BOKO HARAM: Military raises fresh alarm

...towards a better life for the people VOL. 25: NO. 62273

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ONLINE | www.vanguardngr.com

N150

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 2014

2015: Jonathan finally declares

>>8

BOKO HARAM: Military

raises fresh alarm •Says insurgents using child-soldiers, women as shields •Rape teenagers; kill those who resist indoctrination •Troops flee as another Adamawa town, Maiha falls

DECLARATION

By Kingsley Omonobi

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BUJA—THE mili tary, yesterday, raised alarm that following the new onslaught by Nigerian troops to reclaim seized communities from Boko Haram terrorists in the North East, the insurgents have resorted to using women and children as human shields in order to halt or slow down the troops’ advance.

The alarm came a day after the Boko Haram Continues on Page 5

COLUMNISTS:

Plenty nonsense dey for Naija •P.19

The death of •P.19 English in Nigeria

Transport operations on •P.24 LAMATA's projects

Mr & Mrs DECLARATION—President Goodluck Jonathan acknowledging cheers from supporters during his declaration to run for a second term in office, at the Eagles Square, Abuja, yesterday. See more pictures on pages 14&15.

Tension in Amosun's camp as 8 lawmakers defect to PDP, SDP >>11

Jega bows, suspends allocation of 30,000 polling units >>9

Woman in police net for blinding hubby with acid

See pull-out inside

2— Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 2014

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 2014 — 3

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4—Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 2014

Anambra CJ sets up panel to probe impeached LG boss

By Vincent Ujumadu

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WKA—ANAMBRA State chief judge, Justice Peter Umeadi, yesterday inaugurated a seven-man judicial panel to investigate allegations against the embattled chairman of Onitsha South Local Government Area, Lady Ann Chukwuneke, who was impeached last week by councillors over allegations of gross misconduct.

The 60-year-old Chukwuneke, who is the only female council boss of the 21 in the state, was removed while she was away on official duty in Abuja.

The panel, which has three months to submit its report, has Mr. Linus Nweke, as chairman, with Messrs Ifeanyi Nnaobi, Emeka Ogugua, Anselm Aforka, Charles Okafor, Paul Orjiewulu and Peter Ogudebe, who will serve as secretary.

12 councillors out of 17 in the local government had signed the chairman’s notice of impeachment, listing six offences allegedly committed by her.

Abia gov: Ex-Diamond Bank MD, Otti, picks APGA nomination form

By Chris Ochayi

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BUJA—IMMEDI ATE past Managing Director of the Diamond Bank Plc, Dr. Alex Otti, has joined the 2015 governorship race in Abia State on the platform of All Progressive Grand Alliance, APGA. Dr. Otti, who dumped the ruling Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, yesterdày picked the APGA, nomination form for the 2015 governorship race.

Besides, the party has rescheduled its activities for the conduct of primaries to select its candidates for the 2015 general elections.

Picking APGA governorship nomination form after paying the N2 million for the expression of interest and the N10 million for the nomination form at the APGA National headquarters in Abuja, Otti stated that his decision to join APGA was borne out of his strong beliefs in the party’s ideology and his determination to rescue Abia State from total collapse.

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Manufacturers lose N22b to Shell gas cut •We are repairing the leakage that forced gas cut-Shell Nigeria Gas

By Soni Daniel, Regional Editor, North

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HE cut in gas supply to no fewer than 87 manufacturing companies in the Agbara and Ota industrial belts of Lagos and Ogun states has cost manufacturers about N22bn in the past three weeks, manufacturers, whose businesses have been affected, have cried out.

Four manufacturers who called Vanguard to complain of the problem, lamented that their businesses had witnessed the worst setback since the incident, which they blamed on the Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) that supplies the two areas with gas.

But the major twist to the ugly development is that whereas one of the manufacturers, an indigenous outfit lamented that its firm, a large scale food processing plant had lost an average of N300m in the first week of the problem, the Nigeria Gas Company (NGC) that regulates industrial gas consumption and supply, claimed ignorance of the development.

But another officer of NGC at the Lagos office accepted that unofficially, the regulating company was aware but Shell does not want the matter to become a public issue as it did not formally inform NGC of the problem.

The official said the NGC had

no problems with gas supply to Shell and wondered why the problem had not been sorted out before now.

One of the manufacturers said on Tuesday, October 28, that Shell sent emergency emails to the manufacturers declaring force majeur on supply, implying there is unforeseen development that would disrupt supply. The excuse they gave for the development was pipeline vandalism. But they didn’t give a date for the return of gas.

The company which spoke for the affected firms said, “Last Monday and Tuesday, we had some pressure in the line, but there was no supply. But after that initial mail, Shell has not replied

all our subsequent inquiries on the return of supply. It has always been evading the question and promising to get back to us without any action. While few manufacturers, especially the multinationals have sought alternative source of power for their production, most of us that have no alternatives have been totally out of business these two weeks. We need immediate intervention to save the situation and the economy from total collapse.

“We, therefore, want the management of the NGC to investigate why Shell would bring the economy to a total stop even when we pay for the service they have refused rendering us

in two weeks. We have incurred heavy and untold losses, and don’t even know when the end would be.''

But in a swift reaction yesterday, Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria said it regretted the cut in gas supply to the industrial belts, blaming the situation on leakage caused by illegal connections to its facilities.

Media Relations Manager of Shell, Precious Okolobo, in a statement made available to Vanguard in Abuja, explained that the delay in effecting repairs on the gas transmission lines to Ota was caused by the complex location of the two leaking lines.

L-r: 2nd Vice President, Dr Rotimi Oladele, newly elected President, Mr Ganiyu Koledoye, the VC, National Open University of Nigeria and guest speaker, Prof Vincent Ado Tenebe, former Deputy President, National Institute of Marketing, Nigeria, NIMN, Chief Sylca Emoekpere and VC, Kastina State University, Prof Sheu Garki Ado during the 5th annual general meeting of National Institute of Marketing of Nigeria in Kaduna

Ebonyi govt backs impeachment of speaker, urges caution

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BAKALIKI—EBONYI State Government and a coalition of youth organisations in the state, yesterday said it was in support of the impeachment of the former speaker of the state House of Assembly, Hon. Chukwuma Nwazunku.

Nwazunku was impeached on Monday.

Briefing newsmen in Abakaliki, the supervising Commissioner for Information and State Orientation, Mr. Ifeanyi Ikeh, said the state government was appreciative of the change in the leadership in the House of Assembly.

He contended that the House followed due process in the impeachment of the former speaker and called on the people of the state to remain law abiding and confident in the administration of Governor Martin Elechi.

According to him, “This brings me to the issue of the recent happenings in the House of Assembly, where 16 honourable members sat and impeached the former speaker. To us, the executive, it is purely the business of the 24 members of the House.”

Similarly, spokesman for the youth groups and Commissioner for Education, Chibueze Agbo, said the youths were mobilised from different parts of the state to

express their solidarity for the new Speaker, Chief Blaise Orji, and Governor Martin Elechi’s administration.

He said “These youths are over 1000; they are here at the grand Arena to demonstrate their support for Governor Elechi and the

new speaker and we won’t allow anybody to take over our party, the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.”

Health workers commence nationwide strike today

By Chioma Obinna, Victoria Ojeme & Gabriel Olawale

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EALTH workers under the auspices of Joint Health Sector Union, JOHESU, will today commence an indefinite nationwide strike after its failed meeting with the Federal Government in Abuja, yesterday.

Giving the directive to all health workers to embark on an indefinite strike, the Vice President of JOHESU, Felix Faniran, said the strike would commence midnight yesterday (Tuesday).

Faniran who is also the president of the National Union of Allied Health Professionals, NUAP, said that the Federal Government has formally addressed the disagreement on who should have the consultancy status in the sector.

While regretting that the health workers and the government were not able to resolve all the issues outstanding said the

government has failed to meet the demands of the Union, Faniran said, “We held a meeting with the SGF on Thursday; the government only released one of the many circulars we told them to release.

The one they released was the one in respect to consultancy status which we say they should correct which they have now corrected.

“All other issues, particularly, that our salary which was supposed to be adjusted in January this year in the same line with our colleagues – the members of the Nigerian Medical Association, NMA, who have had theirs adjusted and whose circulars have not only been issued, but they are already enjoying a new salary package, our circular is yet to be released.

“We are in the same sector but they are enjoying new salary while we have not got the circular, yet let alone implementing it. Also, this is already November, budgets

have been prepared in all institutions and ours have been prepared on old rate, so we can no longer wait.”

He argued that since the government failed to address the salary adjustment and the arrears of CONHESS 10, noting that JOHESU has no choice than to embark on strike to press home its demands. “They claimed that they are just compiling the list whereas they have compiled this list long ago, it was supposed to be paid in 2013, they could not pay, we waited till this year, they said it was not in the budget for 2014 and that we have to wait till 2015, we are all tired of this delay,” he added.

Faniran also listed other demands of the Union to include circular on retirement age.

According to him, there has been a White Paper in 1981 that whatever is happening in the universities should be the same condition of service in the University Teaching Hospitals.

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 2014 —5

POCKET CARTOON

CONFERENCE—From left: Managing Director, FBN Capital Limited, Mr. Kayode Akinkugbe; Chairman of the Board, FBN Capital, Mrs. Ibukun Awosika; Guest Speaker, Dr. Anil K. Gupta - international expert on Strategy, Globalisation and Emerging Markets; and CEO FBN Holdings Plc, Mallam Bello Maccido at the FBN Capital 4th Annual Investor Conference, yesterday.

BOKO HARAM: Military raises fresh alarm Continues from Page 1 captured another town, Maiha in Adamawa State.

Vanguard reported, yesterday, that Nigerian troops, in collaboration with Israeli and American military advisers have commenced a major offensive to reclaim Mubi and other towns from the terrorists and as at yesterday, sources said the troops were advancing to Bazza, en route Gulak.

The resort to use of

women as human shields as well as children as child-soldiers by Boko Haram militants in their quest to weaken military operations was said to be giving the military authorities concern.

A top security source in the North-East disclosed that the terrorists, while carrying out their recruitment, rape and kill some of the young captives who are reluctant to join them.

The source said: “In most cases, children and

LIFEWORDS

BY PASTOR ITUAH

Innovation distinguishes between a leader and a follower – Steve Jobs.

Think through and think through to your future.

TAKE HEART

BY ELLA RANDLE

Each morning when I open my eyes I say to myself: I, not events, have the power to make me happy or unhappy. I have just one day, today, and I’m going to be happy in it —Groucho Marx

I

T is your resistance to “what is” that causes your suffering.Remember, happiness is allowing yourself to be perfectly okay with “what is,” rather than wishing for and worrying about “what is not.”

“What is” is what’s supposed to be, or it would not be. The rest is just you, arguing with life. Think about that for a minute. This means your suffering only ever occurs when you resist how things are.

You cannot control everything that happens to you; you can only control the way you respond to what happens. In your response is your power.Where you are right now is anecessary step. Sometimes we avoid experiencing exactly where we are because we have developed a belief, based on our ideals, that it is not where we should be or want to be. But the truth is, where you are right now is exactly where you need to be to get to where you want to go tomorrow.

teenagers are forced to be in the forefront in the battle against the Nigerian troops through ambushing and suicide bombing; and there are established cases of women and children getting involved in terrorist acts like recent bombings in schools.

“On several occasions, the Nigerian military has captured small children who were forced to take up arms against the state with some of them behaving abnormally due to indoctrination and inducement through the use of hard drugs."

The security source added: “We are being cautious in abiding by the rules of engagement even when we are aware that the militants recruit children for spying on us and pushing them to engage in hostilities against innocent citizens and the troops.

“Most of the children, especially teenagers were recruited through abduction, kidnapping and enticement with money after which they undergo brainwashing and combat training.

Those that are unwilling to cooperate are punished or summarily executed.”

Reliable sources further suggested that insurgents have relied on the knowledge that Nigerian troops have a responsi-

bility to observe strict rules of engagement and also avoid a situation whereby patriotic citizens caught in the crossfire of conflict will lose their lives.

Military lost men while avoiding child-soldiers — Source “We have lost our men in the battle-field while we tried to avoid shooting children and teenagers who are forced to confront us. How do you expect us to arrest a child with a gun? Do we accord such an armed under-age combatant with the status of a child deserving of protection under the rules of engagement?

“It may become inevitable that some collateral damage may be recorded if we get the orders, especially because Boko Haram elements were using civilians as human shields to continue to gain undue advantages in the current battle in the North East.

“However, much as troops are determined to avoid collateral damage, it has become inevitable to be decisive with armed underage combatants and female suicide bombers with the situation degenerating by the day.

“The military will no

longer tolerate a situation where insurgents use human shield to gain undue advantage especially now that majority of Nigerians have demanded that a full scale war be declared by government in response to Boko Haram,” the source declared.

Boko Haram captures another Adamawa town Meanwhile, Boko Haram has expanded the territory it controls in Adamawa State after it overran the town of Maiha on Monday. The group had earlier renamed two towns it captured in Adamawa and Borno as part of its declared caliphate in the North-East of the country. Mubi, in Adamawa was renamed ‘Madinatul Islam’, meaning the “City of Islam,” after an October 29 invasion, while Gwoza in Borno was renamed “Darul Hikma” meaning “House of Wisdom”.

Maiha is about 25 kilometres from Mubi, the commercial town captured by the insurgents in Adamawa last week and about 200km from Yola, the state capital.

It was gathered from residents that before the town eventually fell to the insurgents, it was already a shadow of itself as commercial and social activities were paralyzed as people had deserted the town due to its proximity to Mubi.

Residents also claimed seeing many soldiers running away from the area with some of them hitch-hiking in residents’ vehicles. The soldiers reportedly told the residents that if the insurgents caught up with them, it would lead to instant death.

A fleeing resident, Kabir Musa, in a tel-

ephone interview with an online news medium, Premium Times , said “the insurgents started trooping into the town around 2:30 p.m. and engaged troops stationed at Kosha before advancing to the main town of Maiha. The soldiers, who advanced to the area in their bid to recapture Mubi, started running away as the insurgents overran the entire town.”

Another resident of the town, Garba Baba, said some fleeing soldiers begged him to assist them with civilian clothes so they would not be traced by the insurgents.

The soldiers, he said, even threw their guns into the bush.

“The fleeing soldiers asked us to give them our clothes so that they can camouflage and escape from the area safely as some of them discarded their weapons in the bush. A lot of discarded weapons are currently lying in the bush,” Mr. Baba, who also fled Maiha, said.

He said the insurgents did not encounter any challenge from Nigerian troops similar to what happened when the insurgents captured Mubi.

According to him, “the insurgents did not encounter any challenge as they stormed the town in APCs and Toyota Hilux vans, firing shots into the soldiers’ directions , and chanting Allahu Akbar.

The Boko Haram insurgents had ordered us not to run, saying that they were not after civilians but soldiers and other security people.”

Another resident still trapped in Maiha, Dauda Mallam, said: “Many of the residents fled into the bush, particularly soldiers. Some of them may have been killed by bullets. The insurgents also hoisted their flags in strategic places in the town.”

6—Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 2014

Man arraigned for stealing after seven years in detention

By Hope Ofobike

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AGOS—A middle aged man, Charles Umoh, was yesterday arraigned before a Lagos High Court sitting at Igbosere for alleged stealing after spending seven years in prison custody.

The defendant, who was arraigned before Justice Raliath Adebiyi, had been in custody since 2007 when he committed the alleged crime.

He is facing a two- count charge on stealing and forcible demand for properties preferred against him by the state Odutola said the defendant on the said date did conspire to steal and forcibly demanded for the property of a woman at Gbagada Estate.

Justice Adebiyi said owing to the mental state of the defendant, she was not convinced he understood the charge against him, and urged the defence counsel to produce an interpreter in Urhobo language at the next adjourned date.

She, however, adjourned the matter to February 10 and 11 for arraignment in Urhobo language and commencement of trial.

Pastor allegedly impregnates 11-yr-old

By Esther Onyegbuna

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32-year-old pastor has been remanded in prison for allegedly raping and impregnating an 11-year-old girl (names withheld) in Lagos State.

The pastor (names withheld) whose church is located at Odunbaku Street in Iju Ishaga, a Lagos suburb, was arraigned at a Senior Magistrates’ Court, Abule Egba, Lagos State.

According to reports, the pastor allegedly told the victim’s mother that there is an arrow of death in her house and must move out to avoid death.

In obedience, the woman moved into the church with her children.

However, trouble started when the woman noticed some strange behaviour by her daughter who complained of stomach pain and showed signs of malaria.

According to the mother, she contacted a nurse who then treated her for malaria, but the sickness continued until she underwent a scan which revealed that she was pregnant.

It was later discovered that she was two months pregnant and when pressed further, she revealed that the pastor gave her ‘holy water’ to drink and also gave her a red substance

to rub on her face.

The victim further added that she became unconscious only for her to see the pastor on her.

When she wanted to scream, she said he used his hand to

cover her mouth before sleeping with her, and told her she would die if she told anyone.

The pastor pleaded not guilty to the two-count charge and the

Student kills Senior Prefect with mystery ring in Onitsha

By Nwabueze Okonkwo

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NITSHA—ANAMBRA State Police Command is investigating the circumstances surrounding the death of a 17year-old senior secondary school prefect, who slumped and died after he was punched by a junior student wearing a mysterious ring.

The deceased prefect, an SS3 student of Modebe Secondary School, Onitsha, whose name was given as Chukwuebuka Okanume, had queried his assailant (names withheld) an SS1 student, for dressing shabbily.

The junior student reportedly told him that he was no longer a student of the school, that he came for his transfer certificate to Asaba, Delta State capital, where he and his parents had relocated.

However, a heated argument

was said to have ensued between them, resulting in the late senior prefect slapping the junior student believed to be wearing a charmed ring, who was said to have retaliated.

The deceased reportedly slumped and was rushed to a nearby hospital where he was confirmed dead.

It was gathered that the suspect, who was arrested by the police, is believed to be a member of an occult group that used rings as charms, called Etiada (hit and fall) to defend themselves when attacked.

It was learned that all pleas made by the mother of the deceased to the detained junior student to revive her son proved abortive.

The source also noted that the junior student was now being interrogated by men of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad, SARS, to ascertain the source

Suspected kidnap sponsor nabbed in Enugu

By Austin Ogwuda

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NUGU—MEN of the anti-kidnapping squad of Enugu State Police Command have arrested an alleged sponsor of kidnap activities in Enugu, along with a member of a notorious kidnap gang.

The arrested sponsor (names withheld) who hails from Imo State, was tracked down in Aba, Abia State on Sunday.

State Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, Mr. Ebere Amaraizu, said in a statement that both suspects were arrested “over their nefarious activities, ranging from kidnapping to the murder of one Godwin Igbo on April 10 along Enugu/Port Harcourt Expressway.”

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The Internally Displaced Persons, IDPs, camp, Maiduguri, yesterday. NAN PHOTO.

Governorship aspirant, others face murder charge

By Onozure Dania & Hope Ofobike

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AGOS—A 62-year-old Lagos State’s governorship aspirant, on the platform of All Progressives Congress, APC, Dr. Tola Kasali, and two others were yesterday arraigned before an Ebute-Metta Chief Magistrate’s Court, over alleged murder of one Musiliu Ogboye Lamidi.

presiding magistrate, Mr. T. A. Elias, ordered him remanded in prison custody, pending the advice of Directorate of Public Prosecution and adjourned the case to January 2015.

The other defendants include a former Commissioner for Special Duties in Lagos, Folami Musiliu, 65, a Special Adviser to Lagos State government, and Tobun Abiodun Lukman, 35, a Chief Security Officer to one of the politicians in Lagos.

They were also alleged to have been in possession of a pump action Avar Magnum gun with number 6381, without appropriate authority.

The defendants are facing a three-count charge of conspiracy, murder and illegal possession of fire arms.

The plea of the defendants were not taken after the charges were read to them.

Magistrate Demi-Ajayi, however, ordered the prosecution to duplicate the case file and forward it to DPP for advice and adjourned the matter to December 11.

of the ring.

While confirming the incident, the principal of the school, Mr. Ralph Machie, declined further comments.

The state Police Public Relations Officer, Mr. Uche Ezeh, who also confirmed the incident, said investigation was ongoing.

Man allegedly pays N40,000 for son-in-law to be killed

By Suzan Edeh

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AUCHI—THE police in Bauchi State have arrested a 62-year-old man, Dotti Jumba, from Tumbarja in Kubdia district of Gamawa Local Government Area of the state for paying some persons N40,000 to kill his son-in-law, Ahmadu Wakili Guji.

Jumba, according to a statement made available to journalists in Bauchi by the police spokesman in Bauchi State Police Command, Haruna Muhammed, was arrested by detectives attached to Gamawa Division on Friday, October 31, 2014, at about 1pm.

The Police Public Relations Officer, a Deputy Superintendent of Police, said the man allegedly contracted four people with N40,000 to kill his 28year-old son-in-law, a resident of Matamu in Gamawa Local Government Area.

He said the killers missed their target, and killed his father.

Apart from Dotti Jumba, the police spokesman informed that two other suspects, 22-year-old Sani Jumba and Bura Manu, 20, both from Kubdia district, and two others, including the intermediary who collected the money from Jumba and paid the others, were now at large.

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 2014 — 7

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8 — Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 2014

By Henry Umoru, Ben Agande & Johnbosco Agbakwuru

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BUJA—FINALLY, after months of speculation, contemplation and consultation, President Goodluck Jonathan, yesterday, declared his intention to contest the 2015 presidential election. And with that, the presidential race has assumed a new momentum as there are at least 10 presidential aspirants ikn the race now.

In a speech that was preceded by the observation of one-minute silence in honour of the over 47 school pupils killed in a suicide attack on Monday by suspected Boko Haram terrorists in a secondary school in Potiskum, Yobe State, President Jonathan said his decision to accept the call of many Nigerians was informed by his desire to ensure a brighter future for generations yet unborn.

President Jonathan’s declaration, instantly elicited caustic reactions from the main opposition All Progressives Congress, APC, which said by declaring his bid yesterday President Jonathan is insensitive to the plight of survivors and 47 school children, who were killed in a suicide bomb attack on Monday.

While acknowledging the myriads of problems facing the country, the president said the hallmark of a good leader is not to take flight in the face of challenges but to confront them.

He said: “History has shown that the path of honour of a true leader is not to walk away from his people in the face of challenges. We must stand together in adversity and overcome the threat to our development. We must defend our future.”

According to the President, his decision to seek re-election was informed by many factors, adding that though the country under his watch has done well, there is still more room for improvement.

“So many things have inspired me in the journey to this moment.

I want to appreciate ordinary Nigerians, especially young people for the solidarity shown me by contributing their meagre resources to enable me arrive at this point. I appreciate the kind gesture of the Miyetee Allah, the market women association who encouraged me by committing some funds to support me. In the same vain, I’m touched by the widows who also encouraged me by giving me their widow’s mite.

“Therefore, after seeking the face of God and consulting my family and heeding to the call of all people nationwide to run, I Goodluck Ebele Azikiwe Jonathan, have accepted to present myself to run,” he announced.

My second term agenda The President promised that under his presidency, “ your views, no matter how freely expressed, will not send you to prison or to exile. I am convinced that I have served my pact with C M Y K

2015: Jonathan finally declares zVows to crush Boko Haram zSays no true leader walks away in face of challenges zDeclaring a day after massacre of 50 students insensitive — APC Nigerians and it is now time to look into the future. With your tremendous support, you have collectively done so much in the last three and a half years. But to take our country to the next level, there is still more work to be done.

“We must continue to hold the tempo all high in our country. I am proud to say that there are no political prisoners in Nigeria today. No Nigerian has been driven to exile, no one and I repeat no one will be driven to exile. It is in furtherance of a peaceful, participatory and inclusive democracy that I signed the Freedom of Information Bill into law to expand the frontiers of our fundamental freedom.

“We must defend our future. We must defend our future for the growth of our children” he said.

The president promised Nigerians that the labour of love demonstrated by them “has increased my labour of love of your solidarity, your trust in our joint destiny and all we have achieved together these past years. I promise to work with all.

I see a different Nigeria in the next generation.”

He continued: “I promise that we cannot go back to the era where our terminal buildings were an eye sore, importing food, where women were deprived from holding sensitive position. I promise to work with you. I see a different Nigeria that will take us to outer space. I see a Nigerian that you can hold any office not based on ethnicity , I see a Nigeria that our young men and women will have work to do.”

Improving on his first term achievements While enumerating the various achievements recorded by his administration in various sectors of the economy, the president said he will strive to do better.

On the economic challenges facing the country, Jonathan said no stone will be left unturned in ensuring that normalcy is restored in the North eastern part of the country where the activities of insurgents are most serious.

Rescuing Chibok girls He said every efforts are being made to ensure that the over 200 girls abducted by terrorists in Chibok, Borno State in April this year are reunited to their parents safe and sound.

The ceremony, which was held at the Eagle Square, Abuja saw the major part of the Central Business District locked down and vehicular traffic diverted

JONATHAN DECLARES: President Goodluck Jonathan with the National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Alhaji Adamu Mu'azu (left) as he acknowledges cheers from the crowd at his official declaration for the 2015 Presidential Elections at an elaborate programme organised by the Transformation Ambassadors of Nigeria at the Eagle Square, Abuja. Photo by Abayomi Adeshida. about 300 meters away from the venue of the event.

A combined team of security services drawn from the Army, Police, Civil Defence Corps, Department of State Services (DSS) and other security agencies maintained a water-tight security around the Eagle Square and inside the arena.

President Jonathan, who arrived the venue with his wife, Patience, was heralded into the VIP stand with a rapturous applause from thousands of supporters who thronged the square to witness the event.

Gale of eulogies Jonathan is a blessing to Nigeria – Sambo Vice President Namadi Sambo described President Jonathan as a blessing to Nigeria, adding that with him, Nigeria has witnessed tremendous transformation.

NASS ‘ll continue to support Jonathan – Mark Speaking at the event, Senate President David Mark said President Jonathan has demonstrated trust, dedication and steadfastness to the service of his fatherland which has made the National Assembly to adopt him as the PDP sole presidential candidate. Stating that the National Assembly will continue to support the President, he added his sterling qualities and the ability to deliver was the reason behind various

endorsements by different segments of the society.

Mark who led PDP legislators (Senators and members of the House of Representatives) to the ceremony disclosed that the endorsement of Mr. President was based on his people-centered transformation programme that needed to be executed to its logical conclusion.

APC is sponsoring instability in Nigeria – Akpabio Chairman of the PDP Governors Forum and governor of Akwa Ibom State, Godswill Akpabio, said the President is in order and accused the APC of sponsoring instability in the country, averring that at the end of the 2015 general polls, PDP will not only win the presidency but also 30 of the 36 states of the country.

Reiterating the total support of all PDP Governors for the President ahead of 2015 presidential election, Akpabio urged Jonathan not to be intimidated even in the face of security challenges in some parts of the country as a result of Boko Haram insurgency.

Jonathan’s declaration is callous – APC However, the APC differed and described as utterly insensitive and absolutely callous President Jonathan’s decision to declare his second term ambition a day after almost 50 students were killed and about 80 injured in a suicide

bombing in Potiskum.

In a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, the party accused the President of dancing on the graves of the students as well as of all the victims of the Boko Haram insurgency. ‘’Since this President has chosen to celebrate a national tragedy, Nigerians should also be ready to celebrate his electoral failure next year,’’ the party said It continued: ‘’Today, the three North-east states of Adamawa, Borno and Yobe are in danger of being overrun by Boko Haram and over 650,000 Nigerians are internally displaced in those states by the insurgency. Yet, President Jonathan says he puts Nigerians first. Lies have never worn a bolder face. The truth is that for President Jonathan, it is Jonathan first, Jonathan second, Jonathan third, Jonathan always!’’

APC said by his latest act of blatant hard-heartedness, Jonathan is only continuing along his well-trodden path of acting without deep introspection. ‘’When about 60 students were killed in the terror attack on the Federal Government College, Buni Yadi, in February 2014, President Jonathan never visited the scene to commiserate with the families of the victims. When over 80 people were killed in the first Nyanya bombing in April 2014, President Jonathan went dancing ‘Azonto’ in Kano less than 48 hours later. ''

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 2014 — 9

CONTROVERSIAL 30,000 POLLING UNITS: Jega bows, suspends allocation until after 2015 polls

By Jide Ajani

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BUJA—IN what appears to be a victory for common sense and decency, National Chairman of Nigeria’s Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, Professor Attahiru Jega, has bowed to pressure and suspended the execution of the allocation of the additional 30,000 Polling Units, PUs, across the country until after the 2015 general elections.

The creation and allocation of the additional 30,000 PUs, had indeed become controversial, created a regional division in the Commission, and was already a matter of litigation.

However, Professor Jega, after a widely publicised meeting of the Commission yesterday, sent out a message to Resident Electoral Commissioners, RECs, across the country announcing the suspension of the exercise.

Jega’s message read: “REC, The Commission met today and reviewed reports from the State Offices on Reconfiguration and Creation of Additional PUs. The Commission decided, in view of time constraint and the controversy over the matter that is overheating the polity, to: *Suspend the creation of new PUs until after the 2015 general elections; *Continue with the existing practice of using Voting Points to decongest PUs; *As much as possible relocate

all PUs in unsuitable locations to more suitable locations and *Ensure that as much as possible PUs in open spaces are moved to classrooms or suitable enclosures, such as tents.

Before yesterday’s suspension of the exercise, the polity had become overheated and was already divided along the North/ South divide.

Sources close to the Commission disclosed to Vanguard that the seeming crisis that heralded the last phase of the provision of the Permanent Voter's Cards, PVCs, to members of the voting public “may not be

unconnected to the desperation to see through the allocation”.

The allocation of the 30,000 had seen the North getting 21,615 and the South, 8,412.

Dr. Frederick Fasehun, founder of the Oodua Peoples Congress, OPC, and leader of the Unity Party of Nigeria, UPN, in a suit against INEC had asked the court to, as a matter of urgency, put a stop to the plan, declaring that the purported creation of additional 30,000 Polling Units in Nigeria by INEC was not only ultra vires, unconstitutional, mala fide, null, but void and has no effect whatsoever, adding that the

allocation of what he termed, a mere 8,412 polling units out of 30,000 additional polling units to the South, was discriminatory against the states in Southern Nigeria and has put the voters in that part of the country at a disadvantage.

The 30,000 additional polling units were distributed as follows: North West-7,906; North East- 5, 291; North Central-6,318; South East-1, 167; South West- 4, 160 and South-South-3,087.

WATCH OUT FOR DETAILS IN SUNDAY VANGUARD

MEETING: From left; GMD/CEO, Sterling Bank Plc, Mr. Yemi Adeola; Chairman, Mr. Asue Ighodalo and the Company’s Secretary, Justina Lema, at the bank's Extra-Ordinary General Meeting, held at Civic Centre, Lagos, yesterday. Photo by Sunday Adigun.

2015: Adesina, Ogunshola, others task journalists on nation building

By Ikenna Asomba

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AGOS—AGAINST the backdrop of political intrigues heating up the polity barely three months to the 2015 general elections, journalists and media organisations were yesterday tasked to eschew personal and primordial interests, but promote national interests towards building a greater country.

This charge was given by veteran journalists and publishers, who gathered at the All Seasons Plaza, Ikeja, Lagos, to commemorate the 60th birthday of the founder of Latter Rain Assembly, Pastor Tunde Bakare.

Those who spoke at the Diamond Jubilee Symposium with the theme: “The Role of Journalism in Nation Building,” included the President, Nigeria Guild of Editors and Managing Director/Editor-in-Chief of The Sun Newspapers; Mr Femi Adesina; the former Chairman of Punch newspaper, Chief Ajibola Ogunshola; the Chairman,

Editorial Board, Thisday Newspaper, Segun Adeniyi; founder and Chief Executive Officer, Cable Newspaper, Simon Kolawole and the Managing Director of Leadership newspaper, Azubuike Ishiekwene.

Others were Edward Dickson, Managing Director/Editor-inChief, Nigeria Tribune; Funke Aboyade, former Editor, Thisday Law and Chief Dele Momodu, Publisher, Ovation Magazine.

In his opening remarks, Chief Ogunshola, who described the celebrator as one who has been associated with journalism over the years, said the theme of the symposium was timely as the 2015 general elections was around the corner.

He said: “As the 2015 general election is around the corner, the discussion of how journalists can use journalism in constructing and shaping nation building is imperative. I must express my personal disappointment that journalists and the media are not utilising the Freedom of

Information Act, FoIA. Also, the Judiciary has not helped matters, as organisations that have filed suits for being denied information from public organisations have not yet been known to get justice. As the 2015 election approaches, it behoves on journalists and media organisations to promote ethical journalism, one that does not heat the polity needlessly.”

In his keynote address, Adeniyi, who described Pastor Bakare as a mentor and a role model who has over the years spoken the truth to the powers that be without fear or bias, said the theme of the symposium was imperative considering the current insecurity situation in the country.

“Nigeria has a long way to go in nation building. Most political office holders forget it is the responsibility of journalists to shape national consciousness. For journalists and media organisation to engender nation building, then, investigative journalism must be promoted to take centre stage.

On his part, Adesina, who chronicled the history of the

Nigerian press dating back the pre-colonial, colonial and the post-colonial era said that the media was born into activism and therefore must continue to hold government accountable to the people.

The President of the NGE, who wondered whether the media was not doing enough in nation building or if the government was to be blamed said: “Considering the insecurity situation almost tearing the nation apart, will it be nation building if the media do not report these issues or under report them? But this is what government wants journalists to do. The media would fall short of ethical journalism if it covers or under report events.

Describing Bakare as one who had positively impacted the lives of several Nigerians across religious divides, he however urged journalists not to only concentrate in holding the Federal Government but also the states governments and local governments accountable to the people.

Cross River PDP crisis: NASS members, stakeholders threaten Jonathan’s chances

By Henry Umoru

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BUJA—THE crisis rocking the Cross River State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP after the conduct of Ward congresses, yesterday took a new turn as governorship aspirants and other stakeholders from the state, warned that it was capable of scuttling the chances of the President and the party in 2015.

Briefing Journalists yesterday in Abuja on behalf of PDP governorship aspirants, National Assembly members, all Local Government Council chairmen and all chapter chairmen of the party on recent political events in the state, a governorship aspirant, Ntufam Fidelis Ugbo, called on President Jonathan and national leadership of PDP to urgently intervene in the crisis.

He however alleged that those he described as money bags in the state were out to hijack the political process in the state, adding that they were out to subvert the will of the majority of party members by, “ switching the results of the delegate election.”

It will be recalled that after the ward congress in the state, some aspirants applauded the outcome of the ward congress, while others cried out against the result on the premise that the result was not a true reflection of the exercise.

But in a swift reaction, Senate Majority leader, Senator Victor NdomaEgba who described the allegations as libellous and irresponsible, said that it was wrong for the state chairman of the party and Governor Liyel Imoke’s camp to now recant on the Ward election result which they had accepted initially.

Reacting through the Director General of his campaign organisation, Ernest Irek, Ndoma- Egba insisted that the party leadership at the state level who are now joining ranks with the aggrieved group who lost out in the ward election have shown bias which was not expected.

10— Vanguard, WEDNEDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 2014

Businessman in remand over fake drugs

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Chioma Obinna

AGOS—A Federal High Court sitting in Lagos yesterday remanded a Lagos businessman, Mr. Olisaemeka Osefor in prison over illegal importation, distribution and sales of fake and counterfeit drugs and cosmetics products.

Osefor who was arraigned before Justice James Tsoho by the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control, NAFDAC, on a four-count charge bordering on counterfeit drug deal.

After the charges were read to him , the accused pleaded not guilty. As a result, the defence counsel, Ms. Funmi Adeogun pleaded with the court to grant bail to the accused, pledging that he would not jump bail, having honoured all invitations by NAFDAC. She informed the court that the prosecution counsel, Umar Shamaki, determined to ensure his client is detained had refused to accept the bail application from her which she had served him in the court.

Nigeria of my dream not yet achieved, says Fashola L

AGOS—GOVERNOR Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State yesterday said that the Nigeria of his dream had not been actualised but he believed it was still possible to achieve in future.

Fashola spoke at the All Progressives Congress, APC, Youth Summit held at the MUSON Centre, Lagos.

He said that he looked forward to a new Nigeria in which people could live their lives to the fullest.

The governor said that in building a new Nigeria, the people were the most important and human resources needed to be equipped with skills to ensure survival.

Fashola said that a new Nigeria should put minimum life expectancy at 70 years and should be one that has reliable electricity.

He gave an account of a printing company which prints in Dubai because the cost of printing there is about 3 per cent but if done in Nigeria will amount to 38 per cent.

According to him, the disparity is because of the money used in fueling generators.

The governor said that

reliable electricity facilitates economic development, which in turn, would create more employment opportunities in the country.

Fashola urged the youth to vote during elections as the

power of change was in their hands.

The governor told the youths that his administration built 10 maternal healthcare centres in the state to reduce

maternal and infant mortality.

Mr Omotayo Sanyaolu, APC Youth Leader in the state, said that the summit was organised as part of efforts to make the youths more politically active.

TECHNOLOGY WEEK: From left: Lagos State Commissioner for Science and Technology, Mr Adebiyi Mabadeje, Speaker, Lagos State House of Assembly, Adeyemi Ikuforiji, and Governor Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State, during the state Science and Technology week in Lagos.

