Excitement, as World Cup begins today

...towards a better life for the people

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VOL. 25: NO. 62164

ONLINE | www.vanguardngr.com

N150

THURSDAY, JUNE 12, 2014

Presidency after my life— Kwankwaso

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Arena de Sao Paulo, venue of opening ceremony.

Excitement, as World Cup begins today S

AO PAULO—BRA ZIL is desperate to make a powerful statement of intent in today’s World Cup opener against Croatia as they seek to relieve the suffocating pressure that has engulfed the team in the build-up to the tournament.

Coach Luiz Felipe Scolari has the luxury of being able to field the

•Security: Adamawa shuts viewing centres •Brazil set to thrill the world •Fun, party, drama for opening ceremony •Pop star, Jennifer Lopez to perform at opening •See 4-page pull-out on Pages 31-34

June 12: S-West states declare today work-free Court bars suspended Edo lawmakers from Assembly COLUMNISTS:

The Emir died, long live the •P.17 Emir C M Y K

SLS as Emir of Kano •P.19

Continues on page 5

Mr & Mrs 11 13

LASU: Fashola buckles, slashes 10 tuition fees

2— Vanguard, THURSDAY, JUNE 12, 2014

C M Y K

Vanguard, THURSDAY, JUNE 12, 2014 — 3

C M Y K

4— Vanguard, THURSDAY, JUNE 12, 2014

C M Y K

Vanguard, THURSDAY, JUNE 12, 2014—5

POCKET CARTOON

President Goodluck Jonathan (r) congratulating Dr. Olusegun Ajakaiye after swearing-in as a Permanent Secretary by the President at the State House, Abuja, yesterday. Photo: Abayomi Adeshida.

Excitement, as World Cup begins today Continues from page 1 same team that destroyed world champions, Spain 3-0 in the final of last year’s Confederations Cup, with Barcelona star Neymar the focal point of a powerful and settled line-up.

The five-time champions are expected to qualify from their group without too much trouble but Barcelona defender Dani Alves admitted there was anxiety ahead of the Sao Paulo opener, as they seek to ease the jitters.

“I have always said that if you don’t feel anxiety it is not worth being a professional athlete. The opening game is difficult, important,” said Alves.

But Scolari, who masterminded Brazil’s last World Cup win in 2002, is likely to stick with his tried-and-tested winning formula against 18thranked Croatia after the same 11 edged past Serbia 1-0 in a friendly last week, courtesy of a goal from Fred.

Croatia will be missing Bayern Munich's striker,

LIFEWORDS

BY PASTOR ITUAH

Is it possible your dreams are the result of who your parents think you are? Who others think you are? Who you wish you were? Or are they the result of who you really are and what God meant you to be?

TAKE HEART

BY ELLA RANDLE

Every adversity, every failure, every heartache carries with it the seed on an equal or greater benefit— Napoleon Hill

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O be aware, you must be present, so that when changes come along and they take place, instead of being in a state of surprise, you can step back and look at it and say, “oh my gosh!” And get down on your knees or be open in your heart and be in a state of gratitude for the pain that you’re experiencing right now, for the depression, for the anxiety, for the stress. Whatever it might be – saying thank you and, “I’m listening,” and whatever it is that I have to learn from this, I’ll accept. This brings you to enlightenment.

Wayne Dyer in his writings surmises: “Enlightenment is like getting out in front.” You get to such a place that your intuition is so polished and so firm and you have such a trust in your connection to your source that you know, as it says in A Course in Miracles, if you knew who walked beside you at all times on the path that you have chosen, you could never experience fear or doubt again.

Mario Mandzukic because of a red card he picked up in a match against Iceland in November.

But they also boast of Real Madrid’s Luka Modric in their line-up, who said the key to the game would be the midfield battle, admitting the task of taking on Brazil in their own backyard was daunting.

“Virtually every game is decided in the midfield. In most situations, the winner is the team that has the better midfield,” said Modric.

“I hope that we can show our qualities and can beat Brazil. But this will of course be very difficult.”

Modric, fresh from winning the Champions League with Real Madrid, highlighted the danger of Neymar, hailed by many as the key man for Brazil.

“Neymar did not have the best of season with Barcelona, but when he plays for Brazil, he is a completely different player,” said Modric.

“But I believe that we will find a way to stop him.”

The match will be played in the 61,600-capacity Corinthians Arena, which was delayed by accidents in which three workers were killed.

Opening ceremony spectacle (Time 7.15 p.m)

More than 600 dancers reportedly started rehearsing a month ago to

put on a show that the world will surely be amazed at.

“The Opening Ceremony is a tribute to Brazil and its treasures: Nature, people football,” said Daphne Cornez, the show’s Belgian artistic director.

“The sense of excitement here is amazing and everyone is very motivated. It doesn’t matter whether they’re feeling tired or hot sometimes, or if they have to go through routines again and again; they just keep on smiling. It’s amazing.”

One of the performers, a 60-year-old female dancer, Edna Sasson, who will be representing a river could barely contain her excitement. “It’s a unique event,” said Sasson. “It’s not like dancing at the local theatre or any other theatre for that matter".

Adamawa shuts viewing centres Meanwhile, back home in Nigeria, the Adamawa State Government has announced the closure of all commercial football viewing centres in the state with immediate effect.

A statement issued in Yola, yesterday, and signed by the Director Press and Publications to Governor Murtala Nyako, Ahmed Sajoh indicated that the closure was based on advice by the 23rd Armoured Bri-

gade of the Nigerian Army, Yola to that effect.

“Owing to the current security challenges, the Army authorities have advised the state government to close all the commercial football viewing centres during the forthcoming World Cup Competition in Brazil”, the statement read.

The measure, according to the statement has become imperative as insurgents tormenting the northern states, especially the North East Sub – region have shifted most of their attacks on commercial football viewing centres and other crowdy public places.

Government, according to the statement reasoned that commercial football viewing centres will record unprecedented crowd during the world cup tournament, and the insurgents might capitalize on the crowd- pulling tournament to wreak havoc.

It advised owners of

such viewing centres to take the ban in good faith as it is in the interest of the public, especially the youths who constitute the larger percentage of the viewers.

It will be recalled that an attack on a football viewing centre in Mubi, Adamawa State about two weeks ago, claimed the lives of over 40 persons, and left hundreds others injured.

Reacting to the closure, some operators of such centres in Yola, described it as a welcome development.

Aliyu Auta, owner of Uratu VIP football viewing centre opined that though the closure has to do with security which is the most important aspect of life, the economic effect to the operators also matter a lot.

Auta was of the opinion that since most of them depend on the centres for their livelihood, government should provide alternative measures.

World Bank lowers global economic projection

BY EMMA UJAH, ABUJA BUREAU CHIEF & RETNA TOHOMDET BUJA—THE World Bank has lowered its global economic growth projection with stable 4. 7 per cent Gross domestic product growth in Sub-Saharan Africa.

“Medium-term prospects for the region remain favourable, with GDP growth projected to remain broadly stable at 4.7 per cent in 2014, before rising moderately to 5.1 per cent in each of 2015 and 2016, supported by firming external demand and investments in natural resources, infrastructure, and agricultural production”, the Bank said in a statement issued in Abuja, yesterday.

It explained that strong domestic demand underpinned GDP

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growth of 4.7 per cent in 2013, up from 3.7 per cent the previous year.

“Growth is expected to be particularly strong in East Africa, increasingly supported by FDI flows into offshore natural gas resources in Tanzania, and the onset of oil production in Uganda and Kenya.

"Although growth will remain subdued in South Africa, it will pick up modestly in Angola and remain robust in Nigeria, the region’s largest economy”, it said.

The bank observed however, that regional aggregate was depressed by weak 1.9 per cent growth in South Africa due to structural bottlenecks, tense labour relations and low consumer and investor confidence.

According to the global body, “excluding South

Africa, average regional GDP growth was 6.0 per cent in 2013. Fiscal and current account deficits widened across the region, reflecting high government spending, falling commodity prices, and strong import growth”.

On a global note, the bank said that developing countries were headed for a year of disappointing growth, as first quarter weakness in 2014 has delayed an expected pick-up in economic activity, according to the World Bank’s Global Economic Prospects, GEP, report, released on Tuesday.

“The Bank has lowered its forecasts for developing countries, now eyeing growth at 4.8 per cent this year, down from its January estimate of 5.3 percent.

6—Vanguard, THURSDAY, JUNE 12, 2014

7 die, 5 injured in Yobe road crash

BY BALA AJIYA & NDAHI MARAMA

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AMATURU— At least seven people were feared dead in a road accident along Damatur u-Potiskum highway while five others were hospitalised following severe injuries sustained from the crash.

The accident, according to sources, occurred along the busy Damatur u-Potiskum road in Yobe State at about 10.15 am yesterday when the vehicle, a Honda car, conveying a stalwart of All Progressives Congress, APC, and party supporters from Borno to Abuja for the party's National Convention, had a head-on collision with a Volkswagen Golf car.

“The woman and all passengers in the Golf car died on the spot while three APC supporters in the Honda car were injured,” a source in Damaturu said.

Among victims of the accident included a notable APC politician and member of a social media group, Borno Social Media Frontiers, BSF, Hajiya Saratu Ibrahim Biu, her son, Mr. Jojo Ibrahim, the driver of the car was among those injured.

Yobe State Sector Commander of the Federal Road Safety Commission, FRSC, Yusuf Garba, described the accident as fatal, adding that the accident occurred following a head-on collision.

He said: “Seven people died while five others, who sustained injuries in the accident, have been taken to the hospital for treatment.

"We got the information about the accident through a good Samaritan and we mobilised immediately to the scene."

He disclosed that over N90,000 and other belongings of the victims were recovered by the corps from the scene even as he enjoined motorists to observe traffic rules when driving to prevent accidents on the roads.

5 family members die of food poisoning in Akure •Three others unconscious

BY DAYO JOHNSON

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KURE — FIVE members of a family of eight died mysteriously in Aule area of Akure, the Ondo State capital, yesterday, of alleged food poisoning.

Vanguard gathered that those that died overnight from the alleged food poisoning include three children — Michael, Mary, Abigael, a mother in-law, and a brother in-law.

Their neigbours confirmed that they ate rice before the death of the five members but no one could ascertain the cause of their death yet.

The three other members of the family, who are still unconscious and now hospitalised at the specialist hospital in Akure, include the father, Kehinde Ajayi, mother, Banke and their last child, Samuel.

Kehinde, a 33-year-old vulcaniser, resides at Ijaro quarters, off Aule road, Akure with his family, his mother in-law and brother in-law.

Neighbours reportedly became worried when none of the family members were seen around the house yesterday morning.

Banke unconscious in hospital On enquiry, five family members were found dead while the husband, wife, and their last son were unconscious.

When Vanguard visited the residence, their neighbour, Muyideen Raheem, said: "Mr Kehinde Ajayi ran to me last Saturday to assist him to pray to revive his unconscious children in his house. Another neighbour and I rushed to his house

and we found the children lying weak on the floor. We began to pray till the children woke up.

“Kehinde also prayed into water and sprinkled it in the house and on the children and they got up. We advised him to take the children to the hospital for medical attention but he said it was not a matter of hospital and that it is well.

“On Sunday, my wife told me

Kehinde came to the house to show his appreciation, but just yesterday (Tuesday) we began to hear shouts.

“When we got to the house we discovered that the wife’s mum, three of the children and the wife’s nephew, who had come to sit for the ongoing NECO examinations were already dead while Kehinde, Banke, his wife and Samuel, their son were still unconscious.”

He said the Police later came to the house to evacuate their bodies to the State Specialist Hospital, Akure.

During a visit to the hospital, the Chief Medical Director, CMD, Dr Ikuomola Ayodele said five members of the family were brought in dead while three others were unconscious.

Ikuomola said the husband and the son had been referred to Federal Medical Centre, Owo while the wife is receiving treatment at the emergency unit of the hospital.

On the likely cause of their death, the CMD said: “All the symptoms showed that it could be food poisoning."

Lawyers protest new bail conditions in Ondo

BY DAYO JOHNSON

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KURE — CHAIRMAN of the Akure branch of the Nigerian Bar Association, NBA, Ondo State, Prince Lawrence Dare, and his executive members, yesterday, led lawyers in the state to protest bail conditions announced by the state judiciary.

The lawyers abandoned the courtrooms and their chambers to protest the development by preventing all courts from sitting.

They also marched into the courtrooms to ensure compliance with the directive of the NBA. The leaders of the association, including the secretary, Kayode Olorunfemi, moved from one courtroom to another to ensure that none of the courts in the town attended to litigants.

Different placards with inscriptions: "The Chief Registrar cannot dictate to our courts"; "Judiciary is not a legislative body","Discretion is still part of our law, free our courts now", "CJ protect the judiciary not the executive" and "Obnoxious tax clearance, Mimiko’s voice, CJ’s hand" were displayed by the protesting lawyers.

Speaking with newsmen, the chairman, Dare, said: "The Chief Judge of the state, Justice Olaseinde Kumuyi, has been given three days ultimatum within which to reverse the

The protesting lawyers, yesterday. practice direction or face permanent closure of all courts in the state.

Dare said the directive that those standing sureties for an accused person should show three years tax clearance would deny many people access to justice.

He said the directive which the chief judge has no power to issue would turn the state to Police state, saying it is “unconstitutional, null and void for a chief judge to impose conditions of bail to his learned brother judges.”

Also speaking, a senior

lawyer, Chief Dapo Agbede said: "The magistrate's courts are governed by Magistrate Courts Law of Ondo State, 2006 and not by a mere circular letter signed by Chief Registrar."

Chief Judge reacts

But the Chief Judge, Justice Olasehinde Kumuyi while addressing the protesters said the directive was meant to ensure that those standing surety are responsible people in the society.

Kumuyi told them that he had the power to issue direc-

tive and what he did was to ensure that those standing surety for accused persons are ready to produce them when the trial commences.

He, however, said he was ready for constructive criticism and would be open to suggestions from members of the bar.

The chief judge said a committee would be constituted to meet with the judiciary to iron out grey areas of the directive.

But the lawyers were adamant despite the explanation of the chief judge as they disallowed courts from sitting.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, JUNE 12, 2014 — 7

EFCC arrests 3 over N73.8m share scam L

BY IFEANYI OKOLIE

AGOS — The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, yesterday, said it arrested three suspected fraudsters over alleged case of forgery, impersonation and fraudulent sale of shares worth over N73.8 million.

EFCC spokesman, Wilson Uwujaren, who made this known to Vanguard, gave the identities of the suspects as Muhammad Rabiu Lawan, Raphael Olorunfemi Okomoda, Adegbesan Theophilius and four others who are still at large.

Uwujaren added that the suspects were arrested by operatives of the commission when it received a report on the fraudulent sale of shares of two deceased shareholders by the suspects.

According to him, the stocks originally belonged to one Alhaji Shande Ako Dzungwe and Alhaji Isa Koto, who are both deceased, but were fraudulently claimed, converted and sold by the three suspects.

He stated: “Lawan allegedly

L Muhammad Rabiu Lawan forged identity cards, drivers license; school certificates and international passports of Dzungwe and Koto to perfect the scam.

"Investigations showed that Dzungwe died in1992 but before his death, he had shares in several blue chip companies including Agip Nigeria Limited, Total Oil, Union Bank Nigeria Plc, Nestle Nigeria Plc, Mobil Oil Nigeria Plc, Unilever Ni-

Raphael Okomoda geria Plc and Nigeria Breweries Plc. "The shares were on the records of First Registrars Limited and Union Registrars Limited. The value of his portfolio was N24,779,998. The entire sum was fraudulently claimed

by Lawan, who forged documents of the deceased investor and took over his investments.

"Before his demise, Koto had 166,625 units of Guinness Ni-

Adegbesan Theophilus geria Plc shares valued at N44,092,048 in his portfolio.

Lawan allegedly instructed Fidelity Securities Limited to sell and transfer the proceeds of the shares into his two Fidelity Bank accounts.

"The total sum of shares converted and sold by Lawan was N73,764,428. He was allegedly aided and abetted by Raphael Olorunfemi Okomoda and Adegbesan Theophilus.”

Nigerian, 4 foreigners nabbed for smuggling 1,020.5kg cannabis •We were paid N350,000 — Suspects

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Ameriato Tafe, 30, Beninois and Celestine Azarante, 27, Beninois."

BY EVELYN USMAN

AGOS — AT TEMPT by four foreigners and a Nigerian to smuggle 1,020.5kg compressed dried weeds suspected to be cannabis from Ghana into Nigeria through the waterways, has been foiled, following their arrest by the Marine Unit of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA yesterday.

The suspects discovered to be fishermen, allegedly concealed the substance, estimated to have a street value of N10 million inside polypropylene bags containing fish in their boat.

Explaining how they were arrested, NDLEA Apapa Port Commander, Mr. Nse Jack, said the substance was the highest single seizure of cannabis made by the Marine Unit since its establishment.

According to him, "officers of the Marine Unit, Apapa Port Command of the agency intercepted a boat containing 23 consignments of compressed dried weeds suspected to be cannabis sativa concealed in white sacks and wrapped in black polypropylene bags.

"The shipment originated from Ghana through Benin Republic. Those under investigation include two citizens of Ghana, two citizens of Benin Republic and a Nigerian.

"The five suspects conveying the drugs in a motorised boat at the time of arrest are Joseph Akpe, 36, Nigerian; Gabriel Fokito, 32, Ghanaian; Zutah Edward, 42, Ghanaian;

Robbers kill policeman, rob bank customer in Alaba market

We were paid N350,000— Suspects

The compressed dried weeds suspected to be cannabis

In their confessional statement, the suspects reportedly admitted to have been given the substance by some undisclosed persons.

Akpe told the unit: "We were offered N350,000 to bring the substance to Nigeria. But we were only given part payment of N100,000 for logistics. We were to be paid the balance of N250,000 after delivery."

The suspects, according to spokesperson of the agency, Ofoyeju Mitchell, would soon be charged to court.

Man, 38, arrested with fresh human head in Lagos

BY EVELYN USMAN & ESTHER ONYEGBULA

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AGOS — POLICEMEN at tached to Orile division, Lagos have arrested a 38-year-old man for allegedly being in possession of a fresh human head.

The suspect, identified as Mustapha Bakare was arrested, Tuesday evening, around White Sands by a team of anti-robbery policemen on patrol.

Bakare was reportedly sighted with a polythene bag and was stopped for a search. Rather than comply, he reportedly took to his heels, holding firm to the poly-

thene bag, an action that was said to have aroused suspicion.

The policemen reportedly chased and apprehended him.

When asked to disclose the contents of the bag, he hesitated.

Confirming the arrest, spokesperson for the Lagos State Police Command, Ngozi Braide, said when the bag was eventually searched, a fresh human head was discovered.

According to Braide, "The Police team that arrested the suspect was led by Inspector Bernard Oyinlade while they

were conducting a stop-andsearch operation near White Sands area of Orile.

"The team stopped the man who resides at 63B, Church Street, Ijora Badia, while he was walking along the road with a polythene bag. They immediately called for a search but he took to his heels. He was pursued and subsequently arrested and during search, a fresh human head was found inside the bag.

"The suspect is undergoing interrogation and will be transferred to the State Criminal Investigations Department, Panti, Yaba for further investigation."

BY IFEANYI OKOLIE

AGOS— A POLICE officer attached to a new generation bank at the Alaba International Market, Ojo, Lagos, was yesterday killed by a gang of robbers who attacked a customer of the bank and carted away an unspecified amount of money.

Vanguard gathered that the bandits, who operated with a motorbike, had trailed the customer who was said to have withdrawn a large amount of money from the bank.

Eyewitnesses disclosed that one of the robbers wearing a suit and armed with an AK-47 rifle opened fire on the Policeman who was escorting the bank customer to his car.

An eyewitness, who simply identified himself as Uche, said the bandit after killing the policeman, went after the customer as he was trying to flee the scene and snatched the money.

He said: “It was like a scene in a movie. I was in my shop when the whole incident took place and after the robbers killed the policeman and robbed the bank customer, they climbed their motorbike and escaped through Mosafejo area unchallenged."

Police kill two suspected robbers in Imo

BY CHIDI NKWOPARA

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WERRI— A TEAM of Policemen from Imo State Police Command has smashed a three-man gang of suspected robbers said to be terrorizing Umudagu-Mbieri community in Mbaitoli Local Government Area of the state.

Vanguard gathered that the suspected robbers, using a motorcycle, met their waterloo near Orji, Owerri North Local Government Area.

It was also gathered that the gangsters ran into a Police checkpoint close to Saint Benignus Catholic Church on Umudagu-Mbieri road.

An eye-witness had it that the robbers were chasing a woman on a motorcycle, who clutched a handbag they thought was filled with money.

“Luck, however, ran out on them soon after they fired and killed the commercial motorcyclist that was conveying the woman to her destination,” a villager recounted.

8 — Vanguard, THURSDAY, JUNE 12, 2014

Akunyili's body arrives, FG set for ‘befitting burial'

BY SONI DANIEL

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BUJA—THE remains of the former Director General of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control, NAFDAC, Professor Dora Akunyili, arrived the country yesterday in preparation for burial.

A former aide of the former Information Minister confirmed to Vanguard that the remains of the late NAFDAG boss had been deposited at the National Hospital mortuary in Abuja.

According to the source, the corpse, which was ferried by a chartered aircraft, arrived Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, at about 5:30p.m. yesterday from the Indian hospital where she died last week.

The body was accompanied by the former Anambra State Governor, Mr. Peter Obi, Mrs. Uche Ekunife, the husband and children of the deceased, who had gone to the hospital to see their mother before she passed on.

The family will meet with officials of the Federal Government before a burial date and programme is agreed upon, according to a competent source.

Vanguard learnt that the Federal Government had indicated interest in giving the late information minister what a source described as a ‘befitting burial’ as a result of her enormous contributions to the country’s development.

Mr. Obi also assured Nigerians that late Professor Akunyili will be given a proper burial befitting her status and fame for the positive things he did for the country.

Obi, who said burial plans would now be put in place since her remains had arrived, assured Nigerians that it would be a collective decision in close collaboration with her family.

He described Akunyili as an uncommon Nigerian that made sacrifices for the health of the country and her people.

Odigie-Oyegun to emerge APC national chairman

BY EMMANUEL AZIKEN, Political Editor

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HE chieftains of All Progressives Congress, APC, from the South-South geopolitical zone were locked in a meeting with Governor Rotimi Amaechi in Abuja last night, following the decision of the party ’s national caucus to zone the office of the party’s national chairman to the region.

The northern caucus, which met into the early hours of yesterday, Vanguard learnt, also zeroed down the office of national chairman to Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, the former governor of Edo State.

Odigie-Oyegun was said to have beaten other aspirants, including Dr. Sam Sam Jaja from Rivers State in the consideration of the caucus.

The meeting took place at the Sokoto State Governor ’s

Lodge in Abuja.

Odigie-Oyegun is the candidate of the national leader of the party, Asiwaju Ahmed Tinubu, who is expected to mobilise the South-West caucus to endorse Odigie-Oyegun for the post.

Choice of party scribe

The northern caucus, Vanguard learnt, was, however, opposed to the choice of Alhaji Kashim Imam for the post of National Secretary. Imam, a former presidential Liaison Officer to the Senate in the former President, Olusegun Obasanjo’s regime, was being championed by Tinubu for the position.

However, sources at the meeting revealed that caucus members objected to the prospect of having the national chairman and national secretary from

Tinubu.

The choice of zoning the office to the South-South, Vanguard learnt, was agreed as a way of dismissing insinuations of APC as an Islamic party.

Erstwhile governor of Bayelsa State, Chief Timipire Sylva and former deputy national chairman of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Sam Jaja, were rejected by the caucus for the office of National Chairman at the meeting, Vanguard learnt.

“We cannot afford to have somebody who has been very prominent in PDP leading the party,” a source privy to the development said yesterday.

“The office of national chairman is the face of the party, so how can we have a former PDP man be the face of the party,” the source added.

It was, however, resolved

that the office of National Secretary would be conceded to the nPDP. The office is zoned to the North-East.

Meanwhile, there are indications that the interim National Publicity Secretary of the party, Alhaji Lai Mohammed would bounce back to the same office as the office has been zoned to Mohammed’s North Central.

The acceptance of OdigieOyegun by the northern caucus, Vanguard learnt, followed a working relationship between Tinubu and Senator Bukola Saraki, the former governor of Kwara State, who was his leg man in canvassing for Odigie-Oyegun among members of the influential Northern caucus of the party.

Meanwhile, the meeting of the South-South caucus of the party was ongoing as at press time at the Rivers State Governor ’s Lodge in Abuja.

INTERSWITCH: From left— Mr. Ibrahim Atta, Unit Lead, Repair and Maintenance Services, Interswitch Limited; Ms. Adebisi Awoniyi, Chief Operating Officer, COO, Bi-Courtney Aviation Services Ltd, BASL; Mr. Mitchell Elegbe, Group Managing Director, GMD, Interswitch Limited; Mr. Christophe Penninck, Chief Executive Officer, CEO; and Mr. Olusola Olayinka, Chief Financial Officer, both of BASL, at the official roll out of Interswitch’s Smartmove Solution at MMA 2 Ikeja, Lagos

FG to pursue investment initiatives, incentives at 21st WPC

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ART of the objectives of Nigeria’s participation at the 21st World Petroleum Congress, WPC, will be to enunciate policy initiatives and incentives to encourage investments in the country’s petroleum value chain.

The Nigerian National Committee, NNC, of the WPC said in a statement in Lagos that the country’s Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs

Diezani Alison-Madueke, will present Nigeria’s paper at the conference in support of the theme Responsibly Energising a Growing World.

“The paper will enunciate government’s policy initiatives and incentives to encourage investment in the entire value chain of the gas industry,” NNC said.

The Committee said the

minister will lead the Nigerian delegation to the congress, holding between June 15 and 19 in Moscow, Russia, and that Nigeria, in its exhibition and country presentation, will be participating under a theme: Harnessing Nigeria’s Gas Resources for Sustainable National and Regional Development.

The exhibition, which is

being arranged by the Nigerian oil and gas industry, will highlight the nation’s gas potentials, achievements, current activities and plans in the upstream, midstream and downstream sub-sectors of the gas industry.

The committee further said that the minister will also p a r t i c i p a t e in focus discussions by women in the industry.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, JUNE 12, 2014—9

Nigeria, US, UK, 5 others set up intelligence response unit

BY EMEKA MAMAH

N GSK'S AGM: From left— Mr. Jonathan Girling, Director; Mr. Edmund Onuzo, new Chairman, Board of Director; Chief Olusegun Osunkeye, outgoing Chairman, Board of Director, and Mr. Justin Korte, General Manager, all of GlaxosmithKline Consumer Nigeria Plc, during the 43rd annual general meeting of the company in Lagos, yesterday.

PHOTO: Kehinde Gbadamosi.

SANUSI: FG wants to kill me — KWANKWASO zSays whoever starts crisis can't tell how it ends

BY SONI DANIEL, Northern Region Editor, & ABDULSALAM MUHAMMAD

K

ANO—GOVERNOR Rabiu Kwankwaso of Kano State, yesterday, raised alarm that the Federal Government was trying to harm him and his family by withdrawing a substantial number of his security aides and policemen.

The governor has also accused the Federal Government of sponsoring those he described as the enemies of the state to embark on violent protests across the state with a view to bringing down his administration.

Kwankwaso, who defected from the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, with four other governors to the opposition All Progressives Congress, APC, last December, told journalists in Abuja that he was concerned about the current standoff in his state by agents of the Federal Government.

The governor said: “I know that they are playing a lot of games. We do not know their intention and what they are going to do next. But I have to say like all other people in this country that everybody is concerned about his/her security, otherwise our lives are in the hands of the Almighty God. “The bottom line is that we have seen a sign that there is a level of mischief coming from other places and I want to put it on record that whatever happens to me, my family or my state, Jonathan should be

held responsible.”

The governor pointed out that it was strange for the Federal Government and PDP to be unduly involved in the choice of an emir for Kano when it was the traditional duty of the four kingmakers of the state and the state governor to approve whoever they recommend.

On choice of Sanusi

According to him, the choice of the former Central Bank, CBN, Governor, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, became imperative following his selection as the first choice by the kingmakers, adding that his emergence had nothing to do with politics as erroneously imputed by the enemies of the state and its people.

He said: “The truth is that the more I think of the appointment of Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, the more I feel comfortable and happy because all the people who are friends to Governor Rabiu Kwankwaso, the government and the good people of Kano State are very happy with his selection.

“He is qualified by all standards— Western education, Islamic education— and a proud grandson and son of an emir. He has all the qualities needed to be appointed an emir.

“I believe he is the best.

The truth is that some few people may not be happy

with him and they want to do everything possible to create tension and crisis in the state, but they seem to forget that crisis is not good for anybody especially leaders, because you can start it but you do not know how it will end.”

Kwankwaso accused the Presidency of using the selection of Sanusi as the new emir to witch-hunt him and the people of the state just because he was no longer in PDP. The governor, who wondered why the Presidency and PDP did not show interest in the recent selection of the new Emir of Gombe, which is a PDP state, asked those causing trouble in his state to steer clear or be ready for the consequences of stoking avoidable violence.

Selection process

Explaining how Sanusi emerged, Kwankwasso said: “In all, six people showed interest, three were recommended and presented and Sanusi was on the top of the list. As a result, we picked him.

“But that is not even the issue. The governor has the right to take number one, two, three or reject all and call for a fresh list. That is the position and nobody under the law can go and dictate to the state what it should do in appointing an emir.

“The problem we are facing is that we are not in PDP because recently there was vacancy in Gombe for a new emir and nobody instigated any violence when the new emir was chosen. What they do not know is that they are the absolute minority in Kano.

I believe that what they did in Kano, following the announcement of Sanusi as the new Emir, is wrong. But

the fact of the matter in my opinion is that the current President does not know where the powers of Mr. President begin and end.

“It is not the duty of PDP or the Presidency to approve the appointment of an Emir in any state and it cannot do so in Kano. But if there is the post of the Emir of Nigeria let them appoint that one and leave us alone.”

Jubilation over Sanusi’s ‘arrest’

Meanwhile, some part of Kano erupted in celebration, Tuesday night, following rumors that the newly appointed Emir of Kano, Mallam Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, had been arrested by the police and that the Federal Government had reversed his appointment.

Thousands of youths poured into the streets by 10p.m. around the emir ’s palace, Kofar Nassarawa, Mandawari, Gwale, Kofar Kudu and environs celebrating and chanting proJonathan slogans for effecting the change.

The celebrations, captured live by a local radio station, lasted two hours as news of the change spread across the city.

The celebrants, who were opposed to Sanusi’s candidacy, expressed happiness over his rumoured arrest and detention by the Federal Government.

Police still in place

Meanwhile, combat ready policemen are still occupying the emir’s palace four days after Sanusi was announced as the new emir, following the death of the former Emir, Alhaji Ado Bayero.

IGERIA, United States, Britian and five other countries have set up an External Intelligence Response Unit, EIRU, to fast track the fight against Boko Haram terrorists in the country.

This was even as 18 Sudanese and 30 Nigeriens, some Chadians and Libyans were said to be among about 1,000 Boko Haram insurgents currently being detained at the various detention facilities across the country.

Other members of the EIRU are France, Benin Republic, Cameroon, Chad and Niger Republic.

A statement by the Coordinator of the National Information Centre, NIC, in Abuja yesterday, Mr. Mike Omeri, said the EIRU was set up following a Memorandum of Understanding, MoU, signed by all the member countries in Yaounde, the capital of Cameroon.

Omeri’s statement, entitled Terrorism: Nigeria, US, others set up External Intelligence Response Unit, read: “As a fall out of the Paris summit, an EIRU has been established by Nigeria, Benin Republic, Cameroon, Chad, Niger, United Kingdom, France and the United States.

“This followed the signing of an MoU in which member countries committed themselves to sharing all forms of information on security, particularly terrorism challenges, a move initiated by Nigeria.

“The development is a major achievement in the fight against insurgency in the West African subregion and Nigeria in particular.

“The member countries met in Abuja last month to establish the framework that led to the signing of the MoU in Yaounde.”

10—Vanguard, THURSDAY, JUNE 12, 2014

Lagos buckles, reduces LASU fees ...Students reject govt’s new offer

BY LAJU ARENYEKA & IKENNAASOMBA

L

AGOS—LAGOS State government yesterday rose from its Executive Council meeting to reduce fees charged in the Lagos State University, LASU, by 34 to 60 per cent, after much flexing of muscles between the students of the institution and the state government.

The state government, however left the final decision of the reduction from one department to the other to the Governing Council of the university.

In the resolution by Special Adviser to the Governor on Education, Otunba Fatai Olukoga, the Lagos State Government, stated that it accepted recommendation of the Adhoc committee set up by the state government that fees and charges payable by students for incidental services and materials were amenable to a downward review for two main reasons.

“Some of the components have applied to students across all levels when in fact they can be justifiably limited to students at a particular level only; some of the charges included can still be reduced on compassionate grounds.

“On the basis of these principles, government agrees that with the subsidised tuition fees and appropriate moderation of the incidental fees, a reduction, ranging from 34 to 60 percent is possible across the different faculties and courses”, government said in the resolution.

The council said it approved the reduction in accordance with the law setting up the university, saying that it had forwarded its approval to the governing council for consideration and implementation.

“Pursuant to its statutory mandate, the University Governing Council will issue details of what is now payable by students in each department and deal with all other management matters of the university”, and advised all individuals and groups within the community to relate to the university council accordingly.

The council observed that notwithstanding the reduction, government will continue with scholarships and bursary provisions for students.

On the retirement age for lec-

turers, the council is of the view that the decision cannot be unilaterally extended by employees themselves unless the employers cede total control of the institution to employees, which it said is not possible in this instance.

“Regarding the Vice Chancellor’s tenure of office, government also considers it a state prerogative exercisable by Law pursuant to concurrent legislative power of the state government to establish the university and make statutory provisions for their

management, and not that of its employees or proprietors of other universities. Government will retain the option of a second term for a Vice Chancellor in order to benefit from good leadership whenever the occasion arises.”

Students new offer

reject

In a swift reaction, the students speaking through the Chairman of the Students Union Govern-

ment, SUG, Mr. Nurudeen Yusuf, rejected the reduction as announced by the government.

According to him, ‘We had our meeting immediately after we got the news and decided that we will not accept this reduction.

It is a ridiculous one as far as we are concerned. This is our position. When the Lagos State Government increased the fees in 2011, it was not announced through the Governing Council.

It was the Government that announced it. But now, the Governor is sending the Governing

FEES VARIOUS FACULTIES WILL BE PAYING BASED ON THE 34-60 % REDUCTION

FACULTIES OLD FEES (N) Arts/Education 193, 750 Social/Mngment Science 223, 750 Communication/Transpt 238, 750 Law 248, 750 Engineering 298, 750 College of Medicine 348, 750

34% REDUCTION (N) 65, 875 76, 075 81, 175 84, 575 101, 575 118, 575

60% REDUCTION (N) 116, 250 134, 250 143, 250 149, 250 179, 250 209, 250

Council to us, he is supposed to make such an announcement by himself. Another issue is this: why are we being given this information in terms of percentages? How can a market woman whose child is in LASU calculate 34 - 60 percent? Even then, it is not a fair position at all. We want it to be reduced to at most N65, 500 for fresh students and N46, 500 for freshers.

