Jonathan, Buhari endorse violence-free polls

...towards a better life for the people VOL. 25: NO. 62320

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ONLINE | www.vanguardngr.com

N150

THURSDAY, JANUARY 15, 2015

Troops kill 41 Boko Haram members in Biu, Azare 9

•Pages 50&51

DIGITAL SWITCHOVER:

Failing on low awareness

Jonathan, Buhari endorse violence-free polls

By Levinus Nwabughiogu

A

•Candidates must refrain from inciting comments, threats — Jonathan •The Judiciary, INEC, others must be impartial — Buhari •How to make polls credible – Annan, Anyaoku, Jega, Gambari, others

INEC releases names of presidential candidates for Feb 14 polls 9

FOR PEACEFUL ELECTIONS

How the elections are already being rigged •P.19

Buhari and the qualification question •P.19

6

14

COLUMNISTS:

Hon. Justice Patricia Mahmoud: Righteousness in the Kano judiciary •P.17

Cholera kills 20 in Rivers, 171 cases reported 2015 Appropriation Bill of N4.357trn passes through 2nd reading

B U J A — PRESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan, former Head of State, Major-General Muhammadu Buhari (ret) and 12 other presidential candidates, yesterday, signed an undertaking to ensure free and fair polls as well as run issue-based Continues on Page 5

Mr & Mrs

PEACE—President Goodluck Jonathan (R), embraces retired Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, at the general elections sensitisation workshop on non-violence in Abuja, yesterday. Photo: NAN.

2 — Vanguard, THURSDAY, JANUARY 15, 2015

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4 — Vanguard, THURSDAY, JANUARY 15, 2015

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POCKET CARTOON

NON-VIOLENCE—PDP National Chairman, Sen. Adamu Muazu (R), embraces his APC counterpart, Chief John Oyegun, at the general elections sensitisation workshop on non-violence in Abuja, yesterday. Photo: NAN.

Jonathan, Buhari endorse violence-free polls Continues from Page 1

campaigns for the forthcoming general elections in the country.

President Jonathan is running on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) while Buhari is contesting on the banner of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

They gave the assurance during a sensitisation workshop themed: “2015 General Elections: Sensitization workshop on Non-Violence”. Jonathan and Buhari put aside their electoral fisticuffs and embraced excitedly upon arriving for the workshop.

President Jonathan and Buhari had been engaged in bitter electoral battle in a bid to win the February 14 presidential polls.

Apart from the duo, the chairmen of the two

dominant parties, Alhaji Adamu Mu’ azu, PDP, and Odigie Oyegun, APC, also hugged themselves in a bid to send a signal to their supporters that violence is not part of democracy.

This came as all the 14 presidential candidates of the various parties contesting the election also signed a peace agreement to ensure free, fair and credible polls.

Other candidates who signed the peace agreement included Tunde Anifowose Kelani of the Action Alliance, AA; Dr. Rafiu Salau of Alliance for Democracy, AD; Ganiyu Galadima of Alliance Congress, AC; Alhaji Mani Ibrahim Ahmad of ADC; Chief Sam Eke of Citizens Popular Party, CPP; Ambrose Albert Oworu of Hope Party; Prof. Oluremi

TAKE HEART

BY ELLA RANDLE

Whenever you want to achieve something, keep your eyes open, concentrate and make sure you know exactly what it is you want. No one can hit his or her target with the eyes closed—Paulo Coelho

H

OW do you make a difference in your life?

You alone can exactly know what it means to you to “make a difference”, and what results you expect to see when you’re doing it. The clearer you are, the easier it will be to spot and act on opportunities.

For instance, the area of finance is crucial in our personal development in making a difference on how and where we choose to live and this may require some reassessment and evaluation of your current financial capabilities and the plans for the future.

Gathering information means your worries (“can I make a living and make a difference?”) become choices (if I want to make a living and a difference, I need to find and/or create work that is enabling and within a certain figure a year). Here’s one good advice, am learning to embrace it too. Try sticking to a budget, you may be shocked when you see where your cash is going!

Sonaiya of KOWA party and Chief Chekwas Okorie of the United Progressives Party, UPP. The peace agreement otherwise known as “Abuja Accord” by the organizers of the event essentially barred the contestants from making inciting speeches in whatever guise that could cause the eruption of violence before, during and after the elections.

The Accord

The accord read: “We the undersigned presidential candidates of the under-listed political parties contesting in the general elections of 2015; desirous of taking proactive measures to prevent electoral violence before, during and after the elections; anxious about the maintenance of a peaceful environment for the 2015 general elections; reaffirming our commitment to the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria; desirous of sustaining and promoting the unity and corporate existence of Nigeria as an indivisible entity; determined to avoid any conduct or behaviour that will endanger the political stability and national security of Nigeria; determined to place national interest above personal and partisan concerns; and reaffirm our commitment to fully abide by all rules and regulations as laid down in the legal framework for elections in Nigeria, hereby commit ourselves and our party to the following: *To run issue-based campaigns at national, state and local government levels; in this, we pledge to refrain from campaigns that will

involve religious incitement, ethnic or tribal profiling; both ourselves and agents acting in our names. *To refrain from making, or causing to make our names or that of our party, any public statements, pronouncements, declarations or speeches that have the capacity to incite any form of violence, before, during and after the elections. *To commit ourselves and political parties to the monitoring of the adherence to this accord by a national peace committee made up of respected statesmen and women, traditional and religious leaders. *All institutions of government including INEC and security agencies must act and be seen to act with impartiality and to forcefully and publicly speak out against provocative utterances and oppose all acts of electoral violence whether perpetrated by our supporters and/or opponents.”

Anyaoku, Annan, Jega, Gambari, Obi push for free, fair credible polls

Before the signing of the accord, eminent personalities including former United Nation’s Secretary-General, Kofi Annan; the chairman of the event and former Secretary-General of the Commonwealth, Chief Emeka Anyaoku; the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, Professor Attahiru Jega; former Nigeria’s representative to the United Nations, Professor Ibrahim Gambari and the Special Adviser to President Goodluck Jonathan on Inter-party Affairs, Senator Ben Obi took turns to harp on the need for violence-free election.

In his speech, Annan asked the contestants to avoid the use of inflammatory languages to underscore the need for the country to prove its big brotherly position in Africa and beyond with the election.

“Aside being the eighth largest exporter of oil, Nigeria has become a player in telecoms, agriculture and in banking. She is a major contributor to UN peacekeeping and is now at the UN Security Council. You can’t abstain from voting and then complain”, he said.

For the candidates, he enjoined, them to “focus on party policies and not on individuals. Avoid inflammatory languages and don’t use ethnicity and religion to gain political sympathies.

“Nigeria doesn’t want to

repeat the experience of Kenya where violence took them back several years. 2015 will confirm Nigeria’s progress in the eyes of the world. The stakes are high but I know Nigeria can rise to the challenge. Nigeria’s success is Africa’s success. Nigeria has the future of Africa in her hands, make Africa proud”, he said.

Similarly, Anyaoku remarked that the workshop was necessary due to increasing provocative words being used by the candidates and the attendant consequences which had unfortunately been the lot of previous elections in the country. He said that the forthcoming election has put Nigeria on the eyes of the international community.

“Regrettably, we cannot deny that in our country we have history of violence occurring before, during and after elections.

Already, explosion, burning of buses have been reported in some states, and we are also witnessing increasingly a c r i m o n i o u s pronouncement by candidates and spokespersons of political parties. Nigeria and its 2015 general elections are in the eyes of the international community”, he said.

10 causes of violence –Jega

The Chairman of INEC, Jega, among other things identified 10 causes of violent elections in Nigeria.

He said: “In answering the question of what makes our elections so prone to violence, I have identified specific as well as general causes of violent elections which have been identified by scholars. In particular, I have paid attention to the causes which are attributed in countries such as Nigeria to the tendency for contestants, political parties, politicians to see electoral contest as something that you have to engage in and that you must win at all cost.

“In a country like Nigeria, where there is

what scholars called low level of institutionalization, stakeholders tend to use resources at their control in the contest for political power and Samuel Huntington said, the 'wealthy will bribe, the students will riot, the workers will strike, the mob will demonstrate and the military will coup'.

“Of course, this depends on the extent which the political party, candidates and other vested interests now try to mobilize and to win power at all cost. So, it is very, very important to recognize that in a country like Nigeria, there are many factors that can lead to violence in an elections.

“Attitude and the disposition of parties and candidates will determine to a large extent whether we will have peaceful and non-violent elections. So, parties and contestants, although have responsibility to ensure peaceful conduct of elections. Of course, there are other agencies, the election management body has an important responsibility. It has to do its job with competence, with professionalism and with non partisanship.

Security agencies also have to do their jobs.

“I have identified what I called 10 tenets of nonviolent elections specifically on what we will expect. The first one obviously is internal party democracy, effective intraparty conflict resolution, accountability, Supremacy of rules, uncertain electoral outcome, willingness to accept outcomes, moderation of electioneering, trust in institutional redress, promotion of inclusiveness, well trained staff.”

INEC, security agencies, politicians have major roles to play –Gambari

Former Nigeria’s scribe to UN, Professor Gambari said that the success of the February election rested mainly on the technical competence of INEC, the prevailing security

Continues on Page 16

6—Vanguard, THURSDAY, JANUARY 15, 2015

Suicide bomber kills 2, injures 11 in Gombe

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suicide bomber blew himself up outside a mosque in the northeastern city of Gombe, Gombe State, yesterday, killing about two other people and wounding 14 others during prayers, a Red Cross official and witnesses said.

An eyewitness, Musa Usman said: “We were holding prayers when we heard a loud explosion. We rushed out of the mosque.

There were so many injured people on the ground.”

There was no immediate claim of responsibility.

An official at the hospital where the casualties were brought, Ibrahim Garba, said the emergency ward was treating 14 people for blast injuries, adding that some were in critical condition.

Cholera kills 20 in Rivers; 171 cases reported zTwo treatment centres established

By Jimitota Onoyume

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ORT HARCOURT— RIVERS State Government has confirmed the outbreak of cholera in Andoni Local Government Area of the state, saying that about 20 persons have so far died from the disease.

State Commissioner for

Health, Dr. Sampson Parker, in a statement, said about 171 cases had been reported in some communities in the council. According to him, the outbreak began on January 5.

The commissioner said the council’s rapid response team and the state emergency response team had all risen to the task, adding that two

treatment centres had been opened in the area.

He said: “The state emergency response team and the social mobilization team are already on ground to assess and manage the situation.

“Two treatment centres have already been established at Ebukuma and Okoli’ile to

Parents gatheer at the gate of Government Secondary School, GSS, Gwagwalada, as panic over bomb scare spread in the school, yesterday.

NAN PHOTO.

DSS quizzes Bayelsa NCP Assembly candidate over attack on commissioner

By Samuel Oyadongha

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E N A G O A — CONTRARY to reports on Monday that the National Conscience Party, NCP, candidate for Bayelsa State House of Assembly, Sagbama Constituency I, Mr. Michael Agbalaze, was abducted by gunmen, it has emerged that he was arrested by operatives of the Department of State Services, DSS. He was arrested over alleged disruption and attack on Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, sensitization campaign team, led by the state Commissioner for Works and Infrastructure, Lawrence Ehwrudjakpo.

An aide to the commissioner said the security details and PDP supporters on the campaign team of the commissioner were restrained from reacting in the interest of peace.

According to a security source, no fewer than seven vehicles, including an official vehicle attached to the Bayelsa representative in the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, were damaged.

manage cases and affected people are advised to assess the facilities,” Dr. Parker added that bore holes would be sunk in the area as part of measures to tackle the spread.

He appealed to the people of the state not to panic, stressing that the situation was under control.

Yuletide auto crashes claim 27 in Kogi

By Boluwaji Obahopo

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OKOJA—THE Federal Road Safety Commission, FRSC, has said that 27 people died, while 105 others sustained injuries in various auto crashes that occurred on highways across Kogi State during the Christmas and new year festive period.

The state Sector Commander, Godwin Omiko, disclosed this to journalists, yesterday, in his office in Lokoja, while reviewing the command’s operation and road crashes recorded during the Christmas and New Year festive period.

According to him, “30 road crashes were recorded in the state between December 19, 2014 and January 12, 2015. 230 people were involved, 27 died, 105 injured, while 98 were rescued without injuries.”

He said 333 motorists were arrested for violating traffic rules, adding that 79 were arraigned in Mobile Courts; 71 convicted, while eight were discharged and acquitted.

Omiko said the focus of the command this year would be public enlightenment, training, enforcement and synergy with other stakeholders in road safety, in its bid to achieve the goal of the commission.

He, however, warned officers and marshals of the command to keep away from things that

would tarnish the image of the commission or make them to lose their job.

Court dissolves 18-year-old marriage over starvation zI'm asleep before he gets home—WIFE

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N Ikorodu Customary Court in Lagos State, yesterday, dissolved the 18year-old marriage between a transporter, Mr. Idowu Adekunle and his wife, Oluwatoyin, over ‘food starvation.’

Granting Adekunle’s prayers, the court’s President, Mr. Olu Adebiyi, said that all efforts by the court and family members to reconcile both parties had failed, as Adekunle insisted on divorce.

He ruled: “From today, you cease to be husband and wife.

This court will rest further deliberations and declare free divorce to both parties. The petitioner should pay the child feeding allowances of N10,000 on monthly basis through this court, and should also be responsible for the child’s schooling and hospital bills.

“He should also pay compensation and accommodation fees of the respondent, while the custody of the only child remains with the wife till the determination of the family court. Visitation right is granted to the petitioner at any reasonable time of the day.”

Adekunle, who resides at 6, Gbola Akinpelu St., Ikorodu, in his petition, told the court that his wife, who is a beautician, was in the habit of starving him of food.

Oluwatoyin, in her response, did not deny the allegation, but asked the court to plead with her husband, saying she would amend her ways as “I still love him.”

The wife said she stopped cooking for her husband because she would have slept off before he arrived home.

EFCC recovers $2,000 for American victim of love scam

By Soni Daniel

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BUJA—RELIEF came for one Margaret Sanders, an American based in Sherman, Texas, as the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, recovered $2,000 which she had lost to a suspected Nigerian fraudster, Benjamin Akugbe, in a romance scam.

Sanders, through a petition, alleged that she entered into a relationship on Facebook with someone who claimed to be Benny Brown from Warri, Delta State, with both agreeing to get married.

According to her, the suspect in the course of the affair, requested for $2,000 to enable him join her in United States of America.

The money was wired to him through Western Union into an account with the name, Gladdys Ikpoba, domiciled with a new generation bank.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, JANUARY 15, 2015—7

Five feared dead, scores injured as political thugs clash

By Evelyn Usman

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An accident at Kugbo on Keffi-Abuja Road, yesterday. NAN PHOTO.

8 Customs officials injured, Okadaman on watchlist as trailer veers off Apapa-Oshodi road

By Godfrey Bivbere & Ifeyinwa Obi

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RAGEDY was, yesterday, averted as a trailer was forced off the Auto-Wharf end of the Apapa-Oshodi Expressway by a suspected Lagos State Traffic Management Authority, LASTMA, official, who struggled for control of the vehicle wheels with the driver.

The trailer rammed into a commercial bike rider, Okada man, before breaking into the annex of the Port and Terminal Multi-Services Limited, PTML, Command of the Nigeria Customs Service, NCS, located in the area at 8a.m.

The Group Chief Security Officer of PTML, Oscar Aliu, said the damage was colossal, adding that over eight customs officers were injured, laptops and several other work tools destroyed by the truck.

He said the LASTMA officials, who caused the accident, ran away, but they were able to catch their agent who is presently in their custody.

An eyewitness, who spoke to Vanguard on the condition of anonymity, said the bike rider, who was seriously injured, had been rushed to the hospital. The eyewitness expressed doubt on the bike rider's chances of survival.

Clearing activities at the busy terminal was grounded for about three hours before skeletal work began at the premises, where imported second hand vehicles, popularly called Tokunbo, are cleared.

However, Steve Okoma, Public Relations Officer of the PTML Command, told Vanguard that the man survived the accident and is

presently in the hospital.

Okoma noted that no Customs officer or indeed any other person was affected as people were just resuming for the day.

When Vanguard visited the scene, policemen were seen supervising the removal of the trailer, which had a foreign number plate, 474 B22, from the compound, while the damaged bike, with number plate KTU 522 QE was placed on the bed of the truck.

A driver’s license issued in

zLASTMA officers blamed Kano and believed to belong to the driver of the trailer, with the name Mustapha Umar, was beneath the truck. The license was later taken by the police.

Another eyewitness told Vanguard that the accident was caused by the LASTMA official, who had apprehended the trail and wanted the driver to turn and drive against the traffic to their park at Mile2.

The eyewitness said the driver refused and as they were struggling for the control of the truck, the brake failed and the truck rammed into the PTML property.

When contacted, the image maker of LASTMA said his men were not involved in the incident, adding that the socalled LASTMA official arrested by the Customs was a tout.

O fewer than five persons were feared dead and several others injured in a renewed fight between political thugs in Ijora area of Lagos, yesterday.

However, Police in Lagos said only one person died in the fight. The Police gave the identity of the deceased as Lateef Abdullai.

Report has it that trouble started two months ago after a politician in the area gave an unspecified amount of money to some social miscreants, who were his loyalists.

Some of them, who claimed they were edged out in the sharing, took to the streets, destroying property of their colleagues that benefited from the largesse.

In a bid to calm the aggrieved persons, the politician was said to have doled out additional cash to them, an action that, Vanguard gathered, escalated the already tensed situation as those who did not benefit resorted to the use of force.

8 policemen killed, as casualties rise to 18 in Ikare All the banks in the town shut located around the three banks robbery incident their doors to customers as a had bullet holes on their walls

By Dayo Johnson

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KURE—FRESH facts emerged, yesterday, that eight policemen were shot dead by the dare-devil armed robbers, who robbed three banks simultaneously in Ikare area of Ondo State, Tuesday.

As at yesterday, reports said that 18 persons were killed by the bullets of the robbers, who carried out the operation commando style.

Fact finding visit to the town

by Vanguard, yesterday, indicated that five policemen were shot on their arrival at the two of the banks, while three others were shot at the police station, which was earlier raided by the bandits.

Meanwhile, Governor Olusegun Mimiko and the state Police Commissioner, Isaac Eke, visited the town to access the extent of damage done by the robbers.

Reports had it that a former Chairman of the National Union of Road Transport Workers, NURTW, Ezekiel Ile-Ola Gold,

was among the casualties.

He was said to have been shot on the stomach and died instantly.

This is coming as both commercial and business activities remained completely paralysed in the ancient town.

result of the robbery incident.

The three banks that were robbed by about 15 armed robbers are located at Jubilee area and a walking distance from each other.

The police station was riddled with bullets, while all the shops

and the iron doors.

Vanguard learned that the robbers came in two golf vehicles and a bus wearing MOPOL uniform.

Some of those killed include school children, who were reportedly heading home.

229 Nigerians deported over hard drugs offences

By Evelyn Usman

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total of 229 Nigerians were deported from 24 countries across the world on drug related charges in 2014, according to statistic released yesterday by National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA. Also, 129 suspected drug traffickers, comprising 118 males and 11 females, were apprehended at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Lagos, with N2.9 billion worth of narcotics.

South Africa, China and United Arab Emirates, as disclosed by the agency, top the list of preferred destinations by

drug traffickers, with 44 persons arrested at the verge of importing narcotics into the country.

Giving a breakdown of arrests made in the year under review, the NDLEA Airport Commander, Mr. Hamza Umar, explained that out of the 229 drug deportees, 39 came from Italy; 37 from the United States of America; 36, from Spain; 31, Norway and 22, Thailand.

Also, 14 Nigerians were deported from Saudi Arabia; Switzerland, 13; France, seven; the United Arab Emirates, five; Greece, four; and three each from Brazil and Sweden.

Also, Australia, India and

South Africa reportedly deported two Nigerians each, while Cambodia, China, Cyprus, Indonesia, Ireland, Portugal, Turkey, Uganda and United Kingdom deported one person each.

He noted that the arrests and seizures, compared to that of 2013, showed a 16.22 percent increase in arrest of drug traffickers and a 33.68kg decrease in narcotics seizures.

Umar also disclosed that cash, both in local and foreign currencies, were seized. The financial seizures include $24,362,23,450 Euros; 10,000 Pound Sterling; N240,000 and I,140 South African Rand.

8—Vanguard, THURSDAY, JANUARY 15, 2015

I’m not running for Senate —Kalu

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AGOS — FORMER Governor of Abia State, Dr Orji Uzor Kalu, has reiterated that he is no longer in the Abia North Senatorial district contest on the platform of the Progressive Peoples Alliance (PPA).

Reacting to the list of candidates to vie in the race released by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, the former governor said he remains a committed member of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP. The statement read: “My attention has been drawn to news that made the rounds today, in both print and electronic media, that I would be candidate of the Progressive Peoples Alliance (PPA) in the February 14 National Assembly election.

According to the news credited to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), my name was on the list as the candidate of the PPA for Abia North Senatorial District.

“Yes, I had a special affinity with the PPA, as I was one of the founding fathers of the party and even stood on its platform in the 2007 presidential election, but since I formally returned to the PDP, a party where I was also a cofounder and financier, I had been fully committed to the PDP. "Nigerians would recall that sometimes in December 2014, I had a meeting with President Goodluck Jonathan and the PDP National Chairman, Alhaji Adamu Mu’azu, at the Presidential Villa at the parley, the president appealed to me not to leave the party again, despite the injustices meted to me by the Abia State chapter of the party.

"No primaries held in Abia, delegates were just handpicked, thereby excluding anybody who was not in the camp of the governor, Chief T. A. Orji, from any political aspiration.

“At the meeting with the President, I told the media that I was satisfied with the outcome. What I meant was that since I had given my word to the President, to the PDP National Chairman, and to other key stakeholders, that I would then stay in the party."

APC takes over House of Reps as 260 lawmakers may not return

By Emman Ovuakporie

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BUJA — THE All Progressives Congress, APC, has become the majority party in the House of Representatives in place of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, with 13 more members crossing carpet among the various parties in the House.

Also, Vanguard findings has revealed that over 260 lawmakers may not return to the House by June this year when the seventh Assembly draws its curtains.

However, the new configuration of the House is as follows: APC— 179; PDP— 162; smaller parties— 19, bringing the total to 360.

Deputy Chairman House Committee on Media and Publicity, Rep Victor Ogene, confirmed the new House configuration in an interview with Vanguard.

As at yesterday, eight legislators who were hitherto in the ruling party defected to various parties. They include: Hon. Abdulmalik Cheche (Niger), who was alleged to have attempted to slap the Senate President, David Mark. He left the PDP for the APC. Others who defected to APC include: Victor Ogene, APGA (Anambra); Fort Dike, APGA (Anambra); Ibrahim Kamba, PDP (Kebbi); Garba Umar, PDP (Kebbi); Abdumalik Cheche, PDP (Niger); Chukwuemeka Nwogbo, APGA (Anambra) as well as Zakari Haliru, PDP (Niger).

However, Madwatte Anthony, PDP (Adamawa) defected to the PDM; Wison Nathaniel,PDP (Adamawa) defected to SDP while Benjamin Aboho from PDP (Benue) also defected to APGA. Tambuwal had earlier also announced the defections of Eddie Mbadiwe (Imo) from APGA to the PDP just as the little known Social Democratic Party, SDP, gained three more members, two in Ogun State and one in Taraba. Both Reps.

Murtala Kayode Busari and Ibrahim Adeniyi, formerly of APC and Accord respectively, joined the SDP in Ogun State, just as Rep. Jerry Manwe left the ruling PDP in Taraba for the party.

The gale of defections started about two years ago when 37 legislators left the PDP for APC. Afterwards, there were occasional swings in the movements until Speaker Tambuwal defected from PDP to APC last October.

Over 200 won't return to House

Meanwhile, about between 255 and 260 members of the House, who failed to win their various party primaries, would not return to the House in June, prompting Speaker Tambuwal to lament the dearth of experienced legislators returning to the House after the elections.

Those confirmed to have lost to the machinations of their governors include Warman Ogoriba, PDP, Bayelsa; Pat Asadu, PDP, Enugu; Bitrus Kaze, Plateau; Robinson Uwak, Akwa Ibom among others.

Tambuwal had last Tuesday lamented the spate at which lawmakers lose elections in the country, saying the return rate of

many legislators after the party primaries was below expectation, noting: "The expertise of those who lost primaries to re-contest the House will be greatly missed.”

He also expressed worry that crucial bills such as the Petroleum Industry Bill, PIB, the Electoral Act Amendment Bill among others were still pending.

RALLY: Mammoth crowd at the presidential campaign rally of the All Progressives Congress (APC), at the Osogbo City Stadium. (Inset): From left: Former Governor State of Osun, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola; Governor Rauf Aregbesola of Osun State; Deputy Chairman, APC, South, Segun Oni; former APC Chairman, Chief Bisi Akande; APC Presidential candidate, General Muhammadu Buhari; APC National Chairman, Chief John Oyegun and others at the event. Photo: Joseph Akintola.

TERRORISM: Jonathan wants saboteur military officers removed from service

By Kingsley Omonobi

A

BUJA —PRESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan, yesterday, directed the Military High Command to identify those sabotaging the efforts of the Federal Government to crush the Boko Haram insurgents in the country and flush them out of the military.

Jonathan’s directive followed series of security reports indicating the existence of fifth columnists in the armed forces especially with regards to the war against terrorists in the North-East.

Speaking at the commissioning and unveiling of the new cenotaph at the Military Cemetery in Abuja, the President said: “It is the duty of the officers (prosecuting the war) to detect those who are not working at par and those who are not committed to the country.

“Those who will betray others; a betrayal that may lead to the massive death of

officers when they are in operation, such people should be removed from service early enough.

“If we are able to filter among ourselves and we are able to identify such people, they may be deployed to other places. I am not advocating the retirement of people, except it becomes very clear that such an officer has committed an offence that requires this but soldiers must be trusted people.

“Soldiers must not be betraying themselves and the country. If any soldier is suspected to have this kind of inclination, the best thing is to redeploy that person from the position so that he will not be an enemy to the state and his colleagues.”

Addressing a gathering that included the Minister of Defence, General Aliyu Gusau; the NSA, Col. Sambo Dasuki; CDS, Service Chiefs, IGP and PDP Chairman, Adamu Muazu, the President said: “Today is a unique day

because we have formally unveiled the cenotaph with the names of the officers and men that were deployed to various operations and have paid the supreme sacrifice. I believe in most cases this may be the only link between them and the future generation, their children and their grand children.

“It is a project that is dear to me, that is why I mentioned that we needed to have this memorial that will be in remembrance of our past heroes.

Probably in future as nation, we may even have a bigger museum that photographs of some of our gallant officers will be displayed, so the future generation can always know what people had done, the various contributions they have made over the years. But for now this cenotaph will help.

“And it is a clear testimony that the government would always remember those who served this country, especially the military and the paramilitary officers that have to be awake for us to sleep. They are in the sun, the bushes and all for us to live in peace."

Vanguard, THURSDAY, JANUARY 15, 2015 —9

INEC releases list of candidates for Feb 14 Presidential poll A

BUJA — THE Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, yesterday, released the names of 14 presidential candidates and the deputies cleared to contest the February 14 Presidential election in the

country.

Of the number, 23 possessed either first degrees or the Higher National Diploma, HND and above while three, including the former Head of State and Presidential candidate of the All

Progressives Congress, General Muhammadu Buhari (retd) possessed either the West African School Certificate, WASC or its equivalent.

One of the candidates possessed the National

S/N

Candidates

Office

Party

Gender

1

Tunde Anifowose-Kelani Ishaka Ofemile Rafiu Salau Akuchie Clinton Cliff Ganiyu Galadima Ojengbede Oluremi Farida Dr. Mani Ibrahim Ahmad Obianuju Murphy-uzohue Ayeni Musa Adebayo Anthony Faith Ologbosere Muhammadu Buhari Yemi Osinbajo Chief Sam Eke Hassana Hassan Ambrose Albert Owuru Alhaji Haruna Yahaya Shaba Comfort Oluremi Sonaiya Seidu Bobboi Chief Martin Onovo Ibrahim Mohammed Goodluck Jonathan Mohammed Namadi Sambo Allagoa Kelvin Chinedu Arabamhen Mary Godson Mgbodile Okoye Haruna Adamu Chief Chekwas Okorie Barr. Bello Umar

President Vice President President Vice President President Vice President President Vice President President Vice President President Vice President President Vice President President Vice President President Vice President President Vice President President Vice President President Vice President President Vice President President Vice President

AA AA AD AD ACPN ACPN ADC ADC APA APA APC APC CPP CPP Hope Hope Kowa Kowa NCP NCP PDP PDP PPN PPN UDP UDP UPP UPP

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Certificate in Education, NCE, while another also had the Nursing and Midwifery certificate.

Six of the candidates, including President Goodluck Jonathan, had Ph.Ds. Age

58 64

45 44 46

46 35

Qualification

B.ED HND SSCE B.SC HND PGD PHD PHD B.SC (Hons) B.SC WASC LLB, BL PHD Nursing Cert LLB, BL, PGD HND PH.D B.A MSC HND PH.D (Zoology) M.SC (Arch) B.SC SSCE LLB, BL NCE PHD BA

Troops kill 41 Boko Haram members in Biu, Azare zCapture 5 others, two anti-aircraft guns

By Ndahi Marama with agency reports

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AIDUGURI— THE Defence Haedquarters, yesterday, said that soldiers had repelled Boko Haram new attack after a two-hour gun duel in Biu and Azare, Borno State killing 41 terrorists.

This was made known in its several tweets that the militants had been pushed back from Biu. According to the military, the troops also captured two anti-aircraft guns belonging to the sect.

“Troops in pursuit of fleeing terrorists as mopping up operation is ongoing. Five terrorists have so far been captured,” it said.

Residents in town, about 200 kilometres southwest of Maiduguri, the state capital, told AFP that scores of militant fighters stormed the town in 10 pick-up trucks at about 7:30 am, yesterday.

But they were intercepted by soldiers from a nearby barracks, leading to a twohour gunfight.

“Soldiers opened fire on three pick-up vans carrying the gunmen that came as an advance party while the rest remained at a fuel station in Kigir village,” a resident, Babagana Haruna said.

“There were 10 gunmen in each vehicle and all of them were killed in the rain of bullets from the soldiers,” he said, although there was no independent verification of the death toll.

The Islamists’ apparent target was the town’s military base, residents said.

The remaining insurgents then arrived at the scene in vans and motorcycles and 10 more were killed, said another resident, Awwalu Yusuf.

Civilian vigilantes and soldiers pursued the militants into the bush and youths armed with makeshift weapons set up barricades across the town to prevent them from returning.

Biu is a religiously mixed town and the largest in southern Borno. It has been largely spared Boko Haram attacks on nearby villages in the past two years.

Boko Haram on January 3 carried out what is feared to be the worst atrocity in the six-year insurgency, when they attacked the town of Baga in the far north of Borno.

The military claimed this week that 150 people were killed but eye-witnesses and local officials report that hundreds, if not more, lost their lives.

Both claims are impossible to verify, with Boko Haram reportedly still in control of the town.

OIL PRICE: Tap into N7trn maritime industry potential, Agbakoba urges FG

By Godfrey Bivbere & Ifeyinwa Obi

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AGOS — As oil price continues to fail, former President of the Nigerian Bar Association and Senior Advocate of Nigeria, SAN, Olisa Agbakoba, yesterday called on the Federal Government to tap into the enormous potential in the maritime industry estimated at N7 trillion annually.

Agbakoba, who disclosed in his office in Lagos, said tapping into the potentials of the sector had become imperative as the budget for this year is already being threatened by falling oil price.

He called on the government to, as a matter of urgency, overhaul policy, institutions, regulatory and legal framework in the sector to make it possible.

According to him, “there is massive untapped revenue in our maritime sector estimated at N7 trillion per annum. In order to tap revenue from this sector, there will be need for overhaul of policy, institutional, regulatory and legal framework.

“Nigeria’s shipping policy framework is outdated and incoherent. The last major review was 28 years ago, that is, the Nigerian Shipping Policy Act No 10 of 1987. As a result, Nigeria’s ports have become uncompetitive; shippers have been pushed outside the shores of Nigeria.

"Nigeria was designated to be a maritime hub for West and Central Africa, with potential to be a Maritime International Centre, MIC, but Nigerian ports are being abandoned for those in Benin Republic and Togo."

Contributory pension scheme generates N4.6trn — PenCom

By Victor Ahiuma-Young

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AGOS— NATIONAL Pension Commission, PenCom, has said the Contributory Pension Scheme, CPS, has generated over N4.6 trillion since inception in 2004.

Speaking in Lagos at the opening ceremony of a twoday workshop on the 2014 Pension Reform, Act, PRA, Director General of PenCom, Mrs. Chinelo Anohu-Amazu,

said the coverage of the CPS included employees in the public service of the federal, states and local governments as well as the private sector organisations with three or more employees.

The workshop with the theme: "New Pension Act 2014, its implications and obligations to both employers and employees in Nigeria" was organised by the commission in collaboration

with Lagos Council of Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC. Represented by Mr. Mohammed Bello Umar, the commission’s Head of Compliance and Enforcement Department, the director-general recalled that the pension reform started in 2004 with the passage of PRA 2004 which provided for a uniform pension system for both public and private sectors.

According to her, “the CPS has been successfully implemented since then and the fund under management has grown to about N4.6 trillion while membership is over six million. The coverage of the CPS includes employees in the public service of the federal, states and local governments as well as the private sector organisations with three or more employees."

10— Vanguard, THURSDAY, JANUARY 15, 2015

Agbaje vows to cancel Lekki-Epe toll gate if elected L

By Onozure Dania

AGOS—THE governorship aspirant of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Lagos State, Jimi Agbaje, has vowed to cancel the controversial Lekki-Epe toll gate, if elected into office come February 14.

He hinged this on the fact that the toll gate is untenable as it is standing on an existing road.

Agbaje disclosed that the Lekki Phase 1 inner bridge would remain since it was started from scratch by the concessionaire company.

Agbaje, who was accompanied by his Deputy, Alhaja Safurat Abdulkareem said this yesterday during an interactive session with the Muslim community in Lagos.

Agbaje, who commended Governor Babatunde Fashola for some of the successes recorded in the State, however, stated that Lagos was in urgent need of change and not continuity.

He noted that most of the problems affecting the State are products of what he referred to as “vested interest.”

The PDP governorship aspirant further noted that these successes however has not been felt by ordinary Lagosians, whom he said were totally alienated from governance.

He said the citizens are therefore

not positively lifted by the APC government in the areas of health, education and more.

Specifically, he said despite the promises of the state government on free health services, Lagosians still pay heavily at government hospitals, while promising to address this problem through

a free health insurance scheme that would be paid for by government when in office.

Agbaje also assured his Muslim hosts, which includes the National Missioner of the Ansar-ud-Deen Society of Nigeria, Sheik Abdurahman Ahmad, that the problem of allowing Muslim children to

wear the hijab veil to school would be solved through a synergy between the state and the mosque.

He, however, said those interested in hijab must be ready to wear it at all times, in order not input negative motives into the idea.

L

AGOS—THE Independent National Elelctoral Commission, INEC, Resident Electoral Commissioner, REC, in Lagos State, Mr. Akin Orebiyi, has lamented that about 1.8 million Permanent Voters’ Cards, PVCs, are yet to be collected out of the four million PVCs the state received.

Urging Lagos residents to ensure that their PVCs are collected, he said that the 245 Ward Collation Centres across the state have now been designated as distribution points for the PVCs. Briefing newsmen yesterday in Lagos on the electoral umpire’s preparation and readiness to conduct credible polls next month, Orebiyi noted that PVC distribution would henceforth be possible seven days a week from tomorrow, January 16, 2015.

He further disclosed that the state is yet to come up with a comprehensive list of candidates for various elective positions apart from the one released by INEC in Abuja, noting that it would be done through a piecemeal approach.

His words: ‘’Central to our activities and preparations for the elections is the issue of Permanent Voters’ Cards. The PVC today is about the most essential

L

AGOS—THE Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board, JAMB, yesterday, said that no fewer than 1.4 million candidates nationwide would write the 2015 All Computer Base Test, CBT, on March 4.

Mr Fabian Benjamin, JAMB Public Relations Officer, said in Lagos that the board would be migrating all to computerbased mode of examination for the first time.

