My resignation goodfor the church — Pope

...towards a better life for the people VOL. 25: NO. 61818

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ONLINE | www.vanguardngr.com

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 2013

Jonathan, Tukur move to checkmate govs

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N150

Yar'Adua's Principal Sec sues EFCC •P.15

My resignation good for the church — Pope •Says path of power not the road of God •To spend retirement in Vatican City monastery •How next Pope will emerge •His resignation, lesson to leaders — Arinze •P.62

BY SAM EYOBOKA & CLIFFORD NDUJIHE (WITH AGENCY REPORT)

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AGOS—LOOKING tired but serene, Pope Benedict XVI, yesterday, told thousands

POPE'S NEXT HOME

who gathered for his weekly audience that he was resigning for “the good of the church” — an extraordinary scene that unfolded in his first appearance since dropping the bombshell announce-

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COLUMNISTS:

Is'haq Modibbo Kawu•P.17 OCHEREOME NNANNA •P.19

THE HUB •P.16

Mr & Mrs

FOR THE POPE—The Mater Ecclesiae Monastery building (C), where Pope Benedict XVI will retire after his resignation, being renovated. Inset: Pope Benedict XVI blesses an ecclesiast during the mass for 'Ash Wednesday', yesterday. AFP photos.

FG uncovers 45,000 ghost workers •P.8

•P.10 Senate battles Jonathan over Maina C M Y K

2 – Vanguard, THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 2013

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support the Holy Father in his daily care for the whole church.”

VISIT—Ondo State Governor, Dr Olusegun Mimiko (2nd right), presenting a souvenir to a member of Nigerian-American Chambers of Commerce, Olajide Ajayi (left). With them are Kingsley Ozobia (right) and the Vice-President of the Chamber, Alhaji Abayomi Adigun (2nd left), during a courtesy visit to the governor, in Akure, yesterday.

My resignation good for the church — Pope Continues from Page 1 ment.

The 85-year-old Pope basked in more than a minute-long standing ovation when he entered the packed hall for his traditional Wednesday catechism lesson. He was interrupted repeatedly by applause, and many in the audience of

thousands had tears in their eyes.

A huge banner reading “Grazie Santita” (Thank you Your Holiness) was strung up at the back of the room.

According to the AFP, Benedict appeared wan and spoke very softly, but his eyes twinkled with joy at the flock’s warm and heartfelt wel-

LIFEWORDS

BY PASTOR ITUAH

People’s affections can be as thin as paper; life is like a game of chess, changing with each move.You need to think ahead. Everyone knows that if you play against a one move player, you will beat him all the time –Ted Turner.

TAKE HEART

BY ELLA RANDLE

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OVE allows understanding to dawn, and un derstanding is precious. Where you are understood, you are at home. Understanding nourishes belonging. When you really feel understood, you feel free to release yourself into the trust and shelter of your beingness with reverence for another too — Donohue Paulo Coelho takes on love opens a different perspective that is healing to the heart, the strongest love, he says, is the love that can demonstrate its fragility. And Brene Brown sums beautifully: “We cultivate love when we allow our most vulnerable and powerful selves to be deeply seen and known, and when we honour the spiritual connection that grows from that offering with trust, respect, kindness and affection.”

Love is not something we give or get; it is something that we nurture and grow, a connection that can only be cultivated between two people when it exists within each one of them – we can only love others as much as we love ourselves.

Blame, disrespect, betrayal, and the withholding of affection damage the roots from which love grows.

Love can only survive these injuries if they are acknowledged and nurtured kindly.

come. He repeated in Italian what he had told his cardinals, Monday, in Latin: that he simply didn’t have the strength to continue.

“As you know, I have decided to renounce the ministry that the Lord gave to me on April 19, 2005,” he said, to applause. “I did this in full liberty for the good of the church.”

Seeks prayers for future Pope He thanked the faithful for their prayers and love, which he said he had “physically felt in these days that haven’t been easy for me.” And he asked them “to continue to pray for me, the church, and the future pope.”

The atmosphere was festive and warm, if somewhat bittersweet, as if the faithful were trying to persuade him to stay with them for just a bit longer. A chorus of Italian school children serenaded him with one of his favorite hymns in German — a gesture that won over the pope, who thanked them for singing a piece “particularly dear to me.”

“The atmosphere was funeral but nobody had died,” he said. “But then I realized it was a wise act for the entire church.

He taught the church and the world that the papacy is not about power but about service.”

It was a sentiment the

retiring Benedict himself emphasized, yesterday, when he told his flock that the “path of power is not the road of God.”

To spend retirement in Mater Ecclesiae Monastery, Vatican City The Mater Ecclesiae Monastery, the Vatican monastery where Pope Benedict XVI intends to live began its life as the Vatican gardener ’s house, but was established as a cloistered convent by Blessed John Paul II in 1994.

Following the Pope’s announcement to step down on February 28, the Vatican said he would move out to the papal villa in Castel Gandolfo while remodeling work was completed on the Mater Ecclesiae Monastery in the Vatican Gardens.

The monastery - a building of about 4,300 square feet - has 12 monastic cells and a chapel.

The complex, mostly hidden from view by a high fence and hedges, includes a vegetable garden. It occupies about 8,600 square feet on a hill to the west of the apse of St. Peter ’s Basilica.

The rules of the Mater Ecclesiae convent specified that the aim of the community living there is “the ministry of prayer, adoration, praise and reparation” in silence and solitude “to

No role in election of successor Benedict’s final public appearances (his last general audience will be February 27) are expected to draw great crowds, as they may well represent some of the last public speeches for a man who has spent his life as a priest, a cardinal and a pope, teaching and preaching.

And they will also represent a way for the faithful to say farewell under happier circumstances than when his predecessor, Pope John Paul II, died in 2005.

The audience was the start of a busy day for Benedict, who also presided over Ash Wednesday services later in the day to mark the official start of the Catholic Church’s solemn Lenten season. The service is usually held in a church on Rome’s Aventine hill, but was moved at the last minute to St. Peter’s Basilica. The Vatican said the shift was made to accommodate the crowds, though it also spared the pope the usual procession to the church.

The Vatican insisted no serious medical ailment was behind Benedict’s decision to retire, though it admitted for the first time on Tuesday that Benedict has had a pacemaker for years and recently had its battery replaced.

How the next Pope will emerge At a briefing for news reporters, yesterday, Father Federico Lombardi, the director of the Vatican press office, provided some details on the emerging plans for the resignation and future life of Pope

Benedict XVI, and for the conclave that will choose his successor.

•Pope Benedict will hold a final meeting with members of the College of Cardinals in the morning on February 28.

His resignation will take effect that evening.

•Upon the Pope’s official abdication, Vatican officials will begin the sequence of events that ordinarily follows a Pope’s death. The camerlengo will destroy the papal ring and the world’s cardinals will be summoned to the conclave.

•The conclave will begin sometime between 15 and 20 days after the Pope’s resignation. The exact date is among several procedural matters that will be settled by the cardinals when they first meet after the Pope’s abdication.

•Pope Benedict himself will play no role in the conclave. He will leave the Vatican immediately, to stay at the papal residence in Castel Gandolfo, until renovations are completed at the monastery on Vatican grounds where he intends to take up a more permanent residence. “The Pope will surely say absolutely nothing about the process of the election,” Father Lombardi said.

He will also surely remain at Castel Gandolfo until after the conclusion of the conclave.

•The leaders of the Roman Curia will be expected to submit their resignations. Since they act as advisers to the Pontiff, they may be reappointed or not, at the discretion of the new Pope.

•Bishop Giuseppe Sciacca has been named the general auditor of the Apostolic Camera, the official who will have temporary authority over the temporal affairs of the Holy See during the interregnum before the election of the new Pontiff.

6—Vanguard, THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 2013

Man, 27, docked for allegedly defrauding Australian woman

BY ONOZURE DANIA

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AGOS — A 27-YEAR-OLD MAN, Abiola Ayanlaja, was arraigned, yesterday, before an Ikeja High Court by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, for allegedly defrauding an Australian woman of N952,785.

Ayanlaja was arraigned before Justice Adeniyi Onigbanjo for 18-count charge bordering on obtaining money by false pretence, forgery and uttering.

The EFCC prosecuting counsel, Mr Francis Usani, told the court that the defendant had conspired with one Michael Atireme and one Chidi both at large to swindle the woman, Flora Veith of $6,147 (N952,785), some time in March 2009 and May 2011.

He alleged that they falsely represented to her that she had won $1.3 million in a lottery and that the sum would be used for facilitating the payment.

Usani said that the defendant forged a document entitled “Guarantee” which was purportedly issued by a former Chairman of EFCC, Mrs Farida Waziri.

He further alleged that Ayanlaja also forged another document which was purportedly issued by the Chairman of National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, Alhaji Ahmadu Giade.

He said these documents were used by the defendant to facilitate the fraud.

However, when the charges were read, he pleaded not guilty while Justice Onigbanjo granted him bail in the sum of N500,000 with two sureties in like sum.

The matter was further adjourned to June 13, 2013 for trial.

2 suspected rapists in police net in Kebbi

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IRNIN KEBBI — POLICE Command in Kebbi, yesterday, arrested two suspected rapists(names withheld) after an intensive search following growing cases of rape in the state, recently.

The command said the first suspect was arrested for allegedly raping a woman (name withheld) in Birnin Kebbi while the second raped a 14-year-old school girl in Yauri Local Government Area.

The Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, of the command, Mr Chuku Ikechukwu, told the News Agency of Nigeria in Birnin Kebbi that the first suspect, a resident of Birnin Kebbi, carried out the assault when he offered his victim a ride in his vehicle.

According to Ikechukwu, the rape victim reported the case to the police through the effort of her mother in January.

He said the victim told the police that after he lured her into an uncompleted building in Gungun Sarki area, “he had canal knowledge of me without my consent.”

“The rape victim had been admitted in hospital in Yauri for treatment,” the PPRO said.

NSCDC arrests 2 suspected fraudsters in Bauchi

BY SUZAN EDEH

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AUCHI — THE Bauchi State Command of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC, has arrested two persons for allegedly defrauding people under the pretence of providing them with employment.

Parading the suspects along side two victims at the command headquarters, yesterday, in Bauchi, the state Commandant, Shuayb Jibril, said the fraudsters capitalized on unemployment situation in the country to collect money from desperate job seekers.

According to the commandant, the two suspects were arrested in two separate raids by men of the command following tip off when one of the victims, Suleman Abdul, came to the command with an appointment letter.

Jibril said the cover was blown open when Abdu was discovered to carry a fake appointment letter during documentation which subsequently led to the arrest of the other suspect, Hassan Abdulahi.

Hassan, who was paraded alongside another suspect, Yusuf Mohammed, allegedly collected N50,000 from Abdul as part payment for N100,000 demanded by the suspect for employment.

Speaking to journalists, Hassan claimed that he added N30,000 to the N50,000 he collected from Abdu and sent N80,000 to one Segun and Rabilu at NSCDC headquarters in Abuja who secured the appointment letter for Abdu with the promise to pay the balance of N20,000 when he assumes duty.

Motorcycle loaded with plastic jerry cans on Gwallameji Road, Bauchi State, Wednesday.

Photo: AFP

Man with charms caught in Alaafin's palace

BY OLA AJAYI

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BADAN — AN uninvited man, who reportedly laced himself with charms, was

arrested within the Palace of Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Olayiwola Adeyemi III. The intrusion was said to have held princesses and

135 Anambra Traffic Agency’s staff sacked over extortion

BY ENYIM ENYIM

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NITSHA — ABOUT 135 staff of the Anambra State Traffic Agency, ASTA, have been sacked for various offences such as extortion, bribery, intimidation and harassment of motorists in the state.

Commissioner for Transport, Mr Chike Ohamobi, in an interview with Vanguard on the activities of the ministry said the action followed government resolve to purge the ministry of bad eggs.

He said the affected staff, who had been handed over to the police for investigation, would be prosecuted as soon as investigations were over.

Following the development, Ohamobi said the ministry had set up a monitoring team that would henceforth monitor the activities of the ASTA staff, saying the ministry would collaborate with the police, the Directorate of State Security, Federal Road Safety Commission, FRSC, and other security agencies.

According to him, the staff of ASTA had no reason to be involved in extortion and other social vices when government had ensured that they were paid salaries and allowances promptly.

Ohamobi further hinted that the state government owned

transport company, TRACAS, would soon be privatised on ground of poor performance.

He said only five of the 40 Peugeot Expert vehicles that were handed over to the management of the transport company by the Peter Obi administration were functioning, saying that the gesture was to resuscitate the almost moribund company before the end of this administration.

other people living in the expansive premises spellbound.

According to information gathered, the stranger sneaked into the palace around 6a.m. The stranger was said to have been arrested before he was able to fulfil his mission.

Unknown to the suspect, as soon as he jumped into the compound, the palace guards were said to have spotted him.

After he reportedly failed to respond to all the questions put to him, he was handed over to the police at the Special Anti-Robbery Squad, SARS, of the Oyo Police Division for further interrogation.

The policeman in charge of SARS, Sola Aremu, confirmed the incident.

One killed as robbers

BY GBENGA OLARINOYE

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SOGBO — TRAGEDY struck in Ode-Omu, Osun State, Tuesday, evening when a gang of robbers invaded the community, attacked a first generation bank and the police post, killing one person in the process while several others were wounded.

According to sources, the armed robbers numbering about nine, who came in three vehicles, on arrival at the town attacked the police post located on the outskirts of the community before proceeding to the bank.

It was further gathered that two members of the gang on arrival at the bank went inside

the banking hall while the rest strategically positioned themselves around the bank.

At the end of the robbery, about N10 million and $6,000 were said to have been carted away.

Police sources told our correspondent that one passer-by simply identified as Tirimisiyu was hit by the robbers’ stray bullet and died on the spot while others sustained various degrees of injury.

The state police command confirmed the incident, saying the manager of the bank told the police that the robbers carted away N10 million and $6,000 .

According to the command's Public Relations Officer, Mrs. Folasade Odoro, the DPO

Vanguard, THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 2013—7

Kidnappers abduct Nsukka business man

BY CHINENYEH OZOR

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SUKKA — FEAR gripped residents and visitors to the university town of Nsukka, Enugu State, following the increasing wave of kidnapping in the area within the past three weeks.

Last Saturday night, a prominent businessman in Nsukka metropolis, Eloka Okafor, was abducted at his Ofulonu Nsukka residence while driving into his compound.

According to reports, the kidnappers had trailed Eloka from his shop along Enugu Road, Nsukka adjacent KeyStone Bank around 8 p.m, accosted and forced him back to his 504 Saloon car and took him away.

An eye witness told Vanguard that the kidnappers trailed their unsuspecting victim bumper to bumper with a red vehicle to his compound where they executed their mission and took him away to an unknown destination.

The source said immediately his gate was opened, the kidnappers forced their way in and ordered him back to his car at gun point and drove away.

A family source said the worrisome aspect of the issue was that his abductors have not contacted the family for either ransom or whatever their interest was.

“We are worried, let them open up discussions with us so that we can dialogue on how best to handle the issue,” the family source said.

Protest in Owerri as man allegedly kills lover

BY CHIDI NKWOPARA

A vehicle overloaded with cartons of fish on Bayara Road, in Bauchi State, yesterday.

Photo: AFP.

Suspected fake pastors allegedly swindle victim of N6m

BY EVELYN USMAN

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AGOS— OPERATIVES attached to the Federal Special Anti-Robbery Squad, Adeniji Adele, Lagos, have arrested two men who allegedly have been masquerading as seers and deliverance ministers to defraud unsuspecting members of the public.

The suspects identified as

Sunday Omogbehin and Olawale Adeniyi , allegedly swindled one of their victims to the tune of N6 million, which they claimed would be used to conduct deliverance on him.

The suspects, as gathered, held a prayer session with their victim, one Ojomo in Aguda area of Lagos, last year, in the course of which they attributed his inability to

attack bank, police station Gbongan on hearing about the incident moved to the scene of the robbery with a team of

patrol men, adding that the robbers had escaped before their arrival.

Lagos NSCDC Commandant loses dad

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AGOS — THE Lagos State Commandant of Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC, Shem Obafaye, has lost his father.

He was 82 years old.

The deceased, Pa Michael Orungbeminija Obafaye, died in Kabba, Kogi State on Friday February 8, 2013 after a brief illness.

Funeral arrangement kicks off with Christian wake tomorrow at Ayetoro Kiri Kabba/Bunu LGA, Kogi State

while interment holds on Saturday.

He is survived by eight children, including Mrs Becky Sangodere and Samuel Obafaye.

Late Pa Michael Obafaye

travel out of the country to some spiritual constraints.

They, thereafter, reportedly demanded the sum which they claimed would be used to offer prayers that would cleanse his (victim) mouth odour.

Aside that, they also reportedly told their victim that after the deliverance session, the obstacle militating against his travelling outside the country would be broken.

Ojomo, who at that time was battling to obtain a Canadian visa, fell into the trap. But trouble started after he reportedly paid N6 million instalmentally without any headway.

Police sources at Adeniji Adele told Vanguard that the arrest was made following complaint by the victim, who also claimed he was hypnotized.

The case, as gathered, was charged to Igbosere Magistrate Court on a twocount charge of felony, obtaining money by false pretense and stealing, from where the suspects were remanded in prison custody over their inability to meet up with the bail condition of payment of N250,000 each and two sureties in like some.

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WERRI — ECONOMIC and social activities were, yesterday, disrupted for hours in Owerri, Imo State capital, following the peaceful protest by scores of Umuonyeche villagers, over the death of their daughter, Rita Ogbonna, who was allegedly killed by her male friend, Ikay (surname withheld) alias Zabi, from Amawom village.

Vanguard investigations revealed that Ikay had gone to the home of his 42-year-old girlfriend, picked her and drove her to World Bank Housing Estate where a quarrel later ensued which resulted into a fight.

It was during the fight that Rita allegedly died and her corpse was later deposited in a morgue by Ikay.

Although it was not clear at press time, what caused the misunderstanding, but it was, however, gathered that Rita and Ikay had been very close friends for about 11 years.

One of the youth leaders in Umuonyeche, who spoke on condition of anonymity said: “On getting wind of the sad happening, our youths organised themselves and went on a peaceful demonstration, which equally served as a search for the fleeing man.”

He explained that as soon as the fleeing Ikay was nabbed, he was quickly handed over to the Crack Squad of Imo State Police Command.

Police nab IMT student, two others over alleged kidnapping

BY CHINENYEH OZOR

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SUKKA — A FIRST year Higher National Diploma, HND 1, Accountancy student of the Institute of Management and Technology, IMT, Enugu and two others were, yesterday, apprehended by police in Nsukka, Enugu State while attempting to abduct a prominent business man in the town.

The three suspected kidnappers whose names were given as Emeka Nwodo, from Ohodo; Emeka Ugwoke from Akpotoro Obimo both in Nsukka Local Government Area and Charles Nnwmdi Ideyi (aka Ono nwa Ngwo) from Imilike in Udenu Local Government Area, had allegedly abducted Ejike Ekwunife (aka Ejike Awkuzu) squeezed him into a blue Mercedes 200 booth when a team of Nsukka Urban Police accosted them along Ogurugu road at about 8 a.m.

Vanguard gathered that the kidnap syndicate allegedly challenged the police team, ordered them to drop their riffle or risk being killed.The police, however, over-powered and apprehended three of them while one escaped.

One of the suspects told Vanguard at Nsukka police station that an apprentice now at large, approached them to kidnap his master, Ejike Awkuzu, because he refused to settle him after serving him for years.

8—Vanguard , THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 2013

Suspected terrorist accuses Dept of State Security of frame up

BY IKECHUKWU NNOCHIRI

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BUJA—SUSPECTED link-man between Boko Haram and Al-Qaeda terrorist network, Mallam Mohammed Ashafa, who was indicted by the Federal Government in 2003 for recruiting some Nigerian youths to Niger Republic and Pakistan for training as members of AlQaeda has alleged that the statement tendered in evidence against him was doctored by the Department of State Security, DSS. Ashafa, who is standing trial before Justice Adamu Bello of a Federal High Court in Abuja is answering to a fivecount charge of receiving monetary payments from Talha and Na’deem (al-Qaeda operatives) of the Tabliqh headquarters, Lahore, Pakistan for recruiting and training terrorists.

A retired investigative agent of the DSS, Mr Bukar Tarha, in his testimony before the court, insisted that Ashafa who is a 46-year old man of about 5.4 in height, while under interrogation, admitted his involvement in both national and international terrorism acts.

The witness further told the court that the accused person facilitated series of terrorist exchange programmes between the Boko Haram sect and the Al-Qaeda network, stressing that its underground investigations revealed that he was second in command to one Mallam Adnan Ibrahim, who it said was the Resident Chief of alQaeda in West Africa, but based in Kano.

Besides, Tarha, who retired from the DSS into private practice in 2008, told the court that Ashafa was under his custody between 2005 and 2006, when he was head of the anti-terrorism department of the DSS, saying he was convinced that the accused person is a die hard adherent of the Boko Haram ideology.

According to the witness, there was a forwarding letter with a brief that Ashafa was intercepted at the Pakistani Airport in 2004 and subsequent search and investigation by the Pakistani authorities revealed that he was a member of the al-Qaeda.

MINISTERS CUDDLE 2013 AFCON TROPHY WON BY THE SUPER EAGLES OF NIGERIA— From left: Minister of Education, Prof Ruquayyatu Rufa'i; Minister of State for Power, Hajiya Zainab Kuchi; Minister of Sports, Malam Bolaji Abdullahi; Minister of Water Resources, Mrs Sarah Ochekpe; Minister of Petroleum, Mrs Deziani Allison-Madueke and Minister of Works, Mr Mike Onolememen with 2013 AFCON trophy won by the Super Eagles of Nigeria at the Federal Executive Council Meeting in Abuja, yesterday.

FG uncovers 45,000 ghost workers

BY BEN AGANDE

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BUJA—FEDERAL Govern ment has uncovered a total of 45,000 ghost workers in federal establishments across the country following the audit staff of government ministries, agencies and parastatals.

Minister of State for Finance, Dr. Yerima Ngama, who disclosed this while briefing newsmen on the performance of the ministry in the last one year, added that the discovery has saved government over N100 billion.

According to him, the Integrated Personnel Payment System, IPPS, in 215 Ministries, Departments and Agencies, MDAs, has ensured that government expenditure could be traced.

Dr. Ngama said: “We have registered over 153,000 workers. But compared to the total number of staff that used to get salaries in these MDAs, we have seen a gap of 45,000 people missing. So, we have already declared that they are ghost workers.

The Minister added that: “We have about 320 MDAs that we have not covered and when we cover this, we may actually discover more and reduce the total payroll cost to the country.”

The minister said the exercise would be expedited to ensure that appreciable progress was made by the end of 2013.

He stated that a centralized biodata of staff has been established and domiciled in the office of the Accountant General of the Federation, AGF. "Whether you are working in a University in Uyo, or any federal establishment in Nigeria, by the press of a button, your salary will go to your account,” Yerima not-

ed.

Dr Yerima also said that the ministry has done well to stabilize the financial system through the stabilization of the Macro Economy.

On the consolidation of the budget, the minister said the ministry was able to bring the budget defict from 6.8 percent in 2010 to 2.3 percent in 2011 budget.

He said the ministry also fo-

cused on reducing recurrent expenditure quotient so that more funds would be available for development in the real sector.

The minister said the target of the ministry is to achieve a 60 percent capital expenditure budget while 40 percent is budgeted for recurrent expenditure.

He blamed the increase in salary by 53 percent in 2010 on dys-

function in the country’s budgetary process, noting that with the increase in salary, government has to rely on bonds to pay salaries thereby pushing up domestic debt to N6.634 trillion.

He said the ministry has managed the economy effectively and efficiently as reflected by the various positive ratings by international rating agencies.

...set up c'ttee to take inventory of Nigeria's assets worldwide

BY BEN AGANDE

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BUJA—PRESIDENT Good luck Jonathan yesterday announced the setting up of an inter-ministerial committee to take inventory of Nigerian assets in different parts of the world.

Minister of Information, Labaran Maku while addressing newsmen after the Federal Executive Council meeting, said the committee will be chaired by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Amb. Gbenga Ashiru and have members drawn from other ministries and departments.

Other members of the committee include, Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Housing and Urban Development, Bureau for Public Procurement, Bureau of Public Enterprises, Special Adviser to the President on Project Monitoring and Implementation and the Nigeria Institute of International Affairs.

According to the Minister of Information, “the president believes that every kobo of the country is accounted for. He wants the com-

mittee to take inventory of assets of Ministry of Foreign Affairs as well as the Navy, the Nigerian Ports Authority and other agencies of government”.

The Information Minister also disclosed that the Ministries of Foreign Affairs and Finance briefed council on the activities of their ministries in the last one year.

He said after listening to the presentation of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Federal Executive Council came to the conclusion that “at the moment Nigeria has the best foreign policy focus in the last one decade”.

Speaking on the role of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Amb. Olugbenga Ashiru said the leadership role played by Nigeria during the crises in Cote D ‘Ivoire and Mali during the election crisis and attempted coup respectively has brought tremendous respect to the country at international fora.

He said the bi-national commissions between Nigeria and other countries Like the United States

of America and Germany have also brought a lot of investment into the country.

The Minister of Foreign Affairs also pointed out that the defence of Nigerians abroad has formed the cornerstone of the ministry’s policy and has improved tremendously, citing the case of the ill treatment of Nigerians in South Africa, deportation of some pilgrims from Saudi Arabia and others.

Also briefing newsmen on the activities of the Ministry of Finance, the Minister of State, Finance, Dr Yerima Ngama said the ministry has done well to stabilize the financial system through the stabilization of the Macro Economy.

On the consolidation of the budget, the minister of state said the ministry was able to bring the budget defict from 6.8% in 2010 to 2.3% in 2011 budget.

He said the ministry also focused on reducing the recurrent expenditure quotient so that more funds would be available for the development in the real sector.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 2013—9

BY EMMANUEL AZIKEN, POLITICAL EDITOR & HENRY UMORU

Lagos sacks 35 senior officials over certificate forgery

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BUJA—PRESIDENT Good luck Jonathan and National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur have commenced moves to dilute the influence of the party’s governors on the National Executive Committee, NEC. The NEC is the highest decision making organ of the party next to the national convention.

The president will today hold a crucial meeting with the Group of 84, otherwise known as G 84, comprising state party chairmen and some selected members of NEC. At the meeting scheduled for 8 p.m. in the Presidential Villa, the president is expected to make a plea for support from the G.84, the crucial group through which the party’s governors have until now influenced affairs in the party.

The president’s meeting with the G 84 follows an interactive meeting last Tuesday between Tukur and 12 state chairmen of the party at the National Chairman’s Maitama, Abuja residence.

The 12 chairmen hosted by Tukur were principally from states controlled by opposition political parties.

NEC The moves by Tukur and the president it was learnt, are aimed towards consolidating their hold on the NEC where the governors presently hold sway. Largely on account of the face-off between the governors on one hand and the president and the national chairman on the other. The party has not held a NEC meeting since last July against the constitution of the party which requires the NEC to meet at least quarterly.

At the Tuesday meeting Tukur was quoted as reiterating the need for unity, saying that the party must show its unity in the face of all odds. A source privy to the development disclosed that the state chairmen unflinchingly pledged loyalty to Tukur, a fact that was easy given that the chairmen present do not have incumbent PDP governors in their states to contend with them.

Today’s meeting between the G.84 and the president is expected to be even more crucial and dicey, given the influence the governors hold on the majority of the expected guests.

The G.84 members are usually only successful in getting elected to the NEC only through the influence of PDP governors who are almost unquestionable at the state level. Some of the guests, it was learnt, would also use the meeting with the president to also channel their grievances on the way they are marginalized by the National Working Committee, NWC, in party affairs and in the administration of patronages.

According to a source, “Presi-

BY OLASUNKANMI AKONI & MONSOOR OLOWOOPEJO

L SUPER EAGLES @ HOUSE OF REPS—From right: Speaker, House of Reps, Aminu Waziri Tambuwal; Director General, National Sport Commission, Chief Patrick Ekeji; Super Eagles Coach, Steven Keshi; and Deputy Speaker, House of Reps. Emeka Ihedioha, during a reception for members of Super Eagles at the National Assembly Abuja, yesterday. Photo: Gbemiga Olamikan.

Jonathan, Tukur move to break govs' influence on PDP dent Jonathan’s meeting with the G.84 members is crucial to the survival and politics of the party. The meeting which will take place at the Banquet Hall of the Presidential Villa is expected to commence at 8 p.m.”

“The meeting is crucial because the governors normally dictate the affairs of the NEC meeting through the members of the G.84 that are the voting members of the NEC.” The source added, “but recent developments in the party have dictated that the President meet these voting members of the NEC to solicit their support, especially in the forthcoming NEC meeting.

It was through these NEC members that the PDP governors use

to control the affairs of the party at NEC meeting.”

Alhaji Ibrahim Mantu, it was learnt, has also been elected to take over as the new chairman of the G.84. Mantu takes over from the former G.84 chairman, Alhaji Isa Tafida.

According to a source from the G.84, they will table before the President their neglect and other problems facing the group. The deputies are insisting that they should be part of the decision making of the party against the backdrop that after all, “we are all elected members.”

Another source said: “The party now recognizes that the state chairmen who constitute the single largest block in the NEC are

pivotal to whatever policy issues that must succeed in the party and hence this move.”

At that meeting the state chairmen had taken position with the governors against Tukur in insisting on the recognition of the Umar Kugama-led executive in Adamawa State.

The state chairmen had in the communiqué of the meeting that took place penultimate Thursday had further resolved "that the conference expressed delight on the development in Adamawa State which saw to the re-instatement of the Kugama- led executive and appealed for continued fraternity on the part of members so as to further enhance the party’s internal cohesion.”

Nigeria has come of age — Jonathan ...commemorates death of Late Murtala Mohammed

BY EMMANUEL AZIKEN, POLITICAL EDITOR

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RESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan yesterday urged Nigerians to emulate the qualities of the late General Murtala Mohammed as a reflection of the fact that men may die but their ideas never do.

President Jonathan in a posting to his friends on facebook listed Abuja and what he defined as the prospering democracy in the country as among the ideas of the late head of state who was assassinated in an abortive military coup on February 13, 1976.

Recalling Mohammed’s assertion in 1975 that Africa has come of age, Jonathan in a posting to commemorate the death of the revolutionary anti-corruption leader 37 years ago yesterday, noted the victory of the Super Eagles in the recently concluded continental football tourney also demonstrated that Nigeria has come of age.

Jonathan said: “Today marks the 37th anniversary of the death of General Murtala Ramat Mohammed, the great patriot who paid the ultimate price for Nigeria. I urge Nigerians to remember the life and times of this hero of Nigeria who proved the truism in the maxim that people may die

but ideas never die.

“Today, his ideas live after him, Abuja as the Federal Capital of a united strong and prospering Nigeria and democracy thriving all over the nation. But perhaps most prophetic is his speech at the Organization of African Unity, OAU, in January of 1976 where he said "Africa has come of age".

He added that: "Almost 37 years to the day, all Nigerians celebrate our victorious Super Eagles who to paraphrase Murtala’s words proved that Nigeria ‘has come of age’. I thank God for giving us such a patriot and pray that the labours of our heroes past shall never be in vain.”

AGOS—LAGOS State Government has sacked 35 of its civil servants, including senior executive officers, for securing employment into the State Civil Service with forged certificates, even as the appointments of 13 others were terminated for absenteeism.

Other offences of the sacked workers included misappropriation of funds, diversion of government money for personal use, defrauding the public, loss of government’s vehicles and absence from duty without permission.

It will be recalled that last year, the state government dismissed 174 officers of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority, LASTMA, for corruption, overzealousness and others.

Vanguard gathered that those sacked were on grade level 07 to 12.

They include senior traffic officers, traffic superintendents, higher traffic superintendent, traffic officers II, higher statistics officer, senior accountant, senior executive officer, among others.

Most of the affected workers were discovered to have gained employment into the civil service with forged certificates during certificate verification carried out by the government.

The list of the sacked public officers was contained in a journal published by the state government.

It was also gathered that the affected staff had since been issued sacked letters before their names were published by the Office of the Head of Service in the publication.

It was gathered that the affected public servants were made to face the Personnel Management Board, PMB, the disciplinary body of the state government, which recommended their immediate sack.

Head of Service, Adesegun Ogunlewe, had earlier warned that the government would not tolerate acts of indiscipline and corruption among civil servants as government was bent on repositioning the civil service to meet up with the standard befitting of a mega city like Lagos.

10—Vanguard, THURSDAY, FUBRUARY 14, 2013

‘40m Nigerian women at risk of cervical cancer’

BY CHIOMA OBINNA

& GABRIEL OLAWALE

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AGOS—NO fewer than 40.4 million Nigerian women from 15 years and above are at risk of developing cervical cancer, Nigerian Institute of Medical Research, NIMR, has said At a symposium yesterday, organised in Lagos by NIMR to mark this year’s World Cancer Day, its Consultant Gynaecologist, Dr. Oliver Ezechi, Dr. Ezechi, lamented that out of the 14,550 women diagnosed with cancer in Nigeria annually, 9,659 (66.49%) die from the disease.

Ezechi in a paper entitled: “Epidemiology, Prevention, and Control of Cervical Cancer”, blamed the burden of cervical cancer and associated deaths on lack of awareness and access to Human papillomavirus, HPV, vaccine.

According to him, approximately 500,000 cases of cervical cancer occur in Nigeria annually.

Speaking, the Director General of NIMR, Prof. Innocent Ujah, said the burden of cancer was increasing globally with an expected 20 million new cases per year by 2020.

Peace House holds crusade in Lagos

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AG O S — G B O K O, Benue State based Bible teacher, Mr. Gbile Akanni is hosting an interactive session with Christian ministers and leaders as part of a three day crusade holding in Lagos from February 14 to 16.

The crusade has the theme “It’s time to seek the Lord.”

The meeting with the Christian leaders is to hold at the Archbishop Vining Memorial Church, Ikeja on Friday February 15 th 16 th from 9.a.m to 1 p.m. daily, while the regular crusade would hold in the evenings from 5 p.m. on the three days at the same venue.

The crusade is organized by Peace House.

Senate declares war with Jonathan over Maina zChoose between Maina and the Senate—Mark zAs Senate summons IGP, calls for Maina’s sack

BY HENRY UMORU & JOSEPH ERUNKE BUJA—THE battle line appears to have been drawn between the Senate and President Goodluck Jonathan as the Senate yesterday accused the president of protecting the Chairman, Pension Reform Task Team, Abdulrasheed Maina for alleged mismanagement of over N195 billion pension funds.