“We are not yet happy about the latest development because the govt is yet to tell us the exact amount they have reduced the fees to in Naira and Kobo. They should come out in clear terms to tell us directly the exact amount we are going to be paying, not saying the Governing Council will determine the amount each faculty will be paying. When the fees were hiked in 2011, it was government who directly told us in naira and kobo what each faculty will pay, and not in percentages. This is our stand which will be made known in a press conference tomorrow” (today).

Meanwhile when contacted to confirm the reduction, the Pro-Chancellor, Mr. Teju Augusto said: “I am currently out of the country, so I am not aware of any reduction.”

Exco resolution on report of the ad-hoc committee on LASU

BY OLASUNKANMI AKONI & MONSUR OLOOOPEJO

L

AGOS—THE position of the Lagos State Executive Council’s position on the report of the ad-hoc committee on LASU was revealed by the Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Lateef Ibirogba, Special Adviser to the Governor on Education, Otunba Fatai Olukoga, Special Adviser to the Governor on Information and Strategy, Lateef Raji and Special Adviser to the Governor on Media, Hakeem Bello, at a joint media briefing in Alausa, Ikeja.

Olukoga, explained that the decision was based on the resolution of the Lagos State executive Council on the report of the Ad-hoc Committee on LASU. According to Olukoga; “Following a meeting between Governor Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State and the representatives of the Lagos State University students’ Union, the union submitted an open letter, dated April 24th, 2014, which detailed its complaints on fees payable by new students of the university. An adhoc committee was subsequently established by the state executive council to review the students’ submissions and make appropriate recommendation.

“After extensive deliberation on the report of the Adhoc committee, the state executive council made the following observation and resolution regarding the fees and recent

actions embarked upon by staff and students of the university.

“Government has therefore, approved the reduction and in accordance with the law setting up the university, forwarded its approval to the Lagos State University governing council for consideration and implementation. Pursuant to its mandate, the university Governing Council will issue details of what is now payable by students in each department and deal with all other management matters of the university. All individuals and groups within the community are advised to relate to the university council accordingly.

Govt schorlarship, bursary continue, despite reduction Olukoga, added that notwithstanding, the approval of reduced fees for students in the LASU, government would retain and continue with its enhanced scholarship and bursary provisions as well as research fund sponsored by the government to foster a culture of research and innovation in the university.

“Moreover, government will continue its increased spending on infrastructure and physical development of the campus, which has already begun to enhance the stature of the Lagos State University as a leading institution of higher learning in our country, Nigeria.

“Government remains fully

committed to the development of the state university as a centre of academic excellence and will continue to deploy resources at its disposal towards the provision of a conducive learning environment with up-to-date facilities.”

Olukoga stated.

He stressed that by the virtue of LASU Law, the state government was the promoter and owner of the institution, whilst the organ created by the law were selfaccounting and independent as far as the day to day management of the institution was concerned.

“Those internal structures must therefore be allowed and supported to play their statutory roles, subject only to the interventionist or mediatory role of the state governor in his capacity as visitor of the university.” He stated.

Olukoga said while government recognises the right of individuals and group to associate freely and protest, it noted with emphasis that those rights did not suspend the criminal laws, nor can they justify actions that show disrespect for or trample upon the freedom and rights of other members of the society.

“Despite the foregoing, the ad-hoc committee has recommended and government has accepted that the fees and charges payable by students for incidental services and materials are amendable to a downward review for two main reasons: One, some of the fees component have been applied to students across all levels

when in fact they can be justifiably limited to students at a particular level only and some of the charges included can still be reduced on compassionate grounds.”

On retirement age of employees Olukoga added that as earlier clarified by government officials, the retirement age of employees, including professors in the university, could not be unilaterally extended by the employees themselves, unless the employers were to cede total control of the institution to employees, which was an impossible situation.

VC’s tenure of office Regarding the Vice Chancellor’s tenure of office, he said government also considered it "a state prerogative exercisable by law pursuant to the concurrent legislative power of the state government to establish university and make statutory provision for their management, and not that of its employees or proprietors of other universities.

“Government will retain the option of the second term for Vice Chancellors in order to benefit from good leadership whenever the occasion arises.”

The Commissioner expressed hope that with the resolution of the fees issue, staff unions at the LASU, would immediately call off their strike and ensure the resumption of normal academic activities.

Vanguard, THURSDAY JUNE 12, 2014—11

June 12: S-West states declare today work free

BY GBENGA OLARINOYE, Osogbo, OLA AJAYI, Ibadan, DAUD OLATUNJI, Abeokuta & MONSUR OLOWOOPEJO, Lagos

F

OUR South-West states Lagos, Oyo, Ogun and Osun - have declared today a work-free day, in commemoration of 21st anniversary of the annulled June 12, 1993 presidential election, won by late Chief M.K.O Abiola.

In Lagos, Governor Babatunde Fashola, in a circular by the state Head of Service, Mrs.

Oluseyi Williams, yesterday, said; “In commemoration of June 12, 1993 as significant in the actualization of Democracy in Nigeria, it is hereby notified for general information that Governor Babatunde Fashola has approved Thursday, 12th June, 2014 as a work-free day.’

She enjoined all workers in the state to attend events organised by various government agencies and groups to commemorate the day, saying “work will however resume on Friday, 13th June, 2014.”

For Governor Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo State, the ideals which late Chief Moshood Abiola, stood for was yet to be realised.

Describing June 12 1993 election as a watershed in the annals of the country, he said that the late politician was a symbol of democracy and should be commended for his strong conviction.

Ajimobi said, “It was this conviction that the Nigerian masses should be freed from their oppressors and that the destiny of the country should not be held to ransom by a cabal, which propelled him to stand by his mandate and to defend it to the last.

“The democracy that we all are enjoying today was made possible by the likes of Chief Abiola, Chief Abraham Ade-

CAMPAIGN: Governor Rauf Aregbesola of Osun State addressing the crowd at Ila-Orangun during his re-election campaign. On his right is former governor, Senator Isiaka Adeleke.

sanya, Chief Anthony Enahoro, Alhaja Kudirat Abiola, Rear Admiral Ndubuisi Kanu, Chief Gani Fawehinmi, Senator Bola Tinubu, Gen. Alani Akinrinade and others too numerous to mention.

“This is why we must not allow any circumstance to wipe out the memory of June 12, the day that Nigerians put their ethnic and religious affiliations aside and decided to take their destinies in their own hands by voting for a man of the masses.”

Similarly, Ogun State Government through a statement

by Secretary to the State Government, Taiwo Adeoluwa, said “the annual holiday is in honour of the late illustrious son of the state, Chief Moshood Kasimawo Olawale Abiola, widely believed to have won the annulled June 12, 1993 Presidential election and also in commemoration of Democracy Day. Government enjoins residents to spend the holiday in sober reflection and continue to pray for the State and Nigeria as a whole.”

On its part, Osun State Government in a statement by the Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Sunday Akere, in Osogbo yesterday, said Osun acknowledged the influence of the June 12, 1993 election to the enthronement of democracy in the country and set aside the day for residents of the state to celebrate the victory of truth over falsehood.

The statement noted that over 14 million Nigerians spoke with one voice in the poll which was later annulled by the military administration in the country; saying attempt to bury the importance of the day by anyone would fail.

It urged residents of the state to use the opportunity of the holiday to reflect on the state of the nation and work hard to ensure the sustenance and strengthen the present democratic structure in the country.

TASUED students protest

BY DAUD OLATUNJI over fees

A

BEOKUTA—IT was total chaos yesterday in Ijebu-Ode, Ogun State, when some protesting students of Tai Solarin University of Education, Ijagun, Ogun State, allegedly went on rampage and they were alleged to have destroyed some property of the school and attacked security operatives attached to the institution.

Vanguard gathered that the protest, which commenced Tuesday was caused by the school management’s decision not to allow students yet to pay their school fees to sit for the ongoing 2013/2014 first semester examination.

The rampaging students disrupted the exams and also destroyed cars belonging to some lecturers and buses belonging to the institution.

Tinubu, Aigbogun, others for second Lagos LG award

BY CHARLES KUMOLU

L

AGOS—SENATOR Oluremi Tinubu and publisher of Business Day newspapers, Mr. Frank Aigbogun are among dignitaries expected at the second Lagos State Local Government Conference and Awards scheduled to hold in Lagos.

Disclosing this during a courtesy visit to Vanguard, Conference Director, Mr. Babatunde Adeleye, said the forum would discuss the central role councils play in promoting economic growth in the state. ‘’We have carefully selected some individuals who deserve the award. This is a way of appreciating them for their contributions to grassroots development.

We have nine categories of award. Our reason for organising this award is to promote service delivery for the local people.’’

Expected at the award are; House of Representatives Minority Leader, Femi Gbajabiamila, Prof Olu Akinyanju, Chief Akin Ogunbiyi, Mr. Keith Richards among others.

Osun PDP accuses INEC of colluding with APC BYGBENGAOLARINOYE

O

SOGBO—THE Peo ples Democratic Party, PDP, Osun State chapter, yesterday accused the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, of colluding with the ruling All Progressive Congress, APC, to recruit members of Osun Youth Empowerment Scheme, OYES, as ad-hoc staff that will work during August 9 governorship election.

The APC, in its reaction by the party’s Director of Publicity, Research and Strategy Mr Kunle Oyatomi, said “INEC is capable of defending itself. We are not solicitors of INEC.” The PDP in a release issued in Osogbo by its Director of Media and Strategy, Diran Odeyemi, said ''if a governor could tell members of his party to go to polling booth with charms, he must also have ordered them to take up arms and cause chaos on the election day.''

12—Vanguard, THURSDAY, JUNE 12, 2014

Rivers CJ: Abe, Dakoku, others lead protest against Okocha's appointment

BY JIMITOTA ONOYUME

P

ORT HARCOURT— SENATOR Magnus Abe and House of Representatives member, Mr. Dakoku Peterside were among members of the National Assembly, who led thousands of youths in the state to denounce the appointment of Justice Daisy Okocha as Administrative Chief Judge of the state by the National Judicial Council, NJC. As at 7a.m., the protesters had assembled in front of the Rivers State Government House, Port Harcourt, from where they marched to the premises of the judiciary.

Meanwhile, the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in the state has described the protest against the appointment of Justice Okocha as sponsored.

A statement by media aide to the state Chairman of the party, Mr. Jerry Needam, also condemned the members of the National Assembly, who took part in the protest.

Senator Abe, who represents Rivers South-East senatorial district, told the protesters that the state will continue to resist acts of impunity, adding that the appointment of Justice Okocha as Administrative Chief Judge was a violation of the constitution.

He said: “The process has always been for the governor to make recommendations to the NJC, which in turn forwards a name for approval and appointment by the governor.

And when the governor refuses, he appoints an acting Chief Judge. In the case of Rivers

State, the NJC wrote to all judges not to accept appointment as acting Chief Judge. The matter went to court and the government got a favourable judgment and then appointed Justice Peter Agumagu as Chief Judge.

The NJC suspended him. They have gone ahead to appoint one of the judges as acting CJ. Why is the NJC bent on the appointment of a particular judge as Chief Judge?”

Mr. Peterside, who represents Andoni-Opobo-Nkoro federal constituency, said the protest was to save democracy and ensure that the rule of law was in place.

According to him, no institution

of government was above the law in the country.

“What is happening today is that the people of Rivers State are doing everything possible to protect the rule of law and democracy. You can see clearly that our people know that the only way to sustain democracy is to fight for it. We are following due process to ensure we enforce the law,” he said.

The state Commissioner for Information and Communications, Mrs. Ibim Semenitari, who also spoke, said the people were protesting the alleged back door appointment

of Justice Okocha as Administrative Chief Judge of the state.

According to her, the intention of those behind the appointment was to allegedly use her to impeach the governor of the state with the aid of the anti-Governor Rotimi Amaechi lawmakers.

She added that the title Administrative Chief Judge was unknown to law, adding that Rivers people would resist every step to plant undemocratic acts in the state. She accused Justice Okocha of breaking into the High Court premises on Tuesday, an act she said was unlawful.

PROTEST: From left: Rivers State Commissioner for Information and Communication, Mrs. Ibim Seminatari; Mr. Matthew Osika, Special Adviser to the Governor on Student Affairs and Igo Aguma, Co-ordinator, Save Rivers Movement, during a protest against the National Judicial Council's directive for Justice Daisy Okocha to take over as Chief Judge of Rivers State, yesterday. Photo: Nwankpa Chijioke.

2015: Etsako PDP leaders pass vote of confidence on Braimah

BY GABRIEL ENOGHOLASE

B

ENIN—LEADERS of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Etsako federal constituency of Edo State, have passed a vote of confidence on the former member of the House of Representatives, Mr. Abass Braimah, saying that he has the ability, and leadership quality to represent the constituency again in the National Assembly, come 2015.

Etsako federal constituency is made up of Etsako West, Etsako Central and Etsako East Local Government Areas of Edo State.

The PDP leaders passed the confidence vote at Afashio, near Auchi, during the formal declaration by Abass of his intention to contest the House of Representatives seat in 2015, a position he lost to Mr.

Abubakar Momoh, then of the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria, in 2011.

The party leaders, led by the former State Deputy Chairman of the party, Chief Bruno Oshiokpekhai, state Organising Secretary of the party, Mr. Pascal Ugbome, Mr. J.O. Sheidu,

Chief Joshua Ogene, Chief Henry Tenebe, a member of Edo State House of Assembly, Mr. Abdulrazaq Momoh and others, extolled the virtues of the former House of Representatives member, saying that he gave voice to Afemai people through the

several motions and bills he sponsored.

According to Chief Oshiokpekhai, “The Etsako federal constituency remains proud of Abass Braimah's achievements during his representation of the constituency between 2007- 2011."

Delta group wants Osadebay immortalised

BY AUSTIN OGWUDA

A

SABA—PRESIDENT of ASDEV Club of Asaba, Delta State, Ogbueshi Tony Molokwu, said yesterday, that it was sad that the first and only Premier of the defunct Midwest Region and also former acting President of Nigeria, late Chief Dennis Osadebay, had not been immortalised since he passed on two decades ago, despite his immense contributions to national development.

Welcoming guests to the 1st

Chief Dennis Osadebay Memorial Lecture in Asaba, Molokwu vowed that the club, which is made up of Asaba intellectuals, will not rest until Osadebay was immortalised.

He said: “We have tagged today’s event as inaugural because it is our intention to organise such lecture in his memory periodically. Moreover, this will be the first time that any organised group outside his immediate family will come out to publicly

acknowledge and honour this late astute politician of immense stature.

“We are saddened that we are only just waking up to recognise our son after over three decades of our existence as a club as nobody else would do this for us. We are hopeful that this lecture series in honour of our great son will expose Asaba further and put records in correct perspective as to its place in the history of our great country."

OPEC extends scribe's tenure by 6 months

BY MICHAEL EBOH, with agency report

M

EMBERS of the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries, OPEC, yesterday, agreed to extend the tenure of General Abdulla elBadri, its current Secretary, by six months.

His current term, already extended by two years, was due to finish in December. OPEC will choose a successor to elBadri when it meets next on November 27, Venezuelan Oil Minister Rafael Ramirez told reporters.

This implies that Nigeria’s Petroleum Minister, Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke will have to wait till November to know if she will emerge the Secretary-General of OPEC. However, AlisonMadueke denied that she is interested in the position, saying it is not on the agenda.

She said: “I did not decide to throw my name in the hat. It is not on the agenda.”

Current candidates for the position are Saudi Arabia’s Majid alMoneef, Iran’s Gholamhossein Nozari, and Iraq’s Thamir Ghadhban.

Bijan Namdar Zanganeh, Iran’s Minister of Petroleum, also told reporters after the meeting that the potential candidacy of Nigerian Petroleum Minister was also raised at the meeting.

A Nigerian candidate could break a deadlock between Gulf countries over who should replace el-Badri, Jamie Webster, analyst at IHS Incorporated in Washington, said by email June 9.

The current SecretaryGeneral, Abdulla el-Badri said at a press briefing that his tenure has been extended for six months to June 30, 2015.

Also, OPEC, which supplies about 40 percent of the world’s crude, kept its production target unchanged at 30 million barrels a day.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, JUNE 12, 2014 —13

Amaechi signs amended Rivers High Court Law 2001

BY JIMITOTA ONOYUME

P

CHIEF DENIS OSADEBAY MEMORIAL LECTURE: From right: President of ASDEV Club, Mr. Tony Molokwu; Chief John Edozien, former deputy governor of defunct Bendel State and Bishop Matthew Kukah, at the late Chief Dennis Osadebay memorial lecture, in Asaba.

Court bars suspended Edo PDP lawmakers from entering Assembly zAs lawmakers engage in free for all

BY SIMON EBEGBULEM & GABRIEL ENOGHOLASE

B

ENIN—AN Edo State High Court sitting in Benin, has restrained the four suspended Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, lawmakers, including the Deputy Speaker of the House, Mr. Festus Ebea, from entering the Assembly premises.

PDP Edo State Chairman, Chief Dan Orbih, however, said that the party had filed an appeal against the order and also asked for a stay of the execution of the order.

Orbih, said: “We have appealed the order restraining our members from entering the Assembly complex and have also asked for stay of its execution. The court order is not binding until the final determination of our appeal.”

This came as youths under the aegis of Edo Youth For Good Governance, EYFGG, expressed fear that the current political crisis in the state may impede development.

The youths, who addressed newsmen in Benin yesterday, urged political gladiators in the state to sheathe their swords and allow development to take place in the state.

Also, the All Progressives Congress, APC, in Edo State said, yesterday, that the Inspector General of Police should be held responsible if the current crisis in the state House of Assembly leads to bloodshed.

The party accused mobile policemen attached to some PDP leaders in the state and others deployed in the state from Abuja, of allegedly aiding the four suspended lawmakers in gaining entrance into the Assembly complex after breaking the doors which were under lock and key.

The state Publicity Secretary of the party, Mr. Godwin Erhahon, who addressed newsmen in Benin City, alleged that the plot of the PDP was to plunge the state into crisis, warning however that “nobody has the monopoly of violence.”

Tension heightened at the Assembly premises, following a large presence of mobile policemen allegedly deployed in the

C M Y K

state from Abuja. The policemen, at 6:30a.m., escorted the PDP lawmakers, including the suspended lawmakers into the Chambers.

Fighting broke out when the 15 APC lawmakers, including the Speaker, Mr. Uyi Igbe and Majority Leader, Mr. Philip Shaibu, stormed the Chambers at 7a.m., and the fight over who will preside ensued. It was at that point that the Edo State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Folunso Adebanjo came into the chambers to restore peace.

The political thugs inside the Assembly complex were chased away while the CP and officials of the Department of State Security, DSS, made frantic efforts to stop the fight. Adebanjo advised the lawmakers to maintain peace and ensure that the matter was resolved amicably.

But the 15 APC lawmakers argued that the four suspended lawmakers must leave the complex. Persistent plea from Mr Adebanjo, however, calmed the situation before the lawmakers commenced serious meeting which was presided over by Mr. Igbe.

The meeting was still on-going at press time. The lawmakers who were obviously tired sent for rice, which they all ate together.

Meanwhile, the state High Court, following an exparte motion by Mr Igbe, Mr Shaibu and Edo State House of Assembly, restrained the four PDP lawmakers from entering the Assembly complex.

Trial judge, Justice V. Eboreime, said “An order of interim injunction is hereby given restraining the defendants by themselves or agents, assigns, privies or other persons acting for, through or by the defendants from forcefully gaining entrance into the premises and Legislative quarters of the 3rd claimant or howsoever interfering with the sitting activities and other functions of the 3rd claimant pending the determination of the motion on notice.”

ORT HARC O U R T — G OVERNOR Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers State, yesterday, signed the amended Rivers High Court Law 2001.

The amended section provides for the Chief Registrar to assign cases and perform other administrative duties in the absence of a Chief Judge in the state.

The state House of Assembly had earlier got approval to amend the law at a public hearing convened by the Assembly at the Ministry of Justice, and speakers urged the House of Assembly to amend section 40 of the

Law. Deputy Speaker of the House of Assembly, Mr Leyii Kwanee, who presided over the session, said since it was a law made by the state House of Assembly, the House could revisit it for the good of the state.

“We have stated several times that the 7th Assembly will not allow itself to be intimidated or harassed from making laws. That is why this public hearing is holding,” he said.

Mr Golden Chioma, representing Etche constituency II, said they received six memoranda on the issue, adding that the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, sent a memorandum.

14— Vanguard , THURSDAY, JUNE 11, 2014

Jonathan commissions 1,000 housing units for Police

BY IKECHUKWU

NNOCHIRI

A

BUJA—IN his bid to boost the morale of officers and rank and file of the Nigeria Police Force, NPF, President Goodluck Jonathan has commissioned 1,000 housing units to be handed over to policemen on owneroccupier basis.

Christened Sunday Adewusi Housing Estate, after former IGP, the semi and fully detached one bedroom, two bedroom and three bedroom flats, are located in Dakwa Dei-Dei, a suburb of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT. Performing the commissioning on behalf of the President, VicePresident Namadi Sambo stated that having carried out similar assignment in parts of the country, it was obvious that the Police Management Team led by IGP MohammedAbubakarispoised toimproveonthewelfareofpolice officers nationwide.

He confirmed that so far, 2,000 residential housing units have beencommissionedbythePolice since2012,andcalledonthemto ensure they were properly maintained.

$3M BRIBERY SCANDAL: ICPC re-arraigns Farouk, Emenalo

BY IKECHUKWUNNOCHIRI

A

BUJA—THE Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, ICPC, yesterday, re-arraigned the former Chairman of the House of Representatives Ad-hoc Committee on fuel subsidy probe, Farouk Lawan on a seven-count criminal charge.

Lawal, alongside the erstwhile Secretary of the probe committee, Mr. Boniface Emenalo, entered fresh plea to the charge which was preferred against them before an Abuja High Court sitting at Gudu.

Meanwhile, the lawmakers, yesterday, narrowly escaped being remanded in prison custody by the high court.

Shortly after they took turns and pleaded “not guilty” to the charges against them which bordered on conspiracy, corruption and gross breach of public trust, it was discovered that two of the persons that earlier stood surety for them were not present in court.

Consequently, trial Justice Adebukola Banjoko insisted that the accused persons must produce all the three men that previously stood as their sureties.

The court stressed that the three sureties must be physically present to sign a fresh undertaking for the two accused lawmakers, failure of which they would be remanded in Kuje prison.

Sequel to the development, the case was stood down for over two hours, after which the accused persons secured bail upon perfecting all the conditions initially handed to them by the former trial Judge in the matter, Justice Mudashiru Oniyangi.

Their arraignment yesterday followed the elevation of Justice Oniyangi to the position of Chief

maintained that the duo still have a criminal case to answer over the allegation that they demanded and collected bribe to pervert the course of an investigation that was instituted by the House of Representatives.

They had gone to the appellate court to challenge the competence of the charge against them.

Judge of the Federal Capital Territory.

Meantime, the high court, yesterday, gave the anti-graft agency the nod to call witnesses, as well as, to tender evidence against the accused persons on July 7.

It will be recalled that the Abuja Division of the Appeal Court had on May 12,

Kalu, Ohakim, Uba meet over ‘Nigerian Project'

L

AGOS—PROMINENT sons and daughters of Igboland met yesterday in Lagos to appraise the state of their zone land in the national polity, in a bid to enhance the fortunes of the South East in the Nigerian project.

The meeting had in attendance, among others, former governor of Abia State, Dr. Orji Kalu, former governor of Imo State, Chief Ikedi Ohakim and Chief Chris Uba, who had earlier brokered peace between the two former governors.

In a communiqué signed by the trio of Kalu, Ohakim and Uba, the Igbo leaders called on stakeholders in the South East to imbibe the spirit of forgiveness and reconciliation in order to move the region

forward.

According to eminent politicians, the bitterness among leaders in the South East is the major cause of the setback of the region.

“Today marks a new beginning in Igboland.

Today ’s meeting is a demonstration to the whole world that forgiveness is the key to progress, maintaining that the differences between two prominent sons of the region have been resolved in the interest of our people,” the leaders enthused after their laudable rapprochement.

They also stated that the region needed to give unflinching support to President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration

to ensure the speedy completion of the Second Niger Bridge; implementation of the gas master plan, and completion of the development of the nation’s railway, dry ports and other ongoing projects.

The leaders also condemned in strong terms the disrespect to the South East traditional institution by politicians for selfish reasons.

They explained that traditional rulers remained fathers to all, irrespective of tribe or political affiliation.

They also observed the increasing number of unemployed graduates in the region, stating that a technical committee would be set up to draw up an action plan for the engagement of the unemployed.

EDO STATE HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY CRISIS PIX: BARNABAS UZOSIKE

Armoured Personnel Carrier stationed in front of the complex.

A vandalised door at the Assembly complex. (Inset); Edo State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Foluso Adebanjo, fielding questions from newsmem.

Policemen being briefed at the entrance to the Assembly complex.

Vanguard, THURSDAY,JUNE 12, 2014 — 15

Court declares ban on protest illegal

FEC dedicates session to late Akunyili zJonathan describes her as "a virtuous woman who is not easy to come by"

BY IKECHUKWU

NNOCHIRI BUJA—A High Court of the Federal Capital Territory sitting at Gudu, yesterday, held that the Nigerian Police Force, NPF, had no power under the 1999 Constitution, as amended, to stop any group from staging peaceful protest/rally, over the abduction of over 270 girls from Government Girls Secondary School, Chibok, Borno State, by the Boko Haram sect.

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BY BENAGANDE

A

BUJA—THE entire session of the Federal Executive Council, FEC, was yesterday devoted to paying tribute to late Professor Dora Akunyili, who died in an Indian hospital last Friday.

It was the kind of honour that was only extended to the late President of South Africa, Nelson Mandela, by the Federal Executive Council when he died last year.

President Goodluck Jonathan who led his ministers to pay

tribute to the former Minister of Information and Communication, described her as “a virtuous woman who is not easy to come by.”

Jonathan's first encounter with Akunyili

Recalling his first encounter with the late former Director General of National Agency for Drug Administration and Control, NAFDAC, President Jonathan said he invited her for a breakfast when he was deputy governor, adding that what she did was to warn his steward not to

serve him cold bread to avoid contracting ulcer from eating such food.

He said Akunyili complained that the bread served at breakfast was not warmed and warned that it could contain germs and, thereafter, summoned the cook to tongue-lash her for the neglect.

He praised Prof. Akunyili for her passion when she was appointed NAFDAC’s Director General, adding that though most people who were involved in the fake drugs trade were her kinsmen, she fought them courageously.

President Jonathan said the late M i n i s t e r ’ s rebranding campaign for the country, with the popular slogan, “Good people, great nation”, has remained enduring and ingrained in the minds of many Nigerians.

“She is not with us but I believe this is how God wanted it.

He saved her life from the assassin’s bullet. If He didn’t want it (her death), He could have saved her life from the sting of sickness,” the President stated.

In his tribute, Vice President Namadi Sambo said the death of Akunyili was great loss not only to her

family but also the nation.

According to Sambo, "she was a patriotic Nigerian who left an indelible mark in the country, especially when she developed a system to rebrand this country as Minister of Information. She ensured that the issue of fake drug in Nigeria was addressed”

Anyim

Secretary to Government of the Federation, SGF , Chief Anyim Pius Anyim, described her as a true nationalist and a reformer, while the Head of Service, Alhaji Goni Aji, said: "NAFDAC, under Akunyili, emerged first in the rankings under the Civil Service programme to transform it into a world class service."

Finance Minister

The Coordinating Minster of the Economy and Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi OkonjoIweala, who led the tribute from Ministers, described Akunyili as a woman of strength and passion “who spoke and worked the passion.” She noted that during her time, NAFDAC was consistently voted the best government agency because of her diligence.

Musa Sada

Minister of Solid Minerals, Alhaji Musa Sada, described her as a passionate woman who “was not willing to slow down for anything she believed was good for the country.”

BOUNDARY ADJUSTMENT Nigeria may lose tourist sites to Cameroon —Ndoma-Egba

BY JOHNBOSCO

AGBAKWURU BUJA—SENATE leader, Chief Victor Ndoma-Egba, SAN, has raised an alarm that if nothing was not urgently done, Nigeria might lose most of its tourist sites to Cameroon in the ongoing boundary adjustment between both countries by the United Nations, in the aftermath of the International Court of Justice, ICJ, judgment which ceded Bakassi to Cameroon.

Ndoma-Egba, who disclosed this to journalists in Abuja, yesterday, also said the Senate’s decision to have a friendly relationship with the executive was to stabilise the polity.

The alarm came against the backdrop of tension in

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Cross River State over the presence of the United Nations Boundary Adjustment Team, led by Mr. Isaac Baya of Zimbabwe, in company o f Nigerian soldiers at Danari, a boundary community between Nigeria and Cameroun in Boki local government area to implement the Green Tree Agreement on the Bakassi judgment.

On the allegation that Nigeria would lose about eight local government areas to Cameroun, Senator Ndoma-Egba said: “Well, there is some boundary delineation going on as a result of the Green Tree Agreement, which was the consequence of the judgment of the International Court of Justice on what we call Bakassi."

16— Vanguard , THURSDAY, JUNE 12, 2014

Communities in mourning over killing of 9 in Plateau

BY MARIE-THERESE

NANLONG OS—RESIDENTS of Gako-Rim and Tan-Jol communities in Riyom Local Government Area of Plateau State are in mourning as some unidentified gunmen, yesterday, attacked the communities, killing nine people including three securitymen and setting 21 houses and two churches ablaze.

The residents said that some security officials were also killed during the

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CONFERENCE: From left: President, African Public Relations Association, Mr Peter Mutie, Head of Video, La Sentinelle,Mr. Loic Forget and CEO, Black House Media Group, Mr. Ayeni Adekunle, during the 26th All Africa Public Relations conference held in Mauritius.

attack, although the Special Task Force, STF, could not confirm the claim.

The state Police Command confirmed that only six civilians died pointing out that five others were injured.

Police Command spokesperson, ASP Dominic Esin, who commented on the attack said: “On June 11, at about 1a.m., unknown gunmen invaded two villages including Gako-Rim and Tan-Jol, shooting sporadically and in the process killed six persons and injured five others who were rushed to the Vom Christian Hospital for

treatment.

“Two churches were burnt but security officials have been deployed to the area and normalcy has been restored in the attacked areas. Members of the public are advised to go about their lawful business and report any unscrupulous elements to the security agencies.

Investigation is ongoing and manhunt for the felons has intensified.”

Efforts to confirm the death of some STF members from the force were unsuccessful as the spokesperson, Capt.

Ikedichi Iweha’s number could not be reached.

TIV/FULANI CRISIS: Displaced persons decry neglect

BY PETER DURU

M

AKURDI—THE people displaced by the Tiv/Fulani crisis in Benue State, have decried the alleged neglect and insensitivity of the state government over their plight.

Chairman of the displaced persons camp at NKST Primary School, Ichwa, Mr. Joseph Ugba, made this known yesterday at the flag off of distribution of relief materials to Internally Displaced Persons, IDPs by the Christian Aid Nigeria and its partners in Makurdi, the state capital.

Ugba lamented that the IDPs were suffering deprivation and lack of medical care.

He said: “We are suffering and the government seem not to care. Presently, we lack adequate medicare since the only medical doctor providing services to the IDPs was forced to leave the camp after being overwhelmed by the condition of the inmates.”

“The government is insisting that we go back to our homes, but the truth is that the government is not sincere about having the displaced persons return to their ancestral homes.

“If they want us to go back, adequate preparations should be made because at present, there are no facilities and houses to return to; even the security situation is horrible because our women who returned home are being raped by Fulani herdsmen.”

Vanguard, THURSDAY, JUNE 12, 2014 — 17

L

AST Friday, Alhaji Ado Bayero, the Emir of Kano died at the age of 83.

He had reigned for 51 years, and with his death, a most significant chapter in the history of leadership, sourced from the traditions of the Sokoto Jihad, closed.

Emir Ado Bayero served with tremendous grandeur and because he was a modernising emir as much as a man of tradition, he provided a remarkable bridge of comforting leadership in a period of often, very turbulent changes.

He sustained the myth of the royal institution by the force of his personality, which seemed so unflappable in different

The Emir died, long live the Emir emerged as the Emir. Apart from the fact that he coveted the position and was eminently qualified for it, I

Northern Nigeria. Even his most unrelenting critics agree that Sanusi Lamido Sanusi is an incredibly

,

What I cannot talk about with any amount of confidence is how he will be able to refrain from commenting on the most contemporary challenges of the day. He had been a public intellectual with an impressive range of writings devoted to detailed analyses of some of the most important issues in the world of the past couple of decades

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think he is the type of Emir that will be in tune with the needs of contemporary kingship in Kano and

intelligent individual who gives his all to everything that he lays hands on. Sanusi Lamido’s critics cannot

Maiduguri and the resilience of the human spirit

I

T was a deep crater in the road, close to the post office on Shehu Laminu way, which brought home just what people have experienced in Maiduguri, in recent years. The driver attached to me, Malam Ahmed, just perfunctorily told me as we entered the crater, that it formed as a result of the most recent bombing in Maiduguri. It killed many people! I spent a total of nine days in Maiduguri over the past two weeks. I have not been back in the city for over a year, and as we drove into Maiduguri from the airport, two weeks ago, I could not stop myself from having that eerie feeling, as we passed several military checkpoints that dot the streets of this city of three million people. That was exacerbated by the feeling I had that I might just be an easy target for an attacker as I was ferried around in a government vehicle. But after the first day, I began to learn to relax just like the residents who honestly feel safe in their city. And it was quite difficult not to feel same after a few days. There are regular traffic jams in the streets of Maiduguri and from all I could see around me, there was still a concerted effort to retain the economic life that Maiduguri used to be known

for.

Before the commencement of the insurgency, Borno had been the marketplace for the neighbouring countries: Northern Cameroun, Niger Republic and Chad.

The people here just exemplify the resilience of the human spirit through how they have continued to reproduce the conditions to allow them to live as decent a life as their circumstances

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circumstances of existence; as well as showing fidelity to the traditions which made the stool of emir one of the most enduring institutions of leadership in West Africa.

The fact that he reigned for over half a century, made him the constant in a society of fast-paced transitions of leadership types, and the dislocations associated with the bumpy phases of modern Nigerian history. Alhaji Ado Bayero built friendships spanning the length and breadth of Nigeria, that made him the quintessential bridge providing accesses of reconciliation, when the fault lines of Nigeria threaten to tear the country apart.

While Alhaji Ado Bayero has been sincerely mourned by his people in Kano and by others all over Nigeria, the fact of existence, is that a new Emir had to be named as soon as possible, since the institution, just like nature, abhors a vacuum.

By Sunday afternoon Malam Sanusi Lamido, former Governor of the Central Bank was named the new emir.

Desperation seems to be the motif of the next couple of months in our country: desperation to retain or win Bola Tinubu and Bukola Saraki, to influence the choice of Kano’s new emir.

They made it too obvious that they were interested parties in Kano to mobilise for Sanusi Lamido Sanusi’s emergence.