The Registrar, Prof. Dibu Ojerinde, had in the last few years, sensitised secondary schools students on the computer-base mode of test effective from 2015.

Oyetibo urges dialogue over JUSUN strike

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MEETING: From left: Alhaji Tajudeen Agbede, Chairman, NURTW, Lagos chapter, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode, governorship candidate of APC, Lagos State, Governor Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State, Mrs. Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire, deputy governor of Lagos State, Dr. Oluranti Adebule, Secretary to State Government and Prince Tajudeen Adetoro, President, Lagos State Taxi and Cab Operators Association, Lagos State, during the 1st Quarter 2015 Town Hall meeting of Governor Fashola with operators in the transport sector in Lagos. Photo: Bunmi Azeez.

2m voters' cards yet to be collected in Lagos z1.8 million cards being expected —INEC

By Charles Kumolu

I.4m candidates for 2015 JAMB

commodity in this country. It is the most sought-after item. We will like to apologise for the hitches the people of Lagos State have experienced in their bid to collect their PVCs. We are rectifying the situation now. As our chairman has already assured the nation, every registrant will have his PVC

ready for collection before February 14. ‘’For ease of collection, distribution of the PVCs will now be extended from our present 20 local government offices to the 245 collation centres across the state. The list of the collation centres will be made available to the public. From January 16.

Collection will be possible seven days a week from 8.30am to 5.30pm daily at all the centres.

For those whose cards are not ready yet, please be assured that as soon as we take receipt of your cards we will make public announcements to request you to kindly come to our office to collect your cards."

Airtel Touching Lives hits local, satellite screens Network by 8.05pm the deep pain and hardship

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AGOS—LEADING telecoms operator, Airtel Nigeria, has presented a perfect New Year gift to millions of television viewers across the country as it announces the broadcast schedule of reality television show, Airtel Touching Lives.

The much anticipated Airtel Touching Lives, a revolutionary CSR TV series that is focused on e m p o w e r i n g underprivileged individuals, communities and groups in the society, airs on DSTV Channel 154 by 8pm every Sunday, followed by a repeat broadcast every Thursday on DSTV Channel 154 and ever y Saturday on NTA

The series, which will run for 13 weeks, is expected to bring to the fore, the commitment and kindheartedness of Airtel in uplifting underprivileged people across Nigeria through its CSR interventions.

Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Airtel Nigeria, Segun Ogunsanya, is optimistic that the show will not just resonate with Nigerians but will inspire the privileged people to continuously look for opportunities to assist the needy and the less privileged in the society.

“Airtel is part of the Nigerian society and we feel

confronting many in the communities where we operate. It is our hope that Touching Lives will offer relief to many and help us to connect emotionally with the communities and customers we serve,” he said.

The show, which has popular On-Air Personality, OAP, Wana Udobang, as anchor is set to redefine the televisionviewing experience of Nigerians as it captures moving stories and emotive moments of how the downtrodden, neglected and less privileged are emancipated from the shackles of poverty, despair and suffering.

By Bartholomew Madukwe

AGOS—A Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Mr Tayo Oyetibo, has urged the government to engage the executive of the judiciary workers union on a round table discussion, with a view to resolve the issue that led to the Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria, JUSUN, strike.

Oyetibo who spoke with Vanguard, stressed that when workers go on strike, government ought to show interest in addressing their complaint to install normalcy.

“The whole strike is about autonomy for the judiciary, which I think the government should just look into because the public is the one bearing the brunt of the strike,” he added.

Lawyers march for Buhari in Lagos

By Abdulwahab Abdulah

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AGOS—LAWYERS in their hundreds took to the streets yesterday in Lagos to drum support for the Muhammadu Buhari and Prof.

Yemi Osinbajo presidential ticket under the platform of the All Progrssives Congress, APC. The lawyers who tagged their outing a “‘Walk for Change” said this is necessary to create awareness on why Nigerians must support change of government through the forthcoming general elections.

According to the National Coordinator of the group, Mr. Adesina Ogunlana, the lawyers are also campaigning for a change of government at the federal level come February 14.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, JANUARY 15, 2015 —11

Osoba flags off SDP in Ogun, targets 500,000 zAs party accuses Amosun of neglecting rural areas votes A

By Daud Olatunji

BEOKUTA—A former governor of Ogun State, Aremo Segun Osoba, yesterday, said Social Democratic Party, SDP, in the state would target not less than 500,000 votes in the forthcoming governorship election.

Osoba who stated this at the party’s mega rally held at the Ake’s Palace Ground, in Abeokuta, noted that the party had over 50,000 members on its membership register and directed each member to canvass for at least 10 additional members.

Osoba who spoke in the presence of some leaders of Afenifere, including Pa Olaniwun Ajayi and Chief Ayo Adebanjo, handed over the party's flag to its governorship candidate, Senator Akin Odunsi, describing him as the best choice for the people in the state.

Others who were at the rally apart from Afenifere leaders were eight current members of the National Assembly who recently dumped APC for SDP, the party’s candidates and other party leaders.

on our membership register in this state. We have not less than 50,000 registered members. We are targeting not less than 500,000 votes in this state.

“If each of the 50,000 members can win 10 members, then that target will be achieved. I hereby urge all of you to be canvassers of votes, particularly outside your neighbourhood so as to make our dream a reality.”

He warned the party members against sale or loss of their permanent voter cards, describing it as “weapons of war” to vote out the present administration in the

state.

Odunsi speaks

In his acceptance speech, the party's governorship candidate in the state accused the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, of neglecting the rural areas.

Odunsi flanked by his running mate and the current deputy governor of the State, Prince Segun Adesegun, submitted that there was no evidence of governance in all the rural areas of the state.

He said his administration if voted into power would focus on

a 7-point programme which included; integrated rural development and agriculture; qualitative education; integrated power project; creation of friendly and conducive environment for industrialists towards industrialization and employment creation.

Others were qualitative healthcare service delivery; change from monolithic infrastructural development to all critical sectors and emphasis on the provision of potable water supply.

A

By Dayo Johnson

KURE—THE Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Ondo State has debunked the claim that some of its members have decamped from the party, describing the claim as false.

Reacting to the claim, the PDP, in a statement issued by the state’s Publicity Secretary, Hon. Banji Okunnomo said those who claimed to have defected from the PDP had since ceased to be members of the ruling party.

The party added that the game plan of “the members of the opposition who only waited till now to make their membership of the party public” was to act as spoilers within but failed to achieve their aim.

Ladoja promises Ibarapaland banks, tertiary institutions

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Odunsi as gov candidate

While explaining how the party resorted to Odunsi as the party candidate, Osoba said: "You people of Ogun State told me you want a governor who will share the benefits of democracy equally among the different parts of Ogun State and not a governor of friends and families.

“You said you want a governor who is humble, matured and noble, one who will respect the elders, one who knows the guidelines of the party and will listen to the party, one who will appreciate those who took their stand to vote at the polls.

“Has anyone of you benefited anything in this present administration? You people told me you want a devoted Muslim as a governor, have you seen these attributes in Senator Kamarudeen Akin Odunsi?

“I want you all to fight a reasonable battle with your votes at the polls. In our party, we do not make fetish oaths but oaths with affidavit. We discussed at full length before we chose Senator Odunsi and also his wife will take care of you women. Are you prepared for the battle? Your weapon is your Permanent Voters’ Card, PVC. “I challenge all of you to mobilise your relatives to the polls to vote for SDP. You must canvass for at least five members of your families.

“We have over 50,000 registered voters and if you mobilise ten more people in your family, that makes it 500,000 votes for SDP. “You all know that the crowd here is not rented and presently

Ondo PDP denies defection of members

TAN EVENT: President Goodluck Jonathan (5th right), PDP National Chairman, Alhaji Adamu Muazu (3rd left), TAN major financier, and National Vice Chairman, Dr. Ifeanyi Ubah (4th right) and other TAN officials, during a Transformation Ambassadors of Nigeria, TAN, event at Marina, Lagos.

Why Jonathan postponed campaign in Ondo —Mimiko

A

By Dayo Johnson

KURE—ONDO State governor, Dr. Olusegun Mimiko yesterday explained that the Presidential campaign of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, scheduled to hold in the state yesterday was postponed due to official engagement by President Goodluck Jonathan.

The governor who spoke through the state Commissioner of Information, Mr. Kayode Akinmade said the President rescheduled his campaign in Ondo State not for political reasons but to attend to other important national issues.

According to him, President Jonathan had a crucial meeting with some world leaders in Abuja including former Secretary General of the United Nations, UN, Dr. Kofi Annan, hence the postponement of the campaign in the state.

The PDP Presidential campaign had initially scheduled the party’s presidential campaign in Ondo State for yesterday but cancelled it less than 24 hours to the programme.

Governor Mimiko who is also the South West co-ordinator of the Jonathan Campaign

Organization hinted that a new date would soon be announced for the President’s campaign in the state.

He ruled out politics from the postponement and urged admirers of Jonathan and members of the PDP in the state

to remain steadfast.

The governor also assured that the people of the state would support President Jonathan’s second term ambition, just as he stressed that the people of Ondo State are solidly behind the Jonathan’s administration.

BADAN—Governorship candidate of the Accord Party in next month’s general election, Rashidi Ladoja has promised the establishment of tertiary institutions in Ibarapaland just as he assured them of standard microfinance banks to boost commerce and agriculture in the area.

Ladoja who gave the assurance in a statement from a member of the Accord media team, Mr. Toyese Oladejo, regretted his successors had failed the state.

The AP candidate who was received by an excited crowd in cities like Alagba, Ayete, Asunara, Tapa, Idere, Igboora, Lanlate and other cities in Ibarapaland averred that his administration would pursue policies and programmes capableofaddingvaluetotheirlives.

Isiaka promises rapid devt of Ogun economy zAs 48 Yewa/Awori monarchs bless him

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By Dapo Akinrefon

BEOKUTA—OGUN State governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Prince Gboyega Nasir Isiaka yesterday pledged rapid economic transformation of the state to engender development in all the three senatorial districts of the state if voted into office next month.

Isiaka also expressed optimism that the party will win next month’s general election with an overwhelming victory.

He, however, promised massive employment for the teeming youths, who he said would form the fulcrum of his administration, just as he disclosed that people will be at

the centre of his policies.

Addressing 48 traditional rulers from Ogun West Senatorial District in Ilaro, Ogun State that gathered to bless him, Isiaka said the time has come for the Yewa/Awori people to produce the governor of the state.

While he noted that since the creation of the state in 1976, nobody from Ogun West had the opportunity to govern the state, he said he was being motivated to be in the race to make the difference in the lives of Ogun people and give everybody a sense of belonging.

Isiaka, who took a swipe at the administration of Senator Ibikunle Amosun asked what

was the offence of Ogun West people to deserve the level of neglect in the last three and half years.

He said: “Amosun is not only running an elitist government but there is a disconnect between his government and the people.

“We are appealing to our people to endure till May 29. But I want to also appeal to them to go and collect their Permanent Voters’ Card, PVC, to enable them vote out repressive and anti-people government out of the state.”

Responding, the paramount ruler of Yewaland and Olu of Ilaro, Oba Kehinde Adeboye Olugbenle said Yewa/Awori people are proud of Isiaka and they have no doubt that he would make a good governor.

12—Vanguard, THURSDAY, JANUARY 15, 2015

EPZ CONTROVERSY: NNPC suggests way forward

By Emma Amaize, Regional Editor, South-South

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to consult with their people on the new direction adopted by the NNPC to name the “Deep Sea Port after Gbaramatu Kingdom. It is an entirely new development and they need to hear from their people.”

Ereyitomi maintained that the Itsekiri would not concede to any part of their land being used for a project that will be named after Gbaramatu Kingdom.

On why the thorny matters had not been thrashed out despite the trouble-shooting moves of exmilitant leader, Chief Government Ekpemupolo, alias Tompolo, who had met with the Olu of Warri, Ogiame Atuwatse II and the Itsekiri Leaders of Thought, ILT, led by Pa J. Ayomike, a prominent Itsekiri leader, Chief Ayiri said: “There is no bridge building by Tompolo on the EPZ controversy.

His bridge building is for Okowa and Otuaro. On EPZ, they are where they are. His visit is a political thing; they stand on their position on the EPZ matter. He wants people to vote Okowa, Otuaro and Senator Manager.”

Bebenimibo on his part, said “On December 23, last year, we met with the NNPC, we agreed that the project will now be

ARRI—THE Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, has tabled a fresh proposal for the resolution of the controversy between the Ijaw and Itsekiri ethnic groups in Delta State over the Federal Government $16 billion Delta Gas City project to the representatives of both ethnic groups.

Sources told Vanguard that the NNPC approach was to separate the project into two components.

One is the Export Processing Zone, EPZ, to be named after Ogidigben-Ugborodo, an Itsekiri domain and the other, Deep Sea Port, to be named after Gbaramatu Kingdom.

Chairman of the Ugborodo EPZ Interface Committee, Mr. Austin Ogborogbeyi, two Warri palace chiefs, Chief Thomas Ereyitomi and Chief Ayirimi Emami; Ijaw leaders - Chief Daniel Ekpebide and Paul Bebenimibo, confirmed the new development to Vanguard.

However, the two ethnic groups, particularly the Itsekiri, who had demanded the survey plans of the Deep Sea Port, were said to be watching the NNPC to know how it will handle the matter.

While the Ijaw people, it was gathered, were not against a Deep Sea Port E O P L E S being named after Democratic Party, Gbaramatu and the Gas PDP, governorship City after Ogidigben, they, like the Itsekiri, also want candidate in Delta State, to see the NNPC map and Senator Ifeanyi Okowa, has said that he his design for the project. with Ogidigben EPZ Interface relationship Committee chairman, Mr. incumbent governor, Dr. Ogborogbeyi, told Emmanuel Uduaghan, was Vanguard: “I cannot say the cordial.

Okowa, who spoke in matter has been resolved.

When they raised the issue Koko, Warri North Local of the Deep Sea Port to be Government Area at a rally located in Gbaramatu, we organised by the state PDP, asked them (NNPC) to also revealed that Governor give us the plan to know the Uduaghan had earlier land they want to use for it. predicted that he would We must know the location handover to him (Okowa) before we can make more after completing his tenure, adding that the prophesy comments.”

On whether the ethnic has come to pass.

The rally, which groups have agreed on the witnessed a large turnout groundbreaking which had been canceled on two of PDP supporters in the occasions, he said: “We did state, was attended by not stop them from doing the groundbreaking before and we are not going to stop them now if they are ready

By Jimitota to do it. Up till now, Onoyume nothing has come from the NNPC after our last ORT HARmeeting with them in C O U R T — Abuja.”

A member of the COMMISSIONER for Ugborodo EPZ Interface Commerce and Industry in Committee, Chief Delta State, Dr Chris Ereyitomi, said “To the best Ekiyor, has lauded Goodluck of my knowledge, the last President meeting in Abuja by NNPC Jonathan, saying that his was to prepare a new way achievements so far were to resolve the logjam. I was under reported.

Ekiyor, who spoke to not at the meeting but I have been briefed. The Itsekiri Vanguard, yesterday in delegation said they want Port Harcourt, Rivers State,

separated, Free Trade Zone and Deep Sea Port. The Free Trade Zone, which is EPZ, will be in Ugborodo area and the Deep Sea Port from Ikpokpo down to Gbaramatu.

Governor Uduaghan and his commissioners as well as other dignitaries.

Speaking at the rally, coordinator of Benin-River Vanguard, BRV, Mr. Anthony Okotie, congratulated the people of Warri North for their large turnout at the rally. He said: “The mammoth crowd at the rally is an indication that PDP is the party to reckon with in Warri North in particular and Delta State in general."

Ejeke, former local government chairman, urge his loyalists to turnout enmass and cast their votes for Okowa and himself during the governorship and House of Assembly elections on February 28, 2015.

Jonathan’s achievements under reported —EKIYOR

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want to see the landmark/design of the project, EPZ and the Deep Sea Port, which is where we are, the NNPC is to work it out and get back to the two ethnic groups.”

CAMPAIGN: From left: Dr. Dakuku Peterside, Rivers State APC governorship candidate; his running mate, Mr. Asita O. Asita, and HRM GNK Gininwa, Chairman, Rivers State Council of Traditional rulers, during their campaign rally inTai Local Government Area, in Rivers State, yesterday. Photo: Nwankpa Chijioke.

My relationship with Uduaghan cordial —OKOWA

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“We have also agreed that there should be different interface committees, Ogidigben and Gbaramatu Interface Committees for the Itsekiri and Ijaw respectively. We now said that we

described President Jonathan as the second war time President the country has ever had. According to him, despite the fact that Jonathan was fighting terrorism, he still had time to deliver dividends of democracy to Nigerians in several areas.

He listed the resuscitation of the rail sector and establishment of new universities among others, as areas that had received Jonathan'sattention.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, JANUARY 15, 2015—13

FEB POLLS: Akpabio warns against politicians threatening to form parallel govt G

OVERNOR Godswill Akpabio of Akwa Ibom State has called on Nigerian security agencies to look out for people or politicians planning to truncate the country ’s democracy by threatening to form a parallel government if they lose the forthcoming general elections.

Akpabio, when the Inspector General of Police, Mr Suleiman Abba, paid him a courtesy visit at Governor ’s Office, Uyo, urged security agents to place such politicians under surveillance to stop them from carrying out their threat.

He lamented that most achievements of President Goodluck Jonathan were subsumed in false propaganda by the opposition and hoped future general elections would be anchored on tangible achievements by different political parties.

The governor, who congratulated the IG on his recent appointment, said his track record has been impressive, thanking President Jonathan for the appointment and stressed that leadership comes from God and that his appointment had been designed by God. Akpabio said the IG's visit has shown his determination

to ensure credible and peaceful elections, where no lives in the state would be lost, adding that the state was always peaceful and an unattractive destination for criminals because of the joint corroboration among security chiefs in the state.

Abba hinted that he visited

the state to discuss with zonal officers from Akwa Ibom, Cross River, Rivers and Ebonyi states to see the efforts they had made to change the attitude of all police officers in applying the ethical and valued policies of the force.

He explained that his visit was to see the efforts being

made to change policing strategy, intelligence policing to ensure democratic laid down policing, adding that he would seize the opportunity to discuss and interact with leaderships of political parties in the area. He enjoined the police as stakeholders to ensure credible and peaceful elections next month.

CAMPAIGN: From left: Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan of Delta State; Deputy governor, Prof. Amos Utuama and Senator Ifeanyi Okowa, Delta State Peoples Democratic Party governorship candidate, during the party's campaign flag-off in Oghara. Photo: Nath Onojake.

NLC must question FG on oil theft —OSHIOMHOLE

By Simon Ebegbulam

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OVERNOR Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State, yesterday, tasked the Nigeria Labour Congress, NCL, to confront the Federal Government on how hundreds of barrels of crude oil were stolen, without check, on a daily basis.

Speaking at the ground breaking of the Labour House in Benin City, Oshiomhole said Nigeria was being run in a directionless manner, adding that the labour movement must show more interest in the national discourse so that the ship of state can be steered in the right direction.

He said: “Issues of the management of the treasury and oil theft are not the preserve of the political class.

Oil is being stolen. Nigeria has a capacity for 2.5 million barrels a day. We had oil performing on an average of $108 a barrel. Over the past few years it has hovered on that average. Sometimes it went to $111, at a time it dropped to $106 per barrel.

“Oil performance has been stable and we based our budget on $98, with the

difference over a period of three years, we ought to have huge reserves by now, so that when occasion like this comes, we will live as if there is no fluctuation. But while this was going on, we suddenly heard of crude oil theft. Sometimes about 700 barrels per day is allegedly stolen. Seven

hundred barrels per day, these are big vessels.

“I think the NLC needs to show more interest in this politics of oil theft. Who are the people stealing this oil and since when? What has changed about the territorial boundaries of Nigeria? In good times we were told this

thing was being stolen and in bad times we are told to fasten our belt. I feel strongly about these things. We have always been hearing about illegal bunkering, but we have never heard of this level of massive oil theft. Someone has a duty to explain that and NLC has a duty to ask,” he added.

Nigerian media among world's most vibrant —EMERHOR

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LL Progressives Congress, APC, governorship candidate in Delta State, Olorogun O’tega Emerhor, has said that the Nigerian media was one of the most vibrant in the world and commended the fighting spirit of Nigerian journalists, especially in their concerted efforts towards the restoration of constitutional democracy at a time the military held Nigerians to ransom.

He made the commendation yesterday at a media chat with journalists in Lagos.

He said: “It is on record that Nigerian journalists spoke with one voice against military

dictatorship in the dark days of the military era, where some of our leaders were being hunted, killed, jailed or forced to go on exile for their patriotism for the good of our country.”

Emerhor said that the survival of democracy will also largely depend on the

professional contributions of members of the media, such that balanced stories and unbiased reporting of political events will create healthy competition and bring out the very best of ideas from candidates and political parties in the forthcoming elections and beyond.

Ndokwa East leaders mobilise for Okowa

P

OLITICAL leaders of Ndokwa East Local Government Area, Delta State, have vowed to mobilise massively to ensure victory for the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, governorship candidate, Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa and other PDP candidates in the February general elections in the council.

A meeting hosted by Delta North PDP Coordinator, Chief Godswil Obielum had in attendance prominent party faithful such as Chief Emma Onyeukwu, Mr Friday Osanebi, Chief Ifeanyi Onwukamike, Mr Paul Odili, Chief Mrs Mary Chidi, Mr Victor Adigwe, Chief Oliseh Imegwu, Chief Ike Oputa amongst many others from the council.

The meeting was held to assess the level of mobilization and preparedness for the visit of the PDP governorship campaign to Ndokwa East on January 17.

Oarhe tasks Iriase on performance

T

HE candidate of Social Democratic Party, SDP, for House of Representatives, Owan federal constituency, Edo State, Mr Oarhe Dickson, has challenged the incumbent member representing the constituency, Pally Iriase, who is equally vying for a second term under the platform of All Progressives Congress, APC, to show what she has done for the people.

Oarhe, yesterday, said that Iriase has no agenda for Owan youths, hence does not deserved to be re-elected.

Addressing youths in Owan East council, who in their numbers deflected from the APC to SDP and are supporting him, Oarhe insisted that he is a better candidate.

Uduaghan mourns passage of Olejeme’s dad

By Festus Ahon

A

SABA—GOVERNOR Emmanuel Uduaghan of Delta State has expressed sadness over the passage of Pa Phillip Diunor, father of the Chairman of Nigeria Social

Insurance Trust Fund, NSITF, Dr. Ngozi Olejeme Pa Diunor, aged 84, died in Asaba on Monday Uduaghan, in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Sunny Ogefere, described the death of the octogenarian as a

great loss not only to the Asaba community but the entire state.

“Pa Diunor’s life of selfless service to his people and the larger Asaba community is a legacy that most of us in leadership position need to imbibe,” he said.

14—Vanguard, THURSDAY, JANUARY 15, 2015

Reps to probe Ajaokuta Steel workers' monthly salary increase from N228m to N3.4bn

By Emman Ovuakporie

A

BUJA — MEMBERS of the House of Representatives, yesterday, mandated the House Committee on Steel to investigate an alleged increase of the moribund Ajaokuta Steel Company workers' monthly salaries from N228million to N3.4billion.

The House in plenary resolved that the committee should within the next two weeks probe and report back.

This was sequel to a motion brought to the floor of the House by Abbas Tajudeen, Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Kaduna, entitled: ‘Need to investigate the expenditure of a huge sum of N3.4 billion monthly on payment of salaries to staff of the moribund Ajaokuta Steel Company.’

Tajudeen in his submission, expressed concern over a report by a national daily of September 1, 2014, which quoted the Chairman of Assets Management Corporation of Nigeria, AMCON, Aliyu Kola Belgore that the N3.4 billion was being spent monthly on payment of workers' salaries.

He equally pointed to another report in another newspaper of September 5, 2014 where the Iron and Steel Senior Staff Association of Association of Nigeria, ISSAN, in conjunction with Steel and Engineering Workers Union of Nigeria, SEWUN, claimed that the monthly wage bill for 2,900 staff of the company was actually N288milion and not N3.4bilion as alleged.

2015 Appropriation Bill of N4.357trn passes through 2nd reading

By Johnbosco Agbakwuru

A

BUJA — THE 2015 Appropriation Bill of N4.357 trillion, yesterday, at the Senate, passed through the second reading, and was later referred to the Appropriation and Finance Committees for further legislative actions to be returned within four weeks.

It equally yesterday asked the Federal Government to tackle the emerging economic recession in the country following dwindling oil revenue.

This came as the Senate adjourned sitting for four weeks to enable members who picked the tickets to participate in next month’s senatorial election.

Presenting the lead debate on the budget, described as deficit and unrealistic budget by many Senators, Senate leader, Victor Ndoma-Egba, said N411,840,000,000 was for Statutory Transfer and N943

billion for Debt Service.

Senator Ndoma-Egba also said N2,616,007,426,233 was earmarked for Recurrent Expenditure, while contribution to the development fund for Capital Expenditure was N627 billion.

Although, the revised 2015 budget estimate was predicated on $65 benchmark per barrel of oil and N165 exchange rate, the Senate said it was unrealistic going by the drastic fall of oil price in the international market and that passing the budget with such assumption would lead to a deficit budget where huge sums would be borrowed to finance it.

It noted that the budget was a budget of caution and austerity measure where Nigerians were required to fasten their belts, even as the Chairman, Senate Committee on Appropriation, Senator Ahmed Makarfi, noted that with the realities on ground, it would take time for the committee to come up with a more realistic benchmark.

The Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, who presided over the plenary, said going by the debate, he was happy that the Senators had woken up to their responsibilities, stressing that the development was a wake-up call to the nation following the challenging times of economic recession and the downward trend in the oil revenue.

Ekweremadu said: “I do believe that this is the time for us as a parliament to ensure that while considering the Appropriation Bill for 2015, all the revenue items are captured. Our committee on finance will help us to do that.

"We need to ensure that all the revenue items are captured in the budget and determine a pool of resources to implement the budget when passed. The Federal Government should also put up its listening cap to develop new areas of revenue generation that would help us to drive our economy. We have gone through this way before but eventually the oil price improved but

INAUGURATION: From left, Chief Derinsola Osoba, Aremo Segun Osoba, former Ogun State Governor; Sir Olanihun Ajayi, and Senator Akin Odunsi, SDP governorship Candidate, during the inauguration of Social Democratic Party SDP, Ogun State Chapter, at Ake Palace Ground, Abeokuta, yesterday. Photo: Wumi Akinola

Where is N5trn Nigeria’s oil money, APC queries Jonathan

By Levinus Nwabughiogu

A

BUJA — THE All Progressives Congress, APC, Presidential Campaign Organisation, APCPCO, has accused the ruling

Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, and President Goodluck Jonathan of diverting N5 trillion in oil and gas.

In a statement by the Director of Media and Publicity, APC Presidential Campaign Organisation, Mallam Garba Shehu, yesterday, in Abuja, the organisation asked Jonathan to explain why over N5 trillion oil and gas revenue vanished under his supervision.

“This government must answer the questions posed by the different committees and task forces that probed the oil and gas sector between 2011 and 2012.

"By this, we mean the Nuhu Ribadu-led Petroleum Task Force Report, the Minister of Trade and Investment’s report on stolen crude; the House of Representatives fuel subsidy report coupled with the investigations into the ecological fund, SIM card registration and frequency band spectrum sale,” APC Campaign Organisation said.

The APC Campaign Organisation recalled that a prominent national newspaper had in November, 2012 alerted Nigerians on how over N5trillion oil money had been stolen under Jonathan’s tenure.

unfortunately we did not learn any lesson.

“I hope that this period we will learn our lesson that will help us to be disciplined in our fiscal management and it is also time for us to also take seriously, about our fiscal federalism so that state can devolve their initiatives in increasing their revenue that would help them to manage themselves.

"We need to reflect as a nation on how to manage our economy and everybody will have to make sacrifices, going forward. For us as politicians, we have to be mindful of our election expenses and we need to do things within the provisions of the electoral act."

In his contribution, Senator Victor Lar, representing Plateau South said: “Whether we like it or not, all top government officials and political office-holders must make sacrifices by cutting down considerably, the cost of governance in 2015 as part of the belt-tightening measure that we should undertake to be able to implement the budget.”

Chairman, Senate Committee on Rules and Business, Senator Ita Enang noted that there had always been loopholes from the government agencies who always generate money and keep the money without remitting to the Federation Account.

Senator Enang, PDP Akwa Ibom North East said: “There is no point allowing the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, Maritime Agency and Communication Commission to generate money and keep without putting it in the revenue account.

"I celebrate the fall of oil so that we can go back to see the amount of money generated by these agencies and determine the 20 per cent they should spend and the 80 per cent they should transmit to the federation account.

We should go back to these instruments.

“How do countries that do not produce oil survive? It is through money they generate internally.

Where is the excess crude account? The benchmark was $73 per barrel, but oil sold over $100 per barrel. Where is the excess crude share of the Federal Government? We are guilty because I raised alarm that no money from the excess crude should be expended without the consent of the National Assembly.

Senator Olubunmi Adetunmb, Ekiti North, APC, said the assumption upon which the budget was prepared was totally exaggerated which implied that there would be no money to finance the expenditure that the committees were asked to look at.

According to him, “right now there is a grossly exaggerated assumption that the price of oil is $65 per barrel. We know that the price for oil as we speak is in the threshold of $45 to $46 per barrel."

Vanguard, THURSDAY, JANUARY 15, 2015—15

APC flays Gov Orji over criticism of Ekwueme

By Francis Igata

E

NUGU — THE South-East All Progressives Congress, APC, has taken an exception to the comments credited to the Chairman of the South East Governors' Forum and Governor of Abia State, Chief Theodore Orji, in a section of the media that the revered elder statesman, one of the founding fathers of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Dr. Alex Ekwueme, is out of touch with realities.

According to Osita Okechukwu, APC South-East spokesperson, Orji said in the daily that, “it is unfortunate that Ekwueme has lost touch with the realities of the moment, nothing would stop President Goodluck Jonathan from winning 100 per cent of the South East votes, considering his numerous gestures to the people.

"Jonathan will not share South East votes with anybody, the All Progressives Congress here sounds like Boko Haram and you cannot see any well-meaning Igbo son in the APC. "Governor Rochas Okorocha knows he has missed the way and Ogbonnaya Onuh cannot even win in his ward, so no other party is recognised here.”

Okechukwu noted that Dr. Ekwueme’s sin was his innocent comment that, “PDP as it is today was not the PDP we founded in 1998; that is the truth, I won’t hide it from anybody. It is not the PDP I risked my life to found in 1998.

"Now the PDP has been hijacked by people who have no philosophical or spiritual attachment to the precepts that

informed the formation of the party in 1998. What I envisaged for PDP was that it would be a mass movement, satisfying the needs of the masses and having membership from all over the country.

“What I can tell you is that the PDP will not have an easy walkover this year as it did few years ago, seven years ago; in 1999, 2003, 2007, 2011 because the party is finding it difficult to manage its successes.

"People who founded and worked for the party are alienated

by poor management of success, and those who do not have patience, some of us have decided to find new channels to fulfil their political ambitions.

"I, for instance, first chairman of the party's Board of Trustees, BoT, first chairman of civil society to G34 and so on, if I was not myself, I am not bragging, I am being modest, I have no reason to be in PDP today. All I have received throughout the years is humiliation and neglect.”

APC spokesperson insisted that “We are at a loss how on

earth our revered elder statesman, former Vice President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, erudite scholar and one of the shining lights of Ndigbo, Dr. Alex Ekwueme can be out of touch with realities, because of his uncommon concern for the downtrodden.

"It is our candid view that no responsible person will go out of his way to castigate Ekwueme for his patriotic concern that the Nigeria state under President Jonathan’s watch is sliding dangerously into a failed state.”

LAUNCH: Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, launching a book, 'Echoes from the Ocean,' at the Ocean Crest School, in Lagos, yesterday.

over neglect of strongholds

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WERRI — THE leadership of All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, Imo State, has threatened to drag the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to court, over faulty distribution of permanent voters cards, PVCs, in its areas of stronghold.

Disclosing this to newsmen in Owerri, its state chairman, Peter Ezeobi, said the party would have no other option than go to court, if INEC failed to redress the anomaly.

“The party leadership will have no other option than to drag the Commission to court, if the management of INEC fails to rectify the anomaly by January 30, 2015,” Ezeobi said.

Imo APGA chairman noted that the rights of the citizenry should not be eroded in any form, especially during the next general elections.

“The constitutional rights of the

By Charles Komolu

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E S I D E N T ELECTORAL Commissioner,REC, in Ebonyi State, Dr. Lawrence Azubuike, has dismissed calls for less security presence across the country during the 2015 general elections, noting that the level of Nigeria’s political development, makes heavy presence of security agents inevitable.

Azubuike said this in Abakiliki at a meeting with the Director of Department of State Services, DSS, in Ebonyi State, Mr. William Ologba and the Commissioner of Police, Mr. Maigari Dikko.

He described the relationship between the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, and security agencies in the state as cordial, noting that a level playing field had been created for all political parties

APGA Abia South senatorial candidate boasts of qualitative representation

By Eric Ugbor

PVCs DISTRIBUTION: APGA threatens to sue INEC

By Chidi Nkwopara & Chinonso Alozie

Ebonyi REC makes case for security agencies

citizenry should not be eroded.

"We, therefore, urge INEC to release the PVCs so that Imo people will exercise their constitutional right of voting candidates of their choice,” Ezeobi

said.

He recalled that the party had earlier directed its legal unit to visit the INEC office in Owerri, to lodge a formal complaint.

“Our legal team has formally

communicated our displeasure at the non-availability of PVCs in our strongholds. The situation has caused serious anxiety to our teeming supporters,” Ezeobi said.

Ngwa N/South PDP Reps aspirant petitions NWC over primaries

By Anayo Okoli

U

MUAHIA — AN aggrieved Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, aspirant to the House of Representatives of Isiala Ngwa North and South Federal Constituency, Chief Brightman Onyendi, has petitioned the National Working Committee, NWC, of the party, calling for the cancellation of the primaries that produced Mr. Darlington Nwokocha, as the party’s candidate for next month’s election.

According to Chief Onyendi, the said primaries which he described as “a show of shame

and total rape on democracy” was characterised by fraud and could not produce a credible candidate.

Describing the primaries as “a kangaroo” the aggrieved aspirant alleged that the returning officer of the election who was a former chairman of the party in the state was as at 11.48am “nowhere to be seen at the venue,” but was allegedly seen at the party secretariat in Umuahia meeting with the aspirant who was later declared the winner.

According to him: “The electoral malpractices and flaws undermined the transparency, freeness, fairness and the acceptability of the outcome of the voting as no electoral process

could be conducted under this manner and no panel can accept it.

"It is pertinent for our party to note that many party faithful have been schemed out and disfranchised. This speaks of danger for the party especially using a candidate that has been in the state House of Assembly for eight years without a record of performance.

“I call on the party to send a team to Isiala Ngwa and it will amaze the leadership of the party how members have moved to All Progressives Congress, APC, and All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, in droves.”

T

HE SENATORIAL Candidate of the All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, for Abia South senatorial zone, Chief Chris Nkwonta, has assured qualitative representation if voted into Senate.

Chief Nkwonta, who gave the assurance while addressing the people of Abala Ibeme in Obingwa Local Government Area of Abia State, lamented the state of abandonment of the people of the area by successive governments.

He insisted that “as a senator, I will work in synergy with governments at the state and federal levels to attract development projects to the people of Abia South senatorial zone.”

Chief Nkwonta called on the people of Abala Ibeme Obingwa Local Government and entire Abia South not to make the mistake of voting for a candidate whose over seven years in the Senate had nothing to show.

16—Vanguard, THURSDAY, JANUARY 15, 2015

Jonathan, Buhari endorse violence-free polls Continues from Page 5 atmosphere and the need for the political actors to play the game by the rules.

“The credibility and peacefulness of the impending election will depend on three critical elements. First, the technical competence of INEC. I think that has been demonstrated. The second concern is security. The security agencies and INEC should provide security and sense of fairness to all the stakeholders. The security agencies which

are supporting the elections: the police and the military must accept that their roles are to facilitate.

“The third and most importantly, the contestants themselves will have to accept the rules of the game and to educate their supporters to encourage against violence. These three elements will be what will, in my view, lead to free and fair, credible elections in Nigeria”, he said.

