How we defeated Jonathan — TINUBU

...towards a better life for the people VOL. 25: NO. 62405

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ONLINE | www.vanguardngr.com

FRIDAY, MAY 15, 2015

N150

Oil marketers holding Nigerians to ransom—CONCERNED CITIZENS

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How we defeated Jonathan — TINUBU

By Dapo Akinrefon •Says they applied Common Sense Revolution & Chris Onuoha •Soyinka lauds Tinubu, Amaechi as change agents •Soyinka is the only person I have carried his bag—Amaechi L

AGOS—ALL Progressives Congress, APC, leader Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, yesterday, attributed the defeat of President Goodluck Jonathan in the last presidential election to a commonsense revolution anchored on a rebellion against the excesses of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP. He spoke at a book launch in Lagos where

Nobel laureate, Prof. Wole

Continues on Page 5

Over 60 killed in Maiduguri attack 56 Mr & Mrs BOOK PRESENTATION—The book, Dynamics of Change, The Amaechi Years was launched, yesterday at the Civic Centre, Victoria Island, Lagos. From left, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, National Leader, APC; Justice Adolphus Karibi-Whyte, Chairman of occasion; Mrs Judith Amaechi, Mr Tonye Cole, book presenter; Dr Kayode Fayemi, former Governor of Ekiti State; Dr Chidi Amuta, co-editor of the book; Alhaji Abdulazeez Yari, Governor of Zamfara State and Mr Rotimi Amaechi, Governor of Rivers State during the book presentation. Photo: Lamidi Bamidele. More photos on Page 16.

COLUMNISTS:

CABINET FORMATION: South West govs in quandary? Pull-out inside Fighting fire with •P.19 water

C M Y K

Deregulating the downstream sector of the oil •P.29 industry

Obasanjo hands over report on devt plan to Buhari 9

2 — Vanguard, FRIDAY, MAY 15, 2015

Vanguard, FRIDAY, MAY 15, 2015 — 3

4 — Vanguard, FRIDAY, MAY 15, 2015

APC insists FG not cooperating with its transition committee

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BUJA—THE All Progressives Congress (APC) has insisted, for the umpteenth time, that the Jonathan Administration is not cooperating with the party ’s Transition Committee, while describing Peoples Democratic Party, PDP’s spokesman, Olisa Metuh as a man with an incurable disdain for the truth. ‘’We say, with all sense of responsibility, that as of today, May 14th 2015, just about two weeks to the May 29th handover date, no shred of information as to the status of governance from any Ministry, Department or Agency of government has been given to our Transition Committee,’’ the party said in a statement issued in Abuja on Thursday by its National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed. ‘’If that qualifies, in Metuh’s lexicon, as cooperation, then there is a problem somewhere. We dare Metuh or anyone for that matter, to controvert the fact that not a line of handover note has been handed over to our Transition Committee. Until then, Metuh has egg on his face,’’ it said.

APC restated its earlier advise to Metuh to urgently undertake a crash course in how to be an opposition party spokesman so he won’t talk or write himself into avoidable trouble in the days ahead.

The party admonished the PDP spokesman to always cross-check the information available to him in order to separate rumours from facts, saying had he done that, he would not have issued the statement in which he tried to cast aspersion on the APC by accusing it of ‘’fabricating lies’’ over the issue of the Jonathan Administration’s noncooperation with the APC’s Transition Committee. ‘’Metuh decided to put his foot in his mouth when he latched on to the statement made by our Transition Committee Chairman, forgetting that in making his statement, the Chairman was only acting the statesman that he is by not saying anything that will put the federal government in bad light.

C M Y K

Lagos adopts new technologies to boost service delivery

By Monsuru Olowoopejo

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AGOS—GOVERNOR Babatunde Fashola of Lagos state yesterday said the state would continue to adopt innovative technology to drive development and boost service delivery.

He gave the assurance while inaugurating a new building of the Ministry of Science and Technology in Alausa secretariat, Ikeja, noting that government could not but deploy novel technologies to solve problems considering the state’s population.

According to him, the new building, equipped with all facilities was in furtherance of efforts to strengthen egovernance and do things more efficiently.

According to him, “This building is completed and ready for work but I think why we are here really is to reinforce the commitment which really lies at the heart of this. We cannot do things in the way that it used to be done before. We have to automate to be more efficient and bring about more development.”

He explained that the need to adopt new technology compelled the government to embark on the Citizens Relationship Management, CRM, an online platform which allows residents

to access government services and lodge complaints was another step to use technology to provide service.

Fashola said with the activation of the platform, residents did not need to travel distances to be responded to as all they needed was to click on the appropriate icons on the platform to get response to their needs.

The governor explained further that the platform enabled users to monitor and tracked their demands and complaints to see the stages of response work progress.

He said the new Science and Technology building would enable government to reinforce all its automation and technology processes into just

one part of the state secretariat.

Earlier, Mr. Adebiyi Mabadeje, Commissioner for Science and Technology said the new building had all the facilicities and features required and was built on a landsize of about 3,600sq metres.

He said the complex could not have come at a better time considering the fact that the state was presently strengthening its e-governance initiatives and other solutions aimed at ensuring better service delivery.

LAUNCH: From left; Director, DGl Beverages, Texas, USA, Dr. Solomon Olatoye; President & Founder, DGl Beverages USA, Mr. Earl Castor, and Director,DGI Beverages, Africa, Mr. Lanre Okupe at the media launch of Black Iguana Margarita cocktails wine in Lagos.

Constitution amendment not dead — N' ASSEMBLY

By Johnbosco Agbakwuru

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BUJA—THE National Assembly is to approach the Supreme Court to seek a quick discharge of the ruling barring it from further work on the constitution amendment Vanguard has learnt.

The move Vanguard learnt follows concerns in the National Assembly that President Goodluck Jonathan has failed to produce the signature page of the Fourth Alteration Act that was passed on to him for assent.

A top official of the National Assembly told Vanguard that with the move to get the apex court to vacate the ruling, the constitution review process could be brought to a close before the end of the tenure of the 7th National Assembly.

The principal officer who spoke in confidence said that the National Assembly believed that the apex court does not have all the facts of the matter and that the position of the Supreme Court on the matter is not a judgement, “but just a position and understandably so.”

According to him, the National Assembly, wanted to explain to the apex court that it complied

fully with Sections 8 and 9 of the Constitution by getting four-fifths of both chambers and two-thirds of the State Houses of Assembly in the process of passing the alterations.

He said, “I don’t think that the alterations are dead as being insinuated in some quarters. It is not over until it is over. The

Seventh National Assembly has not expired.

“We need to approach the Supreme Court to hear our position because the National Assembly has to present its own position to the Supreme Court.

The inter face will be formal. The Supreme Court has to be fully briefed on the matter.”

He also confirmed that President Goodluck Jonathan did not return the signature page of the constitution alterations forwarded to him as requested by the National Assembly.

According to him, the Senate requested the return of the signature page formally “but it was not returned.”

IBM invests $24bn in analytics technologies in 5 years

By Emeka Aginam

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AN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA—THE General Manager of International Business Machines, IBM, Commerce, Mr. Deepak Advani, has said that the IT firm has invested about $24 billion (about N4.8 trillion) in analytic technologies over the past five years.

Advani spoke at a news conference Tuesday in San Diego, USA during the just concluded IBM Amplify 2015 conference with the theme, ‘’The Future of Customer Engagement Now,’’ adding that such huge investment was part of the company’s commitment to make the world a smarter planet.

At the forum that attracted no

fewer than 3,000 participants including partners, customers, media, analysts and influencers, he said that organizations that adopt a full range of analytic capabilities would discover what was happening, determine why it was happening, predict what was likely to happen and prescribe the best action to take.

The conference among other things afforded industry leaders in the marketing, merchandising, commerce and customer analytics space the opportunity to discuss how businesses could deliver the kind of engagement customers expected from brands.

Meanwhile, in an effort to simplify the ways to engage with customers, IBM at the conference said that new design

and analytic capabilities were part of the IBM Marketing Cloud that would amplify the way marketers engage with customers and to address their rising complexities as individuals.

These new capabilities would enable marketers to collaborate, design and deliver personalized customer experiences.

IBM Journey analytics, according to him, allows marketers to visualize and quantify actual customer journeys to help deliver more relevant experiences with greater precision to build brand loyalty.

Also, predictive analytics, he explained could take you from guesswork to prediction by showing you where you are now, and where you can go next.

Vanguard, FRIDAY, MAY 15, 2015 —5

POCKET CARTOON

Governors’ Forum crisis

VISITING—President Goodluck Jonathan (L) and visiting President Boni Yayi of Benin Republic at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, yesterday. Photo: Abayomi Adeshida.

How we defeated Jonathan — TINUBU Continues from Page 1 Soyinka extolled him, and Governor Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers State as the drivers of the uprising, which he said, was fasttracked by President Jonathan’s mishandling of the Nigerian Governors Forum, NGF crisis.

The public presentation of the book “Dynamics of Change: The Amaechi Years”, was witnessed by a cross section of the political class and civil society including governors, former governors, senators among others.

Justice Adolphus Karibi-Whyte, who was chairman of the occasion, said the book only offered a glimpse into the vision that stimulated the infrastructure and developments during the Amaechi years in Rivers State.

Amaechi on his part gave a peep into his political challenges, noting how even when he got Tinubu angry before the APC convention, both

men set aside their issues for the common goal of achieving victory in the elections that were yet to be held at that time.

Tinubu, who was guest of honour at the presentation of the book written by Dr. Yemi Ogunbiyi and Dr. Chidi Amuta in his comments said: “Amaechi is an example of common sense revolution. In the course of the historic campaigns for the 2015 Presidential Election, I was emphatic that the election itself was a great opportunity to popularise and test the noble idea of a Common Sense Revolution in Nigeria. Soon enough, we found in the resonance of the APC Change mantra with the electorate a confirmation that Nigeria needed a Common Sense Revolution that is nonviolent.

“Indeed there is a publication with that title authored by me in which I argued that Nigeria was ripe for a change of

TAKE HEART

BY ELLA RANDLE When you want to attract something into your life...think about what you have asked for and make sure that your actions are mirroring what you expect to receive— B Byrne

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O become who you want to be in life then act upon the inner picture, as if everyone you meet is part of your intention to attract ideal people into your life. Share with others your needs and desires.

Talk to experts who might be of assistance, and state your desires. They’ll want to help you. Don’t expect anyone else to do the work of attracting the right people for whatever you seek, be it a job, admission to college, a financial boost.

Be proactive and stay alert for a sign of synchronicity, that is when an experience occurs one time too many drawing your attention to something that is important for you to do in the moment. And by all means, do avoid resistance thoughts; such negativity only affirms what you do not need in your life. Remember, if you focus attention on other people’s lives, you tend to attract those things you do not want to yourself.

leadership and Nigerians must act in a Common Sense and rational way in choosing their leaders.

The results of the March Presidential elections and that of April have demonstrated clearly the desire by Nigerians for change.”

The APC national leader, however, urged the new crop of leaders to embark on policies that will alleviate the plight of Nigerians."

Continuing, he said: “Elections over, both the leaders and citizens must brace up to meet the challenges required to build a better, more prosperous nation.

Indeed, even as we subscribe to the tenets of Common Sense Revolution, we must retool ourselves, the new leadership must embark on policies that will improve the general wellbeing of the mass of our people.

“It is a positive one to rescue, repair and restructure the nation and its institutions in ways that further collective prosperity and wellbeing. The only violence that is to be done is to violence, injustice and poverty themselves. At its essence, a common sense revolution is a call to return to a level of decency in the relationship between government and the governed, between each one of us and his neighbour.

“In my view, our gathering to celebrate the landmark achievements of my brother, Governor Rotimi Amaechi, in Rivers State in the last eight years is also another justifiable celebration of idea of Common Sense Revolution for development.

The publication of the book, Dynamics of Change: The Amaechi Years is a timely service to history.”

Lauding Amaechi’s leadership of the NGF, the former Lagos State governor said “this occasion is all the more remarkable because of the huge challenges Amaechi has been facing especially in his second term from an extremely hostile federal government. His role as the chairman of the Governors’ Forum invariably brought him into a bitter collision with President Jonathan.

“Governor Amaechi and most of the governors want a properly defined federalist relationship with the government at the centre. The President would have none of that as in the notable example of the management of the federation account. This is, therefore, another great opportunity to salute Amaechi’s rare courage of conviction and sense of purpose. The APC has every cause to be proud of him,” Tinubu said.

Amaechi took a risky decision— Soyinka

In his comment, Prof.

So yinka commended

Amaechi for standing up to President Jonathan during the NGF crisis. He identified Tinubu and Amaechi as the two main agents who brought down the PDP. "The political atmosphere today, whatever you call it, change or hope or cautious hope and naked hope or careless hope, I recognise two personalities, in particular, who led the chant of change. One of them, I call him the architect of the process, the architect, in fact, that houses the essence of hope. That is Ahmed Bola Tinubu. The other person was unconsciously, perhaps, the arrow head of that charge that led to the change and that is the man that we gather here to celebrate.”

Soyinka said Amaechi took a risky decision during the NGF crisis that inevitably exposed him to the wrath of the presidency.

“He (Amaechi) was the one who said no, we cannot turn the clock backwards. Nothing about the philosophy of the clock runs against what we were hoping for. It was a very unpopular and risky decision to take. But it exposed to us the basic arithmetic fallacy of governance in demonstrating that when 16 is said to be higher than 19, something is fundamentally wrong and the same kind of arithmetic leads to the cooking of figures in governance.

And it was within that nexus that he stood up and challenged even his own colleagues, and said

let’s change the mentality of the stock, let us reorientate it towards the people and towards the nation and the electorate.

“I remember someone very close to me that said I hear you are close to Rotimi Amaechi, tell that young man that he is going to destroy himself, and I said, you know something, you have been in a position where I have had the opportunity of being your teacher and your mentor and you mean to say you never learnt from me that it is better to be destroyed on the basis of what you really live for? And you want me to deliver such a message? That person who is in Aso Rock wanted me to tell Amaechi to back off, to slow down and that he is playing with fire and playing with a catapult against big guns. I never delivered that message.

All I did was to study him more closely and wait to

see.”

Karibi-Whyte commends Amaechi

Just ice Karibi-Whyte commended Amaechi for embarking on developmental projects that were beneficial to the people of Rivers State, saying it was only a peep into the successful adventure of Amaechi in the state. “From my observation, I believe those who have written, wrote from the position which they thought but they did not to a large extent, look behind the facade of the motivating factors because I believe that he had been pained that nobody had seen the problems which he was foreseeing when he brought about schools, health centres in every local government, roads, education."

I was determined to effect change—Amaechi Giving the background of the challenges he faced after joining the APC, Governor Amaechi noted the sacrifice he and other leaders made for the eventual victory that was realised with the victory over the PDP in the presidential election last March.

“I am determined that there should be a change because if there’s no change, things will not move. Even before the

party convention, I got Asiwaju Tinubu angry. I went to him and implored that we should not fight or disagree over issues. I told him that the important thing was for us to win first and after which, we can disagree. I believe that we must win and make a change, for anything that will not bring that change; I am ready to make a sacrifice.

I am proud to be a part of the change process. I am not stubborn but principled. I speak the truth and abide by the rules.”

On the crisis that engulfed the NGF, Amaechi, who is the chairman of the forum, accused the president of instigating the crisis.

He said: “In the Governors’ Forum, we set up a mechanism where we go from state to state to see how the governors were faring.

Unfortunately, the President scattered the Governors’ Forum”.

Extolling Soyinka’s virtues, he said he is the only person whose bag he has ever carried because of the respect he has for him.

ROLL CALL Governor Rotimi Amaechi (Rivers), Governor Ibikunle Amosun (Ogun), Governor Abdulaziz Yari (Zamfara), Justice Adolphus Karibi-Whyte, Nobel laureate, Professor Wole Soyinka, Bishop of Sokoto, Bishop Matthew Hassan Kukah; Chief John Oyegun-APC National Chairman; Asiwaju Bola Tinubu— former Lagos State governor; Chief Bisi Akande, Engineer Segun Oni, Dr Kayode Fayemi— former governor of Ekiti State; Otunba Niyi Adebayo— former governor of Ekiti State; Business mogul, Alhaji Aliko Dangote; Jim Ovia—former CEO of Zenith Bank; Akinwumi Ambode—Lagos State governor-elect; Mallam Nasir El-Rufai-Kaduna State governor-elect; Mr Samuel Nanlong— Plateau State governorelect; Mr Sam Amuka, Publisher, Vanguard Newspapers; Senator Magnus Abe, Senator Olorunnimbe Mamora, Senator Daisy Danjuma and Alabo Graham Douglas.

6—Vanguard, FRIDAY, MAY 15, 2015

Killer son remanded in Onitsha prison

By Chimaobi Nwaiwu

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NEWI—AN Onitsha Magistrate’s Court, presided over by Magistrate Chioma Amalu, yesterday remanded Mr. Joshua Uzochukwu Ezirim at Onitsha Prison for alleged murder of his father, Mr. Sampson Ezirim, who until his death was a book seller at Onitsha Main Market, Anambra state.

There was a mild drama in the court after the police prosecutor, Mr. Crescent Ogbu, named the wife of the man and his three sons as the four witnesses, although the widow was not in court as she was said to be mourning.

After reading the charge, the magistrate declined jurisdiction and ordered that the suspect be remanded in Onitsha Prisons, while the case file be transferred to the Director of Public Prosecution, DPP, for prosecution at the high court.

When the accused, who did not look remorseful, asked to address the court and was given permission, he said he did not kill his father intentionally, but in self-defence.

Lunatic gives birth to twins in public

By Perez Brisibe

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KU—AN unidentified lunatic, a female, Wednesday, gave birth to a set of twins with assistance from female citizens at the busy Eku Junction in Ethiope East Local Government Area of Delta State. The twins are a boy and a girl.

It was gathered that the lunatic, who is a regular face in the community, normally solicited alms and sleeps at any available shelter within

and around the community.

Recounting the delivery process, Beatrice Ejeta, a staff of Shepherd Care International Orphanage, said she was at home when the proprietor of the orphanage called her, and others, saying a mad woman at Eku junction was in labour.

She said: “I was initially worried if she would cooperate with us. But when I made a ‘come’ sign with my hand, she responded.

“With the assistance of some

female shop owners around the junction, we were able to hold her still and I coordinated the delivery, with the male twin coming out leg first.

“We were delighted when the first baby came out, thinking that was all and released our grip on her only for us to notice that as she trekked to a nearby junction, another baby was coming out.

“Immediately, we ran back to her and delivered her of the second child which was a girl.”

A community source

disclosed that nobody had claimed responsibility for her pregnancy, but that the babies were taken to Eku Baptist Government Hospital.

The Public Relations Officer of Eku Baptist Government Hospital, Mr. Sagay Tuoyo, confirmed the presence of the babies in the hospital, adding that though he had not been fully briefed on the matter, the hospital was equipped with facilities to handle the babies’ immediate demands and challenges.

2 docked over N1.1m theft

By Bartholomew Madukwe & Jane Echewodo

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AGOS—TWO men, Akinola Bale, 35, and Dapo Awofisibe, 37, have been charged before an Ikeja Magistrate’s Court in Lagos for allegedly stealing 71 bags of rubber materials belonging to Dangote Group.

Bale and Awofisibe were accused by the police to have stolen the 71 bags of rubber, valued at N1.1 million, at Plot 3, Oba Akran Avenue, Ikeja Lagos.

They were arraigned on a two-count charge before Chief Magistrate Y. O. Aje Afunwa.

However, when the charge was read to the accused persons, they pleaded not guilty.

Magistrate Afunwa granted the accused persons N500,000 bail, with two sureties that will show evidence of means of livelihood and verifiable office and house addresses.

NOT IN SCHOOL: Counting the day's take from hawking sachet water and beverages along Oyemekun Bus Stop, Iju, Lagos.

PHOTO: Akeem Salau.

Fire engulfs Ministry of Education building

By Laide Akinboade

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BUJA—THERE was confusion, yesterday, as fire engulfed the 6th, 7th and 8th floors of the Ministry of Education building at the Federal Secretariat, Abuja.

Nobody could say how the fire, which saw workers and visitors scampering for safety, started. Fire fighters arrived the scene on time and it was learned that no one was hurt.

Some workers at the complex said fire equipment at the building were not functional, adding that this affected efforts to extinguish the fire earlier.

One of the staff said: “All the fire extinguishers in the building, which could have been used to extinguish the fire at the early stage, have expired. They did not work.”

zNo office, personnel affected—MINISTER zMinistry's fire extinguishers expired—WORKERS Meanwhile, a statement by Mr. Peter Osamgbi, Special Assistant on Media to the Minister of State for Education, Professor Viola Onwuliri, said the fire had been contained by the combined efforts of officers and men of Nigeria Fire service and the Nigerian Police.

It said: “It is important to note that no personnel and offices were affected in the incident.”

Speaking to newsmen, Professor Onwuliri thanked the officers for their prompt response and also thanked God that there was no loss of life.

She also appreciated the staff

of the ministry for their orderliness during the evacuation.

Onwuliri told journalists that the prompt intervention of the fire service prevented the inferno from doing further damage.

She s said: “You can see how many trucks they came along with and they have assured me that they would find the point where the fire started from.

“But the most important thing is that nobody was hurt and the fire service people are still working.”

On when the fire started, she said: “Well, I won’t be able to tell you when the fire

started because I did not check.

“I just know it has something to do with some panel. The Fire Chief has assured me that they will ensure it does not affect other parts of the complex. The offices are all intact, everybody is safe. Everybody ran out.”

She, however, said there was no difficulty accessing the floors by firemen.

The Public Relations Officer, Federal Fire Service, Mr. Elechi Collins, said the fire started around 1.35p.m.

He said nobody can say what caused the fire and the extent of damage done yet.

Vanguard, FRIDAY, MAY 15, 2015—7

Fire razes building, displaces landlord, tenants in A'Ibom

By Chioma Onuegbu

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NO FUEL: One of many empty fuel stations across the country. This one is located along Lagos-Abeokuta Expressway, Lagos.

PHOTO: Joe Akintola, Photo Editor.

Anxiety in Bayelsa over kidnapped Lebanese, police escort

By Samuel Oyadongha

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ENAGOA—FEAR has heightened in Bayelsa State over the whereabouts of a Lebanese national and his police escort, who were abducted last week by armed men allegedly dressed in military camouflage, around the Ox-Bow Lake area of Ogu in Yenagoa Local Government Area of the state.

The Lebanese, identified as Tony, working with Trenur Nigeria Limited and his escort, identified as Corporal Edet from Akwa Ibom State, were abducted at a sand piling project site being handled by the firm.

The mobile policeman was reportedly abducted alongside with his service rifle.

The Lebanese, until his abduction, Vanguard learned, was the supervisor at the project site being handled by Trenur Nigeria Limited, a company owned

by King Amalate Jonny Turner.

It was learned that a week after the abduction of the expatriate and his police escort, their kidnappers are yet to establish contact with the firm, thereby making it difficult for security

operatives to trail them.

The 10 kidnappers, clad in military fatigues, operating in two speedboats, had last week stormed the dredging site, seized their victims and disappeared into the creeks.

An eyewitness, who simply identified himself as Peter, told newsmen in Yenagoa: “The kidnappers were dressed in military camouflage and were in two speedboats.

“They pretended to have

engine problem and moved closer to the dredging site, where they beckoned on the mobile police man. Because they were dressed in military camouflage, he responded.

“They held him up at gunpoint and asked others to lie down. They took away the Lebanese and the mobile escort.”

Coordinator of the Joint Media Campaign Centre of theJoint Task Force, JTF, Lt.

Col. Isa Ado, denied knowledge of the incident.

He said: “Information play a key role in rescue operations.

If we have much information, we will act. We are not aware.”

However, an official of the firm told Vanguard that Chairman of the company, HRH King A. J. Turner, had last week met with the state Commissioner of Police, Paul Okafor, and made a formal report on the incident.

Police, pipeline vandals in bloody shootout in Lagos

By Evelyn Usman

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HERE was bloodbath in Igando area of Lagos yesterday, following a gun battle between pipeline vandals and policemen attached to the Inspector-General of Police Special Task Force on Antipipeline Vandalism, which left an undisclosed number of persons dead.

Unconfirmed reports, however, had it that three policemen and nine vandals lost their lives at the end of the shootout.

An account had it that the armed vandals, numbering over 20, positioned themselves strategically in the swamp to wade off intruders.

While some kept watch, others reportedly burst two underground pipelines from where they siphoned petroleum products.

The policemen, who apparently got wind of the operation, reportedly came all the way from Abuja.

On sighting the police, the vandals reportedly opened fire. But for the act of bravery put up by the policemen, the cross fire would have led to a fire outbreak.

Residents around the area told Vanguard that they were rattled by sounds of sporadic gunshots from the creeks.

The residents, who concluded that the gunshots

were from robbers, reportedly alerted policemen from Igando and neighbouring divisions.

Effort to get the reactions of the Force Public Relations Officer, Emmanuel Ojukwu, and the Lagos State Command’s spokesman, Kenneth Nwosu, on phone failed as their phones rang without response.

However, a senior police officer, who spoke on condition of anonymity, confirmed the incident.

He was mute on the number of casualty, saying “I cannot tell whether anyone died. If any life was lost, the proof will be the dead body.”

YO—A landlord, identified as Chief Sunday Udiongo, and his two tenants, have been rendered homeless, following a fire that gutted his three flats located at Ibok Street, yesterday morning, in Eket Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State.

It was gathered that the landlord and his wife had gone to Church Wednesday night and were not back before the fire, which started about 1a.m., razed his building.

One of the tenants, Nkoyo Jackson, said but for the neighbours living opposite the building that saw smoke on the roof and raised alarm, they would have been burnt in the fire, which started from a firewood the landlord’s housegirl used and had failed to put out completely after cooking.

The fire, it was learned, later spread to a heap of firewood.

She said: “I was in my flat and I did not even notice that the building had caught fire because it started from behind the house, where the landlord’s housegirl must have left the fire wood after cooking for that night; and it caught the heap of firewood on the wall of the kitchen.

“I heard a sound like explosion and thought it was armed robbers but after sometime, I discovered that somebody had gone to the back of the building and raised alarm.

“When I rushed out from my room, there was a crowd in front of our building.

That was about 1a.m.”

State Fire Prevention Officer, Mr. Victor Demson, said from the report from their Eket Divisional Office, no life was lost.

He also explained that they were yet to find out the cause of the fire because the occupants of the building refused to tell the fire fighters what happened.

He said: “Our advice is that everyone should imbibe safety habit and that each building should be equipped with fire gadgets.”

8—Vanguard, FRIDAY, MAY 15, 2015

Fuel crisis: ‘Oil marketers holding Nigerians to ransom’

By Michael Eboh, Godwin Oritse, Godfrey Bivbere, Daud Olatunji, Ediri Ejoh, Gabriel Olawale & Jennifer Aladetan

zFG loses N5bn daily to Apapa gridlock zNACCIMA, LCCI others speak

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BUJA — FOLLOWING the persistent fuel scarcity witnessed nationwide, Nigerians, yesterday, called on oil marketers to show concern to the plight of the citizenry, going by the sufferings and economic hardship their actions have brought upon the country.

Some respondents, who spoke to Vanguard, accused the marketers of holding the country to ransom and deliberately blackmailing Nigerians with their demands.

They wondered why the oil marketers suddenly became desperate to collect the money owed them by the Federal Government, when in the past they were owed bigger sums than they are presently being owed.

Despite disagreements with the Minister of Finance, Mrs. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, over the actual amount owed marketers, Executive Secretary, Major Oil Marketers Association of Nigeria, MOMAN, Mr. Obafemi Olawore, told Bloomberg that oil marketers are being owed N200 billion.

According to him, something must be done about the outstanding amount following the government’s payment of N154 billion last month.

Banks deny capping loans to marketers

Despite marketers’ claim that banks have stopped giving them credit facilities on account of the huge outstanding debts, a source in one of the banks, who spoke to Vanguard in confidence said it is not true. According to the source, some banks are still lending to the oil marketers due to their understanding of the peculiar situation faced by the marketers.

Fear of impending probe

Analysts suspect that the oil marketers’ renewed desperation to collect their outstanding payments before May 29 might be connected with the allegation of massive fraud in the petroleum subsidy regime.

According to one of them, “we wonder why the marketers suddenly became desperate to collect the money owed them to the extent that they have stopped fuel importation. The oil marketers are aware of the challenges confronting the government; we expect them to be considerate and go about making their demands with a human face.

“I believe the desperation is

exercise; the concessionaires partitioned the ports without making provision for parking spaces for the trucks.

Going forward, he urged the government to as a matter of urgency; compel the shipping companies to get a holding bay close to the ports, where they can store empty containers until they were ready to receive them.

This, he argued, will free the access roads in and around the ports, adding that the traffic gridlock has continued to drive up the cost of hiring trucks.

According to him, the cost of hiring a 20 and 40-feet truck in the past was between N20,000 and N35,000, but had since increased to between N70,000 to N120,000 respectively.

Dysfunctional system —LCCI

Oshodi-Apapa expressway taken over by fuel tankers. because the marketers are afraid that the incoming administration will probe the petroleum subsidy scheme and sanction individuals found wanting.”

Fuel subsidy, fraud against Nigerians

Also commenting on the issue, Chief Executive Officer, Highcap Securities Limited, Mr. David Adonri, maintained that petroleum subsidy is a fraud against the people of Nigeria.

He wondered why the marketers are using all means necessary to recover the outstanding payments before Gen. Muhammadu Buhari assumes duty as President based on fears that the new administration might refuse to disburse the amount earmarked for fuel subsidy.

Don’t exploit Nigerians

Also speaking, National Vice President, Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture, NACCIMA, Prince Billy Harry, noted that fuel scarcity had done remarkable damage to the country and brought untold hardship on ordinary Nigerians.

Calling on the marketers to also think about Nigerians in all their actions, Harry who is also the Chairman, Federation of South-South Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture, FOSSCCIMA, said it would be unfair for marketers to resort to hoarding.

He said: “Marketers should know that they are servicing Nigerians and should not look for opportunities to take advantage of the citizens through their actions. The oil marketers

should think about Nigerians in all they do. They should make sure they give Nigerians the best.”

He equally blamed the Federal Government for the huge outstanding debts, and called for expedite payment to enable marketers settle their debts to the banks and get funds to finance their fuel imports.

He maintained that at this stage in the life of the country, the refineries should have been working optimally, while products importation should have been long discontinued.

He said: “The Federal Government and the Pipeline and Products Marketing Company, PPMC, have over the years done a great disservice to Nigerians in the area of stability in the supply of petroleum products.

“Money owed oil marketers should not have been the case at this point in time. Our refineries should have been working and not the country importing fuel.”

FG losing N5bn daily to Apapa gridlock

Stakeholders in the maritime industry have decried the continued neglect of the port town of Apapa, following its shutdown by Petroleum Tanker Drivers, PTD, in search of fuel in the Apapa and Tin-can ports.

The stakeholders also noted that the Federal Government is losing about N5 billion daily to the traffic gridlock that has made Apapa a no-go-area.

The National Publicity Secretary of the Association of Nigeria License Customs Agents, ANLCA, Dr Kayode Collins Farinto, said the traffic

gridlock along Oshodi-Apapa Expressway, Wharf Road, Marine Bridge, Ijora, Orile and a host of others has become unbearable. Besides, Farinto noted these routes have now become dens for armed robbers and other miscreants, saying that many motorists and residents are being dispossessed of their valuables and cash at gun points.

He added that commercial and business activities are gradually being grounded because of the uncivilised and uncultured attitude of the tanker drivers, who park their trucks indiscriminately thereby blocking the highway causing pains and discomfort to other road users.

Farinto also blamed former President Olusegun Obasanjo for the crisis in Apapa, saying, “the Obasanjo administration went ahead to give approval to all the tank farms to be situated around Nigeria’s busiest ports.

This greedy and callous act of ‘Executive Recklessness’ has brought economic loss in terms of manpower and loss of valuable time to both the rich and poor.”

He urged the incoming administration Gen. Buhari to make good its campaign promise to relocate the tank farms in and around the port environment to the Lekki Free Trade Zone.

Also speaking, the Deputy National President, National Council of Managing Directors of Licensed Customs Agents, Mr Uchu Block, blamed the federal government for concessioning the ports without giving consideration for parking space for trailers going in and out of the ports.

Block told Vanguard that immediately after the concession

Analysing the gridlock in Apapa from governance perspective, the Director General, Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry, LCCI, Mr. Yusuf Muda, said: “If there is anything that symbolises a dysfunctional system and ineffective governance, it is the Apapa gridlock.

“What we are witnessing is a symptom of much deeper shortcomings in the management of government business. If the refineries were working, the trucks will not be converging on Lagos to lift imported petroleum products. If the pipelines were in good state, the bulk of the products would be transported seamlessly to the various depots in the country. If the rail system had not collapsed, most of the products would have been transported by rail at even cheaper cost. If the government had not entangled itself in the complex web of petroleum subsidy, the supply side issues would have been substantially resolved.

“Of course, the cost to the economy is phenomenal. Energy to power the economy is in gross supply. And this is made even worse by a collapsing public power supply system. Many industries and business enterprises have been groaning as a consequence of energy crisis. Many have cut down on the number of work hours. Flights are being cancelled on daily basis because aviation fuel could not be supplied on account of the gridlock on the Apapa Oshodi axis. Because of the convergence of trucks on Lagos ports, an unprecedented traffic gridlock has been created on the Apapa axis of Lagos with spillover effects to other parts of Lagos, leading to considerable loss of man hours. Generally the toll on the welfare of citizens is profound.

“The way out is to address the key structural issues in the oil and gas sector. The telecoms reform model need to be immediately replicated in the oil and gas sector. We need a framework that will restrict the role of government and its agencies to a strictly regulatory one."

Vanguard, FRIDAY, MAY 15, 2015—9

I'll return stronger to rebuild PDP, Jonathan tells party leadership

Controversy trails sale of OML 40, 42

zSays he'll take a short rest outside Nigeria zAdds: My very close aides did not vote

zAs PENGASSAN, NUPENG deadline ends today

A

By Henry Umoru

BUJA — PRESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan has told the National Working Committee, NWC, of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, that he would return stronger to help rebuild the party after taking a short break outside the country with his family.

The President urged the leadership, stakeholders, leaders, elders and members of the PDP to put behind them the defeat the party suffered during the March 28 presidential election where it lost to the All Progressives Congress, APC, after 16 years in power and build the party for future elections.

President Jonathan, who did not actually blame the leadership of the party for his loss at the election, was said to have heaped the blames on some of his very close aides, just as he told the NWC members that a Special Adviser from the North did not even vote on the day of Presidential election.

Vanguard gathered that President Jonathan, who thanked members of the NWC for their support, disclosed to them that soon after the May 29 handover of government, he would travel outside the country with his family, rest, recuperate and then come back to politics later, but not immediately.

President Jonathan who also warned the leadership of the party against apportioning blames asked them to ensure that the PDP does not disintegrate because of March and April elections.

PDP will bounce back

He said from all indications, the PDP would bounce back against the backdrop that there would be the problem of ego where three persons will be serving as Presidents of the country with only one elected.

The Wednesday meeting was held behind closed doors at the Presidential Villa with the aim of ending the lingering crisis in the party after the general elections where some PDP governors, party leaders, stakeholders and members have been calling for the sack of the present National Working Committee, NWC, under Alhaji Adamu Mu'azu.

The meeting, the first of its kind since the PDP lost the presidency after 16 years of leadership to the Presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC,

General Muhammadu Buhari, retd, was a postmortem on the election, to discuss the way forward for the party especially the move to heal the inflicted wounds, to restrategise as well as

reposition the party.

It was also gathered that those present at the meeting used the opportunity to ruminate on the elections and the loss where they wished that the PDP would have won

the election.

The ruling PDP, which controlled the Presidency, the Senate and the House of Representatives for 16 years since 1999, did not only suffer Presidential defeat, but it lost in its traditional states of Plateau; Niger; Kaduna; Benue; Bauchi and Jigawa.

AWARD: National President, National Council of Women Societies (NCWS), Chief Nkechi Mba (left), presenting an award to the First Lady, Dame Patience Jonathan, at the inauguration of NCWS Board of Trustees and farewell forthe First Lady, in Abuja yesterday.

With them is the former National President of the NCWS and member, Board of Trustees, Hajia Ramatu Usman.

Obasanjo hands over report of strategic devt plan to Buhari zLists priorities areas as education, power sector, others zJonathan yet to do similar thing —Buhari

By Levinus Nwabughiogu

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BUJA — FORMER President Olusegun Obasanjo, yesterday, handed over to the President-elect, General Muhammadu Buhari (retd), a report of a strategic development plan containing templates that would assist the incoming government to rapidly achieve its objectives of taking the nation a notch higher.

Top on the list of the report were education, power sector, economy, security and infrastructure.

The report was a product of a research work embarked upon by the Centre for Human Security of the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library on major social challenges facing Nigeria four months ago.

The event which took place at the Buhari Support Organization, BSO’s office in Abuja had in attedance the chairman, Governing Board of

the Centre for Human Security of Obasanjo Presidential Library, Professor Akin Mabogunje, who was incidentally the chairman of the committee; former Minister of Finance and Committees vice chairman, Dr. Kalu Idika Kalu, who presented volumes of the report to Buhari and Dr. Christopher Kolade, who headed the power committee.

Speaking to journalists at the end of the brief ceremony held behind closed doors, Mabogunje, who represented Chief Obasanjo said the report contained policy documents that would help the President-elect restructure Nigeria, revealing that Buhari was full of thanks for the documents.

He said: “Centre for Human Security of the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Liberary has been working on a number of critical issues for the development of this country and they have now sent a delegation of those who have been involved with the preparation of those policy documents to talk to the President-elect and get him to

appreciate what is being done to help his administration.

That’s why we are here.

“We’ve looked at education, security, economy, power and infrastructure. Those are the areas we’ve made recommendations and which we hope the new administration will be able to work on."

“He (Buhari) was very happy that we’ve been thinking about how to help him hit the ground running and he expressed his appreciation for what we’ve been doing.”

Giving details of the reports, Dr. Kolade explained the long, medium and short terms goals of the report.

According to him, the strategic plan hoped to raise the country’s power generation to 10,000 MW within a short period of time.

Responding, Buhari regretted that the out-going government that is supposed to give him tips on how to take off has done nothing so far. He thanked the Obasanjo team for their gesture, assuring them that his incoming administration will be needing their advice as time goes on.

By Ediri Ejoh with agency reports

L

AGOS — CONTROVERSY continues to trail the transfer of ownership of the Joint Venture, JV, partnership in Oil Mining Leases OML 40 and OML 42 by the Federal Government through the Ministry of Petroleum Resources to Neconde Energy Nigeria Limited and Elcrest Exploration and Production Limited.

To this end, the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria, PENGASSAN, and the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers, NUPENG, of the Nigeria Petroleum Development Corporation, NPDC, Benin, Edo State branch, have threatened to shut down production in the oil leases if the transfer is not reversed.

Reuters reported that the unions gave a deadline of today for the government to reverse the transfer or they will shut down exploration activities in the entire oil leases.

The unions had accused the Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs. Diezani Allison-Madueke, of stripping the two oil blocks from NPDC, a subsidiary of Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC. In 2011, the Federal Government assigned 55 per cent equity in eight assets divested by the Shell Petroleum Development Company, SPDC to NPDC. The company had since retained the operatorship of most of the assets which included: OMLs 4, 26, 30, 34, 38, 40, 41 and 42.

However, over the past one year, NPDC and Neconde Energy, joint owners of 55 percent and 45 percent stakes respectively, have been engaged in unresolved crisis over the operation of the OML 42. Despite the dispute, the Petroleum Minister had on February 5th, approved the transfer of operatorship of OML 42 from NPDC to Neconde.

The Neconde Chairman, Dr. Ernest Obiejesi, had alleged that NPDC lacked the capacity to continue as operator of the oil block following the decline in production level from 30,000 barrels per day, bpd, achieved as at the period of acquisition from SPDC, the previous operator of the onshore block to 13,000 bpd in 2014.

10 — Vanguard, FRIDAY, MAY 15, 2015

2000 artisans, tradesmen receive certificates

By Olasunkanmi Akoni

A

T least 2,000 tradesmen and artisans who graduated from the Lagos State Tradesmen and Artisans Empowerment Programme (LASTVEB), yesterday, received their certificates from Governor Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State following the after completion of eight weeks intensive training programme.

The training, sponsored by the state government aimed at enhancing productivity and engendering growth in the informal sector.

The 2000 artisans and traders successfully completed an eight-week intensive training in entrepreneurship, use of Information Communication Technology, ICT, and other business skills to upgrade their skills in the small enterprises.

NOA honours airport cleaner who returned N12m

By Lawani Mikairu & Daniel Eteghe

L

AGOS—NATIONAL Orientation Agency, NOA, yesterday honoured the airport cleaner, Miss Josephine Agwu who returned N12miilion that was forgotten by a passenger with the Citizens Responsibility Recognition award at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, MMIA, Lagos.

Director General of National Orientation Agency, NOA, Mr. Mike Omeri presented the award and a national flag to Miss Agwu for her display of honesty.

Mr. Omeri said that the airport cleaner, painted the image of the country in a good light which had hitherto been tainted by the conduct of a few Nigerians.