Appeal Court strikes out Bamaiyi's appeal Onozure Dania & Hope Ofobike

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AGOS—THE Court of Appeal, has struck out an appeal filed by a former Chief of Army Staff, General Lt.-Gen. Ishaya Bamaiyi (retd) and three others challenging the ruling of Justice R.O. Nwodo (deceased) for lack of diligent prosecution.

The other appellants are former Lagos Police boss, James Danbaba (rtd), former Chief Security Officer to the late Gen. Sani Abacha, Major alMustapha and Assistant Superintendent of Police, ASP, Mohammed Rabo

Lawal.

Bamaiyi and the other appellants were twelve years ago charged before a Lagos High Court which was presided over by Justice Augustine Ade Alabi (3rd respondent) for the attempted murder of The Guardian’s publisher, Mr. Alex Ibru.

During their trial, they had alleged through their respective counsels that the trial judge, who was at the

time the Chief Judge of Lagos State, Justice Alabi demanded for the sum of $10 million bribe from them.

The appellants further alleged that Justice Ade Alabi had threatened and bullied their defence counsels severally in court.

Adding that the Judge had caused delay in hearing motions and giving rulings and also refused to supply record of proceedings in the case.

However, they petitioned the National Judicial Council, NJC, and demanded that the trial judge should excuse himself from the case.

Consequently, the petition was tabled before the National Judicial Council and a panel of inquiry was set up to investigate the allegation of corruption and bribery and other complaints levelled against Justice Alabi.

UBA commits $1m to fight Ebola

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AGOS—THE United Bank for Africa, UBA, Board Chairman, Tony O Elumelu, has announced the donation of $1million, to assist the fight against Ebola in Sierra Leone, Liberia and Guinea, three West African countries, where UBA does business The donation will be distributed through the UBA Foundation, UBA’s

corporate social responsibility arm and shared equally among the three countries. The remaining $100,000 is to be contributed to the African Union Support Mission to the Ebola Outbreak in West Africa, ASEOWA, initiated by the African Union Chair, Nkosazana DlaminiZuma.

While announcing the

donation, Elumelu said, “Africa is our home and our destiny - and Africans need to place themselves at the forefront of the campaign to overcome this tragedy.

"This donation is an affirmation of our unshakeable commitment to the continent - and a message that Africa can triumph over this terrible affliction."

Vanguard, WEDNEDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 2014 —11

Tension in Amosun's APC faction as 8 lawmakers defect to PDP, SDP A

By Daud Olatunji

BEOKUTA—PALPABLE fear has gripped Ogun State governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun's camp following the defection of eight lawmakers to the People’s Democratic Party, PDP, and Social Democratic Party, SDP, in the state.

Speaker of the House, Suraj Adekunbi disclosed the decamping, yesterday, during plenary, while reading a letter announcing the defection of eight lawmakers to the PDP and the SDP. Adekunbi said: “I received a letter announcing the defection of Messers Joseph Adegbesan, Salmon Adeleke, John Obafemi, Remmy Hazzan and Obafemi Olowo-Oloja to the PDP. “I also got three letters this morning from Hons. Olufemi Allen-Taylor, Oludaisi Elemide and Elizabeth Anifowose announcing their defection from the All Progressives Congress, APC, to the Social Democratic Party, SDP.” Adegbesan, Adeleke and Obafemi had dumped the Peoples Party of Nigeria, PPN, to join the PDP while Hazzan and Olowo-Oloja also dumped the APC for the PDP.

Allen-Taylor, Elemide and Anifowose who were members of the APC defected to the SDP. Vanguard gathered that the development has sent jitters into the APC camp of Amosun as the governor was planning to present the 2015 budget proposal to the state House of Assembly on November 18.

The Speaker who also read the governor’s letter during plenary said he will present the fiscal proposal at 10. am.

According to him; “This is in accordance with the provision of section 121 of the Nigerian constitution.

“Governor Amosun expressed gratitude to the members of

Ogun State House of Assembly for their cooperation with the executive,” the letter said.

The House after the latest defections is divided into two main camps with 13 members including the speaker in Amosun’s APC faction, while PDP and SDP also have combined figure of 13 lawmakers.

DO EKITI—EKITI State House of Assembly has approved the request of the state governor, Mr Ayo Fayose to access the N2 billion Central Bank Business Loan.

In a unanimously decision the House asked the state government to join other states of the federation to access N2 billion out of the N220 billion Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises, SMEs, Development Fund initiated by the apex bank.

Some of the contributors to the motion included, Mr Churchill Adedipe (Majority Leader), Mrs. Omowunmi Ogunlola(Ijero constituency) and Mr Alex Ojo (Ekiti South West 11), noted that accessing the loan would aid the economic development of the state.

The lawmakers noted that such development would improve the standard of living of the entire residents of the state.

Subsequently,the Majority Leader of the House moved a motion for its approval and seconded by Mr Tope Agidi which the House unanimously approved.

But the House failed to deliberate on the motion seeking members’ approval for the constitution of Local Government Caretaker Committees’ Chairmen and members as being sought by the state governor, Mr Ayo Fayose.

By Gbenga Olarinoye

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SOGBO—OSUN State Governor, Mr Rauf Aregbesola yesterday observed that elections are the most legitimate means of sustaining the social contract in a democracy.

The governor was quoted as stating this while delivering a lecture titled “Federalism, Democracy and the future of Nigeria” at the 2014 convocation and 66th foundation day ceremony of the University of Ibadan in Ibadan.

He held that where political power does not derive from the consent of the people, then it is corruption of the term "democracy."

FG recruits corps members to NDIC CONVOCATION LECTURE: From left: Guest Speaker/Governor of Osun State, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, Vice-Chancellor, University of Ibadan, UI, Professor Isaac Adewole, and Secretary to the Osun State Government, Alhaji Moshood Adeoti, during the 2014 convocation lecture/66th Founder's Day ceremony, at the University of Ibadan, Ibadan, yesterday.

Ekiti Assembly approves N2bn loan for Fayose

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Aregbesola on gains of elections

However, chairman House Committee on Legal Matters and Local Government Affairs, Mr Adedeji Odu called the attention of members to a Court document (Writ of Summon) on a case instituted by aggrieved 35 Local Council Development Areas, LCDAs, Caretaker Chairmen.

The governor had in his letters sought the House approval of the State to participate in the Central Bank N220 billion Micro Small and Medium Enterprises Development Fund.

Other requests were: the approval of three Commissioner

nominees, Mr Owoseni Ajayi as Attorney-General, Mr Kayode Oso as Commissioner for Transport and Chief Toyin Ojo as Commissioner for Finance while the last request bothered on constitution of LGAs Transition Committees.

Verification of Omisore's evidence stalls hearing

OSUN TRIBUNAL:

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By Gbenga Olarinoye

SOGBO—THE Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, governorship candidate in the August 9 election in Osun State, Senator Iyiola Omisore yesterday failed to make any headway in prosecuting his petition against the re-election of Governor Rauf Aregbesola, as the verification of his evidence has stalled hearing for two

consecutive days.

Omisore and the PDP are challenging the August 9, reelection of Aregbesola and his party, All Progressive Congress, APC, before Justice Elizabethled Election Petition Tribunal.

Omisore and the PDP (petitioners) have 14 days to prosecute their petition before the Tribunal, out of which two days have been exhausted on

the verification of the Certified True Copies CTC of form EC8A series that the petitioners intend to tender as evidence.

Counsel to the petitioner, Dr Alex Izinyon SAN had on Monday applied that the tribunal should stand down, with a view to allowing him present the documents to respondents for verification to tender them by consent.

Ajimobi pays compensation for demolished houses, shops This was stated by the state added to the aesthetic beauty of

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By Ola Ajayi

BADAN — R E P R I E V E yesterday came the way of property owners in Oyo State whose property were demolished by the state government for its urban renewal programme as Governor Abiola Ajimobi will, on Monday, start payment of their compensation.

Commissioner for Lands Housing and Survey, Mr. Isaac Omodewu.

The demolition of buildings and shops for dualization of major roads had been criticised by the opposition parties and affected residents in the state.

Though, many acknowledged the results of the policy as it

the metropolis, they claimed the policy lacked human face.

A statement yesterday quoted the commissioner saying the payment of compensation became necessary to bring succour to the people who sacrificed their property for the urban renewal programme of the state government.

By Daud Olatunji BEOKUTA—THE Federal government has enlisted the assistance of corp members across the country to sensitise the people on the need to embrace the Deposit Insurance Scheme through the Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation, NDIC. The government said the move to incorporate the Corps members for public enlightenment on deposit insurance patronage due to their peculiar position in all the communities where they are expected to carry out their primary assignments.

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Majekodunmi joins Ogun gov race

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By Daud Olatunji

BEOKUTA—THE former Chief of Staff to former Governor of Ogun State, Otunba Gbenga Daniel, Chief Yomi Majekodunmi yesterday, declared his intention to contest for governorship seat in the coming election in the state on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP. Reeling out his programmes for the people, Majekodunmi, a chartered account, noted that vocational education would be given priority, noting that the advanced nations are running knowledge-based economy.

12—Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 2014

Retraction

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N Page 10 of Vanguard of June 22, 2011, we published an article entitled Tension in Ekpan over alleged release of suspects by police.

We, hereby, retract the said article and apologise to Chief Victor E. Otomiewo for any inconvenience the article may have caused him.

Editor.

Radio, TV workers give Bayelsa govt ultimatum on arrears

By Samuel Oyadongha

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ENAGOA—RADIO, television and theatre arts workers in Bayelsa State, yesterday, gave the state government a 21-day ultimatum to pay up certain arrears or face industrial action.

The aggrieved workers under the aegis of Radio, Television, Theatre Arts Workers Union of Nigeria, RAT TAWU, threatened indefinite strike if the arrears were not paid.

In a letter addressed to the state governor through the Head of Service, the aggrieved workers said the decision to embark on the strike was taken at an enlarged meeting, following the continued silence of the state government on the issue.

The letter was signed

by Okringbo Wariebi Michael, Chairman RAT TAWU; Yebufura Toboulayefa, Secretary, RATTAWU; Eke Yeladou Gohon, Chairman NUPPPPROW; Seiyefa Otuogha, Secretary, NUPPPPROW; Tarinyo Akono, Chairman, NUJ and Secretary, Samson Opokuma.

It read in part: “We regret to convey the decision of a large estate executive council meeting to embark on a strike action on the above subject matter.

“This decision was taken due to nonimplementation of the weigh-in allowance arrears of N332 million.

“We are compelled to give this 21 days ultimatum effective November 11 to December 2.”

Egor PDP members threaten court action over Adams' screening

By Simon Ebegbulem

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ENIN—MEMBERS of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Egor Local Government Area of Edo State on the platform of Concerned Stakeholders, yesterday, threatened court action over the alleged screening of Mr. Nosa Adams, an aspirant of the party for the House of Assembly seat, who was last week remanded at Oko prison for alleged attempted murder.

The stakeholders in a petition addressed to the state chairman of the party, Chief Dan Orbih, signed by Mr. Uwa Samson, Pastor Sam Ugofure and three others, alleged that the aspirant was smuggled out of Oko prison by some leaders of the PDP in Edo South, where he was taken to an undisclosed hotel to be screened by the committee led by one Olushola Oke. The magistrate's court at Egor, presided over by Magistrate Igho Braimoh, remanded Mr. Adams at Oko Prison last Wednesday over alleged attempted murder of three PDP members during the ward congress of the

party.

In the petition, also copied the national leadership of PDP, the stakeholders expressed shock that “Mr. Nosa Adams, who was absent during the

South coerced the screening committee to screen and clear Mr. Adams.”

They urged the screening of the aspirant to be cancelled, or “we will resort to litigation.”

C'River community protest bad road

By Emma Una

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ALABAR—CHIEFS, women and youths of Old Netim community in Akamkpa Local Government Area of Cross River State, yesterday, barricaded the failed road in the community, preventing hundreds of trucks access to the stone quarry located in the area.

The protest paralyzed economic and social activities in the community and other adjoining villages, as trucks could not evacuate granite and stone chippings from the quarry.

The protesters, who chanted war songs, were led by the village head of Netim, Ntufam Au g u s t i n e Nyong Orok.

Orok told Vanguard that the protest was a sponta-

Ebizimor’s death, end of an era— IMG

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screening, who is still at Oko Prison, had been screened, cleared and issued clearance certificate in absentia.

“The most shameful of it is that a leader of the party in Edo

HE Ijaw Monitoring Group, IMG, has lauded Nigerians for the respect accorded Ijaw music legend, late King Robert Ebizimor.

A statement by Mr. Joseph Evah described Ebizimor as a cultural hero, who placed the country on the cultural world map.

It said: “There is no doubt that the death of King Ebizimor marks the end of an era in Niger Delta. We are, however, consoled that he left indelible footprints on the sands of time.

“His popularity was felt throughout West Africa, especially in Ghana. His formula for success was his cultural relevance at the right time.

“King Ebizimor was an institution, a giant star and a freedom fighter, who used music as his weapon of war.”

neous reaction by the people, who were tired of several unfulfilled promises by the state government to construct the road leading to the community.

He said: “It is ironical that our community, which contributes so much to the internal revenue generation of the state, cannot boast of a mere access road.”

Odibo lauds Uduaghan on Udu devt

By Egufe Yafugborhi

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ARRI—DELTA State House of Assembly hopeful, Elegbete Moses Odibo, has commended Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan for siting Delta Leisure Park, Oleri at Udu. Odibo spoke in Warri, yesterday, when he hosted Udu Peace Movement, who

paid him a solidarity visit.

According to him, “the Udu people have to be patient on the good intention of the governor in our kingdom.

Leisure parks across the world are developed in phases.

“The one in Malaysia, after which the one in Udu is fashioned, has been on for 15years and only just entering phase 5.”

Vanguard, WEDESDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 2014—13

UNIBEN: From left— Professor Faraday Orumwense, incoming Vice Chancelor; Mrs. Ogbogodo, Registrar; and Professor Godwin Oshodin, outgoing Vice Chancelor, all of University of Benin, UNIBEN, at a briefing on the 39th / 40th convocation, 44th Founder ’s Day ceremony, coming up November 19, in Benin, PHOTO: yesterday.

BARNABAS UZOSIKE.

Lagos govt harps on walk for health fitness

By Olasunkanmi Akoni

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S part of activities marking 2014 Community Day celebration in Lagos, hundreds of government officials and community leaders have staged a health walk for fitness in Ikeja, Lagos.

The 2014 Health Walk, which started from Ikeja Local Government, through Obafemi Awolowo Way to Lagos State Secretariat, Alausa, Ikeja, was flagged off by the Permanent Secretary, Office of Sports, Ministry of Youth and Sport, Mr. Sewedo Whenu.

Members of the Community Development Associations, CDAs, neighbourhood watchers and government officials turned out massively for the walk.

In her health talk, Special Adviser to the Governor on Public Health, Dr. Yewande Adeshina, said there was need for CDAs to champion health walk in their respective communities.

8,319 PVCs stolen in Edo

By Gabriel Enogholase

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ENIN—EDO State RESIDENT Electoral Commissioner, REC, Mr. Baritor Kpagih, yesterday, said 8,319 Permanent Voter’s Cards, PVCs, were snatched by hoodlums during last week’s distribution of the PVCs in 10 local government areas of the state.

Mr. Kpagih lamented that 3,661 PVCs were snatched in eight polling units in Orhionmwon Local Government Area alone.

At a briefing on the outcome of the distribution exercise, he said that the commission also lost 997 of the cards in Etsako West and Ovia NorthEast local government areas of the state during the threedays exercise.

While decrying the cases of card theft despite warnings by the commission that the PVCs could only be useful to their rightful owners, he however, said the matter had been reported to the police, while the commission would also commence an internal investigation.

According to him, “we also want to put it on record that we were a bit disappointed that in spite of our appeal to all our people to recognize the fact that stealing and snatching of cards will be of no use because these cards

Jonathan, Ekweremadu others for Shalom summit

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RESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan is the Special Guest of Honour in this year’s summit on entrepreneurship programmes for youths organised by Shalom Vineyard, holding tomorrow at the ECOWAS Parliament Hall in Abuja.

The summit, with the theme Education, Character and the Promotion of Cultural values in the Sub-region, will start at 10a.m.

One of the highlights of the programme is the launching of

the ECOWAS Delight International Magazine that provides quality information regarding citizen’s right, government projects, nation building, among ECOWAS member States.

Guest speakers are Dr. Sintiki Ugbe, Director, ECOWAS Commission, Gender and Youth Development and Mr. Mike Omeri, Director General, National Orientation Agency, while the Chairman is Senator Ike Ekweremadu.

can only be used by the card holder, such events still took place in a number of local government areas.

“The most disturbing case is the one that took place in Orhrionmwon council, where 3,661 cards were snatched from eight polling units. The case has been reported to the police and we believe that the police will do a good job.”

He attributed some of the

challenges recorded during the exercise to lateness of Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, staff at the polling units.

According to him, the total number of cards meant for the state could not be disclosed, as some of the cards brought to Edo State were originally meant for eligible voters in Jigawa, Kogi and Delta states.

1,200 environment marshalls employed in Delta

By Festus Ahon

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SABA—DELTA State government has employed no fewer than 1,200 youths environmental marshals as part of its effort to keep Asaba, Agbor, Warri and Effurun clean at all times.

Commissioner for Environment, Chief Frank Omare, who disclosed this while addressing newsmen in Asaba, yesterday, said the environmental marshals comprising young men and women, would resume work next week.

While warning them against extorting money from members of the public, he insisted that their duties were to clean the environment, arrest those that litter the environment with dirt in line with the Project Cleanup Delta.

Decrying the indiscriminate dumping of refuse on the streets and in some obscure places, which according to him, was unhygienic and a health risk to the people and the

environment, Omare said Asaba, the state capital would be used to test run the exercise.

He said the marshals would be given areas to manage, adding “I will go on supervision to know if the marshals are working and any of them found wanting will be sacked instantly without pity.

“There should not be compromise or bribe taking when doing the job; the marshalls should take the job more serious on environmental sanitation days and I want to assure them that there will be vehicles to arrest people, while the office of the Attorney-General is ready to prosecute offenders.”

According to Omare, with the ongoing incinerator project in Asaba and Warri, the process of ensuring a cleaner Delta State had just begun, adding the “multimillion naira integrated waste management facilities are capable of processing 1000 tonnes of waste daily.”

Delta Mega Forum inaugurated

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S the race to elect the successor to Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan of Delta State gets tougher, some Deltans have come together to float a socio-political pressure group known as Delta Mega Forum, DMF. While inaugurating the body in Ogharefe, the administrative

headquarters of Ethiope West Local Government Area, the Chairman of the occasion, High Chief Emmanuel Okumagba, thanked God for the vision and dreams of the body, charging members to move the state forward towards a better democratic governance.

Uromi-Uzea Movement backs Itulah’s re-election bid

By Emman Ovuakporie

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BUJA—THE UromiUzea Solidarity Movement has given Friday Itulah the nod to re-contest in the 2015 general election.

The group said at its meeting held at the residence of its President, Prince Dave Oseghale, that it had overwhelmingly endorsed Itulah as its sole candidate for the House of Representatives in 2015 National Assembly election.

Oseghale stated that having been satisfied with Itulah's record, he had resolved to back him for the 2015 election, adding that he will mobilize support for his reelection.

Responding, Itulah promised to justify his going back to the National Assembly and ensure that Esan East and Esan South-East experienced unprecedented political activism.

Uduaghan, Asagba, Adesina headline NUJ lecture

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RESIDENT of Nigerian Guild of Editors and Managing Director of Sun group of Newspapers, Mr. Femi Adesina, will deliver a lecture on Reporting The 2015 General Elections, as guest speaker at the press week of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ, Delta State council.

Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan will declare the press week open on November 18, while the Asagba of Asaba, Professor Chike Edozien, is the royal father of the day.

A statement by the chairman of the council, Mr. Norbert Chiazor, said the choice of guest speaker and theme of the press week were intended to equip the journalists with informed professional skills on political reporting.

14 —

Vanguard, WEDNEDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 2014

PRESIDENT GOODLUCK JONATHAN'S DECLARATION FOR SECOND TERM IN ABUJA PIX: ABAYOMI ADESHIDA & STATE HOUSE

From right: Chairman, PDP Governor’s Forum and Akwa Ibom State Governor, Godswill Akpabio, Governors; Olusegun Mimiko of Ondo State, Martin Elechi of Ebonyi State, Babangida Aliyu of Niger State, President Goodluck Jonathan acknowledging cheers from supporters at his Sullivan Chime of Enugu State and Emmanuel Uduaghan of Delta State, declaration to run for a second term in office, at the Eagles Square, Abuja. during the declaration, in Abuja, yesterday.

President Goodluck Jonathan and his wife, Dame Patience Jonathan.

Governor Olusegun Mimiko of Ondo State (2nd left), his wife, Olukemi (2nd right) on arrival at Eagles Square, Abuja.

From left: Senators Ayo Arise, Kila, and Governor Ayo Fayose of Ekiti State.

Vice President Namadi Sambo, at the event.

From left: Abia Governor, Chief Theodore Orji, his Akwa Ibom State counterpart, Godswill Akpabio, Governor Idris Wada of Kogi State, and Governor of Bauchi State, Isa Yuguda.

Senate President, David Mark (2nd left), Majority Leader, House of Representatives, Hon. Mulikat Akande (3rd right), Senate Leader, Senator Ndoma Egba (right), and others at the event.

From left: Former Youth Development Minister, Senator Akinlabi Olasunkanmi, Osun State PDP governoship candidate, Senator Iyiola Omisore and others on the occasion.

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 2014 —15

President Jonathan declares for second term

President Goodluck Jonathan closely followed by the National Chairman PDP, Alhaji Adamu Mu'azu (left) as he acknowledges cheers from the crowd, during his official declaration for the 2015 presidential election, at an elaborate programme organised by the Transformation Ambassadors of Nigeria, at the Eagle Square, Abuja.

From left, Minister for Power, Chinedu Nebo; Finance Minister, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala; Women Affairs Minister, Zainab Maina, and the Petroleum Minister, Deziani Alison Madueke

Cross section of mammoth crowd.

Cross section of supporters

Delta State 2015 goverbnorship aspirant, Elder Godsday Orubebe (right) and other dignitaries.

Former PDP Women Leader, Mrs. Josephine Anenih (left), discussing with the Minister for Lands, Housing and Urban Development, Mrs. Akon Anyekene.

Cross section of physically challenged citizens among the supporters.

Governor Olusegun Mimiko of Ondo state, and his wife, Olukemi.

From right, Special Adviser to the President on MDGs, Dr. Precious Gbenoi; Works Minister, Arc. Mike Onolememen, and other dignitaries.

16 — Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 2014

NUPENG condemns murder of 47 students

By Victor Ahiuma-Young

N

IGERIA UNION of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers, NUPENG, has condemned the gruesome murder of 47 students in the

Government Comprehensive School, Potiskum, Yobe State,

by Boko Haram on Monday.

The union in a statement by its President, Mr. Igwe Achese, lamented that it was one killing; too many, noting that something

drastic must be done to arrest the situation.

NUPENG called on the “Federal Government to stop the senseless killings and carnage by routing out completely the insurgents from

Task force allays fears over rumoured arms consignment to Fulani community

By Marie-Therese Nanlong

J

OS — THE Special Task Force, STF, keeping the peace in Plateau State has allayed citizens’ fear over the purported rumour that a helicopter and 13 Toyota Hilux vans carrying arms and ammunition had arrived

Mahanga, a Fulani community in Riyom Local Government Area of the state.

There had been tension in the state since Monday evening, following the unconfirmed report of alleged arrival of the weapons.

However, reacting to the issue, both the STF and the leadership

of Fulani in Mahanga said there was no iota of truth in the story.

Both the STF Commander, Major-General David Eniete and Chairman of the Riyom chapter of Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association, MACBAN, Isa Abdullahi described the allegation as unfortunate.

the territories they currently occupy in the North-Eastern part of Nigeria.

The union wanted a major military offensive to wipe out the Boko Haram menace and put an end to the murder. The recent suicide bombing of innocent students in Yobe, "calls for concern and spirited effort on the part of the intelligence unit of the security services to develop new scientific strategies to destroy the Boko Haram insurgents as they are no spirits."

NUPENG imploresd the government to "fully employ the services of local hunters, the civilian JTF, who understand the terrain very well to overrun their enclaves.

'People's will prevail in 2015 general elections'

K

ADUNA — A governorship aspirant on the platform of the All Progressives Congress, APC, in Kaduna State, Shamsudeen Abdullahi, has said only the people’s will would prevail in the 2015 elections.

Abdullahi told newsmen: “No one has endorsed anybody. It is only the good people of the state that will decide who becomes the next Kaduna State governor.

Aspirant blames Zamfara's under-devt on past govts

By Salisu Maradun

G

USAU — A governorship aspirant on the banner of All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, in Zamfara State, Alhaji Sani Abdullahi Shinkafi has lamented that the state which was created about 20 years ago, was yet to attain the level envisaged by its founding fathers, blaming the situation on corruption by past leaders.

He then promised to run an “all inclusive government in the state if given the mandate in 2015.’’

According to him, the ‘’massive looting of public fund,’’ would be a thing of the past if voted into power in February next year.

The aspirant explained that it was out of concern that he decided to join the race for the third time having contested in 2007 and 2011 respectively, adding that his mission was to save the state from total collapse.

JOGS 74/79 meeting

T

HE MONTHLY meeting of Ijebu-Ode Grammar School Old Boys Association (JOGS) 1974/79 set, will take place on November 16, 2014.

According to the president of the association, Mr. Dimeji Ogunniyi, venue is on Oreta Road, Igbogbo\ Bayeku Local Council Development Association, Ikorodu, with Kehinde Olutayo, Sectional Head, Government Technical College, Ikorodu, as the host.

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY NOVEMBER 12, 2014 — 17

18 — Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 2014 THE outcry over the failure of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, is a bit late in the day. Politicians and their parties have often seen advantages they could gain from the foibles of INEC, which makes strong cases for itself about its imperfections. It expects us to claim them, maybe, as national assets. INEC believes in the magic of words. It is ready for every election.

It is armed with excuses for failure of plans it sells to the public as tamper-proof. Every election INEC has conducted since 2011, under the current leadership, has been greeted with irregulars. As proof that it had given up on itself, INEC dubs every election a “practice” for the next one. It learns no “lessons”, but it dabbles into new areas of troubles, raising national tension with its ineptitude.

The latest INEC confusions are its promotion of the Advance Automatic Finger Identification System, AAFIS, and the extra polling centres it created. For INEC, it is an achievement to identify lapse with the voters’ register, more than three years after compilation of the register. The tainted

INEC Must Make 2015 Work register has been used for all elections since 2011. We must remember that INEC deployed high technology which Nigeria acquired at more than N75 billion in 2010. It has capacity to thwart multiple registrations, once the details were linked. INEC never bothered with linking the inputs from the various centres.

The charade that is going on leaves us wondering what INEC plans for the 2015 elections. Rather than clean up the voters’ register, INEC was more interested in creating more polling booths, a controversial

decision INEC made without proper reason.

The size of the voters’ register, the breakdown by States, right to the wards, would naturally establish the need for more voting points and how the new ones would be distributed.

Without crossing the first hurdle, INEC decided to create new polling centres. What sense does this decision make, when we do not know how people would vote and their locations? Optimism over the success of the 2015 elections is over-stated and without proper bases. If INEC cannot manage oneoff elections, the voters’ register, and distribution of voters, cards, INEC has a lot of work ahead of its preparations for the 2015 elections. For all the importance elections bear to our future, INEC handles them with levity. It fails to provide transparency required to make them credible.

INEC should produce a clean register for the 2015 elections. More importantly, it should work to avoid exclusion of voters, which its current chicanery does. Finally, it should punish those who inflated the voters’ list, which partly accounts for the present mess.

OPINION

BY GODWIN ETAKIBUEBU

S

UCCESS, my dear President, Aliko Dangote, the Nigerian 25th richest man on earth today, would admit, is not by accident. It is purely an act and art of deliberate planning. Hence, the saying that “to be successful has nothing to do with luck” is gaining global acceptability than it hitherto did in the past. People plan to succeed in business, in politics, in the profession and also [even more] in government. And the difference between great achievers and those in the region of mediocrity lies within one fact – continuous evaluation of situation and ability to adopt Change, which is the only permanent thing in life. But to many keen observers of your government, it seems you are leaving too many things to chance, maybe believing that “things will just work out well”. That can only be path of achieving disaster.

It is on the face of the above fact that you must take a critical look on the quality of two of your major employees: the Chief of Defence Staff – CDS - [Air Marshal Alex Badeh] and your very loquacious Senior Spokesman in the person of Dr Doyin Okupe and summon enough courage to discard their services, terminate their appointments with immediate effect.

They are liability to you and Nigerians.

They are embarrassment to civilisation and professional decorum. Permit me to justify this call and l will start with the CDS. Alex Badeh, a four star Air Force officer [Air Marshal] was appointed the Chief of Defence Staff [coordinating the Service Chiefs – Army, Air force, Navy and the Police] January this year. While being sworn-in by the by the President [who is C M Y K

Can this Chief of Defence Staff defend Nigeria? actually Commander-in-Chief of the Nigerian Armed Forces] on January 20, 2014, the CDS made a voluntary pledge with absolute optimism when he said that “it is mandatory for the military to eliminate the menace of Boko Haram before April” [2014] “to avert a constitutional problem in the polity ”.

Looking at the newly appointed Chief of Army Staff directly that day [January 20, 2014] Air Marshal Badeh said: “If we do our work cohesively l can tell, General Minimah, you will finish your work in no time”.

This turned out to be empty promise as April ended with Boko Haram insurgency waxing stronger than even the Nigerian Military. By the end of October the insurgents had burnt down the personal house, a hospital he built for his people and the community Civic Centre of Air Marshal Alex Badeh in his home town [Vimtim] in Adamawa State. The hunter is now being hunted. How can this man that could not defend himself save Nigeria?

He told us six months ago when over 200 girls were abducted by Boko Haram from Chibok in Borno State that “we know where the girls are and we shall soon rescue them”. It became another empty talk as well. And most recently he told Nigerians that “a ceasefire had been reached between the government and Boko Haram and the release of the abducted Chibok girls would be within days”. It was after this announcement that the insurgents reduced his town of Vimtim to rubbles. There

are too many empty talks of Air Marshal Badeh that cannot be accommodated in this write-up.

Albert K. Horsefall, the most respected former Director General of the SSS, spoke Nigerians’ mind when he recently cautioned Badeh to “stop talking as a politician and remain strictly a professional”.

Let us put Air Marshal Badeh aside for now and evaluate Doyin Okupe, another disaster-personified in Goodluck Jonathan’s government.

It can only be a case of celebrated insanity for an employee of the President, at the level of Senior Special Assistant, like Okupe, to say that “critics of the President need psychiatric examination”. As far as Okupe is concerned, to criticise the President “is to commit a treasonable felony”.

To him, the President can never be wrong, translating President Goodluck Jonathan into God. The real God of Heaven forbids that!

Okupe chose to stigmatise every critic of the President with madness because Atiku Abubakar, former Vice-President, made a critical evaluation of the Boko Haram activities in the North East of Nigeria and came to the conclusion that “there is challenge of leadership both in the government and the military”. The Turaki Adamawa, in that statement, advised that the Federal Government should do more to arrest the situation because the insurgency is aimed at running Nigeria over. He cited the audacity with which the Boko Haram insurgent carried

out some daring exploits in Borno, Adamawa and Yobe states.

Let us look and evaluate Atiku Abubakar ’s submission as it affects the North East crises to enable us decide if it was a presentation of madness or sanity.

Early last week, Boko Haram had captured Mubi, the second largest city in Adamawa State, hoisted its flag in the Palace of the Emir, changed the name of the town from Mubi to “Madinatul Islam”, set up Sharia Court and amputated ten people said to have contravened the Koran. Will Okupe say that these acts “were happening in cities belonging to the territory” of the Federal Republic of Nigeria?

Or will he say that the Federal Government of Nigeria co-hoisted those flags with the “Boko Haram government” as the latter patrols that area with absolute audacity and control, at least for now?

Who therefore needs immediate and urgent psychiatric examination between Okupe and critics of the government? For sure, over 80 percent of Nigerians would recommend Okupe to that psychiatric hospital in Abeokuta for permanent residency.

Mr President, with these type of men [and they are many] in your government, do you really need anybody to tell you who your enemies are? There are fifth columnists in your government with only one mission, and that is to torpedo your voyage from within. Deal with them before they finish you, please.

•Mr Etakibuebu, a current affairs commentator, wrote from Lagos.

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 2014—19 —19

, Plenty nonsense dey for Naija

T

HIS is not about President Goodluck Jonathan. But you also cannot discount his input in it. The fact of his own connection, that he is president at this material time in the history of Nigeria, must have a part to play in the mindless direction the country seems to be heading in terms of the security of life and property in Nigeria as a whole, and the North East in particular. If this was about somebody else, perhaps things would be vastly different from what they are today. Yet one cannot deny the fact that there is a great world of nonsensical happenings going on in this country, beginning with the government in Abuja, right now.

How else can one explain, much less understand, the confusing and confused talk about a so-called ceasefire agreement between the Jonathan administration and the accursed insurgents that are daily bringing misery to citizens of this country in different parts of the North East? Without anyone’s prompting, this government announced a peace deal had been brokered between it and the insurgents. The deal was partly aimed at bringing back well over 250 school girls taken captive last April by the religious outcasts in the

North East. At the time the government made this ill-advised ceasefire announcement, it appeared to be having the upper hand in its unending fight with the terrorists in Sambisa and the outer wilderness of the NigerianCameroonian border. It all appeared then that that ceasefire talk, if ever there was any truth in it, must have been agreed to by the insurgents in full awareness that they were losing ground.

A thinking government would, one would imagine, be wary of such peremptory readiness by the insurgents to talk peace after spurning such efforts for the best part of four years or more. It gave no cautionary sign of suspicion that could save it from losing face in the event the insurgents disowned the ceasefire, as they have since done. But Abuja went into overdrive immediately it announced the ceasefire even when there was no corresponding statement of agreement from the insurgents or their representatives. Which would be okay provided it was also prepared to continue with the battle should the situation demand it. But no, this government was ecstatic and just fell short of declaring a holiday to celebrate an agreement that

Would President Jonathan consider it achievement when eventually his government succeeds in bringing back 250 girls but lost four or five times that more girls?

,

should have been more welcomed by the killer group that was justly losing ground. All Nigerians were thereafter told was that talks were going on in Chad. Yet, on the basis of this mirage the Federal Government of Nigeria under the leadership of President Jonathan, unilaterally suspended hostilities in a battle it was for the first time taking the lead.

After a long period of serial whacking that resulted in cowardly and unsoldierly behaviours by its field commanders, it cannot be asking too much to expect Abuja to capitalise on its little gain. But no, it wanted a ceasefire nobody, not even the insurgents, seemed to be interested in. And before we knew what was happening, the socalled ceasefire had been unceremoniously breached. Could the announcement of a ceasefire, unilaterally, without any assurances that it would be observed by the insurgents be yet another instance of sabotage from within Jonathan’s own government? What does the President know about this so-called ceasefire before it was

announced and the worthless talk that reportedly followed it in Chad?

For how long had Abuja been negotiating the peace deal, and to what extent were the chances high that it would sail through before it was announced and cessation of hostility announced? Or is this government so naïve, so bereft of ideas that it could not even tell when a deal could be said to have been reached with a murderous horde long said to have broken into splinter groups with different field commanders? Indeed, which of these groups was the government talking to? What is the true fact about the leader of the insurgents that was allegedly killed in battle

by Nigerian (or is it Cameroonian) troops? Is this mad dog still alive or dead? Didn’t the military say it was investigation the claim that the coward was alive even after claiming to have killed him in battle? Where is the engine room of this government or its military?

Who is responsible for what the Jonathan government gives out as news to Nigerians?

Where is the coordination in the activities of this government if weeks after announcing a ceasefire the insurgents have taken more towns, killed more people and taken more girls captive than even the hundreds taken last April? What type of false hope does this government continue to give Nigerians and the displaced people of Yobe, Mubi and other places now under effective occupation by insurgents? At the time the government of Goodluck Jonathan stubbornly pretends it is in negotiation with the terrorists up north, more towns have been taken over and the government of Yobe has shut down all schools. Are the insurgents not achieving their aim of a world without books or anything of the

intellect?

How many girls have been raped, married or sold off into slavery since the abduction of the Chibok girls this government says it is bent on bringing back? When, and if, it does bring back the Chibok girls, what would this government consider its gain when far more girls have been either married or sold off to interested persons in different parts of the world? When all 250 girls taken in April are brought back (which doesn’t seem possible anymore), would this government be congratulating itself on the one thousand or more girls that have been abducted in their wake? Would President Jonathan consider it achievement when eventually his government succeeds in bringing back 250 girls but lost four or five times that more girls?

There does not seem to be any sense of organisation in the activities of this present administration.

