kunle Akanmu and Lagos NYSC Camp Director, Belinda Faniyi during the welcome party for corps members at the NYSC Orientation Camp in Lagos yesterday.

Deltan group calls for gov, Assembly polls rerun

T

HE Delta Unity Alliance, has called for a rerun of the recently held governorship and House of Assembly elections in Delta State, condemning the polls as having been massively rigged by the People’s Democratic Party, PDP. In a statement released to newsmen in Asaba, convener of

IMPORTATION OF SUBSTANDARD PRODUCTS:

Customs brokers laud SON

By Ifeyinwa Obi

L

AGOS—FREIGHT forwarders weekend said the measures adopted by the Standard Organisation of Nigeria, SON, have impacted heavily on improving the standard and quality of some goods being imported into the country.

However, the customs brokers lamented that this has in turn meant hard times to both importers and freight forwarders who have been struggling to meet the required standard by SON. Chairman of the Registered Freight Forwarders Forum, RFFF, Chief Festus Ukwu said in Lagos that the measures introduced by the management of SON to check importation of substandard goods into the country had been a pain on the necks of importers and indeed their customs brokers.

Ukwu explained that what this meant was that many importers in their effort to meet required standard and quality have had to slow down in the turnaround time of importation, a development he said has also affected their customs brokers.

He disclosed that importers who used to bring in goods into the country regularly have slowed down because they want to ensure that the products they import meet all the

Hospital tasks Buhari on medical training

the group, Mr. Zeal Amadi, alleged that the elections had been so unconscionably rigged that ''A rerun was urgently required for the PDP to be prevented from reaping the rewards of profound electoral crimes the party masterminded against the All Progressive Congress, APC, during the polls.''

While accusing the PDP of snatching election materials and writing unbelievable results in its favour, Amadi equally carpeted the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, as well as the security agencies of entering into what he described as an unholy alliance with the party in manipulating the deployment of card readers during the exercise.

He said: “APC would easily have been victorious in the election but for the desperation of PDP, actively supported by INEC to prevent the party from winning any of the major oil rich states in the South-South geo-

standard and quality needed by SON officials at the ports.

Ukwu whose Forum has been one of the critics of SON admitted that the idea of insisting that imported goods must meet certain standard and quality was good as it will reduce the nightmare Nigerians suffer over inferior goods.

He said that many Chinese manufacturers have become aware that the policies in Nigeria cannot accommodate inferior products and have been the ones adjusting to meet the required quality and standard

By Wole Mosadomi for Nigerian importers.

He commended the Director General of SON, Dr Joseph INNA—THERE was a Odumodu and his team for mild drama at the official raising the standard of products commissioning of the multimillion imported into the country.

Naira building materials market

political zone. They want to hold on to these states to keep pilfering their resources for the purpose of returning to power in the next general election.”

While lauding Olorogun Otega Emerhor, the governorship candidate of the APC in the state for seeking justice at the election petition tribunal, Amadi urged all other APC candidates for other posts to insist on legal redress, assuring them of the goodwill and popular support of all progressives in Delta in restoring their mandates.

Insisting that the APC must utilize all legitimate legal channels in invalidating the elections and reclaiming the mandates of all its shortchanged candidates in the region, Amadi however commended the party for rescuing the nation at large from the clutches of the PDP, a party he claimed was only interested in corrupt enrichment of its members to the detriment of the masses.

HE incoming government of General Mohammadu Buhari has been urged to revitalise postgraduate training for doctors in the country by ensuring that all necessary infrastructure, equipment and funds needed to carry out trainings in various specialties of medicine are fully available.

Meanwhile, medical training in private hospitals weekend received a boost as the National Postgraduate College awarded accreditation to Eko Hospitals Lagos to begin postgraduate training in Obstetrics and Gynaecology, (O and G).

Making the call at a media chat to announce the recent accreditation of Eko Hospital for postgraduate training for O and G, the Chief Medical Officer of the Hospital, Dr. Olusegun Odukoya specifically advocated support for private hospitals providing consultancy training for doctors in the country.

According to Odukoya, outside direct funding, the government can support by putting policies on ground that would reduce the cost of purchasing or importing medical equipment into the country.

Drama as impeached Niger speaker, successor meet

M

named after late Minister of Federal Capital Territory, Gen. Mamman Kontagora when the recently impeached Speaker of the state House of Assembly, Mr Adam Usman and the new

My life in danger, community leader cries out

T

HE community leader of Okpako-Orere of Iwhrekan Community in Ughelli South Local Government Area of Delta State, Chief Johnson Gbemre has petitioned the state Commissioner of Police over alleged threat to his life by some members of the community.

Gbemre, who is 91 years old,

through his counsel, Mr. Cyril Ojiemen alleged that no fewer than 30 boys invaded his residence at Jigbe quarters in Iwhrekan on April 20, 2015.