How parties agreed to jaw-jaw

–Ben Obi

Special Adviser to the President on Inter- Party Affairs Senator Ben Obi, said the workshop “is a product of extensive and inclusive consultations between my Office and the ruling party on the one side and all opposition parties who have collectively agreed on the need to come together to jaw–jaw and to agree on ways and means of collaborating with each other in the bid to ensure that the elections of 2015 are free and devoid of

violence.

“This workshop is designed as an interactive forum of all political parties and stakeholders participating in the 2015 elections to come together and commit to peaceful and violence-free elections in 2015."

Jonathan, Buhari, others speak

President Jonathan, while addressing the audience said the programme was timely.

Going into memory

lane, the president recalled the effect of violence on the polity saying, it had wrought more harm than good.

He said: “This programme is very apt and we need it so that at the end of the elections, we don’t need to kill people or burn our houses. I believe that we will get there if we all decided to do what is right in this country. I am quite pleased because the emphasis here is electoral violence, not electoral malpractices.

“For electoral malpractices, the courts can help to some extent, but there is nothing the courts can do about electoral violence. If a property is burnt, it is burnt. If you identify the person, he can be charged for arson, but in most cases, mob action is always difficult to control not to talk about people that were killed.

“If you look at the history of our elections, we were told there were significant violence in the elections of the First Republic and that violence led to the collapse of the First Republic. In the Second Republic key actors in the political parties were relating well at the beginning. After the elections, governors from different parties were relating, but as the second round of elections were coming, the behaviour changed and people started abusing and insulting themselves. I was not surprised that the Second Republic did not last when the politicians started abusing themselves, and institutions.

“If you looked at the 2011 elections, we approached it better. I am quite pleased that a number of civil society groups are here. It was generally agreed that the 2011 elections was quite better than any other election in the country and for that, we thank Prof, Jega and his team. Even then, after that election, there were violence in some parts of the country.

“In Kano, property were destroyed. In Bauchi State, 10 Youth Corps members that were involved in the election were slaughtered. Then we asked, what led to this level of violence? The violence came when the results were being announced and not on the day of the election.

“The results from those states had been announced and towards the end, it was clear that a particular candidate

was going to win, violence erupted in Kano and Bauchi and we asked, why should there be violence? The only thing one can deduct is that, you can’t say that there were malpractices to favour the candidate that won because in Kano, we got 26 per cent of the votes. In Bauchi, I got 15 per cent of the votes.

“Even in states that were opposition, where we got more than 50 per cent, there were no violence.

So, you see that what lead to violence sometimes is

Continues on Page 54

Vanguard, THURSDAY, JANUARY 15, 2015 — 17

E

ARLY this week, Governor Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso of Kano state, swore in Honourable Justice Patricia Mahmoud as the Acting Chief Judge of Kano State.

It was as historic as it was a most deserved appointment. Patricia is the wife of our old comrade, A.B. Mahmoud (SAN), and in her own right one of the genuinely decent and progressive daughters of our country.

Patricia has been part of the progressive movement in our country from the ABU days of the 1970s and she had met her husband in the course of a life of radical engagement for the building of a progressive Nigeria.

It was indicative of her progressive life of engagement that she was for many years the Kano State Coordinator of Women in Nigeria (WIN), even as she built her professional career in the Kano state public service, having joined the Ministry of Justice in 1983. She was similarly active in the Association of Women Judges.

State of origin Patricia’s husband, AB Mahmoud (SAN) was a one-time Solicitor-General and Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice of Kano State. They had met in 1979 at the Nigerian Law School, and were both posted to Rivers state to do their National Service. They eventually got married in 1983.

Now the issue is that Patricia is Idoma from Benue state while AB Mahmoud is Fulani from Kano.

On two occasions she had faced discrimination on the basis of her state of origin, which stopped her elevation to the Court of Appeal.

She was not able to accede to the superior court because she came from Benue state.

Her case underlined the basic discriminatory challenge which Nigerian women face, on the basis of marriage, especially outside of their states of origin, when they have to compete for positions.

Patricia’s case was particularly poignant and her daughter, Zubaida Mahmoud, also a lawyer, had written a most emotional and defiant piece about the discrimination that her mother faced, in March 2014. Zubaida wrote: “My mom is Idoma, from Benue state while my father is Fulani from Kano state. They met in 1979 when they were both at the Nigerian Law School…They got married in 1983 and settled in Kano State. My mom joined the Civil Service that year-worked in the Ministry of Justice. She was

But her elevation

by Governor Kwankwaso as the Acting Chief Judge of Kano State rights the wrong done to Honourable Justice Patricia Mahmoud

Hon. Justice Patricia Mahmoud: Righteousness in the Kano judiciary appointed a judge of the Kano State High Court in December 1991. She has served Kano State for a period of 31 years, 22 of which as a judge. She has been nominated at least twice for elevation to the bench of the Court of Appeal. But ‘disqualified’ on the basis that she is not an indigene of Kano State and cannot, therefore, be considered under Kano quota”. The reason is that using Federal Character Commission Guidelines, “a

married woman shall continue to lay claim to her State of Origin for a purpose of implementation of the Federal Character Formulae at the National Level”.

Zubaida went further to expose the absurdity of this position: “This, of course, implies that for my mom to be elevated to the Court of Appeal, she has to be nominated by the Benue State Judiciary, the State she has never served. How will any reasonable person expect them to skip their

own judges and nominate her?!”

And she was not!

But her elevation by Governor Kwankwaso as the Acting Chief Judge of Kano State rights the wrong done to Honourable Justice Patricia Mahmoud. She eminently deserved her elevation because of her qualification and her human decency. It was also a marker of the progressive propensity of the Kwankwaso administration and the ability of the governor to operate within the

Go Govv. Babangida Aliyu's doctrine of politics

I Garbadeen Muhammed, who once described T was my colleague and friend,

the Niger State Governor, Dr. Babangida Aliyu as “the most microphone-addicted governor” in Nigeria. Babangida Aliyu loves to be described as the “Servant Leader ”, and as Chairman of the Northern Governors’ Forum, fancies himself as the representative figure of Northern Nigerian political leadership.

Unfortunately, our views of individuals won’t be what they describe themselves to be, but what they really are! Babangida Aliyu is a very highly educated individual; that cannot be disputed. But he has not always lived up to the high standards that his education calls forth or the heights of attainment, which made him Chairman of the Northern Governors’ Forum. He is very long on talk but very short on honour or fidelity to principles, thus devaluing his own educational and other attainments.

Campaign committee Last week, at the inauguration of the Niger State PDP governorship campaign committee, Babangida Aliyu told his audience that: “If you cannot lie, get out of politics. Anything that you are involved in has its own rule. You are in politics to win, win first and let other things follow. Don’t be the one crying out loudest lest you will be the one they will take to court. If you are talking of honesty and morals, go and become an Imam or a pastor. Politics cannot be the way it used to be. The challenges are more now; the variables have changed. Our society is not as

grateful as it used to be; the values and morals have gone down. If you want to win, use the modern morality”. The variables have changed certainly, with the types of individuals who run our states especially and our society in general. Individuals like Babangida Aliyu who would openly tell his followers to

abandon politics if they cannot be liars. Or characters like Bukola Saraki, who hold the financial resources of states like Kwara in bear-hug, since 2003! It is therefore no wonder that our country is beset with the myriads of problems dogging it today. The leadership recruitment process which threw up the likes of

Babangida Aliyu and Bukola Saraki, for example, does tremendous injustice to the

Nigerian people! There is a poster making the rounds in Niger State; it has Babangida Aliyu and other PDP candidates surrounding General Muhammadu Buhari, the APC Presidential candidate.

Babangida Aliyu and his PDP colleagues are hoping to extract mileage from Buhari’s cult-like followership amongst voters in many parts of Northern Nigeria, including Niger State. That is a practical expression of Babangida Aliyu’s admonition: “If you cannot lie, get out of politics”!

Burkina Faso's legislative salaries: But did Aminu Tambuwal hear this?

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HIS week, members of the Burkina Faso’s interim legislature agreed to take a 50% cut in their monthly salaries. It followed complaints by members of the trade union movement and civil society organizations, that the $3000 monthly salary they earned was too high.

That amount was twenty times higher than the national minimum wage. In response, the legislators accepted a 50% cut in pay. The Vice President of the National Transition Council (CNT), Honore Nombre, said lawmakers had agreed to forfeit a number of benefits initially offered and would now be paid a total of 888, 000 CFA francs ($1, 580) per month instead of 1.7 million CFA francs. According to Nombre: The CNT is conscious that we are as aresult of the people and for the people”.

It is significant that legislators in Burkina Faso accepted to

hearken to the demands of society. In Nigeria, from all accounts, the Nigerian Legislature’s budget for 2015 retains all the emoluments that they have always enjoyed.

Not for our legislature any hint of acceptance of some level of sacrifices, in tune with the serious economic situation that Nigeria faces in 2015, given the sharp and disastrous drop in the price of crude oil in the international market.

The creature comfort of members of our legislature must not be touched in any way. The sacrifices for economic survival belong only to the Nigerian working people and the poor! Is Aminu Tambuwal aware of the spirit of sacrifice that is being displayed by his counterparts in Burkina Faso?

Why can’t we see such a display of patriotism in the Nigerian setting? Just a patriot’s curious question.

long tradition of Kano’s history.

In over a thousand years of history, Kano became the cosmopolitan center of trade, culture and learning because of its ability to absorb influences and draw peoples from near and far.

Patricia was therefore following an old and very successful historical process; but she didn’t only serve Kano and our country professionally but has been an activist and a progressive intellectual from her days in university and has stayed true to her convictions as a Nigerian patriot.

With Justice Patricia’s elevation as Acting Chief Judge of Kano State, a significant amount of righteousness has been done within the judiciary of Kano state.

In the lives of AB Mahmoud and his wife Patricia, we see a practical example of the success of the campaign to build unity across the fault lines of our country. And when man and wife are as progressive and patriotic as they are, the example for nation building is even on a stronger platform. Congratulations our dear sister, friend and comrade, Honourable Justice Patricia Mahmoud, Acting Chief Judge of Kano State!

Aminu Tambuw al @ ambuwal 49

L

AST week, Aminu Tambuwal, Speaker, House of Representatives, clocked 49years.

Expectedly, Nigerian newspapers raked in tons of money from advertisements from members of the nation’s political nomenclatura, who were congratulating the Speaker on his birthday. Aminu Tambuwal, has certainly become one of the most important politicians in Nigeria today.

This attainment was as a result of incredible political sagacity; team building acumen and ability to stay a step ahead of his adversaries. And in the past few years, at the helm of affairs in the House of Representatives, his team building ability has come to the fore most poignantly as much as his ability to sidestep political booby traps laid by political foes.

The fact that he survived the PDP’s anger at his emergence as Speaker was indicative of astute political ability and his staying power must also be located in the ability to keep his colleagues close to his vision of leadership.

When he defected to the opposition APC, he opened a Pandora’s box but has so far survived the long knives trained to injury his position as well as destroy him fatally in the cloakand-dagger world of Nigerian politics. As things stand today, it is looking most likely, that he will be the next governor of Sokoto State, after the February elections. This amazing young man will still be around for a long time yet, in the unfolding scenarios of Nigerian politics.

Happy Birthday Aminu Tambuwal, Speaker, House of Representatives.

18 — Vanguard, THURSDAY, JANUARY 15, 2015 OUR democracy remains essentially an unfortunate experiment that is based on the precedence of the self over society’s vast interests. Lamentations about the quality of legislators in the next season of the National Assembly, and the States, are cries over the personal misfortunes than the difference experienced legislators would make to law-making.

In almost 16 years of civilian administrations, the selfishness of politicians has been a bigger consideration in the decisions legislators made. Whether as legislators or executives, Nigerians are waiting to see society ’s interests as bases for decisions. The degenerating quality of legislators each political season will sustain the waiting. This affects the quality of laws made, and inattentiveness of legislators to one of their most crucial responsibilities, oversight functions.

The Speaker of the House of Representatives Aminu Waziri Tambuwal is among those lamenting that the House would miss experienced legislators from June 2015. It should ordinarily be a cause for concern though for reasons different from Tambuwal’s. While the Speaker is worried about the inability of most of his

We Will Miss Legislative Experience colleagues to secure another term and the uncertain future that awaits them outside the appurtenances of the House, Nigerians should be bothered about a new set of lawmakers who would spend the next two years learning how to move round the expansive grounds of the National Assembly and the rudiments of parliamentary manners. “ The expertise of those who lost primaries to re-contest the House will be greatly missed ,” Tambuwal said as he opened the post-Christmas recess that would mark the beginning of empty sessions at the National Assembly. Tambuwal said as much without being explicit.

He remembered that these crucial bills the Petroleum Industr y Bill and the Electoral Act amendment – were still pending. The non-passage of the bills had nothing to do with lack of legislative experience. It had everything to do with the self interests of experienced legislators who preferred dealing with more immediate issues of their needs.

Legislative experience, in our context, is a difficult value to evaluate. Our legislators used their experience to stall bills. The longer they stayed in office, the more they appeared to develop interests that were at variance with those of their constituents.

They forgot the hunger ravaging the society, one of the major reasons that they lose their positions with rapidity.

Legislatures round the country are being re-filled with new people “ whose tur n it is” to have their poverty alleviated, if possible eradicated. Their legislative contributions would be secondary.

Ironically, Tambuwal does not think his departure from the House to seek a governorship position is loss of an experienced legislator. Our behaviour remains the best measure of our hypocritical concerns about Nigeria

OPINION

By Patrick Dele Cole Continued from yesterday VERY considerable crook in Europe and the banks there of, backed by a battery of lawyers and investment consultants made millions out of the Nigerian Papers, which changed hands so rapidly that no magician could compete with the sleight of hands about the Nigerian Papers. That episode has become famous in chasing and buying Nigerian Papers at rates which the CBN could not reclaim or follow. The Papers made the world financial history when some people owed for something else, instituted a writ of certiorari to get hold of the papers. This is the origin of all the loot reputed to have been stolen by Nigeria since 1976.

In 1979, Nigeria was well on its way to industrialization: the LNG contracts had been signed, the petrochemical contracts in Port Harcourt and Warri were coming on line; the four petroleum refineries were all working; major public works were on going and public housing, barracks buildings were all moving towards completion. Six new ports had been completed; the Indians, then the Chinese were to fix the railways.

In 1977, Nigeria had hosted the world to the only black arts extravaganza; the National Theatre was up, so was the Trade Exhibition Centre. The Naira was strong and we needed a policy of steady as you go. Nigeria had cement factories in at least six States in the country, and brick making factories in 12 States – to help in construction of affordable housing.

Food had been secured and contracts worth several billions had been given to build silos and ware houses for food preservation. The textile industry in Nigeria was the most vibrant

E

Nigeria, Ukraine, USSR and the W est (2) West in the world. But all these were dependent on a steel infrastructural that would underpin the foundation of an industrial take off. This is why Ajaokuta was and is important. The Shagari Government took off in 1979 and admittedly had the lukewarm attitude of a new civilian Government trying to find its feet. The tenders for Ajaokuta steel were already in before 1979 but the outgoing Government felt it was better to leave the biggest contract ever signed

by Nigeria to the civilian government. There was no end of political lobbyists claiming that they ought to be compensed because they had funded the NPN. The stalwarts of that party lined up to receive their rewards.

The Ajaokuta contract was awarded to three contractors who had heavy political backing.

The complex had a battery of consultants and from then till 2000 the contractors made millions from the contract – scandal followed scandal. Even so, Shagari went to the country for re-election in 1983 and won handsomely.

The Cabinet that Shagari was trying to put together in 1983 would have been the best ever assembled in Nigeria.

The aluminum smelting plant was up and running; the newspaper plant was drawing

All the major contractors of Ajaokuta spent long spell in prison under Buhari: not one penny was recovered

towards successful production; the tyre – Dunlop, Michelin, making industries were all in full production. Nigeria Airways was one of the largest airlines with 31 planes flying to all parts of the world; the Nigerian Shipping line had 21 ships in its fleet with a purchase order of another 19 from Korea. The failure of Ajaokuta put an end to all of this and Buhari had no plans to keep Nigeria Industrialized even if he did, he had a no tolerance policy to corruption until Nigerians found that his disciplinarian outlook did not extend to the Emir who returned with 53 suitcases.

Let me retract. My problem is not with Buhari but with the Ukrainians and Russians who cheated us of millions of dollars over Ajoakuta. We lost the opportunity to have developed into an industrialized state because with the failure of Ajoakuta all the carefully constructed consequences of Ajoakuta collapsed.

In December 1983, Idiagbon and Buhari struck. No military coup had even been greeted with less enthusiasm than that coup. But the coupist seemed to have an agenda for discipline which obviously the NPN government did not have. It did not take long before IBB in 1985 ousted Buhari for the draconian laws that he instated in Nigeria. But that is all long way from Ajaokuta. All the major contractors of Ajaokuta spent long spell in prison under Buhari: not one penny was recovered. Instead Ajaokuta continued unabated and new classifications were devised for it. Meanwhile, money left Nigeria as water through a sieve.

The town of Ajaokuta remaining unfinished the plant remains unutilized.

The steel plant in Ajaokuta was the King pin to have pushed this country into industrialization; it was part of a grand steel making project – supported by Six steel direct reduction plants, buttressed by a machine tools factory at Oshogbo and Nigeria was buying steel billets from all over the world- bring them to Aladja and such other steel plants. If cement was the defining element in the fall of General Gowon, steel was the defining moment in the failure of all economic plans since 1976.

Ajaokuta was to have encouraged surface mining of coal, hence its location in Kogi.

Nigeria was to import iron ore from mountains of the stuff from Liberia; sulphur from Cote d’ Iviore. A broad modern railway was to run (built

by Julius Berger) from Ajaokuta to ports in Warri, Burutu, Sapele etc. The Railway remains unfinished.

Just sit back and consider the waste and loss since Ajaokuta. The last phase of the plant was to build flat steel which we needed for the five motor assembly plants we had in conjunction with Peugeot, Fiat, Styer, Volkswagen and Mercedes Benz. Forty years of loss waste, pillaging and theft. Can anybody do the account and sums today?. This is Ukrain’s legacy to Nigeria. I think somebody ought to look into this and start making claims on Russia and Ukrain.

Finally Mital bought the Ajaokuta plant. He was chased out of Nigeria because he could not meet the demands of officials and thousands of people being owed by Ajaokuta steel. If Nigeria had invited Mital and asked him to pay one penny for Ajaokuta, provided he could revive it, perhaps today Kogi and Nigeria would be a different place.

Concluded *Dr. Cole , a former ambassador, wrote from Lagos.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, JANUARY 15, 2015— 19

How the elections are already being rigged

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ET me start by wishing you a Happy New Year, 2015. May I also wish Nigeria a peaceful election and transition to the next regime.

Paramount in my mind (and it should be in yours too) is that we must have a smooth and rancourfree transition. For me, its not who wins that matters. A successful transition with the nation remaining intact is more important than any presidential candidate. Without peaceful Nigeria, there will be no political party, no presidential candidate, no elections, let alone economic prosperity. I am deeply worried about threats of any kind by politicians desperate for power at all costs. It is this desperation that fuels all sorts of electoral malfeasance, particularly that thing they call “election rigging”.

The opposition All Progressives Congress (APC) has threatened repeatedly that they will form a “parallel government” if the 2015 elections are rigged. President Goodluck Jonathan, while inaugurating his presidential

election council replied to that threat with ominous words: “we shall see”.

To begin with, what is a “rigged election”? Any fouling of the rules of the game encapsulated in the laws of the land, especially the constitution, the electoral law and guidelines spelt out by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) constitutes election rigging. Anything done to ensure that an election is not free, fair and reflective of the true wishes of the electorate, constitutes election rigging. For an election to be seen to be free, fair and credible, all the stakeholders in an election must play the game according to the rules. Who are these stakeholders?

The most prominent stakeholder in the coming elections is the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). It is the body set up and empowered by the constitution to regulate and conduct elections in Nigeria.

INEC, which is headed by Professor Attahiru Jega, had four years to prepare for this election, but in its usual sloppiness, it has

put the election in danger. With just one month to the presidential election, Nigerians are still battling to get their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs), forcing President Goodluck Jonathan to direct that all eligible Nigerians must be able to vote. Information has it that the PVC collection rate has been more in the Arewa zones of North East and North West than the rest of the country.

Unless the distribution rate improves in the south before election, it might lead to massive disenfranchisement of voters in some parts while those in other parts are unduly favoured. What else is rigging? The INEC must ensure that all eligible voters in all parts of the country get their PVCs or it must bear the consequences of favouring a particular presidential candidate by pushing PVCs to areas he has massive support, while starving the other.

The INEC and the political rabble in the North must allow a level playing ground for all candidates to canvass for support, otherwise, the election cannot be free and fair

Buhari and the qualification question

S

OMEBODY should call the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to order for failing to ask Alhaji Muhammadu Buhari to take a bow at the recent screening of candidates for the 2015 presidential election.

We have many solid reasons why Buhari should have taken a bow: Between December 1983 and August 1985, he headed the Government of this country. The Buhari administration came at a time when Nigeria was virtually at the edge of total collapse.

He justified the military intervention by pointing out to the entire world that the civilian government at the time was hopelessly corrupt.

His administration promptly initiated the War Against Indiscipline, WAI, which succeeded in whipping everybody on line.

The policy won him national and international admiration because of its effectiveness.

He embarked on the rebuilding of the nation’s socio-political and economic systems along the realities of Nigeria’s austere economic conditions, including cutting down on the over-bloated national budget; obliterating or removing completely, corruption from the nation’s social ethics; shifting from the mainly public sector employment to self-reliance; and encouraging import substitution industrialization based principally on the use of local materials.

Evidently, good things don’t last. Buhari’s administration was overthrown by corrupt elements in the same administration who feared that from the way he was going, the dangling axe might soon fall on them and they would be brought to justice. Nigeria was put on a steady path to recovery in terms of public discipline, curbing corruption, lowering inflation, drastically reducing the cost of governance, enhancing the workforce and improving productivity.

The PDP and its agents are already jittery and in the process, they are prone to lots of mistakes. They have forgotten that in 2003, C M Y K

Buhari contested this same position with Chief Olusegun Obasanjo; in 2007, he contested against the late Musa Yar’ Adua; and in 2011, he contested against President Goodluck Jonathan.

In each case, he was cleared, not by a foreign INEC but by this same Nigerian INEC! And now that he poses a serious challenge to the “big boss”, all impediments must be placed on his way.

Are these blokes no longer capable of doing quick background check on their subject? Space will permit us to remind them of just a few of the highly revered awards standing to Buhari’s credit: Congo Medal (CM); Defence Service Medial (DSM); Forces Service Star (FSS); General Service Medal (GSM); Grand Commander of Federal Republic (GCFR); Loyal Service and Good Conduct Medal (LSGCM); National Service Medal (NSM); and many more.

In terms of functionality, Buhari stands out as one of the most educated Nigerians.

Anti-Buhari crusaders like Prof. Wale Oladipo, who developed the “PhD versus the illiterate hypothesis”, should have known that when education really mattered, those

Much as we believe that a good education might make a good person better, it is also true that great accomplishments are not a function of a chain of degrees. And our preference for those “cardboards” may be the very albatross of this nation

Right now, the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential candidate, General Muhammadu Buhari, is having the advantage of his support base being almost over-supplied with the PVCs. The political parties are also major stakeholders. So far, I think the PDP and APC have done well trying to focus on the issues, even though the usual jabs below the belt are there. However, the war at the social media level is horrible because for now it is not regulated.

The social media could create problems because it is a free zone for all manner of mischief makers.

The parties have handled themselves well. The same cannot be said for their supporters in some parts of the country. Already, there has been a reign of intimidation and reported violence. The major flashpoints are in Arewa north, Jos and Rivers State. In Arewa north (Buhari’s main support base) supporters of President Jonathan are living under threats. His posters are not being allowed to be displayed. Those who try are threatened with death. Known Jonathan supporters are bombarded with threats of their elimination along with their family members. Even governors have not been spared. There are some parts of the North where no bus bearing the campaign insignia of the president can dare to travel the roads for fear of being attacked. We read in the media a few days ago about a couple of the president’s campaign buses being razed in Jos in an area populated

by Hausas, who were shouting they did not want Jonathan. If you do not want Jonathan why not wait and say so on February 14th with your vote? Why deprive the

r i g o r o u s m i l i t a r y trainings, cognate to the administration of men and materials, could not be compared in any way to the “process of blockingthrough” obtainable in some of those glorified commercial schools called universities in Nigeria.

Buhari joined the Army in 1962 when he attended the then Nigeria Military Training College, which was later renamed the Nigerian Defence Academy, NDA, Kaduna.

Buhari soon proceeded to the Officer Cadets training at Mons Officer Cadet School in Aldershot, England.

More importantly, from 1979-80, Col. Buhari, as he then was, attended the US Army War College (established in 1901), in Carlisle, Pennsylvania, where he obtained a Master’s Degree in Strategic Studies. Which University can be more than that? Yet, this is Prof. Oladipo’s illiterate.

All the same, this President-in-waiting will not be a lone ranger. Neither does he intend to run Nigeria as a sole administrator. He has promised to engage the best brains around. This is where zoologists and other animal scientists may, understandably, not come into serious reckoning. For Buhari, governance is a serious business. A man with a good degree in zoology should be in the zoo, feeding animals instead of running around in government, messing up the administration of humans. Is anyone still in doubt as to how we got to the sorry state in which we find ourselves today?

Much as we believe that a good education might make a good person better, it is also true that great accomplishments are not a function of a chain of degrees. And our preference for those “cardboards” may be the very albatross of this nation.

Some of the world’s greatest achievers are men who never saw the four walls of a university or outright school drop-outs. We remember Britain’s war time Prime

president of his right to campaign?

Meanwhile, Buhari and his campaign train are enjoying an unfettered run through the three zones of the South. Apart from a reported case of gun attack and bombing of APC secretariat in Okrika by unknown persons, Buhari has addressed his supporters in Lagos, Port Harcourt, Uyo, Calabar, Aba and Owerri without any harassment. He was even given a chieftaincy title by the traditional ruler of Eziama Aba, Eze Isaac Ikonne. In fact, Buhari’s campaign has been so smooth that one of his ardent supporters from Zaria has been ecstatically calling my line rejoicing that Buhari is making “inroads” and South East and SouthSouth, which are Jonathan’s main support base.

With Jonathan’s supporters being attacked and threatened with death in Arewa North, while Buhari’s campaign train is being allowed to enjoy his constitutional right to campaign in all parts of the south, it is obvious that the elections are already being rigged in the North against Jonathan. The INEC and the political rabble in the North must allow a level playing ground for all candidates to canvass for support. Otherwise, the election cannot be free and fair. Unless the situation is corrected, it can be interpreted that Nigerians are not yet ready for the elections. There must be a level playing field for everybody. Just as APC says it will form a parallel government if the elections are rigged, I don’t think their opponents will fold their arms when they are being deprived of their constitutional rights.

What is good for the goose is good for the gander.

Minister, Winston Churchill, who had a very poor academic record. He struggled through three independent schools before ending up at the Famous Harrow School.

He later applied for admission into the Royal Military College, Sandhurst, where he made three attempts before passing the entrance examination. Today, Churchill stands out clearly as the greatest wartime leader that ever lived and the only British Prime Minister that has ever won the Nobel Prize for literature.

Edwin Land, founder of the Polaroid Corporation, which eventually employed over 400 PhDs; the Microsoft Founder, Bill Gates who is one of the world’s richest men; and Oracle Founder, Larry Ellison, who is worth $28 billion; were all university dropouts, Here, at our very backyard, Aliko Dangote barely went beyond the baccalaureate but today, he is easily the richest human in the entire African continent! In his conglomerate, he has many PhDs as truck drivers! Who, then, is the illiterate?

Meanwhile, anti-Buhari crusaders are busy walking Section 131(d) of the 1999 Constitution on its head: “A person shall be qualified for election to the office of President if he has been educated up to at least school certificate level or its equivalent”. This makes school certificate the floor and nowhere in this world is the floor higher than the ceiling.

Buhari’s emergence in this race is for him victory foretold. The antidote for success resides in hard-work and superior performance, not unnecessary smear tactics and mudslinging. This is where the PDP dogmas have thoroughly failed the nation.

Who still wants them?

20 — Vanguard, THURSDAY, JANUARY 15, 2015

Begging, a lucrative business?

By Ebele Orakpo

“P

•Some suspected criminals being paraded by the Police.

Beware, criminality has taken a new dimension in Lagos

By Bose Adelaja

I

MAGINE yourself driving and suddenly, you get stoned by an underage person and you try to react but somebody appears out of the blues and says to you sarcastically: “Ah, ah, he is a child now! What do you want to do to this little kid? After all, you are a parent.” Unknown to you, that is a trick to infuriate and get you distracted in order to rob you. That is the new trick by criminals.

This is a new dimension in criminality as some underage persons are being initiated into three cults namely: ‘’Awawa, Baseje and Onyabo.” In Yoruba Language, Baseje means a destroyer of good things, Awawa means ‘ we are relevant,’ while the third group, Onyabo means ‘forcefully coming en masse.

This category of suspected criminals/ cultists were said to have emanated from PapaAshafa, a suburb of Agege, and gradually spread to areas like Isale-Oja, Orile-Agege and neighbouring localities like Surulere, Ketu-Alapere, Alimosho and Itire-Ikate, all in Lagos State.

These nefarious groups comprise both genders, usually between ages eight and

14 years and move in twos or threes depending on their mode of operations.

Findings reveal that they are usually found in parties, market places, bus-stops and some gridlock-prone areas. In most cases, they look rough and unkempt such that one can easily take them for beggars.

They move around cautiously, looking for good places to strike although one hardly believes it is what they do unless one falls into their trap.

During the daytime, they come very close to

They move around cautiously, looking for good places to strike although one hardly believes it is what they do unless one falls into their trap

your car, pretending to mop the windscreen unknown to you that they are with dangerous implements ready to launch an attack in case one does not ‘cooperate’ with them.

At night, they position themselves, pretending to be hawkers but at any slightest chance, one becomes their victim as they rob him.

Now that law enforcement agents are found on some major roads in the state, this group of suspected criminals have also devised a means of outsmarting them. One of these is by positioning themselves a few meters after genuine Police check points pretending to be engaged in one activity or the other, sometimes as support to the law enforcement agents. But on the contrary, they are criminals, ready to strike at the slightest chance.

Vanguard Metro spoke with some of their victims recently and the story was almost the same. A victim, Mr Dapo Tunwase said: “It is better imagined than experienced. It is like what you watch in movies the day I had an encounter with them. I was coming from a supermarket where I picked some items for the family and suddenly, somebody walked across as I drove along IsaleOja and I slowed down for the teenager to pass

but the next thing I heard was a heavy knock by the driver ’s door and I quickly parked to check what happened only for me to see a little boy. As I was trying to scold the boy, a matured voice spoke from another direction “Ah, do you want to kill him? After all, you are old enough to be his father.” I became a victim of robbery by the same people.”

Another person, Vincent Obah fell a victim around Idowu Street, in Ikate area. He said he was dispossessed of his belongings at gun point by some children. “They were three in number and I almost got blinded by their beatings.”

Another victim, Mr Ibukun Ojulari called on government to enact a law prosecuting such children and their parents so as to curtail this ugly menace before it gets out of hand. Also, he advised road users to be at alert whenever they observe such setups.

A private school teacher, Madam Alice Shem called on the state government to quickly nip the situation in the bud while calling on parents to give adequate training to their wards.

“Parents should train their wards in the way of God and government should act fast before criminality takes a centre stage in the state.”

LEASE my mothers, fathers, brothers and sisters, help me with some money to buy food,” a middle-aged woman begged passengers in an Ikeja-bound commuter bus this Friday morning. She begged, cajoled and harassed some people into parting with some few nairas.

As if on cue, a middle-aged man who had burns on his chest, took over, begging for alms while a young lady was standing by, waiting to take her turn as soon as the man leaves the stage.

Said the middle-aged man: “Abeg, my people, make una help me. My God go help una. My wife ran away a few months ago after I sustained this injury,” pointing to the burns on his chest and I am left alone to take care of the children. My only son is dying in the hospital right now and we need N250,000 to save him. I have sold all I have to raise this money but it is not enough. Please, help me.

No amount is too small. As you give, God will not allow you to experience such calamity.” On and on he went.

“Haba! Na wetin? They send these people?

They no see other buses?” asked Udo. Said a commuter by name Frank: “Hmm, begging has become a big business in Nigeria. Some of these people make a lot of money on a daily basis.”

“I’ve known that woman for years, always begging for money to eat. Does it mean she has not received enough money to start a business of her own like selling sachet or bottled water?” asked Udo. Replied Toyin: “They don’t beg to go and improve their lives with the proceeds or to become independent. Begging seems to be in the DNA of some people, they just love it.”

“It’s a pity that an able-bodied adult will pick up begging as a profession,” said Ade. “Why won‘t they? It’s a ver y lucrative business,” said Udo. “That’s very true. I understand they have chief executive officers who recruit them from the north, bring them down to Lagos and set them to work. Every day, they go out to beg and bring back returns to the boss,” said Frank. Continuing, he said: “I heard that their boss in Ebute-Metta owns cars and houses, richer than many civil servants. Can you imagine that? They are quietly making their money.”

“We tend to encourage begging in this country by giving to beggars. If nobody gives to them, they will stop begging and look for something to do,” said Toyin.

“No, that’s going to the extreme. There are people who genuinely need help and we n e e d t o h e l p s u c h . We s h o u l d t r y t o differentiate them from the scammers,” said Ade. Replied Alhaji Ali who had been quiet all along: “Moslems are encouraged to help.”

“And that is why begging is more rampant in the north,” said Frank.

Said Ali: “The Koran regards those who take begging as an occupation as disgrace. It says that whoever continues to beg people for their property in order to accumulate much property, is asking for punishment. So we are encouraged to help those who genuinely need help.”

“But you hardly know who is who today.

People tell lies to get what they want. How are we sure the one that told us his wife left him and his son is dying in the hospital is telling the truth?” asked Ade. Replied Toyin: “That is his headache. If he is lying, na im sabi!”

Vanguard, THURSDAY JANUARY 15, 2015 — 21

$1trn market capitalisation target unattainable —NSE boss

By Peter Egwuatu & Nkiru Nnorom

T

HE Nigerian Stock Exchange, NSE yesterday said that its target of reaching $1 trillion capitalisation by 2016 is no longer attainable. Chief Executive Officer, NSE, Mr. Oscar Onyema , disclosed this while briefing news men in Lagos on “2014 market recap and outlook for 2015”.

“It is not possible to realise the N1 trillion market capitalisation given the present economic situation”, he said.

He also said that the proposed plan to make the Exchange a public entity (demutualisation ) this year is no longer achievable.

“It is still on course but it can take from 18 months and above before the process can be conclude. So for this year we are not considering that but a lot of work is being done.”

Making prognosis into the New Year, Onyema said that despite the market sharp downturn in 2014, it would not be all doom and gloom for the market in 2015.

According to him, the market would take a turn for the positive if some of the concerns that caused sell-off, including concerns regarding the February general elections, unrest in the north-east among others are addressed within the year.

He noted that the present state of the market where the prices of most stocks are at their rock bottom presents good opportunity for domestic investors to take advantage of.

“Although many anticipate volatility through the first half of the year, some stock prices are at their lowest since the May 2013 sell-off, some below book value, presenting domestic investors with no currency risk, an opportunity for cautious long-term investing.

“We expect that as the year progresses, underpinned by a successful election with no or low levels of violence, a tighter grip on the security situation in north-eastern Nigeria, and a more certain macroeconomic outlook for oil prices, interest rates and the naira, the market’s attractiveness could improve rather significantly.

“On the fixed income side, government bond yields hovered between 11.0 percent and 12.5 percent

It is still on course but it can take from 18 months and above before the process can be concluded

throughout 2014, and this will remain an attraction for investors seeking high risk-adjusted returns.

“The World Economic Forum (WEF) report, “Outlook on the Global Agenda 2015” ranks Deepening Income Inequality and Persistent Jobless

Growth as the two top trends for 2015.

The world is slowly coming to terms with the reality that its fastest-growing markets are emerging from the African continent, with Nigeria in a lead position.