Things are done without any sense or projection of its likely consequences. There does not appear to be a centre or what one might call the control room of this administration. Everybody does what seem best to them and only offer explanation where such is deemed necessary only after the fact. If any ceasefire is eventually agreed upon between this government and the insurgents in the North East, it would not be as a consequence of the announcement made by Abuja a couple of weeks ago. On that very agreement, Abuja has again shown itself up as naïve, weak and at once lacking any sense of direction. It is bad enough that it is failing in protecting Nigerians. To add to that the claim of a non-existent ceasefire agreement is an unnecessary insult.

presiding officer designate, who nodded to say yes. So he moved on to his neighbour. “Have you write your name?” he again inquired, as boisterous as ever. He had asked this question of three or more co-trainees, my friend told me, before he came to her. “Have you write . . .”

My friend, who had laughed at first, thinking it an honest slip of tongue—after all, English no be our Papa language—but who had frowned at the first blissful repetition, was now unable to abide the fellow.”Are you aware that what you are saying is (grammatically) wrong?” she asked him? “Do you mean to say that you don’t know the past tense of words?” Days after the incident, my friend was still laughing and frowning in turns as she recalled the moment. Not a language prude by any means, her astonishment at such an astonishing ignorance of the simplest rules of grammar remained palpable. Even sadder, I think, is that the fellow did not, in fact, know his error. He did not at that moment catch himself and, laughing away his embarrassment, say “I beg your pardon—

wonder what the matter is with me this morning! I meant to say, ‘Have you WRITTEN your name?!”I could cite any number of grammatical howlers, even those taken straight out of the editorial comments of our newspapers, erstwhile paragons of good diction, but so could you.Take for instance that ugly coinage “severally,” now routinely but wrongly substituted for the phrase “several/many times.”

As much as the criminalunderfunding of education and the poor training of teachers from the primary to the tertiary levels necessarily takes most of the blame, we must also begin to point to an alarming decline in the inability to speak our various mothertongues with passable competence. I’m no expert in linguistics but I could speculate intelligibly on the link between the rapid decline of English— Nigeria’s only language of unity and national identity, of instruction in the schools—and the dismal state of our indigenous languages as mediums of social interaction. But that, too, is a subject for another column.

The death of English in Nigeria I EXAGGERATE, of course. All the languages of the world will have died before English dies in Nigeria. And of all the languages threatened by extinction, English is hardly one, many thanks to the extraordinary success of England in colonising nearly two-thirds of the world before the sun did finally set on the great British Empire on which the sun was never to set.

Still, the sun of its language, enriched and revitalised by the diverse cultures of the world it dominated had burned its alphabet and grammar on the tongue of the world. The rest was left to the hegemonic power of cultural imperialism as chiefly propagated by the United States of America, heir to Great Britain. In short, English is here to stay in Nigeria, for good or for ill— mostly for good, if you ask me. The place of the languages of imperialist conquest in “independent” former colonies has been debated to death. From Obi Wali’s1963 essay “The dead-end of African literature” to Ngugiwa Thiong’o’sDecolonising the Mind: The Politics of Language in African Literature, there is hardly any issue worth litigating anew on the subject. The rude fact of history which, “despite its wrenching pain,” as Maya Angelou aptly pointed out, “cannot be unlived but if faced with courage need not be lived again,” makes it clear that Nigeria will remain in essence a

linguistically-imagined country, bound to the linguistic medium of Lord Lugard’simperialist contraption: English.

I had not intended the deplorable state of English in Nigeria as my topic. The charade of local government elections across states and parties in our “dividends of democracy” country had initially led me to one conclusion: that state electoral commissions, which are the principal tools for wrecking democracy at the proverbial “grassroots,” must be scrapped.

Precisely what the just-concluded National Conference has recommended. Yet, in the course of further reflections on the just concluded LGA elections in Delta

I could speculate intelligibly on the link between the rapid decline of English and the dismal state of our indigenous languages as mediums of social interaction

State, I found myself recoiling from that proposition in favour of their actual independence — subject of a future column. My new position required that I review all the circumstances surrounding the Delta elections, but one funny but sad moment kept derailing my thoughts. When I learnt of the recent National Education Summit in Abuja, that funny-but-sad event displaced all other thoughts.

I knew, then, that in tribute to the never tiring efforts of my older compatriots, Professors DipoFashina (convener) and BiodunJeyifo (chairman) —former presidents of the Academic Staff Union of Universities — towards the rehabilitation of our ruined educational system, I would relate this event,ironically connected to Nigeria’s electoral tragi-comedy (yes, there is some illicit mirth in the political tragedy!), seeing how accurately it points to the enormity of the problem we commonly call “the fallen standard of education.”

They had gathered for a preelection training seminar for presiding officers, a friend who is a senior civil servant, told me. And they were registeringtheir names on a sheet of paper before the business of learning how to be diligent invigilators of democracy would begin. One of them was graciously passing the loose-sheet register round.”Have you write your name?” he inquired of a co-

20 — Vanguard, WEDNESDAY WEDNESDAY,, NOVEMBER 12, 2014

Aftermath of Onitsha market crisis: Traders, impeached council boss in war of words •Traders: We lost 2 guns, N25m •They nearly lynched me — injured council boss

By Nwabueze Okonkwo, ONITSHA

T

RADERS at the Millenium Merchants and Importers Association Market, near the Onitsha Main Market, Anambra state, are still counting their losses days after a bloody clash between them and officialsofOnitshaSouthLocalGovernmentcouncil.

However, while the traders are claiming to have lost two pump-action gunsandawhoopingN25million to thugs that came into the market with Onitsha South Local Government Area officials, then council Chairman,LadyAnnChukwuneke, who claimed to have been rushed to hospital following the incident, had cause to thank God for saving her life after allegedly attacked by the irate traders. She explained she merelywenttothemarkettode-congest the streets of trading activities and illegally parked vehicles and not to collect levies as alleged by the traders.

But following the incident, the traders had demanded for the immediate impeachment of the council chairman. It was a wish the powers that be in the state immediately granted as Lady Chukwuneke has since been impeached. Even this is not enough to appease the aggrieved traders. They are now demanding that the council should compensate them for the losses and also repair the over 20 shops allegedly destroyed during the fracas.

Stiff resistance It would be recalled that trouble startedpenultimateThursdaywhen Lady Chukwuneke reportedly stormed the market with over 100 youths to collect N50,000 levy per shopfromthetraderswhichwasmet with stiff resistance.

It was while the traders were trying to stop them that a free for-allfight ensued, resulting in over 50 persons sustaining various degrees of injuries. Those reportedly injured included the Vice Chairman of the market,PrincePeterOkoyewhohad a machete cut on his head, Obiora Otigba who had machete cut in his hand and one John Okafor.

Reacting,theAnambraStateMarketsAmalgamationTradersAssociation, ASMATA, chairman,Chief Okwudili Ezenwankwo, said that the council chairman has no right to storm the market and destroy the wares of the traders some of who have lost huge sums of money to C M Y K

*Irate traders protesting the invasion of the market by council officials. INSET: Lady Ann Chukwuneke hoodlums. His words: “The Governor directed me to come and calm the traders and to reopen their shops, that he is looking into the crisis. I am happy the Governor is aware because he does not want crisis in the state”.

The traders carried placards some of which read thus: “The council chairman is not a good mother, we are disappointed ... Governor Obiano should remove her”, “We have lost huge sums of money to hoodlums and she should be impeached”.

The chairman of the market, Mr. Valentine Ezechukwu and former chairman, Chief Obiora Nwankwo, had described the action of the former chairman as uncalled for, adding that they had earlier discussed with her on the way forward for the market and wondered why shestormedthemarketwithoutprior notice. “We even gave out a token to the council and today they stormed the market demanding N 50,000 per shop,” he said.

Also the treasurer, Chief Nathan Anajiofor, expressed dissatisfaction that the now impeached council chairman could agree to deal ruthlessly with the traders when they pay their normal storage fee to the council.

Three traders, Uche Okolie, John Achukwu from Warri and one Joseph, lostN2.5million,N360.000 and N 100,000 respectively to the hoodlums during the mayhem.

Itwouldberecalledthatthetimely intervention of the Onitsha Police

Area Commander, Mr. Benjamin Nwordu, saved the situation from escalating.

But in a reaction, the ex-council boss, Lady Chukwuneke, claimed that she was rather attacked by the traders at Sokoto Road on the fateful day, adding that she had just been discharged from the hospital along-

side other Local Government staff who sustained various degrees of injurieswhentheyaccompaniedher to the market. She said she was attacked by the angry traders while trying to dissuade them from trading along the road, which she explained is in line with the State government policy.

Speaking to newsmen on the development, she said she was thankful to God for saving her life and expressed shock that the traders, who she said were being instigated by her political opponents, had equally shattered her official vehicle with stones, broken bottles and otherdangerousweapons.“Iwould have been dead by now if not for twopoliceofficerswhoaccompanied us to the market. I only went to the market with my PA, two police officers and the Supervisory Councilor for Works in the Local Government todissuadethetradersfromdisplaying their wares on the road,” she said.

Positive change

I would have been dead by now if not for two police officers who accompanied us to the market

Lady Chukwuneke also debunked insinuations that she imposed any levy on the traders, sayingthatshehasnotinanywayasked the traders to pay any levy since she came to power. “I am in that position to effect a positive change and to save the masses and not to make money because God has made me rich before vying for the position,” she said.

She insisted that contrary to in-

sinuations that over 50 persons sustained various degrees of injuries while about 20 shops were destroyed, it was she and her entourage that were attacked by the traders for trying to decongest the market.Sheadded:“Ihavebeggedthese traders severally to stop trading on the road but if you go there now, you will see vehicles, tricycles, motorcycle, heavy duty lorries parked along the road, thereby obstructing free human and vehicular movement.

Others in the market cooperated but at Sokoto road, their Vice Chairman, Prince Peter Okoye and his men blocked the street with chain and turned me back. At a point, they started throwing stones and sachet water at us. It was in the process that one of the stones they threw hit me on the head. I quickly rushed into my car,” she said.

On the right of the Local Government to give orders in the market, the impeached council boss cited the 2011 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (As amended) and the Anambra State constitution No. ANHA/Law/2012/ 03whichstatesthatconstructionand maintenance of roads, streets and markets are the duties of the local government and called on the traders to be law-abiding.

AttheOnitshaAreacommand,the vandalised Local Government vehiclewasspottedbuttheAreaCommander, Mr. Benjamin Wordu, declinedtocommentonthematterand referred newsmen to the state Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO.

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY NOVEMBER 12, 2014 — 21

including Ben Bernanke, Alan Greenspan, Sergey Brin, Larry Page and Eric Schmidt.

Other notable names on the 25-man list included Jeff Bezos, Warren Buffet, Oprah Winfrey, Mark Zuckerberg, Jack Bogle, Larry Ellison, Rupert Murdoch, Jack Welch, Narayana Murthy, Howard Schuldt, Bernard Arnault and Li Ka-shing.

Also on the list are Carl Icahn, Meg Whitman, Amancio Ortega, Michael Bloomberg, Sandy Weill, Cher Wang, Martha Stewart and Carlos Slim.

Fro left : Managing Director, New Horizons Systems Solutions Nigeria, Mr. Tim Akano; newly employed National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) corps member, Aregbesola Grace Olubunmi, Assistant Director, Public Relation NYSC Lagos, Mrs. Faniyi and Assistant Director, Skill Acquisition and Entrepreneur Development (SAED), National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), Mrs Racheal Idowu, at the 4th New Horizons/ NYSC SAED Job fair held in Lagos.

Influential persons

Dangote now 68th most powerful person— Forbes P

RESIDENT/Chief Executive, Dangote Industries Ltd, Aliko Dangote has been ranked among the World’s most powerful 72 people by Forbes Magazine. The continent’s foremost billionaire is listed as the 68th most powerful person in the world, and is one of only two Africans to appear on this year’s list. Africa’s most powerful man is Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi. He ranks 51st on the power list. According to the ranking of the World’s Most Powerful People, Dangote is the second most powerful man in Africa.

Russian President, Vladimir Putin is ranked number one on the list followed by President of United States, Barack Obama, Chinese President, Xi Jinping, Pope Francis and Angela Merkel, the German

Chancellor. The Magazine writing on Dangote stated, “heralded by some as the face of the new Nigeria, Africa’s richest man is looking beyond cement, sugar and flour — the three commodities that built his fortune — to the oil business. In April he announced $9 billion in financing from a consortium of local and international lenders to construct a private oil refinery and fertilizer and petrochemical complex in the country.”

It should be recalled that Consumer News and Business Channel (CNBC) recently ranked Dangote as one of the 25 most influential people in the world in

FG loses N1.7trn yearly to fraudulent practices, contract awards

USC 183.95 188.7 USC USC USC 2.85 -1.55 USD2,890.00 USD +29.00 2,900.00 11.00 USC 15.72 -0.21 USC 15.60 USC USC -0.15

USD USD 82.85 83.22 USD USD -1.93 -0.39 USD 77.78 76.90 USD -1.88 USD USD -0.09

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

SDR

154.78 154.85 247.6944 246.258 193.4286 193.3147 160.4104 160,.6494 1.3617 1.3557 0.2764 0.2734 228.0521 226.0547 25.2949 25..3014 41.2582 41.2669 25.9816 26.9863 228.8113 227.7224

155.28 155.35 248.4946 247.6414 194.0534 193.9389 160.9286 161.1682 1.3661 1.3601 0.2864 0.2834 228.7888 226.7846 25.3771 25.3835 41.3914 41.4002 26.0655 26.0702 229.5504 228.4577

155.78 155.85 249.2947 247.8483 194.6783 194.5631 161.4468 161.6869 1.3705 1.3645 0.2964 0.2934 229.5255 227.5145 25.4592 25.4657 41.5247 41.5334 26.1494 26.1542 230.2896 229.193

CBN Exchange Exchange Rate Rate as as 11/11 04 /10 // 2014 2014 CBN

terms of having a profound impact on business and finance. A CNBC spokesman said: “They have disrupted industries, sparked change and exercised an influence far beyond their own companies.

As CNBC embarks on its second quartercentury, it faces a world completely altered from when it started.

In its latest survey CNBC, global financial and business outfit ranked Dangote as 23rd among the first 25 people who have impacted the business world most since 1989 . Apple Computers founder Steve Jobs topped the list followed by, Bill Gates, with other names on the list

The TIME Magazine in 2013 named Dangote among the100 most influential persons on earth. Bill Gate, Microsoft Founder and Co-Chair, Bill and Melinda Gate wrote a tribute in honour of Dangote in commemoration of his listing by the Time magazine. Gate dwelled extensively on the philanthropic gestures of the President of the Dangote Group in the areas of health especially polio eradication and job creation efforts.

Gates, described him as a man who does good in addition to doing well. Wrote he: “… his business activities drive economic growth across the continent. That’s impressive, but I know him best as a leader constantly in search of ways to bridge the gap between private business and public health. It’s for that reason he helped create the Nigeria Private Sector Health Alliance.

And it’s for that reason he is an advocate for agricultural research and malaria control.”

Time 100 is an annual list of the 100 most influential people in the world assembled by the American news magazine TIME. First published in 1999 as the result of a debate among American academics, politicians, and journalists, the list is now an annual event. Although appearing on the list is often seen as an honor, TIME makes it clear that entrants are recognized for changing the world, regardless of the consequences of their actions.

By Favour Nnabugwu

T

HE Federal Government says it loses $10billion (N1.7trillion) annually to fraudulent practices in the award of contracts and project reviews. The Director-General Bureau of Public Procurement, BPP, Mr. Emeka Muoma Ezeh, made the disclosure during the opening ceremony of the First National Conference on Public Procurement in Abuja .

Ezeh said the Country Procurement Assessment Report, CPAR observed that procurements were being carried out to staff that had little or no training at all and for that, every N1.00 spent, N60kobo was lost to sharp practices by corrupt officials of government. He said “A whopping $10billion was being lost yearly by the Federation to fraudulent practices in the award and execution of public contracts

through inflation of contract, cost of procurement plans, poor project prioritisation, poor budgeting processes, lack of competition and value for money and other kinds of manipulation of the procurement and contract award processes”.

This is why the BPP boss said the federal government is encouraging states that are yet to adopt the public procurement act to do so while those that have enacted the act should start implementing it in order to save the States and the Federation from corrupt practices in the awards of contracts.

He said the federal Government has saved a whopping sum of N528billion from the review of various projects in the country in the last five years.

He said “From 2009 to date, the Bureau has saved over N528billion in project reviews. The States have

been denied these benefits because they have no law on procurements. In most cases where EFCC has investigated corruption involving contract award, at the last point, they will realise that the federal law as it is today, does not apply to the States or Local Government” “There is no legal framework to prosecute violators of procurement procedures; bidders are not provided level playing ground; criteria on which decisions are to be based are not known; business opportunities are only known to those close to officials in charge and of course, absence of an oversight body encourages confusion. At the end, value for money is sacrificed and confidence in government is eroded”.

The clear objective of public procurement, the BPP boss stated, is to reduce the scope of corruption and improve the efficiency in the management of Nigeria’s public

22 — Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 2014

The EPCCOS, which will kick off from January, 2015 is a free industry platform developed to drive seamless pension contribution remittances and schedules collection

,

INSURAN

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To get your claims settled, insurers need to ascertain true state of affairs

A

s an insurance consumer, have you had cause to approach an insurance company due to the fact that your insurance claim crystallised? Were you settled promptly or did the insurance company subject you to series of checks?

Well, do not be perturbed by such checks as insurers have to ascertain the true state of affairs before settling any claim.

Explaining why such checks are necessary, Managing Director, Alpha Choice Insurance Brokers Limited, Mr. Sunny Adeda, said that underwriting companies carry out necessary checks before claims are settled so as to avoid settling fraudulent claims.

Adeda said the need to avoid settling fraudulent claims has compelled insurance companies to always ensure that all necessary documents to process a claim are provided before compensating the insured.

Adeda noted that some Nigerians can be dubious to the extent that they always come up with fake claim that will look like genuine ones, all in a bid to dupe their insurers.

While appealing to insurance consumers to always make genuine claims, Adeda said that making fake claims will only raise suspicion from underwriters, adding that insurers could give waiver to claimant they consider trustworthy to ensure he gets his claim on time.

Moreover, he said most vehicles on Nigerian roads parade fake insurance papers,

which could worsen a claim situation, urging people to be extra careful whenever they want to buy motor insurance, especially, thirdparty motor insurance.

He stated that this development has ripped off genuine insurance companies of the expected income.

Adeda said, “Whenever you see two vehicle owners on the road engaged in fighting because one hit the other, it is very sure that none of them have genuine insurance claim. If there is genuine insurance paper, there is no need to fight.

Just approach the insurer and they will take responsibility for the repair of the affected car.”

He charged insurance consumers, who find it difficult to access their claims or don’t know the procedure, to direct their complaints to the Nigerian Insurers Association (NIA), Insurance Consumers Association of Nigeria (INSCAN), Nigerian Council of Registered Insurance Brokers (NCRIB) or the National Insurance Commission (NAICOM) for assistance.

Also, Director-General, of the NIA, Mr. Sunday Thomas, appealed to Nigerians to ensure that they engage credible insurance companies or brokers to do their motor insurance, especially, thirdparty motor insurance, so that, they don’t take fake insurance, which is ordinary paper that cannot be used to process claim.

WAICA Re wins Award

W

AICA Reinsurance Company has won CFI.co award for insurance industry innovation in West Africa.

A statement from the firm said the CFI.co judging panel said the firm showed innovation by addressing the challenges of the market and responding intelligently and promptly to identified needs.

WAICA Re, established in March 2011, seeks to develop a diversified insurance sector with a strong reinsurance capability in the sub region in order to help support financial and economic growth.

It is owned by insurance C M Y K

companies in Ghana, Liberia, Nigeria, Gambia and Serra Leone.

According to the statement, the company follows international best practice and is concerned about good governance.

With offices in Freetown, Accra and Lagos, it stated that WAICA Re is responsive to client needs and has strong and effective teamwork.

“Staff training is exemplary and WAICA Re makes good use of advanced modern technologies.

Mr Nicholas Opara, Director, Supervision of the National Insurance Commission, NAICOM (second from right) congratulating the Managing Director/CEO of Consolidated Hallmark Insurance Plc, Mr Eddie Efekoha on the occasion of the 19th Annual General Meeting of the Company held at Uyo. With them are Vice Chairman, Mr. Tony Aletor (first from right) , and Chidi Ilogu of Foundation Chambers (Company Secretaries).

How EPCCOS will subsidize pension cost for employers Stories by ROSEMARY ONUOHA

A

s an employer, are you scared of subscribing to the Contributory Pension Scheme, CPS, on the grounds that pension remittance is an additional cost to you? Well, there is good news for you.

The Pension Fund Operators Association of Nigeria, PenOp, as part of efforts to cushion the cost of subscribing to the CPS on employers, have come up with

the Electronic Pension Contribution Collection System, EPCCOS. The EPCCOS, which will kick off from January, 2015 is a free industry platform developed to drive seamless pension contribution remittances and schedules collection.

The objectives include seamless remittances, minimize reconciliation issues, timely crediting of employee’s RSA as well as Straight Through Processing

(STP).

The parties to the EPCCOS who have various roles to play are employers; Pension Fund Custodians, PFCs; Pension Fund Administrators, PFAs; National Pension Commission, PenCom; and the Nigeria Interbank Settlement System, NIBSS. The role of the employer include uploading contribution schedule prior to payment, as the platform generates unique reference number and amount payable

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 2014,

,

CE & YOU based on schedule uploaded, validates employer code and PIN digits for correctness and make payment using any of the employer ’s ebanking facilities.

For PFCs, they download schedule uploaded by employers; validate payment with schedule uploaded; generate reports; as well as ensure usage of platform by employers.

The PFAs download schedule uploaded by employers; validate payment with schedule uploaded; generate reports; ensure usage of platform by employers.

PenCom, being the regulatory body, download schedule uploaded by employers; generate reports; as well as regulate and ensure standards are followed.

The NIBSS is the platform developer and host and is in charge of c o m p l a i n t management as well as security of data.

The benefits of the EPCCOS is that it eliminate employers’ burden of multiple schedule generation; timely crediting of employees retirement savings account; minimal contribution reconciliation issues as well as being a selfservice platform.

NAIC strategises on moving business to next level C

hairman of Nigerian Agricultural Insurance Corporation, (NAIC), Mrs. Chioma Ohakim, has said that it has been the desire of the Board of Directors of the Corporation, immediately after inauguration, to review the Corporation’s vision and mission with a view to fashioning out appropriate strategy in response to NAIC operational environment and challenges towards taking the Corporation to the next business level.

Ohakim stated this in her opening speech, titled ‘Better late than Never ’, during the board/ management retreat at the Tinapa Lakeside Hotel in Calabar.

The overall aim of the retreat, according to Ohakim, was to create synergy between the Board of Directors of the Corporation and its Management, led by Bode Opadokun, with a view to drive the new vision that would ensure that the Corporation effectively and efficiently contributes its quota to the Agricultural Transformation Agenda of the Federal Government.

The Management has been given the go ahead to start implementation work towards ensuring excellent service delivery in the area of new product

development such as weather index insurance, business reengineering, ICT project, improved brand communication, prompt claim settlement, provision of micro insurance to small scale farmers, enhanced staff welfare and training as well as strategic performance measurement in view of the recent commercialization of the Corporation’s activities.

In her address at the Cross River State Government House, Calabar, Ohakim extolled the tourism and agricultural potentials of the State and the leadership acumen of the Governor. She reminded the people of the State of the benefits of taking an insurance policy with the Corporation which include payment of premium at subsidized rate and prompt settlement of genuine claims.

— 23

The role of the employer include uploading contribution schedule prior to payment, as the platform generates unique reference number and amount payable based on schedule uploaded

,

Students get empowerment training for future leadership G

roup Managing Director of Royal Exchange Plc, Mr. Chike Mokwunye has said that the company train secondary school prefects to be role models, ready to lead, direct and positively influence others around them.

Mokwunye stated this at the company’s annual leadership training conference for secondary school prefects in partnership with a non-governmental organization, ‘Foundation for Youth Education’, in Lagos.

The conference, which was held at the College Hall, Igbobi College, Yaba, Lagos brought together over 800 secondary school prefects from 40 schools across Lagos State.

Mokwunye said the company is motivated by an abiding sense of duty and patriotism to contribute to nurturing the Nigerian youth to be productive and responsible citizens.

Co-ordinator of the Foundation for Youth Education, Mr. Patrick Ajogwu said the NGO was founded with the aim of instilling academic excellence, promoting qualitative education and leadership attitude development.

Ajogwu said the aim of the conference, which is in its fourth edition, is to enable students start early by developing the necessary leadership skills. It also assists the students counselling and giving them direction as they begin to make their career decisions.

Goldlink wins best underwriting team award C apital Finance International, a UK-based finance magazine has announced Goldlink Insurance Plc as the winner of its best underwriting team Nigeria 2014 award.

In a statement, the company said that the award came as a result of the uniqueness of the insurance policies the company underwrites to meet the needs of the insuring public and its customer-centric philosophy.

According to the judges, “Our winner, Goldlink Insurance takes pride in settling claims promptly and focuses strongly on customer care. Compliance

and risk management here is first rate and the panel considers this company a very worthy winner”.

In the same vein, Global Banking and Finance Review has announced Goldlink Insurance Plc winner of its best non-life insurance company of the year while Goldlink boss Mr. Gbolahan Olutayo clinched yet another best insurance CEO Nigeria 2014 on the same platform for his outstanding performance as the CEO for bringing stability and progress to the company since he assumed leadership in 2012. The organisers of the

yearly awards, Global Banking and Finance Review, also a UK-based online finance magazine with readership in over 230 countries, said the awards were created to honour companies of all sizes that stand out in particular areas of expertise within the banking and finance industry globally. The awards recognize the innovations, investment strategies, achievements, progressive and inspirational changes within the financial sector. The judging panel scrutinizes the company nominations and selects winners using a wide range of criteria.

CHI records 8% growth in GPI

C

From left: Executive Secretary, Pension Fund Operators Association of Nigeria, PenOp, Susan Oranye and Managing Director, Zenith Pension Fund Custodian, Nkem Oni-Egboma, at PenOp’s annual.

onsolidated Hallmark Insurance, Plc, CHI, has recorded a gross premium income of N4.151 billion for the 2013 financial year.

The figure represents an 8 per cent increase over the N3.835 billion achieved in the 2012 financial year.

Addressing shareholders at the 19th annual general meeting of the company held in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, Vice Chairman of the company, Mr Tony Aletor said the company however made a significant provision of N 547,735.224 for impairment for outstanding premium which is to have a clean break from the era of debtors overhang thus paving the way for future profitability.

Aletor said the company

recorded an impressive cash flow position during the period having improved on the N 1,857,303,251 recorded during the preceding period with a jump to N 2,275,501,790 in its cash and cash equivalents.

Managing Director of the company, Mr Eddie Efekoha said in his statement that one of the major strategies that has sustained the company’s business is the avowed commitment to prompt and adequate claims settlement.

Efekoha disclosed that in spite of the quite challenging operating environment in 2013, CHI’s expenses on claims rose from N 846,618,408 in 2012 to N 965,106,416, adding that by close of business on 31st December 2013, the company ensured that all fully documented claims for the

24 — Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 2014

Transport operations on LAMATA’s projects

T From left: Isaac Chukwubuikem, Olaoye Toluwani, Mba Chidera, Isaac Tobechukwu and Uzorechi Ifeanyi of Liberty Bell College Ajah, winners of the Securities and Exchange Commission, SEC, National Quiz Competition on Capital Market at the Lagos State qualifiers in Lagos.

Shareholders okay Sterling Bank’s N20bn fund raising

BY PETER EGWUATU

S

hareholders of Sterling Bank Plc have unanimously endorsed proposal by the Board of Directors of the bank to raise N20 billion by way of private placement in order to boost the company’s capital base.

In this regard, the shareholders at the Extra Ordinary Meeting held in Lagos on Tuesday authorized the Board of Directors of the bank to issue up to 7,471,698.,113 ordinary shares of 50 kobo each from the company’s share capital by way of special/ private placing to Messrs Silverlake Investment Limited or such other identified strategic investor at a price of N2.65 per

share or such other price as the directors may determine in the interest of the company.

Other resolutions approved at the meeting by the shareholders include: To raise additional capital up to USD 200 million or its equivalent in naira through any of combination of the following: equity, global depository receipts , quasi equity, convertible loans, medium term notes, bonds and any other debt instrument(s), whether secured or unsecured, senior or subordinated by way of a public offering, rights issue, and private placement.; To authorize directors to take any action required to give full effect to these resolutions.

Speaking to newsmen after the meeting, Managing Director/CEO, Sterling Bank Plc, Mr. Yemi Adeola said that the fund raising become necessary in order to meet the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN Basel and 11 capital requirement.

According to him “Sterling Bank has raised N12 billion through a successful rights issue and with the N20 billion being sort for, it will take the bank to N32 billion capital which will be above tier 1 capital requirement. Also by the time we get another 200 million dollars, the bank will have N90 billion capital, which will be in compliance with tier 11 capital requirement.”

Infraction: NSE revokes 2 firms dealing licences

T

By NKIRUKA NNOROM

he Nigerian Stock Exchange, NSE, has revoked the dealing member licences of two stockbroking firms – Gosord Securities Limited and Lakesworth Investment & Securities Limited for unauthorized sale clients’ shares.

The NSE, therefore, warned the investing public to avoid any dealing with both firms and directed investors that hold stockbroking accounts in any of the firms to transfer their shares to any active licensed stockbroking firm that is a Dealing Member of NSE. It further directed investors or clients of either of the two expelled firms that may have deposited funds or securities such as share certificates with them to collect such assets directly from the expelled firms.

In a statement made available C M Y K

to Vanguard, the NSE said that its National Council took the decision after carefully considering the documents relating to each firm and giving them an opportunity to be heard, reached the decision to expel both firms and revoke their dealing licenses.

According to the Exchange, the expulsions take immediate effect and all rights, incidences and privileges of membership of both stockbroking houses automatically cease.

It stated that both firms breached Article 59(v) of the Rules and Regulations Governing Dealing Members of NSE by engaging in unauthorized sales of clients’ shares; failed to buy back clients’ shares and resolve all complaints against it, as directed by the Disciplinary

Committee (which decision was approved by the National Council), saying that their conduct was dishonorable, disgraceful, unprofessional and detrimental to the interests of NSE by destroying investors’ confidence in the market and eroding the goal of NSE to operate a fair, transparent and orderly market.

Speaking on the development, the Head, Legal and Regulation Division, Ms. Tinuade Awe said “NSE is committed to restoring investor confidence in the Nigerian capital market. NSE will not hesitate to bring the full weight of its regulatory powers to bear on any Dealing Member that commits regulatory infractions and does not take steps to address them as appropriate even after being given sufficient time to do so.”

HE Lagos Metropolitan ent service provided by the Area Transport Authority, current operator between Mile LAMATA has three major 12 Ikorodu Road and Tafawa projects with significant pub- Balewa Square. It is apparent lic transport components. The that the operator makes a profit first is the Bus Rapid Transit, with a minimal level of service.

BRT, service between Mile 12 The operator currently has Ikorodu Road and Tafawa about 230 buses available for Balewa Square, Lagos Island. the service which should have Dedicated bus lanes were cre- about 400 buses. I would sugated on Ikorodu Road, West- gest that on a different day ern Avenue, Eko Bridge and each week over a period of the Outer Marina in Lagos at time, LAMATA should send the inception of this service. two teams of its staffers on the The second project is the re- route, one team to travel beconstruction of the Lagos to tween Mile 12 and Fadeyi and Badagry Expressway into a the other team between Fadeyi ten-lane highway with dedi- and Tafawa Balewa Square. I cated lanes for BRT service believe their reports would and a light rail corridor in the bring improvements to the sercentral area of its cross-sec- vice. A situation in which bustion. The third project is the es are not available in the midreconstruction of Ikorodu dle of the day because everyRoad from Mile 12 to Ikorodu one is on break is not acceptTown Roundabout. able. Bus scheduling is a wellLAMATA is the regulator for known problem in operations transport services in Lagos. It research and LAMATA can asgrants franchises to operators sist the operator by indicating on various routes with stipu- appropriate management tools lated fares. LAMATA has im- to the operator. plemented the construction There remains the issue of works on these projects on how to get an efficient BRT behalf of the Lagos State Gov- service between Mile 12, Ikoernment, LASG. In the pro- rodu Road and Ikorodu Town cess, LAMATA has acquired Roundabout. LAMATA should the role of an operator as LA- engage another operator to MATA has to provide mainte- provide this service. The frannance for the road pavements chise agreement should indiand for the rail tracks. LAMA- cate the number of buses to be TA should therefore establish provided initially and the reRoad Maintenance and Rail- investment programme which Track Maintenance Agencies the operator must adhere to. to look after the roads and the The LASG has obtained a subrail tracks on a daily basis. The stantial World Bank loan for present arrangement in which the reconstruction of Ikorodu LAMATA awards a rehabilita- Road and the expected benetion contract for the road pave- fits to the population from this ment every two or three years investment can only be reais not ideal. At lised if an adequate the dedicated number of buses is probus lanes on Ikovided on this BRT rodu Road, there route throughout the are currently day. places which the The on-going project bus drivers avoid which the next goveror in the alternanor of Lagos State must tive the buses are complete is the rail brought almost line from the Lagos to to a complete Badagry expressway stop as the deteto the Marina, Lagos rioration of the Island. This rail line road pavement is completely separatThere are has made pased from road traffic. currently sage through Its completion and the places those places unsuccessful operation of safe. which the a rail service would The Managing make the public better bus drivers Director, LAMAappreciate the need for avoid or in TA has stated the implementation of the alterthat Lagos and other components of Hong Kong are native the L AMATA’s Master two places where Plan. Next week, we buses are public transport shall start with toll brought can be operated roads and bridges. almost to a at a profit. This explains the complete DR. AKINTOLA OMIGBODUN rather indifferstop omigbodunaa@yahoo.com

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 2014—25

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Nigeria rates high in new tech, has no legacy systems to upgrade

By Prince Osuagwu

Last week, total IT solution company, Cisco, gathered over 150,000 IT technocrats from around the world, in the cozy and serene environment of Sun City, South Africa.

The programme was Cisco Connect yearly event; an avenue where the company brings together its customers and partners to update them on new trends.

The choice of Sun City, a luxury casino and resort, situated in the North West Province of South Africa, between the Elands River Each state is at a different level of and the Pilanesberg, provided a tourist sort preparedness as some are a bit more of feeling to participants who had to drive advanced. Also, it depends on what the state about two hours from Johannesburg to the is actually hoping it will achieve from venue. deploying the solution. Some states will like But in all, it was a platform to talk the solution to enhance security in particular technology and what future it holds for cities that have critical mass. For some other countries and their economies. states, it is revenue generation.

Having played in the Nigerian Technology The theme of this year’s Cisco Connect space for over 10 years, it wasn’t surprising event is ‘Tomorrow Starts Here’. Given the to discover that almost all papers presented peculiar infrastructure challenges faced by by top Cisco officials at the event, had much Nigeria, do you see the country achieving dwellings on Nigeria and the its tomorrow today or in the potentials the market holds for nearest future? world economies.

Yes, we can. If you compare So, immediately after the Nigeria with Europe right presentations, Hi-Tech now, our GDP growth is very cornered the company’s high and the economy is still Executive in charge of Nigeria, projected to grow at a very Ghana, Liberia and Sierra good rate over the next few Leone, Mr Dare Ogunlade for years. Compared to Europe, a chat. His answers to some of we do not have any legacy our questions, were particularly systems that we want to revealing. Enjoy them; upgrade; so it is an Compared to opportunity to actually build URING the panel Europe, we do infrastructure afresh. Some discussion, there were not have any people may want things to talks about some Cisco happen faster than it is now, solutions that can achieve Smart legacy systems but we always have to look City. Can you tell us the level that we want to at the initiatives the of engagement Cisco has had upgrade; so it is government is trying to do. with Nigerian stakeholders for Something as simple as an opportunity to unbundling Power Holding building Smart Cities?

There is definitely awareness actually build (the previous public power in Nigeria about it, and several monopoly) itself is also a states have indicated interest. infrastructure positive step in the right These states cut across all the afresh direction. geo-political zones in Nigeria.

Connectivity is key to

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I N S I D E C M Y K

iPhone 6 makes official entry into Nigeria Nov 14

NITDA to unveil national eGovernment framework at eNigeria

Dare Ogunlade, Country GM, Cisco Nigeria, Ghana, Liberia and Sierra Leone

achieving Internet of Everything, IoE; and it appears Nigeria is still struggling to catch up?

We have a lot of submarine cables that have landed in Lagos, and there are lots of policies coming out of the government and NCC to encourage private sector players to actually come and build infrastructure that will take connectivity to remote areas.

If you look at what Nigeria is known for, you will see that it is oil and gas and most of them are highly technology-driven, have fast connectivity to the internet and they have a play in the IoE space. Again, with the advent of democracy, we are seeing a lot of companies coming into Nigeria to start a manufacturing base and there is also a manufacturing play in the IoE space as well.

We are not left behind; we are on the right track.

How strategic is Nigeria’s economy to Cisco; I asked because before any solution comes to Nigeria, it is first deployed in South Africa?.