But beyond the political controversy, I feel extremely delighted that Sanusi Lamido finally

stand his guts and bravery and they probably also loathe his excessive selfassuredness, which many of them have wrongfully described as ‘arrogance’.

But those are the essential ingredients of the complex persona that define the man.

Sanusi Lamido Sanusi will be a modernising emir without forgetting the roots of the institution that he leads. He will grow into his role as emir and will be the poster boy of the creative blend of the traditional and the modern. What I cannot talk about with any amount of confidence is how he will be able to refrain from commenting on the most contemporary challenges of the day. He h a d b e e n a

public intellectual with an impressive range of writings devoted to detailed analyses of some of the most important issues in the world of the past couple of decades. He balanced his passionate devotion to scholarship, to polemics, with a very sustained display of competence in his vocation as a banker, rising steadily to become the Chief Executive of First Bank of Nigeria before being appointed as Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria.

His devotion to the betterment of the Nigerian public space was central to his combative posture, whether he was confronting the “old boys network” that Nigeria’s National Assembly seemed to have increasingly metamorphosed into or daring to challenge the executive arm of government, in the manner that public funds were not accounted for under the watch of Diezani Maduekwe, the sacred cow of the Jonathan administration.

When Goodluck Jonathan exhumed some obscure report to remove Sanusi Lamido Sanusi from office, he couldn’t have envisaged the turn of events that made Sanusi Lamido Sanusi the new Emir of Kano. Allah yajikanSarki, Ado Bayero; Allah yajazamaninSarki, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi!

central take away was that there resides here 1, 200 years of history; such a long history could never have been just a lineal story of successes. Civilizations are about successes and failures; the moments of reverses and of despair; but in the long run, the community reproduces the conditions for its continued existence as a people and a civilization.

There is therefore the

This insurgency is clearly the greatest challenge that has confronted the Nigerian state since the tragic events of the 1960s, which culminated in the Nigerian Civil War

allowed for. I met brilliant young men who are building a career in IT and have excelled as software developers, who have expressed their skills in jobs they secured from very important institutions around our country; just as others were endeavouring to give back to society with entrepreneurial development projects. I spent hours in the company of the ordinary person and those in the leadership of the state. My

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underlining thread that tragic as the present moment in Borno history is, it will also pass and this very accommodating and generous community will rediscover the path of peace and progress.

I enjoyed my stay so much that I want to get back soon as possible. And if it felt as peaceful as I found in Maiduguri, there was still no escaping the effects of the Boko Haram insurgency. The city infrastructure is clearly

straining, because more and more people escaping the scorched earth policies of the Boko Haram sect are coming to live within the relative security of Maiduguri. The traffic situation gives an indication of the fact, while each new day is greeted with reports of the senseless killings, the burning down of villages and the disruption of livelihood for the mass of poor people in those communities that have faced the rapacity of the Boko Haram sect. There are daily reports of the raising of the flag of the insurgency in various areas of the state.

This insurgency is clearly the greatest challenge that has confronted the Nigerian state since the tragic events of the 1960s, which culminated in the Nigerian Civil War. Our armed forces confront an asymmetrical challenge which can sap the morale, because it is not the type of warfare that was historically taught in military academies.

But in the long run, it is a war that must be won so that all the hopes we are investing in building a society dedicated to confronting the scourges of underdevelopment can then truly be realized. Those who rule us must find the common purpose to work together to put an end to the insurgency.

Borno and Nigeria deserve this common purpose fast!

18— Vanguard, THURSDAY, JUNE 12, 2014 MEMORIES of June 12 are drifting into oblivion, following the political judgment it imposes on those who ignore it. June 12 is a great reminder about the wasted political opportunities that Nigeria has wasted. Nigerians do not want to be so reminded, especially if they are the beneficiaries of the crisis that is only partially resolved.

For more than 80 million Nigerians - those 30 years or younger – June 12 may be just about the beginning of the FIFA World Cup today in Brazil.

The election, in 1993, which Chief Moshood Kashimawo Olawale Abiola won but the military annulled, remains one of the most tumultuous moments in the past 20 years. The annulment created political uncertainties that pushed the country to the brink for six years. Strikes, civil disobediences, an interim government and General Sani

Not Just June 12 Abacha’s November 1993 coup were some failed initiatives to resolve the impasse.

Abiola declared himself president in Epe-tedo, a public square on Lagos Island on 12 June 1994. He died in detention, on 8 July 1998, after meeting a US delegation, a month after Abacha died.

General Abdulsalami Abubakar who succeeded Abacha ran a 10month transition programme.

Chief Olusegun Obasanjo became president, ignoring June 12 throughout his eight years in office. Another tragedy for Abiola was on 4 June 1996 when gunmen killed his wife Kudirat, an ardent

supporter of his claim to the presidency and a rallying point for the mounting opposition against Abacha.

Some States under the All Peoples Congress honour Abiola with a public holiday. President Goodluck Jonathan retreated, last year, after criticisms trailed his move to re-naming the University of Lagos after Abiola. The biggest national recognition for Abiola, to date, is his listing among the 100 honoured in Nigeria’s Centenary Awards.

The hurry to forget the lessons about June 12 align with the political class’ hurry to over-step issue in its bid to attain power.

Today’s celebrated free and fair elections are riddled with irregularities. Politicians abhor opposition, the national tensions we witness around politics show that we learnt nothing from June 12.

Others have fonder memories of June 12. It is the 21 st Russian Day, marking the declaration of sovereignty of Russia from the crumbling Union of Soviet Socialist Republic, USSR. It is also the 116th Independence Day anniversary of the Philippines.

Can June 12 be resolved without an official position on the result of the presidential election of 1993? Will Abiola be honoured, recognised as elected president?

Why do we want to forget June 12? We treated the civil war similarly. We are writing the history of Nigeria with critical parts missing. A nation that decidedly ignores its mis-steps condemns itself to worse mistakes.

OPINION BYBEN ETAGHENE

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N every generation comes a leader of a people. For Prof.

Amos Agbe Utuama(SAN), a law professor-turned a most valuable technocrat in the resumed Fourth Republic, the bang remains a ferocious whirlwind in Delta State politics. The erudite law professor from the University of Lagos, was noticed and poached by the then newly elected governor of the state, Chief James Ibori in 1999 to join his team in the search for redesigning the state.

That invitation to serve his people, according to him, took him unawares, “but as a patriot, I was glad to be noticed and I was willing to serve my people in another capacity.”

So with acceptance and aplomb began his political odyssey when Chief Ibori appointed him as the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice in 1999. He served thus in Ibori’s two terms during which period he made some of the revolutionary changes to the administration of justice in Delta State whose judicial system was still fresh and open to changes as a fairly new state.

In the 2007 governorship election, the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, governorship candidate stretched a hand of fellowship to the politically assimilated Prof. Utuama to run with him as deputy governor. An offer he accepted but not without the sagacious approach of consulting widely within the state and particularly in Central Senatorial District, his constituency. In a post-electoral victory “thank you” visit at Mosogar that same year, he told a rally of his supporters that: “Eight years ago you picked me up for a message. At the successful completion of that, you have in your collective wisdom decided to send me on another …”, and promised to deliver.

Now about 11 months to the end of the mission, the indices on the horizon are obvious: mission accomplished. And in politics, we reward success. Hence, Prof Utuma remains a credit and albatross to the PDP mechanism. That apart, there is need to applaud the inter personal relationship between the governor, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan and his deputy governor, Prof Utuama for seven years and on a realistic analysis they deserve our praise. This symbiotic and dependable relationship between governor and the deputy can be said to be a Deltan C M Y K

Prof. Utuama @ 67 culture bequeathed to the nation that is gradually becoming a norm. Chief Ibori in 1999 had Chief Benjamin Elue as his deputy. And for eight years their harmonious, peaceful and smooth working relationship was enviable. It was worthy of emulation at a time in Nigeria when turbulence and rancor marked the relationships between governors and their deputies.

Such developments led to the impeachments and outright sacking and humiliations of deputy governors. In Lagos State, Chief Bola Ahmed Tinubu locked out his deputy. In Abia State, deputy governor Abaribe went on public diatribe with Chief Orji Uzor Kalu with deprivation of subventions until the deputy governor was forced out.

One can posit that taking a cue from Delta State, a bit of normalcy is creeping into the nation’s polity and the issue of decorum between governors and their deputies. The former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s relationship with Vice President Atiku Abubakar was legendary. The ongoing struggle in Taraba State between a wounded governor and his deputy and by undue implication their House of Assembly is not a healthy development for democracy. It was only in Zamfara State since the return of democracy that Alhaji Mahmud Shinkafi successfully succeeded his boss, Sani Ahmed Yerima. It is on account of the recurring frosty relationship between governors and their deputies I dare advise that our politicians could gamble over the idea of both the governors and their deputy governors emerging from different political platforms with constitutionally spelt out functions.

With the 2015 elections year in view, observers feel that after spending eight years understudying their bosses, more deputy governors should be considered for the prime position if our political adventure is to make realistic impact. Experience, people say, is the best teacher. In this projection many names come into reckoning. For instance, in Edo State, there are indications of a powerful behind the scene move to have deputy governor Pius Odubu to succeed his boss. In Adamawa State, the deputy governor, Bala James Ngilari’s name had not been

in consideration for the race until the defection of Murtula Nyako to the APC changed the political calculation in his favour. Now the lawyer-turned politician is a man to keenly watch in that state.

In Rivers State, the deputy governor is the toast of the governor, Mr. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi for his loyalty and trustworthiness. Amaechi inherited his deputy from exgovernor Celestine Omehia after his (Amaechi’s) victory at the Supreme Court in 2007.

In Delta State, Prof Utuama who has been through the crucible of the state’s politics as a technocrat remains a firm favourite. The state has thrown out politicians like Senator Author Okowa, Dr. Festus Okubo, the present Chief of Staff at Government House, Dr. Ngozi Olejeme who wants to be the first lady governor of the Delta State and Chief Peter Okocha, the Ibusa born liberal politician. Others are Olorogun Omo – Agege, Dr. David Edevbie and Chief Onosuoke. But there exists a culture of rotation which could deprive the state of the best candidate. Many politicians in the state are, of course, dismissive and wary of it, including a frontline contender, Chief Peter Okocha who strongly believes that “… let the best politician win the race to Government House in Delta State.”

For Prof. Utuama, considering the sterling services he had rendered to this state in this past 15 years, his name certainly deserves every mention. It is of course an auspicious moment to pay tribute to this hardworking and honesty personality as he celebrated his 67th birthday early this month. Asked by journalists if he nurses the idea of becoming governor of this state, he replied: “I had never in my life sought for any position. from lecturing at the university, to becoming a commissioner and deputy governor. It is a decision the Almighty God had always made for me. If God and my people decide otherwise who am I…”.

What a way to go through life relying solely and strongly on the will of God. Today, we celebrate this erudite scholar and a passionate lover and leader of his people. Hurrah!

*Mr. Etaghene is the Editorial Director of The Bulletin.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, JUNE 12, 2014— 19

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RDINARILY, the appointment of an emir should not draw comments from me. But the emir of Kano is not just another traditional ruler. Kano is touted as the second largest population centre in Nigeria after Lagos, though official figures insist it is the most populous state.

Though essentially a Muslim city, it is the industrial and commercial behemoth of Northern Nigeria, with a diversity of population drawn from all walks of life around Nigeria and beyond. Like its Southern counterpart (Lagos), Kano is very volatile, especially when it comes to issues of religion and politics. You cannot talk about the post of an Emir of Kano (just like the Sultan of Sokoto) without factoring in the incendiary and tensile issues of politics and religion.

This is where we already begin to feel the loss of Alhaji Ado Bayero, the recently deceased Emir of Kano. He was a traditional ruler who was deeply respected across the divides of the nation due to his fatherly disposition, not only to his core Hausa/Fulani Muslim subjects

but also the community of allcomers who dwell and earn their living in Kano. Ado Bayero made friends far afield. He took great risks with his close friend, the Ooni of Ife, Okunade Sijuwade, Olubuse II, to pay an unauthorised visit to Israel in 1984 and returned to be suspended by the Buhari/Idiagbon military junta for six months. That event later hastened the restoration of diplomatic ties between Nigeria and Israel. He was a great friend of Biafra legend, Chief Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu, who, as the commander of the military facility in Kano in 1966 (barely three years after Bayero ascended to the throne) helped in frustrating the Coup of the Five Majors. It was due to Bayero’s pleasant disposition and father figure that some of the most violent uprisings traced to politics and religion in Kano were carefully managed to keep the city (and the country at large) united and thriving as a centre of commerce.

When Bayero joined his ancestors on Friday, June 6, 2014, I was a bit perturbed over the question of his

,

successor. However, my worries were salved by the fact that one of his children, the Ciroma of Kano, Alhaji Sanusi Lamido Ado Bayero, was the reported front runner among the kingmakers. In fact, it had come out early last Sunday that the Ciroma had been selected. A national daily reported it as breaking news in its online edition, adding that a prominent Northern figure had tweeted that a new emir of Kano had emerged in the person of the Ciroma.

It was, however, shocking when I came out of the tennis court on Sunday evening to learn that SLS had been approved and announced by the Government of Kano State as the new Emir of Kano.

T

he Governor of Kano State, Alhaji Rabiu Kwankwaso, had

Okonjo-Iweala: The pot, the kettle

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E salute the Nigerian spirit – the spirit of enterprise. It is the spirit that rewards excellence and punishes indolence. We have seen the Nigerian team in a football match with another country on our home ground. In the beginning, Nigerians applauded their team to the high heavens but as soon as the Nigerian team fell into goal deficit, Nigerians switched their support to the visiting team and at the very height of their disappointment, they even started hurling stones at the Nigerian players.

This is instructive for Nigerian politicians. In his opening address to the 52nd Annual General Conference of the Nigerian Bar Association, NBA, on August 28, 2012, President Goodluck Jonathan informed the gathering of learned gentlemen that he was “the most criticized President in the world”.

That could be true but we quickly reminded him of the Nigerian spirit and that in the beginning, he was also the most praised man the world over. How else could Nigerians have demonstrated their love for this man than that after Moshood Kashimawo Abiola (1937-1998), the best President we never had, Jonathan remains the only President who was put in office with votes from across party lines and across geographical boundaries?

In politics, criticism is a fact of life. And as they say, if you can’t stand the smoke, you better get out of the kitchen. We take very seriously, the recent alert by the ebullient Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, when she took a swipe at the State Governors on their profligacy.

Speaking at the 12th Convocation of Babcock University, the Minster wondered why citizens blame the administration of President Jonathan for C M Y K

the failings of state governments that get monthly allocations larger than countries like Liberia, Gambia and the Republic of Benin. Madam urged Nigerians to ask their State Governors what they are doing with their huge allocations.

Hear her: “In 2013 alone, Akwa Ibom got N260 billion, Rivers N230 billion, Delta N209 billion, Bayelsa N173 billion, Lagos N168 billion, Kano N140 billion, Katsina N103 billion, Oyo N100 billion, Kaduna N97 billion and Borno N94 billion."

These were the allocations these States got from the Federation account.

She titled her message, “Leave Jonathan alone: Ask your Governors what they do with their allocations”. Here, Okonjo-Iweala was being clever by half, a case of the pot calling the kettle black. Why would anyone think that the issue of profligacy in government today can be considered without Jonathan who is, indeed, the captain of that industry?

Essentially, profligacy is evil and must not be condoned. But if somebody comes to me to say: “Ask Governor Godswill Akpabio what he did with the billions allocated to him but don’t ask President Jonathan what he did with the trillions in his possession”, I would take a second look at such a person.

Madam’s approach is as un-Harvard as it is un-MIT – Harvard University and Massachusetts Institute of Technology – two world-renowned Institutions where Madam poured out her superior brains very early in life. She also made waves in the World Bank where she would today have been the boss but for the accident of geography.

A more mature approach, which would have accommodated the concept of leadership by example, would have been: “Jonathan got ‘A’ and did ‘B’ with it. On the basis of this, I challenge Akpabio to tell the people what he did with the ‘C’ he got.” But by remaining stoically silent on the allocation to the Federal Government,

Okonjo-Iweala shows herself a biased umpire.

The timing of Madam’s call also betrays it as political.

Coming very close to an election year, the silent aim is to portray the State Governors and their administrations in bad light so that the Federal Government can shine. There is an attempt here to pitch State Governors against their people. More so, it

,

SLS as Emir of Kano

The position of emir requires someone who plays it easy and cool, like the late Ado Bayero; it is usually not for hotheads and squawking popinjays; most emirs are seen and only heard when playing court to their subjects and guests, or at religious functions

driven his Kwankwasiyya trailer into the royal grounds of the Kano ruling house. He has applied his casting vote as the prevailing political authority that has the power to pick and choose from the shortlist of the kingmakers. And it is obvious that his political interests as a prospective presidential aspirant under the All Progressives Congress, APC, banner came first over and above the popular yearnings of the average Kano person. Once again, political authority has sublimated the yearnings of the people to personal whim, just as former military president, General Ibrahim Babangida, in 1987, had ignored the popular choice, Alhaji Muhammadu Maccido, and chosen Alhaji Ibrahim Dasuki as the Sultan of Sokoto. Just as we saw in the Sokoto episode, the people of Kano trooped into the streets to protest against the appointment of SLS, but were quickly dispersed by the security agents.

My fears about SLS as the Emir of Kano are based on our recent experience with him as the Governor of the CBN. From day one, SLS began a series of reckless experiments with our banking system which, though succeeded in stemming catastrophic failure of banks, but extracted heavy tolls that would have been avoided if he had taken it easy and cool. The position of emir requires someone who plays it easy and cool, like the late Ado Bayero. It is usually not for hotheads and squawking popinjays. Most emirs are seen and only heard when playing court to their subjects and guests, or at religious functions. They tread carefully, and think through before saying the few words that usually mean so much.

On balance, many state governments are more accountable to the people than the Federal Government

,

is an established fact that Governors have always been seen by the electorate as taxeating parasites, under-worked and overpaid. No citizen is happy when governments spend any money, even when such expenditure is in providing amenities for his area. There is this open ambivalence – you must provide amenities but don’t spend money.

O

n balance, many state governments are, today, more accountable to the people than the Federal Government. By and large, gone are the days when state governors simply diverted monthly allocations to their private pockets and nothing happened.

In abstraction, the allocation of N230

Will Malam Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, as the Emir of Kano, temper the radicalism he delighted in demonstrating as the CBN Governor, a trait that got him booted out of office with a few months to the end of his official tenure? As CBN Governor, SLS felt free to say uncomplimentary things about the Igbos, Yorubas, the Niger Delta and Northern elders. He insisted on his right to express his opinions, and openly fancied himself as an “activist”. He spent the money of the Bank in controversial charity and corporate social responsibility projects that portrayed him as someone sowing political seeds. He has even been accused by some of his critics of funding insurgent groups, though without concrete, cast-iron evidence. The general picture painted of him is that of an arrogant, volatile and truculent character as opposed to the usually sedate and genteel types usually favoured by kingmakers in the North to sit on the throne of an emir.

I am hoping that SLS will put his garrulous, hot-head past behind because anything to the contrary is a romance with disaster, what with the smoldering sentiments trailing his appointment. He should leverage on his natural gift as a communicator, build bridges and stay away from partisan politics as much as possible. Kano is not a place for risky experiments. It is already too deeply scarred by Boko Haram killings and bombings to be further stressed. Kano must be handled with the fatherly care that Ado Bayero applied successfully for 51 years, bowing out with grace and our collective applause.

billion to Rivers State is big in the eye of everyone but the Monorail Project, the Afam Power Project, the Model Education Institutions in virtually all the local government areas, health institutions, the massive road networks – to name just a few –loom much larger than the allocation.

Apparently, the states are working. Their peer review mechanism is setting them in healthy competitions among themselves.

Many of them now go the extra-mile of publishing their audited accounts at the end of every financial year – something the Federal Government can learn from. There can be no better accountability!

Jonathan sits over the largest Presidential Air Fleet, PAF, of 10 aircraft for which we waste N10 billion annually in running costs.

NNPC is unable to account for billions of Dollars of earned revenue, while somebody somewhere is lifting hundreds of billions of Naira pension money. And when one Minster is not busy squandering billions acquiring abandoned bullet-proof cars in Europe, another Minister is busy hiring taxis with N10 billion. Yet, the General Overseer must be left alone?

Okonjo-Iweala failed to tell her audience that if we removed the above sums from the combined budgets of six neighbouring countries, the six countries would collapse immediately.

Nigerians already have enough problems in their hands. Rather than give us the added task of determining who should be held accountable and who should be left alone, our plea is simple: Leave us alone!

20 — Vanguard, THURSDAY, JUNE 12, 2014

C M Y K

Vanguard, THURSDAY, JUNE 12, 2014 — 21

Chevron boosts donation in Nigeria to improve local economy C

HEVRON Corporation plans to nearly double its donation to Nigerian social projects over the next five years, part of a choreographed plan to improve the local economy and bolster the company’s supply chain in Nigeria, its second-largest source of crude oil.

Chevron is donating $40 million to the Niger Delta Partnership Initiative (NDPI), a nonprofit it helped form in 2010 with $50 million in seed money. The second round of funding will make NDPI the largest recipient of Chevron donations in the company’s history, executives said.

The NDPI works with local organisations in the Niger Delta to help cull HIV transmission rates teach cassava farmers marketing techniques and connect catfish breeders with feed suppliers, among other projects. The militant group Boko Haram, which is trying to create an Islamic state in northern Nigeria and recently kidnapped more than 200 girls, has had little effect on southern Nigeria and the Delta, executives and analysts said.

Still, criminal gangs have stolen oil and kidnapped residents for more than a decade in the Delta, risks that Chevron and Royal Dutch Shell, the largest foreign oil company in Nigeria, have had to address.

“Our objective is for peace in the Delta. And the best way we can contribute to peace, in our view, is the way we’re participating in NDPI,” said Rhonda

Zygocki, Chevron’s executive vice president of policy and planning.

Chevron has pumped oil in Nigeria for more than 40 years.

In 2013, the company pumped more crude oil in Nigeria than any other country in which it operates besides the United States, the second year in a row the country has held such import for the company.

Chevron’s production, part of a partnership with Nigeria’s state-controlled oil company,

has more than doubled in the past seven years to 268,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day, according to regulatory filings.

The NDPI operates in nine Nigerian states along the Gulf of Guinea, though it is headquartered in the capital of Abuja, in the country ’s geographic center. Using the Chevron donation, NDPI finds small charities on the ground and partners with them on various issues. For example,

1.35

3,085.00

+8.00

16.94

-0.04

109.52

-0.47

CURRENCY BUYING CENTRAL SELLING 154.73 155.23 259.606 260.4449 209.5818 210.259 171.9031 172.4586 1.5118 1.5167 0.302 0.312 237.6749 238.443 24.8553 24.9361 41.2547 41.388 28.0852 28.176 237.8819 238.6506

N

igerian mobile-phone manufacturer Tingo Mobile agreed to buy a majority stake in Mass Telecom Innovation Nigeria Plc (MTI) for about N4 billion ($25 million) to develop rural broadband in the country.

Tingo will acquire 51 per cent of cable-network operator MTI, Chief Executive Officer Dozy Mmobuozi said in Lagos. The company will be re-branded and remain listed on the Nigerian Stock Exchange, he said.

“We are using the acquisition to reach out to the mass market,” Mmobuozi said.

Lagos-based MTI’s “assets from base stations to license and goodwill and other things, will help penetrate rural Nigeria.” Telecommunications companies including China’s Huawei Technologies Co. and Johannesburg-based MTN Group Ltd. are expanding in Nigeria to tap a growing market for mobile and data usage. Nigeria had 169 million mobile-phone subscriptions as of March for a population of about 170 million, the Nigerian Communications Commission said on its website.

With many users owning more than one phone, subscriber numbers are expected to grow to more than 200 million in 2017, according to London-based research company Informa Telecoms & Media. MTI’s shares were untraded at 0.50 naira in Lagos.

IKEDC maps out new customer metering scheme

104.26 -0.15 DOLLAR STERLING EURO FRANC YEN CFA WAUA RENMINBI RIYAL KRONA SDR

the nonprofit gave $59,978 to Forward Africa in 2011 for a project designed to help residents of Nigeria’s Imo and Abia states get more involved in local government. Forward Africa contributed $5,672 of its funds for the project.

While NPDI works with local banks to obtain financing for some Nigerian projects, it tries to encourage local markets to thrive without Chevron’s influence, said Dennis Flemming, NDPI’s director.

From left: President, Chambers of Commerce and Industry, Pakistan, Saddiqu Sheikh; and National President, Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture, Mohammed Badaru Abubakar, signing a Memorandum of Understanding on trade, investment collaboration in the presence of the Vice-Minister of Commerce, Pakistan, Fazal Abbas Mekan; Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Olusegun Aganga; President Islamic Republic of Pakistan, Mamnoon Hussain; and President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, during the Nigeria-Pakistan Business Forum, in Abuja.

By EDIRI EJOH 166.7

Nigerian phone maker buys MTI stake to expand in rural broadband

155.73 261.2838 210.9363 173.0141 1.5215 0.322 239.211 25.0169 41.5214 28.2667 239.4193

CBN Exchange rate as at 11/06/2014

I

KEJA Electricity Distribution Company, IKEDC, has expressed readiness to provide meters for its over 600,000 electricity customers within its network as part of effort to reduce energy theft, and enhance adequate billing system.

This is sequel to experts report that only 200,000 customers were metered but some of the meters are obsolete while over 400,000 are billed based on estimation.

IKEDC said customers would be metered according to a scheme called Road Map on metering which will commence soon.

The Managing Director of IKEDC, Engr. Ajifowobaje who disclosed this during a meeting with Community Development Committee Customers in its network, however said not all customers will be metered.

He explained that of the over 130,000

pre-paid meters installed by the company five years ago more than 45,000 have been by-passed by electricity consumers.

He therefore appealed to customers for their continuous support to achieve good customer relationship, adding that the purpose of the meeting with community leaders in the network is to hear directly from them on how the company has perform since its successful privatisation in November, 2013.

Ajifowobaje further explained that 72 transformers were completely out in IKEDC network when the sector was privatised last year while others were stolen and vandalised.

As a result, the IKEDC CEO said “after the successful privatisation last year, we brought in our experts to conduct a study in our network and at the end of the study, a report was submitted recently and the report is currently awaiting the approval of the management board.

“The report has also led to the

formation of a road map on metering while staff board meeting was held to take a holistic view at workers attitude to work.

“We are committed to meter our esteemed customers’ base on global standard as we already have some meters in our store ready for installation.

“However, our greatest challenge is inadequate power supply because we need 1,250 megawatt to service our over 600,000 customers but we only receive 300megawatts.”

To avoid total dependence on the national grid for power supply, Ajifowobaje said the company has signed an MoU with Egbin power station to supply 1,200megawatts directly to them and to get supply from embedded power.

Meanwhile, Chairman Development Council of Ijede in Ikorodo, Mr. Rotimi Ayokun decry the worsen power situation in his community which is a host to the nation’s biggest power station, Egbin.

22—Vanguard, THURSDAY, JUNE 12, 2014

BUSINESS

You need to give yourself permission to do the things you love instead of being the person you are conscious of wanting others to see

Should you lead? Here's why or why not

BY CHERYL CONNER Leadership often looks like Paradise from the outside and Hades from within. Like parenting, it seems romantic when you’re not immersed in the soiled diapers of infancy or the surly attitude of an unappreciative teen. In many respects, leadership is the world’s most thankless job. As an entrepreneur you are likely compelled by the glorious opportunity to be your own boss; yet in reality you end up working for everyone, from investors to employees to vendors to customers, when the buck stops with you.

If any of the following seven roads apply to you, you should take corrective action immediately.

You have blind spots that keep you from succeeding. As a leader, it is tough to consider that you are the only person in the room who does not see the

NIGERIAN NAIRA EXCHANGE RATES

goals. You have certainty about your direction. But you need to learn to interpret other people’s hopes as well to find a path that allows all to proceed.

You need to let go of what you are not good at.

You may be charismatic, you may enjoy attention, and many people may enjoy you—all good leadership traits–but you may still be a mediocre manager who is unskilled at follow-through, budgeting or tough decisions. Conversely, you may be great at the behindthe-scenes brilliance, but you’ll never be the face of the organisation. (Said one of our agency’s clients one day, “I’m deep fried turkey fat.

Great for developing programs, but I’ll never be the face you should put in front of a crowd.”) You may need to admit that it’s time to hand some of your tasks to others who can manage them better.

You are trying to prove

,

You need to discover how much more appreciation you'll get by putting the spotlight on the others around you

Achilles’ heel that will prevent you from realising your dreams. Leaders do not like to see blind spots. But employees especially the most difficult ones will revel in making them known. What to do? Asghar recommends a thorough 360-degree view that will allow you to discover and overcome your leadership flaws. It may be painful. The leadership experts of Zenger Folkman report that top line leaders are generally prone to sit out the process of 360 degree reviews, considering development efforts a process that should be directed primarily at others.

Not so.

Your radar is working harder than your compass. You’re the sort of person who can walk into a situation and can read other people’s feelings. You want everyone to be happy—more importantly, you want them to be happy with you. You get derailed easily, changing your mind and your direction in the face of any resistance.

If this is you, it’s time to find your own True North and to allow that result to drive your leadership efforts.

Your compass is working harder than your radar. You are trampling on other people’s heads on your way to your

,

yourself instead of just expressing yourself.

Because you’re on a desperate quest for respect, you haven’t discovered the Zen of getting playfully lost in the work that you love without regard for the outcomes. You need to give yourself permission to do the things you love instead of being the person you are conscious of wanting others to see.

You did never admit it, but you still secretly think that it just might be all about you. You see leadership as your best chance to put the spotlight on yourself, leave a legacy, and prove your merit to friends, to family and foe. You need to discover how much more appreciation you’ll get (and will deserve to get) by putting the spotlight on the others around you.

You never can say goodbye. Like Julius Caesar you risk damaging your legacy by staying too long.

You need to know when it is time to let the mantle of leadership go.

Any way you look at it, it is a messy job to manage other imperfect human beings, particularly while we are undeniably imperfect ourselves.

*Culled from Forbes

Date 10/6/14

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

Buying(N) 154.73 259.606 209.5818 171.9031 1.5118 0.302 237.6749 24.8553 41.2547 28.0852 237.8819

Central(N) 155.23 260.4449 210.259 172.4586 1.5167 0.312 238.443 24.9361 41.388 28.176 238.6506

Selling(N) 155.73 261.2838 210.9363 173.0141 1.5215 0.322 239.211 25.0169 41.5214 28.2667 239.4193

How to start a small busine COVERING THE LEGAL SIDE

C

onsider having a lawyer: There will be many hurdles to leap as you go from working stiff to overworked and underpaid small business owner. Some of those hurdles will be composed of stacks of documents with rules and regulations, ranging from building covenants to city ordinances, county permits, state requirements, taxes, fees, contracts, shares, partnerships, and more.

Having somebody you can call when the need arises will not only give you peace of mind, it will give you a muchneeded resource who can help you plan for success.

Choose someone with experience in this area, as an inexperienced legal advisor could lead you to legal trouble or even fines and prison time.

Get an accountant: You’ll want someone who can deftly handle your financials, but even if you feel you can handle your own books, you’ll still need someone who understands the tax side of running a business.

Taxes with businesses can get complicated, so you’ll need (at a minimum) a tax advisor. Again, no matter how much of your finances they’re handling, this should be someone trustworthy.

Form a business entity: You’ll need to decide what type of business entity you want to be, for tax purposes and hopefully to eventually attract investors. Most people are familiar with corporations, LLCs, etc., but for the vast majority of small business owners, you will need to form one of the following: A sole proprietorship, if

you will be running (not including employees) this business on your own or with your spouse. A general proprietorship, if you will be running this business with a partner.

A limited partnership, which is composed of a few general partners, who are liable for problems with the business, and a few limited partners, who are only liable for the amount in which they invest in the business. All share profits and losses. A limited liability partnership (LLP), where no partner is liable for another’s negligence.

MANAGING YOUR FINANCES Cover your startup costs: How are you going to finance your business initially? The bank, venture capitalists, angel investors, Small Business Administration (SBA), your own savings- these are all viable options. When you start a business, be realistic.

You will probably not roll out of the gate making 100 percent of whatever you project, so you need to have

enough ready reserve to fund things until you are really up and running. One of the surest roads to failure is under-capitalisation.

Have more than the minimum: You may determine it will take $50,000 to start your business, and that’s fine. You get your $50,000, buy your desks and printers and raw materials, and then then the second month arrives, and you’re still in production, and the rent is due, and your employees want to be paid, and all the bills hit at once.

When this happens, your only likely recourse will be to pack it in. If you can, try to have the reserves for a year of no income.

Be prudent: Plan to keep purchases of office equipment and overheads to a minimum when starting up.

You do not need amazing office premises, the latest in office chairs and pricey artwork on the walls. Many a business start-up has failed by purchasing the expensive gizmos instead of focusing on the business itself.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, JUNE 12, 2014—23

S & YOU COMMODITIES (11/6/14)

Just as a liver can't liver without a pair of lungs to supply it with oxygen, employess are only as effective as the other elements that surround them

Top Price Gainers (N) - 11/6/14

Commodity Light Crude

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their values than one lacking the certification.

Many a business start-up has failed by purchasing the expensive gizmos instead of focusing on the business itself

,

Crunch some numbers and plan ahead: Chart your way to financial success. What price do you intend to sell your product or service for? How much will it cost you to produce? Work out a rough estimate for net profit— factoring in fixed costs like rent, energy, employees, etc.

Check out your competitors: Know how much are they selling a similar product for. Can you add something to it (add value) to make yours different and hence make it a more enticing price? For example, perhaps your company would like to provide an additional year of guarantee at no cost, or a repair part free-ofcharge or an additional gadget with the initial item.

Competition isn’t just about the goods or services themselves. It is also about your social and environmental credibility. Consumers are increasingly conscious of the need to show that your business is concerned with labor conditions and isn’t damaging the environment.

Certification endorsements from reputable organisations, such as labels and stars, can reassure customers that your product or service is more aligned with

Manage your running costs: Keep a close eye on your running costs and keep them in line with your projections. Whenever you see something spent wastefully—like electricity, phone plans, stationery, packaging - look around, and estimate how much really need, and minimize or remove the cost in every way possible. Think frugally when you start up, including hiring items instead of purchasing them and using pre-paid plans for services your business needs instead of locking yourself into longterm contracts.

Find a way to get paid: You will need to do something to get payment from your clients or customers. You can get something like a Square, which is great for small businesses since it requires the minimum amount of paperwork and the fees are minimal. However, if you feel uncomfortable with technology, you can go the old fashioned route and get a merchant account.

A merchant account is a contract under which an acquiring bank extends a line of credit to a merchant, who wishes to accept payment card transactions of a particular card association brand. Previously, without such a contract, one cannot accept payments by any of the major credit card brands. However, the Square has changed that, so don’t feel locked in or limited to this option. Do your research.