The Senate has therefore asked the president to sack Maina saying it has been pushed to the wall over the matter Asking President Jonathan to arrest, investigate and prosecute the embattled Maina, the Senate also warned President Jonathan that if he fails to carry out its resolutions on Maina, the episode will be a test case between the Executive and the Legislature, even as it vowed that it will not fail to react appropriately.

react accordingly. There is no running away from it. It is a test case, if Maina remains, then the Senate will react appropriately and I don’t think we are short of ideas nor are we short of what we want to do. We know the step to take. ‘’Let me emphasise, nobody in this country is bigger than our democracy. I have been extremely patient with Maina, very patient, very understanding so that when we react, Nigerians will appreciate the steps that we have taken.

So I don’t think that what we have done is out of place because we gave him enough time and he crucified himself. He is wanted by the police, now, whether the police is serious or not in looking for Maina is the next step we are going to take because Maina cannot be briefing the press somewhere and the police will say they cannot find him.

Anger and emotion high

The Senate also yesterday summoned the Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed Abubakar to appear before it to explain what happened following his failure to produce Maina when Senate President issue a warrant for Maina’s arrest.

The resolutions of the Senate read, ‘’that Mr. Abdulrasheed Maina be dismissed from the Public Service of the Federal Republic of Nigeria immediately and be disengaged from all acts relating to

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Anger and emotions were high yesterday on the floor of the Senate when the lawmakers condemned in very strong terms the continued refusal of Maina to appear before the Senator Aloysius Etok, led Senate Joint Committee on Public Service and Establishment and State and Local Government Administration.

Following discussions on a motion titled, ‘’Dismissal of Mr Abdulrasheed Maina for Refusal to Appear Before the Senate by Senate Leader Victor NdomaEgba, PDP, Cross River Central and 107 senators, the Senate yesterday called on President Jonathan to immediately sack Maina from the Public Service of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and be disengaged from all acts relating to public duty”, just as the president was asked to either dismiss him or choose to work with the Senate.

IGP summoned

public duty. ‘’That Maina should be immediately arrested, investigated and prosecuted and that the Inspector- General of Police appears before the Senate to give reasons why he did not act on the Warrant issued by the President of the Senate and failure to do so.”

Ndoma Egba speaks

Earlier in his presentation of the motion, Senator NdomaEgba said: ‘’The Senate Notes that on the 2nd of November, 2001, it had mandated the Senate Committees on Establishment and public Service and States and Local Governments to carry out a comprehensive investigation into the management and administration of pension funds and payment of pensioners in Nigeria pursuant to Sections 88 and 89 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria; ‘’Further note that at its sitting of Thursday of Thursday, 21st June, 2012, it considered the report of the joint Committees and also approved the recommendations therein; ‘’Also notes that in consideration of the observations of the Joint Committee with respect to the refusal of Mr. Abdulrasheed Abdullahi Maina, the acting Director of Customs, Immigration and Prisons Pensions Office,

CIPPO to appear before the Committee to account for the Administration and Management of Customs, Immigration and Prisons Pensions Office and the pension funds thereto, the Senate had directed that the Joint Committee should continue, and conclude investigation of the Customs, Immigration and Prisons Pensions Office as well as invoke all legal and constitutional powers of the Senate in pursuance thereto; ‘’Aware that the Joint Committee had held Committee and Public Investigative Hearings for seven days and, according to Section 5 of the Legislative House(Power and Privileges) Act, invited Mr Abdulrasheed Abdullahi Maina to appear before the Joint Committee to give account of his tenure as well as the management and administration of pension funds at the Customs, Immigration and Prisons Pensions Office which he has on all occasions neglected and refused to honour; ‘’Further Aware that after several sittings of the Joint Committees without the attendance of Mr. Maina despite proper invitation, the Joint Committee was constrained to request that the President of the Senate invoke the powers of the Senate to compel the attendance of Mr.Maina at the Public Investigative Hearing of the Senate Joint Committees.”

We have teeth to bite —Mark

Meanwhile, Senate President David Mark warned yesterday that the Senate has teeth to bite and was prepared to bite when the occasion arises. He said, ‘’We have been pushed to the wall. Nobody in this country will be left to go scot-free if he is associated with Maina. It doesn’t matter who is behind Maina, it is not for me to know whether somebody is behind Maina or not, but no matter who is behind Maina, we are not going to accept it. ‘’The Senate has given him ample time, Maina is just an individual who perhaps said more than he can manage and he has therefore crucified himself. That is the bottom line and the executive has to choose between Maina and the Senate. If they choose to go along with Maina, fine, we will

COMMISSIONING: From right: Mr. Ayoola Jolayemi, Executive Director, Riverbank Technologies and Engineering Services Limited; Dr. Ernest Ndukwe, former Executive Vice Chairman, Nigerian Communications Commission, NCC; Mr. Chris Chikelue, Vice Chairman, Riverbank Technologies and Engineering Services Limited; Vijay Baskarb, General Manager, CADD Centre, Lagos, and Saravanan Karaiadselvan, Managing Director, CADD Centre Training Services, India, during the commissioning of CADD Centre in Lagos.

Mechanic jailed 2 years for drug dealing

BY INNOCENT ANABA AGOS—A Federal High Court sitting in Lagos, yesterday, sentenced a 32-year-old Mechanic to two years imprisonment for dealing on a narcotic.

The convict, Liasu Ajadi, had pleaded guilty to a one-count charge of illegal trade in cocaine.

Trial judge, Justice Benedicta

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Molokwu, convicted and sentenced the accused, following his guilty plea.

“In view of the plea of the accused, he is hereby convicted as charged. The accused is accordingly sentenced to two years imprisonment,” the court said.

The sentence shall commence

from October 22, 2010, when he was arrested.

The prosecutor, told the court, during the hearing, that the accused was arrested by officials of National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, in October 20, 2010 at the check point of the Murtala Mohammed international Airport, Lagos.

Vanguard, THURSDAY THURSDAY,, FEBRUARY 14, 2013—11

BY JOHNBOSCO AGBAKWURU & GABRIEL EWEPU

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BUJA — THE first acid test of the newly formed All Progressives Congress, APC, took place yesterday at the residence of the Action Congress of Nigeria Chieftain, Chief Tom Ikimi, Abuja as what should be the logo of the party nearly tore the party apart.

It was gathered that the big wigs of the party had in the meeting excluded the All Progressive Grand Alliance, APGA, from the logo of the party which made some members to walk out of the meeting in annoyance Some of the APGA representatives in the meeting were seen outside the meeting hall discussing the development, while some members had threatened to pull out of the merger if the party will not be treated with equal respect.

Speaking to journalists on the development the interim spokesman of APC and former national publicity secretary of the Action Congress of Nigeria, Alhaji Lai Mohammed said that there was no crisis in the party, rather the party deliberate-

Derivation Fund: Oil producing communities in Ondo demand direct payment

BY DAYO JOHNSON

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KURE—OIL Produc ing Communities in Ondo State yesterday, demanded for a direct remittance of the oil mineral Derivation Fund to them by the Federal Government.

Representatives of oil communities in the two coastal councils of Ilaje and Ese-Odo, under the aegis of the state branch of Oil and Gas-Producing Communities of Nigeria, OGPCN, from Ondo State, after a meeting in Akure, appealed to the Federal Government to follow the provision of the Constitution to the letter.

In a communiqué by Ondo OGPCN Chairman, Chief Adewale Omojuwa, and the Secretary, Dr. Soji Omowole, the communities said “We haveresolved that the 13 percent Derivation Fund as established under Section 162 (2) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended), should be released to oil and gas-producing communities.”

Merger: Crisis hits APC —APGA

protests over exclusion from logo

ly excluded APGA in deciding the logo as a result of the factionalization in the party.

He said, ‘’When you are at this kind of situation of course you are going to have differing views and positions. We must realize the situation of APGA, we appreciate the fact that APGA is today divided, factional-

ized and therefore it will not be proper for us to take any of the symbols of APGA as part of the logo of APC which they actually accepted. ‘’Their only point is that we should allow them to report back to their party to explain that the new party which is to be unveiled has no symbol of APGA because the moment

we use APGA symbol because of the factionalization in APGA they will take us to court and that is why we now postponed the announcement of the logo until the time when they will be able to go back home and explain. ‘’Certainly they didn’t walk away, what they did was that they went to have their own meeting and consultations,” he said.

COMMISSIONING OF TRACTORS: Governor Ibikunle Amosun of Ogun State, cutting the tape to commission the equipments, while left Oba Kehinde Olugbenle Olu and Paramount Ruler of Yewaland, Oba Adedotun Gbadebo; Alake of Egbaland, Omoba Segun Adesegun, Deputy Governor and Mrs. Ronke Sokefun, Agriculture Commissioner and others looks on.

Photo: Wumi Akinola.

PPMC, IPMAN at loggerheads over bulk purchase renewal fee

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BY OLA AJAYI

HE Bulk Purchase Agreements renewal fee of N125,000 introduced by the Pipeline and Products Marketing Company, PPMC, to marketers, has pitched it with members of Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria, IPMAN. The oil marketers, under the aegis of Concerned Marketers, have described the fee as unilateral, absurd and provocative.

Already, the oil marketers are contemplating court action to have the fee nullified.

This was disclosed yesterday by Concerned Marketers while speaking with newsmen at the association’s secretariat, Ago Taylor, Ibadan. IPMAN, after some calculation said 8,000 of its members would now turn

in over N1 billion into the coffers of PPMC. They complained that their umbrella IPMAN could not protect members.

Former Vice-Chairman of the association in the South-Western zone, Mr. Bashiru Yusuf, who spoke on behalf of the group, recalled that the association called for extension of time when the policy was introduced last year because of the problems its members were going through.

He said part of the problems was “inadequacy of products for the generality of them to lift and sell at their respective stations at N97 per litre and also the fact that IPMAN members were unable to form a consensus on the issue.”

Ibadan depot, he said, had “set up a committee to look into this same issue and a letter was written to the Managing Director, PPMC, without any reply till date.

“In fact, information at our disposal indicates that the letter couriered to the office of the Managing Director was opened, read and couriered back to the depot the way it was sent.”

Amosun boosts agric production with N.5bn equipment

BY DAUD OLATUNJI

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OVERNOR Ibikunle Amosun of Ogun State, yesterday said that if farming in Nigeria were to be attractive to the younger generation and the current trend of rural-urban migration tamed, methods of carrying out agricultural production must be improved upon.

Amosun spoke in Abeokuta while commissioning the over N0.5 billion land clearing and preparation equipment procured by his administration to enhance agricultural production in the state.

The implements include four bulldozers, 30 MF275 tractors, 33 Baldan disc ploughs, 15 Baldan disc Harrows, two Baldan rotary slashers and two Baldan 4 RowPlanters.

Amosun noted that lack of agricultural land breaking equipment and the high cost of land clearing had limited farmers to subsistence level of production, thereby discouraging youths from taking to farming as a business which had become a major constraint to increased agricultural production.

He said: “I am aware that the last time agricultural land breaking equipment was procured in our dear state was about three decades ago. The same equipment was boarded in 2006 due to old age and high cost of maintenance without any replacement plan. This consequently limited our farmers to subsistence level of production, thereby discouraging our youths from taking to farming as business.”

PUBLIC NOTICE

THE ALMIGHTY HOUSE OF SOLUTION CHURCH The general public is hereby informed that the above named organization has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission for registration under part “C” of the Companies andAllied Matters Act No. 1 of 1990.

The TrusteesAre: 1. Victor Ita Ekpenyong -Chairman 2. Solution, Edem Effiom 0rok -Secretary 3. Blessing John Nsa 4. Victoria Essien Nsa -Financial Secretary 5. John JosephAfanide 6. Jeremiah Victor Ita AimsAnd Objectives: 1. To propagate the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ 2. To counsel the suffering people to locate their purpose 3. To share in one another joy and sorrow in a wider dimension 4. To propagate moral behaviour with a view of enhancing the teaching of our Lord Jesus Christ N/B: Any objection to the above mentioned registration should be forwarded to the Registrar General, Corporate Affairs Commission, Abuja, within 28 days of this publication.

Signed: Solution Edem Effiom Orok

12—Vanguard, THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 2013

Distrust, bane of religious intolerance, says Akpabio

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KWA IBOM State governor, Chief Godswill Akpabio, has identified distrust among religious leaders in the country as the bane of intolerance among their adherents, and charged them to be sincere in doing what they preach.

Akpabio, who gave the charge when National Chairmen of Nigeria Inter-religious Council, NIREC and Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Mohammed Abubakar III and Chairman of Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor, paid him a courtesy visit at Governor ’s Office, Uyo, observed that some religious leaders preach one thing and do the reverse.

He said: “I am saying that as leaders, when we speak, we should practise it. We shouldn’t have double lips. In public, you preach tolerance, but in private, you encourage division. When you practise peace, your followers would follow suit.

I pray that God whom we worship will give us the grace to practice what we preach."

Bakpa, 96 for burial

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HE burial rites for Pa Richard Bakpa, the Okpako Orere of Ovwian Community, who passed on, aged 96 begins tomorrow with a service of songs/condolence visit by members of God’s Kingdom Mission. Lying-in-state takes place at Ovwian Primary School ground followed at 1pm by interment and entertainment of guests.

Late Pa Richard Bakpa

Dickson signs Bill on death sentence for kidnappers in Bayelsa

BY SAMUEL OYADONGHA

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ENAGOA—GOVER NOR Seriake Dickson of Bayels State, yesterday, assented to the bill passed by the state House of Assembly, prescribing death sentence for the offence of kidnapping in the state.

Tagged Bayelsa State Kidnapping and Allied Offences Bill 2013, it empowers the governor to accent to the death warrant of any person or group of persons convicted for the act of kidnapping and other related offences in the state.

Dickson, in Yenagoa, during the signing of the Bill into law, warned those involved in acts of kidnapping to stay clear of the state because he would not hesitate to sign their death warrant.

He said: “If you are involved in any act of kidnapping, let me warn you today, don’t come near Bayelsa. We have put measures in place.

I have, commissioned 15 fast moving patrol boats for use by our security forces to ensure maritime security and safety.

“If you try that, whether it is sea-piracy or kidnapping,

we are going to get you. We will make it difficult for you to succeed and whoever you are and wherever you are operating from, we are going to get you.

“I am aware that the security agencies have made several arrests and most of the young men and women, who are involved in the recent kidnappings that took place are currently in cus-

tody.

“Any of them found guilty of the offence will be dealt with in accordance with the law.

Today, with this bill having been signed into law, we have entered a new phase in terms of the provision of the legal framework that will support our fight against kidnapping and related offences.

Member representating Oyigbo/Tai/Eleme Federal Constituency in Rivers State Hon. Barry Mpigi and the Chairman of Oyigbo Local Government Area (LGA), Hon. Felix Nwaeke welcome the Rivers State Governor, Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi (r) to the Governor's Town Hall meeting with the people of Oyigbo LGA at the council headquarters in Afam, Wednessday.

.... To inaugurate BDIC Board M

zDiezani, Daukoru, Igali, others on the list

INISTER of Petrole um, Mrs. Diezani Allison-Madueke, Professor Edmund Daukoru and other notable dignitaries have been appointed into the board of Bayelsa Development and Investment Corporation, BDIC, which will be inaugurated today by Bayelsa State governor, Mr. Seriake Dickson.

The inauguration of the BDIC Advisory Board, according to a statement by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Mr. Daniel Iworiso-Markson, is aimed at repositioning the economy of the state and ensure diversification from oil and gas sector of the economy.

The statement added that the move was in fulfillment of Governor Dickson’s vision of diversifying the state’s economy beyond oil and gas, coupled with his drive to stimulate private sector participation and the need to attract capital, both local and foreign.

It said that this informed the administration’s initiative to send a Bill to the state House of Assembly establishing the Bayelsa Development And Investment Corporation, BDIC. Members of the committee are: Governor Seriake Dick-

“It is morally indefensible for young people, for whatever reason, to go under the cover of darkness, armed with illegal weapons, to terrorise villages and old people in their homes and then forcefully abduct and rough handle old people and take them as an article of trade."

son, Ambassador Lawrence Ekpebu, Chief Duate Iyabi, Chief Ayakeme Massah, King Amalate Johnny Turner, King Edmund Daukoru, Ambassador Godknows Igali, Chief Francis Doukpola, Dr.

Daru Owei, Air Vice Marshall Samuel Atti (rtd),Ambassador Emmanuel Otiotio, Mrs. Diezani Allison-Maduaeke, HRM King Alfred Diete- Spiff, among others.

BNC tasks N'Assembly on efficiency in civil service

BY SIMON EBEGBULEM

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ENIN—BENIN Na tional Congress, BNC, a socio-cultural organisation in Edo State, has urged the National Assembly to find solution to what it described as the untoward disposition of public servants, which undermines efficient service delivery in the nation’s civil service.

It said that this had become inevitable so as to reward promptly, public officers, who have excelled in their fields of endeavour, adding that it was the only way the nation’s public service could contribute effectively to the growth of the nation.

National President of BNC, Mr. Aiyemenkhue Edokpolo, in a statement, also commended the initiative by Women’s Health and Action Research Centre,

WHARC, to organise the 1st Dr Abel Guobadia Memorial Lecture in Benin City, scheduled for tomorrow, stressing the need for the nation to recognise the contribution of public office holders, so as to encourage people to give their best to the nation.

Describing the late chairman of Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, Dr Guobadia as an embodiment of discipline and humility, BNC said: “Nigeria’s workforce is unfortunately ineffective because of poor motivation, both in terms of inadequate remuneration and dearth of morals. The National Assembly and relevant agencies for productivity in the civil service must examine the untoward disposition of public officers, which undermines efficient service delivery."

Amaechi to boost food production with 10,000 hectare farm project

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IVERS State governor, Mr. Chibuike Amaechi, has said that his administration will establish an agricultural farm project on 10,000 hectares of land in Oyigbo Local Government Area of the state, if the council and the people of the area provide the land. This, he said, was to boost food production in the state and create employment for the people of Oyigbo.

He added that the model secondary school in Oyigbo being built by his administration would be ready for academic activities later this year.

Speaking at a Town Hall meeting with the people of Oyigbo council, yesterday, he said: “I want Oyigbo people to give me 10,000 hectares of land and I will give you an agricultural project that will employ people here.

The first step to solving economic crisis especially, crime, is to provide people with a source of livelihood.

So we need to provide for them a source of livelihood."

Vanguard, THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 2013 — 13

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14 – Vanguard, THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 2013

Vanguard, THURSNDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 2013 —15

Yar’Adua’s Principal Secretary sues EFCC zDemands N500m damages

BY JOHNBOSCO AGBAK-

WURU AGOS—THE former Prin cipal Secretary to the late President UmaruYar ’adua, Mr. David Edevbie, has filed an action at the Federal High Court in Lagos, praying the court to either compel the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission to prosecute him for his alleged involvement in money laundering activities or in the absence of any concrete evidence against him give him a clean bill of health.

Mr. Edevbie, alongside five other persons, have been the

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subject of investigation by the EFCC since 2009 in connection with the sale of Delta State’s shareholding in Vee Networks Ltd., VNL, while he was Delta State Commissioner for Finance.

In the suit brought before the court, “for the enforcement of his fundamental right to fair hearing within a reasonable time, and the right to receive information without interference,” Mr. Edevbie is asking the court to determine whether the anti-graft agency ought not to have prosecuted or exonerated him over financial crimes

allegations, following the sale in 2006 of Delta State’s shareholding in VNL, in which Delta State was a substantial shareholder. The EFCC and Attorney-General of the Federation are the first and second respondents respectively.

The plaintiff, through his lawyer, Olasupo Shasore, SAN, of Ajumogobia and Okeke, is therefore, seeking an order of the court to compel the respondents to prosecute him where investigation disclosed evidence of wrongdoing or in the alternative, an order com-

pelling the EFCC to make an official written communication exonerating him from any alleged financial crime arising from the VNL transaction.

Mr. Edevbie is also praying the court to issue an order compelling the EFCC to disclose the results of its investigation into his involvement in the VNL transaction while he was Delta State Commissioner for Finance pursuant to section 1(3) of the Freedom of Information Act, 2011. In addition, he wants the court to award him the sum of N500 million as damages for the agency ’s breach of his constitutional right to receive information without interference, as enshrined in section 39(1) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999,Article 9 of African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights (Ratification and Enforcement) Act (Cap 10) Laws of the Federation of Nigeria (LFN), 1990, (‘the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Right’) and sections 1, 4 and 7 of the Freedom of Information Act, 2011 which denial has brought about loss of business and goodwill to the applicant over the period of the time of the denial.”

In an affidavit supporting the motion, Mr. Edevbie averred that he could not have been involved in any money laundering

activity arising from the transaction because he had ceased to be a member of the Board of VNL as a Director and Delta State Executive Council as Commissioner for Finance before the sale of the shares was concluded, and funds received by Delta State Government in June 2006.

He deposed that “after my resignation from VNL board in August 2004, after which I was duly replaced by another appointee of Delta State Government - Mr. Onosode - and my departure from the Delta State Government as Commissioner for Finance in December, 2005, I was no longer entitled to receive information regarding the final negotiations that eventually led to the sale of Delta State’s shares in VNL in June 2006.”

However, by virtue of his position as the Commissioner for Finance and his role as representative of the state government on the board of VNL from June 2001-August 2004,Mr. Edevbie was in 2009 named with five others as a co-conspirator in the alleged money laundering charges preferred against former Delta State governor, James Ibori, by the Crown Prosecution in the United Kingdom in 2009.This was shortly after he was appointed Principal Secretary to the late President Yar’Adua, replacing the previous Chief of Staff.

In his affidavit, Mr. Edevbie told the court that he wrote to the EFCC through his lawyers on February 24, 2011, and April 1, “ requesting the EFCC to carry out investigations into the allegations, with particular interest in my alleged role as the Commissioner for Finance.” Subsequently, he said, he was invited by the EFCC for questioning in its Lagos office.

Group charges FG on Ezekwesili

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BUJA—A Non-gov ernmental organization, Growth and Development Monitoring Initiative, GDMI, has urged the Federal Government not to dismiss the recent remarks by former Minister of Education, Dr Oby Ezekwesili, on the state of development in the country but consider it as a catalyst to deliver on the promises to Nigeria.

A statement signed by the group’s President, Alhaji Mohammed Musa Bagana, in Abuja described Ezekwesili’s

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position as the stark reality on the issue of development in Nigeria.

He said: “Although our present tragic development circumstances did not start with the Jonathan administration, the buck currently stops at Jonathan’s table.

“Ezekwesili’s position that our oil rich nation merely makes us a rentier state and that even worse, the oil wealth has created not the right kind of elite class across the length and breadth of our nation but rather an extractive elite class, is true.”

16 — Vanguard, THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 2013

Varsity plans workshop on media effectiveness

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HE School of Media and Communication (SMC), Pan-African University, in collaboration with GreenStel Communication, a brand and marketing communication outfit, has concluded preparations for a three-day workshop on Operational Business Strategies for Media Effectiveness.

Speaking on the workshop, Mr. Isaac-Ogugua Ezechukwu, Director, Professional Education of SMC, says “the workshop which promises to highlight to the operators of the media industry pertinent strategies for reversing the dwindling fortunes of today’s media industry will run from 19 to 21 February, 2013. The media industry is experiencing cuts in advertisement revenue occasioned by massive cuts in advertising budgets by the advertisers and the time has come to explore new strategies to mitigate the trend.

Ezechukwu said: “the print, electronic, outdoor and the new media, as a matter of survival, must harness all available revenue centers, if they must stay relevant."

Ijaw youths laud amnesty, hail peace In Niger Delta THE Ijaw Youth Council, yesterday, said it was happy about the stability achieved in the Niger Delta Region through the Presidential Amnesty Programme and its implication to nation revenue flow.

To deepen and sustain the peace in the interest of the country, the council said all hands must be on deck to ensure smooth passage of the Petroleum Industry Bill, noting that the bill has been reworked and transmitted to the National AsPresident Goodluck Jonathan with French president, Francois Hollande, at the Elyses sembly. It said it now provides for host community Palace during the President 's visit to France

fund to enhance the social licence LTO and freedom to operate for the IOCs, as well as provision for managing environmental implication of oil and gas activities. Rising from a two-day meeting on the state of the nation in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, the IYC said it was aware of the limitations and politicization of these provisions by the northern interests at the National Assembly and observed that the country will derive more revenue which will boost the revenue to the federation.

Bakassi returnees sue FG over loss of ancestral home ••demand N30bn as damages

BY IKECHUKWU NNOCHIRI

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BUJA—FOLLOWING what they termed betrayal on the part of the Federal Government to apply for a review of judgment of the International Court of Justice, ICJ, which in 2002, ceded Bakassi Peninsula to Cameroun, leading to loss of their ancestral home, returnees of Uruan Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State have gone before a Federal High Court in Abuja, asking for damages to the tune of N30billion.

In a writ of summons and statement of claim they entered through their lawyer, Mr. Ukeme Ekpenyong, the Plaintiffs listed the Federal Government, the Attorney General of the Federation, AGF, the National Assem-

over of Bakassi Peninsula to the Republic of Cameroon.

“A declaration that the Plaintiffs were vulnerable as far as the issue of the handing over of the Bakassi Peninsula by the 1st Defendant (FRN) is concerned and the Defendants took undue advantage of the Plaintiffs’ vulnerability thereby recklessly inflicting severe emotional distress on the Plaintiffs.

“A declaration that the failure of the 6th Defendant (INEC) to register the Plaintiffs in the voters register has deprived the Plaintiffs of their voting rights both in the April 2011 general elections and the July 2012 local government elections.

“An order directing the 1st, 4th and 5th defendants (FRN, Cross River State Government and Akwa Ibom State Government respectively) to immediately provide basic amenities to them."

bly, Cross River State Government, Akwa Ibom State Government and the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, as defendants.

Four indigenes of the area, Bassey Augustine Effiong, Silas Clement Etim, Effiong Bassey Ekanem and Imaobong Edem Efiong that filed the suit for themselves and on behalf of Bakassi Returnees of Uruan Local Government Area Extraction.

Specifically, the plaintiffs are asking for a “declaration that the defendants acted outrageously, recklessly, atrociously and unconscionably in their handling of the Bakassi Peninsula hand over issue.

“A declaration that the defendants betrayed the fiduciary relationship between them and the Plaintiffs by not acting in the best interest of the Plaintiffs vis a vis the handing

Other parties missing in action OLLOWING the trend of the local government elections nationwide, the impression is created that the State Electoral Commissions only exist to do the bidding of their masters, the state governors. Invariably, in every state, the political party in power at the state level ends up sweeping the local government council polls.

The erroneous conclusion is easily reached that the State Electoral Commission has fixed everything. After all, the chairman and members of the Commission are appointed by the state governor and they remain in office at his pleasure. He who pays the piper dictates the tune, so runs the argument.

This argument soon runs foul of itself. It is not true that if an opposition works hard, it cannot win some local government seats in a state. But the fact remains that opposition parties are weak and lazy. They easily run away from situations where a bit of hard work would have brought them victory.

It was not by accident that at the last gubernatorial election in Edo State, the Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN, swept virtually all the polling units throughout the State.

In the months and weeks leading to that election, members of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, were nowhere to be found. Right from the nomination of candidates to the election campaign stages, they were nowhere. While the ACN kept bulldozing every where, the PDP lied low. Occasionally, words would filter out that the election was going to be fixed from Abuja; using the Federal might – from the Presidency to the Police to the Army to INEC – they possessed the wherewithal to write the results, announce same from Abuja and even swear in their victor.

These rumours made the rounds at the grassroots level. But at the higher, more

sophisticated levels, rather than deter the ACN, the diabolical rumours fired them on.

“The General Officer Commanding” kept bulldozing everywhere. That was how the ACN became the first political party that took its campaign to every hamlet in the State.

It soon became clear that the attitude of the electorate is one of Monkey-see, monkeydo. At the end of the campaign, the people cast their votes for the party they saw. In some areas, the people even believed that the ACN was the only party registered for the election.

While the ACN engaged itself in issuebased campaigns, the PDP members hid themselves, looking for the fixed odds – let’s wait for them to make mistake and we will harp on that. These are not the type of efforts that God is looking for to bless anyone. In any venture, God expects us to do what we can so that He will do what we can’t.

We are at it again. The Edo State Independent Electoral Commission, EDSIEC, has since announced the time table for the local elections. It is still wearing the appearance of a State where there is only one political party. While the ACN is bubbling at every stage: from the villages to the wards to the local governments to the state – dancing and fighting over nomination of candidates, the opposition parties are sleeping, unknown to them that there can be no greater campaign than ACN’s current gyration.

In all this, the PDP has not lifted a finger.

It is only preparing for what it knows how to do best – the blame game. A man who waits to blame everybody for his misfortunes will never triumph. As soon as EDSIEC announced the time-table for the election, one factional leader of the PDP went on air to announce that the party was not going to participate in the election. Another factional

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The current merger talks appear promising but if the mega arrangement must work, we should begin to tell the old kegs to get out of the front line; let the younger ones step in so that Mega can shape in while the PDP ships out!

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leader retorted to denounce the announcement. Both leaders soon descended to their usual level of “you sack me, I sack you” and that was the pit in which we saw them last. They are still waiting for the omelet to appear on the breakfast table when they haven’t broken a single egg.

Perhaps, they are waiting to cash in on ACN’s mistakes.

In a traditional wrestling bout, it is common to hear people shout, “Catcham for leg, catcham for leg” but the owner of the leg is not about to leave it for his opponent to catch.

What is happening to the opposition parties at the national level? Are they cursed? At the advent of the current democratic experiment in 1999, Chief Vincent Ogbulafor who was then the National Chairman of the PDP

poured out a lot of venom, including the prophecy that the PDP would rule this country continuously for 60 years in the first instance. Fourteen years on, the PDP has held on tenaciously to power, even where there is nothing to show for its rancorous reign of terror.

In the past, particularly after the defeat at the national elections, the opposition gathered themselves in a hotel room and pretended to be discussing merger. They soon began to spread rumour of the impending emergence of a mega party. As soon as the bell tolled, individual members of the mega party rushed to collect nomination forms and the mega party collapsed like a deck of cards.

Like Stevenson like Buhari. In the USA, Adlai Stevenson was the presidential candidate of the Democratic Party in two consecutive elections – 1948 and 1952. He lost both times to his Republican opponents.

At the end of second contest, he threw in the towel and wrote a book, How to Come Second. It was a best seller.

Alhaji Muhammadu Buhari is working hard to beat Stevenson’s records. He is unprepared to learn the lessons of history.

He may not know when to quit. But when will the young grow? The current merger talks appear promising but if the mega arrangement must work, we should begin to tell the old kegs to get out of the front line.

Let the younger ones step in so that Mega can shape in while the PDP ships out! It can’t be done otherwise.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 2013— 17

Dead rats to the broth It is also part of the hypocrisy which accompanies success, that everybody is now bringing out dead rats as their contributions to a broth ready to serve, as Iranians say! With Keshi’s and the Super Eagles’ success, everybody wants a share of the acclaim. Yet, it was already in the works to sack the coaching crew, as the BBC authoritatively reported, with a foreign manager being lined up to pick the job.

No one has convincingly denied that tickets were purchased for the team to depart, after the 1/4final game with the Ivory Coast. The players and their coaches went through with those games, knowing that humiliation was likely to be visited upon them, if they had failed. They defied the odds and shamed those who always make a lot of money, whichever way things went, as the mandarins of our sports. It is a system long perfected by the disgraced Amos Adamu: no matter what happens to Nigeria in the field of play; no matter how unhappy Nigerians feel

qualified us for the 2010 World Cup but again, he was humiliated after taking Nigeria to third place at the Nations’ Cup in Angola. Keshi was to suffer the same humiliation in Togo, after he qualified the tiny country for the World Cup; he was sacked and a German Coach, Otto Pfister, was brought to reap from where he never sowed!

Super Eagles, Keshi and matters disturbing about the steady slide of our sports, they smiled to the banks! If there was outcry by Nigerians, players and coaches can easily be sacrificed, but the template of greed and easy money for the mandarins remain unaffected.

feat, a spurious reason was found to sack the coaches and disband the team, thus ending abruptly the international careers of a whole generation of players who gave their all to Nigeria, and who could have used all the

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IT was no surprise to followers of Nigerian football, and the cutthroat politics underlining it, when Coach Steven Keshi announced his resignation, after becoming the second African to win the Nations Cup as player and coach. It was a poignant way to express a feeling of disgust with those who run our football, indeed our sports, especially since Amos Adamu first appeared as Sole Administrator, in the buildup to our qualification for the 1994 World Cup. I found it instructive that Keshi dedicated the Super Eagles’ victory to Nigerian and African coaches who never seem to get the respect, time and support of African football administrators. He had made the point a few months back, when he spoke out against foreign coaches employed by African federations, who were often not really better than their African counterparts; but as a result of underhand deals, and corrupt exchange of money, are often allowed excesses not be tolerated with the African coaches.

We must salute the audacity of the coaches led by Keshi, for making their choice of players; sticking with their plan and achieving success, when most Nigerians did not give them a chance

Super Eagles celebrating victory

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Sports are a “Milch Cow”, for long owned by Adamu and his cronies!

Humiliation of coaches: The humiliation of coaches and outspoken players is also central to the politics of Nigerian sports, but especially of our football. Keshi was the assistant to Shuaibu Ahmadu when he qualified Nigeria for the 2002 World Cup in Korea/Japan, after Bonfree Jo had messed things up. The team went through difficulties, but still managed to win a bronze medal in Mali. For that

Coach Steven Keshi: Resigned? experiences gathered between the 1994 Cup of Nations victory; the World Cup of the same year; the 1996 Olympics and the 1998 World Cup, to write glorious chapters of Nigerian footballing success. The same Ahmadu

Can we cure our political headache with APC?

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T was testimony to the level of disgust with the PDP’s hegemony in Nigeria, since 1999, that many Nigerians became very happy when governors of opposition parties, who ordinarily could be described as strange bed fellows, announced the emergence of a new ‘megaparty ’, christened ‘All Progressive Congress (APC)”. I spoke with two of the governors who lined up for a photo opportunity, and they underlined their seriousness to make things work. And for the sake of Nigeria’s democratic development, we must hope they succeed. Yet, there are troubling questions that I believe promoters of this new brand of “APC”, must answer, before they can cure the nation’s political headache.

It was true that the ACN and CPC had been meeting for quite a while.