“Although Nigeria exhibits the trends highlighted in the WEF report,

its large and disproportionately young population (approximately 70 percent of the Nigerian population is under the age of 30) and growing middle class, supported by strong growth GDP projections, provide major opportunities that could translate into a powerful market for consumption.”

From left: Mr Aro Olalekan, Senior Brand Manager, Family Care; Yetunde Ayeni-Babaeko, Creative Director, Camera Studio; Oluwatosin Falola, Managing Director/Chief Information Officer, Refined Network Int'l and Oluwaseun Ayeni, Brand Manager, Cussons Baby at the Cussons Baby Moments Competition Season 2 Pre-Judging Season held in Lagos. PHOTO: AKEEM SALAU.

Oil steadies, stays under pressure on World Bank growth cut

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IL prices recouped some early losses, yesterday, but remained under pressure after the World Bank cut its global economic growth forecast, doing little to end a rout that saw prices touch their lowest in nearly six years in the previous session.

Crude prices turned positive in the early afternoon, but failed to stage a significant rally as a weaker outlook from the Washington-based financial institution reinforced worries about sluggish growth in energy demand.

“This is just a little bounce after the very steep falls we’ve seen recently,” said Christopher Bellew, a trader with Jefferies Bache. “We’ll be rangebound for a while before it goes down again.”

February Brent crude gained 20 cents to trade at $46.79 a barrel by 1510 GMT, while West Texas Intermediate crude for February rose by 65 cents to $46.54.

While the market is watching for an inventory report from the U.S. Energy Information Administration Bellew said the impact of the figures has fallen as the United States curtailed its crude imports amid the shale oil boom.

“The two things that could check the

speed of the decline are storage and whether China is building strategic reserves,” Bellew said.

Oil prices that have fallen by about 60 percent since June are wreaking havoc on economies that depend on commodities. Russian Finance Minister Anton Siluanov called for a 10 percent spending cut on everything but defense on Wednesday.

At the same time, Europe is on shaky ground despite the European Central Bank’s bond-buying stimulus plan.

“The global economy is running on a single engine ... the American one,” the World Bank’s chief economist, Kaushik Basu, said. “This does not make for a rosy outlook for the world.”

Analysts said prices would remain weak as a result of oversupply, prompting cuts to price forecasts for 2015 and 2016.

Oil had tumbled nearly 5 percent on Tuesday before closing down 1.8 percent, with global benchmark Brent briefly trading at par with U.S. prices for the first time in three months as some traders moved to take advantage of ample U.S. storage space.

CURRENCY DOLLAR STERLING EURO FRANC YEN CFA WAUA

$182.15

$5.25

$2,957.00

-$29.00

$14.93

$0.05

$49.95

-$1.01

$45.27

-$0.80

BUYING

167 252.9215 197.2771 164.2569 1.4003 0.2805 237.4699 RENMINBI 26.8955 RIYAL 44.48 KRONA 26.5151 SDR 238.1754

CENTRAL 167.5 253.6788 197.8678 164.7487 1.4045 0.2905 238.1809 26.9765 44.6131 26.5945 238.8885

168 254.436 198.4584 165.2405 1.4087 0.3005 238.8919 27.0575 44.7463 26.6739 239.6016

CBN Exchange Rate as 12/1/2015

22—Vanguard, THURSDAY, JANUARY 15, 2015

,

If you are passionate with your business, you will not mind putting in several hours daily until you succeed

,

Small business: Tips to succeed as a beginner

By Olabode Oruku

T

HE logical way to gain financial freedom is to start a small business in Nigeria. It has been observed that most Nigerians that are wealthy started with a small business which they gradually nurture to a big corporation.

But succeeding in a small business in Nigeria is not an easy job. There are several challenges to overcome which includes power fluctuations, multiple taxations etc. Therefore you need to possess certain qualities embedded with patience to succeed as an entrepreneur.

According to Calvin Coolidge, “Nothing in this world can take the place of persistence. Talent will not; nothing is more common than unsuccessful people with talent.

entrepreneur, you need to put in more effort to succeed. It’s the passion you have for the business that will give you the energy and patience to keep working even when the money has not started coming.

Secondly, your knowledge in the business is important. The passion in your small business must be supported with knowledge of the industry. This is

BUSINESS NAIRA EXCHANGE RATES (13/01/15) Currency DOLLAR STERLING EURO FRANC YEN CFA WAUA RENMINBI RIYAL KRONA SDR

Buying(N) 167 253.0885 196.9264 163.9183 1.4083 0.2814 237.8728 26.9433 44.48 26.4672 238.6263

Central(N) 167.5 253.8463 197.516 164.4091 1.4125 0.2914 238.585 27.0244 44.6131 26.5464 239.3408

Selling(N) 168 254.604 198.1056 164.8999 1.4168 0.3014 239.2972 27.1055 44.7463 26.6257 240.0552

Commod Light Crud

Natural G Sugar Coffee Cocoa

Educated derelicts Genius will not; unrewarded genius is almost a proverb. Education will not; the world is full of educated derelicts. Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent.”

In addition to persistence and determination, there are other qualities needed to succeed as an entrepreneur. Firstly, start a business on what you are passionate about. Before considering the small business to do, ask yourself what is it that you love doing and passionate about?

What is it that you will keep doing, even if you don’t receive a pay?

If you are passionate with your business, you will not mind putting in several hours daily until you succeed. As a new

A satisfied client will make repeat purchase and refer other people to your business

what will enhance your products and give you edge over your competitors. In essence, you must keep devoting time and resources to learn new ways you can improve your products to the satisfaction of your clients. A satisfied client will make repeat purchase and refer other people to your business.

Thirdly, constantly look for ways to network with others that can help your business. As the popular adage says, birds of the same feathers flock together. As an entrepreneur, you must continuously make effort to network with the right people that can help your business. That is, associate with people that can complement your business and avoid people that have nothing positive to contribute to your business. *Oruku is CEO of Oruku Consultancy Services, which offers consulting services for small scale businesses

Starting a business with your spouse

By Yinka Kolawole, with agency report

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LLIE Siarto is the cofounder of Loudpixel, a social analytics company focused on social media monitoring, insights, measurement and infographics. She also runs a project called Entretrip, a co-travelling experience for location independent entrepreneurs, and a digital marketing innovation podcast called Apt Marketer.

In this piece, she shares her experience on starting a business with her partner and offer tips on how to achieve best results from such a situation.

“When I was 24, I started a business with my fiancé (now

husband) and one of our best friends. Three years later, our business and marriage are stronger than ever - thankfully!

- but not without a few bumps along the way.”

If you’re considering starting a company, even a side company, with your spouse or if you already have a business, and you’re considering bringing your spouse into the mix - make sure to run through this checklist to avoid potentially major headaches down the road: *Have an emergency fund in place: Money is the number one cause of divorce, and cash flow tends to be the number one challenge for new businesses. When we first started out, we waited

months to get our business cash flow in order and get paid - but we didn’t stress, because we had saved a personal emergency fund ahead of time. *Get an office as soon as possible: You shouldn’t run out and get an office right away, but see if you can start budgeting for an office or co-working membership as soon as possible. We spent the first year of our business working from home, but we also joined a co-working group and got together with other entrepreneurs twice a week at a local coffee shop just to get out of the house and find camaraderie. Co-working spaces often offer flexible part-time memberships that will give you

Vanguard, THURSDAY, JANUARY 15, 2015 — 23

,

& YOU

dity de

Gas

COMMODITIES (14/01/15) Last 45.80

Change ($) -0.09

% Change -0.20

3.12

+0.17

+5.88

15.09

+0.22

+1.48

183.55

+6.60

+3.73

2988.00

-3.00

-0.10

a more budget-friendly opportunity to get out, meet new people and maintain sanity. *Know your personality types: I tend to draw my energy from being around other people, while my husband draws energy from focused time by himself. I have my best focus and energy in the morning, while he works best late at night. And I’m very focused on the big picture, while he does better with the details. By understanding our own strengths, we’re better able to find areas where we complement each other. Consider taking a personality assessment to figure out your individual strengths and how you can best work together. *Define your roles: Along with knowing your personality types, you should have clearly defined roles within the company. Write job descriptions for yourselves and set clear expectations about who will take on which tasks for the business. *Make a point to engage in

Take time to find humour and happiness in the little things each day

separate hobbies: When you’re starting out, you’ll be spending a lot of long hours working together to get the business off the ground. It sounds strange to say, but it’s important to make a point to schedule activities apart. When we started our business, I got involved in the local photography community, while my husband got more involved with the organizations in the local start-up scene. This added some balance to our lives and gave us something new to talk about outside of work. *Discuss your tolerance for risk: Because our business is our main source of income, my husband and I tend to be less risk-averse than we might be if we worked separately.

Growth path We decided early on that we wanted to take a “slow and steady” growth path with no debt, loans or investments, but we re-evaluate our views on tolerance for risk regularly. *Balance praise and constructive criticism: Make a point to thank each other for a job well done, and be kind about how you approach constructive criticism.

In a close relationship, we often forget these basic rules of business. *Have a sense of humour: Don’t take yourself too seriously. Take time to find humour and happiness in the little things each day (I’ve been known to break into song and dance during the work day).

Starting a business with your spouse can be one of the most challenging and rewarding things you can do. There will be tears and laughter. There will be celebrations and frustrations. But in the end, there’s nothing like sharing the payoffs of working together toward a common goal with your life partner.

Make a point to thank each other for a job well done, and be kind about how you approach constructive criticism

,

Is your organisation taking the easy route to success?

By ‘Uju Onwuzulike

"All the so-called secrets of success will not work unless you do"… Anonymous

T may not be easy to find any organisation that would not want to be successful in their area of operation. Similarly, the urge by most organizations to succeed is often times so profound and widely announced. Interestingly and surprisingly, success does not reside in the abode of any organization that just wants to be successful and perhaps might not want to pay the prize required.

How come success sometimes tends to be elusive to some organizations that know what to do? That means they know what steps to take in order to be successful. One might ask, since these organizations know what to do to be become successful, how come they are not doing it? This question is also akin to a student who knows that the only way he or she can pass the examination (and even come out in flying colours) is to study hard. But then, the pertinent question to ask is: why is it difficult for some students to do what they know will make them succeed?

Providing an answer to this assumption is the crux of this insight.

I

BY ‘UJU ONWUZULIKE They have chosen the part of least resistance. They have decided to do what is convenient for them and not what will set them apart. In a simpler language, they are looking for easy route to success. These organizations have failed to realize that if successes come that easy, every organization will be successful. Simply put it that, those successful organizations have sacrificed squarely doing what others have decided not to do (except when convenient for them), and not just doing it but doing it differently.

Earlier this year, one of the concepts that I coined that has gained instant attention is called: “Cheap Score Concept”. Imagine asking a

Path of least resistance First and foremost, some individuals and organizations like to do what work for them easily. In order words, they like to take the path of least resistance. This explains why a student will prefer to postpone reading his or her books in place of engaging in other activities that may not contribute to his or her success.

But the more disturbing is when it applies to the organization.

Many organizations have failed to succeed not because they are not smart or because they don’t know what to do, but because they have chosen to do what is easy for them.

How come success sometimes tends to be elusive to some organizations that know what to do?

young student who is already in secondary or high school to solve this maths question: 10 multiply by 15.

Definitely without even blinking an eye, that student will give the correct answer. The danger is that teaching a secondary school student with this kind of curriculum that will be asking him or her to solve 10 multiply by 15, or similar easy questions (without asking him or her questions in areas like Simultaneous Equations, Quadratic Equations, Surds etc for someone in secondary school) will definitely lead to failure when he takes the final secondary school maths exams. Asking a pupil who is in primary one or two 10 multiply by 15 can be acceptable but not asking someone who is in secondary school. So, “Cheap Score Concept” means scoring so high in those things that are so easy to do that necessarily will not take your organization to the next level of growth or will not transform your organization. This concept clearly shows that someone wants to take the easy way out to the detriment of the organization.

Final note: The prevailing truth is that when organizations set easy tasks for themselves or take the part of least resistance, or decides to do what is convenient for them, they are not doing themselves any favour but instead they are guaranteeing failure in advance. Like I used to say to leaders of organizations, they are not the ones to set the tests for themselves, they are not the ones to determine how much they have worked, they are not the ones to say they are customer centric, they are not the ones to judge themselves – because they will definitely score themselves so high and then Cheap Score Concept will have manifested even before they realize it. From now onwards, decide to back your quest for success with real work and do what others might see as inconveniencing – you will definitely see success coming your way.

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24 — Vanguard, THURSDAY, JANUARY 15, 2015

FDC analysts miss December inflation rate Stories by Babajide Komolafe

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nalysts at the Financial Derivatives Company Limited missed the December inflation rate. The company’s analysts had predicted on Monday that inflation rate would drop to 7.9 percent in December, in sharp contrast to the increase to 8.0 percent reported by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) on Tuesday.

In the company’s Economic Bulletin released on Monday and titled, Headline Inflation to decline further to 7.8 percent, FDC analysts said, “The National headline inflation rate (measured as changes in Consumer Price Index, CPI) has been declining since it peaked at 8.5 percent in September 2014. Based on our trend analysis, it is now projected to moderate further to 7.8 percent in December 2014, a fourth consecutive decline in the headline inflation.

This trend is supported by the fall in global commodities and food prices as well as the tight monetary policy stance of the CBN. Meanwhile, the projection and trend in the inflation data are yet to reflect the impact of the naira devaluation as well as the increase in electricity tariff on consumer prices. This is due to the time lag between event and impact; hence, it is expected that the impact will be reflected in the January 2015 numbers. Another factor to influence an increase in the

January 2015 CPI is the 5.48 percent year-on-year increase in airline cost of tickets because the IATA ROE moved from N177.5/$ to N186.5/$ in

December 2014 alone.

The projected 7.8 percent inflation rate for December is unlikely to have any significant impact on the

Naira depreciates by 120k as interbank trading resumes T HE naira depreciated by 120 kobo against the dollar from Tuesday to yesterday as trading resumed in the interbank foreign exchange market.

From N182.1 per dollar on Monday, the interbank exchange rate rose to N183.6 on Tuesday before dropping marginally to N183.3 per dollar at the close of business yesterday. On Monday the naira had appreciated by N1 as the interbank exchange

rate dropped to N182.1 from N183.1 last week Friday.

Market operators attributed the depreciation between Tuesday and yesterday to the resumption of interbank trading, following the review of the ban on foreign currency trading position by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

A market analyst who spoke on condition of anonymity said that the review of the ban has revived interbank trading

Fitch criticises BoE for allowing banks hide liquidity positions

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current monetary policy stance. The CBN recently introduced a daily clearance of foreign exchange position of banks to prop up the naira but noted that capital control measures would be avoided as

the bank reviewed its naira rules.”

The NBS however reported that, “In December, the Consumer Price Index (CPI) which measures inflation rose by 8.0 percent (year-on-year), 0.1 percentage points from 7.9 percent recorded in November. This implies that inflation has held in the single digit range for twenty four consecutive months.

Specifically in December, the faster pace of price increases recorded by the Headline index was as a result of advances in a broad array of divisions that yield the Headline index.

“Food prices edged slightly higher in December as a result of the festive period. Over that span, the Food sub- index rose by 9.2 percent (year-on- year) up from 9.1 percent recorded in November. This was the first uptick in rates of food prices observed in four months.

While higher increases were recorded in the Meat, Fish, and Dairy groups, the Food sub-index was weighed upon by slower rises in the Bread and Cereals, Oil and Fats, and Fruits groups.”

itch Rating Agency has criticised the Bank of England for allowing banks hide emergency liquidity assistance (ELA) it provides to them during times of distress.

Non-disclosure of ELA makes it more difficult for market participants to assess banks’ liquidity positions in a timely manner, especially during periods of stress, the Agency said in a statement released on Tuesday.

Fitch said, “The Prudential Regulation Authority (PRA) has waived the reporting of certain asset encumbrance data with the aim of avoiding detection by the market of emergency liquidity assistance (ELA) provided by the Bank of England (BoE).

“The PRA’s approach is permitted under the European Banking Authority’s guidelines for encumbrance disclosure, which specifically envisages an exemption for liquidity assistance provided by central banks via collateral swaps. “The BoE’s 2008 ELA to HBOS and RBS was provided via collateral swaps where the banks received T-bills in return for loans, allowing greater scope for avoiding public disclosure. The BoE believes

that the immediate disclosure of ELA could defeat its purpose of maintaining financial stability because it would signal a problem in the bank in question that may result in deposit and creditor flight.

“But failure to disclose, risks hiding the true liquidity position of a bank and may encourage investors to make conservative assumptions and withdraw funds sooner than they would do if transparency was provided. It could also reduce market participants’ confidence in other institutions. “The lack of disclosure is inconsistent with the policy to improve transparency for investors. Policymakers have been promising improved disclosure to enable investors to assess risks at banks more accurately as bail-in legislation comes into force to replace what up to now has been a high likelihood of state support, especially for systemically important banks. Indeed, investors’ expectations of the disclosure available to enable better insight have been raised by private sector initiatives like the Enhanced Disclosure Task Force as well as increased focus by the Basel Committee and International Accounting Standards Board.

as banks can now purchase foreign exchange for interbank trading. The bank he noted, had restricted interbank trading to demand by banks’ customers.

On Monday, the CBN reviewed the ban saying banks can now keep 0.1 percent of shareholders’ funds as dollar reserve for interbank trading.

The apex bank also extended the deadline for utilisation of dollars purchased in the interbank market to 72 hours from 48 hours.

The suspension of the ban was communicated to banks yesterday via a circular, titled, “Daily Foreign Currency Trading Position of Banks and Period for Utilization of Funds”.

The circular, which was signed by Mrs. O.L Ahuchogu, on behalf of Director, Trade and Exchange Department, stated, “Further to the circular TED/ FEM/FPC/GEN01/029 of December 18, 2014, authorised dealers are hereby notified that

Market operators attributed the depreciation to the resumption of interbank trading, following the review of the ban on foreign currency trading position

the daily foreign currency trading positions of banks have been reviewed with immediate effect Accordingly, authorised dealers are required to maintain 0.1 percent as maximum open limit of their Shareholders’ Funds unimpaired by losses as Foreign Currency Trading Position at close of each business day.

“In addition, banks are required to utilise funds purchased from the autonomous/interbank Foreign Exchange Market within 72 hours from the value date, failing which such funds must be returned to the CBN for repurchase at the Bank’s buying rate.” The CBN had imposed the ban in order to curb speculation in the foreign exchange market and stabilise the interbank exchange rate of the naira. The ban was however criticised by bank treasurers saying that the ban amounts to killing the interbank foreign exchange market, therefore called for a reversal of the ban saying that it is not sustainable.

Consequently, the CBN Governor last week said that the ban would soon be reviewed.

“There will be a review in due course,” he told Bloomberg.

“But I can tell you categorically it will no longer be 1 percent. It will be less than 1 percent. The reason we put a stop to 1 percent is because we felt that it was too large to be held by banks as a trading position.”

Vanguard, THURSDAY, JANUARY 15, 2015 — 25

LAUNCHING: Sixth from left: Lagos State University's Vice Chancellor, Professor John Obafunwa, Professor Peter Okebukola, Project Director Elearning and other executives and members of the team during the official launch of E-learning Platform at Lagos State University, LASU.

Students get e-learning platform to boost academic performance

By Dayo Adesulu

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OTHERED by the perennial failure of students in Senior School Certificate Examinations, SSCE, and Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination, UTME, e-learning platform has been launched to enhance their performance.

You will recall that in 2012, 2013 and 2014 61, 63 and 70 per cent of students who sat for WAEC failed woefully. Also, out of the 1.7 million students who register annually for tertiary examination conducted by the Joint Admission and

NANS calls for investigation into death of student in US

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Matriculation Board JAMB, only 500,000 of them get admission in Nigerian universities.

Worried by this downward trend in students learning the Lagos State government has introduced free elearning or m-learning systems to assist its students in performing well academically.

Speaking at the official launch of the platform at Lagos State University, Lagos, the Initiator and Project Director of the elearning system, Professor Peter Okebukola said: “Though the e-learning platform was primarily meant for secondary school students in Lagos state,

students across the country can register and use the platform free-of-charge."

The e-learning system has the ability to deliver subject lessons on three platforms- mobile phones, social media and e-learning

He said that the aim of the project is to present difficult topics in the secondary school curriculum in a learner-friendly manner using e-learning and social media protocols to boost the performance of secondary school students in public examinations especially the Senior School Certificate Examinations, SSCE, NECO and UTME. According to him, the project takes advantage of the availability of mobile phones that students have in the State as not less than two-thirds of secondary school students in the have mobile phones. “The potential of these hand-held Continues on page 26

ERC condemns N10,000 CBT fees by Lagos govt

By Amaka Abayomi

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HE Education Rights Campaign, ERC, has condemned the decision of the Lagos State Government to charge parents and guardians N10,000 to register their wards for computer-based-test, CBT, for 2015/2016 admission into junior secondary schools, saying such was criminal and anti-poor.

The State Commissioner for Education, Mrs. Olayinka Oladunjoye, last Friday said two versions of the screening tests - CBT and pencil-based - would be adopted for the 2015/ 2016. To this end, parents and guardians are expected to pay N10,000 to designated banks after which candidates would be registered through a customised compact disc issued by the State Examination Board.

Condemning the high charge attached to the examinations, the National Coordinator, Mr. Hassan Soweto, is calling for the said amount be immediately reversed in the interest of the good people of the state.

He said “public education should be a vital social responsibility. Given the glaring deficit in Nigeria’s school population, especially to the disadvantage of the girl-child, it is expected that government would ensures that less of the cost of education is put on parents and guardians in order to promote enrolment.

“Unfortunately, the Lagos State government has shown time and time again that it sees public education as an opportunity to make profit. The overall effect of this ruinous profit-first education philosophy of the state government is

Continues on page 26

26 — Vanguard, THURSDAY, JANUARY 15, 2015

Continues from page 25 devices is waiting to be tapped for teaching and learning," he added.

Professor Okebukola who pointed out that a good number of secondary school students are addicted to social media interactions noted that e-learning core subjects will be offered through the platform of Facebook and Twitter. He maintained that since students congregate around such media, it is helpful to embed teaching and learning of perceived difficult topics into their use so that students can be served where their hearts are.

He said: “The intervention phase will present 72 learner-friendly lessons to students on topics they indicated as difficult in the six target subjects- English, Mathematics, Biology, Chemistry, Physics and Commerce.

The e-learning system has the ability to deliver subject lessons on three platforms- mobile phones, social media and e-learning.”

It presents SSCE and UTME past questions and answers on each topic, highlights common errors students make in school and public examinations. The elearning system also teaches students 21-century skills.”

The pilot system which is expected to enrol about 5,000 students, he noted, will be for three months after which the content and delivery modes will be improved upon for scaling up state-wide and nationally.

He, however, envisaged that the project will evolve at some point in the future to the LASU Elearning Institute which will be a centre of excellence in Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs) in Nigeria.

Students get e-Learning platform to boost academic performance Chemistry, Physics and Commerce. The intervention phase targeted these perceived difficult topics.”

The LASG-LASU E-learning and Social Media Project which is supported by the Lagos State Research and Development Council had in attendance, during the launch, Professor John Obafunwa, Vice Chancellor, LASU, Dean and HOD of the Faculty of Education and a host of others.

Meanwhile, Chairman, Lagos State Research and Development Grant Council, LRDC, Professor Olufemi Bamiro in his goodwill message said: “The LRDC had absolutely no problem in approving for funding the Okebukola-led research on Implementing E-Learning And Deploying Social Media As Innovative Strategies For Boosting Achievement Of Lagos State Secondary School Students."

He explained that it was not only the pedigree of the team leader that informed the approval, but, also the relevance of the research topic in tackling the multifaceted problem facing the different levels of the educational ladder in the country; namely, access, quality, and cost.

He averred that the present heavy reliance on the brick-

and-mortar approach of establishing, for example, universities, cannot solve the problem of access to higher education in the country.

According to him, developed and developing economies are employing ICT in education at all levels as an avenue to improve educational outreach and standard across their nations and states. Affordable ICT could attain these goals in three important ways.

About two-thirds of the students expressed confidence in their ability to use ICT for learning and over 65 percent frequently use social media especially Facebook for interaction and sometimes, learning

Bamiro said: “It could be used to support and expand existing curricula by increasing the accuracy, presentation, userfriendliness and attractiveness of courses. It can provide a crucial research resource for both students and teachers. It could forge strategic linkages between educators in the country and beyond, at one level, and between students and the wider global community on the other.

“The potential of ICT to improve access is made possible by the development of customised educational programmes that can reach students all across the country as being demonstrated by the project being launched today involving, even at this 3-month experimental phase, a total of 3,024 students spread over Lagos State. The Research Team should be commended for the adopted methodology to address the problem of quality and relevance of the curriculum.

"It is pertinent to note that ICT could greatly enhance the quality and relevance of the curriculum in three important ways. Firstly, a potentially participatory form of curriculum development could make courses more relevant to both personal and group needs; secondly, the interactive nature of ICT-supported education facilitates effective feedback.

CIAPS announces 2015 postgraduate Commonwealth scholarship for school leaders

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HE Centre for International, Advanced and Professional Studies, CIAPS, Lagos, has announced a scholarship scheme for current and aspiring Commonwealth school leaders wishing to obtain a postgraduate qualification in school management this year.

A statement by the Registrar of the Centre, Annette LeSage said; “There are a total of 20 scholarships available, worth a total of N5 millon. Every successful applicant can receive up to three N300,000 towards his or her tuition fees at CIAPS for the duration of the recipient’s one-year postgraduate study”.

The CIAPS Commonwealth Scholarships are part of the new CIAPS Scholars Scholarship programmes, which will directly benefit students entering postgraduate education this year.

The Centre Director, Anthony Kila said; ''We are looking for teachers and school managers who are pursuing higher learning so that they can play a part in making their respective schools and societies a better place.

“Students will be selected on the basis of a personal statement and interview. A good personal statement must not exceed 1000 words and it will be a chance to tell us about yourself, why you think you deserve this scholarship and how you think it will help you serve yourself and society once you graduate.”

In order to be eligible to apply, students must hold a first degree of at least lower secondclass standard or higher qualification. Have been offered and accepted his or her offer of a place at CIAPS, 2015 entry. Be Commonwealth citizens or be residents in a developing Commonwealth country. Refugees or people working with organisations linked with developing Commonwealth countries are also considered.

E-learning readiness His words: “The intervention phase was preceded by a statewide survey of e-learning readiness of school facilities, students and teachers.

"A total of 3,441 students and 735 teachers in 320 public and private schools from all six Education Districts in Lagos State were surveyed.

"Highlights of the findings of the survey phase showed that although the Lagos State Government had made significant investment in making its public schools e-learning ready, only about a quarter of the teachers rated themselves, overall to be fully e-learning ready.

"About two-thirds of the students expressed confidence in their ability to use ICT for learning and over 65 percent frequently use social media especially Facebook for interaction and sometimes, learning. More than three quarters of teachers and students rated poor internet connectivity as an impediment to e-learning.

"On all measures of e-learning readiness, private schools outperformed their public counterparts. All teachers and students surveyed listed the topics they perceived which were; English, Mathematics, Biology,

From left: Mrs Abosede Ogundimu, Director Personnel Matters; Engr. Olawumi Gasper, Executive Secretary, LASTVEB; Engr. Laolu Oguntuyi, Director, Technical and Vocational Services, LASTVEB and Mrs Belinda Odeh, Principal GTC, Agidingbi, Lagos during the SIWES Orientation programme at GTC, Agidingbi campus.

ERC condemns N10,000 CBT fees by LAGS Continues from page 25 that it will end up pricing public education out of the reach of the mass majority of Lagosians.

“It is unfortunate that so soon after Lagos State University, LASU, was rescued from a debilitating astronomical hike in

fees, the state government is already looking towards the junior secondary sub-sector to implement its anti-poor motives and agenda for public education.

“What the government does not immediately realise now is that if astronomical hike in fees had such debilitating effects on a

university within three years, the pursuit of a similar policy of systematic commercialisation of the education sector especially at the junior secondary school subsector will have catastrophic repercussion.”

Calling on the state government to live up to its much

advertised free education policy, the National Coordinator said it is nothing but a show of shame when a government claims to be implementing free education while it, at the same time, imposes on parents and guardians all kinds of charges running into thousands of naira.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, JANUARY 15, 2015 — 27

AOCOED: Staff jitter over outcome of audit report

By Monsuru Olowoopejo

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NBA President, Mr Augustine Alegeh (middle) receiving his plaque from the wife of ECOBA, Lagos Chairman, Mrs. Godwin Ize-Iyamu (left) while Mrs. Alegeh looks when Edo College Old Boys Association, ECOBA, Lagos Branch honoured some members of the association at its Annual Dinner and Dance in Lagos.

AEI calls for improvement in education sector

By Abdulwahab Abdulah

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ORRIED about the falling standard of education in the country, a group, Academic Excellence Initiative, AEI, a non-governmental organisation has proffered solutions to cushion the effect of the decline.

The recent result released by the West African Examinations Council, WAEC, which put the percentage of students that passed Mathematics and English at 29%, further gave the group cause for concern.

The group through its executive director, Dr Nasir Ariyibi called for concerted effort to see to the logical improvement of the standard of education in the country. He stated this at the group’s annual seminar for secondary school graduates tagged; Youth Orientation Programme, YOP The seminar among other things,

according to Dr Ariyibi, is meant to guide and counsel the students towards their lofty goals in their academic pursuit. Dr Ariyibi stated that the association will help bridge the gap in the education of students and thereby making them improve their academic performance.

“AEI is a stopgap between the academic ambition of students and all forms of obstacles that may hinder them. The body will hence mobilise personnel, materials, support and fund on behalf of students and judiciously manage same to develop students of unparalleled educational achievement and moral rectitude,” he stated.

Stating further the essence of the YOP, Dr Ariyibi said it is meant to guide secondary school graduates on what to do after school.

“Youth Orientation Programme is aimed at giving the secondary school graduates a sense of direction on what to embark upon after their secondary education,” he said.

Speaking on the topic; Treading the Uncharted Path the guest speaker, Dr Musa Dambele reminded the students of likely challenges they may face in their academic pursuit.

“Manage your time wisely, plan your day, week and months ahead; decide up front how much time you want to give to yourself, friends and religion; stick to your schedule to avoid unneeded stress; form good study habit and be responsible regarding your academic work,” he said.

One of the participants, Qudus Akande said the seminar has afforded him opportunity to know how to channel his energy towards achieving his goals in life.

“The programme has afforded me the opportunity to develop my skill further towards my academic performance; set my goals correctly and work hard to achieve it, I am really grateful to have attended this programme,” he said.

Why ECOBA honoured NBA President, others — Ize-Iyamu

By Tare Youdeowei

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HAIRMAN Edo College Old Boys Association, ECOBA, Lagos Branch, Mr. Godwin Ize-Iyamu has described the President of the Nigerian Bar Association, Mr Augustine Alegeh and other members honoured by the Association recently, as worthy products of Edo College, Benin City. Mr Ize-Iyamu spoke during the first meeting of the association which took place on Sunday aaaaat Magodo, Lagos, as was made known in a press statement signed by the Publicity Secretary of ECOBA, Lagos, Mr. Charles Igbinidu According to Mr. Ize-Iyamu; “The association is always very meticulous in choosing members to be honoured annually. The criteria used include integrity, handwork, excellence in various aspects of life and display of all the positive values inculcated in us in Edo College."

It would be recalled that during its Annual Dinner and Dance which took place last month at Ruby Gardens, Lekki, Lagos, ECOBA, gave an award to the NBA President for excelling in the legal profession.

Other award recipients were the Chairman of Grenigas Limited Engineer Emmanuel Aguele, who was bestowed with The Life Time Achievement Award, while the Country Senior Partner for PwC Nigeria, Mr. Uyi Akpata and an Executive Director with Ecobank Mr. Kingsley Aigbonkhaevbo were honoured for outstanding performance in their professions. Mr Ziakede P. Akpobolokemi, Director General and Chief Executive Office, NIMASA, who was the key note speaker at the event was also honoured.

While further commending the award recipients, Mr. Ize-Iyamu implored them to continue keeping the flag of Edo College flying while also urging the younger ones to emulate their exemplary performance and character.

INCE Governor Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State ordered for an audit from State Auditor-General, Mrs Morenike Deile, staff of Adeniran Ogunsanya College of Education, Ijanikin, Lagos, have been gripped with fear over the outcome of the ongoing audit of the institution's staff and accounts.

Sources said that the general feeling was that the audit exercise could result in job losses because the institution had employed more than its capacity. The ratio of the workforce in the college was one to two. The latter states the number of lecturers while the former represents nonacademic staffs.

Vanguard learned that academic staff of the institution had hoped that the suspension of the strike would compel the state government to shelf the audit exercise and allow activities in the institution to continue as it was before the strike.

The audit commenced December 1st, 2014. It was a strategy adopted by the Governor to address the issues raised by the staff during their last industrial action which they embarked upon over unpaid 18 months salary arrears and nonremittance of 17 months pension funds deducted from their salaries.

The Special Auditor general's Adviser to the office has State Governor, B a b a t u n d e commenced its Fashola on audit exercise and Education, Otunba Fatai are yet to Olukoga said conclude the that even if the staff had not exercise 37 days suspended their after the industrial action, the state commencement of g o v e r n m e n t the exercise would have went ahead to conduct the audit exercise.

The state governor had on October 31st, 2014 in a letter obtained by Vanguard Newspaper titled Request for audit of finances and debt of Adeniran Ogunsanya College of Education, Otto-Ijanikin, with reference number SAE/HED/S.12/Vol.T/61, ordered the state Auditor General to immediately audit the institution’s accounts, staff strength and other relevant documents.

Olukoga noted the auditor general's office has commenced its audit exercise and are yet to conclude the exercise 37 days after the commencement of the exercise.

He added that the audit team will check their accounts and personnel whether they have more than what they were expected to have or if it conformed to the total staff strength they claim to have.

Speaking on behalf of the staff, Chairman of Colleges of Education Academic Staff Union, COEASU, Mr Michael Avosetinyen, debunked the panic in the institution, saying the unions had earlier endorsed the audit.

He noted that some of members staff had gone for the audit which started on Monday, December 1st, 2014, an indication that they were not enveloped by fear of the eight-man audit team sent to the institution by the state government.

Sources said that at the end of the audit exercise, the State Governor will constitute a visitation panel to the teaching institution, to address several issues that had bedeviled the college.

Avosetinyen said; “If the government wished to set up a visitation panel after the conclusion of the audit exercise to address these issues, so be it.”

28 — Vanguard, THURSDAY, JANUARY 15, 2015

SUCCESS RECIPE WITH UDEME ARCHIBONG successrecipe2009@gmail.com www.worldlightbearesint.com 08035095243

NANS calls for investigation into death of student in US

By Gabriel Olawale

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HE National Association of Nigerian Students, NANS, has call for proper investigation into the death of its member, Matthew Ajibade who died in United State police custody.

Matthew Ajibade a 22-year-old Nigerian student was arrested for battery after his girlfriend called the police over a domestic incident and was later kept in isolation cell at Savannah County Jail as a result of his suffering from bipolar disorder and later died on January 2 as a result of a scuffle with the officials of Savannah county jail in United States.

Following Ajibade’s death, two Georgia Sheriff’s deputies were given administrative leave with pay for inappropriate action.

Not satisfied with this judgement, in a statement signed by the Vice President , External Affairs, NANS, Ogunkuade Oluwatosin, described the untimely death of their colleague as a result of maltreatment being subject to by the authority despite their knowledge of his medical condition.

“Why did they take him to jail instead of a hospital bearing in mind his health condition? We stand to challenge the authority of the United State Police in Georgia over the

mismanagement and mishandling of our student in their custody having being informed of his condition by the girlfriend, he was kept in an isolated cell, not minding his medical condition, and we can deduce that he has been subjected to maltreatment."

NANS has under its ambit, over 45million Nigerian Students schooling at Home and Diaspora, and demands as a matter of systematic urgency an investigation and comprehensive report from Georgia Bureau of investigation and the United States on the cause of the death of our young talented Nigerian.

