EMERGENCY RULE IN BORNO, YOBE, ADAMAWA: Whoever, whereveryou are, we 'll get you— Jonathan

...towards a better life for the people VOL. 25: NO. 61882

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WEDNESDAY, MAY 15, 2013

ENERGY RESOURCE MGT IN A FEDERAL SYSTEM:

Challenges, constraints and strategies•P.41 Phillip Asiodu

Gunmen kill 11, NASARAWA MASSACRE: injure scores in Police detain 10 •P.9 suspected officers Kaduna •Pg.7

EMERGENCY RULE IN BORNO, YOBE, ADAMAWA:

Whoever, wherever you are, we 'll get you •....Those who are directly or indirectly encouraging any form of rebellion against the Nigerian state, and their collaborators; those insurgents and terrorists who take delight in killing our security operatives, whoever they may be, wherever they may go, we will hunt them down, we will fish them out, and we will bring them to justice. No matter what it takes, we will win this war against terror•

— Jonathan

BY EMMANUEL AZIKEN, POLITICAL EDITOR & BEN AGANDE

A

BUJA—PRESI DENT Goodluck Jonathan, last night, declared a state of emergency in Borno, Yobe and Adamawa states with an order to the Continues on Page 4

What the •Pgs.4&13 Constitution says Full Speech of •Pg.13 President's proclamation Jonathan shows emergency is not military rule •Pg.16

Senate, PDP, Sagay, Falana, CPC, others commend action; Arewa youths differ —P.5 Mr & Mrs COLUMNISTS: L-R:Governors Kashim Shettima of Borno and Ibrahim Geidam of Yobe in Abuja, yesterday.

What the proclamation entails:

•Authority to arrest and detain suspects •The taking of possession and control of any building or structure used for terrorist purposes •Lock-down of any area of terrorist operation •Authority to conduct searches, and the apprehension of persons in illegal possession of weapons

OGAGA IFOWODO •P.19

ROTIMI FASAN •P.19

DEAR BUNMI

•P.34

2 — Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, MAY 15, 2013

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, MAY 15, 2013 — 3

C M Y K

4—Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, MAY 15, 2013

POCKET CARTOON

AWARD—

Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs. Dieziani Alison-Madueke receiving the Distinguished Leader in Innovation and Transformation Award at the Petroleum Industry Award in Vienna, yesterday. To her left is Mrs. Olayinka Fayomi and Mr. Jean-Pierre Favennec, President, Association for the Development of Energy in Africa.

Jonathan declares Emergency Rule in Borno, Yobe, Adamawa Continues from Page 1

military high command to use extra-ordinary measures to quell the insurgency that has bedeviled the states.

Dr Jonathan in a nationwide address said

the decision to impose the state of emergency followed the failure of other options, including dialogue that had been employed. The president in an unusually stern address, however, pledged that ongoing

LIFEWORDS

BY PASTOR ITUAH

Life always goes the way life will go!

TAKE HEART

BY ELLA RANDLE

I may not have gone where I intended to go, but I think I have ended up where I needed to be — Douglas Adam

Y

OU can create your own purpose and bring meaning into your life and also impact your world and those around you. There isn’t one big cosmic purpose for everyone either; there is only the one you give to yourself, a personal purpose, an individual meaning, a distinct plot to the story that is your life. Often this plot is difficult to follow; yet it is never impossible to follow and it is worth every bit of effort you can muster.

Each moment, each situation, each turn of events presents you with an opportunity to build the self you are capable of being. It’s just a matter of accepting opportunities, implementing ideas, taking action, and actively expressing the purpose that is uniquely YOU. Mack and Angel Hack, beautiful authors, wrote about being stronger than any barrier standing in your way, because you have a purpose that cannot be denied. You can be adaptable, innovative, hard working and tenacious. You can imagine the possibilities and then work to make them real.

With deep reflection I feel and know that the purpose of life is to be useful, to be responsible, and to be compassionate. It is, above all, to matter, to count, to stand for something, to have made some difference that you lived at all.

efforts at seeking dialogue would not be aborted.

The declaration of state of emergency was arrived at following a meeting with the National Assembly leadership on Monday during which he made his intention known. Before then, he also met with security chiefs during which time the option and strategies were unfolded.

At the meeting with the National Assembly leadership the legislators it was learnt, clearly told the president to retain the democratic structures, a point the president promised he would do having received prior counsel against sacking the elected governors and others.

In his address, yesterday, President Jonathan disclosed that multinational support as obtained in the operation in Baga, Borno State last month, would also be solicited through diplomatic channels to reinin fleeing terrorists.

The decision to declare the state of emergency was largely welcomed even by critics and stakeholders, including the Congress for Pro-

gressive Change, CPC which said the president did not breach any law in his action.

The Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN which had like the CPC advised against the declaration of state of emergency was, however, quiet on

the issue last night saying it was still studying the situation.

The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in an unusual accord with the CPC fully endorsed the declaration.

Governor Murtala Nyako of Adamawa State was reticent on the development, yesterday, saying through his Chief Press Secretary, Alhaji Sajo Ahmed, that he would wait until the proclamation documents are unfolded before commenting.

The provisions of the declarations exercised under Section 305(1) of the Constitution fell short of the two proclamations made during the Olusegun Obasanjo administration in 2004 in Plateau State and 2006 in Ekiti State when the governors were removed from office.

Under the proclamation which is to be formally sent to the National Assembly today, severe restrictions would be put to human liberty and property.

"After wide consultations, and in exercise of the powers conferred on me by the provisions of Section 305, sub-section 1 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 as amended, I hereby declare a State of Emergency in Borno, Yobe and Adamawa states"

What the Constitution says...

S

ECTION 305 of the 1999 Constitution provides for the imposition of a state of emergency in the country or any part of it. The section empowers the president to issue the declaration by way of official gazette.

It added, however, that a two-thirds majority of the National Assembly must ratify the executive proclamation within two days, if the legislators are in session, or 10 days, if they are not.

It states: 305(1) Subject to the provisions of this Constitution, the President may by instrument published in the Official Gazette of the Government of the Federation issue a Proclamation of a state of emergency in the Federation or any part

thereof.

(2) The President shall immediately after the publication, transmit copies of the Official Gazette of the Government of the Federation containing the proclamation including the details of the emergency to the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, each of whom shall forthwith convene or arrange for a meeting of the House of which he is President or Speaker, as the case may be, to consider the situation and decide whether or not to pass a resolution approving the Proclamation.

(3) The President shall have power to issue a Proclamation of a state of emergency only when:

(a) the Federation is at war; (b) the Federation is in imminent danger of invasion or involvement in a state of war; (c) there is actual breakdown of public order and public safety in the Federation or any part thereof to such extent as to require extraordinary measures to restore peace and security; (d) there is a clear and present danger of an actual breakdown of public order and public safety in the Federation or any part thereof requiring extraordinary measures to avert such danger; (e) there is an occurrence or imminent danger, or the occurrence of Continues on Page 13

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, MAY 15, 2013—5

Lafiagi

PROTEST—Rivers Deputy Governor, Mr Tele Ikuru, addressing women Protesters in Port Harcourt, yesterday.

Reactions trail Emergency Rule in Borno, Yobe, Adamawa

BY SONI DANIEL, DAYO BENSON, SAM EYOBOKA, HENRY UMORU, ABDULWAHAB ABDULAH, DAPO AKINREFON & BARTHOLOMEW MADUKWE

A

BUJA— REAC TIONS yesterday trailed the declaration of State of Emergency in three Northern states of Borno, Yobe and Adamawa.

We are in support — Senate, PDP THE Senate yesterday threw its weight behind President Goodluck Jonathan on his declaration of State of Emergency in Borno, Yobe and Adamawa States following the level of insecurity in these states and other parts of Nigeria.

Reacting to President Jonathan’s broadcast, Chairman, Senate Committee on Media, Information and Public Affairs, Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe who noted that the Senate supports the President hundred percent on the action, said, "the Senate is fully in support of any measure taken to restore normalcy in the country."

Also reacting to the development, the national leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP said it was in total support of the action taken

by President Jonathan.

A text message to Vanguard by PDP National Publicity Secretary, Chief Olisa Metuh read: "The PDP supports the president on all actions that will restore stability, peace and progress in the polity. And we commend him for showing effective leadership."

Northern CAN hails Jonathan Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN in the 19 Northern States has hailed the declaration of a state of emergency by President Goodluck Jonathan in three northern states saying that it did not come to it as a surprise considering the degree of destruction the dreaded Islamic sect, Boko Haram had inflicted on the country.

In his initial reaction on telephone last night, the spokesman of the CAN in the North, Elder Sunday Oibe, said the action of the president had justified what Northern Christians had been saying all these years that there is an urgent need to curtail the activities of the sect in the region.

We’re still studying the situation—ACN When contacted, the National Publicity Secre-

tary of the Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN, Alhaji Lai Mohammed said the party was still studying the situation and would react appropriately. In a telephone chat with Vanguard, Mohammed said: “For us, before we release any press statement, we will study the situation very well.”

He has not breached the law—CPC On its part, the Congress for Progressive Change, CPC, said the president, in declaring a state of emergency, has not breached the law. In a chat with Vanguard, National Publicity Secretary of CPC, Engineer Rotimi Fashakin said “the fact of the matter is that the president of the nation has a critical and wider view of matters of state. He has exercised his authority conferred on him by the relevant sections of our laws. The only thing is for Nigerians to rally round him and ensure that these measures will usher in good things and lasting peace. Under this circumstances, he has not breached any law.”

Senator Victor Ndoma-Egba "Personally, I didn’t think it would come to

this but I think it has become more or less inevitable. The strategy has to be changed concerning this insurgency and acts of terrorism more so with the killing of security personnel and in huge numbers. We cannot continue to address the problem in a conventional manner in which we had addressed it.

It's a setback to Nigeria’s democracy —Arewa youths Northern youths, yesterday, lashed out at the Federal Government for slamming state of emergency on three northern states of Adamawa, Borno and Yobe, describing the move as punitive and a serious setback to democracy.

They contended that the declaration of emergency rule in the affected states did not only negate the recent amnesty committee to dialogue with Boko Haram members but equally showed that the government was insincere in raising the committee in the first place.

This position was shared by the Presidents of the Arewa Consultative Forum, Alhaji Yerima Shettima and his Arewa Youth Forum, Alhaji Gambo Gujungu, in separate interviews with Vanguard.

A welcome development— Senator

VICE Chairman, Senate Committee on National Security and Intelligence, Senator Shaaba Mohammed Lafiagi, PDP, Kwara North has described the declaration of emergency in three northern states by President Goodluck Jonathan as a welcome development, just as he said that no government will sit down and watch its citizens being killed everyday.

Speaking with Vanguard, Senator Lafiagi who noted that State of Emergency was not what anyone should pray for, said the government must take a drastic step to address the security challenge in the country.

According to him, "I think security challenge is becoming very serious in the country where innocent persons are being killed almost everyday.

All of a sudden, it was Baga, Bama, then Nasarawa, and Benue. It requires a drastic action on the part of the government."

President has taken the right step— Prof Itse Sagay SAN "I entirely agree with the President. That is a right step, in my view, that should have happened long ago. You don’t use soft tactics with terrorists, people who have no human feelings.

With impunity they have sent thousands of people to eternity. So the security will now be controlled by the security agencies and they can take measures to eradicate this insurgency. With the way they were going, they were declaring a state within a state. Not only physical terror, but they were controlling the population. In the end, we will have another state within Nigeria, controlled by terrorists. So he took the right step."

I commend the efforts — Ngige "I think the speech by Mr President is okay.

Unlike the state of emergencies declared during Obasanjo’s regime which were made in bad faith and used to remove Governors who were in the bad books of the federal government, the present declaration was made with the best of intentions.? No political

appointee or political institution was removed. To that extent, I commend the efforts of the Federal Government in stepping up its war against terrorism in parts of the North East zone. From the action of the Federal Government it would seem that the amnesty offer to Boko Haram has been withdrawn. It’s now full scale war against the terrorists. I fully endorse the action of the federal government and suggest that the state of emergency declared to fight terrorism should also be extended in the fight against corruption.

It is a welcome development —Yusuf Ali "This is a state of emergency with a difference, in that the president has left all the democratic structures intact, unlike what we were used to before, when sole administrator will be appointed in place of the democratic structures.

I think that it is a positive development but we all have to agree that the government has to be decisive in the event of the onslaughts by the disparaging groups, that had put fear in every Nigerian and exposed them to danger. No nation can make progress when people are living under fear.

It's commendable — Falana President Goodluck Jonathan’s action is commendable for not following the antecedent of the former president Olusegun Obasanjo. He has followed the path of constitutionality, unlike the ex-president Obasanjo who hid under the state of emergency to remove democratically elected governors. He has deviated from impunity by following the provisions of the law."

Mike Ozekholome "The truth is that it is the civilian, the half innocent populace that will suffer it because the Boko Haram people who are few in number will simply try to be hiding.

So what the president has done now is to dance to the tune of former President Obasanjo who had prescribed the same in Odi and Zakibiam."

6—Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, MAY 15, 2013

20-yr-old man remanded over move to use mum for ritual

BY DAYO JOHNSON

A

KURE —AN Akure Magistrate Court has ordered that a 20-year-old labourer, Gbenga Adeniyi, who allegedly attempted using his mother for ritual be remanded in Olokuta Prison.

Gbenga is to be in the prison custody till June 10 this year pending the issuance of medical report on the state of his mother’s health.

This was the ruling of an Akure Magistrate’s Court, yesterday, when the case came up for mention.

The accused person was first arraigned on May 9, 2013 on a two-count charge of attempted murder.

Police Prosecutor, ASP Isah Atanegbe told the court that the incident took place at about 3 a.m at Abiribiri Street, Isolo, Akure.

Atanegbe also said the accused used a big stone to hit his mum, Mrs Doja Saka, on the forehead after which she lost consciousness and thereafter used scissors to inflict injuries on her eyes, shaved her head and burnt them same night for diabolical means.

While the accused pleaded guilty to the first count charge of using scissors and stone to inflict severe injuries on the eyes and head of her mother, he, however, pleaded not guilty to the second count charge of causing grievous harm on her.

When the case came up for mention, yesterday, ASP Atanegbe informed the court that the victim was still in critical condition at the State Specialist Hospital, Akure.

Police kill 2, arrest 3 suspected female kidnappers in Delta Demolish kidnappers’ cell in Onicha-Olona Youths attempt to raze Ozoro police station

A

BY EMMA AMAIZE

SABA— POLICE in Delta State have killed two supposed hostage takers and arrested eight suspected kidnappers, including three females in separate gun battles with two kidnap gangs at Ozoro in Isoko North Local Government Area and Onicha- Olona in Aniocha North Local Government Area of the state.

However, some youths attempted, yesterday, to raze the Ozoro Police Station, because of the killing of one of the suspected kidnappers, but police repelled the offensive and have tightened security in the town.

In the last 48 hours, police also made remarkable inroad in routing kidnappers from the state, as they recovered AK 47 and other dangerous weapons from kidnap gangs and rescued a secondary school principal and another victim.

Delta State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Ikechukwu Aduba, who confirmed the arrest of the suspects and the botched attempt to raze Ozoro Police Station, told Vanguard: “I will not accept attack on my men or any police station for no cause.

“We have our information about the kidnap gang that kidnapped the wife of Professor Mokobia since last month and we traced the retreating kidnappers to their hideout, where they opened fire at my men and we returned fire for fire."

How Police nabbed abductors On how police tracked down the kidnappers, he said: “I do not

have to give you the details, but the truth is that the kidnappers demanded a ransom of N1.2 million. Unknown to them, we had been monitoring them and we had our counter plan. So we followed the ransom after they collected it to their base, which they cleverly hid for one month.

“Wife of one Professor Mokobia was kidnapped from their residence, off Umuebu Road,

A wooden boat containing illegal crude oil being destroyed at Ogu/Bolo community in Rivers State by the Nigerian Navy, yesterday. Photo: NAN.

Pastor remanded over alleged assault of 13-yr-old girl Testifying, the 13-year-old junBY GABRIEL ENOGHOLASE

B

ENIN — AN Oredo Magistrate Court sitting in Benin, Monday, remanded a cleric, Pastor Fidelis Ejoke, 23 for abducting and indecently assaulting his

Man docked over attempt to defraud Lagos govt

BY ONOZURE DANIA

L

AGOS — A 44-YEAR-OLD businessman, Wahab Matonle, was yesterday arraigned before a Lagos Magistrate Court sitting in Ikeja, for alleged attempt to defraud the Lagos State Government of N1.4 million.

Matonle, who is facing a two-count charge of conspiracy was docked before Magistrate Demi Ajayi.

The state prosecutor, Mr Tunde Sunmonu, told the court that the defendant and one Bisi Peter, now at large, conspired to commit the offence.

He said Matonle with intent to defraud the Lagos government paid N200,000 as land use charge assessment fee as

against the proposed N1.479, 036, 60k charged him.

The prosecutor said the offence was committed on April 17 at the Lagos State Secretariat, Alausa, Ikeja.

According him, the offence committed contravenes Sections 320 and 323, Criminal Laws of Lagos State 2011.

When the charges was read, the defendant, who resides at 3, Olufunmi Street Olososun, in Oregun area of Ikeja, pleaded not guilty to the twocount charge.

Magistrate, Demi-Ajayi granted him bail in the sum of N500,000 with two sureties in like sum.

Stating that each surety should deposit N100, 000 in a designated account of the chief Registrar. She ad-

Obiaruku on April 9 by the kidnappers. Since then, they had kept her and we got information they were asking for N1.2 million ransom on that day.

“As soon as we confirmed that the ransom was in their possession, our team, which was acting on scientific information, moved in and trailed them to a den at Uremu Road, Ozoro and on sighting my men, they

opened fire.

“During the exchange of gunfire, one Vote Michael was hit and three females, one Esther, Jennifer and Oreve who were in possession of the ransom money were arrested, while two others escaped with bullet wounds."

A source said the injured kidnapper, who later died, was among those that took refuge in the ceiling during their encounter withg the police.

However, the kingpin of the gang was among the two that escaped with bullet wounds and N900,000 was recovered out of the N1.2 ransom collected by his gang.

journed the matter July,5,2012, for trial.

to

General Overseer’s 13-year-old daughter.

The accused person pleaded not guilty to the two-count charge of unlawful and indecent assault and abduction, an offence which contravenes Sections 360 and 362 of the Criminal Code.

Police Prosecutor, Mr. Samuel Ogaht, told the court presided over by the Chief Magistrate, Mr. Peter Edo-Asemota, that the the minor was the daughter of the Pastor Ejoke’s General Overseer.

ior secondary school student told the court how the accused started making love to her in November 2012.

She also explained how the said pastor asked her to go to her mother's safe to bring money, adding that she gave the money to him without counting it and later the pastor confirmed it was N145,000.

The court, however, said the accused should be remanded in prison while the case was adjourned to June 23, 2013.

Abductors of ex-commissioner’s mum demand N50m ransom

BY DAYO JOHNSON

A

KURE — SIX gunmen who kidnapped the 80-year-old mother of the immediate past Education Commissioner in Ondo State, Madam Olufunke Olatubora, yesterday, opened negotiation with the Commissioner, Mr Remi Olatubora, demanding a N50 million ransom before his mother would be set free.

Madam Olufunke was ab-

ducted on Sunday at about 1 a.m at her Iyansan country home in the riverside community of Irele local government council of the state.

Family source hinted Vanguard that the kidnappers started negotiating with the family yesterday.

According to the source, “the kidnappers had started discussing with the family. The amount they are demanding is too much.

There is no way we can raise such

a huge sum. We are after the wellbeing of our mother. They should be humane enough to free her” Olatubora, however, expressed confidence that his mother would regain freedom soon.

He did not say whether he had established contact with the kidnappers or whether they have made any demand.

He said: “We are believing in God that they will release her soon.”

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, MAY 15, 2013—7

Gunmen kill 11, injure scores in Kaduna

BY LUKA BINIYAT

K

ADUNA — GUNMEN be lieved to be Fulani herdsmen, yesterday, raided Zangang village of Atakar chiefdom, Kaura Local Government Area of Kaduna State, killing 11 people.

Several others sustained injuries from gun shots and were said to have been taken to the Jos University Teaching Hospital, JUTH, in the neighbouring Plateau State.

The invaders reportedly burnt many houses in the attack which started on Sunday and became more ferocious yesterday.

The Kaduna State government has condemned the attack, saying measures were being taken to ensure lasting peace in the area.

The district head of the area, Mr. Yohanna Daniel, whose house was also burnt said he escaped death by providence.

He alleged that their attackers were Fulani herdsmen who came in a large number, shouting Allah akbar (Allah is great) and shooting sporadically at people.

He said they were dressed in black and red colours and were wielding AK 47 rifles.

Daniel further alleged that the security personnel deployed to the area were not on ground when the gunmen arrived, alleging that when they eventually came, they complained of hunger and left after some time.

“On Sunday we did not go to church. They attacked us again.

Two of our boys were shot and were rushed to the Jos Univer-

sity Teaching Hospital (JUTH) in Plateau State.

“They will enter your farm and once you talk to them, they will open fire on you. We felt this will not help us and we thought there is need for us to come together and address this issue among ourselves.

“Soldiers from Joint Task Force in Plateau and Kaduna states

L

AGOS — SIX months after a building at Jakande estate, Oke-Afa , Isolo area of Lagos collapsed, killing two sisters, another two-storey building collapsed, Monday evening in the same zone.

This makes it a total of five buildings that have collapsed in one week, in Lagos.

Although no casualty was recorded as the occupants had reportedly vacated the building which was marked for demolition last December, but Vanguard gathered that one of the occupants, a man with an undisclosed identity escaped death by the whiskers as the building collapsed barely after he came to remove his remaining property.

An eye witness who identified herself as Mrs Adekoya, told Vanguard that the building collapsed

another attack on us.

“Those who entered my village were well armed. It was like some of the things I used to watch in the movies. They were dressed in black and red, with sophisticated guns. They entered our village and were shouting Allahu Akbar. They were in large number. I cannot tell how many, but they were in large number."

MASSOB members during the protest in Onitsha, yesterday.

Onitsha stands still as MASSOB members embark on peaceful protest

BY OKONKWO EZE

O

NITSHA — COMMER CIAL activities and vehicular movements were paralyzed for hours, yesterday, in the commercial city of Onitsha, Anambra State following a peaceful demonstration by over 1000 members

Another building collapses in Lagos

BY EVELYN USMAN

gave order that nobody among us who have dane gun normally used for hunting should use it again.

“Today, they were armed with AK47. This is not an allegation; this is what they are using. We sat down and discussed with them, thinking that they will take our message to them, but that was not to be. They went and planned

at about 6 p.m.

According to her, “the building, block M 16, was marked for demolition and the occupants advised to leave immediately. But they packed out about three weeks ago.

"Yesterday (Monday), I came out to check on my puppies and was contemplating on going to the building to pick some woods removed from the roof but decided to wait. All of a sudden, I noticed the building caving in.

Initially, I thought an excavator was in front demolishing it. It was later that we discovered it caved in on its own. But we are grateful to God that nobody was around the building then,” she said.

Vanguard, however, observed that about nine other building in the zone were marked for demolition. The affected buildings includ Blocks M 11, 12, 15, 18, 19, 23 , 22, 23 and 26.

Debris of the collapsed building.

of the Movement for the Actualization of the Sovereign State of Brafia, MASSOB, to rehearse their proposed June 8 sit-at-home order.

Apparently to ensure the success and active participation of all Igbo citizens at home and in diaspora during the exercise, the MASSOB members, led by their Onitsha Region 4 Administrator, Chief Arinze Igbani, stormed the commercial city at about noon to carry out the exercise which took place simultaneously in five major local government areas of Anambra State, including Idemili North, Idemili South, Onitsha North, Onitsha South and Ogbaru.

