35 killed in Borno blast, other attacks

...towards a better life for the people

**

VOL. 25: NO. 62341

ONLINE | www.vanguardngr.com

N150

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2015

No provision for interim govt in 1999 Constitution — AGF 8

NLC conference ends in chaos

8

35 killed in Borno blast, other attacks

By Ndahi Marama

•15 killed, 24 injured in Biu Market explosion •Another 20 die as Boko Haram hits other villages

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AIDUGURI— T H I R T Y- f i v e persons were killed, yesterday, and several others injured during attacks by Boko Haram terrorists on three Borno communities. The three Continues on Page 5

COLUMNISTS: Donu Kogbara

Fear and •P.17 fury

2015 ELECTIONS: The dilemma of a postponement •P.28

Mr & Mrs

DISPLACED CHIBOK PEOPLE—Displaced Chibok people in a camp in Kuje, Abuja,yesterday. Photo: NAN.

PDP declares confidence in INEC 59

Don't vote mediocre as president — OBASANJO

5

2015: Jonathan's endorsement tears Yoruba leaders apart •See pull-out inside

2 — Vanguard, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2014

C M Y K

Vanguard, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2015 — 3

C M Y K

4 — Vanguard, FRIDAY FRIDAY,, FEBRUARY 13, 2015

Vanguard, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2015 —5

POCKET CARTOON

BUHARI MEETS NORTHERN CHRISTIAN LEADERS— From right: Bishop Daniel Oboni, Chairman Northern Christian Leaders Eagle Eye Forum, Pastor Aminchi Habu; APC Presidential Candidate, General Muhammadu Buhari (Ret); Vice Presidential Candidate, Prof Yemi Osinbajo; Bishop Musa Fomson and Dr Sunday Garba during a meeting of Northern Christian Leaders forum with Gen. Buhari, yesterday, in Abuja.

35 killed in Borno market explosion, other attacks Continues from Page 1 communities were Biu, the largest Borno town in the southern part of the state, Alkideow and Mbuta.

In Biu, a deadly explosion from a bomb that went off in a crowded market, reportedly killed 15 people with 21 others injured, according to witnesses.

Witnesses said the injured persons and corpses were being evacuated. Biu is the largest Borno town in the southern part of the state, located 187 kilometres south of Maiduguri, the state capital.

A resident of the town, Mwajim Ali Gana said: “A suicide bomber today (yesterday) launched an attack on innocent marketers on Biu plateau”.

Another eye witness said: “I was buying some soup ingredients at the vegetable section of the market around 3:15pm and suddenly there was

a heavy sound and the market was covered with dust as the entire place was thrown into confusion. Human parts littered the scene as survivors scrambled for safety”.

A member of the Biu Youth volunteer vigilante group, popularly called “Civilian JTF” involved in the rescue of the victims told Vanguard on phone that a suspected member of the Boko Haram sect entered the vegetable section of the Market and detonated the Improvised Explosive Device (IED), killing several people at the market.

He said so far 15 bodies have been recovered while several other people with various degrees of injuries are currently receiving medical attention at the Biu General Hospital.

A medical doctor at the Biu hospital, who pleaded anonymity, said that seven bodies were brought from the scene,

TAKE HEART

BY ELLA RANDLE

Three grand essentials to happiness in this life are something to do, something to love, and something to hope for—Joseph Addison

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ACH of us has a choice on how we focus our attention. Choosing to focus on the moment, and to also reflect on the beauty and uniqueness of life instead of stress and problems will make you feel happier and more relaxed. Practice gratitude even in the smallest of things, like a meal, a good book, a difficult exercise or a smile from a stranger on the street.

Choose your thoughts and change your world. Find something that you love and immerse your heart in it, such as when you are running a race, writing a song, or reading a great book, one’s self-awareness dissipates, time seems to stop, and we become focused, peaceful, and attentive to the task at hand.

People who frequently experience this kind of creative flow tend to be happy, productive, and creative and focused.

while eight persons died shortly after.

He also said 21 others with severe injuries were being prepared for referral to other major hospitals within and outside the state.

Yesterday ’s suicide bomb attack was the first ever suicide mission in Biu town since the commencement of the Boko Haram insurgency.

A security source in Biu said a female suicide bomber detonated an Improved Explosive Device (IED) in Biu Main market killing three persons including the suicide bomber while 10 others were injured.

He said the female suicide bomber came to the market and detonated the IED which was attached to her body at about 3:30 pm, adding that those injured were rushed to Biu General Hospital for treatment’.

“The female suicide bomber sneaked into the market through the Third Gate of the Main market, when people were busy carrying out their business activities”, he added.

Another 20 persons killed in Mafa LG

In another development, more than two dozen suspected members of Boko Haram gunmen in a convoy of motorcycles attacked Mbuta village in Mafa Local Government Area

of Borno State, killed nine people and torched of several houses and shops at about 7.25am, yesterday.

Mbuta village is near Khaddamari; the council headquarters of Jere, and 25 kilometres northeast of Maiduguri, the state capital.

According to the village head, Mallam Zakari, in a telephone conversation yesterday in Maiduguri; “the insurgents riding motorcycles attacked Alkideow village near our village, Mbuta as early as 4.30am but failed in taking away their cows, after killing nine people, before proceeding to Mbuta village by 7.20am and torched several houses and shops. When the gunmen burst into my village, they started shooting sporadically at any person in sight. Our houses and shops were not spared, as they killed 11 of my people here, including two old women, who were burnt to death in their huts, before the early morning

attack on us,” said Zakari yesterday.

He added that “the bodies of the slain villagers littered the outskirts of Mbuta, as gunmen pursued them into the bush when they attempted to flee their houses. Two of my people escaped to Maiduguri with gunshot wounds, while other villagers who survived fled into the bush as the terrorists were still hunting for them, after they burnt down many of their houses.”

Vanguard also learnt that two hours after the attack, soldiers and some members of Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF) stationed at Zabarmari rushed to the village, but the gunmen had fled on motorcycles towards the Mafa-Dikwa axis border areas with Cameroon.

The Borno State police command, yesterday, also said that there were attacks on the outskirts of Maiduguri with some villagers feared killed in the early hours of yesterday.

Don't vote mediocre as president — OBASANJO

By Emmanuel Aziken, Political Editor, with agency reports

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AGOS—FORMER P r e s i d e n t Olusegun Obasanjo has enjoined Nigerians not to die for a mediocre in their search of a leader to run the country.

Obasanjo, who spoke in London at the launch of his book, My Watch, was, however, less than enthusiastic in his earlier endorsement on Tuesday of the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (Ret) given in Nairobi, Kenya.

The book, My Watch which is a chronicle of Obasanjo’s years in the presidency, is banned in Nigeria pending judicial adjudication on a libel suit

brought by a chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Chief Buruji Kashamu. The former president has, however, taken to the international circuit to promote the book with the launch first in Nairobi where he endorsed Buhari for the presidency.

He had told the Financial Times of London in London: “The circumstances he (Buhari) will be working under if he wins the elections are different from the one he worked under before, where he was both the executive and the legislature – he knows that. He is smart enough.

He is educated enough.

He’s experienced enough. Why shouldn’t I support him?”

At the London launch on Wednesday night, the former president was,

however, more circumspect, saying: “What I said and I maintain that and I will say it again and I will do it. When the time comes for me to vote, I will consider the track record of all the candidates that are contesting and I will assess and based on my assessment of who I believe has the best track record to perform the job of the Nigerian president, then he will have my vote and if anybody should know what the job of the Nigerian president requires, I should know.”

He was, nevertheless still dismissive in his assessment of the work of incumbent President Goodluck Jonathan whose political career he helped fast-track from deputy governor in 2005 to vicepresident in 2007 and then backed for the

presidency in 2011.

Obasanjo who has severally attacked Dr. Jonathan’s second term bid warned: “There is no sentiment in the affairs of Nigeria.

Nigeria has a population of 180million and you wouldn’t have anybody other than one person or two persons that can run the affairs of Nigeria?

What the hell are we talking about?

“For me there are millions who can run the affairs of Nigeria that are not even coming out. So why should you die on behalf of one who is probably performing as a mediocre.? With all due respect, Nigeria, if you love it, you would look for the best for Nigeria and I don’t believe that at this point in time we have the best.”

6—Vanguard, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2015

Cholera kills 6 in Bayelsa

By Samuel Oyadongha

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ENAGOA—AN outbreak of cholera has reportedly claimed six lives at Ologi in Ogbia Local Government Area of Bayelsa State, with several others in critical condition.

The member representing Ogbia constituency II in the state House of Assembly, Chief Obedient Emoto, disclosed this in Yenagoa shortly after visiting the troubled community.

He warned that unless urgent steps were taken, it could claim more lives and spread to other n e i g h b o u r i n g communities.

The lawmaker appealed to the state Ministry of Health to urgently send epidemiologists, health personnel and drugs to curb the epidemic in the community. He said the outbreak had exposed the absence of basic amenities in the community A community source told Vanguard that those with severe cases were rushed to Otuokpoti for medical assistance.

An official of the Ministry of Health, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said health personnel and drugs had been dispatched to the area to contain the spread of the disease.

Man arrested with fake $100, £100 zAnother escapes lynching over fake N1,000 notes

By Ifeanyi Okolie & Esther Onyegbula

from that little girl with a fake N1,000 note.

“He would have succeeded in using the fake currency and also collecting his change from her.”

When Vanguard got to the scene of the incident yesterday, the suspect had been rescued by police officer and brought out from the drain he fell into.

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fraudster, Akeem Alo, who specialized in producing and selling counterfeit currency, has been arrested by operatives of the Special Anti-Robbery, Squad, SARS, at the Zone 2, headquarters, Onikan, Lagos.

The 42-year-old suspect, from Oyo State, was arrested when the operatives stormed his hideout in Ikorodu, apprehended him and recovered fake local and foreign currencies.

Meanwhile, policemen in Lagos, yesterday, foiled attempt by a mob to lynch a middleaged man, who allegedly bought wares from a young girl with fake N1,000 notes, at about 10:30am around EcoBank branch, along Alaba International Market Road.

I had stopped the business— ALO

Suspect allegedly caught with fake N1,000 notes.

The fraud was discovered when the young girl went to her neighbour to request for help in getting smaller denominations.

The neighbour raised alarm and the suspect was apprehended by neighbours and passers-by, who descended on him.

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SABA—A 35-year-old man working with Benin Electricity Distribution Company, BEDC, Asaba, was, Wednesday night, electrocuted while working on a 450KV high tension wire.

The man, identified as Bright Abunwaeze, was electrocuted while working on a faulty high tension wire when the transformer in the area was switched on by unknown persons, while the deceased was still working on the line.

A source said two other staff of the company, who accompanied him, took to their heels when the incident occurred.

The source, who pleaded anonymity, said: “We saw three BEDC staff when they came with a Hilux van at about 8pm and we wondered how they could be working at that time.

“Suddenly, we saw sparks at the top of the pole the man was working on. He died and fell down with his hand burnt and smoke coming out of his nose and ears.”

According to an eyewitness, Ijeoma Obodo, “we were here when he purchased something

Customs officer dies test-driving power bike

By Godwin Oritse

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RAGEDY struck yesterday as a Customs Officer attached to the Port and MultiPurpose Terminal Services, PTML, command of the Nigeria Customs Service, NCS, rode his boss' power bike under a moving petroleum tanker and died immediately.

The officer, identified as Muri was test driving the power bike

which Vanguard gathered had just been acquired by his boss, identified as Olagunju, when the accident occurred.

An eyewitness told Vanguard that the accident has thrown the entire command into a mourning mood as the boss of the deceased was also shaken by the accident.

The eyewitness said: “The man was test driving the power bike that was bought by one of

35-year-old man electrocuted in Delta

By Festus Ahon

Akeem Alo.

Asaba Business District Public Relation Officer of BEDC, Mrs Esther Okolie, described Abunwaeze's death as a big loss to the company, saying “he was one of our best and dedicated hands.”

She said investigation was ongoing to unravel how a high tension wire without current could kill, adding that control room had confirmed that the line was dead before the deceased climbed the pole.

the gate officers at PMTL and he was on top speed, he ran under a truck that was moving and in a few minutes the man was lifeless” When Vanguard visited the command, the Public Relations Officers of the command, Mr. Steve Okonmma was seen making frantic efforts to reach the family of the deceased through his (Muri) mobile phone.

It was gathered that while the tanker driver escaped arrest, an articulated vehicle that was also involved in the accident was promptly arrested.

It was also confirmed that when the command eventually reached the deceased family, they requested that he should be buried immediately in accordance with Islamic rites.

On Akeem Alo, spokesman of Zone 2 command headquarters, Olugbenimi Adeoyo, while confirming the arrest, told Vanguard that fake $100, £100 notes, and N20,000 were found with the suspects, when he was arrested.

Adeoyo also described Alo as a habitual criminal who had been arrested several times for the same offence.

Adeoye said: “He has been arrested twice and he has kept on coming back. We are going to charge him to court and remand him.”

When Vanguard interviewed the suspect, he said: “I am a butcher. I was arrested last Wednesday. Someone called and said he needed dollars and Pounds. He wanted to use it as ‘treasure,’ which means for fraud.

“I brought the Dollars to the place and I was arrested by the police. Before now, I was arrested in 2013 and they recovered $100,000 and £100,000 from me. I usually sell $10,000 for N2,000, while I sell £10,000 for N3000.

“I was charged to court after the first arrest and I got bail. I have stopped doing this business, but this man called me and said he would pay me N15,000 if I could supply him foreign currencies. I needed the money to pay my son’s school fees.”

Three charged over attempt to murder Pastor Ighodalo

By Onozure Dania &Tayo Ogundipe

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AGOS—A dog handler, Abdulkareem Mohammed, 24, who resides with Pastor Ituah Ighodalo of Trinity House Church, and two others were, yesterday, charged before a Tinubu Magistrate’s Court over alleged attempted murder and poisoning of the pastor, with a view to taking his wife, Ibidunni.

The other defendants are a native doctor, Akeem MakindeEwuosi 36, and a security man, Paul Eke 29.

The defendants, who reside at 24 Moloney Street, Lagos Island; 21, Joseph Street, Lagos Island; and Ilaje Street, Ajah,

Lagos, respectively, are facing a two-count charge of attempted murder and poisoning preferred against them by the police.

However the defendants pleaded not guilty to the charges levelled against them.

Magistrate A. O. Awogboro granted the defendants N500,000 bail each, with two sureties each, and adjourned the matter to March 18.

Awogboro further ordered the prosecutor to duplicate the case file and send it to the office of the Director of Public Prosecutor, DPP, for advice.

The prosecutor, Chidi Okoye, told the court that the defendants conspired amongst themselves and attempted to murder Pastor Ituah Ighodalo in

order to take over his wife.

He said the poison substance with which the first defendant attempted to murder the pastor tested positive to the one used to poison their pet, a dog, named Simba, which was four months old, adding that the incident occurred between January 28 and February 10, at about 10pm at 4b, Ogun Street, Osborne Foreshore Estate in Ikoyi, Lagos.

It was also alleged that the first defendant, who had been having sexual fantasies towards Ibidunni, also planned to kill Pastor Ituah Ighodalo after the death of the dog, so the affection she had for her husband and the dog would be transferred to him.

The first defendant was said to have got the said poison from the second defendant, who is a native doctor, which he used to kill the dog.

Makinde also gave a black soap and powder and asked the first defendant to buy a sponge to take his bath and then throw the sponge into the river, after which he would be able to demand for N10 million and anything from Ibidunni, adding that she would oblige him.

According to the prosecutor, the offence is punishable under Section 228 (1) (2), of the criminal laws of Lagos State of Nigeria, 2011, which prescribes life imprisonment for anyone found guilty of the charge.

Vanguard, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2015—7

Gunmen kill 2 workers at Okomu Oil Palm

By Gabriel Enogholase

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ENIN—TWO workers of Okomu Oil Palm Plc, Okomu, Udo, in Ovia South West Local Government Area of Edo State have been killed by unknown gunmen.

The gunmen were said to have invaded the palm plantation, where about seven workers, said to be weeding around the premises of the company were shot at and two died instantly.

Five others escaped with bullet wounds and are currently receiving treatment in a medical facility.

Vanguard gathered that a large portion of the plantation was set ablaze by unknown youths over alleged refusal of the company's management to settle them.

A worker, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said several workers had been attacked in the past but the management usually kept mum about the incidences.

He said the killing of the two workers occurred at a place not far from where security operatives were based.

He said: “This matter does not concern us. We are just workers, but the boys always attack us and leave the management staff alone.

“The boys need something from the management, but this managing director is too stubborn. The security men on ground have not exchanged gunshots with the attackers since trouble started last year.

“We decided to cry out so that management can do something about this.”

Public Relations Officer for

Okomu Oil Palm Plc, Ikponmwosa Osunbor, confirmed the killing and said the hoodlums had been warning the oil firm to leave the land.

Ikpomwosa said the gang had not made any demand for cash, but only threw leaflets into the firm asking them to leave.

He urged the state government to intervene in the situation, because relatives of the slain workers were spoiling for war.

He said: “They have burnt 300 hectares of matured rubber and oil palms. We have 120 army personnel in our plantation, but the boys are still attacking our

workers in the bush.”

“Government should provide us with more security. Our fear is that it will turn tribal.”

The story was also confirmed

by Edo State Police Command Public Relations Officer, Mr. Joseph Edoigiawerie, who said that police had step up investigations into the incident.

FREE CAMPAIGN: Persons with disability at the Goodluck 2015 Vision for Persons with Unique Abilities campaign in Abuja, yesterday. NAN PHOTO.

NDLEA arrests 6 suspects, seizes 300.7kg drug

By Boluwaji Obahopo

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OKOJA—THE National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, in Kogi State has arrested six suspected drug dealers and seized 300.7kg of Cannabis Sativa and some psycotropic substances.

State Commander of NDLEA, Alhaji Idris Bello, while parading the suspects at the State Command Office in Lokoja

ARRESTED: From left: Illyasu, Ogede and Manga.

PHOTO: Evelyn Usman.

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JEH Smith Ogede, the 27year-old man allegedly tortured alongside his wife by policemen in Ikoyi area of Lagos last year, is in the news again.

This time, he was arrested for allegedly buying 100 litres of stolen diesel from a private guard in Park View Estate, Ikoyi Lagos.

His arrest followed indictment

By Esther Onyegbula

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yesterday, said the drug dealers wanted to hide under election period to distribute the illegal drugs.

The suspects are Isiaka Umaru, Haruna Ismaila, Yahaya Salami, Abubarka Muftau, and Nurudeen Salami.

Bello, who stated that the arrest of the suspects was made possible by intelligence gathering, said the command will continue to work hard to rid

the state of illicit drugs.

He said one of the suspects, Isiaka Umoru, a bus conductor, was arrested when the command intercepted a J5 bus in Kabba-Aiyere, which was coming from Owo in Ondo Stated and found it loaded with 36 bags of Cannabis Sativa.

He said: “The J5 bus was parked beside the road and my men accosted the bus, searched and discovered 290.5 kg.”

Soldiers, not policemen tortured me, says suspected diesel thief

By Evelyn Usman

Four shot as land grabbers go on rampage in Ogun

by the private guard, identified as Mathias Manga.

The bubble burst after owner of the building located at Layi Ajayi Road, one Mrs Aretha Njoku, said to have been complaining about missing kegs of diesel in her compound, reportedly sighted her private guard, Mathias, handing over some 25 litres jerry cans to someone, from her Closed Circuit Television,CCTV

camera, last Sunday.

Also arrested was one Adamu Illyasu,whom the main suspect alleged that he had been selling the stolen diesel to since last year.

However, when Vanguard met the suspects, it was discovered that Ejeh Smith identified himself as Smith Ogede at the Ikoyi Police Division.

It was gathered that the guard and the duo of Smith Ogede and Adamu Illyasu were handed over to some military men by the owner of the building, who thereafter, brought them to policemen at Ikoyi Division, Monday.

During an encounter with the suspects, they admitted culpability. But Ogede (Ijeh) alleged that he was brutalized by the Military men before he was brought to Ikoyi Division.

He said: “On my way to church last Sunday, Manga, the guard, stopped me and said he was hungry. I told him I had no money on me.

“But he said that was not what he wanted, that he had some diesel to sell.

“I told him I do not buy ordinary diesel. He said it was not the ordinary one, but the condemned one.

“I went back to the house where I work as Personnel Assistant to its owner, brought two jerry cans of 50 litres each and gave to Manga.

“I waited for him at the designated place until he brought the diesel in two jerry cans. I paid him N8,000 for both.

“I was not aware it was stolen. I usually buy diesel and resell to truck drivers. But I ended up paying N23,000 for the 100 litres.”

Asked how, he said: “I paid extra N15,000 to Manga’s boss. I paid the money out of torture.

“This was because her husband invited some soldiers, who arrested me and tortured me before bringing me to the police station.”

HE Ogun State Police Command is currently investigating the circumstances that led to the shooting of four persons and maiming of several others by some land speculators at Igushi area of Abule Oke in Ifo Local Government Area of the state.

Vanguard gathered that the four victims shot by the land grabbers sustained injuries, while others are in critical conditions.

Those not in critical condition were treated at the police cottage hospital and discharged.

Also, thousands of naira and some handsets were lost to the hoodlums during the fracas.

P r e l i m i n a r y investigations by the Police Area Command in Sango revealed that a paramount ruler and one prince, among others now at large, were behind the attack.

The police said the prince had earlier engaged one Otunba Kehinde Adeosun in a battle over the ownership of a parcel of land.

Otunba Adeosun, in a statement to the police, had stated that his family owned the disputed parcel of land located at Abule Oke and Ogan Communities in Ifo Local Government.

The large expanse of land, according to his statement, is covered by a Certificate of Occupancy, issued by the state government.

One of the victims, Saheed Oladeinde, said: “I had gone to commence the development of my plot of land, when I was attacked and shot by the hoodlums.

“I lost over N150,000 which I had on me to pay for tippers of sand, gravel, bags of cement and other items to commence the foundation of my house.”

Olumide Adeniji, a passenger on a motorbike, said he was on his way to inspect ongoing works at his building site when the hoodlums attacked him and shot him in the head, shoulder and arm.

The commercial bike operator, according to him, “managed to escape.”

8—Vanguard, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2015

APC to Jonathan: You can’t intimidate us

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AGOS — The All Progresives Congress, APC, has said the party’s leadership and members will not be intimidated by the latest antics of the Jonathan administration to harass and intimidate the opposition, especially in the run-up to next month’s general elections.

In a statement in Lagos, yesterday, by its National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, the party said the recent military siege on APC National Leader, Asiwaju Ahmed Tinubu’s residence and the Imo State Government House and the police harassment of APC’s Presidential Campaign spokesman, Garba Shehu fit perfectly into this emerging pattern.

It said: "As the elections approach, we know the harassment and intimidation will be stepped up. We know our leaders, including the National Chairman Chief John Oyegun; National Leader, Asiwaju Ahmed Tinubu; Gov. Rotimi Amaechi; former Gov. Timipre Sylva; Senator Bukola Saraki and National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, are under surveillance and their phones being hacked.

"We are aware that several of them, especially the National Publicity Secretary, have been marked down for arrest in the days to come. We know there are evil plots to frame some of them on trumped-up charges. We know our lives are in danger.

But these and more will not deter us from continuing to act in the national interest or from seeking to effect change through the ballot box.

"Yes, we are alerting Nigerians that if anything happens to us they should know where it is coming from, but for us there is no going back because we are resolute."

APC thanked Nigerians for their immense and unwaring support, especially since the postponement of the elections which was aimed at dampening the enthusiasm of the citizens, and urged them not to relent.

"We are glad that instead of weakening the resolve and enthusiasm of Nigerians, the Presidency-orchestated postponement has further galvanised them to be more determined not only to vote but also to defend their votes," the statement added.

NLC confab ends in chaos zAs election fails to hold over allegations of rigging

By Funmi Komolafe & Victor Ahiuma-Young

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BUJA — THE 11th quadrennial delegates conference of the NLC ended in a fracas in Abuja, yesterday, as delegates upturned ballot boxes as a result of allegations that multiple ballot papers had been produced to favour a particular candidate.

Trouble started at about 8.10 a.m when members of the National Union of Electricity Employees, NUEE, were voting. A delegate told Vanguard that those who voted before the union had observed this irregularity but no one raised it.

When the situation, became chaotic, the police ordered everyone out of the hall.

However, delegates gave no room for police to use tear gas as they all moved out of the venue en masse.

Those in the hall when it became rowdy included the first general secretary of the NLC, Alhaji Aliyu Dangiwa.

Outside the hall of the International Conference Centre, venue of the conference, a delegate showed to Vanguard a ballot paper for a candidate for the post of trustee which had two different serial numbers.

Yesterday’s rowdy session and an abrupt end of the NLC’s conference was the first in the 37-year history of the labour centre. It was witnessed by international allies of the NLC who were invited for the conference.

A number of workers spoken to attributed the crisis to failure of the leadership and the secretariat.

Efforts to speak with Comrade Abdulwaheed Omar whose term technically expired at the conference were unsuccessful as neither Omar nor the General Secretary, Dr. Peter Ison Ezon, could be located at Labour House head office of the NLC. Unconfirmed sources, however said, a meeting of the elected and appointed officials under the auspices of the National Administrative Council was going on at a secret location in Abuja.

Before the situation got rowdy, Wednesday, as a delegate, Ismaila Bello of the National Union of Textile, Garment and Tailoring Workers, called the House to order and called on the

Conference in Session to dissolve the executive of Abudulwaheed Omar before the election, in line with trade union practice.

This was, however, turned down by a deputy general secretary of the NLC, Emma Ugboaja who said: “We have checked our constitution and there is no such provision.”

All of these coupled with the incidents of the previous day (Tuesday), such as the adoption of the financial report which was not received by

many but was adopted and the failure of the leadership to open up on the over N2.5 billion NLC/Kriston Lally failed housing project contributed to the chaos.

It’s a shame — Dangiwa

Speaking at the venue of the aborted conference, the first general secretary of the NLC, Aliyu Dangiwa, said: “It is a shame. A big shame. I feel disappointed. Whoever caused this has done the worst for the labour movement.

Whoever was responsible for this should be traced by Nigerian workers for appropriate action. He should be made to pay for this atrocity against the labour movement."

It's unacceptable —SEWUN scribe

The secretary of the Steel Workers Union of Nigeria ( SEWUN), Comrade K. Kadiri on his part said: “It is a shame.

Nigeria Labour Congress, which is supposed to lead by example, has perfected rigging for a particular candidate. It is unacceptable.”

BOOK LAUNCH: From left: Innocent Chukwuma, West African Representative, Ford Foundation; Opeyemi Agbaje, CEO, Resources Trust; Abimbola Agboluaje, Managing Director, WNT Capitas; Ayo Obe, Civil Right Activist/Chair Person, Board of Trustees, Goree Institute, Senegal and Toyin Akinosho, Publisher, Africa Oil & Gas Report during the launch of a book ‘Class, Ethnicity & Democracy in Nigeria: The Failure of the First Republic’ by Prof. Larry Diamond, in Lagos.

No provision for interim govt in 1999 Constitution —FG

By Emmanuel Aziken, Political Editor &

Ikechukwu Nnochiri

A

BUJA— The Federal Government, yesterday, ruled out the institution of an Interim National Government to mid-wife the forthcoming national elections, saying the idea is totally alien to the constitution.

The Attorney General of the Federation, AGF and Minister of Justice, Mr. Mohammed Adoke in a statement made available to Vanguard cautioned the public against being led astray by suggestions to that effect which he said is not tenable under the present democratic dispensation.

The statement follows arguments in the public space that an interim national government be constituted to run the country in the days leading to and after the forthcoming national elections.

He said: “My attention has

been drawn to recent calls in the media by some Nigerians for the constitution of an Interim National Government to ostensibly mid-wife the 2015 general elections to usher in a new democratic government.

“While I recognise and appreciate the inalienable right of Nigerians to freely express themselves and proffer solutions to perceived national challenges, I am deeply concerned that some undiscerning Nigerians are being unwittingly led to believe that a certain prescription, which is totally alien to the constitution, can be adopted as viable solution to our national challenges.

“It has, therefore, become necessary to correct this misconception and refocus the citizenry on the path of constitutionalism and democratic tenets consistent with our quest for democratic consolidation in Nigeria.

"For avoidance of doubt, it

is pertinent to state that the framers of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 did not envisage the constitution of Interim National Government to superintend over the affairs of government.

“It is, therefore, not surprising to observe that no provision for Interim National Government was made in the constitution.

“The contraption called “Interim National Government” is therefore alien to Nigeria’s constitutional framework and the arrangement should not be promoted by wellmeaning Nigerians under any guise or circumstance.

"Nigerians are, therefore, enjoined to continue to rely on the constitution, which contains adequate provisions on how the democratic process can be activated to elect their leaders from time to time.”

Vanguard, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2015—9

You’ve no power to sack Jega, CSOs tell Jonathan zAllege CBN spent $5bn to defend naira

By Ikechukwu Nnochiri

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BUJA — A COALITION of Civil Society Organisations, CSOs, in Nigeria, yesterday, maintained that President Goodluck Jonathan has no constitutional power or authority to remove the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, Prof. Attahiru Jega.

Addressing a press conference in Abuja, yesterday, the group which is under the aegis of Nigeria Civil Society Situation Room, said they will attack any move to “push out” Jega as chairman of the electoral body before the forthcoming general elections.

The group said: “For the avoidance of doubt, we reiterate the fact that the President of Nigeria has no constitutional power or authority to remove the Chairman of INEC. “INEC is not a civil service institution, it is a public institution whose actions are covered by the

Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. So, the call for pre-retirement of Prof. Jega before the elections, will not and cannot be sustained. We as the civil society are ready to stand for that.”

In their press statement which was read yesterday by the Executive Director of the Policy and Legal Advocacy Centre, PLAC, Mr. Clement Nwankwo, the coalition insisted that the postponement of the elections earlier scheduled for February 14 and 28, not only “evoked dark memories of past military dictatorships” but “thrown up various constitutional and political challenges that undermine and subvert our fledgling democracy.

“Since the announcement of this dubious postponement, Nigeria has effectively been in a state of suspended animation. In the last few days alone, we have seen the effect

of postponed elections on our economy, our politics, our society and our collective state of emotional and psychological well-being.

CBN spends $5bn to defend naira

“The economic costs are mounting. Compounding drop in oil price, the Naira has lost 25 per cent of its value going from N160:$1 in October to N200:$1 at the Interbank as of February 11.

“The CBN spent $5 billion in the last quarter to defend the naira but this is unsustainable, as our foreign reserves have dropped significantly in the last few months. As the CBN lacks the resources to defend the naira, the naira will eventually be left in a free fall and for a country that is import dependent, all prices will go up which means the cost of living will go up, the value of earnings will reduce and inflation

will rise.

“This will undoubtedly result in wide spread labour and industrial unrest.

“Of all the threats, the most critical at this moment is the crisis of legitimacy. Section 132 (2) and 178(2) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended) clearly states that an election shall be held “not later than 30 days before the expiration of the term of office of the last holder of the office.” As such, elections cannot happen later than April 29, 2015.

“Therefore, the elections dates of March 28 and April 11, 2015, cannot be moved. The current government has spent its electoral legitimacy and must renew its mandate with the people to ensure it can make appropriate plans to handle the security and fiscal crisis we have on our hands."

“Situation Room calls on the National Assembly, as the hub of democracy, to join in protecting our hard won democracy to ensure elections hold on March 28 & April 11, 2015 as announced."

Bankers C'ttee rules out restrictions on domiciliary zNSE capitalisation drops by N262bn accounts zEmefiele visits NSE to allay investors’ fears

By Babajide Komolafe, Peter Egwuatu & Nkiruka Nnorom

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AGOS — THE Bankers Committee, yesterday, said there were no plans to impose restrictions on operations of domiciliary accounts in spite of the volatility in the nation’s foreign exchange market.

Meanwhile, market value of stocks on the Nigeria Stock Exchange, NSE, yesterday fell by N262 billion following massive sell offs by investors.

Domiciliary accounts are used for foreign currency transactions in and outside the country. The recent volatility in the foreign exchange market had occasioned fears that the CBN might restrict the operations of domiciliary accounts as part of measures to curb speculations in the foreign exchange market.

Briefing journalists at the end of the committee’s meeting in Lagos, yesterday, Managing Director/Chief Executive, Guaranty Trust Bank, Mr. Segun Agbaje, said: “The CBN and Bankers Committee decided that there would be no change in the operation of domiciliary accounts and that there would remain unfettered access towards inflows of domiciliary accounts.

"People believe that as things are though now, those rules might change, but the central bank remains committed towards running an open account policy

RECEPTION: From left: Engr Lookman Animashaun; Captain Mohammed Mwondha; Abdul Rahman Shaibah, Flight Officer; Alhaji Muneer Bankole, MD/CEO, Medview Airline and Captain Stephen Fevrier during the arrival and reception of a new Boeing 737 400 aircraft in addition to the fleet of Medview Airline at the tarmac of Murtala Muhammed Airport 2 in Lagos. Photo Lamidi Bamidele on domiciliary accounts."

Responding to expectations of further devaluation of the naira, Agbaje said: “As a country, we are trying to find what level the currency devalues to.

“I think exchange rates are very emotional thing. The reality is that devaluation is not a curse. Where we are today is that oil prices are down. As a country, we are trying to find what level the currency devalues to. There is no central bank in the world that allows a free float of its currency. What you do is try to find a price

discovery and find a rate at which you can live with.

NSE capitalisation drops

by N262bn

Investors dumping of their shares continued, yesterday, as the Nigerian Stock Market downslide for the fourth consecutive trading days with the bears dominating trading activity on the floor of the NSE, resulting to the fall of market capitalisation

by N262 billion.

In the same vein, the All-Share Index, another major stock market gauge, declined by 2.37 per cent

to close at 27,935.77 points All sectors traded in the red from the beginning to end of the session.

Emefiele visits NSE to address panic

Meanwhile, the Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, Mr. Godwin Emefiele, has assured the investing public, both international and local investors, of the safety of their investments in the Nigerian capital market, saying that the economy is resilient enough to withstand any shock.

EU Mission requires additional 1.8m euros to monitor deffered polls

By Soni Daniel, Regional Editor, North

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BUJA — THE European Union Election Observation Mission said, yesterday, that it required additional €1.8 million (N429 million) to be able to sustain its team in Nigeria as a result of the postponement of the February 14, 2015 elections in Nigeria.

The mission had initially budgeted €4.4 million (N10.5 million) for the purpose of keeping its team in the country for the February 14 and 28 polls.

The Chief Observer of the EUEOM for Nigeria, Mr. Santiago Fisas, gave the information in a media chat with a select group of editors in Abuja, yesterday, saying the mission had decided to stay back and monitor the polls despite the financial loss.

Fisas said although some of the officials had temporarily left Nigeria following the postponement of the elections, and would return in time before the new dates, the core members of the mission had stayed back in the country to monitor the processes leading to the election with a view to ensuring its success.

Fisas said despite an initial directive to its members not to monitor elections in the NorthEast as a result of security concerns, the members would be ready to proceed to the area for election duties if the security situation is improved.

Fisas disclosed that the mission had so far met with the presidential candidates of the parties taking part in the polls as well as the officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission with a view to understanding their preparations for the elections.

The EU observer chief pointed out that the aim of the mission in Nigeria was to ensure that the elections were conducted in accordance with the constitution of Nigeria, promising not to take side with any of the parties in the contest.

He said that the European Union had through the United Nations Development Programme contributed a reasonable amount of money to support the smooth conduct of the Nigerian elections and pleaded with the stakeholders to ensure that the polls were successful and met the expectations of Nigerians.

10— Vanguard, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2015

Synagogue Church asks court to declare coroner proceedings illegal

By Abdulwahab Abdulah

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AGOS—JUSTICE Lateefa Okunnu of an Ikeja High Court was yesterday told by the Synagogue Church Of All Nations that the Lagos coroner's court investigating the collapse of the church’s guest house presided over

by Magistrate Oyetade Komolafe, had exceeded its jurisdiction.

Counsel to the church, Prince Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, who made the claim while arguing the suit against Komolafe and Lagos State Government, said that Lagos State Coroner ’s Law 2007 only empowered the coroner to determine the cause of death and identify the body (or bodies) of the deceased.

The inquest was set up by the government to investigate the Sept.12,2014, collapse of the sixstorey building which killed 116 persons.

Moving the application, Fagbemi argued that taking evidence on the issues of approval and construction of the collapsed building was clearly outside the scope and jurisdiction of the coroner’s court.

According to him, Sections 32 and 33 of the Coroner Law does not empower the coroner to summon all manners of persons to appear before it. He maintained that Magistrate Komolafe had

been hearing evidence on such extraneous issues at the inquest which began sitting on Oct.13, 2014.

He submitted that the coroner ’s summons on SCOAN’s founder, Prophet Temitope Joshua, to personally appear before the inquest was unconstitutional and a breach of his right to fair hearing.

He added that the coroner had demonstrated personal interest

in the subject matter which could lead to bias against his client.

Fagbemi, therefore, urged the court to declare the coroner proceedings null and void.

However, in its response, Lagos State Government, through its counsel, Mr Afeez Owokoniran, urged the court to dismiss the suit.

According to him, the coroner has extensive powers to investigate the cause and

circumstances of death and bring his findings and recommendations to the attention of appropriate authorities.

“In doing this, he has all the powers of a magistrate to summon and compel the attendance of witnesses, including medical examiners, and require them to give evidence, produce documents or present other relevant materials,” he added.

The matter was adjourned to Feb.17 for reply on points of law.

PENS-DOWN CEREMONY: From left: Mrs. Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire, deputy governor of Lagos State, Governor Babatunde Fashola of Lagos, Mrs. Oluseyi Williams, outgoing Lagos Head of Service, and her husband, Mr. Mobolaji Williams, during the Pens-down ceremony to exit Mrs Williams from the Lagos civil service in Lagos, yesterday. Photo: Bunmi Azeez

TRAFFIC CONTROL: Commotion as federal tasks force

sacks LASTMA again

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By Olasunkanmi Akoni

AGOS—OFFICIALS of Subsidy Reinvestment and Empowerment Programme,, SURE-P and the Federal Road Maintenance Agency, FERMA, popularly called Federal Task Force, yesterday, chased away operatives of Lagos State Traffic Management Authority, LASTMA, at old toll gate, along Lagos-Ibadan expressway and environs over control of traffic on federal highways in the state.

It will be recalled that a similar incident occurred late last year, but the prompt intervention of officials of Lagos State Special Task force on Environment and Special Offences unit prevented the situation from degenerating into major crisis.

This time, the SURE-P task force stormed the old toll gate area, along Lagos-Ibadan expressway, and asked the LASTMA officials to leave the road.

This action led to terrible traffic gridlock and commotion as motorists were stranded in traffic for hours, following the argument that ensued between officials of both agencies.

It was learned that the SURE-P task force, numbering about 100, stormed the ever busy road at about 11:00 am, accompanied by armed security men.

The situation heightened tension

around the area as both government agencies engaged in near physical confrontation.

Calm was, however, restored as the LASTMA operatives were directed by their leaders to vacate the area immediately to avert possible bloodbath.

When Vanguard visited the

scene, LASTMA officials were not present but the SURE-P Task force operatives, clad in black Tshirt, took over traffic control on the road, escorted by armed security men.

A LASTMA official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, told Vanguard that the SURE-P Task

force men stormed the scene in the company of armed security men, to effect their sack.

State Commissioner for Transportation, Mr. Kayode Opeifa, who condemned the act, appealed to LASTMA officials to remain calm, saying appropriate steps would be taken to address the issue.

NNPC, group move to monitor selling price of kerosene officially sold for N50 per litre more meaningful to the majority

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AGOS—HOPE has finally come to the common man who uses kerosene for cooking and other domestic usage as the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, through its retail network in conjunction with coalition of Grassroot NGO (CGN) has set up monitoring team to ensure the product was made available and sold at the regulated price of N50 per litre in the country.