REUNION: Host and member, Governing Council, University of Calabar, Otunba Ilupeju Muhammed (7th left); his wife, Alhaja Titilope (fifth left) and Speaker, Osun State House of Assembly, Hon. Salaam Najeem (fifth right) with other members of Association of 1993 Graduates of Political Science from Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Osun State, during a get-together in Ibadan, Oyo State.

Industrial training exposes students to practical skills — Gasper

By Dayo Adesulu

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XECUTIVE Secretary, Lagos State Technical and Vocational Education Board, Engr.

Olawumi Gasper has urged students in tertiary institutions to participate in industrial training before graduation,stating that it will expose students to practical skills and exposure.

Speaking during the Students Industrial Work Experience Scheme, SIWES, orientation programme organised by LASTVEB for technical students in Lagos, Gasper charged the students to do their best, learn to get more practical skills, adding; "It could open windows of job opportunity for you in life.’’

He said: ‘’When I was a student on industrial training, I was surprised, after my graduation without an C M Y K

interview, I got a job, because I did very well.’’

Expatiating on the importance of SIWES to students, Director, Technical and Vocational Services, LASTVEB, Engr. Laolu Oguntuyi reiterated that SIWES is one of the programmes designed for technical institutions for them to graduate.

He noted that it is in pursuance of the directive from the National Board for Technical Education, the orientation programme was arranged for those starting their industrial attachment next week.

According to him, industrial attachment with the directive should not be less than three months.

Oguntuyi explained that for students to have the required skills, not acquired skills, industrial training is important,

adding; ‘’when they go, they will be exposed to the needed skills.

“We have teachers that will monitor and supervise them.

Also, staff from the headquarters are going to be monitoring them. Teachers will alternate the supervision of the students three times before the end of the exercise.

Meanwhile, the Principal, Government Technical College, Agidingbi, Mrs Belinda Odeh told the students not to do any thing that will not make sense.

She said; "Go out there and make sense, let them know that you are not a drop out. Let them know that you have what it takes to be a good citizen of Lagos and of Nigeria.

"This programme is just to remind you of what you already know. You are going there to relate what you have been taught here with what is happening in the industry."

Travel Light!

I

PRESENT to you two stories: fictional and real respectively. In a movie, a man was carrying a secret that, if he told it, would free another man from jail where he was serving a life sentence for a crime he did not commit. However, if he reveals the secret he would be indicted because there were warrants for his arrest.

He asked why he should opt to show himself and put himself in danger in order to set another man free who meant nothing to him. The lawyer who was prompting him to be truthful said, “Because if you tell the truth, you can unburden yourself, and it will be one less heavy load you will have to carry through life.”

Once upon a time, there lived a woman who was abused by her father in her childhood. Life was not fair to her. She grew into adulthood with the burden of shame and confusion; all the time thinking it was her fault. Because of the abuse she did not trust men. However, she would do anything just to win their approval.

She carried along with her the emotional baggage of bitterness and anger.

The woman’s heart was filled with hatred for her father and at the very thought of him she became bitter and angry and did not speak to her father. She heard a sermon about forgiveness and decided to act on it.

She traveled to another city and found her father. She said, “Dad, I’ve hated you every day of my life, but I can’t live with that poison in me anymore. I’m not allowing you to mess up my life. I’m forgiving you for everything you’ve done.” She confessed that when she walked away from her father that day, it was like she’d been released from prison.

Prior to her forgiving her father she had jumped in and out of relationships, and failed at several jobs. However, ten years after forgiving her father she is happily married with three beautiful children. She owns her own business and she is very successful.

Her forward motion on the success journey began when she decided to drop all the emotional baggage that weighed her down and kept her stagnated and chose to travel light on life’s journey.

John Mason rightly states, “How much more grievous are the consequences of unforgiveness than the causes of it.”

When we live with grudges in our hearts; we live with crutches in our lives. When you persist on holding onto past hurts you perpetuate the past and contaminate your future. “People need loving most when they deserve it least” reveals The storms of life John Mason.

To get a successful are not meant to finish in life’s journey, stop you but are you must travel light.

When you are faced with there to make unexpected challenges you soar are you mad at the world? Or are you mild with the world?

The turbulence of life are the raw materials Life uses to mould your character. The turbulence of life is not designed to tarnish your destiny but rather to garnish your destiny. Adversity sets you up to advance in life.

On the other side of adversity lies an advantage. The storms of life are not meant to stop you but are there to make you soar. On the other side of life’s test lies testimony. Trials pave the way for triumph. Therefore, never allow yourself to get discouraged rather brace-up with courage and fight the battle of life to win.

Travelling light entails getting rid of the trivialities of life. A critical spirit leads to mental clutter that distorts your outlook in life. Until you mind your business you can never be the cynosure of all eyes. If you are petty your life can’t be pretty. A critical spirit, a backbiter, a gossip and a dispenser of discord are the trade-mark of small-minded people. And nobody wants to buy such junk. Mind your business; run your race. Unless you learn to run your race; you get rut in the race.

Life is like a mirror; it reflects your thoughts, words and deeds.

Bad-mouthing people only makes your life stink. Ruining someone’s reputation only repels success out of your destiny.

When you talk-down on someone Life will never take you up. We cannot agree with everybody, neither can we associate with everybody. However, we must learn to respect and accept our differences before we can ever make a difference in the world.

When you write people off, life writes you out of the success parade.

Turn-off condemnation, turn-on compassion; Turn-off criticism, turn-on compliments; Turn-off judgment, turn-on understanding.

This can only be accomplished if we look at ourselves, people and the world with the eyes of love.

When you are clothed with unconditional love for all people, you finish strong and great. Travel light!

Vanguard, THURSDAY, JANUARY 15, 2015—29

Public varsities and crumbling infrastructure In 2015

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GRADUATION:From left: Mr. Steve Edigbe, his daughter Onome and Apostle Godwin Ikponwonsa, Lagos Regional Apostle of St Joseph Chosen Church of God, at Onome's graduation from Crawford University, Ogun State.

UNILORIN to get full internet coverage

By Faith Olatide

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ICE-Chancellor of the University of Ilorin, Prof. Abdulganiyu Ambali has announced plans by the management to provide full internet coverage within the university campus.

He made the disclosure

while receiving the report of the Google Student Ambassadors Summit in Accra, from the 2014 Google Ambassadors of the University, in his office.

The Vice-Chancellor said that the massive internet coverage would afford staff and students uninterrupted use of the facility at any point

in time to communicate with all parts of the world regardless of the time-zone.

According to the VC, the areas to be covered in this phase of the university’s ICT revolution includes the staff quarters on campus and GRA, student hostels on the university campuses as well as academic areas and offices.

Oba Gbadebo conferred with GLIMA award

O

BA Michael Aremu Gbadebo the Alake of Egba Land has been conferred with the Global Leader of Integrity Merit Award, GLIMA, for Integrity in Leadership & Peaceful Coexistence.

This was disclosed recently by Proven Integrity Communication Network Limited, Publisher of Integrity International Magazine in Abuja.

According to Head, Nigeria Operations Dan Nzelogu, those present at the epochmaking event included top government functionaries, envoys, business personalities, educationist, eminent African statesmen, religious leaders and traditional leaders, among others.

Nzelogu that the theme of this year's Democracy and Global Peace; a Leadership Challenge, delivered by Prof.

E.T. Eshett former Deputy Vice Chancellor, Federal University of Technology, Owerri, FUTO, Nigeria, was aimed at sensitizing African leadership, promoting sustainable economic and social-political development and promoting global peace,

and excellence through selfless service.

The president of the organization, Chris Onwordi stated that the award was conferred on the recipients for their exemplary leadership and contribution to humanity. and as epitomes of integrity.

From left: Oba Michael Aremu Gbadebo receiving the Global Leader of Integrity Merit Award (GLIMA) from Onwordi Onichabor President, Integrity International Magazine in Abuja.

Ondo promotes 4,000 teachers

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NDO State Governor, Dr. Olusegun Mimiko, has presented Letters of Promotion to 4,001 teaching and non teaching staff of Public Secondary Schools in the State.

The letters were presented in Akure, during an interactive session for

Principals of Public secondary schools in the state.

The governor who was represented at the event by the Secretary to the State Government, Dr. Aderotimi Adelola said that the promotion is in fulfilment of the governor's promises on assumption of office, which

includes, prioritizing the welfare of all workers in the state, payment of salaries and prompt issuance of letters of promotion to deserving staff.

He also assured that the ongoing recruitment exercise of another 1,500 teachers will be completed before the end of January.

EDERAL and states budgets remain uncertain for 2015 as the price of crude oil continues to decline. November 2014, the Governor of the Central Bank, suggested that the price would go as low as $50 per barrel. Today people mention prices as frightening as $20 per barrel. The forces depressing the price of crude oil remain relentless and appear to be gathering momentum.

Chief among these is increasing export of crude oil by USA. The US had transformed itself from the world’s largest importer of crude to an exporter and it is determined to expand its market share of global sales. That is bad news for Nigeria and it is a development which will not soon reverse itself. In fact, if the truth must be told, we have lost that customer permanently.

Next in line is the fact that the Asian and European customers who took up some of the slack in exports to the US are experiencing serious economic recession. Crude oil consumption will be down for the balance of this year – which is just starting.

Altogether, there is every likelihood that the 2015 budget, at all levels, will be slashed drastically and education will not be spared from the knife. Indeed, what we now face is the possibility that allocations to varsities, hitherto inadequate for their needs might not even cover the recurrent expenditure. Any expectations on capital expenditure might be illusory. The consequences for universities will be very grave because development of varsities will not just come to a halt; deterioration will occur. We have been through this before. When the price of crude oil started its downward trend, from over $28 per barrel in 1982 to $9.90 in late 1988, universities and their Slumping oil physical structures were among the major victims. As a prices, inflation, frequent visitor to the increasing University of Ibadan in the 1970s and 1980s, the change unemployment for the worse occurred right in seem certain to front of my eyes. Halls of residence, usually given face bring universities lifts periodically in the past down on their were suddenly left unrenovated for years on end; knees once again. such that visitors to the The differences university in the 1970s could not recognize the university in this time should the 1980s. not escape us The same deterioration was noticeable in the academic buildings. Classrooms and laboratories were also left to decay – not because the administrators of the universities were corrupt or incompetent, but because there was simply no money. It was not just U.I which suffered the collapse of infrastructure. With just about 20 Federal Universities and less than 10 state varsities to provide for, the governments, at all levels, were overwhelmed. The first major incidence of brain drain – exit of Nigerian academics to foreign universities took place then.

However, Nigerian scholars were still highly regarded at the time.

This year, we enter into another era when history seems ready to repeat itself. Slumping oil prices, inflation, increasing unemployment seem certain to bring universities down on their knees once again. The differences this time should not escape us.

Two are prominent.

First, with the economic downturn becoming global in nature – except for America and Canada – opportunities for varsity dons to migrate might not be as abundant as in the 1980s. Second, for those who received their doctorates in Nigerian universities, the chances have narrowed even more. The withdrawal of 19 Ph. Ds

by Lagos State University, LASU, years after they were awarded, was a shot heard around the world. Formerly, it was our undergraduate degrees that were suspect. That incident had also devalued our graduate certificates – including doctorates.

If the price of crude remains under $55 per barrel for more than one year, then we can all expect a return to the days when laboratories were empty and science students had to memorise diagrams instead of performing real experiments and medical students cannot find cadavers to work with or the laboratory equipment needed to open up the bodies. The Engineering and physical science departments tend to experience the most deterioration leading to the graduation of people which prospective employers find unemployable. Unfortunately, making the President and the state governors 'Visitors' to our universities constrains innovation and creative management of what will certainly become scarce resources.

When the Adekunle Ajasin University, Ondo State, opened its astonishing senate building recently, the first thing, naturally, was amazement that a state government could conceive of such a structure.

30 —Vanguard, THURSDAY, JANUARY 15, 2015

Vanguard, THURSDAY, JANUARY 15, 2015 — 31

Why private institutions can’t benefit from TETFUND —Bogoro

By Charles Kumolu THE Executive Secretary of Tertiary Education Trust Fund ,TETFUND, Professor Sulaiman Bogoro in this interview explains why TETFUND must be supported to addresses the fundamental challenges affecting the education sector and why private universities cant benefit from the Fund. Excerpts

T

HE nations that make up the first world are said to lay great emphasis on science and technology. Is it not advisable that TETFUND tows the line in funding science, vocational and technical institutions?( I think you heard what I said earlier today at the presentation of research grants funded by TETFUND. Most of the grants approved were for the sciences.

Even in conventional universities 60:40 ratio is the standard while in the universities of technology it is

Professor Sulaiman Bogoro 70:30.

In these modern times, the economy must be driven by knowledge-based

infrastructure largely dominated by science and technology. This should not be

otherwise. If you look at the most advanced nations you will see that they have made more breakthroughs in science and technology than anywhere else. And that’s precisely what we’re trying to do at TETFUND through the public tertiary institutions.

How do you see the call for the extension of TETFUND to private institutions?

I have never believed that’s the right way to go. Very clearly, it would be the wrong way to proceed. The reason is simple.

Government creates the enabling environment for the private institutions.

Government should not be subscribing their operations.

It’s a wrong way to think and do things. I can tell you it couldn’t be otherwise. Our law is very clear in terms of their funding intervention; the private sector is privately owned.

In reality that is in terms of demographic reality in Nigeria. In the education

sector, the public tertiary institutions constitute a glaring majority. It constitutes the majority in terms of student population. If you take it out there you will discover that put together in terms of members the private tertiary institutions especially universities, have caught up, they’re the same numbers now with public tertiary universities.

But by population I can tell you that the public tertiary institutions constitute more than three quarters of the population. So that tells you that the majority is there. And it has to do with the funding review and government intervention is aimed at doing the best for the largest segment of the population.

Taking the demographic realities of Nigeria into consideration, we are in the right direction in funding public tertiary institutions. I don’t see it as funding the private sector in the real sense of it. Not funding the private sector but subsidizing it. We should use the word subsidizing the private sector.

For example, the children of the less privileged are almost exclusively in the public tertiary institutions and this is a statement of fact. Nobody can contradict it.

32 — Vanguard, THURSDAY, JANUARY 15, 2015

Vanguard, THURSDAY, JANUARY 15, 2015 — 33

34—Vanguard, THURSDAY, JANUARY 15, 2015

Contributory Pension Scheme hits 6m membership Stories by Victor Ahiuma-Young

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VER six million contributors have now been enrolled in the Contributory Pension Scheme, CPS, the National Pension Commission, PenCom, has said.

The commission at a two-day workshop in Lagos organized in collaboration with Lagos Council of Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, also announced that CPS had generated close to N5 trillion since inception in 2004, with over one hundred thousand pensioners.

Speaking at the opening ceremony of the workshop with the theme “New Pension Act, PRA, 2014, its Implications and Obligations to both employers and employees in Nigeria”, Director General of

PenCom, Mrs. Chinelo Anohu-Amazu, said the coverage of the CPS included employees in the public service of the federal, states and local governments as well as the private sector organizations with three or more employees.

Represented by Mr. Mohammed Bello Umar, the commission’s Head of Compliance and Enforcement Department, Anohu-Amazu recalled that the pension reform started in 2004 with the passage of PRA 2004 which provided for a uniform pension system for both public and private sectors.

According to her, “The CPS has been successfully implemented since then and the fund under management has grown to about N4.6 trillion while membership is over 6 million.

From left: Mr. Mohammed Bello Umar, Head Compliance and Enforcement, National Pension Commission, PenCom, Mr. Sanni Adeleke, Vice Chairman, Lagos Council of Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, and Princess Olubunmi Abikoye, Chairperson, NLC Women Commission, Lagos, at the workshop.

The coverage of the CPS includes employees in the public service of the federal, states and local governments as well as the private sector organizations with three or more employees. The PRA 2014 strengthened the powers of the commission to perform its mandate of regulation and supervision of all pension matters. That would further protect and create value for the contributor.

“Following the successful

passage of the PRA 2014, PenCom is working towards significantly increasing the membership of CPS by expanding the coverage to include the informal sector as well as ensuring that the pension assets are invested in ways that are most beneficial to the economy.

This workshop provides an avenue for sensitization of NLC members, Lagos Council as our stakeholders

on the new PRA 2014 and their role towards its successful implementation. It is a forum to discuss pertinent issues of mutual interest on the implementation of the CPS and proffer solutions towards addressing them.”

Participants at the workshops included both public and private sectors unions affiliated to NLC in Lagos.

Workers seek amendment of Lagos pension law

W

ORKERS in Lagos have called on both the executive and legislative arms of government to amend the Lagos State Contributory Pension Scheme law to meet the current reality.

Speaking through the state council of Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, the workers insisted that since the federal government had last year amended the Pension Reform Acts, PRA, 2004, as a result of the pension reforms where the state derived its pension law, it was time the state amended its law.

Chairman of the state NLC, Mr. Idowu Adelekun, cited the example in the PRA 2004, where the contributory ratio between employers and employees was 7.5 percent each, but in the PRA 2014, the ratio was changed to eight percent for employees and ten percent for employers.

Earlier he insisted pension system had become irreplaceable to life of workers after active work life and that it was paramount that its evolution vis-à-vis global trend be such as to give value and succour.

According to him, the state council of NLC was organizing the workshop to address some of the knotty pension issues confronting workers and management in the workplace today, saying “of note is the

common practice in Nigeria where pension “check off” by employees and employers alike are statutory and where burden of enforcing payment is more skewed on workers than employers. NLC, Lagos State Council is in receipt of numerous complaints revolving round the issue of workers paying their mandatory 7.5% as mandated by law as stated in 2004 Act, while most employers often default in complying with payment of their own mandatory 7.5% a situation that has negatively affected the ‘good’ intention of pension system. The council views government reforms in this

This is important in view of the fact that most employees neither have any meaningful retirement benefits nor earn enough during their working life to cater for their retirement

sector as one that should be protected for the general good of all. This is important in view of the fact that most employees neither have any meaningful retirement benefits nor earn enough during their working life to cater for their retirement.

“This is supported by several reports which conclude that

pension reforms in Nigeria is faced with many challenges which include; coverage, adequacy, administrative efficiency, transparency, governance and regulation.

Hitherto, pension system in Nigeria was bedeviled by many problems but with the introduction of the Pension

Reforms and culminating into the New Pension Act 2014 repealing that of 2004 Act, there seems to be a radical transformation and model shift in the pension scheme of Nigeria, how long this persist is one we need to address here today.

...lament unpaid gratuity by Lagos

M

r. Adelakun called on the Lagos State Government to pay more attention to the plight of pensioners who retired from Local government, Parastatals and so on whose gratuity and arrears of increment in their pension since 2006, had not been paid to date.

He said “ we have appealed to the state government before now to always put our senior citizens who had dutifully served the state in the fore front and provide for them a happy retirement life. But as we speak, nothing meaningful has changed in the state as far as pension payment is concerned. We want to express our displeasure in the way and manner the state government set up Pension Board with the exclusion of Nigeria Labour Congress in Lagos State.

This is contrary to what is applicable in other states.

"For the records, NLC is the

umbrella body of well over 42 industrial unions of which about 40 industrial unions are resident in the state. It is quite disturbing, very unfortunate and a gross disservice to the teeming workforce that the state government could treat with disdain the NLC leaders who are workers representative in Lagos State for not incorporating it into the state Pension Board.

"If the state government in its wisdom thinks Trade Union Congress of Nigeria, TUC, which it accorded membership of the board represents workers in Lagos, we make bold to say that this is the height of anomaly. We call on the state government to as matter of urgency, to correct this anomaly for the sake of industrial peace in the state, and enforce the conclusion of NLC into the state Pension Commission.

Gov Babatunde Fashola He added by calling on PenCom to expedite action of guidelines for informal sector participation in the CPS, saying “it is our hope that genuine applications will be processed with expediency by the commission in view of the large population in formal and informal sector of the economy who will be participating in the scheme."

Vanguard, THURSDAY, JANUARY 15, 2015 — 35

36—VANGUARD, THURSDAY, JANUARY 15, 2015

Mr. Dupe Atoki, a lawyer is the DirectorGeneral, Consumer Protection Council, CPC. In this interview, she speaks on the challenges facing the agency , the suit between the Council and Nigerian Bottling company and other issues. Excerpt:

By Innocent Anaba

Y

ou have been in the saddle as Director – General of CPC. What has your experience?

It’s been an exciting experience because I thrive in challenges and it’s an assignment that is full of challenges. The mandate of the council is to ensure that consumers rights and interests are protected. We have over 150 million active consumers in Nigeria, marked against the diversity of products in local, international and also services that are rendered. So, you can imagine the stakeholders that we are actually looking at.

However, interesting as this should have been, the first challenge I have is consumer apathy, which has resulted from the fact that over the years, Nigerians have not been able to gain the confidence of the agency to provide sufficient protection for them. I also see that the consumer illiteracy as one very big challenge, because you cannot protect people who don’t even know their rights.

It’s when you know your rights that you assert it, but if you don’t, you remain docile, you remain trampled upon and you continue to be abused. So, those are what I found on resumption of office.

So, what measure did you adopt to address some of the initial challenges?

I carried out a survey across that country and the consumer awareness was very low which gave me great concern, I had to find a way to address that challenge and improve the consumer awareness in Nigeria. I found out that the agencies which are related in terms of products and services have not developed a system prior to now, where they engage each other to the maximum benefit of such collaborations. And so, every agency has carved out its own tough and is protecting it very viciously and this was detrimental to consumer ’s interests. If the agencies of government which in my opinion, are building blocks to achieve the governance goal

Dupe Atoki

Consumer rights abuse prevalent in Nigeria —CPC D-G, Atoki of government are not intertwined, then we will continue to remain very inefficient, because even in building a house, you must over lay the blocks and that’s when you get a good and solid structure.

You can imagine if you keep laying a block horizontally or vertically, that is not what governance is about and I think that agencies of government are instruments of governance and it is important for us to work together. I found that as an existing challenge and which has resulted in some of the agencies actually challenging the activities of the Consumer Protection Council, say out of ignorance that the council does not have the powers to carry out its activities. Of course, funding will remain a challenge.

What of funding, are well funded?

Government can never fully

fund any organisation. It’s an utopia that we should not even attempt to imagine. But for us, it’s compounded by the fact that we do not generate income like some other agencies. We cannot charge complainants for complaints that they have brought to us, we are a probone agency. So, it’s there, but

But I think that the government, when it is sufficiently sensitized about the role and the activities of CPC and its relevance to the economic development, should be able to give a second thought to the issue of adequate funding

I really do not want to flag that out too heavily, but it is a very important issue that needs to be addressed, because if we have to actualize one of the mandates of the Council which is to educate consumers, then we must be appropriately funded to be able to use all the various media, to engage consumers to understand what their rights are. But I think that the government, when it is sufficiently sensitized about the role and the activities of CPC and its relevance to the economic development, should be able to give a second thought to the issue of adequate funding. So, briefly, those are the challenges I have.

What is the structure of the Council, how many branch offices do you have?

In terms of the structure of the Council, there are seven offices one in each of the geopolitical zones and an extra one for Lagos because of

Credibility, security challenges facing Feb polls (2)

the commercial activities in Lagos and our headquarters.

In a country where we have over 170million people, I think that is grossly inadequate.

And with a staff strength of barely 250, that again is a challenge, a great one which I believe we need to address urgently.

Have you considered collaboration with other organisations as a possible alternative to funding?

In terms of collaboration, I think that is this year. We have agreed with some of the agencies that we will have an overlap with, for instance, the Standards Organisation of Nigeria, SON, both of us are actually in the same ministry.

We have had a chat and we understand the need to work with each other because they develop standards but they don’t have the powers to enforce the standards in favour of consumers. The powers that they have are to sanitise the industry by either removing those products from the market, destroy them or seal the premises. It doesn’t translate to consumer education, so, at the end of the day, the consumer education, in ensuring remedy for the victims of violation of those standards are indirectly enforcing the standards that the SON has set.

So, we have come to the conclusion that because we do have powers of enforcements, which they do not have, we will work together. So, I think we will be talking to these organisations one after the other. Those of them which are amenable to such collaborations, we’ll work together.

Why can’t you collaborate with some multinational companies and nongovernmental organizations that are operating within or share similar vision with your Council?

With non- governmental organisations, I don’t have any problem, particularly if they are registered to protect consumers.

With NGOs, we are good to have those ready and are on ground and actually working for the protection of consumers, but with the multinationals, I think it’s a no-go area for us. They are the organisations or businesses for which we would have to enforce the Act against them in the event where they have not complied with the Consumer Protection Act. And for me, I think that I would

Continues on page 37

VANGUARD, THURSDAY, JANUARY 15, 2015 —37

Continues from Page 36

rather stay clear of any area of compromise and deal with whatever challenge I have in another way. If there are opportunities to collaborate on the technical level, which will not arm twist us, that’s fine.

But at the moment, I’m working with other international funders, who are actually ready to support the work of the consumers. Those funders are impartial, in fact, they are in business to fund and so, I don’t have any problem relating with them and I’m quite happy that I’m not going to be blackmailed at some point in time into submission when I call upon such organisations to comply with the Act. We read of a matter involving the agency and Coca-Cola, that you took Nigerian Bottling Company bottlers of coca-cola to court.

What actually happened?

Ahead of my statement, let me say they went to court first, so they started this legal tango. And to added that the matter is already in court, so its sub-judice, but what I will let the public know is what they already know via the media, that there was a complaint on a product of Nigerian Bottling Company, NBC, licensed under the authority of Coca- Cola product of Sprite which was half filled and was purchased and the person complained.

Surprisingly, because Nigerians don’t care, and would say ‘ well, this is Nigeria.’ But because we believe the time has come for every infraction, no matter how minor it is, as long as it doesn’t give value for money for consumers, we must look into it.

It’s easy to say ‘ what’s the big deal,’ which is what most people have responded, “ what’s the big deal about half can of sprite when there are cockroaches and there are flies and whatever,’ but there is a starting point. And so the Council took it up to invite the parties and conducted an investigation which lasted about three months when documents were received,

EDITORIAL TEAM Innocent Anaba ( Head) Wahab Abdulah Ikechukwu Nnochiri Dayo Benson (Supervising Editor) 08056180119 dayobenson@yahoo.com

‘Consumer rights abuse prevalent in Nigeria' onsite visits to the factories were carried out and we came to the conclusion that there were much more infractions beyond the two half cans of Sprite and we addressed those infractions via recommendation we made known to the public as well as the company to improve.

These recommendations are to improve their production and to assure the consumer that the products that come out of their factory are standardized and meet international standards.

There is nowhere in the world that you buy or find a halffilled product on the shelf. It may be allowed by some scientific faction in the course of production but you should take it out and destroy it.

So, what did you do in the instant case?

We sent the information to them to comply and pay the necessary investigation cost.

But rather than do that, they proceeded to the court within two weeks of receiving the letter, two weeks of receiving this report, to contest the authority of the council to investigate, I mean, that is never put in the public domain. CPC has gone ahead to immediately prosecute the NBC. That we are wielding the big stick unnecessarily and aggressively but ‘no.’ I mean, the court case got started by the two companies and the matter is still in court where we are being challenged for performing our statutory functions.

Because the CPC has also its own powers to prosecute for non-compliance with the order of Council, the Attorney-General rightfully too, has commenced the process of ensuring compliance with the order of the Council by filing charges against them, not only the companies, but also the two Managing Directors of the companies for failing to comply with the order of the Council and another for failing to obey the summons.

I think the rest is history but,

*Dupe Atoki I mean, the records must be put straight that as early as two weeks after we issued our orders, they challenged the orders in court and that should be also be put in the public as well.

Today in Nigeria, we have various service providers, electricity, telecoms who are not living up to expectations.

What are you doing about this?

We sent the information to them to comply and pay the necessary investigation cost, but rather than do that, they proceeded to the court within two weeks of receiving this report, to contest the authority of the council to investigate

The CPC has become the Father Christmas, the Mr. Fixit for all, you know. CPC what are you doing about telecoms?

CPC what are you doing about light? CPC what are you doing about this and about that?’ I’m always amazed when I get asked these questions.

But you’re entitled to your views, because we put ourselves out as the agency that government had established to ensure that you get value for money. But in all sincerity, I think that the level of consumer abuse in Nigeria is so huge that anybody coming into it and promise within a year that he is going to surmount it is just unrealistic and that’s why I have made no promises.

Since I took over, I have made no promises but I will at the appropriate time deal with each and every of these areas. But for me, this was what also informed my Global Sectoral intervention in my strategic plan because I realised that the abuses are so huge, that if you want to resolve them by individual complaints, you will never be able to get it done. So, the

strategic plan has come up with a sectoral intervention where you take these abuses and look at a sector impact, address that sector on a global holistic level and then everything moves.

Now, if we are able to address the food and beverage sector by ensuring that we speak to the sector through a particular intervention, everybody in that sector sits up and therefore, minimize individual complaints. And so that was my own interpretation of how to quickly deal with a heap of abuses which you can never address by individual method. And so at the beginning of my tenure, I invited them, before we begin to pass judgment, I thought it was important that we had a round-table discussion with the various heads of those providers.

So, we understand what their problem is and we also tell them that once consumers subscribe and money is deducted, they should get value for money and for us to have a discussion. But, of course, there was a very poor response from them, which all of you know. Of course, it is not uncommon that some manufacturers or service providers think that they don’t owe any obligation to any agency, but I think that any organisation or provider that thinks so is obviously unaware of the powers of the Council.

Coincidentally with regards to the telecoms sector, the minister, Dr. Mobolaji Johnson, is very aware of the powers of the council and has encouraged the sector regulator to ensure that they work with the CPC in bringing closure to consumer complaints. So, let me just say in answer to your question that we have all these sectors in our radar and we can only deal with them one at a time and I’m hoping that before my tenure runs out, I would have been able to touch each of these sectors and bring a positive effect which will reduce consumer complaint across board.

38—VANGUARD, WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 15, 2015

Intersociety holds 2014 UDHR and awards day 2014 Universal Declaration of Human Rights, UDHR, and award of outstanding performance in socio-economic governance and legislative performance for 2014, held in Onitsha, Anambra State, organised by International Society for Civil Liberties and the Rule of Law, Intersociety, supported by G8 Rights Group and the Anambra Human Rights/Civil Society Activities Forum.

Uwaifo’s book launched

T

EN years after Justice Samson Uwaifo retired as a Justice of the Supreme Court, a book in his honour has been presented at the Oba Akenzua Cultural Centre, Benin City, Edo State.

The event, which was part of activities to mark his 80th birthday, was attended by HRM Oba of Benin, Oba Erediauwa and Esama of Benin Kingdom, Sir Gabriel

Igbinedion, and others.

According to one of the editors, a former Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Edo State, Omoruyi Augustine Omonuwa, SAN, the title of the book is “On Judicial Integrity: Legal Essays And Materials In Honour of His Justice S.O Uwaifo.”

The immediate predecessor of Omonuwa in office, Chief Charles

Edosonwan, SAN, reviewed the book.

Professor Ikponmwonsa Omoruyi of the Faculty of Law, University of Benin, UNIBEN, was the second editor.

The book which is in two parts represents a concise depiction of the Justice Uwaifo’s personality as a judge as well as his vision of the Judicial Arm which remains the only hope not just for the common man but also for the sustenance of our democracy.

Chair of the event, Uche Durueke, with other CSO leaders presenting the Outstanding Performance in Socio-Economic Governance Award to Mr Peter Obi, immediate past governor of Anambra State.

Media outfit files N100m suit against NIIA, boss

By Onozure Dania

A

MEDIA outfit, Delphi Media Consulting Nigeria Limited, DMCN, has filed a N100million suit against Nigeria Institute of International Affairs, NIIA and its Director General, Prof Bola Akinferinwa, over alleged illegal conversion of intellectual property belonging to the firm on i n t e r n a t i o n a l brainstorming session on migration and terrorism in West Africa.

In the suit with No. FHC/I/CS/1676/14, before a Federal High Court, Lagos, the plaintiff, claimed that in 2012, it conceived an idea on a project tagged: “International security summit on Migration and terrorism in West African challenges” and presented the concept to the first defendant who is a National agency involved in promoting research and knowledge with international repute.

Institutional partners The claimant in an 18 paragraphs affidavit in support of the motion averred that after both parties had several meetings on the project concept, the list of target groups, speakers and possible sponsors which the defendants agreeing to be institutional partners in carrying out the idea, which solely belongs to the claimant.

The company claimed that the two parties agreed on the title, but

that the defendants went behind it to execute the project in Abuja between July 24 to 25 2013 under the name “15 special brainstorming session on migration and terrorism in West Africa”, without its consent giving false impression of ownership of the idea.

The plaintiff stated that after the programme, a sum of N14million was allegedly generated from sponsors for the actualisation of the project, adding, that it generated the fund to ensure that the defendants did not use their own resources for the project.

It further stated that the sum of N10million was approved by the

The defendant spent N5million unilaterally and claimed falsely that it was spent on accommodation and transportation, on August 19, 2013

second defendant as working budget and the said sum was used by the second defendant and its agents to operate the project which up till now the defendants have refused to render account to the plaintiff being co-partner in the project and who solely provided the sum of N14million,as to how the money was spent.

“The defendant spent the sum of N5million unilaterally and claimed falsely that it was spent on accommodation and transportation, on August 19, 2013, the plaintiff through its solicitor Chijioke Ndubuisi wrote to the defendants to account and refund the sum of N5m misappropriated to the plaintiff, again on September 20, 2013 the plaintiff ’s solicitor sent final demand notice of return of N5m and sundry claim to the defendants, the letter was treated with contempt, without responding to it and rebuffed all attempts to secure the money.”

Intellectual property The plaintiff is therefore, asking for an order requesting the defendants to furnish the plaintiff with the whole account of execution of the project as well as a declaration that it is the bonafide owner of intellectual property attached to i n t e r n a t i o n a l brainstorming session on Migration and Te r rorism concept project anchored by the defendants in Abuja.

Ogene's brother receiving award for Afam Ogene

Intersociety's Officer-Volunteers, Obianuju Igboeli and Uzo Oguejiofor.

Chidi Anthony Opara of Chidiopara Reports and Chief Okereke of Nigerian Masterweb.

A cross section of guests.

VANGUARD, THURSDAY, JANUARY 15, 2015 —39

Credibility, security challenges facing Feb polls (2)

By Emeka Umeagbalasi

E

LECTIONS are credible when they are premised on quantitative and qualitative National Register of Voters. The quantitative nature of the National Register of Voters fundamentally means a demographic and electoral arrangement whereby as many as grown up citizens notwithstanding their sex, tribe, religion or socio-economic status; particularly the active segment of the general population (18 to 65 years) are captured and documented using manual and ICT applications for the purpose of voting and electing their representatives in a general election in Nigeria or any part thereof on the basis of free representative democracy.

The qualitative nature of the National Register of Voters means making the arrangement recognisable by an existing law and setting out procedures for its effective management; which include periodic updating and revalidation of the registered voters as well as continuous registration of the non-registrants in the context of addition of eligible registrants and subtraction of dead and fictitious voters.

Elections conducted on the basis of the foregoing become superbly credible if they are

*Nigerians cast vote during an election conducted under popular participation and citizen and ballot safety and securitization. In the United States, voting and immigration rights remain a major policy of its national government and they are used to measure fundamental performance indexes of successive and present governing authorities in the country.

Appointive

public offices

We wish to inform authoritatively that out of 17, 500 top elective and appointive public offices in Nigeria, which spread across the three government tiers of Federal, State and Local Government and the three arms of executive, legislature and judiciary; 14, 483 are elective, while 3,017 are appointive. Out of these 14, 483 elective offices, 12, 788 are in the 774

constitutionally recognized Local Government Areas (LGAs) in Nigeria, while 1, 695 are at the States and Federal levels.

By the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999, amended in 2011; the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, is empowered to conduct elections into 1, 695 States and federal elective seats. This is in accordance with Section 153 (1)

Egina FPSO field contract: Court order parties to maintain status quo

By Innocent Anaba

A

Federal High Court sit ting in Lagos has ordered the Attorney General of the Federation, AGF, and four others to maintain status quo in the award of the multi-million dollar contract for the controversial storage and offloading unit FPSO in Egina Field within OML 130, pending the determination of the suit by a lawyer, Mr. John Owubokiri.

Other defendants in the suit are the National Petroleum Investment Management Services, NPIMS; Nigerian Content Development Monitoring Board, CDMB; Samsung Heavy Industry Nigeria Limited and Total Upstream Nigeria Ltd. Trial judge in the matter, Justice Okon Abang ordered the defendants to “maintain status quo ante bellum as per the plaintiff’s claims before the court pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice dated 19/11/2014.”