And each one of them announced recently committees to work on the merger issue. At which point did these committees meet to do their work? Did they report to their different parties before the sudden announcement of the new APC by the governors? How and when did the governors become the drivers of the process? Won’t the governors become an APC version of

the PDP governors? What is “progressive” about Rochas Okorocha?

Recall the ignominious role he played on PDP’s behalf during the ANPP’s convention, in the lead to the 2003 election? And what about the ANPP characters like the fake Sharia chap from Zamfara, Ahmed Yerima, who is suspected to be a PDP mole, with all the stories about his plan to join the PDP? Can such individuals be trusted to deliver anything “progressive”? And what will be the choice for Nigerians between the six of PDP and the half a dozen of APC, in terms of a patriotic platform of national development, away from the neoliberal capitalism which has enriched a few individuals, including so-called progressives like

Bola Tinubu too? And what about the vaulting ambitions of well-known individuals in the new setup? How will APC not end up taking the dead-onarrival ride to the mortuary of Nigerian politics, in the attempt to massage the tall egos of many individuals who desperately want power? There are loads of issues that will have to be dealt with and what is good is that the APC contraption is being cobbled together early enough; there will be opportunity to fine-tune things, before 2015, and I hope for the sake of Nigeria, the APC leaders will find the political wisdom to build a genuinely patriotic platform.

Nigeria needs an alternative to convey political hope; otherwise anarchy will takeover our country!

Heritage bank; Societe Generale bank

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N recent weeks, the new Heritage Bank, successor to Societe Generale Bank, finally began paying depositors, whose monies have been held up since the bank closed shop in 2003. The story of Societe Generale and individuals behind its collapse must be convincingly told someday soon. But we must rejoice with Nigerians able to get their funds, without forgetting the scores who lost all, including their lives, while waiting. It is good to pay depositors, but Heritage Bank should not forget to pay the entitlements of members of staff who have been out of their jobs since 2003. It will be a fitting way to pay their loyalty and stoicism.

Keshi speaks for Shuaibu Ahmadu So when Steven Keshi spoke of a lack of respect at the post-match press conference, it was clear to me that the pain was very real! He was speaking for other Nigerian coaches, and in my view, he was expressing the mind of Shuaibu Ahmadu, who was particularly offended by the sinister characters who ran our football only to enrich themselves; and the bubble burst, when the godfather of sports corruption, Amos Adamu was caught in a sting operation and knocked off his perch; his carefully laid out plan to takeover CAF from the Cameroonian Dinosaur, Issa Hayatou, exploded in his face like soap bubble.

Unfortunately, the corrupt Nigerian system did not provide a basis for us to seize all that he wrongfully took from our nation. It is this deepseated rot that we must interrogate and expunge, if the victory of the national team in South Africa will not become a meaningless feat. The fear I have is that, such success as we recorded in South Africa, is often exploited by the cabal running our sports to squeeze more money into their pockets and not to expand the opportunities for the flowering of sporting talent. So we must stay on our toes against the criminal syndicate implanted inside the sporting system by Amos Adamu over the past two decades or so; it is like the story of Ali Baba and the forty thieves. Ali Baba is out of circulation.

Right. But the forty thieves are still in place. So long live the empire of sporting theft!

On a more optimistic note, we must salute the audacity of the coaches led

by Keshi, for making their choice of players; sticking with their plan and achieving success, when most Nigerians did not give them a chance.

In that team, we saw the resurgence of a Nigerian spirit that all of us could identify with and support.

The national team has taught a lesson about the possibilities for change and development of our country. Those who profit from exploiting the fault lines of Nigeria can be sent on compulsory retirement when we set out to build a nation on a patriotic platform that valorises the highest common denominator of merit and commitment.

It was Africa’s greatest writer, Chinua Achebe, who once said that we cannot play our league matches with the fourth eleven and expect to win.

The Super Eagles vindicate that perspective and I hope that those who are genuine patriots will find the métier to achieve remarkable feats in all areas of human endeavours as the Super Eagles did in football! That is the categorical imperative of the moment in Nigeria.

18 — Vanguard, THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 2013 VERY little of recent has shown the Nigerian spirit in its best light as the Super Eagles at the 29th African Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Johannesburg, South Africa. It was Nigeria’s third victory in the Championship, but coming 19 years after the last, Nigerians under 25, an estimated 80 million people, have no memories of Nigeria’s previous victory!

The team was given no chance. Seventeen of its 23 members – or 74 per cent – were at their first Nations Cup. In addition, five of the players were from the domestic league.

The coach was new and had a rancorous relationship with his employers. The first three group matches were testy enough for the search for a foreign coach to be openly mouthed.

Victories over highly rated Cote d’Ivoire got the team attention, but the scepticism still persisted. The final counts – the Cup, the Golden Boot for Emmanuel Emenike, five players in Africa’s First Eleven, and Stephen Keshi the only Nigerian coach to win the Nations Cup, and the second African to have won the Cup as player, then coach.

Super Eagles – The Nigerian Spirit

Other highlights were that two former players Slyvanus Okpalla (1980) and Daniel Amokachie (1994) were assistant coaches in the winning team in South Africa. The victory threw up many possibilities about the Nigerian and his spirit.

Keshi, in a move that bordered on sheer suicide, overlooked some established players, and threw new players into his team. The emphatic fashion in which the team won has earned the team respect at home and abroad.

Cash gifts, property, national honours have poured in from governments and individuals.

The Senate broke protocol and gave the team a standing ovation. The grand reception in

Abuja put aside all matters, including the sudden resignation of Keshi to press home his anger at interference from the Nigeria Football Association.

We are proud of Keshi, his coaching crew and players for braving all the criticisms to exhibit the typical Nigerian spirit of excelling no matter the odds. Our countrymen and leadership have shown their appreciation through a showering of financial rewards and honours. Suppose these rewards were promised as incentives to the team?

Victor Moses deserves commendation for his unique commitment to Nigeria. His parents were killed in a religious riot in Kaduna. He fled to England, played for its national junior teams but honoured Nigeria with his prodigious talents. He could have had enough reasons to take up foreign citizenship.

As the euphoria continues, there are grounds to advise that we institutionalise rewards. Winners of the 1994 Nations Cup got nothing. The uncommon attention football gets neglects other sports. It is neither good for football nor for the country.

OPINION

BY DONATUS OKPALA Continued from yesterday's pg 17

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ONSEQUENT on this, development is permeating these areas at an accelerated pace. Although the Federal Government pretends not to legally or constitutionally recognise these additionally created 37 local government areas, they are willy-nilly, a fait accompli!

These structures have come into being and are serving as veritable vehicles for accelerating local development in their respective areas and bringing economic and social development nearer to the people in their communities, and indeed making communities take their development in their own hands. The State (Lagos) had recently successfully conducted local government election in the framework of these local council development areas.

Eventually, indeed sooner than later, there may be no option for theFederal level but to recognise them as duly constituted local governments.

As earlier indicated, practically all the other South-East (Igbo) states (except Anambra State) have taken steps to decentralize and devolve governance and development. But the State does not seem to have internalized the lessons of experience of our short harrowing history.

Those who are old enough to know will recall that at the on-set of the series of

Anambra: Who is afraid of autonomous communities system?(2) creation of states, some well-meaning, respected and revered Igbo leaders, in all honesty and with the best of intentions for the Igbo, made representations to the Military Government authorities at the time, to prevail on these authorities NOT to split the Igbo into too numerous states. This was ostensibly on the good-intentioned reasoning that splitting the Igbos into too numerous states would weaken them politically. As already noted, this was an honest, good intention for the Igbos at that time. Indeed, this, in part, tends to explain why the Igbo South East was allotted less number of states than it would possibly have received, and why the former so-called minority areas today have more states than the former so-called majority areas that are now the Igbo South-East.

It is the history that, beginning with three political regions at the on-set of national political Independence in 1960, states creation (administrative decentralization) grew to four regions or states in 1963 to 12 states in 1967; to 19 states in 1976; further split into 21 states in 1987 ; into 30 states in 1991 and into the present 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory of Abuja in 1996.

But the Igbo South-East remained with only five states throughout these series.

The local government areas increased from 301 in 1987 to 499 in 1989, to 589 in 1991 and to 774 in 1997.

These successive creation of states and local governments were all in response to political demands and clamours for greater regional and local autonomy and for decentralization and devolution of development decision-making and responsibilities.

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he administrative decentralization involved in the creation of more states and local governments was perceived as a potent strategy for spreading development throughout the country. The political, economic and social development outcomes of these processes are today all too selfevident.

Could the Igbo South-East and the Anambra State Government in particular not have learnt lessons from this - that decentralization is progress and development. Very few would argue today that the decentralisation and devolution of governance and development processes

brought about by the creation of more states has not accelerated the physical and socioeconomic development of the various parts of the country where such developments may not have reached without such decentralization. It is axiomatic - requires no proof - that administrative/governance decentralization stimulates and engenders development and progress.

As is well known, the Igbo society is fundamentally republican, independent and self-assuring in nature and outlook, including in its development activities. Igbo society is very effective within the framework of its community organisations, in harnessing resources (financial and human) for rapid development of their respective local communities. Igbo communities consisting of individual towns or villages do effectively organize, plan, finance and more cost-effectively develop/build or provide and maintain community facilities and infrastructures that the communities need: These facilities and infrastructures often range from trunk and feeder (access) roads, to educational institutions and facilities (primary schools and colleges/high schools), health facilities (hospitals, clinics, maternities, health Centres and dispensa”ries etc), water supply facilities (boreholes and communal water tanks etc).

Continues tomorrow on Viewpoints pg Mr. Okpala, a commentator on national affairs,wrote from Lagos.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 2013—19

, Politics of Keshi’s “resignation” L ET me start by offering my heartiest congratulations to all Nigerians. On Sunday, February 10, 2013, home-based soccer journeyman, Sunday Mba, on the sandy turf of Soccer City, Johannesburg in South Africa, fired a single shot after shaking aside a handful of struggling Burkinabe players. That was all we needed to clinch the African Cup of Nations for the third time.

It was a stunning end to a Cinderella story for Nigeria. Nobody, not even the ever-confused Nigerian Football Federation, NFF, expected the cup.

They set a semi-final target for Coach StephenOkechukwuKeshi.Keshiwent into this assignment a beleaguered man. Nigeria is a country of 160 million football coaches and administrators. Keshi was just one out of this number. He was crucified for leaving out some prized foreign-based players.

In fact, some Nigerians, after noticing that players from their part of the country were not selected,

declared Keshi’s squad as “not a Nigerian team but a Biafran team”.

Well, I hope these fellows will be nice enough to rejoice in the victory of this “Biafran” team for Nigeria! Many called Keshi a low quality tactician when his substitutions did not meet their expectation. In fact, there were already rustlings within the Nigerian football administration circles that if Keshi failed to make it into the quarter finals he would be dumped, with Zambian expatriate coach who won the AFCON in 2012, Herve Renard, strongly touted.

Keshi’s accomplishment, for me, was not due to “luck”. I don’t know if there is such a thing as “luck”. Nobody has plotted an equation or graph to prove it exists. It had nothing to do with Fanny Amun’s theory of “I will womble (sic) and fumble into the final, and I will womble and fumble and win the cup”. He simply applied the tricks he learned from his coach/ mentor, Clemens Westerhof. He knew the type of football he wanted to play.

He swept the local scene for the

I don’t think Keshi will go; the resignation is a ploy to assume the political upper hand over the FF chaps; with popular support from Nigerians, Keshi can take Nigerian soccer to the land of his dreams

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players he needed, spicing the team with the foreign-based who fitted into the scheme.

The first three matches against Burkina Faso, Zambia and Ethiopia were clumsy. They gave us all soccer malaria. But once he broke through the prelims everything changed. The Eagles started playing soccer like Barcelona Football Club of Spain, reputed as the “greatest football club in the world”. The standard of artistry that came out flabbergasted everyone.

One after the other, Nigerians dropped their pessimistic predilections and it became “Up Eagles, Up Keshi, Up Nigeria!”

That is the way of life. My people say: Onu kwuru njo ga-ekwu mma.

The same mouth that condemns shall commend – once you succeed.

Nothing succeeds better than success.

Success has brothers, sisters and a large family but failure is an orphan.

I should know, because I have personally experienced it and I allow it to drive me. Keshi stayed focused on the objective until the crown of glory became his.

Now comes the harder part. What does a person do when he succeeds where most people expected him to fail? When people called him dirty names? How does he handle it when those who were already looking for his replacement now turn around to embrace him? Keshi chose to turn in his resignation, or so we were made to understand. Definitely it was a gambit. Some called it a political gambit, but I choose to call it a gambit in a typical game of chess where you make moves to score advantages towards achieving the final objective.

It was all a display of orthodox Westerhofism. When Clemens was in charge with Keshi as his Captain, he had little tolerance for the overbloated egos and selfish antics of the football administrators. As he gradually rebuilt the national team, Westerhof’s charisma appealed to those in the corridors of power.

Military President Ibrahim Babangida drafted his Chief of General Staff, Augustus Aikhomu, to intervene regularly in the affairs of our football to give Clemens what he needed to do his job.

It worked like magic. Clemens went to his native Holland and brought a trainer-assistant, Bonfrere Jo, amidst loud but sterile grumbles of Nigerian Football Association, NFA, officials. The result: Nigeria won the African cup of Nations in 1994 with Clemens as the Technical Adviser in full control of the Eagles. He raised a new pack of world class stars that were

instrumental, two years later, to winning the gold medal at the Atlanta Olympic Games, USA. Remember what followed?

Soon after the AFCON victory, Westerhof quit Nigeria unceremoniously. He actually threw the job in the face of the FA and the nation. After the gold medal win, Jo also simply quit. He never bothered to attend the reception for the team. This is exactly what Keshi has done, though I do not think he will boycott the reception and the goodies lined up for him and his boys. He won’t dare.

Both Westerhof and Jo suffered unpleasant consequences for their actions. Try as they did much later to return to the job the door was slammed firmly against them, even with Nigerian football wallowing in abject mediocrity.

Right now, we are all begging Keshi not to go. He had better heed our pleas.

If he turns us down and another local coach, such as Sunday Oliseh, takes up the job and reaps from the seeds he has sown Keshi might become a persona non grata like Clemens and Jo. Already, Aminu Maigari, the NFF President is telling him he is free to go.

He can afford to say so because he has no hand in Keshi’s success. He would gain by having an opportunity to hire another coach; Nigerian soccer goes to hell.

But I don’t think Keshi will go. The resignation is a ploy to assume the political upper hand over the FF chaps. With popular support from Nigerians, the Presidency and Corporate Nigeria, Keshi can ride the FF roughshod like Westerhof and take Nigerian soccer to the land of his dreams. That is the objective of this move.

And it is a game well played.

20—Vanguard , THURSDAY THURSDAY,, FEBRUARY 14 , 2013

Debate of the masses

Overbearing LASTMA & Police officials

BY EBELE ORAKPO

‘W Abejoye Primary School, Igbokuta, threatened by crises

For Lagos community, a sigh of relief over arrest of land grabber ...Wants govt to act fast

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BY BOSE ADELAJA

103-year-old Pa Aliu, now in exile Aliu lamented the dastardly act of the land grabbers saying he was nearly strangulated during the attack, ‘’I went to inspect my piece of land when I ran into the land grabbers who threatened me with guns, ‘’I was beaten up in the process and my two plots of land were seized till date. I have made several attempts on peace talks but one of the land grabbers refused to honour my invitation,’’ he said.

During VM’s visit to Igbokuta, only few residents were seen as most of the indigenes had fled for their dear lives. “House rent is on the increase in Lagos, so we are prepared to die because we have no place to go.

We are now at the mercy of the land grabbers who invade this community at will, dispossessing us of cash and personal belongings,’’ chorused the fear-stricken residents.

Investigations revealed that the Police had on sever-

GBOKUTA town in Imota local council development area of Lagos State is set on a hill and mostly inhabited by non-indigenes whose major occupation is farming. Former military governor of Lagos State, Vice Admiral Mike Akhigbe(rtd), was born in this town, a fact that has impacted favourably on the residents, part of which is the construction of a motorable road linking the town to other major towns in the State.

Igbokuta was until recently a peaceful to be and was a conducive environment for learning. The threat to peace came in the last few years following acts of harassment, rape and destruction of lives and property which were also recorded in several other communities like Igbodu village Imowo-Nla, Igbeba, Jabe, OkeEletu, Egufoye, Mowo-kekere, Oke-Gbodo, Igbosoro, IgboThis used to be one of the most peaceful Olomu to mention just a few. It was a development that immeplaces in Lagos, but the Omo-oniles have diately created tension, fear and apprehension among resreduced it to a ghost town; as at today, busiidents of the affected communess activities have been crippled and land nities. Presently, the town, which boasts of pipe born wagrabbers have taken over everywhere ter supply, stable electricity and good public schools and other social amenities, is more al occasions succeeded in arresting some of the brains or less a shadow of itself as a good number of resibehind the attack but they usually get released without dents are fled into exile. been prosecuted. The residents attributed this to the When Vanguard Metro visited the town on three alleged “settlement” of police officers with land by separate occasions, it was discovered that academic the culprits. But relief seem to have come the way of activities at the Abejoye Primary School, founded in residents following the arrest of one Mr. Kamorudeen 1977, had almost come to a stand-still, with its 150 Lamina, popularly called Sir K Oluwo, in connection pupils population now seriously depleted on account with a land matter. He was declared wanted by the of fear arising from the crisis. Problem started in year Special Anti Robbery Unit, Federal SARS, Abuja through 2007 when a faction of land speculators invaded the Police Bulletin No CB2685/FHO/ABJ/09/05/11 before he town, unleashing terror on residents many of whom was later arrested on December 29, 2012 at his Odoguwere either maimed or killed in the process. Follownyan office. ing the attack many residents fled the town although With his arrest, residents of Igbokota and other neighthey later returned after the dust settled. bouring communities took to the streets chanting victory However, their assailants later returned in full force, songs. Some of them would want the Nigeria Police to dispossessing victims of cash and other valuables, and thoroughly investigate the matter. One of the resithis has been a recurring decimal in the town as resdents, 60 years old Pa Lateef Oseni, who said some of idents no longer sleep with their eyes closed. his kinsmen died during the attack, urged government While the attack lasted, some septuagenarians, Pa not to treat the case with kid’s glove. ‘’I chose to remain Kokumo Hassan, Lukmon Babatunde, Azees Sonaya, in this town because I have nowhere to go. This town Aroyewun Saheed and several others were allegedly used to be one of the most peaceful places in Lagos killed. Some maidens were also reportedly raped, inState, but the Omo-oniles have reduced it to a ghost cluding a food vendor and Nike Ajayi who died in town. As at today, business activities have been cripthe process. pled and land grabbers have taken over everywhere,’’ During VM’s visits to a neighbouring community, he lamented. one of the victims of the attack, 103 years old Pa Jimoh

,

HAT are these people really up to?

What exactly has this man done to warrant this arrest?” asked a commuter by name, Bola, in the Oshodi-bound commercial bus along Ikorodu Road as officials of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority, LASTMA and some policemen swooped on one of the commercial buses popularly called Danfo, forcing the driver to stop and taking the key from the ignition.

“My sister, this one beats me. We were all here. The door was shut properly, the conductor was seated unlike the normal Lagos bus conductor who will hang by the door, the driver did not stop even though he was at the bus stop so why arrest him?” asked a perplexed Ajayi, another commuter.

Ripple of laughter “Oh, yes oo. I don’t know if these conductors made a covenant never to sit down.

I’m sure if they enter a plane, they will hang too.” This caused a ripple of laughter, relaxing the already tensed atmosphere.

“Haba! How will they do that? It’s impossible,” argued Ahmed.

“Nothing is impossible with us. They hang on fastmoving trains, have you not seen them? all in a bid to escape paying the fare. So if given the chance, they will find a way of hanging on the plane,” said Ngozi.

“The guy must have done something wrong. LASTMA and police officials are not mad people. They cannot just arrest someone for nothing,” said John.

“If na that one, they do it all the time; if not, how will they meet the target?” asked Bola who was still seething with anger. The other day, one LASTMA guy arrested a vehicle and insisted they must pay a fine after delaying them for almost two hours despite pleas that one of the occupants was going to invigilate an exam and

was running late.

Eventually, the fine was paid and the vehicle continued on its way but guess what happened? The LASTMA guy who arrested the vehicle later met the invigilator in the exam hall. The lady was his invigilator! He was to write the exam but had to go to work first and ensured he made some money before exams. Of course it was tit for tat. He was not allowed to sit for the exam because he was very late.

The woman recognised him despite the fact that he had changed his clothes, transforming from LASTMA official to student.”

“Oh, I like that. So who laughed last? I wish people will learn from all these that wickedness does not pay,” noted Ngozi. “But when people breach the law, they should be punished to deter others,” said John.

“True. But in this case, what did the driver do?” asked Ajayi. Shebi we were all standing there?”

“We seem to forget that today is Friday so apart from meeting target, they are also looking for money for the weekend. Mondays and Fridays are always rough for drivers, especially the commercial vehicle drivers,” said Umoh.

Retorted Onyeka: “What nonsense target, the same thing we suffered in the hands of the police. They maim and kill innocent people just because they wanted to meet target. The same in the banking sector where ladies were turning to prostitutes just to meet target and keep their jobs?”

“Abeg, abeg, na that one I no gree o. How can I use my body to make money for an organisation just to earn one miserable commission?

I mean, it doesn’t make sense. I can as well do it for me and earn the money for me. After all, prostitutes no longer ply their trade in secret. They are very bold now. In fact, their association recently promised the Super Eagles one week of free sex if they win the AFCON Cup,” said Kate.

“Tufia! Make they go carry HIV?” asked Ngozi.

,

Vanguard, THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 2013 — 21

FG, Lagos to build Badagry Deep Seaport …Set up 8-member c’ttee

BY CHRIS OCHAYI

F

OLLOWING the inability of the nation’s existing seaports to cope with the current demand of the services in the sector, the Federal Government, said it has commenced the construction of a deep seaport in Badagry, Lagos State in order to accommodate high volume of cargo entering the country.

To this end, an eight-member Steering and Project Development Committee, SPDC, charged with the responsibility of piloting the initial process for the actualisation of the Deep seaport projects has been inaugurated in Abuja.

Minister of Transport, Senator Idris Umar while inaugurating the committee headed by the Director, Maritime Services in the ministry, Mr. M.S Nagogo, said, “The Badagry Deep Seaport is to be developed jointly by the Federal Government, Lagos State Government in partnership with private investors under the Public Private Partnership, PPP, arrangement.

According to him, “It is worthy of note that the maritime sector of Nigeria, with over 84,000 square nautical miles, is central to the nation’s economic development as a medium of transportation, for global commerce, resource exploitation and recreation.

“To maximize the potential of this key sector of the economy, government has created the enabling environment to encourage Public Private Partnership arrangement, particularly in the development of seaports to facilitate international trade.

“It is not in doubt that the nation’s existing seaports of Apapa, Tin Can, Onne, Port Harcourt, Calabar and Warri are overstretched. With an overall handling capacity of 60 million metric tonnes per annum, the ports presently cater for over 100 million metric tonnes per annum. It is therefore evident that the existing ports cannot cope with the current demand of the sector.”

He said the Badagry seaport if completed, would accommodation the high volume of cargo generated through international maritime trade and to enable Nigeria attain the status of a maritime hub for west and Central Africa.

Senator Umar noted that, “the site will also accommo-

From left: Mr. Jeff Immelt, Global Chairman & CEO, GE and Dr. Oba Otudeko, Chairman, Honeywell Group, during the signing of MoU by both companies for the development of Honeywell’s new independent power generation facilities. date dry docking facilities for super tanker vessels which offer low cost access to both offshore oil/gas fields, in addition to the numerous employment opportunities and related support services that the envisaged port would attract. “ He said “in summary, the

Badagry Deep seaport is multi-purpose port that accommodate large and heavily loaded vessels,”, adding, “Mr. President attaches great importance to this project which is indeed part of his Transformation Agenda. We are committed to the completion of the project within the

shortest possible time.”

The minister commended the effort of the Lagos State Governor, Babatunde Fashola for appointing members of his team to be part of the Steering Committee. This according to him is a clear demonstration of the commitment of the Lagos State Govern-

ment to ensure the dualisation of the project.

Other terms of references handed to the committee include, to liaise with Federal Ministry of Transport, Lagos State Government, Nigerian Ports Authority, the Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission, stakeholders and the investors, and to organise various investors roundtable discussions and interactive fora. It is also charged to coordinate all procurement processes in collaboration with Lagos State Government, Federal Ministry of Transport and Nigerian Ports Authority in line with Public Procurement Act, 2007. The committee is to also carry out any incidental assignment or instruction as may arise or as may be given to the Committee in pursuance of the exercise.

Other members of Committee, drawn from Ministry of Transport, Lagos State Government, Nigeria Ports Authority, NPA, and the Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission, ICRC, Mr. Shola Oworu, Commissioner for Commerce & Industry, Lagos State, Dr. Femi Hamzat, Commissioner for Works & Infrastructure, Lagos State.

In the Committee also are Mrs. Ugo Madueke, representing the Nigerian Ports Authority, Mr. Ayodele Durojaiye, Nigerian Ports Authority, Danladi D. Gomwalk, Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission, Ali Indabawa, SA to the minister on Maritime Services and Dr. Babayo Ardo, Deputy Director, Marine Pollution, who will serve as the Secretary of the committee.

Lagos light rail to be completed before June

BY JONAH NWOKPOKU & WILLIAM JIMOH

T

HE first phase of the La gos light rail project will be ready for commuters’ use by the end of June. An engineer with Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority, LAMATA, has told Vanguard.

The engineer who preferred anonymity said the project is divided into three phases and that the first phase should be ready for commuters before the end of June this year.

“The work is in three phases, phase one is what we are doing presently which is from the National Theater to Mile 2, and should be completed between June and July this year and then people will be able to make use of it.”

He explained that the two other phases would commence once the first phase has been completed.“The second phase is from Mile 2 to Okokomaiko, which is to commence immediately after the completion of the first phase at the end of which the third phase which is from the National Theater to Marina will commence but I cannot spec-

ulate on the completion time for the entire project. But then I must tell you that it will be sooner than people think” he said.

The engineer who said people should not worry about the locomotive seen along Mile 2 and Orile axis of the rail track , adding, Lagosians should not think that the project is being delayed since it will be delivered sooner than expected.

“There is no cause for alarm about that locomotive there. It is a light rail project that the people asked for and I can assure you, we cannot give something lees. And work is moving, there has never been a time when we stopped working and for the contractors, they are doing the best they could to ensure that the project is delivered for use as soon as possible. They work from 7:30 am to 6:00 pm. So people should stop thinking that the work is being delayed.” He explained.

Some Lagosians who spoke to Vanguard also expressed hope that the project would be completed at the right time. Segun Abolade who noted that the project is tak-

ing time because it is a long to Sunday but recently the term project said he believes story has changed. They no the project must be completlonger work on Sundays and ed sooner than people think. even on other days they are “They will complete the slow and do very little comproject. It will not take as pared to when they started.”

Victor said. much time as people think. If not for any other reason, Lagos state government will 0.8 not want to fail on the 140.95 project because of their political opponents.”

2,182.00 +8.00 For Mrs. Onifade, “the project will surely be 18.12 -0.32 completed. We should know that every good project takes time and this is not going to be 118.33 +0.20 a n exception.”However, 97.55 +0.52 Victor Okoro commended government’s effort on the rail project CURRENCY BUYING CENTRAL SELLING but noted that the pace 154.74 155.24 155.74 of work on the project DOLLAR POUNDS 241.6884 242.4694 243.2503 has reduced recently. EURO 208.0789 208.7512 209.4236 “The government did FRANC 168.6356 169.1805 169.7254 well by initiating this YEN 1.6425 1.6478 1.6531 project and the con- CFA 0.2969 0.3069 0.3169 235.9644 236.7268 237.4893 tractors have been do- WAUA 24.9876 ing well but recently RENMINBI 24.8262 24.9069 41.2596 41.3929 41.5262 their pace of work re- RIYA 27.8761 27.9661 28.0562 duced. When the Chi- KRONA SDR 236.7213 237.4862 238.2511 nese company started work here, they used CBN Exchange rate as at 13/02/2013 to work from Sunday

22—Vanguard, THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 2013

BY BABAJIDE KOMOLAFE

D

AILY electronic payment transactions through the NIBSS Instant Payment (NIP) and Nigerian Electronic Fund Transfer (NEFT) of the Nigerian Inter Bank Settlement System (NIBSS) have increased significantly to about N40 billion daily.

NIP and NEFT are products used by corporate organizations to make payment for huge transactions electronically, in line with the cashless policy. Data gathered from NIBSS also shows that as a result of the cashless policy, cheques, Point of Sale (PoS) and Automated Teller Machines (ATM) usage have continued to record huge volume and value.

Head, Shared Services at the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Mr Chidi Umeano said that the cashless project has continued to record huge success, adding that the initial challenges associated with the alternative channels are being tackled. “Banks have continued to roll out more innovative electronic payment platforms to meet customers’ expectations. The cashless policy has been very successful in Lagos considering when we started and how far we have gone in terms of PoS deployment.

“When we started the cashless Lagos, we had less than

E-payment transactions through NEFT, NIP rise to N40bn per day 10,000 PoS in Lagos, but currently we have over 150,000 PoS machines in the state alone.”

As a result of the significant success recorded in Lagos, the

apex bank last week said it plans to extend the cashless policy to Rivers, Kano, Anambra and Abia States as well as the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) from July 1.

CBN Deputy Governor Operations, Mr. Tunde Lemo had explained: “When we talk about nationwide roll-out, we are also being careful to ensure that we make use of re-

From left: Mr Femi Awotoye, Partner Audit Services, KPMG; Overseer R. Oguntoye, Nigeria Shareholders’ Solidarity Association, NSSA; Mr Tola Adeyemi, Head of Audit Services, KPMG and Chief T. A. Adesiyan, President, Nigerian Shareholders Solidarity Association at a seminar organised by KPMG for the NSSA, in Lagos. Photo: Lamidi Bamidele.

sources in a smart way. Cash doesn’t flow in the same volume in every state of the federation. What we would do in July is to look at those other market clusters where large of volumes are transacted and add them to Lagos.

“It is cheaper that way because the resources you need to cover the entire 923 square kilometres in Nigeria are huge. But you can achieve almost the same thing by looking at the pattern of cash distribution and you can cover about 90 per cent of that by adding about five more locations to Lagos. That is: Abuja, Kano, Aba, Port Harcourt and Onitsha.

“That is basically what we want to do. We would get those five clusters and add them to Lagos. When we add those five locations to Lagos, then we would have covered about 90 per cent of the cash volume. We would see how far that goes and once we perfect that, we then begin to look at contiguous market centres around these locations and we would gradually cover the entire country.”

EMP Nigeria subsidiary gets CBN’s e-payment processing licence

E

MERGING Markets Pay ments (EMP) subsidiary in Nigeria, Mediterranean Smart Cards Company, MSCC, has been granted an approval by the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, to operate in the electronic payments industry in the country.

According to a statement the company, the official Operation License, which is renewable every two years, allows EMP to offer third-party services to banks operating in the Nigerian market.

Under this license, the company said, EMP is required to comply with all applicable CBN guidelines and regulations as well as subject to a periodical assessment of operations by the CBN to evaluate compliance.

Hoda Shoukry, EMP’s Bank Processing Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director, EMP Africa, said, ““At EMP, we are committed to working closely with relevant authorities and other stakeholders within the markets in which we operate.

“We look forward to continuing to develop the huge opportunities that exist in Nigeria and are proud to be a key player in the development of the electronic payments industry in the country.

“We expect this license to further accelerate our business and foster our local leadership position.”

Also commenting, Paul Edwards, Executive Chairman, EMP, said, ““Over the years, EMP’s presence in Middle East and Africa (MEA) has been growing at a rapid pace, especially as in most countries the electronic payments industry is still in the early stages of development.

“Nigeria has a very large

population, but with a relatively low banked population it has great potential. In recognition of this, EMP has invested in a processing facility and has established a West African regional office in Lagos.

“Being granted the CBN license has demonstrated that EMP meets the high operational and data security standards that have been set by the CBN.” Edwards further stated that

with a growing number of consumers using electronic payment cards and mobile devices across the region, EMP is committed to providing the most efficient, secure, and accurate smart card processing services throughout MEA. According to him, EMP, and its subsidiaries, is currently partner to over 130 banks and 30,000 retailers across 45 countries in MEA, with offices located in Cairo, Egypt; Amman, Jordan; Lagos, Nige-

ria; and Cape Town and Johannesburg, South Africa.

“EMP currently provides 15 banks in Nigeria with cuttingedge electronic payment card processing services, and over 50 banks in the West Africa region. The CBN license will allow the company to expand its reach to provide all banks operating in the Nigerian market with its innovative range of services and solutions,” he stated.

World economic climate improves, ICC-Ifo survey reveals

T

HE world economy is show ing signs of brightening after six months of stagnation, according to a global survey of economic experts by the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) and the Munichbased Ifo institute for economic research.

The latest ICC-Ifo World Economic Survey (WES) shows a climate indicator of 94.1 for the first quarter of 2013, up from 82.4 at the end of 2012 after two quarters of decline. The new global rise was driven by a significant increase in experts’ optimism for the six-month economic outlook.

Meanwhile, assessments of

the current economic situation improved only slightly. ICC Secretary General Jean-Guy Carrier was encouraged by the survey results, but remained cautious. He said: “While the signs of a renewed economic optimism are a boost to confidence, fresh approaches by government and business are still urgently needed to drive economic growth.”

Ifo said positive business data from China and the US, after the first fiscal cliff had been averted, had helped lift the gloom. Another comfort was European Central Bank President Mario Draghi’s pledge last The sharpest improvement

in economic climate was seen in Asia, where the ICC-Ifo economic climate indicator rose above its long-term average. Since the end of 2012, experts have become more upbeat about Asia’s economic situation and expectations have surged.

The economic indicator for North America rose too, mainly due to the view that the current economic situation had improved, although it was still “not completely satisfactory”.

Overall, the survey showed the economic climate in Western euro areas to be poor but improving. This is mainly because of significantly bright-

er six-month expectations – in all euro countries apart from Estonia.