According to him, government was honouring her for doing the right thing adding that her conduct was in line with the new slogan of the agency. He also said that the agency would not relent in rewarding Nigerians that exhibit such honesty.

He urged the airport staff to continue to display such exemplary conduct which is the traditional way of life of Nigerians.

According to Omeri, the airport cleaner has joined the league of other honest Nigerians including Governor Babatunde Raji Fashola of Lagos State, who was rewarded for apprehending a traffic offender.

He added that other Nigerians including a cab operator in Abuja who have returned money in the past have been rewarded with the citizen’s responsibility recognition ward.

Omeri said: “The Federal Government through the National Orientation Agency decided to honour the airport cleaner as a way of rewarding honesty and transparency.

“This recognition is in line with our slogan to Nigerians to do the right thing .Showing good example is part of the good values that Nigerians should emulate.

Three years ago we gave similar recognition of honour to other Nigerians that have exhibited good conduct of honesty.

“This is good for our country to always show such conduct that our country deserves. I want to commend airport workers for their good conduct which is important because people all over the world travel through the airport .I want to urge the airport staff to remain

honest, which is part of what we are as a people.

Many people h a v e b e e n given t h i s recognition in the past, and we hope it w i l l serve as a platform f o r Miss Agwu, one rare Nigerian. honour.” opportunities for advertisements. he said.

Omeri said the conduct of the Therefore I urge Nigerians to airport cleaner has opened fresh invest in this company.”

Also speaking, Regional vistas for the company where she work, which has a good Manager, South West Airports, reputation, with the attendant Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria, FAAN, Mr. Remi capacity to attract investment.

He said “This is a good Aromiwura said that the authority develop, if this happens in other was excited over the conduct of countries, it shows the company the cleaner, which is enough where she is working has good evidence that the environment reputation, which could attract is safe for passengers and users more investors and even open of its facilities.

Vanguard, FRIDAY, MAY 15, 2015 — 11

EKITI KIDNAPPINGS: NMA embargoes nocturnal movt by members zAs APC accuses Fayose of fanning insecurity

I

By Gbenga Ariyibi

A

DO EKITI—AS a measure aimed at cubbing the rampant kidnap of its members, the Nigerian Medical Association, NMA, Ekiti chapter has advised doctors to remove the association’s stickers from their vehicles and stop going out at night.

The association said the measure is aimed at putting an end to the frequent harassment and kidnapping of their members by abductors who erroneously believed that medical personnel receive higher pay than other workers in the State civil service.

The doctors equally frowned at what it called lackadaisical attitude of the police and the Department of State Services, DSS, toward the kidnap cases.

The doctors argued that they deserve to be protected considering the special services they render to the society.

The NMA was reacting to the perceived inability of the security operatives to track down those who abducted the former Chief Medical Director of the Ekiti State University Teaching Hospital, Dr Patrick Adegun, his wife, Kikelomo as well as a nurse working with the Federal Teaching Hospital, Ido Ekiti, Mrs Margaret Aladenika in recent times.

A lecturer at the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile Ife, Dr FemiOmisore, was also abducted last weekend.

Speaking at a press conference in Ado Ekiti yesterday, the NMA Chairman in Ekiti State, Dr John Akinbote,said it is better for their members to remove the association’s stickers from their vehicles at least for now.

“We are also advising them to stop moving around at night because these people had the erroneous impression that we receive higher pay and that we can be profitable object of kidnap.

“They have to remove anything that could suggest that they are members of this association since we are the target”, he said.

Fayose’s the author of insecurity – APC lawmakers

Meantime, the 19 All Progressives Congress, APC, lawmakers in Ekiti State have asked Governor Ayodele Fayose to stop deceiving Ekiti people on the incessant activities of criminals in the state, saying the governor himself should be blamed as the author of criminal activities through his unbecoming behaviour that encourages crimes to thrive in the state.

Reacting to a media report by the governor ’s media aide, Lere Olayinka, accusing the lawmakers of frustrating the security measures by the governor to stem criminal activities, the lawmakers in a statement by Speaker Adewale

We’ll track down cop killers, says Oyo police boss

FORTIFICATION PROGRAMME: From left; Mrs Christiana Obiazikwor, Chief Information Officer; Mrs Benedicta Obaseki, Regulatory Officer and Mr Gregory Omihi, Chief Technologist, all of National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control, NAFDAC, during the agency's Vitamin A Fortification Programme at the Ojuwoye market in Lagos yesterday. Photo

by Biodun Ogunleye.

Omirin’s Special Adviser on Media, Wole Olujobi, said the governor was the one encouraging crimes to thrive through unbecoming conduct in the running of government since assumption of office.

“Even before he became the governor, Ekiti State witnessed a heavy influx of criminals to the state. In government, importation of thugs was reported in the media. The thugs were reportedly joined by the escapees of the Ado-Ekiti jail break and were quartered in the Adesua Lodge of the Government

House,” the statement noted.

Drivers warn APC lawmakers

Also yesterday the conglomeration of commercial driver’s unions in Ekiti State allegedly warned the 19 All Progressive Congress (APC) lawmakers in Ekiti State House of Assembly and their sponsors to shelve any move to invade the state with thugs in their desperate bid to impeach the state governor,Mr Ayo Fayose,saying they would do everything within their reach to resist the plan

The unions said they are aware of the meeting held by eight of the APC lawmakers with a former president yesterday night and the one they have scheduled for Oshogbo, Osun State tonight as well as the two dates they have picked to invade Ekiti, adding that; “all efforts by the APC lawmakers and their sponsors to throw Ekiti State into chaos will be resisted. “We are following every of their moves and whatever funny move they make between now and the end of their tenure will be resisted.”

According to a statement

Controversy trails Aregbesola son's alleged arrest

By Lawani Mikairu

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AGOS—DESPITE denial by the government of Osun State on Wednesday that no son of the Governor of Osun State, Rauf Aregbesola was arrested at Lagos Airport for money laundering, a source that refused to be quoted told Vanguard that the governor’s son, identified as Kabiru was actually arrested.

The source who begged not to be named, said Kabiru was on his way to United Arab Emirate with over N178million. He also disclosed that “Kabiru was arrested on Tuesday afternoon at the departure wing of the Muritala Muhammed International Airport , Lagos, with the sum of N178 million Naira in his luggage that was not declared by him”.

On Wednesday, Osun state governor, Mr Rauf Aregbesola denied the involvement of any of his children in money

laundering. The clarification was made by Mr Semiu Okanlawon Director,Bureau of Communication & Strategy, Office of the Governor.

Okanlawon’s statement reads in part, “It has become pertinent to inform Nigerians and others generally that there is no iota of truth in the story being peddled around by some misguided elements claiming that a son of Governor Rauf Aregbesola of Osun, Kabir Aregbesola was arrested at the Muritala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos today Tuesday May 12, 2015 with a huge sum of money in foreign currencies.

“We have discovered the the authors of the wicked and malicious lie are doggedly pursuing their agenda by engaging in an aggressive push for the falsehood to reach a larger population especially using the social media.

“The younger Aregbesola neither traveled anywhere nor had

any encounter with any security personnel today.''

BADAN—THE Oyo State Commissioner of Police, Mohammed Katsina, on Wednesday vowed to track down everyone involved in last month’s killing of a Divisional Police Officer (DPO) at Adekile area of Ibadan.

Chief Superintendent of Police, Ikeokwu Nworgu, was attacked by some hoodlums while on official duty at Adekile area of Ibadan.

The hoodlums had inflicted fatal machete cuts on him and also shot him.

Katsina, who spoke with the News Agency of Nigeria, NAN, said the command had arrested another suspect who was close to the principal suspect said to be at large.

“We are getting close to arresting the second in command of those that killed the DPO, and until I nab the last man involved in killing him, I will not rest,” he said.

He said the arrested suspect, who had fled the area with others, was nabbed last week when information filtered in that he had returned to the area. “ The suspect was arrested around 2 a.m. in his house at Adekile,” he said.

Chief Superintendent of Police, Ikeokwu Nworgu, was attacked by some hoodlums while on official duty at Adekile area of Ibadan.

The hoodlums had inflicted fatal machete cuts on him and also shot him.

Katsina, said the command had arrested another suspect who was close to the principal suspect said to be at large.

…As gov vows to deliver promises

G

OVERNOR Rauf Aregbesola yesterday said the challenges the state is facing is temporary and that his administration will fulfil all its promises to the people .

The governor during the RLG product Discovery Day held at the RLG Adulawo Technology city, Ilesa-Akure expressway noted that the People’s Democratic Party, PDP is the harbinger of Nigeria’s problem.

RLG plant, a public-private partnership arrangement between RLG Ghana and Osun state government is the biggest in Africa and the first of its kind in Nigeria.

Aregbesola stressed that, given the potential of the electronic market in Nigeria, RLG is a

necessity which when in full operation, will be able to assemble all kinds of electronic gadgets from mobile phones, LCD TV, desktop computers and any electronic device imaginable.

He added that RLG has recorded a significant breakthrough with GSM service providers partnering with it.

RLG has received an order for 50,000 phones each from Airtel Nigeria and Globacom, stressing that the company has provided direct employment for 150 workers.

Aregbesola pointed out that the next phase of its operation will provide employment for 1,500 salespersons who will man the kiosks and other sales outposts for RLG products as it enters the mobile phone market.

12—Vanguard, FRIDAY, MAY 15, 2015

NBA shuns Rivers commission probing political killings

By Jimitota Onoyume

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ORT HARCOURT— PORT Harcourt branch of the Nigerian Bar Association, NBA, has shunned the Rivers State Commission of Inquiry on politically motivated killings in the state, saying the commission lacked powers to investigate crime and make recommendations for appropriate punishment for those found guilty.

Chairman of the body, Mr Dennis Okwakpam, in a letter to the commission’s Chairman, Prof Chidi Odinkalu, said it was unfortunate that Prof Odinkalu accepted to preside over the commission when he should rather be investigating cases of rights abuses in the state as Chairman, National Human Rights Commission, NHRC. According to him, some of the abuses include closure of the courts since June 10 last year.

He said: “It seems to us that your commission is being asked to unwittingly investigate crime.

You will recall that the statement by the governor on your inauguration explained that the reason for setting up the commission was to investigate why the victims were killed, who killed them, under what circumstances and for the commission to recommend appropriate punishment for the

perpetrators and to make useful recommendations that will help government forestall future reoccurrence.

“We submit that the power or authority to investigate crime or criminal activities is vested in the Nigeria Police Force. While the power or authority to adjudicate and make pronouncement as to the guilt or otherwise of any person is exclusively vested in the

courts of justice established under law. Your commission is neither the police nor a court and cannot, under any guise, be vested with any authority to investigate or adjudicate over criminal matters.”

The NBA said it would not be part of the activities of the commission, insisting that it would not serve any useful purpose.

“We contend that the more

pressing incident of human rights abuses has to be the continued closure of the courts in Rivers State. The courts have been under lock and key since June 10, 2014 with the consequence being total denial of access to justice and the failure and collapse of one arm of government in Rivers State, the effect of the shutdown is obvious to all and thoroughly devastating," he added.

AWARENESS CAMPAIGN: From left: Prof. T. S. Abam, Director, Institute of Geoscience and Space Technology, Rivers State University of Science and Technology; Mr. Benjamin Oghenah, National Emergency Management Agency, NEMA, Zonal Co-ordinator, SouthSouth and Mr Oliver Wolugbom, Rivers State Director, National Orientation Agency, at the flood sensitization and awareness campaign by NEMA, in collaboration with the Rivers State Ministry of Special Duties, in Port Harcourt,yesterday. Photo:Nwankpa Chijioke.

Edo govt to JUSUN: Resume Monday, or...

By Simon Ebegbulem & Gabriel Enogholase

B

ENIN—JUDICIAL Service Commission, JSC, Edo State, has ordered all staff of the state judiciary who have been on strike to report to work on May 18, or risk being sacked.

The warning came as Governor Adams Oshiomhole warned that he will not succumb to blackmail by the state branch of the Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria, JUSUN, on their call for financial autonomy for the judiciary,

adding that he will not surrender the authority of the state to employees who have chosen to use union actions to canvass non-union issues.

But state Chairman of JUSUN, Mr Uyi Ogieriakhi, in his reaction, said that the judicial workers will not be intimidated and would not return to work until there was a directive from their national headquarters since the strike was a national issue.

A statement by Mr. Isaac Sanu, Secretary to Edo State Service

Commission in Benin, said that any staff who fails to report by the close of work on May 18, should consider himself/herself dismissed from service effective that date.

He assured returnee workers of adequate security, saying that nobody will be allowed to be molested by some persons with untoward behaviour.

Similarly, Oshiomhole, while

swearing in the Judicial Service Commission at the Government House, said: “I want to publicly assure you that I am convinced that it is only reasonable and sensible for government to put in place a formular that will guarantee the independence of the judicial officers that he or she can perform his or her duties without fear of the executive and without being at the mercy of the executive."

JTF parades 4 suspected pirates in Bayelsa

By Samuel Oyadongha

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ENAGOA—THE Joint Task Force, JTF, in the Niger Delta, codenamed Operation Pulo Shield, yesterday, paraded four suspects, among them, a 17 -yearold, for their alleged involvement in sea piracy and other criminal acts on Bayelsa State waterways.

The suspects include Robinson Sunday (22), David Mate (21), Jockey Daukoru (17) and Lelegite (18).

They were said to be behind most of the sea attacks in the creeks and rivulets of the East senatorial district of the state.

Parading the suspects at the JTF headquarters in Yenagoa, the Coordinator of the Joint Media Campaign Centre, Lt. Col. Isa Ado, on behalf of the JTF Commander, Major General Emmanuel Atewe, said the suspects were arrested at Mbikiri and Nembe 1 communities by troops deployed at Fontua, Brass Local Government Area of Bayelsa State.

Items recovered from the suspects, include one AK 47 rifle with registration number QQ1798, four rounds of 7.62mm special ammunition, one G3 rifle loaded with 7.62mm NATO and one pump action gun loaded with cartridges.

Vanguard, FRIDAY, MAY 15, 2015—13

Cultists flee Edo as Police move arrested govt officials to Abuja

By Emma Nnadozie, Crime Editor & Simon Ebegbulem

T

HE four Edo State Government officials and seven others arrested by the Police have been flown to Force Headquarters, Abuja, for further interrogation.

This came as it was learned that suspected cultists and other criminals have reportedly taken flight from the state to evade arrest and prosecution. Meanwhile, a notorious leader of one of the cult groups (name withheld) in Edo State, has, in the wake of the clampdown on cultists in the state, fled to London where his family resides.

However, the Edo State Government, yesterday, expressed its readiness to ensure that any of its officials involved in cultism was prosecuted according to the law.

Police sources said that the

collaborative effort between the IG's special team and Edo State Police Command, has paid off, as almost all the known and suspected cultists in the state who have held sway by killing and harassing innocent people, have suddenly disappeared to unknown locations.

One of the fleeing gang leaders who was described as ‘very brutal,’ was alleged to have received N10 million from one of the political parties during elections but failed to share it equitably. This, according to reports, angered members of his gang as they resorted to attacks, which led to the death of no fewer than 10 persons within one month, prompting the IG’s intervention.

Vanguard gathered that police authorities will soon declare about 10 suspected leaders of cult groups in the state who fled to unknown destinations, wanted, with huge ransoms placed on

their heads. Sources said, despite the flight by the gang leaders, Police succeeded in arresting about 60 of their foot soldiers who are said to be in custody at the command headquarters in Benin City.

Efforts made to reach the leader of the special operation from Abuja, Mr Chris Ezike, failed as his telephone lines were switched off.

Meanwhile, Edo State Government, yesterday, expressed its readiness to ensure that any of its officials involved in cultism was prosecuted according to the law. Expressing shock at the arrest of some of its officials by the crack team of detectives deployed to the state by the IG, over alleged involvement in cultism, the state government expressed its readiness to co-oporate with the police in its investigation.

Over 15 persons including two mothers were shot dead in the last one month in Benin City,

following cult wars between the Eiye, Manfiat and the Black Axe confraternities. The IG, who is an indigene of the state, Vanguard learned, was furious over the situation and vowed to track down the perpetrators.

No fewer than 1,000 crack detectives arrived Benin City, Wednesday, and are currently working to mop up the dreaded cultists who have terrorised the people of the state in the past one month.

A statement by the Edo State Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Mr Louis Odion, said: “The reports came as a big shock to us. While it is inappropriate to jump to conclusion until police investigations are concluded, let me put on record that cultism in whatever form negates the values Governor Adams Oshiomhole holds dear. This is easily verifiable from his zero tolerance for thuggery or any form of political violence over the years."

DIAMOND JUBILEE LECTURE: From left: Professor Adeniyi Agunbiade, Guest Speaker; his wife, Jokotade; Gen. Yakubu Gowon, Chairman of the occassion; Rev Felix Meduoye, General Overseer, Foursquare Gospel Church in Nigeria; his wife, Rev (Mrs) Bisi Meduoye and HRM Ogiame Atuwatse II, the Olu of Warri, during the Foursquare Gospel Church in Nigeria Diamond Jubilee lecture in Lagos. Photo: Lamidi Bamidele.

Delta IGR leaps 550% in 5yrs, says Uduaghan

By Egufe Yafugborhi

W

ARRI—INTERNALLY Generated Revenue, IGR, in Delta State has increased by 550 percent in the last five years.

Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan said this yesterday, as he commissioned the sixstorey Delta State Internal Revenue Board, DBIR, headquarters in Warri, alongside 15 zonal revenue houses across the state built by his administration to boost IGR services, said: “We have been working toward diversifying the Delta Beyond Oil, DBO, through IGR to transform all parts of the state and within a short time we have been able to build 15 revenue offices.”

Represented by the state Commissioner for Finance and Economic Planning, Olorogun Kenneth Okpara, the governor C M Y K

said that the improved commitment towards IGR in the state was integral to the overall mission of diversifying the state’s economy with a backing law, the Delta State Internal Revenue Consolidated Act already signed and a DBO,

master plan in place to drive the vision.

The governor also launched text books on DBO primary and secondary schools in the state, said that the books in volumes one and two will be distributed to all schools to enlighten

students on the import of DBO. Chairman, DBIR, Joel Thomas-Onowhakpo, on the occasion, expressed the board’s commitment to recovering every debt owned the state government.

Buhari, IBB, others expected in Edo as Oshiomhole remarries today

By Simon Ebegbulem

B

ENIN—PRESIDENT-Elect, General Muhammadu Buhari and his wife Aisha, are among dignitaries expected today for the wedding between Governor Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State and his fiancée, Miss Lara Fortes, at his country home in Iyamho, Etsako West Local Government Area of the state.

Other dignitaries expected include former Head of State, Gen. Ibrahim Babangida, former Vice President, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, the national leader of

All Progressives Congress, APC, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, National Chairman of APC, Chief John OdigieOyegun, Governor Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers State and others.

Oshiomhole is re-marrying five years after he lost his first wife, Clara on December 8, 2010. She died after several years of battle with cancer.

Oshiomhole has been under pressure from traditional rulers including the Benin monarch, Oba of Benin to take another wife who will be of assistance to him at home.

Defection: Bayelsa govt blasts Ikisikpo over comments on Dickson

By Samuel Oyadongha

Y

E N A G O A — BAYELSA State Government has described as uncharitable, the comments credited to the out-going senator representing Bayelsa-East senatorial district, Senator Clever Ikisikpo, during his defection to All Progressives Congress, APC, that Governor Seriake Dickson will soon defect to APC. Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Mr. Daniel Iworiso-Markson, in a statement, yesterday, berated Senator Ikisikpo over his comments, saying that they were made out of frustration “to dignify his perfidy and rope Governor Dickson into his dubious defection scheme.

“A man who rose from relative obscurity through the platform of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, from 1999 as state House of Assembly member and later to the National Assembly, serving as a two term member of the green chambers and from there rose through the shoulders of President Goodluck Jonathan to the Senate, could not even, as a mark of honour and respect, wait for the President, his benefactor, kinsman and leader of a political party that gave him so much, to leave office before defecting to the APC. “It shows the height of desperation, treachery, mischief and blackmail perpetrated by some of the so-called PDP leaders, who worked to deny the party victory at the polls even against one of their own."

14—Vanguard, FRIDAY, MAY 15, 2015

Unity Forum emerges to push independent Senate leadership

By Emmanuel Aziken

T

HE STANCE Taken by the Presidentelect, General Muhammadu Buhari that the next National Assembly leadership should independently emerge, has given birth to a new group, the Unity Forum, which was reportedly formed to push the concept.

The group, consisting of serving senators and senators-elect, according to its spokesman, a senatorelect, was formed to ensure that only an incorruptible person in the mould of the President-elect should lead the Senate.

Briefing newsmen in Abuja, the spokesman enumerated, among others, cognate experience, incorruptibility, team-play, as factors that the Unity Forum would use in evaluating the candidates it would support for the leadership of the Senate.

“We believe that the new leadership should be able to help the President-elect achieve and deliver on his campaign promises to rid Nigeria of corruption and also, establish the rule of law and good governance in the country,” he said.

Buhari had, Wednesday, disclaimed assertions of his relationship with any of the candidates for Senate President, saying he was ready to work with anyone irrespective of tribe, language or creed.

He added that these insinuations were probably borne out of people’s expectations based on the way things had happened in the past, but reminded Nigerians that change had truly come.

C M Y K

GOWON: Why Nigeria has remained together ...says Ojukwu never believed I would go to war

By Ikenna Asomba

the civil war in 1967-1970, he said, jokingly that his colleague, late Chukwuemeka Ojukwu never believed he (Gowon) would call LATED BY the successful out Nigeria’s fighting forces to outcome of the last general fight against the Biafran side in elections, former Head of State, order to keep Nigeria one.

General Yakubu Gowon, According to Gowon, the Bible yesterday, said that despite the had consistently been his assertions of naysayers and companion from childhood till uncertified futurologists, who date, adding that his colleague, predicted the break-up of Nigeria Ojukwu had said then, he (Gowon) was a Christian, who carried around suitcase with a Bible inside, and so would not like to call out the Nigerian federal forces to war in order to stop the secession.

Gowon said: “All my life, from childhood to this present day, the Bible has consistently been my companion. I discovered quite early that every word of God contained therein speaks to every situation in the life of every man or woman, great or small, and to occurrences in every nation, big or small.

"Since these words are PROGRAMME: From Left, Mrs. Christiana Obiazikwor, Chief Information Officer; Mrs. Benedicta Obaseki, self-evidently true, they are Regulatory Officer, and Mr. Gregory Omihi, Chief Technologist, all of National Agency Food and Drug reliable and unfailing. This Administration and Control, NAFDAC, during NAFDAC's Vitamin A Fortification Programme, at the should surprise no one because God Himself gave Ojuwoye Market, in Lagos. Photo: Biodun Ogunleye us the assurance that He would always answer when we call upon Him. “You will agree that, across time, happenings in our fatherland have almost always ensured that people of faith across With these facts, it is major contributor.

By Chioma Obinna denominations in unimaginable to question Announcing that the Christendom and in Islam HE NATIONAL Agency for Food and Drug or doubt the importance Agency will be mopping kept unending vigil for the Administration and Control, yesterday, said of vitamin A to achieving up products that failed the love of country. that micro-nutrient deficiency remains a huge socio-economic stability of tests, she said: "Vitamin A "Let me share a joke of problem in the country despite its enormous any country.” in fortified products what happened before the She further explained that depletes when stored under civil war in 1967-1970. I consequences for economic growth and human post market surveillance the sun. There is need for think it was my colleague development.

To this end, the agency has resumed its routine was to ensure that the traders to store fortified Emeka Ojukwu that said I post market surveillance for Vitamin A fortified foods products they inspected in products away from direct know Jack, he is a Christian, the factories are of the same sun because sun affects who always carries a nationwide.

Addressing journalists in continuation of the post quantity of Vitamin A the quality of vitamin A suitcase around with the market surveillance on Vitamin A at Ojuwoye recommended levels of in fortified food products. Bible inside. He wouldn’t Market in Mushin area of Lagos, the Chief 20,000 International Units, We are also here to let like to fight. Unfortunately, Regulating Officer, Food Safety Nutrition IU. the public be aware on he was proved wrong.

“We want to ascertain the how to identity fortified However, it was through the Directorate, Mrs. Benedicta Obaseki said NAFDAC’s programme on food fortification was quantity of Vitamin A in food products. grace of God, that we were to reduce the prevalence of micro-nutrient the market, so that we will On his part, NAFDAC’s able to keep Nigeria one. deficiency among the most vulnerable and at be able to advise them on Chief Technologist, Mr. "After the civil war, it was how to store these Gregory Omiyi blamed wisdom from God to willing risk population by 20 per cent.

Obaseki, who stated that micronutrient problems products rightly. some of the products that and obedient hearts that “We have gone to their failed on exposure to helped us to initiate and are usually hidden and factories to audit their sunlight, stressing the need implement programmes silent, said the 20 per cent processes to see where the for traders to learn about that best served the interest can only be achieved problem is coming from, good storage practice. of the people. It was God through compliance by even the fortification line “When you expose that helped to stem the tide manufacturers. to see whether they are products to the sunlight, of bloody coups in Nigeria Stating that one out of dosing properly and it is a non- conformance so that we can enjoy four children under age five whether they are buying to Good Storage Practice, democracy today. suffers from Vitamin A the right vitamin premix, GSP. As a consumer, when “Even when naysayers deficiency, she said: which they are using to you see products that are wrote off this nation and “Correlation between fortify their products. not well stored, do not buy, various uncertified suffering, death and "We have analysed some because storage condition futurologists predicted the malnutrition is real. A products today, some are is our guideline regulation break-up of Nigeria by 2015 child dying as a result of meeting up but some are for labelling. as a bye-product of the a common childhood not meeting up to "It is very important," he recently concluded general illness is a casualty of standard.” said, adding some of the elections, the effective vitamin A deficiency.

On why some of the Vitamin A fortified products prayers of people of faith "A child that is away from products failed the on- the- tested include, vegetable moved the hands of God school as a result of poor spot assessment, she oil, salt, sugar and flour, and He once more learning ability is suffering explained that handling of among others. intervened in the affairs of because he lacks iodine. the product could also be a our dear country.”

E

in 2015, the effective prayers of the people of faith moved the hands of God to intervene in the affairs of the country.

In his remark, at a lecture entitled, 'The Church and Nigerian Nation: Impact, Challenges and the Way Forward,' to mark the 60th anniversary of the Foursquare Gospel Church in Nigeria,

FGCN, at the National Headquarters of the Church in Lagos, Gowon, who chaired the occasion, said that Nigeria had remained together should surprise no one because God had given the nation the assurance that He would always answer Nigerians whenever they call upon Him. Recalling the events that led to

Micro-nutrient deficiency still a huge problem in Nigeria — NAFDAC

...begins nationwide routine post market surveillance on Vitamin A

T

Vanguard, FRIDAY, MAY 15, 2015 —15

Imo Poly staff drag rector to Okija Shrine

By Chidi Nkwopara

O

WERRI—THE crisis of confidence rocking Imo State Polytechnic, Umuagwo, Ohaji/Egbema Local Council Area of the state, has degenerated to the point of the institution’s Rector, Rev. Fr. Wence Madu, being dragged to the dreaded Okija Shrine in Anambra State.

The invitation letter, which was allegedly extended to the Rector, was signed by one Ukaegbu N. Ogidi, who claimed that there was a complaint of injustice against Rev. Fr. Madu.

While stating that any respondent coming to Ogwugwu Okija must come with clean hands, Ogidi also informed the Rector that “Ogwugwu kills only those whose hands are not clean, especially those who committed evil against their fellow human beings at work places, churches, mosques, markets and other public places.”

The letter also claimed that Rev. Fr. Madu knew about the issue at stake, “but turned around to conspire and deal with an innocent person.”

The Rector was equally

reminded in the mail that he “should feel free to reverse the injustice with your conspirators and collaborators against the complainants to avoid coming to Ogwugwu and other unpleasant consequences.”

The custodians of the shrine

similarly informed the Rector that he should on arrival, look for the Chief Priest for briefing and other formalities.

Then the threat: “But where you fail to come because of any reason, we shall come to your residence or office. The truth

must be uncovered at all cost.”

When Vanguard visited the Rector’s office, yesterday, to ascertain if he got such an invitation or not, somebody who claimed to be a staff of the office said the Imo Polytechnic boss was not in the office.

CEREMONY: ICAN President, Mr. Chidi Ajaegbu, FCA, performing the foundation laying ceremony for the construction of Accountancy Lecture Theatre, at the Federal University,Birnin Kebbi, Kebbi State

FMC Owerri workers begin 3-day warning strike

By Chidi Nkwopara

O

WERRI—STAFF of the Federal Medical Centre, Owerri, have commenced a three-day warning strike to protest the ongoing plan by the hospital management to privatize some of the units and departments in the establishment.

Vanguard gathered that the current warning strike stemmed from the previous protest over plans by Dr. Angela Uwakwemled hospital administration to privatize the laboratory and pharmacy departments of the establishment.

Addressing journalists on the issue, the Chairman, Nigeria

Union of Allied Health Professionals, NUAHP, Clifford Ezugwu, described their action as “a way of pressing home their grievances against the hospital administration . ’’Apart from the planned privatization of some departments of the hospital, the labour leader also named nonpayment of their 2013/2014 promotion arrears, especially when the fund had since been made available to FMC management by the Federal Government.

Ezugwu also explained that workers were protesting the unnecessary queries issued to the union leaders over their stout opposition to the leasing

or privatization of hospital departments by the management.

“We are strongly opposing the privatization of parts of the hospital. If this is allowed to happen, many patients will die because they cannot afford the huge charges that would be slammed on them. ‘’Already as we speak, FMC Owerri is the most expensive hospital in the country,” Ezugwu lamented.

U

NEASY CALM now reigns in all the 657 autonomous communities in Imo State, following the planned probe of the funds allegedly given to the community government councils, CGCs, for the execution of projects.

Vanguard investigations revealed that Governor Rochas Okorocha, who was irked by continued reports of nonexistence of projects in the autonomous communities, has C M Y K

opted to probe the accounts of the CGCs. A dependable government source revealed that the team of experts charged with the responsibility of probing the CGC accounts will commence work without delay.

“The experts will get to all the CGCs in the state and look at their income, expenditure and projects carried out, if any. It is expected that they ascertain the true position of things at that level,” the official told Vanguard.

Apart from probing the monies

By Peter Okutu

A

BAKALIKI— A N A M B R A State, yesterday, emerged the overall winner of 2015 Nigeria National Petroleum Company, NNPC, National Quiz competition for the South East geopolitical zone of the country.

The state will now represent the zone at the national quiz competition coming up later in the year in Abuja.

According to the results of the competition, Anambra pulled a total of 55 points to beat other schools from Enugu, Abia, Ebonyi and Imo states to emerge victorious in the keenly contested quiz involving subjects such as English language, Physics, Biology, Chemistry and Mathematics.

The break-down shows that Anambra got 55 points, Imo 45 points, Ebonyi and Enugu 40 points each, while Abia State got 30 points.

In a chat with newsmen in Abakaliki, National Coordinator of the programme, Mr. Olutayo Sanni, said NNPC was paying attention to the National Quiz competition because the exercise was an instrument for enhancing science education in the country.

Group kicks against Orji’s son as Abia speaker

A

GROUP, Concerned deliberate ploy to impose his son, Citizens of Abia, has Chinedum, as the next speaker accused the out-going governor of the state House of Assembly. of Abia State, Theodore Orji, of The group in statement by the Secretary, Mr. Kalu Kalu, said the move was already receiving hushed disapproval from the people of Abia, who thought it was yet another ploy by the outgoing governor to continue to sent to the CGCs, government perpetuate his rulership on the was spoiling for a serious battle people of Abia, in spite of eight with anybody, including royal years of under-development and fathers, found to have embezzled lack of progress.

The group said: "As the "eight the funds.

Vanguard recalls that Governor Assembly kicks off after the May Okorocha announced in the early 29, three returnee lawmakers weeks of his administration that Humphrey Azubuike, Abia he was doling out N1 million to Central; Ikedieze Ezekwesiri; Abia North; and Tony Mezie; each autonomous community.

He also introduced the palm Nawubani from Abia Central, are revolution and allegedly gave 150 automatically conferred as the palm seedlings and N300,000 to ranking lawmakers by the each of the autonomous current configuration."

He explained that "Humphrey communities to enable them develop their palm plantations. Azubike, who is a contender for

Uneasy calm grips 657 autonomous communities over probe of funds

By Chidi Nkwopara

Asked to comment on what their present action portended, the labour leader said workers would come to work normally, but would not carry out any of their official duties while the warning strike lasted.

“We are going to apply the workto-rule policy for three days as a warning. This means that workers will come to work but will not attend to an patient or do any kind of work,” Ezugwu explained.

Anambra wins 2015 South East NNPC quiz competition

the position of Speaker is from Isiala Ngwa, is eminently qualified and enjoys the support of most of the lawmakers both in the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, and All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA. “However, in spite of this seniority, the outgoing Abia State governor, Theodore Orji wants to perpetuate himself in office by viciously pushing his son Chinedum Orji, otherwise known as Ikuku (Breeze) by his followers, just to stop the three ranking returnees and to coarse and woo other elected legislators to pick his son as their leader.

“He wants to be shadowing the governor-elect so that he does not give him the kind of treatment he Orji gave his benefactor, Orji Uzor Kalu and he is allegedly cajoling the lawmakers with large financial benefits."

16—Vanguard, FRIDAY, MAY 15, 2015

DYNAMICS OF CHANGE: THE AMAECHI YEARS book launch

From left, Governor Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers State, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, National Leader, All Progressives Congress, APC; Hon. Justice Adolphus Karibi-Whyte, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai, Kaduna State Governor-elect, and Mrs. Judith Amaechi, Governor Amaechi's wife, during the launch of the book, DYNAMIC OF CHANGE: THE AMAECHI YEARS, at Civic Centre, Ozumba Mbadiwe, Victoria Island, Lagos, yesterday. Photos: Lamidi Bamidele & Bunmi Azeez

From left Barrister Arobo Kalango; Alhaji Aliko Dangote, President, Dangote Group and Mr Herbert Wigwe, MD, Access Bank

From left, Mr. Dakuku Peterside, APC Governorship Candidate, Rivers State; Graham Alabo-Douglas, Governor Ibikunle Amosun of Ogun State, and Mallam Nasir El-Rufai, Kaduna State Governor-elect.

Arc.Tonye Cole, presenting the book C M Y K

Cross section of guests

From left, Chief Bisi Akande, Bishop Matthew Hassan Kukah, Book Reviewer; Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, Chairman, APC; Mrs. Folake Soyinka, and Professor Wole Soyinka, at the event.

From left, Engr. Nuhu Gidado, Deputy Governor-elect, Bauchi State; Dr. Segun Oni, former Governor of Ekiti State; Hon. Simon Lalong, Gov-elect, Plateau State, and Mr Jim Ovia, Chairman, Zenith Bank

From left, Chief Tessa Ikimi; Senator Daisy Danjuma, and Hadiza Bala Usman. .

From left Mr Akinwunmi Ambode, Goevernorelect, Lagos State and Mrs Rahamatu Tijani-Aliyu, National Women Leader, APC

Vanguard, FRIDAY, MAY 15, 2015—17

How president-elect Buhari can achieve a fair deal for victims of corruption

By Kolawole Olaniyan

T

ODAY the level of confidence in Nigeria is remarkably high, and President-elect General Muhammadu Buhari has been described by many as embodying ‘the promise of change’. Hardly surprising given that one of the reasons he became president-elect is because of his apparent zerotolerance approach to corruption. Nigerians have indeed continued to offer increasingly passionate support to the president-elect, and have been very busy setting agenda for the incoming government on how it can bring about real change. Expectedly, high on the list is the need to prosecute and punish corrupt highranking government officials.

But one useful complementary legal remedy against corruption has been largely ignored: the use of human rights law to empower the citizens and provide effective remedies for victims of corruption.

Corruption is anathema to effective enjoyment of human rights but it is often considered an ‘ordinary and victimless crime.’ It isn’t.

Yet the myth that corruption is a victimless crime has prevailed for many years, in part because of the narrowed conception of corruption, and the perceived legal and practical challenges, such as causation, legal stand-ing, and evidencegathering. However, it is not that those who characterise corruption as victimless completely disagree that it causes harms, especially to the economically and socially vulnerable (that is, any individual or determinate class of persons, who by reason of poverty, or disability or socially or economically disadvantaged and vul-nerable position, suffer most the immediate effects of violations of human rights caused by corruption).

On the contrary, the argument often put forward is that since no one victim suffers more harm than others, and that there may be no direct victim, it is probably pointless to labour in search of ‘invisible victims’. This line of reasoning would appear weak and difficult to sustain, for the following reasons.

First, apart from causing both direct and indirect economic and other harms to citizens and the public in the form of the loss of the common wealth and public revenue, corruption also causes non-monetary loss in the form of wide-spread and consistent denial of impartial application of the rule of law.

While it may be difficult to quantify the harms that

C M Y K

human right to ensure the eradication of corruption and abuse of power and, second, to establish a Trust Fund for Victims of Corruption in the country.

With respect to the first point, the Buhari government can take a clue from the abandoned 1995 draft Constitution of Nigeria (proposed, ironically, while Abacha, regarded as one of the most corrupt leaders of Nigeria, was in power), which explicitly grants legal standing to the citizens to sue for violations of their human rights occa-sioned by corruption. The draft constitution provided in section 35 that ‘Every person shall have the right to: (a) ensure the eradication of corrupt practices, and abuse of power; (b) protect and preserve public property; (c) fight against misappropriation and squandering of public funds.’

Proposed legislation

President-elect ,General Muhammadu Buhari corrup-tion causes, this doesn’t make the harms less real, less destructive, or less corrosive. In fact, the manifestations and indicators of these harms can be easily recognised in the form of poverty and the systematic, gross human rights violations that millions of economically and socially vulnerable Nigerians have suffered for many years.

As former UN Secretary General Kofi Annan stated during the 2003 adoption by the General Assembly of the United Nations Convention against Corruption (UNCAC) corruption: ‘[H]as a wide range of corrosive effects on societies; undermines democracy and the rule of law; leads to violations of human rights; erodes the quality of life…hurts the poor dis-proportionately by diverting funds intended for development, and undermines a state’s ability to provide basic services.’

While it is true that the causes of poverty and underdevelopment in Nigeria are complex (and no single factor causes poverty), the longstanding problem of corruption is unquestionably one explanation for deficits in the rule of law, a drain on public treasury, and exacerbation of existing vulnerabilities and inequalities.

Task before Buhari

The Buhari government, therefore, can’t afford to treat grand corruption as an isolated incident if he doesn’t want to be accused in four years’ time of leaving both communities and individual victims of corruption powerless and without effective remedies.

At the moment, the legal frameworks against corruption in Nigeria do not reflect elements of the accountability of the government for the human rights violations faced by victims of grand corruption. The victims are largely neutralised (and virtually anonymous) in the criminal process, with no access to human rights remedies.

The overriding priority for the Buhari government starting on 29 May is, therefore, first, to provide a strong leadership by proposing and facilitating the passage of a bill by the National Assembly that would characterise grand corruption as a breach of national trust and grant the citizens enforceable

Corruption is anathema to effective enjoyment of human rights but it is often considered an ‘ordinary and victimless crime‘

The proposed legislation can also contain provision to characterise the failure of national and foreign banks to prevent stolen funds from being cached in their banks and to aid in their recapture as complicity, after the fact, and itself, a delict.

Secondly, the Buhari government should establish a Trust Fund for Victims of Corruption, drawn mostly from recovered stolen wealth and other interest that might be generated from this. Given the limited resources available, fines should be imposed on corrupt officials, and such fines should be set aside as endowment for the trust funds.

The proposed trust funds can also be aug-mented by support from international development agencies and other relevant institutions and the private sector.

Trust Fund

Part of the funds should be used to establish victims’ assistance programmes to ensure the victims’ perspec-tive is fully integrated into the fight against corruption.

The notion of trust funds for victims of human rights violations is a well-established mechanism in international law and relations, such as under Article 75 of the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court (which creates a fund for the benefit of victims of international crimes and their families, the assets of which may originate from money or property col-lected through fines or forfeiture imposed by the ICC on the individual perpetrator).

The idea of a trust fund is also frequently adopted in mass claims pro-grammes (such as the IranUnited States Claims Tribunal of 1981) to provide ‘effective remedies for numerous individuals who suffered losses, dam-age or injuries as a result of an armed conflict or a similar event causing widespread damage’. The existence of armed conflict is not a require-ment for mass claims: similar types of claims would arise from environ-mental disasters, causing widespread damage or injury, or from systematic human rights

violations in peacetime caused by corruption.

The goal is presumably to achieve ‘practical justice: that is, a justice that would be swift and efficient, yet not rough’. Mass claims cases are clearly similar in kind to the adverse effects of corruption on human rights.

Therefore, the Buhari government should replicate the mass claims principles, and work towards establishing trust funds (as an essential element of remedial justice) for vic-tims of corruption.

By establishing such trust funds, the Buhari government will also be signalling that victims will no longer be marginalised in the fight against corruption.