Hitherto the product though

but the common man in the street paid over N120 per litre to get it after sleeping in the petrol station for days.

Pained by this man-made hardship inflicted on the people by middlemen in Petroleum market, the NNPC through its mega filling station, decided to set up a monitoring team, comprising its officials and some private volunteers Coalition of Grassroot NGOs (CGN) to ensure the racketeering was nipped in the bud to make life

of Nigerians.

The 15 man team with representatives from the NNPC, PPMC and the Coalition of Grassroot has the mandate to ensure that the product does not go to the black market through diversion by middlemen.

This, it is doing by ensuring that no singleindividualbuysmorethan25litres atatime.Themonitoringteamwillensure that measurement of the volume of kerosene at each station is taken before and after sales each day the product is available.

Social media'll guarantee hitch-free elections—Minister

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BUJA—MINISTER of Science and Technology, Dr. Abdu Bulam, has declared that the proper deployment of the social media platforms, such as FaceBook, Twitter, BlackBerry Messenger, BBM, Whatsapp, Linkeldin among others, will guarantee a hitch-

free electoral process in the country.

He said the platforms, when utilized properly, could be used to spread messages of nonviolence across the country and harness the SMS-based Results Transmission System, RTS, to provide a quick and efficient way

for citizens to receive provisional results.

The minister made the declaration at the opening ceremony of a two-day capacity development conference on technology and the electoral process organised for the ministry and its 17 parastatals in Abuja.

PDP urges to court to set aside N10m debt judgment Abdulwahab Abdulah

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AGOS—AN Ikeja High Court yesterday fixed February 16, 2015, to rule on an application by Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, seeking to set aside the court’s judgment, ordering it to pay a lawyer, Mr. Debo Adeleke, the sum of N10.5 million as professional fees.

The trial judge, Justice Oluwatoyin Ipaye fixed the date after hearing arguments from the PDP’s counsel, Mr. Chukwuma Nmesirionye, and Adeleke’s counsel, Mr. Onyegbena Thankgod.

Ipaye had on November 12, 2014, ordered Lagos State chapter of the PDP to pay N10.5 million as professional fees to a legal practitioner, Adeleke, and pay a N50,000 cost in favour of the claimant.

APC senatorial candidate donates 2 Hiace buses to traders in Ogun

By Evelyn Usman AGOS—THE candidate for Ogun East senatorial district on the platform of All Progressives Congress, APC, Prince Dapo Abiodun, has donated two new 18-seater buses to traders association at Oke-Aje market, Ijebu-Ode, Ogun State, with a pledge to do more to boost their living condition, if voted into office.

Making the presentation, Abiodun explained that the gesture became imperative to serve as a means of transportation for the traders drawn from nine local government areas, including Ikenne, Remo North, Ijebu North, Ijebu North East, Ijebu Ode, Ogun Waterside, Sagamu, Odogbolu and Ijebu East), which make up Ogun East Senatorial district.

Expressing concern over the poor living conditions of the people of Ijebu land, Abiodun promised to do all within his powers to ameliorate their plights, if voted into office.

As first step to match action with words, he disclosed the donation of four power distribution transformers valued at N12 million last week to four communities which had been in darkness for close to two years.

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Vanguard, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2015 —11

Political parties, others sign peace accord in Osun

By Gbenga Olarinoye

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SOGBO—AHEAD of the general elections in the country, candidates contesting state and National Assembly posts in Osun State, yesterday, signed a peace accord pledging to abide by rules and regulations laid down by the legal framework for elections in Nigeria.

They did this as the Assistant Controller of Prison, ACP Adelakun Kayode, warned political parties and their supporters to maintain peace, saying prison yards are wide open for any one that causes political trouble before, during and after the elections.

“Tell your supporters to be mindful of their utterances and if they fail to heed advice, prison yards are wide open and are expecting people,” he warned.

Representatives of political parties and some candidates at the state police command pledged to avoid any conduct or behaviour that may endanger the political stability and security of the state.

They also pledged to refrain from campaign of calumny, hate, religious sentiments, ethnic or

tribal profiling.

Speaking at the accord meeting, the Assistant Inspector General of Police, Ikemefuna Okoye, assured that the police will ensure protection of lives and property without bias or prejudice.

Okoye however warned that any candidate or supporters caught fomenting trouble would be arrested and prosecuted accordingly.

State Chairman of All Progressives Congress, Prince Gboyega Famodun, promised that his party will not go contrary to the pledge, urging the police to remain apolitical and fair to all parties.

Also, the State Secretary of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Prince Bola Ajao, said that the party will continue to promote peace despite its loss of the governorship petition at the

tribunal.

Director of State Security Service, Andrew Iyokia, State Director of National Orientation Agency NOA, Dr Martins Lawrence, INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner, Dr Adekunle Ogunmola, and other security agency leaders, urged political parties to keep to their promise and take the nation’s interest above personal and partisan concerns.

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KURE—TO curtail the spread of the HIV virus of which it said over 40,000 residents in the state are living with the virus, the Ondo State Government, yesterday flagged off a mobile HIV counselling and testing service among rural dwellers in the state targeting one million people.

The programme is through its Agency for the Control of AIDS, ODSACA, in collaboration with the Local Action Committee on AIDS, LACA. Chairman of the State Agency for the Control of AIDS, ODSACA, Dr. Aderotimi Adelola said this during the kick off of the programme in Akoko North East and Akoko North West areas of the state.

Adelola said the initiative is to enable Community Volunteers carry out HIV counseling and testing on one million people in the State.

He pointed out that the Local Action Committee on AIDS at various local government have been empowered by the State government with the support of World Bank.

Adelola who is the Secretary to the state government noted that government is putting in place structures at the grassroots to increase people’s access to free HIV counseling and testing.

Adelola stressed that the drive will ensure zero HIV new infection, zero discrimination

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HE MANAGEMENT of Crawford University, Igbesa, Ogun State has announced the death of the institution’s Public Relation Officer, Mr. Abayomi Ojo who died last Tuesday in an auto crash.

A statement signed by the Apostolic Faith Church head of media relations, Mr. Kayode Adeleye, said the late Ojo's remains will be committed to mother earth today, at the Trumpet Shall Sound Cemetery at the university campus after a funeral service at the university chapel.

Abayomi Ojo, aged 51 was survived by wife, four children and an aged mother.

Late Abayomi Ojo COMMISSIONING: From left: Sade Hughes, MD, Briscoe Properties Ltd, Chief Michael Ade-Ojo, Chairman, Toyota Nigeria Ltd/special guest, Prof. Wale Omole, former vice chancellor, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, and Seyi Onajide, Chairman, Briscoe Properties Ltd, at the official commissioning of Briscoe’s Orchid Court, Ikeja Lagos .Photo: Akeem Salau.

40,000 residents HIV positive —ONDO GOVT

By Dayo Johnson

Crawford varsity PRO for burial

and stigmatization, zero to HIV related deaths, among others.

Adelola appreciated the local governments for supporting the programme, noted that over three million Nigerians are living with HIV, while over 40,000 residents

in the state are living with the virus.

He called on Community Volunteers being trained in Ilaje, Ondo East and Idanre local governments to own and sustain the programme by providing HIV

services to rural dwellers where they live, work and play.

He also appealed to every individual to take a HIV test which is the entry point for HIV prevention, treatment, care and support.

FUOYE mgt, workers disagree over sack of 10 workers

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By Gbenga Ariyibi

DO EKITI—WORKERS and the management of the Federal University, Oye Ekiti, yesterday, bickered over the sack of 10 workers of the institution for alleged unruly behavior.

The institution had sacked 10 workers who were believed to have led a protest against the management on December 18, 2014, asking the University to stop alleged outrageous tax deduction , halt National Housing Fund deduction and confirm staff appointments among other demands.

During the protest,the aggrieved workers closed down the institution and disrupted commercial activities in the town.

They called on the Vice Chancellor of the university, Prof Isaac Asuzu to rescind his decision for normalcy to return.

The protesters locked the doors that led to the various offices including that of the Vice Chancellor thereby preventing academic activities on the campus.

It took the intervention of a

detachment of soldiers to disperse the protesters who forced the doors open to pave way for some of the staff that were locked inside to come out.

Speaking with the newsmen, leaders of the protest and victims, Mr Foluso Ojo and Miss Obadore Kemisola (who were Executive Officers in the University), said that the management erred in sacking them for leading a protest to demand for their rights.

But Prof Asuzu, who defended the action said the University took the action to prevent few

individuals from destabilizing the university, adding that their sack is in line with the recommendations of the Prof Omoleyin-led panel set up to try the alleged offenders.

The VC said there was no discrimination in the trial of the alleged offenders as claimed by the victims.

Describing their sack as illegal and highpointofwickedness,Ojosaidwhat theydemandedfromthemanagement wereconfirmationofstaffappointments, promotion of staff and stoppage NHF deduction among other issues.

PVCS: 'Plans on to

disenfranchise S-West'

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AGOS—A coalition of Yoruba groups, Ominira Yoruba Apapo, Oodua Democratic Coalition and Coalition for Yoruba Autonomy, COYA, has accused the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, of plans to disenfranchise the South West in the forthcoming general elections.

Addressing a press conference in Lagos, yesterday, representatives of the coalition, Messrs Morgan Omodu, Razaq Oladosu and Kunle Adesokan, said INEC has long ceased to be a dis-interested umpire in the elections.

Reading the communiqué on behalf of the coalition, Mr Morgan Omodu accused the INEC of planning to rig the election in favour of a presidential candidate that comes from same zone as the INEC Chairman, Professor Attahiru Jega.

Omodu frowned at the disparity in the distribution of the Permanent Voters Cards, PVCs, especially to the Southern parts of the country.

Omene urged to step down as UPU chief

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GHELLI—A social critic and public affairs commentator, Elder Godsday Ederovie has urged embattled UPU leader, Chief Joe Omene to step down from his position instead of waiting to be disgraced out of office by the Urhobo people.

In a statement issued to newsmen yesterday in Ughelli, Ederovie claimed that the Urhobo people have lost

confidence in the genuineness of Omene to safeguard Urhobo interests and now cast doubts over his alleged frequent visits to Aso Rock.

Edorovie insisted that the Uvwiamuge Declaration remains sacrosanct among all genuine Urhobo sons and daughters and that any attempt to tamper with it amounts to a betrayal of Urhobo worldwide.

“If Ogboru of Labour Party and

Okowa of PDP are both featuring President Jonathans picture on their campaign posters and billboards, then something fishy must be going on. Does it mean that Mr. President is supporting two candidates for a single position? Who is fooling who?”

According to Ederovie, O’tega Emerhor of APC remains the only uncompromised candidate capable of delivering Delta State from PDP misrule.

12—Vanguard, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2015

Obasanjo's endorsement of Buhari irrelevant —OWIE

By Faith Olatide

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ORMER Senate Chief Whip, Senator Roland Owie, has labelled the endorsement of the All Progressives Congress, APC, presidential candidate, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, by former President Olusegun Obasanjo, as irrelevant and of no effect.

He described as unfortunate, the behaviour of the former Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Board of Trustee, BOT, Chairman.

He said: “A Bini parable says the nose does not perceive its smell. Obasanjo does not know that he never had any electoral value in this country, in his zone, local government area, ward and booth. In 1999, Obasanjo lost his booth, ward, council, state and the entire South West zone. In 2003, in his second coming, he won the booth at the villa with just six votes and went ahead to betray the Alliance for Democracy, AD governors in South West, led by a great son of Nigeria, Chief Segun Osoba. Obasanjo pleaded with the governors to allow their supporters to vote for him at the presidential election while the governors would be voted for at

N-Deltans urged to take advantage of Local Content Act

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By Gabriel Enogholase

E N I N — EXECUTIVE Secretary of the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board, Dr. Ernest Nwapa, has observed that despite the passage and signing into law of the Nigerian Local Content Act, people of the oil and gas producing areas of the Niger Delta region were yet to take advantage of the law.

He made the observation yesterday in Benin, Edo State, at a Niger Delta stakeholders forum with the theme, Local Content: Youth Involvement and Benefits.

Dr Nwapa, represented by the Board’s General Manager, Zonal Cooperation and Projects, Dr. Gina Ginah, noted that the response from oil producing communities to issues affecting them as they relate to the Act, was slow and blamed their low awareness for their failure to fight for their rights.

He said that the Nigerian Local Content Law was the instrument of transformation of the Niger Delta.

the governorship election. Alas, after Obasanjo got his own votes, he ditched the governors.”

The senator who also said Obasanjo’s open declaration of support for Buhari was a good sign, said, “It is good for President Goodluck Jonathan that Obasanjo endorsed Buhari openly. With that endorsement, Buhari will lose not less than 10

million voters in Nigeria.

Obasanjo’s nature is to smile at a person he wants to destroy and keep a dagger behind him.

Buhari should know that Obasanjo has no friend.”

He also described Obasanjo as proud and clueless, saying: “We had formed PDP before General Abdusalam and Gen Ibrahim Babangida brought Obasanjo out

from prison to reap where he didn’t sow. The PDP guidelines in 1999 provided then, that before a presidential aspirant can fill the party nomination forms, PDP must have won previous elections in the booth, ward, local government and state of the aspirant. However, Obasanjo was made president and yet he is not humble and pretends to be an electoral giant."

Group flays Itsekiri call to appoint next DESOPADEC Commissioner from Warri South

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ARRI North Eligible Voters Assembly has condemned the call on Delta State governor, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan, to appoint an Itsekiri from Warri South Local Government Area as the next commissioner on the Board of Delta State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission, DESOPADEC. In a statement by its Chairman, Ekpen Olu, the group said that the call for an Itsekiri commissioner from Warri South council was frivolous and malicious and capable of causing tension and division among the Itsekiri.

Group warns against heating of polity COMMISSIONING: From left: Representative of Tank Farm Operators, CFTZ, Mr. Ignatius Edema, Cross River State Governor, Senator Liyel Imoke, Rep of North West Petroleum, and Deputy Governor, Efiok Cobham, at the commissioning of first batch of patrol vehicles donated by the farm operators to beef up security in Calabar, yesterday.

I didn't shun Delta peace meeting, says Emerhor

By Festus Ahon

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SABA—GOVERNORSHIP candidate of All Progressives Congress, APC, in Delta State, Olorogun O’Tega Emerhor, yesterday, said he did not shun the peace meeting which was held at the instance of the state Police Command where politicians signed a peace pact on Wednesday.

Emerhor, while reacting to media reports that he shunned the meeting, said he was unavoidably absent, but had to send his running mate, Mr Vander-Puya Abannum, who signed the peace pact on his behalf.

Stressing that he was committed to the conduct of a peaceful election, Emerhor said he was a crusader of peace and commended the state Police Command for initiating the peace pact.

According to him, APC is a party committed to a peaceful election in the country, adding that his absence at the meeting was not deliberate.

“I was in Abuja when I got the invitation and the notice was short, so I could not rush back and I asked my running mate to attend on my behalf,” Emerhor explained.

He appealed to the people of the state to vote for the APC,

insisting that the APC would give them the needed change they were yearning for.

Emerhor explained that the APC has a good manifesto that would better the lot of all Deltans in all spheres of life.

EYEF TO IZE-IYAMU: God brought Oshiomhole to Edo, not you

By Simon Ebegbulem

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ENIN—THE Edo Youth Empowerment Forum, EYEF, a socio -political organisation in Edo State, has faulted the comment by a chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Edo State, Pastor Osagie IzeIyamu, that he was instrumental to the coming of Governor Adams Oshiomhole as governor of the state.

The group said that it was God that brought Oshiomhole to Edo and not Ize-Iyamu, adding that his comment contradicts his earlier denials that he was not in-charge

during the administration of Governor Lucky Igbinedion.

“How come he is now saying that he was one of those that brought Oshiomhole when he was only the Secretary to Government then under Lucky Igbinedion which he claimed that as SSG, only Igbinedion took all the decisions then in government.”

The group in a statement by its National Coordinator, Okao Iredia, said: “We recall when Ize-Iyamu said no man is God, referring to Chief Tony Anenih as playing God, during the administration of Igbinedion.

We are surprised that he is the one playing God today."

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OLLOWING t h e recent call for the arrest of some ex-militant leaders in the Niger Delta over threats of war should President Goodluck Jonathan lose his re-election bid, the Riverinre Peace Initiative in Niger Delta in conjunction with two non governmental bodies have condemn the heating of the polity by some individuals.

The group stated this while briefing newsmen in Warii, Delta State, recently.

Pa Odolomerun dies at 92

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Timothy Onoritsebawo Odolomerun, 92, is dead, A statement by the family yesterday, explained that Pa Odolomerun died on January 23, 2015.

Funeral arrangements will be announced later.

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Late Pa Odolomerun

Vanguard, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2015—13

Amaechi dismisses Wike's comments on Rivers expenditure ...says it's tale by moonlight G

OVERNOR Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers State has described the recent insinuations about government expenditure in the state by the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, governorship candidate in the state, Mr Nyesom Wike, as bogus lies, falsification of figures and a clear case of ‘tales by moonlight.’

Amaechi said Wike’s verbal attack during his recent campaign rallies in Port Harcourt and Obio/Akpor were outright lies concocted to deceive the public and a failed attempt to tarnish his (Amaechi’s) image.

Amaechi said: “He should know by now that the people are not gullible and know that Wike is rather an embodiment of corruption and everything that is wrong with our country.”

Amaechi in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. David Iyofor, urged Rivers people and Nigerians to disregard Wike’s ranting, calling him “A drowning man who is only desperate to score cheap political points by falsifying figures and spreading falsehood because he (Wike) has absolutely nothing to offer Rivers people.”

The statement said: “That

Governor Amaechi runs a transparent and accountable administration that has never been in doubt. Everything about the income and expenditures of this government is in the public domain and has never been shrouded in secrecy. So, Wike’s ignominious attempt to dish out cooked figures will never fly.”

He asked Wike to tell the people who he is contesting against. “Is Amaechi a candidate in the governorship elections? Why has Wike insisted on campaigning against someone that is not a candidate? Is Wike clearly telling the public that he is no match for the APC governorship candidate, Dr. Dakuku Peterside, and the

only way to divert attention is to keep making wild, spurious claims?

“Of course, it is glaring that the All Progressives Congress, APC, candidate, Peterside, is by far, a much better choice than Wike. The two can’t be compared in terms character, attitude, performance and achievements in public service.”

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ENIN—GOVERNOR Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State has warned that the military should be left out of politics as the consequence of doing so would be disastrous.

Speaking while flagging off the reconstruction and dualisation of the 3.6km 2nd East Circular Road in Benin City, Oshiomhole said he was happy that the world has denounced the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, for the postponement of the general elections.

He said: “Those who said they were helpless over Boko Haram have said in six weeks, they would do what they could not do in six years, which means somebody knew what should be done and failed to do it so that they could postpone elections.

“All over the world, the PDP Federal Government is being denounced. I am happy that the world is with Nigeria, from America to the United Kingdom and Europe, the PDP Federal Government is being denounced for

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By Dapo Akinrefon

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ELTA State Chairman of Social Democratic Party, SDP, Mr Oke Idawene, has dismissed reports that the party in the state was in crisis. He added that the party was yet to adopt a governorship candidate for the general elections.

Speaking with Vanguard, Mr Idawene said the party was not factionalised but was united, adding that Delta State SDP is intact.

Describing the adoption as null and void, Idawene said “ we have not adopted any governorship candidate in Delta State and the adoption is without the support of the party ’s national headquarters."

Okowa campaign train storms Uvwie COMMISSIONING: From right: Commissioner for Works, Mr. Funkeme Solomon; Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan of Delta State; His Royal Majesty, Dr. Ifeanyinchukwu Alekwe, the Obi of Mbiri Kingdom, and His Royal Majesty, Dr. Ezeagu Ezenwali, the Obi of Umunede, during the commissioning of 7.8km Umunede/Mbiri road by the governor, yesterday. Photo Henry Unini.

Don’t drag military into politics, Oshiomhole warns

By Simon Ebegbulem

No crisis in Delta SDP, says party Chairman

postponing the election.

“We are warning them not to

drag the military into politics because that could be very

dangerous.”

Uduaghan commissions Umunde-Mbiri road

By Emma Amaize & Festus Ahon

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SABA—GOVERNOR Emmanuel Uduaghan of Delta State, yesterday, commissioned the UmunedeMbiri 7.8 kilometre road in Ika North-East Local Government Area of the state with a call on the people to vote for all the candidates of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, from the presidential to the House

of Assembly elections on March 28 and April 11.

Speaking at the palace of the Obi Mbiri, HRM Ifeanyi Alekwe II, Uduaghan ordered the construction of the road leading to the palace and the Mbiri’s farm settlement.

Assuring that he will complete the road before leaving office on May 29, the governor said the UmunedeMbiri road project was completed within six weeks

from the day of award of the contract.

Commending the contracting firm, Obakpor Engineering Limited, for the speedy completion of the road, Uduaghan called for a proper design of the Mbiri farm settlement road.

Police deny APC's allegation on party activities in Okrika organisation of the APC in Okrika

By Jimitota Onoyume

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ORT HARCOURT—RIVERS State Police Command has denied allegation by the All Progressives Congress, APC, in Rivers State that the Police had refused to provide security for the party to hold its governorship campaign rally in Okrika Local Government Area.

The governorship campaign

had alleged that the Police denied them opportunity to hold a campaign rally in the area.

The state Police Public Relations Officer, Mr Ahmad Muhammad dismissed the allegation as untrue, expressing shock that the party made the allegation shortly after a meeting of political stakeholders in the council and the state Commissioner of Police on how to ensure peaceful electioneering activities in the area.

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HEAD of the forthcoming general elections, the campaign train of the Delta State Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, governorship candidate, Sen. Ifeanyi Okowa, has brought socioeconomic activities to a stand still in Uvwie Local Government Area of the state.

Addressing the crowd of supporters, Mr Orhoma Monday, member of the Okowa, PDP Social Media International Campaign Committee told his kinsmen to embark on door to door sensitisation within Ugbomro and Uvwie in general while the gospel of Okowability should be seen and preached in all the villages within and outside Ugbomro, Uvwie council.

14— Vanguard, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2015

70 trees for Bose Ransome-Kuti's birthday L

AGOS—TREE planting ceremony event took place to mark Bose Ransome-Kuti's 70th birthday at Baptist Academy Obanikoro last month.

Mrs. Ransome-Kuti said the tree planting has

social, economic and health benefits and is a key policy for a “Green Lagos.”

She was joined by friends and well wishers who sponsored a tree each.

The proceeds from the sales of the 70 trees went to four charity homes: Echoes

of Mercy and Hope Foundation, Child Care Social Services, Modupe Cole Memorial Child Care & Treatment Home and Tunji Adebayo Foundation.

It was really a unique celebration.

Mrs. Bose Ransome -Kuti, during the planting of 70 trees to mark her 70th birthday.

Celebrator, Mrs Ransome-Kuti (middle), 1Mrs. Fola Soyebo, founder of Echoes of Mercy Foundation (2nd right) and other members of the Foundation.

Celebrator, Mrs. Ransome-Kuti (2nd left), Rev. Cole (right) and retarded children from Modupe Cole Memorial Child Care & Treatment Home, Akoka, Lagos.

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Vanguard, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2015 — 15

Min of Environment campaign against PCBs in S'East

My successor, Ugwuanyi'll perform more than me – CHIME

By Austin Ogwuda

By Francis Igata

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NUGU—THE Federal Ministry of Environment has launched it’s sensitisation and awareness campaign on the harmful effects of ‘Polychlorinated Biphenils, PCBs, a chemical substance commonly found in electric transformers for the south-east geopolitical zone, at Oji River, Enugu State.

The Project Coordinator, PCBs Management Project, who was represented by the Project Evaluation Officer, Mr Babatunde Yusuf, explained that the choice of Oji-River town as the anchor point of the launch for South East zone stemmed from the fact that the famous ‘Oji thermal plant’ which had served as a major power supply to the defunct eastern region, had many electric transformers.

He said: “There is an urgent need to sensitise Nigerians living within and around Oji-River on the potential dangers of the PCB oil implanted in those transformers.

“The harmful effects of using the PCB oil which has the same resemblance as the vegetable or groundnut oil is that it has been medically proved to be harmful to the body and a source of cancer diseases.

Foursquare overseer speaks at Anniversary

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ENERAL Overseer of Foursquare Gospel Church in Nigeria, Rev Felix Meduoye, will be speaking on the topic “Grace, Grace” at the Church’s branch (House of Glory), located at 14 Raymond Opara Crescent, Okota-Isolo, Lagos to celebrate its 10th year anniversary on Sunday, February 15, 2015 at 9.00am.

Presiding Pastor, Rev Godwin Abimbola Samuel said the event was to celebrate the love, grace and faithfulness of God since the Church took off 10 years ago.

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NUGU—ENUGU State governor, Sullivan Chime, has expressed confidence that the governorship candidate of ruling Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Mr. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, would eventually perform better than him, if voted into power.

According to him, Ugwuanyi has the leadership qualities to take the state to the next level.

Governor Chime, who stated this while addressing a PDP Campaign rally at Agbani, the headquarters of Nkanu West local government area yesterday, also seized the opportunity to dismiss speculations over the existence of godfatherism in the state.

He said: “My administration is

coming to an end. In the next three months, I will excitedly hand over to the incoming governor, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, by God’s grace. My successor will perform more than me.

“He has the qualities to lead.

There is no godfather in Enugu State. PDP is our godfather in Enugu State because the party produces our candidates.

“Ugwuanyi is so popular that

even other parties could not produce their candidates for the governorship contest.”

He told the mammoth crowd at the rally: “There is no godfather in Enugu State as far as PDP is concerned.”

He pointed out that it was because of the sterling leadership qualities of Ugwuanyi and his endearing popularity in the state that some political parties could not field candidates for the governorship election.

The governorship candidate, Mr. Ugwuanyi, on his part, assured the people of Nkanu land of his commitment to their welfare and developmental needs.

PDP group expels members over anti-party activities

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PARLEY: From left; Mr. Ken Opara, FCIB, DGM, Fidelity Bank Plc/Member, Governing Council, Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria, CIBN; Dr. Uche Olowu, FCIB, 2nd Vice President, CIBN; Mrs. Bunmi Lawson, MD/CE, Accion Microfinance Bank Ltd; Otunba (Mrs.) Debola Osibogun, FCIB, President/Chairman of Council, CIBN; Barr. (Mrs.) Mercy Ojo, FCIB, 1st Vice Chairperson, APWB and Mr. ’Seye Awojobi, FCIB, Ag. Registrar/CE, CIBN, during the stakeholders’ engagement with Accion Microfinance Bank Ltd in Lagos.

PDP candidates in Anambra warn INEC over list substitution

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WKA—CANDIDATES of the Peoples Democratic Party in Anambra State have accused the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) of subterranean moves by some persons to unlawfully manipulate the list of nominated candidates of the party for the coming polls.

Addressing journalists at the end of their meeting yesterday in Awka, where a communique was issued and read, spokesman of the candidates, Mr Valentine Ayika said “before you here are the PDP Anambra candidates for Federal House of Representatives for 2015 general election. We want our teeming supporters, well wishers and followers to remain calm and to continue in their avowed decision to ensure that PDP win the 2015 general election with a landslide victory in Anambra State.”

The candidates explained that “We also wish to use this opportunity to straighten some deliberately twisted issues by some desperate power seekers who can stop at nothing to acquire power. May it please

you to know that premised on a judgement of a Federal High Court in Abuja we participated in a properly organized primary by our party, PDP, and emerged victorious in the exercise. We equally fulfilled all other electoral requirements that culminated in our names being published on January 13, 2015, the last day for publication, in INEC website and their other relevant offices. We are reliably informed that the said

desperate power seekers are mounting overwhelming pressures on INEC to substitute our names with their own, an act that would amount to overt impunity. At this juncture, we call on INEC to resist any pressure to indulge in any illegal act rather they should be guided by the relevant provisions of our Constitution and statutes.

Ayika warned that any attempt to substitute the INEC list would be resisted.

BUJA—THE Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Ward 2 Ward Initiative has expelled some members of the organisation over what it described as anti-party activities.

A statement signed by Shekulomaso Kamal Karka, national coordinator and Ikechukwu Ojukwu, national legal adviser of the PDP Ward 2 Ward respectively, said that the expulsion of the members had become necessary so as to maintain the integrity of the organization.

The list of the members included Zainab Akwanga, Hajara Husseini, Vivian Habitat and Thelma Nkanu.

Other expelled members are Wales Taha, Mceva Temofe, Joan Hassan Hyatt and Elizabeth A. Aikhomo. “ This is a result of some anti -party activities which they have been carrying out and which has brought disrepute to our organisation”, the statement added.

I'll not sack any worker in Abia — IKPEAZU

By Anayo Okoli

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MUAHIA—PEOPLES Democratic Party, PDP, governorship candidate in Abia State, Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu, has promised that he would not reduce the state’s work force but would rather reinvigorate the service for more productivity and output.

According to Ikpeazu, in the face of economic recession and high unemployment rate, sacking anybody from paid job will be counter-productive as it would amount to inflicting more suffering and could lead to insecurity.

Ikpeazu said he would rather tackle the issue of unemployment by creating about 250,000 new jobs, if he was elected governor of the state in April.

The governorship hopeful, who spoke while featuring on a Radio programme in Umuahia, pledged to create cluster industries and firms in the three senatorial zones that will not only serve as institutions of employment, but would train unemployed young men and women to enable them become employers of labour themselves.

He said with the decline in oil revenue, there was the urgent

need to revolutionalize the agriculture and other natural sectors to give boost not only to employment but also the economy Ikpeazu said he was not being sponsored by a any godfather, noting that Abia people were his godfathers and that the genuineness and reality of his manifestos and vision wouldl prove him right.

He said within the first six months of his assumption of power, his government would conduct a survey to determine the number of unemployed persons and their qualifications as well as areas of specialization.

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Vanguard, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2015

Vanguard, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2015 —17

Fear and fury I

’VE spoken to quite a few PDP people since the election was postponed; and most of them have told me a) that they support the postponement ONLY because it will provide INEC and our armed forces with more time in which to solve logistical and security problems, b) that the PDP has provided Nigeria with top-class governance in recent years, c) that they don’t regard Buhari as a force to be reckoned with, and d) that they ’re 100% sure that Jonathan would have won by a substantial margin if the February 14 election had gone ahead.

I have found the above claims very hard to swallow. And a small handful of PDP pals have assured me that I’m right to be sceptical. According to one of them: “Any nonchalant talk about Buhari is a big pretence! Same with any boasting about what

we have supposedly achieved!

To be candid with you, the PDP has failed in so many ways and intelligent PDP members know it and have lived in fear for the past few weeks. Watching the Opposition go from strength to strength across the country has been a frightening experience.

APC would probably have floored PDP if Nigerians had been given a chance to vote this weekend. We are now praying that the postponement will work in our favour.”

I guess that publicly dismissing a rival as irrelevant – and insisting that you and your political cronies possess no faults and have made no mistakes - is a valid psychological warfare tactic at a critical juncture like this.

But it is obvious that Buhari IS a big deal on the current po-

Left to me, I would be pushing for Jonathan, not Buhari; but my conscience will not allow me to carry Jonathan on my head for purely regional reasons

litical stage; and it’s good to know that even within the notoriously dishonourable and delusional PDP, there are honest individuals who can differentiate between reality and fantasy….and tell the truth, even when the truth is megaembarrassing.

The truth is that the highly respected British Economist magazine recently published an article that described Buhari as flawed but superior to Jonathan (since the Economist has nothing to gain from a Buhari victory - one feels compelled to view its endorsement as objective and take it seriously).

The Jonathan administration is not famed for soul-searching and issued a crude rejoinder that made a lot of educated onlookers laugh or throw their hands up in despair. The truth is that we will never make progress in this country if we do not accept constructive criticism.

The truth is that Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Jonathan’s Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister for the Economy (whatever THAT means within the context of a regime in which the Prime Minister is the Minister of Petroleum!), who is meant to be the star of this show because of her posh World Bank background, is not performing at the level some of us expected her to perform at….and has just been “finished” by former CBN Governor, Charles Soludo.

Okonjo-Iweala started off as the jewel in Jonathan’s crown.

Now she’s widely viewed, at best, as just another attachee.

And, at worst: As a culpable passenger on a very unsavoury gravy train.

The truth is that taped evi-

dence has just emerged to prove that the Ekiti State gubernatorial polls were rigged by the PDP with help from Ogas at the top.

The truth is that Jonathan gave a national honour to Abba Moro, the Minister of Interior who presided over many deaths during a botched recruitment exercise.

The truth is that Jonathan has spectacularly failed to improve his home turf. The Niger Delta Ministry and Niger Delta Development Commission have become jokes that are routinely bled dry by various PDP stalwarts.

The truth is that the United Nations Environmental Programme’s recommendations for pollution-ravaged Ogoniland have not been implemented.

The truth is that Nigerians have plenty of reasons to vote against Jonathan and the PDP…and are furious about the election postponement.

I once supported Jonathan but have decided to switch my allegiance to Buhari because I think that an ex-soldier who isn’t interested in expensive baubles and doesn’t even own a house in Abuja despite also being an ex-President and former Petroleum Minister – can destroy Boko Haram and aggressively tackle the deep-seated corruption that Jonathan inherited and enhanced.

Some Vanguard readers have insulted me for losing interest in Jonathan and accused me of backing his main rival for financial reasons. They think that my APC Governor, Amaechi, has bribed me to take the position I have taken.

Let me say now that though I’m a member of a Rivers State Government Board, it is not a particularly lucrative Board membership; and various

Jonathan acolytes have offered me much larger sums of money to contribute to the PDP election campaign and launder Dame Jonathan’s ailing image; and I have said “no thank you” to both offers. And nobody has compensated me for rejecting them.

I follow Amaechi because I believe in him; and I have given up on the Jonathans because I feel that they are not capable of providing Nigeria in general and the Niger Delta in particular with inspirational and ethical leadership.

As far as I’m concerned, it is NOT the North’s “turn” to take over because Northerners already ruled for 38 out of the 50 years that elapsed between Independence in 1960 and the nation’s 50th anniversary in 2010.

Left to me, Jonathan would have generated so much confidence by now that Northerners would have to jolly well wait another four years to reclaim the Villa. Left to me, I would be pushing for Jonathan, not Buhari. But my conscience will not allow me to carry Jonathan on my head for purely regional reasons.

Only time will tell whether an election will still take place this year; and, if so, whether Buhari can win it and, if so, whether Buhari can be the saviour I crave.

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

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

OPINION

By Ibrahim Danbaba

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GRICULTURE used to be the mainstay of the Nigerian economy. But as oil revenue increased, successive governments out of lack of leadership vision ignored this economic multiplier until President Goodluck Jonathan made it a top priority of his government. Happily government’s agricultural programmes have recorded appreciable gains that can easily ensure self-sufficiency in food production and possibly economic stability in the face of dwindling oil price.

Indeed, December last year was a month that clearly signposted the gains made by the Jonathan administration in the quest to boost food production and ensure that the journey towards self-sufficiency in agricultural practices reflects in practical terms on the quality of life. This was due to the 70 per

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Agriculture: Returning to boost Nigeria’s economy cent growth in food production.

The development is unprecedented in the history of the country since the oil boom.

It would be recalled that in 2011, the Jonathan administration took giant steps towards food sufficiency by initiating the Growth Enhancement Scheme, GES, through the Ministry of Agriculture.

The GES programme was essentially designed to plug all the leakages in the fertilizer and agricultural components distribution programmes and ensure that farmers, rather than profiteering middlemen, access the components and the subsidies attached to them.

Last year’s Christmas celebration provided a window for an assessment of the programme.

In 2013, rice prices shot up by about 25 per cent during this high demand period. But in 2014,

prices largely stabilised and citizens were able to purchase almost at the same rate they bought the previous year.

The Minister of Agriculture, Dr Akinwunmi Adesina, recently said the current rice transformation policy would lead to the national goal of rice self-sufficiency.

“Nigerian rice farmers have increased output by over 2.8 million metric tonnes of rice paddy.

The total output of paddy in the 2012 wet season and 2012/2013 dry season brought to the market an additional 1.409 million metric tonnes, MT, of paddy or 916,137 MT of milled rice from 403,222 hectares of cultivated land. By the 2013 wet season and 2013/2014 dry season, output more than doubled to 2.96 million MT of paddy or 1.92 MT of milled rice from 802,108 hectares of land.

“What this means is that if the current tempo is sustained and the area of land devoted to rice cultivation were doubled, Nigeria would produce over and above the quantity of rice being imported, leaving room for export.

“This has happened because through the GES programme, government has given massive support to farmers. Without this, the quantum jump in production would have been elusive,” he said.

The increase in farming activities has helped in solving employment problems. Agriculture, being a critical employment enabler, has the capacity to reduce the spiraling unemployment rate in the country. There is no doubt that, so far, tremendous gains have been recorded in the sector that was comatose before now. It was a result of the progress made in the sector that

some yam sellers in the North allegedly donated N5 billion to General Muhammadu Buhari’s campaign funding.

Special Assistant on Media and Strategy to the Minister of Agriculture, Dr. Olukayode Oyeleye, said the progress made in rice production was in addition to hundreds of thousands of other indirect job opportunities for input suppliers, farm labourers, transporters, warehouse operators and other stakeholders in the value chain.

The gains from the GES have provided a new vista through which the economy can grow and sustain the country and its people with or without oil. Soon Nigeria will be able to feed herself; funds for needless imports can then be channeled to other critical areas of need.

•Mr. Danbaba, a farmer, wrote from Oturkpo, Benue State

18 — Vanguard, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2014 TWO ignored factors that emphasise governments’ insensitive to Nigerians – overwhelmingly unacceptable sanitary conditions and the abysmally low levels of access to medical services – have helped in the ricocheting cholera outbreaks.

Contaminated water, unhygienic handling and poor food preparations are among factors that aid rapid spread of cholera. Its high mortality rate is evidenced by the number of States reporting deaths.

Access to hygienic drinking water in Nigeria is limited by low investment in the sector, drought, and poor plan that have seen demand for water outstrip supply for years. Cholera benefits from these, and Nigeria’s public health system that is totally reactive.The health authorities pay minimal attention to preventive medicine. Even when they have advance notice of epidemics, they ignore them.

Cholera is not a tropical disease. Low standards of hygiene and quality of drinking water makes it prevalent in the tropics, parts of Asia and the Americas. In the 19th century, cholera outbreaks were common in the United States of America and Britain.Improvements in health standards, particularly drinking water and

Cholera – A Country’s Shame the availability of flushing toilets have distanced human waste – a great source of the disease – from water sources and made cholera a rarity in those regions Areas where flooding destroys toilet facilities and inject their contents into public water sources are prone to cholera.

It is little wonder that the disease has facility to spread in Nigeria. In many places, water for domestic use is contaminated by poorly disposed human wastes.Yet cholera, according to the World Health Organisation, WHO, “is an easily treatable disease.

The prompt administration of oral

rehydration salts to replace lost fluids nearly always results in cure. In especially severe cases, intravenous administration of fluids may be required to save the patient’s life. Left untreated, however, cholera can kill quickly following the onset of symptoms. ” Water management is critical. While routine preaching about use of safe water persists, the reality is that millions of Nigerians lack access to clean water.

It is advisable that they boil their water, and avoid ice blocks that could have been made with water from doubtful sources.

The cholera bacteria are known to survive the freezing process. Food needs to be cooked properly and human waste disposed in ways that would not contaminate water sources.

The good, old benefits of washing hands after using toilets are still important to curtail the spread of cholera and other diseases. Governments, however, must ask themselves how they spend the billions of Naira they budget for health annually. It is a shame that in the 21st Century, hundreds of our people die from preventable causes while governments tally the numbers and gleefully announce the statistics.