The demonstrators had as early as 8 a.m., converged on Oba, Idemili South Local Government Area, from where they touched

Awada, Idemili North, Onitsha North and South and finally ended the sensitization match at Ogboefere market in Ogbaru Local Government Area of the state at about 2 p.m.

Addressing newsmen on arrival at the General Post Office along the Old Market Road, Onitsha, at noon, the leader of the group, Igbani, said the need to create awareness had become expedient in view of the ‘I don’t care’ attitude of the people, warning that whoever that flouts the order would be seen as not being a true son of the Igbo race.

He urged those wedding on the said date to postpone such as traders, civil servants and institutions are to honour fallen Igbo heroes and those massacred in the northern parts of the country by the Boko Haram sect.

Man, wife, daughter, driver die in Kebbi auto crash

BY SAAWUA TERZUNGWE

B

IRNIN KEBBI — FOUR people were, yesterday, killed in a motor accident along Bagudo-Koko road in Kebbi State.

The accident which occurred in the evening, claimed the life of the Secretary of the Pilgrims Welfare Agency, Alhaji Garba Salihu Jega, his wife Hajiya Aishatu and his daughter, Hasfat Garba.

Vanguard investigations revealed that the accident occurred when an oncoming truck

reportedly lost control and crushed the secretary’s car. The driver of the car who was rushed to the hospital later died.

A statement by Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Alhaji Abubakar Mu’azu Dakingari, said Alhaji Garba was on official assignment to Abuja when the accident occurred In his condolence message, Governor Dakingari prayed God to grant Garba who left behind his aged mother, 17 children and three wives eternal rest and the family the fortitude to bear the irreparable lost.

Sunny Ade’s guitarist jailed 3 years for drug trafficking

BY IFEANYI OKOLIE

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AGOS — THE Federal High Court in Lagos, yesterday, sentenced Sunny Ade’s former guitarist, Fatoke Abiodun, who was arrested by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, to three years imprisonment for drug trafficking.

Abiodun, who was brought before Justice S. Seidu of the Federal High Court pleaded guilty to one count charge of unlawful exportation of 1.575kg of cocaine.

The defence counsel, Mr Bayo Onifade, had pleaded with the court to temper justice with mercy since the convict is 62 years old, a husband of three wives with 12 children.

In his ruling, Justice Seidu sentenced the convict to three years imprisonment with effect from the date of arrest. He noted that the appeal of the defence counsel and the fact that the convict pleaded guilty without wasting the time of the court were carefully considered.

Police vacate Obio Akpor council secretariat

BY JIMITOTA ONOYUME

P

ORT HARCOURT — THE Rivers State Police Command has withdrawn from Obio Akpor local government secretariat.

Meantime, barely two hours after the Police withdrawal, some hoodlums reportedly set the generator house at the secretariat on fire.

The state Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Angela Agabe confirmed the development to the Vanguard, adding that no arrest had been made.

She said the Police had to move out of the place yesterday when they got the court order asking them to vacate the place.

Chairman of the Obio Akpor Caretaker Committee, Mr Chikordi Dike on his part condemned the action of the hoodlums.

Meanwhile, the Police have filed a stay of execution order at the Federal High Court in Port Harcourt on a ruling delivered by Justice H.A Ngajiwa asking it to vacate Obio Akpor local government secretariat.

8—Vanguard , WEDNESDAY, MAY 15, 2013

Nigeria's credit rating risky — Moody

Grounded Aircraft: FG threatens to drag Rivers govt to EFCC

Blames corruption, insecurity

•Alleges forgery of aviation documents •No prior notice before grounding of aircraft — Rivers govt

BY MICHAEL EBOH

G

LOBAL rating agency, Moody’s, yesterday, disclosed that Nigeria’s chance of an upgrade in its credit rating from ‘Ba3’, was at risk due to the failure of the country to address its infrastructure challenges, corruption and insecurity.

According to its global credit research, signed by Edward Al-Hussainy, Assistant Vice President, Analyst and Dietmar Hornung, Vice President, Senior Credit Officer, both of the Sovereign Risk Group, Moody’s said the country’s momentum for addressing challenging structural reforms has slowed.

“Most critically, legislation to revise the fiscal regime in the petroleum industry and deregulate the downstream oil and gas sector has stalled, holding up significant foreign investment while the sector’s productivity declines,” Moody’s maintained.

The rating agency noted that Nigeria’s strategies to curb the vagaries of fluctuating oil prices are inadequate, adding that Nigeria’s fiscal buffers are insufficient.

According to Moody’s, core institutional deficiencies, a history of opaque economic policy making, a high incidence of corruption, and limited political willingness and capacity to execute critical structural reforms, anchor Nigeria’s rating and exacerbate risks stemming from weak economic fundamentals.

The report said, “With 65 per cent – 70 per cent of government revenues sourced from the oil sector, fiscal sensitivity to oil prices is high and the government’s mitigation strategies are a key ratings driver.

“In their current form, Moody’s views these fiscal buffers as insufficient: savings of windfall oil revenues in the Excess Crude Account’s, ECA, have historically been volatile and discretionary withdrawals from the fund by both federal and state governments have undermined the ECA’s credibility.

“Spending by the ECA has often been pro-cyclical and precludes the expenditure consolidation necessary to preserve fiscal buffers for a structural downturn in global oil prices".

BY OKEY NDIRIBE

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BUJA—THE Federal Gov ernment, yesterday, threatened to drag the Rivers State government to the nation’s anticorruption agencies over allegations that the state administration forged documents to enable its aircraft operate within the country.

This threat was issued by the Minister of Aviation, Princess Stella Oduah when she appeared before the House of Representatives Joint Committees on Justice and Aviation which held an investigative hearing on the circumstances surrounding the controversial grounding the Rivers State government owned aircraft last month.

It would be recalled that on April 26, a Bombardier B700 Global Express aircraft said to belong to the Rivers State government which had conveyed the state governor, Rotimi Amaechi to Akure Airport was delayed by NCAA and eventually grounded by the regulatory agency.

Princess Oduah further stated that Rivers State government violated existing civil aviation laws by operating the aircraft without valid air worthiness or legal certificate, adding that the aircraft was registered in the name of Bank of Utah Trustees of the United States and secured flight clearances in the name of Caverton Helicopters on three occasions.

She further stated that even though, the plane bore the Nigerian coat of arms, there was no evidence before the aviation regulatory agencies that it belonged to the Rivers State government.

According to her, the state government could be charged for “using the name of Caverton Helicopters for flight clearance severally on January 4-6, 2013; January 23 - 27, 2013 and March 28-April 2, 2013, which Caverton Helicopters rebutted, thus violating section 1.2..5 (a) (I)(2) of the NCAA regulations on general policies, procedures and definitions and Section 1.14 of 2009, on falsification, reproduction or alteration of applications, licenses, certificates, logbooks, reports or records.”

She further stated that on April 26, 2013, the pilot of the aircraft failed to submit a flight plan contrary to the nation’s aviation laws.

The minister disclosed that the pilot of the aircraft knew he violated the law and had since apologised to her through a text message.

The minister’s position was

supported by the Acting Director-General of Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority, NCAA, Mr. J. D. Nkemakolam and other parastatals under the ministry.

However, in his own presentation before the Committee, the Secretary to the Rivers State Government, George Feyii, said no prior notice was served on the state government before the aircraft was grounded, adding that the plane was insured in the name of the state government.

He explained that the aircraft was registered through Bank of Utah which was appointed as

trustee for the aircraft.

He further said the state government had last year applied to the Ministry of Aviation for permission to import an aircraft.

He further stated that the aircraft had a certificate of air worthiness always kept within the plane.

But the Chairman of the Joint House Committee, Ali Ahmed (PDP-Kwara) reminded the minister that a letter written to the Director, Airworthiness Standards, NCAA, by ACASS of Canada Limited, a company with expertise in taking delivery of aircraft for clients had informed

NCAA that they “assisted the government of Rivers State of Nigeria with taking delivery and possession of their aircraft “.

Members of the committee, notably Nkoyo Toyo (PDP-Cross River), were angry that contrary to an earlier statement by a manager of Caverton Helicopters, Mr. Sola Falola that “they did not have anything to do with the importation of the aircraft” for the government of Rivers State, the same Caverton admitted in another submission before the committee that the importation was done and that the aircraft in question belongs to the Rivers State government.

APPOINTMENT—From left: Chief Executive Officer, New Horizons/Regional Representative, Impact West Africa, Mr Tim Akano; First Lady, Dame Patience Goodluck Jonathan; ITU Director, Brahima Sanou and Chairman, Board of Director, Impact, Dr Amin Noor Mohammed, during the presentation of letter appointing the First Lady as global champion by UN-ITU-IMPACT, at the State House Abuja.

Renewed violence 'll not affect our work —Amnesty committee Meets Jonathan

BY BEN AGANDE

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BUJA—CHAIRMAN of the Presidential Committee on Dialogue and Resolution of Security Challenge in the North, Mallam Kabiru Tanimu Turaki said yesterday, that the renewed violence in the northern part of the country will not affect the work of the committee.

Addressing newsmen after members of the committee met with President Goddluck Jonathan at the presidential Villa, Turaki said the committee was optimistic that it would be able to achieve its objective as it remains resolute despite the violence.

The committee chairman said: “The events of the last few weeks have not in any way derailed our programme. It has not derailed our resoluteness,

desire and intention to make sure we get to the root of this problem”.

The committee chairman added “We are convinced that with efforts we are making we will be able to arrive at the middle course. Of course, dialogue does not mean there would be absence of differences.

“And when we sit down to negotiate it does not mean that everybody will get or must get what he wants. There would be give and take at the end of the day.

The most fundamental thing, from my own understanding, is that the Jama’a (Boko Haram) people are not averse to dialogue and settlement of the dispute”.

Speaking on the meeting with the president, Turaki said it was at the instance of the committee to have a clearer perspective of government’s position on the issues after meeting with critical

stakeholders, including members of the sect who are in detention.

“You may be aware that we have had interactions with the security agencies, prison authorities, customs, defence headquarters and other people that we think are necessary stakeholders.

"What we are doing is to discuss and have their input and we feel that having interacted with most of the security agencies, we feel we have come to the critical stage where we also need to hear from the government. That was what we came to discuss with Mr President.

“The discussion has been very frank and very fruitful. The meeting was at our instance because we feel that before we begin to move into the field, to engage the other side and other people, that are also essential to our assignment we need to discuss with the government".

Vanguard , WEDNESDAY, MAY 15, 2013—9

BY SONI DANIEL, REGIONAL EDITOR, NORTH & KINGSLEY OMONOBI

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HERE were indications, yes terday, that no fewer than 10 serving policemen had been arrested and detained in connection with last week’s massacre of 100 security men by members of the dreaded Ombatse cult in Alakyo, Nasarawa State.

Competent sources confirmed to Vanguard that the affected policemen, who gave out information that aided the cultists in slaughtering the security men, most of them policemen, were arrested between the weekend and Monday.

A reliable source said, “Many arrests have been made in connection with the mass killings in Alakyo. The first one was arrested on Friday. The arrest of the first policeman led to the revealing of the identities of those who aided and abetted the cultists to ambush and slaughter the security men.

“As we speak, there are 10 of such moles already in the police custody. As at Monday, one policeman, who is believed to have been part of the conspiracy to kill his colleagues was arrested in Lafia and taken to the police headquarters in Abuja.

Vanguard learnt that the first two police moles, Haruna Joseph and Corporal Enugu, who were alleged to be members of the cult group, were picked up last week and paraded before the public at Government House Lafia.

A senior police officer, who is familiar with the development, confirmed the detention of some police officers by the Force Headquarters in connection with the Nasarawa massacre but declined to give the exact figure of those detained.

The source said: “It is true that some policemen, who were arrested on suspicion of aiding and abetting the killing of other security personnel in Alakyo last Tuesday, are in the custody of the Force Headquarters for investigation.

“I can tell you that what happened that day was entirely due to many factors, among them leakage of information, external membership, negligence and improper conduct bordering on lack of bravery”.

Meanwhile, fear has continued to grip residents of Eggon community, where the cultists were believed to be holed up after killing dozens of policemen and other security agents, who had attempted to access the base of the leader of the malevolent group.

The natives were said to be worried that they could be overrun by angry security agents bent on avenging the gruesome murder of their compatriots following the visit of the Inspector General of Police to the state and the vow by the governor to fish out perpetrators of the heinous crime.

A native of the area, who spoke to Vanguard in Abuja, expressed fear that the masterminds of the murders might not be arrested due to what he called "the inexplicable fetish prowess of the cult, which

Nasarawa massacre: Police detain 10 suspected officers •Fear grips Eggon community •Gov begs for reopening of Akwanga-Benue highway

BRIEFING—Chairman, Presidential Committee on Dialogue and Peaceful Resolution of Security Challenges in the North, Tanimu Turaki; Former Foreign Affairs Minister, Prof.

Bolaji Akinyemi; Maj. Gen. Ibrahim Sabo and others as the committee briefed newsmen after meeting with President Goodluck Jonathan at the State House, Abuja. Photo: Abayomi Adeshida.

makes the leaders and members almost invincible."

The man, who works in one of the federal parastatals in the FCT, pointed out that it was the assumed fetish powers of the cult that made it possible for them to easily overpower the security men, kill them and burn them without any resistance.

“This cult group called Om-

batse is not new and those of us from Nasarawa State are aware that the members worship and respect their leader as a god because of his ability to repel gunshots and any form of attacks over the years.

“That is why even tear gas that will normally inhibit a normal person, cannot affect him and his members in anyway. We don’t

know as at now how the security agencies will be able to overpower the cult leader. Obviously, we cannot say because the man has become so powerful and respected as a god by his followers.

“Nobody who is not an Eggon can enter into that community at the moment because the cultist would easily identify and kill the

....As Police, DSS admit laxity; we 've recovered 32 bodies — Mba

BY KINGSLEY OMONOBI

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HE Police and the Depart ment of State Services DSS, yesterday, admitted laxity over the massacre that took place in Nasarawa State recently as they admitted 46 policemen and 10 DSS operatives were killed by the cult.

This revelation was made by the Force Public Relations Officer, CSP Frank Mba and her DSS counterpart, Ms Marilyn Ogar, at the joint security information forum on the security situation in the country, even as he said the Police have recovered 32 bodies.

The two disclosed that some policemen and DSS operatives were ordered to prevent a security breach observed but not knowing that the operation would be bloody since the re-

port available to both agencies did not put the Ombatse cult in the same category of the Boko Haram terrorism that attacked Baga and Bama hence the level of force involved was not on the high side.

Ogar said, if they had known that the situation would be that bloody, “we would have had the military back-up but we never thought there would be such a disaster, otherwise we would have gone there with the military back up, but there was no military back up. We (DSS) sent 10 personnel and all of them were killed, four corpses have been released for burial.”

Mba who spoke in the same vein appealed to Nigerians to be patient with the security operatives who have vowed not only to bring the culprits to book but to ensure such an incident is not repeated in the country again.

According to him, “we must admit here that Nigeria is passing through one of the most periods in terms of security "noting that insecurity of lives and property was not restricted to Nigeria".

Citing the recent security challenges in the United States. He said: “We would not abdicate our responsibilities. Nigeria must also rise up, to take up action and provide support to security agencies”.

Mba accused the human rights community of turning blind eye to the mass killing of police and wondered why they have been silent since the unfortunate incident. He tasked the Human Rights Watch and others to appreciate that those who were killed were human beings and those security operatives too have fundamental human rights.

intruders because they fear that he would leak their source of power and other secrets to noninitiates and law enforcement agents.

“The members of the Eggon community believe so much in the leader of the cult to the extent that they see him as next to God and that nothing can possibly happen to him,” the Nasarwa indigene narrated.

Meanwhile, the Nasrawa State Government yesterday pleaded with the widows and family members of those slain by the cultists to vacate the Akwanga-Lafia Highway, which they had been occupying in protest since the unfortunate incident.

A statement by the State Information Commissioner, Hamza Elayo Mohammed, regretted that the blockade of the highway linking the North with the South had disrupted the free flow of human and vehicular traffic.

Mohammed said, “The Government of Nasarawa State is greatly concerned with the persistent blockage of the Akwanga Lafia highway, for three days running, by widows of mobile policemen who were slain at Alakyo village of the state recently.

“While government notes that the widows have a right to express their grief over the killing of their spouses and relations in the dastardly act, it is however concerned that the blockade is not the best option for expressing feelings or drawing attention to their plight.

“It is to be noted that there are peaceful and constitutional means of expressing feelings, as the blocking of this major highway between the northern and southern parts of the country is causing motorists and other Nigerians grave hardship. This act is a gross violation of the rights of other Nigerians to move freely in the pursuit of their daily businesses.

“It is also regrettable that while these widows who are genuinely grieved express their resentment to the killings, hoodlums and miscreants have taken advantage of the situation to unleash violence on innocent motorists.

“Government wishes to assure the affected widows that it is doing everything possible to bring culprits of this act to book. It also assures that the cries of these families will not go unnoticed as their predicaments in losing their loved ones will be addressed.

“Government also hastens to warn that anyone involved in unleashing mayhem on motorists will be dealt with as no responsible leadership will sit by and watch the rights of its citizens being trampled upon with impunity,” the commissioner stated.

10 — Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, MAY 15, 2013

NYSC, firm sign MoU on skills acquisition

2,000 decamp to PDP from ACN, LP

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BOUT 2,000 members of Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN; All Nigeria Peoples Party, ANPP, and Labour Party, LP, in Ijebu East Local Government Area of Ogun State, have decamped to Peoples’ Democratic Party, PDP. The decampees were led

by Prince Yemi Duduyemi and Mrs. Job Nwadike.

Duduyemi said the decampees join PDP because of lack of internal democracy and to advance their political career.

Ogun State PDP Chairman, Chief Bayo Dayo, said PDP, being the largest in Africa, was entrenched in internal democracy, which makes it possible for every body to realise their dreams.

Expert proffers solution to insecurity

BY EVELYN USMAN

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ENOWNED security expert, Dr. Onah Ekhomu, yesterday, advised the military and other security agencies to adopt effective force protection measures to save the lives of servicemen from incessant terrorist and militant attacks.

He lamented the killing of 11 policemen in the creeks of Azuzuama, Bayelsa State by militants; 22 policemen in the horrific invasion of Bama in Borno State and the ambush and mass murder of about 40 police personnel in Lafia, Nassarawa State.

Ekhomu said it was obvious that criminals “seem intent on spilling the blood of government security agents.”

Gaskiya College @ 50

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HE Old Students Association of Gaskiya College, Ijora Badia, Lagos, will be celebrating the school’s 50th anniversary with a lecture entitled Gaskiya: The Truth Must be Told., to be delivered by Mr. Owolabi Balogun.

President of the association, Mr. Ahamefula Eze, said the three-day celebration begins today and would witness the commissioning of many projects.

BY CALEB AYANSINA

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NIPR: From left— Comfort Nwankwo, Chairperson, Annual General Meeting, AGM, Committee; Mr. Olajide Ologun, Chairman, Nigeria Institute of Public Relations, NIPR, Lagos State chapter, and Hajia Rabi Mohammed, NIPR Senior Council member, at a briefing on the institute's 24th AGM in Lagos, yesterday. PHOTO: JOE AKINTOLA, Photo Editor.

Reps advocate Federal Highway Authority

BY EMMAN OVUAKPORIE

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AKURDI—MEMBERS of the House of Representatives Committee on Works have said that to avoid bureaucratic bottlenecks in the civil service, the National Assembly would enact an Act establishing a Federal Highway Roads Authority.

Chairman of the committee and leader of a team inspecting federal roads in the North Central Zone, Mr. Ogbuefi Ozomgbachi, spoke after inspecting the VandekiyaObudu federal road in Benue State.

He said the National Assembly would introduce and pass Federal Roads Authority Act and Federal Roads Funds Act, adding “this will enable us to take away the issues of construction and maintenance of roads from ordinary bureaucratic bottlenecks.

“In South Africa, India, Malaysia and even Kenya and Ghana, they have these institutions. So there should be institutional reforms that take major infrastructural development away from the Ministry.

“The Ministry of Works will

just be a regulatory authority such as what we have in Ministry of Communication, where we have Nigerian Communications Commission, NCC. “In the aviation sector, we have Ministry of Aviation and then we also have FAAN, NACA, NAMA and the rest.”

17m children face dangers

BY JONAH NWOKPOKU

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AGOS—NO fewer than 17 million children are vulnerable to all forms of danger in Nigeria, an orphanage, Societal Socialese, SOS, children village, has said.

Director of the village, B. Buraimoh, spoke when, Women in Petroleum, WIP, the female wing of Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria, PENGASSAN, visited the Isolo-based children village to make some donations.

WIP also called on govern-

ment at all levels to create special funds for the less-privileged children.

Buraimoh, who was speaking after receiving the gifts, said: “We have children that we admit into the SOS village for long term care, and we care for them until they can stand on their own.”

National Chairperson of WIP, Ijeoma Dom-Nwachukwu, said: “Government at all levels should do what is necessary to alleviate the sufferings of these little ones that found themselves as orphans, not by their own making.”

Neighbourhood Watch gets stun guns

BY OLASUNKANMI AKONI & MONSUR OLOWOOPEJO

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AGOS State Government has distributed 500 specialised stun guns to Neighbourhood Watch, a security outfit, aimed at improving the security of lives and property in the state.

This came as it said N241 billion would be required to provide adequate infrastructure for the development of the entire rural communities in the state.

Commissioner for Rural Development, Mr. Cornelius Ojelabi, yesterday, said: “39 patrol vans, 1,000 disposable handcuffs and 20 garret metal detectors, 2, 855 uniforms were also handed over to the watchers in the last one year.”

According to him, the state

government had also increased the number of watchers to 4,256 out of which 3,000 were volunteers, while 1,256

were regulars, saying “the regulars have also been enlisted to enjoy the new Lagos State minimum wage.”

Lagos begins free knee surgery

BY CHIOMA OBINNA

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AGOS State Government, yesterday, announced the commencement of free total knee replacement surgery at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital, LASUTH, for the lessprivileged indigenes.

Already, 12 total knee replacement surgeries had been done in the last three years.

Addressing journalists at a presentation ceremony of the latest beneficiaries of the exercise, Commissioner for Health,

Dr. Jide Idris, explained that the state embarked on the exercise because of the high numbers of patients who applied to the state government for financial assistance to travel abroad for such surgery.

He said: “Lagos thought it wise to discontinue the trend of taking our resources abroad for surgery.

"By starting this exercise, we would not only discourage patronage of overseas treatment, but we would build local capacity for surgical procedures."

BUJA—NATIONAL Youth Service Corps, NYSC, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding, MoU, with a private company, JFK Consult on post-camp skill acquisition programme for NYSC members.

Vanguard gathered that the programme, which targets NYSC members and other interested youths in the society, will commence on socio-media from where qualified candidates are going to be selected for two weeks training at the entrepreneurial academy in Abuja.

At the signing ceremony in Abuja, Director of Skill Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Development of NYSC, Mrs. Marry Damabia, who signed on behalf of the scheme, noted that the programme would build on the entrepreneurial lecture received by corps members during their orientation exercise in camp.

She s aid: “The programme is part of NYSC mandate. If we limit skill acquisition training to 10 days in camp, nothing will be achieved.

“We have post-camp programme of entrepreneurial training and it is what we are entering now. It is about knowing what to do with the skill acquired.”