Human right abuse

Indeed, the UN Basic Principles of Justice for Victims of Crime and Abuse of Power provides some guarantees for vic-tims (including family members of direct victims), such as those that suf-fer ‘substantial impairment of their fundamental rights’ through acts or omissions, including abuse of power. Corruption is implied here as the ultimate abuse of power.

Victims of human rights violations would be entitled to effective remedies regardless of whether they bring their claims against the state in an individual or collective capacity.

On the one hand, the institutions of governance and the society as a whole are the victims.

On the other hand, corruption disproportionately inflicts grave harms on the economically and socially vulnerable, who, in addition to violations of their specific human rights, are also denied access to effective operation of the rule of law and institutions of govern-ment.

In his ‘Covenant with Nigerians’ the president-elect stated ‘I believe if Nigeria does not kill corruption, corruption will kill Nigeria.’ He is spot-on. But if any significant and sustainable success is to be recorded in the fight against corruption, the Buhari government will need to avoid more of the same. Nigerians want to see General Buhari taking creative, radical, evolutionary, and bold initiatives to fight corruption and thereby working to create a state that serves its people’s interests.

Make no mistake, the road to ‘change’ will be filled with ‘potholes and blind curves.’ But four years from now, Nigeria can be ‘a new country ’ where corruption is no longer considered ‘normal’ if the Buhari government can show strong leadership, political will, and the courage to do something dramatically different.

As John Maynard Keynes said in his famous speech in Manchester in 1926: ‘The political problem of mankind is to combine three things: economic efficiency, social justice and individual liberty.’ Buhari’s primary task in the next four years is to produce a country that will come closest to passing Keynes’s triple test.

Dr Olaniyan is the author of ‘Corruption and Human Rights Law in Africa’

18 — Vanguard, FRIDAY, MAY 15, 2014

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HERE are enough reasons to fight corruption. The enormity of the dangers corruption imposes on our entire well-being justifies legal measures to keep it in check. Anti-corruption messages were a major plank of MajGen Muhammadu Buhari’s change campaign. Since his election, there have been hints about limiting the new government’s fight against corruption.

Maj-Gen Buhari consistently states that he would probe the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC. He has also said he would have no time for corruption that pre-dated his presidency.

This has been interpreted to mean that those in office could loot Nigeria until 28 May 2015, and would not be punished, except if it involves NNPC. This approach creates significant distortion, and grave complications for the anti-corruption battles. Would it mean a cessation of cases in court? Would it not make the fight against corruption selective? Would it suggest that past governments are

Measured Anti-Corruption Fights excluded from anti-corruption measures?

Such approach to corruption would kill us while corruption would thrive. Corruption has devastating consequences.

It distorts economic activities, diverts public investments to private holdings.

Public policies are based on generating bribes and other illegal earnings for the controlling authorities.

Whether as bribery, trading in influence or influence peddling, patronage, nepotism, cronyism, electoral fraud, embezzlement, kickbacks, unholy alliance, or involvement in organised crime, corruption captures a system by creat-

ing inefficiencies that hamper growth of a society.

A common effect of corruption is noncompliance with rules and regulations because corrupt public officials benefit from protecting violators, who in many cases are either associates or their organisations. In construction, plans are ignored, inferior materials are approved and when buildings collapse, further corrupt avenues cover up the mess. Corruption is therefore more widespread than theft of public funds and subsequent export of most of the resources abroad, safe from domestic laws. The volume

of theft has not abetted and as the economy grinds along, the impact of the thefts is felt more.

Researchers at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst estimated that much of the $187bn capital flight from 30 subSaharan countries, from 1970 to 1996, was proceeds of corruption. Nigerian leaders, according to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, stole more than $400 billion between 1960 and 1999.

Has the looting stopped?

What about education with its skewed admission processes, teachers who teach nothing, students who pay for grades, and accreditation of schools for courses they do not have facilities to teach?

Corruption is deep and has many sides, which damage our society. If we limit the fight against corruption to NNPC, or draw a line – for whatever reasons – that excludes corrupt people and institutions, we would have lost the anti-corruption fight before it starts.

OPINION Ndigbo and 20 15 elections: The 2015 correctness of a mistake

By Jude Ndukwe

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HE 2015 general elections have come and gone but the echoes are getting louder by the day with parties celebrating, taunting, warning or even blaming one another depending on the side of the divide one belongs to. This trend has not been limited to the principal actors of the elections; it has also taken the dangerous and unhelpful dimension of tribal diatribes among citizens. From the outburst and threat of the Oba of Lagos, Oba Rilwan Akiolu, against the Ndigbo resident in Lagos should their voting not follow a particular pattern in the last gubernatorial election, to the several and severe harassment of the people of the South East by all manner of people including those who voted for their choice of candidates based on the same considerations they turn around to accuse Ndigbo of in their massive votes for President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, Ndigbo have continued to be victims of their free choice in a multi-party democratic dispensation like ours.

A lot of analysts and commentators have derided the Igbo race and warned them in advance of likely not going to enjoy federal presence, support or projects because of their recalcitrant refusal to vote for Buhari who eventually won the election.

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Before we go further, let it be reiterated for the benefit of all those who hold this view against Ndigbo, that the Igbo race does not regret its choice of candidate in the recently concluded elections. In fact, given the same scenario, the Igbo people will vote for President Jonathan again. This is because, as have been roundly and unabatedly accused of, Ndigbo are known to be highly independent and stubborn to the extent of running the risk of going it all alone once they are strongly convinced of a cause. It does not matter if the candidate is from Otuoke, Daura, Umuahia or Ogbomosho, once the Igbo nation is convinced about him/her, they are ready to go the whole hog with the person even if it means them going

The onus to leave the stage a true and celebrated leader among all Nigerians irrespective of tribal origin, political affiliation or religious leaning, lies on Buhari and not Ndigbo

it all alone. Ndigbo does not give in to prevarications, they only follow leanings that are evidently defensive of their cause in truth; they do not succumb to the money or sophistry of any one man. This is why some uninformed analysts and commentators have continued to vilify the Igbo people for choosing to be on their own in the last elections by voting for a man who in the eye of these analysts is not popular.

But the question is, what other choice was left for Ndigbo? None really! How could anyone in his right senses expect Ndigbo to sing the praises of a man who hardly did anything for them while he was a military Head-of-State? How could anyone expect Ndigbo to have supported and voted for a man who showed his clear disdain for them when he had all the opportunity to prove he was a statesman above tribal and religious considerations during his tenure as Chairman of the Petroleum (Special) Trust Fund (PTF) wherein he located a whooping over 70% of the Fund’s projects in the north while the entire south consisting of the Southeast, South-south and Southwest shared the remaining less than 30% projects among themselves? Muhammadu Buhari executed his assignment as head of the Fund as if there was no southern Nigeria! For example, only 4,440.43 kilometres of road were constructed in the entire southern part of Nigeria representing a paltry 24% compared to the 13,870.47 kilometres representing 76% of roads done in the north.

Of these figures, the Southwest got 10.5% while the Southeast and South-south together got 13.5%.

As if that was not enough, under the National Health and Rehabilitation Programme (NHERP), while the entire south got 0% allocation, the north got 100% in the tertiary programme. In the vocational programme, the entire south had only 3% while the north had 97%. The same was for the primary side where the south had only 12% but the north was allocated 88%. The secondary area was not different. While the north had 86% percent allocation, the south had just 14%.

The question, therefore is, with these antecedents of Buhari, would anyone still want to blame Ndigbo for their choice in the 2015 elections? There is a proverb in Igboland that anyone who allows what killed his father to also kill him is foolish. In the two periods he had the opportunity to prove himself a statesman, Buhari fluffed the chance. Ndigbo will not let what killed their father to also kill them. They made their choice based on experience which is unarguably part of the considerations in an election. They might have made a mistake in the opinion of others, but this, no doubt, is a correct mistake. Rather than mortify the Igbo people for their choice, it is Buhari that should be strongly advised to show some strength in leading Nigeria and not a section or some sections of it. The onus to leave the stage a true and celebrated leader among all Nigerians irrespective of tribal origin, political affiliation or religious leaning, lies on Buhari and not Ndigbo.

* Mr Ndukwe, a public affairs commentator, wrote from Abuja.

Vanguard, FRIDAY, MAY 15, 2015— —19 Send Opinions & Letters to: opinions1234@yahoo.com

Fighting fire with water HE tidal waves of the pounced on him in New York City Baltimore protests against the with one of them, Daniel Pantaleo T police murder of African giving him a chokehold. Garner American, Freddie Gray are still spreading. Last week, the waves made a fall in London. But it is just one of the latest murders by the American police and more are likely to follow with the usual response of indignation and protests.

One of the major protests that shook America was the not guilty verdict returned for George Zimmerman who on February 26, 2012 shot an unarmed High School student, Trayvon Martin whom he had profiled as a thief.

Martin protested his innocence but was shot. Zimmerman found sanctuary in a 2005 Florida ‘Stand Your Ground Statute’ which permits the use of deadly force by anybody who feels threatened.

Another was Michael Brown who was stopped while walking down a street with a friend in Fergusson, Missouri. He raised up his hands shouting “I don’t have a gun” but was shot dead.

One video I have watched several times is that of Eric Garner, 44, whom the police accused of retailing cigarettes without tax receipts. On July 17, 2014, five cops

pleaded eleven times, “I can’t breathe” before the chokehold was relaxed. But it was too late. Over fifty demonstrations followed.

The Baltimore incidents, are for me, unique in four ways. First is the speed with which the police dismantled Gray; within twenty minutes of his April 12, 2015 arrest, he was in need of urgent medical treatment. It was like some wild bears had descended on him as he had severe spinal cord injury, his voice box crushed and his neck snapped. One week later, he was dead.

The second is the main stream American media focusing, not on the causes of the demonstrations, but on demonstrators smashing car windscreens and shop windows. To this, a Community Organizer, DeRay McKesson, retorted “You are suggesting broken windows are worse than broken spines…Freddy Gray will never be back and those windows will be” A third is yet another campaign, especially by the CNN which showed a mother, Toya Graham slapping, hitting and dragging

away her 16-year old son from the demonstrations because she does not want him to end up dead like Gray. She was hailed as a good mother. But what the boy was protesting against was not to end up like Gray. If there is no resistance to these spate of police murders, and they are not checked, the possibility of the boy, being African American, falling victim of these extra judicial killings is high. The boy is right in protesting the American Police racial profiling of non whites. His mother is wrong to urge an acceptance.

Graham’s display of public aggression towards her son also fits into the stereotype of black parents who are portrayed as being aggressive and brutal. If her action

While mass demonstrations can reduce the rate of Police murder of African Americans, they will not do so in a fundamental way even in the US of today where the President, Barrack Obama, the Attorney General, Loretta Lynch and her predecessor, Eric Himpton Holder, are African Americans

Lagos: A blackmail that will boomerang

By Clement Udegbe

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HE success of Gen.Muhammedu Buhari, GMB, in the March 28 polls has become a most critical turning point in our political history, especially as Nigerians have been conditioned, by years of military rule to stomach every nonsense shoved down their throats by selfish, self-centred greedy leaders since the last over 40 years.

In spite of the oil wealth, Nigeria has only increasing unemployment figures, youth restiveness, deprivation, violence, cultism, and poverty with ever widening gap between the rich and the poor to show for it.

Interestingly, we recorded remarkable improvement in the area of the emergence of the “Super Rich Boys, and Girls”, from mostly among our Governors, Senators, Ministers, and political office holders. They own posh cars, and houses across the globe, with Jet planes as their new toys.

By 2014 according reports, wealthy Nigerians spend close to 35 billion Naira, in the maintenance of their jet planes. Aside splashing over N1.8 trillion to acquire their jets, they spend an estimated N9 billion annually as salary to their expatriate pilots and N900 million annually to the crew, while a whopping N25 billion is splashed on general maintenance annually by them.

This has nothing to do with the political parties, as they are both in the PDP, and APC. So, while some got very rich, most got very poor, and finding it difficult to eat three square meals a day.

In a situation like ours, where there are no clear ideological differences in the parties, and conduct of the politicians, the opposition party had to devise unusual methods to defeat the ruling party, and one

of the instruments, the APC used effectively was blackmail.

APC, used the terrorist Boko Haram to blackmail the government of Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, GEJ. Nigerians will not forget the initial stages of the abduction of the Chibok Girls, when the testimony of the WAEC officials showed complicity by the government in Borno State. But rather than proffer any ideas on how to overcome Boko Haram, they hyped the Chibok girls saga, and even tried to embarrass top military members of the government claiming they supported terrorism. They tried to rubbish Christian leaders who supported GEJ, as gunrunners, imputing corruption to everyone except themselves, all in a desperate blackmail to bring down GEJ. Lagos State, the Centre of APC, as a result of sustained denials by the PDP governments from under OBJ, Yar Ardua, to GEJ, was used by the opposition for blackmail against the PDP. The two major gate ways to Nigerian economy, the International Airport, and the

The implications of this blackmail is that the value of property from Festac ,to Apapa GRA environs has fallen very drastically, businesses are groaning to survive

were not in favour of the American establishment, the possibility of social welfare visiting her for brutalising her son, would have been quite high.

The fourth thing I found unique, is the Police declaring wanted, a co-operative Kelvin Moore, the man who filmed the arrest of an agile Freddy Gray.

The killings continue; in the first five months of this year, 62 African Americans have been murdered by police including Mathew Ajibade of Nigerian heritage. Last year, 2014, 194 were killed.

While mass demonstrations can reduce the rate of Police murder of African Americans, they will not do so in a fundamental way even in the US of today where the President, Barrack Obama, the Attorney General, Loretta Lynch and her predecessor, Eric Himpton Holder, are African Americans.

American police brutality has its roots in the origins of the country.

First in the bloody occupation, colonial and anti-colonial wars by Europeans.

Secondly, in the genocide against the indigenous Indian populace, then in the lawlessness in vast parts of the country between 1781 and 1912, which became known as the Wild West, and the enslavement of blacks who were hauled across the oceans in slave ships.

The blacks were not regarded as human beings and policing was essential to contain them. This was where racial profiling took roots.

It is however essential to state that the police as enforcer of ruling ideas and the status quo, is used not only to suppress African Americans, Asians and Latinos, but also poor whites and all those who challenge the system.

In the case of the African

largest seaports in Nigeria are located in Lagos.

The APC propaganda machinery targeted the heads of these institutions, namely the Aviation Ministry, the Nigerian Ports Authority, and the NNPC, that regulated the Petroleum Tank Farms, most of which were located in Lagos.

First was Chief Olabode George, a top PDP politician who happened to be the Chairman of the NPA. He found himself convicted for corrupt charges, and served out the sentence in prison.

Second was the penultimate Minister of Aviation, Stella Odua. She was singled out for a wicked smear campaign over a messed – up purchase of some Bullet proof BMW vehicles.These added immensely to the bad dent on the image of the GEJ’s administration as generally corrupt, whereas both parties have their fair share of highly corrupt high profile members.

GMB, will soon discover that his APC is not better than PDP, in terms of corruption, if he will allow Nigerians freely into the fight against corruption, without favoritism to his APC kingpins.

Thirdly, the most wicked, and unfortunate blackmail by the APC was to deliberately allow a section of Lagos state to deteriorate, and descend into lawlessness.

In order to showcase their anger or objection to the location of Petroleum products tank farms within Apapa Area, the LASG allowed that area to degenerate, since early 2012, and by 2014, it has become thoroughly lawless.

The obvious failure of the Lagos State Transport Management Agency, LASTMA, to enforce any form of orderliness among the Truck Drivers around this area betrayed the interest of LASG in helping to salvage the situation. Long queues of menacing oil tankers became a permanent sight from Mile 2, to Apapa Quays, Dock yard and Orile Iganmu areas.

Permanent traffic gridlock, caused by trucks waiting to lift up petroleum products,

Americans, Asians and Latinos, special laws were made and enforced in the South from 1876 to 1965. These Apartheid laws known as Jim Crow, segregated whites from non whites in all aspects including education, housing, economy, public transport recreational facilities and even prisons.

One general provision common in the Jim Crow laws was the criminalization of marriage between “ whites and Negroes, Mulattoes, Indians and Mongolians” Extra judicial murders by a combination of the Ku Klux Klan (KKK)and the police were also used to enforce these laws. What we are witnessing today as police brutality is the continuation of this culture of lynching and state murders. Things can get worse with the police, in the name of fighting terrorism, getting better trained, armed, and establishing special arms like the SWAT. There is the need for the reorientation of the police, bringing culprits to book and creating increased awareness. But a fundamental way of tackling the problem is the building of a mass non-racial movement. Fred Hampton, 21-year old African American murdered by police in his bed on December 4, 1969 posited a solution to police brutality " We don't think you fight fire with fire; we think you fight fire with water. We are not going to fight racism with racism, but we're going to fight with solidarity" As the most powerful country in the world, the US is too important to be left in the hands of racists and bigots. All humanity has a stake in a tolerant, multiracial and democratic America. In this sense, the US is a battle ground progressive humanity must win.

have made a journey of 30 minutes on a good day, from Festac town to Tincan Island Port second gate, last for six or seven hours since 2013! Living in Festac Town, has become a night mare! We do not drive out with our cars because one spends the whole day in traffic just to connect to either Apapa, or Oshodi express way.

Whatever happened to the huge truck terminal project that LASG touted about eight years ago in Orile ?

Today, Danfo bus drivers along, Ikorodu Road, Agege Motor Road, obey traffic laws and regulations but not along OshodiApapa express way, where they drive against on-coming traffic at top speed, with Okadas riding to and fro on all sides of the express way. As a result, the road from Mile 2 to Apapa quays via Tincan Island port is hell on earth! I will not wish my worst enemies any driving experience on this route.

The implications of this blackmail is that the value of property from Festac ,to Apapa GRA environs has fallen very drastically, businesses are groaning to survive.

Residents, and businesses are suffering too much, in these parts of Lagos. Businesses are relocating, and Apapa GRA is virtually empty, as people have moved out of the place.

The LASG may have succeeded in using these areas to blackmail GEJ's government, blaming the FGN, for every mismanagement in the state.

These areas are peopled more by nonindigenes, and it will boomerang now that APC has won. With the stampede of PDP out of power, the expectations pilling up for the incoming government are becoming too high.

This is one blackmail that will affect APC badly, because as people are forced to move out, they will react against this change, sooner or later.

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

20—Vanguard, FRIDAY, MAY 15, 2015

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Vanguard, FRIDAY, MAY 15, 2015

— 21

Olam to mill 200,000 metric tonnes of paddy rice in Nasarawa

By Franklin Alli

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From left: Chief Eniola Fadayomi, President/Chairman of council, Institute of Directors Nigeria; Mr Andrew Alli, Guest Speaker/CEO, Africa Finance Corporation, Ms Bennedikter Molokwu, Chairman, Fellows Committee members, IOD; and Mr Yemi Akeju,1st Vice President at the Institute of Directors Nigeria 2015 Fellows’luncheon in Lagos. PHOTO: AKEEM SALAU.

lam Nigeria Limited has concluded plans to kickstart milling of 200,000 metric tonnes of paddy rice in Doma Council, in Nassarawa, by June 1, this year. General Manager, Olam Rice, Reji George, who disclosed this said the milling is part of the company ’s backward integration plan in the sector and it expected to aid local rice production, self sufficiency target and job creation efforts of government.

Olam’s Business Head for Rice, Anil Nair, added that the launch of the company’s brand of rice in the Nigerian market earlier this year was designed to meet growing local demands for the commodity as

Agents threaten diversion of cargoes over Intels moves to create monopoly

By Godwin Oritse

Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA), which decried HE Association of government’s moves to grant Nigerian Licensed such monopoly, has said that Customs Agents has threatened it would instruct its members to divert all Nigerian bound oil and principals who handle oil and gas cargoes to ports of and gas cargoes to henceforth, neighbouring countries if the direct their vessels to port of Federal Government does not neigbhouring countries and reverse its decision directing use trucks to moves such cargoes to Intels’ terminal in cargoes into Nigeria. Speaking on the development, National Onne, River state.

The Association of Nigerians President of the association, Prince Olayiwola Shittu, said “What they (FG) have done is very irresponsible.

“What they are doing is creating a monopoly that is anti-people, and not in the interest of $134.75 0.25 the economy.

“Everybody should $3,087.00 31. 00 have a choice of where they want to take their cargoes to. $12.74 -0.22 “The government concessioned the ports, all of them $66.93 0.12 (concessionaires) signed the same documents.

59.91 -0.59 “Why do you have to force people to take CURRENCY BUYING CENTRAL their cargo to DOLLAR 196 96.5 197 Intels…so that they can POUNDS 306.6812 307.4638 308.2459 charge them in dollars, EURO 220.0884 220.6499 221.2113 and not only that, their FRANC 211.1159 211.6545 212.193 charges are 300 times YEN 1.6369 1.6411 1.6452 more than regular CFA 0.3167 0.3267 0.3367 charges in other ports.”

WAUA 275. 8306 276.5343 277.2379 RENMINBI 31.5652 31.6461 31.7271 According to the RIYAL 52.2639 52.3972 52.5305 association’s leader, KRONA 29.4905 29.5658 29.641 “We have started our SDR 276.3404 277.0454 277.7503 campaign also to call for the boycott of all Intels’ CBN Exchange Rate as at 14/ 05 /15 ports facilities. In

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addition, we are prepared to take our oil and gas goods through Cotonou. If that discrimination is going to happen, then we go through the border.

“It is very unfortunate because Intels have been a problem and it is like a country, a sovereign of its own. That is because the promoters are holding the jugular of the government and Nigerians. It is very unfortunate”, he said.

Prince Shittu who also took a swipe at the out-going government of President Goodluck Jonathan for embarking on some recent controversial appointments, which he described as deliberate plots to create problems for its successor.

“Like many things the outgoing government is doing now, I think they are just out to create problems for the new administration. We should be talking about the in-coming

What they are doing is creating a monopoly that is anti-people, and not in the interest of the economy. Everybody should have a choice of where they want to take their cargoes to

government, not the out-going one that is just creating boobytraps all over the place for its successor,” he said.

The ANLCA leader however opined that such “booby-traps can be dismantled by the incoming government if they can put their ass together.

“While tackling the issue of the economy, he (in-coming President Muhammadu Buhari) should also be looking into the Maritime Industry. The maritime industry is a very viable avenue for government to meet its revenue needs. If we

well as reduce its importation.

He explained that the launch of the commodity in Lagos was strategic since the state holds the largest market of consumers of rice.

“There are lots of paddies been produced and Lagos being the biggest market in the country is having local rice coming to it. It is a sign of good things to come and we hope that two years from now, we will be able to bridge the gap. We have a milling capacity of about 800,000 tonnes in the country and we hope to help this country eliminate import completely,” he said. Fielding questions on placing a total ban on the commodity, George said, “I believe it should be a gradual process. Before you ban rice or any agricultural commodity you must have to develop the local strength of rice production. If you plan the ban of importation of rice, companies like Olam is into commercial production of rice with 6,000 hectares in two cities, making it 12,000 hectares that would definitely help bridge the demand and supply gap, and with support from other companies, in addition to the role government is playing.

“In few years time, we would be able to bridge the demand and supply gap and we would be able to be self sufficient in rice production.” The community leader of a settlement in the Doma area, Kushunta Adi, said, ”Before the coming of Olam to our community, most people in this area were idle, which is not good, but today, the story is different.

NEXIM Bank supports non-oil exporters with N5.7bn in first quarter-Report

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he Nigeria Export-Import Bank (NEXIM) said it supported the non-oil exporters in the country with N5.73 billion in the first quarter of 2015. This is contained in the quarterly report of the bank obtained by the News Agency of Nigeria a (NAN) in Abuja on Wednesday.

The report further stated that in the period under review, the bank received 23 applications valued at N4.85 billion against 36 applications valued at N4.78 billion in the last quarter of 2014. “Approvals were granted to 18 projects from the Bank’s stockpile of pipeline projects, in the sum of N5.73 billion during the period as against 24 projects approved in fourth quarter of 2014, valued at N2.57 billion,” it also stated.

It stated that N1.62 billion was disbursed to 25 projects during the period, as against N480.87million disbursed to seven projects in the last quarter of 2014. It noted that the bank placed emphasis on value added non-oil exports with the agriculture sector accounting for a share of 56.23 per cent of total disbursement during the period under review.

A breakdown of the disbursement indicated that manufacturing got N327.73 million with 20.20 per cent shares and agriculture got N912.37million with 56.23 per cent shares. Others, it added , included solid mineral sector which got N207.47 million at 12 .79 per cent shares, while service sector got N175 million with 10.79 per cent shares.

22—Vanguard, FRIDAY, MAY 15, 2015

LAUNCH: From left: Member, Board of Directors, Junaid Dikko; Chairman, Board of

Directors, Hakeem Bello-Osagie; Chief Executive Officer, Matthew Willsher and member, Board of Directors, Isabella Okagbue, all of Etisalat Nigeria, at the launch of Etisalat Nigeria Data Centre in Abuja, yesterday.

Skye Bank grows loan portfolio by 18.4% as assets hit N1.42 trn

By Peter Egwuatu

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KYE Bank Plc. has grown its loans and advances by 18.4 per cent, even as its assets hit N1.42 trillion for the financial year ended December 31, 2014.

The bank’s loans and advances grew from N549.9 billion in the previous year to N651.3 billion in the year under review.

Specifically, Skye Bank recorded total assets of N1.42 trillion during the financial

year ended December 31, 2014, which represents a 26.8 per cent growth over the N1.12 trillion recorded during the corresponding period in 2013.

Similarly, the Group•fs total liabilities consisting of its deposit base and other

Vitafoam proposes N246 million dividend, bonus shares

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ESPITE the harsh operating environm e n t , Vi t a f o a m N i g e r i a Plc has proposed a dividend of N246 million, translating into 30 kobo per share in addition to a bonus share of one for every five Ordinary Shares held by each shareholder as rewards from the company ’s outstanding performance in its current (2014) financial year.

By the company ’s financial performance, it posted an after tax profit of N659 million in the current year as against N395 million recorded in t h e p r e v i o u s y e a r, a n i n crease of 67 per cent. In what symbolizes a robust shareholder value, the company grew its earnings per share (EPS) by 69 per cent by posting an EPS of 81 kobo per share in the current period compared with 48 kobo per share in the p r e v i o u s y e a r. T h e s e heartwarming news would be endorsed by the

company ’s shareholders on June 4, 2015 at the annual general meeting when the Chairman, Dr Bamidele Makanjuola would present the score card.

The strong financial performance has been submitted to the Nigerian Stock Exchange. Exp e c t e d l y, i n v e s t o r s a r e already jostling for the

As part of the strategy to strengthen its operations offshore, the company has installed modern equipment in its plant in Sierra Leone

company ’s shares on the Nigerian Stock Exchange, thus leading to steady appreciation of the share price. Market watchers were quick to attribute the company ’s impressive performance to innovation and internal efficiencies.

As part of the strategy to strengthen its operations off-shore, the company has installed modern equipment in its plant in Sierra Leone. The plant serves all the neighbouring countries including Guinea and G a m b i a . O n l y r e c e n t l y, its subsidiary, Vitapur Nigeria Limited acquired modern equipment called S A I T A d v a n c e d Po l y urathane to boost production of quality pallets and reinforce capacity utilization.

As a corporate citizen, Vitafoam has a long history of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR).For instance, the company presents gifts items to the first new baby in any Lagos hospital annually.

accruals rose to N1.29 trillion during the period under review as against N995 billion during the same period in 2013. This shows an increase of 29.6%.

According to the bank•fs approved 2014 full year financial statements submitted to the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) yesterday, its retained earnings grew by 71.1 per cent, rising to N33.7 billion from N19.7 billion recorded in 2013, which reflected the Group•fs pursuit of growth in a stable, strategic and an enduring manner The IFRS compliant results also show an increase in total equity to N132.3 billion as against N121.4 billion in the preceding year, representing a growth of 8.9%.

In view of certain developments during the year, including elevated impairment charges, regulatory payments, and higher operating cost, its profit before tax for the year declined from N19.6 billion to N10.5 billion during the review period. Also, its profit after tax declined to N9.7 billion as against N18.5 billion reported in 2013.

Speaking on the result, the

bank•fs Group Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Timothy Oguntayo, said that in spite of the challenging operating environment, the bank carefully grew its risk assets portfolio, attained a 15.7% growth in deposits, supported customers in critical and productive sectors of the economy, and declared a fairly decent profit.

Oguntayo said that the recent acquisition of Mainstreet Bank Limited, which has resulted into a much larger franchise of over 450 branches, provides the bank with enhanced capacity to provide easier access to its teeming customers, and explore various opportunities in diverse segments of the Nigerian economy.

He assured shareholders and other stakeholders that the synergies and economies of scale expected from the acquisition will begin to manifest from the current financial year, while promising current and potential customers of consistent quality service on all electronic platforms and in the business locations.

SEC takes investor education to NYSC orientation camps

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HE Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), apex regulator of the Nigerian capital market has concluded arrangement to educate the Nigeria Youth Service Corps Members, NYSC on investment opportunities in the market.

The commission would be organizing hour – long lectures on Investment / Financial / Capital Market education in the “2015 Batch A Orientation Camps” of the NYSC in 31 states of the federation including the FCT Abuja.

The series, christened “Opportunities in the Nigerian Capital Market” will hold simultaneously in NYSC orientation camps across the country o n T h u r s d a y, 2 1 s t M a y 2015. It is in furtherance of the market development critical mandate of the SEC and is aimed at raising the bar of capital market awareness among the vital public that are members of the NYSC. The series reflects the strong emphasis placed on investor education by the current leadership of the SEC which is mirrored in a recent statement by the DG of the SEC, Mounir Gwarzo that “Investor education will constitute the fulcrum of the SEC’s market develop-

ment effort.”

According to Obi Adindu, Head of Investor Education at the SEC, “31 largely middle level staff of the SEC will be deployed from the Abuja corporate headquarters of the Commission to carry out the hour - long investment / financial education / capital market awareness programme.

They will be complimented by staff of the SECn who are located in the Commission’s zonal offices in different geopolitical zones of the country.”

Adindu further informs that, “The lecture series is in line with an existing capital market awareness partnership between the SEC and NYSC on which basis the Corps extended an invitation to its ‘2015 Batch A Orientation Camps’ to the SEC.” Adindu pursues that “The central theme of the e xe r c i s e w h i c h i s ‘O p portunities in the Nigerian Capital Market’ will devolve into topics and subthemes such as The Investor Protection Role of the SEC in the Nigerian Capital Market; Products and Services in the Capital Market; Advantages of Collective Investment Schemes as Investment Vehicles

Vanguard, FRIDAY, MAY 15, 2015 — 23

•Nigeria agriculture crying out for help.

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any may have given up that the bill on Biosafety will be passed by the 7th National Assembly not to talk of being signed into law by President Goodluck Jonathan before he leaves office on May 29, 2015.

But all that doubts changed when the National Assembly passed the bill and it was signed by President Goodluck Jonathan the National Biosafety Agency Bill into law on Monday, April 21, 2015.

With that singular act, Nigeria the following Countries in Africa that have Biosafety laws and Agencies and are currently using modern biotechnology for the development of their agricultural and allied economic sectors, South Africa, Egypt and Kenya, Burkina Faso, Ghana, Togo, Mali, Sudan, Cameroun.

The journey to having a Biosafety law did not start yesterday as the country signed and ratified the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety in 2000 and ratified it in 2003 in commitment to Global Biodiversity Management.

Nigeria accords high priority to the successful implementation of this Protocol on Biosafety and all UN resolutions and has participated in all the meetings of the Conference of Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity Serving as meeting of Parties to the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety (COPMOP).

Nigeria’s commitment is also reflected in her efforts in the domestication of the protocol and the main streaming of biosafety into her National Programs with the aim of achieving global biodiversity conservation targets.

The country has equally been active in the Biosafety Clearing House (BCH) as a means of information exchange on

Biosafety law:

What is there for agriculture?

By Jimoh Babatunde Biosafety issues, just as it has equally signed the Nagoya Kuala Lumpur Supplementary protocol on Liability and Redress to the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety in 2012.

Many are quick to ask the benefits of the law to the growth of the country’s economy and in particular agriculture growth.

For Ms. Rose M. Gidado, Assistant Director, National Biotechnology Development Agency, the law will create more employment, boost food production that will put a smile on the faces of farmers and elevate hunger if given good attention by government.

The National Biosafety law is crucial in the management of Modern Biotechnology in the

country. Modern Biotechnology, according to her, has been identified as an important tool that can help countries to achieve food sufficiency/food security, industrial growth, health improvement and environmental sustainability.

She added that the Biosafety law will give the legal framework to check the activities of modern biotechnology locally as well as imported GM crops into the country as well as providing avenue to engage Nigerian scientists and experts from different fields to identify and pursue solutions to our local challenges.

“The Biosafety Law also recognizes the complex issues to be addressed by Central Authorities in the judicious application of Modern Biotechnology; it bases the deliberate release of GMO on Advance Informed Agreement (AIA)”.

Speaking further on the purpose of the Law, Ms. Gidado explained that the Biosafety Law is for an act to provide for the management of Biosafety and other related matters and it seeks to: Harness the potentials modern biotechnology has to offer under a legal regulatory regime;Ensure environmental, human and socio-economic safety while harnessing the benefits associated with the practice of modern biotechnology and its outputs; and Exercise the sovereign right over all the nation’s natural resources and authority to regulate access to such resources.

She added that the law will also allay the fear of the populace on the socio-economic consequences of modern biotechnology, especially among the small scale farming systems that are prevalent in Nigeria; Reaffirm Nigeria’s commitment to the principles of the World Trade Organization and to reaffirm Nigeria’s commitment to the goals and objectives of the Convention on

Rice processors back Adesina for AfDB’s job

By Gabriel Ewepu

A

Many are quick to ask the benefits of the law to the growth of the country’s economy and in particular agriculture growth

Biological Diversity (CBD), and the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety, which Nigeria has signed and ratified as well as safe use of modern biotechnology and provide holistic approach to the regulation of modified organisms in Nigeria among other purposes.

Speaking further, Ms. Gidado who is also the Country Coordinator, Open Forum on Agricultural Biotechnology in Africa (OFAB), Nigeria Chapter , said the country stands to gain lots of benefits with the law put in place as Nigeria can without delay commercialize Bt-cotton, Bt-maize, Herbicide Tolerant (HT)-soya beans, which are already in South Africa, Burkina Faso and Egypt.

This, she said, can lead to increased yield productivity to ensure food security and industrial growth especially in the ailing Textile Industries. “It will also promote the quantity and quality of cotton that the Nigeria can export to other international countries.”

Gidado added that the passage of the law will also ensure the much desired in-flux of foreign direct investment from notable world leading companies in Biotechnology thereby improving gross domestic product growth rate and increase job creation.

“The Law will promote national security through the application of DNA finger printing for crime detection, paternity testing, identification among others.

“It will also promote active commercialization of the research and development projects in our various Universities and Research Institutes hence improves our economy as well as support the country to become one of the leaders in Biotechnology, particularly in Africa.”

For Prof. Ado Shehu Garko, the VC, Alqalam University in Katsina state, the law will allow research and business with biotech products including consumption.

BUJA — THE Rice Processors Association of Nigeria, RIPAN, at the weekend backed the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Dr. Akinwumi Adesina as the next president of African Development Bank, AfDB. Chairman, RIPAN, Muhammed Abubakar, disclosed this in Abuja while he while speaking with journalists, where he said the performance of the Minister in the agricultural sector and his track record at various international organisations makes him the preferred candidate for the job.

He also stated that the Minister ’s experience and expertise will facilitate harnessing of the continent’s agricultural potential and expansion of its economy.

Abubakar said: “This will be the best thing for Africa if the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Dr. Akinwumi Adesina becomes the President of African Development Bank.

“I am sure that he (Adesina) is going to fight hunger, head-on, and that would help Africa a lot, because Africa needs a strong, focused and experienced person like him.

“And he will project and concentrate on agriculture, because of huge potential of agriculture in Africa, which can provide resources for the development of other sectors of the economy. Other continents developed to where they are today due to prospects in their agricultural sector.”

Meanwhile, Abubakar expressed displeasure over the frustration some rice importers were giving to members of his association.

24 — Vanguard, FRIDAY, MAY 15, 2015

temperature so that when they are brought in fresh in the morning it can be preserved so that by the time they get to London, they are still fresh. This is an activity that can be yielding us money on a daily basis because we have to eat.

The yams that people eat in London are from Ghana, the peppers are from Uganda, the ewedu that they eat is from Egypt and plantain is from Costa Rica. We have rince Adeyemi Adefulu is the left undone, that President of the Nigerian-British which we ought to Chamber of Commerce (NBCC). In have done, we have this interview with Vanguard, he said, not ensured that we Nigeria by now should have invested on the right tremendous capacity for refining so infrastructure. If we that substantially, will be sending out do not do the right refined oil to other countries.

•Prince Adeyemi Adefulu, President, Nigerian-British thing we will not get Excerpts: the right result that Chamber of Commerce (NBCC) is why we are suffering in the mist If we want some activities to is taken out of the country, it of plenty.

By Naomi Uzor be given preference, we have to affects the reputation of Nigeria.

With the diminishing of oil s the President of the make sure that the right Europe needs the products, it price, what will you be telling NBCC, what are your atmosphere exists for that to is in need all over the world but the incoming government on take on government’s fiscal happen. There must be right they are not well preserved, that how to improve the economy? and monetary policy and their policies to ensure that there is is the responsibility of the It has to focus on a number of impacts on your member enough money which with to government to step in and make things; oil has not been properly support it or people who are sure that they are properly exploited itself, oil alone was companies?

The way government has done engaged in that enterprise will preserved and make sure that enough to keep us going, how business has been very have access to money and the those that are being sent out of many years on, after disappointing, government has right level of costing. For the country pass the test locally, independence, going to 60 not shown a desire to honour its instance, if we are speaking they can create a shield through years, the first oil was lifted from to export, which they must pass and make Olobiri in 1959, why are we still obligations, to honour its specifically contracts, many government government has to work sure that they have passed the importing substantially crude oil, agencies and government has because in the situation in test before it is being exported. by now, we should have behaved in a delinquent which, if we don’t export, our Now there are no cold rooms at tremendous capacity for refining, manner, I think something has situation will only get worse, we the airports to hold vegetables, excess capacity, so that to be done and very quickly; have been talking about this we are only six hours away from substantially, we will be sending government must begin to take forever, government has been London; there are three flights out refined oil, we are importing its commitments seriously and to paying lip service to export so that go in between regularly, from countries that have no fuel be more friendly towards that there will not be reliance on those are passengers, apart from because they have established business. There are too many just one product which is oil, but the cargos planes which always refineries and they are exporting taxes; there are too many was has been done about it, go back empty, but there are no from there, that is where we are charges. Government is quick to nothing. We have to sit down to cold rooms to hold vegetables importing from, it is a shame, and try and enforce taxes on people see the kind of policies, the kind when the vegetables are then so many other areas, like but it is not willing to honour its of support, which the exporters delivered in the morning, it will the LNG, by now, we should own obligations. People have to will need. not go till about 11.30 in the have like four or five of LNG, I will give you one or two evening, by which time, they are that is another line entirely and pay tax, businesses have to pay tax, but government must lead instances; many of our products, dead, tell me, how much does it several by-products of oil, we the way in honouring its own like the red beans for instance, cost to put in a good cold room should be exporting like diesel obligations. If for instance, my it’s in trouble in Europe, it has at the airport to hold these and fuel and that would have company is owing, the bank is been banned by the EU because vegetables at the right lead to a lot of generation of not likely to let me off, of the preservation method, activities, employment of people government might be owing me because they are harvested in and investments from abroad, and they may see that the north-eastern part of the but the policy were not right. government is indeed owing you country, very good product but Why is it only government that but they won’t let you off because red beans suffer from weevil must be refining oil, it is of that, so it goes round when infestation, so they use some unsustainable for government to government does not honour its chemicals out there to preserve be selling oil at the price at obligations, there will be it, those chemicals have been which it is selling, nobody is illiquidity in the system, found to be cancerous, they getting it anyway, so the policies businesses will suffer a lot of cause cancer; so when the beans has to be right, if the policies are problems because they will not come into Europe, they are right, investments will come in be able to meet their tested and once they were not because the raw materials are commitments, including tax properly persevered, they are here for them to use and of How much does it commitments, so laws has to be rejected. course, we talk of other areas, Now this is the responsibility cost to put cold tuned up in such a way that we would have invested a lot government will have no choice of those who are doing the rooms at the airport more money on agriculture and but to pay, if they don’t pay, they preservation, but they cannot do we still need to do so, we would will pay interest, their own it on their own, government, to hold vegetables have invested a lot more money money too will be liable to be knowing the consequences, has at the right on export of products not crude attached from source, so they will to ensure that the farmers are temperature so that coffee or crude in other things know that they are not free to trained on how to preserve, that but the ones in which value has when they are just do whatever they like, that they are given the right been added so that we can earn whatever they do, there will be preservatives to use, it might not brought in fresh in a lot more money from there, that be free, but at very good the morning it can consequences as well. is what we have to do, if we do What do you think will affordable prices, and that be preserved so that not do it, we will spend more on enhance trade in Nigeria products that come out of there, developing the minds, especially in the exportation of that are not properly preserved by the time they get encouraging people going into goods from Nigeria to other are not allowed to be taken out to London, they are gold, Bauxite other things and of the country because when it still fresh? countries? really get it right, because those

Incoming government should focus on right policies

— NBCC President P

A

BRIEFS NB Plc acquires 89.3% stake in Benue Bottling Co

By Providence Obuh

N

igerian Breweries Plc has acquired 89.3 percent majority stake in Benue Bottling Company to shore up its manufacturing activities in the industry.