The petition also alleged that the youths allegedly led by Messrs Edirin Gbemre, threatened to attack his household before the

swearingin ceremony of the new executive members of Iwhrekan community scheduled to hold on April 26 and June 6 2015 respectively.

It however appealed to the Police boss to intervene in the matter in order to forestall possible breakdown of law and order in the community.

Speaker, Alhaji Isah Kawu met at the function.

The former Speaker came into the venue of the function alone without any of the former principal officers who were removed along with him during an alleged impeachment exercise while Kawu came into the arena later along with the new principal officers of the House.

Protocol officers who were confused at the development quickly created another space for the new Speaker and his men but far away from Usman.

They also used their wisdom and played safe by not placing either of the former and present Speakers next to the Governor as it had been the tradition in the past.

56 — VANGUARD, TUESDAY, MAY 12 , 2015

P

RIME Minister David Cameron’s Conservatives may have won the British election and ushered their

coalition partner out the door, but that doesn’t mean it’s all smooth sailing for his government for the next

Cameron faces stiff Conservative opposition, despite win

British Labour party shops for new leadership E

MBATTLED British Labour party has began the search for r a new leadership after the bruising general election defeat as the surviving lawmakers met for the first time yesterday to assess the damage.

Rival factions are already jockeying for control of the centre-left party as Labour starts picking a new leader to replace Ed Miliband, who quit Friday following their election flop. Interim leader Harriet Harman said yesterday that the party needed to study the facts of its defeat.

“The truth is there’s not a snap answer. We have to do some serious thinking,” she said, as she began appointing a new front bench team.

Labour MP Harriet Harman is acting as party leader until a new chief is elected, following the resignation of Ed. Milliband.

“The big question for the left in Britain is what they have to do... to be credible and come up with an alternative proposition?”

Labour needs to work out where to go after suffering catastrophic losses in Scotland to leftwing nationalists, while crucial middle-class English voters swung even further behind the Conservatives.

Labour moderates savaged Miliband’s approach over the weekend, saying he had a narrative for what Labour would do to the rich and for the poor, but nothing for the majority in between.

Former prime minister Tony Blair, who led Labour to three straight general election victories in 1997, 2001 and 2005, urged the party to reclaim the centre ground he successfully occupied.

He said “Labour has to be for ambition and aspiration as well as compassion and care,” he wrote in The Observer newspaper. “‘Hard-working families’ don’t just want us to celebrate their hard work; they want to know that by hard work and effort they can do well, rise up, achieve.”

•Liz Kendall, the Labour party’s spokeswoman on care and elderly, is the first to declare her bid for the leadership Blair is backing Umunna for the leadership of the party.

Only Liz Kendall, the party’s spokeswoman on care and elderly, has declared her candidacy for the leadership.

She and probable rivals Chuka Umunna, the business spokesman, and education spokesman Tristram

Hunt have all advocated a more aspirational approach.

Health spokesman Andy Burnham and home affairs spokeswoman Yvette Cooper are also thought likely contenders.

Bookmakers have Umunna as the 2/1 favourite, followed by Burnham at 5/2, Cooper at 5/1, Kendall at 7/1 and Hunt at 8/1.

Cuba: Hollande seeks end to US embargo

F

RENCH President Francois Hollande called yesterday for an end to the US embargo on Cuba during a historic visit to the island, the first by a Western leader since Washington and Havana moved to restore ties.

Speaking on the trade and financial embargo in place since 1962, Hollande said France will do whatever possible to see that “the measures that have so badly harmed Cuba’s development can finally be lifted, repealed.”

Hollande, the first French president ever to visit Cuba, said his trip came “at a particularly important but also uncertain time,” as both the United States and the European Union seek to restore diplomatic relations with Havana.

France will do what it can to “see that opening reaffirmed,” he said in an address at the University of Havana.

Since announcing in December that the United States and Cuba would move to renew ties after more than half a century, President Barack Obama has used

five years.

With influential Euroskeptics clamouring in his own party and a very slim majority in Parliament, Cameron will have a hard time tackling the big headaches looming over his second term: Britain’s membership in the 28-nation European Union and the growing movement for Scottish independence.

“He would like to be seen as leading a governing party which is united on a core issue at •Chuka Umunna is seen as a possible contender the center of the political debate, but that’s for the leadership. unlikely to happen,” said Colin Hay, a British politics professor at the Paris Institute of Political Studies. “It’s going to be really tough.”

C a m e r o n ’ s Conservatives won an unexpected majority in last week’s election, ensuring that he returns to 10 Downing Street with enough power to govern alone. His first term saw Cameron sharing power with the left-of-center Liberal Democrats, who held key positions in a sometimes-awkward coalition government.