Nigeria is actually very strategic and there are a number of solutions deployed in Nigeria by Cisco before South Africa. The notion that it comes from South Africa is not correct.

Different global players Prior to this year, South Africa was the biggest economy which attracted a lot of opportunities for the country from different global players. Now, with the rebasing of Nigeria’s GDP, we are seeing lots of companies showing more interest in Nigeria than they did in the past. We have American companies building multimillion dollar plant in Calabar, which in the past they would never have done.

Innovation comes from within Cisco and we have a couple of technology deployed in Nigeria before South Africa and we have technologies working better in Nigeria than in South Africa.

During the presentation, some Cisco

Continues on page 26

26 — Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 2014

Check Point curbs cyber attacks with threat emulation

By Emeka Aginam

ONE of the world leaders in securing the Internet, Check Point has pledged support to stamp out cyber attacks with threat emulation , a critical technique in achieving more effective network security.

According to Terry Greer-King, UK Managing Director for Check Point, Check Point’s 2013 Security Report , found that 63% of organizations were infected with bots, and more than half were being infected with new malware at least once a day. The cyber attackers, he said target thousands of companies with their attacks to increase the likelihood of success.

He assured that Check Point provides customers with uncompromised protection against all types of threats, reduces security complexity and lowers total cost of ownership.

With the growing volumes of traffic on corporate networks, and the volume of new malware being introduced and hiding in plain sight in innocuous-looking files, organisations, he said are vulnerable to zero-day attacks.

“Rather like a border control’s X-ray scanners, the technique makes it possible to look inside suspect files arriving at the gateway, and inspect their contents in a ritualized, quarantined area known as a ‘sandbox.’ In the sandbox, the file is opened and monitored for any unusual behavior in real time, such as attempts to make abnormal registry changes or network connections.

Network connections “If its behaviour is found to be suspicious or malicious, it is blocked and quarantined, preventing any possible infection before it can reach the network and cause damage” he explained. Following detection and blocking of a file in this way, he said that organizations should be able to share information about the new threat, to help others avoid infection too.

“If companies could share information online about emerging threats when they are identified, and before they infect networks, rates of infection could drop dramatically. “ This would help the wider business community to know at least a little about a common enemy, before it can attack them.

Perhaps emulation could become one of the strongest methods for securing against new threats” he said. However, one of the problems facing businesses, he said, is new adversaries lining up every day to launch attacks, thereby disrupting operations and stealthily siphoning confidential data using a bewildering array of malware.

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ORE Group Africa, the sole and exclusive distributer for Apple in Nigeria, has announced it will offer iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus, the biggest advancements in iPhone history, at leading retail outlets across Nigeria beginning 14th November 2014.

Nigerians have earnestly yearned for these devices, strengthening the argument that there is arguably nowhere in the world that new mobile phones penetrate the market faster than Nigeria.

The news of a new mobile phone is received with exhilaration which eventually spark off acquisition competition Nigerians buy phones for fun.

While many enjoy the features and functionalities of latest innovations, others buy for fashion and style, or even status symbol.

When the news filtered in that the just released Apple iPhone 6 was in the making, many Nigerians had already started saving for it. This was irrespective of having almost all the different series of the iPhone

iPhone 6 makes of ficial entr y into Nigeria Nov 14 smartphone in their possessions. Nobody wants to be with the outdated!

Incidentally, Nigerian were not the only iPhone users anticipating the release of the device. Across Europe, Asia, Africa and even the Americas, the iPhone frenzy was rife.

Now that Apple has announced readiness to officially unveil them in Nigeria, let the competition begin.

The devices are larger than the regular iphone. They are also embedded with near field communications, NFC, which Apple says offer a more secure and fingerprint-based way to pay for goods and services.

NCC releases technical details of 2.6Ghz spectrum auction

By Prince Osuagwu

I

N an apparent bid to provide relevant information to guide people on the modalities of selling the slots in the 2.6 gigahertz spectrum band next month, the Nigerian Communications Commission has released some of the technical details of the planned auction as contained in the recently-released Information Memorandum (IM) .This is also as the Commission stoutly claim that the auction will benefit the nation’s telecoms sector significantly because it will further deepen broadband internet penetration in the country.

The Memorandum released recently by the regulator defines the process for the licensing of paired Spectrum in the 2.6 GHz band.

According to NCC, the auction of the spectrum will add the necessary fillip to the extant drive by the regulator to deepen broadband internet penetration from its current six per cent to 30 per cent by 2018. The planned auction is also in line with the mandate of the Commission as accentuated in the National Broadband Plan 2013-2018, approved by President Goodluck Jonathan last year and the objectives of and the Nigerian National Broadband Plan 2013.

According to the Director, Public Affairs, NCC, Mr Tony Ojobo, the process for the licensing of the 2.6 GHz Spectrum is predicated on demands by operators for additional Spectrum to enable the provision of Advanced Wireless Broadband services in line with international trends.

He maintained that this is also in furtherance of the objectives of the Federal

Apple’s claim of superior security features with the NFC threatens the credit and debit cards and may render them redundant, if proven worthwhile.

According to Apple, with the NFC, users will be able to hold their phone on a standard credit card reader, and the payment will be processed only when a fingerprint is used to verify their identity. The company claims that, for the first time, vendors will not see any details about the customer, such as their name, address or credit card numbers.

License (UASL) will be granted one upon payment of the specified fee. The tenure for the UASL will be 10 years, subject to renewal,” he explained.

Explaining the technical details of the spectrum further, OJobo stated that the spectrum is offered by the Commission on a technology neutral basis, saying, however, that for roll-out of services, the Commission intends to follow the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) recommendation setting aside Spectrum in the 2.6GHz band for the provision of advanced wireless broadband services.

Ojobo revealed that the Commission will offer 14 Lots of 2 X 5 megahertz FDD paired Spectrum in the 2.6 GHz band ranging from 2500 – 2570 megahertz and 2620 to 2690 megahertz totaling 2 X 70 •Dr. Eugene Juwah megahertz for NCC EVC auction.

This will be awarded to winning Bidders in multiples Government of Nigeria as set out in the of 2 X 5 megahertz lots aggregated in Nigerian National ICT Policy 2012 and contiguous arrangements. the Nigerian National Broadband Plan A reserve bid price of $16 million has 2013. been fixed by the Commission on each of “Based on the positive outcome of the 14 lots in the 2.6 gigahertz spectrum earlier consultations with necessary with a clause that a winner of the spectrum stakeholders and the direction of the without Universal National Broadband Plan, the Access Service Liecence( UASL will Commission has decided to undertake need to obtain such a licence also. the 2.6 gigahertz spectrum auction to “Nigeria currently has growing levels award Spectrum licenses to build and of Internet take-up, PC penetration and operate networks in this Spectrum band broadband adoption. to The trend of Internet use in Nigeria provide Advanced Broadband Wireless shows an increase with the overall Services to subscribers in Nigeria,” Ojobo number of users rising from 1.4 per cent said. To qualify to bid in the forthcoming of population in 2004 to about 47.8 per auction, the IM explains that the cent by 2014 with Broadband penetration applicants may not have to be licensed at about 6.1 per cent in 2013. Access to network operators (LNOs) in Nigeria.

PC in Nigeria was estimated at 8.1 per “However, any successful Bidder who cent of the population in 2013. does not have a Unified Access Service

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 2014 — 27

GSMA Mobile 360 Series:

Reflecting on policies to shape Africa’s digital, financial inclusion

BY EMEKA AGINAM, (who was in Cape Town, South Africa)

D

ESPITE sustained growth of the mobile industry in the Sub-Saharan Africa, in the recent years, the biggest impact of mobile in the region is yet tocome. Just last week, the GSAM Mobile 360 Series Africa conference held in Cape Town, South Africa had convened key stakeholders to examine the practical steps to be taken to help bring about collaboration, including, coordinating and enabling policies that would promote digital and financial inclusion in the Sub-Saharan continent.

The Mobile 360 Series is one of several industry events established and organized by the GSMA, which represents the interests of mobile operators worldwide But by the time the latest report on Sub-Sahara Africa mobile subscription figure was released last week at the forum, there were positive signals that mobile services are becoming increasingly affordable and accessible to millions of unconnected citizens across the region.

From left: Director General of the GSMA, Anne Bouverot and Group Chief Executive Officer MTN , Sifiso Dabengwa at a media round table during the just concluded GSMA Mobile 360 Series Africa conference, in Cape Town, South Africa. Photo by EMEKA AGINAM

For the participants at the event that identified ways in which collaboration could bring about digital and financial inclusion, the barriers limiting Africa could only be removed through collaboration and robust government policies. delivering affordable access to the people of Africa, enabling digital economy and empowering digital citizens, Unconnected mobile for development, among citizens others were topics examined by the participants at the forum.

The results are impressive. The Africa has bright future: report, according to While leading lights Anne Bouverot, in the African telecoms Director General of ecosystem shared their the GSMA had visions and concerns projected that the about developments in number of unique the sector, while mobile subscribers in announcing mobile Sub-Saharan Africa subscriber figure in the would pass the half continent, the Director billion mark in 2020.

General of the GSMA, According to the Anne Bouverot, GSMA new report, Subearlier in her speech Sahara Africa is told the gathering that expected to see the Africa has bright future highest growth on regarding internet any region in terms growth if limiting of smartphone factors were resolved. connections with 525 Barriers to remove: million smartphone To fully realize the connections in the transformative region by 2020, potential of mobile in accounting for more Citizens Sub-Saharan Africa, than half of the total the mobile industry, she connection base at need the right said requires a that date. environment supportive regulatory The attendant framework that result, however, is to make the provides long-term that mobile most of the stability and connectivity is e n c o u r a g e s already playing opportunities investment. important roles in available For a safe and enabling the responsible mobile through inclusion of the money ecosystem, the underserved in the digital GSMA , according to social and economic her has launched a communications. development of the Code of Conduct for African continent.

Mobile Money Providers with the aim of establishing common business principles that all mobile money providers would commit to implementing.

The code, she said set of common business principles are designed to encourage the take-up of digital financial services.

In his opening speech, the Group Chief Executive Officer of MTN, Sifiso Dabengwa noted that for digital and financial to be fully realized, there was need for original equipment manufacturers in mobile devices to produce affordable 3G

enabled phones.

While calling for consolidation among mobile operators to avoid market failures, these devices, he said could cost at least twenty to thirty dollars to enable low income earners in the region be part of digital and financial inclusion.

While the pricing of handsets is an important issue when it comes to affordable telecoms, keeping the device charged is a problem in most African countries where electricity is still a challenge.

This is even as an Israeli firm, Nova-Lumos pledged support to deal with this challenge by bringing affordable electricity to off-grid communities via an indoor unit charged through solar panels.

We have partnered with operators such as MTN Nigeria to encourage the use of these units, the Chief Executive Officer, Davidi Vortman told the audience.

For Priya Jaisinghani, Acting Director of the Center for Global Solutions, US Global Development Lab, USAID, at the GSMA’s Connected Women event warned that If women were not deeply involved in technology, there is a big risk that the inequalities of the outside world will be reflected in the digital one, warned.

To tackle this, women, she said must be encouraged to study ICT and consider it as a career, and must be made aware of the benefits that technology, such as mobile phones could bring.

Broadening digital and financial inclusion: While increasing digital and financial inclusion have the potential to save Africa, panelists who spoke during a session titled ,’Broadening digital and financial inclusion’ noted that in order to deliver the full benefits of digital and financial inclusion, the right policy foundation was essential . For the Chief Executive Officer of Terragon Group, Elo Umeh, who called for price point with respect to internet access that would work for all African said that the citizens need the right environment to make the most of the opportunities available through digital communications.

NITDA to unveil national eGovernment framework at eNigeria

By Emmanuel Elebeke

T

HE National Information Technology Development Agency, NITDA, says it will make a formal presentation of the much anticipated Nigeria eGovernement Framework at this year’s eNigeria conference and exhibition, slated to hold between 18th to 20th November, 2014, in Abuja. Announcing this, the Acting Head of Corporate Strategy and Research, NITDA, Dr. Vincent Olatunji, said the framework will be delivered by the Korean official, who have been partnering with the Federal Government in developing the framework within the last one year and will officially be handed to Nigerians through NITDA at eNigeria 2014.

He said the delivery of the Nigeria eGovernemnt Framework at the event will single out this year’s edition of eNigeria 2104 from previous editions.

According to him, this year’s event will have in attendance, President Goodluck Jonathan as the Special Guest of honour just as renowned Nigerian lead concept Chevrolet Volt electric car designer, Jelani Aliyu has been confirmed to deliver the keynote address.

The theme for this year’s event is: “Creating

Market Opportunities for Indigenous ICT Products and Services”. With the increasing interest and growing participation of more organisations at the event, Olatunji said that this year’s event will feature no fewer than 30 exhibitors to showcase their solutions, products and services. He added that a number of companies that participated at GITEX 2014 in Dubai, have already confirmed their participation at eNigeria 2104, while some other companies that could not make it to GITEX 2014 have also confirmed participation.

For the first time since the inception of eNigeria, he said there will be an international participation this year following Nigeria’s involvement as Official Country Partner at GITEX 2104, with the agency’s confirmation that the World Trade Center, in Dubai has already shown interest to be part of eNigeria 2014. As part of more innovations and new dimension to make the event more colourful, eNigeria 2014 will as well feature the National eGovernance Award which is supported by Nihilent, a leading global consulting and solutions integration company with specialty in delivering eGovernance value through collaborations.

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32 — Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 2014

Adebayor leads Togo attack against Guinea

E

MMANUEL Adebayor will lead the at tack for Togo without the suspended Jacques Alaixys Romao for their Afcon 2015 Qualifier against Guinea. But Romao will be back for the Ghana clash a few days later.

Togo face Guinea on Saturday and Ghana four days later.

The Sparrow Hawks are second in Group E on 6 points while Ghana lead on 8. Guinea and Uganda are both on 4 in what is a very competitive group. Tottenham Hotspur striker Adebayor will be ably supported by Dove Wome as Togo go in search of qualification.

Wome is part of a three-man contingent in the Togo squad who play in South Africa.

Wome, of SuperSport United, is joined by AmaZulu centre back Sadate OuroAkoriko and Camaldine Abraw •Adebayor (Free State Stars).

•Lawal in action

Gyan backs Black Stars G

HANA captain Asamoah Gyan says he very confident the Black Stars will fare well in this month’s 2015 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier in his absence.

Ghana will be without their leading scorer when they take on Uganda and Togo on November 15 and 19 respectively.

Gyan has proven to be the most reliable source of goals for the Black Stars and will thus be sorely missed for the final two qualifiers.

He is currently the second leading scorer in the whole African qualifiers having scored three of Ghana’s total tally of eight.

With Gyan missing and Jordan Ayew suspended for the first qualifier against Uganda, fears are rife over how a simile blunt Black Stars attack will cope in their two games.

But the inspirational captain is confident the youngster left in the team will step up to the plate in his absence.

“We’ve got young players coming up, strikers who are also here to step up and prove themselves for the nation as well,” Gyan said.

“All we have to do is to support them to win this game.

“The Black Stars is an all-round team, we don’t have to depend on one player. “Although I am out of the team I think Gyan we have players that can also do the job.”

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S

UPER Eagles midfielder Raheem Lawal has said that they hope to overturn Nigeria’s bad run of form by beating their next opponents in the race for the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations and qualifying for next year’s African championship.

The African champions play the Red Devils of Congo this weekend in Point Noire in a game they must win and then Bafana Bafana of South Africa next Wednesday in Uyo, in another game they must win.

The Eski_ehirspor of Turkey midfielder only recently returned to the Eagles’ fold after he was out for last month’s qualifiers against Sudan in Khartoum and Abuja.

He also admitted that they are going through a bad run of form at the moment, but hope to overturn it starting with Saturday’s game against Congo.

“That’s football for you, sometimes you have good times and sometimes there are bad times and for us, it is a bad time now and we must return to

the winning ways,” he said.

“We must win those games against Congo and South Africa and hopefully we will begin to have some good time

Ejide

Enyeama

again.”

The 24-year-old was one of the first overseas based players to arrive in the Super Eagles camp on Monday.

The Super Eagles are third in quali-

Musa

Uche

Companies close shops in Enugu over failed federal roads VOL. 1 NO 12

PAGE 2

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 2014

BY NWABUEZE OKONKWO

O

NITSHA—FOR Mr. Christian Eze, a native of Oduma community in Aninri Local Government Area of Enugu State, but resident in Ogidi, Idemili North Local Government Area of Anambra State, near the commercial city of Onitsha, the world has already come to an end.

This is because he is not yet sure of surviving, not to talk of recovering his eye sight as his wife, Mabel bathed him with acid and took to her heels, before she was later tracked down by police detectives who are currently interrogating her over the circumstances which led to her alleged action.

Christian is still lying critically ill at the intensive care unit of New Mayor Hospital, Iyienu Ogidi, with the acid burns all over his face, chest, head and shoulders.

One of his eyes is completely blind while the other is partialy blind.

The patient who managed to narrate his ordeals in the hands of his wife to South East Voice inaudibly said: “I sell old motor spare parts at the Old Spare Parts Market, Mgbuka, Obosi. I often go out of town to buy the spare parts and come back home at the weekend.

“But each time I return to the house, I will notice my wife receiving strange phone calls, particularly at nights and when I ask her who her callers were, she would either tell me that the caller is a pastor or a member of task force at Afor Nkpor market where she is a petty trader.

“The other day, she mentioned the name of her

•Mr. Christian Eze on hospital bed

Woman in police net for blinding hubby with acid

•IGP Suleiman Abba

...as hubby accuses wife of flirting caller to me as Ifeanyi, a revenue collector in the market and another day she mentioned one Friday as her caller. Sometimes when they call her at midnight, I would follow her down the steps secretly and see some boys discussing with her.

“At a stage, when I could not bear it, I would make my presence known and beg the boys to leave her alone as she is a married woman and the boys would tell me that they

did not know that she was married. I believe this development might have infuriated her so much that on the fateful day, after challenging some boys who had come to look for her on a Sunday evening, I slept off, not knowing that she had evil plans against me.

“It was when I got prepared for my business trip on Monday morning that she waited for me at the doorstep and as I stepped out of the

ALSO IN THIS EDITION Travails of Umukabia people over bad roads — PAGE 3 C M Y K

Elechi’s wife’s lifeline for Ebonyi women

— PAGE 4

Some times when they call her at midnight, I would follow her down the steps secretly and see some boys discussing with her

house, she poured the acid on me and I later found myself here.

Asked if he would like to live with her again as husband and wife, he declared: “Let me recover first and regain my eye sight before talking of living together.”

Meanwhile, the police in Ogidi, are now grilling Mabel to ascertain the c i r c u m s t a n c e s surrounding her alleged action.

The Divisional Police Officer, DPO of the area, Mr. Musa who confirmed the arrest of the suspect by the police, described the act as barbaric. He, however, said investigations over the matter were ongoing.

Continues on page 3

2— Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 2014

ENUGU

Companies close shops in Enugu over failed federal roads ...as NUPENG decries worsening condition of Enugu/PH Highway, others

BY FRANCIS IGATA

E

NUGU—THE decrepit condition of federal roads in the South-East geopolitical zone is gradually taking its toll on the socio-economic condition of the people known for their commercial and enterprising dexterity to eke out a living out of nothing.

Most of the federal roads in the region had suffered major set backs following the stance of successive governments to use the deplorable conditions of these road as a bargaining chip to curry voters favour during electioneering campaigns.

From yore, most promises made by these politicians are

•Mike Onolememen, Works Minister jettisoned upon assumption of office which had progressively bottled the resentment of the people towards perceived govern-

ment’s developmental policies.

The prevailing situation accounts for the pronounced voters’ apathy witnessed

during elections which has up-scaled in recent times.

Although Enugu State is not known for its industrial base, the few companies in the capital of the old eastern region are closing shops in droves following the poor condition of federal roads in the region.

NUPENG laments The Petroleum Tanker Drivers, PTD, branch of Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers, NUPENG, decried the poor condition of the Enugu/Port Harcourt road as well as other roads in the South East zone, describing them as deathtraps. Chairman, NUPENG, Enugu State chapter, Mr. Friday Nweke said: “The Fedral Government should redouble its efforts in the construction of the deplorable E n u g u - Po r t H a r c o u r t Expressway, Umuahia-Ikot Ekpene roads among others which hamper smooth transportation of petroleum products.

“We had to embark on industrial action nation-wide to drive home our point. Now that we have called off the industrial action we embarked on recently to protest the poor condition of these roads, I want to use this

opportunity to urge government to quickly remedy the situation.”

Revelation from South East Voice South East Voice’s visit to Emene, known for its handful of companies that operate in Enugu State showed that one of the major companies in the area, Hardis/Dromedas Ltd. which had about 2,000 employees has closed shop.

The Chairman, Dr. Chike Obidigbo when contacted said through a text message, “please let it rest for now. I will address it myself at the appropriate time.”

But a competent company source told South East Voice that the deplorable condition of Enugu-Ontisha Expressway forced the company to close shop and relocate to Onitsha where the company has its market.

He also alluded to poor electricity supply, multiple taxation and lack of clear cut policies from government that will aid the growth of indigenous companies as contributory factors that forced the company to close shop.

Efforts to get the Director of Highways, South-East, Federal Ministry of Works, Mr. Godwin Eghieye to comment on why construction work had stopped on the road did not yield result as he neither picked his calls nor responded to text messages sent to his mobile phone.

ENUGU GOVT’S APPOINTMENTS:

Monarch alleges marginalisation

BY AUSTIN OGWUDA

E

NUGU—HIS Royal Highness, Igwe Tony Ojukwu, the traditional ruler of Ogui-Nike in Enugu Capital Territory, Enugu State and a journalist, retired as the general manager of the state owned Daily Star newspaper.

Igwe Ojukwu is not, however, happy as he stated that Ogui-Nike as the host community of the seat of government is not getting its deserved share in terms of appointment of commissioners in the state.

According to him, it was unfair for the government to give his community only one slot in the State Executive Council, SEC, instead of at least two.

In an interview with South East Voice in Enugu, Ojukwu described the denial of the community its fair share in the SEC as unjustifiable and therefore, asked for a reversal of the trend.

He also spoke about the friendly disposition of his community towards strangers making them feel very much at home as well as the ignoble attitude of some politicians who besiege the palace before elections to seek C M Y K

royal blessing only to development in the state was disappear once voted into the peace being enjoyed in the power. state, adding that such His words: “I am praying for atmosphere was engendered a situation whereby the state by the peaceful nature of will select more people from Ogui-Nike people which had my community for appoint- endured since the colonial ment. I want a situation time. whereby the state government will consider people from my community for federal appointment because we cannot be sitting down watching what is going on w i t h o u t participating. We are not there at all.

“We are not in the SEC except one commissioner.

Of course we should have more people there because we are hosting the government. The seat of power is right here in my domain. I am the host traditional ruler and we want to feel better placed as the host •Igwe Tony Ojukwu, JP, community.”

Traditional ruler of Ogui-Nike The traditional ruler also said that foundation for

“Yes, our system is streamlined. People grow up and have schools around to attend, schools mixed up with people. We are good at hosting strangers as it started with our forefathers.

“We host strangers, we live with strangers peacefully.

We don’t draw lines or demarcations about natives and universal issues or places, no. Our places of worship are universal, our schools and our markets too.

“In case of festivals, we set out an area for festivals, we arrange seats. We also confer titles on strangers.

When strangers come around and we look at them and consider them fit for titles and give them the conditions.

“In fact, the government has overrun the community. We are now an urban community by the grace of Ukpabi Asika, the late administrator of the defunct East Central State, who after the war declared Ogui-Nike community as an urban area. We don’t have private land that we forbid government from entering, no. We are used to and have accepted it as a way of life. The government has

taken everything to urbanize the place and we cannot do otherwise but be happy,” the monarch said.

Ojukwu further spoke on reasons why traditional rulers meddle into partisan politics, blaming the situation on lack of laid down rules.

According to him; “It is because there is no laid down rules so to say. It is only when you find a traditional ruler making favourable comments about government and governance that people start accusing them of meddling into politics. What is meddling into politics, traditional rulers vote, they are registered as voters and they vote, that is the meaning of politics. If you are registered as a voter, you are a politician.

You can vote for or against.

You can help in voting in government officials and can also help in voting one out. But when it comes to expressing their minds or opinions about certain goings on in politics then they are accused of dabbling into politics. But you find people dabbling into politics of leadership in the communities, nobody talks to them. They do it as a matter of why not after all they are in the position to do such or say such.

UMUAHIA

•One of the bad roads in the community

Travails of Umukabia people over bad roads

BY CHIDI NKWOPARA

U

M U A H I A — UMUKABIA is a rural sleepy community in Ehime Mbano Local Government Area of Imo State.

Apart from being rural and sleepy, the community is far

removed from Owerri, the seat of Imo State Government. One thing that is, however, going for it is that it can boast of articulate, well positioned and respectable natives.

The prominent personalities from the community include the former chairman of Independent National Electoral

Commission, INEC, Professor Maurice Iwu, his younger brother who served as Secretary to Imo State Government, Chief Cosmas Iwu, Chief Johnson Ekpunobi and the Bayelsa State Commandant of Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC, Mr. Desmond Agu.

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 2014—3 The sad thing, according to a Levi Anyaogu and Eze Virginus vocal indigene of the area, Mr. Onuoha for their comments Celestine Ike, is that the area failed but some people, who has degenerated into a claimed to be close to the thrones, comatose state, courtesy of the lamented that the bad roads have poor road network that is deprived them of development. begging for reconstruction.

“We are really suffering here.

Previous attempts by South Our people living outside the East Voice to access the community cannot come home community earlier had failed, easily. Businesses cannot be especially since the rains peaked attracted to our community, this year. Deep, smelly muddy especially if it would involve the flood took over the roads each movement of goods and time it rained. Craters were personnel to the area,” a woman, noticeable at several points and who simply identified herself as these helped in no small Judith, lamented. measure to stifle movement to When contacted on his mobile and from the community. line, Governor Rochas He recalled that although the Okorocha’s media aide, Mr. Sam immediate past administration of Onwuemeodo, said the admiChief Ikedi Ohakim tried to get nistration inherited a lot of jobs the road reconstructed through from the previous administration, the Niger Delta Development including the road in question.

Commission, NDDC, assisted “The Governor has done a lot road rehabilitation programme, of work on road rehabilitation the project was abandoned and reconstruction. He should be midway by the Port Harcourt- given credit for what he has based contracting firm (name already done, even as it is clear withheld). that all the roads cannot be Ike said: “There is an urgent tackled at the same time”, need to address the issue of bad Onwuemeodo said. road network in Umukabia and other adjoining communities in Mbano. The government should please, come to our rescue.”

Some of the villagers, who spoke to South East Voice, complained bitterly that lack of all season roads had been Continues from page 1 hindering the evacuation of cash Police sources said that the crops harvested from their farms.

They were also bitter that the suspect had planned the roads prevent them from visiting action for the previous night their kith and kin in other parts but because the victim had reportedly shut his door while of Mbano clan and beyond.

Efforts made to reach the two going to bed, postponed it till traditional rulers of the area, Eze the next morning.

Woman in police net

How muscle-flexing over senatorial seat tore Awgu LG apart

...Mace forcefully taken away

BY AUSTIN OGWUDA

E

NUGU—THE political bickering which began like a child’s play in Awgu Local Government Area in Enugu State has reached a feverish pitch as activities in the council have now virtually been paralysed. The crisis has become ‘’the talk of the town’’ since the drama started playing out about a month ago.

It all started when the leadership of the local government’s legislative council sympathetic to the Enugu State governor, Sullivan Chime were purportedly suspended by their colleagues over alleged “anti-party activities, political violence and sabotage of Awgu political interest.”

These councillors who reportedly carried out the suspension were said to be supporters of Senator Ike Ekweremadu in his bid to return to the Senate.

According to sources, the suspension was a reaction against the affected councillors following their action at the Enugu West PDP zonal meeting on Friday, October 10, where Ekweremadu was to address the meeting but it ended up in fiasco.

At the October meeting there were discordant tunes over endorsement palaver.

Besides accusing their colleagues in the leadership of the legislative arm, of alleged complicity, the (councillors loyal to Ekweremadu) also blamed the council Chairman Mr. Mathanus Nze for allegedly facilitating the presence of thugs in the legislative chambers in their subsequent sittings after their October 10 sitting.

In a statement, Ekwermadu’s councillors said that their colleagues (sympathetic to Chime) should have adjourned the Friday meeting “so that the Senator who had done so much for our senatorial district would not be able to address us at the meeting instead of this act of violence,’’ allegedly sponsored by the leadership of the legislature in connivance with Nze. “Consequently, we the councillors of Awgu Legislative Council, after due deliberations, impeached and suspended the following leaders of the legislative council in line with House Rules and Order,’’ they said.

However, the supposedly sacked leader of the House, Mr. Kingsley Okeke described his sack as a huge joke because those councillors claiming to

Governor Sullivan Chime have sacked him had earlier been suspended from the council.

At the centre of the cross fire was the Chairman of the council, Mathanus Nnanna Nze, believed to be Chime’s loyalist.

Meanwhile, the number of councillors involved in the crisis keep changing. Those loyal to Chime and the local government chairman on one hand and those on the other side of the divide kept on tumbling. There are 11 councillors in the council. But in their various press statements, there had been conflicting figures over the exact figure on each side. In one statement they said that six out of 11 of the councillors were behind the impeachment plot, while in another breath, some quoted eight out of the 11.

Meanwhile, the council

Senator Ike Ekweremadu Chairman, Mr. Nze has described his purported impeachment as a ruse.

He spoke to the South East Voice saying, “as you can see, those behind the report that they have served me impeachment notice want to deceive the people outside Enugu. For us here, such characters have no place and I have made it clear to them that in 2015, no matter what they do, we are going to give the governor 100 per cent support for his Senate ambition.” …. Mace stolen, 2 councillors, lawyer docked The crisis in the council got to a boiling point Wednesday, following the arrest and subsequent arraignment of two councillors said to be sympathetic to Ekweremadu and a lawyer.

Arraigned were councillors Okeke Izunna and Okolo Olisa

The broken mace and a lawyer, Raymond Onyimba.

They were charged for alleged “conspiracy, breaking and entry, malicious damage and unlawful possession of some kits suspected to be that of the police force.”

According to prosecution, “the accused persons on October 28, 2014 forcefully broke into the Legislative Council of Awgu Local Government Area and stole the mace, causing damage to other property in the legislative council.

“After committing the offence they took to their heels and were arrested by the police who intercepted them at Agbogugu Junction following information received by operatives at Agbogugu Junction. Their vehicle was searched and the stolen mace recovered,” the prosecution stated. The drama continues.

C M Y K

4—Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 12 , 2014

ABIA

Abia Police’s strategy for violence free 2015 elections

BY ANAYO OKOLI

U

MUAHIA—AHEAD of the 2015 general elections and bearing in mind the penchant of Nigerian politicians to see elections as do-or-die affair, Abia State Police Command has embarked on proactive action to ensure violence free polls.

In a seminar organized for community leaders which attracted senior officers from the Army, Navy, Police, Department of State Services, DSS, political parties, civil societies among others, the police said it was meant to

educate the people especially politicians on the need to see elections as a game and not “a do-or-die affair ” which they had used violence to perpetrate.

The seminar was declared open by Governor Theodore Orji, who was represented by his deputy, Chief Emeka Ananaba.

Orji expressed his unhappiness over poor turnout of political parties at the seminar.

According to the state Police Commissioner, Adamu Ibrahim, the workshop was part of Inspector General of Police, IGP’s, effort and desire

•CP Adamu Ibrahim of Abia State and another police officer

to see that next year ’s elections was conducted in a violence and rancour free atmosphere.

He said that the forum was meant to tell politicians to conduct themselves well and stop their supporters from engaging in violence during and after the elections.

He said the police was determined to collaborate with INEC to ensure that the 2015 elections were conducted in peace hence the need to speak to the people.

However, only three political parties, All Progressives Concress, APC, Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, and

Progressives Peoples Party, PPA, attended the seminar, a situation which drew condemnation from many of the speakers.

“This seminar is very important and necessary; but I am not happy with the attendance of the political parties, I expected many of them to be here and take the seminar seriously,” Orji lamented.

In his lecture, entitled “Violence Free 2015 Elections”, Prof. Etannibi Alemika, condemned the culture of imposition of candidates in elections, which he identified as one reason that breeds violence in an election.

Other reasons, according to him include impunity, poverty and ignorance. He then urged the electorate to regard any person who preaches violence to them as a criminal.

He called on civil society groups to mount serious campaign against violence during and after elections.

Turning to the police, Professor Alemika told them to develop good mechanism for maintaining peace and order during elections, adding that they must be fair to all both the opposition and the party in power.

“When you have godfathers, imposing candidates, it is not election, it is not democracy because the people were not allowed to make their choice because somebody was arbitrarily chosen.

“We appeal to the leaders, let the people freely choose their servants, not imposing somebody on them. In democracy, the bed rock is that all citizens are equal. Election in a democracy does not produce rulers and leaders in office but servants and stewards in office.

“Election that is characterized by violence cannot produce good leaders but band of robbers. According to him, election is one of the critical pillars of democracy; it is a necessary condition but not where you have godfathers imposing candidates, it is not election, not democracy,” Alemika said.

•Abia PDP secretary, Charles Eseonu and APC State Chairman, Fabian Okonkwo .

PPMC moves against pipeline vandals ...to engage host community leaders, youths in pipeline surveillance

BY ANAYO OKOLI

U

M U A H I A — A P PA R E N T LY worried over incessant activities of pipeline vandals, Petroleum Products Marketing Company, PPMC, has concluded arrangements to engage community leaders and youths from pipeline host communities to guard such pipelines in conjunction with with security agencies in their areas.

Pipeline vandalism, has been on the increase especially between Port Harcourt and NNPC Aba area, where the PPMC said that it discovered over 1000 vandalised points.

Only last weekend, the state command of the Nigeria Security C M Y K

and Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC, arrested and paraded six young men suspected to be pipeline vandals who were caught while trying to steal oil

Vandalised pipeline

through a pipeline they had already broken.

According to the state commandant of NSCDC, Mr. Andy Dateer, two of the suspects,

Stephen Onwueje and Chisom Maduabuchi, on interrogation claimed that they were staff of Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, attached to the surveillance team.

Other suspects included Echefula Omeihi, 30, a farmer from Ekeakpara Village in Osisioma Local Government Area, Chidiadi Sunday, 28, of Ugbo’s compound, Umuagbai, Umuele in Osisioma, Ahamefula Emmanuel, 31, driver from Akpunaekpu Village in Isiala Ngwa North Local Government Area and Nkemjika Egbufor, 30, also from Ekeakpara Village in Osisioma council area.

However, Dateer wondered what the suspects as staff of the NNPC surveillance team would

be doing ‘’at the middle of the night under heavy rainfall wearing boxers with rods; cutlasses screw drivers and hand drill among others, digging around an oil pipeline.’’

It was in its effort to tackle this menace that PPMC at a stakeholders meeting with elders and youths from host pipeline communities, that the PPMC Port Harcourt Area Office decided to engage natives of the areas and pay them to monitor pipelines that pass through their communities.

According to the Area Manager, PPMC, Mr. Abdulahi Bunda, the company decided to engage the youths because of the huge loss it had incurred due to pipeline vandalism.

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 2014—5

EBONYI

•Some of the youths hawking opposite Abakaliki Township Stadium.

How govt’s ban on employment impoverishes Ebonyi young adults ...as indigenes take up menial jobs in Abakaliki, Enugu

BY PETER OKUTU

T

HE economic status of the average Ebonyi State man or woman is indeed abysmally low.

To worsen the situation, Ebonyi which is known as the

most backward in the South East geopolitical zone is plagued by high unemployment rate.

This has led to the situation, whereby able-bodied youths from the remote parts of the state have now invaded Enugu, the capital of Enugu

State and Abakaliki, the Ebonyi State capital to look for non-existent jobs.

To worsen the situation, the state government has allegedly placed ban on new employments in the state. As a result of this, most young men and women have now

resorted to doing all sorts of menial jobs to sustain their families and individual needs.

The rural youths, especially married women throng major roundabouts in Abakaliki, especially the roundabout close to the Abakaliki township stadium along Ogbaga Road in search of any kind of job.

It is believed that most of them are mostly from Ebonyi and Abakaliki Local Government Areas of the state who have formed a union to enable them achieve their objective as well as protect themselves from victimisation.

In Enugu, most of the job seekers sell kola nuts, cigarettes, biscuits among other low priced items while others push either barrows or trucks to make ends meet.

The women among them also visit building construction sites where they were often engaged to mix concrete or carry cement blocks for brick-layers from morning till between 6pm and 7pm daily.

Others, however, are said to have resorted to prostitution.

The young men among them who fail to find casual work in the mornings are usually seen sleeping at bus stops.

South East Voice gathered that the high unemployment ratio in the state had made some agencies of government to adopt the practice of concluding employment census, including documentation before placing adverts on national dailies concerning job

Elechi’s wife’s lifeline for Ebonyi women

BY PETER OKUTU

W

HAT has been pivotal in the developmental ideas of the wife of Ebonyi State governor, Mrs. Josephine Elechi since the commencement of the present administration is the empowerment of every woman in the state.