The Square is a card swiping device which connects with a smartphone or tablet and turns that device into a sort of cash register. You may have encountered this device in the businesses you frequent, as they are becoming common at coffee shops, restaurants, street food stands and other businesses (look for a postage-stamp sized plastic square plugged into a tablet or phone). *Source: WikiHow.com

BY ‘UJU ONWUZULIKE

“Everything everywhere now truly affects everything else” - Ian Mitroff An organisation is a living breathing system, composed of people, money, processes, facilities, equipment and software. Just as people get sick when their organs don’t function properly, an organisation is ineffective— meaning it loses money, market share, employees or customers—if any of its components become dysfunctional.

However, not all components of an organisation are equal to its success. Ultimately, the most important element to an organisation is the people that make up its workforce, as they work towards achieving a set of defined purposes.

Just as a liver can’t live without a pair of lungs to supply it with oxygen, employees are only as effective as the other elements that surround them. So when you look at an organisation you have to look at it as a “Rubik’s Cube” of many moving parts that all need to align together to achieve maximum performance.

When you view your organisation or company as a living system, you’ll see that you can’t affect one part of an organisation without it affecting all its other parts. So

you must be careful and thoughtful when implementing any changes, as you will encounter unintended consequences— often of a negative nature.

Regardless of what changes you may decide to make, the key to successfully implementing change is to (1) align the delivery systems and departments while (2)

,

ess (2)

The power of seeing your organisation as a ‘living' system

When you view your organisation or company as a living system, you’ll see that you can’t affect one part of an organisation without it affecting all its other parts

,

successfully achieving cultural attunement with the employees’ hearts and minds (remember, people support what they help create). If you only do one or the other, your organisation will encounter a glass ceiling that will keep it from becoming a high-performing, 21st Century organisation. You need both alignment of delivery and attunement of people’s hearts and minds.

Points to ponder: Institutionalising a systemoriented organisation (as opposed to a bureaucratic and a piecemeal approach) will deliver the following benefits: A shared vision of

the overall organisation’s future. Better horizontal, cross-functional communication and cooperation to serve the customer.

Teamwork within and across functions. Integrity of the various parts and departments of the organisation fitting and working together for the good of the whole. Focus on system-wide core strategies rather than functional or department goals. Fewer levels of hierarchy and management; greater operational flexibility and empowerment.

Final note: Since an organisation is a living breathing system, it may not be in the BEST interest of leaders or managers to solve the organisational issues using a piecemeal approach or one size fits all approach. They are likely to create unintended consequences for your organisation.

Organisations as a system will always require a Systems Thinking Approach in resolving both the simple and complex issues that exist- by so doing every component of the organisation will fit together.

The better they fit, the more efficient and effective the organisation will be, then Success is engineered upfront.

Call or email us for your views or perspectives.

Email: uju@hainescentre.com Mobile: 09091142093 C M Y K

24 — Vanguard, THURSDAY, JUNE 12, 2014

Banks earn N12.8bn on deposits with CBN in four months

By BABAJIDE KOMOLAFE

B

anks earned N12.86 billion as interest income on deposits placed with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) from January to April.

This was revealed in the Economic reports of the apex bank for the first quarter of the year and for April. Banks can borrow from the CBN through its Standing Lending Facility (SLF). They can also place their idle cash (excess liquidity) as deposit with the apex bank through its Stand-

ing Deposit Facility. According to the CBN, from January to April, banks paid N1.72 billion as interest on money borrowed through its SLF, and earned N12.86 billion on deposits placed through its SDF. This resulted to a net interest income of N11.14 billion for banks during the four month period.

The CBN Economic Report for the first quarter stated, “The total Standing Lending Facility (SLF) granted during the review period was N3, 169.26 billion with a daily average of N51.12 billion in the first

quarter of 2014, compared with N1,445.54 billion in the preceding quarter, indicating an increase of 119.2 per cent.

Interest paid on SLF in the first quarter of 2014 stood at N1.70 billion, compared with N0.87 billion in the preceding quarter.

“Total standing deposit facilities (SDF) granted during the review period was N24, 037.26 billion with daily average of N387.7 billion, compared with N18, 088.37 billion granted in the fourth quarter of 2013. The cost incurred on SDF rose by 32.3 per cent to N9.42 billion, compared with N7.12 billion in the preceding quarter.

From left: Mr. George Abed, Director for Africa & the Middle East, Institute for International Finance (IIF); Dr. Sarah Alade, Deputy Governor, Economic Policy, Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN); and Mr. Jubril Aku, Managing Director, Ecobank Plc at an outreach by the IIF and the CBN in Lagos.

FCMB restates commitment to economic development T

he Group Managing Director/Chief Executive of First City Monument Bank (FCMB) Limited, Mr. Ladi Balogun, has assured that the Bank will intensify its support to the agricultural sector and other sectors in order to fasttrack the growth of the Nigerian economy. He stated this at the recently concluded Ogun State Investors Forum held at the state capital, Abeokuta.

The forum which is in its second edition was organised by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry in collaboration with the Ogun State Government. This year’s theme aptly titled “Ogun State – Open for Business” focused on the enhanced agricultural production sectors and accelerated urban development areas of the state, highlighting the abundant agricultural resources and investment opportunities which abound.

Mr. Balogun, who was part of the plenary session on, ‘’Financing Agriculture and Housing Development: InvestC M Y K

ment and Potentials”, said that FCMB’s funding of the agriculture sector has been on the rise, adding that, “ we have provided various lines of credit to the sector and its value chain, including small and medium scale businesses”. He added that the Bank is focused on being a strategic partner to the government and other stakeholders, ‘’because we believe that creating wealth and enhancing productivity, will also boost revenue generation within the state which will ultimately lead to increased economic activity and development ”.

The FCMB GMD pointed out that the challenges facing the agriculture sector can be eliminated if all stakeholders worked together by ensuring that the, ‘’entire lending process is streamlined”.

Commenting on the Bank’s participation as one of the key sponsors of the Ogun State Investors Forum, Mr. Balogun explained that this is part of its contribution to the development of the state and demon-

The Economic report for April stated, “CBN Standing Facilities Aggregate Standing Lending Facility (SLF) granted during the period under review

CBN seeks collaboration with IIF on cross border supervision

T

he Central Bank of Nige ria (CBN) has called for collaboration with the Institute of International Finance (IIF) on cross border supervision of the finance sector.

Deputy Governor, Economic Policy, CBN, Dr. Sarah Alade, made this call at the outreach event organised by the CBN and the Institute in Lagos. Alade said: “As the Bank work to strengthen the system and expand the growth of the sector, a good area of collaboration with IIF will be in the area of building capacity and sharing best practice experiences in managing the introduction of innovative products and practices in the banking sector.

“This is even more crucial in areas of cross border supervision and crisis resolution framework. ”In addition, as we work to strengthen the sector and increase profitability for the shareholders, we must work to encourage financial stability and balance the need between profitability and economic growth. This will include the development of prudential and regulatory framework that will support sound and resilient financial sector.

stration of its resolve to play a frontal role in all initiatives that would boost the wellbeing of the society and its people.

Citi marks Global Community Day in Nigeria

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was N50.13 billion, reflecting a daily average of N0.42 billion, compared with N527.86 billion and a daily average of N62.17 billion in the preceding month.

The total amount granted indicated a decrease of 90.5 per cent below the level in the preceding month.

ORE than 500,000 Citi volunteers in 479 cities spanning 93 countries around the world engaged in service activities to benefit their local communities, as Citi marked its ninth annual Global Community Day. According to a statement by the bank, working side-by-side, Citi colleagues, alumni, family and friends demonstrated the company’s commitment to supporting and improving communities by leading and participating in more than 1,200 service projects focused on local needs including urban revitalization, financial literacy and education, housing, health and human services, environmental conservation and disaster relief.

In Lagos, Citi volunteers served the students and teachers of Lagos State Model College, Badore by refurbishing the school’s library.This involved painting the building, providing books, donating chairs and air conditioning. Citi employees, family and friends also engaged in gardening as they beautified the school grounds with flowers and cleared out the school’s field.

This is an area that Africa banking sector and the Institute for International Finance (IIF) could collaborate in developing the right set of policies that is best suited for our environment through collaborative research and information sharing.

Mainstreet Bank gets certificate on payment standard

M

ainstreet Bank Limited has been awarded Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard certification (PCIDSS).

The Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS) is a set of requirements designed to ensure companies that process, store or transmit credit/debit card information, maintain a secure environment to manage the fast evolving Payment Card Industry (PCI) security standards.

PCI DSS is administered and managed by the PCI Security Standards Council, an independent body that was created by the major payment card brands (Visa, MasterCard, American Express, Discover and JCB).

Vanguard, THURSDAY, JUNE 12, 2014 — 25

GRADUATE UNEMPLOYMENT:

Is curriculum the culprit?

BY EBELE ORAKPO WHAT you hear, you forget; what you see, you remember; what you do, you understand. This saying holds true anytime, anywhere.

Do we then wonder that the average Nigerian university graduate finds it difficult to be self-reliant upon graduation? This is because he was not programmed to be self-reliant right from the onset. The essence of education is for personal and national development and Nigeria seems not to be achieving that. Education should make the educated a job creator and not a job seeker. In this article, Vanguard Learning sought to find out from stakeholders where Nigeria got it wrong, whether the problem is with the curriculum or its implementation. Excerpts: Problem is implementation: OST of the respondents say implemen tation is the problem and not the curriculum. Professor Bashir Raji, Vice-Chancellor of Fountain University, Osogbo, believes that the curriculum is not the issue but implementation.

"Curriculum in the university is supposed to be reviewed every five years but we don't have to always wait for for that if new skills crop up. Example, Information and Communications Technology (ICT) has become something that every graduate should have knowledge of. So if a curriculum is devoid of ICT, it will need to be reviewed. Many universities have reviewed their curriculum to incorporate ICT and entrepreneurship. But we still need to do a lot in the way we handle our curriculum."

Professor Joe Ahaneku, Vice-

M

*Job seekers at one of the venues of the Nigerian Immigration Service examinations. Some died while many were wounded in the process.

Chancellor of Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka agrees with Raji.

He says the curriculum is not the problem when it comes to the issue of unemployment. "I think it is the application of the curriculum in terms of engaging students on hands-on, ie practical and exposure to gain the skills.

With the orientation we have had over the years, everything was becoming too theoretical with very minimal practical component.

That informed the need for the establishment of Entrepreneuri-

al Studies as a degree programme to expose students to certain skills so that at the end of the day, they will be equipped with the enabling skills to get established as individuals and also provide opportunities for others.

So the issue is how the curriculum is applied in terms of the necessary facilities that are required for the students to really have hands-on."

However, for Prof. MacDonald Idu of the Dept. of Plant Science and Biotechnology, University of

Benin, there is need to change the curriculum as he believes a curriculum must be targeted towards national development.

"We need to change the curriculum of Nigerian universities completely. Many of the universities are still operating the curriculum they started with and definitely, the world is going faster than we think so we cannot continue to hold on to the old curriculum.

We have changed our curriculum over and over again at least

ASUP calls off strike soon, COEASU hopeful

By LAJU ARENYEKA

A

FTER Polytechnic students have lost an entire academic session, there seems to be a light at the end of the tunnel, as recent developments show that the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics, ASUP might call off its nine-month- old strike soon.

Speaking to Vanguard Learning, the ASUP Zone D Chairman, Mr. Anderson Ezeibe opined that the intervention of the National

Assembly has gone a long way in resolving some of the issues raised by the union. He said in a phone interview: "We are likely to have an emergency National Executive Committee meeting this week. Our dealings with the National Assembly have been fruitful so far. The committee on dichotomy is almost done and we are just waiting for the report. We are also waiting on a technical committee to be set up that will look into the remaining issues when the strike is over. The commencement of this committee

will form part of the resolutions for the strike to be called off. We know that some of these issues cannot be resolved in a day, that is why we want this committee set up so that the issues are not swept under the carpet when the strike ends."

It would be recalled that polytechnic lecturers have not been paid since March when the 'nowork, no-pay' policy was set in motion by the Federal Government. Ezeibe said: "Another issue we will consider at the NEC is the Federal Government's commitment to pay the arrears of

withheld salaries as well as the migration of those in the lower cadre to the CONTISS 15 salary scale. We hope to have these conditions in writing with the heads of relevant institutions appending their signatures. If this is done, we will take the conditions to the NEC, and the NEC will decide."

For the Colleges of Education Academic Staff Union, COEASU, it seems like there might not be a shifting of grounds until June 24, when the union is set to meet

Continues on page 26

in my department, but then, there is a need for a constant looking into of this curriculum to make

Continues on page 26

Nigerian polytechnics are no Pg. 28 pushovers RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT

Nigerian students shine at 2014 Shell Eco-Marathon Pg. 29 SUCCESS RECIPE WITH UDEME ARCHIBONG

‘Right wrongs

and make fewer mistakes'

Pg. 30

26 — Vanguard, THURSDAY, JUNE 12, 2014

Graduate unemployment: Is curriculum the culprit? they would have seen the link between the theory and application. But what we see now is that most students see it as a course they have to pass to graduate but not a means of livelihood. " "We believe our students have to be exposed to understand these problems and start thinking of how they can solve them because that is their job when they graduate," says Ensign.

Giving a practical example, Ensign said: "I was an election observer for the national election and I took the Computer Science students with me. People wait in line for hours in the hot sun to register and then to vote and I asked the students what they are going to do about it. One of them was taking notes and he said: "I know how to computerize this.

We can do it."

Many employed people see

,

Continues from page 25 sure that it is targeted towards national growth especially in the area of our economy. It is not worth it when you have a curriculum and that curriculum is not helping your country. Knowledge is supposed to be applied to something so I believe that the curriculum should be changed.

We could look into our curriculum every five years to see how it is helping the nation. If it is not positively affecting us, then change it. Change is the only constant thing in life. When we reflect that in our universities, polytechnics, and colleges of education, things will begin to go better for us."

President of American University of Nigeria (AUN), Yola, Professor Margee Ensign says it is less the content you learn than how to learn, so their approach is more practical. What we do is to make the students start thinking now how they can apply their knowledge. It's not just about having knowledge, anybody can have knowledge; it is how to apply it to solve problems.

The way we teach: Raji said that the way we teach should be more important than the curriculum itself. "In the final year, the mindset of the lecturer should be to teach the students the application of whatever is in the curriculum, not just theories.

I had the same problem when I started teaching. The first time I handled a course, I never knew the application of the course outside the classroom. I just taught it theoretically without actually linking the two but the people that designed the curriculum may have in mind that the lecturer handling it will be knowledgeable enough to link it for the students so that before they leave,

public sector. They gave the example of hairstylists and fashion designers. There are a lot of these jobs now, but when you ask them, they will tell you they are unemployed when some of them make up to N50,000 a month. So when there is a job advertisement, they all rush to apply. That was what happened in the Immigration Service stampede.

Some of those who died were already working as teachers in secondary schools but because of the level of corruption and our impatience as a people, everybody wants to become a millionaire and some of these 'jobs' are easy sources of money.

Everybody wanted to go into Immigration because they want to become millionaires, not for the work they do but for the corruption that is embedded in it.

"Currently, we have introduced

Now, they have been prevented from doing that. Now, they are trying to create Bachelor's and master's degrees in medical laboratory science in universities but unfortunately, they still come back to say they want to do master's or PhD in microbiology so that they can take over the department completely."

To solve the problem, Ahmad advises that more practical be incorporated in the Microbiology curriculum so that the graduates will become more relevant. "Most of the time, in courses like medical bacteriology or medical virology, if you don't have the current techniques or the molecular Continues on page 27

We believe our students have to be exposed to understand these problems and start thinking of how they can solve them because that is their job when they graduate themselves as unemployed: Prof. Raji said that most Nigerians generally see themselves as unemployed once they are not in government employ. His words: "At the last Governors' Forum retreat, one of the topics was unemployment. What came out clearly was that we have all been stereotyped into thinking of employment in terms of white collar jobs. When you graduate, you get a job in the ministries. Those were the jobs created in the 70s and 80s but we find out that a lot of our graduates are selfemployed and making a lot of money except it is not in the

,

a lot of entrepreneurship and ICT and these are skills that most graduates will need to be on their own when they graduate. But as a university, you need to get them prepared to become job creators. So these are some of the things that we actually need to change not the curriculum per se.

My students impressed me recently at their exhibition. They did a lot of things; some of these things they can actually do when they graduate but the thing is that most of them still see it as credit to earn a degree so they just pass it and forget it. So we need to actually help them get

...ASUP strike might be called off soon Continues from Page 25 with the National Assembly. The COEASU President, Mr. Emmanuel Nkoro told Vanguard Learning: "We have been called for a meeting with the National Assembly on June 24 to resolve the issues. I am quite optimistic about that meeting. I hope that we will receive an offer that we will be able to take back to pur people. We have spent a long time on this quagmire, and we hope that the issues will be resolved so that the strike can come to an end."

Why the strikes?

The root cause of the strike is an agreement ASUP had with the Federal Government in 2001, which was reviewed in 2009 with an agreement that it should be re-negotiated after three years.

In December 2012, as a result of government's failure to address any of the demands, ASUP issued government a 30-day ultimatum which expired on January 31, 2013.

prepared, change their mindset before they graduate."

More practical needed: Relating it to the problem between microbiologists and medical laboratory technologists in Nigeria, Professor Ahmad Aliyu Ahmad, former Vice-Chancellor of Federal University of Technology Yola, (now Modibbo Adama University of Technology) and former Head of Department of Microbiology, ABU, Zaria says that training of students should incorporate more practical aspects than theory. "Our students used to train for medical laboratory technology after their first degree before they could work in the hospital.

Though ASUP had reasons to embark on strike in view of government's repeated failure to address its demands, it decided to give government more time to respond; a response that never came. This compelled the union to issue another 21-day ultimatum on March 25, 2013 which expired on April 22, 2013 and was followed by the declaration of a one-week warning strike which dovetailed into an indefinite strike beginning Monday, April, 29, 2013.

ASUP suspended the strike in July 2013 as a result of Government's promise to fulfill four of the 13 issues in the contentious 2009 agreement between both parties.

These four issues include release of the White paper on Visitation to Federal Polytechnics, the completion of the constitution of the governing councils for federal polytechnics, the migration of the lower cadre to CONTISS 15 salary scale, and the commencement of the Needs Assessment of Nigerian Polytech-

nics.

The union suspended the strike,and gave Government a one month time frame to resolve the issues. But it was not until ASUP resumed its strike in January that the Federal Government commenced Needs Assessment and completed the constitution of the governing councils for federal polytechnics.

COEASU on the other hand, is fighting for the first issue which is the non-implementation of Peculiar Academic Allowance to the tune of N5.6bn, imposition of integrated IPPIS, inadequate funding of the teaching practice, non- accreditation of NCE programmes, non-release of Whitepaper on Visitation Panel Reports 2011, non-implementation of CONPCASS in some states, non-institution of dual mode which allows colleges of education the autonomy to award degrees in core education courses to run concurrently with the NCE programmes among others."

*Apostle Anselm Madubuko, President of Revival Christian Academy (RCA) School of Business and Dr Juliana Cenac, Asst. VicePresident, Professional & Continuous Education, Regent University, Virginia, USA during her visit to Nigeria.

NASU decries poor state of public libraries

BY VICTOR AHIUMA-YOUNG

N

ON-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associat-ed Institutions, NASU, has decried the poor state of public libraries in Nigeria, calling on government to declare emergency on the sector by improving their funding for acquisition of current and relevant books, non-book materials, virtual facilities and infrastructure.

Leaders of WAEC\Libraries and other trade group council of NASU, at their first regular meeting in Ibadan Oyo State, also demanded for the approval of an enhanced salary structure for the staff of the State Libraries and implored the Tertiary Education Trust Fund, TETFUND, to intervene in public library.

In a communiqué issued at the end of the meeting by Comrades Michael Adegoke and Damola Adelekun, Chairman/Deputy President of the group and Secretary of the group respectively, said: "The Council-in-Session observed with dismay the present deplorable condition of Nigerian Public Libraries. It noted that the neglect by the Government and decline in individual and organisations' support have contributed in great measure to the decay in this very vital organ of the edu-

cational sector in the country. The Council-in-Session expressed belief that for a nation to develop, it must have effective and efficient library services. It commended the former Governor of Anambra State, Chief Peter Obi for increasing monthly subvention of the State Library Board and commissioning the Kenneth Dike Ultra Modern Library.

"The Council-in-Session therefore urged Government to declare emergency in this important sector by improving their funding for acquisition of current and relevant books, non-book materials, virtual facilities and infrastructure. It also called for the approval of an enhanced salary structure for the staff of State Libraries and implored the Tertiary Education Trust Fund, TETFUND, to intervene in public library."

On agreement with WAEC, the communiqué noted that members expressed happiness with the positive development between the union and the Management of WAEC, Nigeria National office over the settlement of the members' grievances.

They called on WAEC Management to fully implement the agreement reached with the Union at the meeting held on 5th March, 2014 to expedite action on the remaining issues yet unresolved.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, JUNE 12, 2014 — 27

Graduate unemployment: Is curriculum the culprit?

Continues from page 26 aspect like genetic engineering or biotechnology, diagnostics will become a problem because they no longer waste time on long tissue culture; they have abandoned all that so that is the idea of incorporating these techniques. The courses will be structured in such a way that there will be more practical aspects in courses like immunology, virology, industrial microbiology etc."

Ensign: "We prepare young people to be problem solvers," so apart from the usual courses, AUN students are made to understand first-hand, the problems of their communities and country and proffer solutions. "Every student has to do a course in community service that focuses on one of AUN's projects. You don't just do a major, you do a general education programme history, international politics, sociology - it does not matter what your major is. Every student has to do almost two years of a general education because the world is changing so rapidly in some ways, so it's less the content you learn than how to learn. We do retreats and a big part of it is to brainstorm on how to take our projects and incorporate them in classes and internships so the

students get first-hand experience and exposure.

Training & retraining: Said Idu: "Yes most universities do review every five years but how many are really doing the right thing? What is their definition of review? Who are the people doing the review? Is it the same old person who has been

teaching the same thing for 20 30 years? What do you want him to inject into it when he is not even current? That is why we have a lot to do; the basic thing is to train and retrain our lecturers.

"You may think it is not necessary but we need to be trained and retrained so that we can get

abreast with what is going on in the world. It does not really take the shine off you if you ask questions when you don't know what to do. As an insider, I can tell you that many of my colleagues do not know what to do but they don't want to ask questions because they are shy. The day you stop learning is the day you die so we keep learning and learning.

I believe Nigeria will go forward if we apply that method. I strong-

ly believe that we should take a thorough look into curricula of our universities every five years. The National Universities Commission should be completely involved. Government should look into this so as to make this country work. I have a very big burden concerning it because I know that Nigeria is a great country and we are not there yet but at least we can start from somewhere."

Nigeria, Uganda, Egypt for Microsoft Imagine Cup finals

BY EMEKAAGINAM

B

Y the time the software giant, Microsoft at the weekend released the result of finalists that will showcase their innovative solutions at the global stage next month with three African countries making the list, there were positive signals that the tech start-ups will unlock African potentials during Imagine Cup worldwide finals slated for next month in the United States of America.

Accordingly, the three African countries are Nigeria, Uganda and Egypt. One interesting thing is that Nigeria and the two African countries in question beat other African countries who had contested in the semi-finals.

However, this year will mark the 12th edition of Imagine Cup, the

world’s premier student technology program and competition.

Now under a global spotlight, students participating in the World Finals have proven they are the best of the best, beating out at least 150 teams from around the world.

With this development, Team Nigeria will retool the country local talent at the global stage with other software incubators from other countries.

Under world Citizenship, Team High Rise with project name – CATARA from Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomosho having scaled through national and semi-finals has demonstrated that software Nigeria can be retooled for global market.

Microsoft global judging panel having concluded their evaluations of more than 170 student projects from 76 countries in the World Semifinals selected Nigeria, Uganda and Egypt to fly African flag at the worldwide finals next month in Seattle, Washington, US. With their incredible work and innovative solution, 35 top teams have built projects that are fun, fascinating, surprising and even life changing.

Under world Citizenship Team High Rise with project name – CATARA from Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomosho and Team AfriGal Tech from Uganda will represent Africa while Team Illogic from Egypt with their project namePuppy in Bubble will represent

Africa in Game category respectively.

With promising solution that will make a difference while solving the world greatest problems, Team High Rise from LAUTECH comprising Adefioye Temidayo, Faleye Benjamin, Oyebisi Jemil and Ibraheem had developed a solution called Catara, which serves the purpose of drastically reduces the rate at which cataract causes total blindness.

Accordingly, the 35 top teams for the worldwide finals will compete in three categories, Innovation, Games, and World Citizenship for a chance to win $50,000 USD plus a boot campstyle experience designed to really move their projects forward.

28— Vanguard, THURSDAY, JUNE 12, 2014

‘Nigeria polytechnics are no pushovers’ P

BY DAYO ADESULU

OLYTECHNIC edu cation in Nigeria is largely perceived as inferior to university education due to some arguable factors which play down on the aims and objectives of polytechnics.

The institutes of technology and polytechnics have been in existence at least since the 18th Century, but became popular after World War II with the expansion of technical education, associated with the new need created by industrialization. In some cases, polytechnics or institutes of technology are engineering schools or technical colleges.

In spite of these differences in polytechnics and universities, in advanced countries there is no disparity as both institutions award the same degree. In the United States of America, polytechnics are referred to as institute of technology, polytechnic institute, polytechnic university. In Asia, it is polytechnic school of engineering. A polytechnic was a teaching institution in England, Wales and Northern Ireland offering higher diplomas, undergraduate degree and post graduate education

that was governed and administered at the national level.

After the passage of the Further and Higher Education Act 1992, they became independent universities which meant they could award their own degrees. Thus, from 1992 till date about 33 polytechnics have been converted to degree awarding institutions in the United Kingdom.

These are generally researchintensive universities with a focus on science and technology. However, the level of academic rigor in these schools may vary from entrylevel state universities to world renowned elite schools.

In Nigeria, the Federal Ministry of Education classified both the polytechnic and university as tertiary institutions with the same qualification in the labour market. But in practical terms, many stakeholders in the sector do not see them as same. In some quarters, the argument is that if both are same in quality, why are employers placing a university degree holder above its polytechnic counterpart even when apparently evident that the polytechnic graduate can do better. Many times, when

employers receive more job applications than they can absorb, they often short list the university graduate before the polytechnic.

Moreover, some schools of thought argue that status quo should remain, noting that the admission process of the polytechnic is more flexible than the university. They averred that whereas, minimum of five credits are required for university entrance, four credits are only needed for the polytechnic. To buttress their point, the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination UTME does not give same cut off mark to both university and polytechnic. For example, if general cut off mark for university admission is 180, the polytechnic could be 130. To worsen the situation, while those who need the university education are meant to seat for four subjects, those in the polytechnic years back sat for only three subjects. The scenario has therefore began to create an unnoticeable impression to even the student that the polytechnic education is inferior.

On the other hands, our government who suppose to

correct the anomaly is not helping the situation as it often gives more fund and attentions to university than the polytechnic. That explains why our polytechnic students have been on strike for over two sessions and the Federal Government has not taking the students and its striking workers seriously. Can our university be shut for so long and the Federal Government and other stakeholders will keep mum?

If our polytechnics in Nigeria are upgraded to degree awarding institutions as it has been clamoured for perhaps thess disparities would have been over. If the government of Nigeria think because its university education is functional, the international communities cannot claim that Nigerian students are on strike, the government should better believe that some of our polytechnics are doing pretty well than some Nigerian federal universities and this fact is well known to the world.

For instance, in the August 2013 Web metric ranking of Nigerian universities, Obafemi Awolowo University was ranked 22nd in Africa and number 1,113 in the world.

Whereas in the same year, Auchi Polytechnic came second in Nigeria and 23rd in Africa, beating the likes of University of Ibadan to the third place, thus showing that Nigeria polytechnics are no pushovers and are reputable in their areas of focus.

Speaking in the same vein at 8th convocation of the Lagos City Polytechnic where 870 graduates were churned out, the Director of Taxes, Mr Olulenu Michael Abimbolu, said that any institution which meets the standard of global ranking will be recognised accordingly. According to him, the global standards used for either polytechnic or university are the teaching strength, research, international journal publications, international reputation, teacher/student ration and research impact.

To achieve these, he said, tertiary institutions are to pursue teaching and research adding that dissemination of information whether new or existing in various publications.

Olulenu, however pointed out that the challenges to education sector range from quality of the output which could not compete globally either professionally or academically. Others include poor service delivery, incessant strike by teachers.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, JUNE 12, 2014 — 29

C M Y K

30— Vanguard, THURSDAY, JUNE 12, 2014

C M Y K

Vanguard, THURSDAY, JUNE 12, 2014 — 31

Fun, party, drama as World Cup begins I

t’s here, it’s finally here, the World Cup is back.

Today, all eyes will turn to Sao Paulo, Brazil, as the tournament that we’ve all been waiting for ever since the curtain came down on South Africa 2010 gets underway.

While all 32 competing nations are meticulously preparing for the group stage, behind closed doors, the 2014 World Cup’s Opening Ceremony is set to be a spectacular show worthy of starting the tournament.

Before the real business gets underway with hosts Brazil taking on Croatia, the world will be treated to a show like no other.

In a perfect curtain-raiser for the month of action to follow, performers will unite for a 25-minute spectacular that involves singing, dancing, acrobatics and more.

Artistic director Daphne Cornez revealed that the show will honour Brazil and that the hundreds of performers are more motivated than ever to thrill their worldwide audience.

“The Opening Ceremony is a tribute to Brazil and its treasures: nature, people football. The sense of excitement here is amazing and everyone is very motivated. It doesn’t matter whether they’re feeling tired or hot sometimes or if they have to go through routines again and again: they just keep on smiling. It’s amazing.”

Brazil’s endless treasures will be represented by both performers and

props throughout the show, with a “living” LED ball being the central focus—made up of a reported 90,000 light clusters.

Among the performers at the

Opening Ceremony will be rapper Pitbull, who will team up with Claudia Leitte and drumming group Olodum to perform “We Are One”— the official song of the tournament.

The 33-year-old rapper from Florida, who recently stormed to the top of the charts with “Timber,” said that the show will bring the world together on June 12.

“I truly believe that this great game and the power of music will help unify us, because we are best when we are one.”

A

ccording to FIFA.com’s report, for every minute of the 25 that the show is set to last, 20 hours of preparation have taken place, making our expectations go up even more.

More than 600 volunteers offered their services to make the Opening Ceremony every bit as thrilling as

the football that follows, and they’ll become a part of sporting history when they take centre stage.

Little over an hour afterwards, Brazil will take to the pitch to officially open the World Cup, with Croatia their Group A opponents.

With such a short transitional period, organisers had to ensure that they didn’t damage the pitch prior to the big kick-off, as executive director of operational planning and support, Joana Havelange, explained via FIFA.com’s report: “The ceremony is taking place during the day, which means we won’t be using a lot of lighting or firework. There will be no pointed, sharp objects on the pitch or anything that’s very heavy. As a result, the show will focus heavily on the dancers, the sets, the dance routines, fantasy sequences and the soundtrack, which is really lovely and took two-and-ahalf months to write.”

While the Opening Ceremony will have already created a party atmosphere in Sao Paulo, if the hosts can go on to record a victory then the stadium will reach fever pitch.

We’ve seen some incredible Opening Ceremony performances in the past, and with the meticulous planning that’s gone into 2014’s edition, it’s all set to be the best one yet.

32—Vanguard, THURSDAY, JUNE 12, 2014

Vanguard, THURSDAY, JUNE 12, 2014 — 33

Group A: History on Brazil’s side

Fixtures :

I

F history is anything to go by, then the home fans should enjoy watching Luiz Felipe Scolari’s charges in the group stage of the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil™ in Sao Paulo, Fortaleza and Brasilia. A Seleção have a good record against all three opponents, although one of them has caused problems of late.

Brazil have played all three sides in past World Cups. The Opening Match in 2014 against Croatia is a repeat of Brazil’s first game in 2006, in Germany. On that occasion Kaka’s goal gave victory to the Pentacampeões, who also have fond memories of Cameroon.

In the United States, in 1994, goals from Romario, Bebeto and Marcio Santos saw Brazil overcome the Africans 3-0 and book their place in the knockout stage of a tournament that would end with Dunga hoisting the trophy aloft. As for Mexico, it will be the fourth time the two nations have met each other in World Cup history. The record so far shows three Brazilian victories with 11 goals scored and none conceded. The last time they met, in 1962, A Seleção also ended up champions.

While Brazil have a positive record against Mexico in World Cups, the host country would do well to heed the lessons provided by a recent series of frustrating defeats at other tournaments. Brazil have lost no less than four finals against El Tri: the 1999 FIFA Confederations Cup, the 2012 Olympic Football Tournament in London, and two CONCACAF Gold Cups, in 1996 and 2003. That’s not to mention lower age groups where Mexico were also Brazil’s nemesis in the 2005 FIFA U-17 World Cup in Peru, and as recently as October, in the quarterfinals of the U-17 World in which Australia and Chile – the latter also Cup UAE 2013. having clashed with Players to watch Vicente del Bosque’s Neymar (BRA), Fred (BRA), Thiago Silva men in the first round on (BRA), Oribe Peralta African soil – will be (MEX), Raul Jimenez hoping to upset the (MEX), Samuel Eto’o heavyweight European (CAM), Alexandre duo in the race for the Song (CAM), Mario Round of 16.

Players to watch Mandzukic (CRO) and Xavi (ESP), Andres Luka Modric (CRO).

Group B: South Iniesta (ESP), Xabi (ESP), Arjen Africa finalists Alonso Robben (NED), Robin reunited Van Persie (NED), Group B at the 2014 Rafael Van Der Vaart FIFA World Cup (NED), Arturo Vidal Brazil™ will be heavily (CHI), Alexis Sanchez shaded with hues of (CHI), Claudio Bravo South Africa 2010, the (CHI), Tim Cahill section kicking off with (AUS), Lucas Neill nothing less than a (AUS). repeat of the title Group C: Fresh decider from four years challenges from ago. Reigning world champions Spain must four continents Arguably the most thus tussle with 2010 runners-up the open and difficult to predict of the eight Netherland in a group

Thursday 12 June Grou A: Brazil Friday 13 June Group A: Mexico Group B: Spain Group B. Chile Saturday 14 June Group C Columbia Group D: Uruguay Group D England Group C Ivory Coast

vs

Croatia

9 p. m

vs vs vs

Cameroon Netherlands Australia

5 p. m 8 p. m 11 p. m

vs vs vs vs

Greece Costa Rica Italy Japan

5 p. m.

8 p. m.

11 p. m.

02.00 a. m

Sunday 15 June Group E: Switzerland vs Ecuador 5 p. m Group E: France vs Honduras 8 p. m. vs Bosnia-Herzegovina 11 p. m.

Group F: Argentina Monday June 16 Group G: Germany Group F: Iran Group G: Ghana

vs vs vs

Portugal Nigeria USA

5 p. m.

8 p.m.

11 p. m.

Algeria Mexico Korea Republic

5 p. m.

8 p. m.

11 p .m.

Tuesday June 17 Group H: Belgium Group A: Brazil Group H. Russia

vs vs vs

Wednesday June 18 Group B: Australia Group B: Spain Group B: Cameroon

vs Nehterlands vs Chile vs Croatia

5 p.m.