Appointment

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R. Joao Pereira has been appointed the new Managing Director of Nigerian Ropes Plc. With an MBA in Marketing, and a degree in Business Administration, Mr. Pereira is bringing a vast management experience to Ropes.

He started his career as a Brand Manager in Vendome Luxury Group, with over 10 years experience in business management in various industries/ business sectors; and eight years experience as real estate and property investment professional.

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, MAY 15, 2013—11

School pupils feared dead in Lagos flood

BY EVELYN USMAN & BOSE ADELAJA

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AGOS—SOME pupils of Ogba Primary school in Lagos were, yesterday, feared drowned while others were wounded in the flooded school premises, following heavy rainfall witnessed in some parts of Lagos.

The pupils, as gathered, were released to go home during the downpour. But most of them reportedly played in the flood water, during which some of them reportedly got drowned.

Spokesperson for the Lagos State National Emergency Management Agency, Ibrahim Farinloye, who confirmed the incident to Vanguard, said: “Lagos State Ambulance Service was at hand with officials of Lagos State Emergency Management Agency, LASEMA and NEMA. “The Ambulance Service gave first aid services before discharging the pupils. Nobody was drowned in the incident.”

He disclosed that the officials were still tackling flooding in areas like Sowonuola, Olarenwaju, Adeyemi Ijaye street and Abiola market, all in Agege, at 3pm.

Vanguard investigation re-

vealed that the flood also affected areas like AjeromiIfelodun, Ikorodu, OrileIganmu, Coker-Aguda, where residents were thrown into lamentation as the rain entered into their apartments, destroy-

ing property worth millions of naira.

Farinloye appealed to school authorities to take precautionary measures at saving the lives of school children by keeping them late in school

during downpour, until it is safe for them to go home.

He also admonished motorists to avoid sitting in their vehicles during torrential rainfall as flood could carry the vehicle away.

Ndigbo mourns Pini Jason A S more tributes continue to pour in for late Vanguard columnist, Pini Jason, Ndigbo Lagos, yesterday, described him as a great mind with wisdom and understanding.

At a condolence visit to his residence, President-General of Ndigbo Lagos, Prof. Anya O. Anya, said that late Pini fought a good fight for the people and the affairs of the nation was very important to him.

Anya said: “Pini, your colleagues in the Ndigbo Lagos remembers you with great affection. You fought the good fight for your people.

“You always dealt with insight, wisdom and understanding on matters in the affairs of your people and the

nation. Adieu. May your prerest.” For Sir Nnamdi cious soul rest in peace.”

Nwigwe: “The Lord who Other dignitaries in the gives has every right to take entourage of the Ndigbo Lahis own. Let us not question gos, who were at his resihim. It is well. Dear Pini, rest dence, also noted that he in the Lord’s blossom.” was a special man.

Kalu Onuma said: “You Oby Okeke said: “You were were simply a great man. The such a kindhearted man. ideas you so painstakingly Ndigbo Lagos mandated you assured are what we should and Chief Guy Ikokwu to alall live with. Go in peace ways drop me at my parents’ great mind. Sleep tight.” house at Aguda Surulere The late Pini, a former Speanytime we finished EXCO cial Assistant on Special Dumeeting. ties to former governor Ikedi “You did that religiously as Ohakim of Imo State, who though I was your daughter. wrote his last column pubEven when you could not, lished Tuesday April 30, enyou always gave me taxi fare. titled A letter to Yushau May your kind soul rest in Shuaib, on the travails of the peace.” former spokesman of the NaAda Agina-Ude said: “Pini, tional Emergency Managewill be greatly missed. May ment Agency, NEMA, was God grant his soul eternal also said to be a great man.

According to the former All National Peoples Party Imo East senatorial candidate, Carl Azudibia, late Pini was a very straight man, who was in a class if his own.

He said: “In 2003 he presented a paper on my behalf and I will never forget that. He takes position based on conviction not with sentiment.

“If he was after monetary gains, he would have been a minister on several occasions. He stands for the truth every time. He never joins the band wagon.

“He was a very great man and he can’t be bought with money. His death is a great loss to humanity.”

ACN faults Ogun PDP 2,000 decampees claim

BY DAUD OLATUNJI

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BEOKUTA—ACTION Congress of Nigeria, ACN, in Ogun State, yesterday, faulted the claims by Peoples' Democratic Party, PDP, in the state that about 2,000 members of ACN in the state have defected to PDP. ACN described the claim as deceitful, saying the party was desperately engaging in futile wishful thinking.

ACN Publicity Secretary in the state, Mr. Sola Lawal, in a statement in Abeokuta, yesterday, said it wondered why large number of buses were deployed to ferry purported defectors to the venue if, genuinely, they were from Ijebu-Ife and Mushin, small communities of largely rural people.

PDP had, weekend, alleged that 2,000 members of ACN, led by a former local government chairmanship aspirant, Yemi Duduyemi, dumped the party in Ijebu-Mushin area of the state.

Howver, ACN said: "The honest truth is that Duduyemi embraced ACN along with eight of his supporters on the eve of nomination for council election in the hope of acquiring the ticket of the party to contest the election.

“Having lost in the bid to realise an inordinate ambition, he retraced his steps along with eight members of his family he originally came with."

EKSU protest: NANS cries out over move to punish students

BY GBENGA ARIYIBI

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DO-EKITI—NATIONAL Association of Nigeria Students, NANS, has condemned the alleged marking down of students who were perceived to have participated in the last students’ protest in Ekiti State University, EKSU. The students had for two consecutive days, May 2nd and 3rd, embarked on protest over the decision of the management to introduce the policy of no-fee no-lecture.

A statement by NANS Chairman, Ekiti axis, Mr. Damilare Bewaji, in AdoEkiti, yesterday, condemned the EKSU management over its alleged stand to punish students that coordinated the protest.

The student leader said EKSU would have to explain to the general public when it suddenly became a crime for a students’ body to agitate for their rights.

He added that a panel had allegedly been set up by the university to commence the trial of the alleged coordinators of the protest, describing the act as cruel and unfriendly.

... as Dep Gov lauds Ado Poly

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KITI State Deputy Governor, Professor Modupe Adelabu, has lauded the Federal Polytechnic, Ado-Ekiti, for giving the students of the institution entrepreneurship training that will make its graduates self-reliant and employers of labour after graduation.

A statement by the deputy governor ’s Special Assistant, Media and Communication, Mr. Lekan Fadeyi, said she gave the commendation while receiving members of the Governing Council and management of the institution, who paid a courtesy visit to her office in Ado.

12—Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, MAY 15, 2013

Rivers Speaker alleges plot to assassinate Amaechi, others

BY JIMITOTA ONOYUME

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ORT HARCOURT— SPEAKER of Rivers State House of Assembly, Otelemaba Amachree, yesterday, said he had uncovered an alleged plot to assassinate Governor Chibuike Amaechi, some lawmakers and prominent government officials in the state.

Amachree, in an open letter to President Goodluck Jonathan, said that the alleged planned assassination was being hatched in a neighbouring state and Abuja.

According to him, part of the plot was to release 18 hoodlums currently in detention to carry out the assassinations.

He said: “The situation in Rivers State has reached a fever-pitch, as there are strong indications that the governor, Mr. Amaechi, some legislators and prominent government officials have been marked for as-

sassination, following series of reported nocturnal meetings held in a neighbouring state and Abuja. The situation is exacerbated with the planned release, from detention, of 18 notable robbery and kidnap kingpins currently in custody, to carry out this planned mayhem on government officials, innocent citizens and residents of the state.

“Your Excellency sir, we are alarmed and disturbed by the planned withdrawal of security personnel attached to various Rivers State Government establishments and officials, especially that of Governor Amaechi, the Rivers State House of Assembly, the ministries and the local government areas.”

Urging President Jonathan to intervene in the political crisis rocking the state, the Speaker also accused the state Police Commissioner, Mr. Joseph Mbu, of being an interested party in the crisis, adding that he should be redeployed.

Meantime, the state Commissioner of Police, Mbu

said the Speaker did not notify him of the alleged assassination plot.

Speaking through the Police Public Relations Officer in the state, Mrs. Angela Agabe, Mbu

said it was also not true that the Police was planning to withdraw security protection from the governor and government establishments in the state.

“There is no plan to withdraw police protection from the governor or any government establishment or even any government personnel entitled to it,” he said.

VISIT: From left: Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan of Delta State; US Consul-General, Mr. Jeff Hawkins, and the Political/Economic officer to the Consul-General , when the ConsulGeneral and his team visited the governor in his office, in Government House, Asaba, yesterday. Photo: Henry Unini.

Security: Stop labelling Delta as flash point, Uduaghan tells US Govt

BY AUSTIN OGWUDA

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S A B A — D E LTA State governor, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan, yesterday, called on the American Government to change its perception about the issue of security in Delta State, saying that although there were security challenges, it was wrong for the American Government to continue to say that the state was a no-go area.

He said that as a state government, “we are really pro-active in fighting kidnapping, pipeline vandalisation and other criminal activities in the state.”

Receiving the United States Consul-General, Mr. Jeff Hawkins, who paid him a courtesy visit in Government House, Asaba, he said: “There is no doubt, as a state, we had issues with the perception of the American

Government of Delta and I have raised it at certain quarters, of this continuous flagging of Delta as a state that people should be careful about.

“I am glad that you are here today (yesterday).

We are letting you know that we are doing a lot to ensure that people come to Delta State freely. I believe we were doing well until an incident sometime last year in Warri.

“As a state government, since I took over in 2007, I have initiated what I call Three Point Agenda, because when I came in, it was about the peak of the militancy on the waterways. And our three point agenda centered on peace and security as number one agenda, infrastructure development and human capital development. These three are interwoven."

Nigerian business women get free Intel digital training

BY PRINCE OSUAGWU

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NTEL Corporation, yesterday, struck a partnership with Nigerian women entrepreneurs on how to use digital platform to promote their businesses.

The deal, which will provide digital literacy training to the women, was linked through the country’s African Women Entrepreneurship Programme, AWEP. The training known as Intel EASY STEPS, according to the Corporate Affairs Manager of Intel, Mr. Osagie Ogunbor, would help improve the lives of Nigerian business women, handing them digital powers to explore world markets.

The partnership will see Intel train and empower them to run more efficient businesses and as well transfer their knowledge to many other women in the country.

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, MAY 15, 2013 — 13

President Jonathan declares state of emergency in Borno, Yobe and Adamawa States Dear compatriots, T has become necessary for me to address you on the recent spate of terrorist activities and protracted security challenges in some parts of the country, particularly in Borno, Yobe, Adamawa, Gombe, Bauchi, Kano, Plateau and most recently Bayelsa, Taraba, Benue and Nasarawa states. These unfortunate events have led to needless loss of lives and property of many innocent Nigerians including members of our security forces.

The recent killing of security operatives by a cult group in Nasarawa state is particularly condemnable. I have directed that no effort or expense be spared in identifying and bringing to justice all those who had a hand in the killing of the operatives.

The activities of insurgents and terrorists have been reprehensible, causing fear among our citizens and a near-breakdown of law and order in parts of the country, especially the North. We have taken robust steps to unravel and address the root causes of these crises, but it would appear that there is a systematic effort by insurgents and terrorists to destabilize the Nigerian state and test our collective resolve.

Since I returned to the country after cutting short my visit to South Africa and aborting a planned state visit to Namibia, I have received detailed briefings from our security agencies. These briefings indicate that what we are facing is not just militancy or criminality, but a rebellion and insur-

continue to discharge their constitutional responsibilities.

I urge the political leadership in Borno, Yobe and Adamawa states to co-operate maximally with the Armed Forces and the Police to ensure that the exercise succeeds. We call on the citizenry to co-operate with our security agencies to ensure a return to normalcy within the shortest possible time.

I am again approaching our neighbouring countries, through diplomatic channels, as done in the recent past, for their co-operation in apprehending any terrorist elements that may escape across the border.

Nigerians are peace-loving people; these sad events perpe-

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I urge the political leadership in Borno, Yobe and Adamawa states to co-operate maximally with the Armed Forces and the Police to ensure that the exercise succeeds

gency by terrorist groups which pose a very serious threat to national unity and territorial integrity. Already, some northern parts of Borno state have been taken over by groups whose allegiance is to different flags and ideologies.

These terrorists and insurgents seem determined to establish control and authority over parts of our beloved nation and to progressively overwhelm the rest of the country. In many places, they have destroyed the Nigerian flag and other symbols of state authority and in their place, hoisted strange flags suggesting the exercise of alternative sovereignty.

They have attacked government buildings and facilities. They have murdered innocent citizens and state officials. They have set houses ablaze, and taken women and children as hostages. These actions amount to a declaration of war and a deliberate attempt to undermine the authority of the Nigerian state and threaten her

What the Constitution says...

President Goodluck Jonathan territorial integrity. As a responsible government, we will not tolerate this.

Previously, we adopted a multitrack approach to the resolution of this problem through actions which included persuasion, dialogue and widespread consultation with the political, religious and community leaders in the affected states.

We exercised restraint to allow for all efforts by both State Governors and well-meaning Nigerians to stop the repeated cases of mindless violence.

Yet, the insurgents and terrorists seek to prevent government from fulfilling its constitutional obligations to the people as they pursue their fanatical agenda of

,

mayhem, mass murder, division and separatism.

While the efforts at persuasion and dialogue will continue, let me reiterate that we have a sacred duty to ensure the security and well-being of all our people and protect the sovereign integrity of our country. Therefore, we shall, on no account, shy away from doing whatever becomes necessary to provide the fullest possible security for the citizens of this country in any part of the country they choose to reside.

We have a duty to stand firm against those who threaten the sovereign integrity of the Nigerian state. Our will is strong, because our faith lies in the indivisibility of Nigeria.

Following recent developments in the affected states, it has become necessary for Government to take extraordinary measures to restore normalcy. After wide consultations, and in exercise of the powers conferred on me by the provisions of Section

trated by those who do not wish our nation well have not changed the essential character of our people.

I want to reassure you all that those who are directly or indirectly encouraging any form of rebellion against the Nigerian state, and their collaborators; those insurgents and terrorists who take delight in killing our security operatives, whoever they may be, wherever they may go, we will hunt them down, we will fish them out, and we will bring them to justice. No matter what it takes, we will win this war against terror.

I am convinced that with your support and prayers, we shall overcome these challenges and together, we will restore every part of our country to the path of peace, growth and development.

Long live the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

Continues from Page 4

305, sub-section 1 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 as amended, I hereby declare a State of Emergency in Borno, Yobe and Adamawa states.

Accordingly, the Chief of Defence Staff has been directed to immediately deploy more troops to these states for more effective internal security operations. The troops and other security agencies involved in these operations have orders to take all necessary action, within the ambit of their rules of engagement, to put an end to the impunity of insurgents and terrorists.

This will include the authority to arrest and detain suspects, the taking of possession and control of any building or structure used for terrorist purposes, the lockdown of any area of terrorist operation, the conduct of searches, and the apprehension of persons in illegal possession of weapons.

The details of this Proclamation will be transmitted to the National Assembly in accordance with the provisions of the Constitution.

But in the meantime, let me make it clear that within the purview of this Proclamation, the Governors and other political office holders in the affected states will

any disaster or natural calamity, affecting the community or a section of the community in the Federation; (f) there is any other public danger which clearly constitutes a threat to the existence of the Federation; or (g) the President receives a request to do so in accordance with the provisions of subsection (4) of this section.

(4) The Governor of a state may, with the sanction of a resolution supported by two-thirds majority of the House of Assembly, request the President to issue a Proclamation of a state of emergency in the state when there is in existence within the state any of the situations specified in subsection (3) (c), (d) and (e) of this section and such situation does not extend beyond the boundaries of the state.

(5) The President shall not issue a Proclamation of a state of emergency in any case to which the provisions of subsection (4) of this section apply unless the governor of the state fails within a reasonable time to make a request to the President to issue such Proclamation.

(6) A Proclamation issued by the President under this section shall

cease to have effect: (a) if it is revoked by the President by instrument published in the Official Gazette of the government of the federation; (b) if it affects the Federation or any part thereof and within two days when the National Assembly is in session, or within 10 days when the National Assembly is not in session, after its publication, there is no resolution supported by two-thirds majority of all the members of each House of the National Assembly approving the Proclamation; (c) after a period of six months has elapsed since it has been in force: Provided that the National Assembly may, before the expiration of the period of six months aforesaid, extend the period for the Proclamation of the state of emergency to remain in force from time to time for a further period of six months by resolution passed in like manner; or (d)at any time after the approval referred to in paragraph (b) or the extension referred to in paragraph (c) of this subsection, when each House of the National Assembly revokes the Proclamation by a simple majority of all the members of each House.

Emergency rule to please all

By IKEDDY ISIGUZO, Chairman Editorial Board

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ALLS for emergency rule in some parts of the country are at least three years old. Plateau State was often mentioned, but memories of the emergency rule in the State in 2002, and fears that emergency rule could favour a party in the conflict stalled any move.

Abia, Kano, Kaduna, Bauchi, Taraba are States that have been in serious security situations that raised enough concerns that emergency rule was considered.

Senate President, David Achelenu Mark, was incensed enough in July 2010 to have said, “We should declare a state of emergency in all these areas where we have

armed robbery and kidnapping. If we can declare a state of emergency on power, we should do it for kidnapping and then armed robbery,” he told his colleagues as debates raged on the state of insecurity around Nigeria. The issue was kidnapping in Abia State.

“Presently, it is simply a jungle environment and rule must change to conform to those who operate in jungle environment and I believe that the security agencies should be able to do that. Personally, in the situation of jungle environment, where we want to apply rule of law, it could be very difficult indeed at times.

Those who are involved must be handled in such a way that they will never Continues on page 16

14 — Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, MAY 15, 2013

Igbo interest better protected in PDP —Orji

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MUAHIA—GOV ERNOR Theodore Orji of Abia State has urged the people of the South East region to continue to support the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, was their collective interest is better protected by the party.

The governor, who spoke against the back drop of emerging collaboration of opposition parties, said it had become pertinent to reassure the Igbo that their nests were better feathered in the PDP which had become a phenomenon in Nigerian and African politics.

In a statement, Mr. Ben Onyechere, Special Adviser to the Governor on Public Communication said: “With the trend of politics in this nation, it is not difficult for Igbo to know that they can no longer play opposition politics because of the experience of the past where they were left in the cold for which reason we have become wiser.

“It is also not difficult to decipher the political motives of some of us who may want to use Igbo to bargain for their selfish interest. Igbo have no reason to be alarmed because they have paid their dues.”

Oko poly: NANS denies apologising to governing council chair

BY ENYIM ENYIM

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N I T S H A — THE National Association of Nigerian Students has denied ever apologising to a former chairman of the Governing Council of Federal Polytechnic, Oko, Dr. Anene Uzuakpunwa.

Rather, the Zone Coordinator of the umbrella student body in Nigeria, Mr. Chinonso Obasi, told reporters yesterday in Awka that NANS stood by its position that Uzuakpunwa should not be reappointed chairman of the polytechnic’s governing council.

Obasi said the purported apology to Uzuakpunwa could have been made up by people who were not part of NANS or authorised to do so, andthatNANSwillchargewhoever must have represented it to court.

Imo road fails Reps’ standard test As contractor insists firm did a good job

BY EMMAN OVUAKPORIE

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WERRI—THREE sections of a road project on Owerri-Umuahia in Imo state yesterday failed all tests to ascertain the level of compliance in the execution of contracts as specified by the Federal Ministry of Works.

This was discovered by members of the House of Representatives Committee on Works, led by its Chairman, Ogbuefi Ozomgbachi, during an inspection tour of federal roads in the state.

The team, consisting mainly of Reps who are engineers subjected the road project to scientific tests via the eco-test system and currying machines.

At the end of the tests, the various portions tested along the 22km road and culverts failed.

The site contractor, Mr. Ferdin Amin, of Zerock Construction Nig Ltd, the contracting firm, had protested that his men had done a good job.

Ozomgbachi, however asked the contractor to point out portions he was sure were properly done and same poor result was revealed by the machines.

Ozomgbachi at the end of the inspection, had told journalists that ”the essence of this whole ex-

ercise is to ensure that the tax payer gets value for his money at all times. ”But these tests are not the final results as we shall put the samples collected to further laboratory tests and still come back to see whether the various amendments have been made to specification.“ The Committee members cov-

ered the Ahiara Round About, Enyiogugu-Aboh junction and Nkwogu Enyiogugu.

The contract sum of the 22km road was put at N4,207,774,864.51 and amount paid since last June when the contract was awarded, stood at N1,320,708,058.45.

Those in the inspection team

include Chairman House Committee on Works, Hon Ogbuefi Ozomgbachi, Fort Dike, Abdulmalik Usman, Tobias Okwuru, Ajibola Famurewa, Nosakhare Osaretin, Ganama Kwaga, Ibrahim Nuhu and t’he Imo state Federal road Controller, Engr E.Nwankwo

CONDOLENCE VISIT: From left; Prof. Anyo.O. Anya, President General, Ndigbo Lagos; Mrs. Priscillia Onyegbadue, widow, and Mrs Amina Ukiwe, during the condolence visit to the family of late Chief Pini Jason Onyegbaduo, at his Surulere residence in Lagos, yesterday. Photo: Kehinde Gbadamosi.

My father never made any wish for Obi to be re-elected in 2010 —Emeka Ojukwu Jnr

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By ENYIM ENYIM

NITSHA—FIRST, son of late Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu,Emeka Ojukwu jnr, has said that his father never made any wish for Governor Peter Obi of Anambra State to be re-elected in the 2010 gubernatorial election.

Speaking to newsmen in his Nnewi residence, he contended that the assertion was a political gimmick by Obi to get a second mandate from the people of the state.

He said the so-called wish was the only strategy that could draw the support of Anambra voters since the time was short to shop for another candidate for the All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, in the last governorship poll.

He said: “It is a fact that my father was the pivotal factor…That and Chief Umeh’s strategies. The billboards, the posters, the socalled “last wish”, all were designed to raise sentiment.

“To tap into that enduring love the majority have for Ezeigbo, to galvanise an otherwise lack lustre campaign into a victory for Governor Obi. “Actually, I had resigned long before then, but to my father, the survival of the APGA was paramount.

“After several meetings, during which alternatives to Governor

Obi where considered, it was the consensus that with limited time on our hands and the lack of uncommitted credible aspirants, ‘the

devil you know’ was better than a gamble.

“To him, APGA was the symbol of Igbo unity, the means with

which Igbo could sit around the table to negotiate at the federal level, in order to be able to better protect our interests.”

Repair of federal roads: Abia seeks N14.6bn reimbursement have construction equipment Committee of the House of

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BY ANAYO OKOLI

MUAHIA—GOVERNOR Theodore Orji of Abia State put forward to the federal government for reinbursement N14.6 billion, being money expended on federal roads by the state government.

He also has lamented the quality of contractors doing federal roads in the South East zone, and called on the Federal Government to give roads in the zone to quality and credible contractors.

Orji, who noted that the money covered rehabilitation of 16 federal roads, said the state ws already awaiting federal government’s valuation of the work done and approval of the refund to the state government.

Orji emphatically said the quality of the contractors given federal roads in the zone was in doubt, considering the manner they handled road projects.

According to him, some of the contractors are so low in standard that they don’t even

but hired tools from local contractors.

Governor Orji spoke yesterday when members of Works

Representatives who were on oversight of federal roads in the South East paid him a courtesy call.

Emminent Nigerians eulogise Achebe

BY UDUMA KALU & PRISCA SAM-DURU AGOS—EMINENT Ni gerians, yesterday, in Lagos extolled the life and times of the the departed literary icon, Prof Chinua Achebe.