Managing Director/CEO, Nigerian Breweries (NB) Plc, Mr. Nicolaas Vervelde, who disclosed this to journalists in Lagos, said the company obtained the majority equity interest in December last year,adding that that the financial position of the subsidiary has been consolidated in the financial statements.

“The subsidiary BBC is an entity with no business activities that holds land, buildings and some idle production assets.

There was no impact on the company’s result for the year under review,” Vervelde said.

Speaking on the merger of Consolidated Breweries, he explained that the merger became necessary to meet the demand of the changing beer market and to deliver significant cost, adding that operational integration commenced in January this year.

BATN lauded for sustaining productivity awards

S

enator Anthony Adeniyi, Member, Senate Committee on Agriculture, has lauded British American Tobacco Nigeria (BATN) for sustaining ‘Farmers Productivity Award ceremony’ it initiated ten years ago.

He gave the commendation during this year’s edition of the award ceremony held at the British American Tobacco Iseyin Agronomy (BATIA), Iseyin, Oyo State. The award ceremony had in attendance over 300 farmers, drawn from the Arigidan’s Farmers’ Group, the Asaju Farmers’ Group and Sakedu Farmers’ Groups, among others.

They were rewarded with prizes which include motorcycles, generators, sprayers and water pumps with accessories, including overhead water tanks for their efforts in the 2014 farming season.

“It is very encouraging to see an organisation, such as BATN supporting smallholder farmers through agricultural interventions that have transformed the lives of many smallholder farmers, thereby reinforcing government’s effort in alleviating poverty and creating employment,” said Senator Adeniyi.

Vanguard, FRIDAY, MAY 15, 2015 — 25

South Africa seeks African co-operation to advance tourism course … hosts successful Indaba travel show

By Jimoh Babatunde

S

outh Africa for three days brought together African tourism stakeholders to do business with the best tourism buyers from around the world as it hosted its 25th Tourism Indaba in Durban .

The Indaba tourism show which ended Monday had over 1,000 exhibitors from 20 African countries, about 2,000 buyers from the world’s tourism source markets and about 750 members of the media.

It was an opportunity for the South African government and its people to tell Africans and the world that the recent attacks on foreign nationals in the country, Xenophobia, was not in their character as they are open to people of diverse nature.

According to the Chief Executive of South African Tourism, Thulani Nzima, “the success of the South African tourism industry is inextricably bound to that of the African continent.”

This view was shared by the South African Tourism Minister, Derek Hanekom, during the opening ceremony when he said they are united in their resolve to build the positive brand of Africa as a continent of unparalleled tourism opportunities and to enhance tourism as a mainstream economic sector, “a sector of hope for Africa and its people.”

He disclosed that on the African continent, tourism directly and indirectly supports 20.5 million jobs and represents 8.1 % of Africa’s gross domestic product. “In some countries , more than 50% of their GDP comes from tourism.”

Hanekom explained that international arrivals in Africa increased to 56 million tourists last year and are expected to grow by between three and five percent in in 2015, “this will probably exceed the projected growth in global arrivals, which is between three and four percent.”

He added “ in South Africa, taking the direct and indirect impacts of tourism together, our tourism sector now contributes over nine percent of gross domestic product and supports over 1.5 million job opportunities countrywide.

And it continues to grow.”

The Minister noted that

Indaba embraces a spirit of partnership, of collaboration and winning together.

“Exhibitors are the real heroes of Indaba, driving growth in tourist receipts and delivering on the promises they made in marketing their destinations.

“Tourism is a fantastic South African success story, growing ahead of other economic sectors, creating jobs and attracting foreign direct spend and investment in South Africa.

This year the Indaba theme recognizes the vital importance of the tourism industry and exhibitors on the trade show floor. They are the team that is helping the continent forward.”

Derek Hanekom noted that Indaba is a critical component

of growing tourism to South Africa as it gives exhibitors a premium platform to showcase their products and services as well as do business with the

Exhibitors are the real heroes of Indaba, driving growth in tourist receipts and delivering on the promises they made in marketing their destinations

world.

“The direct result of a successful Indaba is sustained growth in receipts, investment in infrastructure, thriving tourism businesses and growing numbers of people employed in the industry.”

Speaking on the marketing efforts of the South African Tourism, its Chief Executive, Thulani Nzima, said their marketing efforts are paying off, “ while South Africa is justifiably world-famous as a premier safari destination, the heritage and culture attractions of our destination are now compelling reasons to visit South Africa too.

“Most importantly, South Africans are warm, friendly and welcoming people. It is the

South African Tourism Minister, Derek Hanekom, dancing with a Zulu troupe at the just concluded Indaba Travel Show in Durban, South Africa.

South African Airways enabler for tourism, driver of economic growth — Bezuidenhout

T

he Acting Chief Executive of South African Airways (SAA), Nico Bezuidenhout, said the airline has specific and important role to play as an enabler for tourism and a driver of economic growth through trade.

While speaking on the SAA’s continued support of the economy and tourism, he said “Tourism has always been and remains an important catalyst for growth in South Africa.

It supports one in every 12 jobs in South Africa (SA) either directly or indirectly.”

Speaking at the just concluded Indaba travel show, Bezuidenhout said through the airline’s implementation of its 90-Day Action Plan that it has been able to bring stability to the industry.

The SAA Group supports tourism through

an integrated offering. SAA, is a Skytrax fourstar rated domestic, continental and intercontinental airline; Mango, the Group’s Low Cost Carrier (LCC), one of the most successful LCCs on the continent, profitably serving primarily domestic routes and Zanzibar.

Voyager, Africa’s leading airline loyalty programme; SAA Cargo; Air Chefs, its catering arm; and South African Airways Technical, the leading FAA-accredited maintenance facility in Africa. “Tourism numbers are staggering.

The Oxford Economics study estimates that approximately 615 000 people are directly employed by the tourism industry while a further 451 000 jobs are indirectly linked to the sector and 312 000 people are directly supported through the household spend of tourism workers.

South African people , as much as the destination, that make for an unforgettable travel experience.”

Nzima said South African Tourism works with its partners in the trade to position the tourism Indaba as the only distinctly African global travel trade show in the world, uniquely born in Africa to grow the African travel sector.

African tourism ministers meeting

In positioning Indaba to grow African tourism, the South African Tourism Minister, Derek Hanekom, hosted the second annual African Tourism Minister Summit to discus issues pertaining to the growth and development of tourism on the continent.

Hanekom noted that the African region has many assets for tourism development, but challenges to infrastructure development, visa facilitation and connectivity and the financing of tourism development have the potential to offset the African tourism growth.

He said though Africa is overwhelmed by social and economic challenges, “but when consider the huge potential that tourism offers the continent, we must embrace our task of working together to advance our collective strengths and address our challenges.”

He said tourism is already changing lives, creating jobs and building communities and that it has potential to change even more lives for the better.

“Africa is home to 15% of the world’s population, but receives only about four percent of the world’s tourists. Imagine if we , collectively , grew our share of global tourist receipts to 15%. Imagine the jobs we could create, the lives we could impact and the change for better we could affect across Africa.” Hanekom noted that Africa needs to support each other and stand up for each other, “ we need to work, collectively, on the perception that the world has of our continent and put our collective will into action to advance Africa. When we support each other , and when we learn from each other , we build success .

Your success is our success and our success is your success.“

26—VANGUARD, FRIDAY, MAY 15, 2015

BUHARI IS BEAUTIFUL:

He is everyone’s bride MANY politicians who few months ago would not near General Muhammadu Buhari are beating one another to get an audience with the president-elect. The competition to be Buhari’s friend is stoking crisis in state chapters of the All Progressives Congress, APC The announcement which was denounced by major national and state stakeholders was, ironically, quickly disowned by Jones. Temi Harriman, the state coordinator for General Muhammdu Buhari and Dr. Alex Ideh, who was the secretary of the APC National Convention Committee, NCC have largely been indifferent to the Jones faction.

The crisis in Delta according to stakeholders, was instigated to smear the pair of Harriman and Ideh who were prominent in the national campaign from possible rewards in the Buhari government.

Conspicuous by their absence in the visit to Buhari were APC leaders like Dr. Pat Utomi, Chief Hyacinth Enuha, Chief LJ Esigie, Harriman, Ideh and DIG Donald Ugbaja (rtd.)

The APC in Enugu State is also having its own internal convulsion following what the state chapter of the party alleged on Wednesday as plans by two former ministers, Senator Jim Nwobodo and Prof.

Bath Nnaji to secretly enter the party.

State Publicity Secretary of the party, Mrs. Kate Offor, briefing newsmen on the issue described the alleged action of the two men as “medicine after death.”

*Buhari

I

By Emmanuel Aziken, Political Editor

T was perhaps an act of providence that Chief Adolo Okotie-Eboh who was recently returned as the Delta State chairman of the All Progressives Congress, APC missed his flight from Lagos to Abuja last Wednesday. Only few would have imagined what would have happened had he caught up with the convoy of party stakeholders from his state had he met them before they were bussed from the Transcorp Hilton Hotel for the scheduled meeting with the presidentelect, General Muhammadu Buhari.

Okotie-Eboh’s miss,

inadvertently prevented a possible embarrassing showdown between him and Olorogun Otega Emerhor, the man running the affairs of the party in the state.

Both men are indeed steeped in their positions as “victims of injustice.” While Okotie-Eboh is alleging that he is being denied his due by the national secretariat of the party, Emerhor who was the party ’s governorship candidate in the recent elections is claiming that the elections were rigged against him.

Publicity secretary of the Okotie-Eboh faction of the party, Alex Eyengho confirming the bad blood in the state chapter of the party told

Vanguard yesterday: “Whether anyone likes it or not, APC in Delta State is highly, factionalised. We have three major factions. The Otega/ Prophet Jones Erue faction, the Adolo Okotie Eboh faction which has secured the court judgment dissolving the Erue executive, and also, the Temi Harriman, Okpozo, Alex Ideh faction. The group that went to Abuja was just Otega's group.”

The factional visit was reflective of the deep divisions in the party in the state which is yet to recover after the Jones faction, a month ago, caused to be published advertorials on the alleged expulsion of some major stakeholders from the party.

The divisions in Delta, Enugu and Akwa Ibom are, however, apparently missing in Rivers State, ironically, one of the major strongholds of the party in the SouthSouth region

“At an enlarged meeting of the State Executive Committee of Enugu State Chapter of APC, we unequivocally resolved that the membership drive aimed at enlisting Prof. Barth Nnaji, Chief Jim Nwobodo and co into our great party be stopped forthwith.

“For us, it is medicine after death, given the shameful result we recorded in the presidential election, and governorship where we got less than three per cent and 10 per cent of the total votes cast in Enugu State respectively.

The Enugu APC officials were apparently not happy that Nwobodo went ahead of them to pay Buhari a visit.

Another solidarity visit to General Buhari by some political stakeholders from Akwa Ibom State has also drawn the ire of APC leaders from that state.

The delegation from Akwa Ibom State led by the immediate past governor of the state, Obong Victor Attah had paid a solidarity visit to Buhari during which they lamented the conduct of the last elections in the state saying that the elections were rigged against the APC. The trouble for the APC local government chairmen in the state, however, is that Attah is yet to formally cross over from the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP to the APC. The APC local government chairmen in a joint statement rejected the delegation as that of the APC saying that “Commendable as the visit was in apprising the presidentelect of his immediate challenge in office regarding Akwa Ibom State," that the group "lied to the presidentelect and Nigerians by trying to pass their delegation as that of the stakeholders of the APC Akwa Ibom State, a development that could confuse the president-elect or at least mislead him.”

The divisions in Delta, Enugu and Akwa Ibom are, however, apparently missing in Rivers State, ironically, one of the major strongholds of the party in the South-South region.

Receiving a delegation of party officials from the state also on Wednesday, Buhari had pledged that the persecutions suffered by APC members would not be swept under the carpet.

He spoke in reference to alleged acts of harassment by security men in collaboration with another political party in the state.

“We will confront them with facts and figures. We will not forgive and we will not forget those who perpetrated killings and arson in Rivers State during the elections. At least this is the much we owe Nigerians.”

Vanguard, FRIDAY, MAY 15, 2015—27

Please, we must give Buhari time — Gambo Magaji

A

lhaji Gambo Magaji, is a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress, APC and a member of the party’s Board of Trustees, BoT. A key associate of the president-elect, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (rtd.), Magaji, was at one time the chairman of the Board of Trustees of the now defunct All Nigeria Peoples Party, ANPP, and played an active role in the merger of the three political parties that culminated in the emergence of the APC. In this interview, Magaji speaks on how Buhari can bring about the needed change in Nigeria and give Nigerians a new lease of life.

Excerpts:

By SONI DANIEL, Regional Editor, North HOW do you feel after your party’s victory? ndeed, we are happy that I our great party won the election because the desire of any politician is to win election and form the government in order to render quality service to the people. I am equally elated over our victory because it shows that Nigerians appreciate our party and its manifesto as well as our candidate, Muhammadu Buhari, a man well loved by many and seen as the face of integrity and good governance in Nigeria.

But given the myriad of challenges currently confronting the nation, do you think that Buhari can bring about the needed change in the country?

Well, before I say anything I want to appeal to Nigerians that they should give Buhari time because he cannot do everything at a go and he cannot also meet the aspirations of Nigerians at the same time.

The reasons are obvious. Firstly, Buhari, who is inheriting an empty treasury from the outgoing administration, is also coming at a time when the price of oil is at the lowest with a lot of controversies surrounding the resources of the country that cannot be accounted for.

For instance, the $20 billion saga, the issue of non-remittance of oil proceeds to the Federation Account, the issue of waivers which has really affected the custom duties we are supposed to collect and other taxes which have robbed the nation of huge revenue.

S o, in a nut shell, Buhari is inheriting an empty treasury and he should be given time to sort out the leakages in our revenue sector. Buhari should look into the issue of the $20 billion he said he was going to look into because Jonathan as a president empanelled a forensic audit and the auditors came out

with a report which to me is indicting the government and that means that the money is somewhere and it needs to be looked into.

It is my belief that if serious planning is done by the new government things should take shape within six months to one year. But I would advise that things that are very urgent and dear to the hearts of Nigerians could be done within his first 100 days in office. One of these urgent matters, to my mind, is that security.

Then the issue of lingering problems in our tertiary and health institutions should also be addressed once and for all to give Nigerians a breathing space in those vital areas of life.

What particular issue in the tertiary education should the government address immediately?

Look, there are so many issues to be tackled in order that our tertiary education can move forward. I tell you the incessant strikes and closure of universities and allied institutions do not argue well for this country and something urgent needs to be done about it.

As we speak university and some polytechnic teachers are still threatening to go on strike over unpaid salaries and allowances and this is adversely affecting the smooth running of the system forcing the big men to send their children abroad while those of the poor suffer here. Being a man of the people, Buhari should look into these things and put an end to incessant strikes in the education system.

What do you think should be done for the North East which has been shattered by unending insecurity?

The North East situation is a calamity and a shame on the Nigerian government. This thing started 2001 when the Boko Haram members were known as Talibans in Yobe State.

Sometime later, these elements

•Ishaku : PDP candidate

were routed out of Yobe and some persons arrested for sponsoring the training of the Talibans in Mali but nothing was done about it.

It is only in this country where you have a problem and you have all the security operatives around but none is interested to look into issues or even to learn lessons from what had happened. In1984 we had Maitasine sect in this country and immediately it put under control, nobody went back to look into it and also tried to learn lessons from it and see what can be done when such things bring up their ugly heads again. Yes if they had stop what led to Maita-

Then the issue of lingering problems in our tertiary and health institutions should also be addressed once and for all to give Nigerians a breathing space in those vital areas of life

sine, Boko Haram would not have surfaced. The terrorist groups would not have been operating with ease in the country. Honestly what is required by Buhari’s government would not be like what Jonathan did by allocating only N2 billion naira in 2014 budget which is less than what he gave to Nollywood.

As we speak, nobody knows if the money has been released or not. What Buhari needs to do is like what we call the marshal plan of civil war. A special institution should be created to look into this issue properly, rehabilitate them, rebuild schools, rebuild hospitals, rebuild infrastructure, create jobs and at the same time bring a lot of social psychologists around to assist these people to recover from their trauma.

The president needs to do that at least for those people and for the rest of the country once he settles down. He should look into the issue of unemployment seriously because it is a very serious issue. You can see the shameful thing which happened at the National Stadium here in Abuja where people were killed in the name of immigration recruitment and the whole thing ended up as a scam and because of the nonchalant and non-cooperative attitude of the government of the day those innocent lives were lost for nothing.

In the allocation of offices the issue of zoning has come into play and it is a bit discomforting because some

people have threatened in the national assembly that if the zoning formula is not properly handled it could lead to implosion in the party. What do you think about zoning in APC? Someone asked me a similar question about two weeks ago and what I told him is that; firstly, zoning will be done by APC in such a way that nobody is short changed and in doing that too APC will look into the electoral value of the zones.

Are you then suggesting that the party should use electoral value in allocating offices?

Yes because if you don’t do it how do you compensate those who elected you? For instance, North West where the President came from gave him 7,115,190 votes followed by the North East, which gave him votes despite the violence and crises that had caused a lot of dislocation in the zone.

The South West, North Central and South South and South East followed in that order in giving votes to the president and his party.

If you look into all these things and the issue of members of the National Assembly then once put all these things into consideration then you can come up with a formula for everybody because honestly it will not be fair not to recognise and do something for those states or region who gave you their all.

28—VANGUARD, FRIDAY, MAY 15, 2015

Why PDP Reps-elect want Dogara as Speaker — Rep Okwu •Says members will reject imposition of candidate Rep. Samson Okwu, who is returning to the House of Representatives for a second term on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP to represent Oju/Obi Federal Constituency of Benue State in this interview asserts that PDP House members would not kowtow to the desires of external influences in the choice of the next speaker of the House.

By Levinus Nwabughiogu

G

iven that your party would be in opposition in the next House would there be a role for you in determining the next leadership?

We are determined to do that and we want to do it in such a way that we will choose leaders that will have support across party lines and will also look out for the interest of the country and members. It is no longer about APC or PDP it is about the House of Representatives and what is happening is not a different thing. By the time the 8th House is inaugurated, we are going to elect a Speaker of our choice.

The APC has not yet zoned the positions, does that mean that you in the PDP will also abide by the APC zoning formula?

Well, let me say this, let no one make a mistake, the House has a precedence that happened in the House since 1999. The PDP then in 1999 wanted Salisu Buhari to become the Speaker, but he didn’t last because he was not the choice of the members. He lasted only two months and Ghali Na’Abba was elected. The same scenario played itself in 2003. The party wanted Hon. Matazu who was even a returning member but the members didn’t want him and they elected Hon. Aminu Bello Masari as Speaker. Similar thing happened in 2007 when Hon. Patricia Etteh was imposed on members.

They accepted her but after four months, they forced her out and Dimeji Bankole was elected. The same scenario or even worse than the previous ones happened in 2011 when PDP tried to impose Hon. Mulikat AdeolaAkande and we didn’t want her.

So we brought Hon. Aminu Waziri Tambuwal as our Speaker. If the party in power is thinking that things have changed, they will surely be proved wrong. It is not about the party, it is the attitude of the House of Representatives to always go its own way in choosing its leadership. If APC is thinking that members will abide by its zoning arrangement, the same scenario will play out because we are all the same members and nothing has changed.

Are you saying that the PDP caucus will team with up some APC lawmakers to achieve your aim?

The House Rules has not changed. It is not about political

party is about who will have the control of the House and lead us right and protect the interest of Nigerians and not that of his godfather. If the party anoints someone we don’t like, we won’t abide by their zoning more so that we have the number to determine that.

Who then are you supporting for the Speakership?

We are solidly behind Hon. Yakubu Dogara as Speaker. And we are determined to deliver him come June.

What are your reasons for supporting Dogara?

We want somebody who will rally all members behind him.

•Okwu Dogara is that person who will protect the interest of members and all Nigerians. He does not answer to any godfather. He doesn’t take weekly briefings from a godfather who lives

hundreds of kilometers from Abuja like a puppet. Dogara looks at the 359 constituencies as his own constituency.

Invariably we are transferring the demands of our constituents to him and we know he is capable of shouldering the responsibilities of the office of the Speaker.

Do you think it will be possible to gather the required number for Dogara to emerge Speaker?

Members already know who is the right person and they are just waiting for time.

That is why you are seeing a lot of endorsements for Dogara from different caucuses across the country.? All of us who endorsed Dogara have voting rights in June and it cut across all political parties.

But we in the PDP in particular will deliver bloc vote to Dogara.

What would you say about some members of your North-Central Zone caucus that dissociated themselves from Dogara's endorsement?

Some people who will not be in the chamber in the next Assembly are said to have endorsed somebody but it is useless because they don’t have voting rights. We are the ones that will vote and not the outgoing members. Those who came out to condemn the endorsement are not members of 8th Assembly. They are not members of our caucus. Look at the list, they are outgoing members of the House but the in-coming members have done their endorsement and they are the ones who have the voting right.

DELTA: Okowa should put square pegs in square holes — Aduze Arch Clement Onowono Aduze is a People’s Democratic Party, PDP, chieftain and a Quantity Surveyor.

He vied for the Delta State House of Assembly position for the Isoko South constituency I under the platform of the PDP but lost at the primary.

In this interview, he spoke on the just concluded general elections and the need for Delta State Governor- Elect, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa to give appointment to the right persons.

By Akuopha Ochuko

W

hat is your assessment of the just concluded 2015 general elections in the country?

The elections are done and dusted and we are happy that the exercise, against all expectations turned out to be very peaceful and credible. Some people even predicted that there will be no Nigeria after the 2015 election, but the process, apart from some hiccups here and there, was free and fair and we can say that democracy has come to stay in the country.

Here in Delta State, the people are happy with the victory of Senator Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa in the governorship election and we all see his emergence as the best thing that can happen to the state at this time.

We are optimistic that he will bring his wealth of experience in governance to bear as he pilots the affairs of the state for the next eight years.

What is your expectation of Dr. Okowa in the selection of his team ?

Governance is a process of governing the people; it is about serving the people

•Aduze and impacting positively on the lives of the citizenry. We cannot continue to make the same mistakes over and over again.

There must be some positive change in the area of governance. It is when we put the right people in the right positions that we can really enjoy the dividends of democracy. Delta State is a big and complex state compared to other states of the federation. It requires good leadership for you to get it right.

What is your view about DESOPADEC? The essence of the Delta State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission, DESOPADEC, is to develop the oil bearing communities and the Governor-Elect can only realize the aims and objectives of the commission if square pegs are put in square holes. Every human being has

his own area of specialization, so if veterans from the construction industry are appointed as members of the board to manage the affairs of the commission, it will surely give accelerated infrastructural development in the oil bearing communities and the state in general if the same principle of putting square pegs in square holes is applied to all our ministries and other government department.

The word of God in the book of Psalm 11:3 says that, if the foundations be destroyed, what can the righteous do? The foundation must be good before the building can stand or else the building will collapse.

There is no doubt that political consideration is taking the centre stage in the area of political appointment, who becomes the next commissioner, chairmen of boards, members of boards and heads of government agencies to mention but a few. But in considering the prospective candidates for these positions, the GovernorElect should be guided by professionalism; this is the only way we can get it right and transform our dear state to enviable heights.

If really we are sincere to ourselves as a people of this great state, we must have a rethink on how to govern our dear state by putting square pegs in square holes. The principle is simple, put a seasoned professional in his or her area of specialization and the result will be amazing.

VANGUARD, FRIDAY, MAY 15, 2015—29

T

HIS week has shown some aspects of the absurd, and also, disdainful impunity. Nigeria is one of the leading world oil producers – producing about 2.5 million barrels of crude oil per day. And yet, motorists queue endlessly for a product that is not available at the official price of N87 per litre, but which smart guys sell around the corner at about N200. That product is called Gasoline, known by all as Petrol.

Even before the scarcity of the white products – gasoline, diesoline and dual purpose kerosene (DPK), it has not been possible to get petrol at the official price of N87 per litre.

Perhaps, it is only in Lagos that many petrol stations do sell at the official price; many stations are in the habit of selling a litre of petrol between N100 and N150 in many parts of the country.

The problem of shortage of supply of petroleum products, especially petrol, and instability of their prices, could be attributed to the introduction of the regime of ‘Uniform Price‘ introduced by the federal government in the 1970s.

That was a policy introduced under pressure from the Northern political elites of the period who sincerely but erroneously believed that differentials in the prices of petroleum products were responsible for different industrial developments between the Northern and Southern parts of the country. Many Northerners in the dreary 1970s thought that uniform prices of petroleum fuels throughout the country would ensure even economic development and equality of public and general welfare.

Unfortunately, the advocates of “Uniform Price” of petroleum products won the battle through the Decree of 1975 (as amended

by Decree 32 of 1989). Thus, through the provision of the De-

Deregulating the downstream sector of the oil industry cree, the federal government became responsible for fixing the prices of the main products – petrol, diesel and kerosene and also, for their supply. To ensure the smooth working of the system, the NNPC built depots with storage tanks in many places from where marketers lifted (bought) products. The financial aspect of the scheme was left to the Petroleum Equilisation Fund (PEF) to sort out. Arrangements of re-imbursements were made to oil companies which incurred losses by selling at the “uniform price”. That appears as the origin of subsidy.

Though arrangements were

Even before the scarcity of the white products – gasoline, diesoline and dual purpose kerosene (DPK), it has not been possible to get petrol at the official price of N87 per litre.

Perhaps

made to compensate oil companies for losses incurred, however, the inability of oil marketers to be adequately compensated during the military era and the increasing demand of oil products were responsible for periodic product shortage and distortions in the mechanism of the uniform price in many locations throughout the country.

It is a pity and act of irresponsibility that nothing substantial was done in the last sixteen years to save Nigerian motorists from the sufferings associated with periodic shortage of the product, inspite of the phenomenal rise in pump prices. In 1999, gasoline (petrol) pump price was N20; diesel oil (AGO) N19 and Kerosene (DPK) N17, as compared with the current price of N87, N130 and N50-N70 respectively. Since the four local refineries could not provide enough for the fastly rising demand for the products, some marketers were selected to import petrol and kerosene under a system which allows subsidy to be paid between the landing cost of the products and the officially approved pump prices.

The question of subsidy payment has given room to suspi-

The story of non indigenes in Lagos

By Hon Femi Kehinde

L

AGOS or Eko, apart from being cosmopolitan, is the largest city in SubSaharan Africa, whose population is as large as that of Ghana. Apart from being the business hub of Nigeria, it is the Second fastest growing city in Africa and the Seventh in the World.

At the Legislative Council of Nigeria, Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe, an Igbo man was the member representing Lagos between 1947-1951 and Zik later became the leader of the opposition in the Western Region House of Assembly between 1952-1953, before becoming member for Onitsha in the Eastern House of Assembly and later Premier of the Eastern Region House of Assembly between 1954-1960, after he had dislodged Professor Eyo Ita, the then Premier of the Eastern Region.

It is a common historical fact, that Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe, an Igbo man, would have become the first Premier and Leader of the government business of the Western Region in 1952, but for

the depth political moves and sagacity of members of the Ibadan People’s Party (IPP), who won all the Six (6)Parliamentary seats in Ibadan. Of the Six elected IPP members, only Chief Adegoke Adelabu, the stormy petrel of the Western Region politics, joined the NCNC and the rest of the members-A.M.A Akinloye, Chief D. T Akinbiyi (who later became the Olubadan of Ibadan), Chief S.Owoole Lanlehin, Moyosore Aboderin, S.A Akinyemi, opted for the Action Group, to swell the rank of the Thirty-Eight (38) elected members, to enable the Action Group form the government of the Western Region, to the deep dismay, bewilderment and consternation of the NCNC, who had thought that their leader would lead the first Regional government and become the first Premier of the Western Region.

The NCNC/Independent had 25 members, IPP Six (6), Ondo Improvement League; Two (2), Out Edo Candidates won the Three (3) Benin seats, namely; Chief S.O Ighodalo, Chief Humphrey Omo-Osagie, Chief

Chike Ekwuyasi, Chief Ughodalo opted for the AG while the latter two went to the NCNC. The three AG secretaries who had run as independents were Chief M.O Awosika from Ondo Improvement League and Chief Timothy Adeola Odutola (Independent Ijebu-Ode) and Chief Osuntokun from OkeImesi Ekiti had swelled the number of the AG elected members.

All these transactions had taken place before the Inauguration of the Regional Parliament in 1952 unknown to the NCNC. The AG had successfully lured 20 victorious candidates of the smaller rival parties to form the Regional Government of the Western Region from its 38 members, thus truncating the ambition of Dr. Azikiwe in the region. It was a master stroke and Dr. Azikwe till death, could not get out of this shock.

The AG-led government, by way of compensation, appointed Chief A.M.A Akinloye as the Minister of Agricultural Resources. The battle line had been drawn and Dr. Nnamdi

cion of corruption in many places since it has been discovered that ghost marketers appeared on the list of importers. Perhaps the genuine oil marketers are now mounting pressure on the federal government to demand payments due to them from importing at a higher cost than the prices they have to sell.

One of the failures of the PDP administration in the last sixteen years has been the inability to manage the oil resources pretty well.

If it is better that subsidy payment (which has cost the nation trillions of naira (in the last three years) is not in the current year‘s budget, how then, would equilibrium be maintained between the supply and demand of the product?.

It should be recollected that before the federal government took over the functions of the private sector, prices of the various petroleum products were agreed with government agencies by the local oil companies.

On local production, each company would purchase crude oil, refine it at the local refinery (owned by federal government and Shell-BP) but managed by BP, and pay agreed processing fees. Each marketer was allocated a time limit to evacuAzikwe-the Owele of Onitsha, had no choice than to go back home, that is to the Eastern Region.

Professor Eyo Ita, though from the minority group of the COR (Cross River, Ogoja River Axis) was at this time of Dr. Nnamdi Azikwe travails in the Western Region, Leader of Government Business, Eastern Region of Nigeria and was in office from 1951-1953, when he was supplanted through intrigues, manipulations and subterfuge by, Dr. Azikwe, who was the leader of opposition in the Western Regional Assembly to become the Leader, government business of the Eastern Region in 1953.

The NCNC was then majorly referred to as the Igbo Party, whilst the AG was usually referred to also as Yoruba Party.

At the heat of the Regional crisis in 1962, the member representing Ajeromi/ Ifelodun/ Badagry in Lagos was Igbo- Hon. E. Ebubedike, from Ozubulu in present day Anambra State. Hon Ebubedike on the 25th of May 1962, was the Honourable member, who broke the maze-the insignia of authority of the Parliament and threw it at the Speaker of the Parliament- Hon. Prince Adeleke Adedoyin, which

ate the refined products into its storage tanks.

The price fixing was based on ex refinery cost (processing fees and crude cost), handling charges (depot maintenance and equipment charges), government tax, transportation charges and dealers‘ margins.

Thus, the pump price would have taken into consideration all elements necessary to sustain adequate supply of the products and the profitability of the individual oil marketer. Unfortunately today, the pump price is being calculated on the landing cost of the imported product and the regulated uniform price – the difference is the subsidy paid to the marketer.

It is known that about 450,000 barrels of crude oil is allocated to NNPC for daily domestic consumption. What has been happening to the allocation to induce importation? The officials of NNPC are not unaware of the demand pattern of each oil marketer to ensure even and adequate distribution of adequate quantity of crude oil. A reasonable policy would be to sell crude oil to each marketer; such marketer will take the product to the refinery and pay the necessary processing fees (to keep them operational and profitable). Each marketer would refine cheaply to its market demand. Since each barrel of crude oil produces more than one product, the surplus bye products could be sold at home or exported. Many analysts believe that if the downstream sector is reasonably deregulated, the economic waste of subsidy payments and maintenance of uniform price would be avoided. But if it becomes absolutely necessary to import, the punishing exchange rate for necessary commodities should be critically examined. ignited the fracas that eventually led to the closure of the Parliament and the eventual declaration of the State of emergency in the Western Region on the 29th of May 1962.

This incidence later snowballed into military take-over on the 15th of January 1966.

It is a funny coincidence that the same seat held by Hon. Ebubedike, an Igbo man, in Ajeromi/Ifelodun/Badagry Constituency in the First Republic, has now gone back to Mr. Oghene Egbo, who recently won the Amuwo-Odofin Federal Constituency of Lagos on the platform of PDP in the March 28, 2015 Federal Elections.

In the politics of Lagos and its environs, the Igbos and its acolytes have always held sway.

Alhaji Adegoke Adelabu (Pekelemesi), Chief TOS Benson, Chief Adeniran Ogunsanya, Chief Olu Akinfosile, were distinguished and notable Yoruba politicians in their life-time and were equally close confidants of the Late Dr.

*Hon (Barr) Femi Kehinde is Former Member, House of Representatives & Principal Partner Femi Kehinde & Co (Solicitors) 84, Iwo Road, Ibadan.

30—VANGUARD, FRIDAY, MAY 15, 2015

I

n the first week of May every year, Itsekiri people and their friends from all walks of life converge on Warri for the annual anniversary of the coronation of the Olu of Warri, His Majesty, Ogiame Atuwatse II, CON. However, this year’s edition which marked the 28th year of Ogiame Atuwatse II on the pristine throne of his forefathers as the 19th Olu of Warri, was with a difference. Son of the soil and award-winning filmmaker cum media practitioner of over 18 years, Alex Eyengho produced and directed a widely acclaimed world-class th play about Olu Akengbuwa, the 16 Olu of Warri who reigned from 1795 to 1848.

After the play was staged on May 1, 2015 at the main hall of the Federal Government College, Warri, Governor of Delta State, His Excellency, Dr. Emmanuel Eweta Uduaghan in his speech announced the adoption of the play to be staged in Asaba on May 28, 2015 as part of activities marking his official hand-over to the Governorelect,Senator Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa on May 29. In this interview with WG, Eyengho who is the President of the Association of Nollywood Producers ,ANCOP, and Vice President of the International Federation of Film Producers Association, FIAPF, gives an insight into the development.

By Benjamin Njoku How did you feel after the play, considering the mammoth crowd in the hall?

I felt great. I felt fulfilled. I felt very happy with myself as a filmmaker who was producing and directing his first ever stage play. Before now, I had concentrated mainly on producing and directing films. For me, it was not just about the over one thousand people in that hall but more about the quality of persons also in attendance. The number one citizen of Delta State, His Excellency the Governor, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan was there in full force. The Olu of Warri with almost all his Chiefs, the Regent of Gbaramatu Ijaw with a large entourage, Urhobos, Isokos, Aniomas, top politicians, business gurus, serving and retired members of the armed forces, the academia, community leaders, corporate organizations, delegation from the United States, United Kingdom etc were in that hall. It was simply an awesome view.

What was your directorial approach to the play?

The play, Olu Akengbuwa is the story of the 88 years interregnum in Warri Kingdom, when for 88 years the Itsekiri people had no King. It is an intriguing story of power play, unbridled ambition, greed, unalloyed loyalty and the British incursion into the Warri area among others. As the director, I used a combination of music, dance, narration, strong dialogue, light and sound to tell a simple historical story in a complicated and intriguing form, befitting of the stage tradition.

Considering the fact that the play is your first attempt as a stage director, how did you cope?

First, I must say here that the general principles of directing are the same, be it for film, television or stage. What matters is for the director to recognize C M Y K

Why Uduaghan adopted Olu Akengbuwa play for hand-over ceremony — Alex Eyengho

the differences in these media in terms of directorial approach. The directorial approach and techniques for film must certainly be different from that of stage or television soap opera, sit-coms. I know the rules. If and when I break the rules, know that it was done deliberately and for a reason. That’s the reason why even though majority of the thespians I worked with in this play are veterans, I maintained my position as the captain and knew where and when to draw the line in tandem with what exactly I want to see on stage as the director. All of

I am hale and hear ty hearty ty,, declares OJB

You know as much as I do that Governor Uduaghan is a detribalized person. I think the governor had a swell time watching the play.

In fact, the governor in his speech captured the very essence of the play

them, from Norbert Young, Ejike Asiegbu, Peter Fatomilola, Soibifaa Dokubo, Eliel Otote, Efe MayfordOrhorha, Bongolipso, Williams Ekpo among others adapted to my style. At the end of the day, we had a good show.

However, I concede to the fact that there is always room for improvement.

What inspired Uduaghan’s decision to adopt the play to be staged in Asaba on May 28. Was it because you are his Itsekiri kinsman?

Far from it! First, you know as much as I do that Governor Uduaghan is a detribalized person. I think the governor had a swell time watching the play. In fact, the governor in his speech captured the very essence of the play.

The message in the play cuts across every ethnic group in Nigeria and the world. Like the governor said, the play is a reminder of what happened in our political space as a nation in the past, what is happening now and what may happen in the future. The theme, sub themes and sub texts in the play are not limited to Ijaw, Itsekiri, Urhobo, Anioma, Isoko or any other tribe for that matter.

The play addresses leadership question Continues on page 31

Features that raise innovation bar for Galaxy S6 Duos, Edge smartphones

Vanguard, FRIDAY, MAY 15, 2015—31

Synopsis I

IYORE

yore tells the story of a life after life…..circle that we live not remembering who we were in the world before . It’s a mystical tale set around the ancient city of Benin kingdom in Edo State of Nigeria. The epic movie is a mixture of historical fact and fiction. It also explore a tragic love story centered on the rich culture of colonial Benin to the present day while exploring the supernatural idea of reincarnation. The movie premieres today at the box office.

TOP MOVIES OF THE WEEK · · · ·

FAST AND FURIOUS 7 NIGHT CRAWLER PAUL BLART 2 BLACK OR WHITE

Schedule commencing from Friday 1st – 6th May , 2014.

Why Uduaghan adopted Olu Akengbuwa play for handover ceremony Continues from page 30 and desperate quest for power. This happened in the past, it is happening at the moment and nothing says it will not happen tomorrow. I think the governor as a lover and promoter of the creative industry was circumspect enough to see beyond the entertainment value of the play and keyed into the information and education value in it. I tell you, the play, Olu Akengbuwa can be staged in any part of the world and people will relate to it seamlessly. Trust me. That is why we plan to take it round the country and major cities around the world.

At the moment, how prepared are you to stage the play in Asaba?

The cast and crew of the play are very prepared. We are already rehearsing. A couple of new things will be infused into the Asaba command performance of the play, Olu Akengbuwa. It certainly

will be bigger and better both artistically and technically. I am in constant communication with the governor on this.

The about 70-man cast and crew should hit Asaba at least one week before the performance. Everybody is in high spirit.

In fact, most people who missed the Warri show have been calling me to get specific details about the Asaba show on the 28th.

Everybody wants to see the play. For me, I think this will act as a catalyst to the gradual revival of the moribund theatre culture in Delta State.

What did it cost you to stage the play in Warri ?

It gulped about twenty million naira.

We raised the money through goodwill, family and friends. However, I must say here that we are still in debt now running into several millions of naira. But then, we are not discouraged. We believe that before long, corporate sponsorship will come our way. Our ultimate goal is to revive or build a vibrant theatre culture in various parts of Delta State.

SILVERBIRDCINEMAS, VICTORIA ISLAND Iyore 2:30pm,6:45pm The Next Door : 12:15pm,4:15pm,6:55pm Paul Blart Mall Cop 2 : 12:10pm, Fast & Furious 7 : 4:25pm,8:50pm SILVERBIRD CINEMAS, IKEJA Iyore : 3:00pm,7:00pm The Boy Next Door : 12:40pm,6:35pm Black or White : 10;50am,6:05pm,9:00pm Paul Blart Mall Cop 2 : 1:10pm,4:40pm, Fast & furious 7 : 1:15pm,6:05pm,8:30pm SILVERBIRD CINEMAS, SEC Iyore : 12:20pm,2:20pm,4:20pm,6:20pm,8:20pm The Boy Next Door : 2:20pm,6:30pm,8:20pm Top Five : 1:00pm,3:00pm,6:50pm,8:50pm Black or White : 12:00pm,4:10pm Paul Blart Mall Cop 2 : 3:00pm,6:50pm,8:40pm Fast & Furious 7 : 1:10pm,3:40pm,6:20pm,9:05pm SILVERBIRD CINEMAS CEDDI PLAZA , ABUJA Iyore : 1:00pm,4:55pm Fast & Furious 7 : 11:30am,4:15pm,9:00pm SILVERBIRD CINEMAS, PORT HARCOURT Iyore : 1:00pm,5:05pm,9:00pm The Boy Next Door : 11:25am,3:10pm,7:20pm, Fast & Furious 7 : 1:30pm,6:25pm,9:00pm Son of a Gun : 12:50pm,4:45pm,6:50pm SILVERBIRD CINEMAS, WARRI Iyore : 12:45pm,4:40pm,8:35pm Black or White : 10:30am Paul Blart Mall Cop 2 : 10:00am,2:10pm OutCast : 2:40pm,8:35pm Fast & Furious 7 : 11:45am,4:00pm,6:25pm,8:50pm Chappie : 6:00pm,8:25pm SILVERBIRD CINEMAS, UYO Iyore : 11:50am,1:45pm,3:50pm,5:50pm,7:50pm Black or White : 1:50pm,6:15pm OutCast : 11:40am,4:15pm,8:35pm Paul Blart Mall Cop 2 : 11:30am,1:25pm,3:20pm,5:15pm,7:10pm,8:05pm Son of Gun : 11:45am,1:55pm4:10pm,6:20pm,8:30pm Love or Somthing Like That : 11:50am,2:00pm,4:10pm,6:20pm,8:30pm Chappie : 12:00pm,4:15pm OZONE CINEMAS SABO YABA Iyore : 1:05pm,7:10pm The Boy Next Door : 3:25pm,6:40pm,8:40pm Top Five : 2:15pm, Project Almanac : 12:25pm Black or White : 1:10pm Paul Blart Mall Cop 2 : 10:00am,11:45am Fast & Furious 7 : 4:05pm,6:20pm,8:30pm FILM HOUSE CINEMAS, LAGOS Paul Blart Mall Cop 2 : 10:45am,4:30pm,10:10pm

*President/Founder, (middle)DGI Beverages, manufacturers of Black Iguana, Mr. Earl Castro flanked by Director, Black Iguana, Dr. Solomon Olatoye and Director African region,Mr. Lanre Okupe at the media launch of Black Iguana last week.