8 p. m 11 p. m.

Thursday 19 June Group C: Colombia Group D. Uruguay Group C: Japan

vs Ivory Coast vs England vs Greece

5 p. m.

8 p. m.

11 p. m.

Friday 20 June Group D: Italy vs Group E: Switzerland vs Group E:Honduras vs Saturday June 21

Costa Rica France Ecuador

Group F: Argentina Group G: Germany Group F: Nigeria

Iran 5 p. m Ghana 8 p. m Bosnia-Herzegovina 11 p. m

vs vs vs

5 p. m.

8 p. m.

11 p. m

Sunday June 22

sections, Group C involves four teams with no shared FIFA World Cup™ history whatsoever. What can be guaranteed is an intriguing intercontinental clash of styles, with Colombia’s South American flair going up against teams - Japan, Côte d’Ivoire and Greece - which typify their own regions’ traditional strengths.

Players to watch James Rodriguez (COL), Georgios Samaras (GRE), Konstantinos Mitroglou (GRE), Yaya Toure (CIV), Didier Drogba (CIV), Keisuke Honda (JPN), Shinji Kagawa (JPN)

Group D: Tough tests in group of champions

With one current continental champion and another runner-up the first balls to be drawn to Group D, the section was already looking a tough proposition. With Uruguay and Italy watching on intently, a third FIFA World Cup™ winner was added to the mix in the shape of England, following on from Costa Rica, leaving pre-tournament predictions tough to call.

Seven times the names of the European and South American sides have been engraved on the World Cup Trophy, and at least one of these former champions will emerge into the knockout phase with their credentials well tested this time around.

Players to watch Luis Suarez (URU),

The biggest football event in the world, the FIFA 2014 World Cup begins today. Sports Vanguard leads you through the groups and the players to watch out for in the month-long tournament. Read on.

Edinson Cavani (URU), Diego Forlan (URU), Joel Campbell (CRC), Brian Ruiz (CRC), Wayne Rooney (ENG), Daniel Sturridge (ENG) Jack Wilshere (ENG), Claudio Marchisio (ITA), Giuseppe Rossi (ITA), Mario Balotelli (ITA).

Group E: France team to beat despite Swiss form

Switzerland and Honduras are reunited for the second straight FIFA World Cup™ in Group E at Brazil 2014.

The Swiss will fancy their chances of making it through to the knockout phase alongside a star-studded France, world

champions in 1998. South American outsiders Ecuador, who struggled to finish in a direct qualifying spot from their preliminary campaign, boast a speedy and muscular style of football as do CONCACAF hopefuls Honduras, who famously beat Mexico at their fabled Estadio Azteca en route to South America.

Players to watch Granit Hxaka (SUI), Xherdan Shaquiri (SUI), Valon Behrami (SUI), Hugo Lloris (FRA), Patrice Evra (FRA), Franck Ribery (FRA), Karim Benzema (FRA), Walter Ayovi (ECU), Antonia Valencia (ECU), Wilson Palacios (HON), Roger Espinoza (HON).

Group F: Argentina, Nigeria renew rivalry Group F will feature one match that has become something of a classic fixture of and five that have never been played on the big stage before, part of the reason for which is because Bosnia-Herzegovina are making their first appearance at the FIFA World Cup™, while Iran have only ever faced their group rivals in friendlies.

As for Argentina and Nigeria, the other two combatants in the group, there is not much they do not know about each other.

Their meeting next June will be the latest installment in an exciting rivalry between the two

sides, led by Lionel Messi and John Obi Mikel, who have faced off three times in major competitions at different age levels: the final of the FIFA U-20 World Cup Netherlands 2005, the gold medal match at the Men’s Olympic Football Tournament Beijing 2008 and in the group phase at South Africa 2010. On all three occasions Argentina won.

Players to watch Lionel Messi, (ARG), Sergio Aguero (ARG), Gonzalo Higuain (ARG), John Obi Mikel (NGA), Victor Moses (NGA), E m m a n u e l Emenike(NGA), Edin Dzeko (BIH), Vedad Ibisevic (BIH), Miralem

Pjanic (BIH), Reza Ghoochannejhad (IRN), Javad Nekounam (IRN), Karim Ansari (IRN).

Group H: Belgium, Russia expect to progress

Group H looks on paper to be one of the

Group G: Familiar most evenly weighted faces reunited sections, though Germany are not only the favourites to top Group G at Brazil 2014, the threetime world champions are also one of the heavyweight contenders to take the title. At the last four major tournaments the 2006 and 2010 FIFA World Cups™ and the 2008 and 2012 UEFA EUROS Germany have always made it at least as far as the semi-finals.

Players to watch Cristiano Ronaldo (POR), Mesut Ozil (GER), Landon Donovan (USA), Kevin-Prince Boateng (GHA).

European duo Belgium and Russia will kick off as slight favourites against Algeria and Korea Republic, two teams undergoing a period of transition.

Players to watch Eden Hazard (BEL), Romelu Lukaku (BEL), Marouane Fellaini (BEL), Sofiane Feghouli (ALG), Saphir Taider (ALG), Kim Bo-Kyung (KOR), Koo Ja-Cheol (KOR), Park Chu-Young (KOR), Igor Akinfeev (RUS), Aleksandr Kokorin (RUS)

Group H: Belgium vs Russia Group H: Korea Rep vs Algeria Group G: USA vs Portugal Monday 23 June Group B: Netherlands vs Chile Group B: Australia vs Spain Group A: Cameroon vs Brazil Group A: Croatia vs Mexico Tuesday 24 June Group D: Italy vs Uruguay Group D: Costa Rica vs England Group C: Japan vs Colombia Group C Greece vs Ivory Coast Wednesday 25 June Group F : Nigeria vs Group F: Bosnia-Herzegovina vs Group E: Honduras vs Group F: Ecuador vs Thursday 26 June Group G: Portugal Group G: Germany Group H: Korea Rep. Group H: Algeria

vs vs Vs vs

5 p. m.

8 p. m 11 p. m.

5 p. m.

5 p. m.

9 p. m.

9 p. m.

5 p. m.

5 p. m.

9 p. m 9 p. m.

Argentina 5 p. m.

Iran 5 p. m.

Switzerland 9 p. m France 9 p. m

Ghana Germany Belgium Russia

5 p. m 5 p. m 9 p. m 9 p. m.

32—Vanguard, THURSDAY, JUNE 12, 2014

Vanguard, THURSDAY, JUNE 12, 2014 — 33

Group A: History on Brazil’s side

Fixtures :

I

F history is anything to go by, then the home fans should enjoy watching Luiz Felipe Scolari’s charges in the group stage of the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil™ in Sao Paulo, Fortaleza and Brasilia. A Seleção have a good record against all three opponents, although one of them has caused problems of late.

Brazil have played all three sides in past World Cups. The Opening Match in 2014 against Croatia is a repeat of Brazil’s first game in 2006, in Germany. On that occasion Kaka’s goal gave victory to the Pentacampeões, who also have fond memories of Cameroon.

In the United States, in 1994, goals from Romario, Bebeto and Marcio Santos saw Brazil overcome the Africans 3-0 and book their place in the knockout stage of a tournament that would end with Dunga hoisting the trophy aloft. As for Mexico, it will be the fourth time the two nations have met each other in World Cup history. The record so far shows three Brazilian victories with 11 goals scored and none conceded. The last time they met, in 1962, A Seleção also ended up champions.

While Brazil have a positive record against Mexico in World Cups, the host country would do well to heed the lessons provided by a recent series of frustrating defeats at other tournaments. Brazil have lost no less than four finals against El Tri: the 1999 FIFA Confederations Cup, the 2012 Olympic Football Tournament in London, and two CONCACAF Gold Cups, in 1996 and 2003. That’s not to mention lower age groups where Mexico were also Brazil’s nemesis in the 2005 FIFA U-17 World Cup in Peru, and as recently as October, in the quarterfinals of the U-17 World in which Australia and Chile – the latter also Cup UAE 2013. having clashed with Players to watch Vicente del Bosque’s Neymar (BRA), Fred (BRA), Thiago Silva men in the first round on (BRA), Oribe Peralta African soil – will be (MEX), Raul Jimenez hoping to upset the (MEX), Samuel Eto’o heavyweight European (CAM), Alexandre duo in the race for the Song (CAM), Mario Round of 16.

Players to watch Mandzukic (CRO) and Xavi (ESP), Andres Luka Modric (CRO).

Group B: South Iniesta (ESP), Xabi (ESP), Arjen Africa finalists Alonso Robben (NED), Robin reunited Van Persie (NED), Group B at the 2014 Rafael Van Der Vaart FIFA World Cup (NED), Arturo Vidal Brazil™ will be heavily (CHI), Alexis Sanchez shaded with hues of (CHI), Claudio Bravo South Africa 2010, the (CHI), Tim Cahill section kicking off with (AUS), Lucas Neill nothing less than a (AUS). repeat of the title Group C: Fresh decider from four years challenges from ago. Reigning world champions Spain must four continents Arguably the most thus tussle with 2010 runners-up the open and difficult to predict of the eight Netherland in a group

Thursday 12 June Grou A: Brazil Friday 13 June Group A: Mexico Group B: Spain Group B. Chile Saturday 14 June Group C Columbia Group D: Uruguay Group D England Group C Ivory Coast

vs

Croatia

9 p. m

vs vs vs

Cameroon Netherlands Australia

5 p. m 8 p. m 11 p. m

vs vs vs vs

Greece Costa Rica Italy Japan

5 p. m.

8 p. m.

11 p. m.

02.00 a. m

Sunday 15 June Group E: Switzerland vs Ecuador 5 p. m Group E: France vs Honduras 8 p. m. vs Bosnia-Herzegovina 11 p. m.

Group F: Argentina Monday June 16 Group G: Germany Group F: Iran Group G: Ghana

vs vs vs

Portugal Nigeria USA

5 p. m.

8 p.m.

11 p. m.

Algeria Mexico Korea Republic

5 p. m.

8 p. m.

11 p .m.

Tuesday June 17 Group H: Belgium Group A: Brazil Group H. Russia

vs vs vs

Wednesday June 18 Group B: Australia Group B: Spain Group B: Cameroon

vs Nehterlands vs Chile vs Croatia

5 p.m.

8 p. m 11 p. m.

Thursday 19 June Group C: Colombia Group D. Uruguay Group C: Japan

vs Ivory Coast vs England vs Greece

5 p. m.

8 p. m.

11 p. m.

Friday 20 June Group D: Italy vs Group E: Switzerland vs Group E:Honduras vs Saturday June 21

Costa Rica France Ecuador

Group F: Argentina Group G: Germany Group F: Nigeria

Iran 5 p. m Ghana 8 p. m Bosnia-Herzegovina 11 p. m

vs vs vs

5 p. m.

8 p. m.

11 p. m

Sunday June 22

sections, Group C involves four teams with no shared FIFA World Cup™ history whatsoever. What can be guaranteed is an intriguing intercontinental clash of styles, with Colombia’s South American flair going up against teams - Japan, Côte d’Ivoire and Greece - which typify their own regions’ traditional strengths.

Players to watch James Rodriguez (COL), Georgios Samaras (GRE), Konstantinos Mitroglou (GRE), Yaya Toure (CIV), Didier Drogba (CIV), Keisuke Honda (JPN), Shinji Kagawa (JPN)

Group D: Tough tests in group of champions

With one current continental champion and another runner-up the first balls to be drawn to Group D, the section was already looking a tough proposition. With Uruguay and Italy watching on intently, a third FIFA World Cup™ winner was added to the mix in the shape of England, following on from Costa Rica, leaving pre-tournament predictions tough to call.

Seven times the names of the European and South American sides have been engraved on the World Cup Trophy, and at least one of these former champions will emerge into the knockout phase with their credentials well tested this time around.

Players to watch Luis Suarez (URU),

The biggest football event in the world, the FIFA 2014 World Cup begins today. Sports Vanguard leads you through the groups and the players to watch out for in the month-long tournament. Read on.

Edinson Cavani (URU), Diego Forlan (URU), Joel Campbell (CRC), Brian Ruiz (CRC), Wayne Rooney (ENG), Daniel Sturridge (ENG) Jack Wilshere (ENG), Claudio Marchisio (ITA), Giuseppe Rossi (ITA), Mario Balotelli (ITA).

Group E: France team to beat despite Swiss form

Switzerland and Honduras are reunited for the second straight FIFA World Cup™ in Group E at Brazil 2014.

The Swiss will fancy their chances of making it through to the knockout phase alongside a star-studded France, world

champions in 1998. South American outsiders Ecuador, who struggled to finish in a direct qualifying spot from their preliminary campaign, boast a speedy and muscular style of football as do CONCACAF hopefuls Honduras, who famously beat Mexico at their fabled Estadio Azteca en route to South America.

Players to watch Granit Hxaka (SUI), Xherdan Shaquiri (SUI), Valon Behrami (SUI), Hugo Lloris (FRA), Patrice Evra (FRA), Franck Ribery (FRA), Karim Benzema (FRA), Walter Ayovi (ECU), Antonia Valencia (ECU), Wilson Palacios (HON), Roger Espinoza (HON).

Group F: Argentina, Nigeria renew rivalry Group F will feature one match that has become something of a classic fixture of and five that have never been played on the big stage before, part of the reason for which is because Bosnia-Herzegovina are making their first appearance at the FIFA World Cup™, while Iran have only ever faced their group rivals in friendlies.

As for Argentina and Nigeria, the other two combatants in the group, there is not much they do not know about each other.

Their meeting next June will be the latest installment in an exciting rivalry between the two

sides, led by Lionel Messi and John Obi Mikel, who have faced off three times in major competitions at different age levels: the final of the FIFA U-20 World Cup Netherlands 2005, the gold medal match at the Men’s Olympic Football Tournament Beijing 2008 and in the group phase at South Africa 2010. On all three occasions Argentina won.

Players to watch Lionel Messi, (ARG), Sergio Aguero (ARG), Gonzalo Higuain (ARG), John Obi Mikel (NGA), Victor Moses (NGA), E m m a n u e l Emenike(NGA), Edin Dzeko (BIH), Vedad Ibisevic (BIH), Miralem

Pjanic (BIH), Reza Ghoochannejhad (IRN), Javad Nekounam (IRN), Karim Ansari (IRN).

Group H: Belgium, Russia expect to progress

Group H looks on paper to be one of the

Group G: Familiar most evenly weighted faces reunited sections, though Germany are not only the favourites to top Group G at Brazil 2014, the threetime world champions are also one of the heavyweight contenders to take the title. At the last four major tournaments the 2006 and 2010 FIFA World Cups™ and the 2008 and 2012 UEFA EUROS Germany have always made it at least as far as the semi-finals.

Players to watch Cristiano Ronaldo (POR), Mesut Ozil (GER), Landon Donovan (USA), Kevin-Prince Boateng (GHA).

European duo Belgium and Russia will kick off as slight favourites against Algeria and Korea Republic, two teams undergoing a period of transition.

Players to watch Eden Hazard (BEL), Romelu Lukaku (BEL), Marouane Fellaini (BEL), Sofiane Feghouli (ALG), Saphir Taider (ALG), Kim Bo-Kyung (KOR), Koo Ja-Cheol (KOR), Park Chu-Young (KOR), Igor Akinfeev (RUS), Aleksandr Kokorin (RUS)

Group H: Belgium vs Russia Group H: Korea Rep vs Algeria Group G: USA vs Portugal Monday 23 June Group B: Netherlands vs Chile Group B: Australia vs Spain Group A: Cameroon vs Brazil Group A: Croatia vs Mexico Tuesday 24 June Group D: Italy vs Uruguay Group D: Costa Rica vs England Group C: Japan vs Colombia Group C Greece vs Ivory Coast Wednesday 25 June Group F : Nigeria vs Group F: Bosnia-Herzegovina vs Group E: Honduras vs Group F: Ecuador vs Thursday 26 June Group G: Portugal Group G: Germany Group H: Korea Rep. Group H: Algeria

vs vs Vs vs

5 p. m.

8 p. m 11 p. m.

5 p. m.

5 p. m.

9 p. m.

9 p. m.

5 p. m.

5 p. m.

9 p. m 9 p. m.

Argentina 5 p. m.

Iran 5 p. m.

Switzerland 9 p. m France 9 p. m

Ghana Germany Belgium Russia

5 p. m 5 p. m 9 p. m 9 p. m.

34—Vanguard, THURSDAY, JUNE 12, 2014

JLO to perform at W/Cup opener after all P

OP superstar Jennifer Lopez will perform at the World Cup opening ceremony after all, Fifa said on Tuesday, two days after it announced “production issues” would prevent her traveling to Brazil.

Lopez, who recorded the official World Cup song, “We Are One,” with rapper Pitbull and Brazilian singer Claudia Leitte, will perform it with them and Brazilian drumming collective Olodum as originally planned at Thursday’s kick-off, Fifa said.

“Fifa and the Local Organising Committee are delighted to announce that we will have the full line-up of stars,” it said in a statement.

“The performance by Pitbull, Claudia Leitte, Jennifer Lopez and Olodum will be the climax of the ceremony.”

More than 60,000 people will be in Sao Paulo’s Corinthians Arena to watch the ceremony and kick-off match between Brazil and Croatia. Around a billion people are expected to tune in on TV worldwide.

•Ramos

Ramos: Spain looking for Brazil revenge D ESPITE being the reigning champions, Spain have revenge on their mind, experienced defender

•Lopez

Bennett out of W/Cup

EAGLE S SUPPORT GTCF......From left, Vincent Enyeama, Captain Joseph Yobo, Coach Stephen Keshi, Paul Okoku and Mikel Obi pledging their support for the Greater Tomorrow Children Foundation founded by Keshi and Okoku to help less-privileged children in Nigeria.

Suarez in ‘triple shifts’ for Uruguay’s World Cup opener L

•Bennet

S

OUTH African referee Daniel Bennett has been ruled out of officiating at the upcoming World Cup due to injury.

Bennett, who was selected to do duty at the 12 June to 13 July showpiece, sustained a knock during a routine training session at the Zico centre in Rio, Brazil on Tuesday.

FIFA secretary general Jerome Valcke confirmed Bennett’s enforced withdrawal in a letter to SAFA and CAF. “The medical investigations revealed the seriousness of the injury which means a minimum of four to six weeks for cure,” wrote Valcke.

“During these days, adequate rehabilitation (twice

Sergio Ramos said Tuesday from Curitiba, where he was named as a UNICEF ambassador.

Spain may have won the FIFA World Cup™ in South Africa four years ago but last year they were humbled 3-0 by hosts Brazil in the FIFA Confederations Cup final. And now Ramos, 28, says he and his team-mates have the ideal opportunity to get their own back for that rare defeat.

“We’ve already been in Brazil for the Confederations Cup — football always gives you a chance for revenge after you get this little thorn in your side,” Ramos said. “We’re the champions, there’s high expectation. It’s always possible but winning a World Cup is very difficult.”

a day) has been provided to Mr Bennett, however, this represents an additional load on the medical team, which has to ensure recovery massage and specific treatments to referees and assistant referees actively involved in the 2014 FIFA World Cup.” FiFA have not called up a replacement.

“The quality of referees and assistant referees at the 2014 FIFA World Cup is paramount, and the support referees were implemented in order to provide a seamless transition when a referee or assistant referee must be replaced for any reason after the final selection has been made,” Valcke explained.

•Suarez

UIS Suarez is stretching himself to the limit in a bid to be fit for Uruguay’s opener against Costa Rica on Saturday.

The Liverpool striker had looked as if he’d miss the entire World Cup after compulsory keyhole surgery to his knee only last month.

But ‘triple shifts’ and a strict training regime could see Suarez play some part of their first game in Group D despite meniscus damage in his left knee that flared up in training on May 21.

Even if he didn’t make it this weekend, the 27-year-old is highly likely to face England on June 19.

Winger Christian Rodriquez revealed just why Suarez who has a reputation of recovering from injuries extraordinarily quickly - is nearing a speedy return.

‘He is very focused. He is working in double and triple shifts and we hope to have him with us soon,’ Rodriquez said.

There appears to be little pressure from above for Suarez to race himself back to fitness, but the PFA Player of the Year is passing tests at an alarming rate.

He impressed in training on Tuesday, looking sharp as he went through fitness drills and a small amount of ball work. Suarez’s head coach Oscar Tabarez remains calm on the issue, but is aware what the ramifications of his star man missing out would be.

‘As we have no set deadlines,’ he said. ‘I don’t know if we’ll have him for the first match, for the second, for the third. ‘If it were up to me, Suarez would play tomorrow.’

Vanguard,THURSDAY, JUNE 12, 2014—35

84,097 retirees get N210.7bn through programmed withdrawal •As PenCom enlightens on withdrawal of benefits under CPS STORIES BY VICTOR AHIUMA-YOUNG

A

BOUT N210.78.63billion has been paid as lump sums to retirees under the Programmed Withdrawal of Contributory Pension scheme., CPS. Also, N24.63 billion has been paid as monthly pensions to same retirees as at the end of February 2014.

Similarly, N19.52 billion and N425.53 million have been paid as lump sums and monthly annuities respectively to 8,479 retirees in return for premium payment of N41.63 billion as at the end of February 2014.

Head of Benefits and Pension, National Pension Commission, PenCom, Mr. Olulano Loyinmi, at a Pre-Retirement Workshop for prospective retirees in Lagos, said actual retirement by PW began in 2007, saying "N210.78billion and N24.63biliion have already been approved and paid out as lump

queathed to beneficiaries if death occurs at any time.

Amount paid is determined by the balance on RSA at retirement, length of time over which payment would be made (employee’s expected life span) and expected life span determined by actuarial table is based on minimum and maximum monthly pension and/or corresponding minimum or minimum lump sum. ” For him, “Lump sum is residual. No fixed percentage and may be withdrawn before PW or Annuity subject to RSA balance and monthly pension. It is not automatic that retiree must get 50% of RSA balance pension and monthly pension. It is not automatic that retiree must get 50% of RSA as lump sum.”

He said based on knowledge of the above, retirees should ask only for what the law allows and stressed that difference in benefits among “retirees is determined by age at retirement, gen-

,

Lump sum is a residual, no fixed percentage and may be withdrawn before PW or Annuity subject to RSA balance and monthly pension sum and monthly pensions to 84,097 retirees under Programmed Withdrawal as at end of February, 2014. Actual retirement by Annuity commenced in 2010 Sums of N19.52billion and 425.53million already approved and paid out as lump sum and monthly annuities to 8,479 retirees in return for premium payment of N41.63 billion as at end of February, 2014”

Programmed withdrawal Explaining the features of PW, he said one of the two principal ‘retirement products’ specified by the Pension Reform Act 2004 is a product offered by Pension Fund Administrators, PFAs for periodic payments (monthly/ quarterly) to a retiree, a structured periodic withdrawal based on the peculiarities of the retiree.

The Retirement Saving Account, RSA, balance is spread over expected life span of retiree. Money still remains in the account, managed or invested

by PFA. Monthly pension of at least 50% of terminal monthly emolument is paid to the retiree and inheritance is beC M Y K

,

der, RSA balance, size of Annual Total Emolument, ATE, retiree’s choices and knowledge of these facts will help retirees manage their expectations better.”

Features of annuity: According to him, “annuity is a product of insurance company. Annuity is a regular income received from an insurance company in consideration for payment of premium. It is only life annuity that is recognised by PRA 2004. The retiree negotiates with insurance company and he or she obtains annuity provisional agreement from insurance company. Provisional agreement shows premium monthly annuity guarantee terms, etc. After the payment of lump sum, money leaves RSA to insurance company to commence payment of monthly annuity/pension to retiree. The payment is guaranteed for 10 years in case of death and there is no room to bequeath inheritance if death occurs after 10 years.

Transfer of PFA: According to Loyinmi, “A retiree on PW with a PFA can move to another PFA when window opens and the fund is in the RSA of the retiree

Mr. Adesoji Olaba-Efuntayo, Commissioner, Finance, Acting Director-General of the National Pension Commission, PenCom, Mrs. Chinelo Anohu-Amazu and Head of Benefits and Pension, National Pension Commission, PenCom, Mr. Olulano Loyinmi, at a workshop in Lagos.

with PFA. If retiree dies at any time, RSA balance goes to beneficiaries of the deceased as inheritance. Retiree Life Annuity is a product of company insurance where the insurance company pays pension for life. A retiree on Annuity with an Insurance Company can move to another Insurance Company after two years.

The fund is in the Annuity pool insurance company. If retiree dies within 10 years of retirement, monthly annuities will be paid up to 10 years to beneficiaries because annuity is guaranteed for minimum of 10 years but if he dies after 10 years of retirement no inherit-

ance will be passed to beneficiaries.”

Speaking on way forward, he explained that the major challenge facing the product are the “limited public awareness of the workings of the new Contributory Pension Scheme, inadequate communication enlightenment of RSA holders/retirees

by PFAs, different interpretation of some provisions of the Act by retirees- there is need for retirees to align with the law, comparison of benefits under the old and new scheme by retirees (the two are different) and comparison of benefits by colleagues on similar position and different variables/data (choice

& other variables are different.)

“Relatively small RSA balances of some retirees pending the implementation of minimum pension guarantee, challenges of authenticity/modification of recorded ages by retirees, challenges of alteration of pay slips to collect a higher lump sum, customer service challenges of PFAs leading to influx of retirees into the Commission to obtain clarifications on trivial issues, misinformation of retirees by PFAs and Insurance Companies in order to gain patronage (please get adequate enlightenment before your decision.)

Labour laments plight of Delta pensioners

D

ELTA State council of Nigeria Labour Con gress, NLC, has called on Delta State Government to urgently address the plight of pensioners by paying their outstanding benefits among others.

In a statement, Comrade Williams Akporeha, chairman, Delta state NLC, wrote that information available to the congress showed that many retirees have died of untold hardship. Nonetheless, he thanked the State Government for the recent payment of arrears on six per cent and 15 per cent pension increases.

According to the statement, “we however decry the following: The delay in the payment of the six months arrears (January–June 2001) based on the 142 per cent pension increase of 2000, approval of the supplementary list of retired de-stagnated primary school teachers which has been outstanding since 2008, release of N28,000,000 only for the payment of the balance of the de-stagnated primary school teachers since 2007. It will be recalled that only N5 million was released after some time and this was rejected by the union.”

On the Association of Contributory Retirees in Delta State, Akporeha said “the problems associated with the Contributory Pension Scheme in the state have necessitated the formation of the above named association which has forwarded myriad of its challenges to the state council of NLC. For the avoidance of doubts, the challenges are government delay in the payment of retirees benefits for up to two or three years, wrong calculation of retirement benefits based on 2008

salary structure instead of 2010/2011 salary structure; (using the terminal salary point of the retiree), payment of 25% of lump sum instead of 50% which workers were told at the beginning of the scheme, default by government in payment of 50% of monthly wage bill of employees to open Retirement Benefits Bond Redemption Fund Account, RBBRF, with the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, as stated in the State Pension Reform law Section 16, Sub-section 1-6 which has accumulated to over N15 billion; failure by government to remit 10% into Retirement Saving Account of retirees and delay from Pension Fund Administrators (PFAs) up to three or six months before payment when government has released funds to them.”

“We call on the state government to set the necessary machinery in motion towards addressing the issue of contributory pension in the state.

We want to state here that from available records to Congress, many retirees have died out of frustration occasioned by non-payment of benefits under the new pension scheme. This anomaly should be urgently corrected in the interest of retiring workers to make their rest after retirement a sweet one." The state council of NLC shall be grateful to government if this issue is given the serious attention it deserves.”

Delta State NLC, equally called on the state government to in addition to the “laudable programmes of payment of bursary to undergraduates and scholarship for post graduate students, an introduction of payment of social security benefits to unemployed graduates and youths.

36 — Vanguard, THURSDAY, JUNE 12, 2014

C M Y K

VANGUARD, THURSDAY, JUNE 12, 2014—37

'How Arbitration can encourage Foreign Direct Investment in Nigeria' Page 38

NBA ELECTION: Lagos Lawyers fault guidelnes Page 38

CJ APPOINTMENT CRISIS:

Would Rivers judiciary be same again?

By ABDULWAHAB ABDULAH

A

Directive of the NJC However, the directive of the NJC presided over by the Chief Justice of Nigeria, (CJN), Justice Mariam Aloma Mukhtar did not go down well with the state government which had claimed the body acted ultravires on the issue.

In its reaction, the Rivers State government posited that there was a subsisting judgment of a Federal High Court which ordered the appointment of the sacked Chief Judge of the State, Justice Peter Agumagu, whom the state governor, Mr. Rotimi Amaechi appointed and inaugurated on March 18.

Both parties had cling to their different positions, however, observers have been watching development in the state with keen interest, wondering when the whole drama will end. Al-

Unwarranted ridicule

*(CJN), Justice Mariam Aloma Mukhtar

*Justice Peter Agumagu ready, lawyers have reacted to the matter and concluded that both party need to adhere to the provisions of the constitution.

As things stand now, the NJC had queried and suspended Justice Agumagu as a judicial officer for allegedly violating Section 271(1) of the constitution by submitting himself for confirmation by the state House of Assembly and swearing-in by the governor as the state’s substantive Chief Judge without being recommended by the council..

The body claimed it acted pursuant to paragraph 21(d) of Part 1 of the Third Schedule to the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, as amended.

The suspension and the subsequent directive on the appointment of acting Judge or administrative judge as the case may be and the decision of the Rivers State government not to tow the line of the NJC may eventually throw the state judiciary into further confusion.

The NJC had in the past rejected nominees from state governors which had pitched them against the body. For instance,

Adamawa State in the past two years does not have a substantive judge because Gov. Murtala Nyako has refused to follow the constitutional provision.

In Abia State, Governor Theodore Orji’s attempt to nominate a judge who is 19th in the hierarchy was rejected by the NJC. Same was the case in Osun State when Governor Rauf Aregbesola attempted to impose Justice Joseph Oyewole of the Lagos State High Court on the people of the state.

Rivers State has argued that its position was based on its decision to uphold and defend the law and the constitution of the land.

Constitution of the land Putting the record straight, the mode of appointment for a state High Court is governed by section 271(1) of the 1999 Constitution. Also, the jurisdiction of the High Court is provided for by section 272 of the same Constitution.

To fill a vacancy in the office of the Chief Judge of the state, section 271(4) of the 1999 Con-

stitution provides that until a substantive appointment is made filling the vacancy, the most senior Judge of the High Court shall be appointed to perform the functions of the Chief Judge in an acting capacity.

Juxtaposing the arguments canvassed by the two opposing forces, either body cannot act without the other. Section 271(1) of the Constitution states: “The

,

S the face-off between the National Judicial Council, NJC and Rivers State government over who heads the state judiciary lingers, stakeholders have been expressing worries over constitutional breakdown as well as effect the brouhaha would have on the third arm of government.

Parties involved in the crisis have continued to trade blames on the violation of laws, while Nigerians have been wondering how the crisis would be resolved .

Already, the NJC had given a matching order to one of the most senior judges in the State judiciary to oversee its affairs, this time, Justice Daisy Okocha.

The NJC in its memo claimed it acted in order to ensure that there was no abeyance in activities of the state judiciary.

It further attributed its decision on the enabling law empowering it to supervise or appoint an acting or administrative judge to oversee the state judiciary.

from different perspective.

Mr Femi Falana, SAN, said, “As the NJC is not an appointing authority, it lacks the power to suspend the Chief Judge of Rivers State or any judge in Nigeria for that matter. Section 11 (1) of the Interpretation Act provides that where an enactment confers a power to appoint a person to an office or to exercise any functions, whether for a specified period or not, the power includes the power to remove or suspend him. In the case of Justice Salami, the NJC illegally suspended him from office, President Goodluck Jonathan approved the suspension and appointed an acting President for the Court. However, when the NJC decided to recommend his reinstatement, it was rejected by the appointing authority.

“In conclusion, since the suspension of the Rivers State Chief Judge is illegal and unconstitutional, the NJC should reverse it without any delay. It should also withdraw the query issued to the Chief Judge since his appointment was predicated on a judgment of the Federal High Court. Instead of exposing the judiciary to unwarranted ridicule the NJC is advised to pursue the appeal which it has filed against the judgment of the Federal High Court on the crisis.”

Prof Chidi Odinkalu, in his take argued, “Here is the story: a Federal High Court rules NJC out of line. Rivers State governor proceeds to appoint a CJ. NJC believes governor of Riv-

Since the suspension of the Rivers State Chief Judge is illegal and unconstitutional, the NJC should reverse it without any delay appointment of a person to the office of Chief Judge of a State shall be made by the Governor of the State on the recommendation of the National Judicial Council subject to confirmation of the appointment by the House of Assembly of the State.”

The state government has been insisting it acted in line with the constitution, but the NJC faulted the argument, maintaining the state needs to abide by its recommendation.

Reacting to the development, lawyers have viewed the issue

,

ers State acted unlawfully in not returning to it for a recommendation, says the CJ appointed by the Rivers Gov is suspended. The suspended CJ headed to court against the NJC. While he is in court, NJC says someone should become administrative judge. There’s one word for it: end-run. It’s not on.

“You see, when people are talking about Ag. CJ; NJC speaks about Administrative Judge. When did NJC start designating Administrative Judge.

Clearly, they know it’s not their Continues on page 38

38—VANGUARD, THURSDAY, JUNE 12, 2014

Continues from page 37 province to designate Ag. CJ, which is why their release avoided that nomenclature. So, from where did they derive the power to designate Administrative Judge - whatever that means for a State?

“The Constitution speaks about Chief Judge; Ag. Chief Judge. But Administrative Judge? That’s entirely in the imagination of the alchemists of the NJC. Clearly, the institution is now damaged by clear perception that it’s serving cause(s) entirely of its own making here.

“If the Constitution says the most-senior judge should take over and if Justice Okocha is indeed the most senior judge, why does she need the NJC to demote her to administrative judge? And if the NJC’s decision over the suspension of the Governor’s appointed CJ is in court, doesn’t the NJC come across as manufacturing subterfuge in order to invent it’s administrative judge gig?

“Quite apart from this, the NJC is an executive body, never mind that it’s headed by the CJN and dominated by judges. As NJC, they’re exercising executive power. But they’re using superior judicial positions to intimidate lower courts and make it impossible for courts to do what they’re there for.

Idea of rule of law We don’t have to agree with the courts. But if we don’t defend what they do and protect them in doing so, even the powerful people on the NJC today will be endangered tomorrow when they’re no longer as powerful as they think they are today. A system like that brings the idea of rule of law to ruin.”

Another lawyer and rights activist, Mr Bamidele Aturu said, “The NJC is an executive body and not a judicial institution as has been repeatedly pointed out. It’s decisions even when in utmost fidelity with the law does not have the force of law. Now, when it takes

EDITORIAL TEAM Innocent Anaba ( Head) Wahab Abdulah Ikechukwu Nnochiri Dayo Benson (Supervising Editor)

*Gov. Rotimi Amaechi

*Justice Daisy Okocha

CJ appointment crisis decisions that not only violate the principles of the rule of law, but actually mock it, then we must do all in our power not only to ensure that it reverses the offensive decisions, one way or the other.