OPINION

By Angela Ajetunmobi

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O matter what you thought of the postponement of Nigeria’s General elections from February 14 and 28 to March 28 and April 11 2015, the truth is that the realityof the shifting has been accepted. Was it to take the wind out of the sails of the opposition party APC in a campaign that many thought portrayed the ruling party PDP as the challenger and not the incumbent? We shall never know. But, what we do know is this: Nigeria’s Independent National Electoral Commission [INEC] NEVER stopped insisting that it was prepared for this election and would take no part of the ‘blame’ for the polls being shifted.

And while everyone vents their opposition to the six-weekshift on grounds [as announced by the Commission’s Chairman Prof. Attahiru Jega] that security couldn’t be guaranteed on Election Day, the ‘Raison d’etre’ raises [in one’s opinion]other pertinent issues. Do not forget that when the issue of postponement was first broached on January 22, 2015, the venue was instructive. It was not in Nigeria.

The choice of Chatham House in the United Kingdom by Sambo Dasuki, Nigeria’s National Security Adviser, made sure that the world was listening.

Ranked second most influential think-tank in the world and the world’s most influential non-US think-tank, do note that the Royal Institute of International Affairs is a non-profit NGO, with a mission C M Y K

Between election postponement and constitutional provision to analyze and promote the understanding of major international issues and current Affairs.

And we knew the world heard loud and clear because by January 25, the US Secretary of State John Kerry was in Nigeria with two messages: first, that the Presidential election must be without violence and second, without a change of [the February 14] date.

Interestingly, and possibly unnoticed too,President Jonathan while responding was silent on the February 14date issue but reiterated to Kerry that the May 29

Two extensions add one year; four extensions add two years to a normal four-year tenure.

Legally! Surely, there is more to worry about with this legal extension freely given by the Nigerian Constitution, than the six-week postponement!

2015 Inauguration date was in his words “sacrosanct”. To a few discerning people, it confirmed that President Jonathan was lukewarm about voting on St Valentine’s Day. Add to that INEC’s statement that the National Security Adviser [NSA] Sambo Dasuki and indeed ALL Security Chiefs said and agreed that in view of renewed efforts to fight the insurgency in the North East region of Nigeria it would be impossible to provide security during the elections especially for INEC members of Staff and voting materials. Could one therefore take that to mean we are NOW officially at war?

And if we agree without conceding that we are indeed ‘at war’, can this war be said to be a ‘war’ as envisaged by Nigeria’s Constitution in S135 (3) [as amended]? Is it only where and/or when we are at ‘war’ with another country outside our shores that this section of the Constitution would work? Would fighting insurgency within Nigerian territory qualify to be called ‘war’ stricto sensu?

Now, read what the section says: If the Federation is at war in which the territory of Nigeria is physically involved and the President considers that it is not practicable to hold elections, the National Assembly may by resolution extend the period of four years from time to time; but no such extension shall exceed a period of six months at any one time.

If we agree that Boko Haram has ‘captured’ some 30 Local Government areas out of Nigeria’s 774, does this not satisfy the requirement that it must be a “war in which the territory of Nigeria is physically involved”?

The Constitution leaves the decision to Mr. President to determine. All he needs to do is “consider that it is NOT PRACTICABLE to hold elections” and voila, it will then be left up to the National Assembly. If the National Assembly is agreeable and amenable to this ‘consideration’ by the President, they may resolve to extend the Constitutional fouryear term [see S135 (2) of the 1999 Constitution].

Take note however that the Constitution does not provide a limit for such extensions.

This means that there can be more than one six-month extension as long as the National Assembly is agreeable. There can be any number of extensions of tenure as long as all the ‘dramatis personae’ agree that the Federation is “at war in which the territory of Nigeria is physically involved”.

Two extensions add one year; four extensions add two years to a normal fouryear tenure. Legally! Surely, there is more to worry about with this legal extension freely given by the Nigerian Constitution, than the six-week postponement!

*Ms. Ajetunmobi, a public affairs analyst, wrote from Lagos.

Vanguard, FRIDAY, FEBRAUARY 13, 2015— —19

A governor, pastors and the N6bn bribe

By Clement Udegbe Everything you do is triggered by an emotion of either desire or fear ----Brian Tracy.

UR desire as humans, lead us to aspire, and propels our actions to reach or attain a goal or set of goals. Most goals in life are genuine and good, but the problem often lies in the choice of the route to reach the goal.

In this country, while someone for example, who desired to be successful may have decided to work hard, acquire a skill and then use it to earn a decent living, another may have simply acquired a gun, robbed his way to wealth, and if not caught, retained in his wealth, and flaunts it today as a big man.

Others may have used the gun too, to shoot their way to power in coups and counter coups, and having succeeded became wealthy owning oil wells, with empires, glamorising as successful business moguls. Some used the gun, engaged in crimes of kidnapping, blackmail, oil bunkering, and stealing to become wealthy. Yet, some chose to work through the rough terrain of life of political maze to reach power, while their colleagues in the same politics chose violence, evil manipulations to attain and retain power, in this same

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country. Now, they have all become successful leaders in their own rights, recipients of national and international awards, with many accolades.

It is disappointing, that we have come to the stage in Nigeria where all these men consider themselves honourable, and want real men with dignity to believe,and take them seriously.

They find ways to put their names in the national honours list, and manage to carry on as good and shining stars of our democracy. Thus, at 55 and with all our abundant natural and human resources, Nigeria does not have constant electric power, no good roads, no qualitative education, crawling transportation system, with most hospitals as glorified mortuaries, high levels of unemployment, recycling octogenarians- most of them with advanced warnings of dementia, without basic qualifications, as leaders.

People, who before 1999, were just comfortable, merely getting by, have after joining politics and occupying elective posts, quickly became billionaires, with jet planes, and all kinds of opulence around them. They become untouchables, by stealing themselves to stupor under one political party, cross

the carpet to another one, become saints and good men over night, and to add salt to our injury, they shout ‘change’!

In such condition as ours therefore, where people spend the budget for a five storey building, to construct a five bedroom bungalow, we hail them, call them super achievers, it gets easily into their heads, and they lose respect for their culture, elders, and seniors, and even mock Servants of God Last year, at the Eagles Square in Abuja during the launching of the APC, the main opposition party in Nigeria, Governor Amaechi of Rivers State, said inter alia, that if they did not win the 2015 elections, they would form a parallel government.

A former Speaker of his State House of Assembly for eight years before becoming a governor for six years under the ruling PDP,

The nonsense among our politicians must not be taken to smear the Servants Of the Most High God. It must stop!

who had cause to cross carpet midway, and this was his own way of threatening to cause anarchy in the nation if his party lost in the elections.

Rivers State has never stopped to know and experience violence since he cross carpeted to the APC. It was in his state House of Assembly, that the mace was used to break someone’s head two years ago. Well, as a man makes his bed, so shall he lie on it, and if Rivers people love him so much and his ways, so be it. But our experience as a nation informs the need to stop him from dragging us into another from of Boko Haram, or organized violence after 2015, should his party loose Rivers State. After all, during the 2011 election, people threatened that they would make Nigeria ungovernable if they lost, and soon after they lost in that election, we saw Boko Haram, and they never saw any evil in the innocent blood that was being shed by Boko Haram until they found reasons to come back to us to ask for our votes!

Amaechi’s threat must therefore be taken very seriously.

Only last week, Amaechi announced that some pastors have been paid the sum of N6Billon naira to carry out campaign of calumny against his party, the APC. I am amazed at the way these “rich boys” in politics call money. They talk in Billions of Naira, as if the Naira means nothing, and at a time when youth unemployment even in their own states hover around 30 percent, with little or

Let's collectively save the Emir of Ilorin's palace RIGHT Of REPLY

By Abdulwahaab Oba

O

N Thursday, February 5, Is’haq Modibbo Kawu treated Kwarans to yet another poodle of hatred, as always, about the person of Senator Bukola Saraki, the former governor of Kwara State. In his sentimental and heavily jaundiced article entitled: Let us collectively save the Emir of Ilorin’s palace,published in the Vanguard newspaper, he attempted, without justification to pick holes in the sale of government quarters in the state capital and a fathom attempt that existed only in his imagination, to sell the Eid praying ground. Ordinarily, as a principle, such blatant, audacious and shameless display of ignorance laced with pathological hatred for the Saraki, would have been ignored, but if the madman is allowed to bury his mother, he might roast it ?

While Kawu’s impish nature is not unknown, it is shocking that without fail, he has made Senator Saraki the unfailing icing, and, therefore, predictably certain to be the sign-off for his page, week in, week out.

The Thursday piece, apparently, a laborious effort to deliberately distort facts and paint Senator Saraki in a bad light when a few questions directed to the right offices would have assisted Kawu’s little understanding, gleefully stood truth on its head. Curiously, Kawu parroted his emotional connection to the complex in a manner that makes you think he knew everything about it when he is actually wiggling on imaginations. Perhaps, consumed by a deep-rooted and baseless animosity for the senator, who has contributed in no small measure to the development of Kwara and country at large, Kawu missed fact that Senator Saraki is no longer in government and cannot be held accountable for the actions or inactions of the current leadership in the state. It was clear, too, to see that Kawu showed no respect for Sen. Saraki as he C M Y K

referred to him straight as “Bukola Saraki.”

But the height of mischief, depth of hate and infantile behavior manifested the most as Kawu repeatedly referred to the government of Dr. Abdulfatah Ahmed as “Saraki’s government in Kwara State!”

When has journalism got to this base level where partisanship has no veil over its face? As one who has had the privilege of managing Kwara Television and Radio Kwara, especially one, who courts attention with everything within him, one thought, for Kawu, it would have been more dignifying to own up to knowing very little about the houses and the Eid praying ground and craving information, than carrying on as if one had privileged information or knew anything other than their existence. In today’s society where government is only involved in ventures that deliver premium benefits to the people, it can

In this latest gaffe, heavily ingrained with impetuous remarks and reeking of deeplyfelt animosity for the distinguished senator, Kawu showed minimal regard for the sanctity of facts

only call to mind Winston Churchill, a former British Prime Minister’s famous saying that: “We do not know if we will make progress when we change, but change is important if we must make progress.”

This explains the disappointment in discovering that it is probably only Kawu, who has yet to know that the houses were sold to lawmakers and civil servants as government’s way of ensuring they retire into comfort after dedicatedly serving the state.

Yet, while Kawu can be forgiven, common sense being a scarce commodity to the prejudiced, it mirrors condemnable perjury to also insinuate that the government had penciled down the Ilorin Eid praying ground for sale. What can be more self-serving and reckless parade of crazy imaginations!

Where are Kawu’s proofs? Really, how could any government want to sell a place that symbolises peace and unity in the state?

Truth is, even if the government of Kwara looked for money by all means, Kawu can take it for granted that Governor Ahmed knows the importance of the Eid praying ground to the people and do not need the likes of Kawu or any other group to remind him.

Sometimes after reading some of Kawu’s banal, uninspiring and gall dipped writeups, I shudder to think how a man, who has largely benefitted from Kwara government’s benevolence could constitute himself an arm-chair critic, and doing so rather sheepishly, without a film of idea what the alternatives are to otherwise government’s giants strides and ideas in Kwara, which to him, do not count.

Surely, only Kawu is wise in his warped world, while the entire Kwara people who voted Senator Bukola Saraki to manage the affairs of the state for eight years are foolish. Years after, as Kwara indigenes continue to show appreciation for Senator Saraki’s enviable contributions to the growth, development and progress of Kwara as governor and support for Governor Ahmed, who has sustained the development roadmap, Kawu, like all split

no tangible contributions from them to ameliorate the situation, in spite of the huge sums they get monthly as security vote.

Amaechi is not a lawyer, but knows too well that he who asserts must prove the matter in issue. He cannot, and must not be allowed to rubbish all Men, Women and Servants of God in Nigeria just because he wants power; neither will he be allowed to blackmail Men of God from saying the truth as they may be led, just because he feels embarrassed.

The Bible declares, that out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks. We can therefore assess the state of a man’s heart from what he speaks. Hate and violence in politics cannot continue.

If Amaechi had any modicum of respect for his own Pastors and Priests, he would have been more guarded in his accusation of Pastors in Nigeria. A man can only be acquitted or sentenced by what he says. Ameachi must therefore say who gave and took the money. He must substantiate his claim or face the consequence because there are many Pastors, who rightly see their money as blood money, and truly accursed

by God! The nonsense among our politicians must not be taken to smear the Servants Of the Most High God. It must stop! Amaechi must speak up with proof, or forever remain politically silent!

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

characters, has continued to twist incontrovertible facts of history. But not many would be surprised at Kawu’s behaviour. What can anyone, who showed disregard for his parents by jettisoning the name they gave him at birth for a name uncommon in the family not do? Show me a Chameleon and Kawu comes fit. One had thought that after dropping Lanre, his native Yoruba name, in favour of Modibbo, just so he deceives people into thinking he is Fulani, but failed to acquit himself in proper Hausa language, Kawu would have grown up.

Perhaps, the anger arising from a failed request to equip Kwara Television and Radio Kwara during Senator Saraki’s government till date, Kawu has seen nothing good in either Senator Saraki or Dr Ahmed's government that has scored many firsts in several fields of governance in the state as if they were in competition.

In this latest gaffe, heavily ingrained with impetuous remarks and reeking of deeplyfelt animosity for the distinguished senator, Kawu showed minimal regard for the sanctity of facts as common in journalism profession. Unfortunately, he forgets that the important thing to the people of Kwara is not criticisms, but better alternatives.

And, if Kawu has not been able to provide a better alternative, why footling away his time criticizing?

Truth is, Senator Saraki is a beneficiary of God’s awesome favour and a thousand Kawus cannot re-write his place in history even if they lived their entire lives criticizing him. Certainly, regularly making Saraki or Abdulfatah’s government the butt of his pen would neither improve nor benefit citizens; only positive works that people can see as done by Saraki as governor and currently ongoing in the state under governor Abdulfatah Ahmed matter.

Kawu should point the people to what he has done for his community over the years in his private capacity or be quiet and allow those working to deliver premium service to the people of Kwara State to have their peace.

•Mr. Oba, CPS to the Kwara State governor, wrote from Ilorin, Kwara State.

20 — Vanguard, FRIDAY FRIDAY,, FEBRUARY 13, 2015

Aftermath of invasion by suspected herdsmen:

Benue community calls for help ••over 300 villagers dead

By Peter Duru, Makurdi

J

UST when it seemed that the lingering bloody conflict between Benue farmers and Fulani herdsmen had at last been contained, the crisis suddenly resurfaced and escalated in parts of the state, especially in Agatu and Logo local government areas of the state.

As at last count, well over 300 persons may have lost their lives in the last few weeks, with hundreds of houses and property destroyed in the protracted crisis that seemed to have defied all genuine efforts to contain it.

The crisis in Agatu Local Government Area particularly came to a head few days ago when close to 40 persons were allegedly killed by the marauders in an onslaught that also led to the sacking of over 18 villages and communities, while several houses, huts and farmland were also razed.

At the moment, virtually all communities and villages in Agatu are somewhat ravaged and are in ruins with thousands of internally displaced persons, IDPS, seeking refuge in Apa Local Government Area and nearby Kogi State.

Badly hit by the unending crisis were women and children who are forced to live at the mercy of the invaders who ransack the besieged communities at will with little resistance from the locals.

Volatile communities Bothered by the ordeal of the victims, the Senate President, Senator David Mark, few days ago paid a surprise visit to the volatile communities to commiserate with them and also donate relief materials to the victims. Addressing some of the IDPs at Obagaji the Agatu local government headquarters, Mark stated that the Federal Government had put measures in place to stem the crisis.

Mark urged the feuding parties to sheathe their sword and embrace peace, adding that a community bereft of peace would hardly attain any level of growth.

He urged Nigerians to desist from taking up arms against each other for whatever reasons but learn to live in unity and peace irrespective of their social, cultural and religious differences. Represented by the Minister of Interior, Comrade

*One of the razed houses in Agatu Abba, the Senate President said: “It is heart-rending to see the ordeal our people are going through as a result of these skirmishes.

“The Federal Government is actually bothered by the unnecessary blood shed in some parts of the country, and concrete steps are being taken to completely stamp out such ugly incidents in the country.

“I urge everyone of us present here to do our level

best to complement the efforts of the Federal Government in its sustained efforts to ensure the safety of lives and property in the country.

“As my constituents, I feel your pains, I understand your burden but I can assure you that we will not abandon you in your time of pains, we will do everything possible to ensure that you all return to your respective communities and villages to enable you eke out a living for yourselves. My plea is that we must all desist from any act that could instigate crisis in our villages and communities but be vigilant and security conscious.

Relief materials

Few days ago close to 40 persons were allegedly killed by the marauders in an onslaught that also led to the sacking of over 18 villages and communities

“These relief materials will certainly not meet all your needs but I can assure you that the Federal Government has put measures in place to check and end all forms of crisis in the country.”

Addressing the victims, the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, deputy governorship candidate, who is an indigene of the area, Mr. John Ngbede, lamented the level of devastation in the affected communities.

Ngbede disclosed that the marauders had over a long period

*Representative of the Senate President, Comrade Abba Moro (in white) flanked by some of the displaced persons and children sustained their attacks on the people and further succeeded in occupying and annexing some Agatu communities.

He said: “Fulani herdsmen initially invaded Agatu in early 2013 and till date we have not known peace in our various villages and communities and are grazing on our farmlands without resistance. They have taken over and occupied some of our villages and our people are now living as refugees in their own state; the situation is as bad as that.”

The former Commissioner for Works and Transport, who stated that the invaders intrude into the communities from Loko Local Government Area of Nasarawa State, urged the Federal Government to establish a

military base or Police barracks in Agatu to check the unending crisis. “All we are asking for at this time to stem the bloodbath is for the Federal Government to establish a military base or police barracks in Agatu so that we can have enough security presence in this area.”

Ngbede who assured that his people would continue to be law-abiding, urged the Federal Government to avail the helpless people more assistance to enable them overcome the trauma of the devastation.

While appreciating the Senate President for extending the gesture to the displaced persons, he assured that the relief materials would be equitably distributed to the victims.

Vanguard, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2015 —21

Business registration by MSMEs rises by 52% —Aganga

By Nkiruka Nnorom

T

Acting Director General of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) Nigeria, Mr. Mounir Gwarzo (left), welcoming Deputy Commissioner of Insurance (Technical) NAICOM, Mr. Muhammad Kari to his office in Abuja.

APBN tasks government on speedy industrialisation

By Peter Egwuatu

T

he Association of Professional Bodies of Nigeria, APBN has called on government to accelerate the industrialisation of Nigeria by providing the conducive atmosphere.

The Association made the call at a press briefing shortly after its first quarterly board meeting held in Lagos saying “It is time for this country to be known for its own manufactured product(s). The elected government should put in place conducive environment for investors to establish industries and at the same time encourage all the big industries that left Nigeria for other West African countries to come back to the country.”

Speaking, President /Chairman of Board, APBN, Mr. Foluso Fasoto said “Government had sidelined professional bodies on the issues affecting the growth and development of the nation, so much that Nigerians are not allowed to prove their competence in their area of calling.

The government would rather import professionals from outside the country to come and do what millions of Nigerian professionals are trained to do.”

He revealed that the Association has met with relevant government agencies on this issue -amongst others - that are crucial to the survival of our growing economy which is inversely related to our political development. All over the globe, professionals pave way for

C M Y K

he Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr. Olusegun Aganga, has said that registration by Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises migrating from informal to formal sector has risen by over 52 percent in less than two years.

This, according to him, followed the reduction by 60 percent of the cost of business registration by Small and Medium Enterprises, SMEs, by the federal government in 2013.

He spoke at the Fidelity SME Forum, a weekly radio programme, organised by Fidelity Bank Plc as a deliberate attempt to resuscitate the Small and Medium Enterprises in the country.

The bank over the time has been assembling successful business across the country to share their success tips in order to encourage small business owners.

Aganga said, “For the first time in the history of this country, we have a government led by President Goodluck Jonathan that is taking MSME as one of the most important sectors of this economy.

“For the first time in history, we are treating this area as a sector. We have a new programme called the National Enterprise Development Programme (NEDP) which aims to remove all the barriers and work on what would enable businesses to grow. For the first time in this country, we have raised it to the highest level. We have an MSME National Council that is chaired by the vice-president and has state governors, ministers and agencies on that council.

“The whole idea is to accelerate the development of this sector, harmonize, have better coordination and institutionalize the support we give to the sector.”

He explained that the state MSME National Council is addressing issues relating to access to finance, access to market, linking innovation and technology to SMEs in the country, and industrial skill development for SMEs. The MITI boss commended Fidelity Bank for its role in supporting SMEs, while encouraging other banks to follow suit, saying, “The Fidelity SME forum is one of the important ways of communicating and engaging with the sector. Fidelity Bank is doing a lot to support SMEs. If you look at the record, the bank is among the top three in terms of banks that are supporting SMEs.

economic growth of the nation. Nigeria to ensure that cannot be an exception. almost all our According to him “The 2015 election Justices/Judges are is yet another opportunity for Nigeria to people of get it right. Awareness is very high with i m p e c c a b l e national, local, business and social characters who will groups agitating for relevance and guarantee speedy protection of their interest in the coming and equitable dispensation. The Association of dispensation of Professional Bodies of Nigeria (APBN) as the umbrella body of professionals in Nigeria has the following issues for the consideration of the elected party/ies in the country” ice-Chairman, Unistar Hi-Tech Systems Ltd. The issues he stated Mr Atilade Bolarinwa, a local meter include: Elements of manufacturing company, said it had retrenched Good Governance, Rule of more than 70 per cent of its workforce.

Law, Security of life and Bolarinwa told the News Agency of Nigeria property, Corruption, (NAN) in Lagos that the situation followed the Energy, Refinery, Health low patronage of its products by electricity for all, and Education. distribution companies in the country.

Fasoto emphasized that He said the low patronage from investors in good governance has the distribution segment of the national electricity eight major sector had made the company to stop production. characteristics: It is He added that the already produced meters were Participatory, consensus now warehoused. He said “Presently, the Ikeja oriented, accountable, and Eko Electricity Distribution Companies have transparent, responsive, not bought a single pre-paid meter from the effective and efficient, company since they were privatised but we thank equitable and inclusive, God the Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company and follows the rule of law.

(IBEDC) is trying.

In his words “ The “They have so far bought five thousand meters autonomy of our judiciary from the company since inception and we have is non-negotiable. The over 200,000 meters on ground and we can’t National Judicial Council produce again until we sell the ones in the needs to be re-arranged warehouse,” Bolarinwa said.

Local pre-paid meter manufacturer retrenches workers over low patronage

$165.50 -2.10 $2,845.00-22.00

V

$14.75 -0.06

$58.30 -0.04 $52.39 -5.25 CURRENCY

BUYING

CENTRAL

DOLLAR POUNDS EURO FRANC YEN CFA WAUA RENMINBI RIYAL KRONA SDR

167 167.5 256.2114 256.9785 191.8043 191. 1673 180. 1316 181. 6709 1.4233 1.4276 0.2722 0.2822 236.4102 237.8232 26. 7426 26. 8232 44.4954 44.6286 25.6816 25.7585 236.6891 237. 3978

168 257.7456 192.3768 181.2102 1.4319 0.2922 237.8258 26.9037 44.7618 25.8354 238.1064

CBN Exchange Rate as at 11/2/15

22—Vanguard, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2015

IMO raises alarm over dearth of seafarers

By Godwin Oritse

T

HE International Maritime Organisation, IMO, has expressed concern over the large volume of retiring seafarers in the global maritime trade, a development it says will adversely affect the international trade if urgent steps are not taken to correct the anomaly.

Speaking at the second session of IMO’s Sub-Committee meeting on Human Element, Training and Watchkeeping (HTW),held earlier this month, Koji Sekimizu said that new officers must be trained and provided every year to fill the gap created by retiring officers.

Sekimizu said that there was a need to have a debate with a view to recognizing the current status through the eyes of maritime critics to explore the future with a view to making improvements in the supply of seafarers to vessels.

He said “Take a look at 15 years ahead, 2030, what will the volume of trade be in 2030?

Obviously nobody can tell, but amongst the approximately half million officers available today, probably 150,000 would have left by 2030 due to retirement.

“Just to maintain the current workforce of officers, 10,000

new officers must be trained and provided every year to fill the gap created by retiring officers. If seaborne trade expands by 70% by 2030 then we need to train and produce 40,000 officers every year.

“If seaborne trade expands just by 35% by 2030, we will

still need to train and produce 25,000 new officers every year.

Maritime training is absolutely fundamental for sustainable shipping. At IMO, we have established the STCW Convention.

“We are producing model courses, we are doing regu-

lar assessment for compliance under the so-called ‘White List’ mechanism under the STCW Convention and we are always aiming at maintaining the highest standards at training institutes.

He explained that since shipowners can register ships

Cabotage: Ministry, NIMASA aiding foreigners to operate unhindered —Operators

By Godfrey Bivbere

F

Comptroller General, Nigeria Customs Service; Dikko Inde Abdulahi presenting the World Customs Organisation Certificate of Merit to the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of West Blue Nigeria Ltd; Valentina Mintah at a ceremony in Abuja

N/Assembly urged to facilitate passage of maritime bills

By Godfrey Bivbere

N

ATIONAL Assembly, NA has been charged to speedy up the passage of maritime related bills before it to ensure that Federal Government’s efforts at exploiting the potentials in sector becomes a reality.

Bills before the National Assembly awaiting passage include the Ports and Harbours Bill, the Petroleum Industry Bill, the Maritime Zones Bill etc.

Heads of Corporate/Commercial and Public Sector Group of Olisa Agbakoba Legal, OAL, Bisi Akodu, said the passage of the bills would have positive effect in achieving government plan to harness the resources in the sector.

According to Akodu, “Nigeria has approximately 60 legislative enactments comprising its maritime and shipping laws. There are also critical Bills before the National Assembly such as the Ports and Harbour Bill, the Petroleum Industry Bill, the Maritime Zones Bill etc. that if passed will have positive impact on the shipping sector.

“Of importance also is the need for an Oceans Act for Ni-

anywhere as long as the flag State administrations fully implement IMO regulations, they can also recruit seafarers from any country as long as the training institutions fully implement the STCW requirements, and seafarers are holders of the appropriate certificates.

geria to harness the resources due to it as a sovereign coastal state. Now is the time to pass these Bills into law and lay out a strategic plan for reforming the maritime industry in the shortest time possible.”

She stressed that importance of shipping in international trade and pointed out that Nigeria is positioned to be the commercial hub for Africa if the right things are done.

She noted that the development of the maritime industry will lead to “a boost in inter-

Our ports are not yielding their full potential and are now being abandoned for ports in Benin Republic and Togo due to the multiplicity of official and private sector port charges

national trade, development in port linked flows and all the associated ancillary services.”

She noted that the various activities of stakeholders “in the sector that have largely been uncoordinated often working at a tangent in uncontrolled confusion. Our ports are not yielding their full potential and are now being abandoned for ports in Benin Republic and Togo due to the multiplicity of official and private sector port charges. The low volume of

traffic at our ports is a deep concern to Government.

“To tap into this huge revenue source will require a total overhaul of legislation, institutions and regulatory framework. The Nigerian Shipping Policy Act, the pilot law of the maritime industry, must be revised and re-branded to align with global maritime trends. A review of all legislation on maritime law is mandatory if we are to reform this sector to our advantage.

NPA pensioners plead for re-absorption of trainees

By Olaitan Ayoola

T

HE Nigeria port author ity, NPA, pensioners of 2006/2007 have urged NPA management to revisit the case of its sacked technical trainees. This was even as they commended the NPA Managing Director, Mallam Habib Abdullahi for taken away their sufferings by enrolling them into the organisation’s regular pen-

sion scheme.

According to statement made available to vanguard, the national chairman of the 2006/2007 pensioners, Charles Binite, recently in Lagos speaking at an event tagged ‘Liberation Day Celebration’ to venerate their reabsorption into the pension scheme pleaded with the management of NPA to re-absolve the technicians into full ser-

EDERAL Ministry of Transport and the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, NIMASA have been accused of aiding foreign vessels to operate in the nation’s waterways in contravention of the Cabotage Act which reversed all trade within the country’s territorial waters for local ship owners.

Some operators who spoke with Vanguard alleged that the ministry gives waivers to foreign ships and seafarers without consultation with indigenous ship owners to ascertain whether they (indigenous ship owners) have the capacity to handle the function for which waiver is being sort.

The operators blamed the management of NIMASA for allowing these foreign ships and crew to operate unhindered when they are supposed to be arrested in line with Cabotage law.

Speaking on the issue with Vanguard last year, Capt. Niyi Labinjo said that what most of these foreign ships and crew carry about is not a waiver but just a waiver application receipt issued by the Ministry of Transport.

Labinjo explained that most of the foreign vessels operating in the nation’s water do not border to go ahead with the processing of the actual waiver but just continue operating in the nation’s waterways.

On wny the Indigenous Ship-owners Association of Nigeria, ISAN now Nigerian Ship owners Association, NISA stopped their help effort at implementing the Act by arresting all defaulting ships and crew, Labinjo said that the government through the ministry had pleaded with them to suspend their action.

He pointed out that they were given assurance that action would be taken to stop the influx of foreign vessels and crew along the nation’s waterways.

Vanguard, FRID AY , FEBRU ARY 13, 2015—23 FRIDA FEBRUARY

On her interest in agriculture griculture has always been a passion for me. It started when I had to stop working to take care of the family. I didn’t have anybody to put me through until I went to a friend’s farm where I saw her feeding fish, from there I developed more passion for it.

After putting me through, I started rearing my fish . My fish farm is about ten years now and my rice farm is about six years.

I started at the back of my house small by building about three ponds and stocked with about 2000 juvenile of fish . I started feeding them and after six months I sold and continued for almost two years before going into hatchery aspect which is growing of the fingerlings and the juveniles .

A

On growing fingerling and juveniles In doing that, you need to spurn, inject, then do external cross breeding of the male and the female before you spread the eggs on top of the net, after 24 hours it hatches and the fries come out. It takes about eight months for it to get to juveniles.

The first 2 weeks are the fries, four to six weeks are the fingerlings , then six- eight weeks are the juveniles, eight –twelve weeks is the jumbo size. So it depends on the varieties you want to buy that you tend to grow.

On training for growing fingerling There is training for this. While we started it was just I and my friend but later we met people of like minds when we registered with the Catfish Association.

At the association’s meetings we were able to determine the quality of the feeds we were using, the problems we were having in the farms and proffer solutions. The Cat Fish Association really helped me to grow.

Even USAID has helped us a lot in terms of training, it was on that platform I got the training for the hatchery.

On her movement to Eriwe fish farm What happened was that there was a time USAID organized training for us in Ibadan where we met stakeholders from different states , so people came from Ijebu, Ogun State . Each state was to talk about their farmers and their outputs.

When the Ijebu people came, they were talking about what they make from their fish farms, they were talking about three kg of fish in six months, we were like how do they do it. That was in 2009 , so I started asking questions, wanting to know where these people make 3-4kg in six months, so I discussed with one of the farm managers and I visited the Eriwe fish farm in Ijebu Ode. When I came I was surprised , there and then I said I will like to have a pond here. So, I went through the trainings and from there I was allocated to a cooperative where I was given a land and I started. I had to close up what I was doing in my house to start here. So, I do only hatchery in my house now.

I do my hatchery in my house, produce, sell to people , and stock my pond . That is how I have been operating as I now have 14 ponds here in Eriwe fish farm.

and also five fish feeds from the federal government. Also in rice too, they have given me fertilizers and rice paddy to plants and some chemicals like touch down which I used in taking care of my soil.

I have no regret quitting paid job for farming

— Asonye Asonye —

On self sufficiency in rice Nigeria can be self sufficient in rice production if farmers are well supported. I have my rice farm in Lagos state and we have been assisted with land, rice paddies that we planted, they even gave us herbicides and the only thing we provided is labour.

We have de-stoner, caterpillar and combined harvester as well as a mill for processing the rice, so they provided everything for us , so we only pay for labour.

If we have more land and irrigation facilities that will enable us cultivate rice all year round, then the road to self sufficiency in rice will soon be realizable in this country and will not need to bring in foreign rice.

Mrs Asonye in her fish farm at Eriwe, Ijebu Ode.

She is a trained accountant, but today, she is into aquaculture and rice farming. Mrs. Chinasa Asonye delved into agriculture about ten years ago after her husband told her to resign her appointment with a multinational company to take care of the home front.

In this interview with JIMOH BABATUNDE at her fish farm located in Eriwe Fish Farm Settlement that operates under the Ijebu Development Initiative on Poverty Reduction (IDIPR), Ijebu-Ode, Ogun state, she talks about her journey into agriculture ten years ago. She also talks about the role of women in agriculture and the fact that Nigeria can be self sufficient in food production if the farmers are empowered. Excerpts:

On how Eriwe fish farm operates We operate on cooperative method , as a poverty reduction programme, the IDIPR train people, after training they group them into groups of ten and maximum of 20. They then ask them to hold at least six meetings after which they know those who are serious.

After that they select those who are serious and give them land, a plot each.

They then dig and sink a borehole for fishing. We have extension services as well as been given loans which we get from state or federal government as well as individuals too.

After working on our ponds for at least two months, they asked if we need assistance, if anybody needs, they give loan which we don’t get in form of cash, but in terms of feed meal. They pay the money into the account of the feed mills where farmers go to collect feeds until they exhaust the money.

After that, if they see we are doing well and still need feeds we are asked to go back to collect. All the farmers’ sales go into one account of the cooperative from where we are paid after deducting whatever money the farmers collected from the cooperatives.

On what she makes from the fish ponds What you get from each pond depends on what you stock and what you feed them with. You can stock 2000 and if you don’t feed them well or have good water management, you might end up not even getting what somebody who stocked 500 will get.

We look at the space, the water management and the feeding aspect. For example in a pond, I stocked about 2700 and after sorting and doing every other thing I wanted, I just left about 700 in the pond and to my surprise what I got there was about 2.2 tons from there compared to the other ponds.

I even found out that space

helps in the growth of fish. Let me say from each pond when you stock , feed well and carry out good water management , you are supposed to get about 2.8 tones to three tons of fish from 2,500 fish stocked.

Nigeria can be self sufficient in rice production if farmers are well supported

On getting good breeds It is not just getting the fingerlings that matter, but the breeds. The breeds you are getting are they going to do well?. You might get bad breeds and end up not getting result. You will just be feeding the fish and they will not grow well. So , you have no choice than to sell off, because we have timing for our fish.

That is why we are saying whoever that is hatching should be truthful so that the buyers will survive.

On support from government I have benefited from the Growth Empowerment Scheme , I have been given 500 juveniles

On role of women in agriculture Women have a lot to contribute to agriculture in this country, you know women put their all into whatever they want to do especially when they are empowered. The problem we are having now is empowerment.

What are the challenges female farmers faces in Nigeria They are enormous. I have my farms in Ikorodu and Itoki all in Lagos State as well as Eriwe fish farm in Ogun state.

The Lagos State government has really helped farmers in the state. Challenges are not peculiar to female farmers; we all face the same challenges. We need soft loans to acquire equipment.

Boosting women agricultural productivity in Nigeria will require not only giving women access to land, but also more critically improved access to finance as well as valuable information. Despite clear challenges, Nigerian women are making progress in the agriculture sector; women produce 16 per cent less in value terms than men per hectare of cultivated land.

On what keeps her going You keep growing and networking. It is something I have a passion for, as I am helping to feed the nation. Nothing gives me pleasure like that. With Lagos State government’s intervention, rice business has been beautiful. I started with manual farming in 2008 but I am now into mechanised farming. When I started, I was tilling the ground myself but with mechanised farming, I don’t need that anymore.

GM food: Kenyan farmers call for ban lift

F

ARMERS from Eastern and Central Kenya counties of Embu, Kirinyaga, Kitui, Machakos, Makueni, Meru, Murang’a and Tharaka Nithi have written a communiqué to the Kenyan president demanding for Bt cotton seeds and calling for the lifting of the ban on GM food imports in Kenya.

In the petition to the president, farmers noted systematic failures in the cotton value chain, including pests and diseases as factors that have contributed to the collapse of the once vibrant cotton sector in the country. It also noted that farmers should reap from research efforts realized by the research on insect resistant cotton through the Bt cotton project of the Kenya

Agricultural and Livestock Research Organization (KALRO).

The communiqué was read by a farmer representative, at the end of a one day county event of the Open Forum on Agricultural Biotechnology in Africa (OFAB), Kenya Chapter, which was held at the Embu University College, in Embu County, Eastern Kenya.

The county event was organized by OFABKenya in collaboration with ICOSEED (A local NGO working with cotton farmers based in Central Kenya) and Embu University College.

The event was attended by over thirty farmers and ginners, county executives, the university personnel, the media, regulators and scientists.

24 — Vanguard, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2015

Best places to celebrate Valentine’s Day

•La Campagne Tropicana Beach Resort

By Jimoh Babatunde

L

OVE is in the air , especially when Valentine’s Day falls on a Saturday. Some might be wondering where to go in Nigeria to celebrate romantic Valentine’s Day with their special one. Thankfully, there is no dearth of wonderful places in Nigeria where they can have a memorable Valentine’s Day. So, they can grab their significant other and enjoy a night full of amorous ambience—whether they are enjoying a customized menu, out-of-the-ordinary cuisine, or an extra special night at a hotel.

A Paradise Beyond Imagination Just one hour from the bustling, chaotic urban sprawl of Lagos lies a tranquil paradise beyond imagination. It is a land of palm-fringed, white sand beaches where times slows down in sync with the rhythm of the waves that gently lap the shore.

It is a place couples can choose between a dip in the refreshing surf of the Atlantic Ocean on their left or the placid waters of a freshwater lake on their right. Or simply dive into a book while remaining firmly on the golden sands in between.

La Campagne Tropicana Beach Resort is the type of resort couples dream about but never realized it was right on their doorstep. Yet, for those lucky enough to have discovered it, this is the tropical gateway that allows

C M Y K

them to escape the stress of city life and breathe again.

Couples can stroll along the beach, sip a cocktail at sunset or enjoy the nightly entertainment, they will have to remind themselves that they are still in Nigeria.

La Campagne Tropicana

La Campagne Tropicana Beach Resort is the type of resort couples dream about but never realized it was right on their doorstep

has two Valentine Day packages, tagged “Nature, Sea, Sand and Love”, starting from Friday to the next Sunday at the resort in Ikegun, Lagos, and the club, located on Adeniyi Jones Street, Ikeja.

The club will also host a ‘Thank God Its Valentine’ (TGIV) on Valentine’s Day. Candle light dinner by the beach front One of Lagos State’s foremost resort, the Lagos Tourist Beach Resort, Akodo will be holding a romantic beach-side dinner for couples.

It is a total package that involves accommodation, dinner and other in-house entertainment to be provided by the resort.

The Akodo Tourist Beach Resort, with its long stretch of beach front with coconut trees,

is clean with lush sand that is perfect for a romantic evening.

InterContinental Hotel unveils Valentine’s package The InterContinental Hotel Lagos has also unveiled its Valentine’s Day package for guests who are planning to enjoy a romantic getaway in the city’s upscale hotel.

The hotel promises to bring together all things loved about Valentine’s Day in a package that includes a breakfast buffet or an in-room dining option and a 30 minute body massage for two.

Ronke Bamisedun, PR Manager of the hotel said “ Our Spa Couple’s package is created especially to bring you closer together for memories that will last a life time. For a token, guests can enjoy the

Dover Hotel promises personalised services

T

HE Management of Do ver Hotel has revealed that its new property in Ikeja is to maintain their core values of providing personalized quality services in a calm and serene environment.

Speaking on the services of the hotel, the chairman of the group, Agbai Jackson, said the 80 room hotel is tastefully furnished to suit the taste of their numerous distinguished guests and customers.

“Our standard in terms of class and taste is unparalleled. In the rooms we have stunning interior design and beautiful furniture that surpasses what you can see in other hotels. It is the only Hotel in Nigeria that has memory foams that adjust with your body movement and make you sleep like a new born baby.”