Though the tributes were varied and mostly extempore, speakers were united in their description of Achebe as a patriot who loved his country, who spoke the truth and whose life was worthy of emulation.

Some of the Nigerians who gathered at the NIIA, Lagos, for the event, tagged, ‘Achebe: A Day of Tributes,’ organised by the professional Igbo group, Aka Ikenga, included diplomats, military

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chiefs, traditional rulers, writers, scholars, cultural groups, among others.

In his tribute, former Nigerian ambassador to the United Nations, Chief Arthur Mbanefo, said the celebration offered Nigerians an opportunity to reflect on Achebe’s life, just as the former Chief Executive Officer, Nigeria Economic Summit Group Ltd. Prof. Anya O. Anya, who was Achebe’s neighbour at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, noted that though Achebe was never a government minister, he was being celebrated globally. Achebe, Anya went on, “was defined by who he was: he was humble, simple and intelligent, with human failings as well.”

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, MAY 15, 2013 —15

Insecurity: We’re determined to sustain democracy —Defence chief

Democracy cannot succeed unless backed by strong military —Air Marshal Badeh

BY KINGSLEY OMONOBI

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BUJA—CHIEF of Defence Staff, Admiral Ola Sa’ad Ibrahim, declared yesterday that despite the wave of terrorism, killings and other criminal vices plaguing the country, the Armed Forces remained resolute and determined to deepen and ensure sustenance of democracy.

He made the declaration just as the Chief of Air Staff; Air Marshal Alex Badeh, warned that without a strong and virile military, there could not be a successful democracy, noting that there was need to continue to enhance capacity and training to meet present security challenges.

Speaking when he received the Chief of Pakistani Air Force, Air Chief Marshal Tahir Rafique Butt, in Abuja, Admiral Ibrahim said: “We have been trained to handle any security challenge that may confront our nation. That is why in our various schools, we are taught crisis management.”

Giving an illustration of the mode of security challenges confronting the nation, the CDS said “occasionally, it is drizzling but sometimes it is pouring in torrents.

“In spite of this, we have continued to weather the storm because we are trained for it.”

On how capacity should be built up, Ibrahim said he was in support of a situation where the services as the Army and Navy will also have their air fighting arm like you have in other armed forces of the world.

He noted that it would help quick and precise deployments towards checkmating contemporary challenges.

Earlier, Chief of Air Staff, Air

Marshal Badeh, said the Nigerian Air Force needed to move at such a speed that it was exploring other means of getting its equipment ready at all times.

“We cannot afford to move with the speed on the Navy.

This is an air force and in modern day, the air force must move fast. In the NAF, we have people with brains but we need to give them the enablement, the environment for them to perform.

“That is why I charged my officers that we must not wait until parts come from abroad before we fix minor equipment,” he said.

Recalling his visit to the Paki-

stani Air Force last year, Badeh noted that though Pakistanis were under sanctions for a long time, it didn’t deter them from looking inwards. “Today, they are self-sufficient in arms production and necessary military hardware. This is my vision for the NAF,” Badeh said.

He told the visiting Air Chief Marshal that as a result of the excellent relations existing between both air forces, the NAF would seek the assistance of PAF for an instructor pilot for the C-130 aircraft.

He thanked his Pakistani counterpart for sending Pakistani engineers to assist in fixing the F-7 fighter jet that was grounded since October last year.

Air Chief Marshal Butt in his address, said the Pakistani Airforce was ready to partner the NAF to help it achieve self sufficiency saying, “we will interact more during my stay to help the NAF attain its potentials in a very short time.”

He explained that Pakistani Air Force had become a force to be reckoned with, especially in the area of production of military equipment.

Air Force Chief said: “We have a defence industry that is slightly more developed than the country itself. We are in a region that demand we are strong militarily otherwise, we will not be allowed to exist.”

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AGOS—THERE are fears that broadcast of pornography on pay TV channels may become real in Nigeria, following acquisition of majority equity in On Digital Media, operating as TopTV by Star Times.

On Digital Media (operating as TopTV) was recently licensed to broadcast three adult content channels—Playboy TV, Desire TV, and Private Spice in South Africa.

Earlier this month, shareholders of On Digital Media, ODM, voted to accept the business rescue plan offered by Chinese company, Star Times. ODM has been distressed and in business rescue since last October.

The development has raised

BY IKECHUKWU NNOCHIRI & ODINIYA RUTH BUJA—AN Abuja high court at Maitama, yesterday, fixed June 6 to cross-examine the erstwhile chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Prince Vincent Ogbulafor, following his alleged complicity in the illegal diversion of about N2.2billion from the coffers of the federal government in 2001.

The court fixed the date after Ogbulafor admitted that he collected N2million from the second accused person in the matter, Mr Emeka Ebilah, saying the money was a donation in support of his campaign to be elected national secretary of the party.

Ogbulafor, who mounted the witness box on a day he opened his defence against a 17-count criminal charge preferred against him by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, ICPC, told trial Justice Ishaq Bello that the said N2mwasgiventohimincashon October 25, 2001.

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NCC insists on regulating dorminant telecom operators BRIEFING: Customer Care Officer, Globacom, Mrs. Abimbola Umuzuriku; Head, Corporate Sales, Globacom, Mr. Kamal Shonibare; Postpaid Business Group, Globacom, Mrs. Brenda Akhigbe; Glo ambassadors and Nollywood stars, Monalisa Chinda and Chidinma Okebalama, during the briefing on Glo Unlimited Infinitiser in Lagos, yesterday. Photo: Joe Akintola, Photo Editor.

Fears over porn broadcast in Nigeria as Star Times acquires S-Africa Top TV

BY ADEKUNLEADEKOYA

N2.2bn fraud: Court fixes June 6 to cross-examine Ogbulafor

palpable fears that the Chinese pay TV operator may include the Top TV porn channels in its Nigerian bouquet offerings.

But spokesman of StarTimes Nigeria, Ayokunle Idowu, in a telephone conversation said his company had no such plans.

“We have no such plans. Apart from that, I’m sure the National Broadcasting Commission, NBC, will not approve such,” he said.

But aggressive marketing of its T-1 decoders at N3,000 fuel fears that addition of the hard core channels will drive up subscription.

However, the bail-out of ODM

by StarTimes has been tarnished by massive public outcry, notably from South African religious bodies, which find Top

TV association with pornography abhorrent.

Late last month, the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa, ICASA, gave TopTV the approval to air three pornographic channels. The channels Playboy TV, Desire TV, and Private Spice.

ICASA claimed it gave the approval following extensive public consultation process it undertook prior to granting the application by ODM. “The authority upholds the view that there is no law of general application prohibiting the production and distribution of adult content in the republic. Only the production and distribution of child pornography is expressly prohibited by law,” added ICASA. The authorisation limits the

broadcast of the adult content from 8pm to 5am.

The approval for the X-rated channels also sparked the anger of the South Africa’s Muslim Judicial Council, MJC, which described it as “inconsistent”. Nabeweya Mallick, spokesperson for the MJC, said the council was “disappointed,” at ICASA’s insensitivity to the rights of tastes of religious and race groups and cultures.

She said: “We feel they have really failed the standards set by ICASA. If one is sensitive to the rights of these groups... what about the rights of women?” she questioned. The justification for allowing this to take place was “inadequate”, as TopTV stated that the only complaints and submission they received were on moral grounds.“

BY PRINCE OSUAGWU

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BUJA—THE Nige rian Communications Commission, NCC, yesterday insisted that it must regulate the dominant operators in the telecoms industry, to forestall impending injury they may inflict on the entire telecommunications industry.

According to NCC, “MTN, for instance, has been pricing its off net calls at three or four times the price of on net calls, which could easily lead to anticompetitive practices.”

The commission described the practice as a strategy intended to discourage its customers from making calls to other operators while forcing people to depend on its line to make all their calls.

The Commission’s website said MTN currently controlled nearly 50 per cent of the mobile subscriber base, even as it intended to price calls on- net at such a low price that the smaller operators will not be able to compete with them and makeprofit.

16—Vanguard , TUESDAY, MAY 14, 2013

GEJ shows emergency is not military rule

BY OCHEREOME NNANNA

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Dr. Abdulfatah Ahmed, Kwara State Governor (right), introducing Alhaji Ibrahim Adeyemi, Senior Special Assistant, Government House,(left), to Mr. Agboola Oshodi-Glover, the new Commissioner of Police, in the state, at the Government House, Ilorin, yesterday.

Emergency rule to please all Continues from page 13

contemplate it in life again.”

His words captured the angst about kidnapping and armed robbery. When it came to the hundreds of lives that have been lost in the country daily since 2010, actions that have been tainted by all manners of considerations: none has stopped the killers; rather the killers have been emboldened to the extent that they make demands, and set conditions for stopping their criminality.

President Goodluck Jonathan in restricting the emergency to only Adamawa Borno, and Yobe again played politics with an important matter.

Belated state of emergency In leaving the governors to rule the States, the first time a state of emergency is going on under such terms, he set out to please everyone. When Plateau and Ekiti States were under emergency rule, they had sole administrators.

What about the crisis in Nasarawa, where an unknown number of security agents have been killed? Nasarawa is spared?

What about Bauchi, Taraba, Kaduna, Gombe, Kano and Plateau? What informed their exclusion? The state of emergency

is not only belated, but so compromised that it may not be effective. Its selected application is similar to a decision in 2011 to impose emergency measures in some local government areas of some of the crisis-ridden States.

It did not work.

President Jonathan has set out to be seen as doing something about the security situation. In waiting for so long to act, we may have missed critical moments that would have sent his message directly to the terrorists. In setting out to please all sides of the political divide, he might have largely succeeded in whittling the impact of emergency rule.

What is next? How would these measures that appear borne out of advice from interested parties (personal interests) affect the fight against terrorism? How would the security agencies whose colleagues were killed in Nasarawa feel about the slight mention the incident got?

The long journey to tackling terrorism has taken a turn that would leave many wondering if it has begun or stopped under the guise that it is revving up.

We have established a culture of impunity and now partiality, the latest measure emphasises it.

Terrorists are exploiting it – the results are the endless killings in Adamawa, Plateau, Kano, Kaduna, Gombe, Bauchi, Borno, and Yobe. Nasarawa has joined.

Reverse process on amnesty for Boko Haram, cleric tells FG

BY TAYE OBATERU & HOPE OFOBIKE

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OS — THE President of the Church of Christ In all Nations, COCIN, Rev. Soja Bewarang has called on the Federal Government to reverse the process initiated towards granting amnesty to the Boko Haram sect.

Bewarang made the call, yesterday, at the 82nd General Council meeting of the church at COCIN headquarters in Jos. According to him, “many theories have been put in place on the issue of amnesty. As a church we can say with a strong voice that evil must not be glorified. Negative reward in

most cases breeds delinquency and compensation must be given to families and churches that have suffered un-quantified human and material losses. ”The Federal Government has tolerated Boko Haram long enough and this has given the group the power to continue their evil actions.

"Nobody knows what the sect is up to; they strike at will catching the security unaware, and whenever they strike, they leave sorrow, tears and blood. When will these be over?”

Bewarang said the church has been affected negatively by the insurgence and called for better security measures to check the situation.

ITING Section 305 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, President Goodluck Jonathan, last night declared a state of emergency in three key flashpoint states of Northeastern Nigeria wracked by activities of the Boko Haram and Ansaru terrorist insurgents - Borno, Yobe and Adamawa States.

The measure came shortly after the Presidency had denied plans to declare emergency which sections of the parties in opposition had vehemently opposed because of fears that some of the states under the Boko Haram siege, being under the opposition All Nigerian People’s Party (ANPP) such as Borno and Yobe, might be politically undermined to the advantage of the ruling People’s Democratic Party.

States of emergency in the history of Nigeria, both during the First Republic when it was

declared in the defunct Western Region, and during the years of the President Olusegun Obasanjo rule always involved the removal of elected political functionaries in the Legislative and Executive branches.

Obasanjo had the habit of sending retired military officers to run the states, such as Plateau and Ekiti, after sending the Governor and the State Houses of Assembly packing.

Military approach In a clear departure from the dreaded military approach, President Jonathan also opted to dialogue with the Governors of the affected states before declaring this emergency.

There is a clear indication that he wants to work together with the elected leadership of the affected states to solve the extraordinary security problems posed by foreign-armed and inspired terror networks.

The cooperative approach

adopted by the president has shown there is no ulterior political motive other than to allow the Nigerian armed forces to bring out their best to crush an insurgency that has claimed thousands of lives and rendered the economy of Northern Nigeria almost comatose.

It is expected that the tension and suspicion as well as fear of tampering with the democratic structures of the affected states will die down and elicit support from well meaning leaders and citizens of the states and the nation at large.

The use of “extra-ordinary” measures by the military requires the total cooperation and support of the citizenry to ensure minimal civilian casualty. It is hoped that local political leaders will put aside politics and support the emergency rule and enable this beleaguered country to put terrorism behind in the shortest possible time.

Is the prediction that Nigeria will disintegrate by 2015 coming to reality?

BY OMOH GABRIEL, Business Editor

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OW has Nigeria degenerated to this low level of animal behaviour of killing one another across the country?

Nigerian leaders appear helpless.

When as a people we collectively surrendered our sovereignty to the state to take care of all, it is the expectation that the state will protect us all. It will act in the best interest of all of us. Nigerians are afraid of their safety in almost every part of the country and the North East in particular. At a time, many well meaning Nigerians thought that the problem was about corruption and power failure, but now insecurity has taken over.

With what is happening nation wide, killings, kidnappings and hostage taking, the President that Nigerians have collectively mandated to act on their behalf owe Nigerians a duty to come out strong and call the shots. He has to face the security challenges.

He should be the President he was elected to be and must come out of his shell and rule as a man.

He owes no one any apology to do the needful to secure the country. It is better for a man to answer his father’s name for posterity to hold him in high esteem than for him to bury his father’s name and answer the name of a stranger.

It is very clear from all indications that not enough is being done to address the security challenges. Or is it that Mr. President and the service chiefs are afraid of certain set of people?

Or is it because of 2015 election?

Mr. President should say to hell with second term and come down heavily on those promoting trouble in the country whoever they may be. The President cannot be passive about this security challenge. One thing is clear in all of this. The President has failed in his constitutional duty to defend and protect the people he swore to protect thus far. He should go to the root of these security challenges. The state of insecurity must be attributed to the menace of the extremist/criminals to security lapses, everything in this country is being polarised even to the security agencies. All they now do is to promote their religion instead of protecting Nigeria.

Closing the borders The President has several options to tackle this menace once and for all. He should as a matter of urgency declare a state of emergency in any part of the country where criminals in what ever name are reigning supreme.

He should close the borders and begin an immediate house to house search for arms, weapons and criminals. Until the menace is solved the borders should remain closed. When criminals were terrorizing Nigeria from Benin Republic, Obasanjo simply closed the land borders and a week later, Tijani who was the brain behind the criminal activity was handed over by Beninois authority to Nigeria. Just last month in the United States of

America, the government shut down Botson and Waterfront town in search of two terrorists who killed a policeman and three civilians at the Botson marathon bombing. Botson residents were asked to stay indoors. Rail, road water and air transport in Botson were shut down, no movement until the criminal was taken into custody. Why should this government be afraid in applying the same principles? This government should as a matter of national urgency overhaul its security system. Mr. President must realize that he can only be president if there is Nigeria. With what is going on across the country the stage is being set for the unexpected. What that may be is a guess for all.

President Jonathan must act now to avoid the prediction from USA that Nigeria may disintegrate by 2015. Nigeria occupies an enviable position in the world with abundant natural and human resources. The President should look deeper in order to find a lasting solution to this carnage. This President should not allow this country to disintegrate.

Nigeria, as a country, does not have a record of arms and bomb manufacturing. The citizens at this time are tired with the usual press releases issued anytime a crisis happens. This is a challenge to Mr. President. The Federal Government must move urgently to shake up the security apparatus to assure Nigerians and the international community of its capacity to guarantee the security of lives and property in the country.

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, MAY 15, 2013— —17

18 — Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, MAY 15, 2013 GOVERNMENT is determined to clamp down on users of private aircraft. It finds cover under its powers to regulate aviation though the reasons appear more ridiculous by the day.

The confirmation that government is insisting that private aircraft cannot ferry friends and business associates of their owners is well over the limit in regulations.

The recent claims that there have been abuses, including possible security breaches, cannot be adequate reasons to castrate private aviation.

Much confusion would result from the policy – all of them exposing the shallowness of whatever informed it. What qualifies as a private aircraft? Will aircraft belonging to local governments and States be classified as private? Are planes in the presidential fleet private or would they have immunity from the regulation?

Almost all the oil companies and major businesses depend on private aviation to create paces they deem appropriate for their activities. Would the “no friends, no business associates” regulations apply to them? Who are then allowed to use private planes? Who

Dangers Of Over Regulating A viation Aviation can meet the conditions for their use?

Privation aviation, the world over, is a creation of the realisation that businesses and governments that can afford them, save a lot of time (which is money) if they can travel to their engagements without the strangling demands of commercial airlines even in places with more travel options.

Another consideration is the security of top personalities which could be compromised if they travel in scheduled flights. By its nature, therefore, private aviation does all the things that the Federal Government wants to banish, and more.

Mega deals are concluded in them.

Business people are too busy sometimes to

have meetings in their offices or hotels. As they shuttle round the world, they can make stops, pick up partners and round off deals while still air borne. Nigeria says it would not allow these regular business manners in her air space.

Demands that manifests should be filed are normal. If the authorities suspect that some planes are violating regulations, they should deal with them. There are no grounds, however, to punish all present and prospect private plane owners over the sins of others.

Government should have better reasons for the clamp down, which is doubtful if it can implement them. Business growth demands that people get to opportunities faster. Without private planes it is more challenging.

The latest regulation on private aircraft amounts to decapitation as cure for headache. No matter how bad a headache is, there must be a better way of curing it, except if such premium is placed on getting done with the headache that loss of life is considered immaterial. Over regulation is as dangerous as loose regulation.

OPINION

BY CLEMENT UDEGBE

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HE Nigerian Punch at page 12, Thursday May 9, carried a report that the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs, NSCIA, has asked Nigerians not to blame the violence in the North on Muslims. They called on the FGN to immediately resettle all displaced Muslims in Bauchi ,Plateau and Kaduna states, stop the plan to exterminate Muslims in Wukari, Taraba State, set up a judicial commission of enquiry, to ensure that justice is done since they believe that non – muslims hide under Boko Haram to perpetrate crimes.

They also called on the FGN to caution those making inflammatory statements on the forth coming 2015 elections so that the fragile peace in the country will not be jeopardized, and to prosecute all detainees on allegations of criminal activities. They frowned at government’s non –implementation of the white papers of their commissions/panels of enquiry on various ethno-religious crisis and conflicts in the country.

No one can really fault these calls from the apex Muslim body in this country except for a few areas. The colossal stature of this body makes it mandatory that every communiqué from them is weighed and considered with every seriousness, by any whose interest is in the progress and peace of our country, Nigeria. On the same scale, should any communiqué from the Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, the apex Christian body in Nigeria be weighed. This is one gain of democracy and freedom of speech and opinion, unlike what we had just a few years back, under military rule.

I agree, of course, that we must not blame

Violence in Nor th of Nigeria, who tto o blame?

North Muslims for the violence in the North. We must not do that. Instead , let us look for someone to blame, beginning with those Christians who want to persuade people peacefully and lawfully to follow Jesus Christ. Or we just blame it on the foreigners who come here for their businesses, looking after their investments in our land. Or we blame it on those of them who have come on humanitarian purposes and get killed in the North. Or let us blame it on those herdsmen, those illiterates who do not just obey the laws but are peaceful in their business.The problem is that, in fact, most of the herdsmen are Muslims; so let us blame every other persons, including the governments, but NEVER MUSLIMS! Whenever one reads of releases like the headline under reference, the stomach churns immediately because it contains some halftruths. The NSCIA wants the FGN to immediately resettle all displaced Muslims in Bauchi, Plateau and Kaduna States, but apparently they may not have been thinking of the resettlement, first of all those Christians and others that have been displaced over a year ago and running! It is obviously the proverbial case of when people are carrying the coffin of their beloved one, it will seem to the stranger as if they are carrying a piece of firewood! Now that things have turned bad for all, we have come to realise that we must resettle the Muslims. Resettlement is very good for all, but only if you resettle Christians and other victims first and foremost, then the rest may follow, or you resettle all of them at once,

because what is good for the goose is good for the gander. There should be no different rules for any class or religion, not now.

Yes, indeed, let all comments be guarded, and it will not be like the case where some would say things that would and may have actually caused disaffection among Nigerians and nothing happened. We remember very clearly and vividly, those from the North who said that if they were not declared winners in the 2011 presidential election, blood would flow, and Nigeria would become ungovernable, etc.

Today Nigeria is still governable, but blood is flowing, and who knows for how long!

Those comments made by strong and well respected politicians in the North, post 2011 elections results, may well be at the root of the fragile unity we have ended up with today, which the Islamic apex body is now calling on FGN to sustain. Their call should have come since 2011, when Northern politicians and Muslims made provocative statements.

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sari Dokubo and his Niger Delta henchmen threatened us again earlier this week that come 2015, if GEJ is not declared the winner, Nigeria may not exist, and many started calling for his arrest. They surely do not know what they are saying. How can you arrest these Niger Deltans now, when you did not arrest those Northern politicians who made very divisive and incendiary comments earlier in 2011? Why were they not

arrested? After all, if in the military coup d etats are used to take power, our politicians may now be using another variant of making the country ungovernable to push out their opponents. It is the same pill as far I can see; killing to get to power!

In any event, we must not forget that the Niger Deltans are not the Igbos who can be arrested for anything they said or did. The Igbos are not violent, so you can arrest them. That is why Uwazurike of MASSOB is still being tried, while all the willful killers are being begged to come for amnesty, which they are disdainfully rejecting. The Igbos are the ones who can be picked up at the whims and caprices of the powers that be, because they have been conquered in the civil war, conquered in their minds, overcome, and over whelmed, by desire for personal survival, so much so that they could not maintain or sustain any political party of their own ethnic foundation, or formulate any strong basis for negotiating power or anything with other ethnic groups.

The case of the Igbo man has become so bad politically, that if the ruling party should zone the presidential ticket today to the South East of Nigeria, so many contenders will come out from that zone, and pull at that very ticket till they tear it, render it useless, and none of them will make it ultimately! *Mr. Udegbe, a lawyer, wrote from Lagos.

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, MAY 15, 2013— —19

, A

FRICAN newspapers take centre stage this week in the United Kingdom as the Department of African Studies and Anthropology, DASA, incorporating the Centre of West African Studies, CWAS, of the University of Birmingham, holds its annual Cadbury International Conference on 17th and 18th of May. The theme of this year’s event which holds in the university’s Edgbaston Campus is ‘African Newspapers Culture’ and it draws participants, researchers, scholars and practising journalists from across Africa and Europe. Africa is today arguably the world’s home of newspapers going by the rate at which newspapers spring up on the continent. Often of different makes, shapes and aimed at convening diverse or (sometimes confusingly) similar audiences, newspapers are everywhere in Africa. This is while, in other parts of the world, especially in Western Europe and North America, newspapers increasingly migrate

from the real into the virtual world of cyberspace. The hard copy almost literally is still king across Africa where poor or outdated technology seems to have left many a reader locked out of the digital age of the cursor and keyboard. What is more, many of these newspapers and their audiences defy generic classification.