“But that it gets punished for egregious infraction of our laws. It appears this elementary point has been tragically missed by that body. We should be thinking in what ways we can punish the NJC legally and politically. But beyond this, it is time to put on the agenda, a reform of that body by legislative means.”

However, disagreeing with the above positions, Ms Carol Ajie said, “The Constitution says if the office of the CJ of a state is vacant or if the person holding the office is for any reason unable to perform the functions of the office, until a person has been appointed to assume the function, the most senior Judge of the High Court shall perform those functions. (s271(4) CFRN 1999.)

Perceived deficiencies “Gov Amaechi’s instinctual drive and unexplained anger over NJC/Ms Mukhtar’s pick, Justice Okocha created some bottlenecks when Amaechi mis-read NJC’s recommendation as coming with some perceived deficiencies. He therefore, interfered with it, preferred Agumagwu J over Okocha J, thereupon threw up that avoidable judicial competition.

“The next in hierarchy, senior lady Judge Okocha is perfect for the CJ-ship appointment and she deserves it.”

Also, the NJC apart from its arguments on Section 158 of the constitution which empowers it to take independent disciplinary control on judicial officers, it argued that sus-

pended Justice Agumagu, was not from the Bench of the High Court as stipulated by the constitution.

Specifically, it argued, “the mode of appointment for a state High Court is governed by section 271 of the 1999 Constitution while that of a state Customary Court of Appeal , where Justice Agumagu is coming from is governed by the provisions of section 281. Also, the jurisdiction of the High Court is provided for by section 272 of the 1999 Constitution. The jurisdiction of the Customary Court of Appeal of a state is provided for by section 282 of the 1999 Constitution.

Second, “where a vacancy occurs in the office of the Chief Judge of the state, section 271(4) of the 1999 Constitution provides that until a substantive appointment is made filling the vacancy, the ‘most senior Judge of the High Court’ shall be appointed to perform the functions of the Chief Judge in an acting capacity.

The section does not say the most senior judge of the Customary Court of Appeal or President of the Customary Court of Appeal, but the most senior judge of the High Court.

Third, Section 281(4) of the 1999 Constitution provides that

where a vacancy occurs in the office of the President of the Customary Court of Appeal, the most senior judge of the Customary Court of Appeal shall act in the office until a substantive President of the Court of Appeal is appointed.”

Suspension:On his suspension, Justice Agumagu submitted in his suit that , “It is the governor under section 292(1) of the 1999 Constitution as amended who is vested with power to remove a judicial officer from office and not the 1st respondent (NJC).

“The applicant’s right to fair hearing in the determination of his civil rights and obligations is guaranteed by section 36 of the 1999 Constitution as amended and also under the rules of natural justice, but the 1st respondent (NJC) acted in breach of this fundamental right of the applicant when it suspended the applicant from office as a judicial officer without any hearing at all.”

NBA election: Eastern Bar Forum adopts candidates

BY BARTHOLOMEW MADUKWE

A

s the Nigerian Bar Association, NBA, 2014 election approaches, the elders and governing council of the Eastern Bar Forum, EBF, have adopted candidates for various offices.

The candidates are Mr. Francis Ekwere for the office of First –Vice President, Afam Obi for the Office of Second Vice-President, C.C. Onwuzuluike for Legal Adviser, Chinwe Nwadike for Treasurer, Unachukwu John Austin for Publicity Secretary, Kelvin Ejelonu for Financial Secretary, U.F.O. Nnaemeka for First Assistant Secretary and Cecelia Ogbuji for Asst. Financial Secetary.

In an emergency meeting held in Aba, Abia State, the Presidential hopefuls such as Osas Justy Erhabor, Chief Niyi Akintola (SAN), Mrs Funke Adekoya (SAN), Augustine Alegeh (SAN) and Dele Adesina (SAN), addressed the meeting among others.

Candidates, while addressing the meeting, affirmed belief,

faith and commitment to the outcome of the exercise. They pledged to be bound by the result of the exercise. At the end of the exercise, Mr. Andrew Ashon was adopted as the candidate for Third Vice Presdent while the former chairman of Abuja branch, Mazi Afam Osigwe was adopted as the candidate of the forum for the office of General Secretary. Osigwe defeated Joyce Oduah and Barth Aniche Okoye in a hotly contested election.

Addressing the candidates, the NBA President, Okey Wali (SAN) advised candidates to play according to rules and avoid politics of calumny and mudslinging.

Wali said: “We have achieved much, we have done much and we must do nothing to endanger what we have achieved. Those that should be endorsed should embrace their colleagues and wait and those who do not get the endorsement this time around should wait for next time, it is not a do or die affair, if you don’t get it now, you will get it the next time.”

VANGUARD, THURSDAY, JUNE 12, 2014 —39

‘How Arbitration can encourage Foreign Direct Investment in Nigeria’ MR Momoh Kadiri is a Nigerian Lawyer practicing in London. He specializes in arbitration. In this interview, he spoke on what Nigeria can benefit from arbitration and why parties prefer London for arbitration and other related issues. Excerpts.

BY DAYO BENSON

H

OW can Nigeria ben efit from arbitration as a nation?

Nigeria has made some progress in recent years in ADR, part of which is arbitration. However, with recent marked growth in foreign direct investment, I think that protection and sustenance of foreign investment is fundamental to Nigeria’s growth.

Also, Nigeria’s quest for strategic partnership with other states is significantly dependent on her future stability, predictability, and protection of foreign investment. Arbitration is the preferred dispute adjudication method in protecting foreign investment and treaty obligations and, Nigeria stands to meaningfully benefit if the investment cli-

tant to many parties; which is often priceless. For others, time and speed is of the essence.

Having said that, you see that cost is more than just costs in the arbitration itself, it goes beyond legal fees and expenses of the arbitral tribunal.

Now turning to the question on costs, by which I suspect means costs in the arbitral reference, costs generally depend on type of arbitration; whether it is institutional or ad hoc arbitration. For example in ICC arbitrations, cost is based on percentage of, and amount in dispute; LCIA and LMAA are time based respectively. Cost can generally be controlled by having: -Documents only arbitration; -Counsel can be avoided or done in-house through use of solicitors -Seeking cost limitation un-

,

Most foreign parties doing business in Nigeria would find London arbitration neutral and attractive in the light of the above stated benefits mate is conducive and receptive to investors who are direly needed locally for their expertise, capital, and industrial revolution, which are all critical to Nigeria’s development.

In what ways can parties in Nigeria benefit from London arbitration ?

There many benefits that parties in Nigeria can derive from arbitration in general, and London in particular based on the many advantages that English law affords to parties to contractual relationships .

There have been complains about high cost of arbitration.

How can it be controlled ?

The issue of cost is a very important factor not only in arbitration but also litigation.

Indeed, some people argue that arbitration is more expansive than litigation. My view is that such an answer is not as simplistic as other may have you believe. The issue of cost is relative and an objective test would indicate that parties have different needs/ and/or desires when a dispute arises. For some, what is important cannot be quantifiable in pecuniary or monetary estimation. Confidentiality of the arbitral process is very impor-

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der section 65 of the English Arbitration Act 1996 -Avoiding excessive and/or unnecessary disclosure or fishing expedition.

-Last, but not least, parties can devise ways to take control to reduce cost under the English Arbitration Act, and tailor their arbitration to their circumstances. No tailor-jacket- approach. There are solutions to cost mitigation, as there are horses for causes.

Momoh Kadiri So what makes London arbitration thick?

The City of London is a legal centre, not just a financial and commercial one. Therefore, London is not only a global financial and commercial centre; it is a global legal centre too. Also, more than half of the world’s leading law firms have chosen London as their headquarters, which means the city has the highest concentration of judicial expertise anywhere in the world.

Therefore, London is a legal hub with a global appeal. Very recently, over 80 percent of parties to arbitration at the London Court of International Arbitration (LCIA) were of non-UK origin.

Why do you think it is preferable?

Arbitration is part of a whole raft of alternative dispute resolution mechanisms, parts of which is also mediation. There are many key reasons why

London is a destination of choice for dispute resolution, some which stand out to me are: First and foremost- the English legal system; built with rule of law at its foundation.

The English common law attracts many parties to contracts because it is based on the principle of freedom of contract; it is there to give effects to their intentions. The development and advancement in English commercial law make it attractive for resolution of international commercial disputes.

Specialist expertise Second, the volume, variety, and quality of specialist expertise available in London.

There is a tremendous pool of experienced arbitrators, consulting engineers, accountants, Quantity Surveyors, and others available in Lon-

don.

Third, the UK’s long standing experience in dealing with complex and multi jurisdictional disputed and international parties.

Fourth, the English courts are very supportive of arbitration and do not seek to interfere, and will only intervene, when the need arises.

Fifth, London offers speed and expediency; with a timely award produced, compared to other jurisdictions. Most foreign parties doing business in Nigeria would find London arbitration neutral and attractive in the light of the above stated benefits.

You are organizing some arbitration training conference in London. What are the details, speakers, and what are the benefits for participating? th It will hold between 16 to th 18 July 2014 at the Hilton in Canary Wharf, London. It is our second conference titled: ‘International Arbitration Conference for West Africa’.

The speakers expected include the Mr Mohammed Adoke, SAN, Honorable Attorney-General. Confirmed speakers include Nicholas Chambers QC, Stephen Ruttle QC, Harry Matovu QC, all of Brick Court Chambers, London. Ms Mahnaz Malik, Arshard Ghaffar, both Londonbased commercial barristers.

Mr Olumide Sofowora, SAN and Mr Wale Atake, from Nigeria, are also expected. The benefits for participants are enormous; we shall be taking a practical look at topical issues in international arbitration from a London, international and comparative basis respectively. A large contingent of the Nigerian judiciary is also expected at the event.

Certificates of attendance and CLE points will be awarded at the event.

NBA ELECTION: Lagos Lawyers fault guidelines

T

BY DAYO BENSON

he Nigerian Bar Associa tion (NBA),guidelines for its forth coming election in July has continued to generate controversies as lawyers in the Lagos Branch of the Association have faulted the guidelines recently released by the NBA Electoral Committee saying that they are riddled with many irregularities that will jeopardise the wishes of the electorate.

Members of the branch kicked against stipulations in the Election Guidelines requiring branches to submit bank tellers “as evidence of payment of annual practicing fee as at 1st April, 2014.”

According to the Lagos NBA, in a resolution signed by the branch Chairman

Alex Muoka and Publicity Secretary Abdulrasheed Ibrahim, such requirement is unnecessary “as full and detailed information of all lawyers and all branch members who have paid practising fee as at 31st of March, 2014 is already in the custody of the NBA National Secretariat.”

The lawyers expressed anger over the requirement in the Election Guidelines which mandated every NBA registered branch to submit receipts as evidence of payment of branch dues and levies as at 1st April, 2014. They said that the requirement was not only “unconstitutional” as it was not contained in NBA Constitution 2009, but is a ploy to “disenfranchise branches and voters.”

The “Premier Bar” also berated the emer-

gence of some new branches during the election period, warning that “no branch inaugurated in 2014 shall be allowed to send delegates to vote at the 2014 NBA Elections.”

Worried that the opaque nature of the guidelines concerning the publication of the Delegates’ Register touches on the integrity of the electoral process and would jeopardize credible elections, the members resolved that not only should evidence of payment of practicing fee be published and made available to branches and the Electoral Committee, “the entire list of qualified voters (should) be published by the Electoral Committee not later than one week before the date of the election.”

40—Vanguard, THURSDAY, JUNE 12, 2014, 2014

COMMON THEMES FOR PEACEFUL CO-EXISTENCE

The Concept of God YESTERDAY While the Qur'an was revealed to Muhammad through angel Gabriel within a period of about twenty three years, the Biblical books were written by about forty inspired writers in sveral centuries THE QUR'ANIC CONCEPT

I

Purpose of creation as a proof of God’s existence The argument drawn from the purpose of creation attempts to prove that the universe was not created in vain. Mahmud argues that the universe is a complex creation with so many components, depending on one another to form a unity. The components are, therefore, complementary and mutually bound together. In his view, such a structure presupposes that the universe must have a maker thus repudiating any theory of creation derived from “blind nature" or “coincidence and chance.” The interdependence of the universe components is brought to light in Surah 39:21 thus: Seest thou not that God sends down rain from the sky and

Muslims on hajj in Saudi Arabia begin ascent of holy site

leads it through springs in the earth? Then He causes to grow therewith produce of various colours then it withers; Thou wilt see it grow yellow; Then He makes it dry up and crumble away. Truly, in this, is a message of remembrance to men of understanding (cf Surah 80:28).

We can observe from this verse, the connexion between the heavens and the earth and between water and plants on which man depends. The inherent connexion between the different components of the universe is termed by the philosophers as ‘the teleological proof or design argument’. The teleological proof derives from the belief that everything in the universe is intended while coincidence contributes nothing to its purposefulness.

Purposeful inter-connexion The purposeful inter-connexion is made crystal-clear in Surah 16:65-69 which reads: And God sends down rain from the skies, and gives therewith life to the earth after its death: Verily in this is a sign for those who listen. And verily in cattle (too) will you find an instructive sign.

From what is within their bodies, between excretions and blood. We produce, for your drink, milk, pure and agreeable to those who drink it. And from the fruit of the date palm and the vine, ye get out wholesome drink and food: behold, in this also is a sign for those who are wise.

And thy Lord taught the Bee to build its cell in hills, on trees and in (Men’s) habitations, then to eat all the produce (of the earth) and find, with skill, the spacious paths of its Lord: there issues from within their bodies a drink of varying colours, wherein is healing for men. Verily in this, is a sign for those who give thought (Surah 50. 6-11).

We can deduce from this Qur'anic passage that nothing is created in vain. The rain which emanates from the sky serves a purpose. It enlivens the earth and

facilitates the growth of green vegetation and provides man means of sustenance. Even from the Bee, man derives some advantages. Everything is created on purpose and the purposes overlap. This could not happen by chance or mere coincidence.

The expression "in this is a sign" repeated several times in the passage is meant to draw man's attention to the reality of God's existence.

This argument, therefore, means to show that the universe is a manifestation of divine unity. According to Ali Khamene'I (1984:57) Tawhid as a world outlook implies the unity, coherence, and harmony between all parts of the universe. Since the system of creation is one and everything in it related to the same origin and source, there being no multiplicity of gods or creation, every constituent of the world is a part of the same whole and all parts constitute one unity and they are parts of the same whole.

Besides, the fact that God creates the universe purposefully, he exercises control on it. He holds in His hand the interconnected structure of the universe at every moment, for if He were to abandon it, it would disintegrate.

Exercise of control In this regard Surah 35:41 asserts: It is God who sustains the heavens and the earth, lest they cease (to function), And if they should fail, there is none - not one - can sustain them thereafter. Verily, He is most Forbearing, Oft-Forgiving (Surah 16:79).

The Qur’an asserts that due to His control, the universe has never experienced disorder in the functioning of the things He has created in it. Several verses of the scripture testify to this fact.

For instance, Surah 67:3 declares: He (God) created the seven heavens alike, Thou seest no incongruity in the creation of the Beneficent. Then look again, can

thou see any disorder? Then turn thy eyes again and thy look will return to thee confused while it is fatigued.

Apart from lack of disorder mentioned in the above quotation in the works of creation, AlQurtubi (1949:208) points to the completeness and beauty ol creation as further proofs of divine existence. According to him, the universe is deficient in nothing and there is no superfluity in it.

Everything in it is wonderful. The orderliness and smooth running of the universe claimed by Surah 67:1 above is further explained in Surah 36: 37-40 which reads: And a sign to them is the night, we draw forth from it the daythen lo! they are in the darkness;

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The Existence of God SLAM teaches the doctrine of tawhid, i.e. the oneness of God to be worshipped and obeyed (Hasan, 2012:82). The existence of God is unambiguously declared by the Qur’an in many Surahs including the following: 1: 1 3:1796: 136-137 31: 22-38 2: 28 4:1367: 158 64: 1-4 2: 255 4:17111: 123 96: 1-5 3: 18 6:21-23 24: 35 112: 1-4 Principally, the Qur’an attempts to prove the existence of God with creation. The verses of the scripture bearing testimony to this claim are preponderant as will be brought to light shortly.

The reference to creation as a proof of divine existence by the Qur’an perhaps influences a scholar like Abdel Haleem Mahmud (1978:35) to propose three proofs of divine existence based on creation viz: the proof in the purpose of creation; the proof in God’s caring for creation and the proof in the composition of creation.

While the first two are substantiated with Qur’anic references, the last is based on reason. Other proofs of God’s existence contained in scripture are drawn from human experience and divine revelation.

with transport on land and sea, good and pure, and conferred on them special favours above a great part of our creation”(cf Surah 28:71-73).

According to Surah 16:18, if man would count up the favours of God, he would never be able to number them. The favours bestowed on man are often recounted in the Qur’an in order to encourage the corresponding duties and responsibilities of man to prepare him for his real life in the hereafter. God’s care for creation (and for man specifically) as a proof of His existence is a fact recognised by natural philosophers as evidenced by the argument between Socrates and Aristodemus recorded by Mahmud in his book The Creed of Islam.

The Biblical Concept The Existence of God The Bible, in many of its passages, assumes and affirms the existence of God without making an attempt at proving that existence. A typical example of the assumption is found at the very first sentence of the scripture which declares: “In the begin-

While the Quran teaches that God is one, indivisible and unique with none sharing from His divine essence as taught by Surah 112: 1-4, the Nicene Creed asserts that there are three persons in the Godhead, the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, all of whom are co-eternal And the sun moves on to its destination. That is the ordinance of the Mighty, the Knower. And the moon, We have ordained for it stages till it becomes again as an old dry palm-branch. Neither is it for the sun to overtake the moon, nor can the night outstrip the day, all float on in an orbit.

The only plausible deduction which can be made from the two Quranic quotations above is that orderliness in the running of the universe despite its variety of conflicting conditions is an evidence of divine existence.

Care for creation as a proof of God’s existence The Quran is full of declarations calling man’s attention to God’s care for the universe and especially for him. This is one of Mahmud’s three proofs of divine existence. This argument is based on many verses of the scripture including Surah 17:70 which reads: “We have honoured the sons of Adam, provided them

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ning, God created the heavens and the earth.” Reminiscent of this declaration is the one found in Jn. 1:1, which reads: “In the beginning was the word and the word was with God and the word was God.” None of the Biblical verses that talks about the existence of God says how He came into existence or how He is existing. However, creation as a whole is referred to in the scripture as an evidence of God’s existence as contained in Rm.1:1921: What can be known about God is plain to them because God has shown it to them. Ever since the creation of the world, His invisible nature namely His eternal power and deity has been clearly perceived in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse, for although they knew God they only refuse to honour Him as God. Arguments for divine existContinues on page 41

Vanguard, THURSDAY, JUNE 12, 2014—41

COMMON THEMES FOR PEACEFUL CO-EXISTENCE

Surah 112: 1-4, the Nicene Creed asserts that there are three persons in the Godhead, the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, all of whom are co-etemal. It is often admitted by Biblical scholars that trinity cannot be explained satisfactorily. This is why Onaiyekan (1980:77) opines that Christ is a mystery who reveals the Father in a way that cannot be fully grasped.

God’s function as Creator

March of the faithful in Mecca, Saudi Arabia

The Concept of God Continues from page 40 ence The existence of God, it must be admitted, is incapable of direct proof. The quotation cited above is only an indirect proof.

There are five arguments which Christian theologians normally use to justify divine existence.

Though these arguments belong more to the sphere of philosophy than Christian dogmatics the Christian theologians have adopted and adapted them because they illustrate the paths over which the mind travels in the confirmation of its belief in the existence of God. These arguments are listed by G. P. Pardington (1926:64), as follows: the cosmological argument, the teleological argument, the anthropological argument, the ontological argument and the christological argument.

A Comparative Appraisal of the Qur’anic and the Biblical Concepts of God The Existence of God

return. In like manner, Is.40: 2126 declares: Have you not understood from the foundation of the earth? It is He (God) who sits above the circle of the earth. Who stretches out the heavens like a curtain and spreads them like a tent to dwell in...To whom then would you compare me that I should be like him. Lift up your eyes on high and see who created these.

The two quotations have one thing in common and this is the ascription of divine works of creation to God as a proof of his existence. Further proofs of divine existence, apart from reference to the divine works, according to the two scriptures, are the recognition of man’s intuitive knowledge of the divine and the authenticity of the scriptures.

tion that God has ninety-nine names. All that we read in Surah 7:180 is: “to Him belong the beautiful names.”

Despite the similarities in the divine attributes contained in the two scriptures, there exists an important point of contrast. There are instances in the Bible where divine works and attributes are ascribed to Jesus who is believed to be one of the persons in trinity.

Such instances are found in Mt. 8:2; Mt. I 28:18; Heb. 13:8; Jn. 1:3 and Col. 1:16. The Qur’an, on the other hand, believes that divine works and attributes can only be ascribed to God and nobody else. The reasons for this conflict is not far fetched. It arises from the Christian doctrine of trinity which teaches that Jesus is of the same substance with God.

The Attributive Names of God

The Oneness of God Divine oneness is taught in explicit terms in both the Qur’an and the Bible.

Surah 2:163, for instance, declares: And your God is one God, there is no god but He. The same message is contained in Dt. 6:4, which reads: “Hear, O Israel: the Lord our God is one Lord...”

Several other Qur’anic and Biblical verses as listed below reaffirm the oneness: Surah 6:19 Dt. 4:39 Surah 16:22 Is. 43: 10-12 Surah 23: 91-92 Is. 45:22 Surah 37: 4-5 Ps. 36:10 Surah 33:65 Surah 112: However, divine oneness as taught by the Bible is understood in terms of divine trinity especially by the Trinitarians whose view had become the official view of the Church since the Nicene Council of 325 C.E. Here lies the difference between the Qur’anic and the Biblical concepts of God. While the Quran teaches that God is one, indivisible and unique with none sharing from His divine essence as taught by

Close examination of the two scriptures reveals that the nature,

,

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The two scriptures agree that God spent six days to complete the work of creation as evident in Surah 7:54 and Ex. 20:11

There is no gainsaying the fact that the existence of God is affirmed in the Qur’an and the Bible. The passages of the two scriptures are filled with the descriptions of divine works which are used as proofs of the divine existence. We can compare Surah 88:17-24 with Is. 40:21-26 in this regard.

Surah 88: 17-24 reads: Do they not look at the Camels how they are made? And at the sky how it is raised high? And at the mountains how they are fixed firm? And at the earth how it is spread out? Therefore, give admonition for you are to admonish, you are not to force. But if any turns away and rejects God, God will punish Him a mighty punishment. For to us will be their

work and power of God are indicated by His attributive names which are essentially similar in the two. Thus the descriptions of God found in the Qur’an ` are also found in the Bible. For instance, God in the two scriptures is: the Creator: Surah 11:7; Gn. 1:1, the Custodian of Mercy: Surah 7:151; Ep. 2:4, the Possessor of Wisdom: Surah 31:97 Rm. 16:27, the Lord of Power: Surah 31:9; Ps. 62:11, the Foundation of Knowledge: Surah 5:97; I Sm. 2:3, the Eternal: Surah 2:255; Dt. 33:27.

Muslims though talk of ninetynine divine names, the Holy Book does not specifically men-

With regard to creation, the major area of agreement between the Qur’anic and the Biblical accounts is their attribution of the work of creation to God in contrast to the belief that the earth was formed from the primordial matter or ether.

Thus the two scriptures reject all types of theories which do not recognise God as the Creator of the universe. These include the materialistic theory, the Pantheistic theory, the theory of natural evolution, and the theory of continuous creation as enumerated

by Orton Wiley and Paul Culbertson (1946:132). In point of fact, the two scriptures regard creation as a proof of God’s existence as can be deduced from Rm.1:2 and Surah 2:164. Due to the Christian doctrine of trinity, however, the Bible, particularly the NT, views creation Christologically.

This is the belief that Christ is a participator in the work of creation as the word of God.

Important area of similarity Another important area of similarity is that man in the two scriptures is believed to have been created from dust as we read in surah 23:12 and Gen. 2:7.

The Quran, however, elaborates on this by highlighting the biological process of formation of man through the six stages viz: clay, sperm, clot of blood, foetus, lump and bones clothed with flesh. Moreover, man occupies the pride of place in creation.

While the Qur’an describes him as God’s vice regent on the earth as evident in Surah 2:30, the Bible in Gen.1:26 describves him as God’s image. In consequence of his position, the entire creation is brought under his control as evident in Ps 8:50 and Surah 14:3234.

The two scriptures agree that God spent six days to complete the work of creation as evident in Surah 7:54 and Ex. 20:11. Moreover, they understand the length of day as an indefinite duration

of time as can be inferred from Surah 22:47, Surah 70:4 and II Pt. 3:8 ,32 As earlier mentioned, the Biblical concept of day as described in the creation account conflicts with modern scientific data because the mechanism for light production had not been created. McKenzie(1965:158) realises this absurdity and interprets the light to be cosmic light and not the light given by the sun or moon. However, thinking religiously, it could be argued that God Himself is a source of light and the light therefore signifies His presence.

According to the Biblical account, God is believed to have rested on the seventh day after completing the work of creation but this does not, in any way, mean that God has stopped working.

The seventh day rest as already noted is the basis for the Sabbath day. The Qur’an, on the other hand, recognizes no Sabbath.

God is seen as working everyday to oversee the affairs of the universe (Surah 32:5).

Another major point of conflict, relates to the sequence of creation. The Bible lays down a sequence for the creative works as evidenced by the first account of creation in Genesis in which the creation of the firmament precedes the creation of the earth. The Qur’an, on the other hand, does not lay down a sequence for creation of the heavens and the earth, rather, we learn from the scripture the interlocking nature of the creation stages. Surah 21:30 which describes the heavens and the earth as one unit of creation joined together before they were split asunder is an attestation to this assertion.

The inference we can draw from the foregoing analysis is that God is a reality in the two scriptures.

He possesses similar attributes and performs the same functions.

TOMORROW The claim that the Messiah is a different personality from Isa is unQur’anic for it contravenes several verses of the scripture like Surah 3:45 and 5:75, which refer to him with the title

42—Vanguard, THURSDAY, JUNE 12, 2014

21 years after:

Presidency, others mark June 12 in style •Holds all-parties’ summit today

BY CLIFFORD NDUJIHE,

DEPUTY POLITICAL EDITOR

S

INCE 1994, pro-democra cy activists and state governments in the country, especially in the South-West geo-political zone, have always mapped out events to commemorate the June 12, 1993 presidential polls adjudged the freest and fairest election ever held in Nigeria.

Considered a watershed in the annals of electioneering in the country, the annulled election was presumably won by late business tycoon, Chief M.K.O Abiola, who died in the battle to reclaim his mandate.

His beautiful wife, Kudirat, was also assassinated by gunmen said to be government agents.

Military government's clampdown A host of politicians, activists and many innocent Nigerians, old and young, died in the protests that followed the annulment amid the then military government’s clampdown.

The unbending resolve of most Nigerians through prodemocracy activism paved the way for the return of civil rule on May 29, 1999 with Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, a kinsman of Abiola as president.

However, since the return to civil rule, the presidency has never celebrated June 12.

tional Stadium, Abuja be named after him.

Light at the end of the tunnel However, things are totally different this year, 21 years after. Even, Obasanjo, on June 1, 2014 said that Abiola sacrificed a lot for Nigeria and should be immortalised.

President Goodluck Jonathan kick-started the efforts to immortalise Abiola on may 29, 2012 when he renamed the University of Lagos (UNILAG) Moshood Abiola University (MAU). The renaming, however, remains inchoate on account of legal actions taken by stakeholders.

This year, the Federal Government is organizing an elaborate event –All Political Parties’ Summit on June 12. The gathering, which a host of party leaders have promised to •MKO attend, is being anchored by the National Security Adviser (NSA) and the Office of the Special Adviser to the President on Inter-Party Affairs, Senator Ben Obi. Besides the Federal Government sponsored events, there will also be June 12 events in Lagos and other parts of the South-West. The June 12 Movement, in collaboration with Kudirat Initiative for Democracy (KIND) and Nigeria Youth

,

There was also no attempt to immortalise Abiola in spite of unceasing calls for such honour even when the National Assembly suggested that the National Stadium, Abuja be named after him

While South-West governors, who then were of the opposition Alliance for Democracy (AD) chose June 12 as Democracy Day, the presidency under Obasanjo declared May 29 as Democracy Day. All through his eight year reign, Obasanjo did not acknowledge ‘June 12’ and Abiola’s supreme price in his second coming as head of state.

There was also no attempt to immortalise Abiola in spite of unceasing calls for such honour even when the National Assembly suggested that the Na-

,

Movement Foundation will organize national democracy colloquium and Tribute session tagged: “June 12: The National Confab And Growing Insecurity In Nigeria: The Way Out,” at Abiola’s Ikeja, Lagos residence.

The Lagos State chapter of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) will also organize a public lecture. With the theme; June 12: “Lessons for Today’s Democracy,” the lecture will be delivered by Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed of Kwara State with Mr. Femi Falana

Abiola

(SAN) as discussant.

Past politicians’ summits The All Political Parties’ Summit is similar to the AllPoliticians’ summits held in 1994 and 2002.

Following the June 12 crisis, leading politicians across the country gathered at Federal Palace Hotel, Lagos in 1994 on the banner of All-Politicians’ summit, to hammer out possible engagements that could prevent the kind of disunity, treachery and other untoward tendencies that led to the June 12 brouhaha.

However, the leaders could not go far in the quest as the then military government headed by the late General Sani Abacha unleashed terror on the participants, who had to scamper for safety.

Leading politicians also met in 2002 meeting to address peaceful co-existence among politicians following the wave of violence that trailed preparations for the 2003 elections.

Need for 2014 summit Once again, the nation is at cross roads, less than 10 months to the 2015 general elections. The polity, especially the North-Eastern part of the country is engulfed by may-

hem and recurring deaths occasioned by the Boko Haram insurgency.

Why we’re convening inter-party summit — Obi Speaking on prepa•President Jonathan rations for the summit, Senator Obi, who said he had spoken to leaders of all the par- and unnecessary bellicosity to ties in the country, disclosed the political, economic and sothat the leadership and stake- cial well-being of the nation.

His words: “At the heart of the holders in all the political parinter-party conversation is the ties had agreed to participate building of inter-party in the talks. consensus through institutional and informal Political collaboration.

If the stakeholders collaboration between existing political parties is sufficiently Former Military Head of reinforced, the national State, General Abdulsalami political climate will wear a Abubakar (rtd) is expected to positive outlook, social stability chair discussions at the sum- will be guaranteed, national mit holding at the Internation- security will be deepened and al Conference Centre, Abuja. democratic consolidation will To be declared open by Pres- be effectuated. ident Jonathan, the parley is “However, the current nationexpected to attract civil society al political outlook with regard organisations, the diplomatic to inter-party collaboration is community and other political less than salutary. Indeed, the stakeholders. conduct, behaviour and utterSpeaking on the need for the ances of leading politicians, at summit, Obi said it would home and abroad, are rapidly highlight the negative conse- spreading unnecessary tension quences of the politics of bitContinues on page 43 terness, rancour, mud-slinging

Vanguard, THURSDAY, JUNE 12, 2014—43

•Aturu

I

T happened exactly 21 years ago, but the annulled June 12, 1993 presidential election won by late Chief MKO Abiola has continued to remain on the lips of many Nigerians ever since. Some leading politicians, elder statesmen and pro-democracy activists in chats with Vanguard gave reasons the historic date will remain a fixture in the political landscape.

It’s still relevant — Adebanjo Chief Ayo Adebanjo, a chieftain of the Pan-Yoruba socio-political organisation, Afenifere, said June 12 will remain relevant “until we have a real democratic government where the peoples’ wish is installed. June 12 will continue to be relevant as long as we celebrate civilian government. It is the foundation of the civilian government after the dictatorship of the military.”

It’ll continue to haunt us — Odumakin Mr Yinka Odumakin is the National Publicity Secretary of Pan-Yoruba sociopolitical organisation, Afenifere, also

•Adebanjo

•Odumakin

•Esele

Why June 12 remains relevant

Adebanjo, Odumakin, Aturu, Esele speak

By DAPO AKINREFON & CHARLES KUMOLU shared similar views.

He said: “June 12 is still very relevant to the extent that it reminds us of the democratic road not taken by Nigerians.

We continue to grapple with democratic challenges, where elections are still do-or-die, where democracy does not bring dividends to the people, where people are not allowed to make their free choices through the ballot box, where our political leaders, across levels, are not accountable to the people the way MKO Abiola promised in June 12. In a situation where we are ripped apart as a nation, where the fault lines are showcased in terms of religion, ethnicity which June 12 was about to heal,

we will definitely remember that June 12 was the road we did not take and it will continue to haunt us. It is very much relevant because that is the thermometer that will measure democracy in Nigeria every year.”

It reminds us of the need to guard our democracy — Aturu For Mr. Bamidele Aturu, a lawyer and human rights activist, “the import of June 12 is that it represents our collective quest and decision to have a democratic government. It was evident from the manner our people went out en mass to vote for a leader of their choice. June 12 will always be a reminder for us to be eternally vigilant of our democracy because there are people out there ready

to truncate our democracy. It tells us that we should perpetually guard our democracy. It is relevant and will always be relevant.

June 12 must be put in proper perspective — Esele Comrade Peter Esele, the immediate past president of the Trade Union Congress, TUC, on his part said: “June 12 is still very relevant because of the kind of people at the top. It might appear as if it is not relevant. We need someone who appreciates it, so as to put June 12 in its proper perspective. Looking into the future, I will say that June 12 is very relevant in the polity. And when the right people occupy the decision-making position, they will accord June 12 its rightful place.”

21 years after: Presidency, others mark June 12 in style Continues from page 42 in the country, stoking the embers of discord, bitterness and rancour, and obviously playing into the hands of extremist elements that are waging a vicious terror war against the Nigerian state. If these enemies perceive the political class to be in disarray, it will further embolden them in the crimes they are daily committing against the Nigerian people.”

Obi noted that the current dispensation had witnessed unbroken political transitions and power successions from 1999 to date but regretted that there were still very powerful anti-democratic forces operating in the political system.

He warned that these anti-democratic forces were ever ready to exploit lapses in the management of the political and electoral processes to wage a bitter struggle against the Nigerian state.

Arguing that political parties played key roles in the evolution and consolidation of the country’s democratic enterprise, he said by their acts and conducts, political parties could either advance the cause and course of the democratic system or endanger it.

Senator Obi said there was need for the nation’s political parties to close ranks and safeguard the country’s democratic infrastructure, even as they pursue their separate governance vision and compete for power in a healthy, decent and civilised manner.

Obi hoped that the summit would reinforce the key ingredients in the code of conduct of political behaviour and re-commit Nigerian political parties to its salient norms. “The summit intends to mainstream the idea that Nigerian political parties are key national patriotic stakeholders, either in government or in opposition, who are genuinely committed to the success of the Nigerian project, and to serve as a platform for wide deliberation on an action plan that will lead to free, fair, transparent and violence-free general elections in 2015.”

We’ll attend —party leaders Asked if they would attend today’s summit, party leaders nodded positively.