Black Iguana berths in Lagos

By ANOZIE EGOLE

F

un seekers can now have a feel of refreshing beverages that do not require any blender’s mixing as award winning cocktail, Black Iguana berths in Lagos.

After two years of serious works to ensure that plans to complete all the regulatory process and requirement to enable the cocktail to be distributed freely in Nigeria, a US based beverage manufacturing company, DGI Beverages, manufactures of Black iguana has finally unveiled the special cocktail into the Nigerian market.

While unveiling the drink to the media last week, the President and Founder of DGI Beverages,Mr. Earl Castro, said that Black Iguana is a brand of premium readyto-drink wine which can be enjoyed straight from the pouch or served chilled over ice, slushy or frozen. “ Mr. Castro said, his company started perfecting plans to hit the Nigerian market about two years ago. “Black Iguana are ready to drink refreshing beverages that do not require any blender’s mixing or create any mess. Unlike other beverages in the market, our trademark hand contoured pouches allow customers to drink directly from it without creating any additional clean up. The unique designed Black Iguana pouch is visually stimulating and drives sales among both male and female customers”, he said.

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FILM HOUSE CINEMAS, KANO Paul Blart Mall Cop 2 : 3:35pm FILM HOUSE CINEMAS, APAPA Iyore : 6:45pm,8:35pm FILM HOUSE CINEMAS, PORT HARCOURT Iyore : 10:05am,1:40pm,8:50pm FILM HOUSE CINEMAS SAMONDA Paul Blart Mall Cop 2 : 10:10am,4:00pm Out Cast : 8:15pm FILM HOUSE CINEMAS, CALABAR Iyore : 12:00pm,1:50pm,3:40pm,5:40pm,7:20pm Paul Blart Mall Cop 2 : 12:00pm,1:45pm,3:35pm,5:20pm,7:10pm,9:05pm VIVA CINEMAS,IBADAN Iyore : 1:15pm,3:40pm Black or White : 11:00am,7:25pm, Paul Blart Mall Cop 2 : 3:00pm,5:35pm,9:40pm Night Crawler : 9:55pm Son of a Gun : 11:00am Invasion : 11:00am VIVA CINEMAS ILORIN Black or White : 2:55pm,7:00pm Paul Blart Mall Cop : 1:10pm,5:25pm OutCast : 5:10pm,9:25pm Night Crawler : 3:15pm Son of a Gun : 9:15pm Love or Something Like That : 9:15pm Chappie : 7:10pm Invasion 1897 : 11:00am

32—Vanguard, FRIDAY, MAY 15, 2015

I am hale and hearty, declares OJB

...as he debunks kidney collapse rumour

By EBUN SESSOU

V

eteran music producer, Babatunde Okungbowa a.k.a OJB Jezreel who is rumoured to be suffering from another kidney failure has cleared the air, declaring that he’s hale and hearty.

News went viral on the social media earlier in the week that OJB’s kidney has failed again.

But reacting via his bbm wall through his manager, Nomoreloss, OJB said, “I’d like to set the record straight, am at home and healthy with my family going about my normal business. Obviously bloggers don’t research before they post their stories. If they did, they would know that a transplant patient will always do routine checkups because of infections.

I am sure Hiptv, Orisun TV, Encomium, El tv and Black Jerzie who saw and spoke with me in the past two weeks would tell them that it wasn’t on a hospital bed that they saw me.

“I am not cool with the likes of Linda who would not do proper research before posting or writing their stories. If they want something to gossip about, it should be based on truth and not lies. Research properly if the gossip is worth it or not.”

Meanwhile, in a chat with WG, OJB reveals that he’s currently perfecting plans to

Wax De es ne w Deyy dedicat dedicates new video tto o dead friend

F

ew weeks after the release of his last hit single, Makossa with cameo appearances from top entertainment personalities including D’banj in the top rated video, Cameroonian popular awardwinnig singer and renown activist, Wax Dey has released the video for the hit song ‘Number One Girl’ featuring Nigerian crossover star, Dontom.

The video features candidates from Season 1 of his reality TV contest of the same title, Number One Girl, and coincides with Season 2 of the show which is currently airing on Equinoxe TV. The music and television star says, the video is dedicated to the memory of his best friend, Nsame ‘King’ Gideon, with whom he started the TV show, but who lost his life during Season 1.

Wax Dey, born Nde Ndifonka, was named YPIA’s Top 35 African under 35 in 2014. He has established himself as a renaissance writer and committed social activist across the African continent, although his music often deals with the lighter subject of love and romance.

OJB

organize an event through his foundation in partnership with BLK hospital, India on Continuous Medical Education (CME) for health workers including Doctors, Nurses,

Midwives.The event,which has ‘Emerging Issues in cardiac and renal health’ as its theme is scheduled to hold this morning through Saturday, May 16, in Lagos.

Terry G, Kola Soul thrill fans at Smirnoff Double side party S

mirnoff, the world’s number one premium spirit brand launched its new variant, Smirnoff Ice Double Black with Guarana in an epic style at the Smirnoff Double Side party held in Lagos last weekend.

Terry G and Kola Soul on stage

Guests at the party witnessed an interesting double side courtesy of Smirnoff, as the iconic brand renowned for world class parties, transformed an auto workshop into an amazing party scene. The

unfamiliar party scene set the pace for an exciting night for the ecstatic crowd who were eager to experience every moment of the party.

The combination of City FM presenter, Sensei Uche and MTV Base OAP, Ehis set the tune for a spectacular night of double side of fun as they got the party off to a thrilling start with loud cheers from the expectant crowd. On hand to spice the night with music were hit maker, Terry G, Kola Soul among other artistes.

Guests at the event got their appetite wet when a real boxing ring transformed into rap battle. Participants engaged themselves in an interesting rap contest, landing great punch lines of smooth rap lyrics and showcased their street credibility to the delight of the rapturous crowd.

At the end of the contest, GDK proved a worthy rap gladiator in the ring, against a number of other Contestants who paled in comparison to his rap prowess.

O.C Ukeje on set

O.C Uk eje goes tto o Ukeje Cannes Film FFestiv estiv al estival A

new South African film, Ayanda produced by awardwinning director, Sara Blecher which stars Nigerian top actor, O.C Ukeje will screen at the prestigious Cannes Film Market on May 17, 2015 The movie tells the story of a young woman whose dreams of running a retro car restoration business are threatened by dark family secrets, the complications of love and the day-to-day challenges of life in the sprawling African metropolis. Ayanda, also starring Fulu Mugovhani, Thomas Gumede, Nthati Moshesh, Kenneth Nkosi, Jafta Mamabolo, Sihle Xaba and Vanessa Cooke, was produced by A Leading Lady Productions with the support of the National Film and Video Foundation (NFVF), Africa Magic and the South African Department of Trade and Industry (DTI)....

C M Y K

VOL. 1: NO. 19

FRIDAY, MAY 15 15,, 2015 the choice of his cabinet members.

Following the role played during the electioneering campaigns by the former governor, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu and the Oba of Lagos, Oba Rilwanu Akiolu; Mr Ambode may find himself in a difficult situation as he has to consult Tinubu and Akiolu while forming his team.

Just like the outgoing governor, Mr Babatunde Fashola had his team allegedly put together by Asiwaju Tinubu, Ambode.

Members of the Lagos State executive are usually known to be a mixture of technocrats and party members, perhaps a repeat of this might feature in Ambode’s cabinet.

Ogun For Governor Ibikunle Amosun of Ogun State, he seems to have entered into some accord with some political bigwigs in the state with a view to accommodating them in his cabinet.

During his first term, Amosun was accused of injecting technocrats in his cabinet to the detriment of party members who worked for his emergence.

However, this development did not go down well with some top-notch of the party, who felt aggrieved and left the fold.

CABINET FORMATION: South West govs in quandary?

By DAPO AKINREFON

T

he change of baton at the federal level, is expected to be experienced at state levels.

In the South West geo-political zone, only three governors will be inaugurated on May 29.

This is because governorship elections were conducted in only three states (Oyo, Ogun and Lagos States).

While elections were held in Ekiti and Osun States in 2014, Ondo State is slated to hold in 2016. Already in the zone, behind the scene meetings and consultations are being held to present presumed lieutenants who will help drive the agenda of the incoming administrations.

Interestingly, all the state governors in the region have embarked on the journey of dissolving their cabinet

IN THIS EDITION

Amosun in dilemma over formation of new cabinet Pg 2 C M Y K

Ajimobi remains unpredictable Pg 3

members in a bid to have a breadth of fresh air.

In a remarkable change, it is expected that while some of these state executives will make use of technocrats, others will be a mixture of technocrats and party members. In some states within the region, pundits posit that some governors will be in a state of perplexity owing to external influences, who were instrumental to their emergence

Meet Nigeria's first and only female Chief Press Secretary to a gov Pg 4, 5

as governors. Another factor that will play out in the emergence of cabinet members, is the influence of some top party leaders, who worked round the clock to ensure these governors got either elected or re-elected.

Lagos In Lagos State, there is every likelihood that the governorelect, Mr Akinwumi Ambode, might find his hands tied over

It is expected that while some of these state executives will make use of technocrats, others will be a mixture of technocrats and party members

Oyo For breaking the second term jinx, Governor Abiola Ajimobi will be giving preference to elders and leaders in the state in his cabinet, who worked for his victory at the polls.

Though, feelers from the Agodi Government House suggests that there is perceived tension looming over the possible dissolution of Ajimobi’s cabinet.

In 2011, some leaders and elders from the state presented names of their stooges to Ajimobi for consideration in his cabinet.

Expectedly, in the new cabinet to be formed, the likes of the Alaafin of Oyo, the Arisekola family, late Lam Adesina, Oba Odulana, are perceived to have slots in the new cabinet.

Ondo It is evident that palpable tension has set in following speculations that governor Olusegun Mimiko before May 29 may disband his cabinet.

Following his return to the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Continues on Page 2

2 — Vanguard, FRIDAY, MAY 15, 2015

OGUN STATE

By DAUD OLATUNJI

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overnor Ibikunke Amosun of Ogun State will any-time from now dissolve his cabinet in preparation for the inauguration of his second term in office.

Amosun who was declared winner of governorship election held April 11 by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, was reportedly in dilemma over the choice of new members of his cabinet to help him govern the state.

A reliable source informed Vanguard that the governor had ordered all the members of his cabinet to resubmit their Curriculum Vitae ahead of his second term inauguration.

In his first term, Amosun had made use of technocrats to the detriment of party members who worked for his emergence. This gesture had pitched him against some members and leaders of the party.

His insistence to use technocrats instead of politicians who had worked for his emergence prompted many of the party stalwarts including former governor of the state, Aremo Olusegun Osoba and his loyalists to dump the party for the Social Democratic Party, SDP. The exit of Osoba and his loyalists which included three senators and five members of House of Representatives, as well as four members of the state House of assembly gave Amosun free hands to operate without being challenged by anyone.

The governor who had a field day in choosing who worked with him during his first time ignored a list of c o m m i s s i o n e r- n o m i n e e s submitted by Osoba who was then, the party leader. Now that, no one could claim to be the party leader with Osoba’s status, Amosun expectedly should have more independence to choose who works with him in his second term as cabinet members.

Amosun’s Dilemma Ahead of his second term emergence as governor, Amosun had reportedly entered into some accord with some political bigwigs in the state with a view to accommodating them by proxy in his cabinet. Those whom Amosun had reportedly sought political help from include; former President Olusegun Obasanjo who directed his ‘boys’ to work for the governor success at the poll.

Obasanjo, according to the findings, did not only throw his weight behind Amosun by taking campaign to market places, he also reportedly provided logistics for the governor’s success at the poll.

C M Y K

•Kemi Adeosun

•Lekan Adegbite

•Yusuph Olaniyonu

Amosun in dilemma over formation of new cabinet Amosun is perhaps indebted to Obasanjo and his boys and must honour his pledge. Apart from the Obasanjo factor, other factors that put the governor in a fix include, the slots for those who financed his elections covertly and overtly. The slots for Alake and paramount ruler of Egbaland, Oba Adedotun Aremu Gbadebo and the Awujale of Ijebuland Oba Sikiru Adetona.

Other people who may have slots in Amosun’s cabinet include the party; his political associates, loyalists and family members.

A source hinted Vanguard that, the governor had instructed party leaders to submit 20 names each from the local governments.

According to the findings, five of the names would be nominees for Federal government appointments, five for state appointments and the remaining ten would be for local governments appointments.

It was further gathered that, the governor was said to have assured the party leaders that he would pick his nominees from the names they submitted.

The governor was also quoted to have pledged to ensure that he creates some boards appointments so as to create avenues for his people to benefit as a mark of compensation.

Further findings have shown that, the plan by the governor to create 32 additional Local Council Development Areas to complement the 20 local governments in the state was a way to expand the chance of compensating his numerous people.

However, the governor was said to have decided to retain few commissioners among his 20 commissioners that served in his first term administration.

Now that, no one could claim to be the party leader with Osoba’s status, Amosun expectedly should have more independence to choose who works with him

A check by Vanguard showed that, commissioners for Finance, Kemi Adeosun, Works and infrastructure; Lekan Adegbite, Information, Yusuph Olaniyonu, Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Muyiwa Oladipo and Forestry, Ayo Olubori were being favourably considered for retention.

According to the information gathered, some commissioners are not coming back because of their poor performance while some will not be retained because of the greater appointments awaiting them.

The governor was however, said to be angry with some political office holders especially in Ogun East and West where the

party did not perform well.

According to the source, some of them had collected huge money from the governor for campaign and motivation during the election, but refused to spend it.

The gesture, reportedly infuriated the governor who vowed to ensure they are not returned.

The governor, though, had free hand to nominate the people that would work with him, he still has challenges on who and how to choose next set of people to work with in his second term.

This time around, it was reliably gathered that, the governor would use more politicians than technocrats in his second term administration.

FORMATION OF CABINET: South West govs in quandary?

Continued from page 1 there is the likelihood that Mimiko will be injecting both technocrats and political hirelings into his cabinet.

Osun Already, the Osun State governor, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola has dissolved his cabinet and is expected to present the names of the nominees to the State House of Assembly.

In his first term, Aregbesola went for young technocrats of Osun origin, scattered in all parts of the world, among them were university scholars and other professionals.

This time, the governor will be taking into consideration some All Progressives Congress, APC, bigwigs, who have distinguished themselves in recent times.

These chieftains are already pushing for a slot to be allocated to them in the Aregbesola cabinet.

Ekiti State There is already a running battle in Ekiti

State where 19 lawmakers elected on the platform of the APC are frowning with Governor Ayo Fayose’s alleged impunity.

The Speaker, Dr Adewal Omirin had accused the governor of encouraging six PDP lawmakers to screen commissioners and Special Advisers for Fayose’s cabinet. Though the commissioners have set out to work but Omirin and his colleagues have described their appointment null and void.

Good hands are everywhere—Igbokwe Speaking on the composition of cabinet members across the South west especially for Lagos State, the Lagos State Publicity Secretary of the APC, Engineer Joe Igbokwe said “anybody that is good, should fit into government. You can find them everywhere, they can be technocrats or politicians. They can also be captains of industries, they are everywhere. Whoever that can do the job should be invited because there are good people everywhere but only the best is good for Lagos State.”

Vanguard, FRIDAY, MAY 15, 2015 — 3

OYO STATE

New cabinet: Ajimobi remains unpredictable

By OLA AJAYI

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BADAN – Tension has gripped most cabinet members in the Governor Abiola Ajimobi-led administration as there is likely to be dissolution of the cabinet which has been piloting the Pacesetter state since 2011 when he assumed power.

Some aides who confided in Vanguard said no one can predict what the governor will do now, noting that some of them will still serve in the next administration.

One of the aides who pleaded not to be mentioned said: “I must tell you that no one knows what the governor intends to do. But, many factors will determine the sense of judgement of the governor. Some of us who actually worked during the election will be rewarded. That we are sure of,” he said.

As at the time of filing this report, the governor is yet to return from the oversea trip he made shortly after the keenlycontested election in the state and until he comes back, activities at the Governor ’s office will be at the lowest ebb. Ajimobi in his first term which is coming to an end in some days from now formed the cabinet with the candidates from the powers-thatbe in the state.

The staunch supporters of the governor were duly rewarded as the governor gave them some slots in the cabinet. Those who enjoyed the spoils of office are the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi.

His daughter, Princess Folasade Adeyemi-Ahigbe is the Commissioner for Culture and Tourism; Oba Samuel Odulana, the Olubadan of Ibadanland; late Abdul-Azeez Arisekola-Alao, the Are Musulumi of Yorubaland and late Lamidi Adesina, former Governor and the state leader of the party before his death. His son, Dapo Lam-Adesina had served as the Commissioner for Youths and Sports before he later contested the National Assembly election.

Also, as a reward for their loyalty during the 2011 election, the governor extended his magnanimity to the opposition like the former Governor of the state, Senator Rashidi Ladoja, Alhaji Yekini Adeojo, whose daughter served as Commissioner for Urban and Regional Planning and others.

Going by their roles in the just concluded governorship election, Ladoja and Adeojo may not be given that privilege again by the governor as both did not hide their willingness to send him packing and the fact that Governor Ajimobi has already won the second term, he has

•Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi

•Late Abdul-Azeez Arisekola-Alao, the Are Musulumi of Yorubaland nothing at stake now. In addition, Ladoja contested on the platform of Accord and he is still in the tribunal challenging the declaration of Governor Ajimobi as the winner of the election. As for Alhaji Adeojo, he worked for the PDP. In the new cabinet to be formed, it is crystal clear that people like the Alaafin of Oyo, the Arisekola family, late Lam Adesina, Oba Odulana, will have slots in the new cabinet.

Oba Adeyemi stood like the rock behind the governor.

•Oba Samuel Odulana, the Olubadan of Ibadanland

•Late Lamidi Adesina

Vanguard gathered that some governorship aspirants who

I must tell you that no one knows what the governor intends to do. But, many factors will determine the sense of judgement of the governor

clandestinely worked for the PDP will also be considered during the selection process.

They served as both informants and strategists for the governor.

One of them was seen at Governor Ajimobi’s residence some weeks to the March 28 election. At that time, he still claimed to be a chieftain of the party. He was one of the members of a committee set up by the governor. These are some of the factors that led to the failure of the party in the election.

4 — Vanguard, FRIDAY, MAY 15, 2015

OGUN STATE

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eautiful, intelligent, stylish, proactive are words that best describe Funmi Wakama, the Chief Press Secretary to Ogun State Governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun.

With a vast experience that spans 23 years in broadcasting, the media expert who holds an exalted position as the first ever female Chief Press Secretary in Ogun State and Nigeria, is one of the great hands working with Gov. Amosun’s government.

Born in Lagos several years ago, Funmi started her career in journalism in the 80s, at the then Nigeria Television Authourity, Channel 7, Lagos and finally rose to the position of Manager News in NTA headquarters in Abuja.

A graduate of Mass Communication from Ogun State now Moshood Abiola Polytecnic, she also attended Nigeria Institute of journalism and University of Abuja where she obtained Post Graduate Diploma in Journalism and Masters in Public Administration, respectively.

The stylish lady whose glamorous years in TV has paid off with her unique sense of fashion will be turning 50 next year but looking nothing close to that.

Happily married with two boys, it was an elated Funmi who created time off her very busy schedule to talk about her life, career and job as the first female Chief Press Secretary, (CPS) to a governor in the state since it was created on February 3, 1976.

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ongratulations. How do you feel about His Excellency’s victory at the polls?

Thanks for the felicitations and good wishes. I think his victory is undoubtedly, a reaffirmation of the people’s confidence in the administration of His Excellency, Senator Ibikunle Amosun. The good people of Ogun State spoke loud and clear with their votes by renewing his mandate, having kept his earlier pact with them.

You should have been there to see the tumultuous crowd that greeted us wherever we went to campaign. I have never seen so much love displayed for one man. The young, the old, women with babies on their backs, some pregnant. One woman with a few weeks’ old baby told us a day after the elections, that she went into labour at one of the campaign rallies and had brought her baby for Amosun to see. Such is the love for Mr Governor. We had completed campaigns in all our 236 wards and the extension offered us additional opportunities for roadshow and more vigorous campaign, we went round all 20 local government areas in the State.

We met with all associations, groups and professional bodies. The message was the same “Change in Abuja, but continuity in Ogun State” and that was exactly what we got.

The victory of course is sweet and most rewarding. But he us told at the State Executive Council meeting, the Monday after the elections, that we shall not be resting on our oars, that the victory means more work and more sacrifice, adding that he cannot afford to let the people down. I wish to commend the electorate for their good conduct before, during and after the elections.

They kept their promise and we shall keep ours. They can only expect better performance from such exemplary leadership.

How has it been working with C M Y K

Gov Amosun for three and a half years?

I thank God for the wonderful opportunity of working with the Governor, His Excellency, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, who in his quest to get the best hands to work with him, without any prior relationship, sought me out. It is actually less than two months shy of four years. How time flies!

It is indeed a privilege to have passed through this ‘Political College’, under the leadership of His Excellency. I also thank him for the opportunity to serve my State, in this capacity. Maybe you don’t know this; I am the first female Spokesperson or Chief Press Secretary as some would prefer to call it, in Ogun State and in the whole Country to a serving Governor. And that makes me feel so proud.

To work with him, one must be full of energy and vitality and believe me when I say this; there are days when we are in the office till 1:00 am and sometimes beyond and I don’t mean receiving visitors at the Government house. You must be on top of your game, because he does not suffer fools gladly.

I have had to do my job as Chief Press Secretary, sometimes do a bit of Protocol, security and mind reading ( Laughter). You must be able to think on your feet, and anticipate his moves

•Funmi Wakama

You must be full of energy like I said earlier and be ready to work.

He is a man driven solely by his passion to deliver the dividends of democracy to the good people of Ogun State.

Let me mention here that in addition to appointing t h e first female spokesperson, I am his first appointee, because the Chief Press Secretary announces the other appointments. On our first day at work, The Governor and his team from the Transition committee, inspected the entire secretariat. Yes, you need to know the Oke Mosan Secretariat to appreciate this. As a TV gal, who had no knowledge of what I was in for, I was all dressed up and in a

Meet Nigeri and only fem Press Secre gov, Funmi W

pair of Stiletto shoes, thinking it was going to be ‘all about Media Relations and Management’, don’t forget that I came in from a background of glitz and glamour, having worked in the Television Industry for twenty three years.

I have since found out that it is not a Tea party. That man is a workaholic and can kill!

(Laughter). Like Albert Einstein said “ The only source

of knowledge is experience”.

I have had to do my job as Chief Press Secretary, sometimes do a bit of Protocol, security and mind reading ( Laughter). You must be able to think on your feet, and anticipate his moves ( which I call mind reading), really.

How did you react when he offered you the job?

Honestly, my first reaction was how did he know about me? I then called my husband to inform him. At the dinner table, we discussed it extensively,

Vanguard, FRIDAY, MAY 15, 2015 — 5

OGUN STATE appointment for a courtesy visit to him as the IGP. IRI was fun, it was another school of its own, having then spent 23 years in NTA. It was a breath of fresh air! And my boss as well as my colleagues couldn’t fathom what it was I was going to do in a political environment.

“People don’t leave USG agencies, once they are in.

“You, that we know cannot survive in a political environment; you are too decent to want to join politics ,they said. But to the glory of God, four years down the line and the firm belief of my boss in me, I am still standing.

ia’s first male Chief etary to a Wakama looking at the implication on the family and how I would cope since we had never lived apart. It was of course imperative for me to do a lot of research on him. I asked questions from those who should know and everyone kept saying “ oh, he is a very decent, hardworking professional, thorough , who is well focussed” and I have found all of that to be true.

What they probably forgot to mention is that the man is a workaholic.

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hat were you doing before you took up the appointment?

I was the Media Manager, Programme and Outreach, International Republican Institute (IRI), an Agency under the United States Government (USG) USAID, programme, in Nigeria. I took a leave of absence from the NTA, having served for over two decades and risen to the position of Manager News. I felt I needed to do something different. It was a delight to see President John Kuffour, a few weeks back. We brought him in for our Observer Mission Programme when I was in IRI. I recall that the last but one IGP, Hafiz Ringim, used to refer to me as “Mrs John Kuffour”, in my effort to secure an C M Y K

What lessons have you learnt on the job?

The lessons are too numerous to recount in just one lifetime ( laughter).The first thing I did was to shed the toga of being a celebrity and know that I was there to serve the good people of Ogun State. To project and promote the activities and image of my principal, His Excellency, Senator Ibikunle Amosun. Two, know that I was and would be meeting with people of diverse background and exposure. It is a mixed bag really of the good, the bad and the ugly. Some, who used to admire one back in the days, would now want to lord things over you, because you are below them in the Organizational structure, or the mere fact of all being political appointees. But for me, I have had more than my fair share of publicity and glamour that being in the background does not bother me a bit. In fact, I relish now being incognito but some “diehard fans still recognize me, squint and ask “Are you not so so and so? But for me and at all times, I look at the big picture and focus on my principal. I remember why I had to leave my family behind in Abuja and live in Abeokuta.

I think of the value addition to my CV and credentials if I am able to endure and breast the tape. I have also learnt that just as I was greatly once admired then on the tube, others would dislike me for no just cause. I make allowances for such people and still relate with them in the course of duty. It’s just human nature! In addition, another challenge for me, is that unlike in the public service where I come from, there is hierarchy, line of communication and a chain of command. Here, things are a bit fluid. Add to that the fact that you weigh your thoughts properly before you speak. It is a political environment and you need to factor other considerations into the equation. I have also learnt how to manage my time, which is a scarce resource here. HE could have as many as five, six or more assignments in one day and you need to decide on which ones to send for

publication and which ones are non perishable such that they could be stepped down for another day. It is not as easy as it sounds.

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ill you say your boss has been misunderstood?

Leadership is sometimes about hard decisions, which could make you step on people’s toes, but provided such decisions are taken in the overall interest of the majority, I think it is okay. Therefore, in pursuing this leadership philosophy, it is possible for a leader to be misunderstood.

Let me put it this way; HE is a Rotarian at heart. He answers the Rotary four way test in all that he does. Is it the truth? Is it fair to all concerned? Will it build goodwill and better friendship and will it be beneficial to all concerned?

These are some of his guiding principles.

His Excellency, Senator Ibiukunle Amosun has always made himself clear. For him, it’s all about the good people of Ogun State. He will do anything to impact their lives positively. That was the reason this administration embarked upon massive infrastructure development in the State, such that can only be compared to what you see off the shores of this country. He does not do things in half measures. He has in addition to the massive roads in our various cities and towns, opened up rural roads, including the longest stretch of 110km; the Ilara-Egua-Tombolo-Oja/Odan road which cuts across four local government areas in the Yewa axis, which is in the West Senatorial District of the state.

The road like similar ones, is to improve the movement of farm produce to ready markets, thereby creating wealth and job opportunities. The State has therefore created enabling environment for viable economic activities thereby encouraging the growth of SMEs. Look at our Model Schools, they are a sight to behold. We visited one of the Green houses the other day, and I could not believe what I saw!

I have had more than my fair share of publicity and glamour that being in the background does not bother me a bit

The vegetables were so beyond!

That’s what we mean, when he says “Ogun Standard”, it is the minimum irreducible standard for development in the State. In the area of commerce, almost 60 Multinationals in the multi billion Naira range have established presence in Ogun State, since the inception of this administration. One can only imagine the multiplier effect on the lives of our people; jobs created, small and medium scale industries added, change of landscape and scenery, just to mention a few. Ogun State is now the place to do business. Like he says “If you are not in Ogun State, you are not in Nigeria, and if not in Nigeria, you are not in the West of Africa and very soon, the continent, itself. I say this because, we have the deepest seaport in Africa, here in Ogun State and with an All Progressive Congress government at the centre, it is as good as done. From day one, he told us at the Executive Council meeting that he wants to house Lagos, he wants to move and feed Lagos.

We have been able to provide affordable housing.

After this interview, please take a drive through our Orange Valley Estate and the recently commissioned Plainfields Estate.

Truly, we have done our home work. As for feeding Lagos, the Eggua Rice Fields, the Green House projects I mentioned earlier and our various Farm Settlements and Farmers’ Markets are there for all to see.

These are hard facts and incontrovertible. To demonstrate how our administration intends to move Lagos, he has already signed an MOU with a Chinese firm, for the Ogun Light Rail System, which will take off in the second term. Add that to the different Mass Transit Schemes in the state; the long and short Buses as well as the Taxis. In the area of security, most people have taken it for granted that the state had serious security challenges before the advent of this administration.

It is not for nothing that the Cleen Foundation; a reputable Non Governmental Organization adjudged the state as one of the best in terms of Security. Senator Ibikunle Amosun’s administration has committed huge resources to the procurement of state of the art Armoured Personnel Carriers, APC as well as other motorized security vehicles and gadgets. As you well know, people’s needs and wants are insatiable and governance is work in progress, which involves judicious use of scarce resources. The good people of Ogun state should look forward to more dividends of democracy as we go into the second term in office.

Lets talk about Funmi Wakama. Who is she?

I was born Olufunmilayo Yetunde Coker in 1966 in Lagos.

Do the Arithmetics, that means I

will turn 50, next year.

Olufunmilayo Yetunde Wakama, as she is now known, is a graduate of Mass Communication from the Ogun State (now Moshood Abiola) Polytechnic. She also went through the portals of the Nigerian Institute of Journalism, Lagos as well as the University of Abuja, obtaining respectively in these institutions; a Postgraduate Diploma in Journalism and Masters in Public Administration. I must mention that in my educational cap is a Postgraduate Diploma in Public Relations from the Business Education Examination Council, Lagos. Then known as Funmi Coker, my exceptional industry and dedication to duties did not go unnoticed both within and outside the NTA. I won at different times, the Divisional Best Worker Award; Best Worker Award and the General Manager ’s Commendation among others. In 1991, under the then Col. Raji Rasaki’s administration, I was appointed Member, Advisory Committee, Lagos State Government Commission on Women.

In addition to several awards and commendations in my kitty, is a special recognition by the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) as a Special Celebrity Marshal, Woman of the Media

by National Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ), Female Leadership Forum and other awards too numerous to mention.

Let’s talk about your fashion style. You dress well. How do you choose what you wear?

Style for me means different things at different times. It would depend on the occasion.

Sometimes I keep it simple and at other times, it could be glamorous, particularly back in my days on Television. The environment in which I find myself oftentimes determines my sense of style at any point in time.

Tell us about Mr Wakama.

How did you fall in love with him? Tell us your love story.

My husband is a Civil Engineer. He is from Okrika, in Rivers State. Like me, he was born and bred in Lagos. He is a graduate of the University of Lagos. We met through a mutual friend. He is from a very warm, caring Christian background. He is therefore God fearing, kind, loving and a wonderful father to our two boys. Apart from caring for and about his family, his other passion is Football. I have tried to adopt his team, Manchester United which he started supporting in 1973 but that has been difficult because I am not a fan of the round leather game.

He has allowed me to be me. He has encouraged me to flourish in my chosen career and has been a very strong pillar of support.

The two boys, he and I are happy.

This interview was culled from City People Magazine

6 — Vanguard, FRIDAY, MAY 15, 2015

ONDO STATE

Ondo: Dissolution to affect Executive Council members, others

By DAYO JOHNSON

F

•Dr. Bode Olajumoke

•Kingsley Kuku

•Dr. Dare Bada C M Y K

EAR and palpable tension have reportedly gripped the 24 Ondo State Executive Council members over speculation of a possible dissolution by the gover nor, Dr. Olusegun Mimiko before May 29.

Also, Chairmen of boards and parastatals are not exempted from the reportedly impending hammer .

Reasons being that four ministries are presently without a supervising Commissioners.

This has fuelled the speculation that Mimiko may soon dissolve the cabinet in order to fill the vacancies.

The four Commissioners who left the cabinet have either stepped up politically or excused themselves from the cabinet to pursue their personal businesses.

With the development, others in the cabinet are said to be living in fear that the go home order from the governor may not be too long .

The commissioner for Agriculture, Alhaji Lasisi Oluboyo has been promoted to a higher seat of the Deputy governor following the impeachment of the erstwhile Deputy gover nor, Alhaji Ali Olanusi.

Also, the Commissioner for Community Development and Cooperatives, Clement Faboyede is now occupying the exalted seat of the state Chairman of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party, PDP. Former Commissioner for Employment and Productivity, Iroju Ogundeji was lucky to be elected as a member of the State House of Assembly to represent the people of Odigbo constituency .

Another cabinet member who had been a Commissioner for six years and a former member of the state assembly, Hon. Remi Olatubora has excused himself from the cabinet to face his legal business.

Infact he is the leading counsel of the candidates of the PDP in the National and State House of Assembly whose victories are been challenged at the election Petition Tribunal by the candidates of the APC. With the four vacancies, political observers are of the opinion that the dissolution of the EXCO is just a matter of days.

Many believed that the dissolution may come before May 29 to give room for a fresh start.

Vanguard lear nt that if eventually the governor decides to give the “thank you please go back home order ” the crop of commissioners to be appointed would be purely politicians with grassroot support that can win elections any day, anytime and not yesterday ’s politicians.

The “ not too good” outcome of the last general election in the state where the PDP performed abysmally is said to have left the governor with no option than to go for real politicians and not paper weight who are not relevant in their constituencies.

Also, Vanguard lear nt that some leaders of the old PDP who worked for the governor to frustrate the impeachment threat of the APC in the state especially during the state assembly election may be compensated in the new EXCO. The leaders such as Dr. Bode Olajumoke, Kingsley Kuku, Adedayo Omolafe popularly called Expensive, Femi Adekanmbi, Segun Adegoke, Prof. Olu Agbi and Dr. Dare Bada, Ebenezer Alabi, Olabisi Johnson, and a host of others across the state may be asked to suggest nominees to be considered in the next EXCO. Vanguard learnt that if eventually the dissolution happens, barely few of the present EXCO members will survive the sledge hammer.

Political observers say that many of them do not have any electoral weight in their constituencies but are only living under the shadow of the governor.

They believed that if the PDP want to continue to rule the state after the expiration of the gover nor ’s tenure, real politicians who are political weight should come on board now.

But a reliable source in government house said that there was no cause for alarm as the governor has no intention to dissolve his cabinet at the moment.

Our source pointedly said that “the alleged dissolution is a mere speculation and not on the mind of the governor for now. The gover nor is a team player. If he wants to dissolve the cabinet, he is at liberty to do so but that is not on the table for now.”

The four Commissioners who left the cabinet have either stepped up politically or excused themselves from the cabinet to pursue their personal businesses

Vanguard, FRIDAY, MAY 15, 2015 — 7

ONDO STATE PREGNANT VICTIM OF AREPO SHOOTING:

Parents say her death robbed them of first grand child

By DAYO JOHNSON

A

KURE — AS the dust raised over the gruesome death of a six month old Pregnant lawyer, Damilola Fajana whose prime life was cut short courtesy of a stray bullet that hit her during a gun duel between members of Oodua Peoples Congress (OPC) and Pipeline vandals in Arepo, Ogun state two weeks ago is yet to settle even after her interment, her agonizing parents are lamenting that her death has robbed them of their dreamed first grand child.

Her mother, Mrs Ronke Ojo in agony said her joy of cuddling her first grand child has been shattered by the death of her daughter.

Damilola 25, was hit by a stray bullet right inside her car on her way back to their Beachland Estate, Abode after a visit to her husband Bukola who was on admission in an hospital on April 29, this year.

The stray bullet reportedly hit her on the neck and she was rushed to a private hospital where she was rejected but died while she was being taken to the Lagos state University Teaching Hospital.

South West Voice learnt from the parents of Damilola that the couple even during their courtship days have been planning and saving towards having their first child Abroad.

Family source told South west Voice in Akure that Damilola was scheduled to travel to the USA this month but the health challenge of her husband Bukola necessitated it’s postponement.

She reportedly had an appointment with the immigration office on April 30 for her data capturing but met her death a day before she could keep the appointment.

The deceased mother Mrs Ronke Ojo has equally been looking forward to when she would travel Abroad to join the Fajana’s and help them to take care of her first grand child.

But man proposes, God disposes. All these dreams and aspirations have gone with the wings as the families are in mourning mood over the death of the first fruit of their wedlock.

South West Voice traced the parents of Damilola Mr and Mrs Andrew Ojo to their house located at Abiodun street along the hilly Idanre road, in Akure, C M Y K

the state capital.

All they kept mouthing was that justice must be done to those who cut short the life of their daughter whom they called “ Dammy baby”. They insisted that “ until justice is done the killer would not know peace as the killers should not be allowed to go scot free.

Damilola mother, Ronke cried out to women Organisation’s and international bodies across the Country to help her fight her battle to bring to book the killer of her pregnant daughter.

Wearing a black attire, a symbol of mourning, Ronke was surrounded by sympathizers and family members just as she sobbed uncontrollably while holding a Bible close to her chest.

After much pressure to speak with her, the husband persuaded her to speak with journalists and she asked if whatever she would say about Dammy will bring her back to life and she would be able to carry her dreamed grand child.

She said “My lovely Damilola is gentle, humble, loving and she cannot hurt a fly. Anybody that comes around her will say better. Even, her classmates in primary and secondary school

•Late Damilola’s parents

I beg of the government to do something.

Mothers please do not allow this killing to be swept under the carpet knew her very well.

“They used to nickname her “Exco” because she was always reading her bible, she was reserved and humble lady.”

“I want the government to bring to book those that shed the blood of my daughter, I

want the government to use her blood to stop the wanton killings innocent people in this country. “I want government to come to the rescue of all Nigerians killed on daily basis.

I beg of the government to do something. Mothers please do not allow this killing to be swept under the carpet.

“We have been to their personal house at Arepo in Beachland estate in Ogun state. It is unfortunate that Mr. President gave the job of pipeline protection to the illiterate OPC who killed my daughter. I know the blood of my unborn grandson and my daughter that they took will revenge. “ Damilola father Mr Andrew Ojo who continued after the

wife was done said the memory of their late daughter still lingered as she was a brilliant child who completed her education in record time and got married even when some of her mates were still looking for admission into the university.

He said “I am the father of Mrs. Damilola Fajana, the woman that was murdered in the feud between the OPC and oil vandals in Ogun state very close to Lagos. Ever since then, I have been mourning her. The incident happened on Wednesday last week, and we have all along been talking to the people about it, and we have been in the house mourning the death of our loved one. “She was a child that has been training for a very long time. She was gentle and lovable lady and loved by everyone. She also went through her education at a record of time, very early in life.

She did her marriage in February 21 of 2014. “ She started working along Adeniyi Jones but unfortunately this bad incident happened after she just left her husband. Her husband was indisposed and he was admitted at the hospital, she left her husband in the hospital around 3 am of this unfortunate day going back home apparently to bring new cloth for the husband. “Sadly, her life was cut down by the bullet of the OPC and the vandals.”

He demanded for the prosecution of those that killed his daughter in her prime and the revocation of the contract for the protection of pipeline given to the OPC to save lives of other innocent people.

Chevron donates the first ever hybrid library to Ondo school

By DAYO JOHNSON

A

KURE — THE joy of the students of Ilaje high school, Igbokoda area of Ondo state knew no bound as a leading oil giant Chevron Nigeria Limited donated the first ever hybrid library to the 35year old school.

It’s the first of its kind in schools across the state. It’s equipped with 21 computers, 25KVA generator, books, journals, modern conveniences, a bore hole and other facilities .

South West voice learnt that the project whicch was at the instance of Texaco Nigeria Outer shelf (a Chevron Company) was completed within 3months.

The company which has operated in Nigeria for over 50years said that it’s commitment to ensuring improved standard of education in the country is unwavering.

Speaking at the ceremony, the Director Deepwater and Productive Sharing Contracts Jeffry Ewing said that Chevron believe that education is the key to national and societal development as it unlocks the potentials of the people especially the youths and galvanized them for positive development.