Justice Abang also ordered the plaintiff to serve on the AGF and Content Development Monitoring Board, the writ of summons, statement of claim, list of witnesses, list of exhibits, witness statement on oath, motion on notice and all other processes in the suit out of jurisdiction

of the court.

The court noted that it was better to hear the defendants before taking any decision on the issues raised by the plaintiff in the ex-parte application.

Besides, the court took cognizance of the fact that since the matter was before it, hence parties should not do anything “that may frustrate the hearing and final determination of the suit.”

The plaintiff, Owubokiri in the substantive suit, is asking the court to declare that the award of the contract to Samsung Heavy Industry Nigeria Limited for the engineering, procurement, construction and commissioning of the Egina FPSO is unlawful, tainted by irregularities in that NPIMS, CDMB and Total Upstream Nigeria ignored all extant laws, regulations, directives, and guidelines guiding such awards.

He also want the court to declare that the award of the contract to Samsung Heavy Industry Nigeria for the engineering, procurement, construction and commissioning of Egina FPSO contrary to extant laws, regulations, directives, guidelines and laid down procedure is irregular, null and void and ought to be

set aside.

“An order of perpetual injunction restraining the defendants from executing, carrying out or taking any further steps pursuant to the award of the contract for the engineering, procurement, construction and commissioning of the Egina FPSO. “A mandatory order compelling NPIMS and CDMB, to reopen the process of the award for the engineering, procurement, con-

The court took cognizance of the fact that since the matter was before it, hence parties should not do anything “that may frustrate the hearing and final determination of the suit

struction and commissioning of the Egina FPSO in accordance with the extant laws, regulations, directives, guidelines and laid down procedures as contained inter alia in the public procurement Act, NNPC Act, and the guidelines of NPIMS. The plaintiff, Owubokiri had also prayed for an order of interim of injunction restraining the defendants either by themselves or any of their agents or privies “from continuing or taking any further action or step towards the execution of the award of the contract for engineering procurement, construction and commissioning of floating production, storage and offloading unit FPSO in the Egina Field within OML 130 (“Egina FPSO Contract”) pending the determination of the motion on notice for interlocutory injunction in the suit.

Owubokiri is also praying for an order of interim injunction restraining the defendants from giving effect to or implementing the award of the aforesaid Egina FPSO Contract either by way of operating/ executing same in any way with Egina FPSO Contract pending the determination of the motion on notice for interlocutory injunction in the suit.

(f) and sup Section 14 (1) of Third Schedule of the Part 1 of the Constitution under reference as well as the INEC Establishment Act of the Federation 2004 and the Electoral Act of the Federation 2010. By Section 197 (1) (b) and sup Sections 3 & 4 of the Part 11 of the Constitution, States Independent Electoral Commissions, SIECs, are empowered to conduct elections into existing 12,788 LGA elective seats (chairmen, deputy chairmen and councilors).

According to the timetable for 2015 general elections released

by INEC on 1st October 2014, out of a total of 1, 695 State and Federal elective seats, elections will take place in 1, 681 excluding governorship/deputy governorship elections in Anambra, Edo, Ondo, Ekiti, Osun, Kogi and Bayelsa States (courtesy of Peter Obi v INEC & Ors 2007: SC). The forthcoming elections under reference are to be held on February 14, 2015 for Presidential & National Assembly (in accordance with Sections 132 (2) & 76 (2) of the 1999 Constitution) and 28th February 2015 for Governorship & State Assemblies (in accordance with Sections 178 (2) & 116 (2) of the Constitution).

Despite bogus assurances steadily given to Nigerians by INEC, the Federal Government and its security agencies to the effect that the 2015 general elections will be credible, credibility challenges facing the important exercise still extensively abound.

Code Provisions: Procedures for proper management of the National Register of Voters are clearly provided for in the Electoral Act of the Federation of Nigeria 2010. INEC’s power to issue notice for a general election is contained in Section 30. The Commission’s mandate to compile, maintain and update on continuous basis the National Register of Voters at National, State and LGA levels is contained in Section 9 (1) (2) (3). Section 10 (1) provides for continuous registration of voters. Section 10 (3) mandates the Commission to make available within 60 days after each year to every registered political party names and addresses of persons registered the previous year. By Section 10 (4), INEC is mandated to certify the National Register of Voters for use in the general elections following issuance of notice for such polls.

Section 10(6) mandates the Commission to include and incorporate the Supplementary Voters List (derived from continuous voters’ registration exercises) in the National Register of Voters and certify same after resolving complaints and objections raised by registered voters within the stipulated time for its use in general elections.

Section 13 (1) (2) (3) provides for right of a registered voter to transfer his or her voter’s card to his or her new abode.

To be continued

40—Vanguard, THURSDAY, JANUARY 15, 2015

We need continuity to sustain health policies — MINISTER

By Sola Ogundipe

O

NE of the biggest expectations of Nigerians from the health sector in 2015 is improved access to universal and improved quality health care as a fall out of the various policies launched by the Federal government over the years.

There is no gainsaying that Nigerians are tired of coping with a near-comatose health sector, bogged down by incessant health worker strikes, poor attitude of personnel and other plethora of problems.

Concerns have been raised in several circles that much remains to be desired under the current administration’s transformation agenda, to reposition the health sector.

Throwing light on the issue in Abuja, Minister of Health, Dr. Khaliru Alhassan, said even though the Federal government has put in place a number of policies to that would kick-start the right mechanism to move the sector forward, continuity is required to attain the set goals.

“We have gone quite far in our plans to reposition the health sector, and I believe having a government that already understands the policies will go a long way in helping achieve our goals.

“We need continuity to sustain these policies, especially now, if you recall the government has approved the National Health Bill and launched the Universal Health Coverage which is targeted at reducing out-of-pocket spending to the minimum. This has already started in ernest and the idea is to get a big pool that can cater for the health needs of women, children, elderly and the vulnerable persons,” he said.

Assessing some of the achievements during the past year, he noted: “Look at the way the country has drastically reduced polio from 56 cases in 2013 to only six cases in 2014. We are on the way to becoming polio free and getting our certification from the WHO because we have not recorded any new polio case for almost a year , but we are not sitting on our oars, we have introduced various new vaccines to reduce infant diseases and deaths.”

I

• Dr. Khaliru Alhassan.

On the passage of the Health bill, the minister said it was timely and a boost to the sector because it would help provide additional funds to the sector, even as oil prices

We need continuity to sustain these policies, especially now, if you recall the government has approved the National Health Bill and launched the Universal Health Coverage which is targeted at reducing out-of-pocket spending to the minimum

have taken a down turn. “We know that various financial experts have predicted that hard times are ahead for the country, we are already working with all our stakeholders to see how we can adjust our projections to aid us plan better. When you talk of the reduction of maternal and infant deaths, the country has made improvements.

“We have introduced a lot of interventions at the Federal, state and local government areas to safeguard the lives of women and children.”

Further, significant intervention was recorded in the fight against HIV/AIDS, through launch of the presidential elimination of the Mother to child Transmission, eMTCT programme. “The government has already declared a zero tolerance policy to new HIV positive babies, and this is a big commitment but we are determined to see it through. We also intend to test more Nigerians and also put much more persons on drugs, these are all plans that are in top gear, a distortion in the plan might not augur well for the country,”Alhassan argued.

He said recently the Federal government commissioned the trauma centre to handle cases of traumatic emergencies. “Now most of our secondary and tertiary facilities are doing transplants which in the past was not possible. We are tackling the issues of medical tourism head on. Most of the surgeries being sought abroad can now be done conveniently here in Nigeria, and all these is due to commitment of President Goodluck Jonathan.”

‘A lot of improvement and transformative changes are happening under the National Health Insurance Scheme, NHIS. We are not there yet but we are close. “With team work we eradicated Ebola which is still ravaging other African countries, we worked together with all health stakeholders at all levels of government to eliminate this from our shores.

“This is the kind of team spirit we are working to restore in the sector, one that is patient-based and patientcentered, he noted, stating that the white paper submitted by the Yayale Committee said it would resolve most of the conflicts and grievances of workers within the health sector.”

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Vanguard, THURSDAY, JANUARY 15, 2015—41

Day Jonathan’s campaign train hit Enugu SINCE the advent of democracy in 1999, Enugu State has shown its unwavering support for the ruling Peoples Democratic Party, PDP. As the President Goodluck Jonathan presidential campaign train got to Enugu on January 9, from Lagos State where the presidential campaign was flagged off, residents trooped out en mass to identify with PDP amid excitement.

By Francis Igata

T

HE Electorate in Enugu State has over time demonstrated its unflinching resolve to identify with PDP. That accounts for the bandwagon effect among politicians as the party is seen as the most viable vehicle for achieving political aspiration.

Thus, the state chapter of the party made efforts to convince President Jonathan during the visit that Enugu is a PDP state even though some observers believe that the February 14 presidential election will be a keen contest between Jonathan and his major opponent from the All Progressives Congress, APC, Major-General Muhammadu Buhari (retd).

Thus, people from all parts of the state and beyond trooped to the Nnamdi Azikiwe stadium for the event. It was a carnival of sorts as the teeming members of the party in different PDP regalia danced to the expansive arena.

The singers intermittently sang praises of President Jonathan, Governor Sullivan Chime and Enugu PDP candidate, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi.

Colourful rally President Jonathan finally arrived the venue of the colourful rally at exactly 2.15 p.m. He was accompanied by his wife, Dame Patience Jonathan, deputy Vice President, Namadi Sambo, National Chairman of the party, Alhaji Adamu Muazu, Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Emeka Ihedioha, Governor Sullivan Chime and Enugu PDP governorship candidate, Hon Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi.

The rally also had in attendance the entire PDP hierarchy from the governors to members of the party ’s National Executive Committee, National Assembly members and candidates to the governorship candidates of the

party.

Others who graced the occasion are former Senate presidents and elder statesmen including former Vice President of Nigeria, Dr Alex Ekwueme.

President Jonathan arrived the venue of the colourful rally at exactly 2.15 p.m. He was accompanied by his wife, Dame Patience Jonathan, deputy Vice President, Namadi Sambo, National Chairman of the party, Alhaji Adamu Muazu, Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Emeka Ihedioha, Governor Sullivan Chime and Enugu PDP governorship candidate, Hon Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi.

Held at the 22,000 capacity Nnamdi Azikwe Stadium, which was filled to the brim, the presidential re-election and governorship campaign lived up to its billing when Jonathan having dried his gun powder, fired the first salvo by tongue lashing Buhari, claiming that his opponent’s administration as military head of state in 1983, was more interested in throwing people into jail than systematically fighting corruption.

President Jonathan said his administration has fought corruption more than any other past administration in the country, urging APC to tell Nigerians how they will tackle corruption in the country.

De-constructing Buhari Many of those who listened to President Jonathan’s speech were in agreement that it was meant o de-construct Buhari.

President Jonathan accused Buhari of deceiving the people by promising that he would revive the economy without correspondingly explaining how he would achieve that.

He wondered how Buhari could develop the economy when he could not do so in office as head of state between 1983 to 1985. “Is it now that Buhari cannot even remember his own phone number that he can

•Adamu Mu'azu; President Goodluck Jonathan and First Lady Dame Patience Jonathan, at the PDP Presidential Campaign in Enugu. change the economy?” he asked.

President Jonathan who said although he did not like to go personal during campaigns, said that “sometimes, certain things demand that certain things must be said”.

The President said that the APC candidate belonged to the medieval age, adding that Buhari’s intention is to run the Federal Government like a medieval king.

His words: “we cannot run the government as if we are in a medieval age; we cannot run a government where somebody said he would throw people into jail. You are not a medieval kinga medieval king can throw somebody into jail but we have to follow the rule of law because we cannot go back to the old days”.

Initial objectives President Jonathan was not done yet as he read the speech made by former Head of State, Gen Ibrahim Babangida (rtd) after overthrowing Buhari on August 27, 1985, to justify the fact that Buhari does not keep his promises.

Gen Babangida in the portion of the speech read by Jonathan justified the overthrow of the APC flag bearer saying that Buhari did not live up to the promises he made to Nigerians when he overthrew a democratically elected government headed by Alhaji Shehu Shagari.

The President quoted Babangida as saying: “The initial objectives of Buhari’s intervention was betrayed as there was a general deterioration of standard of living in the country.”

Many observers argue that Jonathan’s hard knocks on Buhari made him to gloss over what he would do for the South East people and indeed Nigeria, if re-elected for a second term in office.

Handing Ugwuanyi governorship flag One of the issues members of the party at the rally and particularly people of Enugu State were anxiously waiting for was the official handover of the 2015 governorship flag of the PDP to Hon Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi.

The anxiety over the flag was obvious considering the struggle for the governorship seat.

Before the rally, there were still pockets of doubts over the actual candidate of the PDP in Enugu State.

One of the contenders to the Lion Building, Senator Ayogu Eze had claimed to be the PDP candidate in Enugu after holding a parallel governorship primaries at Filbon Hotel, in the New Haven part of the state.

But with Friday’s rally in Enugu, the struggle for the PDP flag became history as the

President Jonathan who said although he did not like to go personal during campaigns, said that sometimes certain things demand that certain things must be said

hierarchy of the party led by President Jonathan officially handed over the flag to Ugwuanyi, who is about rounding off his third term in the House of Representatives.

Mu'azu, while formally handing over the party ’s governorship flag to Ugwuanyi, declared that it was a flag of victory from the PDP. Hon. Ugwuanyi enjoys overwhelming support of Enugu PDP stakeholders, and the party faithful, many of who have constituted over 100 support groups working to actualize his ambition.

Party stakeholders in the three senatorial districts of the state had long adopted him as consensus governorship candidate before the primaries. A chieftain of the party and former member of the House of Representatives, Hon USA Igwesi, described the handover of party flag to Ugwuanyi as a confirmation of victory for the PDP in Enugu State.

He said that the development showed that the PDP believes in the popular will of the people, adding that with Ugwuanyi’s candidature, the ruling party could go to sleep as far as the governorship election is concerned.

I will take Enugu to the next level -Ugwuanyi Speaking with newsmen after receiving the flag, Hon. Ugwuanyi thanked the party and the people of Enugu State for the confidence reposed in him and assured that he would consolidate on the current gains and take the state to the next level of development.

Promising a robust campaign, he enthused: “The presentation of the party’s flag to me by the President and our National Chairman is a call to duty, a charge to work hard with my governor and the rest of the team to deliver Enugu State to the PDP 100 per cent as has been the Continues on page 43

42—Vanguard, THURSDAY, JANUARY 15, 2015

WITH 30 days to the general elections, the political parties have put their machinery in motion canvassing votes from the electorate through posters at strategic points, a development that is raising dust in Lagos.

LAGOS POSTER WAR:

APC, PDP in showdown

By Dapo Akinrefon

I

N Lagos State, the frontline political parties, the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) are talking tough.

As a way of creating awareness for the parties and candidates for the various elective positions, posters and billboards are being pasted or erected on every available space in the state.

The Lagos State Signage and Advertisement Agency (LASAA) is the agency responsible for the regulations of pasting of posters, billboards and any form of advertisement in the state.

But crisis seems to be brewing between the APC and PDP over the removal and defacing of posters as both parties have continued to point accusing fingers at each other.

While the APC on its part is saying that the PDP and its supporters have been responsible for removal of posters belonging to candidates vying on its platform, the PDP says otherwise.

Removal of campaign posters Prior to this, the Lagos State Police Command had asked LASAA to desist from removing the campaign posters and billboards of political parties.

The state Commissioner of Police, Cornelius Aderanti, was reported to have given the warning at the command headquarters in Ikeja, Lagos.

Aderanti, who said the police had also held a meeting with LASAA authorities on the matter, added that the electoral act did not permit any agency or people to remove candidates’ campaign posters.

According to him, “We note with concern the series of complaints which have been made against LASAA by candidates of various political parties about removal of campaign billboards and posters purportedly by personnel of the agency. The Electoral Act 2010 as amended is clear in Section 100(2), where it said that state apparatus, including the media shall not be employed to the advantage or the disadvantage of any political party or candidate in any election.''

Law and order

•A defaced billboard

•Some defaced posters The police boss, who called on the agency not to be biased in the discharge of its duties said “the command wishes to advise LASAA to desist from any act that will call to question its purpose.

I have also held a meeting with personnel of LASAA to that effect.

Various agencies of government are encouraged to be fair in all that concerns their oversight functions to ensure that no political party is shut out of the electoral process.”

Besides, the CP added that he had also directed the Area Commanders of Police and the Divisional Police Officers to arrest anyone or group found removing campaign posters of political parties.

“Without prejudice to any political party, I have directed my ACPs and DPOs to arrest anyone who removes billboards or posters of candidates. Anyone caught, no matter how highly placed, will be apprehended by the police. The command enjoins all political parties to go about their campaigns lawfully and peacefully in the state,” he said.

Lagos Police bias—APC However, the Lagos APC has accused members of the PDP of resorting to removing APC’s posters and banners across the state, which it said portrayed a

entire Lagos Island.

He explained that they (PDP) have gone further to lay their posters on top of the APC posters in flagrant disregard of the feeling of Lagosians and the Commissioner of Police has remained conspiratorially silent.

“We ask, is this the real intendment of the Lagos State Police Commissioner in issuing the tendentious and clearly partisan threat of arresting LASAA workers for doing their lawful duties?”, the party's spokeman queried.

He said while “we await the action of the Lagos State Police Commissioner on these flagrant display of illegality and actions against our party, we want to warn that we will not take kindly to any effort by any invading party and the police to intimidate us in our state.”

dangerous display of political rascality and crass illegality that will not be allowed to endure in Lagos.

The state Publicity Secretary of the APC, Joe Igbokwe, said that the open display of outlaw and brigandage in Lagos by the PDP in respect of placement of posters stems from the open show of support, which the state Commissioner of Police showed to PDP in utter disregard of the existing laws of the state.

The party warned that nothing should be made to breach the peace and security of Lagos by either the PDP or the police “as the state and its law abiding citizens will rise up to meet any challenge thrown to the state by desperate political invaders.”

According to him, “we recall that recently the Lagos PDP alleged that it was not being allowed to paste posters in Lagos, which necessitated the intervention of the state police.

“It would also be recalled that the Lagos Police Commissioner summoned the Managing Director of LASAA, the agency that had been regulating advertising and pasting of bills and posters in Lagos.

“We note that the LASAA MD explained to the Commissioner of Police the laws and regulations

guiding pasting of posters in Lagos, which had existed for years now and which the PDP had consistently flouted. But to our utter disdain, the Police Commissioner rushed to air even while the meeting had hardly ended with a threat to arrest LASAA officials for doing their lawful duties thereby not only approving the unlawful activities of PDP without regard to the laws of the state”, Igbokwe said.

He added that following this alleged tacit support from the Commissioner of Police, the PDP members and agents commenced the process of removing the posters and campaign bills of the APC in the

The CP added that he had also directed the Area Commanders of Police and the Divisional Police Officers to arrest anyone or group found removing campaign posters of political parties

The party further stated the need for a prevention of law and order saying “ we warn that nothing should be done to provoke our members to acts capable of breaching the peace of Lagos for which we have worked tirelessly to build. We ask the State Police Commissioner to refrain from giving tacit support to the PDP and shielding them from sanctions from illegal acts.”

APC’s claim untrue — PDP In its defense, the Lagos PDP tackled the APC over its claim.

Speaking with Vanguard, state Publicity Secretary of the party, Mr Taofik Gani said: “We know that the true intent behind the falsehood now employed by the Lagos APC publicity is simply to lay the foundation to claim that there was no level playing ground in the process leading to the elections. Obviously they are losing in the coming elections.”

Continuing, Gani said “they are also notorious for raising accusations in area they have committed default or plan to commit default.”

While he dismissed the assertion made by the APC over removal of its posters, the party’s spokesperson said it was their posters that are being torn and subsequently removed by APC supporters. He said “It is our posters that are being torn. The police have their intelligence report and that is why they want to protect all parties, not PDP in particular.

“My call at this time is for the Police to arrest and prosecute the APC leaders who may have said this to come and show why he should not be jailed for maligning the Police in order to obstruct their powers to maintain law and order. The APC is always quick to condemn or blackmail any government official, agency or system which they cannot compromise to support their inordinate cause,” he said.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, JANUARY 15, 2015—43

GOVERNORSHIP candidate of Accord Party, (AP), in Akwa Ibom state, Bishop Samuel Akpan, in this interview explained why his party would emerge victorious in the governorship election. Excerpts:

2015: A'Ibom

needs stomach infrastructure — Akpan, Accord gov candidate because of the way the leadership disburses favour and proprietary grace to its followers which has generated a lot of disgruntlement. I am a product of harmony, I am a child of unity and therefore, I exhibit the oneness of purpose.

I am loved by the Annang people, owned by the Ibibio people, trained by the Oron people and therefore, I am a product of a collective state and a harmonized society. So, I will be able to bring everybody together.

The glory that we have in this state is that we are endowed

by God directly. We only exploit the wealth and then, share it among ourselves. Who puts the crude oil where it is, who saves it there and who sustains it? It is God who has brought it to

By Tom Moses

W

HY did you leave the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP for Accord?

My former party lost grip of internal democracy and their programmes were done with impunity and I felt that was very unbecoming of a democratic setting aimed at ensuring free and fair participation. Since I am a complete democrat, when things are shrouded in secrecy and in complete contempt to fair-play and enduring political harmony, I didn’t have any more believe in that process, so I decided to leave.

I don’t have any personal grievance against Governor Godswill Akpabio. Inasmuch as we have parted ways on ideological reasons, I am not going to attack him as an individual because I believe I should be looking at the issues.

Though he has dominated the PDP as a family and has victimized me a number of times on certain issues, I have a lot of respect for him and he also has a lot of respect for me.

Democratic discomfort I left the PDP because I don’t want to indulge in inconsistency and undemocratic behaviours.

There has been so much of democratic discomfort in the PDP which was making the party in Akwa Ibom a personal property of some vested interests.

I left the PDP for a party that has a sincere philosophy, sincere focus and applications.

The Accord Party, the word ‘accord’ even means agreement. That means there is a social intent to make agreement with the people and that party determines and decides how I do what will make the people agree with the party. So, when they put you under that platform, there is a social agreement.

They regulate the people while you also do your best for the overall interest and benefits of the society and since that is the implication, we shall create a new development and therefore create a new development and therefore, create a new opportunity and

•Akpan: Will redistribute Akwa Ibom wealth then, create a new society.

What are your chances in the forthcoming election?

The PDP has lost grip of the people’s will. The party has also lost concentration and where he has actually lost focus, I will address the deficiencies in those areas.

I am prepared to make myself more available, more attentive, more accommodating and more respectful of the people. The total exclusion of the people from collective benevolence and benefits accruable from our resources, would be addressed.

I am prepared to make good those deficiencies and I believe and convinced that I am very sincere about this. I believe we

can now redeem the glorious beginning we had in Akwa Ibom.

It is my personal conviction that I will develop our state, develop our society, then, reposition the economic safety, the social safety of my people.

I am very convinced I am the alternative before the people of Akwa Ibom.

Akwa-Ibom State is seriously divided now as a result of what is going on politically in the state. If you emerge as governor, what measures will you put in place to reconcile all the ethnic units of the state?

I am happy that you appreciate the fact that the state is divided to a great extent

We are also going to run stomach infrastructure because of unemployment and we are going to embark on industrialization

Akwa-Ibom and the extraction of the riches becomes the management of a few and the benefit of a few and to a great extent, very few families whereas God intended that the people of Akwa-Ibom State, who are favoured by the availability of his grace, should benefit from it.

We should therefore, be able to maximally allow the grace to go round and then, allow people to be thankful to God for the availability of His grace.

Benefits of the state We have lost the thanksgiving spirit. People no longer thank God because we’ve been victimized by the few that are in-charge. So, I don’t see why people will not be disgruntled. I will be able to bring the assets, the benefits of the state to every family and every household will have every reason to thank God. What difference do you think the Accord Party will make to the lives of the Akwa-Ibom people?

We are going to create employment. We are also going to run stomach infrastructure because of unemployment and we are going to embark on industrialization.

As a matter of fact, we are also going to step up security and guaranty freedom for investments and return from investments and allow all other key players in the economic society to come up to AkwaIbom and add up their own contributions so that we can turn things around.

Day Jonathan’s campaign train hit Enugu Continues on page 41 tradition; and that I will surely do, God being my helper”.

Absence of Ayogu and his supporters Many curious supporters were quick to notice that Ayogu Eze, the Senate Committee chairman on Works was absent at the PDP rally.

It was observed that few members of the PDP who still show solidarity to the Enugu North Senator were also not at the crowded stadium.

Solidarity messages Prior the president’s speech, chieftains of the party took turns to canvass votes for him and the party in next month’s polls.

Patience Jonathan The first lady, Dame Patience Jonathan urged women in Nigeria to vote for her husband insisting that the 35 percent women affirmation initiated by Jonathan’s administration will be sustained.

According to her, “the President has shown that he is gender friendly from the number of appointive offices to women. His administration has fought to improve girl child education,eradication of maternal child mortality and Polio.”

Enugu PDP is united—Chime In his remarks, the Governor of Enugu state, Mr Sullivan Chime assured the President that he has no business campaigning in Enugu

state because “we are united under the umbrella in Enugu. Jonathan will till 2019 while Hon. Ugwuanyi will rule Enugu state till 2023.”

Gender friendly President Jonathan commended the party’s governorship candidate in Enugu State, Hon. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi for towing his line of being a gender friendly governor. He urged women in the country to vote for his re-election bid lamenting that Buhari never appointed a woman in his cabinet as military head of state.

Jonathan said,”Buhari never appointed any woman into his cabinet.

Our women had all the qualifications and experience at that time. If you make the mistake of voting him, you will not be liberated. You will remain in the kitchen and die.

Infrastructural devt Jonathan enumerated the administration’s achievement in the southEast zone especially Enugu state to include the Akanu-Ibiam International Airport which he noted will fully commence international operations in 18 months. “I visited the international terminal as I landed. I told the contractor handling the project to shorten the completion time so that our people who are commerce driven can fly to any part of the world. We have flagged off the Enugu-Port Harcourt inter-city passenger mass transit quiet recently.

44—Vanguard, THURSDAY, JANUARY 15, 2015

Ize-Iyamu alleges inflation of contracts by Edo govt

By Gabriel Enogholase

B

ENIN—A CHIEFTAIN of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Edo State, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu, has accused the Edo State Government of inflating contracts with a view to siphoning the resources of the state.

He specifically mentioned the Airport Road in Benin completed by the Adams Oshiomhole administration as one of such projects which, he insisted, gulped over N13 billion, accusing the state government of failing to disclose the actual amount spent on the road project.

Ize-Iyamu, a former chieftain of the All Progressives Congress, APC, and South South Vice Chairman of the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN, spoke in Benin, yesterday, at the campaign rally of the state PDP in Ikpoba/Okha Local Government Area of the state.

According to Ize-Iyamu, who is now the Edo State Coordinator of the President Goodluck Jonathan campaign team, “The Airport Road, from the Ring Road to Ogba River,

where work was stopped, is less than 7 kilometres. The sum of N13 billion was spent to construct a road of less than 7 kilometres.

You must understand that the road has no bridge and already existed.

“Look at the UhumwondeEgba-Ondo State road that is about 35 kilometres. This is an entirely new road that will have two bridges. The Federal Government has awarded it for N3.4 billion.”

He said it was regrettable that Oshiomhole, as President of the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, about a decade ago, negotiated a minimum wage of N18, 000 for Nigerian workers but was now paying N5,000 as salaries to workers he recently recruited.

Also in his address at the rally, Edo South senatorial candidate of the PDP, Mr. Matthew Urhogide, said that the state government was not

doing enough for students in the state by its refusal to give bursary and scholarships to students.

He accused the state government of fraud in the usage of the 60 per cent education counterpart funding that was made available by the Federal Government, saying that the state government spent the sum of N250 million to provide one-block of classroom at Idia College in Benin.

COMMISSIONING: Inspector General of Police, Mr. Suleiman Abba (2nd right), Governor Godswill Akpabio of Akwa Ibom State (middle), AKS Deputy Governor, Lady Valerie Ebe (right), AKS Police Commissioner, Mr. Gabriel Achong, during the commissioning of Police patrol vehicles at Banquet Hall Grounds, Uyo.

Criticisms against Oshiomhole unfair —EDO PDP CHIEFTAIN

By Simon Ebegbulem

B

ENIN—FORMER member of the House of Representatives and chieftain of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Edo State, Mr. West Ehioge-Idahosa, has said that despite the criticisms against Governor Adams Oshiomhole by the PDP, the governor has given the state a face lift in the past six years.

He urged the governor to ensure that a credible candidate succeeds him in office in order not to draw the state backward. The threeterm lawmaker, who was one of the senatorial aspirants of the PDP in Edo South, in the just concluded primaries of the party, spoke in an interview with Vanguard.

He said: “There is no question of whether the governor has performed even though you want to deny the governor some credit because he is in All Progressives Congress, APC, while I am in the PDP. Conscience will not allow you to completely deny him his credit. When you fly into Benin, for example, and take an aerial view of Benin, you will see that things have changed, it is no longer what

it used to be.

“When you go out of Benin and go to the local government areas and see what had been done there, you cannot but appreciate him. I had been tempted to deny him some credit myself especially when I got angry and left the APC

for the PDP. Each time I see primary schools in the rural areas, machines working on infrastructure, I always tell myself, notwithstanding the difference in platform, that this man is doing well.

“No man is God, no man is perfect. Many will accuse him

of taking some erratic decisions, but for a mobilizer, someone who gave all his life from the labour back ground, you must allow some excesses to be excused on his part. In terms of focus on governance, I will say that infrastructurally, he has done well."

Ijaw leader to UPU: Stop foisting gov candidates on Urhobo

By Egufe Yafugborhi

W

ARRI—AN Ijaw leader in Delta State, Chief Favour Izoukumor, has charged the Urhobo Progress Union, UPU, to stop “foisting its will on the Urhobo nation during elections,” saying that the body's attitude in past elections had robbed the ethnic group of its relevance in the politics of the state.

Chief Izoukumor, the FieOwie of Ogbe-Ijoh Kingdom, in Warri, where he examined the current political situation in the state against the stance of the UPU, particularly on the choice of a governorship candidate, said: “I sincerely empathise with the Urhobo over their marginalisation.

They are not getting their due share from both the state and federal governments considering the large votes they pull during elections.

“I however, think that the marginalisation is self

inflicted. Modern politics have gone beyond foisting the will of a union on millions of people to support a particular candidate. If the candidate fails, the whole of Urhobo fails.”

Okpe youth council holds national election

O

KPE Youth Council, the umbrella body of Okpe youths at home and in Diaspora, will on Sunday elect its national executive.

A statement by the National Interim President, Mr Eloho Ekakitie, said that the election was coming up on the heels of the dissolution, by the Orodje of Okpe Kingdom, HRM, Orhue I, of the former Felix

Oborodovwan-led national executive in the exercise of his power as the Grand Patron of the body.

He said that the election will hold at Orerokpe, adding that all members of the dissolved executive committee have been restricted from contesting any elective position and banned from sponsoring anybody or group of persons at the election.

Omaghomi bags NAIS award

By Daniel Gumm

W

ARRI—THE leadership of National Association of Itsekiri Students, NAIS, has presented an award to Prince David Omaghomi in recognition of his contributions to education and youth development, “not only in Iwereland, but in Nigeria as a whole.”

Speaking after presenting the award in Warri, the new National President of NAIS, Otikpere Precious, noted that the award was based on Prince Omaghomi’s pragmatic leadership style, artistry, accessibility and “unflinching and total commitment to students as well as youth empowerment.”

Responding, Prince Omaghomi commended NAIS for being the only organisation in Iwereland without a faction, explaining that his support for Itsekiri students and graduates’ association “is borne out of the need to promote the intellectual struggle for Itsekiri course.”

The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP chieftain and environmentalist, cautioned against disrespect for the Olu of Warri and other Itsekiri leaders.

Delta LG inaugurates exco

B

O M A D I CHAIRMAN of Bomadi Local Government Area, Delta State, Chief Oluwole Karetimi, has sworn his executive members in preparation for the execution of set agenda of his administration.

Chief Karetimi had earlier nominated the executive council members to the Council’s Legislative Assembly, where they were screened and confirmed by the lawmakers last week.

Swearing in the supervisory councillors , yesterday, Karetimi advised them to work hard to earn the people’s trust and admiration, noting that the essence of their appointments was to join hands with government to actualise its rural development agenda for the benefit of all Bomadi people.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, JANUARY 15, 2015 — 45

46—Vanguard, THURSDAY, JANUARY 15, 2015

Obi tasks students on hardwork

Marine transporters restate commitment to fight vandalism, oil theft

T

By Vincent Ujumadu

A

WKA—THE former governor of Anambra State and Deputy DirectorGeneral of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, National Campaign Council, Mr. Peter Obi, has challenged Nigerian students to strive for greatness by taking their education seriously.

He spoke when he visited St. Patrick’s Secondary School, Obolo Eke in Enugu State during which he presented a cheque of N2 million to the school for infrastructure development.

According to Obi, upgrading infrastructure in the school would enhance sustainable training aimed at making the students better citizens and give them the requisite known-how to compete with others in future.

Obi said he had to take a break from the ongoing presidential campaign for the re-election of President Goodluck Jonathan to be with the students, because the man he was campaigning for was also in love with education and had done so much to

By Oboh Agbonkhese

HE leader of Marine Oil Supplies and Transporters Association of Nigeria, MOSTAN, Warri Zone, Mr. Collins Ajeboghouku, has said the association would continue to partner security agencies to stop pipeline vandalization and illegal oil bunkering in the nation’s waterways.

Ajeboghouku spoke during the annual assessment tour of the association in Forcados, Koko and Warri units.

During the tour, Mr. Andrew Eruotor, Chairman/National Coordinator of MOSTAN, said the association had resolved to register all marine craft of the association that are deployed in the country’s waterways for easy monitoring and control for compliance with the association’s policies and objectives, which he said are in line with Federal Government’s policies in the maritime industry.

He urged members to cooperate with government security agencies, especially the Nigerian Navy, even as he also urged members of the association to provide useful information to security agencies.

improve education in the country as part of the Transformation Agenda of his government.

Obi explained that the money he had continued to give to schools even after he

had left office were donations to him from individuals and corporate organizations, adding that he derived joy and satisfaction donating to schools because God had already provided him with all

Ekweremadu donates malaria drugs to constituents

D

EPUTY President of the Senate, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, yesterday presented 20,000 doses of free anti-malaria drugs to the people of Enugu West Senatorial District as part of efforts to fight malaria scourge in the state.

The drugs, Artecxin Child, an Artemisinin-based Combination Therapy, ACT, for combating malaria in children, valued at over N16 million, were donated in partnership with the Afrique Biotech West Africa Limited.

The drugs were donated through Ikeoha Foundation, a non-governmental and notfor-profit organization he founded, to the Malaria Focal Persons of the state Ministry of Health for distribution to the targeted persons in the various

local government areas in Enugu West.

Executive Director of the foundation, Mrs. Cindy Ezeugwu, said 146 primary health facilities in the senatorial districts would be involved in dispensing the drugs under the existing Malaria Commodity

HE leadership of Equity and Justice Political Group has directed members to embark on door-to-door aggressive campaign for the presidential and Delta State governorship flag bearers of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, to secure victory at the forthcoming elections.

National Leader of the group, Amechi Okobah, gave the directive at Ogharae during the flag-off of the Delta State PDP campaign.

of the group to the campaign rally, said the directive was informed by the need to ensure overwhelming victory for President Goodluck Jonathan and Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa at the polls.

Okobah described Okowa as a detribalized Deltan, well equipped with in-depth knowledge of the state and its people, and as such would provide solutions aimed at addressing the multidimensional challenges

Logistics System of the state.

The traditional ruler of Amandim-Olo in Ezeagu Local Government Area of the state, Igwe Harford Agana, who was among personalities that witnessed the distribution of the drugs, applauded Senator Ekweremadu for his commitment to the welfare of his constituents.

LCCI, OPS meet with Lagos governorship candidates

T

HE Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry, LCCI, and the Organized Private Sector, OPS, disclosed that it had concluded plans to interact with Lagos State governorship candidates of All Progressives Congress,

Equity group begins house-to-house campaign for Jonathan, Okowa Okobah, who led members confronting the state.