The World Economic Survey’s 1,169 economic experts in 124 countries were also quizzed on inflation. This gave a global average inflation estimate of 3.3% for 2013, down from 3.6% last year. Estimates for the euro area fell to 2.1% for 2013, from 2.4% last year. Short-term interest rates, set by central banks, are expected to remain largely unchanged over the next six months. And long-term interest rates, those affected mainly by the capital market, look set to rise only slightly.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 2012 —23 vicahiyoung@yahoo.com 08033348923

DHL elevates Olaiya, Uloko

Wogu gets pride of Abia award

L

M

EADING courier company, DHL, has appointed Femi Olaiya Head, Customer Service Process and Performance Excellence for DHL Express, Sub-Saharan Africa.

Similarly, Mr. Morgan Uloko was named head of Operations, DHL Express West Africa.

A statement by DHL said Olaiya took up the position in January 2013.

Prior to this, he served as Head of Customer Service for Anglophone Africa and was responsible to design, develop and execute customer service initiatives and strategies that will ensure service excellence and bestin-class service is delivered to DHL Customers in the Anglophone Africa Cluster.

Olaiya is an experienced Service Desk and Customer Service expert certified by the

•Uloko Helpdesk Institute of London and is also a seasoned Trainer and Systems Engineer certified by Microsoft Corporation in both areas of expertise.

On his part, Uloko joined DHL International Nigeria Limited 20 years ago and has served in various capacities amongst which are Gateway Manager Nigeria, General

•Olaiya Manager- Northern Nigeria and until recently the Area Operations Manager Anglophone West Africa, made up of Nigeria, Ghana, Sierra Leone and Liberia.

In his current position, Morgan’s role is expanded to cover service development and improvement in 15 West African countries within SubSaharan Africa.

Ikazoboh joins IISD Board F

ORMER interim administrator of the Nigerian Stock Exchange, NSE, Mr. Emmanuel Ikazoboh, has been appointed member of the Board of Directors of the International Institute for Sustainable Development, IISD. The IISD is a Canada-based

•Ikazoboh

public policy research think tank that contributes to sustainable development by advancing policy recommendations on international trade and investment, economic policy, climate change and energy, natural and social capital, and the enabling role of communication technologies in these areas.

Ikazoboh, who was a former Managing Partner/CEO of Deloitte West & Central Africa and Papa Kwesi Nduom, the Convention People’s Party’s flag bearer for the 2008 elections in Ghana are now the two Africans on the board of IISD that has 25 members.

Ikazoboh was formally welcomed by IISD Board m e m b e r s during their meeting held in Ottawa, Canada last month.

The Institute’s international Board of Directors includes

recognised experts in the areas of business, environmental science, government and international relations and it works through its offices in Geneva, Ottawa and New York while its base is in Winnipeg, Canada.

In the appointment letter, IISD said: “Given your experience and areas of action, as well as your deep understanding of the region’s priorities, your name would be an outstanding addition to our Board.”

Ikazoboh, who is currently the Executive Chairman of Hedonmark Management Services Limited, was the interim administrator of the NSE appointed by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to carry out reform of the NSE and the Central Securities Clearing System Plc between August 2010 and April 2012.

Enemigin emerges HuCaPAN President

H

UMAN Capital Providers’ Association of Nigeria, HuCaPAN, the umbrella organization of all registered private recruitment agencies in Nigeria, has elected Mr. Neye Enemigin President.

At its 2nd Annual General Meeting, AGM, Mr. Goodluck Atogwe, was elected 1st Vice President, while Mrs. Glory S h a s a n y a a n d M r. R. A. Nasiru were elected 2 nd a n d 3 r d Vice President respectively.

The new officers will run the affairs of the association for two years

Other elected officers are Mrs. Roselyn Onalaja (General Secretary ) M r. Basil Adimorah (Publicity / Welfare Secretary), Mr. A. R. Emedo (Ex-Officio) and Mr. Smatt Eburajolo (Ex-Officio).

Representative of the Minister of Labour and Productivity, the DirectorGeneral of Nigeria Employers Consultative Association, NECA, and other State Coordinators of the Federal Ministry of Labour and Productivity, were said to have attended the AGM. A statement by the new

•Enemigin President said “With the new executives, the Association is poised to move the human capital providers industry to new heights. Part of its immediate task is to ensure the printing of the Code of Conduct for Private Recruitment Agencies.

INISTER of Labour and Productivity, Chief Emeka Wogu, has been honoured with the Pride of Abia Award.

The award was given to him by the Hallmark Daily Newspaper.

Presenting the award at the Michael Okpara Auditorium in Umuahia Abia State, during the official presentation of the paper, the Abia State Governor, Chief Theodore Orji said Chief Wogu had indeed contributed immensely to national development, as the peace and harmony being enjoyed in the nation’s labour sector could be traced to the resilient efforts of the Minister.

According to him, “the honour that you are been giving today is a well deserved one, because you have done Abia State proud in various field of endeavours, this honour therefore is to motivate you to do more.”

Governor Orji described Wogu as a rare breed Abia indigene who had done the state proud in both political and public arena with records of landmark achievements.

Responding, Wogu, said the recognition was an honour that would spur him to do more in all fields of endeavour and to imbibe the true spirit of Abian.

The Minister thanked the organizers for finding him worthy to be so celebrated and used the medium to highlight some of the developmental projects of the Federal Government through the collaborative efforts of the State governor.

According to the Minister “I am linking the collaborative efforts of the State Governor to the developmental projects of the Federal Government in Abia State because the administration of Chief Theodore Orji has created a conducive and secure environment for the developmental presence of the Federal Government in Abia State.”

•Minister of Labour and Productivity, Chief Emeka Wogu receiving the award from Governor Theodore Orji

Onuegbu re-elected Rivers’ TUC Chairman

P

ETROLEUM and National Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria, PENGASSAN, Industrial Relations Officer, IRO, Mr. Comrade Hyginus Chika Onuegbu, has been reelected State Chairman of Rivers State Council of Trade Union Congress of Nigeria, TUC. The election that took place at the 4th Triennial State Delegates’ Conference, SDC, of the TUC Rivers State Council, witnessed by among others, representatives of Government of Rivers State, Federal Ministry of •Chika Labour and Productivity, Michael Imuodu National Institute of Labour Studies, Indorama Eleme Petrochemicals Limited, Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria and Nigeria LNG Limited.

Also elected alongside Onuegbu are Clement Onyesom (Vice Chairman), Jonas Ogundu Okere (Secretary), Raymond Chibuike Benson (Asst. Secretary 1), Dr. Chris Mbata (Treasurer), Onuoha I. Gabriel (Financial Secretary), Abadi Kingdom (Auditor), Prezi Ayaoge Diffa, (Publicity Secretary), Adeku Abigail(Women Leader) and Edward Orupabo (ExOfficio).

24—Vanguard,

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 2013

Nigeria and quest for nuclear power energy in the 21st Century (3) •Lessons from selected contentious case studies across the globe This is the third instalment of the open letter to the Nigerian Governors Forum. The second part was published last Friday.

N

UCLEAR proliferation/ disputed nuclear power development programme: case studies across the globe: Generally, nuclear power energy related development programmes have been generating controversy between the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and some aspiring nations across the globe. Elementarily, the disputes are speculated not to be unconnected with undeclared nuclear activities and the perceived diversion of nuclear materials outside the safeguards of IAEA. There has also been this impression since the late 1980’s that, some states are assumed to be carrying out nuclear activities entirely separate from those covered by the IAEA safeguards which ideally, national intelligence network should have detected but remained a mystery.

Undeclared nuclear activities Consequently, it is these undeclared nuclear activities, couple with the perceived diversion of nuclear materials in pursuit of what come to be seen as extensive clandestine uranium enrichment programme that creates the impression that a country may secretly engage in nuclear weap-

ABDULLAHI U AKI U.. MAIY MAIYAKI

on design programme. This indeed, is the source of contention between IAEA with countries like North Korea: South Korea, Israel, Iran, Iraq, Syria, South Africa, etc. In the proceeding paragraphs we shall examine some selected case studies for

analytical purposes.

North Korea: The international community has accused North Korea of having made weaponsgrade plutonium using a research reactor and a reprocessing plant in defiance of its Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) obligations. In years 2006 and 2009 it was said to have exploded nuclear devices. It was subsequently brought to the attention of the International Community through the UN Security Council.

North Korea’s nuclear power programme is said to have ben under Kim II-Sung in the mid1950s, when the country’s scientists started practical training courses at the Joint Institute for Nuclear Research in Duhna in the then Soviet Union. There, they were said to have studied electronic physics, radiochemistry, high-energy physics and other related subjects respectively.

These efforts were initially reported to be focused on the peaceful use of atomic energy.

Furthermore, Soviet-North Korean agreements of the time is said to have specifically emphasized the peaceful nature of the bilateral cooperation in the nuclear technology. To further facilitate the ideals of the SovietNorth Korean agreement, an inter governmental deal on cooperation in the field of atomic energy was reported to have been signed in 1959, which is said to have laid down the foundation for joint nuclear activities between the two countries. Other North Korean scientists thereafter were said to have received their educational training in the defunct East Germany and China respectively.

In 1961, North Korea is reported to have launched a major nuclear development programme in Yougbyon, some 60 miles north of Pyongyang. In 1965, the then Soviet Union is said to have provided North Korea with a 2MWIRT-2000 research reactor for the Yougbyon nuclear facility, and supplied fuel over the years of the reactor’s operation.

During the 1980s, the North Korean government is reported to have realized the significance of light-water reactors (LWRs) to be better suited in producing

Nuclear power facility

large volume of electricity, for which there was a growing demand in the country. The North Korean nuclear power energy is said to have received a boast with the offer by the then Soviet Union to assist with nuclear technology and materials, provided North Korea signs the Nuclear NonProliferation Treaty (NPT) to which the country complied by signing in December 1985. In 1987 the then Soviet Union is said to have began to conduct several feasibility studies to build the desired three North Korean lightwater reactors at Sinpo on the country’s cash coast.

Controversies: Some of the areas of contention between North Korea and the International Community as being speculated are as follows: (i) Plutonium Programme: In the late 1985, North Korea is speculated to have brought into op-

cilities cited above in Yongbyon are expected to be under the IAEA safeguards, the fears are that, there was always the risk that at certain stage, North Korea may withdraw its commitment to Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) which its signed in December 1985; (iii)It is also argues that, one of the first steps to ascertain commitment to Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty Safeguards is for the IAEA to verify the initial stocks of uranium and plutonium to ensure that all the nuclear materials in a country have been declared for safeguards purposes.

While undertaking this exercise in 1992, the IAEA inspectors were reported to have found discrepancies which indicated that the reprocessing plant had been used more often than the North Korean had declared. Such action was perceived to mean that

North Korea is speculated to have completed and commissioned a reprocessing plant for the extraction of plutonium for spent reactor fuel

,

BY ABDULLAHI U. MAIYAKI

eration a small gas-cooled, graphite-moderated natural-uranium (metal) fuelled, purportedly for “Experimental Power Reactor of which it has capacity for 25 MWt at Yongbyon, on the west coast 55km north of Pyongyang.

The said facility is reported to have exhibited all the features of a plutonium production reactor usually meant for nuclear weapons purposes and said to produced only about 5-MW of electricity. Similarly, North Korea is accused to have embarked on the construction of two larger reactors designed on the same principles, a prototype of about 2000 MWt (50MW electivity) at Yongbyon, and a full-scale version of about 800MWt (200 MW electricity) at Taechon, 25km north of Yongbyon respectively; (ii) In addition, North Korea is speculated to have completed and commissioned a reprocessing plant for the extraction of plutonium for spent reactor fuel. That plutonium, it is argued if the fuel was only irradiated to a very low burn-up, would have been in a form very suitable for nuclear weapons. Although, all those fa-

,

the country could have nuclear weapons-grade plutonium which may not have been declared to the IAEA; (iv)Consequent upon this discovery, the IAEA said to have requested the North Korean Government in February 1993 to allow special inspections of the two sites so as to verify the initial stocks of nuclear materials. The North-Korean government is said to have refused, and proceeded further to announced its intention in March 12, 1993 to withdraw from the Nuclear NonProliferation Treaty (NPT) by given the required (three months notice). In April 1993, the IAEA Board is said to have concluded that North Korea was in non-compliance with its safeguards obligations and thus reported the matter to the UN Security Council. Although the North Koreans were said to have made diplomatic efforts to secure certain immunity in June 1993 by announcing that it has ‘suspended’ its withdrawal from the NPT, and subsequently requested a “special status” with respects to its safeguards, the IAEA is said

to have rejected the move with the purported “special status” safeguards; (v)The dispute between the North Korean governments due to what the IAEA described as non-compliance was speculated to have been reported to the UN Security Council. Inspections in the country were said to have been increasingly hampered, as inspectors were not permitted to carry out the IAEA assignment based on the North Korean claimed of a “special status”.

However, some 8000 corroding fuel rods associated with the experimental reactor were reported to remain under close surveillance by the international community. Making any attempt to separate plutonium from them were said to have been deferred in the event, for eight years;

Nuclear reactor programme (vi) An attempt to mediate in the crisis/dispute, the United States and North Korea are reported to have signed an agreement in October 1994 which requires an end to the North Korean graphic-moderated nuclear reactor programme, including the construction of a 200 MW electricity power reactor at Taechon in exchange for the construction of two 1000 MW electricity light-water reactors at Kumbo. The construction of these two facilities were said to have started in year 2000 by the Korean Peninsula Energy Development Organisation, but had to be suspended by year 2003 due largely to the dispute; (vii) Under the Six-Party Talks involving China, Japan, Russia, South Korea and the United States of America held in 19 September 2005, North Korea is said to have pledged to end all its nuclear programme and return to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, submitting to international inspectors to return for certain benefits including energy aid and normalization of relations with Japan and the United States respectively.

To be continued Mallam Maiyaki is of the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs (NIIA),Lagos.

Vanguard , THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 2013—25

EDUCATION SECTOR IN CRISIS:

Evidence, causes and possible remedies

By LADIPO ADAMOLEKUN Trained talent is the yeast that transforms a society and makes it rise — Lee Kuan Yew, former Prime Minister of Singapore in his “From Third World to First: The Singapore Story, 19652000”

I

LADIPO AD AMOLEKUN ADAMOLEKUN

organisations, teachers, parents and pupils in a 1,000-day campaign to get every child into quality education by the end of 2015.

Former British Prime Minister, Gordon Brown, who is UN special envoy for global education, put the case for the new Initiative as follows: Under current trends, 50 million children worldwide will be out

of school in 2025, and in 50 years education for all will remain a hollow dream…the cause of educational opportunity [is] the civil rights issue of our generation (bold and italics added)…Extending educational opportunity is a moral, economic and security imperative… Inbetween these two initiatives, there was the United Nations Millennium Declaration of 2000 that included education as one of Eight Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). Specifically, according to MDG 2 the goal is to “attain universal primary education in all countries by 2015” and the Target is to “ensure children of both sexes everywhere will be able to complete a full course of primary schooling.”

Nigeria joined 189 other countries world-wide to endorse the Declaration.

While there is broad agreement in the literature on education that it benefits both the individual and society, there is contestation on whether governments should pay more attention to primary education whose benefits to the society as a whole are very substantial than to tertiary education with huge benefits for the individual. As will be demonstrated later in this Lecture, the argument over the relative benefits to individuals and to society is akin to the chicken and egg debate: without the quality products of tertiary education, quality primary education is unachievable and vice versa.

Strikingly, the success story of

educational development in Western Nigeria in the 1950s and early 1960s was characterised by actions that respond to the issues raised in the preceding paragraphs. A free universal primary education (UPE) programme was launched in January 1955 and politicians and

Grammar Schools. Simultaneously with the launch of UPE, teacher training was significantly scaled up through the expansion of colleges responsible for training teachers for primary and post-primary education. Finally, in 1962, the Western Nigeria government established a university (University of Ife, later renamed Obafemi Awolowo University) and in 1963, Adeyemi College of Education was established.

From the above summary it is obvious that the Western Nigeria experience has important lessons for all advocates of rapid educational development worldwide, with particular reference to universal primary education.

Yes, UPE can be successfully implemented and yield huge dividends within a decade. The experience also demonstrates that successful implementation of UPE requires attention to secondary education, teacher training, and tertiary education.

After this Introduction, the Lecture is in three other parts. In Part two, I provide evidence of

It is obvious that the Western Nigeria experience has important lessons for all advocates of rapid educational development world-wide, with particular reference to universal primary education

,

NTRODUCTION: The title of this lecture, “Education sector in Crisis” in reference to any country must be considered a cause for serious concern because of the great value attached to education worldwide. It is widely acknowledged that education has social, economic, political,and security benefits for an individual, for a society and for a country: Education is almost everywhere considered as the key to economic prosperity and a vital instrument for combating disease, tackling poverty, and supporting sustainable development.

At the international level, “Education for All” (EFA), an initiative of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation, UNESCO, was launched in 1990. Twenty-two years later, UNESCO’s parent organisation, the United Nations, launched “Education First Initiative”that seeks to unite businesses, governments, nongovernmental

Map of Nigeria

civil servants collaborated to ensure its effective implementation. The public was mobilised in support of UPE: there was active involvement of communities, faith-based organisations, private entrepreneurs, and parents/ adults through payment of taxes. (Parents also provided uniforms and books for their children).

After a decade (that is, by 1965), primary education completion rate was between 80 and 100 per cent throughout Western Nigeria. Furthermore, the launch of universal free primary education was accompanied by rapid expansion of post-primary education: fiveyear Secondary/Grammar Schools and three-Year Modern Schools.

The latter were introduced to provide post-primary education for the hugely increased primary school leavers who could not gain admission to the Secondary/

,

the crisis in Nigeria’s education sector that justifies the title, “Education Sector in Crisis.” Part three highlights the major causes of the crisis. In Part four, I proffer some possible remedies that could help re-launch the country on the path to educational excellence. In closing, I offer “A Word for JABU: Challenge of Being Part of the Solution” and a “Last Word”.

Part two: evidence of crisis: The word “evidence” is used here not in the legal sense but in the ordinary dictionary meaning such as what is provided in The New Oxford Dictionary of English: “the available body of facts or information indicating whether a belief or proposition is true or valid.”

Since I returned to the country about eight years ago, I have read reports in the country’s newspapers that constitute strong evidence of a crisis in the education sector at all levels: fromprimary education through

secondary to tertiary education.

From time to time, politicians, academics and opinion leaders either called for the declaration of a “state of emergency” in the education sector or lamented what they consider as decline and decay in the education sector: while some affirm that 70 per cent of university graduates are unemployable because of their poor quality, others focus on the country’s slow progress towards meeting the MDG goal on completion of primary education by all school-age children (female and male) by 2015.It is sad to note that a national dialogue on “Nigeria and Education:the challenges ahead” held almost two decades ago concluded that “The nation must now consider seriously the desirability of declaring a fiveyear emergency… for the rescue of our educational system” (Akinkugbe, 1994, p. 329).

Educational excellence At the personal level, I was reminded of the lost era of educational excellence when in late 2000s, a taxi driver, who drove me in Lagos and who only completed Modern School education in the “old” Western Nigeria, was more articulate in spoken English than some current first degree holders! I summarise below selected “facts” and “information” on the decline and decay in the country’s education sector.

A. Basic education: Low enrolment and low quality teachers •10.5 million Nigerian children of school-going age are not attending school - highest in the world. Source: Education For All (EFA) Global Monitoring Report 2012. (Introduction of EFA goal of one-year Early Childhood Care and Education - three years in Sweden - is unlikely to happen soon).

PART FOUR:POSSIBLE REMTo be continued Ladipo Adamolekun D. Phil.

(Oxon), NNOM; Independent Scholar.(A former Dean of the Faculty of Administration at Ife and a former Lead Public Sector Management Specialist at The World Bank presented this paper at the 2012/2013 Distinguished Lecture ofJoseph Ayo Babalola University (JABU),Ikeji Arakeji, Osun State.

26—Vanguard, THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 2013

learning@vanguardngr.com

NCE has outlived its usefulness —Prof. Jibril

BY AMAKA ABAYOMI & LAJU ARENYEKA

F

ORMER Executive Secretary of the National Universities Commission, Professor Munzali Jibril has said that the National Certificate in Education (NCE) has outlived its usefulness and should be abolished.

The President of the Nigerian Academy of Letters, who disclosed this at the convocation lecture at the University of Lagos recently, posited that the NCE programme was a child of necessity as it was introduced in Nigeria in the early 1960s to address the critical shortage of teachers in junior classes in secondary schools.

“I can personally attest to the fact that the programme has paid its dues and the trend worldwide is for the Bachelor’s degree to be the minimum academic qualification for teaching even in the nursery schools. Additionally, there is considerable evidence to suggest that the quality of the NCE product is now very low.

“We should, therefore, give serious consideration to abolishing the NCE programme and making the Bachelor’s degree and a postgraduate teaching qualification the minimum requirements for entry into the profession and for teaching at the basic level of education.”

Prof. Jibril, who is also the

OAU ranked best Nigerian th varsity, 14 in Africa -— Page 28 C M Y K

coordinator of the Nigeria Police Academy, Wudil, argued that the crisis in Nigerian education is a “crisis of teachers” as teaching is now seen as a low esteem profession.

He said; “The fundamental problem of teaching and teachers is that it is now the profession of last resort and quality cannot be found or sustained where only those who have no other choice join the profession.

“According to Nigerian Education Sector Status Report (2003), in the year 2000, 80% of the secondary school students did not wish to go to a College of Education (CoE) to pursue an NCE course. In the 2000/2001 matriculation, only 22.49% of the available places in the college of education were filled through the pre-NCE route owing to a shortage of qualified and interested candidates.

In the 2001/02 academic year, only 2.2% of candidates who took the UTME applied to study education, compared to the 25.8% for administration and 20.3% for social sciences. When candidates who applied to other faculties are rejected, they are then sent to Education and end up as reluctant teachers.

According to Isyaku (1996/ 1997), up to 54% of students admitted to the CoE came in through the Pre-NCE route.

This has serious implications

From left: Profs Julius Okojie, Executive Secretary, Nigerian Universities Commission; Ruqayyatu Ahmed Rufai, Minister of Education; Yetunde Olumide, newly investituted Professor Emeritus; Deacon Gamaliel Onosode, Pro-Chancellor, UNILAG and Prof. Abdul Rahaman Bello, Vice-Chancellor, UNILAG during the investiture of Prof. Yetunde Olumide as the first female Professor Emeritus of the University of Lagos at its 50th convocation ceremony.

Photo: Lamidi Bamidele. for quality as the requirement for admission to the Pre-NCE course is simply three passes in the Senior Secondary School Certificate Examination.”

To remedy this, he said that the government must first raise the status of the profession by raising the salary of teachers to

Four Nigerian students generate electricity from urine -— Page 37

at least 10% above their counterparts in the civil service and by improving the quality of the service parity with, or superiority over, similar and competing professions.

Also, the numerous CoE all over the country should be converted to produce

Professional Diploma in Education for untrained graduates willing to join the teaching profession or Postgraduate Diploma in Education to be accredited by the

Continues on page 28

UNILAG rename: Settle out of court, Babalola urges FG

By DAYO ADESULU

L

EGAL luminary and proprietor, Aare Afe Babalola University, AdoEkiti (ABUAD), Chief Emmanuel Afe Babalola (SAN) has urged President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration to settle out of court the pending case on the renaming of UNILAG to MAULAG, saying that the President was ill-advised about renaming the university.

He said that better honour should have been given to the late acclaimed

Overhaul of education sector and closure of 337 illegal, substandard schools in Ebonyi -— Page 34

winner of June 12, 1993 presidential election, Chief Moshood Abiola by naming the Supreme Court, National Assembly or Aso Rock after him. Afe Babalola who spoke after he was conferred with Doctor of Law by the University of Lagos said; “The incoming governing council of UNILAG should settle the name change case out of court.”

His words; “When I heard of the change of name, I was the first to go to the press and write to the President that UNILAG was established by an Act of Parliament and that for it to be changed, it must also pass through the same process. The President was ill-advised.

Instead of him saying ‘I am sorry’, he was again ill-advised to run to Senate to amend the Act while the case is already in court. I wrote to him that that was wrong again. You cannot change the Act when a case is in court.”

He, however, enjoined the in coming UNILAG Governing Council to approach the President to settle out of Continues on page 28

Vanguard, THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 2013 — 27

learning@vanguardngr.com

NCE has outlived its usefulness —Prof. Jibril

BY AMAKA ABAYOMI & LAJU ARENYEKA

F

ORMER Executive Secretary of the National Universities Commission, Professor Munzali Jibril has said that the National Certificate in Education (NCE) has outlived its usefulness and should be abolished.

The President of the Nigerian Academy of Letters, who disclosed this at the convocation lecture at the University of Lagos recently, posited that the NCE programme was a child of necessity as it was introduced in Nigeria in the early 1960s to address the critical shortage of teachers in junior classes in secondary schools.

“I can personally attest to the fact that the programme has paid its dues and the trend worldwide is for the Bachelor’s degree to be the minimum academic qualification for teaching even in the nursery schools. Additionally, there is considerable evidence to suggest that the quality of the NCE product is now very low.

“We should, therefore, give serious consideration to abolishing the NCE programme and making the Bachelor’s degree and a postgraduate teaching qualification the minimum requirements for entry into the profession and for teaching at the basic level of education.”

Prof. Jibril, who is also the

coordinator of the Nigeria Police Academy, Wudil, argued that the crisis in Nigerian education is a “crisis of teachers” as teaching is now seen as a low esteem profession.

He said; “The fundamental problem of teaching and teachers is that it is now the profession of last resort and quality cannot be found or sustained where only those who have no other choice join the profession.

“According to Nigerian Education Sector Status Report (2003), in the year 2000, 80% of the secondary school students did not wish to go to a College of Education (CoE) to pursue an NCE course. In the 2000/2001 matriculation, only 22.49% of the available places in the college of education were filled through the pre-NCE route owing to a shortage of qualified and interested candidates.

In the 2001/02 academic year, only 2.2% of candidates who took the UTME applied to study education, compared to the 25.8% for administration and 20.3% for social sciences. When candidates who applied to other faculties are rejected, they are then sent to Education and end up as reluctant teachers.

According to Isyaku (1996/ 1997), up to 54% of students admitted to the CoE came in through the Pre-NCE route.

This has serious implications

OAU ranked best Nigerian th varsity, 14 in Africa -— Page 31 C M Y K

From left: Profs Julius Okojie, Executive Secretary, Nigerian Universities Commission; Ruqayyatu Ahmed Rufai, Minister of Education; Yetunde Olumide, newly investituted Professor Emeritus; Deacon Gamaliel Onosode, Pro-Chancellor, UNILAG and Prof. Abdul Rahaman Bello, Vice-Chancellor, UNILAG during the investiture of Prof. Yetunde Olumide as the first female Professor Emeritus of the University of Lagos at its 50th convocation ceremony.

Photo: Lamidi Bamidele. for quality as the requirement for admission to the Pre-NCE course is simply three passes in the Senior Secondary School Certificate Examination.”

To remedy this, he said that the government must first raise the status of the profession by raising the salary of teachers to

Four Nigerian students generate electricity from urine -— Page 37

at least 10% above their counterparts in the civil service and by improving the quality of the service parity with, or superiority over, similar and competing professions.

Also, the numerous CoE all over the country should be converted to produce

Professional Diploma in Education for untrained graduates willing to join the teaching profession or Postgraduate Diploma in Education to be accredited by the

Continues on page 28

UNILAG rename: Settle out of court, Babalola urges FG

By DAYO ADESULU

L

EGAL luminary and proprietor, Aare Afe Babalola University, AdoEkiti (ABUAD), Chief Emmanuel Afe Babalola (SAN) has urged President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration to settle out of court the pending case on the renaming of UNILAG to MAULAG, saying that the President was ill-advised about renaming the university.

He said that better honour should have been given to the late acclaimed

Overhaul of education sector and closure of 337 illegal, substandard schools in Ebonyi -— Page 34

winner of June 12, 1993 presidential election, Chief Moshood Abiola by naming the Supreme Court, National Assembly or Aso Rock after him. Afe Babalola who spoke after he was conferred with Doctor of Law by the University of Lagos said; “The incoming governing council of UNILAG should settle the name change case out of court.”

His words; “When I heard of the change of name, I was the first to go to the press and write to the President that UNILAG was established by an Act of Parliament and that for it to be changed, it must also pass through the same process. The President was ill-advised.

Instead of him saying ‘I am sorry’, he was again ill-advised to run to Senate to amend the Act while the case is already in court. I wrote to him that that was wrong again. You cannot change the Act when a case is in court.”

He, however, enjoined the in coming UNILAG Governing Council to approach the President to settle out of Continues on page 28

28—Vanguard, THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 2013

Continued from page 27 Teachers’ Registration Council.

Commenting on the much needed expansion of the higher education system, Prof. Jubril said the structure of the Nigerian education system is skewed, with 24 million pupils at the primary school level, 6.5 million at the secondary school level, and only 2.5 million at the tertiary level. He argued that in order to move from a gross enrolment ratio of 11.29% at the tertiary level, the number of pupils transiting from the primary to the secondary school levels will have to be increased, and the efficiency of the secondary school level will have to increase substantially.”

The professor also lamented the dire need for funding reforms in the higher education system. According to him; “Funding of tertiary institutions has consistently fallen short of their actual needs, thereby constraining their ability to expand their facilities and recruit competent local and international teaching staff who would improve the quality of education in the system.

According to a committee set up by the National Universities Commission, in the 2006/2007 academic session, there was an average shortfall of N1.16bn in the recurrent allocation to federal universities. The percentage shortfall in federal universities was 24.6 in 2003 and 43.5 in 2004 indicating an unacceptably high financing gap which has serious implications for quality.”

According to calculations, in 2010, the average unit cost per student in Nigerian universities should have been N507,903 but the actual cost was N200,000. The Professor of Linguistics argued that even though the government approved the former amount to guarantee the attainment of premium academic standards, it provided barely 40% of the stipulated amount.

Also when public expenditure per student in Nigerian tertiary institutions is compared to that of their counterparts around the world, Nigeria comes first from behind. The table below expresses

NCE has outlived its usefulness the details: To fast-track education reforms, the government must ensure that funding levels rise two and half times immediately. This should mark the return to formula-based funding and

henceforth, university funding parameters should be respected by both the legislative and executive arms of government and should not be subjected to manipulation or arbitrary cuts.

*Global President, BIFOBA, Mr. Feyi Dinyo with the Principal, Senior School, Mr. C.A.F. Agbonjimi, Principal, Junior School, Mrs. M. A. Ibrahim and award recipients during Birch Freeman High School’s 53rd Founder’s Day, in Lagos.

UNILAG rename: Settle out of court, Babalola urges FG The sum of N500,000 as award to the best student whether undergraduate or post-graduate who has shown great leadership traits in his court. Babalola reiterated; “Let us give relations with other students and or in his appropriate honour to Abiola by naming interactions and relationships with the university the National Assembly, the Supreme community as a whole.

Court or even Aso Rock after him.”

Whatever is left over and above the N1million Moreover, in his commitment to the shall be added to the capital. development of education, Babalola who Also speaking, President Goodluck Jonathan who had single-handedly built a hall in Unilag was represented by the Minister of Education, said; “In the first term of my tenure, I ordered Professor Ruqayyatu Rufai charged universities to that all my allowances should be paid into engage in meaningful research work saying that an account maintained by the university. The is what will bring about national development. money was in the first term turned over to She said; “Our universities must make creative Endowment Fund. All my allowances for the research their priority and continue to provide •Emmanuel Aare second term still remain in that account, I answers to the problems of our society.

The search Afe Babalola understand that they still have about for knowledge and its application for the N3million in the account. I intend to issue a development of new products and services and cheque of N10million to include the N3million which is in the account to be paid to Stanbic Bank in for the resolution of the challenges confronting our immediate the name of Afe Babalola Endowment Fund for the University environment, should now constitute the core of their activity.

Indeed, the time has come for us to pursue aggressive and of Lagos in perpetuity.

The capital of N10million will yield interest of more creative research if we are to obtain a competitive edge and than N1million only. This N1 million accruing from the rise to the top of the global economy. As one of the strategies to attain this goal, I encourage other universities to adopt the interest should be utilised as follows: The sum of N500,000 as award to the best staff whether Annual Research Conference format of UNILAG which started academic or non-academic who has shown great in 2002 and adopted by the National Universities Commission (NUC) in 2004. leadership traits in the discharge of his duties.

Continued from page 27

Cowbell flags off 2013 NASSMAC

BY AMAKA ABAYOMI

P

ROMASIDOR Nigeria Limited, makers of Cowbell milk, has flagged off the 2013 edition of the Cowbell National Secondary Schools Mathematics Competition (NASSMAC).

Currently in its 13th edition, NASSMAC is a competition aimed at awakening the consciousness and interest of secondary school students in mathematics.

Calling for entries for the competition, the Managing Director/CEO, Promasidor Nigeria, Chief Keith Richards, said Promasidor will continue to nourish the dreams of millions of young Nigerians as well as continue to inspire brilliancy in schools.

“We are delighted that NASSMAC has continued to impact lives of students across the nation. Our commitment over the years to NASSMAC has seen this nation-building initiative grow from a small school competition in Lagos in 1998 to a national competition with great reputation in the education industry.”

The NASSMAC 2013 edition, which also marks the 20th year anniversary for Promasidor Nigeria Limited, promises to be exciting as the number of entries has been increased to three students in both junior and senior categories and teachers who have relentlessly stayed committed to NASSMAC will also be celebrated.

“Every year for us in Promasidor is never the same, and this anniversary year, we celebrate the teachers who have relentlessly stayed committed to the cause of nurturing our kids to academic greatness despite all odds and challenges in the educational system”, Richards added.

Describing the processes involved in participating in the competition, Commercial Director, Promasidor Nigeria Limited, Mr. Kachi Onubogu said that the competition is open to all students between 10 – 18 years of age in JSS3 and SS2, in any government approved school in Nigeria.

“The best three students in both categories will represent their schools, and schools that intend to participate can obtain forms from www.promasidor-ng.com or from the headquarters.”

The properly filled forms must be stamped and signed by the school principal and must be presented by the student to the officials at the examination centre on the examination day.

The first stage examination is billed to hold on Saturday, March 16th, 2013, in 200 centres across Nigeria.

Students with the highest scores in both categories will move to the second and final stage examination which will produce national prize winners.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 2013 — 29

30 — Vanguard, THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 14 , 2013

Vanguard, THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 14 , 2013 — 31

32—Vanguard, THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 2013

Youth unemployment: Students trained on how to secure jobs

BY NOSAKHARE UWADIAE, UNIBEN

W

ITH rising rate of youth unemployment in Nigeria, a group, Afterschool Graduate Development Centre (AGDC), has joined forces to tackle the scourge of unemployment in the country by spreading its tentacles across Nigerian campuses to advocate entrepreneurial skills and hard work among undergraduates.