Agbai added that the hotel over the years have been known for its cuisine, noting that they have the best kitchen and the best chefs in the industry. “We have professional chefs that prepare both continental and African dishes that will suit customers taste and

budget. Mouth-watering buffet lunch is also available on daily basis for the benefit of some busy executives that appreciate good food that only Dover hotel can offer.

“At Ikeja, we offer tourists and corporate business traveller’s excellent accommodation and services that are of international standard. Our room rates come with delicious complimentary buffet breakfast and dinner. Our décor is modern. It has all the facilities one would expect in a top class hotel.

Agbai explained that the hotel in Ikeja has three conference halls that can seat 500 to 600, 20-50, 50-70 people respectively. “Each hall comes with complimentary projector and projector screen, flip charts, writing materials, public address system candies etc.

“Our professional staff are always ready to give your events a touch of class.

We have complimentary airport shuttle buses that pick up and drop-off our Guests at the airport timely.

luxury of a coffee body scrub and a massage accompanied by a glass of wine and chocolates served with chocolate after treatment by the pool.

She added that their restaurants will be presenting a special Valentine’s Day menu to make the day more special. “Ekaabo Restaurant will be offering a Valentine’s Day buffet dinner that include welcome drinks.

Southern Sun promises couples great val offer Management of the Southern Sun Ikoyi Hotel has revealed why couples who need special offer designed to tickle each taste bud for Valentine and weekend celebrations should be in the hotel.

Speaking about the special offer for this year’s romantic celebrations, the hotel’s Sales and PR Manager, Ubong Nseobot stated that this year’s offer is designed to “encourage individuals to spend valuable and quality time with their significant other” adding that “in today’s busy world, this is one of the best gifts one can give and receive”.

According to her,”this year’s Valentine’s Day and weekend offer will commence today and continue until next week Tuesday, offering to couples, a wonderfully chic and uncluttered room for a bed and breakfast stay at the hotel and at a special rate .

“This year’s romantic offer also includes a dinner menu created with the freshest seasonal ingredients with the hotel’s restaurant chef displaying his exceptional culinary skills with a truly special, spectacular and memorable sea food buffet.”

Vanguard, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2015—25

I N S I D E

ELECTION POSTPONEMENT PDP is INEC messed changing the everything up script — Shehu

2015 ELECTIONS:

The dilemma of a postponement

— Fani-Kayode

Page 26

Urhobo marginalisation is over with me as senator — Agoda Page 27

Page 28

every loophole that had not been plugged. For the president and his salesmen, the opportunity is being considered as a welcomed breather to enable the ruling party fix itself and avoid a possible disgrace in the forthcoming polls.

Unfortunately for the president, the six week difference (five weeks as at date) is not enough to rejig his campaign structure, especially as he has been faulted for his inability to communicate his message to the electorate.

That fact resonated especially when the president met with the business community in Lagos last month and presented his achievements to a select audience of stakeholders.

Select audience

•Jonathan: Back at his duty post

What election shift means for Jonathan PRESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan’s denial of having prior information on the shift of the election date would be hard to believe among many stakeholders who believe that his party and his government worked to ensure the new election dates for their benefit. What does the shift mean for the president and his team?

By Emmanuel Aziken, Political Editor

N

IGERIA'S pollsters may not have developed the culture of psephology, to have near accurately predicted how voters may have inclined themselves if the presidential election had not been shifted from tomorrow.

However, there was almost a general belief among followers of the opposition candidate,

Muhammadu Buhari that victory was headed their way.

Simultaneously, there was also a sense of panic among supporters of the president that the incumbent head of the Federal Government was about to make the record of being the first to be thrown out in an election.

In the days, just before the decision was taken to shift the poll, the tension in the polity reflected that kind of fear and mutual distrust as supporters of

the president and Buhari seemingly went for broke.

Given that the extension was within the band provided for by the law, neither Buhari nor critical stakeholders were able to fault it especially against the background of the fact that the election management body was itself not totally prepared for the polls.

For the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, the shift is an opportunity to plug

At the end of the presentation one of the prominent businessmen remarked that he and a large section of the audience were quite ignorant of the achievements the president claimed adding that the president must have a problem with his communication machinery.

A shocked president was said to have turned around to two of his communication aides and openly rebuked them.

But shuffling aides would be a poisoned chalice for the president as there is obviously no time for the president to recruit and fit in new personnel to sell his message.

One impressionable milestone

Given that the extension was within the band provided for by the law, neither Buhari nor critical stakeholders were able to fault it especially against the background of the fact that the election management body was itself not totally prepared

that could come in handy is the commissioning of the Abuja – Kaduna railway line which before the election was scheduled for commissioning in March.

Speaking at the PDP presidential rally in Lokoja penultimate Monday, VicePresident Namadi Sambo had given a good picture of the revival of the railway under the Jonathan administration.

“I want to also give the good news that the Warri-Ajaokuta rail line has been 100 percent completed and very soon Mr President will commission that project.

“Also another good news is that the Kaduna-Abuja rail line has been completed. It will also be commissioned anytime now.

“But, the most important one is that Mr. President has approved the design of the rail lines from Abuja to Lokoja to Ajaokuta so that we have a fast train line.

Thank you very much Mr. President for that and very soon Mr. President will commission that project.

Trains to work If the administration succeeds in commissioning trains to work between Abuja and Kaduna it would be a landmark that would put the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP in good light in the eyes of the public.

The Abuja-Kaduna train service is besides other strides by the administration in other sectors that have been largely swallowed up in the muddle that have shadowed the administration’s efforts.

The Managing Director of the Nigerian Railway Corporation, Prince Adeseyi Sijuwade, had sometime last year claimed that the railways were moving a monthly average of 3,570 tonnes of cement from Ewekoro; 3,170 tonnes of wheat from the Apapa flour mills and 120 bonded containers from the Apapa Port to Kano and Kano.

Given the good impression a revived railway could have on the populace, it is not surprising that the Buhari campaign has recently sought to puncture the claimed gains of the administration in the sector.

The APC Presidential Campaign Organisation in a statement issued penultimate Thursday said that President Jonathan’s claims to have resuscitated the country ’s

Continues on page 28

26—Vanguard, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2015

CHIEF Femi Fani- Kayode, a lawyer, a politician, was Minister of Aviation. He is presently the director, Media and Publicity of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP Presidential Campaign Organisation.

In this interview with Vanguard, Fani- Kayode bares his mind on the shift in the dates of the Presidential and general elections from February 14 and 28 to March 28 and April 11 by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, whether the action was justifiable, to whose advantage, among others.

ELECTION POSTPONEMENT

Panic has gripped PDP — Shehu

By Henry Umoru

W

AS the shift justified?

I think it was necessary and I think it was important to ensure that the Nigerian people are in a position to vote and that as many people can vote as possible. They gave their reasons and the unfortunate thing is that everybody is talking about just a security situation. It wasn’t just that. The fact that 34 per cent of eligible voters didn’t have their Permanent Voter Cards, PVCs and the fact that there were so many things that INEC were clearly not ready, indications that INEC was clearly not ready for the election. That was the major basis.

For us, I don’t think the six weeks is such a bad thing. We th were ready for February 14 and we will be ready for the next date.

So it is better to take a little bit of time out and get it right than for us to have rushed into the election in which clearly thousands of Nigerians, 34 per cent of registered voters were disenfranchised. That would have been very sad and it would have placed a question mark on the outcome of the results. So it was a good thing that there was a shift.

We have already endorsed the shift in the original dates of the election as being in the interest of deepening our democracy and in the national interest. We will like to reiterate our commendation of INEC for showing the courage to shift the poll after acknowledging the fact that its state of preparedness was not 100 percent and also after taking into cognizance the imperative of ensuring adequate security for the electorate and electoral personnel especially in the Northeast zone of the country.

In the light of the shift in election dates, the PDP Presidential Campaign Organisation, acting in concert and synergy with the PDP, will intensify our campaign in every nook and cranny of this country to sell President Goodluck Jonathan to the electorate and Nigerians in general as the best candidate who should be voted for and elected as president in

•Fani-Kayode

INEC messed everything up — Fani-Kayode the March 28 presidential election. The campaign will be all-encompassing and robust and it will reach all levels in order to shore up the chances of our various candidates in the elections.

We said that by insisting that the elections should be conducted on February 14th, the opposition was not only dangerously flirting with chaos but was also putting our country firmly on the path of confrontation, division, injustice, disaster and destruction. We posited that a situation where no less than 34 percent of our people would have been disenfranchised is unacceptable and the fact that the APC was insensitive to that fact speaks volumes.

All stakeholders in the forthcoming elections should therefore take advantage of this short extension to get their acts together and prepare for the elections. This is all the more so because there will be no room for a further shift of poll date within the ambit of the relevant extant laws. On the part of the PDP and its Presidential Campaign Organisation, winning elections is our forte and, as always, we are ready. We wish to reiterate our gratitude to our supporters and once again we wish to encourage them to remain calm and patient. We have nothing to fear because we see victory on

They seem to have messed everything up, they were not ready, they were partisan, clearly they were working against us and the PVC distribution issue confirms this

the horizon. Our party is strong; our presidential candidate is confident; our cause is just; our God is mighty and our victory is assured. No matter what happens and no matter how long it takes, we shall prevail. God bless Nigeria.

To whose advantage was the shift?

Sincerely it is not to our advantage. We would have wanted this to end as quickly as possible. I think it is the advantage of the Nigerian people. Look we need to bring as many people on board. Look, what they did was lawful and constitutional.

My problem with INEC is not what they did. As I said at the time, we commend their courage for doing the right, but my problem with them is the fact that they seem to want to cover up the fact that they themselves were the greatest problem.

They seem to have messed everything up, they were not ready, they were partisan, clearly they were working against us and the PVC distribution issue confirms this. How do you explain the things that are going on and they need to get their act together. Once they do that then they will engender the confidence that they need to engender in the hearts and mind of the Nigerian Professor Attahiru Jega deliberately failed to tell Nigerians the whole truth that underpinned the postponement, thus providing the opposition All Progressives Congress (APC) a questionable platform to accuse us of complicity in the decision to postpone the elections. We must state here and again that the decision to postpone the elections was INEC’s since it is constitutionally saddled with that responsibility.

•Garba Shehu VETERAN journalist Mallam Garba Shehu is at the head of the Media Directorate of the Buhari Campaign Organisation. He gives the campaign’s perspectives on the shift and on who gets the advantage.

L

ET use this opportunity to reiterate what our leaders, General Buhari, Chairman Odigie-Oyegun and Asiwaju Bola Tinubu have been saying: in as much as the postponement is in line with the law, that there must be elections at least 30 days th before May 29 .

We all know that the motive is far from being altruistic. Far

The issue of security as the NSA has advanced is a mere smokescreen.

This man, the NSA went to Chatham House in London and said PVC was the problem

from that, it was designed for two basic objectives for the PDP. One, to stretch out our party, the APC to point of losing momentum. Every published and unpublished opinion poll, including the ones commissioned by the government showed that we were headed for a landslide victor y. The closest Dr Jonathan came to Buhari was in one poll that put the president at 40 per cent and GMB at 60 per cent.

The idea therefore is to hold us down while they do a catch up Two, as is now known in the public domain, their government which appointed Professor Jega to head the INEC is no longer comfortable with him at the helms. They want a lackey to replace him so that they can write the results that suit them.

The issue of security as the NSA has advanced is a mere smokescreen. This man, the NSA went to Chatham House in London and said PVC was the problem. Jega countered him at the Council on States and convinced all that the commission was ready to go forth with election.

It is a changing script and Nigerians should better watch out for tenure elongation.

Vanguard, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2015—27

Urhobo marginalisation is over with me as senator — Agoda Hon. John Halims Agoda is a three term member of the House of Representatives. He is contesting the Delta Central Senatorial Seat on the platform of the All Progressives Congress, APC. In this interview, he argues that his background as a lawyer and his experience in the green chambers make him the best candidate to represent the constituency.

By Fredrick Okopie

Y

OU were in the House of Representatives for 12 years.

What were your achievements?

My records during the period were innumerable, especially with regard to legislation for the good governance of the country, and for fostering the peace and stability of the nation.

I participated in major landmark legislations for budgeting, anti-corruption laws for the establishment of our anticorruption agencies the EFCC and the ICPC, the Niger Delta Development Commission – NDDC, the reform of the oil and gas sector especially the establishment the Petroleum Products Pricing and Regulatory Agency PPPRA, the civil service reforms and a host of other activities that positively impacted on the social, economic and political well being of the federation. At a personal level, I assisted some of our youths from Delta Central to gain employment into the federal civil service. They have now begun to rise steadily in the civil service.

I assisted a number of others to go abroad for further studies. I also offered grants to students in higher institutions including the law schools.

On project allocation and distribution, I was always at home with the interests of the Urhobo nation. I have every reason to thank the federal government and my colleagues in the House of Representatives who assisted me in successfully resisting the attempts to remove the Federal University of Petroleum Resources from Effurun. To me, this was a landmark pursuit of the interests of my people, and it is very gratifying and clear to me.

Need I also recall the series of motions that I sponsored on the floor of the house? They were very many, and the records are there in the National Assembly for anyone to verify. My attendance at plenary in those years was almost 99 percent. I disliked missing the sittings of

•Agoda: My records are innumerable

the House.

Let me assure my people, the Urhobo that I shall do more for them with renewed passion and vigour. I cannot forget the support I got from the traditional institution. Our kings, the women groups and youths were very helpful, and I owe them a great deal of gratitude.

Why should the Urhobo send you back to Abuja?

Simple! To give them quality representation in the Senate, and to build on the achievements of those who had been thereSenators Brume, Eferekeya, Ewherido and Aguarivwodo.

They all did very well, and I intend to go to the Senate to build on their records.

The experience I had in my years in the House of Representatives stand me in good stead to represent Urhoboland in the Senate.

Representation at that level

The experience I had in my years in the House of Representatives stand me in good stead to represent Urhoboland in the Senate

demands not only education, but more importantly, skills, diplomacy, and experience in legislation. It demands a high level of legislative maturity and the spread of goodwill across the frontiers of ethnicity and region.

It is a call to national service for your people. You need a strong voice to achieve that. I shall at all times disperse the goodwill of the Urhobo nation to other nationalities and radiate the affection of my people to the Nigerian federation.

Urhobo interests in the politics of the federation are too strategic to be glossed over by any one. I am very suited to protect, defend and promote such interests in the senate.

What kind of representation do the Delta Central people expect from you?

The mandate to go to the Senate is specific and not ambiguous. It is about representation to articulate and aggregate interests for the betterment of the country. The contest for the allocation of our common patrimony is interrogated and amicably settled in the chamber. It is all with a view to legislating for the enthronement of good and responsive governance. As the voice of your people, you are expected to participate and contribute.

Passivity or docility It does not call for passivity or docility. Your peoples’ voice must be heard; otherwise you would have chosen to betray the mandate.

Additionally, you must not be contented with just being a statistical number. You must participate and be heard on behalf of your people. You are just a trustee of the mandate. The mandate belongs to your people, and you must exercise the power and influence inherent in the mandate to justify the confidence reposed in you by your people.

The legislature at the three tiers of government is not the same as the executive branch. The constitution is very explicit on this.

Membership of the senate for the people of Delta Central shall be underpinned by a sense of dedication and responsibility. As much as possible, I shall influence resource allocation for my people of Urhobo nation. I shall not allow them to be marginalized or cheated in the distribution of projects and other desirable things. At a personal level, I shall endeavour to provide succour for our unemployed youths through empowerment for them.

ELECTION POSTPONEMENT

By Dapo Akinrefon

THE prospects of the elections originally scheduled to commence tomorrow being shifted came in whispers from the middle of January as some stakeholders argued against the election on the basis of the twin problems of lack of preparedness on the part of the election management body and the insurgency in the Northeast.

•Jan 22, 2015: National Security Adviser, Dasuki, advocates postponement of election saying INEC is not ready. But says it is for the body to decide.

•APC immediately rejects proposal, says Dasuki was merely speaking the mind of the Jonathan administration •February 2: At the National Peace Committee meeting in Abuja with representatives of different political parties, the service chiefs gave assurances of their readiness for the elections.

•FEBRUARY 5: Confusion at the National Council of States meeting. After more than six hours of meeting, Governors Segun Mimiko and Rochas Okorocha announce two contrary decisions of the council. It emerged that the service chiefs affirmed that they were not in position to guarantee security in the troubled Northeast.

•February 7 United States expresses disappointment over postponement.

•February 8th – INEC meets political parties and Residents Electoral Commissioners (RECS) and announces postponement of general elections by six weeks.

•Presidential and National Assembly polls now to hold March 28, while governorship and House of Assembly to hold April 11 • February 9th—Mixed reactions trail postponement.

Opposition decry it while the ruling party claims it was inevitable •British Government Expresses Concern Over Postponement Of Elections •February 10: APC accuses service chiefs of conspiracy in postponement of elections •February 11 Lawyer Sues INEC Over Postponement of Elections •FEBRUARY 11: President Jonathan in a live television broadcast assures that a new government would be installed on May 29, 2015.

Postponement, an act of God — Bakassi people, Ita-Giwa

By Dapo Akinrefon

F

ORMER Special Adviser on National Assembly Matters, Senator Florence Ita-Giwa has described the postponement as an act of God that will enable the people of Bakassi to exercise their franchise.

According to her, the rescheduled poll “will enable her people collect their Permanent Voters Cards and elect their preferred leaders.”

Ita-Giwa, in a statement, said that if the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had gone ahead with the earlier dates, the Bakassi people would have been disenfranchised “because over 70 per cent have not collected their PVCs”.

The statement reads: “The poll postponement is a blessing because it will now afford my people the opportunity of voting on March 28 and in April. The few that have collected theirs are those that are in the refugee camp and their neighbours.

“Thousands from the Southern part of Bakassi who left for Cameroon just to earn income since they are all fishermen registered at Dayspring and they are willing to return to get their PVCs and vote at Dayspring. Now, that the borders are open and the sea is sailable, I have started arranging boats to convey them so they can come and collect their PvC’s. Over 5,000 of us cannot and should not be disenfranchised.

“They are all keen to return home as soon as the federal government develops the Dayspring Island and until then.”

“So, now, you see that the postponement has given us ample time to complete the town hall and make it very habitable for my people and electoral officers that will come there.”

28—Vanguard, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2015

T

HE last postponement by INEC Chairman of elections scheduled for 14th and 28th February 2015 is not the first one under the present Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) headed by Professor Jega. The first one under his watch happened in 2011. The postponement announced on 7th February seems to be divinely inspired and should be appreciated by all Nigerians who might have been saved the embarrassment of the century.

It may be inappropriate at this moment to apportion blames, but it would be irresponsible to expect miracle from a scheme ill prepared and morally reprehensible. INEC has offered itself as the sacrificial lamb by its actions.

How could it have been possible to conduct a free, fair and proper election when the Permanent Voters‘ Card (PVC) that INEC invented as the only means of voting, would not reach all the eligible voters before the Election Day? At the time of announcement of the postponement, about 23 million PVSs were yet to be collected by registered voters. Only Prof.

Jega could explain the basis of his arrogant stance that INEC is ready to conduct a free and fair election. Many Nigerians are sure that INEC has, by the latest act of postponement, saved itself and the country from falling into the pit of shame it has dug ignorantly but vainly for Nigerians.

The saving grace was the force of security challenge (which has always been there, but cleverly avoided or stubbornly neglected. It has become a happy conclusion that perfect reason prevailed inspite of the recognized usual tardiness of INEC planners and the immoralities and insensitivity of the political class that has been rushing INEC and its Chairman, Prof. Jega towards the pit of desperation.

If I endorse fully the postponement of the February

2015 ELECTIONS:

The dilemma of a postponement 14th and 28th elections, it is certainly not for the reasons adduced by INEC and members of the ruling party – the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and their numerous supporters. I don’t think that the Opposition, All Progressives Congress Party (APC) deserves any sympathy for willingly submitting to any political contest in a highly unstable political and economic environment. Perhaps those poor Nigerians who charge politicians of being selfish and unpatriotic have their points.

Viewing the present position from the background of the past heightened political tempo, the contending political parties have shown remarkable maturity

How would a serious country that is engaged in a bloody civil warfare against murderous and unyielding insurgents, whose, national currency is undermined by economic saboteurs everyday and the lives of its innocent citizens subjected to incessant attacks by armed robbers and bandits, be involved in the wasteful merriments that go for political rallies? It looks as immoral that when other countries are putting their forces on our soil to overcome the enemy which appears invincible, the political leaders are seen in their multi-coloured dresses politicking all over the country.

Why should the gladiators not cease fire and concentrate on hammering the Boko Haram insurgents and work conscientiously towards saving the Naira, seems a pertinent question. However, it looks as if the country and its political leadership are struck by some demonic strange disease that prevents the apprehension of the importance of the serious danger knocking at the gate.

It should be recalled that when Britain, our past colonial masters had similar political and economic problems in the 1930s, it resorted to a Unity Government to save the Pound.

The Nigerian economic, political and security crisis appear too complicated to be left entirely to

the present Government to tackle alone.

If the elections have been postponed for six weeks because of security dangers and tardiness of INEC, what are the assurances of March and April dates?

Some Nigerians may appear as incurable optimists but certainly, many are not blind to the existing glaring facts. Many party supporters might have been convinced through propaganda that President Jonathan is the best PDP President so far. Many supporters of Buhari do certainly believe that he possess the magical wand to fix all Nigeria‘s problems.

Political system However, former elected Presidents like Shagari and Obasanjo and Heads of State like Gowon, Buhari, Babangida and Abubakar would attest to the complexity of Nigerian problems and the obstacles to national unity, political and economic stability. President Jonathan is a living example of how best your effort is, it may still not be good enough in certain circle.

Therefore, it would not require one form of stargazing to conclude that no single party would be able to master the intricacies that surround governance of the country and

the complexity of the Nigerian political system.

The glaring problem is that politicians come and go, but like the French Borbons, they learnt nothing and forgot nothing.

They are schooled in the philosophy of “winners take all” and they believe fervently in the culture of “what we have, we hold”, at all cost. These nebulous concepts, are however alien to a plural society like Nigeria.

This nation has never been so divided into tribal religious and ethnic classes in its politics and between the very rich and the most desperate poor in its economic setting. The necessary middle class did not thrive during the boom period of oil wealth leaving room for its decline during the coming period of austerity after the elections. The Nigerians, under the devaluation of the naira, would continue to do with only imported second-hand commodities. The policy of devaluation works in a flourishing manufacturing environment where cheaper domestic prices would stimulate external demand.

Viewing the present position from the background of the past heightened political tempo, the contending political parties have shown remarkable maturity.

This is a good sign for the future if relative peace is maintained during and after the elections in March and April.

I believe that in order to save the country from further economic, political and social decadence, widespread rural poverty and urban congestion, with its attendant filth and disease, it is necessary to seek a new solution in the idea of a genuine NATIONAL GOVERNMENT of wider and tested talents.

Surely, the prayer of the country is that the Boko Haram insurgency should be over before the next government is sworn in: And the good people of Nigeria shall say, Amen.

What election shift means for Jonathan Continues from page 25 railways after 20 years of being moribund as a hoax.

“The Director General of his campaign, Senator Ahmadu Ali, even stretches this moribund hyperbole to 35 years,” said Malam Garba Shehu, Director of the APCPCO’s Media and Publicity. “On the campaign trail, the railway lies just seem to keep tumbling out.”

Among the claims which Malam Garba described as lies are the President’s statement during his campaign rallies that his government has rehabilitated and built about 3,500 km of railways.

They have done no such thing as only about 2,000km have so far been rehabilitated and less than 250km of new track has been built,” Shehu said.

He added that the quality of work done on these

rehabilitations left a lot to be desired, because the government had shown a preference towards issuing contracts to their cronies, regardless of whether they had the essential skills or experience.

Other notable achievements the administration would seek to showcase within the six week window now offered is the eradication of corruption in the agriculture sector which has reportedly led to unfettered distribution of fertiliser to Nigerian farmers.

Administration officials have repeatedly echoed the gains in agriculture which they claim has led to the stability in food prices despite the steep depreciation in the value of the naira.

The Jonathan administration would also be eager to showcase the country’s position as one of the leading destinations for international investments and that despite the security

challenges that have bedevilled some sections of the country.

Another positive the Jonathan canvassers would trumpet is the relative liberty with which Jonathan has handled his rivals.

However, that assertion would be challenged by in some places.

The six week window would also be an opportunity for the administration to address two of the serious challenges that have negatively impacted on its image – insecurity and corruption.

Window for progress President Jonathan during his live media chat on Wednesday claimed that a window for progress in the fight to weed out the Boko Haram insurgency has been offered with the involvement of the multilateral force and the inflow of new equipment to decisively deal with

the rebels. There would be much expectation of success on the part of Jonathan’s supporters to show that he has regained the whole country from the hold of insurgents.

On the issue of corruption, the president has apparently begun to retune his message. The president had after a media chat in the past been quoted as saying that stealing is not corruption, a quote that went a long way to project the president and his party as being tolerant of corruption.

That image was not helped by the parade of persons who have either been suspected or are undergoing trial as key associates of the president.

On Wednesday night when he met another set of media men for a chat, the president again sought to clarify the statement saying that he was not the one that originally said that stealing

is not corruption.

According to him, he was only quoting a former Chief Justice of the Federation: “People who told you I said stealing is not corruption did not tell you I said stealing is good.

That is why philosophers say that the primary reason people disagree is because people use one statement to explain two typical things or vice versa. I made that statement because I quoted the former Chief Justice of Nigeria, Mustapha, (when) I called a meeting then, with the Anti-crime organizations and the judiciary.”

Whatever the assertions, the president’s rivals would be looking to him to make a clean break with those around the administration whose image have impacted negatively in the public space.

He has five more weeks.

Vanguard, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2015—29

30—Vanguard, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2015

People say D’banj looks like me — J’azzy

CALL him, D’banj look alike, and you may not be wrong. Rising Afro-pop star, Bayagbon Onoriode a.k.a J’azzy whose Twerk viral video is currently making waves, has a striking resemblance with the superstar, D’banj. But rather than accept that he looks like the superstar, J’azzy insists that the latter looks like him. In this interview, he speaks on how D’banj looks like him, the inspiration behind his latest Twerk song, and why he went into music among other things...

By Kehinde Ajose & Juliet Ebirim

W

HY did you opt for the stage name, J’azzy?

My name is Onoriode Jude Bayagbon .My stage name is Jahazel.I decided to change it to J’azzy.Jehazel is a biblical name; it means God is watching over you. I changed it to J’azzy to make it fit into the entertainment industry.

How has the journey been so far?

Music is something inborn .When I started out, I was fond of using the table to play drums. From there, I started putting words on the beat.I started with rap before going into singing.I started singing at the age of twelve. After my secondary school education, I recorded a rap song, “Remember those Times.” It’s been an interesting journey. When I recorded “Remember those Times” , I performed it in my neighborhood and people loved it.This gave me the courage to start performing at street parties just to showcase my talent.

Thereafter, I recorded a single titled “Scobo Scubus.”

What does that mean?

It means something good.

How do you describe your kind of music?

It,s hip-hop blend with RnB because I sing and rap.

Which one do you do better?

I am good at both genres. I have a song which is a fusion of melody and rap. It came out well.

Tell us about your new single, Twerk?

C M Y K

Yoruba is a language.

It’s used as a spice in songs and also as a way artistes connect with their fans

Twerk is an American word, but we call it Mapouka in Africa.It’s a provocative dance form.I was in the studio and I told my producer to just play me some beats .When I listened to the beat, it inspired the lyrics of the song.It took me about two to three months to compose the song. It wasn’t as if I couldn’t write it in a day. But I take my time when it comes to writing my songs.Right now, I have close to four songs that have been mixed and mastered. In one of my songs, “Setigbo”, I was talking about life.

How come you can do a song in Yoruba when you hail from Delta?

I was born in Festac town. I have been in Lagos for close to three decades now. Lagos is a place where you need to understand and speak Yoruba.

Why do artistes infuse Yoruba in their songs?

Yoruba is a language. It’s used as a spice in songs and also as a way artistes connect with their fans. Musicians use it as a means of communicating with their fans.

Why did you choose to pursue a craeer in music?

My elder sister was fond of this saying: “Pursue

Vanguard Awards: How Patoranking, Debbie, Finest, others shut down Eko Hotel

Genevieve, Psquare, Don Jazzy, others make Most Influential Igbo Personalities’ list

whatever you are passionate about.If you are passionate about carpentry, do it well.I have it in me and I have been told that if I continue, I will go places. I know am extremely good at it.

How do you intend to remain Continunes on page 31

Lagos Police, Mile 2 and my Nokia PureView 808

Vanguard, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2015—31

Synopsis

People say D’banj looks like me — J’azzy Continues from page 30 relevant in the industry?

To remain relevant as an artiste, one has to be focused in addition to working very hard. Artistes should always learn to take correction when they are being corrected.That is the way to grow

• WEDDING RINGER • 30 DAYS IN ATLANTA

Why did you decide to do a song on twerking?

Twerking is what is trending right now.Take for example, Miley Cyrus.She is getting attention because she twerks .A lot of musicians are twerking, that is what is in vogue right now.My twerk video is a viral video it’s popular on the streets, but it’s not being aired at the moment.

If you go to any street right now and talk about J’azzy twerk song, everyone knows it.The new twerk video will be better tamed than the promotional one.

Is there anything about women that inspires your music?

Women support us and buy our music.Most of the songs musicians write these days are all inspired by women.

Has any woman inspired any of your song?

I composed a song titled “So Beautiful.” It’s about a girl I was crazy about. I wasn’t dumped by her, we just went our separate ways.

Was it a heartbreak song?

I wasn’t heartbroken. It’s more like a love song that anyone can relate to.

How do you compose your songs?

I write my songs in two C M Y K

• ANNIE • SEVENTH SON

Movie schedule from January 16th - 22nd 2015 SILVERBIRDCINEMAS, VICTORIA ISLAND 5O shades of grey: 6:40pm, 9:05pm Antique: 11:30am, 5:10pm.

Sponge Bob : 11:00am, 12:50am.

Selma : 11:20am, 4:20pm, 9:20pm.

The Wedding Ringer : 5:10pm, 7:10pm, 9:10pm.

30 Days in Atlata : 3:05pm.

SILVERBIRD CINEMAS, IKEJA 50 shades of grey: 6:00pm, 8:30pm.

Antique: 12:55am, 7:25pm.

Sponge Bob : 11:00am, 2:20pm, 4:10pm.

Selma : 10:30am, 5:00pm.

Barbie in Princess Power : 12:50am The Wedding Ringer : 12:25am, 6:30pm, 8:30pm.

John Wick : 2:00pm 30 Days in Atlanta : 4:35pm.

How far can you go in this journey?

As long as I am consistent.I will keep giving my fans good music.I am going to be doing this for as long as it takes.

Has anyone ever told you that you look like Dbanj?

My uncle once told me that D’banj looks like me. I don’t look like him.

The film is an adventure featuring Olu Jacobs, Ricardo Agbor, Bimbo Akintola, Oge Indiana, Gabriel Afolayan and more, directed by Darasen Richards and DJ Tee. It tells a tale starting in the troubled Godo Kingdom as the only heir to the throne lies at death doors. Then an innocent girl must journey to a land where mortals are forbidden in search of the antique but, will she return?

TOP MOVIES OF THE WEEK

What are some of the challenges you have faced as a rising act?

It’s the usual challenge that upcoming artistes face in the industry; lack of funding, getting people to invest in your talent.I once performed at North American University Hodegbe, Benin Republic and I was paid. It’s the positive feedback I get from my fans that encourages me

Who are your musical influences here in Nigeria?

I will like to work with D’banj just because people say he looks like me.

I won’t say I look like him.It will make a lot of sense if we do a song together.I will also love to work with 2face and M.I.

The Antique

* J’azzy ways.It comes by inspiration and I also flow with the beat my producer gives me. I tell my producer to create beats and I eventually pick on anyone that catches my fancy. At times, it takes up to 3 days before I finally get a beat I love.I know a catchy beat because I am an instrumentalist.I might just be playing the beats in my car and the melody suddenly hits me.

Is that how you compose most of your songs?

All my lyrics have come through this means.I composed “Twerk” like that. I don’t sit down to write songs.It just comes naturally. I can’t sing a song that I have written on a paper.That method doesn’t work for me.The beat triggers my imspiration.

What is that thing that is so unique about you?

That will be my catchy tunes.You have to start from the beat. In Nigeria, we have our own kind of beat.We have two kinds of audience when it comes to music, the rich class and the street. If you want to do a song that will become a hit you have to focus on the street.If you can catch the street, you All my have caught the rich lyrics have folks.

come through this means.I composed “Twerk” like that. I don’t sit down to write songs.It just comes naturally

How far can you go on stage to impress your fans?

You have to look at the fact that people are watching you. So, you don’t go on stage to make it bad for your fans.When you go on stage, just try to do the best you can. If you want to be funny, do it, but don’t create a bad image for yourself.

SILVERBIRD CINEMAS, SEC 50 shades of grey: 11:40am, 2:00, 4:20pm, 6:50pm, 9:20pm.

Antique: 12:00am, 2:10pm, 8:20pm.

Sponge Bob : 12:10am, 2:00pm, 3:50pm Selma : 1:40pm, 6:05pm, 8:30pm.

Laggies: 2:30pm Barbie in Princess Power : 12:40am, 2:10pm.

The Wedding Ringer : 1:00pm, 3:00pm, 5:00pm, 7:00pm, 9:00pm.

John Wick : 6:20pm.

Seventh Son : 6:00pm, 8:00pm.

Annie : 3:40pm 30 Days in Atlanta : 4:20pm, 6:30pm, 8:40pm.

SILVERBIRD CINEMAS CEDDI PLAZA , ABUJA 50 shades of grey: 2:10pm, 6:40pm.

Selma : 2:00pm.

The Wedding Ringer : 12:00am, 4:25pm, 9:00pm.

SILVERBIRD CINEMAS, PORT HARCOURT 50 shades of grey: 1:40, 6:00pm, 8:20pm.

Antique: 1:00pm, 5:05pm, 7:10pm.

Sponge Bob : 12:25am, 3:35pm.

Selma : 11:00am, 4:00pm, 9:00pm.

Green Eye : 11:00am, 3:05pm, 9:10pm.

Laggies : 11:00am, 2:50pm.

Barbie In Princess Power : 11:00am, 2:10pm.

The Wedding Ringer : 12:50am, 4:45pm, 6:45pm, 8:45pm.

30 Days in Atlanta : 2:00pm, 4:05pm, 6:20pm.

SILVERBIRD CINEMAS, WARRI 50 shades of grey: 12:05am, 4:30pm, 8:55pm.

Antique: 10:00am, 2:25pm.

Selma : 2:10pm, 8:30pm Laggies : 10:15am.

Barbie in Princess Power: 10:10am, 11:40am.

The Wedding Ringer : 12:10am, 4:35pm, 6:30pm.

John Wick : 6:40pm.

30 Days in Atlanta : 3:00pm, 6:50pm.

SILVERBIRD CINEMAS, UYO Antique: 11:40am, 1:45pm, 3:50pm, 6:00pm.

Green Eye : 11:50am, 4:05pm, 8:25pm.

Annie : 11:30am, 1:45pm, 4:00pm, 6:15pm, 8:30pm.

Champagne : 12:20pm,2:20pm,4:20pm, 6:20pm, 8:20pm 30 Days in Atlanta : 12:00, 2:15pm, 4:35pm, 6:35pm.

OZONE CINEMAS SABO YABA 50 shades of grey: 2:55pm, 7:00pm.

Antique: 10:55am, 4:20pm Sponge Bob: 12:10am Selma: 12:15am, 9:15pm.

Barbie in Princess Power: 10:45am The Wedding Ringer : 1:55pm, 6:15pm Annie : 10:00am 30 Days in Atlanta : 5:00pm GENESIS DELUXE CINEMAS LAGOS Antique: 2:05pm, 6:25pm.

The Wedding Wick : 2:30pm, 9:40pm.

GENESIS DELUXE CINEMAS, PORT HARCOURT 30 days in Atlanta: 4:45pm.

The Weeding Ringer : 4:30pm, 8:55pm, (fri & sat 11:55pm) 30 Days in Atlanta : 4:45pm.

GENESIS DELUXE CINEMAS, ENUGU The Wedding Ringer : 10:00am.

Annie : 1:10pm, 5:40pm, 30 Days in Atlanta : 5:20pm, 9:55pm.

FILM HOUSE CINEMAS, LAGOS The Wedding Ringer : 2:25pm FILM HOUSE CINEMAS, KANO The Wedding Ringer : 6:40pm, 8:25pm.

John Wick : 10:05am, 4:20pm, 8:15pm.

Annie : 10:00am, 12:10pm, 4:30pm.

3O Days in Atlanta : 2:25pm, 4:30pm.

32—Vanguard, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2015

Vanguard Awards: How Patoranking, Debbie, Finnest, others shut down Eko Hotel H

OLDING an audience spellbound at an event as big as Vanguard Personality of the Year Awards is not a mean task. But the story was different last Saturday night. Thousands of guests who thronged the convention hall of the Eko Hotel and Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos, venue of the prestigious awards night, had every reason to sit back while the event lasted.

Spiced with musical interlude, the wellattended event was hosted by actress Osas Ighodaro and firebrand comedian, Bovi Ugboma, who gave a good account of themselves.

Leading the pack of showstoppers on the night was dancehall artiste, Patoranking, whose song, “Alubarika” which he collaborated with Timaya, got everyone in the hall dancing. But it was fast rising singer, Debbie Rise, who stole the show. Mesmerizing and dazzling with her vocal strength and previously unknown dexterity on guitar, Debie was no less different in class of invited artistes as she added colour to the already electrifying atmosphere with her beautiful performance. The rousing applause from the guests was nothing short of excitement and satisfaction with her performance.

By Benjamin Njoku

•Debie Rise *Patoranking •Finest

Excitement and satisfaction The star revelation of the TV reality show, Nigerian Idol who has released series of hit singles in recent times looked ravishing in her shot red-gown. She stunned everyone with her dexterity displayed at the guitar.

Just as Debie’s, Finnest’s performance was also awesome. The rising singer who started out as a hip-hop star thrilled the quality audience with his highlife tunes, leaving some of his colleagues at Vanguard in disbelieve. But the showstoppers on the night were the Shuga band, a 14-piece musical group led by Akinloye Tofowomo, who was committed to the highest standard of excellence and professionalism. The group opened with some old school songs and, from then on, it was as if they had the audience screaming and egging them on. In fact, the audience seemed to have been spellbound by the group’s up-tempo secular flair and performing of dynamic sounds creating rich harmonies. The group offered swing-beat as RnB, dance tunes, oldies, country, traditional and soulful arrangement, which the appreciative audience soaked up.

Others who performed at the event were Kiss Daniels who put up a good performance with his hit song ‘Woju’ and the trio of belly dancers led by Korra Anita Obidi. It was an evening filled with music, 4real glamour and style.

*Shuga Band on stage

4real Eze steps out with ‘Super’ W

ITH songs like ‘High Place’, ‘Cold’ featuring 2Face Idibia, Hot and ‘Double Traffikator’ that featured Wizboy, to his credit, Super’ is what the Kakuri in Kaduna State-born, Eze Franklin Chekwube a.k.a 4real Eze needed to announce his emergence in the Nigerian music industry.

It may interest you to know that, towards the end of last year, 4real’s ‘Super’ not only ranked among the highly downloaded Nigerian music online, the song enjoyed heavy rotation on radio.

While the song continues to garner fans for the first artiste on Don Maseratte music label, the much- talked about musical video of the song, has been released!

Super music video that was gathered to have gulped millions

of naira was handled by the ace music video Director, Clarence Peters.