Within hours of declaring victory Friday, Cameron re-appointed his four highest-ranking •Harriet Harman ministers — those heading defense, the Treasury, home and He has called on foreign affairs — to their his executive authority to relax several aspects of Congress to lift the full posts. No big surprises the US embargo, embargo, but with both are expected when the including restrictions on houses under Republican rest of the new, all-Tory travel and sending control, he faces an uphill Cabinet is unveiled this political battle. money to the island. week.

Cuban leader hints of returning to church

C

UBAN President Raul Castro paid a call Sunday on Pope Francis at the Vatican to thank him for working for Cuban-U.S. detente — and said he was so impressed by the pontiff he is considering a return to the Catholic church’s fold.

“Bienvenido (welcome)!”

Francis said in his native Spanish, welcoming Castro to his studio near the Vatican public audience hall. The Cuban president, bowing his head, gripped Francis’ hand with both of his, and the two men began private talks. The

•Cuban President Raul Castro and Pope Francis in Vatican

meeting lasted nearly an hour, as the Argentineborn Francis and Castro spoke in Spanish.

Francis will visit Cuba in September en route to the United States.

After leaving the Vatican, Castro, the brother of Fidel, the revolutionary leader who brought the Communists to power in Cuba, gushed with praise for Francis.

The pontiff “is a Jesuit, and I, in some way, am too,” Castro said at a news conference. “I always studied at Jesuit schools.”

“When the pope goes to Cuba in September, I promise to go to all his Masses, and with satisfaction,” Castro said at

a news conference at the office of Italian Premier Matteo Renzi, whom he met with after the Vatican talks.”I read all the speeches of the pope, his commentaries, and if the pope continues this way, I will go back to praying and go back to the church, and I’m not joking,” he said.

It was a startling assertion for the leader of a Communist country, whose crackdown on dissidents in the past had drawn sharp Vatican criticism. “I am from the Cuban Communist Party, that doesn’t allow (religious) believers, but now we are allowing it, it’s an important step,” Castro said.

VANGUARD, TUESDAY, MAY 12 , 2015 — 57

EU freezes aid to Burundi over poll crackdown E

UROPEAN nations have suspended some aid to Burundi, officials said yesterday, cranking up international pressure on the donorreliant African nation over a crackdown on protests against President Pierre Nkurunziza’s quest for a third term of office.

Responding to violence that has killed at least 19 people during more than two weeks of unrest, the European Union, Belgium and the Netherlands individually halted aid earmarked for supporting elections, saying that the conditions were not right for a fair vote, diplomats said.

The government says it is committed to free and fair polls.

Belgium said it was also halting some aid intended for the police, who have fired tear gas, water cannon and, according to protesters, even live rounds. Police deny the accusation.

About 300 people protested yesterday, in Musaga, a district of the capital that has seen regular protests by demonstrators who say Nkurunziza’s election bid violates the

constitution and a peace deal that ended a civil war in 2005.

“Let us pass into Bujumbura city to tell Nkurunziza that he is not allowed to run for a third term,” protesters shouted, trying to move to the city center. They were blocked by police.

A constitutional court has ruled the president can run as his first term, when he was picked by parliament not elected by popular vote, does not count. Critics say the court is biased.

The violence has plunged the nation into its worst crisis since the end of the civil war that pitted rebels from the majority Hutu ethnic group against minority Tutsis, who once led the army. The military is now a mixed forceAt least 19 people have died in Burundi since Nkurunziza announced his intention to run for a third term in elections due next month, sparking weeks of angry demonstrations.

More than 50,000 Burundians have fled to neighbouring countries fearing violence, according to the UN refugee agency

Malian rebels ambush army convoy near Timbuktu

S

EPARATIST rebels in Mali ambushed a military convoy near the northern town of Timbuktu on Monday, rebels and military sources said, just four days before a U.N.backed peace deal was due to be signed.

A spokesman for the rebel umbrella group, the Coordination of Movements for Azawad (CMA), told Reuters that they had killed some 20 people in the attack and seized several vehicles.

An army spokesman confirmed the attack but had no immediate toll.

“The shooting started at around 0930. It was an ambush,” said a military source in the town of Timbuktu. “It was between Goundam and Timbuktu.

Reinforcements have been sent in.”

Algerian army targets

smuggling southern border Fearing armed chaos in neighboring Libya and renewed conflict in Mali, Algeria’s army is shifting focus from fighting Islamist militants at home to the Sahel border smuggling that feeds them in the region.

Since last month, the Algerian military says it has arrested more than 650 suspected smugglers on its borders with Libya, Mali and Niger in a campaign to tighten the largely desolate and trackless desert frontiers with the Sahel to its south.

“Algeria’s army is aware that fighting terrorism in the Sahel is useless if you do not include fighting smugglers,” security analyst and writer Anis Rahmani said.