National Leader of the National Advance Party (NAP), Dr. Tunji Braithwaite, who is a delegate at the ongoing National Conference, said his party would attend. “I won’t be there personally because I am very busy at the Confab but we (NAP) will send representatives.” Also speaking, National Chairman of the Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN) and a delegate at the confab, Dr Frederick Fasehun, said: “I have not seen the invitation but if I see it, I will be there.”

On his part, Chief Maxi Okwu said leaders of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) would have

attended but for the leadership crisis ravaging the party. “The information I am getting from the presidency is that APGA is on suspension until the Court of Appeal ruling (on the leadership question),” he said. In like manner, National Chairman of the United Progressives Party (UPP), Chief Chekwas Okorie, said he would attend the summit because he would always support any effort to commemorate June 12.

The politician, also called for electronic voting as the surest way to replicate another ‘June 12’ is symbol of our democracy because it signifies the will of the people but the will of the people was subverted by the military. Any time we remember June 12 it is to uphold the will of the people. So the summit is in order. We need to repeat another June 12 election but we cannot do that with apathy, rigging and violence. Now there is so much apathy and participation in election is so low. If participation is so low the outcome of election will be illegitimate because only 20 per cent of voters participate. In the UPP we see electronic voting system as the only system that will boost participation. People can vote from their homes.

There will be no fear of thugs, violence and stuffing of ballot papers. Only the phone used for voters’ registration will be used for voting. So there will be no manipulation. Rigging is one the reasons for apathy.”

44—Vanguard, THURSDAY, JUNE 12, 2014

Gas retailers sue NUPENG, KAI, others for N5m

‘Delta 2015 governorship settled’

BY INNOCENT ANABA

BY EMMANUEL OKOLIE

T

HE Liquefied Petroleum Gas Retailers Association, LPGARAN, has instituted a N5 million suit against National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers, NUPENG; parent body of Nigeria Domestic and Gas Retailers and Materials, NDGRAM; Administrator of Kick Against Indiscipline, KAI and five others before a Federal High Court sitting in Lagos.

The other claimants are Emeka Okechukwu, Sunday Umeh and Abayomi Morooph, while respondents are Monday Nwatu, Chijioke Ogbuka, Attorney General of Lagos State, Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of Investigation in Alagbon and

A

GBOR— A House of Representatives member, Mr. Victor Nwokolo, has said that 2015 governorship in Delta State was a settled matter, noting that the next governor of the state will most likely come from Delta North senatorial district.

Nwokolo spoke in Igbodo community, Ika South Local Government Area of the state at the meeting of Otu Umunne, a socio-political group made up of mainly supporters of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP. He said that after many years of waiting by the people of Delta North, God has finally heard their prayers.

He said: “God has given us what we have been begging for. We will continue to pray for him to make it come to pass. Ika is one, Delta North is one, and Delta State is also one.

“We will continue to pray for a better working relationship, and continue to work as one.”

the investigating Police office, Force Criminal Investigation Department, Alagbon.

The claimants are praying the court to declare that the seizure of gas cylinders of the members of the first applicant by the first to fourth respondents in their quest to force members of the first applicant to join their association against their wishes is unconstitutional, illegal, wrongful, null and void.

They also want the court to declare that the arrest and detention of the applicants by the Deputy Commissioner of Police and Investigating Police officers in Alagbon, respectively, on the pretext of investigating the allegation of threat to life of some of the respondents, is unconstitutional, illegal, wrongful and constitutes gross

and violent violation of the applicants fundamental right to liberty enshrined in Section 36 of the 1999 Constitution.

LPGARAN in an affidavit deposed to by Umudu, averred that in 2011, NDGRM executives were harassing and beating up their members in their effort to force them into their association, as some of them were arrested by Area G Police Command, Ogba, Lagos, upon which they wrote an undertaking not to repeat same anymore.

He averred that the first respondent began to connive with KAI in 2013 to intimidate his members, as “in 2013 they started conniving with some KAI officials to extort, intimidate and force our members and other gas retailers to join their group.

“The first incident that attracted our attention happened in the midDecember 2013 when KAI embarked on a selective

raiding of LPGARAN members in Amuwo Odofin, Lagos, in the name of enforcing environmental laws.”

Delta Assembly passes resolution on Iselegu, Ibabu crisis

BY AUSTIN OGWUDA

A

SABA—MEMBERS of Delta State House of Assembly, yesterday, passed a resolution, calling on Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan to set up a highpowered panel of inquiry

to investigate and find solutions to the perennial crisis between Iselegu and Ibabu communities of the state.

This followed a motion by the member representing Ndokwa West constituency, Mr. Azuka Azaka, who said

PDP chieftain hails Uduaghan

BY FESTUS AHON

U

GHELLI—A chieftain of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Uvwie Local Government Area, Delta State, Mr. Matthew Tsekiri has

commended Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan for keying into the transformation agenda of President Goodluck Jonathan.

Tsekiri, in a chat with

newsmen, said: “Governor Uduaghan’s infrastructural development in Asaba the major cities of the state is commendable,” citing the Asaba International Airport as an example.

the crisis had worsened, citing a case of the killing of a Delta State University lecturer, who was caught in a crossfire at Iselegu Junction.

The motion, supported by his counterpart representing Ndokwa East constituency, Mr. Friday Osanebi, and unanimously passed, reads: “This House call on Governor Uduaghan to direct security operatives to curtail the perennial intercommunal crisis between Iselegu community and Ibabu community in Ndokwa West and Ndokwa East local government areas, respectively.”

O

B I A R U K U community in Ukwuani Local Government Area of Delta State has elected Chief Johnson Ossai as Eze-Aluku, king of the community.

The election took place at the palace of the Okpala-Uku General of Obiaruku.

Presenting the kingelect to the community, the Onotu-Uku, Chief Francis Amudo, said that Chief Ossai had contributed a lot to the growth and development of Obiaruku community in areas of peace, security and youth empowerment, among others, adding that the chiefs, Obiaruku C o m m u n i t y D e v e l o p m e n t Association, OCDA and the youths have found Ossai worthy to be the king of the community.

He called for the support of everybody.

In his acceptance speech, Chief John Ossai thanked the community for the honour and confidence reposed in him and promised to carry everybody along in his efforts to bring development to the community.

By Bartholomew Madukwe

PEOPLE SPEAK

08102479985

Obiaruku community elects monarch

(nwamad@yahoo.com)

On kidnap of 20 women

W

HAT are they doing with all the women and girls? What do these animals really want? I also think that the abduction Fulani herdsmen’s wives could be the law of karma catching up with the herdsmen.— Mr. Wilson Mowete, Student.

W

HY does it take the local vigilante good three hours to hear about the kidnapping and why didn’t they call the military? All along I know these guys are political tools but somehow they have gone out of control of their sponsors.— Mr. Uche Delly, Worker.

P

ERHAPS, there are no more young girls left in Chibok and they can afford to fiddle with old Fulani herdsmen’s wives. A case of when the desirable is not available, the available becomes the desirable.— Mr. Uchenna Urchman, NYSC Member.

W

HEN they kidnapped the girls they said they should leave school and marry. I wonder what reason they will give for kidnapping the women.

All our hope now is on God; Nigeria needs the touch of God.— Mr. Chimex Okeke, Medical Officer.

D

ON’T blame any state governor because your President is fully invested with the powers to deal with any crisis— internal or external. It is time the Presidency started dealing with issues of citizens’ protection critically.— Mr. Kazeem Aremu, Businessman.

A

RE these kidnapped women and girls not Nigerian enough to be protected? We need to rescue Nigeria, just like the kidnapped girls and the women. Every Nigerian matters. May God save Nigeria from enemies within.— Ms. Chinasa Ukogu, Musician.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, JUNE 12, 2014—45

Nigeria deploys NIMASA satellite to rescue hijacked Ghanaian fishing vessel

Edo students deny planned violence over bursary, scholarships

N

ATIONAL Association of Edo State Students, NAESS, has denied reports that it was planning to embark on violence to press home its demand for payment of bursary and scholarships by the Edo State Government to Edo students in tertiary institutions across the country.

Clive Igbinevbo, National President of NAESS, in a statement, yesterday, said “We, however, are not unaware of the intentions of some saboteurs among us to render themselves as agents of destruction and disrupt the smooth running of the government of the day, ably led by Governor Adams Oshiomhole.

“We wish to inform the government, the good people of Edo State and indeed the entire people of Nigeria that we have no intentions to resort to violence in our bid to press home our demand for the payment of bursary and scholarships by the Edo State Government to Edo students in tertiary institutions across the nation."

N-Delta group urges Jonathan to revoke Northerners' oil blocs

T

HE Niger Delta People Solidarity Movement, NDPSM, has given President Goodluck Jonathan a 21-day ultimatum to revoke all oil bloc licences held by Northerners, suspected to be financially supporting Boko Haram insurgent in the country.

NDPSM said that 95 percent of the country’s wealth was generated from the Niger Delta region, adding that it was wrong for those making their wealth from the area to use the proceeds to fight people from the region.

The group in a statement, said: “This is the first time the region is producing a president. Enough is enough of this insurgency against the people of the Niger Delta. We have been studying the situation and we call on Mr. President to call a spade a spade or we will decide the next line of action.”

C M Y K

BY IFEYINWA OBI

T

PHILIP ASIODU ECONOMIC INITIATIVE: From left: Prof. Femi Kayode, board member, Philip Asiodu Economic Initiative; Mr. John Nwabueze, Director-General/CEO; Dr. Hassan Adamu, Wakilin Adamawa, Chairman, Advisory board; Chief Philip Asiodu, Chairman, Board of Trustees; Dr. Shamsudeen Usman, board adviser and Dr. Joe Keshi, board member, at the Philip Asiodu Economic Initiative, in Lagos, yesterday.

Unilateral termination of contract: Court awards N20m against MTN A

DELTA State High Court sitting in Warri, has awarded N20 million against MTN Nigeria Communications Limited in favour of Tatacoms Integrated Resources Limited for unilaterally terminating its contract.

The court also awarded N20,000 as cost in favour of the plaintiff.

Tatacoms Integrated, a retail outlet for MTN, and operator of MTN Connect Store, had dragged the company to court for terminating its contract.

MTN had, in its defence, said that Tatacoms failed to lodge money collected on its behalf into an agreed bank as at when due; did not properly manage the third party outlet and carried out unauthorised SIM swap of a line belonging to the state governor, among others.

Tatacoms Integrated argued that what MTN did was to constitute a panel which investigated the allegations and never gave it an opportunity to respond to same, before going ahead to terminate the contract, which had made it to lose its monthly commission and other revenues.

Trial judge, Justice C. Achilefu, in her judgment, said: “On the issue of the defendant's displeasure on how the connect store was being operated, the claimant's averment that it was flood that destroyed most of the document, was not also investigated by MTN. “I find as a fact that the defendant complained of certain breach of the agreement between defendant and the claimant, the claimant also proffered reasons for the breaches, remedied some of the breaches and the remedies proffered by the claimant were not investigated by the defendant and also the claimant was not given a fair trial by the key inter-

nal stakeholders. The key internal stakeholders on their own tried and decided the case of the claimant without his participation. It is my view that dispute arose between the claimant and the defendant, immediately the claimant alleged that the breach in lodgment of money was caused by Union Bank.

“On the issue of whether claimant is entitled to the relief claimed, the law is that the claimant must prove that it was the action of the defendant that led to the loss for which, he is seeking recompense. Failure to link the act of the defendant conclusively to the loss for which damages is being claimed can only lead to a dismissal of the claim for damages.

“The award of damages is purely within the precinct of the trial court. The power to award damages by the trial court is exercised in the circumstances of a judicious estimation of the loss to the victim once a breach of contract has been established.

“The defendant argued in his evidence before court that their contractors were being paid commission according

to their performance. The commission the claimant also claimed he received monthly was not denied by the defendant. From the evidence of both the claimant and defendant, the defendant performed his part of the agreement until the defendant terminated the contract between the claimant and the defendant.

“In the case before me, considering the fact that the issue of unutilized transaction commission was not within the contemplation of the parties that the claimant as a result of the termination of the contract entered between the claimant and the defendant which resulted in the loss of commission that would have accrued to the claimant for the remaining period of the five years contract by the claimant is entitled to damages which is assessed at N20 million.

"In accordance with Order 35 Rule 7 of the High Court of Delta State (Civil Procedure) Rules 2009, I hereby order an interest at the rate of 10 percent per annum to be paid on the entire judgment debt commencing from the date of this judgment."

HE collaboration between the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, NIMASA, the Nigerian Navy and the Nigerian Air Force may have begun to pay off, as Nigeria intercepted and rescued a hijacked Ghanaian vessel.

Vanguard gathered that the rescue operation was made possible by a newly launched satellite surveillance system, in conjunction with the Nigerian Navy and Air Force.

The vessel, a Ghanaian fishing vessel, Marine 711, was rescued from the suspected hijackers on June 5, after it was reportedly hijacked off the coast of Ghana and sailed across Togo and Benin Republic to Nigerian waters Trouble, however, began for the hijackers after the Embassy of the Republic of Korea contacted the agency to help rescue the vessel, which is owned by its national, just as the Ghanaian Fisheries Authority and the operators of the fishing vessel joined in requesting NIMASA for assistance.

“In an operation coordinated by Capt. Warredi Enisuoh, NIMASA’s Director of Shipping Development, the agency’s newly built satellite surveillance system with Cloud Penetrating Radar capabilities was brought to bear and the incident was resolved within six hours,” said NIMASA’s spokesperson, Mr Isichei Osamgbi.

Uduaghan, Okonjo-Iweala, Ovia, others bag Most Influential Deltans award

BY EGUFE YAFUGBORHI & AKPOKONA OMAFUAIRE

W

ARRI—GOVERNOR Emmanuel Uduaghan of Delta State; Finance Minister, Prof.

Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, banking icons, Ms Evelyn Oputu, Tony

Elumelu and Jim Ovia, and Thisday Newspaper Publisher, Mr. Nduka Obiagbena, have been listed among Delta State’s 100 Most Influential People in the 2014 Impact Innovations Award.

Dr. Florence Nwanabogwu, Media and Publicity Director of Impact Innovations, initiators of the awards also

listed Chief Ovie OmoAgege, INEC Commissioner, Mike Igini, and others, among the 2014 awardees.

According to her, “The award to these notable Deltans is for their positive impact on Delta State. It is our little way of motivating Deltans towards contributing to the state’s development."

46—Vanguard, THURSDAY, JUNE 12, 2014

Nigeria'll overcome her security challenges — GEN ABUBAKAR BYDEMOLAAKINYEMI

I

LORIN—FORMER Head of State, General Abdusalami Abubakar has exhuded confidence that the nation would overcome her insecurity challenges.

Abubakar, who spoke in Ilorin Tuesday, said he had no doubt that the nation would overcome its current challenges and take its rightful place in the league of prosperous nations.

He was at Ilorin, the Kwara State capital for the commissioning of the renovated and upgraded Ilorin General Hospital built by the state government.

His words,”As someone who has watched our country triumph over a civil war and several other crises and had the privilege of supervising our country’s return to democracy, I am troubled by the challenges that currently confront our country. ”However, I have no doubt in my mind

that our country will overcome these transient challenges and take its rightful place in the league of prosperous nations.”

Abubakar, who was the guest of honour on the occasion commended Governor Ahmed for consolidating on the achievements of his predecessor by providing dividends of democracy for the residents and also transforming the state from that of a civil service to an industrial hub.

“I am highly delighted to join you for the opening of the renovated and upgraded of Ilorin General Hospital. From its ancient origins to its emergence as a civil service state, Kwara State has transformed into a growing economic hub and therefore deserves a befitting modern general hospital, especially in view of recent expansion of its population. ”I therefore heartily congratulate His Excellency, Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed and the people of Kwara State for the successful upgrade of this hospital into a state of the art health facility.''

Lamido’s presidential ambition tears Jigawa PDP apart headquarters of the party did not come as a

surprise to those familiar with the situation.

BYALIYU DANGIDA

D

U T S E — I N D I C AT I O N S have emerged that Governor Sule Lamido’s 2015 presidential ambition is now tearing the state ruling Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, apart.

The recent face-off between the state Vice Chairman and Secretary of the party, Alhaji Aminu Nuhu Jahun and Alhaji Ali Tukur Gamtsa respectfully, penultimate week was an indication that all is not well with the party in the state.

Several Nigerians and groups had been asking Lamido to throw his hat into the ring and vie for the election because of his alleged impressive performance in Jigawa State as governor in the last seven years.

However, shortly after the state Vice Chairman of the party, Alhaji Jahun had said that the PDP members in the state would procure nomination forms for Lamido to contest the election, adding that “they are 100 percent in his support to vie for the office of the president,’’ the Secretary, Alhaji Gamtsa countered him, asking the general public to ignore such romour.

Vanguard sources said that although the Chairman of the party, Alhaji Salisu Mamuda Kuit reportedly intervened over the issue, which he said was ‘’an internal affair which the party can resolve amicably,’’ the party members had been polarised over the governor’s presumed ambition since the exchange of words by the two political gladiators in the s t a t e , It was gathered that, the secretary Ali Gamtsa was accused of allegedly engaging in a confrontation with a former state legislator when PDP governors converged on Jigawa for their meeting as well as a serving federal lawmaker and some politicians over the issue.

A top official of the PDP who commented on the crises said, ‘’The recent open confrontation between the secretary and the vice chairman, at the C M Y K

Evah blasts Shettima, backs Edwin Clark

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HE Coordinator of Ijaw Monitoring Group, IMG, Comrade Joseph Evah has condemned the displaying of about 60 persons in Niger Delta attire by officials of Borno State Government to to gather support for the governor.

In a statement, Evah said the “displaying of those so-called Niger Deltans like school children for a photoshot to deceive the public about the governor’s popularity was an insult to Nigerians in general and the Niger Delta in particular”.

Comrade Evah, who was the Coordinator of Non-Indigenes for the Actualisation of June 12, NIFAJ, and a former member of Committee for Defence of Human Rights, CDHR, during the struggle to force the military out of governance after the annulment of June 12, 1993 election said: “I have done detailed investigation of what happened in government House, Maiduguri and my investigation revealed that this governor (Governor Shettima) is not fit to even be a local government chairman in a sane country.

“For him to packaged few elders like children before television cameras after promising them what he could not provide for them to condemn the patriotic demand of Chief E.K. Clark is enough evidence why the security situation is getting worse by the day in Borno State.

“This confirms my group’s proposal during 2005 constitutional conference that any politician that wants to contest for political office must go through psychiatric test to ascertain his mental capability to manage the affairs of men and women in Nigeria.”

The Niger Delta activist advised the governor to apologise to the Niger Delta region for parading few elders of the region living in the North like school children as a political survival strategy.

“All well meaning Nigerians stand by Chief E.K. Clark’s demand that full emergency rule would have solved the problem of the political Boko Haram in Borno”.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, JUNE 12, 2014 — 47

Wada tasks monarchs on increasing crime wave

Jigawa phases out motorised water supply scheme

BY TINA AKANNAM

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By BOLUWAJI OBAHOPO

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OKOJA —THE Kogi State Government has charged traditional rulers in the state to curb the increasing crime waves in their domains.

Governor Idris Wada of Kogi State spoke yesterday at the annual conference of traditional rulers held in Lokoja, with the theme: “The Implications of Kogi State Chiefs Laws No 23 of 2006 on the Administration of Contemporary Traditional Institutions in Kogi State.”

Wada, who was represented at the occasion by his deputy, Mr. Yomi Awoniyi, described reports of robberies, kidnappings, thefts and assassinations as alien to the people and their culture and asked the monarchs to rise to the occasion and halt such criminal activities.

He also described as disturbing the refusal by some traditional councils to recognise the appointments of some graded chiefs by the state government, saying it amounted to taking laws into their hands.

Earlier in his address, Chairman of the Kogi State Council of Chiefs and Attah Igala, His Royal Majesty, Ameh Oboni III, had said the conference showed the commitment of the traditional rulers to orderliness, peace and tranquility in the state.

Oboni said the conference would help to build the capacity and empower traditional rulers with strategic techniques of ensuring peace and harmony as well as helping them to develop zero tolerance for anarchy within their domains.

He commended government’s efforts to improve the welfare of traditional rulers in the state, assuring of their continued support, advice and prayers.

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From left: Lagos State Commissioner of Information and Strategy, Mr Lateef Ibirogba; Special Adviser to the Governor on Education, Mr Fatai Olukoga; Special Adviser on Information, Mr Lateef Raji and Special Adviser on Media, Alhaji Hakeem Bello, during a press briefing to announce a reduction in the school fees of Lagos State University (LASU), in Lagos, yesterday. Photo: Bunmi Azeez.

Be wary of failed APC politicians, PDP warns Niger indigenes

BY WOLE MOSADOMI

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INNA — THE People’s Democratic Party, PDP, Niger State chapter has urged indigenes o f the state to be wary of failed All Progressives Congress, APC, politicians who had nothing to offer except for their desperate desire to grab power at all costs.

In a statement signed by the PDP state Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Hassan MohammedSaba, the party said these failed politicians, who had lost virtually all the elections they contested at all levels, are only versatile in cheap propaganda for cheap political gains.

According to the statement, ”how can a political party that cannot hold a conclusive congress want to rule a complex state like Niger. ”The people of Niger State should, therefore, distance themselves from these pack of incompetent people and their party,” he said, pointing out that the opposition party was already at the verge of collapsing owing to the crisis generated by its poor and haphazard attempt to organise ward, local government and state congresses across the country."

He, therefore, urged them to disregard all the alleged concocted lies being peddled by "the group of self-seeking opportun-

istic politicians against the PDPled state government in a vain attempt to hide their failure through propaganda."

Saba said the party, like its socalled predecessors — ACN, CPC and ANPP — would continue to fail at the polls and fade away as Nigerlites were conscious of the Governor Muazu Babangida Aliyu’s developmental strides. ”Nigerlites have spoke in 1999, 2003, 2007 and 2011 general elections and they will continue to identify with our great party and its candidates just as the people of the state will continue to reject the APC and its leadership," he added.

WEF appoints Nweke member of Global Agenda Council

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BUJA — THE World Eco nomic Forum, WEF, a network of Global Agenda Councils, has appointed the out-going Director General of Nigeria Economic Summit Group, NESG, and former Minister for Information, Mr. Frank Nweke Jnr as its member.

Nweke was appointed member of the Global Agenda Council on Africa for 2014-2016.

Founder and Executive Chairman of WEF, Klaus Schwab, who invited Nweke on June 3, 2014, described him as one of the world’s most relevant and knowledgeable thought leaders in the

Rain wreaks havoc in 3 Jos communities

BY MARIE-THERESE NANLONG

J

OS — RAIN which lasted for over two hours has wreaked havoc in three communities in Jos North local government area.

The rain which started at about noon fell till about 2 pm with the attendant breeze uprooting a tree, electricity poles, roof tops and fences.

At Tudun Wada, one of the affected community, a resident, Ishaya Sambo, narrated his ordeal, saying: “As the result of traffic gridlock in the town, I

decided to stay at home. When the rain started, it did not occur to me that it can wreak this magnitude of havoc. ”As the rain and breeze increased, I decided to close the windows but I felt breeze and water on my head. It now dawned on me that the roof of the house had been removed.”

In the same Tudun Wada, a tree was uprooted and it fell on some roof tops but no life was lost.

Similarly, Kabong and Gada Biu areas were not spared as houses were flooded as the result of ongoing road construction.

field.

Schwab said he believed Nweke’s expertise would be instrumental in helping the council to collaboratively develop pertinent insights and solutions to address global challenges.

As a member, Nweke would meet with other members throughout the council’s term, personolly at the summit on the Global Agenda.

This year’s summit would hold between November 9 and 11, 2014 in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.

Nweke is expected to submit his views on what world leaders should be watching out for and thinking about for 2015. His contribution will form the basis for the Global Agenda Outlook on WEF's flagship publications.

Nweke organised the WEF in Abuja between May 7 and 9, where visiting foreign dignitaries, including Chinese premier, Li Keqiang, and more than 1,000 captains of industry and opinion-formers from around the world exchanged ideas on the country’s economy in the years ahead.

UTSE — THE Jigawa State Government has said that it had started to phase out motorised water supply schemes in all part of the state because they were expensive.

The government, however, resorts to the construction of solar powered water supply projects because they were cheaper and easier to maintain in rural communities.

Managing Director of Small Town Water Supply and Sanitation Agency, Ali Umar, who spoke in an interview with Vanguard, yesterday, said all the motorised water schemes would eventually be replaced with solar powered water schemes.

Umar further explained that there were 557 motorised water schemes of which 323 were functional.

His words: ‘’There were 235 existing water schemes which were in very bad shapes before additional 323 new ones that were established by the present administration. Presently, all the old ones that are faulty are being fixed."

Firm fetes children

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NILEVER Nigeria Plc in conjunction with Children of Africa, gave Nigerian Children a day to remember during the 16th annual Children of Africa Children’s Day event with Blue Band margarine.

The theme for the funfair which was “Every Child Has Got Potential” was held in four cities of Ibadan, Port Harcourt, Lagos and Enugu.

Speaking at the event, Miss Vivian Ihaza, Category Manager, Tea and Spreads, said Unilever had successfully partnered with Children of Africa over the years on many initiatives including the annual children’s day celebration events.

She emphasized that Unilever as a company believes strongly in doing well by doing good, hence Blue Band margarine, which is the addition to bread and other meals is designed to complement the efforts of mothers in the continued quest to provide nutritious meals for their families which the children also enjoy eating.

At the different locations, which had school children in attendance, competitions among pupils and schools such as dance/drama choreography, quiz and spelling bees were activities carried out by children.

48— Vanguard , THURSDAY, JUNE 12, 2014

LAUNCHING: From left: Dr. Joe Okei-Odumakin, President, Women Arise, Dr. Abiola Akiyode-Afolabi, Executive Director, Women Advocates Research and Documentation Centre, Hon. Adeyemi Kuforiji, Speaker, Lagos State House of Assembly and Hon. Opeyemi VISIT: Flag Officer Commanding, Nigeria Naval Logistics Headquarters, Oghara, Akindele, President, Association of Vice-chairmen of LG/LCDA, Lagos Rear Admiral Sidi-Ali Hassan Usman (3rd right), His Royal Majesty, Noble Eshemitan, State, at the launch of NOT AGAIN, a grassroots advocacy for the Orefe III, Ovie of Oghara (3rd left) and others, during a visit to the monarch by reduction of maternal mortality in Nigeria by WARDC in collaboration naval team, at Oghara, Delta State. with MacArthur Foundation in Lagos.

DINNER: Bishop Mike Okonkwo (middle), his wife, Peace Okonkwo (2nd right) and others at the first ELP Partner's award dinner in Lagos.

OPENING: From left: Movie Producer, Tunde Kelani, Managing Director/Chief Chef, Labule Restaurant, Mrs. Binta Adisa and MD, Noah's Ark Communications Limited, Mr. Lanre Adisa, during the opening of Labule Restaurant in Lagos.

LAUNCHING: From left: Mr. Abass Sambo, Deputy Managing Director, Swiss Pharma Nigeria Ltd, Mr. Colin Cummings, Chairman, Swiss Pharma Nigeria Ltd and Prince Julius Adelusi-Adeluyi, chairman of the occasion, at the product launch of Swipha in Lagos.

BRIEFING: From left: Ms. Toyin Adesol, Executive Director, Pastor Emmanuel Ibekwe, Chairman, Board of Trustees, Pastor Ituah Ighodalo,,Chairman, Board of Patrons, and Mr. Fillius Osunbor, Vice Chairman, all of DABMAN Sickle Cell Foundation, at the briefing by the foundation on the forthcoming World Sickle Cell Day in Lagos, yesterday, Photo: Biodun Ogunleye.

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BRIEFING: From left: Mr. Tony Nwakalor, Mr. David Oyebanjo (D'Banj), Mrs. Mary Akpobome, Executive Director, Ivory Banking, Heritage Bank, and Bayo Ogunnusi, Head, SME, during the media parley to announce the partnership between bank and Dbanj on the Nagropreneur project in Lagos.

ASSEMBLY: From left: Immediate Past President, Junior Chamber International, JCI, Eko chapter, Olajide Adeyemi, Lanre Fasasi (Sound Sultan), Founder, Bountiful Foundation, Busayomi Adelanwa, and President, JCI Eko chapter, Adewale Edalere, during the association’s June General Assembly in Lagos.

From left: Mr. Lucky Ofurum, Brand Manager, Blueband Unilever Nig Plc., Mrs. Ideezu Evelyn, representative of SUBEB, Port-Harcourt, Miss Natasha Akure, student of Abijah Model School, Port-Harcourt, representatives of Children of Africa, Chidinma Obasi , feanyi Nwandem and others, during the presentation of a mobile Air- conditioner, as 2nd position prize in the Blueband Essay Competition, at the Blueband Children’s Day Fair in Port Harcourt.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, JUNE 12, 2014 — 49

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Vanguard, THURSDAY, JUNE 12, 2014

— 53

Benefits of a Veg diet: Bringing down blood pressure T Hakeem Jimo’s HREE weeks ago, May 17th was an important day.

Although, not a day of celebration, rather a day to bring about awareness.

It was World Hypertension Day. Some call this noncommunicable disease hypertension, some high blood pressure and other people simply refer to it as "BP” like it is a family member.

High blood pressure causes the heart to work harder than normal to circulate blood through the blood vessels and contributes to a person's risk of heart disease, stroke, kidney disorders and other health problems.

One of the most prevalent non-communicable conditions

Ve ggie Victory

veggienaija@gmail.com worldwide, hypertension is responsible for an estimated 45 percent of deaths due to heart disease and 51percent of deaths due to stroke globally. In Nigeria, as in most developing countries, hypertension is the most important modifiable risk factor for stroke. It is present in almost 80 percent of cases.

Most victims are unaware of their blood pressure status prior

•Heart-friendly diet.

to the event. That makes 'BP' the most common non-communicable disease in Nigeria. Hypertension is by far the most common risk factor for congestive heart failure in Nigeria. Recorded in the Abeokuta heart failure registry, hypertension was listed as being responsible for 78.7 percent of heart failure in the city. It was also seen responsible for 62.6 percent, 56.3 percent , 57 percent and 44.1 percent of heart failure cases in Abuja, Port Harcourt, Jos and Uyo respectively. (Source: World Journal of Cardiology) To understand the magnitude of its presence in Nigeria, 57 million people are estimated to be hypertensive with many still undiagnosed. In America even 44 percent of all African Americans are suffering from it.

It seems that people from African descent are genetically especially prone to hypertension.

Of World Health Organisation's six regions, the African region has the highest prevalence of hypertension estimated at 46 percent of adults aged 25 and above.

•L-R: Dr. Joe Okei-Odumakin, President, Women Arise; Dr Abiola Akiyode-Afolabi, Executive Director, Women Advocates Research and Documentation Centre; Adeyemi Kuforiji, Speaker, LSHA and Opeyemi Akindele, President Association of Vice-chairmen of LG/ LCDA, Lagos state at the launch of NOTAGAIN, a nationwide grassroots advocacy for the reduction of maternal mortality in Nigeria by WARDC in collaboration with MacArthur Foundation in Lagos. Photo: Lamidi Bamidele

•Wife of the Lagos state Governor, Mrs. Abimbola Fashola (2nd right) during a courtesy call to the Mart Medicare world class maternity unit of the Mart Group of Health Services, Lagos last week. With her are Mrs Idowu Ashiru (2nd left), Prof. Oladapo Ashiru (right), Dr Chinyere Ananti and Dr. Lateef Akinola.

COMMON SEXUAL PROBLEMS AND THEIR NOVELTY BASED SOLUTIONS (ADVERTORIAL)

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LEASE sir/ma, I have mouth odour and it is very embarrassing. What can I use in curing it?

And also white tissues come out of my private part.

Thanks – Gloria Gloria it is normal for the mouth to have that stale smell in the morning because it has been closed all night and deprived of air circulation. All you have to do is to brush your teeth thoroughly and scrub your tongue very well. Odour causing bacteria are found mainly on the tongue. Poor quality tooth paste can also encourage mouth odour due to its ineffectiveness. I know Oral B tooth paste to be of very good quality so you can try that. But if the smell persists after brushing your teeth properly with good quality tooth paste, it is either of two things. It is either you need teeth cleaning (plaque could have built up on the base of your teeth over the years) or that you have a type of chronic mouth odour called as halitosis. In both cases, you need to see your dentist to schedule the appropriate procedure and medication for your condition.

Regarding the vaginal discharge, it may not be anything serious. The vagina has many secretory glands that maintain its healthy moist rate. A non-smelly clear or white discharge is not caused by any particular disease or infection, but is an exaggeration of the normal slight discharge that all women experience naturally.

If you have an infection, this discharge will not be white or clear. It will likely be greenish or discolored and smelly. In any case, go for a hospital checkup to keep your mind at ease – Uche Hello sir. I read your column about the erection products Exploding Thunder and Max for Men Arousal Oil. I am 62 years old and healthy. Which of these products is best from me? I have not had an erection in two years – Chima Chima Exploding Thunder supplement is a stronger enhancer and is best for you because your type of erectile dysfunction is age related and therefore more seri-

ous. The Max for Men Arousal Oil is for men with mild erectile difficulties that happen once in a while – Uche I got married as a virgin and I have little sexual experience. Please how can I learn to be good at this stuff?

Jeremiah Jeremiah you can get your sex education from the right books and films. I will recommend two adult educational films. Get The Art of Oral Loving and The Art of Sexual Positions. Between these two instructional videos, you will learn a lot – Uche I am 39 years old and I have been having difficulties with getting in the mood for sex with my husband until I came across the Pure Desire for her supplement. It saved my marriage and restored my sex drive. Thank you so much Vivian Please what is your best penis enlarger and can I use it with my Exploding Thunder erection supplement? James If you are taking Exploding Thunder supplement already, then it is better to enlarge your penis with a penis pump like the Machismo Pump. It is not advisable to combine two erection supplements with similar functions – Uche Hey. I have received the My First Rabbit Vibrator. I don’t usually kiss and tell but I had my first orgasm last weekend and I am quite please. Keep it up. Nigeria needs you – Pat I have been experiencing weak erection for some time and eventually bought a Penis Pump. My erections are harder after pumping. It is just that when I start having sex, it will get soft again – Paul If you are using a penis pump to get an erection, you must use it with a Cockring. Once you pump and get your erection, wear the Cockring immediately to maintain the erection – Uche And that’s it for today. Adults in need of these novelties 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, Zee Virtual Media.

54 — Vanguard, THURSDAY, JUNE 12, 2014

Invisible Borders, artistic voyage to the unknown

BY JAPHET ALAKAM

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ESPITE the turmoils, wars, kidnappings and other socio-political ills going on in most African countries, a group of 10 African artists under the aegis of the Invisible Borders TransAfrican Photographers Organization last week embarked on its 5th edition of their Road Trip Project. This trip which will be the first Trans-Continental Road Trip of the collective will be from Lagos (Nigeria) to Sarajevo (Bosnia) through 21 countries in Africa and Europe notably Nigeria, Republic of Benin, Togo, Ghana, Ivory Coast, Liberia, Sierra Leone, Guinea, Senegal, Mauritania, Western Sahara, Morocco, Spain, France, Belgium, The Netherlands, Germany, Czech Republic, Austria, Slovenia, Croatia and eventually Bosnia.