T

his needs in life.

Manager of the school, Rev. Fr. John Martins Chikani, said he was overwhelmed by emotions for a former governor to travel to a remote part of Enugu State to assist the school.

He explained that the PDP administration at the state and federal levels had performed excellently in improving the well, noting that the victory of PDP at all levels would guarantee the consolidation of the gains so far recorded.

Publicity Director of the group, Deacon Elurinhun Azubuike, urged Deltans to shun ethnicity and work for unity, peace and progress in the state.

APC, and Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Mr. Akinwumi Ambode and Mr. Jimi Agbaje, respectively, to articulate their agenda for private sector development.

A statement by the chamber’s Public Relations Manager, Mr. Tope Oluwaleye, said: “The event, which comes up on Friday, January 23, at the LCCI Conference and Exhibition Centre in Alausa, Ikeja, is a forum designed to allow the candidates to articulate their agenda for private sector development in Lagos State.

“It is necessary considering the fact that Lagos is the commercial and industrial nerve centre of the nation.”

On his part, President of LCCI, Alhaji Remi Bello, noted that the state of the economy should be of paramount importance to anybody who aspires to political office, not only in Lagos State, but in all states and the Presidency.

By Bartholomew Madukwe (08102479985) nwamad@yahoo.com

PEOPLE SPEAK

On the forthcoming elections

I

urge Nigerians to vote wisely and choose leaders that will move this country forward. The fact is, people have to vote according to their conscience and not be influenced by money given to them. This is when we have to put things right till next four years.—Mr. Adeola Abiodun, Photograher.

M

Y view is that gov ernment should ensure that the coming elections would be guided by the one man-one one-vote principle. The wish of the electorate must be actualized through the ballot, so that at the end everybody will be happy. — Miss Osigwe Joy, Businesswoman.

C

ONCERNING the forthcoming elections, the campaign process should be peaceful.

Also the Permanent Voter’s Cards have not circulated well. So INEC should address it properly before the election.

We nned to put hands together to make it a success.—Mr. Suara Abass, Sports Analyst.

M

Y view on this election is that it is going to be peaceful.

Nigerinas' expectations are very high. Security wise, I think the Federal Government should do more during the elections, so that voters won’t cast their vote out of fear.—Mr. Ganiyu Babajide, Student.

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ET the elections hold peacefully and diligently. I urge the electorate to go out en masse and cast their vote without fear. Let us cast our votes for the right person, not anyone that will load us with promises, get to office and turn his back at us.—Mayegun Oluwasegun, Student.

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O me, this election is like a battle between the gladiators and minors. I think it is high time we had a change of government. Personally, I am tired of same thing, by same people. This country really needs to have that change of government at all levels. — Miss Amaka Munuo, Self-Employed.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, JANUARY 15, 2015— 47

BOKO HARAM: Election, likely cause of

increased attacks — US W

By Aliyu Dangida

ASHINGTON— THE US State Department on Wednesday said Nigeria’s election in February could be a factor behind the sharp increase in attacks by Boko Haram Islamist militants in the north of the country.

Spokeswoman Marie Harf said, however, that the Feb. 14 presidential election should go ahead in spite of the violence which has forced about 20,000 Nigerians to flee to neighbouring countries in recent weeks.

“There has been a sharp escalation in the number of reported casualties.

“We do believe the election is a factor,” Harf told a daily briefing.

Harf said Boko Haram previously used events such as elections to stir up tensions.

However, the election is expected to be a close contest between President Goodluck Jonathan and his leading challenger, Muhammadu Buhari.

“Boko Haram has tended to, particularly around something like an election, use political issues or sensitivities to try to en flame tensions.

“We have seen that as one of their tactics and that is why it is so important to move forward with the election, because we believe it is important,” she noted.

Boko Haram’s insurgency

began in 2009, but the number and scale of the attacks has risen sharply since 2013 after the government imposed emergency rule in three worsthit states in northern Nigeria.

Amnesty International has

said Boko Haram may have killed some 2,000 people around Jan. 3 in Baga in northern Nigeria.

However, Harf said it was hard to independently verify that figure.

MATRICULATION: From left: Mr. Andy Ughwusuene, Bursar, Mr. Collins Onyenwenu, Registrar, and Dr. Edna Mogekwu, Rector, Delta State Polytechnic, Ogwashi-Uku, during the 13th matriculation ceremony of the polytechnic at Ogwashi-Uku, Delta State.

Benue CAN boss asks FG to check alleged hoarding of Naira notes

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By Peter Duru

AKURDI—THE Chairman of Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, Benue State chapter, Archbishop Yimam Orkwar, has urged the Federal Government to immediately change the Naira notes in circulation to check the alleged hoarding of the currency by politicians.

In his sermon yesterday at a special service at Faith Cathedral of the All Nations Evangelism Ministries, ANEM, in Makurdi, the state capital, Orkwar said the interest of the generality of Nigerians would be better protected if the policy was implemented.

Taking his reading from the Book of Psalm 3:1-35, he said, “some top public office holders have stolen public money and hidden it in their houses while majority of Nigerians are impoverished.

“The majority of our people are

languishing in excruciating hardship while those entrusted with the country’s common wealth have primitively accumulated the wealth to themselves and are proud that they have sea of money in their

houses.

“The new policy will make them bank the old currency stored in their homes for fear of the law or be rendered useless.

“It is time for this government to take decisive steps against

Group blames Nigeria's woes on leadership deficit

By Bartholomew Madukwe

L

AGOS—A group of Christians known as the Nehemiah Project yesterday said that the problem of the country is not about religion or ethnicity but that of leadership deficit.

Speaking on the title “Rebuilding of the Broken Walls of Nigeria” in Lagos, convener of Nehemiah Project, Mr Richard Akinnola, condemned the

usage of pulpit to campaign for political parties.

He said: “The problem of Nigeria is not the religious persuasion of its leaders but that of leadership deficit. Or how many air travellers, upon entering an aircraft, insist on knowing the religious persuasion of the pilot and co-pilot, whether Muslim, Christian or Atheist?

“It is only when you have nothing to offer that you resort to religion and ethnicism. No government in

P&G to partner FG on women empowerment

A

BUJA—CONSUMER goods manufacturing company, Procter and Gamble, P&G, has announced plans to partner the Federal Government on Growing Girls and Women, GWin initiative in empowering Nigerian women.

The company disclosed this at the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding, MoU, with the Federal Government in Abuja.

In the partnership, P&G

these anti- people acts, in the collective interest of all or we will continue to live as slaves in our own country.”

He then warned those in the act of hoarding money to repent so as to avoid the wrath of God.

Nigeria will provide training resources in the form of facilities and personnel for G-Win to train selected candidates in the country.

Speaking on the initiative, the Managing Director, Procter and Gamble, Nigeria, George Nassar said the gesture was part of efforts towards empowering women in Nigeria.

He informed that P&G already had initiatives that

were targeted at the empowerment of girls and women in the country, such as the investment of $1 million in the Always/UNESCO programme which will empower some 60,000 girls and women with basic literacy and skills development and will integrate some of the disadvantaged girls and women involved in the G-Win program into these initiatives.

Nigeria has raised the bar of religious politics like the current Jonathan government and some pastors and Christians unfortunately fell for this bait.”

According to him, the forth coming general election is not about the Cross or Crescent but about leadership qualities.

“If we assume for the purpose of arguement that APC is a Muslim party, are we then to assume that PDP is a Christian party led

by Alhaji Adamu Muazu, a Muslim, who as a Governor of Bauchi State, in June 2001, introduced Sharia law in the state. Isn’t that preposterous?” he added.

Akinnola, who also is a veteran journalist, maintained that insisting on a Christian president or Governor, even if he is a cultist and the most corrupt person, would be stretching it too far.

FG urged to re-establish national shipping line

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AGOS—A marine engineer, Mr Alex Peters, on Wednesday urged the Federal Government to facilitate the re-establishment of a national shipping line.

Peters made the plea in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria, NAN, in Lagos.

NAN reports that the former Nigerian National Shipping Line, NNSL, established in 1959, got deeply indebted and liquidated in 1995 and all its 21 vessels were sold.

Peters, who is the Secretary, Institute of Marine, Science and Technology, lauded the initiative to bring back a national shipping line which fell within the jurisdiction of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, NIMASA. “If the Federal Government is asking NIMASA to re-float such a national carrier, that is a step in a right direction.

“It is important that in doing so, qualified, skilled and experienced management personnel are put in place,” Peters told NAN.

Group faults allegation against Rector

B

ENIN CITY—THE Emeso group, a sociocultural organization in Edo State, has described as untrue and frivolous, the allegations of high handedness and failure to follow due process in the award of contracts, levelled against the Rector of the Federal Polytechnic Auchi, Dr. Philipa Idogho by a group.

Some persons have accused the rector of alleged high handedness in the affairs of the polytechnic and called for probe into her administration.

But in a statement signed by the Director of Publicity of Emeso group, Mr. Ogbode Aleakwe, asserted that those behind the allegation were out to blackmail the Rector due to her doggedness in following due process and vowed to resist them.

According to the statement, “the series of sponsored media stories was the handiwork of mischief makers who having failed in the past to taint her integrity, suddenly invented allegations of grafts in order to pitch her against the school stakeholders using the media to accentuate their claims.

“The whole idea behind this spurious allegation is to paint her as corrupt, while her excellent performance is consigned to nothing less”.

48—Vanguard, THURSDAY, JANUARY 15, 2015

PRESENTATION: From left, Mr. Osita Ede, Head, Mass Market Segment, Diamond Bank Plc; Mr. Duru Francis, star prize winner, Salary for Life, and Aishah Ahmad, Head, Retail Banking Directorate, during the Diamondextra/ Diamond Woman draws prize presentation, in Lagos, yesterday.

Photo Lamidi Bamidele

PRESENTATION: Mr. Mustapha Adebayo, one of the winners (centre), recieving his dummy cheque from Mr. Ken Hall, Globacom Sales Director (right), and Catherine Onotu, Glo Brand Specialist, at the presentation ceremony of prizes to the winners of Glo Overload N120 million promotion, at the Globacom head office, in Lagos. Photo: Biodun Ogunleye

ELECTIONS: From left, General Amarie, Chief J.J. Akpieyi, and Arc. Charles Majoroh, during the elections into executive council of Government College Ughelli Old Boys Association, GCUOBA, Lagos branch.

EMPOWERMENT: From left, Engr. Owoso, Chairman, Youth Empowerment Programme; Mr. Omosanjo, Chairman, Ayanre Community Development Association, presenting an award to Miss. Ogoro Vivian, one of the beneficiaries of the Youth Empowerment Programme, organised by Ayanre CommunityDevelopment Association, Olorunda LCDA, Lagos, to empower the youths in its community.

GRADUATION: Miss Damilola Popoola (middle), flanked by her parents Engr.

Akintunde Popoola and Mrs. Maria Popoola, during the Law School graduation ceremony, at the Nigerian Law School, Abuja.

PRESENTATION: From left, Chairman of the occasion, Chief Theophilus Akinyele; representative of Olubadan of Ibadan,Chief Tajudeen Abimbola; SDP Governorship Candidate in Oyo State Engr. Seyi Makinde; Oloye Lekan Alabi and CCII President, Chief Bayo Oyero, at the public presentation of a book, 'Election Law Practice in Nigeria,' in honour of Engr. Makinde, in Ibadan. Photo: Dare Fasube

CONFERENCE: From left, Pastor Stephen Adediran, Director of Finance; Dr. Julius Adeniji, Conference President, Lagos West; Dr. Kehinde Babarinde, Conference President, Lagos Central; Mrs. Confort Adegoke, Director of Education, and Dr. Emmanuel Awotunde, Conference President, Lagos West, all of Baptist Conference, during the presentation of trophies won by Lagos Baptist Schools to the proprietors, at the Lagos Baptist Conference Centre, in Lagos. Photo: Biodun Ogunleye

WORKSHOP: Ishaka Aliyu, MD/CEO, Dasamal Television network; Mohammed Garba, NUJ President, Garry Kebbel journalism professor, University of Nabraska - Lincon, and Shuaibu Usman Leman, National Secretary NUJ, during the opening of workshop on community reporting for building of democratic values in the run-up to the 2015 general elections, Kaduna. Photo: Olu Ajayi

Vanguard, THURSDAY, JANUARY 15, 2015 — 49

50—Vanguard, THURSDAY, JANUARY 15, 2015

DIGITAL SWITCHOVER:

Failing on low awareness Today — Jan 15, 2015 — a date Nigeria set as her own deadline for digital switchover, her citizens don't even know what it's all about

By Adekunle Adekoya, General Editor

T

ODAY is January 15, the date initially set as deadline by the Federal Government for switchover from the analogue format of broadcasting to the digital platform.

Though the deadline is no more realistic, not many Nigerians know fully well what the whole thing is about.

Baba Bassey, an okada rider in Lagos who hails from Akwa Ibom, when asked how prepared he is for the digital switchover, exclaimed: “What is that?”

After explanations that from June 17 this year, he will no longer be able to see his usual TV stations unless he buys a set top box (decoder), he exclaimed: “You mean we poor people can’t watch TV anymore? That will be very bad! Where are the decoders? What type of decoders are you talking about? How much will it cost? Is it government that will sell to us, or we go and buy from places like Alaba (electronics market)?”

Wasiu, a vulcanizer, is not much in a better position than Baba Bassey, though he also had questions.

“Why do I need a decoder? In this country everything is always against the poor man. As it is, we just buy our TV sets, buy antennae, connect and tune. Then the stations, like AIT, Silverbird, Channels, LTV and the rest just come in. Are you saying that will no longer be possible?”

After reassurance that these will still be possible, but with decoders, pictures and sound will be clearer, and static will be a thing of the past, Wasiu relaxed, and disclosed that only last month, he started subscrib-

I drive people and goods across the border to Ghana, and it was there I heard about this thing

ing to a pay-TV service.

Baba Bassey, the motorcycle rider, and Wasiu the vulcaniser are examples of ordinary Nigerians who don’t know what is going on regarding digital migration.

Even educated Nigerians are pretty much in the dark about it. Vince Akinale, a media operator said he had heard about it, and also read reports of it in some newspapers, but beyond that, not much of it makes sense to him. So also said Tunde McCarthy, a school teacher, and Adebayo Rotimi, an official of a federal parastatal.

Ms Juliet Omeruonye, a resident of Egbe and property dealer who counts media pro-

fessionals and educators among her friends is also not aware of impending changes from analogue to digital broadcasting.

When told of what the International Telecommunications Union (ITU) will enforce, come June 17 this year, she simply said, “na waa oh!” Then she added: “They are going to make money from this thing. It is all about money, you will see.”

Asked to explain further, Ms Omeruonye said: “Don’t you understand? Now that everyone who owns a TV set has to buy decoders, somebody will have to import them, and distribute for sale. Can you guess how many decoders the whole of

Nigeria will need? Do you know the price they will set for it? I can bet you, some people are going to become multi-millionaires over this thing alone!”

Indeed, Baba Bassey had expressed similar fears about the decoders, or set top boxes.

“Will the decoders be available? You know our people. Even if government imports it, some people will find a way to hoard it so that the price will go up and they will make easy money from it. Poor man is in trouble in this country.”

However, Innocent, a resident of Ijegun in Alimosho area of Lagos said he heard about digital switchover in Ghana.

Continues on Page 51

By Oboh Agbonkhese

Are Nigerians ready for digital switchover?

Azeez Kamaru, Technician: No. Our mindsets and pockets are not the same. We are satisfied with antenna for our televisions. I only decided to buy a decoder because my children keep going to other people’s houses to watch digital stations.

C M Y K

Miss Olamide, Dealer, DSTV/GOTV: It all depends on government.

They spend millions on important projects that end up not working. Look at the CCTV security project, for instance. Nigerians need to be convinced that this will work.

Uche Obi, Keke Rider:The success will depend on the size of our pockets. How can every Nigerian be compelled to go digital, when we do not even know what it is about? I can't pay my subscription for five months since I lost my job.

Paulinus Anyaoha, Shoe Dealer:I am not even aware of this. This state of ignorance affects many others. I am sure Nigerians would prefer government’s intervention in our roads, power, unemployment and general standard of living.

Bright Ugbukiri, Phone Dealer: Although I am not aware of such, I think we have to be ready. Technology is improving daily. Nigerians can't afford to be left behind as the world moves on. It will be good if government can implement it successfully.

Amos Ameh, Applicant: We should be ready because it is a process we cannot avoid. If many Nigerians already use digital satellite television system, it is a matter of time, every one will move over.

Government just needs to create more awareness.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, JANUARY 15, 2015—51

Continues from Page 50 “I am a transporter. I drive people and goods across the border to Ghana, and it was there I heard about this thing.

Over there, they are selling decoders to people, and they are not the type of decoders that you need to recharge like the pay-TV ones. It was from there that I knew about this thing you are talking about. They have told their people about it there, but here, no information.”

Innocent’s position was corroborated by Sunday Akara, another driver who moves people to other West coast cities like Lome, Cotonou, Accra, from Mile 2 in Lagos.

“I heard about it in Accra. All over there, the people are aware of this thing, but I don’t know what is going on here.

Maybe we are not part of it.”

Phased transition But we are part of it. In fact, government had set up a team to oversee the nation’s transition from analogue to digital broadcasting. Last December, chairman of the committee, also called “Digi Team”, Engineer Edward Amana, said on an NTA programme monitored in Lagos that challenges notwithstanding, the nation must implement the digital switchover.

“We have to, because there are so many implications of not being able to switchover. We will become an island on our own.

We cannot get protection from our neighbouring countries who have already gone digital.

Apart from that, after the transition, the analogue equipment becomes obsolete. To maintain the equipment it becomes extremely expensive. We are setting a target for ourselves to transit by 15th of January.

However, we are going to transit in phases. What we are going to do is take the major cities first and move to the rural areas. We will probably start with Abuja, Lagos, Port Harcourt and Kano, Kaduna during the phase one. In phase two, we will move to other cities till we

zEngr. Edward Amana go round. As we move from cities to others, we can learn from the mistakes and correct ourselves. That way, we will be able to fast_track our transition.”

Why digital format?

Unrelenting advances in technology, evident in so many areas of everyday life, is responsible for this. In the analogue format of broadcasting currently in use, whenever people switched on their TV and radio sets and searched for channels to view or listen to, often they come up with lots of static, accompanied by much noise. Frequencies allocated to stations need to have “buffers”to guard them against signal interference from other stations. Thus, Digital Terrestrial Transmission, DTT, technology came up as a way of making broadcast signals transmission and reception more efficient and precise in terms of clarity of audio and video.

It also ensures precision broadcasting. The only thing needed by the average man on

the street for this is what is called a set-top box (STB). Call it decoder, if you like. Thus, from June 17, 2015, analogue signals will be switched off and nations worldwide are expected to be digital. In addition, with DTT, more stations can occupy the same frequencies than in the analogue format. Thus, a lot of frequency “space”can be freed for other uses, especially for broadband and related services.

in 2009. Each family was a given a coupon to buy two, amounting to $80.

“For Nigeria, what we have recommended is that from the available statistics we have 20 million (analogue) television sets in circulation and we feel that this is good market for any manufacturer to put up such business in Nigeria.

“It is a guaranteed market of 20 million; the economy of scale will bring down the prices if done locally. We recommended for incentives like giving them some tax holiday, customs dutyfree for the equipment that will be used to manufacture locally.

We are targeting a price tag of N2,500, which we feel should be affordable by Nigerians who have television already. So, we are not asking government to release money for subsidy or buy and give rather to create enabling environment to make it affordable. A family that can afford to buy a television set that costs over N10,000 should be able to afford a set-top box to enjoy the digital era”.

Awareness issues As can be seen from the foregone, many Nigerians are still unaware that they will need set-top boxes (STBs) in order to receive TV signals in the future.

They also do not know why, and in addition, they do not know how much it will cost. Except segments of the population that

Amana on set-top boxes However, DigiTeam chairman, Engineer Amana, on the NTA programme referred to above, spoke further on set top boxes: “Let me take the example of America that we are a bit familiar with; what happened then was that the government provided the basic coupons for poor families who cannot afford digital television sets or set-top boxes. The basic set-top box was about $40 when they transited

We are going to transit in phases.

What we are going to do is take the major cities first and move to the rural areas

can afford pay TV, the rest of the country is in the dark.

What is worse, the awareness problem had generated issues of its own, especially in the area of consumer protection. Despite the fact that government had opted for T-2, the broadcast regulator was indifferent as an operator, Star Times aggressively marketed T-1 boxes to unsuspecting members of the public at rock-bottom prices. For now, only pay-TV operators like Multichoice, Star Times, and others are on DTT platforms. Not many Nigerians, relative to the entire population are aware that Nigeria had opted for DTT-2 years ago.

Digital migration Former director-general of the National Broadcast Commission, Engr. Yomi Bolarinwa had disclosed at the second Digital Dialogue held in Lagos that since 2008, late President Umaru Musa Yar ’Adua had approved that Nigeria should key into the digital migration process with T_2, the latest technology in digital broadcasting.

Ahead of the deadline, global pay TV leader, Multichoice undertook the initiative to sensitize the entire continent of Africa. To date it has sponsored a series of conferences, tagged Digital Dialogue, aimed at sensitizing publics in African countries of due obligations. After the first one in Johannesburg, South Africa in October 2012, Digital Dialogue talkshops have since held in Lagos, Nigeria, Dubai, United Arab Emirates, and in Mauritius.

From what Amana said regarding publicity and set-top boxes, everything is still works in progress, just six months to lights out.

As the deadline approaches, pay TV operators are diversifying their offerings and marketing their products aggressively. Nigerians are buying, and the operators are happy. But at the end of the day, will Nigerians remain happy?

Are Nigerians ready for digital switchover?

Jimoh Saibu, Okada rider: Well, we need change. If this is one good change, fine. But daily needs such as fuel, and roads are more important to Nigerians. N1,000 should be able to buy food enough for the family before you can talk of improved broadcast system.

Sebastian Ugoh, Fire Fighter: I am aware and ready. Many of us already use it. However, the question is after spending N2,000 to renew subscription, where is the power to light up the decoder and TV? So, there are things to fix before this switch will succeed.

Mrs Joy Ada-Jesus, Newspaper Vendor: I do not even have a television set not to talk of going digital. So whatever they do will not affect me. If government takes care of little things, progress such as this digital move will fall into place as a matter of course.

Pastor Israel Olu: I am not even aware of this switch. It is a good vision, but the timing is wrong.

It will only favour the rich. I don't have a decoder and my TV packed up a long time ago. Any money I have now is to take my family to Ghana until elections are over.

By Oboh Agbonkhese

Odili Enebeli, Engineer: The level of awareness is very low. So it is not popular at all. Many, I am sure, must have asked you “What are you talking about?” Therefore, a campaign must first be launched before this kind of vision will succeed.

Abiola Odulaja, Entrepreneur: I think Nigerians will welcome the idea.

But I was not aware of this switchover until you asked. ICT has gone far.

So we cannot afford to be left behind. So I would advise the authorities involved to launch an awareness campaign first.

C M Y K

52 — Vanguard, THURSDAY, JANUARY 15, 2015

From wilderness, Olisa returns with Efforts

By Japhet Alakam

A

FTER his last exhibition in 2009 and the unfortunate incident that happened to him, (the assassination of his good friend and Curator of that exhibition), Anambra state born artist, Olisa Nwadiogbu embarked on what could be described as a wilderness journey. But last month, Olisa announced his return from the wilderness with a solo exhibition titled Efforts. The exhibition which is his fourth solo opened at the National Museum, Onikan, Lagos State.

The exhibition which featured 47 works could be called a collection of the artist’s “experiences and travails before; during and on the way from the wilderness journey.”

According to the Lagos based painter and bronze caster, "there is nothing one can get in life without making efforts. If you have all the talents in the world, without making efforts you will not make any success", so the exhibition is part of his efforts hence the title.

Walls of the exhibition Some of the works include; Obiechina, Peace in our hands; Agbalanze; Heritage; Onye Ichie na nwayi; Idia; Obinamili; Kolo Mentality; Omuluzua; Last Super; New Mother etc. A look at the works which were displayed in all the walls of the exhibition hall, reveals that they are in three broad categories.

First, there are the original engravings on tiles mounted on panels. Then, there are the ones on acrylic on canvas and mixed media on canvas. Lastly, there are the mixed media with bottle tops and cans works.

“After some years of creating large pictures in oil and water colour, I felt the need to use original engravings starting from 1993 to explore a new and deeper direction in my artistic journey,” he explained.

“Interestingly, my exploration followed the encounter with Edwin Inyang, who was then an informal student of Bruce Onabrekpeya School of art.

“Although I have always worked with foils using engraved panels as master plates, numerous years of deep interest in engravings has crystallized into a peculiar technique and new art mission and vision.”

These works, which were featured at the exhibition, started as preliminary sketches on pieces of paper and then later C M Y K

transferred to the lino, board or even tiles mounted on panels.

“The images are engraved out with the help of engraving tools which are manually operated.

Colours were introduced on the engraved patterns to provide contrast to the image.

“Ordinarily, patinas deployed in flat engravings give the work a deep illusion with three dimensional effects that create the feeling of weight and objectivity.”

The body of works in the second category of the exhibition are contrived with acrylic, oil, enamel, and spray paint on canvas. “The items are mostly derived from my past figurative works. In this body of works, playfulness and spontaneity remain central in my message.

“Through drips paint, scratches and super-imposes paint on canvas, my works also task all to appreciate the pure and undiluted abstract nature of art.”

In the third category, everyday objects such as bottle caps, plastic bottle and cans, horns, dolls, jigida, raffia, disc, seed and

•One of the works by Olisa Nwadiogbu wire are repurposed on a mixed media platform. With these mediums, the artist hopes to draw the viewers’ attention “to the increasing and difficult challenges of our environment and the quality of life in a contemporary era.”

On why some of the works are titled in Igbo,Nwadiogbu said, from the culture I came from we are very traditional people, we want to speak our own language not English. In Igbo every name has a meaning we don’t just call

something a name just like that.

This is also an affirmation of his African roots and identity. “As an African that has succeeded in emancipating himself from the vestiges of cultural imperialism, the works exhibited attest to my African root, especially in the culture and tradition of ancient Onitsha Kingdom, uli nsibidi signs and symbols, religious rituals to mention but a few.”

This is revealed in the piece, Kolo mentality, which is a clarion call to Africans to return to their

roots and see themselves as good. “We, Africans are fascinated with anything oyibo, we have our own good things we do better than them , but once they bring their own, we believe that their own is superior and abandon our own, that is colonial mentality”. He added.

The exhibition, draws the osmotic influences from his visits to galleries as well as from his participation in several art workshops, seminars, salons and exhibitions inform this exhibition.

Waiting for Sanity as tool to taming Post-Election Violence

By Prisca Sam-Duru

S

CRIPTWriter and poet, Joe Dudun’s poetry collection, Waiting for Sanity has received a lot of commendations for its objective of helping to further the dialogue on national revival.

The collection of poems Waiting for Sanity consists of thirty five poems divided into three sections namely Inspired, Placed and Waiting. According to the poet, “the objective of compiling this collection of poetry is to spotlight the quest for social and economic change in our dear country Nigeria and identify individuals worthy of emulation in the earnest desire for focused leadership at every stratum of

national endeavour.”

Speaking further, Dudun said: “Every poem in the collection is the result of an inspiration to reflect a certain sublime thought at a certain peculiar time. That, for me, is the magic of poetry. I want to take poetry to the streets, to emphasize a dialogue for communal and progressive change. That is what Waiting for Sanity is all about.”

Former Executive Governor of Ekiti State, south-west Nigeria, Dr. John Kayode Fayemi was among eminent Nigerians who have commended Joe Dudun for compiling such priceless book which has the capability to sensitise Nigerians on the need to engage in positive ventures that would revitalise the nation.

•The author, Joe Dudun(R) presenting a copy of the book to Dr Kayode Fayemi

Dr. Fayemi gave the commendation in Ado-Ekiti, while receiving the author and poet who was on a promotional tour of the recently published book of poems.

After Mr. Dudun formally presented the collection of poetry to him, Dr Fayemi read the poem, ‘Ado-Ekiti,’ which is dedicated to him and noted that “I must thank you, this is rather unexpected. It came out of the blues. I believe it is a genuine outpouring of affection for me and for my politics which is largely informed by my conviction that conscience should drive everything.”

“Ultimately, once you have satisfied your conscience,

The objective of compiling this collection of poetry is to spotlight the quest for social and economic change in our dear country Nigeria

satisfied your God and you stand on principles and stand on truth, posterity would always be kind to you,” he added.

Describing himself as a student of politics and history, Dr. Fayemi also spoke on the Ekiti State governorship election of June 21, 2014 where he conceded defeat to Ayo Fayose of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.

Peace without justice “I’m a student of politics and history and I’ve seen many like this. The truth is that people also have a right to their folly sometimes. What happened here would one day be unfolded to history and Nigerians.”

Continuing, he said: “For me, peace is very important but peace without justice does not endure but peace that is followed up by justice ultimately leaves a society better.”

He then commended the poet for his commitment to ensuring a fulfilment in Nigeria’s quest for a deepening democracy. “Your commendation through poetry is something to be appreciated. It is not as if t was solicited but out of a genuine love for Nigeria, for ensuring that our country improves in our quest for deepening democracy.”

Vanguard, THURSDAY, JANUARY 15, 2015 — 53

54—Vanguard, THURSDAY, JANUARY 15, 2015

Jonathan, Buhari endorse violence-free polls development. When the military

Lagos not ready for experimental gov — Tinubu

BY GBENGA OKE NATIONAL Leader of the All Progressives Congress, (APC) and former Lagos State Governor, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, yesterday in Lagos lambasted the President Goodluck Jonathan administration describing it as a failure.

He also declared that Lagos state is not ready for an experimental governor which the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) parades.

Tinubu said this during the kick off of Lagos APC campaign rally in Ikeja.

According to him, Lagos state is yearning for another technocrat that will further turn the fortunes of the state around.

He, however, reiterated that the APC governorship candidate, Mr Akinwunmi Ambode remains the best candidate to govern Lagos state.

The mega rally which was to begin by 12pm could not take-off until about 1pm as security operatives had serious problems controlling the mammoth crowd that besieged the venue.

Vehicular movement was brought to a stand still along the Oba Akinjobi street, GRA as APC supporters thronged the Archbishop Vining Memorial Church Cathedral field (Old Airways groud) as early as 9am.

Notable personalities present at the rally include Deputy Governor of Lagos State, Princess Adejoke Adefulire; former deputy governors of the state, Mr Femi Pedro and Princess Adebisi Sosan; Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Mr Adeyemi Ikuforiji; Senator Gbenga Ashafa, Prince Oluyole Olusi, Lagos State chairman of the APC, Chief Henry Ajomale; Chief Yomi Finnih and Mrs Abimbola Fashola among others.

Jonathan's govt, a failure — Tinubu Tinubu, who took a swipe at the Jonathan administration expressed dismay at the dwindling fortunes of the nation's economy.

His words: “Nigeria is going through trial right now and the fortunes of the country will further dwindle if you continue to vote for the President who is full of excuses. He recently admitted that he has failed and we cannot continue to vote for such a person”.

Tinubu, however, maintained that the Buhari/Osinbajo ticket was capable of turning the nation around.

He said "we need a straightforward, honest and capable Nigerian that will move this nation forward; someone who will be that agent of change our party preaches and that is exactly what Buhari/ Osinbajo ticket stands for. So we need to rise up and chase out this PDP at the forthcoming polls else this nation will be ran aground”.

Why Ambode is the best man On why he settled for Ambode as the party's standard bearer, the former governor explained that "what we have seen in the last eight years is performance, unbroken promises, employment, skills development, road construction, health centres and hospitals and several

achievements. Whatever anybody that says, who is the founder of those talents?”

Commending the performance of the outgoing governor, Mr Babatunde Fashola, he said "our prayer is that our children will perform better than us and that is why I am a proud man today because my successor in office who I brought, Governor Babatunde Fashola has performed exceptionally and that is why I can beat my chest today''.

Speaking further, he said "when youths came to me that they want another dynamic governor, I told them not to be in a hurry and that help is on the way but I can categorically state today that we have found someone in the person of Mr Akinwunmi Ambode and I can say the revolution is here and Lagos will experience another level of development with Ambode”.

Calling on the people of Lagos to resist any attempt by the PDP to allegedly rig itself into office, Tinubu said Lagos is not a laboratory.

His words: “When we were in AD, the PDP candidate in Lagos was with us but he failed. He also joined us in APC and contested the primaries with Fashola, he also failed and when we told him to come and learn the ropes in governance, he refused and joined DPA but nothing came out of it. Before we could open our eyes again, he has joined PDP”.

PDP government is full of deceit — Fashola In his remarks, Governor Fashola said the PDP led government is full of lies and Nigerians cannot afford another four years of President Goodluck Jonathan.

He stated that the PDP led government has failed in its responsibilities to provide power, security and tackle corruption.

Faulting the President's claim on Buhari's failure to equip the military, he said "Mr President is a man full of excuses and he keeps claiming those who were in office before him refused to buy guns and that is why he cannot curb the insecurity ravaging the country”.

He argued that “General Buhari left office since 1985 and President Jonathan claims he refused to equip the military.

Does he want to use the 1985 military equipments to fight the 2014/2015 insecurity that is ravaging this country. We should not forget that our military performed in places like Sierra-Leone and other peace keeping missions outside Nigeria and yet Mr President keeps claiming nothing was done by former heads of state".

Calling on Lagosians to vote for continuity, Fashola stressed that the party has found the man to do the right job.

Lagos will be economically viable under my govt —Ambode In his speech, the APC candidate, Mr Ambode stated that he will ensure Lagos state is economically viable and safe for all under his administration.

According to him, the last 16 years of APC in Lagos have been full of positive change and hence there is need for continuity to further develop the state.

Continues from page 16

not because of electoral malpractices.

There are some other causes of violence.

First is the factor of the politicians. I believe that one of the key things is the provocative statements we make and when we are making these statements, we forget that the younger ones are listening. Your followers who call themselves your fans are listening to you. We threaten our opponents.

“A governor came to me and said that a governor in another party told him that immediately they take over government, he will go to jail. If you are now threatening somebody that he will go to jail if you take over government, that person would want to fight as if he is defending himself from going to jail. I am not talking about the Presidential candidates, but our followers. My conviction is that for those of us who are politicians, we must avoid provocative statements, we must avoid threatening ourselves.

"The other factor is that of the religious leaders who preach the hate message, instigating their followers to be confrontational and sometimes, label some candidates as the enemies of their fate. If our religious leaders do that kind of preaching, what do you expect?

“We always follow what our religious leaders say and if our religious leaders keep preaching such hate message what do you expect? in that instance, your followers are not going into the election based on internationally known election principles, they will think they are going for war.

“There is also the pronouncement of our traditional rulers who make provocative statements as if they want to divide the country. This has never helped because as leaders, you have your subjects and followers. When you make these provocative statements, you are indirectly instigating them to become extremely violent”, he said.

The way forward He continued: “What is the way forward?

How do we make sure that, as a nation, we minimize violence if we cannot completely ignore it? I agree that we must not gather the world to discuss electoral violence again. But if we must not do that, we must do certain things to stop it.

We have a few weeks to elections and so, there is really nothing much we can do except to strengthen the institution and advise ourselves on how we should conduct ourselves.

“For the government, which I am heading, we must also strengthen the security even though we have challenges because of the situation in parts of the North. INEC also has a key role to play.

There are certain things happening now that if not properly handled could lead to violence. First, a number of Nigerians are complaining that they don’t have the PVC. If some people don’t have voters’ card, the assumption is that from the beginning, INEC is going to rig the election and there is the tendency for those people to go violent. I have mentioned it to the INEC chairman to make sure that every eligible Nigerian votes. If they are not able to make sure that every Nigerian votes, that is a recipe for violence."

Buhari speaks

Also speaking, Buhari recalled his experience in the court and said that unless the judiciary shun political biases, tendencies were that elections in Nigeria would be continued to be rigged.

“Some of the speeches so far are based on hope. Some of these hopes are in the files because of our nasty experiences.