Print, with its interplay of economic forces, is one way we have come to define human communities as we know them today. It may no longer amaze us how people in different parts of a community, to say nothing of the modern world, think and act as one or imagine themselves members of the same world- equal and interchangeable. The daily events of modern life which shape and why not?- misshapen our existence and which we have come to take for granted are often by-products of the newspapers we read among other textual products. And while choosing which newspapers we

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read may be relatively easy, far less so is our definition of what constitutes a newspaper. Beyond its role as an easy source of both topical and historical information, what is a newspaper? What makes a newspaper a newspaper? Is this question the same as asking what is news? Which are the acceptable definitions of news or a newspaper?

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hat factors determine the acceptability of these definitions? And are these definitions such easy and transparent propositions for all to see and accept or reject? Even more pertinent, perhaps, are questions of which factors shape newspaper production. What informs the choice of news items in a newspaper; what principles underlie a newspaper’s mode of address and the type of audience it seeks to convene? How do these

Paying the Police a livable minimum wage

T

HE Inspector-General of Police, Mr Mohammed Abubakar, wants to raise the entry point salary in the force from N28,000 to N100,000. He is proposing the increase as part of his effort to reform a force that is so ill-trained, poorly equipped, unmotivated, corrupt and dangerous that it is universally vilified and held in the highest odium and ridicule of all the institutions of the dilapidated Nigerian state. The Police may not entirely deserve that reputation, considering how thick the layers of slime that cover every other key organ of state. From a Presidency that does not flinch at a billion naira food budget and that is eager to build a N2 billion banquet hall and a N4 billion “First Lady ” secretariat, to the most expensively-paid national legislature in the world, down to ministries and parastatals whose sole reason for existence is contract-mongering, the entire Nigerian public sector is a cesspool of corruption.

Unfortunately for the Police, it has by its own hand seared two images indelibly onto the mind of anyone, citizen or foreigner, who has ever travelled a kilometre or two on a busy Nigerian roadway (say from the Lagos airport to Oshodi, or along any motorable stretch of the Benin-Shagamu expressway). They are images of gun-point extortion at roadblocks and of the cold-blooded murder of the citizen who resists being robbed. Abubakar is aware of the daunting image problem of his force and may have taken the first genuine step at doing something concrete about it. He can hardly be faulted for wanting to start by

raising the slave salaries of the lowliest of his men and women in the hope of achieving a commensurate boost in morale. A salary, after all, is meant to cater to the material needs of the worker for optimum performance and for a healthy replenishment of the labour pool. Those needs include food, housing, clothing, healthcare, school fees, leisure and saving for a rainy day as well as for retirement.

Yet, somehow, the assumption has been that N28,000 is enough to meet these needs monthly, even if a policeman had only himself to care for. Well, not anymore.

“The money you are being paid is not enough,” said Abubakar to the Plateau State Command in Jos. But his “officers and men” know that well enough, so he quickly added, “that is why the police is working towards increasing the money.”

Money may not buy happiness, but it might just buy for Abubakar’s troops some sorely needed morale: “We are doing our best to ensure that your morale is high,” he said further, in the hope that they would then do their “best at ensuring that the society is free of any form of crime.”

Quite often, when we bemoan corruption, we do not make a link to its underlying socio-economic causes. And that is mostly because we are now accustomed to hearing of billion and trillion naira thefts, sums that the ordinary duty officer at a roadblock will never haul home even if he did nothing else but collect N50 notes night and day for 10 years. Yet corruption is now choking the country to death simply because it has permeated the entire fabric of our social life. Such that it is now impossible to distinguish it from

presentations by scholars, fellows and postgraduate students spanning six months and culminating in the ‘Crossroads in African Studies’ Conference between September 4 and 6, 2013 to mark the fiftieth anniversary of the department. The conference would also mark the inauguration of a new annual lecture, the Fage Lecture, named after the late founder of the Centre of West African Studies, John Fage.

If Professor Fage laid the foundation of this important centre of learning, much has been built on that foundation by Professor Karin Ajike Barber, FBA, rightly named the Asiwaju (Yoruba for leader) of African Studies in Europe by another giant Africanist, the sociologist, J.D.Y Peel. Among this class of Africanists are Professors Murray Last, Graham Furniss and Stephanie Newell. Karin Baber whose first visit to Western Nigeria was to study Yoruba Popular Theatre in the early 1970s studied and taught Yoruba at the University of Ife for many years. Her penetrating insight, wise and astute leadership, has nurtured a crop of other solid scholars helping to ‘move the centre’ of African Studies in their department: Kate Skinner, her co-convener for this year ’s conference; Benedetta Rossi, Insa Nolte, Maxim Bolt among others, including the budding stars like Rebecca Jones, and David Kerr.

When the conferees settle down to their presentations this weekend, they would be doing so knowing they are part of a tradition of African studies scholarship in Europe that has lasted 50 years and is still going strong.

the norm.

Actually, it is now the norm. Under t h e intolerable burden of surviving literally on mere air and water, the m a s s e s followed the example of their opulent rulers and gradually changed their

,

DASA-CWAS celebrates African newspapers

Print, with its interplay of economic forces, is one way we have come to define human communities as we know them today; it may no longer amaze us how people in different parts of a community, think and act as one

audiences read and why? Are these readings similar?

Are newspapers mere business propositions subject to the complex mix of economic and social factors? Or superstructures set up for purely hegemonic ends?

Beyond the platitudinous emphasis of its watch dog role, what else do newspapers do in Africa and why?

These and more are the questions that have been agitating scholars, fellows and investigators, in the last two and a half months at DASA-CWAS. This weekend their reflections will culminate in an international conference. From West Africa to East Africa; from Kenya where the 1988 murder of Julie Ward, a British tourist, has been the subject of much media speculation 25 years after to ‘experiences of the world’ (Iriri Aye) in Yoruba newspapers, not leaving out the ubiquitous free readers without whom a visit to the newsstand is never complete in places like Nigeria, scholars explore different aspects of newspaper culture in Africa, including the intersection between the spoken and the written word and how these influence news reception.

As one of the leading spheres of African studies in the Western world, the newly-named Department of African Studies and Anthropology, incorporating the Centre of West African Studies, a unit formerly and simply known as CWAS is not new to conferences of these nature. Founded by the historian, John Donnelly Fage, the Centre of West African Studies, is one of the oldest such centres in the West. Indeed the Cadbury Conference is just one, albeit an important one, of its summer term’s events which include Africafocused programmes and

Quite often, when we bemoan corruption, we do not make a link to its underlying socio-economic causes; and that is mostly because we are now accustomed to hearing of billion and trillion naira thefts

,

attitude from condemnation to condonation and approval. A fundamental revision of the ethical code, it required justification in social necessity.

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s, for instance, the bleak fact that the minimum wage is N18,000. And anybody who has ever bought a fish bigger than her hand or a sizable tuber of yam knows that figure has absolutely no basis in reality. A police constable earning

N28,000 has about N900 per day. Now, try feeding one mouth — child or adult, it doesn’t matter — “three square meals” with that! And, while you are at it, be sure to never need a shirt or a pair of shoes; to pay rent or transport fare, school or doctor’s fees.

Any surprise, then, that corruption should become a way of life for us, perpetuated over time chiefly by the thieving ruling class and now enjoying the status of a paramount but unofficial policy of government? Why wouldn’t the clerk at the motor licensing office, the Customs officer at the airport, the headmaster of the primary school, the local government officer in charge of market stalls, etc., demand a bribe before doing his or her duty? Back home at the close of work, will the conscientious discharge of his duties silence the wailing children? Pay the school fees of the child home for a week now? Buy the drugs to cure malaria?

Labour congress president, Comrade Abdulwaheed Omar, is ecstatic to the point of prayer about the IG’s proposed minimum wage for police constables.

“I pray to the almighty God that the Federal Government grants the request … they deserve it,” he said.

And I say, as well for the cow as for the bull. Now there can be no excuse on the part of Omar not to call for a final showdown with the government for a livable minimum wage of N100,000 for all workers.

20—Vanguard , WEDNESDAY WEDNESDAY,, MAY 15 , 2013

Debate of the masses

Double standards!

BY EBELE ORAKPO

“If you’re poor and get caught with drugs, it’s a crime and you go to jail for possession; if you’re rich and get caught with drugs, it’s a scandal and you go to rehab” – Anonymous. this guy has got “ BUT guts!” exclaimed

•A villager staring helplessly at the ruins of what used to be his house in one of the affected villages

Sokoto wind storm: 110 houses razed in five villages ••Residents count losses

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ESIDENTS of five vil lages in Yabo Local Government Area of Sokoto State got the shock of their lives at the weekend when a wind storm struck and destroyed 110 houses. Presently the residents are still counting their losses, especially in the villages that were completely razed by the raging storm.

The villages razed by the wind storm include Toronkawa, Muza, Zezi, Dagawa and Yabo.

At Zezi village, Vanguard Metro, VM, found out that most of the houses were razed, including the 37-year-old Zezi Primary School, which roof-top was blown off by the storm.

One of the victims of the wind storm who spoke with VM, Wakili Dantudu, 48, said that the wind storm began at about 5pm on Friday, destroying three rooms in his house.

“The wind storm started violently at 5pm. As you can see, almost all the houses have been blown off and some others, completely razed down,” Dantudu told VM. He called on the local and state government to their aid as quickly as possible.

Also speaking to VM, 28-yearold Habibu Abubakar, who had dislocation on his left shoulder as a result of the storm, said that until government came to the community’s aid, people of the community risked further disaster, especially now that rainy season was at hand.

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BY ABDALLAH EL-KUREBE, Sokoto

assess the extent of the destruction in these villages,” the chairman said adding: “In the interim, we have set up a committee under the chairmanship of the State PDP chairman, Alhaji Sabo Madawaki and we have provided N1 million for the victims of Dagawa and Zezi villages as im-

The wind storm started violently at 5pm; as you can see, almost all the houses have been blown off and some others, completely razed down

“You can see that I have dislocation on my shoulder. Rubbles of the razed building fell on me, causing this injury on my shoulder,” Abubakar said, adding: “My appeal to the government is to come to our aid with immediate effect.”

Chairman of Yabo Local Government Council, Abubakar Shamaki confirmed to Vanguard Metro that a total of 110 houses were destroyed by the wind storm in five villages of the local government area.

“The villages in which the 110 houses were destroyed include Toronkawa, Muza, Zezi, Dagawa and Yabo. We are now trying to

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mediate assistance.”

Shamaki added that the storm victims in the five villages would receive a total of N2.5 million.

“All the victims in the five villages will receive N2.5 million.

This is an immediate measure taken by the local government to assist the communities,” the chairman added.

The Information Unit of the local government, according to Shamaki, “is going round taking photos of and video-taping the destroyed houses with a view to formally writing the state government and other related organisations to provide disaster relief.”

Peter, a commuter in the Ikeja-bound bus as he read a story in a national daily about former leader of Niger Delta Volunteer Force, NDVF, Alhaji Asari-Dokubo, boasting that Nigeria will know no peace if President Jonathan fails to be reelected in 2015.

“Who the hell is he to challenge a whole nation?” queried Nina.

Replied Tony: “Do you blame him? I am sure he has got some powerful forces backing him and that has given him the boldness.”

“Apart from that, he is just re-echoing what Gen. Buhari said before the 2011 elections. Others have made similar remarks and nothing was done to them; so, is it because it is coming from a seemingly wrong quarter?” asked Peter.

“President Jonathan caused this problem. He missed it completely when he ordered that those officers that killed Mohammed Yusuf, the Boko Haram leader, in the early days of this insurgency, should be dealt with. That emboldened the others,” noted Iyabo.

“Exactly, he really misfired in that instance,” agreed Tony.

“Yes, because the police killed him extra-judicially which was not right,” said Id, to which Nike retorted thus: “Oh, so the innocent ones they murdered in cold blood before he was killed were not humans? I tell you, if the guy had not been killed at that point, he would have been walking the streets a free man today; you know how our courts operate.”

“I fear for this country.

The military may take over the way things are going,” said James. “I had a dream a few days ago where the military struck and took over governance. It was very vivid and really frightening and the thing is that my dreams usually come true.”

“Abeg oo! Joseph the dreamer,” teased Iyke.

“Forget that! It will never happen. Not in this modern world. Impossican’t!” countered Rita.

“Never say never. Anything can happen in Nigeria. The North is so desperate to get back to the saddle now and if democracy will not get them there, then military putsch will accomplish it,” said James.

“Unfortunately, that may not be feasible because Obasanjo retired many top military officers who happened to be Northerners when he became president,” stated Rose.

“Ah, that will not stop them. They can retire the high ranking Southern officers and promote the Northerners to take the position,” insisted James.

“It won’t be easy as the world is now a global village and whatever happens in one part affects other parts,” said Iyke.

Said John: “If I were the President, I’ll send all the service chiefs to Borno State to crush the insurgents. If all of them had been sent there, and ordered not to return until they achieve result, this nonsense would not have escalated to this point.

After all, those innocent souls they killed were Nigerians and they voted for him but sadly, he has failed to protect them.”

“It’s all double standard in this nation. How many policemen were killed in Odi that the entire community was wiped out, yet hundreds of them have been killed by Boko Haram and not even a state of emergency has been declared in any of the hot spots,” he noted.

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, MAY 15, 2013 — 21

Electronic transactions hit N80bn daily — CBN

By PETER EGWUATU

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HE Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has said that the total value of electronic funds transfer in the country has risen to N80 billion per day.

The CBN attributed the funds transfer growth to introduction and execution of the cashless p o l i c y .

The Deputy Governor, Operations, CBN, Mr. Tunde Lemo, who disclosed this, Monday, explained that the Nigeria Interbank Settlement System (NIBSS) records over N20billion daily transaction by value, while Nigeria Electronic Funds Transfer (NEFT) conducts about N60billion transactions daily.

NIBSS provides the infrastructure for automated processing, settlement of payments and fund transfer instructions between banks, discount houses and card companies in Nigeria.

It is owned equally by all licensed banks in Nigeria, and the CBN. Discount houses operating in Nigeria also hold substantial shares. NEFT payment is an irrevocable fund transfer instruction. Lemo noted that both the value and volume of cash transactions executed through the NIBSS and the NEFT have doubled when compared with the use of cheques.

He said: “We have forgotten that the cashless policy also includes high volume payment transactions

143.7

such as the NNIBSS Instant Payment (NIP). The NIP now moves between N20 and N40 billion worth of transactions daily.

The cashless Lagos also includes the NEFT. Through NEFT, we also have tens of thousands of transactions valued over N60 billion daily. So, between NEFT and NIP, we have transactions now that have more than doubled the cheque transaction volume,” he said.

Lemo, who is responsible for

-0.85

-0.14

102.23

-0.59

94.62

-0.55

CURRENCY BUYING CENTRAL DOLLAR POUNDS EURO FRANC YEN CFA WAUA RENMINBI RIYA KRONA SDR

154.74 237.8818 200.9918 161.8619 1.52 0.2874 231.3596 25.174 41.2585 26.9619 231.9398

155.24 238.6505 201.6412 162.3849 1.525 0.2974 232.1072 25.2558 41.3918 27.0491 232.6892

locations in Nigeria. We are actually working in collaboration with the Bankers’ Committee. We have a subcommittee headed by the MD/CEO of UBA, who is the cash-less champion among the bank CEOs and together with the other institution like the Nigeria Interbank Settlement System (NIBSS) and others, we are working very hard to ensure that we dot all the I’s and cross all the T’s.

From left: Ms Evelyn Oputu, MD, Bank of Industry, BOI; Mr Dapo Oyebanji (aka D’Banj) and Mr Uche Nwuka, Senior Manager, BOI during the unveiling of D’Banj as Bank of Industry Ambassador at its corporate headquarters, in Lagos, Monday. Photo: Lamidi Bamidele.

2,320.00 -16.00 17.11

driving the policy, said the additional states, including Rivers, Kano, Anambra, Ogun and Abia, as well as the FCT, were chosen because of the large volume of cash transactions in some of their major cities. He said: “Recall that we started this programme actually in January last year and we are only just continuing. We are only just moving to phase two, so we have learnt all the ropes in phase one in cash-less Lagos and we believe we are ready to roll out to other six

SELLING 155.74 239.4191 202.2907 162.9079 1.5299 0.3074 232.8548 25.3376 41.5251 27.1362 233.4387

CBN Exchange rate as at 14/05/2013

NDIC tackles legal challenges of bank liquidation

E

XCESSIVE litigations and lack of understanding of the legal role of the Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation (NDIC) as liquidator have been identified as the major challenges hampering the effective settlement of depositors.

According to a statement signed by H. S. Birchi, NDIC ‘s Head, Communication & Public Affairs, the Managing Director/CEO of the Corporation, Alh. Umaru Ibrahim, made the remark at the opening ceremony of the sensitisation seminar for NDIC External Solicitors in Abuja with the theme: “Challenges to Deposit Insurance Law and Practice in Nigeria.”

Alh. Ibrahim said in the over twenty years of the Corporation’s existence, that it had made giant strides in protecting depositors’ funds through its statutory mandate of deposit guarantee, bank su-

pervision, bank failure resolution and bank liquidation.

He, however, added that the execution of court judgements against the assets of the Corporation as liquidator and the difficulty in recovering debts owed to failed banks were part of the challenges that must be addressed for the NDIC to have a greater impact on depositor protection. He described the seminar as a crucial step towards tackling these challenges by enhancing the capacity of lawyers to gain a full understanding of the legal issues involved.

Papers presented at the seminar included: “Discourse on the Proper Parties to a Suit in Respect of a Bank Liquidation” presented by NDIC Director Legal Department, Barr. A. B. Nyako and “The Recovery of Debt under the Failed Bank Act: Application for Debt Recovery (Form A)” by A. B. Mahmud (SAN).

DSR to boost Nigeria’s sugar production by 1.5mmt

BY NKIRUKA NNOROM

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ITH successful acquisition of 95 percent equity stake in Savanna Sugar Refinery, Dangote Sugar Refinery, DSR, is now set to hit 1.5 million metric tones local raw sugar production by 2018.

The Chairman, DSR, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, who made the disclosure at the 7th annual general meeting in Lagos, said that in addition to Savanna Sugar, other sites would be acquired by the company and the necessary steps taken to ensure that its foray in the backward integration project becomes a success story.

He explained that the fire outbreak in July, 2012 that gulped over 60 percent of the refinery did not affect the output, as the management was able to carry on with production from the remaining 40 percent that was not affected by the fire incident, while sales and supplies continued from the company’s strategic sugar reserve without disruption.

“The rehabilitation was fully concluded in December, 2012, and we now have our state of the art refinery in full operation.

Our volumes have increased, production yield improved and the quality of our sugar enhanced.

“Today, Dangote Sugar has the highest quality refined sugar in Sub-Saharan Africa.

The quality has been attested to by most multinational companies in our customer base. Our strategy is competitive prices, increased volume and profitability,” he stated.

Despite the challenging operating environment during the year under review, the company posted a remarkable performance.

“Our turnover stood at N106.87 billion; operating profit before tax stood at N16.33 billion, while profit after tax stood at N10.74 billion. This represents a 49.5 percent growth in profit over what was recorded in year 2011.

“This performance is an indication of the positive outcome of the various changes and strategic initiatives implemented in the company during the year under review.

22 — Vanguard,WEDNESDAY, MAY 15, 2013

A Shareholder’s View on SEC vs UBN and 19 Others T

Financial charges deflate Guinness profitability by 18% STORIES BY BABAJIDE KOMOLAFE

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UINNESS Nigeria Plc recorded 18 per cent decline in profitability in nine months to sharp increase in financial charges.

Results of the company for the nine months ended March 31st 2013 submitted to the Nigeria Stock Exchange show that profit after tax dropped by 18 per cent to N7.63 billion from N9.25 billion in the previous period. The decline in profitability was prompted by 210 per cent increase in financial charges, which rose from N822 million to N2.55 billion.

The result further show that cost of sales rose higher than revenue made during the period. While gross earnings rose by 3.0 per cent to N94.9 billion from N92 billion, cost of sales rose by 7 per cent. The decline in profitability was also aggravated by 61 per cent fall in ‘Other incomes’, which dropped to N292 million from N754 million.

In a statement issued by the company, Seni Adetu, Managing Director/ Chief Executive Officer, Guinness Nigeria Plc, commented on the results, saying the strong performance of key brands like Guinness Foreign Extra

Stout, Harp Lager and Malta Guinness, and the positive contributions from strategic innovations were major drivers of growth in net sales.

“Key brands continue to leverage their strong equities and connections with consumer passion points across premium and value segments to drive growth in net sales. This has also translated into significant market share growth for the brands in our portfolio as we extend our footprint in the market,” Adetu stated.

Guinness Nigeria Plc, part of the Diageo Group of companies, listed on the Nigerian Stock Exchange in 1965, and with a shareholder base of over 75,000 shareholders, is one of the foremost quoted companies in Nigeria. In 2010, the company announced an investment of N52 billion in its Nigeria business with the intention of expanding its production and route to market infrastructure.

The company confirmed that the first phase of the expansion project has been completed with the commissioning of a first of its kind brewing technology in 2012. This investment looks set to increase Guinness Nigeria’s’ stake in the beverage market with a substantial increase in production capacity and increased consumer access to Guinness brands.

Successful infrastructure bonds require improved regulatory frameworks — AfDB

A

FRICAN countries need to im prove their regulatory frameworks in order to ensure the successful launch of African infrastructure project bonds, says a new report launched by the African Development Bank.

Africa is ready for the launch of such infrastructure bonds provided some conditions are met, says the report, titled “Structured Finance – Conditions for infrastructure project bonds in African markets”.

With Africa having now no other option than to tap into its own internal resources, the book “points in the right direction,” said Donald Kaberuka, President of the African Development Bank, in the foreword. “I hope it will be useful for all Africans who are involved in infrastructure development.”

The report is of the view that domestic capital markets can contribute to

funding some of the most important local and regional infrastructure projects. Given the limited ability of local banks to provide long-term funding and the shrinking international assistance, the report encourages project sponsors to turn to domestic institutional investors by issuing infrastructure project bonds.

The legal and regulatory framework for bond issuance exists in many countries which are active issuers of bonds for their own funding needs. However, competition between the sovereign and other issuers is a potential issue in all markets.

Many of the ingredients for infrastructure project bond issuance are present, but more needs to be done to make it attractive for sponsors to tap local markets.

From a sponsor’s perspective, issuing an infrastructure project bond must offer the optimal tenor and pricing compared to other options.

C

AMA at Section 160 subsection 1 expressly forbids a company from purchasing or otherwise acquiring shares issued by it. CAMA Section 160 subsection 2 states some exceptions but none of the exceptions apply to UBN. CAMA Section 161 subsection a indicates that the shares

of a company shall only be purchased out of the company’s profits. CAMA Section 282 subsection 1 indicates that directors of a company have a duty of care and skill while CAMA Section 282 subsection 2 states that the failure of the directors to take reasonable care in accordance with the provisions of Section 282 shall ground an action for negligence and breach of duty. CAMA Section 283 subsection 1 indicates that the directors shall refund any moneys improperly paid away, and shall exercise their powers honestly in the interest of the company and all shareholders and not in their own or sectional interest.

The basis of the suit which the current UBN Board is being asked to commence is therefore very clear.

Significantly, UBN indicated before the IST that the share purchase transactions in 2007 were never placed before the entire UBN Board.

UBN identified three directors who

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From left: Mr. Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede, CEO/GMD, Access Bank and Friends Africa Board Chair; Ms Yvonne Chaka Chaka, RBM Goodwill Ambassador and Dr. Akudo Anyanwu Ikemba, CEO/Founder Friends Africa, at the Gift from Africa Corporate Executives Dinner organised by Friends Africa, during the World Economic Forum in Cape Town, South Africa.