The group organised a one day awareness programme at the Akin Deko Main Auditorium, University of Benin, (UNIBEN) last week, where experts gathered to train undergraduates and fresh graduates on how to secure and sustain jobs.

They identified the lack of synergy between course contents taught in schools and what is obtainable in the labour market in Nigeria, and advocated for a new template for Nigeria’s educational system which would meet the requirements in the labour market.

Attended by hundreds of students and graduates across Edo State, the participants were taught ésumé packaging and skills in tackling job interviews.

Earlier, the Internship Officer, AGDC, Mr. Godbless Otubure said the programme was to enable them bring to Edo State, solution to challenges associated with unemployment in the country through what they have researched over time.

“AGDC is trying to solve that problem of youth unemployment and human capital development by increasing the human competitive index of the average Nigerian graduate to get the kind of job he or she wants.

“People can’t just come out of the varsity and they are looking for job, when they come out of school, they should also think of creating jobs.”

In his keynote address, Mr.

Olakunle Soriyan, a public analyst and a trainer, urged participants to update and develop themselves personally especially in entrepreneurial skills so as to fit into the current world demand or prepare them for their future jobs.

“What determines your future in life are people you meet, event, place and God, your creator. How you channel your behaviour around these things determine how you grow and become successful.

*From Left: Programme Coordinator, NLNG, Olu Sowemimo; Lagos Business School (LBS) Faculty, Prof. Chantal Epie; LBS Director of Executive Education, Chioma Nweke; Manager, Manpower Planning and Resourcing, NLNG, Adesuwa Atanda; and Manager, Learning, NLNG, Saleh Salem during an award presentation to NLNG in recognition of their outstanding contribution to human capital development at LBS.

For lovers only: If Keshi were St. Valentine

their love for the coach and the country.

Indeed, Stephen Keshi had HE much awaited Valentine delivered Nigerians a Valentine gift. season is here again; just a few days The passion with which the Super after Nigeria reiterated its position as Eagles competed in the tournament for giants of Africa. Hopes are rising the past weeks was invigorating, everywhere, with the word ‘love’ being something that could only have been used rampantly and consequently losing borne by a love for motherland.

St. Valentine was an ancient martyr its much coveted meaning.

Only on Sunday, Stephen Keshi, the who was imprisoned for performing coach of the Nigerian Super Eagles weddings for soldiers who were delivered a landmark victory in South forbidden to marry under the Africa at the Orange African Cup of Roman Empire. He is further said Nations. This was seen as a divine to have healed the daughter of his intervention by many as they proclaimed jailer, Asterius. St Valentine, while dying was said to have inscribed ‘From your Valentine’.

On the other hand, St. Keshi, as I would

BY EBUN SESSOU call him, is an include the Library, Administrative Complex, ancient Nigerian the Vocational and Technical centre, among embers of the Lagos State House of others. During the inspection, he advised on player turned coach Assembly, House Committee on Public the need to maintain improved hygiene and who was almost Account (State) visited the Adeniran general cleanliness around the school sacked for choosing Ogunsanya College of Education, Ijanikin, for environment and urged members of staff to players who had on-the-spot assessment of some on-going dedicate themselves to duty and justify their never faced AFCON projects in the institution to ensure pay. battles under the accountability and financial probity. Chairman Nigerian empire.

In his remark, the Provost of the College, of the Committee, Hon. Bolaji Yusuf Ayinla, Mr. Wasiu Olalekan Bashorun, said the He is further said to representing Mushin Constituency 1, said the visitation was timely adding that whatever have healed Nigeria visit is not meant to witch-hunt but rather to new thing that has been deduced from the of her long-standing ascertain and confirm some on-going projects visitation would help enhance its football ill-luck. at the institution.

However, while St. performance.

Ayinla further said, it became imperative to Valentine had to die He promised that machinery would be put ensure that tax payers' money is put to judicious in place to address some issues raised by for his cause, St. use, hence the visit. Some inspected projects the Committee.

BY ADEBAYO CALEB, OAU

T

Lagos Assembly inspects AOCOED projects M

C M Y K

Baje launches motivational book to mark 60th birthday

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eteran journalist and popular public affairs analyst on television, Mr.Ayo Oyoze Baje who clocked 60 on Friday, February 8, 2013 will be launching a motivational book for secondary school students on Saturday, February 16, 2013 at Reel Mix Hall, Eko FM, Ikeja starting at 10 am.

Entitled: HOW TO BE A SUCCESSFUL STUDENT, this first- of- a -kind publication according to the author, is to guide students against mass failure at external examinations such as those set by WAEC, NECO and JAMB, which has become a national shame and embarrassment.

There are ample points to note on how to read effectively; understand, remember and make good use of their teachers, talents and time.

MAPOLY matriculates 5,000 students

BY DAUD OLATUNJI

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o fewer than 5,000 students have been admitted for National Diploma, ND, and Higher National Diploma, HND, programmes for 2012/2013 academic Session at Moshood Abiola Polytechnic, A b e o k u t a .

The Rector of the institution, Tokunbo Fowode, stated this during the matriculation and oath-taking ceremony held in the school premises.

Fowode urged them to remember their primary objective was to obtain either ND or HND. “Therefore, while we will partner with you to achieve this lofty objective, we will frown seriously at all vices associated with studentship.

“Examination misconducts, anti-social behaviours, indecent dressing, clandestine associations among others, to which you have sworn against today, are forbidden.”

While reacting to the discrimination against HND holders, the Rector said whether a student has a Bachelor's degree or HND was immaterial.

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34—Vanguard, THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 2013

BY PETER OKUTU

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HE education sector in Ebonyi State has gone through different stages of advancement to ensure improved and affordable education for every child in the state, irrespective of indigenisation.

One of the measures taken to improve the participation of all in the sector, especially for students of both primary and secondary school age, was the declaration of free and compulsory education during the commencement of the first civil rule in the state in 1999

by Dr. Sam Egwu.

This singular initiative did not only open the vista of opportunities for all to go to school but also afforded some individuals who had no business in the sector the opportunity to establish substandard and illegal schools, hence undermining the objective behind the state government’s proposition.

However, when the administration of Chief Martin Elechi took over in 2007, it made it clear that it would institutionalize educational standards rather than allow the prevalence of illegality and mediocrity to pervade the sector.

Having this in view, the state government through its Ministry of Education decided to first of all, embark on massive closure of illegal and substandard schools across the 13 Local Government Areas of the state as a panacea geared towards improving the standard and establishment of subsisting methodology in the acquisition of knowledge for the overall interest of the people.

After setting up various committees both at the state and LGA levels to check the menace, it had so far identified and closed 337 illegal and substandard schools across the state.

These schools were closed because they failed to meet the requirements put in place by the Ministry for the establishment of schools in the state.

As a matter of fact, schools in that category were banned from participating in government functions such as march past during Children’s Day, Democracy Day, Anniversary Day, Debate and Quiz competitions among others as they have been declared ‘ none existent’ under Ebonyi State Schools System.

The ministry without fear of contradiction closed down these schools and warned staff of the ministry to desist from collecting money from proprietors and proprietresses of the affected schools under

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Classroom block renovated by Ebonyi State Govt.

Overhaul of education sector and closure of 337 illegal, substandard schools in Ebonyi the ploy of reopening their schools.

The commissioner threatened to deal decisively with any staff who engages in such venture.

The state Commissioner for Education, Mr. Ndubuisi Chibueze-Agbo, who pointed out that the initiative was not intended to witch-hunt anybody in the state added that the intention of government was to purge the education system of illegality and raise the standard of education in the state.

He said; “Our Governor believes in quality and giving our children the best and that was why during his swearingin, he made it clear that he would not sacrifice quality on the altar of quantity.

"That is why you can see that there is embargo on the establishment of public schools; apart from the Girls Technical College, Agba, Ishielu LGA, this administration has not established any new school, rather, we are channelling all our resources to giving schools the desired quality.

“Before now, we had a seven-man committee at the state level but presently we have set up a 10-man committee in every LGA of the state to identify illegal and substandard schools, as well as make recommendations to the Ministry of Education.

It is expected that at the end of the month, not even a single illegal school will exist in the state and that is why we have taken it to the grassroots.

“I want to tell you that we are not doing that because we want to witch-hunt or victimize anybody; if we succeed in doing this, we

would have reduced the level of examination malpractice by 50 per cent because once you give students what they ought to know before examination, they will not look elsewhere.

“And a situation where the sector will not be regulated or organised is unacceptable to this administration. The Ministry of Education has the mandate of establishing schools and that is why before this is done, prospective proprietors needed to follow

due process.

"And before we give you approval, you must meet the requirements which are - a block of six classrooms, library, examination hall, laboratory, offices and provision of recreational facilities. So, all we are doing is to make sure that we bequeath a system that is very solid to generations yet unborn.”

Notably, all cases of indiscipline have been most

transparently and officially handled in order to sanitize the sector.

Sources from the ministry revealed that no fewer than 100 senior staff of the Secondary Education Board, SEB, in the state (principals, VPs, supervisors, invigilators, and deans of studies) are facing sanctions ranging from demotion, cut in salary for one year or ban from supervision of external examinations because of their involvement in aiding and abetting examination malpractice in 2011.

Also, the Ministry of Education introduced digitalized internet coded identification cards to curb urban-rural migration registration of students for WAEC and NECO May/June Senior School Certificate Examinations.

The objective of the initiative was to capture all public and private schools in the state and once the state’s Ministry of Education is through with the exercise, a formidable system would have been in place to rid schools of ‘fake students’ under any guise in the state.

The state government as a way of instilling standards and quality within the sector reintroduced boarding system of education by reconstructing and establishing 27 pilot schools (at least two per LGA) across the state

ABC Transport donates buses to schools

BY DAYO ADESULU

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N its bid to equip our e n g i n e e r i n g students with the skills and tools for practical knowledge in our tertiary institutions, ABC Transport has donated three luxury buses to some selected schools. Speaking during a press conference held at ABC Transport terminal, Lagos to mark her 2 0 t h a n n i v e r s a ry, the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, ABC Transport, Mr Frank Nneji who presented three demonstration buses to Lagos State University, LASU, Imo State University, IMSU and Federal Polytechnic Nekede said the gesture was to enhance practical demonstrations in the Au t o m o b i l e / M e c h a n i c a l Engineering departments of these institutions.

He said that 20 years ago when ABC Transport started

operation, he thought by now Nigeria should be assembling vehicles as we have produced enough graduates over the years in automobile/ mechanical engineering who should be able to handle that sector. Lamenting that what we lack is in the area of practical knowledge which informs the reason for the demonstration buses. With the donated buses, he noted that the schools can dismantle the buses and reassemble them again during practical sessions.

According to him, ABC Transport believes that education is a public service which demands collective trust and responsibility saying that nothing is too small or too great to offer the education sector "if we have passion for technological development in our country."

Nneji, however, warned the beneficiary institutions not to use the buses for transport purposes reiterating that the buses are for

practicals in automobile/ mechanical engineering.

The CEO who used the opportunity to unveil their new coaches said; “These coaches are equipped with enhanced security features which include camera systems for surveillance and monitoring.

With the installation of these enhanced security devices, ABC Transport can monitor every operation in the the buses as passengers travel.”

In appreciation for the kind gesture, the Vice Chancellor, Imo State University, Professor Ukachukwu Awuzie said he is impressed with the security facilities in ABC Transport noting that it takes individual to make a change in a society. He, however assures the donor that his school will put the bus into maximum use. “I hope other persons and organisations will learn from this laudable this contribution,” he said.

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National Festival of School Science exhibition kicks off in Lagos

BY EBELE ORAKPO

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HE 9 th edition of the annual Nigerian Secondary Schools Science Fair and Quiz Competition organised by Genius Illumina in partnership with Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) and Intel Corporation, kicked off at the University of Lagos on Monday with students from 21 states participating. Speaking with Vanguard Learning at the event, the Executive Director, Genius Illumina, Dr. Jerry Orhue, said the event is one of the programmes initiated by Genius Illumina aimed at promoting science education.

“This particular event is jointly sponsored by Shell Petroleum Development Company and their Joint Ventures and Intel Corporation. The event is affiliated to the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair in the US so winners of the exhibition component of this event will represent Nigeria in US in May at the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair, all-expense paid,” he said.

“There are a whole lot of other programmes we are involved in including a teachers’ development programme through which we help in training and retraining science teachers already on the job. We also have a programme called the Programme for the Education of the Girl-child aimed at promoting girlchild education.”

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two experiences, either back in school or experiences that they saw other people go through and I personally had quite an interesting experience. I stopped regular school in Class three at the age of 14 years due to inability to pay school fees. I was sent out of school during Mock exam and during WAEC From left; Dolapo Oni, MNET; Mr Derin Phillips, DJ Case; Eku Edewor and Chukie Edozien, until my Form teachLynxxx all Alumni of United Kingdom Universities at an Education Exhibition by British uni- er decided to cover versities for some secondary schools at Eko Hotel and Suites, Lagos. Photo: Lamidi Bamidele for me. She told the principal that I had paid even though I had not paid. After Genius Illumina, according to Dr. or nation can develop beyond her missing English Language paper, my Orhue, is a non-profit, non-political, capacity to institute a workable teacher felt I was too good to be so non-governmental organisation with framework for youths and educational frustrated so she covered up for me so a vision to harness and develop the development.”

I managed to go through, had my innate imaginative and creative He stated that Genius Illumina had school certificate, wrote JAMB and went potential of the child. single-handedly run the project for through the university, had my first degree, The lecturer at the Department of five years before Intel came on board got a master’s and at the point of going to get a PhD, this thought came up.

Biochemistry, University of Benin, and subsequently, Shell. noted that apart from the exhibition Speaking on what led to the “There are so many people at secondary component, “there is also a quiz formation of Genius Illumina, Dr. school level who may not have the kind of contest alongside that will also be Orhue said; “Genius Illumina was boost and drive that I had. It was rough rewarded handsomely. It is all a test established in 2004 as a response to going through school and not everyone has of creativity for the children. We are the rapidly growing failure in the that kind of resilience so it was important therefore to as it were, look for people of trying to complement Government’s nation’s educational system." effort at developing science and Good enough we had at inception like mind that we can go to that lower level technology, believing that no society people of like mind who had one or and encourage the children not to give up no matter what they are going through.

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BY EBELE ORAKPO

The whole fun of living is trying to make something better – Charles Kettering, American inventor and social philosopher.

RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT

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An idea is born:

Said Duro-Aina Adebola, leader of the group; “I read on the internet that a family of five died of carbon monoxide poisoning so I asked myself what could be done to reduce these incessant deaths from carbon monoxide poisoning?

“We were always encouraged to bring up ideas to help solve human problems so one day, we were in the Guest Room of our school; we thought of what could be done to solve this problem. We thought of what we could use to power the generator instead of using the conventional fuel, something that can replace conventional fuels and that will not release any obnoxious substance like carbon monoxide into the environment; something that will also be cheap for Nigerians. You know that when the issue of fuel subsidy removal came up, there was hike in prices of petroleum products,” she said.

‘A problem well stated is a problem half solved,’ according to Charles Kettering, so having identified the problem, the girls moved on to seek solution.

“We started looking at various materials. We looked at water but we felt that the amount of voltage it will take to break the water molecule is large and we wanted something small so we can have a larger output. We decided to look at waste products because Nigerians always opt for something they won’t have to spend their money on. So we started C M Y K

*Bomb detecting radar

*From left; Faleke Oluwatoyin, Duro-Aina Adebola, Akindele Abiola and Bello Eniola

Four Nigerian students generate electricity from urine looking at different materials, one of which was urine. We were looking for something that is liquid, something that has hydrogen molecules in it.

We also observed that the amount of voltage it takes to break a urine molecule is less than the amount it takes to break the hydrogen molecule in water. So we opted for urine since we have a higher output,” she said.

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othing is really a waste in the real sense of the word. Almost anything one can think of is reusable.

Everything has some value one way or the other. This was what four teenage secondary school girls in Lagos set out to prove.

Disturbed by the incessant deaths of Nigerians, most of the time, an entire family, from carbon monoxide poisoning from fossil-fuel generator, the yo-yo movement of petroleum products prices, environmental degradation and the recent fuel subsidy scam, four Senior Secondary School II students of Doregos Private Academy, Ipaja, Lagos, decided to find solution to the problem. In a chat with Vanguard Learning, the girls - Duro-Aina Adebola, Bello Eniola, Akindele Abiola and Faleke Oluwatoyin, shed some some light on the project and what they hope to achieve.

Excerpts:

serves as a drying agent and this is because we do not want lots of moisture going into the generator. Also, borax helps to remove any other impurities that might have come in with the gas. The purified hydrogen gas is then pushed into the generator,” she explained.

Asked how much it will cost to acquire a unit, she said; “It’s something we are still working on because this is a

One litre of urine can give you six hours of electricity

gas storage. The gas cylinder pushes hydrogen into a cylinder of liquid borax, which is used to remove the moisture from the hydrogen gas. Borax

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prototype which cost us about N4,000 apart from the generator. We are working on improving this so it can just be our own generator, a

Nigeria-made generator that works based on urine.

Advantages: For this generator, the exhaust gas is the water vapour. It does not emit carbon monoxide like the normal fuel-based generator so this ensures clean environment for Nigerians.

Again, one litre of urine can give you six hours of electricity.

Appeal:

“We are appealing to people to build up on what we have done. They should take up the idea and help us to improve on it so that it can be something that can be in every Nigerian home because this was not made to be lying around; it was made to be used by Nigerians. All we need is support so we can take it to the next level. We want a situation where every home can have this. We also want to make it compact so you don’t have to have different compartments, they can all be in a single unit that can just be attached to a generator.”

Other projects:

The students are currently working on other projects like bomb detecting radar, motor bike safety device and also paper from maize straw (agricultural waste), to save our trees and environment.

The generator:

“The generator is a conventional fuel-based generator. It combusts slower than the hydrogen gas so we had to retard the ignition of the generator. We actually retarded the back-timing on the generator by 11 degrees.”

Components:

“We have an electrolytic cell, water filter, an empty gas can, borax and our retarded generator.

“The electrolytic cell is an old battery cell we got from the junk yard; we removed the contents of the cell and then used perforated stainless steel mesh as the electrodes so urine is placed in the electrolytic cell, where it is electrolysed, releasing hydrogen-oxygen gas mixture. This mixture then goes into the water filter. The water filter is to remove any impurities that might have come in with the gas and then it goes into an empty gas cylinder which serves as the

COE tteac eac her titution eacher herss decr decryy non-cons non-constitution of governing councils

BY VICTOR AHIUMA-YOUNG

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OLLEGES of Education Academic Staff Union, COEASU, has condemned the non-constitution of governing councils for colleges of education in the country over a year since their dissolution.

A communiqué jointly signed by the union’s president, Mohammed Awwal Ibrahim and Secretary, Emmanuel Nkoro Asagha, said the situation did not augur well for the effective administration of the institutions across the country.

The communiqué, which called on the Ministry of Education to expedite action on the reconstitution of the boards, however, cautioned against using the boards for political patronage, adding that only qualified individuals should be considered.

“For the avoidance of doubt, the congress is poised to resist the imposition of anyone without the requisite experience and

qualification highlighted. In our position as governing council, appointments should not be viewed as a window of opportunity for political settlement,” it said.

The union added it was worried by the “consistent psychological trauma and subjugation of our members at the Federal College of Education (Technical) Omoku, Rivers State, due to the incessant kidnapping of members of staff of the college.”

It also condemned the “killings” at FCE (T) Gombe, petitioning President Goodluck Jonathan and the Inspector-General of Police to ensure that safety of property and lives is restored, stressing that it was planning solidarity action with the affected schools.

It called for the immediate review of terms of the Personal Income Tax (Amendment) Act 2011 as it affects union members amongst other demands.

38 — Vanguard, THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 2013

The father of all achievement

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Gov. Theodore Orji of Abia State laying the foundation stone of Gregory University hostel at Uturu, Abia State. Behind him, from right are Dr. Gregory Ibe, Chancellor of the University, Prof. Juliet Elu, Vice-Chancellor, Mazi Sam Ohuabunwa, Chairman, BOT and Prof. Julius Okogie, Executive Secretary , NUC after the first matriculation ceremony of the university.

Top 20 best pupils, teachers for awards in mathematics cmpetition

BY FAVOUR NNABUGWU

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ith two days to go for 10th edition of National Mathematics Competition, top 20 pupils and their teachers will go home with mouth-watering prizes.

The competition which is mainly for primary 5 & 6 pupils from around the country is organised by the Nigerian Turkish International Colleges (NTIC) in collaboration with the National Mathematical Centre (NMC), comes up on February 16, 2013.

The Head of Department of Mathematics, NTIC who is also the coordinator of the competition, Mr Yunus Esencayi in an intrtview with Vanguard in Abuja recently said that winners of the competition would be awarded scholarships to NTIC and their teachers also would go home with pride with prizes for job well done.

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hat is special about this competitiob?

For many years, Nigerian Turkish International Colleges (NTIC) has been collaborating with the National Mathematics Centre (NMC) on different issues. NMC is the one selecting students to represent Nigeria in all the mathematics Olympiad competitions. We try to assist them the way we can, in training process. I am a medalist of the Mathematics International Olympiad myself, with a silver medal. So, I am now helping NMC through the

courses I teach.

We are organising the National Mathematics Competition together with NMC. The competition has two stages. The first is the state level in which we conduct examination in all the 36 states plus the FCT. We expect that about 20,000 students are going to participate in this competition. After the first stage, the best three students from each state will come to Abuja for the final stage. We will select 20 best students from the final stage who are going to be rewarded with prizes; certificates, medals, cash prizes and also scholarship slots in our colleges. Their teachers and their schools are also given prizes so that we encourage them all.

The reason behind this is that even though mathematics is a key subject for all the science subjects, we observed that there is a mathematics phobia among the pupils. To address this problem, we think that if you conduct a nationwide competition like this, the pupils and teachers would study hard for the competition.

In the first round, the nationwide written examination would be conducted on February 17 and then we invite the state winners here for the final round on March 2 from where we will select overall winners.

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hrough this competition, the NMC and the NTIC try to identify bright students

at a very young age so that we can train them. NTIC gives them chance in our colleges and also NMC trains them to represent Nigeria in international competitions. So, those students identified at an early age would have enough time for preparations and when they represent Nigeria in international competitions, they perform very well and fly Nigeria’s flag. And the most important thing for us is all the students participating in the competition work very hard.

The teachers have extra time training the students. Apart from their normal class lessons, they come together after for special lessons to prepare for this competition. So, it also increases their level of learning.

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umber of brillant pupils: Through this competition, we have identified and trained a number of brilliant students.

Let me give an example of only two of them. Henry Aniobi is a student that we discovered five years ago through this competition. He was offered scholarship in our school and he started training from JSS1.

From that first year to now that he is in SS3, he has recorded a lot of achievements including at the most prestigious competition, which is International Mathematics competition with 100 participating countries. He got a bronze medal from that competition which was the best result ever for Nigeria.

n the anatomy of human nature, there are two kinds of mental kingdom ruled by two opposing forces.

The Positive Mental Kingdom is dominated by faith and produces success while the Negative Mental Kingdom is ruled by fear and results in failure.

In the Positive Mental Kingdom, definiteness of purpose is king for it gives unerring direction to its citizens. But in the Negative Mental Kingdom aimlessness is king because it leads its citizens to nowhere.

The mental kingdoms are made up of families that constitute its citizenry. The Positive Mental Kingdom constitutes of success families.

In the success family, self confidence is the head or leader where faith rules. In the Negative mental Kingdom made up of failure families; unbelief, doubt, worry, and all negativity is the leader where fear rules.

The common factor between these two kingdoms is that it uses thoughts and imagination as a medium for its dominance.

However, the thin line that separates these two kingdoms is the nature and quality of the thoughts and the use of the imagination which makes a world of difference in the superiority of the Positive Mental Kingdom and the inferiority of the Negative Mental kingdom.

Show me a man who knows himself, believes in himself and his abilities and I will show you a man on the upward road to successful achievement.

You can’t climb the mountain when your mind is dominated with thoughts of the valley, anymore than you can succeed when your mind is dominated by fear and doubt.

Fear is a great success killer that destroys the seed of greatness within and opens one up to all kinds of evils.

Fear of poverty; fear of failure and fear of criticism are among the predominant fears that have kept destinies in bondage.

As a little girl, she had dreams of becoming Miss America. She contested for Miss Florida twice and won the second runner up. She refused to give up on her dreams. In 1997, she moved to Kansas and contested for the Miss Kansas beauty pageant and won the title.

Within the same year she was crowned Miss America.

In an interview Tara revealed that she was tempted to give up when she lost twice in a row at the state level competitions. However, she decided to rent hundreds of videos of various beauty pageants and watched them repeatedly; she envisioned herself being crowned a winner.

A reporter asked her if she was nervous walking down the runway in front of millions of people watching on television and with the announcer singing the famous Miss America song.

Tara gave a remarkable reply, “No I wasn’t nervous at all, you see, I had walked down that runway thousands of times before.”

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he principles behind Tara’s success could be applied.You must not judge yourself based on past experiences or the opinion of people. Have a clear vision of your purpose; believe in yourself and in your abilities; be persistent and aggressively take action based on a sound plan to accomplish your aim.

What you think, what you believe and what you expect will eventually become a reality in your life.Your life will remain at the level of your most dominant thoughts.

Therefore, set aside a convenient time to concentrate your thoughts on the person you want to be and create a mental picture of the person you desire to be.

In life, people that believe that they can get something for nothing are doomed to fail. Therefore, you must write down your major aim in life and plot goals towards its achievement with what to give in exchange for what you desire. To get the best, you must give the best.

To develop self confidence, you must get rid of a negative mindset; hatred, envy, jealousy, selfishness will make your destiny become dwarfed but love makes for a giant destiny.

Therefore, build your achievement on the foundation of truth and justice and apply the Golden Rule; in all your dealings with people.

Therefore, self confidence is the father of all achievement.

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Economy, Politics and Human Rights: Whither Nigeria? (4)

Making Legal Aid work in Nigeria’s police stations — 40

— 42

Lagos has zero tolerance for crimes and criminals — Ipaye

BY ABDULWAHAB ABDULAH

Mr Ade Ipaye is Lagos State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice. In this interview, he spoke on the security problems facing the country; implementation of the state traffic law among others.

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•Mr Ade Ipaye I must say first, that we are seeing a remarkable level of compliance and this has improved the traffic situation as well as the security and safety of Lagosians. You would be surprised at

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HAT informed the decision for magistrate courts in the state to sit weekends from this year?

It is to make justice accessible to the people of the state. People arrested on Friday do not need to spend the weekend in prison or police custody, just because the magistrate courts are not sitting to hear their cases or grant them bail. For instance, on environmental sanitation Saturdays, it is not unusual for defaulters to end up in custody. With Saturday sitting, such cases can be processed immediately.

By doing so, we decongest the prisons, police cells and lighten the weekly cause list of magistrate courts.

To that extent, we speed up the administration of justice. Most importantly, we promote justice and give the arrested person a fair chance to vindicate himself as early as possible.

Would the magistrate court handle specific cases weekend?

All the cases they normally take during the week, they will have exactly the same jurisdiction on Saturday as they have during the week. I expect that they will take a lot of bail applications also.

What achievements have you recorded with Community Service as a means of sentencing by magistrate courts for minor offences?

Lagos State Government pioneered the community service as a sentencing option and with the necessary structures put in place, have gradually increased its use as a means of punishing minor offenders and deterring crime without locking them up in prisons or disrupting their lives. In January alone, a total of 207community service orders were completed.

These are 207 individuals that could have increased the population of our prisons and aggravated conditions there. Able bodied beggars and street traders are included in this category.

We are now engaging the Ministry of Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation with a view to referring appropriate cases for vocational training after they must have completed their period of community service. This will further encourage constructive engagement of our vibrant workforce and reduce crime rate in our society.

What impediments have the state been facing in the course of implementing the new Lagos Traffic Law 2012?

When the motorcycles are well and truly abandoned, the state reserves the right to dispose of them in the most reasonable manner.

Crushing is just one of the options that may be considered

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the number of arrests made daily. If you know where we were coming from, you will know that we are making progress. For instance, as we have less motorcycles on the road, it becomes easier to identify and arrest defaulters. However, I must say that we do not have enough Policemen out there. That is a general problem, not peculiar to traffic law enforcement. And, unfortunately, we still see some policemen and military

personnel violating the restriction.

This is, however, being dealt with. We have the commitment of their superior officers that the law will be enforced and they are doing their best.

The Road Traffic Law has continued to generate controversy. I need to clarify the allegations that commercial motorcycles operating on roads outside the prohibited list are, being arrested. What I found is that they still operate without crash helmets, riders card or proper plate numbers. Many of them still carry more than one passenger, among others. All of these are contraventions of the law for which they can be arrested. Be that as it may, we have recorded 60 percent reduction in crime as compared to the pre-Traffic Law era and no new deaths. There had been a 35.9 to 70 percent reduction in the number of vehicles apprehended from November to December.

There are indications from the state Police Commissioner, that over 6,972 commercial motorcycle were seized by law enforcement agents between September last year till date.

There had been this debate on the crushing of such motorcycles. What is your reaction to this?

We are obliged to hold them for a while as the defaulters may be prosecuted and the machines may be required as evidence. Also, whether we intend prosecution or not, any

alleged defaulter, who says he has a defence must be given the opportunity to come before a Judge or Magistrate.

We cannot dispose of the motorcycles unless we have given a reasonable opportunity to the owner or riders to make his case or to face prosecution as the case may be. When the motorcycles are well and truly abandoned, the state reserves the right to dispose of them in the most reasonable manner.

Crushing is just one of the options that may be considered.

How would you assess human rights situation in Lagos State?

Never better. All of the programmes I had highlighted in my previous interviews, that is Office of the Public Defender, Citizens Mediation Centre, Public Advice Centre, Consumer Rights Unit, among others are all geared towards human rights protection or enforcement. Making their services free means that even the poor and the vulnerable are given access to justice. All our vocational centres are concrete institutions for the realisation of rights. People are given the opportunity of learning a trade and living a productive life. Our free health screening, immunisation and healthcare programmes are also very relevant.

The right to life must be interpreted to mean the right to live a healthy life, so are our programmes on the environment. Even where we clear illegal developments and take the hard decision to displace people sometimes, it is so that the great majority might have a functional drainage or a clean environment; or so that the displaced people would not unnecessarily endanger themselves, such as when they set up businesses and residence rights under high tension power lines or when they dwell in totally unsanitary conditions. If you look at all these efforts and institutions, such as our Office of Disability, Child Rights Centre, among others, you will fully realise that this government is doing so much for human rights, hence our Continues on page 40

EDITORIAL TEAM Dayo Benson (Editor) Innocent Anaba Wahab Abdulah Ikechukwu Nnochiri

40— VANGUARD, THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 2013

Making Legal Aid work in Nigeria’s police stations

BY STANLEY IBE

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URING its first year the project reduced the number of pretrial detainees by 88.4 percent in Imo; 86.2 percent in Kaduna; 30.5 percent in Ondo; and 61 percent in Sokoto.

In February 2012, nearly 80 percent of Nigeria’s prison population was awaiting trial; nearly a quarter of those detainees had been held for at least one year. For a country of 160 million, having almost 50,000 people locked in 227 prisons might not sound like too much of a problem. However, the unacceptably high proportion of unconvicted persons in prolonged prison confinement is very definitely a cause of concern.

Most of these detainees are

held on a “holding charge”— a preliminary charge brought by the police and designed to extract a remand order from a local magistrate’s court, which in turn enables the police to hold a suspect while criminal investigations continue. There are good reasons for this practice. Often, investigations are not completed within the maximum 48 hours of detention allowed under Nigeria’s constitution. The police are undermanned, over-worked and ill-equipped. Crime suspects may interfere with investigations, tamper with evidence or threaten witnesses.

But the actual practice of the holding charge in Nigeria makes a mockery of these reasons. Under the law, suspects may only be admitted to a prison on the orders

of a court. But when a magistrate issues a remand order, the warrant does not include a date on which the suspect is to be brought back before the court by the police. Effectively the detainees may be held at the pleasure of the state for indeterminate periods. This explains why many detainees languish in prison for years.

Two recent cases illustrate this.

Sikiru Alade was arrested as a 30 year-old in March 2003 and detained awaiting trial on the orders of a Magistrate in Lagos, Nigeria. For over nine years thereafter, Sikiru was detained in a prison without being returned to Court for a trial or review of his detention. In June 2012, the Court of Justice of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) invalidated

his detention and ordered his release, in a case brought on his behalf by the Open Society Justice Initiative. He was finally released in October 2012, nearly 10 years after his initial detention on a holding charge.

Sikiru is not the only victim of this unfortunate travesty of justice. In 1990, Ernest was arrested and remanded on suspicion of involvement in an armed robbery. He was 18.

Although the alleged victim of the crime did not exist and there were no witnesses, he remained incarcerated until one of our partners in Nigeria, the Rights Enforcement and Public Law Centre (REPLACE) intervened to secure his release in 2008.

In both cases, as is usual in most criminal cases in Nigeria, the suspects allegedly

IG Mohammed Abubakar committed a crime under state laws. The Nigeria Police Force, a federal institution, investigated the crimes. State magistrates courts remanded them in federal prisons. The interface between these federal and state institutions Continues on page 41

Lagos has zero tolerance for crimes and criminals —Ipaye •Continues from page 39 decision to commemorate the day along with our friends.

How would you rate administration of justice in the state in the last one year?

We are making steady progress. Improved cooperation in the sector and dedication of key stakeholders have yielded a safer and fairer Lagos in 2012. Crimes happen, but the important thing is that they are detected and the criminals are prosecuted. At the moment, about 650 cases are being prosecuted by the ministry in various courts. In addition to that, a lot of cases are prosecuted daily by the Police at the Magistrate courts. 753 reports of various investigations reached us for legal advice in 2012 and we exceeded the 70 percent mark in dealing with them. In 2013, we shall be stepping up our prosecution to ensure Lagosians that criminals will not go unpunished.

What are your achievements in the administration of justice?