•Burundian security forces arresting a protester

Amnesty blames Libyan cruelty for migration

M

IGRANTS in Libya face “cruelty ” and abuse, driving many people to risk their lives in d a n g e r o u s Mediterranean crossings aimed at reaching sanctuary in Europe, Amnesty International said on Monday.

For years Libya has been a stepping stone for Africans seeking a better life in Europe.

Syrian refugees fleeing the conflict at home are also making their way to Libya to try to reach the West.

“The ghastly conditions for migrants, coupled with spiralling lawlessness and armed conflicts raging within the country, make clear just how dangerous life in Libya is today,” said Amnesty’s Philip Luther.

The situation has worsened since the NATO -backed 2011 uprising that toppled veteran dictator Moamer Kadhafi, with powerful militias battling for Libya’s oil wealth and two governments vying for power.

Feeding on the chaos, people smugglers have stepped up their lucrative trade. The flow of migrants also rises when sea conditions improve in warmer months.

“With no legal avenues to escape and seek safety they are forced to place their lives in the hands of smugglers who

callously extort, abuse and attack them,” Luther said.

Amnesty blames dangerous migration os Libya’s ‘cruelty’ Amnesty’s Middle East and North Africa director urged the European Union to deploy more rescue vessels in the Mediterranean while tackling smugglers at the same time.

“Introducing measures

to tackle smugglers without providing safe alternative routes out for the people desperate to flee conflict in Libya, will not resolve the plight of migrants and refugees,” he said.

The rights group also called on Tunisia and Egypt to ease border restrictions with Libya, in order to provide migrants — who would otherwise embark on a

dangerous sea journey to Europe — haven.

The Amnesty report, “Libya is full of cruelty”, details testimonies of abuse, sexual violence, exploitation or religious prosecution.

Charles, a Christian from Nigeria, told Amnesty he was beaten and abducted by armed gangs in Libya several times.

•Libyans seeking to migrate to Italy

Ghana, Cote d’ Voire settle maritime dispute

T

HE presidents of Ivory Coast and Ghana reached a deal yesterday in talks on a maritime border dispute that had frozen new oil drilling in a contested area, mediator Kofi Annan told Reuters.

“We have a deal,” the former U.N. secretary

general told Reuters, as he wrapped up the talks in Geneva. He did not elaborate and officials did not immediately disclose the terms of the agreement.

It appeared to have been reached quickly. Ivory Coast’s presidency said President Alassane Ouattara had left Abidjan

on Sunday for the discussions with his Ghanaian counterpart John Dramani Mahama.

An international tribunal ruled last month that Ghana could continue developing a $4.9 billion offshore oil project in the area but imposed a ban on new drilling.

58 — Vanguard, TUESDAY, MAY 12, 2015

C M Y K

Vanguard, TUESDAY, MAY 12, 2015 — 59

Guardiola ready to fight against the odds

•Guardiola

A

FTER Barça’s 3-0 win in the first leg, Pep Guardiola spoke to the media before today’s second leg at Allianz Arena in Munich. The Bayern Munich coach is aware of the advantage that Barça has, but he trusts the quality and potential of his players: “We can only play our

game, not complain about the first leg.”

Here are the highlights of what Guardiola had to say: “We are down three goals against one of the best teams in Europe in the last 15 years, but we have to try.”

“We have to attack more than we did in Barcelona. We have to control the game.”

“We have to defend well too. With the strikers they have, every turnover becomes a counterattack.”

“I think the players have shown they want to be in the final. It’s a big challenge and we’ll try our best.”

“I’m the coach, I’m a realist, and I’ll never say we don’t have a chance.

We have to play with our hearts and our heads.”

Enrique: Barca will play for win L

UIS Enrique has made it clear that Barcelona will not hold back when they face Bayern Munich in the Champions League semi-finals on Wednesday.

The Catalans are in the driving seat to reach the final in Berlin as they lead the Bundesliga champions 3-0 from the first leg, but the Coach is refusing to let complacency creep into his players’ psyche ahead of the Allianz Arena showdown.

“If [Pep] Guardiola says [we’re the best counterattacking team left in the Champions League] then that’s fantastic and I treat it as a compliment,” he said at a Press conference.

“We’re not interested in a crazy game. We prefer to have the ball, hit [Bayern] on the break and, at some point, attack spaces and use them to hurt [Bayern].

“I’m only concerned about helping my players reach the final.

We’ll see if we deserve to do so. “[On Barca’s approach to the game], you have to be coordinated. If you only attack or only defend, you won’t win.

We need do both, so it’s a question of balance. “[A Champions League semi-final] can sometimes calm a player down. We’ll discuss how we can hurt [Bayern] and resolve the tie.

•Enrique “[On whether Bayern are wounded], they came back from behind in the quarter-finals [against Porto].