HIS column presented in two parts, on 1 May and 8 May 2013, the judgement of the Investments and Securities Tribunal, IST, in respect of an originating application filed by the Securities and Exchange Commission, SEC, against Union Bank of Nigeria Plc – UBN and 19 others. The Respondents have filed Notices of Appeal at the Court of Appeal against this judgment. I will not comment on this judgement.

However, one fact that is undisputed is that sometime in November 2007, N30.47 billion of funds belonging to UBN was used for the purchase of 609,852,000 units of UBN shares on the floor of the Nigerian Stock Exchange, NSE, and that these purchased shares remain in the possession of UBN up till today. The purchased shares increased to 711,494,000 units with a November 2008 bonus and were reduced to 133,405,125 units with the capital reorganisation in September 2011. Thus, the shares that were purchased for N30.47 billion in November 2007 are worth about N1.3billion at present. The loss to persons who were UBN shareholders at the time of the CourtOrdered Meeting, COM, on 30 September 2011 is evident.

What is important now is the action to be taken by the current Board of Directors of UBN, the pre-COM shareholders of UBN, the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, the Assets Management Corporation of Nigeria, AMCON, the Corporate Affairs Commission, CAC, the NSE and SEC. The current UBN Board must start an action in the courts for the recovery of N30.47 billion and any interest paid on this sum from the persons who were UBN Directors at the relevant times and who are legally liable for the misapplication of the sum in the purchase/acquisition of 609,852,000 units of UBN shares. The case no IST/ LA/OA/20/2010 before the IST was about violations of the Investments and Securities Act, ISA, 2007 and the Rules and Regulations of SEC given the circumstances attendant on the price movement of UBN shares on the floor of the NSE during the purchase / acquisition of the 609,852,000 units of UBN shares.

The suit which the current UBN Board must start is distinct from the one that was before IST and which suit has now moved to the Court of Appeal.

The new suit is about the contraventions of the Companies and Allied Matters Act, CAMA, and the liabilities of Directors for such contraventions.

The share purchase was to position UBN for raising additional funds with the issue of a limited number of shares

,

according to UBN were responsible for the transactions. It will be safe to assume that this remains the position of the UBN at the Court of Appeal.

The current UBN Board is responsible for the case being presented before the Court of Appeal and if the Board is consistent in its beliefs, it would commence recovery action against the three identified directors.

Only 2 directors out of the 17 directors who were Respondents testified before the IST. It would appear there is a story waiting to be told. At the times material to the purchase transactions, the CBN had indicated that it might appoint some banks with assets exceeding a certain amount as managers of Nigeria’s external reserves. The wisdom on the street is that UBN wanted to raise capital funds so as to be able to take advantage of this CBN policy. The share purchase was to position UBN for raising additional funds with the issue of a limited number of shares, UBN was unable to obtain CBN approvals and UBN did not dispose of the purchased shares before the 2008 market crash. This is the story waiting to be told as this was not mentioned before the IST. To put all this in the proper perspective, First Bank of Nigeria Plc raised about N238billion from the capital market through a hybrid issue mid 2007.

To be continued next week

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, MAY 15, 2013 — 23

DIARY Select ICT events Fifth World Telecommunication /ICT Policy Forum.

Holds 14- 16 May 2013 in Geneva, Switzerland.

NICADI faults ID contract award to Mastercard

Mobile Video Optimization 2013.

Holds 14 - 15 May 2013 in Brussels, Begium. CTIA WIRELESS 2013. Holds 21-23 May 2013 in Las Vegas, USA

BY PRINCE OSUAGWU

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Development Agency (NITDA) has also approved and certified the software.

This is in line with the agency's policy to test and ensure the quality of locally developed software, in a bid to make them meet the required global standards. For the agency, the benefit of promoting indigenous software such as Cinfores BrainFriend is another avenue to diversify the Nation's economy and enhance the scope of outsourcing in the industry.

The software which is computer based, contains questions, answers with explanations modeled after national examinations and screening tests, such as POST UTME, UTME, SSCE, NECO recruitment and scholarship tests. It is an e-learning tool that guarantees excellent result when used

HE Nigeria Content Advocacy Initiative NICADI, a multi-sector vehicle for the domestication of Nigeria information technology (IT) products and services has called on the Federal Government to quickly cancel the award of the printing of national identity cards to MasterCard International, an American company as it negates the spirit of local content development and national security.

Last week in the presence of Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister for the Economy in Nigeria, MasterCard announced at the World Economic Forum on Africa, that it will roll-out 13 million MasterCard-branded National Identity Smart Cards for Nigerians, under the recently deployed National Identity Management System (NIMS) managed by the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC).

NiCADI said the contract terms in which MasterCard will pick the huge contract will rely on Nigerian companies which have all the wherewithal to implement the project as subcontractors, adding that it was healthy for Nigeria’s march to becoming major force in the emerging global political economy.

Spokesperson to the association, Mr. Ken Ugbechie, said: “We are happy that high level competencies for processing and issuance of payment cards resides in eTranzact Limited, 3Line Nigeria Limited

Continues on page 25

Continues on page 26

SatCom Africa 2013. Holds 27-30 May 2013 in Johannesburg, South Africa. KITEL 2013.

Holds 28-30 May 2013 in Almaty, Kazakhstan.

World's first bionic ear

FG okays local software, BrainFriend for schools

New inventions shaping life and living

BY EMEKA AGINAM

A TEAM of researchers led by Michael McAlpine has created a bionic ear by using a 3D printer, calf stem cells and the advice of a high-school student.

The team used a 3D printer to deposit a layer of hydrogel mixed with calf stem cells and silver nanoparticles in the shape of an ear. The nanoparticles, which function as sensors, are integrated into the tissue itself—resulting in an organ with a coiled antenna within and a pair of wires meant to be wound around the cochlea to restore or enhance hearing. The prototype currently uses radio signals.

The credit for the CAD design of the ear goes to high school student Ziwen Jiang, who, according to McAlpine, was integral in the success of the project.

I N S I D E

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ROMOTION of local content in software development has received a major boost as the Federal Ministry of Education (FME) has endorsed the BrainFriend e-learning and examination preparatory software from CINFORES as a tool for the enhancement of teaching and learning methods in Nigerian schools.

CINFORES Limited is an indigenous software provider, which had over

,

,

Preview

ANGELS NETWORK: From left: Mr Demola Aladekomo, MD/CEO, Chams Plc; Mr Tomi Davies, MD/ CEO, Technovision Communication, and Ms Funke Opeke, CEO, Main One Cable Limited, during the inaugural pitch event organised by the Lagos Angel Network for technology start-ups, in Lagos.

the years developed various educational solutions including the much talked about eCampus and electronic scholarship management information system.

The endorsement of BrainFriend software, which heralds the beginning of new era of local content development for education using ICT was achieved after due assessment by the Nigerian Educational Research and Development Council, (NERDC).

This milestone attained

Endorsement of BrainFriend software was achieved after due assessment by the Nigerian Educational Research and Development Council

‘How NASENI, AUST can Tecno Q1 hits boost real competition; targets youths, plans Nigeria sector’ factory

by CINFORES Limited, proves the commitment of indigenous software developers towards improving the education sector through the use of information technology (IT).

The Manager, Business Development, CINFORES Limited, Mrs Jachi Briggs in a press conference at the week told IT Journalists that the endorsement was a landmark feat that certifies the software as an e-learning and examination preparatory tool, which should be adopted by schools, institutions, exam bodies and instructors across the country.

She said that the endorsement by the ministry is a public authentication that proves the software attained the requisites for a standard elearning tool suitable for the development of the education sector.

Similarly, the National Information Technology

Girls in ICT: Johnson continues campaign for more girls in science, technology, engineering

Airtel’s voice, data now in single recharge

24— Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, MAY 15, 2013

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AWARD: Former EVC of NCC, Dr.Ernest Ndukwe, presenting ICT Solution Provider of the Year Award to Dayo Abegunde, Associate Vice President,Computer Warehouse Group, in Lagos.

‘How NASENI, AUST can boost real sector’

BY EMMA ELEBEKE

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S part efforts to bridge the digital gap existing in today Nigeria’s industrial and manufacturing sectors, as well as build a critical mass of manpower to make modern technology transformation possible using advanced manufacturing technology(AMT), the National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI) and the African University of Science and Technology (AUST) Abuja have concluded a 5-week training programme on Advanced Materials Science, Nano-technology, computer aided designs Mechatronics, advance manufacturing and innovation techniques.

AMT is a modern method of production involving highly automated and sophisticated computerized designs and production operational systems.

AMT aims at manufacturing high quality products at low cost within the shortest delivery time. It can also be described as the insertion of new technology innovations, improved processes, and management methods to improve the manufacturing of products, while ‘Micro-electromechanical systems’ (MEMS), another word for mechatronics technology, can be regarded as a highly miniaturized device or array of devices combining electrical and mechanical components that is fabricated using integrated circuit batch-processing techniques.

The aim of the five week training program which was under the auspices of NASENI Center of Excellence in Advanced Manufacturing Technology and Engineering Materials funded by the World Bank assisted STEP-B Project was to develop manpower to sustain the development of Centre of Excellence and to fasttrack the implementation

of the training component of the Centre through collaborations with AUST, to fast-track the deliverables of STEP-B Project, to train critical mass of manpower for the Center and to gain advantages of AUST’s strength in building the NASENI Centre of Excellence using Public-Private-Partnership while deriving benefits of AUST’s collaborations with outside Nigeria in order to bring best global best practices to bear on the mandate areas of NASENI’s Centre of Excellence facilities.

The program which had in attendance about seventy (70) participants selected from different government science and technology agencies would also introduce participants to new areas of manufacturing, such as micro and nano computation, hands-on as well as theory behind the fields such as computer aided design and manufacturing, mechatronics, advanced manufacturing, artificial intelligence, so that energy organs can excel.

According to the President/Provost of the African University of Science and Technology, AUST, Professor Wole Soboyejo, while addressing the media at the end of the five week long program said “What we tried to do in the last 5 weeks, is to provide not only theoretical messages, but hands-on practicals. We have also engaged our people in Nigeria to understand how to innovate. As you know innovation is not a new science and technology, but new ways of thinking and doing things, and we are engaging the participants in the process of doing this in a sustainable way. So, we are looking at the sustainable materials system manufacturing in hands-onexperiences to create a new generation of trainers that can then go out and train other people.”

EVELOPED in France and targeted towards the aspirational youth African market, the TECNO Q1 is everything in a smart phone.

It sports a 2.6-inch display at 480x320 pixels, has a 5-megapixel camera, 4Gb built-in memory and 512 MB RAM. Like any other Android Smartphone, there is Wi-Fi on board, as well as 3G. To cap it off, it is a dual-SIM mobile.

Display In terms of display, the TECNO beats all contenders. Its 2.6” display is bigger than Nokia (2.4”) and the Blackberry (2.44”), and is of a higher resolution than the two phones.

Samsung’s display is of the same size.

Memory The TECNO Q1 offers 4GB internal memory, and outguns other products in the series with a wide margin here. Like Samsung and BlackBery, Q1 offers 512 MB while Nokia offers just 64 MB. Of course, all the devices offer micro SD card slots, so are expandable.

Power In a show of strength of this sort, processing power and RAM are

TECNO Q1 hits competition, targets youths, plans Nigeria factory

The Tecno Q! smartphones vital to performance of the various devices. In terms of power, every product in the series except the Samsung sports a 1 Ghz processor, but the Samsung Galaxy Y Pro Duos offers an 832 MHz processor instead.

Camera Interestingly, the TECNO Q1 trumps the others in the camera comparison as well.

Against the Q1’s 5 megapixel camera, the

best that the competition throws up is the Samsung’s 3.2 megapixel camera. Both the Asha and the Curve offer 2 megapixel cameras.

Meanwhile, at the launch of its latest smart phone series, TECNO P3, mobile phone maker TECNO disclosed plans to build a plant in Nigeria.

Vice President of TECNO group, Mr. Arif Chowdhury who made

the disclosure last week in Lagos at the launch of the product said that “Nigeria is TECNO’s biggest market in terms of volume and Lagos will be the location of the plant because Lagos is not just the commercial nerve centre of Nigeria but also the economic capital of Africa.”

He added that the company was still waiting for right policies of government on duty structure for mobile phone import to finalize their plans in building the plant.

Also speaking on the proposed plant, the Public Relations Manager of TECNO, Boukali Mounir said: “We want to be seen as long term investors and we want to do more than selling phones. It is also a way of giving back to the society as the project will generate thousands of job opportunities for Nigerians,’ he said.

— EMEKA AGINAM

AT WEF: From left: Director-General, National Identity Management Commission, Chris Onyemenam; Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala; Mr Michael Miebach; MD/CEO, Access Bank, Mr Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede, and Mr Daniel Lanre Monehin during a press briefing at the 2013 World Economic Forum in Cape Town, South Africa.

Why our roads fail often, by S&T minister

BY EMMA ELEBEKE

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INISTER of Sci ence and Technology, Prof. Ita Okon Bassey Ewa has said that poor technological designs and construction by builders are responsible for the persistent collapse of Nigerian roads.

The minister stated this at the opening ceremony of the three-day National Conference on Road Failure titled “Challenges of Road Pavement failure in Nigeria”, organized by the Nigerian Building and Road Research Institute in Abuja.

The minister who lamented the high rate of road traffic accident fatalities in Nigerians, regretted that the situation

had mitigated economic development of the country, and placed Nigeria at the second position out of 193 globally in the ranking of countries with highest road traffic accidents fatalities.

With an estimated 200,000 km and valued at over US$25 billion in 2003, Prof. Ewa, said that Nigerian federal road network constitutes a great national asset to the government but lacks the needed technological touch to be beneficial to the Nigerian people. This he said informed the recent decision of federal government’s to allocate substantial funds in 2013 national budgets for the construction of new roads and maintenance of existing stock.

‘’It is indeed sad to note that Nigeria is ranked second highest in road traffic accidents fatalities among 193 countries in the world, even when road accounts for 95 percent of our national passenger and freight services in the country.’ ‘‘The provision of good and motorable roads is one of the critical infrastructures needed to drive the socio-economic development of the nation. The challenge of ensuring quality control in the maintenance of roads, could be linked to the design and construction and must be tackled to pave way for transformation of Nigerian roads,’’ he said. ‘‘The place of NBRRI in national development is cardinal since its mandate

encompasses research and development on building and road technologies. I challenge participants to come up with lasting strategies that can be evolved to develop appropriate framework which will effectively address the issue of road pavement failure in Nigeria,’’ he added.

Similarly, the Minister of Works, Arc. Mile Onolememen in his address, said that for Nigeria to be among the first 20 economies in the world by year 2020, her road infrastructure needs to grow from 200,000 km to about 300,000 km in the next five years and also receive the desired technological designs and construction by the builders.

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, MAY 15, 2013—25

FG okays local software, BrainFriend for schools Continues from Page 23

Girls in ICT: Johnson continues campaign for more girls in science, technology, engineering

BY LEVINUS NWABUGHIOGU

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ECENTLY, on April 26, the Minister of Communications and Technology, Mrs. Omobola Johnson clebrated the World ICT Girl Day in Abuja, and continued a campaign against women’s phobia and shyness in taking careers in science, technology and engineering.

To mark the day, the minister opted to have five girls from different schools at a round table in the conference room of her ministr y. The schools involved were Junior Secondary School (JSS), Life Camp; Government Secondary School (GSS), Jabi; Regina Pacis College (RPC), Garki; Capital Science College (CSC), Kuje; Federal Girls Government College (FGGC), Bwari and Community Secondary School (CSS), Asokoro.

STE courses not preserve of men

Mrs. Johnson believes that careers in science, technology and engineering (STE) are not the exclusive preserve of men. Thus, she wants the girls to dare. Hear her: “The reason this day has been set aside is because there are not so many girls that articulate into ICT careers options”, Mrs. Johnson began. “That is because sometimes, we girls or students tend to think that ICT is only for the boys. I understand that all of you here are top in sciences and I really congratulate you on that. I will encourage you to make sure that all of you here go for science and engineering careers”.

Mrs Johnson went down memory lane and told the students that while she was in school, there were 80 in her class, but only five were girls. She told them that she didn’t feel intimidated but courageous, adding that her resilience has today paid off, encouraging them more by predicting that the girls’ futures will be like hers.

Opportunities

To her, the world of engineering still has an avalanche of untapped resources especially with the establishment of many telecommunicaC M Y K

Minister of Communications Technology, Mrs Omobola Johnson presents a gift of a tablet computer to one of the girls at the occasion. tions companies in Nigeria and she was very unequivocal about it.

“There are many opportunities in this industry and I think you should not continue to shy away from Sciences”, she urged the students.

“I know that the things you have learnt over the last few days have been amazing and I am confident that one of you is gonna sit on this chair. I am so excited from what I have heard from all of you. And I really want to encourage to stay in Science and Technology.

There are things that you must realize that as a woman, not just being in ICT”.

The high point of the event was when the min-

ister gave the students some Nigerian-made tablet computers, while their teachers who accompanied them got laptops.

Students react

Speaking with Vanguard on her enthusiasm and prospects in the science world, Miss Nneoma Ugwu from the Capital Science Academy said that seeing women in take careers that field of human endeavor was very inspiring.

“I am here on the Girl in ICT programme. I have learnt a lot from this programme. It’s been so exciting. They took us round to different places: MTN, NETCOM, and Satellite. But

honestly, the most excellent and wonderful part of this experience was when I saw different ladies in ICT, different women like Mrs. Linda, CTO of MTN, when I saw the Minister of Communication and Technology, she was very inspiring and this is what sort of the woman that I want to be to the up-coming generations. I am show them that this is the way forward, that even though the past generation couldn’t do it, but right now, we are going to do it and accomplish all our goals. God help us”, she said Similarly, her mate from the same school, Miss Sadima Ibrahim shares her experience.

She said: “I know that all she has done is appreciated by a lot of people because this is a rare opportunity for every one and it has definitely touched many people.

And it has given girls a different view of ICT in general and then we can see that there are various job opportunities in the ICT world which means that we girls can make it in the ICT world.

“I am interested in ICT but I have always traveled along to be a medical doctor but then I am hoping I will get a job in Medicine but has to do with a lot of ICT because I know these days we need ICT everywhere. I want to concentrate on nuclear and medical studies; I may do ICT part-time."

consistently by students or teachers.

Already, the 2013 version of the software which features over 50,000 questions, answers and explanations covers over 40 subjects; over 15,000 theorems, formula and definitions, now includes technical drawing, computer science, food and nutrition, more flexible career counseling guide and lots more. It is also now available for mobile devices running on android with IOS and Windows Mobile version to be

12 investors to provide seed funds for tech start-ups

BY EMEKA AGINAM

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O fewer than twelve individual investors under the umbrella of the Lagos Angels Network , (LAN) are to provide seed funds for start-up entrepreneurs in the technology industry.

The individual investors boosted by LAN will include some captains of the IT industry, Angel Champion Tomi Davies, MD/CEO, TechnoVision Communications, Dotun Sulaiman, MD, Dortune Venture Capital Limited, Chinedu Okpareke, CFO, OandO Supply & Distribution, Andrew Nwani, MD, Dataflex, Fatumata Soukouna, MD/CEO SSL Consulting, Funke Opeke, CEO, Main One Cable, Demola Aladekomo, MD, Chams plc, Samuel Nwanze, CEO, HH Capital, Wole Lawani, Partner, Hyve Ltd, and Damola Adegbite, Con-

Dame Jonathan partners ITU-IMPACT on online child, youth security

BY CALEB AYANSINA

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IRST Lady, Dame Patience Jonathan weekend expressed willingness to partner with the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) and the International Multilateral Partnership Against Cyber Threats (IMPACT) to promote online safety of children and youths around the world.

Dame Jonathan stated this when she received her letter of appointment as ITU’s Global Child Online Protection (COP) Champion in Abuja, and noted that children and youths are the top users of internet globally.

In a statement made

available by media assistant, Ayo Osinlu, she described as commendable the determination of ITUIMPACT to protect innocent children and youths around the world from exposure to various forms of online abuses such as pornography, radicalization, trafficking and bullying.

Dame Jonathan lamented that despite the unique advantages of advancements in ICT, unscrupulous elements still exploit it towards compromising the safety and security of children and youths for pecuniary benefits.

The First Lady expressed her satisfaction at the plan of ITU-IMPACT

to build a partnership of various sectors of the global community, particularly among the 193 member nations of ITU, for the purpose of developing strategies for the control of access to and use of the internet to ward off cyber threats for children and youths. She appealed to parents and guardians, especially mothers, to make it a duty to show greater interest in monitoring and controlling the engagements of their children on the internet.

Presenting the letter to the First Lady, chairman of IMPACT, Datuk Noor Amin said Dame Jonathan’s progressive leadership role and her humanitarian services singled

released by the end of Q2 2013.

All these accompanied with the new and exciting BrainFriend Mobile store promises to be the onestop-shop for the revolution of education in Nigeria through ICT. Before now, the Nigerian Union of Teachers, (NUT), Lagos State chapter and the Cross Rivers State government in partnership with IT&C networks have deployed the Cinfores Brainfriend software for teachers in the respective states and many more states are gearing up to follow suit.

her out to be “the ideal candidate to help ITUIMPACT in its mission to push for COP awareness and the need for national online protection framework to protect the young and innocent.”

Also speaking, Director of ITU’s Telecom Development Bureau, Mr. Brahima Sanou noted that the “COP framework has become a crucial necessity to create a safe environment for our children, while they are on the net”, therefore, they believed in the ability of Dame Jonathan “to spread the message and push for reforms not only in the African region but across the globe.”

tracts Manager, Chevron Corp.

Others include, Femi Adewunmi, Head, Procurement & Contracts, Notore Chemical Industries Ltd and Adekalu Balogun, MD, Kyautae Integrated Ventures Limited.

Each of these Angles, it was gathered has committed to supporting Lagos start-ups to grow their businesses by providing cash funding and mentoring time to the entrepreneural teams leading the Nigerian technology start-ups.

Although there is limit to their investment, the 14 members of LAN and the 6 others on the awaiting list are expected to commit at least one million naira each year for five years to the investment pool.

The project, like the Lagos Innovation Hotspots Map, Silicon Lagoon, i-HQ and others is backed by Innovate Lagos, the Lagos Innovation Advisory Council which was launched by Governor Babatunde Raji Fashola, in September 2011.

It would be recalled that over100 start-ups had applied to compete for the LAN seed funding with 16 being shortlisted and only seven finally being selected to pitch their start-ups to the Angels at an event held at the DBI Lagos campus last week.

Tomi Davies of TechnoVision who spoke at the inaugural pitch event said: “We are don't just invest cash. We are also investing our time to ensure that they succeed. We are going to guide the teams and make our networks available to them to enable them grow in the knowledge economy.

The aim is to grow tech entrepreneurship in the country", he explained.

26 — Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, MAY 15, 2013

CPN reads riot act to illegal IT training institutes

BY EMEKA AGINAM

A

S part of its commit ment to sanitize the industry against what it described as quacks, the Computer Professionals Registration Council of Nigeria, CPN, has again warned Information Technology training institutions operating illegally across the nation especially in Lagos to desist from the act or face the log arm of the law.

The regulatory authority said that it would henceforth enforce the penalties for non registration as provided in the CPN Act, 1993

and CPN Control and Supervisory Regulations.

The Manager, Enforcement & Compliance Unit of CPN, Iheoma Emedoh who led the enforcement exercise to many IT training institutes in Lagos including NIIT, Lagos Computer College, among others recently noted that penalty awaits any organization operating illegally as IT training body .

According to her, section 22 (2), (5) and (6) of the CPN Act provides that it is an offence punishable by fine and/or imprisonment for any IT firm or consultant to engage in comput-

ing professional practice without being duly registered and possessing a valid current license.