There is so much to talk about. Our Civil Procedure Rules, which had already become a model in the country, has been further revised and the High Court will take effect this year. Apart from the courts, the Lagos State Citizens Mediation Centre dealt with over 18,000 disputes last year. Can you imagine a Lagos without that unique avenue to resolve disputes free of charge? Of course, we also have the Multidoor Courthouse, the Office of the Public Defender, Public Advice Centre, Consumer Rights Protection Unit, among others. On the criminal aspects, we now have increased co-operation in the sector with the activation of the Administration of Criminal Justice Committee, which has the Chief Judge, Attorney General, Commissioner of Police and Comptroller of Prisons as members. We meet

quarterly to consider issues of prison decongestion, criminal prosecutions and monitoring of detainees among other issues of mutual concern. We also established a sub-committee, where representatives of all the concerned agencies meet more regularly to discuss and resolve problems. You have seen already what is going on with prison decongestion with the Chief Judge and the Ministry of Justice taking active part. That is clearly unprecedented. With the establishment of Community Service as a sentencing option, the gains are enormous.

Lagosians have been complaining of delays in prosecuting cases in the state. What is your reaction to this?

Lagos State Government is mindful of the need to create a safe and conducive atmosphere for productive activities, hence the close attention we are giving to environmental offences like refuse dumping, street trading, begging among others. People in Lagos with legitimate accommodation and business or other engagements have nothing to fear, but we shall continue to round

up and prosecute others, who are involved in illegitimate activities. In particular, I wish to mention the fact that abandoned vehicles and abandoned property create a safe haven for criminals and criminal activities, hence the need to remove or sanitise them. I do not need to stress that security is an issue which we must all take seriously.

Litigants and their lawyers have been crying out over delays in the issuance of legal service. What does this portend?

The Ministry of Justice has been up and doing in the issuance of legal advise. Most time, case files relating to some of the cases are not forwarded to the ministry on time to deal with. However, as a way to further promote fairness in our criminal justice system, we established a system, where all persons remanded in prison custody, usually at the instant of Police investigators, while Directorate of Public Prosecution, DPP’s advice is being awaited must be notified to the office of the Attorney-General. This will enable us prioritise their cases, as against those of

defendants, who had been granted bail. This will further ensure that people are not locked up for long periods of time awaiting prosecution.

In January 2013, the Legal Advisory Unit in DPP’s office received a total of 40 case files from the Police and had issued 65 legal advices.

Similarly, in December 2012, we received 57 files and treated 97. This means that the Unit can now cope with its monthly inflow as well as consistently reduce the backlog of files that it had in 2012. It also indicates that we are moving nearer to our target of ensuring that legal advice was issued within 30 days of receiving a complete report of investigation into any case.

In January, the DPP’s office completed the prosecution of a 36 year old father, Friday Obot, who flogged his son to death. He was convicted for manslaughter and sentenced to four years imprisonment. I think this is a reminder to parents to be mindful of the possibility of causing injury or death to their children and ward in the course of punishment.

Also we had the Court of Appeal upheld the conviction of Rev. King. At the High Court, the appellant was earlier found guilty on charges of attempted murder and murder and sentenced to death by hanging.

During the period under review, the Office of the Public Defender intervened in the pathetic case of an 11 year old girl, who was allegedly defiled by a pastor. The pastor was alleged to have procured abortion for the girl three times in 2012. OPD promptly got the pastor arrested and he had since been charged to court. The growing incidence of rape and defilement of minors justify a warning to parents.

I cannot but mention the case of Hope Okafor, a commercial sex worker, who was charged with murder for allegedly killing a client, Abiodun Sarumi. The client acting under the influence of alcohol assaulted Okafor and she stabbed him in selfdefence. OPD represented her at the trial and succeeded in convincing the court to reduce the charge from murder to manslaughter.

VANGUARD, THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 2013—41

VANGUARD LAW IN PIX Making Legal Aid work in Nigeria’s police stations •Continues from page 40

has traditionally been ill-defined. As a result it is all too easy for detainees to fall between the cracks and end up forgotten by the justice system.

This does not have to continue. Nigeria’s 1991 Administration of Justice Commission Act theoretically created both state and national bodies tasked with improving links between the different criminal justice institutions. The national administration of justice commission includes the chief justice, the federal attorney general, the minister of internal affairs, the inspector general of Police, the director of prisons, and the president of the Nigerian Bar Association. Each state committee is similarly constituted by state level officials. The primary mandate of these bodies is the “general supervision of administration of justice,” which extends to ensuring maximum cooperation amongst justice institutions; the reduction of congestion in courts and prisons; and remarkably, ensuring that “persons awaiting trial are, as far as possible, not detained in prison custody.” Regrettably, neither the national commission nor the state committees have ever been established as envisaged under this law.

In an effort to address some of these issues, the Legal Aid Council of Nigeria and the Open Society Justice Initiative launched a project in 2004 aimed at reducing the number of detainees awaiting trial as a proportion of the prison population.

It also sought to ensure effective coordination between the Legal Aid Council, the police and prosecutorial authorities with a view to reducing the time it takes for the department of public prosecutions to issue legal advice.

Realizing that the police are the gateway into the criminal justice system, the project focused some attention on the police with the establishment of the Police Duty Solicitors Scheme in 2005.

This scheme, developed with the support of the federal police, made available 16 young lawyers (duty solicitors) on compulsory national service in designated police stations across four of Nigeria’s 36 states: Imo, Kaduna, Ondo and Sokoto. Their mission was to offer legal aid and assistance

to crime suspects within the first 48 hours of their arrest. The duty solicitors interviewed suspects; they contacted families and lawyers, where available; they applied for police bail on behalf of suspects; and they represented suspects appearing in court on arraignment. In its first year, the scheme resulted in the release of 1,255 people awaiting trial, against a previous annual baseline of 3001 detainees in custody, representing a 41.7 percent decrease in the number in custody. The project also diverted 636 persons away from indefinite pre-trial detention. During its first year the project reduced the number of pretrial detainees by 88.4 percent in Imo; 86.2 percent in Kaduna; 30.5 percent in Ondo; and 61 percent in Sokoto.

The project has now been running for seven years. It has released over 10,000 persons and expanded to two additional states, Edo and Kebbi. Two of the project states—Ondo and Sokoto—now have judicial instructions that limit the length of pretrial detention to not more than nine months.

The project has also attracted external funding from the Macarthur Foundation, which supports two more states, Plateau and Rivers. In 2011, Justice Initiative initiated an external review of the project preparatory to possible takeover by Nigerian authorities.

The review covered the first five years, from 2005 to 2010, and sought to assess the impact of the scheme and to identify continuing challenges. It concluded that the scheme had, among other things, resulted in a significant reduction of influx of minor offenders into the prison system, as well as increased government attention to the problem of pre-trial detention.

The Police Duty Solicitors Scheme is a low-cost but effective tool that focuses on the entry point into the criminal justice system, and that engages with the system through to the point of imprisonment. While the scheme was designed to address needs in Nigeria, the model underlines a broader message: that this kind of administrative innovation can both ease the burdens on an overcrowded justice system, and address the excessive and unnecessary use of pre-trial detention.

NBA hold peace & security summit

Nigerian Bar Association, NBA, recently held its Peace and Security summit in Abuja.

From left: Justice Alomar Mukhtar, Chief Justice of Nigeria, CJN; NBA President, Mr Okey Wali, SAN; Governor Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State; Chairman, NBA Peace and Security Committee, Chief Okey Amechi, and Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister for Justice, Mr Mohammed Adoke.

From left: Justice M. O. Owoade, JCA; Chief Judge Anambra State, Justice P. C. Umeadi and Chairman, Body of Benchers, Chief Idowu Sofola.

From left: Chief Augustin Alegeh;Mr Joseph Daudu, SAN, former NBA President and Chief Solomon Akuma, SAN, former Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Abia State.

From left: Former Commonwealth Secretary, Mr Emeka Anyaoku and former Head of State, General Muhammadu Buhari (rtd).

From left: Former General Secretary NBA, Mr Ibrahim Mark; President Global Association of Female Attorneys, GAFA, Mrs Chinelo Iriele and Chairman, National Human Rights Commission, Prof. Chidi Odinkalu.

From left: Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Delta State, Mr Charles Ajuya, SAN and Mr Arthur Okafor, SAN.

From left: Deacon Dele Adesina, SAN, Mallam Yusuf Ali, SAN and Chief Niyi Akintola, SAN.

From left: Chief: J. S. Okutepa, SAN, Speaker Benue State House of Assembly, Mr Terhile Ayua and 2nd Vice President NBA, Mr Steve Abba.

From left: Prof. M.O. Maduagwu, Prof. Aja Akpuru Aja and Prof. Etanibi Alemika.

42—VANGUARD, THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 2013

Economy, Politics and Human Rights: Whither Nigeria? (4) Odinkalu continues this week with this article on Economy, Politics and Human Rights: Whither Nigeria?

This was two years before Nigeria would become a Republic in 1963. The trial somehow conveniently coincided with the elections into the dissolved Northern Nigeria House of Assembly, controlled by the then ruling Northern Peoples’ Congress (NPC). The effort to crush the UMBC failed in the short term as forces loyal to Tarka prevailed in his beloved Tivland during the elections and he was acquitted in the trial. However, the ruling party had learnt not to be outmaneuvered.

Thus, next, in 1962, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, leader of the Opposition in the Federal Parliament would subsequently be tried and convicted of treasonable felony in proceedings in which the then Federal Minister for Internal Affairs, Usman Sarki, denied his counsel of choice, Mr. Gratien QC, entry clearance into igeria. This was to precede a takeover of Chief Awolowo’s Western region and his removal as official Leader of the Opposition in the Federal Parliament by the same

census in 1973 which proved to be “farcical. The results were never published.”

The authors of the early post-colonial mis-haps were not spared. Professor Taslim Elias, who, as Federal Attorney-General, presided over the developments narrated above, would himself become a victim of his own precedents when, as Chief Justice, he was summarily The first crises of relieved of his position in post-colonial 1975 with no need for justification.

Nigeria arose with The age of optimal the 1963 national arbitrariness was nigh and the census, the federal rulers of Nigeria suffered no inhibitions in extraelections of 1964, •Chidi Odinkalu territorialising arbitrariness. It and the elections was a fatal error. of Powers) Decree of 1970, in the old Western Intoxicated with liquidity eviscerating the decision and region in 1965 hubris, the government of lobotomizing the courts.

General Gowon initiated an Despite episodic stirrings to ambitious public infrastructure judicial imagination since project that required massive then, our judicial institutions importation of cement whose events ultimately preceded have never quite recovered quantity we didn’t care to the descent into military rule, from this and the know. Led by rulers who were mass atrocity and war consequences of these grave un-schooled in the between 1966 and 1970.

As errors by men who were complicated mechanics of Professor Robert Collins inevitably limited by their international commercial observed in his 1970 book youth continue to haunt our credits, the country received Nigeria in Conflict, “this country and its succeeding an inundation of useless sand atmosphere was….the main generations. imports that it had not ordered reason for the two coups and The tendency of the postand did not need. This import the civil war.

Dishonesty both colonial regimes to respect of sand was so vast, it in thought and deed were the only legal advice that they overwhelmed the capacity of prime bases of the Nigerian liked and obey judicial the ports in Nigeria, troubles.” The end of the war decisions that favoured them necessitating massive commitwas quickly followed by postwould quickly catch up first ments in demurrage, lost with the country in an absence Yom Kippur War Oil Boom. maritime contracts and Immediately before the Oil of credible institutions to revenues, and the leasing of Boom, there was a national port space in neighboring countries. The country lost a lot of money (no one has ever computed how much) and its He said priority should (the judges) should Obi, said the forum rulers appeared to lose be given to cases by close our eyes to all that was meant to help whatever marbles they had.

AMCON as was done AMCON files.” strengthen the In one of history’s more with cases relating to He said that plans operations of the expensive piques of martial fundamental rights, were on to ensure that court and make the fit, Nigeria’s then military money laundering, rape cases by AMCON were judges’ work easier. government repudiated its and kidnapping, besent to judges in other He expressed hope payment obligations under cause “they affect the jurisdictions outside that the forum would the original commercial life blood of the nation.”

Abuja and Lagos, where become an annual arrangements. Sued before Auta noted that the fact the cases are currently event, where legal courts in several European that AMCON was concentrated. issues would be countries (including England, bankrolling the forum AMCON’s Managing discussed.

Germany, Switzerland and did not mean that “we Director, Mustafa ChikeAustria), Nigeria unsuccessfully pleaded sovereign immunity in support of its attempt to repudiate the contracts. It es. They are punitive in damages i.e. damages to to make a profit and failed. Armed with judgment where exemplary nature. General damagpunish the defendant. debts that became due for damages is author- payment together with es are damages which They are however to be ized by statute. the law presumes to flow awarded only in very accrued interest payments Before Rookes v. naturally from the wrong restricted categories of various international creditors Barnard in 1964, complained of. They are cases. This was laid easily enforced their judgment courts in Nigeria damages implied by law down in Rookes v. debts against Nigeria’s assets awarded exemplary overseas. Shortly after the and need not be proved Barnard [1964] AC damages under the turn of 1980, the country specially. While the law 1129. In this case the of evidence requires House of Lords held that same circumstances became unable strictly as in England. special and exemplary the defendants were speaking to finance its After Rookes v. damages to be proved, liable for intimidation commitments. Substance Barnard, Nigerian general damages need but that they could not dependency had caught up not be proved. Exempla- be liable to pay damages courts were in a with Nigeria: dilemma as to ry, punitive, vindictive other than that which The optimism expressed by whether to follow or aggravated damages, would compensate the foreign bankers and Rookes v. Barnard are usually awarded plaintiff for his actual businessmen about Nigeria in or not. In Ezeani v. 1980 and 1981 had given way whenever the defendloss. Lord Devlin with Ejidike (1964) 1 All to ‘unrelenting gloom’. Oil ant’s conduct is suffithe concurrence of other NLR 402, a Lagos ciently outrageous to Law Lords stated that revenues had fallen 42 per High Court award- cent in two years as the price merit punishment as exemplary damages ed exemplary where, for instance, it would only be awarded of crude collapsed from $40.97 damages without discloses malice, fraud, where the defendant’s a barrel in December 1980 to reference to the cruelty, insolence, or conduct is, oppressive, $28.25 in March 1982. In a case of Rookes v. flagrant disregard of the arbitrary or unconstitusure sign of a country in Barnard. law and the like.( See tional action by the crisis, the government turned There are certain inservants of the Governwas hit particular hard. stances, where the court ment, where the defend•To be continued would award exemplary ants action is calculated •To be continued

government.

Thirdly, in 1963, disregarding a pending Privy Council appeal (which it subsequently lost) in a dispute over who was the lawful Prime Minister of the Western Region, the government restored Chief Awolowo’s ambitious former deputy, Samuel Akintola, as the Prime Minister of the Western Region. Following the Privy Council decision in this case, the then Federal Government established the Supreme Court, abolished appeals to the Privy Council and proclaimed Nigeria a Republic. The civilians had laid the foundations of what would define post-colonial political economy and governance – that the decisions of courts which prove not to be malleable could be dispensed with at the whim of the rulers of the day.

The military would take this lesson to heart when they took over the reins of power following the coups of 1966.

When the then Supreme Court ruled in 1969 that the events of January 1966 were not revolutionary in a constitutional sense, obliging the then military regime, therefore, to subject itself the niceties of the written 1963 Constitution, the soldiers simply promulgated the Federal Military Government (Supremacy and Enforcement

prevent arbitrariness and check mendacity in public life.

The first crises of postcolonial Nigeria arose with the 1963 national census, the federal elections of 1964, and the elections in the old Western region in 1965.

Successively compromised by serial arbitrariness these three

,

BY CHIDI ODINKALU

Corruption: Agbakogba blames court helplessness on weak laws

F

ORMER President of Nigerian Bar Association, NBA, Mr Olisa Agbakogba, SAN, has attributed the weakness in existing laws to the seeming helplessness of the nation’s criminal justice system, stressing that the system appears to have been overwhelmed by the level of corruption in the country, adding that the laws are old and outdated.

He argued that the sentence handed to Mr John Yusufu, the Police Pension Fund convict, which many found ridiculous, was because the nation’s criminal laws were old. Agbakoba, who at the 2nd Federal High Court Judges Forum organised in Lagos by Asset Management Company of Nigeria, AMCON, suggested a comprehensive overhaul of the nation’s criminal laws to enable it cope with today’s reality.

He praised the initiative behind the forum, which was meant for the judges to closely examine the newly introduced AMCON Practice Direction 2013.

The forum, he said was part of efforts to further educate the judges on ways of better

dealing with AMCON cases to ensure they were speedily dealt with. Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, Justice Ibrahim Auta, who unveiled the practice direction at the opening session of the forum, urged judges to treat AMCON and other related cases with dispatch.

The Supreme Court's approach to exemplary damages PROF LAWRENCE ATSEGBUA

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HIS article exam ines the Supreme Court’s approach to the award of exemplary damages in civil law. As will become evident, the Supreme Court appears to have sanctioned the award of exemplary damages in civil law in exceptional circumstances.

We argue that exemplary damages have no place in civil law and that the Supreme Court should have stated boldly that exemplary damages should not be awarded in civil law. Exemplary damages are damages on an increased scale over and above special or actual or ordinary damages, awarded in aggravated circumstanc-

,

Vanguard, THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 2013—43

FG tasks Navy on sea robbers, illegal bunkering ••Acquires new boats to fight piracy, crude oil theft

Anambra govt sacks 135 ASTA staff over extortion

BY ENYIM ENYIM

BY EVELYN USMAN

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HE Federal Government has charged the Nigerian Navy to flush out sea robbers and illegal bunkering from the nation’s territorial waters.

This came as government acquired five new fast patrol boats for the Navy to enable its personnel intensify efforts in maritime security.

However, the NN said for it to dominate the vast expanse of the nation’s territorial water and effectively combat the emerging security challenges in the maritime environment, it would need additional 40 boats of same class of boats.

Speaking at the commissioning of the patrol boats named OCEA and SHALDAG, Minister of Finance, Dr Ngozi OkonjoIweala, explained that the acquisition was done based on NN’s ability to prove that it was capable of helping the nation detect criminal activities on the nation’s waters, which she described as damaging to the country’s resources in the maritime sector.

She said: “When the CNS came to me, we had a bargain which was the need to see results. You know, for us to put in more money, they must show results. He came with graphs and charge, showing what they

are doing to reduce the illegal oil theft, the reason for which they need these patrol boats.

“So far, they are showing a capability to be able to help us detect criminal activities that is damaging the resources of this country in the maritime sector. And you know, Mr

president is totally behind the Armed Forces. I am particularly impressed because when you see results, you are encourage to put more muscle and money behind it.

So, all we are asking from them is more results” In her key note address,

Minister of State for Defence, Erelu Olusola Obada, noted that in spite of the the constraints militating against the navy’s efforts to optimally discharge its statutory duty, especially in the maritime domain, it had been continued to do its best in safeguarding the maritime assets.

L-r: Chief Arthur Mbanefo, former Nigerian Permanent Representative to the United Nations and Odu of Onitsha; guest of honour, Prof Bola Akinterinwa, Director General Nigerian Institute of International Affairs, NIIA; and Prof Pat Utomi, during the reception organised by the NIIA in honour of Chief Arthur Mbanefo, following his award of the Doctor of Science by University of Lagos. Photo: Kehinde Gbadamosi

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WKA—THE people of Amansea in Anambra State, which Ezzu River was polluted following the discovery of decomposing human bodies last month, have commended Senator Andy Uba, for moving the motion that informed the decision of the upper legislative chambers to set up a joint committee currently investigating the matter.

Senator Uba represents Anambra South senatorial district in the Senate.

Some of them who spoke to reporters in Awka said though Senator Uba was not representing their area in the Senate, his concern over the health implications of the incident made him to move the motion on the floor of the Senate.

A community leader, Mr. Ephraim Nworah, observed that in addition to moving the motion, Uba had also assisted

the community with large quantities of bottled and sachet water and promised to attract the attention of the federal government to intervene in the matter.

He said: “We are happy that the Senate has appointed its standing committees on police affairs and national security and intelligence whose

members are already in Anambra State to unravel the mystery behind the floating bodies on Ezzu River.

“From their statements and questions they have been asking so far to both government functionaries and security operatives, we know they mean business. We know their coming was made

possible because of Senator Uba’s motion. While we await the result of the Senate investigation, we plead that more assistance in form of relief materials should come to us from the Federal Government.”

Another indigene of the area, Mr. Cosmas Okeke, said the prompt attention given the matter by the Senate after the senator’s motion shows the respect he commands among his colleagues.

••Akunyili tasks security agencies on source of dead bodies

F

ORMER Information Minister, Professor Dora Akunyili, yesterday, asked security agencies to tell Nigerians the source of the dozens of dead bodies discovered on Ezzu River on the border between Anambra and Enugu states last month.

Akunyili, who spoke after visiting Amansea, which is one of the communities using Ezzu River as their source of water supply, argued that if security operatives could not tell

Nigerians what really happened, then Nigerians were longer safe.

She said: “If these people were killed, who killed them and why were they killed? Again, the mass burial that was hurriedly done was what I did not understand. There ought to have been proper identification before the corpses were buried.”

She, however, expressed happiness that the bodies were later exhumed for autopsy, adding that it would help to

BOUT 135 staff of Anambra State Traffic Agency, ASTA, have been sacked for various offences ranging from extortion, bribery, intimidation and harassment of motorists in the state.

Commissioner for Transport, Mr Chike Ohamobi, in an interview with Vanguard on the activities of the ministry, said the action followed government’s resolve to purge the ministry of bad eggs.

He said the affected staff who had been handed over to the police for investigation, would be prosecuted as soon as investigations were over.

Ohamobi said the ministry had set up a monitoring team that would henceforth monitor activities of the ASTA staff, saying the ministry would collaborate with the police, SSS, FRSC and other security agencies.

Ebonyi MDGs office revokes 10 water contracts

BY PETER OKUTU

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Ezzu River: Amansea lauds Sen Uba

BY VINCENT UJUMADU

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show the identity of the dead persons.

Akunyili also dismissed the claim by the Movement for the Actualization of the Sovereign State of Biafra, MASSOB, that some of the dead bodies were members of the group, noting: “Where were they since the bodies were found?”

According to her, if some of their members were missing, they would have been the first set of people to go to Ezu River to find out if their detained members were the victims.

BAKALIKI—THE focal person, Millennium Development Goals, MDGs, Ebonyi State, Dr. Ngozi Obichukwu, yesterday, said that her office has so far revoked 10 water supply contracts in communities across the state.

She said the contracts were revoked because of non-performance on the part of contractors and urged contractors handling MDGs projects in different LGAs to desist from executing substandard jobs which, according to her, negates objectives of the MDGs’ initiative.

Obichukwu, who made the disclosure while addressing newsmen in her office, added that Ebonyi State government had approved the release of N300 million for the execution of projects in three local government areas, including Ezza South, Ohaozara and Ishielu.

44—Vanguard, THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 2013 Edited by MCPHILIPS NWACHUKWU 08026350360 E-mail: chimeena@yahoo.com

water colours?

Not all. Some of them in oil, acrylic, water colour, pastel and some in mixed media.

How long is the exhibition going to last?

It will show for eight days.

Asthma is a major health issue. And with this exhibition, you have inaugurated a beautiful campaign of awareness. How do you intend to sustain this campaign after this show?

We are going to use social media to continue to preach about the awareness. We are going to also put up videos in Youtube.

This exhibition is meant to raise fund for asthma patients —Stacey Okparavero

Sensitisation of the public

LAST week at Waterworth Gallery, Lekki, Lagos, Ms Stacey Okparavero flagged off one week memorial exhibition in commemoration of the death of her sister, Ms Ogaga Okapaevero, who died of asthma in October last year. The exhibition tagged; Art Exhibition for Life: An Asthma Awareness/ Charity Art Exhibition was put up to raise fund for the assistance of asthma patients, who cannot afford their treatments in hospitals. In this interview, the young and enigmatic artist spoke to Vanguard’s art about her whole vision surrounding the project. She also spoke about herself and her influence. Excerpt:

BY MCPHILIPS NWACHUKWU

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on a number of other existential issues outside the very campaign theme for which the exhibition is put out for. How can you explain this ?

Yes, your observation is very right. The truth is that I am a very versatile painter. I like to explore different types of paintings, as well as themes. I hate restricting myself to a medium or theme. It doesn’t allow my imagination and creativity to grow. Also, by exploring different themes and media help more people to relate with my works.

HAT informed this charity exhibition for the promotion of asthma awareness?

This charity exhibition is in memory of the death of my younger sister, who died from asthmatic complication in October last year. So, it is an asthma awareness exhibition in her memory. And there is a doctor on board to speak to the audience about the sickness and how they can manage it.

Our intention is to use the proceeds from this exhibition We are going to also put up to fund the r e s p i r a t o r y videos in Youtube. We are also unit of a local going to begin to sensitise the p u b l i c hospital in public by visiting schools with Lagos and enlightenment programmes also to help the hospitals on asthma p r o c u r e oxygen canisters and other But speaking strictly, what relevant drugs and as well help media would you say appeal in the settlement of bills of to you most? patients in the units who cannot I love working with water afford to buy drugs or pay their colour and pastel. I also work bills. with oil and acrylic and any Have you always been other media. But my preference painting? is water colour.

Yes, I have been painting.

Who are your influences?

That is what I studied in My immediate influence is School.

Pa Professor Bruce Are all these paintings done Onabrakpeya. He is an art for this particular exhibition? veteran and my mentor. The Well, most of the works are other person is Picasso and very recent and are painted in Bolarin Oba, who was around the spirit of this when I went for my industrial commemoration. training and helped in One notices in these works mentoring me. that your imagination takes Pa Bruce is known more for

,

Stacey Ejiroghene Okparavero his print making techniques.

At what point of convergence do you see his technique influencing your style ?

I see a convergence in the themes we pursue in our visual compositions.

Is it in the exploration of the

natural environment, the traditional settings?

Especially, in our thematic interest in nature.

So, how many works are being exhibited?

About fifty works.

Are all the works done in

We are also going to begin to sensitise the public by visiting schools with enlightenment programmes on asthma. We are also going to start an art foundation in the name of my sister that can cater for the plight of asthma patients for free.

Your bio reveals that you also have interest in Music?

Yes of course.

So, do plan using music as one of your media for this campaign?

Well. Not quite. Though personally, I have written quite a couple of songs, but that will be a later project.

Do you see some of your songs encoded in your paintings?

Yes. These works are about my music, painting and poetry.

Rainbow gives Goodluck coat

By DANIELLA MENEZOR

F

ROM its humble beginnings, working with rural communities on Bonny Island, Port Harcourt based Rainbow Book Club’s reading campaign has taken giant strides, culminating in producing the first World Book Capital in Sub Saharan Africa.

Koko Kalango, founder of the Club and Festival Director of the annual Garden City Literary Festival, enumerated these milestones to President Goodluck Jonathan, as she formally presented the President with the book ‘Nigerian Literature: A Coat of Many Colours’ at the Aso Rock Villa in Abuja last week.

The book, a pictorial anthology of 50 Nigerian writers; the first of its kind in the country, was compiled and edited by Kalango with a forward written by the President himself.

While commending the present administration’s strides in the education sector, Mrs. Kalango pointed out the significance of the PH World Book Capital programme as well as the opportunity the win presents not just for the host city but for the nation.

She cited that the words of the UNESCO

WBC Selection Committee “City of Port Harcourt (Nigeria) was nominated as World Book Capital 2014 on account of the quality of its programme, in particular its focus on youth, and the impact it would have on improving Nigeria’s culture of books, reading, writing and publishing to improve literacy rates.”

Every year, following a competitive bid, UNESCO designates a city World Book Capital in ‘acknowledgement of the best programme dedicated to books and reading.’

Successful world book capital The Port Harcourt bid, put together by the Rainbow Book Club, beat 10 other contending cities, including Oxford, to become the 14th World Book Capital. And in line with the practice, PH would hold the title for one year. Mrs. Kalango also told the President about the book club’s plan to publish an expanded version of the book, which hopes to feature 100 authors as part of the club's programmes to marking Nigeria at 100, in 2014.

In response, the President pledged to

,

Vanguard, THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 2013 —45

Remembering Ogaga in Stacey Okparaevo’s exhibition of Love

By PRISCA SAM-DURU

A

CHARITY Exhibition of the finest collection of art works by Stacey Okparavero, which embodies the versatility of art styles that embrace rich African as well as western cultures, opened at the weekend at the Watersworth Gallery, Lekki, Lagos.

The exhibition tagged, “Art For Life” organised by The Stacey Okparavero Project in Conjunction with Watersworth Gallery, is an Asthma Awareness/Art Exhibition that showcases stunning art pieces by Stacey Ejiroghene Okparavero in the memory of her only sister, Ogaga Okparavero who died of asthma on the 22nd of October, 2012 at a very young age of 20.

Drawing the theme of the Exhibition which runs from 9th till 17th of February, from the fact that Ogaga died from an Asthma attack, Stacey, a University of Lagos visual Arts graduate, disclosed during the opening of the exhibition that a percentage of proceeds from art sales will be donated to the respiratory unit of the Lagos Teaching Hospital as well as John Ken Hospital, Akoka Lagos.

The donation she said would help provide Oxygen

Canisters, drugs and for settling of bills for Asthma patients in those units who are unable to pay their bills after treatment.

Through a total of about 50 drawings and paintings in diverse media such as Water Colour, Pastel on Paper, Acrylic on Canvas, Ink and Gouche, the art pieces which in no way portray the theme of the exhibition embellish high level of skill and creativity by the 2011 winner of the best pastel artist award presented by OYASAF during an art entrepreneurship workshop, held in Lagos.

Charity exhibition The essence of the show therefore, according to Stacey, is for people to purchase art works as by so doing, would help in the saving of lives.

Art For Life is the second charity exhibition Stacey is putting together, and is coming after a successful hosting in September, 2012 of “Stacey Charity Drive: Outreach to Delta State Flood Victims” Some of the titles that adorn the exhibition hall of Watersworth include; Fulani Girl, (Water Colour); Bewilderment, (Water Colour);

of many colours

Oge II

Walks of Life, (Acrylic On Canvas); Eurhythmics,( Mixed Media); Birth Control, (Water Colour) and Makoko, a unique combination of Water Colour, Sticks and Thread, depict what Makoko, an area in the heart of Lagos was like prior to its demolition by the Lagos government.

Features of the opening of “Art For Life” included; a Salsa performance by the duo of

NICO holds 5th matriculation in Lagos

T

rom L-R, Mrs Judy Nwanodi, Koko Kalango and President Jonathan Goodluck

support the city of PH’s efforts towards a successful World Book Capital year as well as to support the expansion of the pictorial anthology as they were befitting commemorations of Nigeria’s centenary. He thanked and commended Mrs. Kalango for her sacrifice and labour to bringing

development to the country through reading.

The delegation on this visit included trustees and patrons of the Rainbow Book Club - Mrs. Judy Nwanodi, Mr. Lindsay Barrett, Mr. Aranyam Kalango, Mr. Iso Bassey, Rev. Dr W.D.C. Wokoma, Dr. Wale Okediran and Ms Adaobi Nwaubani.

Eniola and Pierce which was a representation of the type of life late Ogaga lived. They entertained the viewers while adding radiance to the exhibition through their exhilarating steps that synchronised with the rhythm of music that highlighted the essence of living life to its full.

The Salsa actually succeeded the performance of the Nigeria National Anthem by Stacey

which she rendered in a most sonorous voice that proved that indeed, she is multi-talented, hence, her versatility covers visual art, dancing, acting and singing.

The high point of the opening was however was a slide presentation on asthma enlightenment by Dr Funsho Agbalajobi, titled; Asthma Management and Prevention.

The close to 30 minutes presentation saw Dr Agbalajobi, speaking extensively on some basice causes of Asthma, how to manage, as well as prevent the respiratory tract ailment.

With Nigerite’s weight solidly behind the hosting of Art For Life, Ms Oluchi a representative of the Company stated that Nigerite decided to solely sponsor the exhibition because it deals with life.

“It is a positive way of raising awareness on Asthma, in order to help people learn how to deal with the ailment, she said, adding that, “Nigerite is committed to building anything so long as it concerns life” She said.

As for his impression about the show, Nigeria’s foremost artist, Professor Bruce Onabrakpeya, Stacey’s mentor, noted that, “The works are excellent and very mature, I know that Stacey just finished school and to be in a position to do this kind of thing is credit worthy and I congratulate her.

Every living person has art around him so it is wrong to limit art to just paintings and drawings, so, Stacey is making a positive contribution towards saving life, through her talent.”

HE National Institute for Cultural Orientation (NICO), a Parastatal of the Federal Ministry of Tourism, Culture and National Orientation will on 22nd February conduct matriculation for the Fifth set of students in its Diploma and Post Graduate Diploma Courses in Cultural Administration for the 2012/2013 academic session.

The ceremony which takes place at NICO Training School, Lagos will the Honourable Minister of Tourism, Culture and National Orientation, High Chief Edem Duke as Special Guest of Honour, while Vice Chancellor, Nasarawa State University, Keffi, Professor Shamsudeen O.O Amali, will be the Guest of Honour.

The NICO Training School is in line with the Institute’s vision of consistently spearheading the provision of innovative training, research and documentation of the nation’s cultural heritage and assets, aimed at making culture the vector for national development.

The Courses in the Training School are designed to orientate, re-orientate and

equip cultural workers, cultural attendants, cultural assistants, senior cultural assistants and assistant cultural officers in the civil and public services, the private sectors and other culture related organisations in Nigeria with basic background and knowledge of cultural administration to enhance their performance in their work environments.

Dr. Barclays Ayakoroma Executive Secretary, NICO

46—Vanguard, THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 2013

Delta council boss assures on rehabilitation of schools, hospitals

BY FESTUS AHON

U

GHELLI—CARE TAKER Committee Chairman of Burutu Local Government Area, Delta State, Navy Capt.

Buckman Deinne, has promised to rehabilitate dilapidated infrastructure in schools and primary healthcare centres in the council.

Speaking at BolouNdoro community shortly after conducting election into the community’s executive body, which had hitherto plunged the community into crisis, he assured that his administration was committed to providing quality education and healthcare service to the people.

Promising to take peace and security matters seriously in line with the mandate of the state governor, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan, to all caretaker committee chairmen in the state, Deinne advised the newly elected leadership of Bolou-Ndoro community to work together to maintain the peace and progress for the overall benefit of the community.

All set for Giwa’s burial

B

URIAL rites for late Mrs. Elekhia Ayiyi Giwa, aged 87, mother of the former editor-in-chief of Newswatch Communication Limited, the late Dele Giwa, who passed on last month, starts tomorrow with a Christian wake-keep at Dele Giwa’s compound in Ugbekpe Ekperri, Etsakor, Auchi, Edo State.