Speaking about the video, 4real said, “We don’t have intention of shooting the video but the rate at which people accepted the song, gave us a second thought, and the demand for the video propelled us to hit the location with Clarence Peters, one of the most sought-after music video Directors in Nigeria. The track is very fortunate as I have other songs begging for videos (Laughs).”

However, as 4real’s Super video is currently enjoy ample airplay on popular music channels, the aspiring music star also known as ‘IceCream4real’ has returned with a new song titled ‘Stylee’. The song produced by MoreMoney is learnt to be a New Year gift for his fans.

C M Y K

VOL. 1: NO. 10

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 13 , 2015

2015: Jonathan’s endorsement tears Yoruba elders apart T

By Ola Ajayi & Anozie Egole

HE recent endorsement of President Goodluck Jonathan by the pan-Yoruba socio-political association, Afenifere, is still raising dust in the South-West geo-political zone. Now, it is generating another round of controversy among Yoruba elders and groups.

Two weeks ago, the Chief Reuben Fasoranti-led Afenifere endorsed President Jonathan for second term because they want the country restructured.

“On the 2015 general election, as far as Afenifere is concerned, the presidential election is to decide between two options, freedom or slavery. We have elected to choose freedom, freedom from bondage, internal enslavement and internal colonialism that holds most Nigerians down under the bastion of domination and we are convinced that the 2014 national conference report has laid the basis for the proper restructuring of the country.

“The most important change that Nigeria desire this time is restructural change. The change that ignores the restructuring of Nigeria is not a change. Most of the issues that are confronting us, the issue of insecurity, corruption have their link with the faulty constitution that we have and to change the constitution is the most important change that we need. Also, we want to warn in Yoruba land that we should be careful of those who promise change and do not believe in the restructuring of Nigeria and those who boycotted National Conference and described it as diversion,’’ Afenifere said, adding that it does not want Nigerians to be returned to Egypt.

ARG, YCE, Ekiti Afenifere kick

In quick succession, the Afenifere Renewal Group (ARG), Yoruba Council of Elders (YCE) and Ekiti Afenifere dissociated themselves from the comments saying it did not represent Yoruba interest in the forthcoming election.

The YCE popularly called Igbimo Agba Yoruba and led by Major General Adeyinka C M Y K

Adebayo (retd) after a meeting urged Yoruba not to be in a hurry to endorse any candidate.

In its communiqué read by Prof. Bayo Olateju, the elders called ‘’on all Yoruba to think seriously, Ki Yoruba Ronu, and weigh the candidates on the basis of what Yoruba and the nation stands to gain in the next four years, as presented by each political party’s manifesto and its track record in governance, and then decide who to vote for.

“YCE is not a party to any purported endorsement given by any group or groups to a presidential candidate and so dissociates itself from such action as YCE did not at any time sit with any group of people to consider and come to such decision.”

Let the best candidate win

It continued: “Nigerian presidency should go to the best candidate who has the vision and mission of taking Nigeria and Nigerians from poverty to wealth; from insecurity of lives and property to living secured, prosperous and in abundance; regardless of party affiliation, religious, or

tribe.

“YCE hereby categorically, once again, states that any form of threat against this nation, Nigeria, is not politics but an act of treason, hence YCE vehemently condemns in strong terms and in its entirety, this unpatriotic stand of some people threatening war if they lose the election. We reiterate, once again that no nation

progresses in an atmosphere of strife or war and Nigeria does not need another war in any form after this general election”.

It called on all political parties to caution and control their supporters from making provocative and inflammatory public statements which could set the nation ablaze or rail-road the nation into another civil war.

Continues on Page 2

IN THIS EDITION

Ondo bullion van robbery attack: Police dismiss inspector, three others for illegal duty •Page 2

Ekiti Central: Rasaki, Ajijola trade tackles over PDP senatorial ticket •Page 3

In politics women are better managers than men — Salis-

Fakos

•Page 7

2 — Vanguard, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2015

ONDO STATE

Ondo bullion van robbery attack:

Police dismiss Inspector, three others for illegal duty

By Dayo Johnson

I

T did not come as a surprise. But it will definitely serve as deterrent to other law enforcement agents who want to eat their cake and at the same time have it.

Four policemen led by an inspector were arrested for embarking on an illegal operation by escorting a bullion van from the area office of one of the commercial banks to the state capital office of the same bank.

They are to be charged to Court any moment from now for conspiracy and robbery.

The four policemen embarked on the illegal duty without official approval from the operation unit of the command.

Instead of following due process by officially booking for police personnel to escort the money, the bank area office resorted to “cutting corners” by side-tracking the laid down procedure.

A top Police source told Southwest Voice that “on a good day whenever banks want to convey money from one town to the other they usually write to the operation unit of the state police command and eight policemen would be approved for them. However, in this situation only four policemen escorted the bullion van which fuelled suspicion of conspiracy.’’

Police detectives said the dismissed officers may have been embarking on such illegal duties before now to make brisk business until nemesis caught up with them.

The detectives disclosed that the suspects faced orderly room trial and were found culpable.

They were said to have confessed that they actually embarked on the illegal operation thinking it would be a “smooth ride that would earn them quick money”.

They reportedly told their “prosecutors” that they never envisaged that the bullion van would be attacked by robbers.

The suspects were said to have requested that the police detectives should beam their searchlight on the bank workers who they alleged may have tipped off the robbers of the movement of the cash from Ondo town to Akure, the state capital.

South-west Voice gathered that the suspects during their interrogation said that the precision with which they were ambushed and attacked C M Y K

•Isaac Eke, Ondo Police Commissioner showed that it had the collaboration of “an insider” who might have briefed the hoodlums of their movement and the right place to ambush them.

Three others persons including the two drivers of the bullion van marked Lagos FST 945 AL and the escort vehicle with registration number PF 344 SPY and the cash Officer of the bank were detained after the attack.

Suspects were on illegal duty –Commissioner of Police The Ondo State Police Commissioner, Isaac Eke, said that the command smelled conspiracy as the policemen who escorted the van were on illegal duty.

Eke said that the suspects failed to follow laid down procedure on the escort of bank bullion van from one bank to the other.

The suspects were said to have confessed that they could not fire

“ even a single shot” because they will have to account for expended bullets as they were on illegal mission.

Consequently, the suspect told the panel that they had to take the “safest” means which is to flee the scene when it dawned on them that they were face-to-face with death and were handicapped to exchange gun shot with the robbers.

Their intention according to a Police source was to abandon the driver and cash officer to their fate after the attack.

“They had no intention to return to the scene of the attack but were hiding in the bush for the night to come after which they will disappear since their true identities were not properly documented before they embarked on the illegal duty.

“But for the timely intervention of the Police Commissioner who deployed mobile policemen to comb the bush, the four suspects would not have been arrested. They were planning to hide in the bush until night fall after which they would just disappear into thin air.

Bank officials indicted

The suspects were said to have requested that the police detectives should beam their searchlight on the bank workers

However, a banker in the affected bank told South-West Voice that an investigation conducted by the bank has indicted some officials of the bank.

He said that the report had been forwarded to the headquarters of the bank. According to him, it has been alleged that those who engaged the services of the four policemen may have collaborated with the robbers to attack the bullion van.

This position was equally corroborated by a top police detective who alleged that the attack was premeditated by a syndicate working in the bank which has a link with the robbers.

Continues on Page 6

2015: Jonathan’s endorsement tears Yoruba elders apart Continues from Page 1 Still preaching peace as the nation moves closer to general elections, YCE expressed concern and condemned the spate of violence on some political party candidates and party offices across the country and urged all parties to remind their members of the recently signed Abuja peace accord.

Instead of attacking personalities during campaigns, the elders urged the parties to concentrate their campaigns on issues such as economy, security, stable electric power, industrialization, employment, education for all, sustenance of our democracy, good health, care for the aged and other salient issues.

In the 11-paragraph communiqué, the elders advised the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to ensure election the election is free and fair,particularly by ensuring that no one is unwittingly disenfranchised through inability to obtain the PVC; by logistic problems of failure of election materials, such as voters register for the polling booths, ballot boxes, form EC 8 to arrive at the polling stations on time; faulty or broken down PVC card readers, computers, and card reader batteries. The whole world is watching the conduct of this election, with keen interest.

They advised all Yoruba regardless of which part of this country they live, to spare no effort in ensuring they collect their permanent voters cards (PVCs) and that they turnout en masse to vote for the candidates of their choice during the polls.

The elders reaffirmed their resolve and belief in the corporate existence of the country as a single and united entity for the progress and prosperity of all who dwell within its borders. The elections should go on as planned and urged contestants to accept the results as an expression of the voice of the people and of God. Apart from YCE and ARG, some Yoruba sons and daughters have expressed displeasure with Afenifere leaders for protecting their selfish interest and pretending to be fighting for the Yoruba.

To them, the Afenifere endorsement is capable of pitching the zone against other presidential candidates in the election.

ODC backs Jonathan However, Afenifere has a soul mate in the Oodua Democratic Coalition (ODC), which after an interethnic nationalities consultative conference in Lagos, endorsed Jonathan for re-election.

Endorsing Jonathan, the ODC in a communique signed by Morgan Omodu, said: ‘’Following the unprecedented achievements of Mr. President and the laid out agenda and plans for national development, we hereby as a coalition endorse the president and continuity of Mr. President in office till 2019.”

Leaders of the ODC further anchored their decision on the ‘’need to ensure that the transformation agenda which is visible across all sectors is sustained and further encouraged to be consolidated by preventing awon akotileta (quislings) in our midst from truncating it all because of selfish and personal reasons and further reiterate our position as Yoruba people on where we stand.’’

The group also called for total participation of all and sundry in the forthcoming elections and peace among all ethnic nationalities and particularly those within the South-west because it is only in an atmosphere of peace that development is possible.

They condemned the unguided and unwarranted assault on President Jonathan in some parts of the country, saying ‘’the office and the personality of the president should be respected.

With the endorsements and counterendorsements, it is to be seen who the South-West electorate will vote for in the March 28 presidential polls.

Vanguard, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2015 — 3

EKITI STATE

Ekiti Central: Rasaki, Ajijola trade tackles over PDP senatorial ticket

By Gbenga Ariyibi

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HERE is sense in the popular saying that in politics there is no permanent friend or enemy but permanent interest. This aptly captures the deep rift between Hon Fatimat Raji -Rasaki, a former member of the House of Representatives and the wife of former Military Governor of both Ogun and Lagos states, Brig-General Raji Rasaki and Mr Lateef Ajijola, an oil magnate cum politician.

The duo are interested in representing their senatorial district in the Senate. Both are members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ekiti State and hail from Ado Ekiti in the Central Senatorial District of the state. They both contested for the PDP primaries conducted about two months ago but now they are at each other’s jugular claiming to be the party’s authentic candidate for the March 28, 2015 National Assembly election.

After the PDP’s keenly contested primaries, Raji Rasaki was declared the winner, a decision Ajijola has opposed.

Now, each of them is claiming to be the candidate of the party with Ajijola taking the matter to a Federal High Court, Abuja and urging the court to declare him winner of the primaries conducted.

•Fatimat Raji Rasaki: Declared winner at the primaries Things were said to have fallen apart between the politicians shortly after the primaries when some of the votes regarded as void were said to have been counted in favour of Ajijola A protest from Raji -Rasaki on the seeming anomaly was said to have changed the trend, as the two Returning Officers that conducted the primaries, Barr Owoseni Ajayi and Segun Akinwumi subsequently announced Raji-Rasaki as the duly elected winner of the primaries.

Efforts made by the leaders of the party, including the state governor, Mr Ayo Fayose to

reconcile the two politicians met with stone wall.

A similar move by the Ewi of Ado Ekiti, Oba Rufus Adejugbe and his chiefs did not yied dividends as Ajijola insisted that he was cheated and sought redress in court.

Shortly after the congress, Ajijola told newsmen that he would write to the appeal panel raised by the party and channel his grievances to all the relevant authorities within the party and ensure that the party reversed itself.

Not satisfied with the position of the party, he approached the court for adjudication.

Reacting to the development,

Raji-Rasaki berated Ajijola for taking her and the party to court The former lawmaker described members of the PDP who have refused to be pacified and had resorted to taking the party to court over the conduct of the primaries as being allegedly used by opposition to destabilize the party.

Raji-Rasaki, said PDP has preference for women in occupying elective positions, saying her candidacy was a great testimony to her claim.

Speaking on the litigation surrounding her emergence as senatorial candidate in Ekiti Central Senatorial district in Ado Ekiti on Tuesday, Raji-Rasaki clarified that she was never defeated by Mr Lateef Ajijola.

She advised Ajijola to have a rethink and stop being desperate for the ticket.

“Our party has not hidden the fact that it has preference for women. There is a provision in our party’s constitution that winning the primaries is not enough for you to fly the flag.

The party has control over the ticket and they can give it to whoever it likes based on your experience and integrity.

“What happened at the primaries was votes that were supposed to be voided were

Ado Poly workers dare governing council

By Gbenga Ariyibi

I

N the past two years or there about, the atmosphere at the Federal Polytechnic, Ado Ekiti has been tensed following one crisis or the other between the trade unions and Rector.

The frosty relations between the trade unions and the Rector, Dr Taiwo Akande, has led the government to take a drastic measure against the unions with the Governing Council of the institution suspending trade and students union activities in the school.

It also ordered workers to shun their strike action and resume at their duty posts. The directive was ignored by majority of the staff as a visit to the institution showed that most of the staff refused to resume at their duty posts. The Polytechnic was like a ghost yard as most of the offices were locked.

Stern-looking policemen were also stationed at the main gate, probably to ward off any incursion into the Polytechnic by union leaders that could C M Y K

lead to harassment of the few workers that reported to duty.

It will be recalled that organized labour in the polytechnic, comprising Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics, Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Polytechnics and Non-

Academic Staff Union had engaged the Rector, Dr Theresa Akande in a battle, leading to litany of protests and declaration of indefinite strike by the unions.

In a phone conversation with newsmen in Ado Ekiti, the NASU Chairman in the

Polytechnic, Prince Adekunle Adeniyi, described as empty threat, plans to sack any erring staff and urged his members not to bow to such antics.

The unions accused Akande of allegedly deducting a sum of N350 million from staff ’s cooperatives among other allegations.

•Fed Poly Ado-Ekiti with the Rector, Dr Akande (inset)

counted in Ajijola’s favour. And when I called the attention of the Electoral Officers to it they agreed and the deduction of such votes counted in my favour and I was declared the winner”, she said.

She advised Ajijola to withdraw the case to prove that he is a loyal party man and stop portraying himself as being used to scuttle her chances at the polls.

Though,the party has made its stand known and has presented a certificate of return to Raji -Rasaki, the verdict of the court is being awaited.

Police rearrest prison escapees for fresh offence in Ekiti

By Gbenga Ariyibi

N

O fewer than two of the inmates of the Federal Prisons,Ado Ekiti who had along with their other colleagues escaped, last year, have been re arrested by the police for fresh cases of robbery.

Some of the inmates at the prisons had on November 30 last year escaped while few of them reported themselves to the police Briefing newsmen in Ado Ekiti, the state police commissioner, Mr Taiwo Lakanu, said one of the prison escapees, Adegboye Sunday, attempted to rob one Akingbinsola Feyi, a resident of Ori Apata area of Ado-Ekiti on December 5 last year at about 10.25 pm.

Adegboye was said to have led three other robbery suspects who were armed with cutlasses to the scene of the incident where they attacked people who were cooking in preparation for a wedding ceremony.

According to the police boss, another prison escapee, Ajimoko Kayode, was arrested after leading a gang of four on a robbery operation at Olokemeji area of Ado-Ekiti on January 20.

He further explained that almost 40 robbery suspects who were recently apprehended are now in the in Police custody.

“Close to 40 armed robbery suspects are with us but they have not been charged to court because of the ongoing judiciary workers’ strike. Our cells are congested and you know those arrested for capital offences cannot be released.

Some of those arrested are among those who escaped from prisons so we urge the general public to volunteer information to assist us to nip crime in the bud,” Lakanu said.

4 — Vanguard, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2015

THE SOCIAL LIFE OF YORUBA

Oluwabunmi and Kehinde cutting their wedding cake

Kehinde and his friends postrating before his in laws

Yemisi and Taiwo with her friends

Yemisi and Taiwo with her friends

Temilade and her friends

Feyi and Niyi

Couple on the dance floor C M Y K

Oluwabunmi and her friends in a group photograph

Temilade and Olujimi

Temilade with some kids in a group photograph

Feyi and her friends dancing during their wedding

Guests at Evelyn and Kola

Feyi and her friends in a group photograph

Evelyn and Kola on the dance floor

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Vanguard, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2015 — 5

OGUN STATE

Ogun: Drama as LP accuses ex-commissioner of impersonation at CAN debate

By Daud Olatunji

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BEOKUTA- There was a mild drama at debate/ interactive forum organized by Ogun state chapter of the Christian Association of Nigeria for the governorship candidates of political parties in the state as a former Commissioner for Information, Mr. Sina Kawonise was accused of impersonation.

Kawonise, who was ushered into the front seat which was reserved for governorship candidates of the political parties, dramatically disappeared when the Chairman and the DirectorGeneral of the Labour Party, Olabod Simeon and Arabambi Abayomi respectively arrived the venue and accused him of impersonation.

The public debate which was held at the African Church Solution Camp Ground, Sam Ewang Estate, Abeokuta was attended by governorship candidates of the political parties, including Senator Akin Odunsi (Social Democratic Party ), Gboyega Nasir Isiaka (Peoples Democratic Party), Pastor Benjamin Onafadeji (National Conscience Party), Prof. Femi Bamgbose (All Progressives Grand Alliance) and Reverend Olufolabi Adebayo (KOWA Party).

However, the state governor Senator Ibikunle Amosun who is seeking re-election on the platform of the ruling All Progressives Congress was however, absent.

A disruption of the debate was also narrowly averted when the Labour Party Chairman and his team stormed the church to protest the invitation of Kawonise as the governorship candidate of the party in the state.

It took the organizers of the debate, who initially declined the request by the LP state chairman and chieftains to ease out Kawonise who was already seated and engrossed in the debate with the standard bearers of the other political parties.

The CAN leaders held series of closed door meetings with the Labour Party leaders which ended in a deadlock.

While the meeting between the organisers and the LP chieftains was on, an emissary was sent to the hall and Kawonise immediately left the venue of the debate.

The visibly angry LP chieftains later returned to the auditorium through a side door and took their seats still fuming.

Meanwhile, there was a consensus of opinion among

the six governorship candidates who unveiled their various programmes and agenda during the public debate on the return of missionary schools in the state to religious organizations which founded them.

The SDP governorship standard bearer, Odunsi who said he was a product of the CMS Grammar School, Lagos noted that the mission schools played important role in the moulding of the characters of the young ones in the past.

He stressed that the state erred when it took over the running of the mission schools from the religious organizations.

The SDP standard bearer assured that if elected, his administration would return the schools to the missionaries.

HE allegation by the All Progressive Congress (APC) that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ogun State has been purchasing Permanent Voters Cards (PVCs) from unsuspecting electorate has been described as “untrue” and a grand design to prepare the minds of APC dwindling supporters of imminent defeat.

The National Publicity Secretary of the APC, Lai Mohammed had at a press C M Y K

bodies within the policy that would be fashioned out.

Isiaka added that within the first hundred days of his government, an education summit would be organized to address the various problems confronting the education sector in the state.

The candidates also agreed on the need to create employment for the people of the state with the PDP candidate promising 500,000 jobs.

Count Yoruba nation out if democracy fails in Nigeria, ARG warns

By Olasunkanmi Akoni

T

HE Afenifere Renewal Group, ARG, has said Yoruba nation would opt out of Nigeria, if the current democratic dispensation fails, by whatever reason.

The group made the position known in a communiqué released on Wednesday, at the end of a social discourse organised by the group to “sensitise and mobilise Yoruba voters” for the forthcoming general elections.

The communiqué, signed by the group’s National Chairman, Hon. Olawale Oshun, said: “Yoruba people would wish, as we are now, to be part of a democratic, well-governed and truly federal Nigeria, in all intents and purposes.

“However, we warn that if for any reason, Nigeria is schemed to become a banana and undemocratic republic, with the muzzling of its democratic institutions as demonstrated by this Poll Shift, and/or if Nigeria were to be divided in any manner, we would as a people opt out to become a democratic nation as would be acceptable by our people.”

According to the communiqué, “the recent election shift is certainly not just about elections. We suspect that the postponement is about something more sinister, the first being that it might be grounds to prepare a soft surface for a sympathetic group within the Armed Forces to take over the reins of power, since in character and content there is little to distinguish the present rudderless government from the one that ruled in the Second Republic between 1979 and 1983.”

2015: YMD drums support for Jonathan, others

By Mariam Eko Mr. Sina Kawonise

Ogun PDP guber candidate berates APC over allegation of buying PVC T

The APGA candidate on his part argued that the government should not only return the schools but also subsidize their running.

Similarly, the PDP standard bearer who said he was part of the immediate past administration which returned the schools to the missionaries before the current government reversed the process, stated that if elected, his administration would hand them back to the religious

statement widely published in the media on Wednesday alleged that his party had proof that some people at Kobape Orile Imo along Shagamu, Ogun State had been offered cash in exchange for their PVCs. Reacting to the allegation, Ogun State PDP governorship aspirant, Prince Gboyega Nasir Isiaka, on Wednesday said the allegation was not only “laughable but also shows that the national secretariat of the APC is aware of the new song

in Ogun State that ‘Amosun Must Go’ (AMG) and the party is jittery about it.

He told the APC that no amount of blackmail will save Amosun from the total rejection that awaits him on April 11, this year.

Isiaka who spoke through the Director General of his campaign organisation Mr Ifekayode Akinbode, however urged the security agencies to investigate the allegation and make public their findings.

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Non-Governmental organisation, Youth Movement For Democracy, YMD, has called on Nigerians to give massive support to President Goodluck Jonathan during the forth-coming general elections stating that he meant well for the generality of Nigerians.

The leader of the group and a Human Rights practitioner, Barrister Ikechukwu Chiaha, stated in a release that Nigeria as a nation deserves good leadership that will once again, bring about the much desired harmony and progress. ‘’In the past four years, Goodluck Ebele Jonathan’s Administration has worked and fought so hard towards achieving the Nigeria of our dreams. We should vote for a leader like him who has a total humane heart for an adorable Nation like ours, and whose administration has upheld and maintained the real practice of democracy in Nigeria.‘’ The group also called on Nigerians to vote for other credible aspirants whom they said had worked hard for the success of the transformation agenda of the regime. They include; Chief Chikwe Udensi (PPA) for Governor Abia State, Chief Ifeanyi Ugwuanayi (PDP) for Governor Enugu State, Senator Ike Ekweremadu (PDP) for Senate, Enugu State, Chime Obieze PDP for House of Assembly Ezeagu in Enugu State and Chima Orji PDP for House of Representative (Enugu).

6 — Vanguard, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2015

OSUN STATE

Aregbesola, Omisore redeem pledges to Oke-Maria pilgrimage centre

By Gbenga Olarinoye

O

SUN State governor, Mr Rauf Aregbesola has fulfilled his pledge to construct a multi-million naira clinic at Oke-Maria in Otan-Aiyegbaju in Bolorunduro Local Government Area of the state where Catholic faithful converge yearly for holy pilgrimage.

Similarly, Senator Iyiola Omisore, the governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP in the August 9, election also

redeemed his pledge of N5 million naira donation to the centre.

Both Aregbesola and Omisore attended the one day vigil during the run off to the 2014 governorship election where they made separate pledges to the spiritual centre.

Osun State Deputy Governor, Otunba Titi Laoye-Tomori, who represented Aregbesola at the commissioning of the clinic at the Marian shrine, commended the Christian faithful for maintaining peace in the state.

She also expressed gratitude for the support the government

has enjoined from the Christian community since the inception of the Aregbesola administration.

The Catholic Archbishop of Ibadan and Apostolic Administrator of Osogbo, Most Rev. Dr. Leke Abegunrin, who congratulated the Governor Aregbesola on his victory at the Election Tribunal disclosed that Omisore also donated a sum of five million Naira for the fencing of the prayer centre.

Speaking on the postponement of the general elections, Laoye-Tomori said the development, Osun would not be a threat to the victory of his party, APC whenever the elections are held.

“The postponement is going to be to my party’s advantage. No cause for alarm, let them shift it to any date of their choice, that is not a threat,’ she said.”

Police dismiss Inspector, three others for illegal duty Continues from Page 2 He confirmed that the four policemen after their dismissal are to be docked for conspiracy and robbery.

It will be recalled that apart from the driver of the bullion van who was seen by the side of the van, others including the four policemen on illegal duties were smoked out from the tick forest near the scene of the attack by detectives deployed to the scene by the police authorities in the state.

The Police Chief said that the inaction of the said policemen by not firing a single bullet when the robbers waylaid them smacked of conspiracy on their part.

The policemen reportedly fled the scene of the robbery immediately the robbers double crossed them and fired volleys of gunshots.

The bullion van and the escort vehicles were riddled with bullets.

Some villagers said the robbers were trailing the bullion van from Ondo town until it got to the village where there are speed breakers on the road.

The robbers who were driving a red car pretended to overtake the bullion van while it slowed down because of the speed breaker only to double cross it and fired volleys of gun shot into the air and the two vehicles.

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Rauf Aregbesola: Built a clinic

Iyiola Omisore: Donated N5m cash

OSUN GOV POLLS: Corps member demands N5m damages from Police

By Gbenga Olarinoye

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serving National Youth Service Corps NYSC member, employed for the conduct of the August 9, 2014 governorship election in Osun State, Yahaya Musibau, is demanding N5 million damages from the police authority for alleged harassment and assault on him while performing his duty as an ad-hoc staff of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, in the state .

He told Justice Moshood Adeigbe-led Commission of Inquiry On Disturbance of Public Peace set up by the state C M Y K

government in Osogbo, on Wednesday that he was molested by six policemen on the day of the election at Oyere Ward I and II, in Ife North Local Government Area of the state.

Represented by his lawyer Mrs Akintajuwa Yemisi, the corps member also asked the police to apologise for the assault on him in two national newspapers.

He told the panel that his NYSC uniform was torn and his Samsung Galaxy Tab was damaged.

Chairman of the panel, Justice Adeigbe, admitted the torn NYSC uniform, damaged Galaxy Tab, and N10,000

allegedly given to him by Divisional Police Officer, DPO, Ejigbo, Mr Biodun Alabi, as exhibits.

Meanwhile, the panel has explained that its duty is to investigate and make recommendation to the state government rather than adjudicating on the matter.

A member of the commission, DCP Bose Dawodu (retd), said this while reacting to allegation by a lawyer that the chairman of the commission is a family member of a party in the chieftaincy matter before it, hence, there may not be fair hearing.

Mrs Dawodu said the commission had sworn to the oath of allegiance and promised to be fair to all parties in their recommendation.

t was after all the occupants of the van and the escort vehicle had fled into different directions that the robbers broke the bullion van by firing gunshots at the main door which eventually gave way.

Contacted, the Police Image Maker, Wole Ogodo Ogodo said: “ the four of our men that escorted the bullion, the cash officer and the two drivers that drove the bullion van are already with us to help us in the investigation that is already ongoing. “ We will do everything possible to get to the root of the matter and as I am talking to you right now, the Officer in charge of the State Anti Robbery Squad has gone to Bolorunduro where the incident happened as part of the ongoing investigation.”

On the alleged dismissal of the officers, Ogodo said “they were found culpable for embarking on an illegal duty and have been punished departmentally” and declined to give further details about the punishment meted out to the erring policemen.

According to him, the Policemen have no business following the bullion van on the ill fated day because they did not book formally and were not authorised by their superior to escort the bullion van which was later robbed.

According to him eight policemen are usually approved by the operation unit of the command to escort bullion van.

Ogodo noted that the banks involve are expected to write the operation unit of the command for officers for such journey and not just to hand-pick some policemen.

He opined that if eight policemen had escorted the bullion van, they would have been able to confront the robbers “but the four policemen could not stand the fire power of the robbers.’’

Ogodo said the robbers after carting the large sum of money into their car escaped through a village to Ile-Oluji.

Vanguard, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2015 — 7

LAGOS STATE

In politics women are better managers than men — Salis-Fakos Mrs. Olabisi Salis-Fakos wants to represent the people of Lagos East Senatorial District comprising Epe, Ibeju-Lekki, Ikorodu, Somolu and Kosefe constituencies on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and is in the race for the forthcoming general elections. Her political journey started in 2007, when her husband, Chief Owolabi Salis contested for the governorship seat of Lagos State but lost. In this interview, Salis calls urges support for Nigerian women to play active roles in the decision making process of the country.

BY EBUN SESSOU

What ares the chances of the PDP in the presidential election?

I think the election is a walk over for President Goodluck Jonathan because he has done so many things for the country and he promised us that Boko Haram would be faced out of Nigeria in his campaign programme. Some of our leaders are behind Boko Haram, they don’t want sanity in the country.

If we give President Jonathan a chance for a second term in office, I believe that Boko Haram would be eradicated. When you look at what President Jonathan has done in the country, you would know that he is a performer. Benin-Ore Road was completed during his tenure; the moribund nation’s railway system has been revived, the agricultural sector is performing optimally, there is improvement in electricity generation, Almajiri education is receiving attention and so many life changing infrastructure have been put in place.

You know that you don’t transform in a day. He has just been there for five years out of the 15 years of our democracy, so he should be given a second chance.

Y

ou are vying for the senatorial position, why and what is your objective?

I want to go to the Senate to eradicate poverty in my senatorial district and make life better for our people through people-oriented programmes.

Before now, I have been involved in empowerment programmes several times because I am passionate about helping the poor.

Actually, I started my ambition in 2006, when my husband, Chief Owolabi Salis contested for the governorship seat of Lagos State. I had to resign my appointment with the Central Bank of Nigeria, and since then, I have been in politics in Lagos and I have helped so many people in the state. I have empowered so many men and women, and I will continue to help the poor regularly.

I believe that the voice of the people must be heard. Our people are not adequately represented in the Senate. We need to eradicate poverty, empower the women and ensure that their voice is heard in the society. I want to initiate and sponsor bills that would enhance the improvement of the people in my district and Nigeria as a whole.

One would think that you should rather have come out under a ruling party in the state. What are your chances of winning the polls?

My chances of winning are very bright looking at it from the feminine perspective. I know the incumbent senator from Lagos East Senatorial District has deep pocket and he has been there for four years but that doesn’t stop my chances of winning. It would be like the story of David and Goliath in the Bible. I stand a better chance of winning.

The voice of the people must be heard, the people are not happy with the way the incumbent senator is treating them, most of their lands are being taken over. I am ready to go there to fight for the people, especially the poor, if you don’t take care of the poor, the masses, your chances of winning any election is eroded.

He was given four years to C M Y K

•Salis-Fakos: I will not promise and fail perform, yet nothing to record as success story. I want to go there, let them give me four years to perform and see what I can do, women are better managers, I believe I have a better chance.

How would you address politicians making empty promises especially during campaign?

We are individuals; people of integrity would not fail campaign promises.

In my journey in life, I have promised people and fulfilled them. I believe it has to do with individuals. I don’t think such will happen in my own case, I have been promising people and I have not failed them. If you don’t try me, how would you know if I would perform or not? From my own side, I have never promised and failed. People have tested me and I have never failed them. If I am given a chance at the senate, I would do all that I am promising them.

Your senatorial district, Lagos East consists of rural areas; Epe, IbejuLekki, Shomolu, Kosofe, and Ikorodu. What are some of their problems that you have identified that you want to work on, if elected?

We have five local governments in my constituency as you have said; Ibeju-Lekki, Epe, Shomolu, Kosofe, and Ikorodu. In some areas, they have peculiar problems like in IbejuLekki and Epe, they have not had electricity for the past five years. In Ikorodu, Shomolu and Kosofe, their

pipe borne water has been faulty, and they have common problem, which is poverty, I need to look into these as a woman. If you emancipate women from poverty, definitely it would affect the home, so we have some programmes that would eradicate poverty being one of the Millennium Developmental Goals (MDG). So we need to look into how we are going to increase youth empowerment, train women, men and youths and with this, poverty would be reduced.

My advice to INEC is to release PVCs, we have been talking to our people to go and collect their PVCs.

You talked about market women and okada (motorcycle) riders. Does it mean the PDP would ask okada riders to go back to the roads in Lagos if it wins the governorship election since people believe the restriction of okada operations has reduced accidents and armed robberies in the state?

No, I am not saying that. I believe the incumbent Governor should have had a meeting with these people to tell them what is expected of them. It doesn’t mean they should be harassing and killing okada riders. There was a day at Ikorodu Road, when the army pursued a young man such that his limb got broken. Are we saying that because we don’t want these people, they should be killed?

Most of these people are graduates. Unemployment is affecting them and they de-

cided to look for a way of getting livelihood, I am not saying we would return them; we would meet with them, tell them what is expected of them and restrict them to some locations. We should not just harass them as if we want them to go into robbery and be carrying weapons. These are young people who want to work; we should encourage them by restricting them to certain areas and use better methods to talk to them.

Sometime last year, the President of Liberia was in Nigeria and said that sometimes, women are their own problems. Do you think the women would give you their support during the election?

I think we are ready now, women are ready to support fellow women. We are not our own problems, we are ready, we were marginalized, we were relegated to the background, but now we are ready because we believe that a woman would understand a woman better.

In most cases, when I go out to campaign, women troop out en-mass, they even support me more than men. Women need to be represented in all the leadership positions in this country, so I believe we are not our problems anymore.

Women usually support women more than men. We are ready to ensure that the country is taken to a greater height, we have talked to ourselves, we are battle ready now.

A lot of people want to vote, but the issue of Permanent Voters Card (PVC) seems to be a problem now, what is your advice to the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC on this?

My advice to INEC is to release PVCs, we have been talking to our people to go and collect their PVCs. The officials should encourage our people to collect their PVCs because they are there in thousands for them. Without the PVCs, they cannot vote, so they should encourage them by giving it to them.

Some people are afraid that this election would be violent.

In your opinion, what can be done?

The issue of violence is very germane and we need to look into it. I believe the Federal Government is looking into it to combat violence during the election. I would not say I have not experienced such; we were attacked by a cult group in Epe, last week, when we went there to campaign. It is an issue, and I believe the government should look into it so that we can have a free and fair election as we had in Ekiti State and in some other states.

8 — Vanguard, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2015

Day professionals rose for Ambode in Lagos

By Emmanuel Aziken, Political Editor

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Senator empowers 500 constituents in Ondo

BY DAYO JOHNSON

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KURE—FOR the second time within two months, a senator representing Ondo South Senatorial district in Ondo State, Boluwaji Kunlere, has put smiles on the faces of 500 less privileged people in his constituency.

Last month, he donated 13 Police Patrol vehicles to the state Police authorities to combat crime before, during and after the 2015 general elections in the state.

The Police support project courtesy of the Senator gulped about N109million. “As part of our contributions towards reducing the crime rate and ensuring secured environment for the peoples we have chosen to empower all the 13 Police Divisions in the Ondo South Senatorial,”he said.

Not done, the Senator, who is seeking to return to the Red chamber, last week, donated 80 wheelchairs, 300 motorcyles and 200 electric generating sets. The empowerment exercise took place at his home town in Igbotako, Okitipupa local council of the State.

Speaking at the ceremony, Senator Kunlere said that within his three and half years as senator, he had been able to provide block of classrooms, potable water, computer centres for schools and solar street light among others.

He said the empowerment programme is to give hope to those who seemed to have been forgotten.

A

MONG them were men and women from the different professions but joined by one ambition: that is, to ensure the sustenance of what they claim as the reign of excellence in the governance of Lagos State.

The partisans who cut across civil society advocacy groups, artisans and market men and women at the end of a meeting on January, 31, 2015 resolved to mediate between the candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Akinwunmi Ambode and undecided voters in conveying his message to the electorate.

Jide Ayobolu, Chairman, Editorial Board, Enterprise Africa Magazine, who spoke on behalf of the group, We Stand for Lagos, disclosed that they decided to take it upon themselves to speak for Ambode in order to put the issues of the election at focus.

As Ayobolu said, voters must not be confused on the issues.

Such fear is understandable given the avalanche of negative campaign adverts on the print and electronic media which could make gullible voters to be taken in with simplistic policies proffered by some candidates.

“People might be swayed to vote for the wrong reasons”, Ayobolu said, adding, “hence, We Stand for Lagos has decided to assist many other Lagosians in making evidence based choice, and realizing that our commonwealth is best protected and collective welfare best guaranteed by a tradition of truly tested and trusted leadership. As such, our decision is to speak up and defend what we are convinced is in the best interest of most stakeholders in Lagos State.”

Continuing, Ayobolu said: “good governance is not about having a wish-list or making hollow promises of what to expect when in office, which is just about sound bites that might not be feasible, but it is about understanding the system, and extending on it by executing plans that are well thought out within the ambit of available resources.”

Articulating the requirements needed for a leader of Lagos, Ayobolu said: “Lagos needs a leader who knows his onion and will hit the ground running, not a person who will first waste time in understanding what the system truly entails before struggling to match his plans with the reality on the ground.”

Another active member We Stand for Lagos, Nerus Ekezie

BITS Briefs

•Akinwunmi Ambode in his own view said Lagosians must shrewdly use their votes as what they do with it would go a long way in determining how they live in the coming dispensation.

“We stand for a Lagos that has been growing steadily and progressively since the return of democracy to Nigeria in 1999; a Lagos in which a succession of good administrations and leadership has tipped the human development index upwards, promoted an increase in jobs and livelihoods, offered opportunities and rewards for the keen and steadfast; and a Lagos that continues to guarantee the security, peace and well-being of its people, while advancing on their qualities-of-life and safeguarding their continuous prosperity.”

Continuing, he said that the

Lagos needs a leader who knows his onions and will hit the ground running, not a person who will first waste time in understanding what the system truly entails before struggling to match his plans with the reality on the ground

group’s “vision is to see the deepening of a Lagos that truly works as a Centre of Excellence in all respects, and which keeps supporting the legitimate aspirations of people and businesses to the fullness of their potentials. And we are prepared to achieve this through partnership with all relevant stakeholders and institutions, for the continuous attainment of a Lagos hinged on good governance, accountability, effective leadership, service delivery, and equal opportunities for all.”

Underlining the qualities that made the group to throw support for Ambode, Shina Loremikan, another member of the group said “by their fruits are they known. He is part of those who enabled the progressive template of government that has taken Lagos this far, as a seasoned and entrusted erstwhile Accountant General of the State.”

Underpinning the group’s conviction to sustain support for the continuity of governance by the APC in Lagos, the group said: “If 16 years of governance have taken Lagos out of the rot and woods of three decades to become one of the six largest and steadily growing economies on the African continent, with a huge educated and skilled citizenry, one of the highest school completion rates in Nigeria, an expanding mean household income, as well as an enlarging middle class, in addition to many other positives, then we are convinced that the consolidation of this over another progressive governance cycle can only deepen the success story in a fundamental way.”

Osun LG creation to accelerate Devt — Oyintiloye

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OVERNOR of the State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola’s commitment to creating more local councils has been described as a giant step towards grassroots development.

The All progressive Congress (APC) House of Assembly Candidate for Obokun constituency of the state, Olatunbosun Oyintiloye, made this known on Monday after participating in the referendum conducted by the State Independent Electoral Commission (OSSIEC) for the creation of new councils at his Isale-Alfa Unit 9, Ward 1, Obokun Local Government.

Oyintiloye who commended the initiative of the governor as well as the exercise noted that the Local Government creation initiative would deepen good governance.

The governor had presented a bill to the state House of Assembly for the creation of additional 27 local government areas.

He also lauded the state legislature for supporting the governor to achieve his course by directing the commission to conduct the referendum in compliance with the constitution.

According to him, the referendum conducted by OSSIEC has shown that the government is actually serious about the creation of new councils, and committed to meeting all legal, technical and constitutional procedure for the exercise.