Meanwhile, CPN has written to many IT training bodies including NIIT, Lagos Computer College, Megalios IT School, Agile Technologies (Nigeria) Limited among others on the need for renewal of registration without result.

The Computer Professionals (Registration Council of Nigeria) [CPN] is the apex regulatory body of Information Technology (IT) practice and education in Nigeria, established by Act No. 49 of 1993.

PARTNERSHIP: SAP's Head, Line of Business, Oluseyi Akinyoyenu, CEO, Signal Alliance, Collins Onuegbu and SAP's Regional Head, Alliance and Presales, Ramesh Ram at a one day workshop on Enterprise Asset Management, in Abuja last week. Photo: Emmanuel Elebeke.

NICADI faults ID contract award to Mastercard Continues from Page 23 and Interswitch Limited in Nigeria. So it is inconceivable that such business should be given to an American company whose primary interest is to buffer American economy.

“We also know that all MasterCard payments processing in Nigeria are being handled competently by Interswitch, Card Technology Limited and Unified Payments Limited.

Today, over 70 per cent of bank customers in Nigeria use Verve payments cards from Interswitch, Genesis Payment cards from eTranzact and Freedom Card from 3 Line Card Management Limited for their day-to-day payment transactions.

“What then is the rationale for giving the payments transactions of our National ID to MasterCard, a foreign company? We have on good authority that the combined workforce of the three Nigerian firms with competencies in payment cards system runs into over 300 high-skilled staff, whereas MasterCard can only boast of a handful of Nigerians working as marketing executives for the company”, he added.

Ugbechie added that: “We are convinced that this deal

would further accentuate the unemployment problems in Nigeria.

According to a statement issued by MasterCard, it will rely on Unified Payments Services Limited (formerly Valu-

card), as the payment processor with Access Bank Plc as the pilot issuer bank for the cards while other issuing banks will include United Bank for Africa, Union Bank, Zenith, Skye Bank, Unity Bank, Stanbic and First Bank.

Airtel’s voice, data now in single recharge

BY PRINCE OSUAGWU

A

IRTEL Nigeria, has in troduced a dual-purpose single recharge card for both voice and data services on its network making it possible subscribers to recharge for both services with only one recharge card.

Airtel said the Single Recharge Option, is available in both physical and electronic recharge formats.

The physical recharge card comes in N100, N500 and N5000 denominations, while the electronic pin option are available in denominations of N100, N200, N500, N1000, N2000 and N5000.

The Single Recharge maintains the old process of recharge for the Airtel voice service while subscription to the data service on the same recharge card, will require subscribers to dial *143* followed

by Recharge PIN and#.

The Single Recharge

Option also attracts applicable bonus rates for data subscription depending on the amount of airtime purchased.

Speaking on the innovation, the Chief Operating Officer and Executive Director, Airtel Nigeria, Deepak Srivastava, said the latest recharge option further buttresses the company’s commitment to continually offer Nigerians innovative products tailored to provide them a whole world of value and convenience.

He said that Airtel will continue to deliver fresh and cutting-edge telecoms technology so as to ensure that its customers continue to enjoy first-rate products and services. “The Airtel Single Recharge is simply a double victory for our customers because we have single-handedly, eliminated the multiple processes of recharging or subscribing for voice and data services” he added

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, MAY 15, 2013—27

‘MTN Link forum is catalyst for devt’

BY LAJA THOMAS

C

AWARD: Ralph Ehimhen, Globacom's Post Paid Cluster Head, North-West (left), receiving the Nigeria Arise Award for Excellent Customer Service in the Telecoms sector from Minister of Information, Mr Labaran Maku while the Regional Head FCT 1, Ini Inyang (right) looks on at the Nigeria Arise award, in Abuja.

OMMISSIONER For Youth and Sports Development, Cross River State, Patrick Ugbe has commended telecommunications giant, MTN, on its MTN Link Forum initiative, which he describes as a transformation catalyst for youths in Cross River State.

Speaking at the MTN Link Forum event at the Transcorp Metropolitan Hotel, Calabar, Ugbe remarked that since debut in the state, MTN Link Forum has added value in terms of capacity-building to the youths in the state.

“What MTN Link Forum has succeeded in doing is to encourage a lot of youths in Cross River State to be bold and take up the challenge of be-

coming their own bosses.

Although it is a difficult step to take, considering that they are stepping into the unknown, but by listening to those who have done it and made a success of their businesses, they are inspired to also become entrepreneurs and add value to the economic development of the state,” he stated.

Sharing his success story, Nzan Ogbe, a Special Adviser in the Governor’s Office harped on the need for self-discovery and staying focused. According to him, "knowing who you are and what value you have been created to add to the human race, is the first step to becoming an entrepreneur and a successful one at that."

On his part, Ekerete

Gam-Ikom, a mentor and insurance magnate, recommended that, to succeed in any business, entrepreneurs should learn to adopt risk as a lifestyle, adding that while taking advantage of networking opportunities, efforts should be made to understand the reason for engagement: Reiterating MTN’s commitment to enriching lives, Aminu Sani, the Brand Manager, Progressive Segment, MTN described the forum as one of the many initiatives by MTN to enrich lives. According to him, MTN Link Forum is a valueadded platform for young, budding entrepreneurs and professionals, to network and connect to their dreams.

eWorld rallies industry for telecoms day celebration

A

leading ICT maga zine, eWorld is collaborating with the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) and National Information and Technology Development Agency (NITDA) to rally industry stakeholders to mark the 2013 Telecommunication and Information Society Day (WTISD) which comes up on May 17. The celebration coincides with the eWorld Forum which holds every year.

This year’s event will be chaired by Engineer Titi Omo-Ettu, Chairman of Telecom Answers Associates and Publisher of Cyberschuul News.

NCC Executive Vice Chairman, Dr Eugene Juwah and NITDA Director-General, Professor Cleopas Angaye will give key note speeches. Mr Chris Uwaje, President of Institute of Software Practitioners of Nigeria (ISPON) will present a seminal paper on ICT and Traffic Management.

Also to discuss the themes of the event are Engineer Lanre Ajayi, President of ATCON and Gbenga Sesan, Executive Director, Paradigm Initiatives among others.

This year’s event has two main themes: Imperative for a Truly Digital Citizen and ICTs and Improving Road Safety, which is the primary focus of the WTISD celebrations for this year.

World Telecommunication and Information Society Day, celebrated each year on 17 May, marks the anniversary of the signature of the first International Telegraph Convention in 1865.

28 — Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, MAY 15, 2013

P

romise Isaac has expressed shock over Michael Eneramo’s snub by Nigeria as a replacement for injured Emmanuel Emenike.

Eagles coach Stephen Keshi considered Werder Bremen striker Joseph Akpala ahead of Eneramo in the place of Emenike in the 2014 World Cup qualifiers as well as the FIFA Confederations Cup in Brazil all in June.

“Eneramo has always been a good goal scorer and consistent. I was surprised he was not called at last for Eagles. He has done well scoring goals for Sivasspor,” Turkey-based Promise Isaac told a Lagos radio station.

“The coaches have the final say on who he picks, so he knows the reason why he chose Akpala over him. But I believe Eneramo will still have another chance.”

Promise Isaac shocked

by Eneramo snub

N

*Eneramo

Bayelsa draw slows down Rangers Rangers failed to move to the top of the table on Monday as they were held to a 1-1 draw at home by Bayelsa United.

Rangers are now second with 18 points, while Bayelsa are seventh with 17 points.

Oghogho Oduokpe, who scored Rangers goal blamed their inability to win the game on hard luck.

“We had everything at our disposal to win the game, but we couldn’t. We still have to thank God that the game ended successfully. We were just unlucky not to have won the game, we have all the chances to wrap up the game but it didn’t happen,” Oduokpe said Bayelsa United goalkeeper Emmanuel Fabiyi said he is happy with the draw on the road.

“I am so happy with this draw. This point will do a lot to us, it will improve our standings on league table and as well as increase our confidence,” said Fabiyi.

“Rangers played very well, we came here for victory which we could have got if not for the penalty awarded to them. I thank God for given me strength to do well.”

Rangers striker Adamu Mohammed (left) against Bayelsa on Monday

Ak or ready tto o bang in goals ffor or Hear tland Akor Heartland

I

sah Akor was once again amongst the goal scorers as Heartland recorded a 2-1 win at home against a resilient Akwa United on Sunday, Ebere Odiche gave Heartland the lead in the 13th minute to put the scanty crowd at the Dan Anyiam Stadium into joyous mood before the visitors responded almost instantly with an equalizer from John Aguda two minutes later.

TEAMS

Played

Kano Pillars Enugu Rangers Sunshine Stars Kwara United Nasarawa U. Bayelsa United Nembe City Heartland FC Enyimba Shooting Stars Warri Wolves Gombe United

10 10 11 11 11 11 11 10 11 11 11 11

Won Drawn

6 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 4 5 3 5

Nembe to go defensive in Kano

1 3 3 3 3 2 2 1 4 1 6 0

Lost

3 2 3 3 3 4 4 4 3 5 2 6

Akor who grabbed his seventh goal of the season in the 28th minute which eventually helped seal the win for Heartland will be on duty today as the Naze Millionaires travel to Ibadan to Shooting Stars who held Sharks FC to a goalless draw to get their first point away this season.

He said, “We have put our 2-1 victory against Akwa United behind us as face 3SC of Ibadan on Wednesday (today) in a midweek tie and it is my desire to score more goals for Heartland to help put the team on the top rung For

Against + / -

Points

10 17 14 11 11 12 12 19 9 14 12 11

10 8 7 7 10 12 12 9 4 13 11 15

19 18 18 18 18 17 17 16 16 16 15 15

0 9 7 4 1 0 0 10 5 1 1 -4

of the league table. I look forward to this game and I hope to bring my scoring ability to bear”.

TODAY’S MATCHES Kano Pillars vs Nembe City El-Kanemi vs Sunshine Shooting

vs Heartland FC

Wikki

vs Enyimba

•Nembe

embe City technical adviser, Meremu Okara has said his side will be satisfied with draw against Nigerian League champions, Kano Pillars.

The Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) newcomers are guests of the Pyramid City side in today’s Matchday 12 at the Sani Abacha Stadium, Kofarmata, Kano.

Okara said his side are faced with a daunting task at Pillars and will not push their luck too far by aiming for an outright win in the encounter.

“The spirit among the players is very high going into the game at Kano Pillars.

We’re going to Kano with positive spirit.

“We played our best game of the season against Lobi Stars, we created many chances but used just one and against Pillars we hope to recreate a better performance.

“I’m not saying we’ll beat Pillars, we’ll adopt a more defensive tactics, we intend to play 70% defensive and 30% attacking, so if we’re able to pick a point in the game we’ll be satisfied.

“We don’t want to push our luck too far, Pillars are a strong side and tough on home soil. Never a push-over side.

“We’ll give the encounter our utmost best and ready to take whatever that comes out of it except of course defeat,” he said.

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, MAY 15, 2013 — 29

Jesus vows Benfica’ll win B

*Jorge Jesus

enfica manager Jorge Jesus will not let the hoodoo of a 51-year European trophy drought distract his players from beating Chelsea to Europa League glory tomorrow night.’They have David Luiz and Ramires, but I’m not forgetting about Paulo Ferreira and Hilario. That is an important thing to note, and we’re happy to meet them in the final.’

Argentinian midfielder Nicolas Gaitan, who has appeared in all eight of Benfica’s Europa League matches, is eager to help the current crop of Eagles make history.

He said: ‘I know that it has been a long time since Benfica reached a European final.

‘I know that they are a team with a lot of victories in the past. Now we have a chance to achieve that as well. So in terms of history, the time is now.

Jesus is reminded on a daily basis of the European Cup triumphs of 1961 and 1962 especially considering that, despite reaching six continental finals in the meantime, the Portuguese giants have come up short for more than 50 years.

Injured trio travel with Blues C

aptain John Terry, forward Eden Hazard and midfielder John Obi Mikel today travelled to Amsterdam for Chelsea’s Europa League final with Benfica despite doubts over their fitness.

The trio were part of Chelsea’s 25-man playing party which travelled to Holland for tomorrow’s match at the Amsterdam ArenA, the Blues confirmed on their website.

Terry (ankle) and Hazard (hamstring) suffered injuries in Saturday’s Barclays Premier League win at Aston Villa.

*John Terry

Record-break er FFrank rank ecord-breaker Lampard gives Abramovich a nudge L

ampard, who made his Chelsea debut nearly 12 years ago, struck in the 61st and 88th minutes at Villa Park to give his side a 2-1 victory in the Premier League that virtually ensured Champions League football for the London club next season.

Frank Lampard became Chelsea’s all-time leading goalscorer on Saturday with two trademark strikes against Aston Villa, providing another demonstration of his value with his future at the European champions still uncertain.

Lampard, who made his Chelsea debut nearly 12 years ago, struck in the 61st and 88th minutes at Villa Park to give his side a 2-1 victory in the Premier League that virtually

*Frank Lampard ensured Champions League football for the London club next season.

It took the England midfielder to 203 goals for Chelsea, eclipsing the record held by striker Bobby Tambling which had stood for 47 years. Lampard is out of contract at the end of the season and is yet to be offered a new deal by club owner Roman Abramovich.

Charlton Ehizuelen Dallas, USA

FAMILY: The right way to begin sports development M ost Nigerians are quick to point to a system of sports development, ‘’the grassroots development’’, as the main cause responsible for the inconsistencies the nation experiences, whenever we fail to produce desired results in national and international competitions.

The first question we must ask ourselves is; what exactly is a grassroots sports development program? How do we maximize the full development, if we intend to embark on one? Unless we can answer these questions, with complete honesty and a flaming passion, we may never develop a system that would allow all Nigerians to practice the art of complete grassroots sports development process.

A PROCESS A grassroots sports development program is a process, which can only be developed in a system. We must learn and understand what the segments of inclusion are in the system. This will allow us to lay down a platform or a foundation that can create opportunity, capacity and cohesiveness as we progress. This means that we must know our targeted resources; in personnel, network support, sponsors, and volunteers, and proceed to design ways by which our main goal should be to encourage everyone with the ability and interest to participate.

The first Nigerian national sports festival held in Lagos in 1973, may have been designed to encompass all the relevant segments needed. It was to help create a system that could allow the development of grassroots process to be fully established in the Olympic Sports that Nigeria deemed relevant for short, medium and long term development.

PROMOTE AND EDUCATE THE STAKEHOLDERS A grassroots sports development process must begin with the parent, guardian, or a family member of a young child. It is human nature to always respond to activities that add value and benefits to their lives and those of their family members. This is where the theme ‘’Sports development and Recreation for all’’ campaign, must be a part of what the National Sports Commission, all state sports councils or commissions, and local government sports representatives, in partnership with the private sector must do. This should be a part of the opening page, as we begin to promote sports development to move Nigeria forward.

A portion of the functions of the NSC states: “To promote, in co-operation with other sports bodies or sports groups, the physical fitness and general wellbeing of all persons in Nigeria.”

BENEFITS Sports and play for children should be an integral part of early childhood education. No school, private or public should be allowed to open their doors to prospective students, if they fail to meet the requirement to include a playground for some form

of physical activity on the school premises.

Physical education, sports and play teach kids the essential life attributes including discipline, co-operation, self-esteem, patience and responsibility. It is also at an early stage that most begin to develop the basic skills in running, jumping, throwing etc., That could help them as they get into organized form of sports development in any sport.

ADULT A 30 minute a day engagement in some form of physical activity, done at your own pace, can do wonders for adults with the physical abilities and the will to participate in sports.

A physical activity has been known to help reduce stress, depression and does promote healthy life styles, irrespective of age as long as you have the abilities to engage.

Competitive sport provides scholarships for qualified students/ athletes, to pursue both an educational and an athletic career in institutions of higher learning in Nigeria and overseas.

Competitive sports men and women have the opportunity to compete for the nation in international championships including the Olympic Games.

They can also become professional sports men and women with the opportunity to earn a very good living. Ask the Jamaicans, a nation of 2.9 million, how professional sports and earnings have helped improve a part of their economy; we can do that in Nigeria too.

THE NATION One of the best public relations and promotion a nation can possess is one that mirrors the nation with positive reflections. Sport victories and international engagement always do that.

Millions visit countries like Jamaica, Brazil, and USA each year, because of the international recognition earned through sports excellence and other world acclaimed attractions, which provide business opportunity that attract billions of dollars into the economy of these countries.

Nigeria should begin to see sports as a huge business, an industry to can help boost their economy.

Government should play their role of providing enabling environment – the facilities, the structures and the administration. Families should expose their children to sports and whoever shows a potential to excel should be encouraged. We cannot ignore the role of the family in developing the potential of a sports talent. This is a message I hope will sink into Nigerians. It is the right way to begin sports development.

CHARLTON EHIZUELEN Inductee-US Prestigious Drake Relays Hall of Fame.

Other members: Jesse Owens, Michael Johnson, Merlene Ottey, Wilma Rudolph, Bruce Jenner, Nawal EL Moutawakel etc.

Best in the World: 74, 75, 76(Long and Triple Jumps)

30—Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, MAY 15, 2013

Nigeria’s foreign policy: in decline or robust? (2) •Ogbole Ode, Acting Director/ Spokesperson, Ministry of Foreign Affairs in this concluding part of the discourse, argues that Nigeria has made considerable strides in its foreign relations which are worthty of commendation

BY AMEDUOGBOLE ODE

S

UCH high level meetings have attracted considerable investment portfolios to the country. Dr. Adebajo, in his article, failed to highlight the gains of our economic diplomacy which the Jonathan Administration has given renewed vigour in the last two years. He was obviously aware that the hosting of the World Economic Forum in Cape Town in May 2013 was not a contest, as Cape Town had developed an impeccable infrastructure over the years. Yet, he failed to acknowledge that Nigeria will host the same World Economic Forum next year.

He must also be aware that the total in flow of investments into Nigeria last year was about USD 9 billion, as confirmed by UNCTAD, much higher than in the previous years. Both the World Bank and the IMF have equally commended Nigeria for the economic progress being made by the Jonathan Administration. This level of FDI inflow into the country has arisen from the foreign campaigns of this administration.

The Bi-National Commission with various countries continues to deepen the gains which the current Administration has made in attracting foreign investments to the country. The Bi-National Commission with Germany, signed on December 2, 2011 by the Foreign Ministers of Nigeria and Germany has resulted in the inflow of the following programmes in Pow-

into the Nigerian economy to the extent that Nigeria has become a new destination for US businesses and entrepreneurs. This has significantly increased Foreign Direct Investment from the US into Nigeria. Several projects and investments are flowing into the country to create jobs for our youths. Proctor and Gamble is constructing a factory to manufacture health materials in Agbara, Ogun State, while General Electric of US is investing over USD 1.5billion and has commenced the construction of a factory in Port-

warmly by his hosts and the resident Nigerian community. The President has, in turn, played host to Heads of State and Government and delegations from all over the world, including high-level visits by the Prime Minister of Britain, the German Chancellor, Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia, the Presidents of Brazil, Indonesia, Lebanon and Poland, as well as the French Foreign Minister, the former US Secretary of State Mrs. Hillary Clinton, to mention a Foreign Affairs Minister, Amb.Olugbenga few of the Special EnAshiru voys and Emissaries Harcourt to manufacture gas tur- from various countries. President bines to serve not only Nigeria’s Jacob Zuma of South Africa visitbut also Africa’s markets. ed Abuja in April 2013, to hold A foreign direct investment in- consultations with President flow of US$54 million is being Goodluck Jonathan on issues of executed with Mexico to devel- strategic importance to the peace, op agriculture plantations in Riv- security and prosperity of Africa. ers State for the cultivation of This is a clear illustration of the Foreign policy is now being used to goodwill towards our country and the desire of other countries to ensupport the economic programme of gage Nigeria in recognition of government, especially in creating jobs her strategic place and role in world affairs. for our teeming youths and create wealth The Nigerian Foreign Minister in the society at large was recently hosted in Washinger Generation, Re-forestation, pineapple, bananas and other ton DC, precisely on April 24, Emission Control and Capacity crops, for export to the European 2013, by the new United States Building for Research in Solar Union market. Our relations with Secretary of State, Senator John Power Energy for Universities. other emerging markets and Kerry, who cut short a visit to Others include: £65 Million 30 huge economies, such as China, Brussels to meet with him as the megawatts Kiri Dam, in partner- have also been robust. Apart from first Foreign Minister from Africa ship with the Adamawa State the involvement of China in the to be hosted by him. That singuGovernment; £50 Million 20 development of infrastructure and lar gesture was to Nigeria and Megawatts Yola Solar Power Sta- construction, it has granted a soft Senator Kerry used the opportution; £1.5 Billion 450 Megawatts loan of $500 million for the con- nity of the meeting, not only to Gombe Coal to Power Station; 450 struction of a light rail in and stress that Nigeria remains a straMegawatts National Indepen- around Abuja. A 50-bed capacity tegic partner of the United States, dent Power Project (NIPP) Geregu hospital, donated by China is cur- but also to reiterate that the US Power Station, Phase II in Ajaoku- rently under construction in Abu- will work closely with Nigeria in all areas of cooperation, be it pota, the Pilot Solar Power Plants in ja. the six geo-political zones for the As a testimony to Nigeria’s stra- litical, economic, investment proUniversities of Ibadan, Lagos, tegic importance in the comity of motion, defence and security, Sokoto and Bayelsa. nations, President Goodluck under our bi-national cooperaThe Bi-National Commission Jonathan has undertaken sever- tion. Dr. Adebajo must be aware (BNC) between Nigeria and the al trips to many countries abroad, that the United States has only US has injected fresh confidence where he was received very two such Agreements in Africa,

, C M Y K

,

Map of Nigeria

Nigeria being the first and secondly with South Africa.

He may also wish to know that it was in 2011 that Canada, a major ally of the US, also signalled its intention to have a similar Bi-National Agreement with Nigeria, which was signed by both Ambassador Ashiru and his Canadian counterpart, Mr. John Baird in Ottawa in April 2012.

Since then, Canada has shown keen interest to invest in the Nigerian economy and the Nigeria - Canada Investment Forum which was held from 1 to 3 May in Toronto and organised by our High commissioner Chief Ojo Madueke was a huge success. In one year of this agreement, trade between both countries have increased tremendously.

Dr. Adebajo finally made reference to Nigeria’s bid to return in 2014, to the United Nations Security Council, the highest decision making body in the world today. As a ‘scholar’, he must be aware that it has never happened before that Nigeria will return to this prestigious Council two years after leaving the council. Did it occur to him also that some people must have worked very hard indeed to campaign and get it right for Nigeria? He must be aware that election into the Council is a tough process with many countries competing vigorously

for only one seat allocated to our sub-region. However, the Foreign Minister has already announced Nigeria’s bid for election into the UN Security Council in the non-permanent seat category for the period 2014-2015.

We have worked hard and have already received the endorsement of ECOWAS Heads of State and governments. We expect to receive the endorsement of the AU at the next Summit in May 2013.

Our election to this position in October 2013 will surely be a befitting gift to Nigeria to be seated at the UN Security Council from January 1, 2014, the year of the Centenary celebration of our existence as a corporate entity.

It is clear that beneath Dr. Adebajo’s self-conceited and disparaging remarks on Nigeria’s foreign policy engagements lies a concealed disdain for the same institution that fueled his aspirations.

Fountain of knowledge It is very self-serving for a ‘scholar’ who is expected to be the fountain of knowledge, to deliberately present to the public a totally false account of the achievements of a government. Finally, he should realize that foreign policy has moved from the realms of theories, ideologies and mundane issues to that of reality and benefits accruable to a country and its people.