Funeral service holds on February 15, at Church of God Mission, Ugbekpe – Ekperri at 8 am, after laying-in state at 7 am, at the same venue.

The family, in a statement, said guests will be entertained at Abbebe Primary School, Ugbekpe-Ekperri, after the interment.

The late Mrs. Giwa was mother of Tunde Giwa; Abiodun Giwa; Awawu Omomole; Fatimat Musa and Ronke Aboaba.

She is also survived by many grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Rivers Varsity, ASUU trade words as strike enters 7th month

BY EGUFE YAFUGBORHI

P

ORT HARCOURT— MANAGEMENT of Rivers State University of Science and Technology, RSUST and Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, have continued to trade words over the controversy that had trailed the retention of Professor Barineme Fakae as Vice Chancellor of the institution, with no end in sight to the strike by lecturers of the university which has entered the seventh month.

During its National Executive Council, NEC, meeting at Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, ASUU maintained that Rivers State Governor, Mr. Rotimi Amaechi undermined due process by retaining Prof. Fakae as RSUST Vice Challencellor, pressuring the National Universities Commission, NUC, to sanction the university until Fakae’s appointment was reversed.

Reacting, yesterday, RSUST Public Relations Of-

ficer, Mr. Desmond Nwosu, accused ASUU’s NEC of meddling in the affairs of the school and blackmailing the university.

Nwosu said that Governor Amaechi respected due process in the reappointment of Fakae and that it would be wiser for

the lecturer’s union to have a rethink and impress on the executive of RSUST ASUU chapter to return to work.

Academic activities had, however, continued at the institution even as the lecturers strike enters the seventh

PUBLIC LECTURE: From left Prof. Olu Aina, Chairman; Prof Isaac Adewole, Vice Chancellor, University of Ibadan; Mr. Ekpo Nta, Chairman, ICPC and guest Lecturer and Mrs. Rashedat Okodume, Director of Education ICPC, during a public lecture as part of activities marking the 50th Anniverssary of Department of Political Science University of Ibadan, Tuesday.

How we curbed cultism in Auchi Poly —Rector B ENIN—RECTOR of Federal Polytechnic, Auchi, Edo State, Dr. Philipa Idogho, yesterday, said that the management of the institution was able to curb cultism through productive engagement of its students.

Recalling events which took place before her re-appointment as Rector of the polytechnic, she lamented that Nigerians had failed to encourage leaders, who had done well in their various professions, adding that the “unfortunate attitude is dis-

couraging people from giving their best to the growth of our country.”

Speaking with members of Correspondents Chapel of Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ, Edo State, led by its chairman, Mr. Simon Ebegbulem, she said: “Students want to learn and that is why we are exploiting that avenue. We keep them busy with academic and entrepreneurial activities and leadership training. That is why we have experienced phenomenal reduction in cultism in the school.”

Noting that her positive per-

formance in office in her first tenure might have influenced the decision of the Federal Government to re-appoint her for a second term, she stressed on performance of leaders, which according to her, would encourage them to do more and not criticisms as was common in Nigeria.

“Nigerians need people who are dedicated and are ready to work and serve humanity but we need people to encourage them to do so and more," she added.

Court joins Dickson, PDP in Sylva's suit against INEC

BY SAMUEL OYADONGHA

Y

ENAGOA—A FEDER AL High Court sitting in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, yesterday, granted Bayelsa State Governor, Mr. Seriake Dickson and Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, leave to be joined as parties in a suit by the immediate past governor of the state, Chief Timipre Sylva, against Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, seeking to be declared winner of the 2012 governor-

month.

Meanwhile, the RSUST ASUU executive is reportedly billed to hold another meeting aimed at fashioning out the next line of action in their determination to ensure the reversal of Prof. Fakae’s reappointment.

ship election in the state.

The court also adjourned till March 18, further hearing in the case.

Sylva, in the suit, is praying the court to direct INEC to declare him the winner of the last governorship election or in the alternative, conduct a fresh election, with him as PDP candidate.

He also wants the court to determine, among others, “whether having regard to the provisions of Section 178(2) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) and the Supreme Court judgment in the consolidated appeals of Marwa vs

Nyako (2012) 5 NWLR, delivered on January 27, 2012, wherein the court held that the tenure of the plaintiff as the governor of Bayelsa State had long expired since May 29, 2011, the gubernatorial election in Balyesa State became due since April 29, 2011.”

Governor Dickson and PDP, in their joinder application, are praying the court to join them as respondents in the suit.

Granting their prayers, trial judge, Justice Charles Archibong ordered them to be joined in the suit and adjourned hearing till March 18.

Warri/Ef furun water scheme: Uduaghan vows to break jinx

BY EMMA AMAIZE

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ARRI—DELTA State Governor, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan, has vowed to complete the 20year-old Warri/Effurun regional water scheme project this year.

The Warri/Effurun water scheme is part of the water schemes inherited by Delta State Government, when the state was created in 1991, but completion of the project had defied successive administrations in the state.

Africa Development Bank, ADB, which provided counterpart funding for the project, when it started in 1989, pulled out, over a decade ago, following the intrusion of military governments and change in policies.

Delta State Commissioner for Water Resources Development, Dr. Chris Oghenechovwen, who spoke on its completion, said during an inspection of ongoing work on the project that Governor Uduaghan, had promised to complete the water scheme so that the people would enjoy potable water.

Vanguard , THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 2013 —47

From left: Head, Mobile Financial Service, First Bank, Mike Ogbalu; Specialist, Mobile Payments, Etisalat Nigeria, Olamide Ogundero and Manager, Mobile Financial Services, Etisalat Nigeria, Oluwaseun Omotosho at the 3rd Mobile Money Expo conference in Lagos.

From left: Mr. Fred Majemite, Prof Amos Utuama, SAN, Delta State Deputy Governor, Mrs Gladys Nwaukoni Chukwuka and Dr Festus Okubor, Chief of Staff at the commissioning of NNPC Mega Station at Ogwashi-Uku, Delta State. Photo: Nath Onojake.

Globacom‘s Director, Gloworld Development, Mr. Bisi Koleosho presenting sponsorship cheque for the 2013 Lisabi Festival to the Alake and Paramount Ruler of Egbaland, Oba Adedotun Aremu Gbadebo at Ake Palace, Abeokuta while the Chairman, Lisabi Festival Committee, Chief Festus Ijaola Sotunde (right) looks on.

From left: Permanent Secretary, Lagos State Ministry of Justice, Mr Lawal Pedro, SAN, Lagos State House of Assembly Member, Ikorodu II, Nosimot Akinsola, Senator 'Gbenga Ashafa, Elegbin of Egbin, HRM Oba Akeem Obateru and Lagos State House of Assembly Member Ikorodu I, S.O.B. Agunbiade during the Public Hearing of Senate committee on Privatization in respect of Egbin Thermal Power Station in Abuja yesterday.

From left: Rotn. Grace Akpoveta, Chairman Women in Rotary; Prof lbironke Akisete; and District Governor 9110 Kamoru Omotosho during the 2013 Women-in-Rotary fair in Lagos. Photo: Shola Oyelese

From left: Manager News, Unique FM, Mr. Oyebode Oyeleye, Osun State Deputy Governor, Mrs. Titi Laoye Tomori and General Manager, Unique FM, Mr. Kayode Adedire after an interactive session with the Deputy Governor in Ilesa.

From left: Mr. Yinka Jeje, Permanent Secretary, LASIEC, Justice (RTD) Abdulfatai Adeyinka, Chairman, Lagos State Independent Electoral Commission, Mr. Olalekan Mabinuori, LASIEC Commissioner and Mr. Deoye Ogundipe, LASIEC Commissioner, during the meeting with the political parties on bye-elections at Ward 'A' Alayabiagba, Ajeromi/Ifelodun Local Government Area in Lagos state, held at LASIEC office, Yaba. Photo: Bunmi Azeez.

Mr. Nnamdi Okafor, MD/CEO, May & Baker Nigeria Plc (right) presenting a plaque to Pharm Adaeze Omaliko, winner of the May & Baker Professional Service Award in Pharmacy.

From left: Elder statesman, Chief Oluyemi Falade; Dr. Muiz Monayajo and Mr. Ade Adelana at a briefin organised by Yoruba Unity Forum on marginalisation of the Yoruba.

48—Vanguard, THURESDAY THURESDAY,, FEBRUARY 14, 2013

Court continues hearing on Newswatch directors, Ibrahim’s suit

BY INNOCENT ANABA

L

AGOS—HEARING in the suit by two former directors of Newswatch Communications Limited, Mr. Nuhu Wada Aruda and Professor Jibril Aminu, against Dr. Jimoh Ibrahim, continued, yesterday, before a Federal High Court sitting in Lagos.

Aruda and Aminu, who are representing minority shareholders of the company, had accused the new management team led by Ibrahim of assuming control of the company “illegally.”

Respondents in the matter are, Newswatch Communications Ltd, Global Media Mirror Ltd, Dr. Ibrahim, Newswatch Newspapers Ltd and the Corporate Affairs Commission, CAC. A mild drama played out in court, at the resumed hearing in the matter, during the cross-examination of Aruda, as he was asked to point to any document, among all the documents the petitioners had tendered as exhibits that established he was a director in Newswatch Communications.

Mrs Virginia Okolo for burial

M

RS Virginia Elonu Okolo, of AgbadalaAchi, Oji River Local Government Area, Enugu State is dead.

There will be a service of songs at Dr. Okey’s residence, Rumuomasi, Port Harcourt, while the wake keep will take place at her country home in Agbadala Achi on Friday, 15, to be followed by interment the next day.

She is survived by many children, including Dr Okey Ibeabuchi.

Late Virginia Okolo

2015 Presidency: Jonathan knows fate March 1

BY IKECHUKWUNNOCHIRI

A

BUJA—JUSTICE Mudashiru Oniyangi of an Abuja High Court in Maitama has slated March 1 to determine whether President Goodluck Jonathan will be eligible to vie for the Presidency in 2015.

Justice Oniyangi fixed the date four months after he concluded hearing on the suit which was entered before the high court by an aggrieved member of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Mr Cyriacus Njoku.

when his first term began and his two terms shall end on May 29, 2015 after taking his second oath of office on May 29, 2011; and by virtue of Section 136 (1) (b) of the Constitution, no person (including the first defendant) shall take the oath of allegiance and the oath of office prescribed to in the Seventh Schedule to this Constitution more than twice.

Even as he asked the court for an order of injunction restraining President Jonathan from further contesting or attempting to vie for President after May 29, 2015 when his tenure shall by the Nigerian Constitution end.

The plaintiff asked the court to

issue an order of injunction restraining the PDP from further sponsoring or attempting to sponsor Jonathan as candidate for election to the office of the President in 2015, as well as make an order directing the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to refrain from accepting the name of the 1stdefendant, Jonathan, should the party decide to sponsor him in the next presidential election.

Nevertheless, both President Jonathan and the PDP, in separate preliminary objections filed against the suit, described it as “frivolous and highly vexatious,” saying it ought to be dismissed in its entirety as grossly lacking

in merit.

They argued that the plaintiff failed to disclose any reasonable cause of action that precipitated the suit, insisting that Jonathan is currently doing his first term of four years in office as the President of Nigeria as provided by the 1999 constitution as amended.

According to the PDP, “President Jonathan’s status and position is formidably backed by the 1999 constitution. The constitution of Nigeria only makes provisions for a president to contest for not more than two terms of four years each. The constitution recognizes the President’s tenure of office to be four years.”

Reserved verdict Though the court had on July 23, reserved verdict on the matter till October 18, 2012, judgment was, however, subsequently adjourned sine-die (indefinitely), owing to the absence of the judge in court on that date.

Specifically, the plaintiff, who is a registered member of the PDP in Zuba ward, Abuja, in his suit, urged the court to among other things, determine “Whether Section 135(2) of the Constitution, which specifies a period of four years in office for the President, is only available or applicable to a person elected on the basis of an actual election or includes one in which a person assumes the position of President by operation of law, as in the case of Dr. Goodluck Jonathan.”

Contending that Jonathan was constitutionally barred from contesting the Presidency in 2015, Cyriacus prayed the court to determine “whether Section 137(1) (b) of the Constitution, which provides that a person shall not be qualified for election to the office of President, if he has been elected to such office at any two previous elections, applies to the first defendant, who first took an oath of office as substantive President on May 6, 2010 and took a second oath as President on May 29, 2011.”

He is also seeking a declaration that ‘the President’s tenure of office began on May 6, 2010

Meeting

S

T. Enda’s College Agbarho Old Students Association, Lagos chapter, holds its monthly general meeting on Saturday, at 12B, Abuja Close, Agbara Estate, Agbara, Ogun State.

General Secretary of the association, Deacon Sunday Orode, urged old and new members to be punctual as crucial matters relating to the golden jubilee anniversary will be discussed

President Goodluck Jonathan (left), receiving the first ever Annual Report of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs from Foreign Affairs Minister, Amb. Olugbenga Ashiru, during the Federal Executive Council Meeting in Abuja, Wednesday.

Alleged N13.9bn debt: AMCON accuses Babalakin of lying not indebted to AMCON or any

L

BY INNOCENT ANABA

AGOS—ASSET Manage ment Corporation of Nigeria, AMCON, yesterday, said that claims by Chairman of Bi-Courtney Limited, Dr. Wale Babalakin, SAN, that he was not indebted to the agency, was untrue and accused him of lying to the whole world.

AMCON’s counsel, Mr. Olisa Agbakoba, SAN, made the clarification, when he briefed newsmen, saying that Babalakin’s cumulative indebtedness to First Bank of Nigeria, Zenith Bank Plc and Guaranty Trust Bank stood at N60 billion, noting that the debt profile of the businessman had been purchased by AMCON from the banks.

Agbakoba, who expressed dismay at Babalakin’s claims of nonindebtedness, said the claim was not only unfortunate but was a huge joke, challenging him to go and settle his debt, rather than running from court to court to stop the agency from recovering the huge money he owed the banks, which AMCON had taken over.

Babalakin, had on Monday, said he was not indebted to

AMCON and that the steps taken against him by the agency in respect of the loans he got from the banks was illegal.

He said: “Our attention had been drawn to publications in many newspapers, alleging that AMCON had taken over our property pursuant to a court order obtained ex-parte, alleging indebtedness of N13.9 billion. For the avoidance of doubt, we are

federal agency. On the contrary, we have a judgment credit of N132 billion in our favour.”

Agbakoba expressed disappointment with the action of Babalakin so far, after Justice Chukwujekwu Aneke of the Federal High Court in Lagos, granted an ex-parte order permitting AMCON to take possession of Babalakin’s property at 43, Afribank Street, Victoria Island, Lagos.

ECCIMA urges sanctions against contractors over federal roads

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BY FRANKLINALLI

NUGU—ENUGU Cham bers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture, ECCIMA, yesterday, called on the Federal Government to sanction contractors that fail to deliver within the agreed contracts terms.

The Chamber is also set to host this year’s edition of its international trade fair with the theme: “Positioning the Nation’s Economic Environment as Investment Destination of Choice in Africa and for Effective Global Competitiveness.” It will hold next month from 15-25

at the trade fair permanent site in the state.

Dr. Theo Okonkwo, President of ECCIMA, who made the call in Lagos when he led a delegation of the chamber’s top officials on a courtesy visit to Vanguard Corporate Office in Lagos, ahead of the trade fair, said: “Appropriate sanctions should be placed on contractors who fail to deliver with the agreed contract terms.”

“This is the only way we can make meaningful progress as a nation, particularly as it concerns contract award and execution by government at all levels.”

Vanguard, THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 2013 — 49

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Our pensions for survival, not for burial, NIPOST pensioners cry to FG

BY VICTOR AHIUMA-YOUNG

A

GGRIEVED Nigerian Postal Service, NIPOST, pensioners have appealed to the Federal Government and the management of NIPOST, to pay their over seven years arrears, saying their pensions is for them to live and not for burial.

This came as the protesting pensioners vowed to continue to disrupt NIPOST activities until the management settles all unpaid pensions and arrears especially after the deadlock of a meeting between the pensioners and the management of NIPOST in Abuja, recently.

Chairman of the Lagos chapter of Nigeria Union of Pensioners, NUP, NIPOST branch, Mr Yomi Akindutire, while speaking with Pension and You, said NIPOST management was not prepared to settle their seven-year unpaid pension arrears, or reach an agreement with the retirees on the issue.

Akindutire vowed that members would continue to protest until government listened and addressed their plight.

According to him: “The meeting we held in Abuja was deadlocked. The management did not come forth with any settlement plan for the pensioners. We told the NIPOST management that they should pay those who retired in 2005 and 2006 six months arrears and those who retired in 2012 should be paid November pension before we

discuss the gratuity terms."

He said the Federal Government and the management of NIPOST should realize that pension is for survival and not for burial, lamenting that NIPOST did not

take any decision on the terms of payment which left the pensioners with no choice than to continue with the protest until further notice.

The Chairman said that the pensioners would be ready to

discuss and reach agreement with the management if the terms were agreed on.

Akindutire confirmed that two pensioners died in Lagos in the early days of the protest and that it was sad that the non-

payment of pensioners had led to the untimely death of many in different parts of the country.

According to him, some of the pensioners were owed eight, 12, 14, 18 and 72 months respectively.

It would be recalled that placards carrying pensioners had last month begun protesting at NIPOST offices in Lagos and other parts of the country over unpaid pension arrears.

Union appeals to FG over arrears MEANTIME, National Chairman of Nigeria Union of Pensioners, NUP, NIPOST branch, Alhaji Braimoh Ogborien, has pleaded with the Federal Government to pay the balance of their pension arrears.

Ogborien, who spoke with Pension and You,made the appeal in n Lagos, added that government should conclude the payment at the end of this month to avoid another protest.

According to him, after meeting with government representatives in January, some pensioners who retired in 2011, had received one month’s arrears, while others who left in 2012 had been paid three months’ arrears, saying “About 2, 000 retirees had received their money in the 2011 batch while 7, 000 had been paid in the 2012 batch.

Pension scam: More shocking revelations coming —Maina

BY CALEB AYANSINA

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HAIRMAN of Pension Reform Task Team, PRTT, Dr. Abdulrasheed Maina, has said more shocking revelations of pension scam are underway, even as he declared his being declared ‘wanted’ by the Nigeria Police Force, has ulterior motives.

It would be recalled that Abdulrasheed Maina who is also the Director Customs,Immigration and Prisons Pension Office was on February 1 declared wanted by the Police following his failure to appear before the Senate Joint Committee on the Investigation of Pension Funds.

Maina in a statement claimed some top public officials involved in the pension fraud not yet made public were using the Police to silent the committee.

The statement reads, “I wish to let the people of Nigeria know that the purported declaration by the Nigeria Police that I am wanted is coming to me by surprise.

First of all, I am a law abiding citizen of this nation who respects institutions and will not do anything at anytime to denigrate any constituted authority.

However, I state equivocally that the said declaration by the Nigeria Police is definitely an abuse of power in a democracy.

“There was no time I was invited either verbally or in writing by the Nigeria Police for any reason whatsoever. Why the said declaration? I have useful addresses where such invitations could

Maina have been directed. It is after such invitation has been dishonoured can an order for my arrest be employed. Where the arrest is resisted can the Police then go ahead to declare me wanted. I am available to answer any question from the Police anytime if I am invited not when I am declared wanted as if I am a felon. A simple SMS, telephone call or letter is enough to make me honour the Police invitation for questioning. I, therefore, state with humility that the action of the Nigeria Police to have declared me wanted is definitely shrouded in some motives beyond the ordinary responsibilities of the force.

I'm not a criminal: “I am not a criminal to be declared wanted just like that. If by virtue of the fact that I and members of my Task Force team have served our fatherland as gallant officers of the various security organizations we represent has made us criminals thus, declaring me as the head wanted,

especially after securing the conviction of the first of the pension thieves we had caused to be investigated, prosecuted and got sentenced, then, God should save Nigeria. The convict, Mr. John Yakubu Yusufu, who worked in the Police Pension Office and helped in denying about 4,000 policemen of their rights after a meritorious service to our fatherland and who was a key informant to the Senate Committee of pension which has a mission to persecute us in the PRTT, remains a minor case in the face of the fresh revelations we have almost concluded.

People jittering of our discoveries: “Are the people who are aware of the fresh investigation which will surely shock the nation beyond the marrows getting jittery?

Yes, many of them are in various positions of authority, they are in the know that we had opened these investigations. The first conviction may have sent jitters down their spine. Are they forcing the Police to use its extant powers of arrest to help the pension thieves silence us in the PRTT? Or achieve the assassination of my person which failed twice? Or poison me while they have me in their care? As it is, it is obvious that it is a great crime to believe in and serve this great nation with one’s complete fervor, energies and patriotic zeal.

“The order of Mr. President, Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, that we should undertake the reform of the other pension offices in the land will remain our guiding principles.

We shall remain undaunted.

54—Vanguard, THURSDAY, FEBRUARY14, 2013

NLC/Odah crisis: A costly price of intrigues

BY FUNMI KOMOLAFE

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AVING covered the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, for over two decades, one is in a position to comment on certain developments within the NLC. First for historical records, two for Nigerian workers to have an insight into happenings in their reputable organisation and thirdly to ensure that such anti-labour practices are not allowed in any working class organisation.

I am making reference to the purported sack of NLC’s General Secretary, Comrade John Ehoja Odah and his subsequent reinstatement following a suit he filed at the National Industrial Court, NIC. In May 2011, NLC made it public that it had terminated the appointment of its General Secretary, Comrade Odah. From then, the media took up the story and both sides told ‘stories’ to the media.

This article is not meant to repeat such stories but to tell the untold stories and analyse the events leading to and after what can best be described as a clear demonstration of “administrative incompetence.” One recalls that what led to the internal crisis that the NLC leaders plunged the organisation into began after the re-election of Comrade Abudulwaheed Omar as president of the NLC in March 2011.

The very first National Administrative Council, NAC, meeting of the NLC which was supposed to set an agenda was used to settle personal scores. Odah was accused of supporting Comrade Peters

Omar reminded President Omar that he had signed papers committing the leave to cash.

Then the NLC leadership told the media of issue of a fraudulent agreement with China for buses was thrown up which they claimed Odah made NLC enter into. The truth however is that President Omar led the NLC team to China and was a part of the agreement.

I contacted a top official of the Trade Union Congress (name withheld) who told me clearly that “I have done my investigations and found that all the allegations against Odah are false”. Today, TUC managed buses are in Lagos but hardly can one finds a bus managed by the NLC on the road. Where does this leave

The NLC paid over four million Naira of workers hard earned check–off as fees to some Senior Advocates of Nigeria, SAN, who represented NLC at the National Industrial Court, NIC. Is this justified?

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Adeyemi, the General Secretary of the Non Academic Staff Union of the Universities and Associated Institutions, NASU, for the presidency of the NLC. Adeyemi was before the election a deputy to Omar.

Adeyemi lost, Omar won, but it was not over until Odah was sacked.

Whereas, trade unions lay claim to best practices in democracy, the truth is that in 99% of elections held within the trade unions the secretariat is never neutral.

Those elected are usually those backed by the secretariat. It is only when the secretariat candidate fails that you have internal crisis in the unions.

In the case of the NLC earlier warnings that the action of the NLC could lead to a crisis was ignored. Those of us who called the President warning of the consequences of the action were called names.

The Odah issue not only clearly showed administrative incompetence, it was obvious that there was a personality clash between Omar and Odah. First, they claimed Odah was medically unfit to continue with his job.

Hence he should proceed on accumulated leave. No medical board was set up to confirm this. This was faulted by Odah who

Odah

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the average worker who commutes to work daily? When Odah was ”sacked”, an employer told me, “we are following with keen interest how NLC is handling the John Odah case. We are waiting for the day we would be told we sacked anyone without due process?”

It should be noted that Odah would not be the first general secretary to leave the services of the NLC but he was sacked without due process. No query, no warning letters, no suspension. Can the NLC in the near future raise these as issues with any employer? Your guess is as good as mine. One is not contesting the right of the NLC as an employer to hire and fire, but it must follow the due process. A situation where a president or any trade union or labour centre will address an organ of the union and declare that he cannot work with another Comrade must never be allowed to repeat itself. People have differences but it is the ability to manage such differences in the interest of an organisation that makes a leader.

Comrade Salisu Nuhu Mohammed left and today he is a consultant to the Bureau for Public Enterprises (BPE). NLC’s first

general secretary, Comrade Aliyu Dangiwa is still alive but there is no evidence that the leadership of NLC has anything to do with him.

Settlement: It must be put on record that the settlement, NLC\ John Odah issue would not have been resolved via the agreed terms of settlement if John Odah had not gone to court. The NLC paid over four million Naira of workers hard earned check –off as fees to some Senior Advocates of Nigeria, SAN, who represented NLC at the National Industrial Court, NIC, is this justified?

Mutual agreement Unionists may be clapping that the case was settled based on mutual agreement but perhaps the credit should go to the president of NIC, Justice Babatunde Adejumo who insisted that NLC should not be seen to be in court over such a matter. He suggested that both parties should meet and have terms of settlement which were upheld by the court.

One cannot but agree with the National Union of Textile Garment and Tailoring Workers statement signed by its general secretary, Comrade Issa Aremu that “conflicts of the recent times were avoidable in the first place. However, in the best places of work, conflict is inevitable”.

Comrade Aremu added “What matters is the eventual, conflict resolution that commendably deepens the organisational integrity of the NLC and dignifies Comrade John Odah.” True, workplace conflict is inevitable but the highest standard of labour practice is expected from a reputable organisation like the NLC. Another issue which this crisis has thrown up is the seemingly overbearing influence of presidents in trade unions. Workers should decide once and for all if they want an enduring secretariat or not?

If workers want general secretaries to be elected, so be it. However, trade union employees must be allowed to unionise.

Isn’t it scandalous that in this modern age, employees of Nigerian trade unions have no trade union of their own.

Consequently, they are at the mercy of labour bureaucrats.

Bits Unions hail WOGU @ 48

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ARITIME Workers Union of Nigeria, MWUN, and the National Union of Food, Beverage and Tobacco Employees, NUFBTE, have congratulated the Minister of Labour and Productivity, Chief Chukwuemeke Wogu on his 48thbirthday, saying the “Minister is a worthy son of Abia State.”

President-General of MWUN Comrade Nted Emmanuel Anthony and President of NUFBTE, Comrade Lateef Oyelekan, while congratulating Wogu who clocked 48 February 6, said the minister had distinguished himself as one who believes in industrial peace and who tries as much as possible to avoid industrial unrest.

According to Comrade Nted, Wogu above all other things is a film believer of industrial peace.

Whenever there is a threat of industrial unrest, he swiftly steps in to ensure that such threat does not result into industrial unrest.

He has really distinguished himself in the Ministry. On behalf of the leadership of the Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria, and the entire members of the union, I wish him many happy returns and more years of patriotic service to the nation.”

On his part, President of NUFBTE, Comrade Oyelekan, said “Wogu is a worthy son of Abia State. He has represented the state in the Federal Executive Council, FEC, very well. As a Minister of Labour and Productivity, he has not disappointed us. He has been doing his job well. We hope he will continue to discharge his responsibilities to the nation without fear or favour."

Benue P engages 3000 unemployed

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ENUE State Subsidy Reinvestment and Empowerment,SURE-P, has selected 3,000 unemployed persons from the 23 Local Government Areas of the State to participate in the Community Services Scheme.

Those recruited into the programme would be paid N10,000 monthly stipends for rendering various services to their communities.

Addressing the participants at a 2-day orientation and biometric data capturing exercise held simultaneously in the three senatorial zones, the State Chairman of SURE-P, Samuel Utoo said President Goodluck Jonathan had mandated the State to employ 3,000 unemployed persons for the first batch of the scheme which has a target of providing 10,000 jobs for Benue State.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 14 , 2013 — 55

Obama outlines road map in State of the Union address

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RESIDENT Obama’s State of the Union address predictably focused on his domestic priorities.

Immigration reform, a laundry list of economic initiatives including infrastructure improvements (Fix it First), clean energy, some manufacturing innovation, a bit of educational reform and the rhetorical high point of his speech — gun

control.

As in years past, foreign policy made up only about 15% of the speech, but even within that usual limited attention, Tuesday night’s address pointed to few new directions.

On Afghanistan — America’s longest war — Obama expressed just a continued commitment to bringing the troops home, ending “our war” while theirs continues. On Iran, there was a single

sentence reiterating the need for a diplomatic solution, which makes me think that a big diplomatic push is not likely. On North Korea, boilerplate promises to isolate the country further after its provocative nuclear test, and on Syria, a call to “keep the pressure” on the regime, which means more watching from the sidelines as the horror unfolds.

Syrian troops bombard rebel posts around capital

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RESIDENT Bashar al-Assad’s forces yesterday bombarded the southeast of Damascus with air strikes and artillery to try and

dislodge rebel fighters who have gained a foothold in the Syrian capital, opposition activists said.

A Middle East diplomat following the military

Pope holds last public Mass

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OPE Benedict XVI held his last scheduled public Mass, for Ash Wednesday, yesterday in St Peter’s Basilica, following his resignation.

He anointed the foreheads of the faithful with ashes, in a service attended cardinals, bishops, monks, friars and pilgrims.

Earlier, he thanked the public for their “love and prayers” in his first public appearance since resigning.

Ash Wednesday begins Lenten season, a period of penitence before Easter.

The afternoon Mass was relocated.

The pontiff had been scheduled to celebrate Ash Wednesday at the small

Sant’ Anselmo church, then lead a procession to Santa Sabina Basilica on Rome’s Aventine Hill.

The Vatican said the change to St Peter’s was to accommodate the crowds, but it also saved the Pope the effort of the procession.

Earlier, the Pope was cheered by crowds as he entered and began speaking at his weekly general audience at its traditional venue, the audience hall in the Vatican.

Thousands of people gathered in the hall to greet him, giving him a standing ovation as he arrived, and cheering as he began and finished speaking.

situation described battles in and around Damascus as a “major engagement”, with fighting going back and forth between the two sides.

“The opposition is hitting Damascus from a multiple of directions and the regime is trying to stop it,” he said.

Jets bombed Jobar, a neighborhood adjacent to the main Abbasid Square, and the suburb of Daraya on the highway to Jordan to the south, sources in the capital said.

The two areas are part of interconnected Sunni Muslim districts in and around Damascus that have been at the forefront of the 22-month uprising against four decades of family rule by Assad and his father. Rebels entered Jobar last week after breaching the army ’s defense lines at the ring road and overrunning several army and proAssad militia positions in the district.

Zimbabwe referendum 16 March

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IMBABWE’s key referendum on a new constitution has been “tentatively” set for 16 March, government minister Eric Matinenga has said.

Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai said the referendum would herald a major step towards democratic reform, AFP news agency reports.

It would be followed by elections, expected to be contested by Mr Tsvangirai and President Robert Mugabe.

The date was announced as the election chief resigned, citing ill health.

The 88-year-old Mr Mugabe has been in power since

independence in 1980.

Details of the new constitution, agreed by Mr Mugabe and Mr Tsvangirai, have not

been officially released.

But it is believed that it sets a limit of two terms for future presidents.

EU, U.S on free trade talks

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HE United States and the European Union agreed yesterday to push for the launch by the end of June of talks to create the world’s biggest free trade alliance, which could be a benchmark for global competitors to follow.

Such a deal would be most ambitious attempted since the founding of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) in 1995,

encompassing half the world’s economic output and a third of global trade flows.

“These negotiations will set a standard, not only for our future bilateral trade and investment, including regulatory issues, but also for the development of global trade rules,” European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso told a news conference.

56 — Vanguard, THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 14 , 2013

France: Taming the scourge of Al-Qaeda in the Sahel •The complexities of the war against AQIM •Pushing African nations into unprepared war •Funding constraint in the war against AQIM

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ARELY one month into the French led air and ground military offensive against the Al-Qaeda backed Islamist groups in Mali, the former colonial power is sounding it loud and clear to the world that it wants to hand over the war it started to African troops from the ECOWAS sub region, while its takes a back seat.

To its mind, France wants African troops to take over from where it stopped in this benevolent effort to chase away the atavistic hordes that are perverting the tenets of Islam and using Islamic faith to commit crimes against humanity.

French President, Mr. Francois Hollande said his government’s decision for early withdrawal from the front line is to avoid being seen as a crusading army in its former colony.

This was the same reason Paris used to pull back from Mauritania in July last year, where French troops went on a four day campaign to put the fear of God into the eyes of the Islamists from the ranks of AQIM, that were messing things up.

For that we know, France took the unilateral initiative on January 10, 2013, to launch air

strike in Northern part of Mali, after the Western powers had muscled the United Nations to endorse the use of force in Mali, to disperse the Islamist militants that have swindled the separatist Tuaregs in Mali who had been fighting the Malian government for its self rule since the 1990s.

From the town of Kidal to Gao, Mpoti, Timbuctu, the AQIM became the reigning thugs to the extent that the Malian soldiers could not match them.

They took advantage of the March 2O12 military coup in Mali to extend the hold of the country as well as gained more territories.

The diplomatic confusion created within the West African Economic Community and the mixed signals from the United Sates against the military government emboldened the Islamists to declare the sate of Azawad, a replica of Afghanistan in the Sahel Sahara.

This is a region that stretches from Mauritania to Senegal, Guinea, Burkina Faso, Niger, Northern Nigeria, Mali and Chad. The US was alarmed that France had been sloppy to have allowed AQIM to gain such a strong hold in the region that was once its domain.

On its part, France and Algeria had been at the receiving end of the AQIM operations in the North Africa and in the

•Map of the Sahel Brotherhood in Egypt is not good for Nigeria”.

•Late Al-Qaeda leader, Alwaki

•President Francois Hollande

Sahel Sahara.

Why France went after AQIM in Mali The kidnapping and subsequent killing of a 78 year old French man by the Islamist between April and July 2012 caused France to declare war on AQIM in Mali.

Before then, the European Union has launched a four day campaign against the Islamists in Mauritania. The group had kidnapped and killed French tourists in Nouakchott. With the backing of Mauritania soldiers,

France went after the Islamists.

The seizure of the 78 year old man was a retaliatory action.

But the French was forced to launch a full scale military ac-

Iran’s scramble for uranium in the Sahel Continues from yesterday LTHOUGH the UN stepped into what was obviously illegal movement of arms and drugs, Iran claimed the arms were destined to an unnamed West African country.

The ongoing war against the Islamists in Mali and the linkage between the Boko Haram sect and Al-Qaeda in Islamic Maghreb has a lot of national security implications for Nigeria because Mali, Niger, Mauritania and Chad, which have sizeable Muslim population.