•Rauf Aregbesola

THE TEAM Editor: Adeleke Adeseri Correspondents: Ola Ajayi Gbenga Olarinoye Dayo Johnson Gbenga Ariyibi Dapo Akinrefon Daud Olatunji Olasunkanmi Akoni Monsuru Olowoepejo

Ibadan Osogbo Akure Ado Ekiti Abeokuta Lagos

Vanguard, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2015—33

C M Y K

34 — Vanguard, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2015

Technip becomes first energy company to be certified for gender equality in the workplace T

ECHNIP has been certified to the EDGE (Economic Dividends for Gender Equality) global standard for gender equality in the workplace.

Technip and EDGE Certified Foundation announced last week that Technip has been certified to the EDGE (Economic Dividends for Gender Equality) global standard for gender equality in the workplace.

EDGE is the leading global assessment methodology and business certification standard for gender equality applicable across all industries and countries.

This independent certification, awarded by a third party auditor, underlines Technip’s commitment to Gender Diversity as one of the strategic priorities and showcases Technip’s dedication to encouraging and valuing diversity as a key business success driver. As stated by Thierry Pilenko, Technip Chairman & CEO: ‘Gender diversity is absolutely strategic for the Group. We have to give the same opportunities to our women and our men.

Comprehensive analysis It is part of our inclusive work culture at Technip which helps us make better decisions and build creative balanced project teams. This means more growth and a strong differentiator in the long term to take Technip even further’.

For the past few months, Technip in Brazil, France and Italy have gone through a comprehensive analysis of the company’s policies, practices and data in terms of gender equality as well as a survey among all their employees. ‘We are delighted to be the first company in Brazil, France and Italy, but also the first in our industry to be EDGE certified.

Being able to attract and retain diverse, skilled and talented people is key to Technip’s success. We strive to foster a work environment where all employees - men and women are valued and encouraged to reach their full potential’ said Katrine Sharp, Vice President Group Gender Diversity.

Technip has made significant progress in gender diversity over the past years, especially with the creation of a governance structure with a Gender Diversity steering committee and an advisory

committee, the organization of its first global Gender Diversity forum and the work with EDGE in Brazil, France and Italy. It is planned to include further Group’s countries in the EDGE assessment and certification process throughout 2015.

‘The EDGE Certification

process uses an evidencebased approach to identify not only the availability of a company ’s policies and practices to foster gender equal workplaces, but also how they are used by its employees and what is their impact on building a gender-balanced talent

pipeline from the operational level all the way up to the Board level,’ said Aniela Unguresan, co-founder of EDGE Certified Foundation. ‘At the same time, it allows companies to adopt a robust workforce analytics approach on which to base their gender diversity strategies and

priorities, in line with their overall talent strategy. Technip is a true example of authentic commitment. It is clear engagement from leaders in the company who walk the talk and understand the link to business success and sustainable business change.’

WSCIJ tasks newsmen on women and girl-child reportage

By Ebun Sessou

I

N view of the need to improve the reportage of girls and women in the Nigerian media, the Wole Soyinka Centre for Investigative Journalism has trained over 70 journalists in both print and electronics media in Abuja, Rivers and Ekiti state respectively.

The project, “Report Women”, is a collaborative effort between the Royal Netherlands Embassy and the Centre to focus on major issues of access and abuse, ranging from education, health care, violence, as well as early marriage, among others.

Speaking on the project, centre coordinator, Motunrayo Alaka disclosed that, it seeks to use the tool of investigative reporting to highlight issues, even as it examines the role of religion in the girl child and woman’s rights trajectory.

The project according to her is expected to run till April 2015 with an online campaign on the Centre’s social media

platforms especially its Twitter handle using the hashtag ReportWomen.

She added that, report women is a modest attempt towards promoting girls’ and women’s rights as human rights, and ensuring a more gender-balanced society through the media.

In her contribution, Director, Women Advocate, Research and Documentation Centre, WARDC, Abiola Akiode, tasked journalists to increase their reportage on

Media should be more concerned in the support for effectively curbing and preventing abuses and violence against women

issues bothering on girls and women especially as it concerns violence against women.

She said media should be more concerned in the support for effectively curbing and preventing abuses and violence against women.

She lamented, violence against women is a human right violation which is also a consequence of the discrimination in law and practice against them along with the inequalities they suffer in the society.

Also, Mr. Mojeed Musikili enjoined journalists to know the laws and policies that guide the procession so as to be free from any form of libel or defamation.

While Editor-in-chief, Premium Times, Dapo Olorunyomi, encouraged media practitioner s to be objective and understand the basis of media practice as a way of deepening their appreciation of good journalism.

To ensure that the project was successful and impactful led to the training of over 70 journalists in both print and electronics media in Abuja, Rivers and Ekiti state respectively.

Vanguard, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2015 — 35

Advocacy for women on peace and conflict resolution

By Dotun Ibiwoye

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N a bid to protect women and the vulnerable people in the society the Community Health Information Education Forum (CHIEF) interceded into the long hostility in Lekki/ Ajah that has persisted for along while.

The women and youths have been the the major victims of clashes in the Lekki/Ajah axis of Lagos which has witnessed several violent clashes that is unknown to several people in the country.

Speaking at a CHIEF’s peace building and conflict resolution seminar at Eti-Osa local government secretariat, Lagos, Mrs. Remi Akinmade, the CEO/founder of the oganisation stated that impacting lives through social development programmes will reduce violence and increase piece.

Akinmade added that when people are properly sensitized and involved, they will be more productive and avoid violence in Lekki/Ajah area and several disclosures of the hostilities were revealed at the seminar which was a starting point to bringing peace to the area.

She affirmed that CHIEF has trained estimated five thousand peer leaders as volunteers in six divisions of Lagos State, Ogun and Ondo States.

“Why I came up I saw the way people were reacting towards the elections, and as a woman, I know that when

two elephants fight, the grass suffers and you know women, how many of them are there, so I just took it up, she said “We have been looking into community development through many programmes.

So we said, let us gather the youths together, because it starts with them. You know many of them are unemployed and they are graduates. We feel for them because they are frustrated.

Many of them have jobs that do not pay much.

“So we are impacting them through social development programmes. When they are properly sensitized and involved, they will avoid violence. More women should come out because it is women that bear the brunt of

the matter. The women should be more concerned.

Youth leader Ologlo Town, Lekki-Ajah, Mr. Asiru Ologolo, said that the area has

We have been looking into community development through many programmes. So we said, let us gather the youths together, because it starts with them

been peaceful since year 2000 but alot of people with criminal intent migrated to the area and started causing problems.

According to him, “our leaders have been influenced and the political terrain is also a factor. If you go to Ajah, you will find a lot of weapons.

There are a lot of cabals here in Lekki- Ajah. The youths should embrace peace as we have learnt from this seminar

by CHIEF”.

“More importantly we nned government’s intervention.

The election will be a big problem in this area if we don’t resolve the disputes within us. The general election might take another dimension of violence if we don’t dialogue and work as one.”

Lions Club embarks on membership drive through health walk

By Josephine Agbonkhese

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EMBERS of Lions Club 404B-2 led by their District Governor, Abiodun Adediji, recently embarked on a fitness walk tagged Walk for Life.

The exercise which lasted for about three hours commenced at YABATECH Staff School and ended at Row Park Yaba, Lagos.

The monthly activity which attracts members of the service club across the district is meant to encourage healthy lifestyle and encourage members of the society to join the organisation.

Coordinator of the monthly exercise, Lion Nkoli Ogunubi-Johnson, in a chat with Vanguard, said: ”We want to stay fit because we have a lot of work to do for humanity and if we are not fit physically, we won’t be able to

carry out those responsibilities. This walk also serves as an avenue to create awareness and encourage people to join us."

Adediji who is the pioneer District Governor of 404B-2 also affirmed that the monthly exercise is an opportunity to showcase the organisation to the public.

“This was introduced because wellness is fitness and fitness is wellness. We decided to walk for life and in doing that we encourage people to join us so we can do more for the society. We really want to do more but we need more people to work with us so we can serve people better. This is an aggressive way of mobilizing people to join us,” Adediji.

Lions Walk for Life holds every third Saturday of the month.

Get a Cuppa

I

N a study published by the journal Diabetologia, increased consumption of coffee showed a reduced risk of developing type 2 diabetes. The risk reduction was rather significant. The study evaluated thousands of people and followed them for four years.

11% Participants who increased their coffee consumption by one and a half cups per day on average showed an 11% reduction in risk.

17% Participants who decreased consumption of coffee by one cup or more showed a 17% higher risk for developing type 2 diabetes.

37% Individuals that had the highest rates of consumption (3 or more cups of coffee per day) had a 37% lower risk than the individuals that consumed the lowest amounts of coffee (less than one cup per day). The study did mention that individuals with more complications such as cardiovascular disease, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, or cancer may be those that also consume lower amounts of coffee.

7-8 Another study also found an inverse dose dependent response effect with each additional cup of coffee reducing the relative risk by 7-8 per cent 45% Meanwhile a new research study has found that among more than 35,000 Dutch adults followed for a decade, those who averaged an alcoholic drink or two per day were 45% less likely than non-alcoholic drinkers to develop type 2 diabetes.

36 — Vanguard, FRIDAY FRIDAY,, FEBRUARY 13, 2015

Vanguard, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2015—37

2015: Dazzling Mirage set to blaze the trail

D

Don Jazzy

P-square

Genevieve

Genevieve, Psquare, Don Jazzy, others make Most Influential Igbo Personalities’ list

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OP Nigeria’s entertainers including Genevieve Nnaji, P-square and Don Jazzy have exclusively made the list of Most Influential Igbo Personalities, otherwise known as MIIP among other wave making celebrities of Igbo extraction who are in the showbiz industry.

The MIIIP book, in its 20142018 editions released early this year which encompasses Nigeria’s leaders, entrepreneurs, academics and other public figures listed

Nollywood actress, Genevieve Nnaji, music stars, P-square, Don Jazzy and Phyno on its entertainer’s category.

It includes the likes of Nkem Owoh, KCee, Flavour, Jim Iyke, Okey Bakassi, Naeto C, D’Prince, Patience Ozokwor, Charles Awurum, John Okafor, Stephanie Okereke-Idahosa, Rita Dominic, Chinedu Ikedieze, Osita Iheme, Saint Obi, Frank Edwards, J Martins, Basketmouth, Uche Ogbuagu, Ugo Stevenson, Amayo Uzo Philips, Crystal Jane Cosmas (CJ Mama),

Andy Ike alongside others standing side-by-side in the book.

Explaining how they made it to the book, showbiz critic and publisher of Day-Light online newspaper, Azuh Amatus described them as prominent contributors of what the showbiz industry has become since its kick-off. “The Igbo region is currently referred to as the entertainment capital of Nigeria. However, the success recorded in the Nigerian entertainment industry today was highly contributed by Igbo

citizens; the industry wouldn’t have been complete without their immense contributions, giant strides and commitment.

This is one of the reasons this book should be commended.

“In all spheres of human endeavours, they have touched the nation and those of them in the entertainment industry should be lauded and appreciated, therefore I strongly believe that this book represents what they have done and will continue to do for Igbo tribe and Nigeria in general,” he noted.

COSON set for a year of bold consolidation

Tony Okoroji

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OPYRIGHT Society of Nigeria (COSON), the nation’s sole copyright collective management organization for musical works and sound recordings, is set to make 2015 a critical year in its evolution and growth.

As a result, the organization has spent much of the month of January scrutinizing and reviewing its processes and redesigning its approaches going forward.

Speaking on the society’s approach in 2015, COSON General Manager,

Mr. Chinedu Chukwuji said, “January has been a month of management meetings and meetings at COSON. There have been several meetings with our Legal team, several with our Communications team and more meetings with our Licensing team. We still have meetings with our Finance and Administration teams.

Each meeting has been a strategy session chaired by our chairman, Chief Tony Okoroji.

The discussions have been intense. Some of the discussions have sometimes continued far into the night. The chairman has been emphatic about the level of results which would not be acceptable to the members of the society in 2015.

We have strategized on ways to hit those results that will make our members happy. The Chairman has also made it clear that COSON must continue to operate at the cutting edge of technology and the most modern management principles and practices. As a result, all the departments have been primed to ensure the wide collection of information and statistics that would boost their databases as COSON will not make decisions based on guess work”.

In May 2015, COSON will be celebrating the fifth anniversary of its approval by the government of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as the nation’s sole collective management organization for musical works and sound recordings.

Nse Ikpe Etim

Nse Ikpe Etim, Kalu Ikeagwu, others shine in The Green Eyed

T

HE highly anticipated movie, “The Green Eyed’ is set to be premiered at the Silverbird cinemas, Victoria Island,Lagos. Produced by Poise Fendy Entertainment, “The Green

AZZLING Mirage, a beautifully crafted love story directed by legendary filmmaker, Tunde Kelani, is finally set for release in cinemas across Nigeria. Having held a grand premiere in November 2014, and with the huge buzz that was created about the movie, many have waited in high expectation for its release.

The movie revolves around a sickler who’s caught in the love triangle with two handsome men.

Despite the opposition she faces from society, she’s determined to proof to all that she has all it takes to live a normal life and be happy.

According to Mr Kene Mkparu, MD/CEO of FilmOne distribution: “We are proud to be associated with the work of a man of purpose, whose commitment to continued high end production values has remained consistent over the years. He’s an iconic figure in the filmmaking industry in Nigeria and we have no doubt in our minds that Dazzling Mirage will do well at the box office and also enlighten many about the sickle cell disease.”

Dazzling Mirage is a film adaptation of a novel of the same name authored by Olayinka Abimbola Egbokhare, and adapted to screen by Ade Solanke. The film opens in cinemas on February 20th 2015.

It stars; Kemi ‘lala’ Akindoju, Kunle Afolayan, Seun Akindele, Taiwo Ajayi – Lycett, Bimbo Manuel, Carol King and Yomi Fash Lanso.

Eyed” is a tale of betrayal, politics, deceit, blackmail, love, jealousy and the test of friendship. Last year, the movie was privately screened to selected guests at the Silverbird Cinema in Port Harcourt.

The star studded red carpet event was graced by distinguished guests who had a swell time watching the movie and mingling with cast and crew of the film.

It’s been a long way coming from the day we started shooting the movie, the production and now the premiere.

I’m glad people liked it’, and can’t wait to produce my second movie said Endy Abanonkhua, the producer of the movie.

The Green Eyed stars Kalu Ikeagwu, Nse Ikpe Etim, Blossom Chukwujekwu, Tamara Eteimo, Endy Abanonkhua, Tonia Nwosu and Phil Isibor set to hit cinemas across the country next month.

38—Vanguard, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2015

With PRINCE OSUAGWU princeosuagwu@gmail.com 08050498513

Lagos Police, Mile 2 and my Nokia PureView 808

with a funny belief that it would somehow stroll back into my hands with every data in it intact.

But now, it has dawned on me that I may never get to see my Pureview 808 again. I will miss it dearly for what it gives. As a journalist, you would not want to leave home without your Pureview for its wonderful prescriptive text technology. You could write a whole lot in few minutes because Pureview thinks ahead and brings options out by the time you punch a few letters on the keyboard.

Apart from its clarity during a voice call, my Nokia Pureview 808 has an amazing voice recording ability and unbelievable play back voice clarity.

The camera feature is incredible.

Of course, you don’t expect less than a 5-star camera performance from a device that spots 41 mega pixels.

That is why it hurts badly when I remember that these miscreants are having a whole lot of my voice recorded interviews, family and event pictures and other saved data that mean so much to me.

By Prince Osuagwu

S

OMETIME in May 2014, a prominent businessman, identified as Chief Bright Igwegbu, was shot dead by gunmen at the Mile 2 area of Lagos.

The bizarre manner in which Igwegbu was murdered heightened the need to heed the call that Mile 2 should be given a special kind of policing, having become a hot bed of crimes in Lagos.

From the Orile-Badagary Expressway axis of Mile 2, gun totting criminals operating on motorcycles, snatch people’s bags and rob indiscriminately.

Also, at the Apapa-Oshodi Expressway, particularly the Ottor Wharf end, noticeable street urchins, parading along the uncontrollable gridlock that builds around there, carrying locally made pistols, knives and sometimes wielding sticks and clubs, threaten motorists, smash windscreens and steal phones and other valuables at will.

However, immediately after the murder of Igwegbu, Lagos police swung into action. Within days, one could feel the presence of police all over Mile 2, particularly with several police vans and power bikes stationed at black spots.

Feeling of safety Even though these vehicles and power bikes appear abandoned, Lagosians around these areas have begun to get back the feeling of safety. I was particularly having the feeling that someday, when a crime happens, Lagos will witness a NINJA kind of action where a policeman would drop from nowhere, jump on the bikes and give the dare devils a hot chase that will remind us that this is a mega City. But how wrong I was!

Dead wrong indeed!

Last week, I was a victim of the opposite of my imaginations.

Coming from a Nokia Network forum in Victoria Island on Thursday, I ran into the usual Orile-Mile 2 gridlock and just before Mile 2 bus stop, opposite Army Signal Barracks, the dare devils struck. They pounced on me trapped under the strap of my seat belt and began to ransack the car.

Time was 7.30 pm and just a few steps ahead, a stationed police motor bike was looking at us and some policemen were at the checkpoint. Since other motorists were so terrified to help, I figured C M Y

•LagosCP, Kayode-Aderanti

that if I show some resistance and perhaps make some noise, there must be police presence in a jiffy.

It was all wishful thinking! The only presence of police was the illumination from the reflectors of the motor bike. There was no NINJA police to drop down on the bikes and the ones at the check point were too busy with the bus drivers to hear me.

The armed robbers won the duel.

They made away with my Nokia Pureview 808 and other valuables.

I was also left to fix my car which I rammed into another during the struggle.

Honestly, I mourn my Nokia Pureview. It was actually my companion. I have deliberately delayed going to retrieve the line

•Nokia PureView 808

Activation Lock: iPhone theft nosedives by 40% in San Francisco, 25% in New York

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AST December, theft of iphones reduced drastically in San Franscisco and New York states of United State of America. The FCC however said the reduction was owing to the introduction of a new solution called Activation Lock .

Activation Lock made its debut with iOS 7, with the feature allowing users to remotely lock an iPhone with their iCloud credentials, requiring authentication with Apple before the device can be accessed again.

California passed a law in August 2014 that requires all smartphones sold in the state to include a kill switch by July 2015. The feature comes as standard on the latest version of Android, and Microsoft is also said to be working on a kill switch that will be included as standard on Windows Phones that will be launched later this year.

The latest numbers reveal a decline of 40 percent in the number of iPhones stolen in San Francisco and 25 percent in New York between September 2013 and September 2014.

The number of iPhones stolen in London was reduced by half during the same period, with mayor Boris Johnson stating that “ we have made real progress in tackling the smartphone theft epidemic that was affecting many major cities just two years ago”.

If what is good for the goose is equally good for the gander, Nigeria should be thinking of incorporating this policy on the telecommunications sector.

•iPhone

Vanguard, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2015—39

Give cancer greater priority, FG tasked

By Chioma Obinna

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ITH 10 Nigerians dying of cancer every hour, Nigerian researchers are seeking the inclusion of cancer on the Federal government priority list with a view to tackling the recent epidemic of the disease in the country.

Data from the World Health Organisation, WHO, shows 100,000 Nigerians are diagnosed with cancer annually, of which 80,000 die.

The researchers who spoke in Lagos lamented that despite the theme of this year’s World Cancer Day, “Not beyond Us”; Nigeria has not done enough to defeat cancer.

This is coming just as the Nigerian Institute of Medical Research, NIMR, has completed a state-of-the-art Cancer Research Centre, CRC. Director General of NIMR, Prof Innocent Ujah said the new centre would oversee comprehensive cancer research and care including high tech diagnostic facilities.

Diagnostic facilities He noted that 12.4 percent of all deaths are attributable to cancer and warned that if unchecked, by 2020, 16 million new cases could be diagnosed per annum, with 70 percent in developing countries like Nigeria.

Speaking at a symposium organised by NIMR, South West Cancer Coordinator, Prof Rosaline Anorlu said many cancer patients are dying in misery and agony.

“The new thing about cancer is that there is an epidemic of cancer. The incidence we are having now is not like what we had 20 years. More and more people are getting cancers now, and the awareness is still low.

“But awareness of cancer in cities is much better than what it was 20 years ago. Government is try-

• Free cervical cancer screening organised by the Lagos State government at the Coker-Aguda LCDA.

ing but I advise that government should put cancer quite high on the priority list of things. Let us have more centres to treat cancer.

“You can always do something about cancer but unfortunately

we don’t have many of these facilities, we do not have palliative care centres for those that come with late disease. We don’t even have hospitals for those people who are almost dying to just go and comfortably die in dignity

and not in agony. Government should have political will and commitment for cancer. This is so in some countries where there is political will and government commitment towards the control of cervical cancer, they have free

screening for women and they have also made the vaccine available and almost free for children.

So to control cancer in Nigeria, there should be political commitment.” she stressed.

Anorlu regretted that Nigerians still depend on out of pocket payment for their health needs but said cancer is not beyond the nation, although prevention and treatment could be better.

“When it comes to treatment of cancer we are talking about surgery, radiotherapy, chemotherapy but you find out that these are not available in many places and even where available the patients cannot afford it.

“Radiotherapy, for example is only available in very few centres and only few centres have their machines functioning. Chemotherapy too is very expensive.

Many patients cannot afford it.”

Head, NIMR NCD Research Group, Dr. Nkiruka Odunukwe said the weeklong free breast and cervical cancer screening was to mark the 2015 WCD in addition to educating the general public and updating knowledge of medical professionals on timely diagnosis, better management and quality research work to reduce cancer burden.

2,000 Makoko residents benefit from free health care

By Sola Ogundipe

I

T was a big relief for residents of Makoko, a slum settlement on Lagos mainland, last week as no less than 2,000 persons benefitted from a free medical intervention mission organised by the National Association of Seadogs, NAS. As early as 7am, hundreds of the residents of various ages, queued up to obtain free general medical, dental and surgical consultation, diabetes and HIV/ AIDS counselling, medication for Upper Respiratory Tract infections, checking of blood

sugar, HIV counselling, malaria, worm infestation among others.

Some received free reading glasses, plus medication. among other health education assessments from a host of medical personnel many of who flew in from Europe and the US as a selfless service that typifies the NAS which is wholly funded by contributions from members..

National President, NAS, Prince Ifeanyi Onochie, said the Medical Mission is part of why NAS exists.

“This is part of who we are and what we do. We identify gaps in society and take deicisions and action to fill those gaps. This is a

• Cross section of health workers attending to Makoko residents during the free Medical Mission organised by the National Association of Seadogs in Lagos last week.

medical intervention, all being done for free, because our members contributed funds to make it possible. We do it quarterly in a particular comminuty where we have presence benefits. We do all the counselling all done in alliance with internatiuonal and best practices, reading glasses given

Many cancer patients are dying in misery and agony. The new thing about cancer is that there is an epidemic of cancer.

More Nigerians are getting cancers now and the awareness is still low

out free, we go around to ensure proper evaluation before the prescription is given, We keep doing what we are doing and hope that others will emulate to have a society that is welkl catered for. When we move to say we are catering for a just society, it also involves the health of the people.

Head of the Medical Mission, Dr Ofem Enang, a consultant physician told Health & Living that the project generally offers medical and surgical consultation, dental, ophthalmic consultation of services, screening for basic noncommunicable disorders such as diabetes as well as screenuing and counselling for HIV. “We have chosen Makoko because it is underserved, and the people there need access. What we are doing is to compliment government effort and it is just a stop gap, but we need support for this too.

Noting that the intervention is not a one-off, Enang said the intervention is comprehensive “We have a responsibility. It is an intervention programme. Apart from the counselling and responsibility, the Mission is concerned with health promotion, education and consultation.

“People are put through a counsellor after which they are referred to a public health facility where those with surgical issues are directed appropriately.”

40—VANGUARD, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2015

T

HE Holy Quran sees human beings as vicegerents of God on the earth.

Among these representatives are also those whom Allah has placed in various positions of authority or chosen to direct and lead the affairs of other humans.

This is in recognition of the fact that every human being needs a unifying and driving force for success which is placed on the shoulders of the leaders among them. It is on that premise that the progress and development of any nation rest upon the stature of its leaders.

Therefore, it is behooves on whoever has become a leader to strive always to do what is right, guide and direct people to the path of glory and of course warn them against impiety. These set of people must have the necessary skills, principles and tools to lead their lives and others to glory.

Politics and religion In Nigeria today, unfortunately, we have found ourselves at the threshold of misgovernance, insecurity and poverty merely because of bad leadership.

The politicians linger in their ride of corruption, looting with impunity and squandermania just as they expose us to dangers of insecurity. The Imams and Pastors that would

Clerics, houses of worships in politics have helped to salvage what is left from our honour have also compromised their positions.

As the hullabaloo about the N6billion gift to some pastors is yet to fizzle out, the President continues to tour churches, campaigning for votes. The Pastors have also failed to tell him the gospel truth.

Instead, the houses of worships have not only become abetment to the myraids of lies being churned out to Nigerians but have also become a place where our leaders whip religious sentiments to override the common destiny of our people. If Boko Haram wants to take over Nigeria, it is enough to be a campaign issue only in the Churches so that all Christians will see it as a religious duel. No doubt, this is another political gaffe from a President of heterogeneous and multi-religious Nigerians.

I don•ft know when it has become the duties of these religious bodies to endorse candidates in standing for election? What message would that convey to the Muslims?

Although many of us are not

Do you order righteousness of the people and forget yourselves while you recite the Scripture? Then will you not reason?

unaware of the machinations of the non-Muslims to continue to press for leadership based on faith inclination. In Lagos recently, the CAN campaigned for a Christian governor and they ensured they have them in the two major candidates contesting for the seat. They followed up with a visit recently to one of the candidates fanning the embers of religion and attempting to redefine how people choose their leaders which were hitherto devoid of religious sentiments. When the results of all these horseplay and shenanigans are put to the front burner, religious consideration in our affairs begin to manifest in its negative sense, they will be held responsible.

The Prophet of Islam warned that: •"Each of you is a

Polls: MUSWEN urges INEC to maintain neutrality

T

HE Muslim Ummah of South West Nigeria, MUSWEN, has called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to maintain neutrality in the coming general elections and ensure impartial distribution of the Permanent Voters’ Cards (PVC).

Beside, MUSWEN urged politicians across the country to ensure the maintenance of peace and tranquility in the country before, during and after the elections.

In a communiqué issued at the end of her maiden General Assembly recently at the International Conference Centre, University of Ibadan, the umbrella body for all State Muslim Councils / Communities and Organizations in the Southwest of Nigeria evaluated the current economic, political and religious situation in Nigeria, concluded that the Southwest of Nigeria has a preponderance of Muslim population which forms a great workforce that helps in maintain-

ing the perennial peace of the region despite constant unwarranted provocations from certain quarters.

The Communique jointly signed by the body’s Executive Secretary, Prof. D. O. S. Noibi and President, Chief (Dr.) S.O Babalola CON, the body decried the insecurity situation in the country and condemned a situation where “some ethnic groups and individuals are openly threatening the already fragile peace in the land without minding the

consequences of such threats.”

In its resolutions, MUSWEN condemned the “bloody and destructive activities of Boko Haram insurgents who are masquerading under the garb of Islam to perpetrate unprecedented atrocities in some parts of the country.”

It insisted that Islam stands for peace in all its ramifications, while describing such atrocities as grossly antithetical to the tenets of Islam and described the perpetrators as renegades.

Causes

From left: Dr. Tajudeen Yusuf; Chairman of the occasion, Senator Munirudin Muse; Alhaji Rasheed Sufianu and Dr. Haleema Alimi at the Career Day seminar organized for selected secondary school students by Glorious Islamic Centre in Lagos.

Besides, the body of Muslims urged the federal government to quickly devise a means not only of addressing the fundamental causes of insecurity in the land but also in rescuing the Chibok school children abducted by Boko Haram insurgents and thereby bring relief to the distressed parents of those children as well as all the internally displaced people in the Northeast region.

MUSWEN also called on all Muslims in the Southwest to endeavour to obtain their permanent voters’ cards in order to participate effectively in the current democratic process in the forthcoming elections.

To ensure that peace and tranquility reign during and after the election, it called on muslims in the South west to organise a special prayer in all mosques.

shepherd, and all of you are responsible for your flocks."

(Saheeh Al-Bukhari, Saheeh Muslim).

The Bible in Jeremiah 23: vrs 1 says •"Woe to the shepherds who destroy and scatter the sheep of my pasture, declares the Lord."

Both the cleric and political leaders order righteousness of the people and yet they do a different thing. The Quran Chapter 2 vrs 44 was apt in admonishing these kinds of leaders.

Do you order righteousness of the people and forget yourselves while you recite the Scripture? Then will you not reason?

A cleric is expected to command the authority of those who wants the presence of God and benefit graciously from his conduct and whole life.

In addition, a cleric or Imam is one whose personality, already in this world, has a divine aspect; his dealings with God and man, his implementation of all the devotional, ethical and social precepts of God and religion, furnish a complete pattern and model for imitation. It is the cleric who guides the movement of men towards perfection.

Glory and power The Quran says whoever desires glory and power, - to Allah belong all glory and power. To Him mount up (all) Words of Purity: It is He Who exalts each Deed of Righteousness. Those that lay Plots of Evil,- for them are a Penalty terrible; and the plotting of such will be void (of result). (Quran 35:10) Another chapter of the Holy Quran says:•hSay: O Allah, Lord of power! You give power to whom You please, and You remove from power whom You please. You give honor to whom You please and You disgrace whom You please. In Your hand is all Good. Indeed, over all things You have power.•h (Qur•fan 3:26) Allah instructed us to fulfill our pledges, our promises and commitments. If we make a promise, we have to fulfill it. In Surah Al-Mu•fminun (The Believers), Allah says "Those who are faithfully true to their trusts and to their covenants; and those who strictly guard their prayers. These are indeed the inheritors who shall inherit Paradise." (Qur•fan, 23:8-11) We should remember that our beloved Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w) was called •"Al-Amin": The Trustworthy. He fulfilled all of his promises from his childhood until his death. He never betrayed anyone, and he never lied in his life.

While those who are in positions of authority are enjoined to rule with the fear of God, truth and fairness to all, all religious leaders should live by what they preach, practice the tenets of the religion as espoused in the scriptures and not according to their whims and interest. This is the only way of not incurring the wrath of God.

VANGUARD, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2015— 41

omen in World Hijab Day: TTreat women reat w Hijab with cour AC urges courttesy esy,, MP MPA •As MSSN cautions INEC on Feb polls

By Monsur Olowoopejo

A

Celebrating CAMON @ 20

By Qasim Akinreti

I

N 1995, Conference of Muslim Organisations of Nigeria, CAMON, came into being through the efforts of about 28 Islamic organisations concerned Muslims in Ibadan, Oyo state. However in 1988, about 10 Muslim organisations now constitute the foundation members, CAMON. These are Muslim association of Nigeria,Ahmadiyya Muslim Jamaat, Ansar-ud-deen society of Nigeria,Anwar-ul- Islam of Nigeria, Nasrudeen Society of Nigeria,Alasatu Ibadu Rahman Ibadan, Islamic missionary society of Nigeria,Ahmadiyya movement of Nigeria, Railway Muslim Community, Federated of Muslim Women Organisation of Nigeria, FOMWAN,Oyo state chapter and Anobi Lonigba Molete, Ibadan. By 2013, ten more Muslim organisations signified intention to join CAMON. In line with their commitments, the Islamic organisations pay dues to CAMON to run its finances.

One of the first challenge of the organisation, is the ensure that Nigerian Muslims have access to scholarship for higher degrees to the PhD level. This was quite instructive as some leading members of the organisation like late Professor Abdul Rafiu Sobulo- an Agriculturist, Late Professor Fatai Giwa- Physics don and the life patron of CAMON, Honourable Justice Bola Babalakin, CON, JSC, found it in explainable that there

Olatoye donates new mosque to Ahmadiyya

T

HE Amir head of Ahmadiyya Muslim Jama’at Nigeria, Dr Mashuud Fasola recently commisioned a new mosque at Awoyaya off Ajah; Lekki-Expressway way.

The mosque was built by Alhaji Abdul Azeez Alatoye the Deputy Head South-West Ahmadiyya Muslim Juma’at, Nigeria and donated to the Jama’at.

According to Alhaji Alatoye, the donation of the modest Mosque was part of his jihad and glorification of Allah over His inumerable blessings on him.

The Amir Ahmadiyya, Dr Fasola commended the donation of the Mosque to the Jama’at in the most expensive area of Lagos State. He pray to Allah to accept it as an act of worship.

are few Muslims academic in tertiary institutions in Nigeria.

According to them, the state of the Muslim teaching staff in the University of Ibadan then was quite pitiable.

To address this challenge, the first set of five students at the Masters level from various Islamic organisations were urge to apply for a PhD Scholarship at the University of Ibadan.

Among this set, is Professor Abdul Rahman Abdullah, Department of Animal Science Babcock University, Ilishan Remo, Ogun state, he was presented by the Ahmadiyya Muslim Jamaat Nigeria. As one of the success story of the brilliant initiative of CAMON, Professor of Animal Breeding and Genetics said “the offer of scholarship goes a long way to instil a sense of responsibility to the Muslim Ummah and Nigeria in general, though the money was small, but we are given a commitment that we will remain in the academic to contribute to the growth of the Nigerian education, assist Islam to find solution to the dearth of Muslim academics. A year after graduation , I did not get a job, but that covenant put me in good pedestal of getting a teaching job as late Professor Sobulo assured me that I will get a job. When I

The offer of scholarship goes a long way to instil a sense of responsibility to the Muslim Ummah

finally does, he said don’t be deceived by the toga of a PhD holder, you must work hard to a professorial position in record time. Then, I felt obliged to always get in touch with late professor Sobulo for inspiration and guidance”.

CAMON, did not only give the financial assistance, strict monitoring was given to the scholars’ on their academic progress. Again Professor Abdullah states “the report of academic performance from the supervisors really put me on tract, as a commitment to be an academic, it was really fulfilling.

Professor Nurudeen Olorunnibe Adedipe, pioneer Vice Chancellor Of University of Agriculture Abeokuta, UNAB, who interviewed me for the scholarship, late Professor Sobulo and Professor Giwa were tracking my progress. At each assessment, they made to believe that as a Muslim scholar my contribution to humanity in this area of specialisation is immense”.

In 2013 , 14 PhD students from four universities were given scholarships by the Conference of Muslim Organisations of Nigeria, CAMON. This brought to 77, the number of Muslim post graduate students offered scholarship .

Going by the breakdown of the scholarship scheme, there are 10 post-graduate students from university of Ibadan; Mrs. Oladejo Mutiat Titilope from History department, Salami Dele – Forest Resource Management, Mrs. Balogun Modinat -Chemistry , Braimah Jafar –Zoology, Odetokun Ismail –Veterinary Health,Osuolale Kazeem- Statistics, Isola Tajudeen-Verterinary, Odunsi Saheed –Industrial Sociology, Yusuf Wasiu –Agric Economics, and Adewusi Sefiu OlakunlePhysics.

To be continued

Dr. Mashhud Adenrele Fashola (Amir Ahmadiyya Muslim Jama’at Nigeria) commissioning the mosque.

S Nigerians last Sunday, February 1st, joined the rest of the world to celebrate the 2015 World Hijab Day, WHiD, Muslim Public Affairs Centre, MPAC has called on Nigerians to desist from persecuting Muslim women and girls because they wear hijab, saying “rather, treat them with courtesy.”

This year’s anniversary marked the third, since the inaugural celebration in 2013 by the founder, Nazma Khan, to demand the right of woman to wear Hijab.

Meanwhile, the Muslim Students’ Society of Nigeria, MSSN has urged the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC not to be partial in the conduct of the elections.

The Lagos State Area Unit of the group made the statement on February 14 polls during their annual conference, themed ‘Setting The Agenda,’ held at the FESTAC Town, Amuwo-Odofin Local Government, Lagos recently.

Amir of MSSN Lagos State Area Unit, Abdur Rashyd Aliu said “we reiterate that INEC should maintain neutrality in the upcoming general elections,” adding that their impartiality was key to achieving free and fair elections.

However, MPAC through its Lagos coordinator, Sister Aminat Adams after a peace walk to mark this year Hijab day, said that Federal and State government should promulgate laws for the use of hijab in schools.

According to her, “Once you are wearing Hijab, there is a lot of responsibility people demand from you. She is hoisting the flag of Islam. And this makes anyone that sees you understand that such person is a Muslim. This also demands that someone wearing Hijab should be more cultured.”

She argued that wearing Hijab “is a symbol that requires one to be organize, censor her speech and movement because wearing Hijab is a way of obeying the commandment of Allah.”

Inspite of all these and the 1999 constitution which guarantee freedom of religion and expression, Adams lamented that women and girls who put on Hijab were still subjected to victimization.

NACOMYO accuses govt of bias in the use of Hijab

A

S Muslims world over mark World Hijab day, National and International Communities have been told to respect the religious sensibilities of the adherents of Islam and stop abusing their fundamental right under the guise of secularism.

In a statement by National Council of Muslim Youth Organizations (NACOMYO) to observe the day, it charged government at all levels to allow the Muslims to practice their religion without hindrance and within the framework of law.

NACOMYO particularly referred to the court verdict in Lagos banning wearing of Hijab by Muslim students as being biased and a conspiracy against Islam & Muslims. It advised the Ummah (Muslim Community) in Lagos to pursue the matter to the apex court and seek redress, just as it observed that the matter could turn to be an electoral bargain.

NACOMYO also decried the loose & inflammatory statements credited to AsariDokubo and Tompolo on the forthcoming elections, noting that such unguarded statements have implications on the unity and corporate existence of the country, just as it also violates the spirit and wisdom behind the “Abuja Peace Accord”, recently signed by the presidential candidates of the Nigeria’s Political Parties. It called for a monitoring of the two militants and other self-seeking and sectional leaders as a way of restoring confidence inthe minds of the electoratesto exercise their franchise.

Some of the over 7,000 Muslims and non-muslims girls wear ing the Islamic headscarf to mark the World Hijab day on Sunday organised by Muslim Students Society of Nigeria, Lagos Unit on Sunday.

42—Vanguard, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2015

Soludo and his missing trillions (2)

By Chuks Iloegbunam

This is the second part of this piece which was first published last Friday OW, writes Adeniyi, “As Sanusi resumed at CBN, his first mandate from the president was to examine the state of the banks, to ensure that all was well and that the fears being expressed in certain quarters were unfounded. As it turned out, the fears indeed were not unfounded. As a former bank CEO with vast experience in risk management, Sanusi knew what to look for in the banks. After studying internal memos, various reports and correspondences, and also interviewing regulators, bankers, business persons, government officials and other stakeholders, he became convinced that some of the banks were, figuratively speaking, on life support.

“Sanusi’s review of activities in the Expanded Discount Window (EDW) particularly revealed some unsavoury details: some banks were almost permanently locked in as borrowers and were most often unable to repay their obligations.

N

Repayment of obligations When CBN decided to temporarily shut the EDW to these banks, they, in desperation, turned to banks like UBA, which had excess liquidity, but such funds were lent at very high premium rates. Four banks were in this dire strait. A fifth one was also a frequent borrower on the EDW. While these banks were not the only beneficiaries of the EDW, the persistence and frequency of their demand, by Sanusi’s reckoning, could only be a manifestation of a deeper malaise, which CBN identified as a probable source of financial instability. “In unraveling what

CHUKS ILOEGBUNAM exactly was going on in some of these banks, Sanusi gave clues to the CBN examiners with regard to the areas to look for and the questions for which they should seek answers. By the time their assignment was concluded, the preliminary report was just a validation of what he had always suspected: five of the ten banks whose books were examined were in serious trouble.” (pp93/94) Did Chukwuma Charles Soludo know of the subsistence

of this rot in the banking sector on whose consolidation he had been riding a crest of adulation?