This passion has not only been the propelling factor but catalyst that has aided the numerous achievements so far recorded by the First Lady of the state in the past seven years.

Among her priorities is the improvement and better welfare for women in the state.

To this end, her office has organised several skill acquisition and empowerment programmes in collaboration with the state Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development for women, youths and the physically challenged drawn from the 13 local government areas of the state.

This drive equally led her to establish her pet project, Mother and Childcare Initiative, MCCI, which gave rise to the establishment of the National Obstetric Fistula Centre in Abakaliki.

The centre has already been taken over by the Federal Government through the Federal Ministry of Health under the immediate past Health Minister, Prof.

Onyebuchi Chukwu.

The centre under the administration of the Medical Director, Prof. Sunday Oduoye and supervised by Mrs. Elechi has provided free surgical operations for about 1,785 VVF clients from over 20 states in the country. However, 473 of the women were afflicted with uterine prolapse.

On cancer eradication programme, over 764 clients have been screened for prostrate cancer while about 12,718 have been screened for breast and cervical cancer free of charge at the cancer screening centre at the

Wife of Ebonyi State Governor, Mrs. Josephine Elechi Obstetric Fistula Centre.

Speaking at the Abakaliki Township Stadium during the 2014 Ebonyi Women’s Day celebrations with the theme: “Women as Vanguard for adequate security in Ebonyi State," Mrs Elechi stressed the need for the discouragement of obnoxious practices against

women.

According to her, the obnoxious practices include forbidding women/girls from inheritance rights, domestic violence, sexual abuse/rape, violence at workplace, forced prostitution and widowhood Continues on page 7

vacancies.

It was, however, learned that some of the unemployed youth had formed associations whose members were always rented for political campaigns at the shortest notice at fees ranging from N500 to N1,000 per rally.

Speaking with South East Voice, the state Commissioner for Commerce and Industry, Dr. Ifeanyi Ikeh, said those who gather at the roundabouts were artisans whose activities were useful for the economic development of the state.

Ikeh said: ‘’The young men and women who gather at such strategic places are artisans who come out daily to look for work to do.’’

“These persons are very important to the state and even contractors handling one project or the other across the state. They do menial jobs like digging soakaway pits and bush clearings among others.

“What we are saying is that they should constitute themselves into a cooperative society so that government can assist them but when you approach them they will start running.”

REACH US DO you have any news of neglect or abandoned projects or your representative at the local, state or federal governments are not representing you well?

Do you have unique cultural activities coming up or any community news to tell us?

Emeka Mamah (Co-ordinator): 08033218645 Austin Ogwuda(Enugu): 08037136440 Francis Igata 08033387069 Vincent Ujumadu(Awka): 08035804090 Anayo Okoli(Umuahia): 08034046839 Chidi Nkwopara(Imo): 08033391108 Peter Okutu (Abakaliki): 08032680756 Chinenyeh Ozor (Nsukka): 08185664011 Nwabueze Okonkwo (Nnewi): 08037794782 Enyim Enyim (Onitsha): 08169297179 Or: e-mail us: easternvoice@yahoo.com C M Y K

6 —Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 2014

AWKA

Lamentations as contractors abandon Okija-Ukpor road project

‘This project excited us, now our hope appears dashed’

BY VINCENT UJUMADU

A

WKA—THE Ukpor, Nnewi South Local Government -Okija, Ihiala Local Government Area road started during the administration of former Governor Peter Obi could pass as an abandoned project because the major bridge that links the two communities has been abandoned by the contractors.

Though work progressed speedily from the Afor Ukpor end of the road to Umunuko Ukpor, and the short distance from Okija end of the Onitsha -Owerri Expressway to the Ulasi Bridge almost completed, work has since stopped on the bridge along the Ulasi River that separates the two towns.

A visit to the area shows that the main pillars of the bridge were put in place several months ago, but nothing is happening there now. The old

bridge still being used by motorist has become a death trap and with the rains still heavy, many vehicles get stuck while attempting to

manage it.

It is the main road to the St. Paul’s Seminary, Ukpor and because of its poor state, those going to Ukpor now either use

the Ozubulu - Ukpor road or the Ihembosi -Ukpor road, which are also bad.

Residents on both sides of the river plead with

The abandoned bridge at Ulasi.

government to complete the project to ease their problem.

If the road is completed, it would serve as the shortest route for those traveling from Ukpor to Onitsha and Aba. It would also serve as the shortest route for those traveling from Okija and other beighbouring towns to Awka and Enugu.

A native of Okija, Chief Okwudili Nwosu said they were excited when the project began, adding that they became worried when the contractors removed their equipment after mounting the pillars and scrapping the old tar on the road.

He said: “We have a lot in common with Ukpor, but the bad road is creating so much barrier between us. Government should help us complete this road. Also, it is pathetic to see students of St. Paul’s Seminary and their parents driving on the bad road which we thought would have been finished by now.”

Mr. Alphonsus Okeke who is a commercial motorcycle rider on the Okija - Ukpor route said they no longer get customers since the road became too bad. According to him, the road was manageable before the contractor scrapped off the earth road and later abandoned it, adding that most people going to Ukpor from Okija now prefer to go through Nnewi.

“We were charging N150 from Okija to Ukpor on motorcycle, but when the road became too bad, we increased it to N300 and this has scared people from this route,” he said.

Anambra’s Ogbaukwu cave, waterfalls beg for attention

BY VINCENT UJUMADU

A

WKA—THE Ogbaukwu Caves and Waterfalls located at Owerre Ezukala in Orumba South Local Government Area of Anambra State believed to be one of the greatest tourism sites in Nigeria are begging for attention. Lying on the tip of the South Eastern part of Anambra State, Ogbaukwu Cave is about one and half hours’ drive from the Owerri, Enugu and Asaba airports considering the beautiful road network in Anambra State. It is just 12 minutes drive from Umunze, the headquarters of Orumba South local government area.

Considered to be the largest cave in West Africa, Ogbaukwu has special features that include 200 carefully constructed steps and what look like well –built residential apartments.

Despite its present poor state, it attracts a lot of visitors daily.

Visitors to the cave are C M Y K

confronted with heavy noise of the water falls that are a delight to behold.

There is what looks like a natural swimming pool filled with clear water behind the cave where only those who have great courage, go to swim and bath. Just like the Ogbunike cave also in Anambra State, the entire cave becomes dark once one gets to the last step and could require light to move about.

It is believed to be more than 10 kilometres in radius from its source, meaning that underneath, it extends to Awgu local government area in Enugu State and Umunneochi local government area of Abia State.But apart from the inquisitive visitors, nothing much is happening at Ogbaukwu Cave.

Last year, following the efforts of the chairman of the House of Representatives committee on Culture and Tourism, Mr. Ben Nwankwo, who is representing Orumba North and Orumba South in

the national assembly, an inter-agency team that included the National Commission for Museums and Monuments and the National Tourism Development Corporation visited the cave to work out ways of attracting international assistance to develop it as an international tourist centre. To date, nothing has come out of that visit.

Speaking with South East

Voice , Nwankwo regretted the inability of the various tiers of government to pay attention to tourism development, promising that he would take it upon himself to ensure that it becomes one of the greatest tourism sites in Africa if he returns to the national assembly in 2015.

He said: “Ogbaukwu Cave in Owerre Ezukala is a primordial architectural edifice designed by nature.

•A section of Ogbaukwu cave in Owerre-Ezukala.

The place can be developed into a Resort and Conference Centre where mankind can find peace, attraction and tranquility of the mind if they go there. I am sure that if this cave is developed, Nigeria will earn enormous revenue from it.”

According to him, the area has been surveyed, designed and packaged waiting for possible Public –Private Partnership, PPP.

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 2014—7

Elechi’s wife’s lifeline

Nnewi residents allege intimidation by FRSC officials …want them restricted to federal roads only ...bribery allegation against officials under investigation

BY NWABUEZE OKONKWO

O

NITSHA—RESIDENTS of the industrial city of Nnewi, Anambra State have cried out over the high level of intimidation being meted out to them at the bypasses by members of the Federal Road Safety Corps, FRSC in the industrial community and are demanding that the officials should restrict their operations to federal highways alone, instead of coming to bother them at bypasses within the locality.

However, their wish was turned down by the road safety officials who insisted that their operations were not limited or restricted to any particular area since they are meant to save lives and property of motorists by guiding them to avoid road accidents.

The residents who spoke at the weekend at the Palace of Obi of Umudim, one of the four quarters of Nnewi, during a public enlightenment campaign organized by Nnewi Unit command of the road safety corps, ahead of its ember months’ major campaign flagoff, maintained that their presence at Nnewi bypasses are not needed because it creates more problems for them than the solution.

They contended that the road safety officials usually come into the rural areas to harass and intimidate the residents arbitrarily for no justification whatsoever, adding that it would not augur well for them to create an impression that their presence meant a nightmare to the law-abiding people.

But the Anambra State Sector Commander, Mr. Sunday M.Ajayi who was represented by the Head of Operations, Anambra sector Command, Mr. Anthony Kalu Okore informed the residents that FRSC is out to save lives and not to cause accidents, adding that the corps had jurisdiction in all the roads to ensure that road crashes were minimized.

Ajayi who reeled out some road safety tips to the residents, including what he called defensive driving, always using the seat belt, to avoid over speeding and driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol, noted that some of the residents carry four to five children on a motorcycle at a go without minding the risk involved. He warned that the corps would not hesitate to apprehend traffic offenders

and prosecute them to save lives.

“Be safety conscious. Let’s live to see 2015 and it is always expected that people who bid you bye will equally say welcome to you. That is our concern,”the Commander said.

Responding, the Obi of Umudim, Chief Benneth Okafor promised the officials of the FRSC that his subjects would adhere strictly to the road safety tips and called for cordial relationship between members of the community and the road safety officials.

Meanwhile the Delta State Sector Command of the FRSC, has commenced investigation into bribery allegation brought against two of its officials, by a lorry driver who alleged that the accused booked him for dangerous driving, an offence which carries a penalty of N53,000.

The investigation was ordered by the Sector Commander, Mr. Etuk, following a complaint laid by the lorry driver, Anayo Udeji that one of the officers who he could not immediately identify, unless paraded, demanded N20,000 bribe from him on the road after contravening him, adding that when he told them that he could not afford it, they now drove his vehicle down to the road safety compound and parked.

The driver alleged that at the road safety compound, another officer who he identified as Jim Okwaraoha, demanded another N10,000 bribe to enable him book him only N3,000 offence but when he repeated that he had only N3,000 on him, having bought some quantities of diesel for his Lagos business trip, Okwaraoha got infuriated and directed one of the junior officers to ensure that he gave the driver a heavy charge, which prompted the junior officer to come out with N53,000 charge for dangerous driving.

Etuk who was angry about the development, directed the command’s head of operations, Doherty to investigate the matter thoroughly, take a written statement from both the driver and the accused officials and then report back to him for necessary action.

In his written statement at the command’s Intelligence Unit, Udeji noted that he was driving from Onitsha to Lagos on a Tuesday and on getting to Asaba U-turn, the road safety officials flagged down a small vehicle he was following behind.

He said as the small vehicle

stopped, he attempted to drive past it since they did not stop him, but as he swerved the lorry, the officials blocked him with their patrol vehicle at the middle of the road and dragged him down from the lorry.

He further stated that as they dragged him down, the yet-to-be identified officer took him by the side and quietly asked him to bring N20,000 so that he would be let off the hook or else he would be booked for a heavy offence but when he told him that he did not have up to that amount on him, they now drove the vehicle into the nearby FRSC compound and parked.

At the compound, he continued, he alleged that officer Okwaraoha now asked him to give him N10,000 and he would book him for an offence of only N3,000 which he can easily pay and take his vehicle away, but again, he pleaded that the only money he had on him then was only N3,000 and at once, he walked away angrily and ordered the junior officer to book him for any heavy offence of his wish which led to the N53,000 dangerous driving charge against him.

After his written statement, Doherty pledged to carry out thorough investigation into the

matter since FRSC has zero tolerance to bribery and corruption, adding that the N53,000 charge must be paid for, since there is no more waiver for any offender once the booking has been completed and the ticket printed out of the computer system, showing that a copy of the charge had been reflected at the FRSC headquarters.

Before referring the matter to the intelligent unit, for a written statement, Doherty had invited both the driver and the officers in question to his office where he interrogated them briefly, during which the driver stood his ground in telling Okwaraoha to his face that he demanded N10,000 from him, while Okwaraoha consistently denied the allegation.

•FRSC officials at the event

• Abakaliki women during the empowerment programme at Abakaliki Township Stadium.

•Empowerment materials Continues from page 5 practices among others.

She lamented that despite the increasi ng participation of women in governance, the rate of violence against them as well as death arising from complications due to pregnancies and childbirth remain major problems for many women.

“On my part, I have through my pet project, MCCI remained steadfast in my commitment to the promotion of healthcare delivery services, welfare programmes for the physically challenged, widows, educational support for orphans and vulnerable children and provision of relief packages for people living with HIV/AIDS among other welfare programmes.

“It is with great pleasure that I use this opportunity to inform you that this event, like others in previous years will feature the empowerment of youths/ women and indigent widows with equipment in various vocational skills to enable them be self-reliant and employers

of labour; thereby harnessing their socio-economic conditions.”

In their separate goodwill messages to Ebonyi women, the Head of Service, Mrs. Ugo Nnachi and the state Focal Person of Millennium Development Goals, MDGs, Mrs. Ngozi Obichukwu, extolled the laudable contributions and tenacity of the Ebonyi woman in various fields of human endeavour, adding that no amount of challenge or opposition would deter the women from climbing the ladder of success for the betterment of the state at large.

In his remarks, the former Minister of Health, Prof.

Chukwu praised Mrs. Elechi for her contributions towards the establishment of the National Obstetric Fistula Centre which has benefitted women from different parts of the country.

The occasion witnessed march past from different women groups and organisations, cultural display and presentation of awards to Mrs Elechi.

Traditional chiefs on the occasion C M Y K

8 — Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 2014

NNEWI

Paucity of funds stalls work at NAUTH permanent site

BY CHIMAOBI NWAIWU

N

NEWI—THE Nnamdi Azikiwe University Teaching Hospital, NAUTH, Nnewi, Anambra State, has said that construction work at its permanent site has been stalled due to paucity of funds just as its effort to expand its clinical service delivery and introduce more medical specialities had been hampered by lack of space.

It further said that its effort to get the Federal Government, through the Federal Ministry Health to release intervention fund or take –off grant to complete work on some departments to ensure movement to the permanent site where there was enough space to operate maximally, had not yielded any positive result adding that the hospital was only making do with its normal yearly budgetary allocation to achieve the modest success it had recorded at the permanent site.

Speaking with South East Voice on the issue, the Chief Medical Director of NAUTH,

Prof. Anthony O. Igwegbe, Chief Medical Director

Prof. Anthony Igwegbe said the institution needed N5 billion Intervention Fund as a catalyst to complete the ongoing structures for movement to start.

Igwegbe said apart from the N5 billion Intervention fund, the institution needed additional N3 billion take off grant which it had been appealing to the Federal government to release to hasten the movement of some departments to the permanent site.

Uncompleted Male Surgical Ward building

•Admin. block under construction

WAR AGAINST CRIMINALS:

O

BY NWABUEZE OKONKWO

N I T S H A — DETERMINED to assist the police in sustaining the on-going war being launched against criminals by Anambra State Government, Intafact Beverages Limited, a subsidiary of SABmiller Plc, brewers of Hero Larger Beer, Grand Malt and others, last weekend handed over two Hilux vehicles to the state police command, at the brewery premises located within the Harbour Industrial Layout, Onitsha.

Handing over the vehicles to the commissioner of police, Mr. Hassan Karma, the General Manager, Lukas Daniel Van Deventer, expressed satisfaction C M Y K

According to him, individuals, corporate bodies and investors whom the institution had approached, can only be spurred on to take up projects if they see that medical activities had begun at the permanent site.

NAUTH was established by the Anambra State of Nigeria Edict No. 10 of 1988 as Anambra State University of Technology, ASUTECH, Teaching Hospital, before it was officially taken over by the Federal Government through Nnamdi Azikiwe University Teaching Hospital Nnewi Act CAP. N14D LFN 2004, with the present location at Nnewi as temporary site.

The permanent site has over 54 hectares of land mass at the boundaries between Nnewi, Oraifite and Ozubulu towns.

Prof. Igwegbe whom Comrade Kris Azuokwu Ngige, Head of Public Affairs Department of the Hospital described as having risen from the ranks and very conversant with the permanent site project and its attendant benefits to the institution was before his appointment as

CMD, the Chairman Medical Advisory Committee,CMAC, adding that his commitment towards the movement to the permanent site was infectious.

“Incidentally Prof. Igwegbe met a person who is as committed as he is to the movement to permanent site in Prof. Ivara Esu who is the Chairman of the Board, his coming energized the permanent site projects, he sees it as one of the major things he want to achieve.

Speaking further on the set back the institution was having because of non completion of work and its inability to commence medical service at the permanent site, Igwegbe said “we have received proposals... to expand what we have already, but we cannot do anything now because of lack of funds.

“We are expecting some individuals to come and take up projects for completion, we have also approached corporate bodies like banks, they have not shown interest, may be because we have not moved into the permanent site, I am sure that when we move in and start activities, it will spur them to come and invest there and other people will be inspired to come and assist.

“The way it is now, some people will look at it as something not achievable because medical activities are yet to commence there, but once we move in there people will definitely respond. We are completing the perimeter fencing, some projects were stopped at DPC level and we decided to complete the ones that are very necessary for our

movement into the permanent site and after that we will reaward those at DPC level for completion.

“The most important projects we are working on that will ensure our movement into the permanent site are, the Administration block, Accident and Emergency block, Specialties Clinic building, Male Surgical Ward building, Obstetrics building, Internal Roads, General Out Patient Department, GOPD, building, and Main Gate block.

We are focusing on the seven projects now and once we are through with them we move in for medical activities” he said.

Igwegbe further said that, “we want to improve our Cardiology Department, proposals are coming from Thoracic surgeons from Enugu, but we have not accepted any of those proposals because there is no space in the temporary site, we cannot start such surgery here because we need space to do that.

“The yearly capital budgetary allocation, although relatively and comparatively good, when you compare it with other institutions like ours, we have been receiving from the Federal Ministry of Health, cannot achieve what we need to move into the permanent site, that is why we are appealing for the release of Intervention Fund from the Federal Government.

We have been lucky that we have contractor who have shown understanding when they are asking for the money we owe them, although some have reduced the pace of their work on the projects they are handling for us because of lack of funds.’’

Bre wer es vvehicles ehicles tto o police in Onitsha Brew eryy donat donates

with the level of security put in place by the state Governor, Chief Willie Obiano, Police and other security operatives, adding that the vehicles would be used to help solve the logistics problems of both Fegge and Okpoko Police Divisions.

Van Deventer added that the donation became necessary in view of the earlier promise to the police in the area by Intafact to contribute its quota in the fight against crime reduction in the state.

In his response while handing over the keys to the two Divisional Police Officers, DPOs, Emeka Ugwu, Okpoko and Rabiu Garba, Fegge, the Police Commissioner commended Intafact for its kind gesture and assured the management that

the vehicles would be judiciously used to achieve their set objective of ridding the place of criminal elements.

“The gifts have energized and

encouraged us to put in our best for the good people of the state.

We call on individuals and good spirited people of the state to emulate Intafact by giving us

GM, Van Deventer, handing over the keys to the Anambra CP

similar support.”

He commended Governor Obiano for the support he has given to the police so far, hinting that the Inspector-General of Police, IGP, Mr. Sulaiman Abba, has mandated them to put in their best towards crime eradication.

Flanked by the Deputy Commissioner of Police incharge of Operations, Adeoye; the Police Area Commander for Onitsha, Benjamin Wordu, ACP; the State Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, Uche Ezeh, among others, the CP reiterated the resolve of the command to ensure a hitch free Christmas and New year celebrations and warned criminals to vacate the state in their own interest to avoid meeting their waterloo.

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 2014 — 33

We are ready for Ghana

I

NSPIRED by Geoffrey Massa’s commanding influence, Cranes masterminded an emphatic 3-0 win over Ethiopia to remind Ghana of what to expect during Saturday’s Nations Cup qualifier.

The 28-year-old stand-in Cranes captain struck the first, then set up Yunus Ssentamu for the second before Farouk Miya notched the third in front of a nearly capacity crowd at Namboole Stadium on Sunday.

Massa later stated: “We are ready for Ghana. It was a good performance from the boys. It’s the kind of result you need ahead of a big game.”

Apart from the motivation that came with the result, the friendly also provided a decent assessment of the side and fitness levels of particular individuals.

Although goalkeeper Robert Odongkara

r a t s L P N : e p Oduok d l o g f o t r a e h with

— Uganda’s Massa will relinquish his position to first choice Denis Onyango on Saturday, he reemphasised his qualities with a point blank save mid-way the first half.

In the absence of the team’s preferred back four of Denis Iguma, Godfrey Walusimbi, Andrew Mwesigwa and Savio Kabugo, understudies Isaac Isinde, Richard Kassaga and Brian Majwega stepped in with distinction.

Unlike Walusimbi, who will be suspended for the game against the Black Stars, Iguma’s omission however remains a mystery considering the progress he had made at right back.

B

•Massa

Bafana to honour Meyiwa with victory T

URNING emotional heartache into football success is Bafana Bafana’s clear quest in Durban this week.

Shakes Mashaba’s side get down to serious preparations at the People’s Park today, after they made a quiet entry into the city yesterday and went to visit the grave of murdered goalkeeper Senzo Meyiwa in Heroes Acre in

fying group A with four points in as many games, and must beat the Congolese by at least a two goal margin and then beat South Africa to be guaranteed of a place at the next AFCON.

Chesterville.

They were met there by Meyiwa’s father, Samuel, and then journeyed to the family residence in uMlazi to pay further respects.

This meant no training session was held yesterday and the players were allowed to relax at the team hotel on the beachfront while trying to put the Meyiwa tragedy behind them.

Overseas-based midfielders Andile Jali and Dean Furman were among the players who were available to visit the grave. Mashaba, is likely to do more mental work with his men before Saturday’s African Cup of Nations qualifier against Sudan at the

Moses Mabhida Stadium, having noticed how Orlando Pirates struggled to get going again without Meyiwa at the weekend. The Buccaneers went down to SuperSport in the Telkom Knockout semi-finals in Soweto seven days after the player ’s funeral.

Moreover, it was not a perfect opening day of the camp in Durban in terms of player availability, as Bidvest Wits midfielder Sibusiso Vilakazi was ruled out because of a toe injury and team management were worried about a breakdown in communications with Swedenbased midfielder May Mahlangu.

ayelsa United footballer Oghogho Alex ander Oduokpe’s profile keeps rising as one of the best players featuring in the Glo Nigeria Premier League. Oduokpe, popularly called ‘Raul’ by his admirers, impresses with his robust touches on the ball. He uses both legs incredibly but his left foot is more deadly.

The dark-skinned football star, who is blessed with speed, is a good passer of the ball.

Oduokpe’s goal scoring abilities earned him the Wonder Goal Award, instituted by the League Management Committee, LMC, for his goal against Dolphins Football Club of Port Harcourt on Match Day 5 of the 2013-2014 Glo Nigeria Premier League season.

“The award is actually the best thing that has happened to me as a player, I have been waiting for this special award since I started my career and I believe it has come at a good time.

It is an icing on the cake for my performance in the league this season”, Oduokpe told eyeonthesports.com.

Oduokpe, who joined Bayelsa United in a mid-season transfer from Sunshine Stars Football Club of Akure this year, started his footballing career at Royal Eagles, a local side in Oleh by middle of the new millennium.

Back then, the owners of an amateur division one team, Isoko Tolopia Football Club (formerly Delta United’s Feeder Team), heard good things about this skilful Delta boy, who was running rings around opponents, and signed him from Royal Eagles.

At first sight, there was little to suggest the teenager would go on to impress at the club but Oduokpe soon proved himself. And, following the promotion of Delta to the Nigeria Premier League, the team’s name was changed to Warri Wolves Football Club, with Oduokpe signing an elevated contract in 2009 to scour shoulders with the big boys in the NPL. “He was a great player who does not joke with his duties. Warri Wolves was forced to sign him from the Feeder-Team when the management saw his potentials, and everyone liked his fighting spirit”, Lawrence Omorwho, Warri Wolves’ scribe told eyeonthesports.com.

Some officials and fans of his previous club added that Oduokpe was a genuine footballer during his days at Warri Wolves. He scored brilliant goals for Wolves in the NPL as well other competitions he featured in. After about three

•Bafana Bafana players at Senzo Meyiwa's grave side

Ejide calls for team work to overcome Red Devils

S

UPER Eagles vice-cap tain Austin Ejide says they must work as a team in order to overcome the Red Devils of Congo when both teams face each other this weekend in Point Noire in what has now become a must win game for Nigeria.

The Hapoel Be’er Sheva of Israel shot-stopper has also arrived at the Super Eagles camp in Abuja as they commence training yesterday.

The 30-year-old is one of the most experienced players in the

current Super Eagles squad, having spent twelve years with the team and he says they must work together as a team, irrespective of position to ensure they get what could be a vital victory on Saturday.

“We have to believe in ourselves and work as a team because we have to work more, from the goalkeeper to the strikers, everybody has to keep working and keep running,” he said.

“If all of us run as hard as we should and don’t lose the ball unnecessarily, then we should be

good.”

The former Gabros of Nnewi goalkeeper has been a reserve player for most of his time with the national team, but earlier said he was more concerned about how the team fares, more than whether he plays or not.

“Any of us can start in goal but only one will play and we will support whoever plays. Vincent is a very good keeper and has been with the team for a long time like me, Chigozie is also very good as well. So it’s not a problem for any of us, all we need are the three points,” he revealed in October.

•Oduopke

fulfilling seasons at the Wolves, another NPL side Rangers International of Enugu signed Oduokpe for the 2012-2013 season before he joined Sunshine Stars of Akure for the current season (2013-2014).

He was just settling down in Akure when Bayelsa United officials came for his signature but Sunshine FC only released him on loan during the midseason transfer window, and he is expected back in Akure at the end of this season.

C M Y K

34 — VANGUARD, WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 2014

T

Diezani Allison Madueke

he Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke has reacted to the Forbes Magazine Best of Africa Award In leadership conferred on her in New York, United States of America. Mrs. Alison-Madueke dedicated the award to all women across the globe, especially Nigerian women, adding that the award would spur her to become more dedicated to the ongoing reforms in ne of Nigeria’s most the petroleum industry. a c c o m p l i s h e d She commended President women- the Ambassador Goodluck Ebele Jonathan for and Permanent Representative of appointing quite a number of Nigeria to the United Nations, women into leadership positions, Joy Ogwu- last week became saying that the President’s action widowed. has empowered many women in Aloysius C. Ogwu, M.D., her Nigeria. husband passed on, on Monday, The Nigerian Content Act signed October 27, 2014 in Rye, New into law by President Jonathan has York. Dr. Aloysius was 77 years increased indigenous participation in old. the Oil and Gas Industry which Permanent Mission of Nigeria has helped to shore up to the U.N., which made the the gross domestic much shared announcement, product of the says: country.

Dr. Ogwu was a distinguished Commenting on Surgeon who retired as Chief the award, the Consultant Surgeon at the G r o u p Military Hospital, Ikoyi, Lagos.

Managing He is survived by his wife, Prof.

Director of the U. Joy Ogwu, five children, N i g e r i a n g r a n d - c h i l d r e n , N a t i o n a l sisters and brothers.

Petroleum Corporation, Dr. Joseph T. Dawha described the Minister as a trail blazer that has succeeded in reforming the Nigerian Petroleum sector.

Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Mr. Godwin Emefiele, also felicitated with Mrs. Alison-Madueke on her well-deserved Forbes Best Africa

Joy Ogwu

O

Joy Ogwu

Bola Shagaya S peaking of Forbes, it was much bandied on blogosphere last week that Hajia Bola Shagaya just bought herself a private jet worth of N11.5 billion. The Kwara born ageless beauty is said to be a billionaire and the jet is a brand new Gulfstream G650 model- the latest edition. According to US based Forbes magazine, the jet cost $71 million and has a book order of 200 customers in the world. The jet is described as ultra-high-speed, ultra-longrange business jet and the gold standard in business aviation.

Saira Blair

Saira Blair F

reshman college student Saira Blair made history Tuesday when she defeated her 44-yearold opponent in the race to

Diezani Madueke Award in leadership while pledging his readiness to partner with her to ensure the stability of the power in Nigeria.

Reactions on blogosphere have been comme ci, comme ca.

Pastor Ruth Munroe W Bola Shagaya represent a small West Virginia district, becoming America’s youngest elected politician.

It was the first election where the 18-year-old was legally able to vote.

Blair, a student at West Virginia University, d e f e a t e d Democrat Layne Diehl 63% to 30% in the state’s House of Delegates race. She is also the daughter of West Virginia State Senator Craig Blair.

After her victory in the 59th District was declared, the fiscally conservative Republican wrote on her campaign Facebook page that I am honored and humbled to have been elected the youngest member to ever serve in the West Virginia House of Delegates.

ife of prominent evangelical pastor and motivational speaker Myles Munroe was killed alongside her husband in a fiery jet crash near the Grand Bahama International Airport Sunday. Blogosphere is dripping with shock, mourning and dismay.

Munroe was expected to join an influential group of religious leaders, executives, politicians and business leaders at the Global Leadership Forum in Freeport, Grand Bahama Monday.

Unfortunately, the private Lear jet Munroe and his team were travelling in reportedly struck a crane at the Grand Bahama Ship Yard as it approached the Grand B a h a m a International Airport. The crash occurred a t approximately 5.10 p.m.

As the w o r l d mourns online as well as offline, investigations are ongoing.

Pastor Ruth

Kim Kardashian

Kim Kardashian K

im has worn so many outrageous dresses in her life that it’s hard to pick a favourite jaw-dropper. Still observers insist outfit sported by the Keeping Up With the Kardashians star for the GQ Men of the Year Awards in London last Tuesday took the cake.

She stunned on the red carpet in a custom-designed haute couture gown by Ralph & Russo.

The dress has been described as ridiculously over-the-top, even for Kim K. If anyone has the body for a dress like this, it’s definitely Kim Kardashian, but geez, does this girl ever look in the mirror.

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY NOVEMBER 12, 2014 — 35

My Staff Motivate Me — Flora

BY ANINO AGANBI

F

lora Takim Ndifon, MD/CEO Flan Bedding, is a proactive person who runs an NGO for adult literacy together with most catholic parishes. A dedicated person who has spent most of her time raising her children, she decided to take her knowledge further in developing her Business and making a name for herself.

When push comes to shove, she prides integrity above all. Read more.

What prompted you to go into this line of business.

A few years back, my daughter was to go to school.

We needed to make bed sheets for her so we went to the open market. We were not satisfied with the service we got. I asked myself how many mothers would want to sit down that way and sew bed sheets. We could also give them the comfort of doing this without so much stress.

Boarding school We take that away from them and do bed sheets directly for the school. A child going to the boarding school not only gets his or her uniform and other things but also his or her beddings.

The addition of local content into beddings in homes and guest houses was quite interesting for us to do in style.

Most of my friends felt I was going into the wrong line since Tejuosho market exists. It might be there but it does not give you that style you need.

There might be so many fabrics in Tejuosho , you need a skillful person to go through those fabrics and recommend one that will enable you have value for your money. A couple of people might have bought sheets from the market but after one wash, they cannot use that bed sheet again.

What can the government do to help SMEs? In fairness to the

government, there has been acknowledge you to say so much awareness towards great service. For a small supporting small business person, that enterprises. There are acknowledgement goes a organizations that support in long way in motivating you terms of educating, you have to do better. If a client can to know to be able to show a bit of appreciation criticize more understand what your needs and are and to be able to manage objectively, those mistakes what you have appropriately. will be noted. If you go to There have been a number china for better products, you of workshops but I believe will pay more. It is not rocket science, a little bit of more can be done.

What has been your growth appreciation goes a longer way. process over time?

What motivates you?

For a small business, My motivation is inspired growth is always difficult to measure. You practically use mostly by my staff. These up everything you have got people depend on me; I on one thing or the other. In need to keep them going. It terms of clientele, there has does a lot in motivating me.

It is like looking up to been a sign of growth.

Looking at it from these somebody and whoever is perspectives, we have being looked up to is something to show that we challenged to want to do more, to are growing. sustain the We started out structure for h a v i n g others to hold butterfly on to. I am so machines, but excited that I now most of am doing our machines s o m e t hing are industrial. most people We have a didn’t think b i g g e r about. There generating set are so many to run them. opportunities The number of Young women to tap into if clients has who want to go you look also increased around.

When over the years. into business started this Clients in most should be true to Ibusiness eight cases make it years ago, themselves and difficult for most people small business true to their were skeptical because they dreams. There is about the line do not business I appreciate no business that of chose for your service. starts on a large myself. Some Only very few years back, I c l i e n t s scale

had to withdraw all the beddings I had supplied because they had issues with them. My integrity matters more to me. I knew how much I was going to loose by taking that action.

Subsequently, we gave those beddings to charity.

Where do you see your business going in a couple of years?

I might not be much of a dreamer but I believe one day, these same children who lay on our bed sheets in school would come to buy our bed sheets for their homes. Flan bedding has a whole lot of prospect.

Power supply When you do so much work and you are not favoured, it looks as if you are not doing any thing. There are so many people who work so hard but have nothing to show for their endeavors. In every thing, we need Gods intervention and favor.

What challenges have you come across as a business woman?

Power supply has been a very great challenge for me.

As a result of this, we have been living on generator.

The work attitude of the artisans is another trying issue.

They do not take their work seriously. Some people might not feel fulfilled in their calling. Being a tailor is a skill that can take care of you for life, but truancy plays a big role in the lives

of these people. Being an entrepreneur can be challenging. You are the marketer, store keeper, head of designs, in charge of packaging, you are practically doing everything yourself and almost at the same time.

You can not afford people that will give you your money’s worth because they are looking at bigger corporate organizations.

Those are the challenges small businesses suffer. The banks toss you up and down.

They ask for all sorts of things. How much collateral can a small business have to get money?

These challenges are peculiar to most small scaled enterprises.

Advice to upcoming entrepreneurs?

Young women who want to go into business should be true to themselves and true to their dreams. There is no business that starts on a large scale. There is always a beginning and behind every business success is a story.

If you are starting a business today and you think that what is paramount to you is the image you are going to be creating, you might not get it right.

Instead, think about building the structure from the simple perspective to the complex stage. Business is a matter of growth. You need to be able to pay salaries and improve on each stock you take, if you start from a grandiose way, you might not be able to keep it up.

36 — Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 2014

C M Y K

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 2014—37

Delta: I'm back on my feet — Ochei •Says I'm in the race for real ERSTWHILE Speaker of Delta State House of Assembly and a governorship aspirant on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Chief Victor Ochei, in a session with Vanguard’s senior editors ventilates on his recent political experiences, his resurrection and vision for Delta State.

Excerpts:

By Charles Kumolu & Gbenga Oke

W

HY did you describe yourself as Speaker Emeritus?

In the history of Delta State, I remain the only speaker who resigned and it (resignation) was read on the floor of the House. Every other speaker was either impeached or finished his tenure. I remain the only speaker, who resigned voluntarily.

I gave my reasons for resigning and the reasons were accepted. I gave way for a new leadership to emerge having contributed my quota. I feel a bit immodest to say I performed, but those who followed my era would attest to the kind of innovation I brought to the House.

Today, Delta State House of Assembly can rank among the best in the country and can compete with any other legislative house globally.

How he joined politics: I am an engineer and a law graduate because I am yet to be done with law school. I am a business man by profession and philanthropic by nature. In the year 2000, I was fed up with being a government contractor, which I had been right from the military days. I decided that I was going to go for a higher challenge.

Higher challenge When I told a friend he was surprised. It all started like a joke but it blossomed into my decision to contest for the House of Assembly. I come from a constituency which as at the time when Chief James Ibori was the governor, was a predominantly PDP constituency. The then deputy governor is from the constituency, one of the most influential commissioners then, Chief Nkem Okwuofu is from my constituency, my predecessor whom I defeated hailed from there. We also had the House of Representatives member at that time, Prince Ned Nwoko, coming from there.

The local government chairman

and the clerk of the House of Assembly were from there. It was as if anybody wanting to contest against the PDP then was going to go against the trend. I was a PDP member, but I was not given the opportunity to participate in the primaries. I decided to contest under an obscure party, United Nigeria Peoples Party, UNPP. The PDP won all the elections in that constituency except my election. I won my election. It was a miracle because I was the only UNPP person that won a seat in the entire Southern Nigeria. That told me that the win was not ordinary. I did not bring myself to victory. So, for it to have happened was not ordinary.

Encounter with Uduaghan Another thing about my victory that showed that it was not ordinary was my encounter with the present governor, who I had known when he was a commissioner for Health. We have a common friend. And three weeks to the election, I met him at our friend's house. I told him that I was contesting election into the House of Assembly. He asked the person I was contesting with, and I said the majority leader. He asked about the platform I was using and I said UNPP. He said I would not win.