This was disclosed by the project coordinator, Emeka Okereke while briefing the press about the event. According to him, the road trip will assemble artists from countries in Africa whose previ-

“This year’s road trip is therefore an attempt to approach the core of what necessitates borders Movement. The road trip project is an attempt to draw a tangible line of connection across chosen geographic locations in order to transcend the limitations proposed by the existing demarcating lines.”

He also disclosed that the activities will be articulated on daily basis in the online blog of the project, while on the trip, and on a weekly basis in the Invisible Borders web application to be available on smartphones and tablets across major operating systems Continuing, he stated that the project is an art-led initiative, founded in Nigeria in 2009 by passionate Nigerian artists – mostly photographers – with a drive and urge to effect change in the society.

The mission of the Initiative is to tell Africa’s stories, by Africans, through photography and inspiring artistic interventions; to encourage exposure of upcoming

,

The mission of the Initiative is to tell Africa's stories, by Africans through photography and inspiring artistic mediums to encourage exposure of upcoming African photographers and others

ous work are rooted in the reality of the African continent. It will be made up of photographers, writers, video artists, art critics, art historians and performance artists. There will be ten participants in a whole.

The journey will last 151 days (22 weeks) from the 2nd of June until 31st of October 2014. They will make stops of about five to seven days in major cities of these 21 countries.

Personal works Besides creating personal works with their various mediums, the Invisible Borders participants will develop diverse projects in collaboration with local Partners (Associations, Museums, Art Centers, Public Institutions, Artists, etc.)

He stated that during the last four editions of the Road Trip the group has explored African countries from the West to the East and Central Africa. The impressions of the last four years have given rise to reflections and subsequent evolution of questions surrounding the complexness of borders.

,

African photographers towards art and photography as practiced in other parts of the continent, to establish a platform that encourages and embraces trans- African artistic relationships within the continent, and to contribute towards the socio-political discourse shaping Africa of the 21st Century. The participating artists include; Dawit L. Petros (Photographer / Eritrea) Heba Amin (Filmmaker / Egypt) ;Breeze Yoko (Video/Film & Graffiti Artist / South Africa) ;Lindokhule Nhlakanipho Nkosi (Writer / South Africa) ;Renee Mboya (Writer / Kenya) ;Tom Saater (Photographer / Nigeria); Angus McKinnon (Photographer / South Africa) ; Emmanuel Iduma (Writer & Art Critic / Nigeria) and Emeka Okereke (Photographer / Nigeria).

The vision of the initiative is to become a symbol of networking and trans-border associations within the arts and photography in Africa, but also to become a stepping-stone platform for young emerging talents in the continent in such a way that it creates a breeding ground for young artist to be thinking beyond borders at the beginning

Beautiful obstacle-- en route Addis Ababa, Ethiopia by Emeka Okereke stage of their creative quest.

While their goal is to constantly spread and share knowledge and information,cutting across the demarcating lines of classes and proficiency in literacy, thereby expanding the art public to include more of the local audience and the “layman”.

Speaking about their expectations, Angus Mackinnon from South Africa said, “My motivation for the Road Trip is to find a way of presenting modern Africa to the rest of the world. The challenge in this is to first identify what I, myself, understand as ‘African’. The historical conditions of colonialism and the current stereotypes that dominate African identity allow a lot of space for this investigation.”For the Road Trip I plan on grappling

with my identity as a white African; how this is interpreted and what it means. The geographical juxtaposition from the beginning of the trip in Africa to the end in Europe allows for compelling engagement with the vestiges of colonialism and an opportunity to examine it from within.

Vestiges of colonialism Dawit L. Petro from Eritrea said, “I work with photographs, installations, research, and writing to examine the relationship between African and European modernisms. My research is situated within a paradigm that reevaluates theoretical and historical arguments to better

navigate the complexities of the contemporary landscape’s experiences of displacement, placemaking, and cultural negotiation.”

While Renee Mboya , a Kenyan writer said, “I want to explore the contexts of language and location - the containers of history, politics and economics as they exist traditionally in textiles, music, artefact and food, for example, and examine their place in a multimedia modernity, and their revalorisation in contemporary culture through fashion, television and myth against the backdrop of post-colonialism and post-imperialism and newly contracted perspectives influence lines of perception at first instance.”

Multichoice unites award winning artistes in song

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IX of Africa’s finest artists have collaborated on a song that is part of MultiChoice Africa’s upcoming campaign which is set to be unveiled at a glitz and glam content extravaganza in Mauritius.

The six artists are Davido, a Nigerian American recording artist, performer, and record producer; Diamond Platnumz (or simply Diamond), a Bongo Flava recording artist from Tanzania; Sarkodie (also referred to as Obidi Pon Bidi) a Ghanaian hip hop recording artist, entertainer, and brand ambassador; Tiwa Savage, Nigerian singersongwriter, recording artist, performer and actress: Lola Rae,

a British singer of Nigerian/Ghanaian descent who garnered recognition as a dancer in the street dance group “Myztikal” and finally Mi Casa, a South African band consisting of three members, Dr. Duda (producer) and pianist, Jsomething (vocalist and guitarist), and Mo-T (trumpeter).

The song is a prelude to a themed campaign that will play a pivotal role in bringing about meaningful transformation to the benefit of all. The social and economic needs facing our continent are substantial and it is a moral duty for big business to make a difference by supporting projects

5th Eko Int'l Film Festival holds in Lagos

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* Davido

that benefit our society by creating shared value.

The artistes hope to in spire and create a paradigm shift amongst Africans with their music as there is so much more to celebrate. The campaign promises to unearth what is right about Africa in our ongoing commitment to making a difference in the lives of all Africans. “We strongly believe that the quest for good corporate citizenship starts with an acceptance of responsibility, not only to our subscribers and stakeholders, but to the broader African community in which we operate."

HE 5th edition of the annual Eko International Film Festival comes up November 18-23, 2014 in Lagos. The theme of this year ’s edition is “NIGERIA FILM INDUSTRY AND THE MEDIA”. The President of Eko International Film Festival Mr. Hope Obioma Opara said that the festival’s focus during this edition will be on contributions

of the media to the growth of the film industry. Film submission for the festival is still open till June 30th , 2014.

Film submissions must be in one of the seven categories: Feature, Short, Fiction, documentaries, Short Documentaries, Horror, Student Film and 1 minute.

Entries are already coming from around the world.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, JUNE 12, 2014 — 55

THURSDAY POEMS

* Traditional dance, one of the country's heritage

the level of economic inducement, government is working seriously to see that all artefacts taken away from the country are returned, ” he pleaded.

Speaking on the theme: ‘Heritage of Commemoration and Museums Collections Makes Connections’, the minister said museum’s collections could be used to solve insecurity problems in the country. ” M u s e u m s collections are geared toward solving peculiar societal problems such as insecurity, while the monuments are to serve as reminders of the great achievements of our fore bears and their peaceful co-existence,” he said.

Duke categorically said that the high level of social vices was not unconnected with the lost of family values and there is need for cooperation of everybody “to preserve our cultural values.”

According to him, “the level of crime and terrorist activities in our countr y, Nigeria, which is very much connected to loss of family values, the m u s e u m management must contribute immensely to the restoration of family values, using the available collections, connections and heritage resources.”

In his remarks, the Director General of National Commission for Museums and Monuments (NCMM), Alh. Yusuf Usman, noted that monuments in Nigeria did not enjoy proper protection and recognition, in spite of their historic, educational and social values.

U s m a n revealed that NCMM had identified 100 monuments and sites to be declared by the federal government in commemoration of the centenary celebration.

Our nation’s heritage not for sale — Duke

BY CALEB AYANSINA

MINISTER of Tour ism, Culture and National Orientation, Edem Duke has appealed to Nigerians not to sell the country’s heritage because of the economic inducement.

Duke, who made the appeal

during the occasion of the International Museum Day, in Abuja, said the federal government was making progress in its struggle to recover all artefacts trafficked away from the country.

“I want to appeal to all Nigerians, please, do not put away the country’s heritages regardless of

Moninkim Generation gone by When granddads were boys Men sang belles beauties In tones of camwood mingles They dote on camwood tones Under shimmering bead rows Roaming the belles’ fresh flesh In blends of black’ n blood-red They see rainbows in sunrise As the belles leave the water-side Shrouded in camwood magic Face to sole of colour intrigues Men lick lips, slap laps Watching bead chains caress mam’glands Spying what the eyes can catch They yoggle to the rhythm of the copper-ringed feet As the belles chime their regular route Back to the fattening room Moninkim, the circumcised belles Ready for suitors and wedding bells In the comfort of the fattening room Camwood groomed into womanhood

Invasion of locust

BY USIEMURE CHRISTOPHER About the dawn of the 21st Century, A pack of locusts invaded our land.

A pack of locusts comparable In barbarity to barbarians in dark age Rome.

Their cause is not certain; Though their mouthpiece mouthed, ‘religion’.

They wax stronger, As the century wears on, Ill-wind blowing, through churches; Through mosques, common enemy Across northern streets, they spread death, blood, head-ache and dust.

Suicidal sanguinary pack of locusts, They sneak in, bomb and fizzle out.

Ak 47 rifles are not spared too.

All hands are now on deck The search for panacea Nations and patriots join Yet the locusts ravage on Here my hand goes on desk; Paying debt a citizen owes his country.

The locusts, mammals of sporadic ambush, Lucifer’s errand guerrillas of the night, Need disguised force of calculative watch, An army of a striking night.

Since to kill a bird, One has to become a bird, To kill a guerrilla locust, Become a guerrilla locust.

A well-armed disguised force, Lurking vigilantly in shadows, Tracing with sniffer and tracker dogs, Can be effective counter to, the elusive guerrillas To kill forever, a bad tree Remove her roots from the ground.

56 — Vanguard, THURSDAY, JUNE 12, 2014

BY HENRY UMORU, JOSEPH ERUNKE & LEVINUS NWABUGHIOGU

$14b needed to revive Lake Chad

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O diversify the current mono-economy, delegates have called for the revival of the agricultural sector.

The issue of placing agriculture where it used to be in the past came to the front burner when delegates discussed the Agricultural and Water Resources committee’s 44-page report.

To boost agriculture in the North-East, the committee said $14 billion was required to rehabilitate the Lake Chad that has been untouched in the past 25 years.

Having assessed the nation’s agricultural and water resources policies especially as they relate to food security, the committee said it has become imperative for the government to refocus agriculture as a business for the creation of jobs and wealth. It argued that agriculture has the potential to compete favourably and was much more environmentally sustainable than the oil and gas sector, adding, “It is also the most viable way to stem the current large scale rural-urban youth migration and thus prove the most viable solution to permanently deal with the problems of insurgency, armed robbery and kidnapping currently bedeviling the nation.”

T

HE National Conference has adopted the recommendations of its Committee on Religion that Christian and Muslim pilgrim boards be scrapped and that governments at all levels should stop sponsoring religious pilgrimages.

The conference said the two existing agencies be replaced with a body to be called “Religious Equity Commission, RECOM,” which should be established in all the states of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Abuja. However, the confab said the scrapping of the pilgrims boards be done in phases.

Heated disagreements Debate on the committee’s recommendation was put on hold two weeks ago following heated disagreements.

Christian delegates had endorsed the recommendation but their Muslim counterparts kicked against it, a development that compelled the conference leadership postpone the debate.

Deputy Chairman of the Conference, Professor Bolaji Akinyemi, re-introduced the debate yesterday at the plenary, saying so far, over 350 delegates had endorsed the proposal.

Akinyemi asked the CoChairman of the Committee on

Delegates at the National Conference in Abuja

Scrap Christians, Muslims pilgrim boards — Delegates Religion, Alhaji Nurudeen Lemu, to further educate delegates on his committee’s recommendation, which the latter did to the satisfaction of the delegates.

Consequently, the delegates agreed that the Federal Government, in exercise of its oversight responsibility, should provide normal Consular services for the pilgrims through the Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the

Nigerian foreign missions in the relevant destinations.

Arguing that the recommendation is in line with Section 10 of the 1999 Constitution, they said each person should fund his or her trip to anywhere he wishes to observe religious obligations.

On the establishment of RECOM, the conference agreed that its mandate would include “advocacy, enforcement of constitutional

religious rights such as freedom of religion, freedom to acquire land for religious purposes and others within the limits of the Constitution of Nigeria.”

Outlaw public slaughtering of domestic animals

M

EANWHILE, the confab yesterday, decried the

Why corrupt persons should be killed — Delegate M EANWHILE, a delegate representing the North East zone, Paul Bassi, who advocated for capital punishment for persons convicted of corruption in Nigeria, stressed that given the level of corruption plaguing the country only draconian laws could tame the itchy fingers of public officials.

Bassi, who spoke during discussions on the report of Committee on Agriculture stressed that the volume of public funds stolen every year could have been deployed to funding agriculture.

The Committee on Agriculture and Water Resources had also called for immediate passage of the Bill for the Establishment of the Nigerian Soil Science Institute which it said was pending in the National Assembly, if the current critical shortage of manpower in the sector must be addressed.

When established, it said the institute when established would provide leadership in regulating

the training and professional practice of soil science in the country and address the current critical shortage of manpower in the sector.

It therefore called for and emphasized the need for appropriate review and

amendment of the Land Use Act; an issue that has re-echoed repeatedly in the Conference and whose resolution is currently pending.

The Committee also recommended the recreation of Commodity Marketing Boards or

Corporations, akin to what obtained in the country in the late 1940s to late 1980s, saying that the first set of commodities to be included in this would be cotton, oil palm, cocoa and groundnuts.

Trans-border movement:

Confab asks NASS to enact Bio-Safety Bill

T

HE National Conference, yesterday, resolved that BioSafety Bill that will regulate trans-border movement of genetically modified drugs be initiated and enacted by the National Assembly without further delay.

This, the conference said would check indiscriminate importation of genetically modified drugs that were not suitable for the country.

It also said appropriate policy should be put in place by the government to facilitate the participation of people living with disability to enable them enjoy

low interest on loan and 50 per cent subsidy on farm inputs.

The Conference also asked policy makers to ensure that Nigeria participates in agricultural research programmes at both the continental and regional levels so as to benefit from the results of such efforts.

It was agreed that government should grant low interest and long tenured micro-credit loans to assist the private sector to support agricultural development.

Delegates said that in addition

to existing budgetary allocation, “30 per cent of the National Resources Fund be used for the development of agricultural sector while an additional 20 per cent of the fund be used for the development of water resources especially mechanized deep sea fishing, which is a major foreign exchange earner.”

It tasked states and local governments across the country to revitalize the already existing skills acquisition and agricultural training centres in each senatorial district as an initiative towards agricultural transformation.

slaughtering of domestic animals in abattoirs in the presence of others, saying the act was not only cruel but wicked to the animals.

To this end, the conference resolved that a formal law outlawing the slaughtering of animals in the view and presence of others be established in the country.

The conference equally agreed that abattoirs must not only be kept clean they should also be conducive and friendly to animals.

This came following the amendment of one of the recommendations of the report of the Alhaji Umaru Muhammed Hadeja-led Committee on Agricultural and Water Resources.

Delegates also voted for the reintroduction of marketing boards in all the states of the federation.

They also decried abandonment of projects by in-coming administrations. “This has been a major bane of Nigeria’s development process across the board and is due largely to two factors. They are corporate attitudinal culture of the quest for self-adulation. A new government coming in would not want to continue with a policy initiated by its predecessor no matter how laudable that policy may be, just to be seen to be initiating something different or new."

Vanguard, THURSDAY, JUNE 12, 2014 — 57

Attack: Commissioner sues Police Chief

BY DAPO AKINREFON

respect to complaints about human rights violations in Ekiti State.

Commissioner sues Meanwhile, the Ekiti State Commissioner for Integration and Inter-Governmental Affairs, Mr Funminiyi Afuye, has instituted a civil rights suit against the state Commissioner of Police, Mr. Felix Uyanna, and the Mobile Police Commander, Gabriel Selenkere.

Afuye, who filed the suit on Wednesday, is asking the court to grant him damages in the sum

F

OLLOWING Sunday ’s clash between supporters of the All Progressives Congress, APC and the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, the Ekiti State Attorney-General, Mr. Wale Fapohunda, has opened a public register on alleged human rights violations committed by the Mobile Police Commander in the state, Gabriel Selenkere.

The move is in response to complaints by the public on alleged human rights violations

by Mr Selenkere against the governor, Dr. Kayode Fayemi.

The purpose of the register is to give aggrieved members of the public and victims of abuse

by Selenkere the opportunity to articulate their grievances with a view to achieving justice.

•Fayose

•Fayemi

It will be recalled that the Attorney-General had in a statement from his office on

Tuesday declared that Superintendent Gabriel Selekere was a person of interest with

June 21: I'll shock people — Bamidele

BY DAPO AKINREFON

L

ABOUR Party flag bearer, Mr Opeyemi Bamidele, has expressed optimism of his very bright chances in the forthcoming election.

Bamidele, who said he had political edge above the other 17 guber candidates who have emerged from other political parties in the race, expressed hope that this would certainly favour him at the polls.

He said his unionism background and political exposure spanning over two decades are his selling points regardless of the limited

resources at his disposal.

In a statement by Ahmed Salami his media aide, Bamidele maintained that he is not a gambler adding that the outcome of June 21 election would be a “rude shock to his opponents.”

Bamidele said “I have no doubt in my mind that I’m the best candidate in this race. I’m neither a gambler nor a believer in fluke victory. I’m adequately prepared for this job and this is not born out of self-delusion but my inspiration is drawn from a profile of my past achievements in political offices”.

Speaking further, he boasted that “I have been in leadership

•Bamidele

positions and successfully piloted affairs of men from a tender age of 17."

of N1 billion for physical assault on his person by Selenkere and his unlawful detention by the Police.

The suit which was filed at the Ekiti State High Court sitting in Ado Ekiti was brought pursuant to Order 11 Rules 123 and 5 of the Fundamental Rights (Enforcement) Rules 2009 and sections 6, 34, 41 and 46 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999.

Afuye was one of the victims of the June 8 assault by mobile policemen.

Ignore APC’s call, group advises IGP

BY GBENGA ARIYIBI

A

socio-political group, Ekiti State Development Union (ESDU), has called on the Inspector General of Police, Mr Mohammed Abubakar to ignore the call by the leadership of All Progressives Congress (APC), calling for the deployment of the Commissioner of Police in the state.

The group further advocated water-tight security throughout the state before, during and after the June 21 governorship election, alleging that the APC government in the state was out to “cause mayhem during the election.”

In a release by its chairman, Pastor Yemi Olayinka and Secretary, Mr Foluso Oguntoyinbo, the group said it was disheartening that Fayemi could attempt to use his office to “provide security cover for

•Police IG criminals, who were unleashing terror on innocent residents of Ado-Ekiti.”

“If Fayemi is claiming that he rushed to Ijigbo, Ado-Ekiti, scene of the fracas as the Chief Security Officer of Ekiti State, why did he not do the same when Adeleye Awolumate, Juliana Adewumi, Teslim Abiola and Foluso Ogundare were murdered by APC thugs?”, the group queried.

Fayemi vows to continue with transformation

BY GBENGA ARIYIBI

E

KITI State Governor and All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate, Dr Kayode Fayemi has vowed to continue with the transformation of Ado Ekiti, the state capital despite the shortage of fund available to the state government.

Fayemi, who is in the last leg of his campaign visits to various communities and farmsteads in Ado Ekiti Local Government area of the state, said he would not be deterred with the antics of his opponents.

Some of the communities visited included Odo- Ado, Idege, Igimookogo, Igirigiri, Ita Eku, Olorunsogo, Ilokun, Egbewa, Ajebamidele, Moferere and Olorunda.

He vowed not to renege in the

pact which he made with the people of the state when he became governor.

The governor assured that he would continue to pursue issues of water provision, road construction, construction of neighborhood markets and extension of electricity in some new areas in the communities.

Fayemi added that government would provide Secondary Schools at Ajebamidele and Odo in Ado Ekiti so that pupils from the community would not need to go far to get secondary education.

“We always get involved in the communities ourselves, some of their requests were not really novel to me. I know they wanted those things. Roads are a concern in our government, water is what we are working on in a comprehensive manner because

we have just designed a master plan for water provision in the state, extension of electricity in the new communities is something that we are also fully involved in and ensuring that we

will do for our people. All those things like transformers, secondary schools are in the pipeline and there is no way we won’t do many of those things before the end of the year, and

the communities know that we will do them”, he said.

Fayemi said the APC is ready to resist anyone who is bringing thugs."

••As opinion poll rates Fayemi high

BY GBENGA OKE

T

HE Civil Society Coalition for Mandate Protection, CSCMAP, has stated that 85 percent of voters in Ekiti State prefer the incumbent Governor, Dr Kayode Fayemi to continue in office.

The group said the preference was informed by a deep sense of trust and confidence the people have in the character of the governor and his commitment to his campaign promises.

Addressing a press conference in Lagos, the group’s Director of Project, Mr Kehinde Adegbuyi

said it arrived at the conclusion after a public survey carried out by the group based on good governance and on the eight point agenda and sustainable livelihood in Ekiti state.

According to him, the group after conducting a public assessment survey on the feelings of ordinary Ekiti indigines between February and April 2014, realized the masses are willing to give Governor Fayemi the support to do another term in office.

He said, “the secondary data

was determined by the number of registered voters in Ekiti as at 2011 and was collected from the Independent National Electoral Commissions, INEC, in AdoEkiti, while the instrument used for the primary collection of data was a set of questionnaire containing about sixty questions ranging from demographical information through awareness of the 8 point agenda of Governor Fayemi and the political party that is likely to be voted for at the forthcoming gubernatorial election in the state.”

58— Vanguard, THURSDAY, JUNE 12, 2014

Vanguard, THURSDAY, JUNE 12, 2014 — 59

60 — Vanguard, THURSDAY, JUNE 12, 2014

Brazil 2014 World Cup F-l-i-c-k-s Vanguard scores again!

Y

OUr soar away Vanguard Newspapers has scored yet another goal of global recognition in far away Brazil.

Among the hordes of world media represented here for the coverage of the World Cup, Vanguard was recognized by World soccer governing body, FIFA, for its awesome coverage of the spectacle by not only accrediting us but also mentioning names that surprised others around. While many we’re busy bringing out their letters, a FIFA official recognized Vanguard and asked about Onochie Anibeze who has taken his uncommon professional touch to edit Weekend Vanguard, another publication in the Vanguard family. Before I could say Jack, he asked of Tony Ubani and said that Vanguard has been singled out as one of the Newspapers that cover the World Cup consistently. I was shy and proud.

I felt like wagging my tail like a dog. Humbly, I stepped forward and the process did not take five minutes before they hung my accreditation on my neck, thereby, becoming the first from Nigeria to be so decorated.

Too cold to hold Are you among those planning to come to Brazil to model your fine figures and good legs because the weather is as good as that of Nigeria? You better unpack your luggage and include winter jackets and sweater. I was greeted by an unfriendly cold as I stepped out of the massive Qatar Airways aircraft. Many Europeans were better prepared. They slipped into their jackets while the unfortunate Africans shivered into the Immigration room. The cold got worse in the night. I was told that the weather fluctuates like the Nigerian currency, Naira.

There are hours that it turns into a blazing hot weather but before you slip into your fanciful clothes, the wind blows a warning before the biting cold takes over in a seeming smooth baton exchange that would make 4 x 4 relay team envious. To before warned is to avoid shaking like a sick man. More so, this place is so expensive to start visiting the Doctor.

Musa still on Ahmed Musa who many rumored was injured is on the run in the Eagles.

The CSK Moscow wing wizard was confirmed to be as fit as a fiddle by Eagles spokesman Ben Alaiya.

Alaiya said that the Eagles were ready for their first match against Iran.

“They are ready. This is like a family. They relate well and there is no division. That bonding is key for a team that will do well. And, as for Keshi, we are proud to have him as our coach. He is sound and has brought out the best in the team”, Alaiya said. He would not however say how they played three matches, getting two draws and losing one, a poor scorecard for a team so rated by many Nigerians who are hoping that they would win the World Cup. That high optimism has since waned after the the loss to a USA team whose coach, Jurgen Klinsmann confessed that they were not in line to win the World Cup.

•Musa

•Brazilian fans

Choppers take over Brazilian air The feeling of the World Cup kick off is palpable, at least among many visitors swarming into the Samba land. You cannot say that of most of the Brazilians.

Angry messages, most of them unprintable, adorn very prominent areas like the airport and the stadium. ”F——g World Cup. We want food not World Cup”.

Hungry people don’t play World Cup””, some of the messages read in English. They knew that visitors would understand them more in English. The ones in Portuguese were more and they could mean more to those who understand it. Awareness about the best spectacle in the world is not as gripping as we expected. But around the stadium, the feeling is real. Dancers, magicians are doing their acts and getting money in appreciation by onlookers. A 70 year old man held everybody spell bound tossing around with football. It was magical. He kissed the ball the way Jay Jay hooked his admirers with his talent. While he was doing this, a light samba music was being played and beautiful girls skimpily dressed in revealing attires wriggled their waists and provided support to the old man. The crowd roared when one of the girls displayed her artistry in playing but fell flat revealing her bare body. She was not wearing anything and the crowd cheered. I learnt they hardly cover up. Just as the crowd got bigger, three helicopters got so close to dispersing onlookers. At the São Paulo Stadium, three other Choppers hovered in what a volunteer said was a routine security check.

Transport and hotel fares are high. A small room with two beds go for 250 dollars. So annoying is the fact that each bed pays 250 dollars not minding who you are sharing the room with. There are no restrictions of gender as long as you are adults. Some females have already secured beds waiting for male companions. My guide said that some of the females could be pros disguising as guests in their new methods to get patronage. Prostitution in Brazil is legal.

There are no Police chasing them. They pay their taxes to Government and must be examined monthly by medical Doctors. The choice is yours on who to stay with. As for me, the Lord is my Shepherd.

Terrific traffic, con taxi drivers When you land in São Paulo, shine your eyes before you fall victim to con taxi drivers. They are not different from those in Lagos, SA, New York or London. The traffic is terrifying. The cab drivers would happily take the route heavy in traffic than shorter routes to your destination. Once you protest, they will speak Portuguese knowing you don’t understand. If you keep quiet, the meter will not. It will continue to read and you will pay through your nose.

But if you shout like typical Nigerian and hit your hand on your chest, he will calm you down and use another faster alternative route. Sometimes, it pays to be a Nigerian.

Life here is high As poor as we think Brasilia is, they are better than Nigeria. That is a fact. High rising buildings are the signatures of their houses here. They don’t eat from the bins and they look healthy. My concern is the fact that their currency, Reais, is stronger than our fumbling Naira. The Brazilian currency is 2 to 1 dollar. Two Reais to one American Dollar. Naira goes for 160 to one Dollar. What it means is that we would be spending higher than we budgeted. It is better to cover assignment in a country like Nigeria where when you change one thousand dollars you automatically become a rich man. There used to be a time when Ghana was behind. When you go to Accra with one thousand Naira you would be big. That was the time you bought tablets of soap, cream, toothpaste and a Ghanaian girl would follow you to Lagos. Things have changed. Ghanaian Cedi is even higher than Dollar. Rawlings changed Ghana and influenced Ghanaians to come back home. Nigeria remains the only giant that moves backwards. Motion without movement. The designated FIFA media hotels are not meant for Nigerian media. We cannot afford to pay for them.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, JUNE 12, 2014 — 61

C M Y K

62 — Vanguard, THURSDAY, JUNE 12, 2014

FIFA to pay national members, confederations $200m

F

IFA plans to pay out $200 million in total bonuses to its national members and confederations from its World Cup revenue of an estimated $4.5 billion.

Each of the 209 member country will get $250,000 this month and will get a further $500,000 early next year, FIFA’s finance director Markus Kattner told the governing body’s congress Wednesday.

The six continental bodies will get $2.5 million this month and $4.5 million more next year.

Kattner said the bonuses must be approved by independent audit panel chairman Domenico Scala, but that there is no reason to think the extra payments won’t be made.

The planned bonuses are a $200,000 increase compared to the payments made after the 2010 World Cup when each FIFA member got a total of $550,000. Then, the six confederations received a total of $5 million each.

FIFA expects improved revenue of $4.5 billion for the four-year commercial cycle tied to the 2014 World Cup. It had budgeted to earn $3.8

billion.

Kattner said FIFA expects to earn $5 billion in the cycle leading to the 2018 World Cup. A total of $2.7 billion

through 2018, with $100 million added to its reserves.

FIFA’s reserve fund is currently more than $1.4 billion.

FG delegation, Uzoenyi arrive T HE Federal Government’s delegation to the 2014 World Cup in Brazil arrived Sao -Paulo, Brazil yesterday, early enough for the opening ceremony of the tournament today The Delegation which is headed by the Senate President David Mark arrived the Guarulhos International Airport, Sao Paulo, Brazil, at abut 5pm local time.

Other members of the delegation are Sen. Liyel Imoke, governor of Cross River State; Alhaji Ibrahim Shehu Shema, governor of Katsina State; Sen. Adamu Ibrahim Gumba, Chairman Senate committee on Sports; Hon. Godfrey Ali Gaiya, Chairman House Committee on Sports; Alhaji Bala Mohammed, Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, (FCT); Chief Nyesome Wike, Minister of state education; Mr. Edem

Eagles Continues from BP that the team had easy immigration passage to the airline. It was a very emotional scene for the players who were not expecting such from the airline staff but there were still more to come.

After eight hours of flight, the plane finally touched down at the Sao Paulo International Airport, with Sports Minister, Hon Tammy Danagogo leading NFF President, Alhaji Aminu Maigari, to welcome the team. Maigari was to announce that the Federal Government delegation led by Senate President, David Mark, will arrive Sao Paulo later on Wednesday to deliver President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan’s address to the team and also wish the team the

should come from broadcasting rights sales, and $2.3 billion from sponsors and licensing.

FIFA has budgeted to spend $4.9 billion

best in the Mundial.

After light entertainment at the airport the team drove to it’s camp base in Campinas, where they will train at the Estadio Brinco De Ouro da Princesa. Once there, residents of Campinas turned out in their hundreds to welcome the team also with posters wishing the team the best in the World Cup. “We are totally overwhelmed by this wonderful reception, Head Coach Stephen Okechukwu Keshi said while addressing journalists in front of the Vitoria Hotel, where the team is quartered.

The team began training on Wednesday by 4pm local time as it gears up for its first game against Iran next Monday.

Duke, Minister of culture and tourism; Mr. Boni Haruna, Minister of youth development and Mrs. Viola Nnwuleri,

•Uzoenyi

Minister of state 1 foreign affairs. Ejike Uzoeyi who replaced injured Elderson Echiejile has also arrived.

Rio subway workers call off strike threat

S

UBWAY workers in Rio de Janeiro called off a strike threat but their peers in Sao Paulo were expected to decide yesterday whether to walk out during the World Cup’s opening game.

Keshi

Continues from BP Keshi is among the five lowest-paid managers who are all nationals of their own countries, and in order of smallest pay are Miguel Herrera of Mexico (£125,000 per year), James Kwesi Appiah of Ghana (£150,000), Niko Kovac of Croatia (£162,000) and Safet Susic of Bosnia (£210,000) Africa’s highest earning coachisSabriLamouchiofthe Ivory Coast, a Frenchman with a Tunisian heritage, presentlyearningasalarythat is most extreme compared to the average wage in his countryofemployment.

Hisannualpayof£618,125 is a staggering 795 times as

much as the average annual pay of £778 per year in the Ivory Coast - or £14.96 per week. The Coaches of Algeria (Vahid Halilodzic) and Cameroun (Volker Finke) are next behind Lamouchi in Africa World Cup coaches paylist on a salary of £600,000 and £235,000 respectively.

Globally Russia’s Fabio Capello tops the coaches pay list on a salary of almost £7m a year while the lowest earning coach is Miguel Herrera of Mexico on a salary of £125,000 per year.

The combined annual salaries of the 32 bosses add up to £39.1m, making the average pay £1.2m.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, JUNE 12, 2014 — 63

C M Y K

VANGUARD, THURSDAY, JUNE 12, 2014

Opening Ceremony: 7.15 p.m.

Brazil vs Croatia 9 p.m.

World Cup 2014

Rousing welcome for Eagles in Brazil •Minister, NFF lead reception T Keshi’s 28th highest paid HE Super Eagles arrived Sao Paulo, Brazil on Tuesday night at about 10:40pm to a rousing welcome from Miami, United States, where they equally got a rousing send forth from staff of American Airlines, which flew the team to Brazil.

The staffers were brandishing various posters wishing the Eagles goodluck and were led by their station Manager, who also ensured Continues on Page 62

coach in Brazil 2014 S UPER Eagles head coach,Stephen Okechukwu Keshi, is the 28th highest paid manager at this year’s World Cup. Keshi, who earns just

•Keshi

above Ghana’s Kwesi Appiah among the five African coaches going to the world cup is on a salary of £233,750 per annum.

Continues on Page 62

FIFA to pay national members, confederations $200m — Pg.62

THE EAGLES HAVE LANDED: Members of the Super Eagles on arrival in Sao Paulo Tuesday night

QUICK CROSSWORD

TODAY'S

PUZZLE

YESTER DAY'S YESTERDAY'S

ANSWERS

1 Gain (6) 5 Mood (6) 8 Throttle (8) 9 Location (4) 10 Lettuce (3) 12 Salute (5) 15 Mournful (3) 17 Scull (3) 18 Managed (3) 19 Lubricate (3) 20 Delete (5) 21 Sick (3) 22 Wrath (3) 23 Pinch (3) 24 Defective (3) 26 Famous (5) 29 Watch (3) 33 Agitate (4) 34 Yearned (8) 35 Musician (6) 36 Interior (6)

DOWN 2 Proportion (5) 3 Stunt (4) 4 Animal (5) 5 Subject (5) 6 Haze (4) 7 Additional (5) 10 Throng (5) 11 Compact (5) 12 Verdant (5) 13 Precise (5) 14 Tendency (5) 15 Bird (5) 16 Dig (5) 25 Before (5) 27 Alternative (5) 28 Boredom (5) 30 Cede (5) 31 Beseech (4) 32 Muddle (4)

YESTERDAY'S SOLUTIONS ACROSS: 1, Stem 4, Paw 6, Cube 8, Trance 9, Friend 10, Awe 12, Cobra 14, Spear 15, Evade 18, Writer 20, Fright 24, Motor 26, Asked 28, Toper 30, Yes 32, Divine 33, Critic 34, Mere 35, Pan 36, Gate.

DOWN: 2, Torso 3, Minaret 4, Plea 5, Wife 6, Crisp 7, Beneath 11, Wed 12, Cow 13, Ave 16, Arm 17, Eft 19, Respite 21, Rot 22, Ironing 23, Tar 25, Ore 27, Elite 29, Edict 30, Yelp 31, Scan.

How to Play Sudoku

P

lace a number (1-9) in each blank cell. (No line can have two of the same number).

Each row (nine lines from left to right), column, (also nine lines from top to bottom) and 3 X 3 block within a bold block (nine blocks) contains number from 1 through 9. This means that no number can appear twice in any block, column or row.

No mathematics is involved – no adding, subtraction, division or multiplication, just plain logic and your imagination.

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