What happened in 2003, 2007 and 2011 when we contested the general elections and ended up in the Supreme Court; these three Supreme Court judgements are available with the government printers for all those who are really serious to know what is happening in our political

eventually surrendered to the multi-party democratic system 16 years ago, we hoped that we should have learnt from the developed countries that went through the painful processes of stabilizing their system rather than insisting on making the same mistakes.

“I will give a few examples which I am sure most of you will recall. In 2003, when we disagreed with the elections, we spent 30 months in court. Out of those 30 months in court, I only missed four sittings. The first time was when we went to bury my Vice Presidential candidate, Chuba Okadigbo while I was out of the country on the other three occasions.

“In 2007, we spent 18 months in court and when we eventually reached the Supreme Court, the seven Justices of the Supreme Court were divided on it. Three of them said they annulled the elections because it was not conducted according to law; three others said yes, there were flaws, but all the same, the ruling party won the election. The Chief Justice of the Federation then looked at them and cast his vote for the second group and so, we lost 4-3.

“In 2011, I said that I, as Presidential candidate will not go to court, but I made sure that my party went to court and we spent about nine months again and it was the same story. There was no way the ruling party will lose judgement. That was painful especially when you considered what actually happened on the field. For example, from two states in the northern part of the country, we were lucky to get competent party agents. When results started coming in for these states, they tried to announce the result that were announced or physically brought to INEC office after going through the collation centres.

“They compared the results against the INEC register in those states and entered them into the clear outer and the computer; and the popular adage that garbage in garbage out manifested itself. What came out was that the Presidential candidate of that party was programmed to lose 40 per cent of its score and in the other states, it was 26 per cent. They showed it to INEC which asked the party to officially write a complain and we wrote. We were given the assurance

by INEC that they will look into our complaint. But the next thing we saw was results being announced that we have lost the election”, he said.

Buhari faults INEC

He also faulted INEC for not complying with courts’ pronouncements, alleging that the relevant institutions have not always followed due process inspite of clear instructions.

“Some of you know by name Retired Justice Salami who was heading the Presidential election panel. We made a presentation that in a number of states, the election was not conducted in accordance with the Electoral Act and the states were mentioned. We demanded that the register be brought to prove our case and the panel said there was nothing wrong with that and INEC was asked to comply. It was not produced. Justice Salami was redeployed and another Judge was brought who reversed that decision. That has become history.

“The INEC Act requires that they register political associations into political parties and to make sure that every person from the councillor to the President comes through a political party. It was agreed that before every election, there must be an Electoral Act. There was one in 2002 for the 2003 election, there was one in 2006 for the 2007 election, there was one in 2010 for the 2011 election. Up to December 31, 2014, I was waiting for the amended Electoral Act for this year’s election and I am yet to see one.

“So, on paper, you can’t catch Nigerians.

You can only catch Nigerians on the field."

Vanguard, THURSDAY, JANUARY 15, 2015 — 55

FG targets $68.

1bn $68.1bn fresh FDI from 8 free zones

By Gabriel Omoh

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BUJA—THE F e d e r a l Government is targeting $68.1billion fresh Foreign Direct Investment, DFI from eight newly licensed free zones, the Managing Director of the Nigeria Export Processing Zones Authority, Olatunde Kuye has said.

He said the enhanced efficiency of the agency, in line with the Transformation Agenda of President Goodluck Jonathan, had helped to fast-track approvals for zones, based on the new checklist and methodology put in place for assessing requests.

Kuye, who spoke to journalists in Abuja on Wednesday, said the investments attracted already, and the incoming ones that had been sealed, provided a solid foundation for a stronger economy and greatly improved standard of living for Nigerians, adding that the current administration should be commended for that.

Armed Forces Remembrance Day: APC hails Nigerian militar militaryy

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BUJA—THE All Progressives Congress, APC, has hailed the invaluable sacrifice of the Nigerian military in keeping the country safe and united in the face of unprecedented forces tugging at the very core of its existence.

In a statement in Abuja yesterday by its National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, to mark the 2015 Armed Forces Remembrance Day, the party said Nigerians owe the gallant men and women of the Nigerian military a debt of gratitude for their courage, perseverance and sacrifice in defence of all that Nigerians hold dear.

Nigerian st ocks dr op tto ow orld's lo west in tw o yr stocks drop world's low two yrss

By Peter Egwuatu, with Agency Reports

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IGERIA’S stocks fell the weakest worldwide in more than two years as foreign investors sold holdings in Africa’s largest oil producer on concern that crude prices will decline further.

The Nigerian Stock Exchange, NSE All Share Index dropped from 3.8

percent to 28,740.61, the lowest since January 10, 2013. The gauge lost 16 percent in 2014 and has weakened a further 17 percent this year, the most among 93 primary indexes tracked by Bloomberg.

“Investors are just trying to get as much money as they can out the country,” Lanre Buluro, head of research at Primera Africa Securities Ltd., said by phone from

Lagos. “It’s a foreignexchange play. Crude oil is down, so there’s a risk to the exchange rate.”

The naira slumped 10 percent against the dollar in the past three months as Nigeria struggles to cope with a 58 percent fall in Brent crude since June 30.

Islamist militants have stepped up their spate of attacks in the north of Africa’s most populous

BRIEFING: From left; Mr Shina Loremikan, National Co-ordinator, Campaign Against Impurity; Richard Akinnola, convener, the Nehemiah Project and Funmi Olunuga, Founder, Arise and Shine Campaign organization, durng the press briefing on the ''Lies against Buhari on religion'' by Nehemiah Project at Excellence Hotel, Ogba, Lagos. Photo by Akeem Salau.

nation as it heads toward the Feb. 14 election, where President Goodluck Jonathan is vying for another term.

The NSE’s plans to reach a market capitalization of $1 trillion by 2016 are no longer possible because of “current realities,” Chief Executive Officer Oscar Onyema told journalists in Lagos yesterday.

“Challenges to the naira, the fall in oil price and uncertainties due to an election year has caused a selloff in the market,” he said.

More than four shares fell for every gainer on the all-share gauge yesterday. Dangote Cement Plc, which makes up about a quarter of the index’s 10 trillion-naira ($55 billion) value, fell 9.2 percent, the biggest decline on record, to 151.10 naira. Since the end of June, the measure has lost a third of its market capitalization.

Dangote Sugar Refinery Plc , which like Dangote Cement is controlled by Aliko Dangote, richest African, dropped 9.1 percent to 5.10 naira. Guaranty Trust Bank Plc , the biggest lender on the measure, fell 4.9 percent to 18.30 naira, the lowest since September 2012.

20 winners receive N1m each in N120m Glo promo

By Bartholomew Madukwe

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AGOS—IT was another moment of joy and celebration for Glo subscribers in the south west when 20 lucky subscribers who emerged winners in the ongoing N120m “Glo Overload” promotion collected their prizes at a presentation ceremony held in Lagos.

The winners are: Mustapha Adebayo, Solomon Obisesan, Oluwatosin Alade, Kafayat Odusile, Oderemi Abimbola, Adebisi Adeshina, Toyin Bamidele, Obembe Olasope, Sikiru Kasali, Idase Edafe, Opeyemi Orelaja, Olatunbosun Osungboye, Toyin Adeshina, Oyinlola Alaka, Rafiu Kasali, Aiyejimi Rukayat, Gbemisola Ero, Rashidat Sosanya, Felix Oviero and Eguche Anthony.

Speaking at the presentation ceremony, Glo’s sales director, Mr Ken Hall, pointed out that the national telecommunications carrier would expand and improve its network, as well as offering more data packages.

He said: “Glo Overload instantly gives 200 per cent airtime and data bonus and an opportunity to be 100 times richer every time you recharge

with N200 or more. At 2015, we will continue to expand. We are going to be offering more and more packages, not just to do with voice but to do with data.

You know data is that key to the future. ''In Europe, and other parts of the world, data is the key to bring in more subscribers. We will do more of this type of promotion. We will continue to expand and improve the

network, so as to bring more subscribers in. You know Glo has many innovative ideas in telecom.”

One of the winners, Anthony Eguche, told Vanguard that, “One will normally see some of these things and say it is a lie. I am going to be an Ambassador of Glo from now. I have promised to purchase 25 Glo SIMs to distribute to my friends

and tell them about Glo Overload. Glo has been my favourite and I recharge often.

Before I do anything with the money I will have to consult my family because it is a team work.”

Another winner, Adebisi Adeshina, who is a 200 level law student of Unilag, was overwhelmed when he got the N1m cheque from Glo, and promised to change his name to Mr Glo.

We'll ha e go vt – LAGOS PDP DEPUTY havve inclusiv inclusive govt GOV CANDIDATE

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AGOS—Peoples Democratic Party’s , PDP, deputy governorship candidate for Lagos State, Alhaja Safurat Abdulkarim, has said her government will give more attention to the grass-root and will cater for all residents the state, irrespective of tribal or religion differences.

Speaking yesterday at the unveiling of President Goodluck Jonathan and Jimi Agbaje as the presidential and governorship candidates for Nigeria and Lagos respectively by the South-South PDP Forum, Lagos at the PDP Secretariat Ikeja,

Abdulkarim said her party will be accountable and peopleoriented.

“We will give more attention to the grass-root and include all residents of Lagos, irrespective of tribe into governance. Can you imagine what Lagos will be like when the Igbos, the southsouth and other tribes leave? If we send them home, we will not even to have a megacity that we crave for'', she said “The grass-root is key in any state in the country, so they will be our focus. It will not be government for only the elite.

Accountability and transparency are key in governance to the PDP government in Lagos.

The Chairman, South-South PDP Forum, Lagos, Engr. Sunday Ekanem, said the All Progressive Congress’ presidential candidate, Gen Muhamandu Buhari, is not as holy and impeccable as the APC and his supporters would have Nigerians believe.

“It is common knowledge that Gen. Buhari as military Head of state when he toppled a democratically elected government of President Shehu Shagari.

“The PDP government of President Goodluck Jonathan has brought goodluck to Nigeria so much that the Nigeria economy has blossomed and more robust.

56 — VANGUARD, THURSDAY, JANUARY 15 , 2015

UN mediates Libyan talks in Geneva

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Charlie Hebdo attack: First print runs in millions ...as Al-Qaeda in Yemen claims attack

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week ago, Charlie Hebdo was a niche publication little known outside France, with a circulation of 60,000.

Yesterday, the satirical newspaper ’s first issue since last week’s deadly attack on its staff went on sale with a print run of 3 million copies and frontpage coverage around the world.

Readers in France mobbed newsstands to buy a copy and European newspapers reprinted Charlie Hebdo’s cartoons as a gesture of solidarity.

But the decision to depict the Prophet Muhammad on the cover, holding a sign saying “Je suis Charlie” (I am Charlie), angered many Muslims, who called it a renewed insult to their religion.

Many Muslims believe their faith forbids depictions of the prophet, and reacted with dismay — and occasionally anger to the latest cover image.

Some felt their expressions of solidarity with Charlie Hebdo after last week’s attack had been rebuffed, while others feared the cartoon would trigger yet more violence.

military vessel on Wednesday located the fuselage of the AirAsia passenger jet that crashed more than two

the Tripoli faction will only decide on Sunday whether to join the talks, but said he was encouraged that several municipalities allied to Tripoli had decided to come.

Al Jazeera’s Zeina Khodr, reporting from Geneva, said several “important players” were not yet in attendance at the talks.

Libya has descended into chaos since the fall of Muammar Gaddafi in October 2011 after a NATO-backed revolt, with rival governments and fighters battling for territory.

Pope canonises Sri Lanka’s first saint

H People waited for kiosks to open to buy the magazine “You’re putting the lives of others at risk when you’re taunting bloodthirsty and mad terrorists,” said Hamad Alfarhan, a 29-year old Kuwaiti doctor.

“I hope this doesn’t trigger more attacks. The world is already mourning the losses of many lives under the name of religion.”

Abbas Shumann, deputy to the Grand Sheik of Cairo’s influential Al-Azhar mosque, said the new image was “a blatant

challenge to the feelings of Muslims who had sympathized with this newspaper.”

Meanwhile, a top leader of Yemen’s alQaeda branch has claimed responsibility for last week’s attack on Paris satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo when two masked gunmen killed 12 people, including much of the weekly’s editorial staff and two police officers.

Nasr al-Ansi, a top commander of al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula,

or AQAP as the branch is known, appeared in an 11-minute video posted online on Wednesday, saying that the massacre at Charlie Hebdo was in “vengeance for the prophet”.

Al-Ansi said that France belongs to the “party of Satan” and warned of more “tragedies and terror ”.

He said that Yemen’s alQaida branch “chose the target, laid out the plan and financed the operation”.

Military vessel finds crashed AirAsia jet’s fuselage at bottom of Java Sea

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ALKS between rival Libyan factions have started in Geneva with the aim of reaching a peace deal that could lead to the development of a unity government.

The UN is hosting the talks in the Swiss city amid warnings they could be the last chance for peace in the oil-rich North African nation.

Bernadino Leon, UN special envoy for Libya, said at the outset of the talks yesterday that he hoped armed factions would observe a ceasefire to support the process.

He said that part of

weeks ago off the coast of Indonesia, raising hopes that more bodies will be found.

The fuselage, the part of the plane that holds pilots and passengers, was discovered around 3 kilometers from where the

The flight data recorder of AirAsia QZ8501 is transferred to another container at the airbase in Pangkalan Bun, Central Kalimantan

tail of the aircraft was retrieved last weekend at the bottom of the Java Sea, Indonesian officials said.

“A marker was placed on the engine. Beside the engine is the fuselage, the wing and a lot of debris,” Ony Soeryo Wibowo, an investigator with the National Transportation Safety Committee, told Reuters.

Indonesia AirAsia Flight QZ8501 lost contact with air traffic control in bad weather on Dec. 28, less than halfway into a two-hour flight from the city of Surabaya to Singapore. All 162 people on board were killed.

So far 50 bodies have been plucked from the Java Sea, with most brought to Surabaya for identification. Searchers believe more bodies will be found in the plane’s fuselage.

UNDREDS of thousands of Sri Lankans have crowded the Colombo seafront as Pope Francis canonised the island’s first saint in one of the biggest public gatherings the city has ever witnessed.

Yesterday, Francis conducted a mass on Colombo’s Galle Face Green before canonising Joseph Vaz, a 17th century missionary who disguised himself as a beggar, in the first papal visit to the island nation in two decades.

It is the highest-profile celebration at the landmark site since former President Mahinda Rajapaksa led a victory parade in 2009 after the end of the country’s brutal decades long civil war with Tamil rebels.

The pope, who has focused on post-war reconciliation during his visit, said Vaz had shown “the importance of transcending religious divisions in the service of peace”, ministering to those in need regardless of their creed.

New peace talks on Ukraine soon

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new round of peace talks on the conflict in Ukraine’s east could be held in the next few days, Ukrainian officials said on Wednesday, even as Kiev called on the world to ostracize rebel forces over a deadly attack on a bus.

Under fire for perceived softness towards the pro-Russian rebels, President Petro Poroshenko took steps to refresh front-line troops with experienced veterans and revived plans to resume conscription, which was dropped in 2013.

Foreign Minister Pavlo Klimkin said a new

Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Pavlo Klimkin meeting of the “contact group” that brings together Ukraine, Russia and the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe could be held in the coming days to consider the next move under a peace plan mapped out in Minsk, Belarus, last September.

Hollande says aircraft carrier could support Iraq operations

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RANCE’s Charles de Gaulle aircraft carrier is ready to be used to support military operations against Islamic State in Iraq, French President Francois Hollande told military personnel aboard the vessel

yesterday.

“Thanks to the Charles de Gaulle, we will have precious intelligence,” the president said in a New Year ’s address, given as the carrier cruised off France’s southern coast in the Mediterranean.

VANGUARD, THURSDAY, JANUARY 15 ,2015 — 57

BRIEFS

South Sudan war costing billions, economists warn W

AR in South Sudan will cost up to $28 billion to the country if it continues for five more years, with regional nations risking even more, economists warned Wednesday.

“If the conflict continues for another one to five years, it will cost South Sudan between $22.3 billion and $28 billion depending on its severity,” the joint report read, claiming that should the war be stopped, it would save the international community $30 billion in peacekeeping and aid.

The report was produced by Europe-based Frontier Economics, Uganda’s Center for Conflict Resolution, and South Sudan’s Centre for Peace and Development Studies at Juba University.

At the regional level, Ethiopia, Kenya, Sudan, Tanzania and Uganda

slaughtered.

Fighting broke out in December 2013 when President Salva Kiir accused his sacked deputy Riek Machar of attempting a coup.

Since then oil production — once around 300,000 barrels a day at independence — has been slashed by at least a third to 160,000. Trade with land-

locked South Sudan has been cut and almost half a million refugees are in neighbouring nations.

East Africa’s IGAD-bloc, which has mediated a string of failed ceasefire deals, should follow through on its repeated threats of sanctions should war continue, the report added.

Kenyan body’s fingerprints not those of ICC witness Meshack Yebei—Police K ENYAN police say a body found dead in a river earlier this month may not be that of the witness linked to the International Criminal Court (ICC) case of Deputy

President William Ruto.

Meshack Yebei went missing on 28 December and his family later identified his mutilated body.

But fingerprints taken

Top LRA commander ,Ongwen, in detention

from the body do not match those of Mr Yebei, police investigator John Kariuki has said.

DNA tests will now be carried out to make certain, he said.

Mr Ruto denies charges of crimes against humanity in relation to the violence which erupted after Kenya’s 2007 elections. Lawyers for Mr Ruto have said that Mr Yebei was to have been a witness for the defence.

The ICC said Mr Yebei was implicated in efforts to corrupt prosecution witnesses in the case against Mr Ruto and another defendant, Joshua Sang.

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RA commander Do minic Ongwen says he was abducted by the rebels when he was 10 years old.

A senior militia commander wanted for war crimes has been handed over to Ugandan troops in the Central African Republic (CAR), the US says.

Dominic Ongwen, considered by some to be a deputy to Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) chief Joseph Kony, was taken into US custody last week.

Rebels in the CAR said he was captured but US officials say he defected.

Uganda has said he will face trial at the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague.

The LRA has abducted thousands of children for fighting and sex slavery.

Both Mr Ongwen and Joseph Kony are wanted by the ICC for war crimes and crimes against humanity.

Ebola: US officials react over dead soldier

Nurse attending to a Sudanese baby could save $53 billion in the coming years should the war end in 2015, the report added.

Salim Ahmed Salim, a former Tanzanian prime minister, introduced the report by saying he hoped it would “focus the minds of political leaders on the stakes” of failing to end a war in which tens of thousands have already been

LRA commander Dominic Ongwen ‘in Ugandan custody’

The court said that Mr Yebei had been offered protection in a safe location but had returned to visit his family in Eldoret - a town in western Kenya which had been badly hit by the post-poll violence.

The body of the man thought to be Mr Yebei was found about 40km (25 miles) from his home in a river, caught up between some rocks.

Mr Ruto, whose trial resumed this week, is the most senior government official to be tried by The Hague-based court since its formation more than a decade ago.

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soldier found dead on his doorstep who recently returned from Liberia has conclusively tested negative for the virus, Fort Hood officials said Tuesday evening.

The soldier, who returned to the USA earlier this month after being deployed to help fight the Ebola outbreak, died from unknown causes, said Col. Steve Warren, a Pentagon spokesman.

Further medical tests are being conducted to deter-

mine why he died.

The soldier, a 24-yearold man whose name was not released pending notification of family, died at his apartment off base and had been monitoring his temperature and other potential symptoms, reporting his status to medical officials, a Fort Hood statement said. That’s standard procedure for 21 days after any troops leave a zone where Ebola outbreaks have occurred.

Zambia ruling party offers olive branch ahead of vote

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AMBIA’s ruling par ty candidate in next week’s presidential vote has held out an olive branch to his opponents, promising to create a unity government if he wins what is expected to be a close race.

The January 20 election has been called in the copper-rich southern African country to elect a successor to president Michael Sata, who died late last year of an undisclosed illness.

Defence and Justice Minister Edgar Lungu emerged as the Patriotic Front (PF) candidate after a fierce succession battle exposed deep divisions within the ruling party.

Lungu — who faces a tough battle against Hakainde Hichilema of the United Party for National Development — told AFP in an interview on Wednesday from Lusaka that he wanted bring all sides into government.

Tanzania ready to take on Congo rebels

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ANZANIA is ready to take on Rwandan rebels in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), President Jakaya Kikwete said, suggesting a joint offensive with U.N.-backed, South African forces is imminent.

In a statement issued late on Tuesday after talks with South African Defence Minister Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula, Kikwete dismissed talk

he was reluctant to send in troops against the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR).

The United Nations Security Council backed plans a week ago for a 3,000-strong South African, Tanzanian and Malawian intervention force to begin military operations against the guerrilla group, which has been at the heart of years of conflict in cen-

tral Africa’s Great Lakes.

“There are people who pretend to read Tanzania’s mind,” Kikwete said.

“They claim that Tanzania has no intention of taking on rebel groups in the DRC. These are bizarre people because Tanzania, like South Africa and Malawi, has troops in the DRC with a firm United Nations mandate.”

Kenyan journalists protesting at the UN in New York against journalists detained in Egypt

58 — Vanguard, THURSDAY, JANUARY 15, 2015

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Vanguard, THURSDAY, JANUARY 15, 2015 — 59

60 — Vanguard, THURSDAY, JANUARY 15, 2015

Ronaldo’s hunt to match Messi starts now — Ancelotti

Manchester City sign Bony

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ANCHESTER City have completed the signing of Swansea City striker Wilfried Bony for £28m.

Bony has agreed a four-and-a-half-year deal at Etihad Stadium through to 2019 and will wear the number 14 shirt.

“It’s a great feeling for me, it’s a big honour to be here and it’s a great challenge,” the 26-yearold said. ‘As a player it’s always good to be part of one of the biggest clubs in the world and it’s a good opportunity for me to be in that situation now – I’m really proud.

‘I felt excited to wait for this moment and now it’s come, it’s fantastic. I think it’s a great decision for me - Manchester City is in the Champions League. You remember at the end of last season

I said that if I want to move it will be to a team in the competition because it’s a great tournament that I really want to play in and one that I want to win.

‘It’s a motivation for me to give my maximum to be in that place. City is a big club with great players with a lot of experience; I believe we can do it.’ ony joined Swansea for £12m from Vitesse Arnhem in 2013 and was the Premier League’s top scorer in 2014 with 20 goals.

The two clubs agreed the terms of the transfer at the weekend, with £25m cash up front and a further £3m in performancerelated add-ons.

The deal makes Bony one of the most expensive African footballers in history.

tainty at Monday’s Ballon d’Or ceremony over where he will play his football next season, Messi stole the headlines despite finishing second in the

voting behind winner Cristiano Ronaldo.

Speculation has been rife that all is not well between the 27-year-old and Luis Enrique.

RISTIANO Ronaldo won his third Ballon d’Or on Monday, but Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti says his quest for a fourth has already begun.

The Portugal international beat Lionel Messi and Manuel Neuer to prize and if he wins the trophy again he will equal the four won by his Argentine rival.

Ronaldo himself spoke of his desire to draw level with Messi and Ancelotti believes such is the 29- year-old’s motivation to win individual awards, he will immediately begin his bid to be named the world’s best next year.

“It’s not like winning the Ballon d’Or will make Ronaldo relax and take it easy,” Ancelotti said at a press conference.

“Ronaldo has not celebrated his Ballon d’Or success. We only took a picture of Ronaldo with all his team-mates and the staff, but that’s all.

“Individual awards motivate him to do even better. He will start thinking about a fourth Ballon d’Or on Thursday against Atletico.

“Does it bother me that Ronaldo said he doesn’t know where he will be next year? No. The reality is different. It’s enough now with these questions.”

The Italian then discussed the second leg of his side’s last-16 Copa del Rey tie against Atletico Madrid on Thursday and remains confident of bouncing back from a 20 defeat in the first leg.

“We know how to play against Atletico. We know them very well. We have to be very intense, but must keep a cool head. We have 90 minutes to turn things around."

No plan for Messi exit —Enrique

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ARCELONA aren’t planning for life without Lionel Messi, accord-

ing to coach Luis Enrique, who did his best to play down the furore over the

Argentine’s future on Wednesday.

In declaring his uncer-

2015 AFCON Countdown... 2015 AFCON Countdown

Algeria’re AFCON favourites T

HE 30th edition of Africa Cup of Nations kicks off on Saturday in Equatorial Guinea, who are hosting the tournament at short notice after Morocco’s withdrawal.

Several nations can be considered among the favourites including topranked team Algeria.

Algeria, Ivory Coast and Ghana are regarded as the favourites to win an unpredictable African Cup of Nations tournament which begins on Saturday in Equatorial Guinea.

But it is Algeria, the topranked team in Africa, where most betting men are putting their money.

“Algeria pushed Germany more than any other team at the World Cup in Brazil last year,” said former Peruvian national player Augusto Palacios, who now coaches in Johannesburg.

“They are a religious team and so are very disciplined. "

Bafana Bafana upbeat after Mali victory

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CELEBRATION... Algerians celebrate

Mashaba on captaincy rotation

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OUTH Africa coach Ephraim Mashaba gave little indication as to who will captain the team at the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations following the 3-0 defeat of Mali.

Bafana Bafana - who beat the Eagles via goals from Thulani Hlatshwayo, Sibusiso Vilakazi and Dean Furman - will open their Group C account against Algeria in

Mongomo, Equatorial Guinea on Monday.

Bafana have notably had a different skipper in their four friendlies ahead of the continental showpiece.

AFANA Bafana will go into the African Cup of N a t i o n s buoyed by a 30 victory in a friendly game against Mali at the Stade Monedan in Libreville, G a b o n yesterday.

The result follows on the back of a 1-1 draw with Cameroon and a 1-0 win over Zambia in the team’s previous two AFCON 2015 warm-up matches.

Thulani Hlatshwayo, Sibusiso Vilakazi and Dean Furman netted a goal apiece as South

Seydou Keita and Reneilwe Letsholonyane Africa kept their unbeaten record under Shakes Mashaba intact heading into the African showpiece.

The game started at a slow pace given the extreme heat and bumpy pitch with long grass.

Both sides seemed to stand off the ball and not commit to many tackles inside the opening ten minutes. There were no genuine scoring chances created in the opening 20 minutes as both sides just felt each other out and at this stage there were a few niggling tackles going in from either side.

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Vanguard, THURSDAY, JANUARY 15, 2015 — 61

62 — Vanguard, THURSDAY, JANUARY 15, 2015

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Vanguard, THURSDAY, JANUARY 15, 2015 — 63

Pinnick off to Malabo

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RESIDENT of Nigeria Football Federation, Mr. Amaju Pinnick flew into Malabo, capital of Equatorial Guinea on Wednesday as the African football fraternity got into the mood for the 30th Africa Cup of Nations kicking off on Saturday.

The NFF supremo will commission two matches in the group phase at the championship with opportunities for more in the knock –out rounds.

However, the Confederation of African Football has once more rued the absence of 2013

DISAPPOINTMENT: Super Eagles players rue their failure to beat the Bafana Bafana in Uyo last November. The match ended 2-2, when they needed a win to be at 2015 Afcon

Togo 2015 ITF Junior Circuit: Nigeria clinch top spot

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IGERIA emerged the overall winners of the first phase of the 2015 ITF West and Central Africa Junior Circuit holding in Togo with 4 gold and 1 silver medals.

At the Stade Ominsport, Lome on Wednesday,

Nigeria started on a setback as Martins Abamu fell to Togo’s Antione Gbadoe 6-2, 6-3 in the Boy ’s 16&U category but Michael Oshewa restored the nation’s pride when he triumphed 6-3, 7-5 over Ehaya Isaac of Cote

Rufai Continues from BP that match and qualified for the Nations Cup, Enyeama would have won the Glo-CAF Player of the Year award.”

In general terms, Rufai said Yaya Toure, who eventually bagged the award was the best in the continent at the moment and blamed the lack of quality footballers in Nigeria for the country’s inability to win the award for sometime now.

“I think the players we have on stage now are not vibrant enough to compete with their counterparts from other countries. They have not been able to rise to the occasion,” he said, citing the country’s failure to qualify for the 2015 Nations Cup as a pointer.

“Until players for the national team are selected on merit, we will continue to find ourselves in this mess,” the proprietor of Staruf Football Academy said.

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He recalled that in their active days as footballers, it took a lot for a player to get an invitation to the national team.

Said he, “the national team is not meant for beginners. You don’t go there to learn how to trap or control the ball. Before one gets an invitation to the national team camp, one is supposed to be a polished player who should fit into any coach’s plan. One must be extra good to get an invitation to camp, talk less of wearing the national jersey.”

He continued, “what we see now is as if the team has become a Boys Scout company, where recruitment is open to every Dick, Tom and Harry.”

In our days, one must pass through scrutiny of both the technical crew and the technical committee before one wears the national team shirt. And the results were there for all to see,” he said.

d’Ivoire.

Oshewa’s feat sparked the winning spirit of the Nigerian players as Mathew Abamu, a junior sibling to Martins, bagged a resounding 61, 6-1 win over Sodik Nougbessi of Benin Republic while in the girls’ 16 &U Adetayo Adetunji defeated No 1 seed, Joanne Celestine Abommo of Gabon 6-3,6-

2.

Moments after, Barakat Quadri beat Becoude Karmine of Benin 7-5, 6-4 in the girls’ 14&U final to highlight Nigeria’s dominance at the double-phase tournament which is featuring nine countries.

The final phase is scheduled to start on Thursday with no fewer than eight Nigerian players listed for action.

Adepoju Continues from BP considering the fact that the Super Eagles are the defending champions of the continental tournament.

According to him, Eagles’ ouster speaks volume of the state of Nigerian football because the country was also absent at the 2012 edition when the same Equatorial Guinea hosted.

“I am very sad that we are missing out and I feel that anybody who truly loves this country will equally be angry because a country like Nigeria is supposed to be at every edition of the AFCON but that really shows that all is not well with our football.

“One other bad thing about this failure is that it is going to affect our players adversely

because those who would have been spotted by bigger clubs have lost that opportunity while those that would have been enhanced their rating on the account of their displays have also lost out”.

‘The Headmaster’ as he was fondly called by his fans in his playing days while reacting on the visit of NFF officials to the championship on the invitation of CAF said there was nothing wrong with that even as he added that it would have been better to go there as participants and not as mere guests.

He however advised that the country should take the positives from the miss by putting in place those structures that will make it easier for the team to not just qualify for similar tournaments but to also excel in them.

champions Nigeria, who failed to reach the finals after finishing behind South Africa and Congo in Group A of the qualifying campaign.

Before jetting out of the country, Pinnick transmitted a letter to Members of the NFF Executive Committee notifying them that the 1st Vice President, Barrister Seyi Akinwunmi will act in his stead.

“I will be away to the Africa Cup of Nations in Equatorial Guinea from 16th January – 9th February, 2015 on the invitation of CAF and in official capacity."

Flying Eagles beat Spotlight 3-1

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HE Flying Eagles defeated Nigeria National League side Spotlight of Katsina 3-1 in continuation of their preparation for the 2015 African Youth Championship.

Akinjide Idowu put the Nigeria U-20s ahead in the 42nd minute after he was set up by skipper Taiwo Awoniyi.

Defender Izu Omego then doubled the advantage in the 52nd minute.

Spotlight pulled a goal back from the penalty spot in the 62nd minute after Zaharadeen Bello fouled

Manu Garba an opponent, before Enugu Rangers midfielder Obinna Nwobodo made it 3-1 for the Flying Eagles after 67 minutes.

2015 Nations Cup: Eq Guinea president buys tickets for fans

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Q UAT O R I A L Guinea president Teodoro Obiang Nguema has paid for 40,000 tickets for fans to attend the Africa Cup of Nations in his country.

The nation replaced Morocco as hosts only in December and there are concerns the games will be very poorly-attended.

“We must give solemnity to this event, we have to buy tickets to fill

stadiums,” said Nguema.

“Let those who have the means help.”

President Nguema

SAFA Continues from BP Niger be moved to Abuja instead.

SAFA’s statement added that “the South African Football Association (Safa), in consultation with the Under-17 coach Molefi Ntseki, will arrange

other friendly matches, which will be communicated in due course.”

The team will remain in camp preparing for the Caf African Youth championships, scheduled for Niger in February.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, JANUARY 15, 2015

SAFA calls off Amajimbos friendly with Eaglets

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•Jordan

Rufai: Eagles pulled down Enyeama

HE South African F o o t b a l l Association has announced the indefinite postponement of the international friendly match between its national U-17 side, the Amajimbos’ and their Nigerian counterparts, the Golden Eaglets which was scheduled to take place in Kaduna on Saturday due to circumstances beyond their control.

A statement by SAFA said the encounter will be

BY JACOB AJOM

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CONGRATULATION: Enyeama (l) congratulates Yaya Toure at the Glo-CAF Award ceremony

Pinnick off to Malabo — PG.63

ORMER Super Eagles captain and first choice goalkeeper Peter Rufai has identified Nigeria’s failure to beat South Africa in a 2015 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier in Uyo as biggest set back in Vincent Enyeama’s abortive bid to win the 2014 Glo-CAF African Footballer of the Year Award.

In a chat with Sports Vanguard, Rufai who won the 1994 Nations Cup with the Super Eagles said, “that the match in Uyo spoiled everything Enyeama had worked for throughout the whole year. The period was crucial. If they had won Continues on page 63

rescheduled for a future date.

As exclusively reported by Sports Vanguard yesterday, SAFA had objected strongly to the match being fixed for the Ahmadu Bello Stadium in Kaduna, citing security reasons. They asked that the friendly match which was supposed to serve as a tune up for both teams ahead of the African cadet championship in Continues on page 63

Eagles Afcon miss saddens Adepoju

BY JUDE OPARA, Abuja

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ITH barely two days to kick off of the 2015 African Cup of Nations (AFCON) championship taking place in Equatorial Guinea, former Super Eagles striker, Mutiu Adepoju says the mere thought that Nigeria will not be represented makes him lose sleep.

Adepoju told journalists in Abuja yesterday that the miss is even more regrettable Continues on page 63

Egwuekwe

QUICK CROSSWORD

TODAY'S

PUZZLE

FRI DAY'S FRIDAY'S

ANSWERS

ACROSS 3 Range (5) 9 Linger (6) 10 Pantry (6) 11 Irrigate (5) 12 Auction (4) 15 Pleasant (4) 17 Frighten (7) 20 Weight (3) 21 Bird (5) 23 Cupid (4) 25 Object (4) 26 Clothed (5) 28 Agent (3) 30 Guard (7) 33 Detail (4) 35 Roster (4) 36 Royal (5) 38 Fiery (6) 39 Comfort (6) 40 Cap (5)

DOWN 1 Sheen (5) 2 House (5) 3 Stitch (3) 4 Crib (6) 5 Excuse (4) 6 Spike (3) 7 Confess (5) 8 Verdant (5) 13 Try (7) 14 Mistake (5) 16 Behaviour (7) 18 Relaxed (5) 19 Tree (3) 22 Sea-duck (5) 24 Drunkard (3) 27 Demean (6) 28 Three-score (5) 29 Long (5) 31 Wanderer (5) 32 Keen (5) 34 Yield (4) 36 Bone (3) 37 Fate (3)

YESTERDAY'S SOLUTIONS ACROSS: 1, Inject 5, Scared 9, Loath 10, Dismay 11, Raised 12, Debar 14, Ewer 17, Dry 18, Ware 20, Dared 22, Oiled 23, Sardine 24, Denim 26, Elder 29, Eden 30, Fen 32, Data 33, Cider 35, Rattle 36, Wanted 37, Alter 38, Strand 39, Render.

DOWN: 1, Indeed 2, Jasper 3, Clad 4, Toyed 5, Stray 6, Char 7, Rascal 8, Dodged 13, Bridged 15, Waned 16, Resin 18, Wield 19, Reset 21, Dan 22, One 24, Debris 25, Neater 27, Darted 28, Raider 30, Field 31, Newer 33, Clan 34, Rare.

How to Play Sudoku

P

lace a number (1-9) in each blank cell. (No line can have two of the same number).

Each row (nine lines from left to right), column, (also nine lines from top to bottom) and 3 X 3 block within a bold block (nine blocks) contains number from 1 through 9. This means that no number can appear twice in any block, column or row.

No mathematics is involved – no adding, subtraction, division or multiplication, just plain logic and your imagination.

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