Soludo claims, to this day, that there was nothing whatsoever to indicate that a malaise was domiciled in an industry he had charge over. But the evidence on the ground does not support his denial. As a matter of fact, they state in Bold and Capital Letters that Soludo habours a very serious credibility problem.

Adeniyi again: “Among the documents Sanusi met at CBN, copies of which he handed to the president, were an internal report as far back as December 2007 warning Soludo that banks were trading in their own shares and sitting on bubble capital with risks to the financial system; a letter written to Soludo by the NDIC (Nigerian Deposit Insurance Company) managing director, Mr. Ganiyu Ogunleye, in 2008 after a meeting between NDIC and the Security and Exchange Commission (SEC), which proposed that a technical team be sent by CBN to examine the books of the banks and assess possible threats with regard to capital market exposures, and a letter from finance minister Shamsudeen Usman in 2008 following up on the NDIC letter.

Sanusi said he met no record at CBN to suggest that any concrete action was taken”! (p95)

Manipulation of share prices Thus, as the banking industry was disintegrating under his watch, Soludo, like Nero who fiddled while Rome burnt, continued regardless. Adeniyi, for the last time: “The report of the activities of five of the ten banks that were first examined was damning: several abuses had been committed in the name of banking, with depositors’ funds taken to speculate in the stock market and manipulate share prices while loans were given out without any expectation that they would be repaid. With scant regard for corporate governance, some bank executives had even set up Special Purpose Vehicles to lend money to themselves and cronies for stock market manipulation and to sustain their flashy lifestyles. The level of malfeasance was so much that the borderline between depositors’ money and their personal wealth seemed nonexistent to some promoters of the banks.

“One bank executive took money from the till to purchase private jet, which were then registered in the name of his son, another bank used depositors’ funds to purchase 80 percent of the bank’s IPO, paying N25 per share when the shares were trading at N11 on the Nigerian

Map of Nigeria

Stock Exchange, and these later collapsed to under N3. The CEO of yet another bank controlled over 35 percent of the bank through a crooked deal in which customer deposits were being borrowed. The pertinent question therefore was, how could all this have escaped Soludo?” (p95) Another pertinent question is this: what would have become of Chukwuma Charles Soludo if he had generated and supervised all this mess while heading a central bank in America or Europe, or even Ghana or South Africa? Indeed there are other pertinent questions to ask: Who should Nigerians be listening to in the matter of the state of the Nigerian economy?

Should they be listening to Finance Minister Ngozi OkonjoIweala? Or should they be paying any attention to Soludo on account of whom the Finance Minister made these most telling of observations: “It is totally remarkable that Professor Charles Chukwuma Soludo, the man who presided over the worst mismanagement of Nigeria’s banking sector as Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria between May 2004 and May 2009, can write about the mismanagement of the economy.

“Nigerians must be reminded of his antecedents as CBN Governor, and even prior to that, as the Chief Economic Adviser to the President. The consolidation of the banking sector was a good policy idea of the Obasanjo Administration, but Soludo went on to thoroughly mismanage its implementation leading to the worst financial crisis in Nigeria’s history. So what did Soludo do? After consolidation, the regulatory functions of the Soludo-led CBN were very poorly exercised. As Governor, he failed to adequately supervise and regulate the now larger banks – an anomaly in

The banking sector was brought to its knees and required a massive bailout

by Nigerian tax payers

Financial Sector Supervision.

“In fact as every Nigerian knows, in his time there was very little separation between the regulators and the regulated, which is a violation of a key requirement of Central Banking success. This led to infractions in corporate governance in many banks as loans and other credit instruments running to hundreds of billions of naira were extended to clients without following due process, and several of these loans could not be paid back. This massive accumulation of bad debts, or non-performing loans as they are called in the banking sector, meant that our banks were illpositioned to deal with the global financial crisis when it hit.

“In fact, the banking sector was brought to its knees and required a massive bailout by Nigerian tax payers. This bailout was done by his successor (now Emir of Kano), who cleaned up all the bad debts and transferred them to the newly-established AMCON (Asset Management Company of Nigeria), from where they are managed today.

Accummulation of liabilities “So let it be noted for the record books that Soludo’s singlehanded mismanagement of the banking sector led to an incredible accumulation of liabilities that will cost tax payers about N5.67 trillion (being the total face value of AMCONissued bonds) to clean up. Let it be noted also that this amount, which is more than the entire Federal Government 2015 Budget, constitutes the bulk of Nigeria’s “contingent liabilities” mentioned in Soludo’s article.”

It is often counseled that those who reside in glass houses should desist from throwing stones. Remarkably, Soludo, an inhabitant of a glass hovel, has incessantly hurled huge rocks aimed at denting the reputations and professional distinctions of many distinguished Nigerians.

In his latest “missing trillions” outing, he takes a new dig at Mr. Peter Obi, claiming that the man cannot write, as if a prerequisite for achievement in every other field of human endeavor is the ability to write like a Chinua Achebe or a Wole Soyinka.

If writing well is a sine qua non for political leadership, how come that every president in the world, and every governor in Nigeria, has a press secretary and a speech writer? To extend this matter of scribal accomplishment a bit further, Soludo might be

unaware of the fact, but his “first person” experience of invectives does not exactly situate him in the position of the greatest prose stylist the Black man ever came across.

Soludo’s problem with Peter Obi stems essentially from the drubbing the later administered on him in the February 2010 gubernatorial election in Anambra State. Mr. Obi secured a majority 97,833 lawful votes to emerge victorious. Soludo, with some 40,000 votes less, came a dismal third in the contest, losing, despite his vaunted popularity, even in his Aguata Local Government Area. It is difficult to understand why Soludo cannot live down the experience. After all, he went into partisan politics with both his eyes wide open.

He should have heeded former United States President Harry S. Truman who admonished, “If you can’t stand the heat, get out of the kitchen.” Instead, he never turns away from any opportunity to call Obi a trader or an illiterate.

This is ironic, given that Soludo is a staunch supporter of a presidential candidate who cannot provide evidence of his school certificate, who forgot the name of his running mate and who cannot remember his cellphone number, whereas Obi has a confirmed and genuine school certificate from Christ the King College (CKC), Onitsha, and a degree in Philosophy from Soludo’s alma mater, the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN).

It is always advised that the wisest thing for someone deep in a hole to do is to stop digging.

Unfortunately, Soludo appears to be eternally heedless. That explains why his attacks on Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala are invariably frivolous and ridiculous. This is a Soludo claim: “I spent five weeks in the hotel with my team (as coordinator/ chairman for drafting the National Economic Empowerment and Development Strategy, NEEDS).

Some of the reform targets in NEEDS became the ‘conditionalities’ Nigeria was required to fulfil to merit debt relief.”

Explanation of fallacy This statement is deliberately misleading because its intention is to create the impression that NEEDS was Soludo’s baby and that the credit for earning Nigeria debt relief also devolved on him.

To properly explain the fallacy of Soludo’s claim, it must be said that the idea of a Presidential Economic Team was OkonjoIweala’s. Soludo was just one of the 13 initial members of the Team chaired by Okonjo-Iweala.

Other members included Mrs. Nenadi Usman (Minister of State – Finance), Mallam Nasir el Rufai (Minister of the Federal Capital Territory), Mr. Bode Augusto (Director-General (Budget), Mallam Nuhu Ribadu (Head of EFCC), and Dr. Bright Okogu (Executive Secretary to the Economic Team and Senior

To be concluded

Vanguard, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2015—43

44 —

V anguard, FRID AY, FEBRU ARY 13, 2015 Vanguard, FRIDA FEBRUARY YOUR LUCK TODAY

LEISURE

By Joshua Adeyemo Phone 08056180139

ARIES Good results can be achieved but, your mood looks less buoyant. Whatever happens, this is the wrong time to gamble with matters of the heart.

TAURUS Since you cant run away from your shadow it is better you face challenges coming your way both at home and in the office. Eventual success’ll be yours very soon.

GEMINI Although, partnership related issues are becoming seriously, today you will need to rely on your creative mind to get the desired results.

CANCER Similar to yesterday as money continues to dominate issues. This is the wrong time to rely too heavily on friends either for assistance or advice.

LEO You’ll continue to be relevant in the scheme of things, although you’ll be made to operate under pressure through career/business related affairs but great success indicated for you today. Be stable.

THOUGHT FOR TODAY

By Richard Eromosele

Stop Accusing Yourself

C

HILDREN like denying or shifting blame.

Some of us are like children. Even when we are not asked nay question, we quickly answer - no be me do am oh!But who

ask you whether you are the one that did it?

The responsibility for your action

TERROR MUDA

andthat of your subordinates (if any). Own up to your fault, stop denying it is your

in “Never say goodbye”

fault. Stop reporting yourself for a crime you never committed. It is not an offence to be at fault. Every human being has his fault.

You are not different. So why accuse yourself?

By Lanre Kehinde

VIRGO It’s your day when good luck’ll crown your efforts. The more secretive you are the better for your cause. Avoid unnecessary argument.

LIBRA Reliable associates of yours may unconsciously disappoint you .Nursing false hope may force emotion to run very high. Be patient please.

SCORPIO If you like to cut-corners you’ll need to prepare for unpleasant surprise as those you least expect’ll disappoint you. Prepare to protect your image.

SAGITTARIUS Relying on the element of luck today may fail to give you the desired results. Then it’ll be wrong of you to disrespect the law and/or it’s enforcement agents.

CAPRICORN It’s important to differentiate between enterprise, gambling and adventure, because you may not go free by unnecessary mistake. Take love very seriously.

KAPTAIN AFRIKA

in

“Pretty Lunatic’

By Andy Akman

AQUARIUS Many people are not in the mood to take thing lightly probably because of tension generated by the Moon and Saturn. Thus you’ll need to be prepared to take responsibility of whatever you do and/or say.

PISCES Unnecessary argument can not help your cause today, no matter how logical you think you are. Take domestic issues more seriously than before.

ASTROLOGICAL COUNSELLING Send your date and place of birth to the Astrological Counselling, P.M.B 1007, Apapa, Lagos

Who am i?

VIRGINIA

dadadekola@yahoo.com

Dear Joshua, Kindly analyse my star and tell me the type of person I am. Because not only other people do misunderstand me I do not sometimes know myself. Please tell me the truth.

Abraham, Ogun.

Dear Abraham, As you were born when both career-oriented-Saturn and loving Venus were prominent in the heaven, you are giving to both ambition and love related issues. And with Venus having more powers than Saturn, PEACE, LOVE and harmony will always have final influence whenever you are to take important final decision.

As loving, gentle, caring and good hearted as you are, with your final-dispositor (Venus) at 90th degree apart to rebellious Uranus in Kingly Leo, FREEDOM and JUSTICE must come to play before the said love and peace will get your final approval.

Naturally Cancer makes it’s natives to appear timid and cool headed but another vigorous aspect in your chart is conjunction formed by aggressive Mars and manipulative Pluto when you were born; thus your will-power is very strong, making it difficult for people to manipulate you at will.

To crown it all the Moon (an indicator of sub-consciousself ) was placed in genius related Aquarius. Therefore will power strengthened by educated mind will always want to have FREEDOM. With your natal Sun (basic selfhood) and Moon placed in Cancer and Aquarius respectively, you are mainly a Cancer born person and partly Aquarian; meaning that basic characteristics of the two said Star sings (Cancer and Aquarius) are highly pronounced in your inner-self.

HOME & ABROAD

By Lawrence Akapa

Vanguard, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2015—45

APC plots to destabilise Nigeria, says PDP Nat'l Deputy Chair T

HE National Deputy Chairman of Peoples Democratic Party, Prince Uche Secondus, has alleged that there were clandestine moves by the All Progressives Congress, APC and the Director-General of the Buhari Campaign Organisation, Governor Rotimi Amaechi, to destabilise the nation and derail the 2015 general elections.

Secondus, who spoke at the grand finale of the PDP governorship rally at Obio Akpor Local Government Area, Rivers State, said: “The plan to cause chaos by the APC was hatched because the APC knew very well that the PDP would win the 2015 general elections.”

Prince Secondus, at the rally, alleged how APC plans to execute its inglorious agenda.

According to Secondus, the APC plans to recruit a private army, which would include the dreaded Boko Haram sect with a view to using them to rig the elections, mainly in the North Eastern part of the country.

PVC: Ita-Giwa, Bakassi people hail poll shift

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ORMER Special Adviser to President Olusegun Obasanjo on National Assembly Matters, Senator Florence ItaGiwa and the Bakassi people have described the postponement in election dates as an act of God which will enable them collect their Permanent Voter Cards and elect their preferred leaders.

Ita-Giwa, in a statement, said that if the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, had gone ahead with the earlier dates, the Bakassi people would have been disenfranchised “because over 70 per cent have not collected their PVCs. “The poll postponement is a blessing because it will now afford my people the opportunity of voting on March 28 and in April.

The few that have collected theirs are those that are in the refugee camp and their neighbours," she said.

He also alleged that the state governor had imported a large consignment of army and police uniforms also for the general elections.

On other ways the APC plans to allegedly derail the government of President Goodluck Jonathan, Secondus said the first step was to create panic in the minds of

Nigerians to scare them from coming out to perform their civic responsibility on the scheduled dates for the elections.

According to him, the APC, knowing that it does not have the structure to win the 2015 general elections, had embarked on campaign of calumny against the

Presidency and the military following the shift in the election dates by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, and “is sponsoring frightening captions in the media, threatening wars and bloodshed, particularly in some parts of the nation just to frighten Nigerians.”

LAUNCHING: From left: Chief Ositadinma Chidoka, Minister of Aviation and Engr.

Saleh Dunoma, Managing Director, Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, during the launching of a committee on the improvement of Avation sector, in Lekki, Lagos.

PRESIDENTIAL POLL: Group counters Edebiri, says Binis'll vote for Jonathan

By Gabriel Enogholase

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ENIN—CONTRARY to the assertion by the Esogban of Benin Kingdom, Chief David Edebiri, that the Binis would not vote for President Goodluck Jonathan come March 28, presidential election, a group, Edo United for Transformation, has debunked his claim, insisting that the Binis will troop out in large numbers to vote and support the President’s reelection.

The group added that Chief Edebiri should not hide under the platform of the Benin Forum to play his politics, debunked his assertion of the Binis voting against Jonathan after an emergency meeting yesterday in Benin.

The group in a statement by Prince Nosakhare Ogbewekon, said Chief Edebiri was not the spokesman of the Benin Kingdom, adding that it was only the Crown Prince, His Royal Highness, (Ambassador) Ehenden Erediauwa, who can speak for

the Binis.

“We the Binis have decided to support and vote for President Jonathan and we are satisfied with his performance in office and especially for what he has done for Edo people.

“We all know that the

election was postponed for security reasons and you and I know that Independent National Election Commission, INEC was not even prepared for the election.

Up till now, a lot of people have not even collected their Permanent Voters Card, PVC."

Imoke commissions 60-bed General Hospital in Odukpani

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OVERNOR Liyel Imoke of Cross River State, yesterday, commissioned a 60-bed fully equipped General Hospital in Ukem, Odukpani Local Government Area of the state in its effort to make healthcare delivery accessible and affordable to the people of the area.

The commissioning was part of activities of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, campaign rally which held in Odukpani council.

The hospital which is one of the 18 general hospitals spread across the 18 local government areas was

conceived alongside 1009 health posts to bring healthcare delivery to the door steps of the rural dwellers.

Earlier when the team visited members of Odukpani Traditional Rulers Council on consultation, Chairman of the council and Paramount Ruler of Odukpani, His Royal Majesty, Asakara Ekanem Umoh, described Governor Imoke as humble, amiable and a master tactician in the act of good governance.

He said despite the state’s lean resources, the governor has been able to weather the storm by showing shrewd management of the economy.

NDDC boss tasks workers on dedication

By Festus Ahon

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SABA—EDO State Commissioner on the board of the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, Mr Peter Enogieru, has charged workers of the commission to be dedicated to their duties.

Declaring open a-two day workshop organized for over 40 staff of the commission in Asaba, Delta State capital, Enogieru said the management of the commission was committed to the development of oil producing communities in the Niger Delta.

Saying that the workshop was to prepare and train the workers for more efficient service delivery, the commissioner, who was represented by one of the Directors, Mr Alexander Okenwa, urged the workers to be more dedicated their duties as the commission was poised to succeed in its mandate of adding value to the lives of Niger Deltans.

Uduaghan's aide emerges Warri Club President

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PECIAL Adviser to G o v e r n o r Emmanuel Uduaghan of Delta State Adviser on Niger Delta D e v e l o p m e n t Commission, NDDC, Mr. Vincent Uduaghan, has emerged the new president of Warri Club, Delta State.

Mr. Vincent Uduaghan who was elected, weekend, without opposition said he intends to turn the fortunes of the club around to meet the challenges of the social life of the oil city and solicited the support of members to enable him succeed in the task ahead.

The new management committee has Mr. Saturday Timinimi as vice-president, Mr. Fred Olokor as secretary and Mr. Douglas Otite as Sports Secretary among

46—Vanguard, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2015

I'll be president for all —ONOVO

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HE presidential candidate of National Conscience Party, Engineer Martin Onovo, has promised to serve the interest of all Nigerians if elected.

He said primordial interests, which had continued to retard the development of the nation, would not be given any room in his administration.

Onovo said: “I will be the President of Yoruba, Hausa, Igbo, Ijaw, Efik, Nupe, and so on, all at the same time. No religion or ethnic group will be pampered above others.”

He made this position known when he visited the Eze Ndi-Igbo of Lagos State, Eze Nwabueze Ohazulike.

Onovo decried the situation where failed leaders quickly mounted ethnic and religious garbs to resist prosecution through the whipping up of sentiments.

He promised that under his administration, everybody will be made to take full responsibility for his action(s), adding that his administration would ensure jobs and food for all, and light to power industries.

Rotary not for rich only, says Delta monarch

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RM Rotarian Noble Eshemitan, the Ovie of Oghara Kingdom, Delta State, who is the Governor, District 9140, Rotary Club International, has said the club was not for the rich only, as its essence was service to humanity.

He spoke at the commissioning of a water project donated to Ekete Secondary School, Kotokoto-Ekete, by the Rotary Club of Ovwian, Udu Local Government.

President of the club, Rotarian Moses Uparan, said the club will also address the power challenge facing the school.

Uparan added that the club had offered scholarship to indigent students, built library, supplied books and bought buses for schools in the area.

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AWARD: From left— Mr. Thompson Ajayi, Chief Accountant; Mr. Paul Omekwe, National Sales Manager, both of Brian Munro Limited, and Mr. Okey Akpa, Managing Director, SKG Pharma Limited, at the 2014 Distributor Awards of Campari Red Passion, organized by Brian Munro in Lagos. PHOTO: Kehinde Gbadamosi.

Imo govt petitions Presidency, NSA, others over soldiers’ invasion I

MO State government has petitioned the Presidency, Army headquarters, National Security Adviser, NSA, and human rights groups over deployment of soldiers to Government House, Owerri.

The government, in a statement by Senior Special Assistant to Governor Rochas Okorocha on Media, Mr. Sam Onwuemeodo, alleged that the soldiers were deployed on the order of a minister.

The statement read: “Government decided to petition these quarters knowing that soldiers would not come with armoured vehicles to Government House, Owerri, without somebody ordering them to do so and without the person having reason for doing so.

“The government’s worry becomes more pronounced when it is recalled that there was no problem of any kind in any part of the state on or before that day.

“There was no riot, crisis or clash. Then why did the army come? These are questions we would like the authorities we have petitioned to unveil.

“The army is a sacred institution that could only be called out when a situation

in a given place has overwhelmed other security agencies like the police, Department State Services, DSS; the Civil Defence and so on.

“There was no ugly situation in any part of the state last Tuesday, not to talk about any situation the police, DSS, et al, could not handle.

“We are calling for investigation because the government had been told that some people from a neighbouring state were hired by a junior minister to come and set Government House ablaze and the soldiers were brought in to give protection to the hired elements, with the soldiers

Idemili endorses Umeh for Senate

By Chimaobi Nwaiwu

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NEWI—THE people of Idemili South Local Government Area have endorsed the candidature of Chairman of All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, Chief Victor Umeh, to represent Anambra Central senatorial district in the Senate, pledging to give him 99.9 percent vote.

Speaking in separate interviews with Vanguard, Chairman of the council, Prince Henry Ezenwa, and the first son of the traditional ruler of Oba, Prince Nuel Ezenwa, said they would vote massively for Umeh.

He said: “The Ngige factor is no more in existence in

Anambra State. We have not been sleeping; we have been campaigning. We are going for a landslide victory.

“Honestly, Idemili South is for Chief Victor Umeh. We have resolved to give him our votes because he deserves it.

“The incumbent performed wonderfully as governor of Anambra State. But he went to the Senate to sleep.”

Nuel, first son of Igwe Okpoko of Oba, Igwe Peter Ezenwa, told Vanguard that their community would give 99.9 percent of their votes to Umeh for Anambra Central senatorial seat because of land mark achievements of his party in the state and in their town in particular.

FG reassures Nigerians on quality education, others

By Chidi Nkwopara

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WERRI—THE Federal Government has reassured Nigerians of its commitment to ensure food security, quality education and steady power supply in the country.

The Minister of State for Education, Professor Viola Onwuliri, made this known yesterday, during a prayer session at St. Brigid’s Catholic

Church, Ahiara Centre, Mbaise, for a free, fair and credible general election.

The Catholic faithful also prayed for the re-election of President Goodluck Jonathan.

Professor Onwuliri told the congregation: “President Jonathan's re-election would ensure equitable distribution of democracy dividends.”

She appealed to youths to remain focused, shun examination malpractices,

thuggery, pre-marital sex and all anti-social acts that would attract shame to their families and society.

Also speaking, Rector of St. Brigid’s, Rev. Fr. Anthony Anyanwu, in his homily, charged Christians to embrace God, especially at this election period.

He urged parents and guardians to warn their children and wards against desperate politicians.

ignorant of why they were deployed there.”

APC supporters protest alleged manipulation in Idemili North, South

By Vincent Ujumadu

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WKA—ABOUT 500 supporters of All Progressives Congress, APC, in Idemili North and South federal constituency of Anambra State, yesterday, besieged the Federal High Court in Awka to protest alleged manipulation of the ticket for the constituency by the leadership of the party.

Armed with placards with inscriptions such as “There were no primaries in APC in Idemili,” “We want justice in Anambra APC,” “Give us our rightful candidate,” “Anambra APC is not a one man show,” and “APC hear our voice,” the protesters moved round the court premises and threatened to continue their action until justice was done.

The protesters had accompanied Mr. Stanley Okeke, a House of Representatives aspirant, to the court, following a suit he instituted against APC for allegedly denying him the party ticket by not conducting primaries.

The matter was later adjourned to March 23 for hearing.

Vanguard, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2015 — 47

‘Poll’s shift, faulty exercise of power'

By Bartholomew Madukwe

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human rights lawyer, Chief Morah Ekwunoh, yesterday described the postponement of February elections by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as a faulty exercise of power.

“Combination of hard critique of INEC’s recent postponement by six weeks, of the February 2015 general elections, in relation to INEC’s reason, leaves dispassionate and apolitical legal minds with no option than to conclude that the postponement, in the circumstances thereof, constitute faulty exercise of sacrosanct powers, and by extension, clear, unmistakable and condemnable subversion of democratic process,” he said.

Speaking with Vanguard, Ekwunoh said pursuant to Sections 26(1) and 135(3) of the Electoral Act,2010, and the 1999 Constitution respectively, both as amended, INEC and the President have powers to postpone an election, adding that though such powers should be exercised in full tandem with the provision of the law.

PDP condemns destruction of campaign billboards, posters in Makurdi

By Peter Duru

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AKURDI—THE ruling Peoples Democratic Party, PDP yesterday condemned the alleged destruction of its campaign billboards and posters in and around Makurdi town by suspected All progressives Congress, APC, supporters.

Addressing reporters yesterday in Makurdi, the state capital, the Convener of the PDP Booth to Booth Project and Special Assistant to the state Governor on ICT, Mr. Gideon Inyom, accused the APC of plotting to plunge the state into a major political crisis.

He said some persons suspected to be APC youths had on Wednesday, attacked Pages Garden and other places and tore posters belonging to PDP. C M Y K

Ex-gov Sheriff explodes, says Borno govt officials killed would-be successor, Gubio

By Ndahi Marama

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AIDUGURI— FORMER Governor Ali Modu Sheriff and leader of PDP in Borno State yesterday accused some prominent officials of the present administration in the state and their associates (names withheld) of allegedly conniving to kill the man who would have succeeded him in office, Alhaji Modu Fannami Gubio in 2011.

Gubio, who was elected the governorship candidate of the defunct All Nigeria People’s Party, ANPP, was killed shortly

afterwards by unknown people.

Sheriff spoke at the Emir of Shani’s Palace, Alhaji Nasiru Mailafiya as well as while addressing over 10,000 APC supporters who defected to the PDP in the council headquarters.

“Many of you are aware that the present Governor Shettima was not the person I initially planned to succeed me in office, but when my former Commissioner, Alhaji Modu Fannami Gubio was elected as the governorship candidate of my defunct party (ANPP) in 2011, they (some people who participated in the primaries) hired some assassins to kill Fannami one week to INEC

dateline for submission of our candidate’s name.

“Unfortunately, we had no option at that time than to rush and pick Shettima who came second to replace him (late Fannmani). May his soul (Fannmani) rest in peace,” Sheriff told the gathering.

Sheriff, who was one of the sponsors of the defunct ANPP, before it metamorphosed into APC, joined the PDP, citing alleged ‘’selfish interest, bad governance and lack of transparency in the leadership of his former party,’’ as reasons for leaving the APC. He told the crowd that he had

VISIT: From left ; Akeem Gbadebo, Protocol Manager, Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (NACCIMA); Michael Deru, Consul General, Consulate General of the Federal Republic of Germany, Lagos; Janet Omisore, Acting Director General, NACCIMA; Femi Oladeinbo, Research Manager; Sophia Stephan, Commercial Attache of German Consulate, and Rosemary Agweven, NACCIMA Public Relations Manager during NACCIMA courtesy visit to the Consul General in Lagos.

never joined a failed political party as symbolised by the APC, adding that he remained the only governor who was elected for two terms, and served as Senator for three terms. Sheriff further asked the people of the state to collect and safeguard their Permanent Voters’ Cards, PVCs, to enable them perform their civic rights in the forth-coming 2015 general elections by voting for Alhaji Mohammed Imam as governor of the state and the PDP at the national level, as according to him, the APC-led government of Shettima has collected over N600 billions without no single project of N10 million executed in any of the 27 council areas of the state in the last four years.

The House of Assembly PDP candidate of Shani, Alhaji Mohammed Tukur Ibrahim, who presented the 10,000 APC members that detected to PDP assured them that if given the mandate, the party would carry everybody along irrespective of tribe or religious affiliations.

Responding on behalf of the decampees, Alhaji Husaini Kale said, they chose to opt out of APC “due to the selfish interest and neglect of party supporters by governor Kashim Shettima”.

In his address, the governorship candidate, Alhaji Imam assured the people of the area that he would address most of their problems, particularly the issues of job creation, implementation of N18,000 minimum wage, roads construction, poverty alleviation and water supply among others if voted into power.

Kaduna, Bank of Agric disburse N1bn loan to farmers

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ADUNA—THE Kaduna State government has commenced the disbursement of N1 billion loan to farmers in the state in partnership with the Bank of Agriculture, BOA. Speaking at the flag-off of the distribution of cheques to the beneficiaries which include individual farmers and cooperative groups yesterday, the state governor, Mukhtar Ramalan Yero said the scheme was ‘’aimed at providing finance to farmers in a bid to increase performance in the sector.’’

According to him, “We have a convenient means of raising funds to finance Agriculture and Agro allied businesses in view of the attractive interest rate of only five percent with very short period of loan processing and disbursement.”

Yero said the technical committee established by the state Ministry of Agriculture had screened six cooperative associations and nine

individual farmers who would benefit from the first phase of the scheme.

“The beneficiaries have been drawn on equal basis from the three senatorial zones of the state. Each cooperative association has an average of 10 farmers and will receive

agricultural loan ranging from N2.5million and above. On the other hand, each individual beneficiary will receive N250,000.

“The BOA will continue to disburse the facility to other beneficiaries ... I therefore urge farmers that have not indicated interest to hasten to take

advantage of the opportunity being provided by this scheme,’’ Yero said.

The governor reiterated the commitment of the present administration towards improving the agricultural sector in the state as a way of diversifying the economy.

‘UK commited to strong economic ties with Nigeria'

By Naomi Uzor

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RITAIN, yesterday, reiterated her commitment towards a strong economic relationship with Nigeria, saying, it was an important and strong trading partner whose relationship must be given special attention.

British Prime Minister, Mr. David Cameron, made this known at the annual British Chamber of Commerce conference held at the Queen Elizabeth Conference Centre in London in response to a question asked by the President of the Nigerian-British Chamber of

Commerce, NBCC, Prince Adeyemi Adefulu, who was a delegate to the conference.

Adefulu, referring to the 2010 resolve between Mr. Cameron and President Goodluck Jonathan to double bi-lateral trade from £4billion to £8billion between 2010 and 2014, asked, “Do you not think that this has pointed at the enormous potentials for trade between the two countries and an opportunity which should be carefully nurtured so that the trade can double further in another five years? Unfortunately, we get the feeling of a pullback rather than

a push forward in the relationship. Certainly growing the business between the two countries further will not be achieved without a special attention and determination?”

In his reply, Cameron said, “A very good question and spot on” adding that he was particularly happy that the target he and President Jonathan set in 2010 was met.

Continuing, he stated that the target was inspired by the shared conviction that the relationship can yield a lot more than the two countries were getting from it.

48—Vanguard, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2015

FUND RAISING: From left: Dr. Ola Olateju, Alhaji A. Sokokoto, National Scretary, UPN, Alhaja Aminat Olatubosun, running mate, Prince Olatunde Paseda, governorship aspirant, UPN, Ogun State, and Prof. Tunji Oyeneye, former Vice Chancellor, Olabisi Onabanjo University/special guest of honour, at the fund raising dinner for the governorship campaign of Prince Rotimi Paseda of the Unity Party of Nigeria in in Lagos. Photo: Joe Akintola, Photo Editor.

AWARD: From right: Head of Personal and Business Banking, West Africa, Standard Bank, Mr. Lincoln Mali, Branch Manager, FCT, Stanbic IBTC Bank, Mr. Iheanacho Obi, his wife, Amaka, at the Stanbic IBTC 2014 Mark of Excellence Awards in Lagos.

MEETING: From left: Prof. Eric Metima of the University of Nairobi, Kenya, Mrs. Stella Denloye,Director, Laboratory Services and Dr. Paul Orhii, DG, NAFDAC, during the meeting between NAFDAC and International Atomic Energy Agency on NAFDAC Food Laboratory, pre-selected as Africa Regional Designated Centre, RDC, in Lagos, yesterday. Photo: Biodun Ogunleye.

COMMEMORATION: From left: Policy Manager, Google Nigeria, Titi Akinsanmi, DG, National Film and Video Censors Board, Patricia Bala, C EO, Homevida, Seember Nyager, and Communication and Public Affairs Manager, Google Anglophone West Africa, Taiwo Kola-Ogunlade, at the commemoration of the 2015 Safer Internet Day in Lagos.

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COURTESY CALL Kwara S t a t e governor, Dr. Abdulfatah Ahmed (left), receiving a plaque of honour from the Chairman, Retired Army, Navy and Airforce Association of Nigeria, R A N A O , Capt. Ibrahim A h m e d , during a Courtesy call a t Government House, Ilorin.

OPENING: From left: Mr Shane Kilfoil, MD, Africa, Eaton Electrical Sector Company, Mr Kurt McMaken, President, Europe, Middle East and Africa Region, Eaton Company, Mr Frank Campbell, President, Electrical Sector, Europe Middle East and Africa Region, Eaton Global Power Management Company, and Mr Charles Aladewolu, at the opening of Eaton Tech Day in Lagos. Photo: Kehinde Gbadamosi.

VISIT: From left: Squadron Leader J.O Abioye, CPRO, Squadron Leader Y. Yusuf, Sir Wendell Ogunedo, Director of Security Services, Air Commodore H.U. Mohammed, Mr. Saleh Dunoma, MD, FAAN, Air Vice Marshal A.L. Osanyintolu, Air Officer Commanding, Sam Ethnan Airforce Base, Ikeja, Mr Yakubu Dati, GM, Corporate Communications, FAAN, and Mallam Maázu Dahir, during the AOC’s visit to FAAN headquarters, Ikeja, Lagos.

CHAMPIONSHIP: From left: Mr. Babs Ogunade, Chairman, Lagos State Basketball Association, Mrs Clementina Doregos, Proprietress, and Mrs Abimbola Omole, Head of Sports, Lagos State Sports Council, at Doregos Private Academy Inter-school Basketball Championship finals in Lagos, yesterday. Photo: Biodun Ogunleye.

Vanguard, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2015 — 49

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50 — Vanguard, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2015

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Vanguard, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2015—51

R-l: Mrs Tony Nyiam, Chief (Mrs) Ebi Ogboru, Chief Great Ogboru, governorship candidate Labour Party, Obarisi Ovie Omo-Agege, LP's Delta central senatorial candidate, Chief Godwin Ogboru (JP) and other guests at the burial ceremony of Madam Gold Wanogho-Duku, the mother of Prince Efe Duku (Chief Great Ogboru's executive assistant) at Orogun, Ughelli North LGA Delta State.

Unimaid, NTI collaborate on teacher training

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HE National Teachers’ Institute, NTI, has pledged to share its’wealth of teachertraining experience with the University of Maiduguri’s Institute of Education.

Director-General of the institute, Dr. Aminu Ladan Sharehu, gave the pledge when he received a delegation from University of Maiduguri Institute of Education at the institute’s headquarters in Kaduna.

Sharehu said the NTI has over the years acquired experience in teachereducation having being in existence when the country had a handful of tertiary institutions, adding: “You’ve come to the right place where you will be able to see how education is being arranged."

Email marketing firms sign pact

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ULTIPLE award winners in digital marketing, WSI Axion, has endorsed a partnership agreement with Netcore Solutions of India to offer top quality email marketing services in Nigeria. Netcore Solutions is a leading interactive marketing solution provider, specializing in marketing automation and work flow technologies.

At a news conference to announce the partnership in Lagos, Managing Director, WSI Axion, Chief Edirin Abamwa, said: “Our customers are looking for solutions that will help them engage more personally with their audiences in real time and Netcore Solutions known for first class customer experiences with proven technologies will help provide this top quality services in Nigeria.”

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Catering and snack production students at the on-going third phase of the Economic Empowerment programme of the Lagos State Government at the Alimosho Local Government Centre, Abule-Odu, Egbeda, Lagos. Photo: Kehinde Gbadamosi

52 — Vanguard, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2015

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54—Vanguard, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2015

Onwuliri's supporters attacked in Imo

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OME women, under the auspices of Imo Widows Association, Jesus Triumphant Widows Association and Amuzi Widows Association, among others, were allegedly attacked by hoodlums in Owerri, Imo State capital, during a solidarity rally for the Minister of State for Education, Professor Viola Onwuliri.

The over 2,500 women, dressed in black, had arrived the Okigwe Roundabout, opposite the Government House, Owerri, as early as 8am, singing solidarity songs in support of President Goodluck Jonathan and Professor Onwuliri.

They sang songs insinuating that the state government was against Onwuliri, saying “leave our benefactor alone. She is working for the good of all.”

Thugs were said to have suddenly emerged from around the government house and attacked the protesting women, leaving some in critical conditions.

A statement by the Special Assistant to the Minister, Mr. Peter Osamgbi, said: “This is a clear act of impunity, and a deliberate violence against women by a government that ought to protect them.”

It will be recalled that Professor Onwuliri had Commissioned a couple of Federal Government Projects in Imo, which include Faculty of Law building and the ICT Centre in Imo State University.

Others are water projects at the Police and DSS Headquarters, Entrepreneurship Centre, and other TETFund buildings at Federal Polytechnic Nekede and Alvan Ikoku Federal College of Education, among others.

From left— Rev. Femi Afolabi, Minister for Music & Multimedia, Yaba Baptist Church; Rev. Bayo Aremu, Moderator, Gideon II Baptist Association; Rev. Emmanuel Awotunde, President, Lagos East Baptist Conference; Rev. G. B. Ololade, Consultant, and Rev. Israel Abolade, Chairman, Mission and Evangelism, both of Gideon II Baptist Association, during an event at Divine Mercy Baptist Church, Ikosi-Ketu, Lagos.

CAN didn't endorse Buhari—AREWA CITIZENS

By Suzan Edeh

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AUCHI—THE Arewa Citizens Action for Change, ACAC, has debunked reports that the North-East chapter of Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, had endorsed the candidature of All Progressives Congress, APC’s presidential candidate, General Muhammadu Bahuri (retd) for the forthcoming general elections.

ACAC said that neither CAN nor its Chairman, Reverend Shu’aibu Byal, endorsed Buhari.

In a statement by the Chairman of the association, Emmanuel Danjuma and Legal Officer, Mr Sadiq Abubakar, the people said the issue of the two presidential candidates of APC and Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, was never discussed during their courtesy visit to the North-East CAN Chairman since the visit was not political and had nothing to do with the issue of elections in the country.

The statement read: “The main aim of our visit to the North-East CAN Chairman was about how to achieve a

peaceful society in northern Nigeria and to revive the good relationship that existed between Muslims and Christians youths and the possible solutions to problems the region might experience during and after elections.

BUJA—MALAM Ibrahim Shekarau, the Minister of Education, has pledged to assist the All Nigeria Conference of Principals of Secondary Schools, ANCOPSS, to secure a waiver from the FCT administration regarding a N23 million fine slammed on the association over its secretariat under construction.

Shekarau made the pledge when the National Standing

Committee of ANCOPSS paid him a courtesy visit on Wednesday in Abuja.

The FCT Department of Development Control imposed the fine on ANCOPSS due to its failure to pay the required fees before embarking on the construction of the secretariat.

The minister said the issue of having a befitting secretariat for ANCOPSS had been with the national leadership of the

“The association is categorically debunking these false allegations that are mere speculations and have no basis. Our association is solely saddled with the responsibility of promoting peace and uniting the youths of the two main religions.”

Igede alleges marginalization by Benue govt

By Nwabueze Okonkwo

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NITSHA—THE people of Igede, the third largest ethnic tribe in Benue State, have decried what they described as gross marginalization and neglect by the state government in the last 16 years of democracy in the country.

Benue State is made of three major tribes and languages, including the Tiv, Idoma and Igede.

The President of Igede Development Association, Anambra State chapter, Mr. Patrick Akobo, stated yesterday in Onitsha that the Igede tribe, which occupies owns half of the state land mass, had not been carried along in terms of political appointments, among other top positions in the state.

He said in a statement that “Igede people of Benue State

Minister to intervene in ANCOPPS N23m fine

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“We wish to state categorically that there was never a time in our discussion that CAN NorthEast Chairman stated that he had endorsed Buhari or will canvass vote for Buhari in the general elections.

association over the years.

He said: “We will reach out to the Minister of FCT and even ask him to contribute to the project.”

He also promised to ensure that ANCOPSS was represented in the Universal Basic Education Board and school sports, and also to ensure that unity school principals become members of ANCOPSS.

are indeed an endangered species suffering d e p r i v a t i o n , marginalization and suppression.

“We demand the restoration of the identity of Igede people in the political arena namely, the restoration of our first class chieftaincy institutions and the right to represent Nigeria at the ministerial and ambassadorial positions.

“Our rights to identity

must be reflected in the Federal Character Commission.

“Our Tiv brothers we beg you: the demand by Igede people for the state governorship seat to be conceded to Igede in 2019 is not negotiable.”