CONTEST . . . Barcelona’s forward Lionel Messi (L) vies with Bayern Munich’s forward Thomas Mueller during their UEFA Champions League match at the Camp Nou stadium in Barcelona. Photo:AFP

Bayern hopes to do the improbable B

AYERN Munich must do what only one team has ever done in the history of the Champions League, and overcome a threegoal deficit in the knockout rounds.

That would be hard enough against any opponent, much less against Lionel Messi and Barcelona’s highpowered attack.

But that’s the task facing the German champion today after losing the first leg of their semifinal 3-0 at Camp Nou last week against coach Pep Guardiola’s old team, with Messi contributing two superb goals.

In the 23-year history of the Champions League, only Deportivo la Coruna has managed to wipe away a threegoal deficit, beating AC

Muller remains positive ahead of Barcelona clash

B

AYERN Munich attacker Thomas Muller believes that his side can still overturn the odds in the UEFA Champions League semi-final against FC Barcelona today. The Spanish side had thrashed Bayern Munich last week in the first leg at the Camp Nou. The Germans have to pull out a miracle to beat a formidable Barcelona side in the second leg encounter at Munich.

At a press conference, Thomas Muller said: “I am very emotional on the pitch, but now my feelings are very much in check. I am neither

•Muller overexcited nor pessimistic, but we still have a chance. We are FC Bayern.

Milan 4-0 at home in the 2004 quarterfinals after losing the first leg 4-1.

Five-time champion Bayern, seeking its 11th final on June 6 in Berlin, can feel some optimism due to its unblemished record at home this season in the

competition, with 19 goals scored and one conceded in five games.

In its last two Champions League home matches, Bayern has scored 13 goals, including a 6-1 rout of Porto after a 3-1 away defeat.

But Bayern has lost four straight matches across all competitions and has not scored in its last three matches — for the first time in 17 years.

Four-time winner Barcelona is one game away from an eighth final.

Messi’s revival down to Neymar, Suarez, says Simeone D IEGO Simeone has credited Luis Suarez and Neymar for bringing Lionel Messi back to his marauding best for Barcelona this season.

The Argentina superstar was sensational in scoring two goals in the 3-0 Champions League semi-final first-leg win over Bayern Munich last week.

Speaking in his Goal.com column, the Atletico Madrid manager said: ‘He is an extraordinary footballer and after the game (against Bayern), much was written and said about whether there is a system to stop him. But it’s not as simple as that.

‘The presence of Suarez and Neymar – in his second season – has helped him. He has the support of the entire team. Rakitic has given Barca extra stability in midfield and is a different option to players like Xavi and, previously, Thiago.

‘The attacking potential of Suarez is an added plus for Barca – and for Lionel – this season and his aggression, along with that of Pedro and

ARROW HEADS . . . Barcelona’s marksmen, Naymar and Luiz Suarez sharing a joke after a training session.

Neymar, allows Messi to take advantage of that sacrifice from his teammates.’

The Catalans are four points clear of Real Madrid in La Liga and favourites to reach the Champions League final following the return leg in Munich today - while they also face Athletic

Bilbao in the Copa del Rey final.

Messi has scored 53 goals in all competitions this season while also becoming the highest alltime scorer in the Champions League after taking his tally to 77 - one ahead of his great rival Cristiano Ronaldo.

60 — Vanguard, TUESDAY, MAY 12, 2015

Iheanacho to battle Aguero for City shirt N

IGERIA starlet K e l e c h i Iheanacho has turned down a chance to go on loan from top EPL side Manchester City, preferring instead to battle the likes of Sergio Aguero and Edin Dzeko for a first-team place at City.

An inside source at City said Iheanacho, who has been granted his work permit in the United Kingdom, was given the option to go on loan so as to play regular first-team football and then return to the club a lot more experienced.

But he turned down this chance, insisting he would rather stay back at the club and fight to make the first team.

“He refused to go on loan. He and his

representatives have told City he would rather battle the likes of Aguero and Dzeko for a place in the first team,” revealed the source.

“His compatriot, Chidiebere Nwakali, opted for a loan move away to Malaga because his management team believes he has to gain experience outside the club before he could really challenge for a place in the City main team.”

The 18-year-old Iheanacho, who is bound for this month’s FIFA U20 World Cup with Nigeria, was a big hit during City’s pre-season tour of the USA in the summer.

He has fully recovered from injuries to score goals for Manchester City U19 and U21 teams recently.

H

Heritage Bank sponsors Okpekpe Road Race

H

ERITAGE Bank Limited has extended its Corporate Social Responsibili ty (CSR) vote for wellness and physical fitness of Nigerians to the 10kilometre Okpekpe Road Race as the Official Banker.

The annual international event, which has been certified by the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) as a bronze label event on its calendar, is on its third edition. The event will take place on Saturday May 16, 2015 at Okpekpe Town in Etsako Local Government Area (LGA) of Edo State.