Speaking through a 1985 old student of the school who is now the Manager Communication, Policy, government, Public Affair Department of Chevron Adesola Adebawo, Ewing said that is why the company is committed to educational development as on of the thematic areas in our social performance programmes.

Ewing pointed out that the company ’s support for educationin the country include scholarship schemes for secondary school and university students every year, development of new schools

and teachers residence, provision of and equipment of educational facilities and upgrading of laboratories and research centers.

According to him the donation of the hybrid library “ is another indication of our determined efforts to support the schools in books resources and technology as well as improve the education sector in Nigeria.

The library Ewing said was

implemented with the support of the government and the people of the state.

Also speaking the Group General Manager of National Petroleum Investment Management Services (NAPIMS) Jonathan Okehs said that they are happy to collaborate with Texaco Nigeria Outer Shelf Limited and other stakeholders to sponsor projects that will lead to qualitative education.

•The hybrid library donated by Chevron to Ilaje High school in Ondo.

8 — Vanguard, FRIDAY, MAY 15, 2015

OSUN STATE

By GBENGA OLARINOYE

S

ince the untimely death in a road crash of Mary Ibitolu, a 300 level Law student of Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile Ife, in Osogbo last week, memories of the incident have refused to wane.

If the Ibitolu’s of Sacred Heart Catholic Church, Oke-Fia, Osogbo had their way and could reverse hands of time, the young Mary, would not have been allowed to leave the comfort of her room on Wednesday, May 6, let alone allowing her leave the parent’s compound. But as the saying goes that “destination can be changed, but destiny can never be changed”, the assuming Mary, left the compound for a commercial bank located along Osogbo/ Gbongan road to withdraw money few minutes past 9am.

A close family source said Mary was however turned back by officials of the bank because she did not have her identity card with her at the time, as such, the transaction could not be completed.

After picking her ID card at home, Mary hired a commercial motorcycle operator popularly known as “Okada” and embarked on the return journey to the bank, but regrettably, the journey that was not supposed to last more 10 minutes when the road is clear, eventually turned trip to eternity for Mary.

The fatal accident which involved a school bus and a commercial motorcycle carrying Mary, which claimed her life occurred few metres away from the residence of the Ibitolu’s and the church where they worship at Oke Fia, Osogbo Sources along Osogbo/Iwo road said the late Mary met her death in an accident that occurred in front of Osogbo High School.

It was learnt that a bus belonging to Muslim Girls Model College,Onibu Eja, Osogbo, had broken down along the road and was being repaired.

After repair work had been completed, the driver moved the vehicle, but suddenly lost control of the break and ran into a commercial motorcycle that conveyed the deceased.

An eyewitness, who owns a shop near the scene of the accident, who preferred anonymity, said after repair work on the faulty bus was completed, some passersby had helped the driver to push and set it on motion, because its engine did not start.

She further explained that the driver of the bus must have lost its break, as his efforts to stop the vehicle failed.

Another source said when the driver of the vehicle noticed he has lost break, in a desperate bid to avert accident, attempted to divert the vehicle from fast lane to service lane and in the process, ran into OK Ada carrying the deceased.

Another eye witness disclosed that the deceased was rushed to Muslim Hospital, Oke Fia, adding that she later gave up the ghost because of the internal injury she sustained.

Some mates of the deceased, who spoke to SWV explained that Mary recently completed her 200 level at the faculty of law and was expected to resume on the 31st of May for 300 level.

A member of Mass Servers and Nigeria Federation of Catholic Students, NFCS, the late Mary was described as unassuming, intelligent and humble, some of the attributes that endeared her to many people. In her honour, some of C M Y K

•Candle light procession for late Ibitolu.

How OAU Law undergraduate died in road crash Mary ’s colleagues in school and members of NFSC, OAU chapter, on Tuesday, May 12, organised candle light possession in her honour in Osogbo.

It was learnt that the school bus and the motorcycle involved in the accident were impounded by the police.

Osogbo.

The institution’s student union president-elect, •Late Ibitolu Kayode Omotayo said in a release made available to our correspondent , Tears Flow As OAU He however challenged the leadership said “with a swollen heart, a grievous Students Mourn Colleague, mind and a mourning soul we announce of National Association of Nigerian and take pain to inform you of passing Students (NANS) to rise to the welfare Seek Justice Overcome with grief and anguish, the away of one of the shining-star, dynamic of its students nationwide by working students of OAU on Tuesday, 12th May, and distinguished image of our union, on putting a lasting solution to the 2015 stormed Osogbo, capital of Osun whom we lost to the cold and vicious incessant untimely death of students.

Speaking with our correspondent on state to mourn the gruesome death of hand of death, who inadvertently fell the the outcome of the meeting with the victim of being a Nigerian.

The their colleague, Miss Mary Motunrayo Ibitolu who was knocked down by a atmosphere that clouded her untimely police in Osogbo, the Vice Presidentdeath and the event that sent her to her elect of OAU Student Union, Miss reckless school bus driver in Osogbo.

The OAU undergraduates and early grave is more than clear to the Oladunjoye Opeyemi said the union was media. “The Great Ife union believe that not satisfied with the response of the students of Our Lady the inept of the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), and Saint Francis government both at the Mrs Folashade Odoro on the Catholic College state and federal level whereabouts of the driver saying “the (OSCCO), Osogbo, the Oladunjoye have continued to hunt police seems to be hiding something Alma Mater of the charged the the innocent Nigerian from us as regards the school bus driver deceased could not students.

We that killed our Motunrayo because the police to come control their emotions PPRO refused to tell us plainly whether discovered that late as they wept out clean on he (driver) was arrested and when Miss Mary Motunrayo uncontrollably while circumstances Ibitolu, who was an prosecution would commence.” chanting mournful While maintaining that the union emblem of beauty and surrounding the songs during the would do everything in its power to brilliance cum candle light procession ugly incident and intelligence, upon her ensure that justice is done, Oladunjoye held in Osogbo to bid ensure that the accident was not charged the police to come out clean on farewell to the late law culprit is brought quickly attended to by circumstances surrounding the ugly student. medical personnel; the incident and ensure that the culprit is Before the candle to justice vehicle that hit her was brought to justice. light procession that Although Oladunjoye disclosed that not by any standard of kicked off at the the PPRO had said the strike embarked traffic regulations premises of OSCCO, upon by the Osun state judiciary is supposed to be on the through the popular delaying the arraignment of the suspect, road.

Olaiya junction before the students “If the apparatus of the government she however commiserated with the terminated it at Old Garage area in Osogbo, the Students’ Union of the had been up and doing, the young lady bereaved family. It was tribute galore for university and its Law Students Society could have saved or even avoided the late Ibitolu during the candle light (LSS) had visited the Osun State Police death. However, we have come to the procession in her honour as the students Command in Osogbo to make enquiries reality that she is no more with us. The amid tears described her as a committed, on the driver of the school bus that Great Ife community continues to mourn brilliant, hard-working and God-fearing crushed Ibitolu to death while she was Miss Mary Motunrayo Ibitolu who will person who contributed immensely to the survival of indigent friends. on a motorcycle at Okefia area in forever remain in our heart.

Vanguard, FRIDAY, MAY 15, 2015—33

# Trending

Omoni Oboli escapes auto-crash N ollywood actress, Omoni Oboli may still be thanking her maker for sparing her life. The delectable actress escaped what should have been a fatal auto-crash last Sunday.

Sharing the ugly experience on her Instagram account, the actress said, she and her friend, Tomes Adeoye were having a pleasant evening ride when suddenly another motorist emerged from nowhere to ram into theirs. “Please help me thank my Lord and my King for saving @tomesadeoye and I from a terrible accident yesterday! We were cruising down the high way on top speed when a mad driver suddenly cut in front of us to make a last minute exit. We swerved and for a minute, we lost control of our car.

How we managed to come back on track is pure God. I just kept screaming ‘The blood of Jesus’ We were badly shaken but thankful that it was only our nerves that were hurt. I am thankful for the blood of the Lamb! Stay safe fam! #Iamblessed #Iamthankful #Istaywinning #Jesustookthewhee “ she posts.

Yeni and daughter, Rolari

Fela Anikulapo Kuti’s first grandchild, Rolari set to wed T

HE first grandchild of the creator of Afrobeat music, Fela Anikulapo Kuti, aka Abami Eda, Rolari Segun, is set to quit the singles’ club.

Rolari, who is a product of the marriage between Fela’s first daughter, Yeni Kuti and the late Femi Segun, son of famous writer, Mabel Segun, will be getting married to an Australian author, Benedict Jacka come June 27, 2015, at the New Afrikan Shrine, Agidingbi, Ikeja, Lagos.

Rolari graduated from the University of Leeds, United Kingdom, in 2010, while Benedict is a graduate of Philosophy from Cambridge University and has written a couple of books among which are the Alex Verus’ series including Fated, Cursed, Taken, Chosen and Hidden. He grew up in London where he has worked as a teacher, bouncer and a civil servant.

It would be recalled that Yeni regularly claimed on popular morning TV show, “Your View on TVC” that Rolari is a virgin, which got many mouths agape that in this age, a girl as pretty as Rolari could remain ‘untouched’ for so long. Benedict came to Nigeria with Rolari last December, to meet the Segun and Kuti families, and he was properly introduced to both families.

According to sources close to the family, the ceremony at the shrine is strictly by invitation while the white nuptials will hold in the United Kingom later in August.

•Omoni Oboli

Wizkid takes on Houston babes!

G

•Wizkid

uess what! Wizkid’s performance at OTC’s Industry night in Houston, Texas, last week is still the talk of the town. The show, many believe would go down in history as one of those outings that endeared the award winning musician to the ladies than his male fans.

Wizkid did not only deliver a stellar performance to a capacity audience, but he readily got the ladies who were all over him grooving from dusk till dawn. Those in the know said, the superstar was the cynosure of attraction at the show, as he performed some of his hit songs. Performing alongside Emma Nyra, Kcee and Runtown, Wizkid kept Houston babes standing and dancing while the show lasted.

RUMOUR HAS IT !

Don Jazzy still MTN brand ambassador T

I

he buzz was that Don Jazzy has dumped MTN as brand ambassador for its rival company, Glo. But feelers indicate that the Mavin Records boss has renewed his deal with the South African company. Other artistes who joined Don Jazzy in renewing their contract with MTN include, Harrysong, Chidinma, Praiz, Iyanya and Dr Sid. It was initially rumoured that Glo was making moves to lure him with a multi-million naira deal. But the award-winning producer surprised many when he signed the dotted lines with the telecommunications giant during the week. Confirming the contract renewal, Don Jazzy posted on his social media page.”Contract renewed, third year running.

Na #Godwin. Thanks to you guys.”

•Don Jazzy C M Y K

Burna Boy is angry

s it possible that reggae-dance hall singer and song writer, Burna Boy who is no stranger to controversies is angry? The grandson of Fela’s former manager is irritated following the manner in which bloggers write negative things about him.

The Yawa Dey star took to his twitter timeline to vent his anger, threatening to hospitalize any blogger he meets in person.

“These bloggers be writing shit thinking it’s a game,until I see you face to face one day, hospitalize or murk you. Trust me I am not your average artiste, I will ride out,” he fumes.

•Burna Boy

34 — Vanguard, FRIDAY, MAY 15, 2015

EXCITED PUPILS: First Lady of Lagos State, Dame Abimbola Fashola(left with yellow headgear) flanked by pupils of Owode Primary School in front of the ICT Centre after its commissioning, yesterday, in Lagos.

COWLSO donates block of classrooms, ICT centre to Ikorodu schools

By Josephine Agbonkhese

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ED by the wife of the state governor, Dame Emmanuel Abimbola Fashola, members of the Committee of Wives of Lagos State Senior Officials, COWLSO, yesterday, trouped to Ikorodu area of Lagos where they commissioned two buildings in two primary schools.

The first port-of-call was the Owode Primary School where a fully-equipped ICT centre built by the committee stood gallantly, while the second was the Muslim Primary School where a massive block of six classrooms, also built by the committee, stood.

Speaking at the event, the First Lady who doubles as Chairman of COWLSO, said the completion of the projects brought to about 40 the number of schools catered for by COWLSO in the last eight years, aside other projects executed.

“The completion of this project brings to three the number of schools that have been provided with block of classrooms by COWLSO. The other schools are: Ebule Egba Primary School and Hope Primary School, Ikoyi. This is in addition to the 22 public primary schools including six Model colleges that have had their toilets renovated among others.

“Also, renovation work is ongoing at Ijomu Muslim Primary School here in Ikorodu. All of these, and more, are the modest

achievements we have recorded in the education sector apart from other areas where we have impacted lives,” Dame Fashola said.

She emphasised that the construction of the block of six classrooms, well furnished and provided with six toilets, water, electricity and administrative rooms, as well as the fullyequipped air-conditioned ICT centre, were in fulfilment of COWLSO’s resolve to independently support government effort in providing a conducive learning environment. The ICT centre, she added, would help children learn basic computer skills in line with global and modern trends, as she commended the efforts of the Chairman, Building Committee, COWLSO, Mrs Azeezat Tijani, as well as Mrs Rhoda Ayinde, Chairman, COWLSO National Women Conference.

Mrs Fashola also commended the efforts of corporate bodies and organisations that had, under her leadership, made the diverse missions of COLWSO possible through generous donations during the last eight years of the committee’s annual National Women Conference.

Chairman of the State Universal Education Board, SUBEB, Mrs Bolanle Daodu, expressed gratitude over the committee’s generosity towards schools in the state as she regretted that Dame Fashola’s leadership of COWLSO was coming to an end on May 29, 2015, when her husband,

Governor Babatunde Fashola, would be handing over.

“Children in Lagos State are going to miss you dearly,” Daodu said regretfully.

Head Teachers, Owode Primary School, Ebelefun, and Muslim Primary School respectively, Mrs Abiola Adeogo and Mrs A.T Shokoya, both hailed COWLSO for

She emphasized that the construction of the block of six classrooms,... as well as the fullyequipped airconditioned ICT centre, were in fulfilment of COWLSO’s resolve to independently support government effort in providing a conducive learning environment.

extending its Touching Lives project, a project initiated by Dame Fashola, to their respective schools.

The event was attended by the Executive Secretar y, Ikorodu Central LGA, Hon.Adesina Wasiu Ayodeji; and Directors of SUBEB amongst others.

Onyeka Onwenu teams up with celebs for WEC

By Kehinde Ajose

A

S part of the African Union Year of Women Empowerment, the ONE Campaign on Thursday April 16th, 2015 in Abuja launched Poverty is Sexist, a campaign and online petition calling on world leaders to put girls and women centre-stage in 2015, a year when new development goals will be set. High profile Nigerians, including Executive Director of the National Centre for Women Development, Lady Onyeka Onwenu, actresses Omotola Jalade-Ekeinde, and Genevieve Nnaji, musicians Omawumi and D’banj, have added their names to ONE’s call for action.

The campaign was launched at a policy forum that was attended by representatives of the National Association of

Nigerian Traders (NANTS), Equity Advocates and Save the Children Nigeria among others.A recently released report by ONE titled, “Poverty is Sexist: Why Girls and Women Must Be At The Heart of The Fight to End Extreme Poverty” shows how unlocking women’s economic potential could improve the lives of everyone in society. The report shows that poverty and gender inequality go hand in hand, whether you look at health, education or work. Not only are girls and women worse off than those in wealthier countries, but the gender gap in these areas between males and females is greatest in the poorest countries.

Vanguard, FRIDAY, MAY 15, 2015 — 35

NAS tasks Buhari on street children

By Funmi Olasupo

T

HE National Association of Seadogs (NAS), a support Foundation for children based NGO’s, has called on Nigeria’s Presidentelect, General Mohammadu Buhari Rtd. to get street children out of street and get them into school.

This according to the group was necessary due to the rising number of street children, saying it is everyone’s responsibility to cater for the street child around.

Speaking in Abuja during the Abuja Literary Society (ALS) ALS-NAS evening of performance for the street child with the theme; ‘Louder Together’ its Abuja President Joachim Okudo, lamented that over 10 million Nigerian children are not educated even though it doesn’t cost much to send them to school.

Okudo noted that individual commitment to training out of

*Buhari

school children would make the world a better place for everybody, stressing that everything must not be left for government alone to tackle.

“NAS in collaboration with ALS is sensitizing the world against turning deaf ears to the plight of street children, as well as draw more attention from the side of government and well meaning people in the world to get their attention towards needy children,” he said.

According to him, women and children are most vulnerable in human existence, especially in some parts of Nigeria where insurgency has placed them in difficulties.

He stated that children from poor parents suffer more than the adults, even as they grow up to adults and begin to cause societal problems due to lack of education.

“Our target to getting children off the streets is to

catch them young because we need to deal with these issues now so they can grow into responsible citizens of the country. At the moment we have hundreds of children under NAS care who we support through organisations that do children charity work,” he said.

Earlier, the northern regional Vice President of NAS Mr. Frank Okafor, regretted that insurgency has tripled the number of street children with over 2000000 street children in the region.

Meanwhile, the National Head of Media and Publicity for the association Mr. John Okey, said NAS has two levels of intervention for street children which are through education and legislative watch.

Okay commended President Jonathan’s commitment to getting children out of the streets by providing the almajiri education in the north, urging the incoming government to continue such laudable project.

Day over 1,000 destitute persons cried for joy in Lagos

By Josephine Agbonkhese Rotarian I m e Udoma, President Rotary Club of Victoria Island (2nd left) flanked by the Sarki of the home (3rd left) while an inmate (1st r i g h t ) savoured a pack of rice at the event in Lagos as others look on.

L

AST weekend, when most young professionals resident in Lagos were resting from the usual hustling and bustling of the city, some benevolent others placed premium on having a sacrificial weekend.

These were members of the Rotary Club of Victoria Island, and their choice venue was the Okobaba Destitute Home at Ebute-Metta in Lagos— a community of lepers, visuallyimpaired and physicallychallenged persons.

The event kept the Rotarians at the community for about five hours. But to the destitute, that seemed a lifetime as they conspicuously beamed with joy. The presence of cheerful-looking men and women visiting them with relief materials, ranging from clothing items to food, drinks and confectionaries could not have been an everyday affair.

Speaking on the occasion, President, Rotary Club of Victoria Island, Mr.Ime Udoma, who led the team received by the Sarki of the home, said the event tagged Bridge of Care was inspired by the need to ameliorate the plights of the less privileged.

“It could have been me living in this place. In Rotary, we believe nobody has done anything spectacular to merit who they are; it is all by the grace of God. That was why we chose to share some wonderful moments with these people,” he said.

Explaining that giving alms to destitute persons does not mean encouraging idleness, Ime noted that even Jesus advised on the need to care for the poor as they would always exist in every society.

He recalled that the club had in the past carried out the Bridge of Care project at the Lagos Island Secretariat where everyone was welcomed to participate. The real target- less privilegedhowever did not seem to fully benefit from those exercises, hence the decision to bring the project closer to them.

Ime disclosed that the club had a 10-year plan which involves building a vocational centre for the less privileged.

For a start, it has got three plots of land valued at six million naira.

“That land is actually a donation by a community head at Ibeju-Lekki who has seen our good work in his community. We usually carryout our Family Health Week in that area. We have also equipped their schools. Before my tenure ends in June this year, we are also going to set up a good library in that community,” Ime said.

Rubies Ink takes rape sensitization to school

By Kehinde Ajose

C

OLLEGE Acquaintance Rape Education (C.A.R.E) is one of the mediums Rubies Ink use to combat the growing trend of rape culture in Secondary Schools. It’s a RAPE prevention workshop led by trained peer educators, who have massive experience on gender relations, socialization, dating violence and sexual violence prevention.

The three months sensitization workshop which kicked off on the 18th of February 2015 at the Adeyemi Bero Hall, Alausa and moved to the six Education district in Lagos, ended on the 29th of April at Dolphin High School, Lagos Island .Mr. Ade Ipaye (Attorney General and Commisioner for Justice Lagos State), Mrs Omotola Rotimi (Director, Office of the Public Defender),Valentina PeterNkwo (Mirabel Center), CSP Monday Agbonika and Nollywood Actor Desmond Elliot are some of the facilitators who sensitized, enlightened, encouraged and educated several primary and secondary school students in Lagos state on Rape and the need to speak up.

C.A.R.E is a Rubies Ink Initiative in partnership with the Lagos State Ministry of Justice and the Domestic and Sexual Violence Response Team (DSVRT)and the follow up plan for the annual Walk Against Rape Campaign.

However commending the Lagos State government for providing a central place for destitute persons to live in, he stressed the need to consider setting up a vocational centre in the home, through which inmates can also be empowered.

To encourage the young Rotarians in the spirit of service, the outing was graced by some past presidents of the club. Amongst them were Mr. Festus Obayiuwana, Mrs Bola Nakpodia, Professor Ibironke Akinsete, and Chief Shade Thomas-Fahm who doubled as the Project Chairman, as well as Adeyinka Adedeji, the club’s Service Project Officer.

36—Vanguard, FRIDAY, MAY 15, 2015

With PRINCE OSUAGWU princeosuagwu@gmail.com 08050498513

New power pack that charges phones, tablets T

Features that raise innovation bar for Galaxy S6 Duos, Edge smartphones

By Muola Awolowo

A

S an addict of smartphones, I feel so compelled to look at the newly released Samsung Galaxy S series which I have also had the privilege to use. Fullypacked and woven around the very latest technology, the S series could stand their ground any day among the best smartphones in town. The phones are a blend of premium components derived from most advanced technology with exceptional focus on intelligent camera, futuristic design and super-fast charging.

Futuristic Design

Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge and S6 Duos seem stunner devices, framed in cool-to-thetouch aluminum with Corning Gorilla Glass 4, which is generally acknowledged to be 50 percent stronger, tougher and more durable than any other Gorilla Glass. What is quite captivating is how it reflects under light all thanks to the Gorilla Glass 4, which clothes the front and back of the phone. The devices are extremely slim and balanced, looking unique and outstanding, while also providing a solid grip. Other stand-out features of the Galaxy S6 include the People Edge, Edge Lighting and Information Stream. The People Edge allows users to add five of their

favourite or most dialed contacts to a quick-dial tab found on the edge of the home screen.

Another interesting aspect of the S6 Edge display is the night clock. It’s a clock that appears at night on the edge of the phone.

Intelligent Camera

The Galaxy S series are imbued with Samsung’s legendary high-performance camera system that generates brighter and clearer images.

The devices feature a 16 megapixel rear-facing camera and a 5 megapixel front-facing camera equipped with F1.9 aperture, which makes it possible for the camera to capture more light and take brighter pictures especially in low-light conditions. Tracking autofocus technology locks on subjects and offer high degree of customization. This feature is designed to accurately keep every moving object in sharp/ clear focus, including kids, and cars, just anything that’s in motion. The S6 Duos and S6 Edge’s front camera now have capacity to shoot high-dynamic range (HDR) photos, which captures three photos at different exposures and assemble the best parts of each image, thereby creating enhanced shots. Selfie lovers are not left out. The boosted 5 megapixel front camera, with

•Galaxy S series

90 degree wide angle camera, can capture 360 degrees angle around an object.

Smart charging

The device’s sport built-in Qi wireless charging where users can easily charge their devices wirelessly using a wireless charging pad. The wireless charging technology supports the non-removable battery. By simply placing the phone on a wireless charger, the charge kicks in. Also, with the super-fast charging feature, the device can run for four hours on just 10 minutes of charging, and charges to full capacity in about 85 minutes. The home button also doubles as a fingerprint reader, meaning the user no longer needs to swipe: just place your finger on the button and it’s recognized. *Awolowo is a Lagos based device analyst with Xlr8 communications

How Twitter helps SMEs grow S

ince its creation nine years ago, Twitter has become one of the most important and relevant platforms in the world. Millions of people have used Twitter to increase their popularity, spread awareness of their sales products, service or messaging, and to reach out to people all over the world. Many small companies have also used Twitter to identify potential customers and revenue streams, as well as to grow the business’ relevance in the Nigerian economy.

Many years ago, @BellaNaija was a simple blog with a strong and loyal following, which posted entertaining news about the various happenings on the Nigerian scene. Smart and fresh, the fashion and lifestyle and news blog appealed to both Nigerians living in Nigeria, as well as those in the diaspora. Bella Naija was also able to understand the potential for Twitter as a tool to promote their business and increasing their following. Through Twitter, Bella Naija also launched a range of interesting campaigns for different causes and activities to increase their awareness in Nigeria. Some years later, Bella Naija’s Founder, @UchePedro, is a recognizable face amongst social media entrepreneurs.

Due to Bella Naija’s popularity on Twitter, Bella Naija eventually created a spinoff of its main Twitter handle, @BellaNaijaWeddings, which focuses on interesting happenings on the Nigerian wedding scene. The flagship Twitter handle now has over 362,000 followers, whilst Bella Naija Weddings has over 16,000 followers.

Likewise, @IROKOtv, the online streaming channel for Nollywood films, has enjoyed additional popularity on Twitter. His exciting product-offering, combined with Twitter’s ability

HE power challenge in the country is no longer a headache. Many people have found a way to live with it. But your phones, tablets and other devices hardly adapt to it. That is why an average mobile phone user clutches with him or her a power pack which supports the battery when it runs down. The danger however is that most of the power packs do more harm to the phones than good. Another headache is that most of the packs hardly charge the tablets. But apparently that is the hole global energy managers Schneider Electric came to plug when it recently introduced a power pack solution tagged APC

by Schneider Electric Mobile Power Packs The APC by Schneider Electric Mobile Power Pack is designed to provide mobile charging for all smart phones and tablets – or any device which can be charged using a USB cable. The device comes at a time when Nigerians need genuine, long lasting mobile power solutions to stay connected digitally, while using the different mobile applications available for business and other personal activities.

Introducing the device, Vice President, IT Business, Schneider Electric, Mr. Ayo Adegboye, described it as another set of trusted genuine solutions from Schneider Electric.

According to him, “We all need more battery life at some time or other, either at home, on our travels or at work. APC by Schneider Electric Mobile Power Pack has been designed to ensure that we can utilise the apps we need when we need them.

Adegboye stated that “the product is designed keeping in mind the needs of the Nigerian customers at this time. Currently, the accessories market is flooded with counterfeit products which impact the functioning and efficiency of mobile devices.

The move t o w a r d s expanding our p r o d u c t portfolio to include the Mobile Power Pack is aimed at offering the consumer the choice of h a v i n g technologically superior m o b i l e accessories.”

The APC by Schneider Electric Mobile Power Pack saves battery lifespan and energy by automatically shutting down when the connected devices are fully charged. Apart from smart phones and tablets, the Mobile Power Pack also charges MP3 players and cameras.

to help people start a conversation around what matters to them the most, made it possible for him to grow his fan base. What originally started as a small online channel showing select Nollywood films has burgeoned into a very successful business enterprise, garnering @JasonNjoku and his brand a significant Twitter following, with @IROKOtv, falling just shy of 30,000-strong following.

C M Y K

Vanguard, FRIDAY, MAY 15, 2015—37

Enforcement, major tool against counterfeiting — ORHII

By Chioma Obinna

I

N 2012, when the Director General of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control, NAFDAC, Dr Paul Orhii commissioned the first ever permanent office for the enforcement directorate agency, he probably had no idea how effective it would be.

Orhii, who took over the reign of administration of the agency in 2009, made enforcement department his top priority as a follow up to the battle for zero tolerance for counterfeit products in the country.

In what seems like a chronicle of his efforts at ensuring a zero tolerance for counterfeiting in the country, recently, Orhii in his book entitled; “The Odyssey of a Survivor” maintained that counterfeit tracking was a nightmare worthwhile.

In the book which has 14 chapters and 308 pages, Orhii restated committment towards ensuring that no Nigerian child or person within and around the Nigerian border and beyond becomes a victim of unwholesome medicines, food and other regulated products.

Orhii said through his enforcement activities comprising interrogations, seizures and destruction, cases forwarded to the legal unit hit 4,642 points, an increase compared to the limited number of enforcement activities of about 951 reported by the Agency between 2004 and 2008.

NAFDAC recorded an increased tempo especially in the area of chemical import control monitoring, drug abuse and misuse, chemical import control, restricted agric and control chemicals.

From left: President Project FIX Nigeria, Mr Olusegun Kowontan Jr. the event Chairman, Prince Adelusi Adeluyi, wife of DG, NAFDAC, Mrs. Eugenia Orhii; NAFDAC DG, Dr. Paul Orhii and Managing Director, May and Baker Nigeria Plc, Mr. Nnamdi Okafor during the Public Presentation of the book “ The Odyssey of a Survivor” an Autobiography written by Dr. Paul Orhii recently in Lagos .

Px Biodun Ogunleye

NAFDAC under my watch remains the first food and medicines regulatory authority in the world to deploy and use the Truscan, a handheld device used for onthe-spot detection of counterfeit medicines

“A total of 39,146 activities were recorded for the period between 2009 and 2012 as against the 29,999 activities carried out by the agency between 2004 and 2008.

The book launched weekend at City Hall in Lagos, highlighted how NAFDAC leads the world in the use of new technologies in the fight against counterfeit drugs and food.

“I will not relent on the NAFDAC mandate whatsoever, as more in innovations will be introduced to

How Nestle ensures food safety from farm to fork

H

EAD of Technical for Nestlé in the Central and West Africa Region, Jean-Luc De Vuyst has said that food safety is vital to the company. According to Vuyst as the world's leading nutrition, health and wellness company, Nestle aimed at ensuring that food and beverages are as safe as possible for consumers, at all stages of supply chain.

"People may not realisethe rigorous controls and checks that products go through before theyare safe to buy and consume. But whether we produce simple or sophisticated products - our challenge is still the same when it comes to food safety," he adds.

Food safety includes ways and actions to handle, prepare and store food to prevent contamination and foodborne illnesses.

Foodborne infections are often caused by bacteria, viruses, parasites or chemical substances that can enter people's bodies through contaminated food or water.

Food safety hazards are worryingly more common than people think.

Foodborne infectionsare often due to the lack of simple hygiene when preparing or cooking raw food.

But it's not the raw food itself that causes people to fall ill, explains Jean-Luc. For example, when people prepare raw meat,they may forget to wash their hands after and touch other kitchen surfaces and

prepare other food without realising it. This cross-contamination is the main culprit for infection, he adds. Foodborne bacteria or pathogens like salmonella or listeria often affect vulnerable people such as children, pregnant women and the elderly.

The industry's approach to this type of food hazard - which can be found at the production, processing, distribution, retail and preparation level - has moved from looking at issues in finished products,to trying to identify them as early as possible in the supply chain. Nestlé is doing the same.

Farm to fork "We believe our company, and the industry as a whole, has a responsibility to tackle the prevalence of foodborne infections.

“At Nestlé we aim to know if there is a problem at any stage in our production, where it is coming from, understand how to address it and how we can prevent it."

Globally, our factories in Ghana, Agbara and Flowergate factories in Nigeria, have dedicated zones, equipment and utensils for different ingredients to prevent crosscontamination. They follow certified cleaning and sanitation practices at every step of production, and employees are trained to adhere to good manufacturing practices. The company also usesadvanced technology to test for

harmful microorganisms or substances, carrying out 100 million tests annually on its products - including 1.5 million for salmonella.

At the company's research centre in Switzerland, Nestléopened new laboratories in 2013 to study foodborne pathogens.

The labs have a high level of 'biocontainment', where certain areas are sealed with restricted access to trained personnel who wear protective clothing and follow strict hygiene procedures. Nestlé uses sophisticated scientific techniques to refine the processes it uses to eliminate pathogens without destroying the nutritional value of the food.in children, and liver damage in both humans and animals.

Safety is paramount Nestlé aims to prevent food hazards like finding foreign objects in products that aren't meant to be there, such as glass, metal or wood. While it is important for the company to ensure that each product reaches consumers in prime condition in taste, safety is also paramount.

He explained that to further guide consumers once the products are released, clear and simple information is included on how to prepare, store and use the product. The ingredients are clearly labelled as well as the allergen risks.

enhance the capacity of the agency in combating fake drugs, unwholesome food and other related products.

According to him, the integration of technology in the regulatory activities of the agency will be taken to the next level so that NAFDAC will be at par with similar regulatory institutions around the world.

Noting that the past six years has been daunting, but worthwhile, he said: “To rid Nigeria of fake and unwholesome regulated products is a task that must be done,” he stated.

The use of cutting-edge technologies in tracking substandard products has not only placed Nigeria in the leading role of nations to use such method in the world, attracting international acclaim, but has increased the rate of confiscation and destruction of more unhealthy food and drugs across the country, making available drugs safer and more effective to consumers.

“NAFDAC under my watch remains the first food and medicines regulatory authority in the world to deploy and use the Truscan, a hand-held device used for on-the-spot detection of counterfeit medicines.

"The device has an advantage in that it allows NAFDAC’s monitoring agents to conduct field-based screening of pharmaceutical samples and to quickly and accurately identify counterfeits. The success recorded by NAFDAC in the use of this device has attracted international acclaim," he added.

“A national survey of the quality of medicines using the Truscan device was conducted by NAFDAC across 29 states including the FCT between January 2010 and April 2012 showed the incidence of fake and counterfeit drugs had reduced from 16.7 percent as the statistics showed in 2005 to 6.4 percent as at 2012,” he stated, while alluding that the new approach is the reason for the reduction of counterfeit drugs in the market at the moment.

In the 303 page book of 14 chapters, the NAFDAC boss which also highlighted the achievements of his agency during his tenure, he said presently NAFDAC is in partnership with the Federal University of Agriculture, Makurdi, toward the local production and commercialisation of an enzyme that neutralises cyanogenic in cassava.

"The enzyme when produced will also help reduce the cost of producing high quality cassava flour. In the area of safety, the agency closed down Chung Fuli Nigeria Ltd, makers of Osaki range of table water sometimes in September, 2012.

"This was a result of non-observation of good manufacturing practice and good hygiene practice in the production and sale of water products.

In the area of drug control, the agency has already collaborated with domestic and international agencies to clamp down on dealers of fake and counterfeit drugs.

On the registration of imported products in Nigeria between 2004 and 2012, NAFDAC boss reviewed that the agency has registered over 13413 products against 8850 products that were registered between 2004 and 2008. He gave a statistics of registered locally made products between 2009 and 2012 as 21, 2271 against 20,432 products which were registered between 2004 and 2008.

38—Vanguard, FRIDAY, MAY 15, 2015

of course the need to walk the talk is equally important.

10 years of purpose driven intervention of Ekitipanupo

By Seye Adetunmbi

O

VER the years, the common trend was for any interested group of Ekiti indigenes home and abroad to constitute various rallying points to serve kinsmen within those constituencies while a few others were established to serve narrow interests as evident in their activities and priorities. With the advent of technology that has turned the whole wide world into a global village, Ekitipanupo initiative evolved. The first and foremost Ekiti all peoples’ congress that will accommodate under one roof as many rational indigenes as possible irrespective of their political leanings or preferences was in the radar of the vision.

Essentially, there was need for an all-inclusive forum outside the government that can boldly step out to speak for Ekiti people on any national issue and matter of common heritage without being seen as sectional or selfserving. This is the commission of Ekitipanupo initiative with every sense of responsibility and all humility. Beyond having a microcosm of Ekiti State in an interactive forum setting, the platform was not set-up to be apolitical. Thus, Ekitipanupo members cannot be watching untoward things happen in their homestead or within the nation and won’t be able to intervene to facilitate rescuing arising embarrassing sociopolitical situations.

Consequently, Ekitipanupo is with intent and purposes primarily an indigenous intellectual roundtable strategically structured to constitute a ‘think-tank’ for the good of Ekiti and by extension to the larger society, Nigeria. The vision is to drive a mission that will evolve core leadership options capable of instigating thoughts and structure that will build crop of committed indigenes who will serve with accountability and responsibility in Ekiti State of Nigeria.

Ekitipanupo as Special Purpose Vehicle Ekitipanupo as a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) formally took off on March 6, 2005 as 4-phase project initiated to consummate a Collective Restructuring Strategy (CRS) for sustainable good governance in Ekiti State. The need to convene a truly indigenous “think tank” that will be

representative enough and attract as many sincere, selfless, non-sectional indigenes; with functional and logical divergent views as possible, informed the Ekitipanupo initiative. The forum therefore is a purpose driven intervention.

The platform has on board non-politicians, politicians, technocrats, professionals of wide range. Membership spread across the three Senatorial districts and all the local governments are covered while over 95 per cent of the major towns and villages in Ekiti State have at least one son or daughter on board.

In order to accommodate the views of the younger ones and students, a separate e-chat portal was put in place for the youth wing.

Ekitipanupo across to the people that will make transformation easier on a lasting basis. This makes an Ekitipanupo tabloid to be very relevant for measured information dissemination.

The Political Action Committee developed a guideline on how to run the affairs of the SPV as a sociopolitical group for all goodhearted indigenes such that there would be no allegiance to any individual or political party but to good governance and as the need arises, endorse visibly reliable political candidates and tested hands for elective posts. Also the committee

The committees The group broke into four committees within months of take- off.

The Policy Development Committee was made up of various technocrats who came up with a well appreciated Blue Print in 2010 for the state government. The policy review was commissioned to cover, revenue generation, i n v e s t m e n t s , industrialization, agriculture, town planning, health sector, education, judiciary, utilities etc.

Grassroots Awareness Committee was charged to come up with cost effective ways to get the principle of

To a reasonable extent, we have been able to grow Ekitipanupo to a predominantly acceptable group that has earned the respect of all and sundry wellmeaning Ekiti people through the deeds of the indigenous intellectual roundtable

defined the criteria for political aspirants and the mode of supporting the accredited candidates that have succeeded in winning the mandate of their political parties.

The Finance Committee was charged with the responsibility of coming up with a funding modality for identified projects and advise on the appropriate fees for the financial membership of the group (owo ni keke ihinrere!).

Implementation phase While every benevolent indigene irrespective of location and calling is free to be actively involved in the 1st, 2nd and the 4th phase by way of intellectual inputs, moral support and association; it is those in government, politicians and indigenes on the ground in Nigeria and Ekiti in particular that would essentially be actively involved in the implementation phase.

Obviously, everybody cannot be president, governor, senator, state legislator or councillor, yet one can associate with or identify, recommend and encourage people that have flare for leg work and indigenes that are disposed to communal service through credible antecedents to take mantle of leadership such that everyone would take credit. Nobody changes the City Hall from outside. The right calibre of people must be involved in the governance of the people at all levels to effect the desired changes and

One big indigenous family In the final analysis, after the desired structure has been collectively instituted, we have succeeded in having one-big indigenous family (agbo-ule) of facilitators of positive changes that have resolved to touch base with each other online real-time and all the year round. On an enduring note, members share thoughts, low and high moments in the conventional Ekiti tradition without fear of favour or patronage.

In essence, as a credible group, Ekitipanupo is poised to commend good deeds of government and rebuke when such administration is off course. Thus, through periodic feed backs we have been able to develop a strong bond within the agbo-ule such that the progresses recorded by successive governments in the state are being monitored without undue interference.

Also in a conducive state of affairs, suggestions, recommendations based on the arising realities on the ground have been passed as a group or individually to every government of the day as a going concern whenever the political terrain is friendly.

It would be interesting to bring into perspective the fact that for many years, Afenifere was meeting without representatives from some senatorial districts or local governments and many of the towns for that matter, yet they will come out with a communiqué supposedly binding on Yoruba, Ekiti inclusive of course. Also, for a very long time, this same conclave of a small clique, kudos to them albeit for their good initiative, has been dictating political direction of Yoruba nation over the years until recently. Likewise, Yoruba Council of Elders (YCE) is carrying on with its agenda, as well as Arewa, Ohanaeze and several others also in this category.

A true Ekiti people’s indigenous socio-political group like Ekitipanupo was long overdue. To a reasonable extent, we have been able to grow Ekitipanupo to a predominantly acceptable group that has earned the respect of all and sundry wellmeaning Ekiti people through the deeds of the indigenous intellectual roundtable. Those who direct the state of affairs of government through political parties are often a small clique most especially in the Nigerian democratic setting whereby true voting is yet to really count satisfactorily. congratulations on the 10th year anniversary of the exemplary forum.

Vanguard, FRIDAY 5 —39 FRIDAY,, MAY 15, 201 2015

Police want to release my kidnapper —Victim Stories by Ifeanyi Okolie

T

HE Chairman, Kings Petroleum, Alhaji Hammed Fashola, who was recently rescued by operatives of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad, SARS, Ikeja, after he was abducted by a gang of heavily armed kidnappers at Idimu area of Lagos State has called on the police authorities in Lagos and the State Government to ensure his kidnappers were prosecuted.

Alhaji Fashola, who made this call during an interview with Vanguard, expressed fears that some influential persons are currently trying to pressurizing the police into releasing some of the kidnappers, including the alleged mastermind, identified as Afam Nriezedi, from police custody.

He stressed further that the releasing of such suspects would not mean-well for peaceful residents of Alimoshun and in Lagos at large. According to him; “I have been informed that there are pressures on police to release these suspect from it custody. Some influential people are on the neck of the police to release some of those suspects who abducted, chained and blindfold me for four days without food and water. These people are making these efforts without taking into consideration the security implications of releasing these suspects back into the society without making them pay dearly for their crimes. If you must know, the leader of the gang while I was in their custody boasted that he had perfected plans to kidnap the mother of the Deputy Governor of Lagos State.