He also said he would not support me neither will the governor. He said the party will fight me that I wanted to disgrace the then deputy governor who comes from my constituency.

He said I should forget about victory because the area is a predominantly PDP zone. I asked what if the people supported me.

He said that he was not saying that I would not win but that it was going to be very difficult. I left the room obviously not happy. When we met after the elections as a member-elect after the event, he was surprised that I won.

He said that my victory had thought him a political lesson. That is why if you go to Governor Uduaghan to ask if you should run for an office or not, he would not give you a definite answer. That

•Ochei: I remain the only speaker, who resigned voluntarily was how I started. I later went back to the PDP. I was elected three times and I later became speaker.

I was speaker until March 18, 2014.

On comments that he was forced to resign I did not resign under pressure.

The fact remains that at some point there are decisions that you must take in the interest of the state. You have to look at the collective interest before making such decisions. It was not that someone asked me to resign.

Have you consulted with the state’s political leader, Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan and what is his response?

I have consulted with the governor. The same thing I told you was the governor's response.

It is not in his style to tell you to run or not to run. I have consulted with him and he is in the know.

Do you think the necessary institutions have created a level playing field for all the aspirants?

It is the party's responsibility. If we make a mistake, we stand the risk of allowing the opposition to have a field day.

Level playing field For me, I only ask that the party provides a level playing field for everyone to participate. Whether the governor is supporting anyone, I will say that as a Deltan, he has the right to support any candidate of his choice. As governor, his influence is huge.

But Deltans will still decide who the governor will be. Delta is a place where people are very expressive and things are not always what it seem. He has the right to support anyone but that

does not foreclose the right of company. I dare say let them bring evidence if I have anything to do Deltans to make their choice.

What have you done for your with the company, I am ready to people that will make them resign if the company has anything support your governorship to do with me. It was easy for them to say I diverted power from there aspiration?

I have been in the Delta State to my constituency, but I dare say House of Assembly thrice as a that even Ogwashi-Ukwu where member representing my the Finance Minister is from, for constituency, Aniocha North and two years they have not had meritoriously too because I am the electricity.

So, how will Ochei first person to have divert power for his represented that own personal use? constituency thrice That is what people since creation. So don't understand but if you cannot do that they understand these if you are not things very well, they popular. If I have will know Ochei has come to power by no business with it. force, I am sure they I have not allowed it won't have voted to bother me as a me thrice. person but when How true is it that people begin to talk you diverted about it, you have to power meant for educate them to let your community to them know you have your factory? no business with it. So I had said it that if I hope the people will that question was understand the not asked, I will put dynamics of power it forward myself and that I have no because it is the business whatsoever current decimal that with it. people have begun On his involvement to say as if it is true. with Sports in Delta It all started during state the 2011 elections I only ask I am a sports when some people promoter.

Whether in that the started saying that office or out of I was the owner of party government, I am a the company along lover of sports. I believe provides a the Express Road it’s a way of putting (Benin – Asaba). level generations forward, On my honour, I playing field preparing them for a don't know who tomorrow that will owns the Iron for everyone come. Sports is a smelting company to machine or panacea and I don't have that makes people any interest in the participate Continues on page 39

38—Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 2014

Governor Babangida Aliyu of Niger State is the chairman of the Northern States Gover nors Forum, NSGF. Now in the last year of his second term, the former permanent secretary in the Ministry of Federal Capital Territory, MFCT, is presently a senatorial aspirant on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP. In this interview ahead of his birthday, the governor responds to issues bordering on some of his past actions and assertions. Excerpts:

By Wole Mosadomi

W

HAT is your reaction to the alleged plans by INEC to create an additional 30,000 polling units?

Well to me the controversy is quite unnecessary because it had been earlier agreed by INEC that no polling unit should have more than 500 voters but there are some polling units that have about 1,000-1500 among others.

Usually, every country that wants to go into elections has provisions for continuous registration.

Similarly, I think there was a decision one time that you must not have a polling unit that has larger number of people that could make it difficult either counting or for the proper voting.

However, I think INEC should have embarked on real sensitization on the new polling units first for people to understand the issue but unfortunately, the approach was wrong. Indeed, it is a normal process because you add polling units as you register people.

Polling units in Kano I remember that there were some polling units in Kano where there were over 4000 registered voters in the units and it is only logical that you break them into sizable units. I think the INEC Public Relations Department should have done more of the talking.

Months ago when the northern governors went to the US, we discussed some of these matters and we said if election were to be held in February 2015, Boko Haram should become history this December (2014) and we were very happy when the president promised that by October 2014, Boko Haram would have been crushed.

I must tell you that we have been doing something both as individual governors and collectively as a group but I think we need to do more.

However, INEC has promised that elections can still hold in the North including the North East but some of us are looking to see that if by December this year (2014), the Boko Haram issue is over, then we will believe that elections can be held anywhere in the country and in the event that they

cannot, I believe that there are provisions of the constitution and this time around, this should apply. Our prayer and hope however is that Boko Haram should be over before next month so that elections can hold in these areas in 2015.

Why are some members of the National Assembly opposed to the emergence of governors as members of the National Assembly?

Yes that is true, but it could be out of their own greed. I was giving somebody an example when they came to me and said do you know that so, so person did not even purchase the form for Senate but that it has been sent to him from Abuja.

I said yes, I am aware and I said what am I supposed to do?

I am aware that people go out of frustration and are saying sentimentally that they should not allow governors to come to the Senate because they said nobody can control people like me and I said that I thought I am going to represent my people in the Senate.

If I win, I am going to represent my people in the Senate but it is not a question of who would control me. But the question that readily came to my mind is that how are you sure that in 2015 , you would be where you are that already you are planning or

It is for their own selfish reasons , it was not for the benefits of the people or for the country

•Gov. Aliyu: I am going to represent my people in the Senate

Senators against governors coming to Senate are greedy — Gov. Aliyu discriminating against them that you don’t want governors to be there because of two or three governors that were in the Senate and the two governors were giving them tough time or making things difficult for them and they are now saying they did not want some governors and they are even sending forms to people to come and contest election into the Senate against other people.

So, you see it is for their own selfish reasons , it was not for the benefits of the people or for the country it is protecting their jobs that they are doing so that the political differences that you see is not the one that is going to move the people.

How did your party actually come to endorsing only one candidate for the presidential election?

All the PDP governors came together and endorsed the sole candidature of Mr. President.

All the PDP senators and all the members of the House of Representatives did the same.

The Board of Trustees of the party also did the same. The executive committee of the party ratified all these decisions.

Unless you are either not a party member or you are a trouble maker or you are looking for identity or you just want to be noticed by the society, you have to follow the line.

Following the line So about whether one form for the president was printed or not, we expect that for president, only one copy would be bought.

You were active in the G7 but you did not follow the five other governors to join the APC. Why? Any member of the G7 was aware of my position. They knew I was not in that position to leave the party but to reform or correct what I saw were anomalies. When the president promised to correct those

anomalies, I didn’t have any reason to leave the party.

So for anybody to keep up saying that at the appropriate time, others would join them, I think such people or person are doing it only to scare those who he or they thought might be scared. I am not the type.

By the time I see something wrong, I will say it out and try to correct it.

Even the day they declared and jumped to another party, though I was not part of the meeting at initial stage but when I was later invited, I attended and when I got there and discovered that the meeting was intended for defection, I excused myself from it because that was not my aim.

The development does not however stop our personal friendship or relating together.

We don’t all have to be in the same party to be friends, we can even share our political decisions together but when it comes to PDP and APC, you must go to where you belong.

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 2014—39

Rivers: Many issues from PDP Congress

By Gbenga Oke

A

HEAD of the 2015 elections, all seems not to be rosy with the Rivers State Chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party, (PDP). A face-off is brewing among the political gladiators in the party.

The entrance of the former Minister of State for Education, Barr Nyesom Wike into the governorship race is said have altered the political calculations, and ignited a war of wits among the aspirants and party elders.

Even though he kept his governorship interest under seal for several weeks, Wike's intention became very clear following his resignation from the cabinet of President Goodluck Jonathan and disclosure that he is running for the number one seat in the state.

However, several governorship aspirants on the platform of the PDP appear uncomfortable with his aspirations because he is believed to have the support of the President wife, Mrs Patience Jonathan.

Scaling the hurdles Hailing from Upland Rivers like Governor Rotimi Amaechi, the question on the lips of many is: how far can Wike go in his quest to succeed Amaechi?

To win the PDP ticket and the governorship election proper, Wike is expected to scale a number of hurdles including zoning, division in the party over his aspiration.

Recently, some of the PDP stalwarts backed down on the entourage of his group, Grassroots Development Initiative (GDI) over what some of them termed his selfish interest to use GDI as his campaign structure.

The GDI travelled to virtually all the local government areas of Rivers State claiming it was giving support to the second term ambition of President Goodluck Jonathan. But things seem to be tearing apart for GDI with some of the aspirants claiming that Wike has been using the group to build his own structure ahead of the governorship election.

However, Wike is said to enjoy the backing of some power brokers in the state and elsewhere. He reportedly hosted a party in his house in Abuja after leaving the Federal cabinet and the party was attended by the First lady, Patience Jonathan and former Governor of the state, Dr Peter Odili among others.

But the absence of other major political gladiators from Rivers state was a minus for the former Minister and it has further confirmed that other aspirants and party leaders may be avoiding anything that has to do with him.

•Wike: Wants to succeed his kinsman, Governor Amaechi The following day after the party, it was said that the former minister headed to Port-Harcourt and he was welcomed into the state by thousands of his supporters who had thronged the airport to give him a rousing welcome.

Division within the party The fracas that ensued among

the aspirants a couple of weeks back at the reconciliation parley of the PDP in Abuja has further deepened the crisis within the ranks of the party. While many of the aspirants claim it was the handiwork of Wike, he has insisted that he has no hands in it.

One of the aspirants at the meetingsaidthroughouttheperiod the former minister was in the hall with members of the committee, otheraspirantswerenotallowedto comeclosetothevenueasthehefty looking supporters of Wike molested and stopped everyone.

Also, a commissioner under the administration of Dr Peter Odili, Mr Lolo Ibienye, warned that if the national leadership of PDP failed to address the problems, the party in Rivers State will be sitting on a keg of gun powder waiting to explode at any time.

He added that with the molestation of party members and journalists by thugs, it would have been disastrous if the exercise had taken place in Rivers.

As all these are going on, a member of the Board of Trustees of the PDP, Alabo Graham Douglas, dropped another bomb claiming it will be disastrous for the party to field Wike as its candidate for the 2015 polls.

His words: 'The desire of Wike to contest the governorship in 2015 does not augur well for peace and harmony in the state.

It is unacceptable to the generality of the Rivers people especially the riverine Ijaw group,

the Ogoni group and large members of the Ikwerre group. If Wike is allowed by the leadership of the PDP to emerge as governor of Rivers State, it will mean that for 24 years, the people of Rivers mainland would have ruled the state at the expense and great marginalisation of the other major ethnic nationalities. Such a situation arising will not be tolerated and may have unsavoury repercussions, which no one for the time being can predict'.”

Zoning Another issue that has divided Rivers PDP is the issue of zoning of the governorship. It is being said that to ensure fairness in 2015, a riverine candidate must emerge. Even though the APC, the ruling party in the state under the leadership of Governor Amaechi, has thrown its weight behind the aspiration of a riverine aspirant, the PDP seems to be following a different route, a situation that has further pitched the Chairman of the party, Felix Obuah against some aspirants and leaders of the party.

Obuah has maintained that the party is not zoning offices and that anybody can aspire to any office provided such person is qualified.

Many of the aspirants on the platform of the PDP accused the party chairman of supporting and planning to give the party's ticket to Wike and that is why he is insisting that there is no zoning of governorship to the riverine area.

Delta 2015: I'm back on my feet — Ochei Continues from page 37 come together, you can see that when Nigeria is playing, everybody comes together and support the country irrespective of their differences. I believe we must support such that makes people calm and we keep investing in it because it has effect on people.

It also makes people healthy and it makes other people happier, stronger and which is why I veered into special sports. I realize that you give these special people hope when they play these games and you will be surprised about the enormous potential those special people have within.

On allegation that he was imposed as speaker It is not true. There was an election in the House of Assembly in June 2011. I was running then and my predecessor was also running and I met with him and spoke with the DPP members then. When I assumed the speakership, we had 11 DPP members out of the 29 members of the State House of Assembly who were proper opposition. The Governor couldn’t give them directions because they were not part of the party. We went into the field and did the canvassing but at the end of the day, the same man who was contesting with me, my predecessor, was the one who nominated me and it was unanimous. So there was no imposition.

On why some governorship aspirants met last weekend I was called by Chief Kenneth Gbagi that there was a meeting of aspirants in Warri.

One thing is that we are all aspiring to be Chief Executive of the state and if we decide to meet, that shows we are not at each other’s throats. I know certain states where aspirants cannot even talk to themselves because of

the kind of contention among them.

The bottom line of the meeting was to ensure that there is no imposition on the party.

But basically the meeting did not get the kind of quorum that we wanted because a lot of aspirants had events that weekend, it was not well attended as anticipated. So instead of deliberating, we said let’s go and meet with Chief E.K Clark who had been waiting for us and since out of respect there was no way we could keep him waiting. We plan to hold the meeting after the Presidential declaration.

Presidential declaration There was no time we discussed the eligibility of any aspirant, the only thing we discussed is shifting the meeting to Abuja on Tuesday. I think we should applaud the fact that Delta aspirants are meeting.

You were once considered the foremost aspirant to succeed Governor Uduaghan.

What happened?

At a time, I was truly a foremost aspirant and as at that time, I was the speaker of the House and believe me, I was under pressure to run and though I had not said I was running then but the attacks kept coming because as speaker, I was doing well. This our forum of aspirants believed then that I will be used to silence them, so I was prone to attacks unfortunately. I was foremost because being a speaker, I had a lot of constituencies under me and my colleagues were fully supporting me. Ever since I left office, yes it has not been the same because some now felt because I am out of office, he has fallen from grace, the governor removed

him from office, and will he want him as governor? There were insinuations here and there but also, some other people now said after-all he is not the governor’s candidate, why shouldn't we support him? For me, there are a lot of lessons that came from it, what happened has made me learn a lot of lessons, seeing people in their real nature and seeing how people react in the face of the good, the bad and the ugly. They are all lessons that we must learn in life and it has strengthened me and reshaped my focus as a person. The Bible says once has God spoken and twice have I heard that power belongs to God, and that is why I don't even regard that power belongs to anybody.

Power belongs to God. In all of this, there is no animosity within me, I have nothing against anybody, it is human nature. Even the bible says the heart of man is desperately wicked and deceitful and who can know it. It is just human nature. So you begin to see it and appreciate it that it can really happen to you. For those who are jumping today, if anything happens to President Jonathan today, you will be shocked about the kind of reverse people will take. But that is human nature.

For me, I have gotten my own fair share and I have learnt and it has helped me get back on my feet. I have fallen from grace, I have gotten to the ground and I have also taken that leap of faith to where I am. I say today that no aspirant will go through the tribulation that I went through and will still come out as a forerunner.

40 — Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 2014

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 2014 — 41

42 —Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 2014

Storm on River Niger •As sand dredgers, dealers clash

•Dredgers on the river

By Nwabueze Okonkwo, ONITSHA

T

HE clouds are gathering and the storms threatening as what started as a minor dispute between two hitherto friendly unions trying to eke out a living by dredging and selling sand at the bank of the River Niger, may soon snowball into a major crisis that could cripple economic and social activities in the commercial city of Onitsha and Asaba, the Delta State capital.

The two unions - Dredgers Owners Association Anambra State, DOAAS and River Niger Sand Dealers Multipurpose Cooperative Society Limited, RNSDMPCSL, Asaba, Delta State, were said to be working together as one family, until April, this year when they fell apart.

The way things are , it seems that only the timely intervention of appropriate government agencies such as the Federal Ministry of Mines and Steel Development, the Ministry of Solid Minerals and the National Inland Waterways Authority, NIWA or even a court of competent jurisdiction can salvage the situation.

How the crisis started: The

disagreement between the two unions allegedly started in April when RNSDMPCSL led by Chief Augustine Nwachukwu invited DOAAS members to a meeting to discuss the way forward. At the said meeting, Chief Nwachukwu allegedly told them to register with the Cooperative Society which currently has a quarrying license from the Federal Ministry of Mines and Steel Development.

coffers of the Ministry of Mines.

DOAAS claimed that it was based on this discovery that its members decided to stop paying the levy. The union insisted that it would be better for its members to pay directly to the Ministry

DOAAS dredging sand illegally

Independent dredgers Vanguard Features, VF, learned that at the end of the meeting, things went awry as members of DOAAS not only refused to register with Nwachukwu’s Cooperative Society on the ground that they are independent dredgers, but also stopped paying RNSDMPCSL N200 levy per tipper of sand. They allegedly discovered that Nwachukwu was not an official or a representative of the Federal Ministry of Mines.

Nwachukwu was alleged to have initially paraded himself to them as an official of the Ministry whom they should be paying N200 per trip of tipper of sand for onward remittance to the

instead of going through an intermediary. The union took a step further by writing directly to the Minister of Mines, asking him to recognise its members to do their dredging business without hindrance from anybody.

Illegality must stop; there is so much impunity on our waterways; how can you condone a situation where DOAAS members are dredging sand and yet they don’t have license

This step taken by the leadership of DOAAS did not go down well with Nwachukwu and his Cooperative Society. He was alleged to have petitioned officials of the Ministry in Asaba Zone to the effect that DOAAS members were dredging sand at the bank of the Niger without an approved license.

In the report, Nwachukwu was alleged to have informed the Ministry that he had over time been protecting DOAAS with his own license, but since they have refused to pay him the accrued revenue from which he would service the license at the Ministry, he has decided to disown them.

Clampdown on DOAAS members: VF gathered that officials of the Ministry in Asaba immediately swung into action and alerted officers and men of

the Nigerian Navy at the Naval Outpost, Onitsha about the illegality of DOAAS operations at the waterways. Based on this report, the Naval officers invited DOAAS and demanded to see their dredging license. When the union could not produce any, they (Navy) impounded their boats and other dredging equipment and took them to the Naval Base where they were seized, pending the time they would produce the license.

Meanwhile, the Commander of the Onitsha Naval Outpost, Navy Captain Mike Oamen warned those who have no operational license from the relevant Ministries and regulatory agencies to steer clear of any form of mining or dredging activities along the River Niger waterways.

Oamen who spoke to newsmen against the backdrop of an allegation by DOAAS that the Naval officers were compromised

by Chief Nwachukwu’s RNSDMPCSL, hence the alleged crude manner in which they ( Naval men) clamped down on them, maintained that only those who have operational license from the regulatory

Continues on page 43

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 2014 — 43

•Sand dredgers on the river Niger

Storm on River Niger •As sand dredgers, dealers clash Continues from page 42 authorities like the Ministry of Mines and NIWA, would be permitted to dredge sand at the bank of the River Niger.

Apparently confirming the seizure of some boats and dredging equipment belonging to some members of DOAAS for allegedly operating without license, Oamen insisted that the Nigerian Navy acted because it is legally empowered to stop all illegal activities on Nigeria’s waterways and not because of an alleged bribery of his members.

He explained that officials of the Ministry of Mines were the ones that alerted his office about illegal dredging going on along the waterways. “Illegality must stop. There is so much impunity on our waterways. How can you condone a situation where DOAAS members are dredging sand and yet they don’t have license from the Ministry of Mines, neither do they have landing permit from NIWA,” he retorted.

Allegations of extortion Describing the allegations of bribery and extortion as false and frivolous, Navy Captain Oamen insisted that their action was simply because they investigated an information from the Ministry of Mines and discovered that DOAAS members were actually carrying out dredging activities without license.

A top official of the Ministry of Mines in Asaba who preferred anonymity, told newsmen on phone that the office actually petitioned the Naval Base about ongoing illegal dredging of sand at the river bank.

The official added that DOAAS is at liberty to negotiate with Nwachukwu’s RNSDMCSL or

any other licensed miner or dredger that could give them protective cover to carry out dredging activities on the waterways. Alternatively, he said they should apply and wait for their application to be processed and approved and license issued to them.

DOAAS reacts Reacting to these claims, DOAAS alleged that the Navy conspired with Nwachuwku to throw them out of business. The union leader said they are still waiting for the Minister of Mines to invite both parties to a meeting to resolve the issues at stake.

Chairman of DOAAS, Gilbert Udemadu who spoke to newsmen said that those dredging sand at the bank of the River Niger have over the years, been paying N200 per trip of sand to Nwachukwu whom he described as the owner of a oneman Cooperative Society, with the belief that he is an official of the Ministry of Mines and that the money was going into government coffers.

Udemadu noted that trouble started few months ago when Nwachukwu summoned members of the union to a meeting where he told them to pay N200,000 each as a registration fee to join the Cooperative Society.

He alleged that it was at that stage that the union discovered that Nwachukwu was neither an official of the Ministry nor their appointed representative hence they (DOAAS) members refused to pay the N200,000 levy he imposed on them. They also decided to stop paying him the N200 levy per trip of tipper of sand since it had become obvious to them that the money was not going into government treasury

but usually ended up in his private pocket.

He admitted that they stopped paying Nwachukwu and instead wrote to the Ministry officials to come forward and collect the money from them directly. He claimed that the Minister of Mines was highly elated by their decision to start paying directly into the government coffers and has informed them of his intention to invite them to a meeting very soon.

While still waiting for the Minister’s invitation, he alleged that Nwachukwu who was making up to N448,000 daily, became uncomfortable and hired armed thugs from Asaba. He alleged that his members were attacked by the thugs on September 18, 2014.

his own license.

“For the purposes of clarity, we are not responsible for the seizure of DOAAS equipment by the Navy. The truth of the matter is that DOAAS members left the Anambra side of the River Niger and came to the Delta side and were dredging sand illegally from an area being operated through direct excavation during dry season and the area in question belongs to the Association of Tippers and Quarry Owners Nigeria with Quarry Lease No.

Release of seized boats During the attack, the thugs were said to have carted away batteries, water pumps, kick starters, towing boats with engines, many litres of fuel and even sank a towing boat belonging to DOAAS. The union leader claimed that they reported the matter to the National Inland Waterways Authority, NIWA, through the Marine Police in Onitsha.

Nwachukwu was allegedly asked to release the seized boats to the union but he has failed to comply with the directive.

In their petition to the Minister, dated April 4, 2014, DOAAS stated their reason for stoppage of further payments to Nwachukwu.

Reacting to these allegations, Nwachukwu maintained that DOAAS is owing him a huge amount of money which accumulated from the token they were paying him to dredge with

During the attack, the thugs were said to have carted away batteries and water pumps

1432,” he said.

Position of RNSDMCSL: Nwachukwu contended that several efforts were made to stop the illegal activities of these bodies but to no avail until the association was left with no option than to make an official report to the Federal Ministry of Mines in Delta State. “I believe the Ministry in turn, wrote to the Navy for assistance and we are in court because DOAAS members are operating illegally.

That is what we want the court to look into. Some of DOAAS members indicated interest to join our Cooperative Society and had even made part payment of their registration fee to that effect before this ugly situation emanated,” he explained.

Dredging activities On the alleged use of thugs to attack DOAAS members on September 18, 2014 and conspiracy with the Navy to extort them, Nwachukwu declared: “We did not attack anybody and we were not invited by any police formation. I did not give the Navy any money, neither did I write a petition to the Navy. Please, you can verify from the Naval men. If actually we are in court as they rightly said, are they supposed to be operating and with which license are they operating?

“The Cooperative Society Limited, RNSDMPCSL, is not owned by me, rather I am just the Chairman. As they alleged, I was advising them to go and acquire a virgin land for their dredging activities and leave our own land alone because the area they are encroaching upon is already occupied by our Cooperative Society, as authorized by the Ministry of Mines. I am even surprised that even at this moment, they are still perpetrating their illegality on our area of coverage in the River Niger,” he said.

An executive member of the Cooperative Society, Comrade Iyke Obidinma noted that the Society had existed for over eight years now, while DOAAS came into being only in January, 2014.

44—Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 2014

NAFDAC cautions farmers on pesticides — Empowers 2,000 staff on agric production

By Chioma Obinna & Victoria Ojeme

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HE National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control, NAFDAC, has cautioned farmers on the safe use of pesticides as it is highly dangerous to health, even as it is set to empower 2,000 of its staff on farm production while in active service.

Speaking during a National sensitisation workshop organised for farmers and other stakeholders organised in conjunction with West Africa Agriculture Productivity Programme in Osogbo, Osun State, with the theme "Safe and Responsible Use and Disposal of Pesticide", the Director General of NAFDAC, Dr. Paul Orhill said pesticides may cause acute and delayed health effects in workers who are exposed and can cause a variety of adverse health effect ranging from simple irritation of the skin and the eyes.

Orhii said as agriculture continues to play a major role in the economy of Nigeria and West Africa, contributing more than 40 percent to its GDP and providing income and employment to about 70 per cent of the region's population, there is need for stakeholders to be concerned about the health of the farmers.

"All applicators must therefore be sensitive to public concerns about pesticide use and apply materials only in a safe and judicious manner as unethical disposal of these pesticides to the environment is a potential threat to public health and environment".

Orhii who also spoke during a training organised for its staff on GNet Miracle in collaboration with Project Fix Nigeria, in Abuja, said the training was aimed at

equipping the NAFDAC staff with the rudiments of farming in all ramifications to improve the earning power of participants, create employment and ensure food security in the country.

"We are empowering our staff by giving them an opportunity to create wealth from the office.

Apart from wealth for themselves, they are creating jobs, food security and keying into the agricultural transformation agenda of the President.

• L–R: Dr. Olu Malomo Ag. Head Department of Food Technology, Bells University of Technology, Ota, Ogun State; Mr. Nicolaas Vervelde, CEO, Nigerian Breweries PLC, Professor Bankole Omotosho, Department of Drama, University of Stellenbosch, Cape Town, South Africa and Mr. Tony Agenmonmen, Senior Strategy Manager, Nigerian Breweries Plc at the first Nigerian Beer & Health Symposium in Lagos.

Orhii urged the staff to start thinking about retirement from the day they start working.

"They are going to form a corporative where they will contribute a certain percentage of

their monthly income while the money works for them. They are still young and monitor the whole process and can start reaping the benefits before and after retirement," he explained. Earlier, President, Project Fix Nigeria, Mr Olusegun Kowontan Jr. said people all over the world invest money to work for them to create wealth.

Nutrition expert trumps up benefit of Olympic milk

A

Consultant and advocate of healthy living, fitness and lifestyle, Dr. Bisi Abiola, has said that adequate intake of milk fortifies the human body against diseases and supplies essential nutritional requirement for healthy living.

The nutrition expert who spoke at the official launch of Olympic Milk rebranding campaign tagged, “Winning with Olympic: The Healthy Choice” which held recently in Lagos, described milk as a wholesome food that is highly rich in calcium, Potassium, riboflavin, magnesium, Zinc, protein, iodine, phosphorus and vitamins B2 and B12,” adding that milk, “is nature’s wellness gift to mankind.”

At the event, Nutricima Limited unveiled its new Olympic Powdered Milk and ready-todrink Olympic Apple Flavoured bottled drink.

The new, highly rich and nutritious Olympic Powdered

Milk comes in 16g single serve sachet and 300g family pack, while the grab-and-go Olympic Apple Flavoured food drink is available in 500ml bottle.

Abiola refuted the popular misgiving by adults that milk is meant for children because it helps in their formative years. She said: “Milk is well known to guarantee a balanced diet and is healthier than carbonated drinks hence the need for its regular intake.”

She stated that the repackaged Olympic Milk “is highly beneficial to children and adults alike. The milk is low in cholesterol and therefore helps to keep the body fit and healthy when consumed appropriately, and complemented with other basic activities such as avoiding stress, eating right, walking out, among others. “Ordinarily, the liver produces 100mg of cholesterol in a day, an amount which is considered adequate for the body to stay fit.

‘Arthur itis’ I

TIS means inflammation.

Inflammation is the process the body uses to heal itself.

The -itis ends as a suffix on many words.

"Inflammation of " ..... athrITIS....joints; ......tonsilITIS tonsils, ......neurITIS...nerves ......gingivITIS...gums ......hepatITIS....liver These are the five basic Latin characteristics of inflammation: rubor, calor, tumor, dolor and functio laesa. Meaning the INFLAMED area is red, hot, swollen, painful and non functioning.

Repeated inflammation eventually leads to death of cells, then of tissues, then of organs..and eventually death itself!

It is probably the millions of inflammatory cycles that causes the body to age.

One of the most dangerous forms of inflammation is the allergy response. Here the body sees a previously friendly and generally harmless substance as " foreign" . The cells then react and try to isolate and fight this "foreign" object. The reaction, or fight, occurs all over the body, wherever the object is found. It could be in the mouth, causing a repeated gingivitis with gum bleeding, pain and small ulcers in the mouth. In the joints, the soldier cells mount a fight that mimics arthritis. This form of joint pain is seen often on the pain clinic, and may sometimes be due to food allergens.

However, the most common cause of arthritis is the wear and tear of normal use that we call degenerative osteoarthritis.

It can affect the small joints of the hands and spine as well as the big joints of the shoulders, hips and knees.

Genetics and environmental factors both play a role. I have seen many among the Nigerian population. Here it is a tough realisation to explain to a sufferer that their condition is irreversible and has no cure. In fact, that its not a disease per se.

Some do not or will not accept this.

Injections of certain medications can provide temporary relief and need repetition. Care has to be taken because the steroids injected themselves can cause problems for bone. In some parts of the world, expensive replacement substances can also be injected into knees and spinal discs but these pose risks. And, indeed, the major joints can be replaced with new prostheses.

There are also non-conventional complimentary therapies to alleviate suffering in arthritis.

Firstly, it is important to exercise regularly and maintain a healthy weight. Exercise strengthens muscles and joints, maintains flexibility and decreases fall risk.

Research in the British Medical Journal has also shown that women who drank more than three alcoholic drinks a week over a 10-year period reduced their risk of rheumatoid arthritis by about half. It doesn't matter what you drink: Beer, wine and liquor yielded the same results.

Another study in the journal Arthritis & Rheumatism reports that eating cherries, which contain powerful antioxidants with pain-fighting properties called anthocyanins, can lower gout attack risk. The participants who ate 10 to 12 cherries over a two-day period had a 35 percent lower risk of flare-

doctor@lagospainclinic.com ups. Sugary soft drinks not only contribute to weight gain but also the progression of knee osteoarthritis, especially in men who drink more than five sodas a week. This was concluded from a study at Brigham and Women's Hospital and Tufts Medical Center in America.

The very respected Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases have also published research that showed eating foods high in purines - a compound found in protein-rich foods such as red meat, oily fish and even certain vegetables (spinach, mushrooms, beans) - can make gout flare-ups almost five times more likely than if you eat low-purine foods.

It is well know that certain beers that contain malt and barley can also trigger allergic inflammation manifesting as gout.

Acupuncture, tai chi and yoga have been shown to be effective treatments for pain caused by rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis, according to a study at the University of Aberdeen in Scotland.

Finally, a study published in the Journal of Biological Chemistry found that curcumin, which gives the spice turmeric its trademark bright yellow coloring, has anti-inflammatory properties that may help ease arthritis pain.

"Arthur itis", despite its street nickname, has no gender, racial or socioeconomic prejudices; it can affect anyone and everyone as they age.

Its suffering can be alleviated.

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 2014—45

BRIEFING :

From left— Mr. Seni Adetu, outgoing Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer; Mr. Babatunde Savage, Chairman; Mr. John Keefe, incoming Managing Director/ Chief Executive Officer and Mr. Sesan Sobowale, Corporate Relations Director/ Company Secretary, all of Guinness Nigeria Plc, at a briefing on the company's pre-annual general meeting in Lagos, yesterday.

PHOTO: AKEEM SALAU.

Diden gets Benin River Vanguard's backing

T

HE ambition of Mr. Michael Diden to represent Warri North Constituency in the Delta State House of Assembly has received boost from a pressure group, Benin River Vanguard.

Speaking at the formal declaration of Diden at a rally in Koko, the headquarters of Warri North Local Government, Coordinator of Benin River Vanguard, Mr. Anthony Okotie, said Diden was a tested and trusted politician who would bring to bear his wealth of experience garnered over the years.

According to him, “his representation at the state House of Assembly will benefit the generality of the people of the local government.”

Transition

CASUAL WORKERS' SALARIES: Edo set to recall Eboreime, Iyasere

By Simon Ebegbulem

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HERE are strong indications that Governor Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State may recall the sacked Permanent Secretary of Edo State Hospitals Management Board, Dr. Ofure Eboreime, and the Chief Medical Director, CMD, of Central Hospital, Benin, Dr. Edith KayodeIyasere, following the intervention of the leadership of the state House of Assembly.

They were relieved of their appointments, last week, by Governor Oshiomhole for their role in engaging casual workers in Central Hospital.

Speaker of the House of Assembly, Mr. Uyi Igbe, led the Majority Leader of the Assembly, Philip Shaibu, Elizabeth Ativie and Folly Ogedengbe, to the governor ’s office and pleaded on behalf of the sacked doctors.

He said: “We are here, the leadership of Edo State House of Assembly, to see you concerning Dr. Ofure

Eboreime and Dr. Edith Kayode-Iyasere.

“The House Standing Committee on Health once went to the hospital on oversight functions and we found that Dr. Eboreime is somebody who is very competent and capable. We are here to appeal to you sir to, on compassionate grounds, temper justice with mercy and recall Dr. Eboreime and Dr. Iyasere.”

Responding, Oshiomhole said: “I am very privileged to be here. All my life, what I have done for a living is to defend workers. When we talk

C'River professionals fault PDP on alleged disqualification of aspirants

By Jacob Ajom

C

ONFERENCE of Cross River State Professionals, CCRP, has frowned on the reported disqualification of some governorship aspirants for the 2015 governorship election on the platform of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in the state by a caucus in the party.

NDYC campaigns for Jonathan

M

RS. Ibadan Ovuakporaye Egbon of Olomu, Ughelli South Local Government Area, Delta State, aged 70, is dead. She died Wednesday, November, 5.

She will be buried at her home town in compliance with the principles of Jehovah’s Witnesses.

She is survived by children and grandchildren.

T

HE National Coordinator of Niger Delta Youth Council, Mr. Jator Abido, has embarked on consultation visits to youths of opposition parties in Rivers, Delta and Bayelsa states, drumming support for President Goodluck Jonathan’s reelection in 2015.

Speaking in Port Harcourt Rivers State, Mr. Abido, who is also the Deputy National Leader of Mass Movement for Goodluck 2015, asked the

of workers, not just junior workers, we make a representation for the big and for the small and for the anonymous.

“Someone drew my attention to the fact that casual workers were protesting non-payment of their salaries for up to six months.

“This was shocking to me because, difficult as our finances are and in spite of the fact that many other state governments are in default in the payment of salaries, I insisted that in Edo State, the pay day is sacrosanct.”

youths to put aside political differences and support the candidature of President Jonathan.

He also commended Abdumalic Mamoud for his contribution towards the rapid transformation of the youths of Niger Delta and for promoting the transformation agenda of the President, while also commending Dr. Adujali Tafawa Balewa for his decision to pull out of the 2015 presidential contest.

In a statement in Lagos, convener of CCRP, Effiong Nyong, said: “The PDP leadership is hereby notified of the dangerous steps being taken in Cross River State to disenfranchise some aspirants to favour others.

“We at the conference of Cross River State Professionals will resist any attempt by any group of persons, no matter how highly placed, to impose certain candidates on the people. We shall mobilize and hold open demonstrations against the governor and the party if this is allowed to continue.”

Nyong noted that apart from the people, who would be represented by their ward and state delegates at party congresses, no group had the right to disqualify any individual from contesting for party nomination, saying “we will resist such attempts vehemently until the right thing is done.”

Retailers generate 17% of global employment, says RCN

By Naomi Uzor

T

HE Retail Council of Nigeria, RCN, has said that organized retailers are by far one of the single largest employers in any economy and that it generates 17 percent of total employment globally.

Delivering his speech at the RCN stakeholders dinner, tagged Empowering Economic Growth: The Big Impact, the Group Managing Director, ARTEE Industries Limited, Mr. Haresh Keswani, said in developed economies, the composition of organized retail was much larger than the unorganized retail and, therefore, would be safe to presume that economic growth had a direct correlation to increase in organised retail.

He disclosed that 27 percent of the global GDP was contributed by organized retail; 20 percent of the US economy is supported by retail and that across the globe, it employed 17.1 percent of the workable population.

Keswani said: “Organized retail helps increase the presence of brands in all categories.”

Ughelli South chair tasks councillors on lawmaking

U

GHELLI South Local Government Area Chairman, Mr. Paul Etaga, has charged councillors in the council on the importance of making laws that will impact positively on the lives of the people in the area.

The council boss, who spoke during the inauguration of the 5th legislative session of the council, solicited the support and cooperation of the legislators in uplifting the standard of living of residents in the area.

He added that they should cooperate with the executive arm towards rendering purposeful leadership to the people.