In September 2010, the Islamists group took seven hostages from a uranium mine in Arlit, Niger, and kidnapped four European tourists in Mali in Janu-

A

ary 2009. More recently, it kidnapped three aid workers in Tindouf, Algeria, in October 2011.

Some of these countries have been used as training grounds for Boko Haram sect. Their ultimate goal is to instigate a religious war that will result in the disintegration of Nigeria which the US based National Intelligence Agency, predicted will happen after 100 years of Nigerian statehood.

Oil Diplomacy Apart from Uranium, Iran has interest in the destabilization of Nigeria which it suspects will provide alternative source of oil to the West through the Gulf of Guinea Teheran has told the world that it would block the strait

of Homuz in the event of Western led war against the Persian nation for its nuclear programme.

The oil from the Gulf of Guinea to the West is one reason why we have the US backed African Command (AFRICOM), which is formed to secure US access to oil in the event of Iranian blockade of the major passage of oil to the West.

Nigeria therefore stands to profit from selling oil to the West and frustrating its planned blockade. It has its eyes on creating domestic security crisis that will continue to drain the attention of the leadership in Abuja. The objective of the militant groups is to export economic jihad to Nigeria and ensure that the country remains in disarray.

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BY HUGO ODIOGOR, FOREIGN AFFAIRS EDITOR

The Emergence of AQIM Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb was formed in September 2006 and represents Islamist opposition to western culture and values. It has over the years used Algeria as its base where it traces its origin to the 1990s. This was the era of the home grown Islamist uprising against the government of Algeria which stopped an election that the Muslim Brotherhood in Algeria was poised to win.

In Algeria, there were groups like the Salafist Group for Preaching and combat. The Salafists emerged in 1998 after it broke away from the Armed Islamic Group CIA). The quar-

Nigeria and the entire West Africa is bombarded by militant groups from the Horn of Africa and the Arab world and the rise of Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt is not good for Nigeria

tion against the Islamists in Mali as the group was gaining more territories from the impoverished Malian soldiers.

The prospects of recreating an Afghanistan or Iraq in Africa was alarming to the west especially as the international jihadist group has been attacking and killing Britons, Americans, French citizens, Chinese and German citizens in the entire West African states.

They had taken effective control of Northern Mali and tortured ordinary citizen in Kiddal Diabaly, Mpoti, Goa, Timbuctu, after they had supplanted the local Touaregs who were fighting for autonomy from the Malian government.

A senior Research Fellow at the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs, Prof. Fred Aja Agwu said that, “Nigeria and the entire West Africa is bombarded by militant groups from the Horn of Africa and the Arab world and the rise of Muslim

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rel between both group arose from their disagreement over the brutal killing of Algerian civilian population during the country’s civil war. Al- Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb began to grow in Algeria in the ninetie. It was made up of the Mujahedeen fighters who returned from Afghanistan where they had played key role in reversing the 1980 Soviet invasion of the Asian country.

They found a foot hold in Algeria which had internal insurrection following the cancellation which FIS was poised to win.

Prof. Agwu said “although the Algerian government was able to put down the social unrest, the crisis gave the Mujahedeen the opportunity to penetrate”. Their ranks were further swelled by the US invasion of Afghanistan following the 2001 Al-Qaeda attack on New York and Washington.

To be concluded

Vanguard, THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 2013 — 57

58—Vanguard, THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 2013

Valentine's Day:

Eat chocolate, ‘cook from the heart’ with healthy, low-fat recipes BYCHARLYNE IKPE & RACHAEL OLAYIWOLA

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HE Valentine season is upon us and many are going to enjoy giving and getting beautiful boxes of chocolates, candies and all sorts of goodies to eat.

The problem is, most chocolates are so overloaded with refined sugar and overprocessed and artificial ingredients that even if you are in love with whoever gave them to you, if you have the slightest regard for your health and body, it’s hard to fully enjoy yourself while eating them.

But you can actually eat chocolates on Valentine’s Day and really, really enjoy it without feeling any health qualms as long as it is made from natural, good-for-you ingredients.

One key to making healthy chocolate, is using raw cacao powder (aka “un-Dutched” or “natural”) instead of Dutched cacao powder, because it contains more of the healthful ingredients found naturally in cacao—antioxidants, iron, magnesium, phosphorus, potassium, zinc, copper and manganese. Some recipes also contain lucuma powder, which is made from a South American fruit. This ingredient makes the

chocolate extra creamy…it’s quite nutritious, containing beta-carotene, iron, zinc, vitamin B-3, calcium and protein…and it even adds a hint of sweet, maplelike flavour.

Leafy greens offer a wide assortment of nutrients and they taste great. Their popularity is vast, so add a new green to your menu today. Lettuce, chard and spinach are mild in flavour while other greens — like arugula, dandelion and mustards — are sharp, peppery and bitter. Choose the flavour you desire when adding to soups, sal-

ads, sides and main dishes. Add to soups, stir-fries and stews.

Steam or sauté and add to whole grain side dishes. Try collards with couscous and kale with brown rice, or spinach with pasta and chard with quinoa.

Toss baby spinach, arugula, watercress or dandelion with hot cooked pasta. Add tomatoes, mushrooms, onions, etc.

Use steamed greens as a bed for other colourful vegetable dishes. Greens are often inter-

changeable in your recipes.

Mature greens often taste better and are more digestible when cooked. Others, like spinach, dandelion and kale can be eaten either cooked or raw. Micro greens and baby greens are delicious raw. Enjoy!

Newly elected SUG President makes case for health information

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ORRIED about the dearth of health information in the country medical students under the auspices of Students’ Union Government, SUG of School of Information Management, Lagos University Teaching Hospital, LUTH has stressed the need for Nigeria to tap into the advancement of health information administration globally.

The newly elected President of the Union, Olanrewaju Olawoyin while taking an oath of office alongside with other members of the Executive noted that the peculiarity of information management in all disciplines especially in the present world of technological advancement could not be over-emphasized.

Olawoyin further stated that the new Executive was ready to welcome opinions, sugges-

tions and ideas from the students to facilitate building a stronger relationship between them and the management. He pledged:“Our government will not achieve everything in one academic year, but must start somewhere. We shall increase the awareness and promotion of the profession, build internet facilities to enhance students learning, champion health training programmes to broaden students’ knowledge and symposium on career talk.”

On his part, the Principal of the school, Mr. Ojo Taiwo Olofinluyi, charged the new Executive to conduct their activities in line with the school rules and regulation. “As members of the health family, you are advised to be more receptive and sympathetic about the life of a patient with the mindset of saving life first.”

COMMON SEXUAL PROBLEMS AND THEIR NOVELTY BASED SOLUTIONS (ADVERTORIAL)

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ELLO everybody. Valentine’s Day! Here is a recap of our new novelties and tips for lovers who want to make this a day to remember. After the exchange of gifts and perhaps a date at the restaurant, what happens tonight can make or break Valentine. We all have high expectations from our partners this Valentine and to live up to those expectations when night time comes around, here are a few ideas and tips.

First you need to set the mood. Soft jazzy music does that easily. The Journeys Sexploration CD for Lovers is perfect. Soft lighting is also important. If you cannot dim the lights in your room, light a candle instead. The Burning Desire Pheromone Candle is ideal. The pheromone scent is an aphrodisiac that makes men and women want to be intimate. Appearance is also important. For men, we recommend the Grip & Rip Thong and for women, there is the Pinstripe Lacy Halter Camisole night dress, the Sweet after Thought White Diamond Night Dress and many others.

If you are nervous about how to start, begin with a warm bath, after which you offer your lover a massage. Massages are intimate and involve the senses of touch, sight, taste and smell. Use the Making Love Massage Oil. It smells nice, tastes great and runs smoothly on the skin. Once the massage is on-going, you can easily transit to kissing and oral intercourse in the blink of an eye. If you are a man giving oral pleasure to a woman you don’t know very well, use a Dental Dam as a protective barrier. But if your lover is your wife or long term girlfriend, you can go direct with an edible gel or whipped cream. The Oral Sensations Strawberry Gel is great for this. You can also use restraints such as Furry Hand Cuffs to heighten the pleasure. We have them in white, pink, lavender and black. To have her angled properly, you can use the Inflatable Position Chair. It is amazing and made strictly for sex. Spend 10 to 15 minutes on oral pleasuring. That way, if you screw up after wards by

ejaculating within two minutes, you will be forgiven.

To make the intercourse even more powerful, add a vibrator to it and she will climax even before the penetrative begins. This makes you a winner already. The Buzzing Baby Rabbit and Ultra Smooth Vibrator are recommended. They are cheap and get the job done.

Now many men worry about things like premature ejaculation, erectile dysfunction and penis sizes at times like Valentine. You need to fix these concerns early. To stop premature ejaculation, use the Nasstoys Super Penis Extender or Max Control Spray. These are new and will enable the user last long before ejaculation.

The Nasstoys Super Penis Extender also makes the penis look two inches longer and most men like that.

Men can also use the Liquid Sex Penis Plumper or the Remote Control Plunger Pump for penis enlargement.

These are new and were flown in specially for Valentine.

And for weak erection or no erection at all, we saved the best for last. There is a new erection supplement for men called Xzen Platinum. It is the best. Xzen Platinum is so powerful that one capsule lasts for a week and that is not all. Normally you have to buy separate products for penis enlargement, premature ejaculation and hard erections. Xzen Platinum supplement does everything. It enlarges the penis, gives hard erections, eliminates premature ejaculation and gives performance energy for days of multiple action. There is nothing like it in the market and it is available in limited supply for now.

That’s it for today. I hope your Valentine will be a success. Men and women without Valentine dates can visit our dating site on www.zeevirtualmedia.com and register. It is never too late to begin new relationships.

Adults in need of the treatments/novelties discussed here can reach us on 08191978308 or 08027901621 to order or they can order online at www.zeevirtualmedia.com. Zee Virtual Media delivers to you wherever you are in Nigeria. For enquiries email us at custserv@zeevirtualmedia.com.

14 2013—59 Vanguard, THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 14,

NIGERIANS are still coming to terms with the incidence that happened last July in Festac, when a promising young lady, Cynthia Osokogu, was lured to Lagos by her ‘face book’ friends, and thereafter drugged, rapped and murdered in cold blood. Crime Alert learnt, yesterday, that a young man has been charged to a magistrate court in Yaba for similar offences.

Police said the middle aged man, identified as Samson Igwu from Orlu in Imo State, had February 7, 2013, admitted to have drugged and robbed a young lady identified as Sandra. Police sources also revealed that the The suspected druggist young man had confessed, after interrogation, to have drugged and robbed two other ladies identified as Tolulope Abiola and

BY UJU MBANUSI Damilola Eshinlokun, in a guest house located in Surulere, Lagos. He reportedly told the Police that he used 20 ml of effect stronger. By this time, I noticed that sleeping drugs which he mixes with some I was no longer myself, I saw myself passother substances to help knock out his vic- ing out. All I could remember was his helptims. Besides the alleged confession of ing me back to my room behind the guest Igwu, Crime Alert also interviewed one of house. We passed through the other customers seated at the barbeque joint withthe victims who narrated her ordeal.

How I was drugged and robbed! She out suspicion. May be they thought we said: “On that fateful night, February 7, were a couple, retiring for the night.

When I woke up the next morning, I was 2013; I was seated alone at the bar, some other customers were watching football at still very dizzy. I noticed that my room was the Barbeque joint located at the back of all scattered. My Nokia N6 series, Nokia the guest house. A guy approached me touch light phone and the sum of N10,000, and asked why I was seated all alone and given to me that morning by one of my if I would mind him keeping me compa- friends to settle my accommodation, were ny, I responded that I just felt like being all gone.

How Igwu was caught! “The next mornalone at that very moment; after some persuasion, I obliged to him buying me a bot- ing, as I was trying to come to terms with tle of drink. I requested for a can of “Power what happened to me the previous night, Horse” drink, while he opted for three bot- I struggled to go to the bath and fainted. tles of hot drinks. However, he later One of security men had to rescue me. brought out another bottle from his pock- Later, I heard some noise coming from the et, making it four bottles of hot drinks in Bar, but I was too weak to go and find out what was going on. It was the same secuall.

“As the drinks arrived, we ordered for rity man that helped when I fainted, that two plates of “Point and Kill” fish pepper came to call me to see if the man appresoup to complement the drinks. Mean- hended at the Bar for drugging some while, he had asked me to go and place ladies was the same as the one that order for the drinks and pepper soup. drugged and robbed me. Behold, when I Apparently, this must have been the time got to the bar, it was this same man, Samhe first drugged my glass of “Power Horse” son Igwu, being accused by two other ladrink as I returned and continued with dies, lodged at the guest house, as the my drink, without suspecting any foul play. man that had drugged and robbed them When we were done with the pepper soup, of their jewelleries and money, at a differI also had to return the plates to the back ent guest house. When I narrated my stoyard. Apparently, at this point, also he may ry, some area boys lurking around the joint, have drugged my drink again, making the descended on him”.

Man, 37, charged with drugging, robbing women

V-A-N-D-A-L-I-S-M: Civil Defence Corps wields the big stick •Uncovers illegal depot

disclosed that it arrested some suspected vandals believed to have taken

BY EVELYN USMAN & BOSE ADELAJA part in virtually all the listed incidents of vandalism, there were REPO village, in Obafemi - Owode Local Government Area indications that an insider, either from of Ogun State, has been in the news the Police, Civil Defence, NNPC or the recently, no thanks to activities of pipe- Community leaders in Arepo had a hand in the whole vandalisation saga line vandals.

Vandalisation of the Nigerian Nation- in the area.

Governor of Ogun State, Ibikunle al Petroleum Corporation’s pipelines in the area, which supplies fuel from La- Amosun, who could not hide his congos to Ibadan, Ilorin and the northern sternation over the incessant explosions parts of the country has been on for a at the NNPC pipelines, bluntly accused long time. It only came to the notice of officials of the Nigerian National Petrothe larger Nigerian society last Septem- leum Corporation, NNPC, of aiding the ber, following an explosion that rocked vandals, saying, that they deliberately the area, during an operation by the abandoned the pipeline in order for it to be damaged by hoodlums. vandals.

Said he: “ I have to say it and I am The incident woke security operatives from their slumber as they con- saying it with every sense of responsivened to brainstorm on measures to nip bility that, NNPC by its inaction, is aidfuture occurrences in the bud. They ing and abetting the vandals. I want to were, howewver, taken off guard as the believe that they are part of this pipevandals resisted their efforts by engag- line vandalism with their inaction. Being them in a shoot-out in the massive cause, you can’t have somebody there creeks. In the end, they bowed to the as Group Managing Director and allow superior fire power of men of the In- this to happen. Look at the canoe NNPC spector-General of Police Special Anti- is using at this age and time.

Pipeline Vandalism and policemen from the Ogun State Police Command. But Security watchtower the vandals’ exit from the Arepo pipe- “Look at where they said the security line was only temporary, as they resur- watchtower is. Who will stay there to watch faced few days later, having re-stocked anything? This is not good for us as a nation, we are our own enemies. Public property are their armoury. not looked after. We should do the right thing.

Unfortunately, three officials of the This is a multi-billion naira investment. How Pipelines and Products Marketing can we not spend a small amount to maintain Company, (PPMC), who were deployed it? That is why I said NNPC with their inaction to effect repairs on the broken pipelines, are part of this problem. I want to believe that were the first to taste the vandals’ weap- they are the people aiding and abetting these ons. They were killed and buried in vandals. “ Chairman of the Journalists Estate shallow graves around the creeks last Residents Association in Arepo village, year.

Again, on January, 11, 2013, Nigeri- Mr Gbayode Somuyiwa, on his part, acans woke up to news of another explo- cused security operatives of having an sion in Arepo, while some vandals were unholy alliance with the vandals, descooping fuel from system 2B. This time claring that they had failed in their rearound, the vandals drank enough dose sponsibility of safeguarding the area of their own medicine, as some of them against activities of hoodlums,while the were gutted by fire from the explosion. Director- General of Nigerian Security With this incident, one would have ex- and Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC, Dr. pected others to learn a lesson from their Ade Abolurin pointed accusing finger colleagues’ demise by abandoning the on communities around Arepo.

Startling discovery: To buttress his illicit business. But no! Rather, like a dog that will always return to its vomit, claim, Abolurin visited Arepo last Thursthey stormed Arepo again to attack day, where it was discovered to the asNNPC pipelines, barely two weeks af- tonishment of all, that pipes were laid ter and set same system 2B which was from various houses to connect with earlier re- NNPC pipelines in the stream, from paired on where petroleum products were freely fire after siphoned whenever the system is s c o o p i n g opened by NNPC. the petroDuring the visit and tour round the l e u m area, a storey building located on Frank product.

Ogbor Close, was discovered not be a Accusa- residential apartment after all. Rather, tions and it was discovered to have an underc o u n t e r - ground pipe which also links the NNPC a c c u s a - pipelines in the creeks. It was gathered t i o n s : that most times, human movements were Although noticed around the building, with trucks the Inspec- driving in and out of it. tor-General Crime Alert gathered that whenever of Police the pipeline systems would be shut from S p e c i a l the creeks by NNPC, some of the vanTask Force dals would break a system in the creeks on Anti from where they would connect a hose P i p e l i n e that would channel the product to the Vandalism building for onward loading into trucks.

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60 — Vanguard, THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 2013

I was at the Villa ...for the Eagles

By PAUL BASSEY

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FTER a nineteen year wait, nothing would have stopped me from the Presidential reception planned for the Eagles last Tuesday in Abuja. In company of my colleague Aisha Falode, we left Lagos Tuesday afternoon and by the time we got to Abuja airport we needed no one to tell us that something pregnant was in the air.

The airport arrival area was filled to the brim with Nigerians of all walks of life, anxious to catch a glimpse of their heroes.

Journalists came in great number and some of them misinterpreted our presence to mean the Eagles had landed and rushed towards us, knowing that we were in South Africa and must have come back with the team. The drive into Abuja was also very indicative. Civil servants and School children lined the routes, some of them very early on, not quite sure of when the Eagles will finally arrive.

It was Aisha that noticed the absence of bold bill boards and banners welcoming the Eagles home, save for the effort of the Capital Territory Minister whose picture and that of President Jonathan eclipsed that of the Eagles they set out to welcome.

The invitation card said “ guests were to be seated by 19.30pm” for a programme billed to start by 20.00hrs. By 19.25 I was in the hall and spent over 30 minutes looking for a place to sit. I came across all manner of labels on the tables. There was the “private sector”, “invited guests”(?), “Super Falcons”, “Ex Super Falcons”(?), of course “Ministers”, “Permanent Secretaries”, “First Ladies Guests”…you name them.

As I was going round, frustrated, I thought that its national scope not withstanding it was first and foremost a football event. I thought there should have been a table for “Nigerian members in CAF and FIFA”, “Board members of the NFF”, “Ex Super Eagles”, NFF guests etc. unfortunately this was not the case as I could not find a seat! Predictably the politicians had pride of place. Tuesday was a field day in who’s who in Nigeria. About seven governors were in attendance. Senators, Members House of Representatives, Ministers, Captains of Industry, movers and shakers of the PDP

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fter going round and round I came across where the Super Eagles had been “dumped”. I thought they were the celebrants. I thought they should have occupied the pride of place, sharing the same table with Mr. President, if not all of them, Captain Yobo and the Chief Coach, ( For the information of the MCs he is not “The Boss”, but “The Big Boss” that is why an MC with a sports background should have assisted Ali Baba. ) Suddenly I saw a table labelled “Past NFF Chairmen.” Twelve chairs in all. I made a mental arithmetic….Lulu, Oneya, Obakpolor, Galadima,…..I resolved that most of them will not come and that even if they did, some seats will be available, so I took my seat, waiting to be told to stand up…..By 9.30pm the Eagles were not in the hall. And we were told by a member of the Presidential protocol that until they came, Mr President would not descend. Eventually they came and all hell was let loose. Photographers fell over themselves. Getting them properly seated was a study in confusion. Then Mr President made his entry and restored sanity.

The National Anthem……We were all

President Jonathan with the Afcon trophy pose with Super Eagles coach, Stephen Keshi at the reception

expected to say “The prayer” (Second stanza of the National Anthem) and the camera exposed on the big screen, top government functionaries biting their lips, muttering incoherently. From then on it was confusion galore. Whoever wrote the long speech for the NFF President did not do him any favour. By the time he rose to speak the mood in the hall was that of him just talking for two minutes and presenting the players and the cup to Mr President. The sports minister had covered all the history of 1980 and 1994. All he needed to do was to thank the Minister and Mr President for giving his board the environment to excel. Besides, it is unpardonable that we could attend a function of such magnitude without video clips of the goals of South Africa 2013, not to talk of visuals of 1980 and 1994 when Keshi lifted the trophy.

Even the presentation of the players would have been better done. From those on the bench….to those who played less matches to the believed heroes like Sunday Mba...Mikel Obi, Vincent Enyeama and Victor Moses….rising in crescendo.

Last Tuesday, the players were muddled up with the coaches! By the way, where were the back room staff? Nobody remembered the team doctor, secretary, manager, physiotherapist, pshychologist, kit manager……

Came the photo shoot, and the “order” for the Sports Minister and NFF President to step aside. Then, when Mr President was about to read his speech, the Vice President, the Senate president and the Speaker among others were called up the stage for more pictures. Nobody invited the First Lady, but she knew this was an opportunity not to bemissedwithherspeciallymadegreenwhite green attire.

Mr President then delivered an inspiring speech that touched on the very existence of this great country of ours and how this victory can be used to drive national consciousness bordering on unity because during the competitionitdidnotmatterwhetheritwasaMusa or a Moses that scored. The cheer was as loud.

When it came to the mention of the inputs of home based players, the speech writers forgot to include a presidential directive bordering on the revival of the domestic league that has potentials of producing world beaters yet is now lying comatose.

After the speeches and the dollars and nairas rain…I lost count of the calculations, came the national honours decorations. Again, confusion. This time the President had to step in, insisting on decorating everyone before taking further pictures. Then, just as Skipper Joseph Yobo was getting set to render a vote of thanks, appreciate Mr President and a grateful nation for all the accolades and gifts lavished on them, we were told to rise for the National Anthem!

Vanguard, THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 2013 — 61

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62—Vanguard, THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 2013

Pope's resignation, lesson to leaders — Arinze

BY UDUMA KALU (WITH AGENCY REPORTS)

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AGOS—NIGER IA’S Cardinal Francis Arinze, prefect emeritus of the Congregation for Divine Worship at the Vatican, has said that Pope Benedict XVI’s decision to resign the papacy would serve as a lesson to politicians, heads of state and heads of government who refuse to yield offices for

the common good.

Arinze who made his first reaction to the Pope’s resignation known, Tuesday, on the Catholic NewsService (CNS), Vatican, just as he was tipped by the United Kingdom bookmakers, William Hill and Coral and Irish Paddy as the next Pope. Arinze had been widely considered “papabile,” or a potential during the 2005 conclave of the Vatican’s College of Cardinals but

lost out to Benedict, who is stepping down at 85.

Arinze in a video interview posted on Youtube also narrated how the pope announced his resignation and how it would affect the church.

The pope’s resignation “can also be a very good example for all of us,” Cardinal Arinze said.

“Not only bishops. There are politicians, there are heads of state, there are heads of government” who refuse to yield office

even when doing so would serve the common good. ”So the pope’s action yesterday (Monday) could, we’ll hope, deliver a lesson to such, whether in the church or the state or a university or a corporation,” the cardinal said. “Anyone in authority is there to serve.”

How pope resigned— Arinze Arinze also recalled

how the pope announced his resignation.

“We were about to get the blessing and he said, ‘please sit down. I have something to say important for the church,’ Arinze said.

From the very first words of Pope Benedict’s statement, which he delivered in Latin, Cardinal Arinze said he began to fear that it would mean the pope’s resignation, he told Catholic News Service.

As the pope’s meaning became unambiguous, the cardinals looked at one another “in silence, in surprise. At the end there was silence.”

After the pope left the room, “ we did not go away. We got together in little groups, as it were, each one asking, ‘What has happened?’ But there was no doubt about esteem for the Holy Father, for his courage and his love for the church.

“It may well be that his health is not as strong as I thought. He loves the church so much that he thinks it’s better for the church that he leaves and another person takes over this heavy burden. ”I haven’t any doubt about his wisdom. He doesn’t rush. He is not rash. He is gentle. But he’s also clear-headed and firm.”

Cardinal Arinze said he hoped that Pope Benedict’s decision to resign would “help many to get more mature in our faith ... help all of us to be deeper in our faith, to be also, let us say, less sentimental. ”Our faith is not on the pope, it is on Christ who is the foundation of the church. The pope is a servant. Indeed, one of his titles is ‘servant of the servants of God.’ …. So his act yesterday was like saying, ‘I am a servant. I think another servant should come on.’”

Meanwhile, William Hill bookmakers of Britain has named 80-year-old Arinze as one of the favourites to succeed Benedict. Arinze, according to Hill, is favoured with odds of 2-1, followed by Peter Turkson of Ghana at 5-2 and Marc Ouellet of Canada.

“When we opened betting last time around, in 2005, Francis Arinze was our favourite,” a William Hill spokesman told AFP. His odds did drift towards the date of the announcement when Joseph Ratzinger (later Pope Benedict XVI) became the favourite, but he remained in the top three.

“Also, when Ratzinger became Pope, Arinze took over from him as cardinal bishop of VelletriSegni (a Catholic diocese close to Rome) — it could be that he’ll follow in his footsteps again.”

Vanguard, THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 2013 — 63

S.A Police brutalise Nigerian journalists T

WO Nigerian journalists were harassed, brutalised and detained for lack of good reasons by South African police in Johannesburg on Tuesday afternoon.

South Africa Correspondent of the

S/A Police officer

News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), Debo Oshundun and Deputy Editor of the Sun Newspapers, John Joshua-Akanji were cornered by policemen when they were on their way to cover the departure of the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations champions the Super Eagles, at the OR Tambo Airport, South Africa.

Joshua-Akanji told Goal.com about his ordeal at the hands of the South Africa Policemen.

“I thank God we are still alive because we could have been shot. I have never been in that situation in my life. I was dragged on the floor kicked and brutalised. I and John Joshua-Akanji were disposed of our phones, my keys and we couldn’t contact

Jonathan Continues from BP Africa Cup of Nations trophy to members of the Federal Executive Council by the Minister of Sports, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, President Jonathan also announced a donation of N5Million naira to the supporters club for their dogged support of the national team.

Speaking on his dream for the 2014 World Cup, President Jonathan said since the Super Eagles had come this far, they must ensure that they not only qualify for the competition but play in the final. ”I want to thank the Minister of Sports and the of course, the NFF which has always been associated with a lot of stories for this feat. If you had lost, you would have been humiliated. ”I know that it is challenging to manage a team. We will continue to praise and encourage the boys and charge them to ensure they qualify for the World Cup and get to the final,” the President said repeatedly.

Announcing a N5m donation for the Nigeria Football Supporters

Club, the number one citizen said, “We also commend the supporters’ club. This really escaped me yesterday (on Tuesday) when we were announcing gifts for the players. ”Government will give the club N5m to encourage them. It is not easy supporting a team, be singing and dancing even when it seems the team is not winning. We need to encourage them” the president said.

While presenting the cup to the federal Executive Council, the Minister of Sports, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, said the victory of the Super Eagles was a vindication that God answers prayers. ”We can conveniently say that God has answered our prayers after 19 years of waiting.

With the winning, the mood of the country has changed. God rewarded the President’s passion and commitment because before now, past administrations tried without success. God ordained it that this will happen during your (Jonathan’s) time,” he said.

anybody. We were detained for two hours and I was really traumatised for the time the police dealt with us and still imagining it up till now”, the Weekend Editor of the Soccer Star disclosed.

Joshua-Akanji had to miss his South African Airways flight due to this unfortunate incident.

“I am perplexed and short of words to describe the way I felt during and after our ordeal in the hands of the policemen here. I have not experienced this in my whole life. The police claimed that they stopped our car because the taxi we were in has a plate number with two different characters.

Immediately they stopped us they removed the plate number. They lied that they have been trailing,” Oshundun said on Tuesday afternoon.

Lieutenant Colonel MF Tshabalala, station commander at the Sandringham Command South Africa Police service, SAPS, later apologised for the treatment meted out on the Nigeria journalists.

It took the intervention of the Nigerian Consulate in Johannesburg to secure the release of both men.

There are no indication yet, if the Journalists will press for charges against the South African Police.

WELL DONE: President Goodluck Jonathan presents certificate of Merit to Mikel Obi

Mikel: AFCON win relives Champions League memories

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IKEL Obi has revealed that winning the AFCON trophy brought back sweet memories when he won an historic Champions League with Chelsea in May. Chelsea were given very little chance against home team Bayern Munich but fought back from a goal down to win a first-ever Champions League trophy Mikel, who shone at his

Celtic boss Continues from BP ulating to a heavy loss to La Vecchia Signora in front of their supporters at Celtic Park with Efe culpable for two of the goals.

He failed to deal with a long ball early in the first half allowing Alexandra Matri to pounce while another error late on in the game allowed Juve complete an emphatic win which virtually renders the return leg in Turin academic.

Lennon has been criticised in some quarters for fielding the Nigerian in the game as he had just returned from the Africa Cup of Nations in South Africa but the Celtic gaffer does not be-

lieve fatigue and jet lag was an issue for Ambrose.

“Fatigue was not a factor (for Ambrose). The first goal we conceded, he could have done better and then he misses a great chance (with a header from point blank range) to make it 11,” a disappointed Lennon explained after the game.

The former Celtic defender also took the time to analyze the third goal scored by Juventus, after another Ambrose mistake.

“The soft goal was very poor from his point of view and I think he will be very disappointed in himself.

‘I had to start him because we had very few options at the back,” he concluded

fourth Nations Cup in South Africa as Nigeria went all the way to a third triumph, said he was on top of the world as he has longed for the trophy.

“It was a great moment for me when the referee blew the final whistle. The feeling was like when we

won Champions league last season. I was excited and relieved,” Mikel told MTNFootball.com “It was an amazing feeling. I have been longing for it and I am glad I finally got it now. I am sure there are more trophies to come for this team.”

Valentine night Continues from BP Uduaghan will welcome the team today in Asaba where plans have been made to not only honour the players and coaches but also to make Delta people feel the Eagles and be part of the history they made by winning the Nations Cup with a 1-0 victory over Burkina Faso in the final last Sunday.

“Asaba will almost close up today for the Super Eagles,”Amaju Pinnick, the ExecutiveChairmanofDelta State Sports Commission said yesterday.

Amaju said that the players will ride in a motorcade on the streets of Asaba and will later, at night, be entertained at the Dome.

“It will be a night of entertainment,” Amaju

said.

“Top musicians like Inyanya, Ice Prince, D’Prince, Dr. Sid, Chudike and Burna Boy will play. It will be a Valentine Night for Eagles in Asaba. Notable comedians like I Go Die, Okey Bakasi, Seyi Law, Da Klint De Drunk, Elemu and AY will also entertain on the night.

“His Excellency, Dr. Uduaghan will appreciate the team,”Amaju said adding “he had breakfast with the current and past Warri Wolves players in the team in Abuja.”

He meant Nosa Igiebor, Fegor Ogude, Sunday Mba, Chigozia Agbim and Ekwuekwe.

It is likely going to be more than a breakfast for the entire team today.

VANGUARD, THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 2013

Valentine night for Eagles in Asaba •as Uduaghan hosts team

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OURTy Eight hours after President Goodluck Jonathan honoured the Eagles and rewarded them with

cash, National Honours and plots of land in Abuja, topmost sports loving governor in Nigeria, Dr. Emmanuel

Uduaghan takes his turn today to thank the team for making Nigeria proud at the 2013 African Cup of Nations in South Africa.

Continues on Page 63

2014 World Cup

Jonathan sets target for Eagles •Donates N5m to Supporters Club

BY BEN AGANDE, Abuja

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President Jonathan with the Afcon trophy

RESIDENT G o o d l u c k Jonathan on Wednesday charged the Super Eagles to not only ensure that Nigeria qualifies for the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil but to play in the final of the competition.

The President made the charge at the formal presentation of the 2013

Continues on Page 63

Celtic boss slams Ambrose T

HE Celtic Manager, Neil Lennon has criticised the performance of Nigerian centrehalf, Efe Ambrose in

Tuesday’s 0-3 loss to Juventus on a first leg round of 16 stage of the Uefa Champions’ League.

The Bhoys face an uphill task to qualify for the quarterfinals after capit

Continues on Page 63

QUICK CROSSWORD

Sudoku TODAY'S

PUZZLE

RECEPTION: Super Eagles at the House of Representatives yesterday. From Right, Speaker, Hon. Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, chatting with members of Super Eagle during a reception for the team for their victory at AFCON 2013. Photo by Gbemiga Olamikan.

YESTER DAY'S YESTERDAY'S

ANSWERS

ACROSS 1 Rare (6) 5 Caricature (6) 8 Crusade (8) 9 Vestment (3) 12 Roost (5) 15 Moisture (3) 17 Eggs (3) 18 Employ (3) 19 Tune (3) 20 Gross (5) 21 Pin (3) 22 Born (3) 23 Equipment (3) 24 Owing (3) 26 Squat (5) 29 Concealed (3) 33 Ringlet (4) 34 Series (8) 35 Aviation (6) 36 Ace (6)

DOWN 2 Creep (5) 3 Cord (4) 4 Expulsion (5) 5 Alarm (5) 6 Boulder (4) 7 Idler (5) 10 Grant (5) 11 Carried (5) 12 Stepped (5) 13 Kingdom (5) 14 Hoarse (5) 15 Profundity (5) 16 Carried on (5) 25 Customary (5) 27 Overturn (5) 28 Annoy (5) 30 Risk (5) 31 Choke (4) 32 Pile (4)

YESTERDAY'S SOLUTIONS ACROSS: 1, Aged 4, Pit 6, Jump 8, Poison 9, Admire 10, Dry 12, Optic 14, Couch 15, Surge 18, Lessee 20, Brazen 24, Debar 26, Abuse 28, Grind 30, Cos 32, Border 33, Pencil 34, Glue 35, Bud 36, Edio.

How to Play Sudoku

THE VIGILANTE

DOWN: 2, Group 3, Dismiss 4, Pond 5, tray 6, Jumbo 7, Miracle 11, Rig 12, Oil 13, Cue 16, Red 17, Ebb 19, Embroil 21, Rag 22, Arrange 23, Nod 25, Ego 27, Sidle 29 Neigh 30, Crib 31, Sped.

e-mail: rowolove@yahoo.co.uk

Place 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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