Akobo further said that the association, otherwise known as Omi ny’ Igede, was of the opinion that no amount of intimidation would stop the Igede project to liberate itself from political marginalization, no matter how highly placed the suppressors might be.

Niger to build 1,000 housing units

By Wole Mosadomi

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INNA—THE Niger State government is to build another 1,000 units of houses made up of 500 twobedroom bungalow, 200 three bedroom units, among others, at Maikunkele near Minna and Suleja in the Suleja Local Government Area of the state.

The project, which will cost $60 million, will be handled by an Italian firm, Italworks Nigeria Limited, under the governments Public Private Partnership, PPP, policy.

The state government had embarked on the construction of numerous housing units in Minna, Bida, Suleja and Kontagora zone since it came on board in 2007 to reduce acute problems of accommodation in the state.

Already, Governor Babangida Aliyu had signed the Certificate of Occupancy for the land on which the houses would be constructed, while the construction firm had secured the commitment of some primary mortgage firms and foreign consortium for the funding of the project.

General Manager of the Niger State Housing Corporation, Alhaji Mohammed Adamu, said the project was one of the steps being taken by the state government to reduce the housing deficit in most towns in the state.

He said that the government would, under the Memorandum of Understanding, MoU, signed with the construction firm, provide the infrastructure at the two locations in addition to giving the firm all the needed support.

Vanguard, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2015 — 55

Investors indicate interest in Ibom deep seaport

By Ifeyinwa Obi

B

OTH local and foreign investors have indicated interest in the proposed Akwa Ibom Deep Seaport.

Already, the ministerial project development and steering committee has submitted a copy of the final Outline Business Case (OBC) to the Federal Ministry of Transport and the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA).

Members of the committee comprise officials of the Federal Ministry of Transport, NPA and the consulting firm, Felak Concept Limited.

Secretary of the Committee, Dikko Bala, who spoke during the submission of OBC to NPA in Lagos, commended the Managing Director of the parastatal, Habib Abdullahi, for “his support and unflinching commitment to the project”.

He explained that the project would be executed under the Long Term Amortization Scheme (LTAS).

Highlight of the event was the presentation of the OBC to Abdullahi by the Managing Director of Felak Concept, Dr Aisha Achimugu.

Abdullahi also reiterated the unflinching commitment of the Authority to the successful take-off and timely completion of the Ibom Deep Sea Port.

According to the Managing Director, NPA, as a stakeholder and a technical regulator has much to gain from the success of the Ibom Deep Sea project, adding that the Authority’s participation in such projects, under the Private Partnership Projects (PPP) has been very beneficial “as demonstrated in the Onne Port project”.

While appreciating the diligence of the committee members, Abdullahi commended Governor Godswill Akpabio of Akwa Ibom State, for initiating the project “considering its enormous economic potentials to the state and the nation at large”.

He enjoined other states in the federation to emulate Akwa-Ibom State in this direction by embarking on projects, which according to him will promote the well being of their citizenry and “improve their economic empowerment.

Count me out on religious agenda, says Buhari •As Northern Christian leaders declare support

By Levinus Nwabughiogu

A

BUJA— All Progressives Congress, APC, presidential candidate Gen. Muhammadu Buhari has assured Nigerians that he would not be part of any agenda that would either Christianize or Islamize Nigeria if voted into office as the next president of Nigeria.

He also promised not to

entertain, consider or promote the religious agenda of anyone, his party, or any member of his team should such come up.

The pledge came on the heels of the endorsement of Buhar ’s presidency, yesterday, by over 400 pastors under the aegis of Northern Christian Leaders Eagle-Eyes Forum in Abuja.

At a function to formerly receive the APC presidential candidate, the pastors who came from different evangelical ministries across the 19

states in the northern region of Nigeria said gone were the days when religious sentiments prevailed in the choice of candidates.

They said that the nation had moved backwards than progressed in the last four years.

Some of the members of the group and their ministries included Pastor Paul Great, Methodist church, Jos, Bishop Lawrence Awanorwo, New Creation School of Divinity, Niger

VISIT: From left; Mr Kamil Kemanci, Registrar; Mr Cemal Yigit, Sole Media Partner and Mr Orhan Kertim, Principal, Nigerian Turkish International College, NTIC during the school's management courtesy visit to Vanguard newspapers in Lagos yesterday. Photo by Biodun Ogunleye.

We are destroying Boko Haram camps— FG

T

HE Federal Government said yesterday that the new pact with Multinational forces has ensured the bombardment of major Boko Haram camps in the troubled North eastern Nigeria.

At a briefing, the Coordinator of National Information Centre, Mr Mike Omeri said “the military action is now making the terrorists run from one camp to the other within the north east region while many towns and villages are being liberated.

According to him, “ we, alongside the allied forces, are making real progress; we are succeeding more than before, the terrorists are being killed in their camps while others flee to other camps. We will continue to pursue them and ensure we degrade the Boko Haram terrorists.

“The multinational forces have so far shown genuine commitment to fighting these terrorists, the containment and degrading of the Boko Haram sect has been the priority of the multinational forces along with their Nigerian counterpart. We are now feeling the impact of the joint operation which has in recent days assisted in

destroying many Boko Haram camps; we are winning the war and we hope to continue, just watch out in the next few days “ Omeri said Mr Omeri added that the renewed war against the terrorists

has also opened a new front as “Boko Haram has commenced recruitment in locations such as Geidam Mairi and Dupcha in north eastern states of Borno and Yobe states.

Arise Women distributes free drugs to Itedo community

A

RISE Women, have treated and distributed drugs free to the entire Itedo Community, Lekki Phase 1, and have urged the residents to vote for their conscience at the forthcoming elections.

Speaking at the medical visit at the Baale’s compound Itedo, Lekki Phase 1, Lagos, Convener, Arise Women, Pastor Siju Iluyomade, said that the medical outreach came about because of the lack of medical centre in the area.

Iluyomade said it is the duty of Arise Women to sensitize people and tell them, that they have a right to vote and the power to vote is in their hands.

“We felt a need for us to take care of women’s health in general. Taking a look at the mortality rate and you know women go through much, menopause, old age and they need to be taken care of. So

we came together as women concerned about the well-being of other women to provide support medically, physically, mentally.

That is how Arise came about'', she said “This is one of the many communities we have visited so it is not anything strange, we have been to Lagos Island, Apapa, Surulere. What we try to do is to take it to the grassroots, because they are part of us and need to be taken care of. What we have decided to do because we get support from other people.

“Arise is non-denominational, anybody from any colour, race, or denomination can join. We have been highly rewarded by the outcome of people that we receive in every community we went to.''

We have been openly welcomed, not only are the women happy, they also come with their men and children.

State; Bishop Daniel Oboni, Christ Life Evangelistic Church, Bauchi State; Bishop MUSA Gomson, Unlimited Mercy and Glory Church, Gombe State, Apostle Dr. Abraham Babe, World Christian Mission, Taraba State, Paul Zumta, Alheri Baptist Church, Sokoto State, Rev. Sam Adejoh, Life Changer Christian Centre, Yobe, Rev. Daniel D. Gonzuk, Amazing Grace, Benue State, Rev. Emmanuel Edesiri, Destiny Path Assembly Int. Nasarawa State, Rev. Dr. Sunday Divine Later Times, Borno and Pastor Ifeanyi Ikeji, Zonal Coordinator, Lord Chosen among many others.

Buhari also cleared the air on the allegation that he was a religious extremist, saying that though he is a practising Muslim, he had never belonged to or shared the views of any extremist group.

He said: “Let me state this categorically, that I, Muhammadu Buhari, as an individual, and as president of this great country by the grace of God, given the opportunity to serve, have no personal religious agenda. And I will not entertain, consider or promote the religious agenda of anyone. I will not condone any initiative that seeks to promote one religion over the other. Neither I, nor my party, or any member of my team has any desire or plan to Islamize or Christianize Nigeria or support anyone with such intention.

“Although I am a practising Muslim, and I have been so all my life, I have never belonged to, nor shared the views of, any extremist group. I am not even a cleric. I believe that religion is personal and private. Many of the people close to me are not of my religion. My cook and driver for 20 years are Christians; Most of my bodyguards are Christians.

Some were killed while protecting me in the terrorist attack on my convoy in Kaduna.

“If I have not Islamized these people who serve under me, how will I Islamize the likes of Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, Ogbonnaya Onu, Governors Rochas Okorocha, Kayode Fayemi, Rotimi Amaechi or Professor Yemi Osinbajo who is a senior advocate of Nigeria and a pastor? Or how will I Islamize Nigeria?

Making reference to the American constitution, Buhari said that the Nigerian constitution does not permit a state religion and as such does not prompt any support.

He added that the Sharia practice which is backed by the Nigerian constitution was almost synonymous with customary law.

Also speaking, Buhari’s running mate, Professor Yemi Osinbajo said that the government has failed to cater for the people.

56 — VANGUARD, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 13 , 2015

Vatican reform: Pope urges cooperation from Cardinals

Ukraine crisis: World leaders agree on peace deal •Ceasefire begin February 15 A

N agreement aimed at ending the fighting in Ukraine has been reached, following marathon talks in Belarus.

The leaders of Russia, Ukraine, Germany and France announced that a ceasefire would begin on 15 February.

The deal also includes weapon withdrawals and prisoner exchanges, but key issues remain to be settled.

The pro-Russian rebels in eastern Ukraine have signed the agreement.

Thousands of people have died in almost a year of fighting in the region.

The BBC’s Richard Galpin in Minsk says the deal is very similar to a ceasefire agreed last September, which unravelled very quickly.

The latest agreement includes:Ceasefire to begin at 00:01 local time on 15 February, heavy

A cross section of world leaders yesterday after announcing that a ceasefire would begin on 15 February weapons to be withdrawn, beginning on 16 February and completed in two weeks, all prisoners to be released; amnesty for those involved in fighting, withdrawal of all foreign troops and weapons from Ukrainian territory.

P

OPE Francis urged his cardinals Thursday to cooperate in reforming the outdated and dysfunctional Vatican bureaucracy, saying the overhaul will help him govern the Catholic Church better and spread the faith more effectively.

Francis summoned cardinals from around the world to hear his proposals for revamping the central government of the 1.2-billion-strong church. The proposals include merging smaller offices into two big new congregations: one for laity, family and life issues; another for charity and peace that will have an important new sector focused on the environment, a core concern for Francis.

Francis said the aim of the reform was to encourage greater harmony and collaboration in “absolute transparency,” to help the church spread the faith and reach out to others.

“Certainly, reaching that goal won’t be easy,” he said. “It needs time, determination and above all the collaboration of everyone.”

Francis was elected two years ago on a mandate from cardinals to reform the Vatican hierarchy, which during the final year of Pope Benedict XVI’s papacy was exposed publicly as being a place of petty, back-biting turf battles, beset by cronyism, corruption and waste.

UN envoy says Yemen on brink of civil war

U

N Secretary General Ban Ki-moon warned yesterday that Yemen was falling apart and called for action to avert chaos, as Al-Qaeda fighters over ran an army

camp and seized heavy weaponry.

Related Stories The UN chief was reporting to the 15-member council after talks with Gulf officials that he said concentrated on “pre-

venting civil war in Yemen”. “Let me be clear: Yemen is collapsing before our eyes. We cannot stand by and watch,” Ban told the council.

Long on the front line

of the war against AlQaeda, Yemen has descended into chaos since Shiite militiamen, known as Huthis, seized Sanaa in September and ousted the government last week.

DR Congo sets election date after protests

Julius Malema removed from S/Africa parliament S ECURITY forces have removed firebrand opposition leader Julius Malema from South Africa’s parliament during a speech by President Jacob Zuma.

Mr Malema and allies from his Economic Freedom Fighters party raised numerous points of order after Mr Zuma began his annual state of the nation speech.

The speaker of parliament then ordered that they be removed.

The largest opposition party, the Democratic Alliance, walked out in protest at the removal of the MPs. “You can’t send police into parliament,” said Democratic Alliance parliamentary leader Mmusi Maimane.

Speaker Baleka Mbete did not clarify whether police or parliamentary security officers had ejected the EFF MPs. The opposition said this was an important distinction, with one MP saying

President Jacob Zuma the use of police would be a way of intimidating the opposition.

Last year, the EFF disrupted another presidential speech, chanting: “Pay back the money”.

They accuse Mr Zuma of benefitting unduly from taxpayer-funded upgrades to his private residence in the village of Nkandla and they wanted Mr Zuma to answer questions about this before making his state of the nation speech. The president has denied any wrongdoing.

T

HE Democratic Re public of Congo will hold presidential elections in November 2016, satisfying a key demand of the opposition.

Election officials announced the date after violent protests erupted last month over fears that President Joseph Kabila was trying to delay polls.

The government denied the claim, and dropped plans for a controversial census to be held before elections.

Mr Kabila is constitutionally barred from contesting the poll.

Niger forces killed 260 Boko Haram day, security sources said, militants in one week

S

ECURITY forces in Niger have killed 260 Boko Haram militants since the group began cross-border attacks on Niger’s southeastern Diffa region on Feb. 6, a spokesman for the armed forces said on Thursday.

Colonel Moustapha Michel Ledru said a number of fighters had been arrested and some

weapons seized, without giving details.

Boko Haram has launched a series of attacks but Ledru said the situation was under control. “We have taken the steps necessary to guarantee the peace and security of the population.

We call on people not to panic,” he said.Two female suicide bombers attacked the Niger frontier town of Diffa on Wednes-

shortly after Chad’s army said it had killed 13 fighters from the Islamist militant group Boko Haram in the Nigerian town of Gambaru.

The violence on Nigeria’s borders with Niger and Cameroon occurred as regional armies are mobilising to foil Boko Haram’s bid to carve out an emirate around Lake Chad, which borders Nigeria, Chad, Cameroon and Niger.

He took power in 2001 after his father Laurent Kabila was assassinated.

He has won two disputed elections since then, and cannot stand for a third elected term.

Both the presidential and parliamentary elections would take place on 27 November 2016, election commission official Jean-Pierre Kalam-

•Mr Kabila ba said in the capital, Kinshasa.

At least 42 people died in the protests in Kinshasa and other cities last month.

Egypt frees two Al Jazeera journalists

T

WO remaining Al Jazeera journalists jailed in Egypt on charges of aiding a “terrorist organization” were freed on bail yesterday after more than 400 days, but the court said the case against them was still pending.

The case triggered an international outcry and has been cited by government critics as evidence that Cairo is rescinding freedoms gained after a 2011 uprising toppled autocrat Hosni Mubarak, allegations the government denies.

Mohamed Fahmy, a naturalized Canadian who gave up his Egyp-

tian citizenship, was released on bail of 250,000 Egyptian pounds ($32,765). Baher Mohamed, who has only Egyptian citizenship, was released without bail.

Judge Hassan Farid said the next hearing in their case would be on Feb. 23.

A third Al Jazeera reporter sentenced with them, Australian Peter Greste, was freed on Feb. 1 and deported.

The three were sentenced to between seven and 10 years on charges including spreading lies to help a terrorist organization — a reference to the Muslim Brotherhood.

Vanguard, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2015 — 57

C M Y K

58 —

C M Y K

Vanguard, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2015

Vanguard, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2015 — 59

PDP declares confidence in INEC to conduct free polls ...Says Obasanjo’s endorsement of Buhari is rumour

By Henry Umoru

A

BUJA—THE National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Alhaji Adamu Muazu yesterday reiterated the party’s total confidence in the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, under Prof. Attahiru Jega’s stewardship to conduct a free and fair election.

Muazu spoke after a strategic meeting with its governors, and leaders in the National Assembly just as the chairman of the PDP Governors Forum, Obong Godswill Akpabio dismissed as mischief reports that some of the party’s governors were secretly working for the defeat of President Goodluck Jonathan in the forthcoming presidential election.

Muazu declared that the PDP has full confidence on the INEC leadership and its team to conduct credible, free and fair elections in the country.

Obasanjo has not endorsed Buhari — MU'AZU

The PDP National Chairman also denied reports that former President Olusegun Obasanjo has endorsed the Presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC, General Muhammadu Buhari ahead of the elections, describing the story as mere rumour, adding that Obasanjo remains a member of the party who would not contemplate anti-party activities.

Muazu, who noted that he would not want to believe what was being reported in the media about Obasanjo’s support for Buhari , but would rather wait until he listens to the former president himself, adding, “I consider this as a rumour. I know Obasanjo is more sagastic and experienced. He is still not just our party member, but one of the leaders of this party. I recall in one of his letters to Mr. President, he said he is against anti-party activity.

From my record, he is still a member of our party. He cannot be part of destroying the house he built.”

PDP govs not working for APC — AKPABIO

Meanwhile, Chairman of PDP Governors’ Forum and governor of Akwa Ibom State, Godswill Akpabio has described reports that PDP governors were working for the APC candidate, General Buhari, with a bid to work against the candidature of Jonathan as mischief, untrue, evil and scandalous. He said that no PDP governor is working for the APC, adding that the governors had endorsed Jonathan as the sole candidate of the party because of his track achievements in all the sectors.

He said, “Because the PDP governors believe in Jonathan, that was why they were the first to endorse him for a second term and no other president before him did as much as he did in all sectors of the economy inspite of the challenges.

“That was why no PDP governor applied to be president. Not that we are not capable. I want to repeat, no PDP governor is working for the opposition.

The PDP is the party that others have found difficult to beat and I want to state that we are going to return Jonathan to

Aso Rock. No PDP governor is working for APC, if there is a party that is difficult to beat, it is PDP.” Speaking further, Muazu warned that if any governor was doing that which was not true, must stop it in the interest of the party.

On the shift of dates of the election by INEC, Muazu said, “The National Working Committee of our great party met and deliberated on our nationwide campaign as well as a number of issues in the polity especially regarding preparations for the 2015 general elections.

“You will recall that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) scheduled the general elections to hold on February 14 and 28, 2015 and based on that our great party and all our candidates drew a timetable for our campaigns that have taken us to 35 of the 36 states of the federation.

“During these nationwide campaigns, our party successfully presented our candidates to the people and used the opportunity also to showcase our numerous and verifiable achievements especially the outstanding performance of our beloved presidential flagbearer, President Goodluck Jonathan.

“In the course of our campaign, we discovered that the popularity of our party is soaring, going by the rousing reception we received from Nigerians.

“While we were cruising in the euphoria of the success of our campaign that was leading us to victory, INEC on February 7, 2015, relying on section 26 (1) of the Electoral Act 2010 (As Amended) announced the postponement of the elections by six weeks, citing what it called security challenges.

“Although we tend to agree with INEC on the security reasons given for the postponement, we are nevertheless not unmindful of the fact that the commission on its own part was not fully prepared for the February 14 election date.

‘We have faith in INEC'“

Taking the INEC Chairman, Prof. Attahiru Jega on his own words, for the 68.8 million registered voters, the commission had only printed and delivered 66.3 million Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) with 1.3 million yet to be delivered and 1.1 million stolen cards yet to be replaced.

“Also according to Jega, 45.09 million voters cards were collected by prospective voters representing 65.8 percent of the registered voters and 23.71 million PVCs, representing 34.2 percent were yet to be collected as at February 7th, which is exactly one week to the February 14th earlier scheduled date. Compare this anomaly with the 2011 elections where not a single eligible voter was disenfranchised “By this account, INEC could not sincerely claim to have been fully prepared for a desirable credible, free and fair election at the time when more than 23 million registered voters were going to be disenfranchised.

“Nigerians embraced the idea of PVC as a model to facilitate credible elections and not as instrument of disenfranchisement.

Indeed, we have noted the reactions that trailed this postponement, particularly the very subjective statements from opposition leaders alleging that our great party and the government masterminded the postponement to favour the PDP.

60 — Vanguard, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2015

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Vanguard, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2015 — 61

Women World Cup: Mabo deplores Falcons’ poor preparations

By Eddie Akalonu

F

ORMER Super Falcons handler Ismaila Mabo has e x p r e s s e d dissatisfaction with the female national team’s preparation for the FIFA Women’s World Cup in Canada later in the year.

Speaking in an interview, Mabo has advocated that NFF should provide for the team a rolling plan for the world cup, so it would not be difficult for the team doing well considering the strength of opponents at both group stage and competition in total. “It is shocking that there is no tangible plan in place for Canada. If there was, I think the team has a good chance of advancing beyond the group stage; not minding their group opponents are strong and parade very frightening credentials in the World Cup.” Mabo therefore challenged the NFF to sit up and get the Falcons busy regarding their World Cup

KICKING... Asisat Oshoala working for Nigeria at the AWC in Namibia.

Can she cope at the Women World Cup? participation. “We have all the potentials to be among the best in the world and getting a good team in place is one sure way of proving our worth.”

Nigeria will play in Group D against two past winners – United States and Sweden. The last group team Australia is seemingly the weakling but Mabo

also expressed the view that Australia by now would put in more effort into preparation to avoid emerging as weeping baby of the group.

“We can still advance from the group with good preparations.

Though the United States and Sweden are teams we have never beaten at that level, it was only due to poor

preparation. It is not as if these countries have better players and platforms for grooming talents than ours,” he added. Nigeria beat the Ivory Coast to win the African Women Championship in Namibia. The two are joined as Africa’s flagbearers in the World Cup which holds June 6 to July 7.

Pillars face unknown South Sudan foes N IGERIAN champions Kano Pillars will start their quest for the 2015 CAF Champions League on Saturday with relatively unknown South Sudan champions AlMalaika FC in a preliminary round first leg match.

Pillars' best run in the competition was on their debut in 2009, when they fell at home and away to fellow Nigerian club Heartland in the semifinal.

However, Pillars lost out in the first round in 2011 and 2013 editions, and lost out in the preliminary round in 2014 to AS Vita of DR Congo, who went on to reach the final of the competition.

They need a better performance this year after winning the Nigerian league crown three times in a row.

Their biggest absentee will be central defender Umar Zango, who is nursing a knee injury and will miss both legs as a result.

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Newly-signed striker Christian Obiozor has so far proved an inspired recruit and he will again be expected to deliver the goals for this team, who also parade Nigeria

internationals Gambo Muhammed and Rabiu Ali. ‘Sai Ma Sugida’, as Pillars are called by their fans, have prepared

adequately for this year’s challenge.

They featured in the expanded Super 4 in Abuja, where they finished third behind the U20 and U23 national

Arsenal Ladies sign Ubogagu

N

IGERIAN-BORN Chioma Ubogagu has joined Arsenal ladies from US team, Stanford University The 2012 FIFA Women U-20 World Cup winner for the USA played 89 times for the US team, scored 27 goals with 37 assists which places her fourth on Stanford’s list of all time assists.

C h i o m a , granddaughter to an exinternational for the Nigerian national team,

was born in London but grew up in Texas.

Arsenal ladies team manager, Pedro Martinez Losa expresses delight in the new signing.

‘Chioma is a player I have known about from my time coaching in the United States and she is a fantastic talent. She is very creative, and is able to make goals as well as score them. I think that she will fit in very well with us.’

German referees' boss warns Guardiola AYERN Munich Robert Kempter. coach Pep “Pep Guardiola would B Guardiola “ would do do well to adjust his well to adjust his attitude”, warned Herbert Fadel, head of the German FA’s referee commission, after the Spaniard ran towards the fourth official in last week’s 1-1 draw against Schalke.

Guardiola is under close scrutiny after his 45-metre run to protest a disallowed Robert Lewandowski goal.

Within seconds of the decision, Guardiola stormed out of his technical area and was seen talking to and also touching the assistant at the corner flag. On his way back, Arjen Robben headed the corner home to give Bayern the lead and the coach then embraced fourth referee

attitude,” Fandel told German weekly newspaper Bild.

“With all due respect to strong emotional reactions, we crossed a line. A coach leaving his technical area to rush towards an assistant at the corner flag needs to be sent to the stands.”

Fandel reaction comes after former FIFA referee Urs Meier ’s assertion that Guardiola “can do whatever he wants”.

“By acting like that, Guardiola undermines and ridicules referees,” insisted Meier, who also advocates sending the Bayern manager to the stands after his “disrespectful” behaviour.

Hazard pens new N63m per-week Chelsea deal E

DEN Hazard has signed a new £200,000 (about N63 million) per-week contract at Chelsea to keep him at Stamford Bridge until 2020.

The Belgian playmaker, who has continued the form that saw him voted last season’s PFA Young Player of the Year, expressed his delight to be staying at Stamford Bridge.

The deal is worth a huge £57million over the course of five-and-ahalf years and makes Hazard the first player to commit his future to the Premier League since Sky Sports announced £5.136billion TV rights deal.

‘I am very happy to

sign a new contract with Chelsea,’ Hazard said.

‘Since I came here in 2012 I have always felt good and the club has been very supportive to me.

‘The manager has helped me improve a lot, the fans have been fantastic and I have an amazing understanding with my team-mates.

‘I always try to give pleasure to the supporters with my style of play and it is nice to know they appreciate my work.

‘I hope we can repay that support by winning lots of trophies, beginning with the Capital One Cup at Wembley, and after that, we can push hard towards the end of the season.’

MEGA BUCK... Hazard joins the big money earners in football.

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62 — Vanguard, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2015

I don’t play to look good — Benzema K

ARIM Benzema was direct and forthright in responding to criticism about his football when he spoke with Surface Magazine recently.

“I take criticism into account if it comes from someone that has played football at the top level, but if it comes from

someone that hasn’t played football then I don’t take it seriously.

All that matters is goals.

As a striker, if you’re a terrible player but you score, then nobody will criticise you”.

He feels wanted at Madrid: “I’m not an actor. I don’t play to look good in front of the cam-

eras. There are people that do that. I like to laugh in life, and I get on with everyone. There are those that say that the public doesn’t like me, but when people see me in the street, whether they are old, young, women, children, they are always very friendly with me”.

Liverpool wait on Gerrard scan L

IVERPOOL are awaiting the results of a scan to discover the extent of Steven Gerrard’s hamstring injury.

The Reds captain came off in the second half of Tuesday’s victory over Tottenham after complaining of tightness.

“Unfortunately he felt his hamstring towards the end of the game and he is having a scan this morning and we are just waiting for results to come back,” Liverpool assistant manager Colin Pascoe said.

Forward Raheem Sterling missed the midweek game with a foot injury but Pascoe is hopeful he will be fit for the weekend. “We are monitoring Raheem. He missed a game the other night but we will see how he is,” he said.

Pascoe also said there was no indication how serious the injuries were to both players.

“Not at the moment.

Hopefully they will be fit for the weekend,” he added.

•Gerrard

BENEMA...All that matters is goals.

Van Gaal shocked by team performance L OUIS van Gaal was “shocked” by Manchester United’s poor first-half performance against Burnley according to Chris Smalling, who labelled the display as their worst of the season.

Smalling scored a brace and Robin van Persie converted an 82nd minute penalty on Wednesday as United beat Burnley to move up to third in the Barclays Premier League.

Van Gaal’s team have lost just once in 18 matches but a section of United’s fan base is becoming dissatisfied with the team’s style of play, which is often laboured and unproductive.

That was certainly the case against the Clarets,

GOTV promises Nigerians more exciting sporting contents S UBSCRIBERS to leading pay-TV provider, MultiChoice, have been assured of continuous access to premium content through its outlets SuperSport and Gotv with effect from this weekend.

Speaking yesterday with the sporting media in Lagos, the General Manager, Marketing, MultiChoice Nigeria, Martin Mabutho, said the subscribers would begin to enjoy exciting sporting content from the top leagues in Europe to

basketball, athletics and boxing, live on SuperSport Select 2 on Gotv.

Mabutho said, “Throughout February, gear up to see the best teams go head to head to be crowned “Europe’s NO1 team”. Arsenal vs Middlesbrough, Crystal Palace vs Liverpool, PSG vs Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur vs Fiorentina, are just some of the games that you can look forward to live on GOtv Plus.

“From the 13 – 15 February, basketball fans are

in for a treat with the AllStar weekend. Dubbed an entertainment showstopper, the All Star weekend comprises of a range of basketball events, exhi-

bitions, and performances, culminating in the spectacular All Star Game - West Coast vs East Coast.

who passed the ball better and looked more incisive at Old Trafford in the first half even though their team cost a fraction of Van Gaal’s expensively-assembled starting XI. Van Gaal was unhappy with his team at half-time and the United boss made his players acutely aware of his feelings in the dressing room.

“I think the manager was shocked at halftime,” Smalling said.

“The manager said in the dressing room that

the first half was unacceptable and all the players know that.

“It wasn’t a 3-1 scoreline game. Especially in that first half, we all let ourselves down. We could have played much better.

“That the first half was probably the worst we’ve had all season, we were lucky to go into the break with a lead.

“We knew that it wasn’t good enough in the first half. We were lucky to get away with it, and we had to stand up and fight in the second-half.”

CELEBRATION....Manchester United players celebrate after scoring.

Real set sights on Danilo

R

•Danilo

EAL Madrid have set their sights on signing 23-year-old Porto right-back Danilo Luiz da Silva for next season.

The Bernabéu club is convinced that the young defender ticks all its boxes and has sent an emissary to Portugal to follow the Brazilian’s every step. The player is out of contract in June 2016.

Porto will do everything in their power to convince him to sign a new contract, but Danilo has decided against penning a new deal in order to help with a summer move away from the club.

Real Madrid are fully aware of his circumstances, that signing

him will not be cheap upwards of • 20m -, but that his contractual situation plays in their favour. Deals to bring in Mesut Özil, Sami Khedira, Nuri Sahin and Toni Kroos were done under similar circumstances and the Bernabéu club knows how to work them in its favour.

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Vanguard, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2015 — 63

Anambra FA election: Nnachetta, Umeh on collision course

By Jacob Ajom

A

S state Football Associations across the country prepare for board elections later this month, the battle for the chairmanship of the Anambra State FA has pitched the State Commissioner for Youth and Sports Tony Nnachetta against incumbent chairman, Chief Mike Umeh.

We gathered that Nnachetta has already declared interest in the seat which has been held by the incumbent for sometime now.

At a stakeholders meeting held Wednesday, February 11 in Awka, the commissioner informed the delegates of his intention to become the next FA boss. In the same breath, he told Chief Umeh not to seek re-election as government did not approve of his ambition.

We further gathered that in reference to a resolution made last year by the state FA Congress which endorsed Umeh’s bid for another term, Nnachetta told the former First Vice President of the Nigeria Football Federation to forget about that resolution. He was quoted to have told Umeh, “Even if the congress elects you, government will not accept that election.”

As if that was not enough, Nnachetta said Umeh had been in the saddle for about 14 years, he should therefore give way for another person.

In a chat with reporters in Awka yesterday, Chief Mike Umeh dismissed the commissioner ’s supposed threat as a none issue. “He cannot intimidate me. I know government has nothing to do with state FA

•Nnachetta (l) and Umeh when the going was good. elections. ”What he is trying to do is mere name dropping as the government of Anambra State cannot come so low as to meddle in the affairs of the state FA elections,” Umeh said.

“I will not see this as government interference

took over,” said Tony Pulis to the official website.

“He had played a few games and not scored the goals the club expected him to score.

But his attitude has been first class.

“In today ’ s world there is no patience.

People expect, expect

hand in the running of football in the state. “We don’t get subventions. I pay for the office accommodation and staff salaries. Nachetta has tried to be FA chairman in the past and I have beaten him on each occasion. I cannot be intimidated.”

Murray beats Pospisil in Rotterdam

B

RITAIN’S Andy Murray beat Canada’s Vasek Pospisil 6-3 7-5 in the second round of the ABN Amro World Tennis Tournament in Rotterdam.

The top seed was hampered by an ankle knock at the start of the second set but fought back from 5-3 behind to win in straight sets.

Murray, 27, only hit 14 winners to his opponent’s 25, but made 17 unforced errors compared to Pospisil’s 26.

The Scot now faces eighth seed Gilles Simon of France in the quarter-

Ideye Continues from BP

in the running of football, instead, it is the commissioner who is interfering. It is an unhealthy development which should be condemned by all stakeholders in Nigerian football.”

He disclosed that government had no

and expect. And if the person doesn’t match that expectation they moan like drains.

“We’ ve played him a few times and we’ re happy that he stayed and delighted he got us a couple of goals.”

Since after Christmas, Brown Ideye has netted three goals in the Premier League.

finals.

The first set went with serve until the eighth game when Murray took advantage of some tame Pospisil serves to break and then he held comfortably to take the first set in 36 minutes.

The world number four then landed awkwardly on his left ankle in the first game of the second set but, despite hobbling and in pain, he took control after breaking Pospisil with a great return down the line to move 3-2 up.

and the Nigeria Football Federation has hinted that he could still be the man that will take charge of the Super Eagles, which he led to win the 2013 African Cup of Nations and a second round finish at the 2014 World Cup. Keshi’s contract expired after the world cup in Brazil, but was urged to stay on by the powers that be even as the coach’s relationship with the NFF was estranged. He failed to qualify the Eagles for

T

HE Chika Chukwumerije Sports Foundation (CCSF) kick-started its 2015 programme when it launched its “Inspire the Zones” initiative in Gusau, Zamfara.

The one-day i n s p i r a t i o n a l programme, which saw 65 participants from Sokoto, Kebbi, Kaduna and Zamfara is the first of a six-leg journey that involves all the six geopolitical zones in the country, and is being done in partnership the Nigeria Taekwondo Federation via the Board Members resident in the Zone.

According to CCSF Founder and three-time Olympian, Chika

Chukwumerije, the aim of the workshop is simply to inspire young minds.

“I have always insisted that Inspiration always wins medals, if you give it time. You sow that seed now in that mind, and watch it positively grow over the years”.

Pointing out a real-life example of the philosphy in the person of Borno-State born Abubakar Isah Adamu, the 17-year old Commonwealth Gold Medallist who came along with the CCSF Team, the CCSF Boss noted the effect of Adamu’s presence on his age mates in the region.

Chukwu Continues from BP but they have not been bold enough to tell him so. Instead, they have been trying to please some one somewhere.”

And this, Chukwu said won’t be good enough for Nigerian football.

“If actually Keshi is being forced on them by a higher authority, how then are they going to relate with him when he eventually resumes?”

Chukwu wondered.

He reasoned that without a cordial relationship between the coach and his employers, there would always be rancour that may not augur well for the team.

“That is my concern because Nigerian football will be the victim

at the end of it all.”

He however submitted that the power to hire or fire a coach squarely rests with the NFF. “I was misquoted when they said I asked the federation not to hire Keshi. They have the power to appoint anybody they want. But their body language showed that they did not want him. They are just trying to please somebody and that’s not good enough. If I were Keshi, I would take a walk. I am only concerned as a stakeholder in Nigerian football. Time is not on our hands as the Nations Cup and World Cup qualifiers will commence soon.”

FIFA •Murray

Adamu Continues from BP

CCSF takes taekwondo to Zamfara

the 2015 AFCON. “ I believe that Coach Keshi should be given the opportunity to govern the Eagles. He’s proven he has guts. We should not forget that prior to the AFCON qualifiers we hardly had an FA because we constantly came under the threats of FIFA suspension and bans. “ You can access a Coach from time to time and if he isn’t giving the desired results then you can sack him, but Keshi has shown he is one you can reckon with on the continent,” said Adamu.

Continues from BP defend their title and also not being able to garner points accrual from the tournament.

However, Nigeria’s homebased Eagles played two friendly matches last month in Dubai, losing 1-0 to Ivory Coast and beating Yemen 2-0, with the matches aimed at making up for the team’s inactivity in January.

Meanwhile, the top three teams in Africa remained unchanged: Algeria, Ivory Coast and Ghana in that order.

Ghana by virtue of reaching the finals of the Nations Cup tournament moved twelve places in the

overall world rankings to 25th position. While Ivory Coast who won the 2015 Nations Cup title are now 20th in the world.

Despite crashing out in the quarterfinals, Algeria is still the highest ranked African team in 18th position.

Equatorial Guinea who finished fourth at the 2015 African football showpiece are the highest movers after climbing 69 places up the ladder to the 49th position in the world.

There is no change in the top seven positions, with Germany, Argentina and Colombia still the top three teams in the world.

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Vanguard, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2015

FIFA rankings: Eagles move Adamu one step up T

Chukwu clears air on Keshi

HE Super Eagles moved up one place in the monthly FIFA ranking despite not participating in grade A games last month.

The Super Eagles are now ranked 42nd in the world and 7th in Africa after accumulating 664 points .

Nigeria missed out on the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations in

Equatorial Guinea, failing to

Continues on Page 63

African top 10 Algeria Côte d’Ivoire Ghana Tunisia Cape Verde Senegal Nigeria Guinea Cameroon Congo DR

F

ORMER captain and one time handler of the national team, Christian Chukwu has said that his comments on the protracted contract talks between the Nigeria Football Federation and out-of-contract Super Eagles coach, Stephen Keshi were based on what he termed as “the body language of the NFF.” According to him, “from what I can read of the body language of the NFF, it appears they do not want Keshi any more

TODAY'S

F

ORMER FIFA e x e c u t i v e committee member Amos Adamu has submitted that underfire coach, Stephen Keshi be given a chance to continue with the Super Eagles.

Keshi, is out of contract Continues on Page 63

Ideye fires Baggies up

W

Continues on Page 63

Anambra FA election: Nnachetta, Umeh on collision course — Pg 63

backs Keshi for Eagles job

CELEBRATION... West Brom striker Brown Ideye celebrates with team-mate James Morrison (right) after scoring the opener against Swansea Wednesday night. West Brom won 2-0.

PUZZLE

EST Brom manager Tony Pulis has lavished praise on record signing Brown Ideye on the back of his goal against Swansea City in the 25th round of matches in the English Premier League.

The Nigeria international was involved in the two goals scored by The Baggies, first scoring on the hour mark before laying up an assist for strike partner Saido Berahino.

“He’ s a lovely lad. He works hard, he’ s a good professional but he had a bad time here before I Continues on Page 63

QUICK CROSSWORD

THURS DAY'S THURSDAY'S

ANSWERS

ACROSS: 1 Detail (6) 5 Slaughter (4) 8 Vegetable (5) 9 Purpose (3) 10 Produced (4) 11 Number (4) 12 Stray (5) 13 Faith (6) 16 Prevalent (4) 18 Tore (4) 20 Offer (3) 22 Decay (3) 23 Foolish (3) 24 Road (4) 25 Leave (4) 28 Gun (6) 30 Remained (5) 32 Promise (4) 33 Endanger (4) 34 Sleep (3) 34 Similar (5) 36 Inter (4) 37 Searches (6)

DOWN: 1 Close (6) 2 Grumble (8) 3 Moderate (6) 4 Vigorous (9) 5 Verify (7) 6 Group (4) 7 Sediment (4) 8 Strange (3) 14 Rockets (9) 15 Plus (3) 17 Mammal (3) 19 Income (8) 20 Hit (3) 21 Fatal (7) 26 Speaker (6) 27 Birds (6) 29 Explosive (4) 30 Celebrity (4) 31 Expire (3)

YESTERDAY'S SOLUTIONS ACROSS: 3, Boron 9, Lockup 10, Budget 11, Divot 12, Bans 15, Veal 17, Entente 20, Elk 21, Extol 23, Mode 25, Warm 26, Sable 28, Sty 30, Elegiac 33, Weed 35, Ever 36, Major 38, Larder 39, Walrus 40, Trust.

DOWN: 1, Globe 2, Scent 3, Bud 4, Opiate 5, Oboe 6, Nut 7, Agree 8, Stalk 13, Animate 14, Sends 16, Alumnae 18, Exile 19, Bow 22, Large 24, eat 27, Elbows 28, Swell 29, Yearn 31, Ivory 32, Crash 36, Met 37, Rat.

How to Play Sudoku

P

lace a number (1-9) in each blank cell. (No line can have two of the same number).

Each row (nine lines from left to right), column, (also nine lines from top to bottom) and 3 X 3 block within a bold block (nine blocks) contains number from 1 through 9. This means that no number can appear twice in any block, column or row.

No mathematics is involved – no adding, subtraction, division or multiplication, just plain logic and your imagination.

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