It will be recalled that Enterprise Bank Limited, which has been acquired

by Heritage Bank Limited, was the Official Banker of the second edition of the race last year.

The Heritage Bank sponsorship of the10kilometre race is also meant to partner with the

NFF

Continued from BP next month’s World Cup in Canada.

“We are in talks with Cameroon, Ghana and Cote d’ Ivoire for a possible friendly for the Falcons,” Sanusi said.

“You know they were supposed to play Mali at the weekend, but Mali pulled out in the last minute. So we now have to arrange friendlies for the team before they depart for Canada.”

Sanusi who confirmed

Edo State Government and the event organisers, PAMODZI Sports Marketing Limited.

MAESTRO: Kelechi Iheanacho (r) beats an opponent to the ball.

Heartland coach praises players in defeat

By Solomon Nwoke, Just back from Enugu

D

ESPITE losing by a lone goal to their arch rivals Rangers International of Enugu, Heartland chief coach, Erasmus Onuh Ollotah has given his players a pat on the back saying they performed creditably.

After both sides had struggled for form so far in the Glo Professional Football League which entered week eight last weekend and were in dire need for points, former Sharks’ marksman, Onoriode Odaa’s second half strike proved adequate to hand the Flying Antelopes the maximum points in the hotly contested Oriental derby at the Nnamdi that the Falcons will head out to Canada on May 19, added that, the NFF are also planning friendlies for the team while they are in Canada.

“The team departs for Canada on the 19th, God’s willing. While in Canada, we are making arrangements to see that they play friendly matches also,” he said.

The Super Falcons are in what has been tagged the ‘Group of Death’ with USA, Sweden and North Korea at the 2015 World Cup.

FIFA Women’s World Cup: Sampson names squad

Azikiwe Stadium, Enugu.

For the former Heartland coach, Kelechi Emeteole, the victory eased the pressure on him, while coach Erasmus Onuh might be hitting the exit door if his team doesn’t improve their form.

The Naze Millionaires almost took the lead in the 38th minute, but a sharp reflex save by Emmanuel Daniel stopped Bright Ejike’s lob from going in.

However, speaking

after the clash Heartland coach, Ollotah said, “ I’m not disappointed at all in the 0-1 loss to Enugu Rangers, the players

Gunman

city, Malmo, where about 40% of the 300,000 residents are first- or second-generation immigrants. Police later said he was also involved in shootings before that period.

The victims were shot through windows of apartments, businesses, parked cars, or as they were walking along the street. A court convicted Mangs of 13 out of 20 charges he faced, including two counts of murder and four attempted murders, and ruled that he underwent a psychiatric evaluation.

Judges said there was compelling evidence to show that Mangs had shot and killed two people: 20-year-old Trez West Persson in 2009, while she sat in a car; and 66-year-old Iranian-born Kooros Effatian, in the victim’s home in 2003.

Continued from BP Mangs says that he saw the footballer’s red Ferrari on a pavement and became so angry at Ibrahimovic’s “typically Balkan behaviour ” – a reference to the striker’s Bosnian heritage – that he returned home to get his gun.

“I thought there would be a proper hullabaloo in the media if the gent in question were to be shot,” Mangs has written in a new book about his life.

However, when he returned to where Ibrahimovic’s car was parked, the footballer had left.

Mangs was arrested in November 2010 following a manhunt for a gunman police had linked to more than a dozen shootings in 2009-2010 in Sweden’s third-largest

adhered strictly to prematch instructions.''

Irabor Continued from BP

•Efugh

the people but today these clubs are drain pipes where millions of naira that would have been used for other productive sectors are sunk into their running’’, Irabor said.

He noted, “Nigeria is perhaps, the only country where government runs football clubs. We can stop this with the new rules on ground. We have set the rule where government should not own more than 50 per cent of a club let the people own the remaining 50 per cent.”

The former Lawmaker said Nigerians must rise up to the challenge.

“The South African champions, Kaizer Chiefs have more than 14 million subscribers.

We have a bigger population than South Africa.

We can have betterfunded clubs if the will is there.”

He advised that people should not look at immediate gains before venturing into club ownership. “In every business there is a starting point; a gestation period before it matures.”

On players’ welfare, Irabor said because the clubs were still under

EAD coach Mark Sampson set England Women the target of winning the FIFA Women’s World Cup Canada 2015™ after naming his 23-player squad for the upcoming tournament.

He left out several contributors to the qualifying campaign, most notably the Liverpool pair of striker Natasha Dowie and defender Gemma Bonner, along with Manchester City left-back Demi Stokes. There was strong competition particularly among his strikers, and Sampson could not find space for Dowie as he selected six frontline players in Eni Aluko, Toni Duggan, Jodie Taylor, Fran Kirby, Lianne Sanderson and Ellen White.

Sampson said on the Football Association website: “This is a hugely exciting time for all the staff and players. We’re ranked sixth in the world, we are a good team and we’ve got some exceptional players.