46 — Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 2014

Candidates task DESIEC on Ugborodo poll results

2009 TARRIFF: Maritime workers threaten port

operations over directive to terminal operators

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A R R I — T W O councillorship candidates who contested last month's local government election in Delta State on the platform of All Progressives Congress, APC, have called on the satae's Independent Electoral Commission, DSIEC, to immediately correct certain anomalies which characterized the aftermath of the polls at Ugborodo, Warri South-West Local Government Area of the state.

While commending the commission for conducting a credible election, Sunday Asawa and Frank Akpieyi lamented that certain opponents who contested against them were desperate to undermine the credibility of the polls by moving to obtaining mandates not granted them by the electorate.

Akpieyi, who contested for councillorship of Ugborodo Ward I, alleged that the PDP seemed to be hell-bent on unlawfully obtaining a certificate of return against the will of the people, while Asawa protested the non-issuance of a certificateofreturntohim,allegingthat he defeated his opponent at the polls byscoringthehighestnumberofvotes.

ABIA 2015: Group

A

By Eric Ugbor

BA—MOVEMENT for Justice and Equity, has called on the leadership of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, at the national and state levels, to ensure that the governorship and senatorial slots of the party zoned to Abia South senatorial zone were rotated between the people of Ukwa and Ngwa ethnic

I

believe it is in anticipation of a positive change, but I doubt where that change will come from because there could hardly be a difference between the sitting President and the aspirators. Mr Nnagozie Mighty- Businessman

W

A

By VictorAhiuma-Young

BUJA—MARITIME Workers Union of Nigeria, MWUN, has given the Federal Government up to Monday, November 17, to withdraw the directive to terminal operators to revert to their 2009 tariff, or all port operations in the country would be shut.

The union lamented that following the directive terminal operators and stevedoring contractors had refused to negotiate the dockworkers condition of service which is due for re-negotiation this year.

MWUN in a petition to the Minister of Transport, dated November 10 and signed by the union’s Secretary General, Mr. Aham Ubani, said: “Our attention has been drawn to the recent directive from Shippers Council to Sea Port Terminal Operators, instructing them to revert to their 2009 tariff as a panacea to achieving an acceptable lower overall cost of doing business in our Sea Ports.

"We acknowledge the need to make our Sea Ports less expensive as one of the critical factors in making our ports the preferred ports within the subregion. We however wish to observe that the prevailing high cost of doing business in

our Ports needs to be addressed holistically if the desired goal is to be achieved in its entirety.

“In this vain, the under listed cost factors need to be addressed realistically. These are poor access roads to the port which gives rise to higher cost of trucking goods in and out of the ports, presence and practice of illegal tolls/extortions by various agencies operating in the ports both legally and

illegally, activities of some customs men and officers which also add to the operational cost of ports. effect of congestions giving rise to demurrage and additional increase on the cost of clearing goods in the port, delay in effecting custom examination and the attitude of some customs officers as lords who must be worshipped by agents rather than serving the needs

– the Dockworkers and

Train services linking Enugu, Abia, others to commence by year's end —Tukur

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By Austin Ogwuda

NUGU—CHAIRMAN of the Nigerian Railway Corporation, NRC, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur, has said train services linking four states of Enugu, Ebonyi, Abia and Rivers were expected to commence before the end of the year.

Speaking while inspecting ongoing projects on the Port Harcourt-Enugu rail line, Tukur said: “I believe with what I saw on ground, train services may commence before the end of this year so that Nigerians will begin to enjoy what we used to have

before now. Our railway has come alive again; the Bridge No.15 which nature brought down has been rehabilitated. It is a thing of joy that the transformation agenda of the president through the SURE-P, all the railway projects abandoned for years have been brought back to life with the help of the programme.”

Also speaking, the Managing Director of NRC, Mr. Adesiyi Sijuwade, said “train services from Port Harcourt, particularly Port Harcourt mass transit, starting from Diobu, Elewon, TransAmadi to Imo River would be

tasks PDP leadership on rotation nationalities to avoid chaos and protests that may cost the party victory in next year ’s general elections.

In a statement in Umuahia, signed by Alozie Nwakamma and Mr. Sylvester Nwamuo, state coordinator and secretary general of the organization respectively, the group commended Abia State

of the customers as diligent civil servants among others.

"We are alarmed that an institution with or without known legal authority to perform the duties of port regulator could evolve such biased directive targeting terminal operational costs alone with dire consequences on our members."

governor, Chief T.A. Orji, and state PDP for zoning the governorship slot to Abia South senatorial zone.

They said: “Since Abia South senatorial zone of the state comprises the people of Ukwa and Ngwa, it is morally and politically wrong and defeats all forms of equity, justice and fairness for either the Ukwa or Ngwa

people to expect both the governorship and senatorial positions of the zone in next year’s general election.

“We shall vehemently reject and oppose it and we urge the PDP not to allude to a ploy in whatsoever guise to take a selfish decision that would affect negatively the electoral fortunes of the PDP in the 2015 elections.”

running on daily basis when completed.

“Ultimately, train will then start moving to Umuahia, Aba and Enugu. Our intention is also to have the services to Gombe and when the insurgency stops, it would be extended to Maiduguri.”

Passage

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RS OLUWADAMILOLA Ibitayo Akinkoye (nee Talabi) is dead. She died after a brief illness.

Service of songs / wake keep will hold on Thursday, November 13, at Archbishop Vining Memorial Church Cathedral, GRA, Ikeja by 5p.m Burial Service will take place the following day at same venue by 10 a.m, to be followed by interment at Vaults and Garden, Ikoyi, Lagos.

She is survived by a widower, Mr Modupe Akinkoye, daughter and other relations.

Late Ibitayo Akinkoye

Should President Jonathan resign?

hen Gani Fawehimi accused Tinubu of certificate forgery, did he resign? He should go and sit down because he is not better than President Jonathan. They are all the same. It is a situation of kettle calling pot black. Mr Joshua Esio- Student

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igerians should be prepared to give Jonathan and his ilk Burkina treatment if he should frustrate 2015 elections that is expected to show him the way to Otuoke via East West road. Mr Williams Adeleye- Commenter

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nly an opposition populated by irresponsible politicians will ask a sitting President to resign in the midst of war.

Nigeria is facing real danger from murderers and terrorists and all the ACN could do is ask Jonathan to resign. Mr Martins Ifeanyi- Graduate

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he job of Commander - in - Chief is to provide security and assure the territorial integrity of Nigeria.

Whether it is to fight Boko Haram or any invading forces. If any one cannot do it, then we need a competent Commander - in - Chief. Mr Nelson Azubuike- Clergy

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he earlier we understand that the present people in PDP are the same type of people as in APC, the better for us. The change we pray for is yet to come. Let Nigeria not fall from frying pan to fire. Mr Stanley OlisaGraduate

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 2014 — 47

Aliyu blames military for Boko Haram

By Wole Mosadomi

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I N N A — T H E Chairman of the 19 Northern Governors Forum and governor of Niger State, Dr. Muazu Babangida Aliyu has lamented that Nigeria would not have been in the current situation she has found herself following the violent activities of Boko Haram insurgents if the then military administration had taken the

bull by horns by nipping it in the bud when the crisis started about 14 years ago in 1990.

Aliyu, who spoke on a programme, Platform organised by the Correspondents Chapel of Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ, Niger State also said it was not the responsibility of the northern governors to declare war on anybody or insurgents, as such powers belonged the Federal Government.

He stressed that the Book

Haram war lasted till now due to the levity with which the sensitive issue was treated when it started.

“Boko Haram did not start yesterday. It had been with us since 1990. Sometimes in some parts of the North, some privileged children started tearing their academic certificates and said they were migrating. We failed to take any decisive action as we turned our faces against the act because we

felt it did not concern us. ‘’Anybody who has gone to the university and you see him tearing his certificate; you will know that something is wrong somewhere and this is exactly what happened and here we are today and it is our hope that we will overcome this crisis,” the governor said.

He called on all Nigerians to be more vigilant and be more security conscious and also join hands with all arms of government in order to overcome the insurgences facing the country.

Aliyu had been asked to explain why the 19 governors in the defunct Northern Region had not teamed up the fight the insurgents.

He however, said that the northern governors cannot as a team or individually wage war against the insurgents because it was not within their constitutional powers to do so.

Jigawa PDP Rep defects to APC

By Aliyu Dangida

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UTSE—A Peoples AWARD: From left, Deputy Head of Mission/Charge d'Affaires at the Nigerian Embassy in Democratic Party, PDP, South Korea, Mr S. O. Momoh; Minister of Communication Technology, Dr Omobola Johnson representing and Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Communication Technology, Dr Tunji Olaopa in member Federal Busan, South Korea during the GEMTECH Award ceremony held recently in South Korea. Birninkudu/Buji Constituency at the House of Representatives, Mr Sabo Muhammad Nakudu has declared for the All Progressives Congress, APC. This was announced by a former member of the House and Government Area of the state Medical Centre, Azare, chieftain of the APC, Mr Faruk

By Suzan Edeh which left seven 14 people dead describing the incident as most Adamu Aliyu while addressing AUCHI—GOVERNOR and 10 others injured. cruel, evil, inhuman and reporters after the party’s Isa Yuguda of Bauchi Yuguda, who spoke yesterday barbaric. stakeholders’ meeting in Dutse, State has condemned last when he visited victims of the He also condemned the the Jigawa State capital, Friday’s bomb explosion at First bomb blast currently receiving attack at the Azare Motor Park, yesterday.

Bank in Azare, Katagum Local treatment at the Federal describing it as unfortunate Aliyu said Nakudu announced and avoidable. his defection from the PDP to APC Yuguda directed the security at the meeting and promised to agencies to carry out full scale make a formal declaration of his investigations on the defection to APC soon. explosion, saying that they Nakudu had earlier been should employ new strategies dropped by the PDP as its that would combat the candidate for the same constituency and replaced him HEAD of the The NIMASA DG, who insurgents.

“I sympathise deeply with with the state Secretary of the commencement of his thanked God Almighty, as well renewed tenure as the Director- as President Jonathan for the the people of Katagum over party, Alhaji Ali Tukur Gansa.

General of the Nigerian re-appointment stated that this unfortunate incident. It Maritime Administration and though the journey has been was more shocking given the Safety Agency, NIMASA, by tough since December 20, 2010, intensity of the attack in the last President Goodluck Jonathan, when he was first appointed, two weeks in the state. I see the Mr. Ziakede Akpobolokemi, has added that ‘’We have been able attack on innocent citizens as affirmed that his drive as the to bring back NIMASA to its heartless and posterity will agency ’s helmsman will core mandate. Because as a judge those who perpetrated

By Francis Igata continue to be the entrenchment regulator, you should be able to these nefarious acts.

“We have ordered the release of culture of transparency, as do the things you are told to do.

NUGU—THE Chairman well as legacies that will endure At some point in time, we of N50,000 each to the families of the deceased persons and of the Nigeria Union of for decades. veered-off that function. But Akpobolokemi, whose now, we are back on track to government will equally foot the Railwaymen, NUR, Innocent Orjimedical bills of those who are Kalu, has lamented the inability renewed tenure begins by carry out that function. of the Federal Government to December 20, 2014, gave this ‘’We are virtually touching all receiving treatment.

“I have gone to the motor park complete the rehabilitation of the assurance shortly after his the areas in our core mandate inauguration as the Chairman areas. From the safety point of and the bank where those attacks eastern rail line, which started of the Board of Governors, view, you can see what we are took place and accessed the from Port-Harcourt to Igede in Centre for Logistics and Transport doing. The domain awareness extent of damage. We are willing Benue State, wondering why Studies of the University of Port programme we have embarked to expend whatever resources it the contractors handling the Harcourt (CELTRAS-UNIPORT), upon is geared towards our safety will take to restore those facilities project had unable to complete destroyed,’’ the governor added. same on schedule.

Rivers State. and security responsibilities.''

Yuguda condemns Azare bomb explosion

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Transparency, enduring legacies our focus in NIMASA — DG

A

Benue urges FG to refund N3.6bn spent on Otukpo UtonkonIgumale road

By Peter Duru

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AKURDI—THE Benue State government has appealed to the Federal Government to refund the N3.6billion spent on the construction of Otukpo Utonkon- Igumale ‘Trunk A’ road in the state.

The Commissioner for Works and Transport, Mr. John Ngbede who spoke yesterday, on behalf of the state government, in Makurdi, the state capital, lamented that reimbursement from the Federal Government was long overdue.

Ngbede explained that contract for the construction of the road in question was awarded at the inception of the present administration, but regretted that the Federal Government was yet to refund the money despite several reminders.

He said, “With the present economic crunch occasioned by the dwindling revenue accruing to the states, we have continued to plead that the N3.6 billion we expended on the trunk ’A’ be refunded to us but up till now we have not received anything.

“Our plea is that the money should be refunded to us so that we can embark on other meaningful projects and take care of other needs of our people.”

The Commissioner, who also decried the deplorable condition of federal roads in the state, particularly, the Makurdi-Gboko road, said work on the road, which had long been paid for by the Federal Government had been abandoned by the contractors.

Railway Union leader laments non completion of Eastern rail line

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C M Y K

The multi-billion Naira project was allegedly awarded to a Turkish firm about three years ago with a time frame of one.

According to Orji- Kalu, ‘’It is quite disheartening to note that the contractor was yet to complete the job, having been on it in the last three years.

Orji-Kalu spoke during a visit of the Eastern District of the Nigerian Railway Corporation, NRC, headquarters, Enugu, by the board Chairman, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur.

48—Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 2014

BURIAL: Bayelsa State Governor, Hon. Seriake Dickson (left), exchanging pleasantries with Mr. Aremene-ebi Ebizimor (right), shortly on arrival to attend the burial ceremony of the Ijaw music icon, late King Robert Ebizimor , at Angalabiri in Sagbama Local Government Area of the state, while Chief Clifford Apina, watch.

MEETING: From left, Managing Director/CEO, Lagos State Signage and Advertisment Agency, LASAA, Mr. George Noah; Director of Operations, APCON, Mr. Joe Onuora, and Director of Administration, Lagos State Independent Electoral Commission,LASIEC, Mr. Kola Kareem, during a town hall/ stakeholders meeting between the Agency and all political parties on the usage of campaign materials, at Planet One, Maryland, Lagos.

PROGRAMME: From left, Professor Murray Low, Founder, EIR, CBS; Austin Okere, Founder, CWG Plc & Entrepreneur in Residence, CBS, and Mr. Cliff Schorer, Programme Director, EIR, CBS, during the Entrepreneurs in Residence week programme, in New SUBMISSION: Hon. Ochei (centre), submitting his governorship nomination York. form to the National Organising Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, with his spouse, Hanatu, in attendance.

CELEBRATION: Kwara State Governor, Dr. Abdulfatah Ahmed (left), receiving merit award from the National President, Egbe Omo Ibile Igbomina, Sir Samuel Atolagbe, during the 9th Igbomina Day celebration at Share, in Ifelodun Local Government Area.

AWARD: Former governor of Edo State, Professor Osarhiemen Osunbor (left), recieving the Award of Excellence from President, Edo Visionary Network, Mr. Innocent Ebhotemen, in Iruekpen, Edo State.

COMMISSIONING: From left, Commissioner for Rural Development, Hon. Cornelius Ojelabi; Baale Igbopa Ifesowapo, Prince Murisiku Magbe; Former Chairman, Community Development Advisory Council, Alhaji Moshood Dosumu, during the commissioning of Igbopa Ifesowapo Rural Electrification Project, Ikorodu Local Council Development Area, Lagos State.

INVESTITURE: From left, Lion Ademola Lawal, outgoing President of the International Association of Lions Clubs District 404 A1,Nigeria Yaba Lions Club, Engr.Laitan Onolaja, District Governor 2014-2015; Lion Ladi Awotinde, incoming President and his wife, Aderonke , at the international Association of Lions Clubs District 404 A1,Nigeria Yaba Lions Club investiture of Lion Ladi Awotinde as the new President of the club, and installation of Club Officers/Fund Raising Luncheon, at Yabatech, Lagos. Photo: Akeem Salau

SUBMISSION: Former Chairman of Bellview Airline, Alhaji Tunde Yusuf (left), Kwara State PDP governorship aspirant, Mohammed Dele Belgore (middle), and PDP National Organising Secretary, Abubakar Mustapha, when Belgore submitted his nomination form at the PDP National Secretariat, in Abuja.

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 2014 — 49

50—Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 2014

A stable and secure Nigeria: An asset to America, by Adefuye Being a Text of an address delivered by Prof. Ade Adefuye, Ambassador of Nigeria to the United States, at the meeting with U.S. Council on Foreign Relations, Washington, D.C, Monday, November 10, 2014

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E are excited by the fact that a council of your calibre made up of experienced diplomats, top academics, captains of industry, administrators, and opinion-moulders in the United States consider it worth your while to grace our premises with your distinguished presence. It is an indication of the importance which your council attaches to Nigeria, especially its relationship with the United States of America.

3. Nigeria and the United States have come a long way. Our relationship has its roots in the strong historical and cultural connections between our two peoples; a connection reinforced by existing economic and geo-political realities. Nigeria with 170 million people has the largest concentration of black people anywhere in the world. United States has a large concentration of black people.

Concentration of black people There are 1 million NigeriansAmericans and twice that number is present in the United States pursuing various professions and contributing constructively to the economic and social lives of the country.

Relations between Nigeria and the United States have, within the past 4 years, been on a very high pedestal. A Bi-national Commission Agreement signed in 2010 has been the framework of the relationship between our two countries.

The major components of the Agreement have been in 4 key areas namely: •Transparency, good governance, and Integrity •Niger Delta and Regional Security, •Energy and Investment, and •Food, Security and Agriculture.

The cooperation agreement under these subheadings has been actively implemented; thus leading to frequent contacts between Nigerians and Americans both in the public and private sectors. Nigeria is America’s largest trading partner in sub-Saharan Africa. A two-way trade between both countries in 2013 was valued at $18.2 billion. The United States is the C M Y K

largest foreign investor in Nigeria, with a stock of foreign direct invest•Ambassador Ade Adefuye ment in Nigeria worth $8.2 billion in 2012 concentrated largely in the moguls. Our president was the petroleum, mining and wholesale only one so honoured. trade sectors. Since March 2009, 8.

The cultural and ecoNigeria and the United States nomic links between Nigeria and have been meeting under the the United States is reinforced by Trade and Investment Framework the convergence and mutuality of Agreement (TIFA) to discuss im- our strategic global objectives. Niprovements in the Nigeria’s trade geria currently operates an Ameripolicies and market access. We also can style presidential system with discuss cooperation in the world a directly elected executive. Our trade organization, export diver- two countries believe and work sification, making use of AGOA toward a world that is based on provisions, intellectual property democracy, respect for human protection, trade capacity building, rights, equality of all citizens, rule and technical assistance. of law; a world that features more Nigeria is still a middle income, of consultation than confrontation, mixed economy, an emerging a world that is free of nuclear promarket with expanding financial services, communications, technology and entertainment sectors.

It is the largest economy in Africa with Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of 500 billion range. It is ranked 26th in the world in term of GDP and is on track to become one of the 20 largest economies of the world by 2020. Investment opportunities are many in Nigeria with incentives provided by the government in oil sector, particularly oil and gas, mining, food and agriculture services, and tourism.

Massive presence The incentives provided by government for foreigners to invest in Nigeria have been sufficiently well communicated to the American private sectors by this Embassy through investment fora on Agriculture 2010, Power 2012, and Infrastructure 2012. This has led to the massive presence of American investors in key areas of the Nigerian economy. Nigeria was a major participant in the August 2014 U.S. Africa summit. We are the first country on Obama Power Africa program and both countries discuss actively the reauthorization of AGOA. At the end of the summit, the U.S. Chambers of Commerce combined with the Corporate Council on Africa to host a reception for President Goodluck Jonathan in Washington. It was attended by over 500 business

The U.S. Government has till today refused to grant Nigeria’s request to purchase lethal equipment that would have brought down the terrorists within a short time

liferation, terrorism, and one that seeks to achieve sustainable development. This convergence explains why Nigeria and the United States have, for the past 4 years, voted along the same lines at the United Nations – be it on Iran and the nuclear issue Mali and Libya: sometimes even when it involves disagreement with our African brothers as it was in the case of Libya.

Relations between our two countries are in good health, but there is room for improvement. In the recent past, we have had cause to complain, and are still complaining about the style, nature and manner of the implementation of some United States’ policies with particular reference to terrorism in our country.

The whole world has been struck with the nature and scope of terrorist activities in certain parts of the world, including the northeastern part of our country. Boko Haram is Nigeria’s equivalent of ISIS.

Equivalent of ISIS The group has up till today killed thousands of our people and rendered many homeless. At first, we thought that Boko Haram was a local group pressing for local demands. But it later became clear to us that the group was the West Africa branch of the world-wide AlQaida movement with connections with Al Shabab in Somalia and AQIM in Mali. We appealed for international support and the United States was the first and has remained a major pillar of support in our struggle against the terrorists.

Ladies and Gentlemen of the Council on Foreign Relations, I am sad to inform you that the Nigerian leadership: Military and Political, and even the general populace, are not satisfied with the scope, nature and content of the United States’ support for us in our struggle against terrorists. We find

it difficult to understand how and why inspite of the U.S. presence in Nigeria with their sophisticated military technology. Boko Haram should be expanding and becoming more deadly. At first, we had problems with the manner in which intelligence was being shared. The U.S. Government claims that the problem has been addressed, but it is still there. The U.S. Government has up till today refused to grant Nigeria’s request to purchase lethal equipment that would have brought down the terrorists within a short time on the basis of the allegations that Nigeria’s defence forces have been violating human rights of Boko Haram suspects when captured or arrested. This is based largely on reports submitted by human rights groups and sections of the Nigerian media that have sympathy for the opposition parties and are prepared to use whatever means possible to embarrass the government of President Goodluck Jonathan.

The Americans claim that leahly law forbids the sale of lethal equipment to governments that violate human rights.

We have made it clear to our Americans friends that the allegations of human rights violation cannot be substantiated by facts: •Nigeria declared a state of emergency in the three Boko Haram affected states of Borno, Adamawa and Yobe. But the democratic structures were left in place. The parliament, judiciary, and the civilian executives continue to function as in normal times.

•Nigeria did not establish an extra judicial body to try Boko Haram suspects. All those who were arrested on suspicion of collusion with Boko Haram are being tried in the civilian courts; some of them are currently out on bail.

Human rights violations I say with all sense of responsibility that allegations of human right violation are based on rumours, hear-says and exaggerated accounts of clashes between the Nigerian forces and Boko Haram fighters. There was a case of an incident in Baga in 2013 when human rights groups and the opposition press said that, based on pictures taken from satellite, over one thousand six hundred houses were destroyed in a village that has less than 600 houses.

There have been video reports of human rights violations involving attacks on women and children purported to have been carried out

by Nigerian soldiers in Boko Haram affected areas. We pointed out to our American friends that those activities were carried out by Boko Haram members wearing stolen Nigerian army uniforms.

Disguise and subterfuge are standard practices of insurgent groups.

The Chibok abduction of our school girls by Boko Haram succeeded because the girls thought that they were being carried to safety by soldiers of the Nigerian army.

To be continued

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 2014 — 51

52— Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 2014

There’s no monopoly in the Pay-TV sector Mr. John Ugbe, Managing Director, MultiChoice Nigeria, challenges the notion that his company is a monopoly.

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HE long running narrative in the industry is that your organisation is a monopoly, designed to stifle and kill competition.

How do you respond to this?

Well, I think if we go back to the definition of the word monopoly I could talk for a whole day. Just using that definition alone actually proves that very wrong.

We’re in an industry where there is competition. Not only is there competition for us because we play in a market where the user has a choice, we’re also not a public service, say a power company, where there is a particular zone the cable is for company A and everybody buys from that company. So, we operate in an industry where there is competition from the perspectives of different people being able to fully make choices about who to buy from. Also, there are many channels available to each of the competitors to buy and put together to offer a service. I think we tend to look at it from the positives we see in it. I think our competition is not how we can compete with everyone to buy, but we’ve been more of a company that believes in creating.

•John Ugbe, Multichoice MD we always try to engage and provide a deeper understanding of the industry. I think the challenge, perhaps, is that we haven’t been able to tell enough about how the industry works.

One of the arguments brought up by the National Assembly is the need to crash the price of subscription. Is that possible?

As a business, the price of your product is proportional to the size of the market. So, as a business, we’re always looking for how more efficiently we can serve the market, the best price we can sell the products because we want to grow.

If you look at the transition

The first question is how do you break what doesn’t exist?

And in creating, you have to invest not just time and money, but a lot of effort. In creating, you then also perform a dual role of developing.

There is a bill before the National Assembly that seeks to break the monopoly of MultiChoice.

If that bill eventually scales through, what impact do you think it would have on Multichoice and the industry as a whole?

I think the first question is how do you break what doesn’t exist? But in every village, you always find some alternatives. Some of these may just be local brews by the person who is selling Coca-Cola. That, in itself, is a choice and I think that’s the same with our industry. There is a bill and we’ve always said we welcome competition not just in Nigeria. We’re a global company. We welcome competition everywhere we operate and

of the business over the 21 years since we started, you’ll see the business coming from where it was only one subscription buyer right down to today where with N1, 500, you have access to over 40 channels.

Even with GOtv at N1, 000, you have access to exciting channels.

So, we have continuously reduced our prices over the years and the business will continue to look at innovative ways of doing this. However, we’re a responsible business, as we have shareholders and different stakeholders. So, we have a responsibility to our stakeholders so we’re not going to take our prices down to where the business is no longer viable or the business folds up.

The lawmakers complained about what they consider rigid subscription rates. What is MultiChoice doing to address this?

I think you’re asking of the pay-per view window.

I think one of the challenges is that people haven’t really understood what pay-per-view is. I give you an example. If Manny Pacquiao is going to have a big boxing match in U.S.A, it would be available on pay-per-view.

If you’re in the U.S, you would be paying your monthly subscription, which could be anything from $50-$100 or whatever.

Subscription in Nigeria The fight would be on pay per view for $70, lasting just two hours. That fight alone would cost you say $70 to watch. So, that is what pay per view is.

Your subscription, which you pay monthly, will not give you that fight. But guess what. We bring you that fight as part of your subscription in Nigeria.

People have complained about power and I think you know as Nigerians, we feel that it is something that we must all collectively work on.

However, with satellite technology, we cannot confirm whether you’re at home watching DSTV or not.

So, it’s not even possible technologically for me to stop the kind of billing when you’re not watching because your decoder doesn’t talk back to me to say you’re not watching at this time or that time. On the other hand, the model of pricing we have caters for some kind of aggregated pricing. The business model of pay-TV is very different from the business model of the telecoms, where you can argue that there is per second billing.

VANGU ARD, WEDNESD AY, NO VEMBER 12, 2014—53 ANGUARD, WEDNESDA NOVEMBER

How do I stop sleeping with her step-mother?

I don't have much luck with women Dear Bunmi, I’m in my mid 40s and need to know how to be more successful with women.

When I think about women, it isn’t only for sex but desperation to fmd some tenderness in a relationship. I’ve hardly ever known this. Even as a child, I was raised by a mother who didn’t show us that much love. I

am a graduate, polite and caring and resent this unkind attitude women have towards me. They either ignore me or treat me very casually. Even though I’m big, tall and not ugly, women don’t seem to fancy me.

In spite of the education, I haven’t really been that successful in life and I believe this is why they don’t fancy me.

Dad is having an affair with my aunt Dear Bunmi, Dad’s always had the reputation of being a Jack, the lad and has had open affairs the family knew about. Now I have this conviction he is having an affair with my aunt.

I’m a guy of 32 and my parents have been married for over 35 years. I thought his philandering days were over but recently, I helped him get on-line and now he seems to be constantly checking his emails.

He’s also started going out more, saying he is pursuing his hobby of playing golf. One day, I followed him and saw his car parked outside my aunt's - my mum’s sister - for three hours. My gut instinct told me something is going-

on. I had suffered in silence all these years, the thought of her sister sleeping with her husband would definitely devastate her.

Laz, by e-mail

Dear Laz, Playing detective rarely helps save a marriage. You need to sit your dad down and have a man-to-man talk with him and tell him what you’ve seen. If you’re right about the affair, tell him to end it or you will have no option but to tell your mum.

Hopefully he’ll realise the risk he’s running. He might be a chronic philanderer as you said, but grazing near home is not a done deal!

The few I’ve had dropped me as soon as they realized I wasn’t a cash register.

It’s obvious that women are really interested in a relationship because of the money they can get out of it. My life has been horribly desolate and I have a low self-esteem. Is there a way out of my situation?

Samuel, by e-mail. “

Dear Samuel, : A woman will eagerly give her affection to a man who is penniless if he offers her passion, protection and love. Instead, you seem to be on an endless seatch for the love you felt your mother denied you. This sends the message that you are someone who, although gentle and nice, has little to give. Also, the anger you feel towards women because you have been unable to win their affection shines through. That’s why they turn away.

Your childhood greatly influences you, but it doesn’t dictate the adult you become.

So, push aside the urge to measure your worth by the love you receive from women, take stock of the person you are and learn to love yourself. Then ask yourself: ‘In what sense am I a failure?’ Our worth is measured not by money but in the love we give to ourselves and others.

You’ll soon discover that women are attracted to a self- confident man.

I can't give both of them up!

Dear Bunmi, My friends have the impression that I lead a rather exciting life with a wonderful wife and a beautiful, young lover but the truth is, I have two half-lives!

I am 38 and have been married for 12 years to a woman I cherished but who sees me more as a companion than a lover. We have four children - three girls and a boy. We live in our own house as I have a high-profile and well paid job.

My life changed forever about four years ago when I met a young, attractive, intelligent actress who fulfilled my every dream. She’s an ambitious 27year-old and we got on well right from the word go. She is attentive and affectionate, loving, fun in and out of bed. She’s taught me a lot about love-making and in wild form most of the times. We also like the same things - music, food and movies - and we truly are soul-mates.

It was inevitable that my wife got to know about my lover but she hasn’t pressured me to give her up, though secretly, both women want me to ditch the other, but they offer me different things. Staying with my wife C M Y K

means security but the other woman offers me true love. My lover swears she’ll be with me forever and now wants my child but at just 27, who knows how long her love will last? I love them both but can’t make a choice.

Osa, by e-mail.

Dear Osa, It must be obvious to you by now that you are at a cross-roads and whichever road you take means leaving something behind. You might toy with the idea of having it all, but then, you might lose it all. You paint a picture of a dull marriage but played a part in creating that too.

Your lover now wants a child, but

what about the ones you already have who need their father?

Before you get carried away by the lust this actress offers, remeinHer she’s professionally trained to play roles and you might not really be certain of what you’d be letting yourself into by fathering her child.

You’ve learnt a lot from your actress ’teacher’ about sex, why don’t you pass some of this to your wife? Who; knows, behind what you think is a cool exterior might be a fire waiting to be lit.

Like most men, you seem to prefer a hum-drum wife and a wild mistress but you just might have both qualities in your wife.

It must be obvious to you by now that you are at a cross-roads and whichever road you take means leaving something behind. You might toy with the idea of having it all, but then, you might lose it all. You paint a picture of a dull marriage but played a part in creating that too

Dear Bunmi, I’m almost 23 and in love witlh a girl who lives with dad and stepmother. About two years ago, this woman threw herself at me so shamelessly that we eventually ended up in bed. She was in her 30's and had been coming on so stronng that I really fell under her spell. Since then, whenever I see her with her husband, she makes a fuss of him by kissing him, then she smirks at me. It breaks my heart whenever she does that. She also sends me text messages teiling me she likes me and what she will like to do to me when next we meet.

We’re still sleeping together though she’s turning me into a basket case. I’m lost as to what to do, please, help.

Frank, by e-mail.

Dear Frank, Simply ignore her - she’s totally bad news. She’s just boosting her own ego by playing around with your feelings. It gives her a kick to think a young virile man like you is lusting after her. Don’t reply any of her texts and walk out of the room when she’s trying to make you jealous with her husband. Once she sees she can’t mess with your emotions any more, she’ll probably stop. She wouldn’t want to be caught in a scandal by being too daring!

16 years, he wants separation Dear Bunmi, “When I met my partner over 16 years ago, we were both separated from our spouses. He made it clear at the onset he wasn’t getting married again. He swore he’d always love me, so I moved in with him whilst my mum looked after my two children. Now after almost 16 years together, he’s determined to separate even though he says I’ve done nothing wrong. I am now 48 and he is 53.

He’s made it quite clear he wants his independence which is a joke because he’s always done what he wants. I’ve asked him if he’s met someone else, but he denies it. I have given 100 per cent to our relationship. I have changed myself for this man and accepted his ways. I still love him and have tried reasoning with him. Now we still live under the same roof and he’s offered to pay the rent for a new flat so I could move out. He’s behaving like a total stranger.

I just don’t understand what’s happened to him. I don’t want to lose him. I’m hurting so much right now.

Bianca, by e-mail.

Dear Bianca, Being rejected is painfuL Like you suspected I also think it’s likely he has someone else, but he’s not giving you any explanation something you deserve. He prefers to take the coward’s way out.

It’s a horrible situation, but if he’s adamant this is what he wants, there’s not much you can do. You are stuck in limbo and can’t move on emotionally while you live under the same roof.

Simply put, the earlier you leave the sooner you can start healing.

It is a fact that, just as much as you can’t help who you fall in love with, you can’t also help it when you fall out of love. You need to pick up the pieces and move on. You’ve had 16 years with this man.

Cherish that and cut your losses.

Age difference now a draw-back Dear Bunmi, I am six years older than my husband. When we met, I had a good job and he was into contracts. Now he’s been employed as a bar manager of a sophisticated night-club. He’s naturally made a lot of friends and has changed. He’s completely over-hauled his wardrobe, bought a second hand car and stays out most nights. His excuse is that he works erratic hours and since he has a room at the club, it was safer for him to sleep over.

Recently, when I complained that we don’t behave as a couple any more, he told me what he does is his business and that I didn’t own him. I’m so unhappy. The age-gap is obviously a draw-back and I have this feeling that, something is going horribly wrong.

Help! ‘: Iquo, by e-mail.

Dear Iquo, I’m afraid I have to agree with you that your marriage is in trouble.

For some reason, the new job means your man is exposed to the finer and wilder side of life and the people that make it tick, and is now feeling trapped in a relationship with an older woman. He obviously has started moving with sophisticated night crawlers that come into the club and is wishing he is one of them. He could also be regretting pairing up so young and is making up for lost time.

A man who stays away for days without even inviting his wife to spend the night from time to time is no longer committed to his relationship. You need to have a heart-to-heart talk to know if he really still wants to be with you. If he does, tell him he need to change. If he doesn’t, then you need to come to terms with your marriage being over.

Share your problems and release your burden. Write now to Dear Bunmi, Vanguard Newspapers, P.M.B 1007, Apapa, Lagos, or bunmsof@yahoo.co.uk

54—Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 2014

Transformation of Nigeria can’t go with re-election bid —NWABUEZE

By Johnbosco Agbakwuru

NUT blames Yobe students' killing on FG, security agencies

By Victor Ahiuma-Young & Laide Akinboade

A

BUJA—THE national leadership of Nigeria Union of Teachers, NUT,

yesterday, faulted the inability of the Federal Government to secure schools, making innocent students vulnerable to activities of insurgents in the North-East.

Meanwhile, Trade Union Congress of Nigeria, TUC, yesterday, decried the killing of over 48 school children of Government Science Technical School, Potiskum, Yobe, on

A

BUJA—AN elder statesman and leader of The Patriot, Professor Ben Nwabueze, has told President Goodluck Jonathan that the transformation of Nigeria cannot be combined with his ambition for reelection in 2015.

Nwabueze said transforming Nigeria into a new, better and united country and the President’s political ambition for re-election in 2015 were mutually antagonistic objects, which could not be successfully combined together.

However, the foremost, internationally acknowledged constitutional lawyer said his objective criticism of President Jonathan’s administration, never translated to opposition to the government.

Speaking during the public presentation of Vol. 3 of his autobiography, entitled My Life and work in the search for a new, better and united Nigeria, in Abuja, the eminent scholar, while defending the position he had taken on Jonathan’s administration, assured the President that he would mobilize the Igbo Leaders of Thought for his re-election in 2015.

He said: “It has become necessary to make some clarifications in order to dispel the unfounded story in some political quarters that I am opposed to or anti-President Goodluck Jonathan.

“I have sincere concern, for his interest and for the success of his government. I want him to be the President that will transform Nigeria into a new, better and united country.”

VISIT: From left— Mohammed Tahir, General Manager, External Affairs; Santosh Pillai, MD; Tunde Oyelola, Vice-Chairman, all of PZ; Dr. Akinwunmi Adesina, Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development; Christos Giannopoulos, CEO and Yomi Ifaturoti, Corporate Affairs & Admin Director, both of PZ, during the firm's visit to the minister.

Agric ministry backs PZ on oil palm initiative

T

HE Federal Government is committed to supporting private sector investment in backward integration to make Nigeria self-sufficient in oil palm production.

This remark was made by Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Dr. Akinwumi Adesina, when management of PZ Wilmar paid him a courtesy visit in his office.

The purpose of the visit, according to the Chief Executive Officer of PZ Cussons, the joint-venture partner, Mr. Christos Giannopoulos, was to update him on oil palm plantation project being executed by the company in Cross River State.

The 26,000-hectares project is part of an integrated endto-end value chain in oil palm production and processing.