Five suspects identified as Kelvin Igah, 39; Ogechi Igah, 32; Victor Igah 35; and Chukwuma Kingsley, 43, including an informant, Afam Nriezedi, who also masterminded the kidnap and that of Chief Idowu Coker, owner of Dapsey Oil, where they collected a N20million ransom, were rounded up by SARS operatives led by SP Abba Kyari, when they stormed the gang’s hideout at IsheriOshun,Ikotun, Lagos.

Narrating how he was kidnapped, Alhaji Fashola Said: “ I drove myself on the day I was kidnapped, while my driver was behind me in another car, on approaching Isheri Roundabout, a Honda Pilot Sport Utility Vehicle double crossed, my Range Rover SUV, and five gunmen putting police uniforms emerged from the vehicle and

•Den of the kidnappers accosted me. When I saw them I suspected they were armed robbers and I refused to open my doors, but they broke the glasses and drag me out. I knew the police would not operate in such a manner that was why I refused to open my doors.

They dragged me into their vehicle, blindfolded me and

took me away. When we got to the hideout, I found myself in a toilet. A man came in and chained my legs and hands; I couldn’t sleep over the night. The following morning around 6am I started hearing the voice of children and I suspected that that house is a residential building. The leader of the gang who

identified himself as Ike informed me that I have been kidnapped and that I would have to pay $400,000 as ransom if I want to regain my freedom. I told him I don’t have money, he left me and established contact with my wife with the same demand.”

He narrated Meanwhile, Vanguard

gathered that while negotiation, SARS operatives who were on the trail of the suspects, tracked them to a two-bedroom flat, located at 18, Odeniyi Ishola Street, off Bola Road, Isheri Oshun, Lagos, where he was being held. They rescued him without paying a ransom, while four suspects including a woman were arrested at the scene. During interrogations, Vanguard gathered that the suspects confessed that Afam Nriezedi, led them to kidnap Alhaji Fashola and Chief Idown, both of who were oil marketers operating the Idimu area of Lagos.

Alhaji Fashola added further that Nriezedi confessed when he confronted him SARS, wanting to know the reason why he sold him out. “Was called to come to SARS office when the man, who organized, planned and executed my kidnap, was arrested. When I met him, I asked what my offence was and why he had to give me out to kidnappers. He pleaded for mercy and told me that greed pushed him into it. I then asked if he knew who I was he said and yes that he is one of my customers that buys fuel from my fillings station. He told me in the presence of the police that he monitored my movements from a vulcanizer workshop close to my house. He also said that he knew when I go out and call me.” He stated

I was tricked to Brazil for drug trafficking—Suspect A

39-year-old suspected drug trafficker, Celestine Ikechukwu Okonkwo, has been arrested by operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, while attempting to smuggle 70 wraps of cocaine weighing 1.326kg.

Spokesman of the agency, Mitchell Ofoyeju, disclosed that the suspect who is a native of Anambra State, was apprehended at the arrival hall of the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, NAIA, Abuja, when he tested positive for cocaine ingestion.

Ofoyeju, added that the suspect who used to sell used clothes at Idumota market confessed that he was promised mouthwatering job opportunities here in Nigeria by a drug baron who sponsored his trip Brazil, but was made to suffer untold hardship before being used in smuggling cocaine.

COkonkwo, in his statement, said he was a happy man until the drug barons approached him with a promise of better job

•Okonkwo abroad. “I was in my shop at Idumota market where I sell used clothes. I will never forget the day a young man came to my shop to buy shirt. He told me he is from Anambra and that he lives in Brazil. He also promised to help me with a good job opportunity over there. Honestly, I was excited and felt it was answer to my age long prayer.

He collected my phone number

and left. This was how it all started” Celestine stated.

After three months, the man called him that he was back to Nigeria. In his words, “he prepared my international passport and also secured a visa for me. Then he told me to get set to travel any time. Few weeks later, he brought my ticket and I travelled to Brazil in January 2015. He gave me the name of the hotel where I will stay pending when he will get me a job. I was eventually abandoned to suffer. When I exhausted my money, I began to sleep in a church. I also began to work for a Nigerian woman who owns a restaurant in order not to starve to death”.

The suspect also stated that drug trafficking was not originally discussed with him before he left Nigeria. “Nobody discussed drug trafficking with me while in Nigeria. “It was after I had lived in the church for some months that my sponsor located me in Sau Paulo. I was told that there is no free lunch in

Brazil and that I have suffered and experienced difficult life in Brazil. This was the point they introduced drug trafficking as the only way out. They said that was what people do to make money.

It took me about seven hours to swallow 70 wraps of cocaine. I was inexperienced because it was my first time. They promised to pay me 400,000 naira when I get to Nigeria” he stated.

Celestine left Anambra to Lagos in 2010. He abandoned his education in 1999 when he was in year two in junior secondary school. His wife and daughter are living with his parents in the village. Speaking on his advice to young people, the drug suspect said that there is no place like home. “God bless Nigeria. There is no poverty here except the person chooses to be poor” he stated.

Reacting to the report, the Chairman NDLEA, Ahmadu Giade said that the story of Celestine should serve as a warning to others who are seeking to travel out of the country.

40 — VANGUARD, FRIDAY, MAY 15, 2015

NASFAT Group Arabs, and Allah has made him the Last Prophet.

Over and above, those who preceded us used to offer their Salat either in their churches, mosque, or places of worship, whereas the Islamic Shari‘ah permits a person to offer Salat everywhere.

Jumada Al-Akhir 21, 1436 A.H.

Dry ablution and praying

Shariah is not difficult A

GAINST the erroneous view that shariah (the Islamic law), is difficult simply because Muslims refused to changed it under the guise of constitutional review in line with divine commandments.

Yet there is abundance of evidence to proof that the law given to the followers of Prophets of Allah-(AS), before Prophet Muhammad (SAW) was difficult than the one given to this nation.

The problem is that many of the followers of those Prophets altered the divine law of those earlier Prophet (AS) to suit their selfish desire. Therefore, the following are some of the evidence to support this fact

by Sheikh Ibn Bazz and other writers.

any hardship. In the past laws preceding the Shari‘ah of our Prophet Muhammad (SAW), people were not permitted to perform Tayammum (dry ablution) when they ran out of water.

They would then delay their Salat and combine them until they find water, then perform Wudu’ (ablution), and offer their Salat afterwards, but Tayammum was prescribed in this Shari‘ah brought by Prophet Muhammad. When there is no water, people can simply perform Tayammum and offer their Salat.

Selfish desire Allah has made the Shari‘ah much easier and relieving to this nation. He says: he releases them from their heavy burdens (of Allah’s Covenant with the Children of Israel), and from the fetters (bindings) that were upon them. The Prophet (SAW) also said: I was sent with the lenient Hanifiyyah (i.e. the True Religion of Islam).

Allah sent him with a lenient Shari‘ah that does not include loads, shackles, or any hardships. He says: and has not laid upon you in religion

Whenever Salat becomes due, you can offer it where you are— in deserts, wastelands, or any part of this earth

This is one of many other aspects of simplifications.

Furthermore, each Prophet was sent only to his people whereas Prophet Muhammad (SAW) was sent to the Jinn (creatures created from fire) and mankind, Arabs and non-

Whenever Salat becomes due, you can offer it where you are— in deserts, wastelands, or any part of this earth according to the Prophet’s saying (SAW): The land has been made a Masjid and a pure place for me (i.e. for dry ablution and praying).

The Islamic Shari‘ah brought by Prophet Muhammad (SAW) is a simplified and comprehensive one that has no hardships or restraints, among which is the facilitation for patients by exempting them from the

obligation of fast~ they are permitted to eat and compensate for the days missed.

A traveller is permitted to combine the quatrain Salat and delay fasting Ramadan and then make up for these days as well according to Allah’s Saying: and whoever is ill or on a journey, the same number [of days which one did not observe fasts must be made up] from other days.

A person may offer Salat while sitting if standing becomes difficult and unbearable, lying down on one side if they are unable to sit, or lying on their backs if they are unable to lie down on one side as authentically reported from the Messenger of Allah in the Sunnah. Apart from this, allowing them to eat from a dead animal when necessary and to stay alive when lawful food is unavailable to escape death.

Lessons of Suratul Khaf Continues from last week S the reality is hidden from you, you are at a loss to understand the wisdom of what is happening, and sometimes if it appears that things are going against you, you cry out, ‘How and why has this happened’.

The fact is that if the curtain be removed from the “unseen”, you would yourselves come to know that what is happening here is for the best.

Even if sometimes it appears that something is going wrong, you will see that in the end, it will also produces some good results for you.

The same is true with the story of Zul-Qarnain for it also admonishes the unbelievers: “0 you vain chiefs of Makkah you should learn a lesson from Zul-Qarnain. Though he was a great ruler, a great conqueror and the owner of great resources, yet he always surrendered to his Creator,

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whereas you are rebelling against Him even though you are insignificant chieftains in comparison with him. Besides this, though Zul-Qarnain built one of the strongest walls for protection, yet his real trust was in Allah and not in the “wall”.

He believed that the wall could protect him against his enemies as long as it was the will of Allah and that there would be crack and holes in it, when it would be His will : whereas you who possess only insignificant fortified abodes and dwellings in comparison with him, consider yourselves to be permanently safe and secure against all sorts of calamities.”

Fortified abodes While the Quran turned the tables on the unbelievers who had tried to ridicule the Holy

Prophet, in the end of the Surah the same thing stated at the beginning was reiterated at the end: “Tauhid and the Hereafter are absolutely true and real and for your own good; you should accept these doctrines, mend your ways in accordance with them and live in this world with this conviction that you are accountable to Allah: otherwise you shall ruin your life and all your doings shall be set at naught.”

This allegory is also related in the Gibbon’s Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire (end of Chapter 33) but without the spiritual lessons as explained in the Quran.

The relativity of Time, how Allah does whatever He wishes in mysterious manners; the position of oppressor and the oppressed, the persecutor and persecuted, as well as the true potency of prayers to guide the actions of man aright.

Vanguard, FRIDAY, MAY 15, 2015 — 41 YOUR LUCK TODAY

LEISURE

By Joshua Adeyemo Phone 08056180139

CANCER; Happenings within your working arena can bring minor provocation but it is just a passing trend. Travelling for love will bring more challenges than expected.

LEO; Male members of this Star sign will need to watch their libido while female must not ignore their sex-life. Beware of joint ventures with those you don’t know.

VIRGO; It is not compulsory you take to aggressive re-action to those within your base of operation who are not as perfect as you. Protect your spouse.

LIBRA; Watch what you eat and drink today. This is the wrong time to engage in unnecessary heated argument.. Romance at work may bring disappointment.

SCORPIO; Trying to influence matters-of-the-heart with money will not give you the desired result. Any way it is a day you will need to be more careful with money.

THOUGHT FOR TODAY

Of strenght and struggle

By Richard Eromosele

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IFE is like a puzzle. It is like a riddle, yet to be unwrapped. It is a story waiting to be told.

Life is a mystery.

Why is it that some seem to be living their heaven here on earth, while others

seem to be consigned to hell right from this planet earth? Why do some people suceed at anything they do, while others seemed

TERROR MUDA

to be operating under curse throughout their life? Is there any reward for struggle?

What is the price for success? What is the

in “Never say goodbye”

prize for trying?

Relax, strength comes from struggle.

And success comes from unrelenting efforts. Have you given your all? Then relax, time will vindicate you. No struggle without reward.

By Lanre Kehinde

SAGITTARIUS; It is important you are more careful while trying to pass judgement on people within your base of operation because you too may be wrong.

CAPRICORN; Taking a pleasure drive or movement may bring more than anticipated responsibility. Keep away from whatever can not be placed above board today.

AQUARIUS; If you allow friends to force their ideas on you financially or on matters-of-the-heart, you would be the loser. Express yourself gracefully.

PISCES; Unless you are more careful matters-ofthe-heart may cause avoidable trouble the way your career/business can suffer temporarily.

ARIES; It is important you don’t exhibit aggression unnecessarily. Here is a day when secret love is capable of bringing serious pressure. Try to be very diplomatic.

KAPTAIN AFRIKA

in

“Pretty Lunatic’

By Andy Akman

TAURUS; Your concentration level is not perfect and if you take bad advice from friends you would be misled. The more practical you are the better for you.

GEMINI; Unnecessary aggressive approach on your part along your career/business lines will backfire more than you imagine. Graceful expression is what you will need.

ASTROLOGICAL COUNSELLING Send yyour our dat th ttoo the As tr ological datee and place of bir birth Astr trological Counselling, PP.M.B .M.B 1100 00 7, Apapa, Lagos 007,

Where was my moon?

Dear Joshua, Kindly tell me where the Moon was placed when I was born and other things I should know about my star.

Fred, Oyo.

VIRGINIA

dadadekola@yahoo.com

Dear Fred, What space can take will be given here-under. Your natal Moon was in Aries.

ANALYSIS OF YOUR HOROSCOPE DATA Preponderance of cardinal quality in your chart is an indication of GREAT LEADERSHIP QUALITY together with innate ability to attain prominence on one hand, on the other hand, exaltation of intellectual related Mercury in Aquarius at positive angle to both lucky Jupiter and Uranus (the planet of genius) in Libra pointed to a person with higher pitch of intelligence.

Action loving Mars as the final dispositor of your horoscope ( that’s most influential planet at home when you were born) will most times induce you to strongly desire importance with likeness for quick results; actually long promise without concrete action will bore you easily. Equally 60 percentage of pushfull influence in your chart means that the best for you is to go after your needs and wants.

Combination of all the placement and aspects formed within the planets when you were born are pointers to you as a person with balanced personality with little bias for good spiritual life. And you believe in disciplinarian life style.

Placement of your natal Sun and Moon in compassionate Pisces and self conscious Aries respectively are indications of your being mainly a Piscean and partly an Arian, however as Aries is also your Stellium sign, both basic characteristics of Pisces and Aries are highly pronounced in your inner-self.

HOME & ABROAD

By Lawrence Akapa

42—Vanguard, FRIDAY, MAY 15, 2015

Release N7.5bn owed to DESOPADEC contractors, group begs Uduaghan

By Ochuko Akuopha

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LEH—A GROUP, Action Group Against Corruption, AGAC, has urged Delta State governor, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan, to release the N7.5 billion allegedly meant for payment of contractors of Delta State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission, DESOPADEC, to the commission.

The group, in a statement yesterday, alleged that the governor had advised that the payment should be delayed till after the 2015 general

elections, so as to avoid making funds available for opposition parties in the state to fight the ruling Peoples

Democratic Party, PDP. The statement by the group’s Chairman, Chief Emuobonuvie Asieghwu,

expressed worry over the alleged non-payment of the money, several weeks after the elections were concluded.

Ex-militants fault calls to scrap amnesty programme

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AT I O N A L Coalition of Niger Delta ExAgitators, NCNDE-A, has described calls on President-elect, General Muhammadu Buhari, to scrap the amnesty programme as misleading and capable of causing crisis in the relatively peaceful Niger Delta region.

Speaking in Abuja, the group’s National President, Israel Akpodoro, said the amnesty programme, especially the Phase 1, achieved a lot in the region in terms of meaningfully engaging idle youths.

He urged Buhari to be wary of such calls and the persons who make them, adding that rather than abrogate the programme, the president-elect should overhaul it, preparing it towards more meaningful human development devoid of discriminative tendencies.

The ex-militant leader said: “We see people today who are pretending to be All Progressives Congress, APC, members. It is such characters that want the amnesty programme scrapped to plunge the incoming APC administration into avoidable crisis.”

VISIT: From left: Mr Emmanuel Ewherido, an APC leader in Delta State; Mr. Francis Ewherido; Olorogun O'tega Emerhor and General Muhammadu Buhari, during a congratulatory visit by All Progressives Congress, Delta State chapter, to the president-elect in Abuja.

Disclose 2012/2014 budgets to HDI, court orders Delta LG

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FEDERAL High Court sitting in Asaba, Delta State, has ordered the Oshimili North Local Government Council in Delta State to disclose to a Lagosbased non-governmental organisation, NGO, Human Development Initiatives, HDI, the council’s budgets from 2012 to 2014 and the projects duly approved for implementation in 2013.

The court’s decision comes on the heels of a similar order issued by the same court on February 18, 2015 against two other councils in the state, Oshimili South and Ika South Local Government Areas, following a suit against them

by HDI over their refusal to grant its request for the information made under the Freedom of Information Act on February 24, 2014.

Following three separate suits on May 15, 2014 by a Lagos lawyer, Mr. Andy Ogbolu, on behalf of HDI against Oshimili South, Ika South and Oshimili North councils, Justice Mojisola Olatoregun-Isola granted HDI leave on May 21, 2014 to apply for a declaration that the failure and/or refusal by the councils to disclose and make available to HDI the

information sought in its letters of request dated February 24, 2014, amounts to a violation of HDI’s right of access to information as guaranteed by sections 1(1) and 4(a) of the Freedom of Information Act, 2011.

The court also granted the group leavt to apply for a declaration that the failure and/or refusal by the councils to give HDI a written notice that access to all or part of the information requested would

not be granted and stating reasons for the denial and the section of the FOI Act upon which the councils relied to deny HDI access to the information requested in its letters amounts to a flagrant violation of sections 4(b), 7(1), (2) and (3) of the Act and is therefore wrongful.

Ruling on the suits on February 18, Justice Olatoregun-Isola granted all the prayers sought against Oshimili South and Ika South councils.

Local Content Law: Delta communities urge Chevron to prevail on contractors

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EMBERS of the Gbaramatu/Egbema Host Communities Welders and Fitters (Escravos) have implored Chevron Nigeria Limited, CNL, to prevail on its contractors to comply with the Nigerian Local Content Law by engaging more local unemployed professionals to avoid crippling its Escravos tank farm, flow stations and offshore fields.

In a letter by its Chairman, Mr. Timiyan George, to the Warri Area Manager of CNL, the group decried the low patronage of qualified welders and fitters by CNL

serving companies of Oil Industrial Services, OIS, Idmon Engineering and Construction, Midis Energy Services and Dormanlong Engineering Limited, among others.

They warned that unless something urgent was done, angry unemployed professional welders and fitters in Escravos Tank Farm, Abiteye, Makarada, Alero, Dibi, Utonana, Opuekeba and the offshore fields, would react negatively by crippling Chevron operations in the days ahead.

A-Ibom APC Reps candidate alleges threat to life

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HE All Progressives Congress, APC, House of Representatives candidate for Ukanafun/ Oruk Anam federal constituency, Akwa-Ibom State, Mr Eshiet Offiong, has petitioned the Inspector General of Police, Mr Solomon Arase, over alleged threat to his life.

Offiong, in the petition by his lawyer, Felix Udoh, alleged that his life was being threatened by a member of House of Representatives in Abuja.

He said: “On May 6, 2015, at 9.45p.m., and 10.15p.m, Mr Namso Udorok, the APC collation agent in Ward 13, Oruk Anam Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State, received a call wherein the House of Reps member threatened to deal with our client.

“At 8a.m., on May 7, the said Reps member through the same number 07068122614 called Mr Udorok stressing and reaffirming his decision to deal with our client and all those who were APC agents in Ukunafun/Oruk Anam federal constituency election held on March 28, 2015."

Arco Group vs Agip: Misplaced file forces court to adjourn

By Jimitota Onoyume

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ORT HARC O U R T — A Federal High Court sitting in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, has adjourned till June 23, to rule on the suit by Arco Group Plc against Nigerian Agip Oil Company Limited.

Trial judge, Justice Lambor Akonbi, adjourned the matter after he complained that he could not lay hands on the case file.

“I can’t find the file. So, we have to take another date for this matter,” he told counsel in the matter.

The court was to rule on a motion challenging its jurisdiction to entertain the suit.

Vanguard, FRIDAY, MAY 15, 2015 —43

Drama as Abia govt hands over 100 primary schools to churches

By Anayo Okoli

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MUAHIA—A mild drama ensued, yesterday, as two factions of Assemblies of God Church brought their disgraceful politics to the venue where Abia State government was handing over 100 primary mission schools to churches in Umuahia.

The government had, in line with its policy of returning mission schools to their original owners, invited churches to take over their schools, but just as Governor Theodore Orji started distributing the documents to churches involved, the two factions stepped forward to collect them.

But Governor Orji, who was shocked by the conduct of the two factions, refused to hand over the document of the school owned by the church to any of them.

He laughed off the situation and assured both factions that the differences between them would be resolved later.

The governor had earlier charged the churches to ensure that higher standards were maintained in the schools being handed over.

He said it was regrettable that for decades, the policy of handing over the schools to their original owners had been in the limbo and expressed joy that his administration had broken the jinx, adding that the hand-over would be in phases.

CHIME, ENUGU HOUSE STAND-OFF: Police defy

order to vacate Assembly complex

By Francis Igata ENUGU—THE order made by the Federal High Court sitting in Enugu last Monday which ordered the Nigerian Police to vacate Enugu State House of Assembly complex has not been complied with.

The embattled speaker,Eugene Odo, confirmed to Vanguard that the Police had been served last Wednesday.

A visit to the assembly complex showed that two police patrol vehicles were stationed at the entrance gate with stern looking policemen manning the gate.

The order subsists, pending the determination of a suit brought

by Odo on behalf of 15 members of the House who issued an impeachment notice against Governor Sullivan Chime on May 4.

The court, presided over by Justice D.V. Agishi, also

Group raises alarm over high debt profile of state governments

By Jonah Nwokpoku

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CIVIL society group, International Society for Civil Liberties and the Rule of Law, has raised alarm over the increasing public debt profiles of state governments in the country.

It decried the rate at which state governments recklessly borrow money with the connivance of State Assemblies at the expense of tax payers.

It argued that contrary to publicised local debts of the states by the Debt Management Office, most states were actually heavily indebted with some of them resorting to unrealistic budgets to cover up their high debt profiles.

The group called on the incoming National Assembly to enact a law creating Public Debts Management Commission of the Federation, “to centrally coordinate the compilation and management of the country’s public debts of the three tiers of Federal, state and local governments.”

The group in a statement by the chairman, Mr. Emeka Umeagbalasi, said: “We call on the incoming National Assembly of Nigeria to enact an Act creating Public Debts Management Commission of

the Federation. ‘’The law creating the Commission will ensure its membership is drawn from the country ’s three tiers of government and the FCT in representative capacity. Its leadership composition must also reflect the provisions of Section 14 (3) of the Constitution of Nigeria 1999 (equitable representation).

“The proposed Act should make it mandatory and sanctionable within a specific timeframe for the three tiers of government particularly states and the LGAs to furnish the Commission with full details of their local debt stocks. ‘’One of the sanctions will be the use of order of the court of

competent jurisdiction to temporarily freeze the accounts of the defaulting state, particularly any state that doctors or underreports its debt stocks.

“There should be a provision in the Act as well compelling all local lending institutions, including commercial banks, to independently furnish the commission periodically with details of loans given to the states/ LGAs. ‘’The Act should expand in definition and scope of the public debts to include unpaid workforce-retired and serving wage arrears including pensions, allowances, salaries and gratuities running into six months and years.

restrained the police from curtailing the personal liberty of the speaker.

It ordered that policemen should not be seen around the House of Assembly complex except at points determined by the speaker.

It further ordered that the speaker and other 15 members of the House should be allowed to have access to the legislative complex, particularly the chambers.

The orders were made in an interim injunction granted in favour of the speaker who filed a suit before the court on behalf of 15 members of the House.

The respondents in the suit are the eight members of the House loyal to Governor Chime and the Nigerian Police.

Justice Agishi adjourned the matter to May 19 for further hearing.

But the Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, Mr. Ebere Amaraizu, DSP, had said: “We are not aware of any injunction.

The issue is that police is there to prevent breakdown of law and order. ‘’We are not part of the legislature neither are we the executive. Our business is to maintain law and order.”

UNIZIK SUG president alleges threat to life

By Vincent Ujumadu

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WKA—THE embattled president of the Students Union Government, SUG, of Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Mr. Noble Eyisi, has alleged threat to his life, following a letter he addressed to the Vice Chancellor of the university, Professor Joseph Ahaneku, in which he questioned certain happenings in the institution.

In a statement he sent to the VC and copied to the Dean of

the students’ affairs, the Chief Security Officer, the governor of Anambra State, Federal Ministry of Education, among others, Eyisi said that a team of security men attached to the office of the Vice Chancellor raided his house and removed vital documents.

He said: “On Monday, May 10, 2015, a team of security men raided my room at the school hostel Block E and my official residence at Elmada Hostel, ransacked the whole place and unlawfully broke into my official vehicle and made away with

some vital documents.

“Let it be on record that should anything bad happen to me and members of my cabinet and any other person associated with me, the security people in the office of the vice chancellor should be held responsible.”

He said his earlier letter to the VC, which triggered the crisis in the university, was not aimed at character assassination and public disgrace, but geared towards getting answers to happenings in the university, with a view to building a strong institution.

By Bartholomew Madukwe (08102479985) nwamad@yahoo.com

PEOPLE SPEAK

What is your view on lingering fuel scarcity?

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bviously, it is the calculation of the fraudulent cabal in the fuel importation business that except they , strike and stop importation before the exit of the present administration, the Buhari government will not pay without due verification. -Chief Morah Ekwunoh, Lawyer

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y view on the fuel scarcity is that it is sad. Further occurrence should be discouraged.

Government should put structures in place that would also discourage importation of the commodity by the marketers. -Mr. Francis Nwachukwu, Journalist

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o me, it is a deliberate activity of vexed oil marketers (importers) who have expressed their displeasure to the FG for failing to pay outstanding debts and also having a full knowledge of the removal of fuel subsidy from the current budget. -Mr. Obodaya Runo, Lawyer

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he intermittent fuel scarcity saga has become a national embarrassment. It is a metaphor of the failed state Nigeria has become. It is most frustrating that nobody has taken responsibility for any aspect of this shame. -Mr. Chibuzo Asomugha, Lecturer

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t is so painful and I am of the strong view that a few wicked, greedy, inconsiderate and selfserving individuals have decided to punish Nigerians for whatever cause. I bought 30ltrs yesterday for N10,500. So it is really painful. -Mr. Jude Igbanoi, Journalist

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mportation is not in the interest of nation. Let us get back to local production and refining.

Four refineries should fend for Nigeria. If the old refineries are obsolete, new, efficient ones should be built. -Dr. Onyeka Uwakwe, Lecturer

44 — Vanguard, FRIDAY, MAY 15, 2015

INSECURITY: Cleric laments killing of pastors, others

By Marie-Therese Nanlong

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OS—THE President of Church of Christ in Nations, COCIN, Rev. Dachollom Datiri has lamented the recent attacks in parts of Plateau State which have claimed the lives of two of the church’s pastors and many of its members and urged security agencies to rise to the occasion by routing terrorists in the state.

Datiri who spoke at the COCIN headquarters in Jos, the state capital during its 88th General Church Council also urged the President-elect, General Muhammadu Buhari, rtd, to keep to his promise of stamping out corruption in the country.

Congratulating Bahari and others who won various positions in the recently held general elections, he asked the incoming administration not the discard the recommendations of last National Conference on restructuring of the country for peace to reign.

Datiri urged the church not to mentor pastors for effective discharge of duties just as he asked such pastors to imbibe the culture of writing their wills so they don’t leave their families stranded in the case of death.

Bauchi ASUSS disowns NLC strike ...Says it's illegal, ill-timed

By Suzan Edeh

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AUCHI—THE Academic Staff Union of Secondary Schools, ASUSS, in Bauchi State has dissociated itself from the ongoing strike by the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, describing it as illegal, misguided, and ill-timed.

Civil servants in the state had Wednesday, embarked on an indefinite strike over alleged non-payment of their two months salaries.

However, the Chairman of the

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Jahum then directed principals of secondary schools in the state to re open for normal academic activities, stressing that the association was not part of the industrial action in the state.

Reacting, the state NLC Chairman, Hashimu Gital said the strike was binding on all workers on the payroll of the state, hence any association that disobeyed the union’s directive would be sanctioned.

Why our anti-smuggling message is working — Seme Customs boss

By Ifeyinwa Obi

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LECTURE: From left; Professor Adeniyi Agunbiade Guest Speaker; his wife, Mrs Jokotade; Gen Yakubu Gowon, Chairman of the occassion; Rev Felix Meduoye, General Overseer, Foursquare Gospel Church in Nigeria; his wife, Rev (Mrs) Bisi Meduoye and HRM Ogiame Atuwatse II the Olu Of Warri during the Foursquare Gospel Church in Nigeria first Diamond Jubilee lecture held in Lagos. Photo by Lamidi Bamidele.

NASS LEADERSHIP: Group lauds APC, Buhari for being neutral

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HE Third Force for Third Term Arm has applauded the President-elect, Muhammadu Buhari and the

NIGER DELTAN POLLS: PDP accused of trying to justify electoral fraud HE Niger Deltan Progressives League, has accused the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, of attempting to justify what it described as the colossal electoral fraud it perpetrated in Delta, Rivers and Akwa Ibom states during the last general elections.

While addressing newsmen yesterday in Warri, General Coordinator of the league, Comrade Parker Ossai accused PDP National Publicity Secretary, Chief Olisa Metuh of telling a cocktail of lies to suggest that the All Progressive Congress, APC is not entitled to challenge the elections as prescribed by law.

Alleging that the PDP is nothing more than a rigging machine, Ossai wondered why the party was jittery about the APC seeking redress at the elections petitions tribunals if it is confident it genuinely won free and fair elections in the various states.

association, Mohammed Jahum, who reacted to the directive by labour to close down secondary schools in the state in compliance with the strike, said there was no basis for the organized labour to keep teachers and students at home in order to press home its demands, as according to him, the strike was disrupting academic activities in secondary schools, especially now that senior secondary students were writing their examinations.

“I see this industrial action by labour as unconstitutional, illegal

and ill-timed because of the events that led to the strike. The workers’ agitations over the payment of their two months salary does not warrant going on a strike as they could explore other legitimate means such as dialogue in resolving this salary issue.

“Secondly, for the union to go about locking government offices and closing down schools is uncalled for. The timing of the strike is very wrong because the outgoing administration has less than three weeks to make its exit.

So why is the union disrupting official duties in the state to press home its demands?,” he said.

According to him: “The fact that their presidential candidate conceded victory is beside the point. He was not doing anybody any favour. He merely accepted defeat in good faith like a gentleman, something the likes of Metuh are uncomfortable with.

That does not mean the APC should forgo its right to challenge any other election it is convinced was rigged to its detriment. ''If PDP is thinking that because Jonathan conceded defeat therefore it will be allowed to get away with massive electoral fraud in the South-South, it is merely dreaming. If according to Metuh, there were electoral irregularities in the North-West and SouthWest, his party should have gone to court. ''That PDP refused to go to the tribunal, knowing fully well that it will lose, does not preclude APC from going there when it is convinced it has a solid case. ”

All Progressives Congress, APC for distancing themselves from the selection of leaders of the 8th National Assembly as well as for not zoning the office of senate president to any region.

A statement signed by the Publicity Secretary of the Force, Mr Ralph Ugbelu yesterday in Abuja stated, ‘’The south-east and its kith and kin in the south-south have no APC senator in the Senate, however, the door is open to senators from other zones to vie for the seat of Senate president. ‘’Fairness demands that the northwest and south-west be excluded from the race because they have the president and vice-president already.

The change that APC preaches will not be limited to activities at the Nigerian presidency. It will be tested in President-elect Buhari’s ministerial list, in the selection of leaders of the National Assembly and in governance itself. The northcentral wants to cling to the position, which it has occupied for eight years now through David Mark. Contenders from the zone have included senators George Akume and Barnabas Gemade of Benue State as well as Bukola Saraki of Kwara. ‘’The north-east wants it too.

Senators Aliyu Ndume of Borno, Ahmed Lawan of Yobe, and Danjuma Goje of Yobe have indicated interest. Fortune in the race will favour one without excess baggage: Buhari would prefer one that has no case with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.

North-west, south-west for Lawan

Following in the footsteps of the south-west caucus, the north-west caucus of the Senate endorsed the candidacy of Lawan for president of the 8th Nigerian Senate.

At a meeting of the north-west caucus co-chaired by Abu Ibrahim (Katsina), Kabiru Gaya (Kano) and Adamu Aliero (Kebbi), which was attended by 18 of the 21 senators from the zone, in Abuja, the senators unanimously resolved to support Lawan from Yobe North in the north-east.

A source at the north-west meeting said that the senators adopted Lawan because of his integrity: he has no case with the EFCC, he has been consistent in opposition from 1999, and therefore experienced. “We feel he is the right person that can drive the change agenda of the incoming Buhari administration,” the source said.

AGOS—THE Customs Area Controller, Seme Area Command of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Comptroller Ndalati Mohammed, has affirmed that the Command recorded huge increase in its revenue collection in the first quarter of 2015, because its anti-smuggling message and resistance to smuggling activities was paying-off.

In a statement made available to newsmen, Ndalati who reeled out the achievements of the Seme Area Command, within the first quarter of the year, said the Command collected N2.58 billion as revenue, an improvement over the N2.13 billion collected in the same period in 2014.

According to the Seme Customs boss, the Command’s “no go area” for illegalities, cooperation from stakeholders and security agencies, enlightenment programme in the surrounding communities and the zeal to get the best out of the officers and men necessitated the increase that was achieved.

He said: “Within the first quarter of the year, the Command collected the sum of N2,583,548,432.53 as revenue which was an improvement over the sum of N2, 133, 776, 367.31 collected in the same period last year 2014. A breakdown of the collections shows as follows January N909, 906, 291.39, February N899,800,250.76 and March N773,841,890.38. The increase was achieved through the motivational effort of the Command’s Area Controller, cooperation from our stakeholders, result of the Command’s enlightenment programme in the surrounding communities and the zeal of Ndalati to get the best out of the officers and men.”

The Seme Customs boss, who decried that the revenue feat could have been higher but for the reduction in the volume of imports which some importers attributed to unfavourable exchange rate regime and apprehension towards the elections.

Vanguard, FRIDAY, MAY 15, 2015—45

BURIAL: From left— Mr. Dan Bivbere; Princewill Ekwujuru of Vanguard

Newsapers; Sir Ben Bivbere, eldest son; Mr & Mrs Godfrey Bivbere; Mrs Alice Parm, eldest daughter and Eguonor Odjegba, Publisher, Pinnacle Magazine, at the burial of Madam Maria Arife Najomo, mother of Vanguard's Maritime Correspondent, Godfrey Bivbere, who was buried in Otor-Udu, Delta State.

From left— Mr. Emmanuel Uduma, Head, Marketing & Partnerships, Shuga; Ms Sharon Ezeamaka, MTV Shuga actress; Mr. Richard Warburton, Shuga Campaign Director, and Mr. Timini Egbuson, MTV Shuga actor, during a briefing on OnTourWithShuga Abuja mini-festival.

NB'S AGM: From left— Mr. Nicolas Vervelde, Managing Director/ Chief Executive Officer; Chief Kolawole Jamodu, Chairman; Mr. Uaboi Agbebaku, Company Scretary/ Legal Adviser; Mr. Thomas A. de-Man, non-executive, and Mr. Victor Famuyibo, Human Resources Dirctor, all of Nigerian Breweries Plc, during NB's 69th Annual General Meeting in Lagos. PHOTO: Diran Oshe.

ELECTED: From left— Mr. Izeze Reuben, Mr. Mayuku Daniel and Mr. Friday Osanebi, Deputy Chief Whip, all of Delta State House of Assembly, displaying their Certificates of Return.

OLD STUDENTS' PROJECT : From left— Principal, The International Schools, Ibadan; Mr. Mark Malik, old student; Dr. Abosede Ogedengbe; Dr. Femi Abatan and Dr. Mudiane Giwa-Osagie, old student, inaugurating the borehole (inset) donated by the schools' old students, yesterday. PHOTO: Dare Fasube.

VISIT: From left— Mr. Desmond Ekeh, Managing Director, Synthesis Communications Limited; Mr. Agbo Agbo, Deputy Managing Director, and Dr. Omowale Adelabu, lecturer at Redeemer's University, during the institution's BrandiQ Campus Club's visit to Synthesis in Lagos.

GOLDEN AGE: Mrs. Olabisi Amoa-Abdul, Proprietress, Satson Schools, and celebrator (middle), flanked by her husband, Alhaji Hotul Abdul (left) and mother, Mrs. Wuraola Balogun, during Mrs Amoa-Abdul's 50th birthday celebration in Lagos. In front is Muiz Abdul, son.

SHUGA:

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VISIT: From left— Mrs. Titi Laoye-Tomori, Deputy Governor of Osun State; Governor Rauf Aregbesola; Mr. Segun Ogunsanya, Airtel Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer; Alhaji Gboyega Oyetola, Chief of Staff to the Governor; Mr. Femi Adeniran, Head of Public Relations; Mr. Dayo Fatoki, Zonal Business Manager, West, and Mrs. Sherifat Badmus, Retail Manager, all of Airtel, during a courtesy visit to the governor in Osogbo.

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Nigeria loses N7bn, as Shell shuts Trans Niger Pipeline

By Michael Eboh, with agency report

B

ARRING other arrangements, Nigeria has lost a minimum of $35.139 million (N7.029 billion) over the last three days, as Shell Nigeria, yesterday, said it had shut down the 180,000 barrels of crude oil per day Trans Niger Pipeline.

According to a statement by Shell, the company shut down the pipeline May 12, but failed to state the reasons for the action and when it would be reopened.

The Trans Niger Pipeline is critical to Nigeria’s crude export as it carries Nigeria’s crude oil, Bonny Light, to an export terminal.

Traders said Bonny Light loadings had been delayed by up to four days over the past week.

The Trans Niger Pipeline, according to Shell, transports around 180,000 barrels per day of crude oil to the Bonny Export Terminal and is part of the gas liquids evacuation infrastructure, critical for continued domestic power generation and liquefied gas exports.

The Central Bank of Nigeria puts the average price for Bonny Light at $65.07 per barrel.

This means that for every day that the pipeline is shut, Nigeria will be losing a minimum of

$11.713 million, about N2.343 billion.

without being brought down.

Solution, cost NNPC on vandalization, electricity

The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, had a couple of weeks ago lamented the recent increase in the attack on crude oil and gas pipelines across the country, stating that the country was losing about 60,000 barrels of crude oil and condensates daily whenever there is a pipeline break.

NNPC had also stated that over 50 attacks were launched by vandals on the nation’s crude oil and gas pipelines in the last six months.

Group Executive Director, Gas and Power of NNPC, Mr. David Ige, had stated that apart from the loss of revenue from crude sales, the vandalization of the pipeline is expected to worsen the country’s power situation as a number of power plants relying on gas supply from the pipeline will be starved of gas to generate electricity.

Ige lamented that between January and February alone, the Trans-Forcados crude oil pipeline was attacked and vandalized four times, adding that none of the corporation’s gas pipelines had been able to run two straight days

Ige, however, stated that NNPC was exploring a number of options on how to tackle the pipeline vandalism menace, ranging from an aggressive community engagement to installation of technological gadgets to stave off the vandals.

He called for a holistic approach to resolving the pipeline vandalism scourge by tightening security and expeditious judicial enforcement to bring to an end the menace, which has deprived the country of several billions in revenue.

Also, Nigerian Gas Company, NGC, a subsidiary of NNPC, had few days ago,

stated that Nigeria had lost a minimum of N8.04 billion since January, to the incessant vandalism of gas pipelines.

Managing Director, NGC, Mr. Dafe Sejebor, disclosed that since the beginning of the year, the country had witnessed an unprecedented increase in the spate of gas pipeline vandalism.

He said within the last two months, it had recorded three major attacks on its pipeline network, mainly in the Niger Delta region.

According to him, “whenever these pipelines are sabotaged, we are forced to shut down the pipeline, and we defer a minimum of 200 million Standard Cubic Feet, SCF, of gas per day.”

Nwankwo appointed NDA's Academy Provost

O

NE of Nigeria’s leading academics in Europe, Professor Azubuike Sonny Nwankwo, has been appointed Academy Provost of the Nigerian Defence Academy, NDA. Speaking on his appointment, the UK-based marketing and entrepreneurship academic said it was an honour and a challenge to which he is committed.

Professor Nwankwo said he would refocus NDA’s men and women to be able to fight the intellectual battle for selfconfidence and self-assertion as equal players in the global knowledge economy on top of their conventional military training.

He added that he wants “an institution that is not only dedicated to excellence in teaching, but also meeting Nigeria’s overarching development goals by contributing, through scholarship and research, to solving the problems with which the Nigerian Armed Forces and society at large are faced.

“Chief among these problems is the Boko Haram insurgency in northern Nigeria, which has grown increasingly violent under its leadership of Abubakar Shekau.

“The extremist set, which recently pledged allegiance to the Middle East’s Islamic State terror group, has killed thousands of people and the kidnapping of schoolgirls from the village of Chibok in April

2014."

Experience

Nwankwo was most recently Director of the Noon Centre for Equality & Diversity in Business at the University of East London, where he became a professorial chair in 2001.

He has also served as director of research and enterprise and founding director of the Petchey Centre of Entrepreneurship.

Other roles include his inaugural presidency of the International Academy of African Business and Development.

He is also trained as a lay magistrate in the UK. Professor Nwankwo has published so many works which have attracted several awards, including the ANBAR Citation of Excellence for Highest Quality Rating.