We’ve got a very compact, resolute unit and we’ve got a real togetherness in the group so we’ll certainly be a difficult opponent for anyone in Canada. the grip of government, the civil servants were always reluctant to extricate the players from the superstructure. “A permanent secretary will be reluctant to approve a salary that may be three times his annual pay for a player who may be a class five holder.”

He said the LMC had insisted on clubs making available their Financial Performance Guarantee before they could be registered but this, like most other ideas was misconstrued. “Financial Performance Guarantee is where a club, through their bankers, will show the LMC a bulk amount which is a condition for registration. But the clubs refused to sign and went to town with reports that the LMC was asking for N50million as fees for registration which was wrong.”

He said some of the club administrators are resisting change because they were lazy and getting free money from government. “Why would they find ways of attracting fans to the stands or think of merchandising club kits if free money is waiting to be collected from government. We must work for a new order, lest our league is doomed.”

Vanguard, TUESDAY, MAY 12, 2015 — 61

Glo Premier League .... Glo Premier League

Six-goal thriller in Jalingo headlines Match Day 8 D

RAMATIC goals, a squandered opportunity to shake-off a draw specialist tag, distinguished guests at match venues and tenacity of a fledgling club keeping its bogey status against six-time champions, highlighted match-day 8 of the Glo Premier League on Sunday.

Sunshine Stars made the most of the day winning 2-0 in the charged South West Derby against the Oluyole Warriors and going top of the table for the first time in two seasons. Again, it was Tunji Adeniji, the hero from their 3-0 routing of Heartland in Owerri that opened the scoring on 60th minute while Dele O l o r u n d a r e consolidated with the second goal seven minutes after.

The Akure Club, at 16 points after eight games displace Giwa FC who picked a draw in Aba for the second season running after a nil all score line to move to 15 points.

The Jos Elephants thwarted all that six-time champions, Enyimba threw at them including making 100 per cent substitution to keep their undefeated record in two seasons against the former champions.

Moneybags, Ifeanyi Ubah made the trip to Jalingo with Gabros FC

Rangers vs Heartland

R

ANGERS reigned victorious in the Oriental Derby pipping Heartland 1-0 off a classy strike on 62 minutes by Onoriode Odah. From the left side of defence, Odah looped above goalkeeper David Obiazo to make up for his earlier wacky miss from five yards. Odah only needed a tap in but the ball bounced off the top of his foot to fly over the cross bar.

In other results, Akwa United were held 0-0 by Wikki Tourists in Uyo. C M Y K

and he left the agrarian state capital with lots of goal moments to cheer after the fixture ended a six-goal thriller. It was the Nnewi boys that drew the first blood off Oluchukwu Nwosu eleven minutes into the encounter at the Jolly Nyame Stadium.

Mohammed Abdulmalik waited only five minutes to bring the hosts back into the game but Abuchi Okereke will restore Gabros in front again in 30th minute, hitting a pile driver from outside the 18 yard box.

The end to end

exchange continued with Nigeria’s Olympic player, Usman Mohammed bringing the game again on even keel, putting away a free kick on 33 minutes.

One minute into the second half, the hosts took the lead for the first time through Chinedu Ohanachom but their joy was short-lived after nine minutes when Gabros came back to level off an own goal.

Thereafter, the exchange remained even with each side seeking to exploit openings to claim the three points to no avail.

•Action from a Glo-Premier League match.

Don’t give up on our league, Irabor tells media

BY BEN EFE

C

HIEF executive officer of the League Management Company, Nduka Irabor is knocking on the doors of the Nigerian media with a plea to pay more attention to the happenings in the local league.

Irabor, lamented that the matches and players of the Nigerian Premier League are not getting adequate coverage by the media. He argued that the league was losing revenue and prestige, as the media in Nigeria is not helping the LMC’s efforts to re-brand club football in the country.

“If the corporate world do not see the games of the Nigerian league how will they support it?. We need funds to run the league, but its not forth coming.

“For instance last weekend, there were ten games played in the local league. All we got were results. “But in the EPL , there were two matches played and it was all over in the papers,” Irabor submitted in our Corporate headquarters with senior editors of the Vanguard Media yesterday.

Irabor, a passionate football enthusiast and former front line journalist said that there are great football matches and great goals being scored weekly.

“Even though we

•From left: Mr Harry iwuala, Head of Special Projects, League Management Company; Mr Onochie Anibeze, Editor, Saturday Vanguard ; Mr Nduka Irabor, CEO, LMC and Mr Isichei Osamabi, Deputy Director/Head, Public Relations, Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) during the visit of Mr Nduka Irabor to Vanguard Corporate Office, Kirikiri, Canal, Apapa, Lagos. Photo Joe Akintola, Photo Editor have some problems, our league is good and it is about time the media in Nigeria give us ample space.