According to Giannopoulos, over 1.9 million high yield tenera

variety seedlings have gone through various stages and have been re- planted so far.

It will, in the not too distant future, close the supply gap of crude palm oil in the Nigerian economy.

Furthermore, it will supply raw materials to its 1,000 ton per day refinery.

Responding to the briefing by Giannopoulos, Dr. Adesina expressed appreciation of the

role private sector could play in putting Nigeria back to its rightful place by “building the foundation for Nigeria to be what it should be.”

Managing Director, PZ Wilmar Nigeria Plc, Mr. Santosh Pillai, told the minister that the company was working with Cross River State government and DFID in evolving small holder schemes.

US, UNICEF condemn terrorists attacks on civilians Ashura in Potiskum in Yobe committed to supporting the State and in Gombe, Gombe

By Victoria Ojeme

A

BUJA—THE United States government, yesterday, condemned, in the strongest terms, the incessant attacks on defenseless civilians these past weeks by Boko Haram insurgents and urged the Federal Government to investigate and bring the perpetrators to justice.

The government particularly frowned at the attacks on

State, on November 3; Malam Fatori in Borno State on November 6; Azare in Bauchi State on November. 7; and, most recently, in Potiskum on November 10 by a suicide bomber, who killed many students and injured others.

It offered its sincere sympathy to the injured and to the families of the murdered.

The U.S. Government said in a statement that it remained

We can win war against insurgency—FG

By Victoria Ojeme

A

BUJA—THE Federal Government has assured Nigerians that it was capable of winning the war against insurgency in the country.

Minister of Interior, Mr. Abba Moro, who gave the assurance while hosting the Ambassador of the Republic of Germany, Mr. Michael Zenner, in his office in Abuja, assured the German

Monday, killing over 48 students and injuring several others, by a suicide bomber, saying the killings were unjustifiable in all respects.

It called on government to bring the perpetrators to book at all cost.

A statement by NUT Public Relations Officer, Mr. Emmanuel Hwande, in Abuja, National President of NUT, Mr. Michael Olukoya, said the union was particularly outraged by the suicide attack on Government Science Technical School.

Olukoya recalled that the attack was the fifth of such on schools, leaving so many students dead and scores of others maimed and injured.

He said: “The leadership of NUT is outraged by the inability of the Nation’s security operative to sufficiently address the frequent bombing incident in schools, which has again occurred in Potiskum.”

TUC in a statement by its President and Secretary General, Bobboi Kaigama and Musa Lawal, respectively, said: “We are greatly saddened by the incident, which occurred barely 24 hours before President Goodluck Jonathan’s declaration of his interest in contesting for a second term as president.

“We are particularly piqued by the fact that the insurgents have hoisted their ignoble flags in some local government areas in Adamawa, Borno and Yobe states and have continued to wreck havoc in communities seized by them.”

envoy of the Federal Government’s effort to create a favourable atmosphere to protect German investments in the country.

Moro said: “I am happy to note the postive fall out of the

business forum meeting on the German businessmen and as the Minister of Interior, I assure you that we will do everything to ensure that German investments in Nigeria are protected."

people of northern Nigeria in their struggle to stop the abhorrent actions of Boko Haram and associated terrorist groups.

Meanwhile, the United Nations International Children Emergency Fund, UNICEF, has also condemn the cruel attack on the Government Science Technical School, Potiskum in Yobe State, Nigeria, which killed dozens of children and injured many more.

It said: “These repeated and relentless attacks on children and schools are attacks on the future of Nigeria, a country that already has the largest number of children out of school in the world.

“We call on those with the responsibility and power to bring the perpetrators of this cruel act to justice.”

Vanguard, WEDNESD AY, NO VEMBER 12, 2014 WEDNESDA NOVEMBER YOUR LUCK TODAY

LEISURE

By Joshua Adeyemo Phone 08056180139 CAPRICORN; Good advice from the veterans within your base of operation will go long way to get things done the proper way to the betterment of your cause.

AQUARIUS; If you take good advice from your tried and trusted friends you will not have cause to regret but if you become reckless it would back-fire. Be loving..

PISCES; You like it or not, domestic related issues will become prominent on your mind. Career and financial affairs can bring you unexpected success today..

ARIES; Those of you who are more firmed are in for a rewarding day. In whatever you do today it is important you don’t forget both immediate and far future.

TAURUS; You will have more to gain keeping both your personal and financial secrets. Take good advantage of your sex appeal to enhance your love life positively GEMINI; You are becoming more determined to the betterment of your cause. However this is not the right time to re-arrange (and/or) re-plan your finances.

— 55

THOUGHT FOR TODAY

By Richard Eromosele

A

closed hand is simply a metaphor for stinginess. It is used here to refer to someone who finds it very difficult to give or lend a

The closed hand helping hand.

First, let me ask you a question: If you close your hands, can anything enter from the outside? Fine!

TERROR MUDA

If nothing can enter a closed hand from the outside, it is the same way if we refuse or fail to give, we will also be shutting the door of

in “Never say goodbye”

kindness and mercy against ourselves.

For every hand of kindness stretched forth to another is a seed that will produce future fruit.

Give, so that you may be given.

Think about it!

By Lanre Kehinde

CANCER; Giving priority attention to either day-to-day working activities or long term career related issue is not bad at all but you must be as practical as possible.

LEO; It will be wrong to drop ambitious plans along your career line because of minor disappointment. Take your good friends more seriously.

VIRGO; Time is fast approaching for an important actions concerning you career and/or business lines. Don’t allow friends to mislead you. Be very practical.

LIBRA; It is good to express yourself gracefully , but it is equally good to watch what you tell others so that you don’t promise what you can not deliver.

SCORPIO; The best for you today is to give priority attention to practical way to improve on your working pattern and encourage better understanding at work.

SAGITTARIUS; It is nice to rely on yourself but nobody can be an Island on his own; meaning that you will need to be as co-operative as necessary to be successful today.

KAPTAIN AFRIKA

in

“Pretty Lunatic’

By Andy Akman

ASTROLOGICAL COUNSELLING Send yyour our dat th ttoo the As tr ological datee and place of bir birth Astr trological Counselling, PP.M.B .M.B 1100 00 7, Apapa, Lagos 007,

What’s exactly my future?

Dear Joshua, I want you to tell me how the planets lined up when I was born and what both immediate and far future have for me. When was I born; I mean the day of the week Julius, Benin.

Dear Julius, You were born on a Monday as indicated by your horoscope data given here under. You have future. I hope you will take what you will find seriously and utilise them.

THE HOROSCOPE DATA DAY OF BIRTH=MONDAY SUN SIGN = CANCER ;SUN IN 6TH DEGREE OF CANCER. MOON SIGN = ARIES ;MOON IN 24TH DEGREE OF ARIES STELLIUM SIGN = LEO MERCURY IN 1ST DEGREE OF LEO* VENUS IN 22ND DEGREE OF LEO* MARS IN 17TH DEGREE OF LEO* JUPITER IN 22ND DEGREE OF SCORPIO SATURN IN 3RD DEGREE OF CAPRICORN URANUS IN 14TH DEGREE OF LEO* NEPTUNE IN 4TH DEGREE OF SCORPIO PLUTO IN 2ND DEGREE OF VIRGO NORTH NODE IN 8TH DEGREE OF LIBRA SOUTH NODE IN 8TH DEGREE OF ARIES NUMBERS OF PLANET HOSTED BY GROUP OF STAR SIGNS (ACCORDING TO QUALITY & ELEMENT) ARE; CARDINAL = 3 FIXED =6 MUTABLE = I FIRE = 5 EARTH = 2 AIR = NONE WATER = 3 PUSHFUL INFLUENCE = 50% NON-PUSHFUL INFLUENCE = 50% FINAL DISPOSITOR (PL ANET AT HOME)= AMBITIOUS SATURN For the past few years you have entered an endless cycle of material success. And your 46th year on earth is meant to be a powerful turning point with major emphasis placed on MONEY and LOVE. Talking of money, it will come through your work . However the great challenge here is how to hold on to your profits as there are indications of you expending too much of your funds on either women or woman. It is not clear if it is on business or your normal responsibilities. But mind you if it is on business you will need to tarry a while because such may not yield the desired result. Actually if you go into joint venture with a woman during your 46th & 47th years on earth you are more than likely to be cheated; to be fore warned is to be fore armed.

Romantic aspect of it is if you don’t want another wife you will need to be very careful; as romantic escapade can result to avoidable trouble and/or sorrow (God forbid).

Please take me very seriously here, Please! Please!!

Please!!!

VIRGINIA

HOME & ABROAD

dadadekola@yahoo.com

By Lawrence Akapa

56—VANGU ARD, WEDNESD A Y, NO VEMBER 12, 2014 56—VANGUARD, WEDNESDA NOVEMBER

Boko Haram sect...what are they really gunning for?

BOKO HARAM:

Northern leaders have failed us —North East CAN chairman REVEREND Shuiabu M. Byal is the chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, in charge of the North East geo-political zone of Nigeria. During the attack on Mubi and neighbouring towns in Adamawa State, he was indisposed but when our SAM EYOBOKA put a call to him to find out the state of affairs in the zone he managed to outline the challenges being faced by Christians there. Excerpts

W

HAT is the situation in your zone now?

Truly, the situation is pathetic.

And it’s like it is uncontrollable.

The situation in Adamawa is truly boiling. I was in touch with the Adamawa CAN chairman two days ago, and he told me that many people fled into Yola. I was also able to get somebody from Gombe who told me that somebody had to pick his family in Mubi and had to cross into Cameroun and on to Jada, Ganye to come back to Numn in Adamawa before proceeding to Yola. Right now, there are thousands of people that have been displaced; including Benue State students in Mubi Polytechnic. It’s just pathetic.

What is the welfare situation for the numerous displaced persons?

I have several people with me who want to relocate, but where will they relocate to? They have never gone out of their immediate environment. They know of their people; their people are not strong enough to ask them to come.

If we are to offer them a place, we don’t have the facilities to do that like NEMA or SEMA (national and state) will have; but registration is on especially in Yola. Thousands of IDPs are there, but they are saying everything is short on them. The story is pathetic.

The North East youth wing recently issued a statement, saying that the Federal Government isn’t doing enough to tackle the security situation.

Do you agree with that?

Well, the youths are exuberant.

The youths will always want to

climb fast and say nothing is being done. The youths are agile; they want to say what is in their minds, but from all indications, I am a living witness, I live in Bauchi and it is the gateway to the North Eastern states: I have seen troops, vehicles, rocket launchers (newly purchased) that have been stationed. They

have passed here times without number. I am in contact with the Brigade Commander here. I’m in contact with the Director of SSS. They will not tell you everything but they will tell you that things are happening.

Physically, my eyes have seen the activities of the military; weapons passing across the North East.

Since the month of August, I have started seeing new things. If the youths are saying that the Federal Government is not doing anything, I will not totally agree, but that they will need more of technical manpower in addition to what actually is on ground.

Worsening the situation

The issue is religion. I may be wrong in my interpretation, but these are the things we clearly see and they are not helping matters at all

The insurgents are always among us. We don’t know them.

They have the communication gadgets that our people don’t have. The moment they are able to locate a strategic place of attack, they can just pick their people, and before you know it, our people become vulnerable to their attacks.

We would have loved that when Youth CAN wants to speak; they should contact us and say this is what they are in. They should also try to find out from us. They don’t have access to these officers. But when we make it inflammatory, it also helps in making the situation worse.

We don’t want it to get to that level. We want a reduction - a diplomatic kind of approach and dialogue and conversation. We should be talking peacefully and pushing it to the Almighty God. As a people, we should also

speak to ourselves and ask where we have gone wrong.

Could it be that God is acting on our wrongs? Let’s ask for forgiveness. We know He is always there and ready to do it. Our leaders should take lead.

As the zonal CAN chairman, what will your appeal to the F e d e r a l Government be?

While we commend the efforts of the F e d e r a l Government in halting terrorism in this zone, the wealth of economy that is pushed in to curtail activities of these militants, we will appeal that there should be a collaborative effort between the Federal and state governments to be able to end this insurgency.

Many things have been politicized. We have no value for the sovereignty of our country which is our integrity and heritage. It’s unfortunate, but we need to bury our differences no matter what, to see that things are put in the right place.

The Federal Government should put in more efforts in the training of personnel and support them.

Training of personnel Especially, the Federal Government should ensure these security personnels are paid their due wages so that politicians would not capitalise on that to peddle rumours that help to fuel the issue so that things would come differently.

We have been told that if Jonathan insists on contesting next year’s election, they will worsen it.

Gummi has said he should not contest because if he does, there would be chaos. Why is it on a particular person? What interest is there about him? That’s the issue of the politics I’m talking about. Are we saying that somebody cannot contest because of a particular reason? What is the reason?

They don’t want to say the reason. The issue is religion. I may be wrong in my interpretation, but these are the things we clearly see and they are not helping matters at all.

Apart from prayers, our action should be that we should share the wisdom that God has given to us in this nation and use it wisely to build this country, to protect it from disintegrating from being one for the past 100 years.

God is faithful. Maybe what is happening now is to bring us to our right direction.

Do you really think that the Muslims and Christians can

live together again after all of these?

Why not? It’s the awareness. It’s the type of leadership. Our senior colleagues up there, our northern leaders have failed. They don’t want to own up to their responsibilities. They have failed. They have ruled us and they will want to continue to rule.

Today they ask this question that; why is it that it is Jonathan? And even if it is Jonathan, why is it that we are not the ones who made him be?

This is what is happening.

Someone made a statement that he saw Jonathan going to win but it’s not in his own liking. Who is behind this Jonathan that he is the one to win? Who has made him? There should be king makers. I thank God that Jonathan sometimes would thank God that it is only PDP that can allow a minority to rule the nation.

Building capacity I think that was wisdom for him to have shared it. We got that one.

There are many things happening but our capacity is shortfall. They have all the money, they have filling stations, they have the community/micro finance banks, and they help only their people. You can always tell you to go there in groups to get some money to build your capacity.

They will not give you. This is the North for you. I saw when the students and youths of northern Nigeria begged the governor of Imo State to contest under APC, and he said clearly that he’s the only one that can unsit the government of the PDP compared to other candidates come 2015. But the challenge is that, will APC allow him the ticket?

Two, if he now becomes the presidential aspirant of APC, the North will see him as a Christian, a southerner and an Igbo man.

They have never been willing to have that type here in the North.

They will not allow it. So they will better go with the devil they know than the angel they do not know.

Destiny chats debuts in Lagos

P

ASTOR Adebowale Ojo will be hosting a monthly motivational programme, tagged “Destiny chats” in Lagos, on November 15, 2014 at Mr. Biggs Restaurant, Ikotun Lagos, by 10am.

“Destiny chats” was borne out of his compassionate heart for the needs of people from all walks of life and is expected to open up the understanding of many to the fact that God has given them a perfectly good destiny.

They will receive insights that will guide them toward this God-given destiny and discover their latent potentials and be empowered to fulfill same through ‘practical application of time-proven success principles, thereby receiving complete deliverance from failure.

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 2014 — 57

58 — Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 2014

VANGUARD, WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 2014 —59

BRIEFS UN slashes winter aid in Iraq, Syria amid funding gap

Nigeria accuses NGOs of encouraging insurgency

By Hugo Odiogor

N

I G E R I A’ s ambassador to the United States, Prof.

Ade Adefuye has slammed non-governmental orgnisation for encouraging acts of insurgency in Nigeria.

Ambassador Adefuye who was addressing US council for foreign relatioins said the federal government is fighting an uphill battle in tackling the armed insurgency of Boko Haram

Islamists and the nongovernmental organisations that poses as human rights groups whose sympathy is for he Boko Haram insurgents.

Consequently, the federal government has been restrained in its approach to tackling the insurgency in the Northern part of Nigeria.

Ambassador Adefuye said the NGOs have been propagating half truths and outright falsehood regarding the actions of the federal government

to contain the activities of Boko Haram. He said the federal troops have been accused of human right violations each time they confront Boko Haram while these same agencies close their eyes to the killing and maiming of innocent people

by Boko Haram. i9Ambassa-dor Adefuye said Ameri-ca’s refusal to sell arms to the federal govern-ment to equip the troops is based on the false reports by the NGOs that the federal

troops are violating human rights.

He said a stable and secure Nigeria is an invaluable asset to America. According to Adefuye “America’s strategic global objectives aims for a stable and secure Africa as an integral part of a peaceful and stable world. A peaceful, stable and secure Nigeria, free from the ravages of Boko Haram is a necessary prerequisite.

US partners Nigeria to combat drug peddling

By Prisca Sam-Duru

U

NITED States Consul General, Lagos, Jeff Hawkins has expressed the US delight to partner with NDLEA to help Nigeria fight illicit drugs. Hawkins spoke at NDLEA National Headquarter, Ikoyi Lagos during NDLEA’s Equipment Handover on Monday.

He disclosed that “In the past three years, the United States has provided NDLEA with over $7 million in training and equipment donations.” adding that, “The central theme of the equipment and training is to help NDLEA transition from a primary reactive investigative agency to a proactive intelligence led investigative agency in order to identify, disrupt and dismantle major international drug trafficking organization operating in Nigeria.”

His words, “Through the Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL) represented here by Mike Bonner, Mission Nigeria has supported training and provided equipment to NDLEA. This close collaboration has made possible the equipment that is being donated which is intended to enhance law enforcement forces’ performance in combating the flow of narcotics to Nigeria.”

The Analyzers according to Hawkins, will help NDLEA officers

rapidly identify questionable drugs in the field, adding that “The Analyzer has an internal electronic library of il-

licit drugs and precursor chemicals.

It records every test and can provide a written report for use in court.

Any unidentified substances can be uploaded to the laboratory for further analysis and identification.”

UITED NATION refugee agency yesterday said it had been forced to slash the number of people it can help prepare for winter in conflict-ravaged Syria and Iraq for lack of funds.

“The whole humanitarian community is facing shortfalls. People are becoming numb,” said Amin Awad, who heads UNHCR’s Middle East and North Africa bureau, lamenting that his agency was having to make “tough choices”. The agency said it was facing a shortfall of $58 million (47 million euros) for its efforts to prepare millions of displaced people in Syria and Iraq for winter.

As a result, as many as one million displaced people desperate for blankets, kerosene, warm clothes and other items needed to keep warm and dry may have to go without assistance, it warned.

“I wish we could support everybody, and I wish that we could keep everybody warm,” Amin told reporters in Geneva, adding however that “the world is not responding.”

Women dead after mass sterilisation in India

A

T least eight women have died and dozens of others are in critical condition after undergoing botched sterilisation surgery, according to local officials. A total of 84 women, most of them poor villagers, had the operation on Saturday in a hospital outside Bilaspur city in the central state of Chhattisgarh, Siddharth Komal Pardeshi, the district magistrate, said.

The women were sent home on Saturday evening following their surgeries, but scores were later rushed in ambulances to private hospitals after falling ill. By Tuesday, eight of the women had died, Pardeshi said. “They have all had the same symptoms” including low blood pressure, headaches, breathing problems and signs of shock, said Arvind Gupta, the director of Apollo Hospital, one of the facilities where the sick women were taken. Sonmani Borah, the commissioner for Bilaspur district where the camp was held, said that “64 women were taken to various hospitals since Monday night”.

Congolese General Convicted of Rape

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The U.S. Consul General, Jeffrey Hawkins (Middle) handing over some equipment to the Director General of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) Ahmedu Giade at a ceremony in Lagos. To the left is Michael Bonner, U.S. Senior Police Advisor, INL.

Obama, Putin in cautious diplomacy in China

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N the surface, President Barack Obama and Russian President Vladimir Putin were all niceties a pat on the back here, a pleasantry there.

But away from the cameras, the two leaders circled each other warily at a global summit in China, coming face to face while relations between their countries continue to deteriorate.

Meanwhile, the White House said Obama and Putin spoke three times Tuesday on the sidelines of an Asia-Pacific economic meeting, tackling

some of the tough issues that have strained their relationship, including Russia’s provocations in Ukraine and support for Syria’s embattled government. They also discussed the fast-approaching deadline in nuclear talks with Iran, in which the U.S. and Russia find themselves on the same negotiating team. Unlike at some of their past meetings, Obama and Putin kept their deep-seated policy disagreements behind the scenes.

But their public encounters suggested their

relationship remains tense.

Picturesque Yanqi Lake, just outside of Beijing, became the venue for an awkward pas de deux between two of the most powerful leaders in the world.

Entering an ornate, wood-paneled room for the start of the summit, Obama and Putin looked a bit like sidekicks to Chinese President Xi Jinping.

The summit’s host led the way, with the American on one side and the Russian on the other.

S a rebel leader during the Democratic Re public of Congo’s bloody conflict a decade ago, Gen. Jerome Kakwavu was known for his ruthlessness. Now he will be remembered for something else: as the first Congolese general successfully prosecuted for rape.

Last week, a Congolese military court convicted Kakwavu for the war crimes of rape, murder, and torture and sentenced him to 10 years in prison. The conviction and 10-year sentence of a single general for rape may seem like a meager achievement in a country where hundreds of thousands of woman and girls, young and old, have been victims of sexual violence since Congo’s conflicts began in 1996.

Captain of S Korea ship gets 36 years in jail

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South Korean district court has handed a sentence of 36 years in prison to the captain of a ferry that sank in April, killing more than 300 people. The captain, Lee Joon-seok, was on Tuesday found guilty of gross negligence and dereliction of duty. The ship’s chief engineer, Park Ki-ho, was given 30 years for homicide.

Prosecutors and the crew members have one week to appeal, according to the court.

The crew’s negligence and abandonment of passengers caused the deaths, said prosecutors, but the three-judge court said there was no evidence suggesting the captain acted with an intention to kill. Most of the dead were teenage students travelling to a southern island for a school trip.

Al Jazeera’s Rob McBride, reporting from Gwangju, said the verdict had provoked reactions of outrage among families of the ferry’s passengers, who see the punishment as “lenient”.

60 — Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 2014

Bafana visit Senzo Meyiwa graveside B

AFANA Bafana players have visited the Durban graveside of former captain Senzo Meyiwa.

They spent most of Monday paying their respects to the slain goalkeeper ahead of their crunch Africa Cup of Nations clash against Sudan at the weekend.

Led by coach Shakes Mashaba, the national team headed straight to Heroes Acre cemetery in Chesterville upon their arrival in Durban, before heading south of the city to Meyiwa’s family home in Umlazi.

They were given the rest of Monday off and began training Tuesday for their match-up with the Sudanese at the Moses Mabhida Stadium on Saturday.

“It was very important for us to do this. It was a very good thing and it was befitting for Senzo,” Mashaba said.

“Whenever something like this happens, the mood is always very different. Some are happy, some are sad, others are still trying to come to terms with what has happened. But as we have seen, after the whole thing, the mood is getting

NFF, Lagos State set new marks for Federation Cup

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LAST RESPECT.... Bafana Bafana players encircle late Meyiwa's grave. better.

“I can only hope it doesn’t have more psychological effects for the worse, but let’s see.

Hopefully it will be for the better. We’ll know for sure after the first training session how everyone is.”

Meyiwa was shot dead on October 26, while visiting his girlfriend Kelly Khumalo in Vosloorus, outside Johannesburg.

He was made captain of South Africa following the appointment of Mashaba in June and presided over two wins and two draws. His four clean sheets put Bafana Bafana on the brink of

Afcon 2015 qualification.

Topping Group A, victory over Sudan, coupled with a loss for Congo against Nigeria, would guarantee their progress.

“I think it’s going to be very important for us to win this game because it will be a befitting sendoff for the late Senzo,” Mashaba said.

“In saying that, we don’t want to put our boys under any extra pressure to win. Let them go out there and do what they’re used to doing.

One other thing we have been preaching is that the spirit of our late captain prevails in the team.

HE Main Organising Committee of the 2014 Men and Women Federation Cup grand finale has insisted on global best practices for every facet of the organization of the event, on Sunday, 23rd November, 2014. At a meeting held inside the Conference Room of the NFF Secretariat, Abuja on Tuesday, NFF’s 1st Vice President Seyi Akinwunmi declared that the entire organizational experience would now reflect the new vision of the new NFF Executive Committee of doing things differently, positively.

“Over the years, the grand finale has been organized with the best of intentions on the sides of Lagos State and NFF, but we are saying that we should do even better in line with the vision of the new NFF. “Excellence should be the watchword as we look forward to a more glamorous Federation Cup grand finale delivered in line with global best practice,” Akinwunmi said.

Dike clears air on bonus issue N

•Dike

IGERIA’S U-20 Women national team star, Courtney Dike, has explained why she rejected bonus payments at the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup finals in Canada.

The Oklahoma State University student wrote in a mail: “I would like to respond to what I have been reading on the internet about rejecting bonuses.

“I am delighted to play for Nigeria whenever called upon. I knew before leaving for the U20 World Cup that I

would not accept any bonuses. Acceptance of prize money is against NCAA regulations (the division 1 collegiate governing body) here in the US, so that is the main reason for rejecting it.

“Knowing this beforehand, I still chose to represent the country because I believed the experience would be more valuable than the money, and I was right.”

Morocco BANNED from African Cup of Nations M

OROCCO has been expelled from the 2015 African Cup of Nations, after refusing to host the competition as scheduled due fears over the spread of Ebola.

Morocco had asked to postpone the competition, originally scheduled for January and February 2015, fearing that fans and players from west Africa might spread the Ebola virus to the north African kingdom.

But after a meeting of the competition’s governing body, the Confederation of African Football, officials rejected Morocco’s request, and will instead aim to hold the cup on the same dates in a different African country.

Caf stands to lose millions of dollars in revenue should the competition be postponed.

Marouane Chamakh of Crystal Palace, Adel Taarabt of Queens Park Rangers and Oussama Assaidi, on loan at Stoke from Liverpool, are Premier League players who would miss out on playing for Morocco.

“Following the refusal

spokesman, would not reveal the names of the countries vying to replace Morocco, saying only that there were “a few candidates. But time is running away from us so you will

find out within a few days.”

Caf added: “The executive committee confirms the continuation of qualifiers match-days five and six, which will be

Bafana coach Continues from BP

•Afcon trophy

of the Moroccan party, the executive committee decides that the national team of Morocco is automatically disqualified and will not take part in the 30th edition of the Orange Africa Cup of Nations in 2015,” Caf said in a statement following the meeting at their headquarters west of Cairo.

The statement added that a decision on the replacement host would follow at a later date. Possible replacements as hosts include Algeria, Angola, Egypt and Nigeria.

Junior Binyam, a Caf

against Sudan on Saturday afternoon at Moses Mabhida Stadium, making their trip to the newly-built Akwa Ibom Stadium just a date to fulfill a fixture.

Bafana lead Group A with eight points from four games and just need one win out of the remaining two games against Sudan and Nigeria to go through as one of the top two teams in the group.

Whether the Nations Cup still goes ahead as planned due to hosts Morocco’s withdrawal remains to be seen but, regardless, Mashaba wants to get the job done this weekend.

“We don’t prioritise any of the games …we take them all equally,” he says.

“It is going to be more than the three points at stake.

However, I will be happy if we sum up this by beating Sudan, which will make our life easy when we go to Nigeria.”

Bafana’s trip to Nigeria will come at a time when the Super Eagles are stung by chaos in their technical team, with Stephen Keshi back in charge after being sacked last month.

“What we usually do is try to put soundproofs around ourselves,” Mashaba adds. “We don’t want to hear anything about what is going on in their camp. We will only see them on the day when we go and play them.

“We don’t even discuss it as a technical committee because it might mislead us as we will say they are not right yet we are only causing problems for ourselves.”

held during the month [14-15 November and 19 November], paving the way for the qualification of the 15 teams that will be joining the team of the host country.”

•Sokari

I’ll justify my invitation to Eagles — Sokari

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NYIMBA FC midfielder Kingsley Sokari has vowed to justify his inclusion in the Super Eagles team for the 2015 Nations Cup qualifiers.

Sokari made a surprise entry into the team, after impressing the coaching crew during last week’s friendly game between the homebased Eagles and the Black Meteors of Ghana.

He is among the eight homebased players listed in the squad to play Congo and South Africa, and he will be hoping to make it count.

“I’m so happy and very excited. We have so many Nigerians whose biggest dream is to be invited to

the Super Eagles. It’s is a call I’ve longed for and fully ready to prove myself.” Sokari told Goal.

“I’ve really been working hard at club level and happy about my personal improvement.

It’s the dream of many players at home and abroad to play in the colours of Super Eagles.

So achieving this, a big plus to my career.

“I’m very excited witnessing this moment in my football career. As much as I’m happy, I cannot but give great kudos to the big boss (Coach Stephen Keshi) who saw me good enough and deserving of this great chance,” he added.

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 2014 — 61

Oboabona confident of Afcon qualification

Nigerian football will soar under Pinnick —Tenebe

By John Egbokhan

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NE-TIME factional head of the Nigeria Football Federation Jareth Tanebe has urged football stakeholders to rally round the current board of the NFF led by Amaju Pinnick in their bid to offer a new lease of life to the game.

Speaking yesterday in an interview with Sports Vanguard, Tanebe said Pinnick has learnt the ropes of sports administration from the best crop of Nigerians and was steeped in global sports marketing to drive home good fortunes into the coffers of the NFF. Describing Pinnick as a humble, young, vibrant and openminded person, Tenebe expressed confidence that the good days will soon start rolling in for Nigerian football as the NFF hit the ground to bring in the goodies that the masses so much crave for.

“All football stakeholders should as a matter of national interest rally round the

new board of the NFF, led by Pinnick because they mean well for the development of the game and are committed to ensuring that our football competes with the world’s best at any given time.

“I have known Pinnick over the years and his passion, vision, knowledge and desire to bequeath a lasting legacy for the youths of Nigeria are the very things that have made me to lend my support to this administration and urge Nigerians to give them time to succeed”, added Tenebe.

He noted that Pinnick’s board can go on to be the most successful FA board in Nigeria’s history if stakeholders allow the less than two-month old board work without heating up the polity.

“Of course they can go on to become the most successful FA board if they are allowed to work unhindered by Nigerians. With Pinnick steering the ship of affairs, a lot of goodies will surely roll in for our football”, said Tenebe.

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HEAD of Nigeria’s 2015 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers against Congo and South Africa, Godfrey Oboabona has restated the belief that the team will book a ticket to the tournament.

“I still have confidence we will qualify,” he told sl10.ng. “I don’t have any doubts whatsoever, I am 100% sure we will

Benue 2014: Obiano charges Team Anambra to victory

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OVERNOR Willie Obiano of Anambra State has

•Pinnick

Ancelotti: Di Maria was too wasteful

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•Tenebe

EAL Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti has said Angel Di Maria was too wasteful in possession, one of the reasons why the club was happy to sell him to Manchester United in the summer. “[James] and Di Maria are very different players,” Ancelotti explained. “Di Maria could break games with his energy, but also sometimes he lost

Danagogo promises to strengthen Nigeria/ Germany relationship

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HE Sports Minister and Chairman, National Sports Commission, Dr. Tammy Danagogo has expressed optimism that the bi-lateral relationship existing between Nigeria and Germany will be fostered to ensure that the synergy between the two countries in sports development is maintained as the affiliation in sports is robust.

Danagogo made the assertion when the

have a lot to share, learn and exchange from each other and it is our desire for the relationship to be fostered”.

•Di Maria control - he lost the ball in important moments.”

I

German Ambassador to Nigeria, His Excellency, Michael Zenner paid him a courtesy call on Monday in Abuja.

According to him, “we

N recognition of their contributions to sports development, the Nigerian Sports Award is set to honour three legends with the life time achievement award at the 2014 edition of the Award scheduled for tomorrow at the Muson center Onikan, Lagos.

challenged the state contingent to the 7th National School Sports Festival taking place in Otukpo, Benue State, to work towards coming up tops at the competition.

“I am here to see you on behalf of Gov. Willie Obiano who is particularly interested in your welfare.

“He is happy with the early success achieved so far in Otukpo and wants to assure you that he is behind you. The government and good people of Anambra want you to improve on your third place finish in the last edition of the competition in Ilorin, Kwara State."

Spain’s pain for Fabregas

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H E L S E A midfielder Cesc Fabregas will miss Spain’s Euro 2016 qualifier against

Belarus and friendly with Germany with a hamstring injury.

The Spanish Football Federation said:

NSA honours for Olowu, Ogan, Elayea •Danagogo

qualify because I have confidence in the team and I don’t have any doubt.

“Sometimes you win and sometimes you don’t, but we have to keep fighting and keep winning as many games as possible and ensure that we get the most important ones,” he added.

The three legends to be honored at the Nigerian Sports Award are Pa Karim Ayinla Babalola Olowu fondly Continues from BP

Ahmed Musa, Emmanuel Emenike, Juwon Oshaniwa, Kenneth Omeruo, John Mikel Obi, Austin Ejide, Raheem Lawal, Godfrey Oboabona, Hope Akpan, Omatsone Aluko, Sunday Emmanuel and Aaron Samuel and Ogenyi Onazi all had lunch with the technical crew before the team set out for the Goal Project site of the National Stadium for the day’s business.

The training proper lasted from 4-6pm with

called KAB, Dr George Ogan and Dr Awoture Elayea.

KAB Olowu was a member of the first offi-

Enyeama Keshi taking charge of affairs. Home based stars, C h i g o z i e Agbim,Azubuike Egwuekwe, Christian Osuaguna Ighodalo, Friday Edjidegborie, Solomon Kwambe, Kingsley Sokari, Emem Eduok and Gbolahan Salami were all in full flight during the session.

After some tactical sessions, Keshi chose to play the probables against the possibles to the delight of a sizeable

“Although the MRI discards a hamstring tear, the player continues to have discomfort.'' cial Nigerian team to participate in the Commonwealth Games, (then called British Empire Games), in 1950, Auckland, New Zealand. number of fans at the arena. Aaron Samuel was the star of the possibles as he scored a classic goal against Agbim in goal for the probables but goals from Emmanuel ‘Ogbunigwe’ Emenike and Mikel Obi eclipsed his efforts before Keshi called a close to the session. Preparations for the game against Congo continues Wednesday in Abuja with Keshi saying he was totally satisfied with the fitness level of his players and hope it continues like that till match day.

62— Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 2014

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Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 2014 — 63

VANGUARD, WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 2014

Bafana coach wants Afcon ticket before Eagles clash S

HAKES Mashaba wants to seal Bafana Bafana’s qualification for the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations finals this weekend to avoid

the strain of going away to Nigeria still needing a result.

Bafana will secure qualification with a win •Continues on Page 60

Morocco BANNED from Africa Cup of Nations •Country refused to host event over Ebola fears •Tournament to go ahead in Jan/February •Algeria, Angola, Egypt and Nigeria likely hosts

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to

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60

Enyeama, Ike Uche beat deadline •Keshi happy with players fitness

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KIPPER Vincent Enyeama of Lille Metropole of France and Villareal of Spain Ikechukwu Uche were the last players to hit the Super Eagles Bolton White Apartment abode ahead of the crucial Nations Cup qualifier against Congo next Saturday in Point Noire.

The two players effectively missed out in the day’s evening and only training session but should be available for Wednesday’s session that will again be conducted

by Head Coach, Stephen Okechukwu Keshi.

Before then all invited players like Elderson Echejile, Efe Ambrose,

•Continues on Page 61

AFCON TROPHY

CHAMPIONS: Super Eagles players celebrates with Afcon trophy.

•Enyeama

QUICK CROSSWORD

TODAY'S

PUZZLE

YESTER DAY'S YESTERDAY'S

ANSWERS

ACROSS: 1 Fashionable (4) 4 Immerse (3) 6 Stated (4) 8 Coma (6) 9 Posture (6) 10 Snoop (3) 12 Beleaguer (5) 14 Lukewarm (5) 15 Sordid (5) 18 Thrown (6) 20 Rubber (6) 24 Exterior (5) 26 Trench (5) 28 Prodded (5) 30 Insect (3) 32 Undress (6) 33 Away (6) 34 Saucy (4) 35 Encountered (3) 36 Platform (4)

DOWN: 2 Animal (5) 3 Admit (7) 4 Intense (4) 5 Nosegay (4) 6 Musty (5) 7 Slope (7) 11 Edge (3) 12 Wager (3) 13 Golf-peg (3) 16 Fuss (3) 17 Still (3) 19 Aperture (7) 21 Material (3) 22 Excited (7) 23 Wand (3) 25 Vase (3) 27 Deceive (5) 29 Boredom (5) 30 Particle (4) 31 Sour (4)

YESTERDAY'S SOLUTIONS ACROSS: 2, Storm 7, Shape 8, Plain 10, Erred 12, Oft 13, Dream 15, Lengthy 17, Regret 19, Lug 20, Drained 23, Fret 25, Drip 26, Tempted 30, Tap 31, Retain 34, Debated 37, Midge 38, Din 39, Divot 40, Vague 41, Taboo 42, Sheen.

DOWN: 1, Share 2, Spear 3, Termed 4, Reel 5, Clogged 6, Lithe 9, Aft 11, Delivered 13, Draft 14, Egret 16, Nun 18, Trapped 21, Dread 22, Spine 24, Tetanus 27, Mat 28, Demote 29, Pedal 32, Titan 33, Igloo 35, Big 36, Dish.

How to Play Sudoku

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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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