Nwankwo is on the Editorial Advisory Board and Review Committee of several academic journals. He is External Assessor and Visiting Professor at universities in the United Kingdom, Australasia and across Africa.

He worked in academia and business before leaving the country in search of greener pasture in the 1980s.

His professional career began as a member of the National Youth Service Corp, NYSC, in 1981 at Kaduna Polytechnic after a degree in Management Studies from the University of Jos.

Okolugbo donates to Ukwuani, calls for allocation review

D

ELTA State Oil Producing Areas D e v e l o p m e n t Commission, Desopadec, Commissioner, Sir Ken Okolugbo, has donated a new 18-seater Toyota Hiace bus to Ukwuani Foundation Union, UFU. Speaking during the presentation, Okolugbo noted that at the twilight of Governor Emmanuel U d u a g h a n ’ s administration, he was still extending his human capital d e v e l o p m e n t programme to the people of the state.

Okougbo said during his 30-month tenure as commissioner, he had commissioned 70 projects, given out over 20 vehicles and that many were on the pipeline for commissioning, including the first ever glass house in Obiaruku and its environ.

President-General of UFU, Chief Joseph Olise, in his acceptance speech thanked Governor Uduaghan for his infrastructure development in Delta State and for providing the platform for O k o l u g b o ’ s achievements.

He also called for the review of the quantum sharing pattern of Desopadec, saying it had limited development in Ndokwa nation, which he said deserved more than the nine percent taking into consideration the contribution of the marginal fields scattered all over Ndokwa nation that had started production.

Okolugbo agreed with the President of UFU that the quantum sharing pattern of the commission needed to be subjected to a review as Ndokwa nation deserved more.

Speaking further, Okolugbo lamented the percentage accruing to his mandate area, saying “so much more could have been achieved if not for the constraints in funding due to the issue of quantum sharing.”

UFU is the foremost umbrella body of Ukwuani people, founded in 1937.

50 — Vanguard, FRIDAY, MAY 15, 2015

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52 — VANGUARD, FRIDAY, MAY 15 , 2015

Malaysia turns away 800 boat people M

ALAYSIA turned away two vessels carrying hundreds of migrants while one boat turned up Thursday in Thai waters, as critics accused Southeast Asian governments of playing a game of “human ping pong” with the lives of desperate boatpeople.

Malaysia and Indonesia have vowed to bar ships bearing desperate migrants from Myanmar and Bangladesh who are flooding into Southeast Asia, triggering warnings that the hardline approach could endanger thousands at sea.

A boat crammed with scores of Rohingya — a persecuted Muslim minority in Myanmar — was found drifting in Thai waters.

As dusk fell several visibly emaciated men jumped into the sea to retrieve food packages dropped by a Thai navy helicopter.

An AFP reporter saw

Palestinan Chairman Mahud Abbas and Pope Francis

Vatican to sign first accord with State of Palestine

T

HE Vatican’s decision to recognize the state of Palestine in a treaty for Dozens of Rohingya migrants pack the deck of a boat found adrift off the the first time has drawn a stern response from coast of Thailand yesterday Israel, but it may usher in southern Thai island of a freer debate in Europe one of the men eat journalists.

“We have been at sea Koh Lipe in the Andaman about how to proceed on handfuls of raw instant the vexed Palestinian noodles in the water for two months. We want Sea. Sajida, 27, travelling question. before swimming back to to go to Malaysia but we The Holy See has have not reached there with her four young the boat. referred to Palestine since children said she was “About 10 people died yet.”

2012, but the treaty also trying to reach Many young children during the journey. We concluded on threw their bodies into were among the weak- Malaysia, but the boat Wednesday, which covers the water,” one of the looking passengers on was set adrift by people migrants shouted in the wooden boat, which smugglers who damaged the Church’s activities in areas controlled by the Rohingya to a boat full of was found near the the engine and fled.

Palestinian Authority, marks a more formal recognition, which Vatican officials said they hoped would benefit Israeli-Palestinian ties in HINESE President Narendra Modi in his visit to China on India in September, when time.

Xi Jinping hosted ancestral home town at Thursday as the two Modi took Xi to his home An Israeli foreign Indian Prime Minister the start of a three-day Asian giants work to state of Gujarat. ministry official described boost economic ties “China is a huge market. the Vatican’s move as a despite decades of As far as India is “disappointment” and mistrust. concerned, it’s a totally indicated that it may lead It was the first time Xi under-exploited market,” to reprisals, although he had invited a foreign said T.C.A. Rangachari, a did not say of what kind. leader to his father ’s former Indian ambassador home province of to France and Germany Shaanxi, in the heart of who worked on China central China, a signal affairs for more than 15 that the two may set aside years. suspicions over a The sunglasses-clad SRAELI Prime festering border issue to Modi posed for photos Minister Benjamin sign billions in trade near a pit of 2,000-year-old Netanyahu was Chinese President, Zi and Indian's PM Modi in deals. terracotta warrior preparing yestersday to Modi’s visit sculptures in the historic present his proposed Beijing yesterday reciprocated Xi’s trip to northwestern city of Xian. government for the approval of parliament, where his coalition commands a razor-thin majority.

The meeting will focus on .S. and Cuban Netanyahu’s new practical measures needed negotiators will meet administration marks a to reopen embassies in next week to discuss the shift to the right by reopening of embassies in Havana and Washington, giving increased the official added. each other’s capitals as part prominence to Naftali The talks are the first since of efforts to restore Bennett’s far-right diplomatic ties, a State President Barack Obama Jewish Home, which Department official said on announced on April 14 that opposes a Palestinian he had decided to remove Thursday. state and strongly backs The official told Reuters Cuba from the U.S. list of settlement activity. state sponsors of terrorism, there is not a confirmed date The move looks likely for the talks, which are a step that Cuba had to complicate Israel’s insisted upon before expected to be held in damaged Cuban President Raul Castro and US President already agreeing to reopen Washington. relationship with the Barack Obama embassies.

Chinese President Xi hosts Indian PM C

“This does not promote the peace process and a Palestinian return to negotiations,” the official said. “Israel will study the agreement and consider its next steps accordingly.”

The Vatican, increasingly proactive in foreign policy under Pope Francis, is far from the only state to have recognized Palestine — 135 members of the United Nations already do so, nearly 70 percent of the total. By comparison, 160 of the UN’s 193 members recognize Israel.

Last October, Sweden became the first major European country to acknowledge Palestine, a decision that drew condemnation from Israel and has since led to tense relations between the two.

Israel’s PM finalises cabinet list

I

U.S, Cuba set for fresh talks next week

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•Israeli PM Natanyhau Palestinians and further strain ties with the international community.

After two months of coalition horsetrading, Netanyahu was to present his government for a vote at the Knesset in a session .

VANGUARD, FRIDAY, MAY 15 , 2015 — 53

Uncertainty engulfs Burundi after coup T

HE head of Burundi’s army said on Thursday that an attempted coup had failed and forces loyal to President Pierre Nkurunziza were in control, but bursts of gunfire in the capital through the day suggested the battle for power was not yet over.

Army Chief of Staff General Prime Niyongabo’s announcement came a day after another general said he had sacked Nkurunziza

for seeking an unconstitutional third term in office, developments that have alarmed neighboring governments.

Heavy fighting flared around the state b r o a d c a s t i n g headquarters, forcing state radio to halt transmissions briefly. It resumed after the shooting died down to announce that it was still in the hands of forces loyal to the president.

The state broadcaster is

seen as a strategic asset for both sides to reach the population.

It was difficult to determine who was now in control of the capital, with periods of relative calm broken by bouts of gunfire.

But presidential loyalists said they controlled vital assets such as the radio, airport and presidential offices.

Protesters, who are against President Pierre Nkurunziza’s decision to

run for a third term, gest …

A Reuters witness saw one dead soldier lying near the Interior Ministry.

Nearby troops said he was a coup supporter.

By Thursday evening, there was a semblance of calm in the capital, the epicenter for Burundi’s worst political crisis since an ethnically fueled civil war ended in 2005. A few civilians were in the streets, as police and soldiers

Muslim Brotherhood leader dies in Egyptian an Egyptian prison. rapid deterioration of his prison The Freedom and Jus- health.

2013.

A

leading member of the Muslim Brotherhood and former Member of Parliament Dr Farid Ismail has passed away after suffering a stroke yesterday while being held in

tice Party, the political arm of the Muslim Brotherhood, accused prison authorities of neglect because they did not transfer him to hospital immediately which led to the

Ismail was arrested in September 2013 and sentenced in July 2014 on alleged charges of inciting violence in the Sharkia governorate following the ouster of President Mohamed Morsi in July

Ismail’s death provoked angry reactions from activists on social networking site who said his passing reduces the chances for reconciliation between the Muslim Brotherhood and the current regime.

•President Pierre Nkurunziza

Xenophobia: Calm returns to South Africa A

semblance of normalcy is returning to the streets of the inner city of Johannesburg weeks after xenophobic violence hit South Africa’s commercial capital.

The city appears to have just moved along, wearing the memory of

Dr Farid Ismail

Habre faces trial in Dakar F ORMER Chadian dictator Hissene Habre’s trial in Dakar for torture, war crimes and crimes against humanity will begin on July 20, the special tribunal set up to judge him said Wednesday.

Once dubbed “Africa’s Pinochet”, Habre has been in custody in Senegal since his arrest in June 2013 at the home he shared with

his wife and children.

Rights groups say 40,000 people were killed during the 72-year-old’s eight years in power in Chad under a regime marked by fierce repression of his opponents and the targeting of ethnic groups.

“The session of the Extraordinary African Chambers tasked with

judging Habre will open on Monday, July 20, 2015 at 9:00 am (0900 GMT)” in Dakar, said the court, which was set up following a 2012 agreement between Senegal and the African Union.

The first session will be presided by Gberdao Gustave Kam, president of the tribunal, the court statement added.

Kam, 56, a former judge at the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda, is a technical adviser to Burkina Faso’s Ministry of Justice and practised as a lawyer in Ouagadougou.

violence in large billboards condemning the xenophobia that killed at least eight people, injured hundreds and displaced thousands more in early April.

But behind the facade is a massive government operation targeting illegal foreign nationals that many have argued is “state xenophobia”.

Several hundreds of migrants, many undocumented, have been rounded up by the South African Police Services during stopand-search procedures and early morning raids throughout the country over the past three weeks.

According to the South African police, the “Operation FielaReclaim” campaign has netted illegal weapons, narcotics and counterfeit goods, directly linked to the surge in xenophobic violence last month. Civil society organisations, however, are concerned

that abuses are being perpetrated in the name of quelling xenophobic violence.

Successive raids have taken place in Jeppestown, Hillbrow in Johannesburg, parts of Pretoria and Cape Town.

They were kicking people, they were kicking the doors … everyone was shocked about why this thing is happening.

Responding to the latest developments, the People’s Coalition

against Xenophobia, a group of civil society organisations, has gone as far as to label the government operation “institutional xenophobia”.

Activists like the veteran trade unionist Steven Faulkner said it was inappropriate for the government to arrest people who are believed to be undocumented visitors to the country on a mass scale instead of tackling the root causes of crime.

•Jacob Zuma

Al Qaeda Mahgreb group pledges support for ISIS

T •Hissene Habre former Chaidian rebel leader

HE jihadist group of notorious one-eyed Algerian militant Mokhtar Belmokhtar has pledged allegiance to the Islamic State organisation, according to an audio recording broadcasted by

private Mauritanian agency Al-Akhbar.

The Al-Murabitoun group was linked to Al-Qaeda, but one of its leading members, Adnan Abu Walid Sahraoui, said in the recording that it was now aligning itself with

the IS organisation. “The Al-Murabitoun movement pledges its allegiance to the caliph of Muslims Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, thereby banishing divisions and dissent within the nation,” said Sahraoui.

The Mauritanian news agency, which regularly publishes statements by jihadists, said it had identified the voice in the audio as that of Sahraoui and that he was now the new leader of the group.

54 — Vanguard, FRIDAY, MAY 15, 2015

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N WA S O G O — I , formerly known and addressed as Miss Nwasogo Evelyn Nkemdilim, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Anosike Evelyn Nkemdilim.

All former documents remain valid. Federal Medical Centre, Asaba and general public please take note.

EHIMWONZEE—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss E h i m w o n z e e Osamede, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Arueze Osamede. All former documents remain valid. Federal Medical Centre, Asaba and general public please take note.

URHOVIE—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Urhovie Ifeoma Precious, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Avhurhi-Christopher Ifeoma Precious. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

IROADIMMA—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Iroadimma Ezinne Chisom, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. NdukubaUzonna Ezinne Chisom. All former documents remain valid. Federal College of Education (Technical), Umunze and general public please take note.

OBIEKEA—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Stella Ebele Obiekea, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Stella Ebele Nwadiogo. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

IMENU—I, formerly

IMENU— I, formerly known and addressed as Imenu Othuke Fidelis, now wish to be known and addressed as Alukiano Othuke Fidelis. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

N WA J E I — I , formerly known and addressed as Miss Nwajei Onyebuchi Miriam, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Okolie Onyebuchi Miriam. All former documents remain valid. Delta State University, Abraka and general public please take note.

S A G A Y E M R O B O WA S A N STELLA— I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Sagay Emrobowasan Stella, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Onokpe Tedian Erhuwetegware. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

EMAKPOR—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Emakpor Deborah, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Osaghaede Deborah.

All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

UDEGBO—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Udegbo C e l e s t i n a Odinakachukwu, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Nnamani Celestina Odinakachukwu. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

ABALAKA—I, formerly known and addressed Miss Grace Abalaka, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Grace Ojonugwa Hussaini. All former documents remain valid. General public, please take note.

Confirmation of Name

Confirmation of Name

SCHODL—I, formerly

This is to certify that Ibhe Irhenonse, Ibhe Irhenonse Rita is the same and one person, but now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Onuselogu Irhenonse Rita. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

known and addressed

ODIONYE—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Glory Amarachi Odionye, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Glory Amarachi Iwelumo. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

known and addressed as Imenu Paul Obaro, now wish to be known and

addressed

as

Alukiano Paul Obaro.

All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

Confirmation of Name

This is to confirm that the name Tom Mien Kelekumor and Kelekumor Tommien refer to one and the same person. But I now wish to be known and addressed as Kelekumor Tommien.

All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

This is to show that Jacob Ezekiel Boyitie, Eboyitie Ezekiel Kelly and Ezekiel Oboyitie is the same and one person but now wish to be known and addressed as Mr. Ichide Ezekiel. All former documents remain valid. First Bank, Union Bank and ECO Bank and general public please take note.

formerly known and addressed as Kosipre Yenaweyenou, now wish to be known and addressed as Kosipre Harry. All former documents remain valid. General public

as Schodl Theresa Ajanogha, now wish to be

known

and

addressed as Ajanogha Theresa. All former documents

remain

valid. General public please take note.

56 — Vanguard, FRIDAY, MAY 15, 2015

Van g a u a d ru a r d V n g CLASSIFIED ALAGWU—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Alagwu Perpetua Ezinne now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Okwaraji Perpetua Ezinne. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

UGWU—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Ugwu Joy, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Joy Nkiru Nna Obayi. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

OFODU—I, formerly known and address as Miss Ofodu Cecilia Chinenye now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Iwunze Cecilia Chinenye. All former documents remain valid. NYSC and general public please take note.

ONU—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Chinyere Nathaniel Onu, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Chinyere Nicole Ekechi. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

UMUKORO—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss U m u k o r o Erukeoghene Jane, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. U z o u k w u Erukeoghene Jane. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

EKEYEDE—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Ekeyede Jane Omon, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Ovuorie Jane Omon.

All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

AKPORODE—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Elohor Frances Akporode now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Elohor Frances Nwadozi. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

IDANG—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Idang Ememobong Gabriel, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Willie Emem Akaninyene.

All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

UCHE—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Uche Onyenachi, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Nkwopara Georginia Onyenachi. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

Correction of Date of Birth I, Amadi Beatrice (Nee Anyanwu) hereby declare that I was born in 1958 (Day and Month unknown) and not 1962 as has been used since my Primary School because my birth was not registered.

The Nigerian Republic, FMC and the general public, please take note.

OGUIKE—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Oguike Pamela Chinwe, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Oriaku Pamela Chinwe. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

Confirmation of Name

I, Okeh Chidinma Udochukwu Peace is the same person as Okeh Chidinma Udochukwu Peace. I wish to state that Udochukwu was erroneously omitted in my International Passport. General public please take note.

Over 60 killed in Maiduguri attack •24 hours curfew imposed

By Ndahi Marama, Maiduguri

A

T least 60 people mostly suspected members of dreaded Boko Haram insurgents were feared dead in a clash between troops of the 7 Division, Nigerian Army around Kayamula village, just some few kilometres

drive from 21 Armoured Brigade (Giwa Barracks) on Wednesday in Maiduguri, the Borno State capital.

Already, troops of the 7 Division, Nigerian Army on Thursday morning imposed a 24 hours curfew on the troubled city.

The imposition of the 24 hours curfew was con-

tained in a statement signed by Colonel Tukur Gusau, the Deputy Director Army Public Relations Gusau said “In view of the recent development within Maiduguri metropolis a 24 hour curfew is hearby imposed in the city. This is done to protect lives and property of innocent and law abiding

Youths march for Dogara

T

HE aspiration of Hon Yakubu Dogara for the speakership of the House of Representatives got a boost yesterday when two youth groups staged a rally in Abuja urging lawmakers to elect him as Speaker.

The youths, under the aegis of the Northeast Unity Forum (NUF) and Nigerian Youth Against Political Sabotage (NYAPS) told reporters that their action was informed by the need to ensure justice and fairness in the distribution of leadership positions in the incoming Buhari-led administration.

The National Coordinators of (NYAPS), Comrade Tony Obuah and Alhaji Mohammed A. Wandi who spoke on behalf of the groups said “We have gathered here today in solidarity to give a sense of belonging to the people of Northeast. To say that they have suffered so much and they need to be given the opportuni-

ty to feel accepted as bona fide citizens of this country”.

“You can bear me witness to the trauma these people have gone through and are still going through due to the Boko Haram insurgency.

There have been increasing poverty in the Northeast. Education is

at its lowest ebb because of insurgency.

“So we feel it is high time they were compensated having produced the second largest votes that gave victory to the All Progressives Congress in the just concluded Presidential elections on March 28.

DELTA: PDP has admitted committing electoral crimes, Onokpasa alleges

A

LL Progressive Congress, APC, chieftain in Delta State, Jesutega Onokpasa, has alleged that members of the People’s Democratic Party, PDP, in the state have inadvertently admitted that their party was involved in election fraud and committed what he described as heinous electoral crimes in the recently conducted elections.

Addressing newsmen, yesterday in Warri, Onokpasa alluded to an advertorial by PDP members from Sapele constitu-

ency at page 50 of Vanguard of Tuesday, May 12, 2015, in which he claimed the authors of the publication had unwittingly admitted that “the election funds for security and INEC in Sapele Local Government Area was received and collected by Monday Igbuya, and his cohorts.” Insisting that their assertion could only be interpreted as an admission that Igbuya, who is presently Majority Leader of the Delta State House of Assembly, was charged with compromising security agents and of-

Group chides Delta PDP Chairman over polls

A

GROUP, Political Credibility Alliance has condemned Delta State Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Chairman, Chief Edwin Uzor, for claiming in a newspaper advertorial, that the recently conducted elections in the state were genuinely won by his party.

In a statement made available to newsmen, yesterday, in Warri, by its leaders, Gideon Erhue and Yalaju Awani, the group insisted that the elections were massively rigged to the point of

people of maiduguri”.

Sources said, the attack was launched by suspected members of Boko Haram terrorists who attempted to invade the city with heavy weapons of mass destruction targeting military formations including 21 Armoured Brigade (Giwa Barracks) that came under deadly attacks last year.

A student at the University of Maiduguri (names withheld) for security reasons said, many stray bullets entered hostels injuring two students.

Kayamula village in Konduga local government area of the state is south and about 20km drive from Maiduguri which has suffered series of deadly attacks by terrorists in the past.

absurdity, resulting in a situation where, according to it, one of their leaders was said to have queried them for "over-rigging" the elections to the point that it would be "difficult to defend the results they had greedily, recklessly and thoughtlessly allocated themselves.”

Accusing the state PDP chairman of making a futile attempt to defend the indefensible, the group advised him to counsel his party men to prepare for life in what it described as a political wil-

derness, insisting that by allocating an unsustainable number of votes to its candidates for governorship and House of Assembly positions, the PDP had inadvertently boxed itself into a corner.

According to the group: “It is what zoologists call overkill or surplus kill in the animal kingdom! Perhaps if they had won by a margin of say 10,000 or even 20,000 votes, they would have some hope.''

ficials of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, Onokpasa claimed that they had confirmed what the APC had been saying all along that the elections were massively rigged by the PDP. He said: “While fighting amongst themselves over sharing the spoils of their criminally obtained victory, PDP members have resorted to allegations and counter-allegations thereby unwittingly revealing the truth of the terrible crimes they committed against the electorate and the APC. Truly, the PDP can now be safely written off as a sinking Titanic on its way to political oblivion and utter irrelevance. Imagine the senselessness of members admitting their party committed heinous crimes in a publication they paid for themselves! It is almost like a home video.”

While describing PDP members as habitual election riggers, Onokpasa demanded that “the police must immediately pick up Igbuya for bribing sINEC officials as admitted by his own party men.”

NYSC begs LASG for new permanent orientation camp

By Ikenna Asomba

T

HE Lagos State Co ordinator, National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), Mr Cyril Akhanemhe, has appealed to Lagos State Government

to provide a more befitting permanent orientation camp in the state.

Akhanemhe, who made this appeal at the NYSC Orientation Camp, in Iyana-Ipaja, during the swearing-in ceremony of the

2015 Batch ‘A’ Stream I corps members, deployed to Lagos State.

The Coordinator said the NYSC current orientation camp at Iyana-Ipaja was no longer conducive and spacious to contain the ever in-

creasing members of the corps yearly.

He commended Goernor Babatunde Fashola for his unwavering support to the scheme especially in the provision of quality welfare to corps members.

Vanguard, FRIDAY, MAY 15, 2015 — 57

F/Eagles 'll be world champs ---- Akwuegbu G

RATKORN FC of Austria manager Benedict Akwuegbu has told AfricanFootball.com the Flying Eagles will make history and win the U20 FIFA World Cup in New Zealand.

And the former assistant general manager of Heartland praised coach Manu Garba-led technical crew for a job well done.

“The Flying Eagles are a fantastic team with a group of confident and talented youngsters,” he remarked.

“The team have been doing well and will win the FIFA U20 World Cup for the first time in history this year.

The coaches led by Manu Garba have done a fantastic job on the team.”

The former Nigeria international also hailed NFF president Amaju Pinnick for what he has done for Nigeria football thus far.

“I want to commend NFF president Amaju Pinnick for what he has done for Nigerian Football in the short time he has been around,” he said.

“He has really done well especially in human capacity building and has recognised key stakeholders like referees and ex-international.”

D

FIFA WWC:

Our aim is to win — Oshoala

T

HOUGH the Super Falcons have been thrown into a tight group at the 2015 FIFA Women World Cup, attacking midfielder, Asisat Oshoala has confidence Nigeria will go far in the tournament.

The Falcons are in group D with USA, Sweden and Australia and on paper the African champions are the weakest in the pairing.

But Oshoala said the Falcons are not intimidated, adding that their aim is to win every match like they did at the African Women Championship last year in Namibia.

“We have a few weeks to prepare and focus on the task at hand.''

But our aim is to aim is to go there and get the trophy,”said the Liverpool Ladies player.

Falcons Continues from BP glory and I see you performing beyond expectation at the World Cup.” The Super Falcons have ony made the last eight of the global championship once, when victories over North Korea and Denmark saw the team in the quarter finals in the United States of America in 1999. But the squad led by Florence Omagbemi lost out at that stage, beaten 4-3 after extra time by Brazil.

The NFF boss, who spoke while meeting the African champions posttraining session at the FIFA Goal Project, National Stadium, Abuja on Wednesday, also went philosophical in motivating the girls further “It will not be easy, but nothing good comes easy. Beautiful roses grow on thorny plants.

You are going to play the likes of Sweden and the United States of America, powerhouses in women’s football. But it should be in the back of your minds that Nigeria is also a powerhouse in women’s football, a serious one for that matter.

“There will be plenty of odds, but that’s an everyday thing in life.

Odds are meant to propel you to go higher, move faster and become stronger.”

The Falcons, who have been training in Abuja since last month, following a 9-1 aggregate thumping of Mali in the only qualifying round for the Women’s Football Tournament of the AllAfrica Games, will depart Nigeria on Tuesday for a 16-day training camp in Toronto, ahead of the 7th FIFA Women’s World Cup finals.

Don’t follow me out of Liverpool, Gerrard tells Sterling

TOUGH TEST••• Flying Eagles in action during a match

ATHLETICS: Cross River still interested in All Nigeria sponsorship

T

Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN) has described as false media reports that the Cross River State Government the official sponsor of the All Nigeria AFN/CRS Athletics Championships has pulled out of its sponsorship.

A statement signed by Olukayode Thomas, the chairman of Communication and Media committee of AFN described the publication as untrue. “ Cross River people and government are civil and cultured, they will not pull HE

of sponsorships of the championships which serves as trial to major games and championships like the Olympic Games, Commonwealth Games, All Africa Games and IAAF World Championships without writing a formal letter to inform AFN” Thomas said it is not just the AFN that felt embarrassed by the publication, but also the Cross River State Government, ‘’ they got in touch with us to express their shock”.

Thomas revealed that talks about extension are on the table,

Yakmut

Continues from BP General of the National Sports Commission (NSC).

A statement from the office of the Minister and Chairman of the NSC, Dr. Tammy Danagogo indicates that the letter to that effect which was written on May 12 stated that the confirmation is with immediate effect.

Yakmut was until his appointment on April 15 as the Acting DG, the Director of the Federation of the Elite Athletes Department of the Commission. He took

over from Hon. Gbenga Elegbeleye who was relieved of his appointment by the federal government.

A former national volleyball players, Yakmut has served in various positions in the NSC as well as the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) where he once served as the head of professional league.

Meanwhile, the NSC has set up a Technical Committee on the All African Games, Commonwealth Youth

“there will be a new government by the end of the month, and if tradition is anything to go by Cross River people and incoming government are usually interested in sponsorship of events that are of mutual benefit to the state and people and the other party.

EPARTING Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard has urged Raheem Sterling not to follow him out of the Anfield exit.

The 34-year-old has two matches remaining of a 17-year career with the Reds before he leaves for a new challenge at the Los Angeles Galaxy, and is set to play his final match at Anfield against Crystal Palace on Saturday evening.

His departure is certain but there is far less clarity around the future of 20year-old England forward Sterling, who is set to consider his options in the summer after rejecting a £100,000-a-week deal earlier this season.

Gerrard believes the decision should be a simple one.

“For me, I am always going to be biased towards this club,” he said.

“My advice to Raheem is he needs a manager who is going to play him, to coach him, to believe in him. I think there is no one better for him than Brendan Rodgers.

Ancelotti Continues from BP

•Solomon Ogba Games as well as the Rio 2016 Olympics.

According to a statement from the office of the Minister of the NSC, Dr. Tammy Danagogo the committee is expected to see to the realization of the quest of the country to excel in the competitions.

The 14 member committee is headed by the newly confirmed DG, Mallam Al-Hassan Yakmut while Olu Akoja, a deputy director in the NSC will serve as the secretary.

games of the season remaining.

“I don’t know if I will be here next season,” said Ancelotti, 55.

The former Juventus and Chelsea boss said talks about his future would take place at the end of the campaign.

Real, who also won the Copa del Rey last term, have lifted the Uefa Super Cup and Fifa Club World Cup this season.

If they are to win the league, they must win their final two games against Espanyol and Getafe, and hope Barcelona slip up against Atletico Madrid and Deportivo La Coruna.

“We have 15 days left and two games. After that we will speak with the club,” said Ancelotti.

“There is not much point talking about the future today.”

58 — Vanguard, FRIDAY, MAY 15, 2015

Governors call me ‘Okpekpe marathon man’ —Oshiomhole

By Simon Ebegbulem, Benin City

G

G

OVERNOR Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State yesterday said his brother Governors nor call him the ‘Okpekpe marathon man’ because of his participation in the annual 10-km IAAF certified Okpekpe race.

Speaking yesterday during the visit of the Chairman, Organising Committee of the 10-km Okpekpe race, Mr Dan Ngerem and other members which included Chief Mike Itemuagbor, among others, Oshiomhole said he loves it when he is called the ‘Okpekpe marathon man’ by his brother Governors because it shows the g o v e r n m e n t ’ s investment in road infrastructure in Okpekpe is not a waste.

According to him, his conviction to open up and expose rural areas to the same opportunities found in the urban cities motivated his administration to embark on aggressive rural road infrastructure.

He said, “the most eloquent and the most potent statement we can make is to aggressively invest in rural infrastructure because our people do not ask us to give them food to eat, they just ask us to give the enabling environment for them to

Governor Adams Oshiomhole (1) taking part in the Okpekpe Road Race apply their intellect, their energy, their creativity so that at least, every two hands can feed every one mouth.”

O s h i o m h o l e continued, “The Okpekpe road compares very well and even better with federal roads based

NITED States men’s sprint relay team has

•Tyson Gay

on specification, design and even the width of the road because for me, to be rural is not to be inferior and therefore standard should be the same. I do not subscribe to some specification for rural roads another specification for urban

roads.

“Your federation adopting the Okpekpe race which is a wonderful initiative is a blessing and thus confirmed that we were right. One of the things I have been accused of since coming here is that I have spent

resources of states in building roads that leads to hamlets and I did say that I have no apologies, Nigeria is a collection of hamlets and Presidents after Presidents have come from Hamlet and this governor comes from a Hamlet.

Diamond League: Emedolu regrets absence of Nigerian male sprinters

By Ben Efe

A

S the IAAF Diamond League series begins today in Doha, Qatar, former African 200m champion, Uchenna Emedolu, has lamented the absence of Nigerian male sprinters from top flight athletics.

Emedolu, who is now coaching young athletes recalled that it was at Doha, Olusoji Fasuba set the

Doping: IOC strips Tyson Gay, others of 4x100m gold

U

Gateway qualify for Federation Cup round of 32

lost the silver medal they won at the 2012 London Olympics as a result of Tyson Gay’s doping case.

Gay last year returned his own medal and accepted a one-year suspension, plus the loss of results dating back to July 2012, after testing positive for steroids at the 2013 US championships.

However, the fate of his London 4x100 metre relay team-mates had been unclear until We d n e s d a y ’ s announcement, which came via the United States Olympic Committee.

existing 100m African record 9.85 seconds in 2006. He lamented the dearth of male sprinters in Nigeria, unlike in the past when there was stiff competition in the Nigerian sprints.

However, he submitted that the country still has potentials only if the athletes were given the required training and encouragement.

“Our young athletes these days lack of encouragement. By the time they give these kids all that they need to build up themselves I can assure you that we will begin to see results.

“Apart from the athletes, the coaches need to be empowered too. It was local coaches that produced people like myself, Deji Aliu, Olusoji Fasuba, Seun Ogunkoya and also Olapade Adeniken the only group of Nigerians that did sub 10 seconds run.”

Emedolu submitted.

Tosin Oke is the only Nigerian athlete that will be in Doha. He will be competing in the triple jump.

ATEWAY United FC of Ogun state have qualified for the Round of 32 of the Federation Cup competition by walking-over Binabi FC of Adamawa state.

Match Commissioner for the Round of 64 tie between the two sides, Mr L.A Yusuf of the FCT had to call for the official walk-over after the Adamawa team failed to show up at the venue of the match at the FCT Playing Pitch, Area 3, Abuja after thirty-five minutes wait and awarded the match to Gateway United.

The Ogun state owned soccer outfit will now shift its attention to its Week One Nigeria National League Group B2 tie against MFM Football Club of Lagos.

The match will hold on Sunday at the MKO Abiola Stadium, Abeokuta.

2015 Northern Rugby League set to kick off

W

ITH the northern rugby followership heating up for the kick off of the 2015 league season, Head of the Northern Technical Sub Committee Eusebius P Yayock is confident that Rugby fans and supporters are in for a swell time based on the improvements already made by clubs and the organizer of the league.

He revealed that this year ’s league will be played in two conferences which is the North West and North Central with an addition of two more teams upon the fulfillment of guidelines for the league.

The two new teams, Viti Rfc of Jos will be competing against the likes of Abuja Rfc, Plateau Rfc and Nasarawa Rfc in the North Central Conference while Keiprince Rfc of Kaduna, Ogho-Oghene Egwero ... Competing at the London will be competing against the likes of Barewa.

2012 Olympics

Vanguard, FRIDAY, MAY 15, 2015 — 59

60 — Vanguard, FRIDAY, MAY 15, 2015

Feyenoord team arrive Sunday for Shell Cup

A

The Juventus goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon celebrates after the draw at Real Madrid that secured a place in the Champions League final.

Buffon still the godfather in gloves as he gets set for date with destiny W

ITH blue-shirted players pogodancing joyously as they sang the White Stripes riff that had become their theme tune, if Gianluigi Buffon closed his eyes in the away dressing room of the Bernabéu, he would have been transported back in time. The colours, the atmosphere, the soundtrack, all came together to evoke Berlin 2006. Juventus are heading back to the place where Italy won the World Cup, and the connections for Buffon are overwhelming.

Few players show their footballing feelings quite like Buffon. When he sings the Italian national anthem, as he has publicly on 147 appearances as goalkeeper representing his country, he drenches himself in emotion. When he celebrates, as he did at the end of an intense Champions League semifinal against Real Madrid this week, he screams and shakes his fists with an

operatic flourish that would grace La Scala. “This is a step we wanted to take with all of our hearts,” he explained later.

All sentimental gestures were understandable considering what memories a return to Berlin, the venue for Juventus’s Champions League final date with Barcelona, evokes for Buffon. “Destiny” was the word that came to his mind.

He tapped out a tweet that summed it all up for him: “Da Berlino alla B.....dalla B a Berlino!!!!! questa è la vita!!” From Berlin to Serie B and back again. That’s life, he exclaimed.

The cycle of this chapter of his story is irresistible. It is not just about winning the World Cup, it is also about the sacrifices he made around that time to stick with Juventus when they were demoted to Serie B as punishment for their part in a corruption scandal.

In the summer of 2006 Buffon was one of the protagonists caught up in

the paradoxical mayhem that trailed the Italy team through the World Cup. In the midst of the Calciopoli outrage, when the national team met up at Coverciano to prepare for the tournament, they were booed by Azzurri supporters ashamed by the dishonesty being exposed in their game. Against this complex backdrop, they concentrated on football, built the walls around themselves to create a siege mentality, and conquered all.

Buffon went from hoisting the golden trophy in front of the eyes of the world straight into the second tier of the domestic game.

Juventus opened their season at Rimini, a minor club with 3,396 season-ticket holders and a couple of small rickety stands behind the goals.

Many of his most talented team-mates jumped from the sinking ship Juventus.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Patrick Vieira and Fabio Cannavaro departed in haste for

European heavyweights.

Alessandro Del Piero and Pavel Nedved stayed but they were older, their careers winding down.

Buffon, then aged 28, was at his peak. The decision to stay for as long as it took his club to rebuild was remarkable. Even though Calciopoli had a “devastating” effect on him professionally, with past titles stripped and some potential future ones rendered impossible by relegation, he felt no doubt about where he wanted to be. “Everyone had to make their own decisions,” Buffon said. “It seemed right to stay with the club as a sign of respect for the way they treated me.” That period of his life resonates in a profound way, coming shortly after a spell of depression. Looking at Buffon’s body language from the outside – the dominant personality that makes him a revered captain and the big, confident air he carries – it

confirmed how nobody is immune to such difficulties.

He suffered what he described as “dark periods” in 2003 and 2004, and sought treatment to help him recover.

“To the fans it does not matter a damn how you are,” he explained. “You are seen as the footballer, the idol, so no one thinks to stop and ask you: ‘Hey, how are you?’

“The problem was if I had said: ‘I am going away for two months to get better,’ I would have been finished.

Because every time after that, if I had failed with a save or whatever, I would have been reminded of that period. I just couldn’t allow myself to go away for two or three months to get better.

But I did see a psychologist and that helped me enormously.”

Watching Buffon playing these days, such an authoritative presence on the pitch, it is chastening to think that he once felt scared to play when in the grip of

team from Feyenoord Rotterdam Academy is billed to arrive Lagos on Sunday night to witness the final stages of the ongoing NNPC/Shell Cup football competition.

Mike Obiku, Melvin Boel and Gido Vader are the officials expected to arrive Lagos from Holland. The trio are playing various roles for Feyenoord Academy.

Obiku, a former player of Feyenoord, is currently Head Coach of Feyenoord Soccer Schools while Boel is responsible for the curriculum of all international camps of the team. Vader, a former journalist and media officer of the team works in various capacities because of his global experience in football, SPDC’s Sustainable Development and Community Relations Manager, Mr. Igo Weli, said that the exposure of participants to foreign technical crew from the Feyenoord Football Academy of the Netherlands was meant to boost the tournament’s standard. depression. During a match at the 2004 European Championship, he suddenly realised he felt better.

With the exception of the vanquished Iker Casillas, it’s hard to imagine too many goalkeepers around the world not warming to the sight of a 37-year-old Buffon strutting his stuff, exhibiting textbook goalkeeping to ensure nothing beyond Cristiano Ronaldo’s penalty caused a problem, and letting out that heavy metal roar at the end of it all. Some 20 years after marking his Parma debut with wonderful saves against George Weah and Roberto Baggio, the veteran is still making waves.

A couple of his saves, one tipping away a swerving shot from Gareth Bale and another scrambling down to repel Karim Benzema at his near post, underlined the part he played in the outstanding team effort Juventus produced to see off Real Madrid.

Vanguard, FRIDAY, MAY 15, 2015 — 61

62 — Vanguard, FRIDAY, MAY 15, 2015

Vanguard, FRIDAY, MAY 15, 2015 — 63

Vanguard, FRIDAY, MAY 15, 2015

Ancelotti uncertain over future

R

•Tevez

•Messi

World Cup: Nigeria promises Falcons N.08b N

FF President Amaju Pinnick will hand over the sum of $400,000 (N88million) to the Super Falcons squad if they reach the final of this summer ’s FIFA Women’s World Cup finals in Canada.

“I am telling you girls in all sincerity. If you get to the quarter -finals of the World Cup, I am giving you $50,000. A spot in the semi finals will earn you the sum of $100,000 and if you get to the final, I am indebted to you to the sum of $250,000.

“I have absolute faith in you. You have done this nation proud on several occasions, winning seven African Women Championship titles out of nine editions.

You are daughters of

EAL, who won the trophy under Ancelotti last season, lost 3-2 on aggregate to Juventus after a 1-1 second-leg draw at the Bernabeu.

They trail leaders Barcelona by four points in La Liga with two Continued on Page 57

FG confirms Yakmut as DG

BY JUDE OPARA, Abuja

T

LETS GO DANCING — Assisat Oshoala and Ngozi Njoku dance during one of their outings.

Continued on Page 57

HE federal government of Nigeria has announced the confirmation of Mallam AL-Hassan Yakmut as the substantive Director Continued on Page 57

•Ancelotti

Governors call me ‘Okpekpe marathon man’ —Oshiomhole •Pg.58

•Oshiomhole

•Yakmut

QUICK CROSSWORD

TODAY'S

PUZZLE

FRI DAY'S FRIDAY'S

ANSWERS

ACROSS 1 Cab (4) 4 Whim (3) 6 Excursion (4) 8 Suffocate (6) 9 Front (6) 10 Ballad (3) 12 Loaf (5) 14 Strict (5) 15 Booby-trapped (5) 18 Calm (6) 20 Speaker (6) 24 Sum (5) 26 Fishing-basket (5) 28 Jam (5) 30 Recede (3) 32 Picture-house (6) 33 Decayed (6) 34 Worry (4) 35 Owned (3) 36 Finished (4)

DOWN 2 Following (5) 3 Aggravate (7) 4 Sense (4) 5 Flout (4) 6 Implicit (5) 7 Suffer (7) 11 Wonder (3) 12 Coach (3) 13 Noise (3) 16 Entrap (3) 17 Spot (3) 19 Sooner (7) 21 Uncooked (3) 22 Warned (7) 23 Fish-eggs (3) 25 Sphere (3) 27 Expel (5) 29 Verdant 30 Every (4) 31 Generated

YESTERDAY'S SOLUTIONS ACROSS: 2, Ready 7, Tutor 8, Decay 10, Bored 12, Mob 13, Acrid 15, Deposit 17, Pained 19, Sat 20, Decided 23, Arid 25, Down 26, Devoted 30, Ban 31, Dawdle 34, Erratic 37, Royal 38, Rat 39, Claim 40, Coped 41, Naked 42, Deign.

DOWN: 1, Yucca 2, Robin 3, Eroded 4, Deed 5, Demoted 6, Cabin 9, Cos 11, Desired 13, Appal 14, Rigid 16, Pad 18, Demonic 21, Dowdy 22, Angel 24, Debated 27, Vat 28, Daring 29, Error 32, Woman 33, Later 35, Rap 36, Clue.

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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