“I know that there is the argument that it is because Nigerians crave for European league. And that is why we give it an overdose of publicity here, but what happened to agenda setting by the media?”

He stated that fans are gradually returning to the football arena and with time the situation will get better, adding that the media must play their role to enable club football boom in the

country.

“Lack of fans at the stadia is not restricted to our league. Football is suffering from the invasion of technology.

“You have to be a passionate and patriotic fan to be at the stadium to cheer your club.

However, we are not doing badly, In Kano last weekend, there were 10,000 fans. In Akure and Enugu, we had 5,000 fans.

“People were not coming to the venues initially because they felt referees were fixing the matches. But that has changed. They are

coming back in their numbers because teams win at away games.

Officiating has improved tremendously and there are no

security issues at the stadia. All we need is to make the stadia very hospitable and entertaining”

Winning for Bosso

I

N Umuahia, Abia Warriors paid tribute to the memory of the late wife of their coach, Ladan Bosso as they turned back Kwara United 2-0. Ifeanyi Onyeali scored first after 16 minutes and Chisom Chikatara followed with the consolidation goal seven minutes into the second period, his third this season.

•Bosso

62 — Vanguard, TUESDAY, MAY 12, 2015

C M Y K

Vanguard, TUESDAY, MAY 12, 2015 —63

C M Y K

Vanguard, TUESDAY, MAY 12, 2015

Guardiola ready to fight against the odds — Page 59

Let’s get govt out of our football — Irabor

BY JACOB AJOM

C

HIEF Executive Officer of the League Management Company, Honourable Nduka Irabor has called on Nigerians to organise community-based football clubs in order to ensure a sound financial base for clubs and the continuous survival of the Nigerian league.

Irabor who was guest of the Vanguard roundtable conference yesterday said clubs as presently run and funded in Nigeria were doomed.

“Most of our clubs have been hijacked by government. Some of these clubs were formed during the military era as publicity stunts. They formed the clubs because they wanted to ingratiate themselves with Continued on page 60

Kick off: 7.45pm

Gunman nearly shot Ibrahimovic for bad parking

P

ETER Mangs, a Swedish gunman behind a string of shootings between 2003 and 2010 in Malmo, has claimed he once came

close to shooting the footballer Zlatan Ibrahimovic for parking illegally.

Continued on page 60

NFF lines up Cameroon, Ghana for Falcons

T

HE Nigeria F o o t b a l l Federation (NFF) have announced they are in talks with Cameroon, Cote d’Ivoire and Ghana over for friendly matches against World

•Nduka Irabor, CEO, League Management Company briefing Vanguard Editors on the activities of the company during his visit to our corporate office, Kirikiri Canal, Apapa, Lagos. Photo Joe Akintola, Photo Editor

Cup-bound Super Falcons.

The move according to NFF general secretary Sanusi Mohammed is to help put the African champions in shape for

Continued on page 60

RARING TO GO.... Super Falcons

QUICK CROSSWORD

TODAY'S

PUZZLE

YESTER DAY'S YESTERDAY'S

ANSWERS

ACROSS 1 Drain (5) 5 Pester (6) 8 Shelf (5) 10 Determine (6) 11 Imitated (4) 14 Relegate (6) 15 Smallest (7) 18 Number (3) 19 Still (3) 21 Trade (4) 23 Fiend (5) 24 Crowd (4) 27 Spot (3) 29 Lout (3) 31 Unaffected (7) 32 Wine (6) 34 Travel (4) 35 Slipped (6) 38 Mode (5)

DOWN 2 Sheep (3) 3 Evoke (6) 4 Colour (3) 5 Globule (4) 6 Considered (6) 7 Disclose (6) 9 Postponed (7) 12 Favourite (3) 13 Finished (4) 16 Inactive (4) 17 Fruit (5) 20 Completely (7) 22 Atmosphere (4) 24 Feverish (6) 25 Bellow (4) 26 Audacious (6) 28 Leapt (6) 30 Nourished (3) 33 Trial (4) 36 Beer (3) 37 Watch (3)

YESTERDAY'S SOLUTIONS ACROSS 1, Assure 5, Stab 8, Lover 9, Ill 10, Join 11, Vote 12, Egret 13, Attach 16, Toss 18, Eden 20, Cos 22, Rut 23, Den 24, Pant 25, Reed 28, Docile 30, Craft 32, Heat 33, Iota 34, Ire 35, Melee 36, Died 37, Decent.

DOWN 1, Animal 2, Solution 3, Reject 4, Congested 5, Severed 6, Trot 7, Beer 8, Lie 14, Horrified 15, Hen 17, Sue 19, Definite 20, Can 21, Started 26, Donate 27, Relent 29, Shed 30, Came 31, Toe.

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 Advert Hotline: 09-2921024. 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