The Jonathan Administration has made foreign policy more meaningful to the ordinary Nigerians who stand to benefit, politically and economically, from the policies being implemented. Foreign policy is now being used to support the economic programme of government, especially in creating jobs for our teeming youths and create wealth in the society at large. With the above account, there is no doubt that Nigeria’s foreign policy in the last two years has been robust and very effective. In conclusion, it is hoped that this article will serve to educate a number of writers and analysts, including Mr. Eric Teniola, who have recently written on Nigeria’s foreign policy.

Concluded

THE CHRISTIAN WAY OF LIFE CHURCH, NIGERIA This is to inform the general public that the above named religious organization has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission for registration in accordance with the provisions of the Companies andAllied MattersAct Cap C20 LFN 2004.

The TrusteesAre: 1. Bishop DoyeAgama -Primate/Chairman 2. Pastor Maurice Elias -Senior Resident Pastor/General Secretary 3. Pastor Benjamin Nsikak -Treasurer 4. Pastor MoggajiAjibola -Trustees TheAimsAnd ObjectivesAre: a). Spreading the Christian Religion and doing charitable work. b). That all may know God and His Christ Jesus. c). That all might have life. d). To preach the gospel of Jesus Christ in all parts of the world, for the total salvation of all souls through Jesus Christ our Lord alone. e). To promote the popularity of Holiness as the Christian Way of Life. f). To evangelize and promote the knowledge of God and adherence to the teachings and examples of Jesus Christ. g). To promote Christian education, bible based values and morals. h). To assist in the care and welfare of the poor, aged and needy.

Any objection thereto should be addressed to the Registrar General, Corporate Affairs Commission, Plot 420, Tigris Crescent, Maitama District, Abuja within 28 days of this publication.

Signed: Pastor Maurice Elias SECRETARY

Vanguard Vanguard,,

WEDNESDAY, MAY 15, 2013

—

31

YOUR LUCK TODAY

THOUGHT FOR TODAY

By Joshua Adeyemo Phone 08056180139 SAGITTARIUS: Some of you will wake up from slumber and realise mistakes about your finances early enough and make amendment but those who are reckless will commit more blunder. Beware of joint venture.

CAPRICORN: Although erratic people from unexpected quarters may oppose you openly, your being self assertive will earn you both victory and financial success. Then tomorrow will prove more successful.

AQUARIUS: Yes! It’s your day again. The more ambitious you are the better for you. Then you will need to ignore those with queer characteristics within your working arena..

PISCES: Mixed trends are indicated. If you take good advice from your cool headed friends, you will benefit more than you imagine, but if you take to unpredictable attitude, you will today start fire that will burn with great intensity tomorrow.

By Richard Eromosele

T

HIS is no mathematical contraption. If you are conversant with the scripture, you will remember where Lord Jesus was asked such a question as to the number of times we were to forgive

Of 70 x 7 times everyone that wrong us. And He answered – we should forgive seventy times seven times. But did He really mean it so – we should forgive four hundred and ninety times only?

The truth is that our Lord Jesus advised us to forgive every time we are sinned against so that our heavenly Father will also forgive us our sins. Let us forgive our neighbours,

TERROR MUDA in “Never say goodbye”

forgive our brothers, forgive our sisters, forgive even our socalled enemies, etc.

Can you imagine how the world would look like where everyone forgives each other.

Think about it!

By Lanre Kehinde

ARIES: If you take the veterans within your base for granted, they will fail you painfully. Yet here is a lucky day for you when your being secretive and self reliant will earn you success. Be more ambitious.

TAURUS: Some of the people around you may get on your nerve via careless remarks, you must not allow them to disorganise your plans. The closer you are to the influential people the better for you.

GEMINI: “Money is the root of all evils” says an adage.

And if care is not taken, money may set you and some other people fiercely against each other to the detriment of your cause. Be cautious.

CANCER: Opposition between the Moon and Venus may induce personality clashes you don’t need at lest for now.

What can help you now is love and your being persuasive.

Think of the future.

LEO: Positive events that started yesterday will continue today. Rely more on your ability to be as bold as necessary so that you can get things done your own way at work.

KAPTAIN AFRIKA

in

“Princess Shii’

By Andy Akman

VIRGO: Good luck will smile at you. Romantic interlude that started last yesterday may become excitingly louder and melodious to the satisfaction of your soul.

LIBRA: If you allow domestic pressure to affect your working pattern, your senior colleagues may not understand and make things a bit more difficult. IF you’re stable, you will have more to gain financially.

SCORPIO: After snappy aggressive approach exhibited by you yesterday ,you are back at your being pleasant self to the admiration of others. This is the wrong time to take law and it’s agents for granted. Young-at-heart are favoured so also commercial activities.

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,

Why constant frustration Dear Joshua, Right now I am a healthy person yet I want your Astrological ex-ray about my star and tell me what to expect health-wise and/or how to manage myself, career and financially.

Remi, Lagos.

Dear Remi, It is true that you have gone through a few moments of test but today you are a chief. Meaning that what you tagged as frustration are lessons.

Your parents must have gone through a few numbers of troubled moment while trying to raise you as you have what looked like a dirty childhood from both health and other areas as your life as indicated by opposition between conjoined planets across Pisces and Virgo when you were born Luckily for you however, as your natal Moon strongly got positive aspect from Venus, Your survival is assured.

And there are indications of better health for you as you out-grow the childhood problems.

Nonetheless what you will need to take seriously include constant worries, toothache, skin infection, headache (fever)lungs, stomach ache, feet and sometimes the bones (dislocation). Nothing fatalistic about everything started here but mere warnings.

Yours is a rugged personality suitable for military career of any type. And whenever you opt out of the military, it will be wise of you to give consideration to involvement with liquid related business especially the oil industry. The computer world and essential needs of women. Actually dealing with women along your business line will prove most fortunate for you.

Fish farming and other agro-allied can be favourable but because of your love of changes, you may not be able to see such through.

As your natal Moon got good aspects from comfortable placed Venus (another money related planet), financial success is within your reach.

T-square aspects formed by your natal Sun/Saturn, Uranus/Pluto and Jupiter will bring delay related frustrations. Miscalculation and gambling line tedencies are other things capable of militating against your finance.

VIRGINIA

Commen3

dadadekola@yahoo.com

by Lawrence Akapa

32 —Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, MAY 15, 2013

T

he news of collapsed and burnt buildings have been a reoccurring issue in Nigeria, but the sad part is that nothing seem to be changing. Tomorrow, another building might collapse or burn down and Nigerians would carry on as if nothing happened.

Last Sunday, a building at Bashiru Street, Ojodu, Lagos caught fire, just five days after another building belonging to Foursquare Gospel Church collapsed in the same street.

The three-storey building, with no fewer than 30 flats, went up in flames around 8am and no fewer than four persons were seriously injured while properties, which cost could not be estimated as at press time were reduced to rubble.

Before the men of the Lagos State Fire Service would come to the rescue of the occupants, eight flats had already been burnt. The intervention of the firefighters prevented the fire from spreading to other flats and

Curbing the menace of building disasters

By ROSEMARY ONUOHA buildings.

Some time ago, in Auchi, Edo State, a building collapsed. 12 people were killed and another six were injured very seriously. Nobody was prosecuted, nobody paid any compensation, and nobody was given anything, nothing at all. These people died for nothing. And the story goes on and on.

It is due to these incessant incidences that the National Insurance Commission, NAICOM, is setting a new agenda with the enforcement of compulsory insurances. For the good of the country and her citizens, the compulsory insurances must be embraced by all.

Amongst the five compulsory insurances in enforcement is the Occupier’s Liability Insurance which should be purchased by owners of buildings.

Section 65 (1) of the Insurance Act, 2003, states thus, “Every public building shall be insured with a registered insurer against the hazards of collapse, fire, earthquakes, storm and flood. ‘Public building’ in this section includes a tenement house, hostel, a building occupied by a tenant, lodger or licensee and any building to which members of the public have ingress and egress for the purpose of obtaining educational medical service or for the purpose of recreation or transaction of business.

The insurance policy under subsection (1) shall cover the legal liabilities of an owner or occupier of premises in respect of loss of or damage to property or bodily injury or death suffered by any user of the premises and third parties.”

Therefore, any owner of a building who does not have the above insurance violates the provisions of the Occupiers’ Liability Insurance Law. Not having any insurance cover is very disadvantageous because when people lose manpower and assets, the country losses. But with insurance, there is replacement and when you have replacement, it is as if you have not lost anything.

According to experts, the law of the Federal Republic of Nigeria on insurance says that all public buildings should be insured. And in the event of an accident, all those affected should be compensated one way or the other. So, the compulsory insurances enforcement has to be achieved for the sake of this country.

However, Occupiers Liability is just one of the compulsory insurances being enforced by NAICOM. Others are Builder ’s Liability Insurance mandated by Sections 64 of the Insurance Act, 2003; Medical Professionals Liability Insurance mandated by Act 35 of 1999 establishing the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS); Employers’ Liability Insurance; Group Life Insurance for employees as mandated by the Pension Reform Act, 2004 and the Third Party Motor Insurance mandated by the Motor Third Party Act.

Risk of not having a property insurance policy P

roperty insurance can be a lifesaver in a variety of different situations, and having it on your side often means the difference between a company that survives a slight downfall and one that is forced to fold.

Nothing in this life is worse than an unforeseen natural or man-made disaster that unfortunately removes earnings capacity or assets from you or your business. In such a hectic and unpredictable world, there’s nothing more important than being covered by the right types of insurance policy.

Property insurance policy insures your homes, commercial buildings, motor vehicles, and personal possessions or business inventory if there be any disaster such as fire, flood, explosions, vandalism, and theft.

For example, if your laptop’s hard drive crashes, you not only have the C M Y K

cost of replacing or repairing it, but occurring. Given the relatively low also the cost of being without your cost of paying property insurance, it laptop for however long that takes, is more than worthwhile to have on insuring your laptop shares that risk your side as opposed to what it would with the insurer. cost to have to remedy a situation that Benefits of insuring your property would be covered without having any There are insurance at all. many reasons Monetary value When talking about property, is one of the why it is the numbers of risks you can important to benefits that a face are substantial. Not only have property p r o p e r t y could your property be broken insurance policy insurance. into, damaged or destroyed, Property can offer. The but it is also vulnerable to insurance can p r o p e r t y other risks such as public help to protect i n s u r a n c e liability, professional many different company will pay indemnity aspects of your for damages or business, such losses you as all of the assets inside the business, encounter in such cases as fire or theft, and the business location itself. Since property insurance is therefore a way vandalism, theft and other crimes are for you to protect yourself and your present throughout the world today, interests. having property insurance is necessary Risk of not insuring your property for those who are even the least bit Insurance is another way of saying concerned about these types of issues ‘ you are protected.’ When you have a

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BY RITA OBODOECHINA

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property, ensuring it is protected for a number of risks and potential incidents are extremely important.

That’s because the loss you could face if your property isn’t insured is not restricted to simply a financial loss. In fact, you could lose your entire property and your chief means of being able to maintain your livelihood.

When talking about property, the numbers of risks you can face are substantial. Not only could your property be broken into, damaged or destroyed, but it is also vulnerable to other risks such as public liability, professional indemnity, claims of unfair dismissal, and theft, losses of profit, costs of legal proceedings, and the list goes on.

If you fail to take out the appropriate property insurance policies to account for the financial costs of such risks, then you’ll be putting the profitability of your investment at risk, along with your yourself and your interest.

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, MAY 15, 2013 — 33

TIT BITS***TIT BITS Insurers create awareness on insurance

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(L-R) Yinka Dawodu, Deputy General Manager, Glanvill Enthoven Insurance Brokers; Kabiru Omokemi, General Manager, Boff and Co. Insurance Brokers; Tosin Runsewe, Chief Client Officer, Mansard Insurance plc; Bimbo Onakomaiya Managing Director, Peak Trust Insurance Brokers and Kunle Ahmed, Executive Director, Mansard Insurance plc, at the just concluded 2013 Insurance Brokers’ Executive Management Seminar organized by Mansard Insurance in Nairobi, Kenya on Friday.

How fire insurance helps you

BY RITA OBODOECHINA

F

ire accidents are very much unexpected but heavily destructive. Hence, having fire insurance is very much essential.

Fire Insurance policy covers your home’s structure, or fixing and fittings, against hazard and provides you with the financial resources to replace what you have lost, so that you can get back to normal as soon as possible.

If the worst were to happen and your house burned down, where would you go?, knowing that you have relatives who will pitch in to help you out during such a difficult time is great, but if you don’t have those resources, what would you do? This is where you need a fire insurance policy.

Fire insurance provides the security for home, stock, furniture, business buildings, etc, it provides the cost of replacement of properties and assets, which gets damaged due to the fire accident.

For example, if your home is destroyed or damaged enough by a fire to the point that it renders you homeless, a fire insurance policy will often pay for the reasonable increase in your living expenses, such as the additional cost of hotel stays, restaurant bills, etc.

Secondly, if you had property worth N1 million, then the insurance firm can be able to restore you to the same old position, gaining back your momentum is very easy as you just have to rebuild what you had once more.

Benefits of having fire insurance It is bad enough when your house burns down due to some unavoidable accident, but when you don’t have an insurance cover to help you slide back to your normal life, its even worse.

With that being said, it is well to consider the importance of a fire insurance cover, especially if you know you cannot afford to replace the house in your own financial efforts.

One of the major benefits of fire insurance in general is coverage of

belongings that are destroyed in a fire. This includes major appliances within the home, furnishings, clothing, jewelries, and other items of value that are specifically covered within the terms of the policy.

Fire insurance provides the price of damage for the building, if any home furnishing are damaged due to the fire incident, it provides alternative maintenance price for the electronic items like television, computer, air conditioners, which is destroyed by fire.

Having fire insurance can save you from financial disaster.

Along with replacement and reimbursement of lost belongings, fire insurance can also provide financial assistance in finding a new place to live and compensating the insured party for losses not covered under a homeowner insurance plan.

Your home is probably your most valuable asset. Failing to insure it against fire damage could put you in a precarious financial situation if you leave yourself no recourse in the event of a fire. You’ve worked hard all your life to have the things that you deserve why put all of that in jeopardy by failing to have adequate insurance coverage for fire?

Fire is a commonplace occurrence, but this doesn’t mean that it is destined to happen to you. But if it does, having fire insurance to help cover your financial losses. It is a critical safety net that nobody should do without.

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Along with replacement and reimbursement of lost belongings, fire insurance can also provide financial assistance in finding a new place to live and compensating the insured party for losses not covered under a homeowner insurance plan

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nderwriters from different companies took insurance education to the streets of Lagos when they partook in the fitness walk and awareness campaign, organised by the Chartered Insurance Institute of Nigeria (CIIN), last week.

The exercise which was led by the President CIIN, Dr. Wole Adetimehin, saw the underwriters walked from the National Stadium Surulere Lagos through Ikorodu Road to the premises of Niger insurance Plc in Anthony.

Underwriters used the event to distribute their companies’ handbills and educated the public on the need for insurance.

Adetimehin urged practitioners to always keep fit by engaging on regular exercise, adding that the state of their health has great impact on their productivity.

He called on operators to continue to educate the public on the need for insurance, stressing that insurance remains the hub of the nation.

He lauded the cooperation shown by the operators and canvassed that such attitude should be sustained to keep the industry afloat.

The Institute which is the education arm of the insurance industry, has being on the forefront in awareness campaign, through conducts of Fitness Walk, Miss Insurance Dance which is held yearly to choose the industry’s ambassador known as Miss Insurance, seminars and workshops.

CHI Plc implements e-payment platform in Zenith Bank

C

onsolidated Hallmark Insurance Plc has embarked on collaboration with Zenith Bank Plc for payment across the bank’s counters nation-wide.

The move, according to the company is in a bid to ease the transaction process and procurement of the compulsory third party motor insurance.

With this arrangement, vehicle owners, insurance brokers and fleet operators can now walk into the bank, effect payment and obtain the e-pin for processing of the motor third party insurance cover through either the product portal www.motorthirdpartyonline.com or from the company ’s website www.consolidatedhallmark.com.

The company’s Managing Director, Mr. Eddie Efekoha said the company embarked on the arrangement in order to provide numerous clients with additional options of obtaining their genuine insurance, having pioneered the online web portal payment for the product in 2008.

He disclosed that with the Consolidated Hallmark e-pin from the bank, clients can generate their insurance certificates from the comfort of their homes or offices within a few minutes, print the document for their immediate use or save for future use after completing a few details.

Details of the vehicle thus covered are automatically uploaded to the portal of the Nigeria Insurance Industry Vehicle Database, a central registry of all vehicles with valid insurance cover.

Customers also have the option of making payments for the product with their ATM cards, or obtaining this and other classes of insurance through the National Insurance Commission (NAICOM) licensed insurance agents across the country.

The Consolidated Hallmark Motor Third Party Insurance cover protects the holder for up to N1 million in property damage liabilities to third parties, and also covers bodily injury and death of third parties arising from the usage of the insured vehicle.

SEND YOUR QUESTIONS AND COMMENTS TO insuranceandyou@yahoo.com

34—VANGUARD, WEDNESDAY, MAY 15, 2013

He wants to have his rings back!

Younger men are so much fun

Dear Obum, Being attracted to younger men and acting on it are two separate issues. However, since your partners are not married men, getting together with someone younger doesn’t make you a pervert. This is another one of those double standards

that women have to endure.

Nobody would hassle a 40year-old man for hooking up with a 25-year-old woman and there could be a number of reasons why you’re attracted to these fresh-faced men, one of which you have stated in your letter.

Maybe they pay you more attention or you feel more secured around them, and

’

Dear Bunmi, After about four years of marriage, I left my husband because of his irresponsibility.

I now live in a comfortable flat with my two young children.

Since I started dating, I seem to prefer younger men.

Some as much as six years younger. I am in my early thirties and my friends keep making fun of me even when such men earn more than I do.

Does my attraction to younger men mean I am a pervert? Older men really bore me as they don’t make the efforts younger men do.

Obum, by e-mail.

therefore, feel more attractive.

Whatever the reasons, going out with younger men can bring its challenges and your friends might be mocking you because they’re jealous of your having a good time!

Believe me, there are thousands of women out there enjoying great relationships with younger men. So go for it!

Dear Bunmi, My daughter got pregnant and had to get married to her boyfriend of four years. She was doing her youth service at the time and wasn’t keen on marriage. But her man was against her having an abortion, so they got married.

It didn’t work and they split up after three years. She later met a caring widower who wanted to marry her. She’s since had another son for him as well.

Unfortunately, my daughter treats her two sons differently.

The youngest, whose father is

rich and pampers him, could do no wrong as far as she’s concerned, while the eldest is often shouted at and smacked.

Please how do I right the situation?

Renike by e-mail.

Dear Renike, Seeing a close relative or friend doing something we don’t agree with is always worrying and there’s no simple answer to whether to challenge your daughter or keep quiet.

If the urge to challenge her is strong, do so if you think the issue is affecting someone who can’t defend themselves, in this case, your grandson.

If other people agree with you on this, it’ll be easier to stand firm with support, only do it lovingly.

Remember your daughter may be scared or worried and be ready to accept offers of practical suggestions to help change things.

If what is happening is not affecting you or your grandson negatively, you could make things worse by interfering. You’ll simply be telling your daughter what you would do in her position and your way may not be the right way for her. So think these points through, thoroughly, before deciding on what to do.

Can I get addicted to this vibrator?

Dear Bunmi, I am an avid reader of your columns, both on Wednesdays and Sundays, and I’m happy to dub you a myths-buster.

One of the myths that I want busted is on vibrators.

I’m a recent proud owner of one and have been relishing the fulfillment it gives me. I haven’t had sex with a man for months, preferring the safety of my vibrator instead.

But a friend had cautioned that if I used it too often, I could become addicted to the

wear them because we were never married. I feel so mad at him I want to throw the rings at his feet. Should I? Banky, by e-mail.

Dear Banky, I would hang on to the rings if I were you. Believe me, you’ve earned them! I wish you all the best of luck in your new relationship. You’re well rid of the cheapskate!

When next he pesters you about the rings, give him a bill of all the money you’d spent on him— that should shut him up if he has a conscience.

He’s put me off men Fantasise, so you link pleasurable sensation with thoughts of a partner. That way, you’ll be more likely to respond when a real-life man is involved

’ She’s nasty to the son with the poor daddy

Dear Bunmi, For three years, I lived with a man who used me— I cooked for him, laundered his clothes and made love as often as he wanted to.

To stop the neighbours from gossiping, he bought me an engagement ring and a wedding ring until we could get properly married.

When I caught him having affairs, I left him. I was already fed-up with spending my hard-earned money on him anyway.

At first, he pleaded with me to come back but I refused.

Now, he said I should return his rings as I had no right to

point that I might prefer the vibrator to the real thing. Is she right?

Temi, by e-mail.

Dear Temi, I wouldn’t panic if I were you. Using a vibrator is unlikely to make you addicted. To avoid problem, it would be best to take the following professional tips.

Don’t rely entirely on your the toy, or you may find that you are only able to climax

when you’re using it. To avoid desensitising yourself over time, set your vibrator at a lower level and a stop-start rhythm.

Fantasise, so you link pleasurable sensation with thoughts of a partner. That way, you’ll be more likely to respond when a real-life man is involved.

Once you have a partner again, don’t forget your vibrator friend! Keep it as part of foreplay and teach your man to use it just as effectively as you do.

Dear Bunmi, My boyfriend and I were on the verge of making wedding plans when he married someone else because she was pregnant! You can imagine how heart-broken I was and since then, I have made up my mind not to get into another serious relationship.

I realised that most men just use women and because I want to feel I’m in control, I’ve had more than 10 sexual partners in under a year!

You see, I need to feel wanted, but I don’t want to fall in love again as I always get hurt. I don’t want to be seen as being promiscuous though. So what do you suggest?

Sefinat, by e-mail.

Dear Sefinat, It’s true we should all strive to do what makes us happy.

But unfortunately, this is not what you’re doing right now.

Through your sad experience with one man, you’ve drawn a shaky conclusion about every man on earth!

This is where you’re making a big mistake. That and the fact that your method of feeling wanted is really over the top!

It is all very well to sleep around (provided you take precautions) if it’s what you genuinely want. But doing it to prove a point, when you want something else, is not a good idea.

Give yourself a reasonable time to get over your hurt and then re-examine your options.

Should I leave this controlling man?

Dear Bunmi, After over six months with my boyfriend, I don’t know if I love him as much as when we started going out.

He doesn’t like my friends and he doesn’t like me going out on my own. I know he will be devastated if I finish with him; and his family, who loves me to bits, will feel disappointed.

He is really serious about the relationship and talks all the time about when we get married. Should I get out before it’s too late?

Tobi, by e-mail.

Dear Tobi, Certainly! Once you have

doubts about a relationship, marriage should be the furthest thing on your mind. Don’t forget you’ve only been seeing each other for six months, and after this relatively small amount of time, you’re already having serious doubts.

What you have to do now is listen to those doubts and act on them. If he’s making these demands on you when you’re not sure of him, what will he decide he doesn’t like next when you’re eventually married?

As for his family, there is absolutely nothing stopping you from keeping in touch with them if you really want to. After all, it’s not them you’re dumping, it’s him!

Share your problems and release your burden. Write now to Dear Bunmi, Vanguard Newspapers, P.M.B 1007, Apapa, Lagos. or bunmsof@yahoo.co.uk

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, MAY 15, 2013—35

36—Vanguard , WEDNESDAY, MAY 15, 2013

NLC gives Daewoo ultimatum over workers' unionisation

Court to hear suit against newly elected Edo LG chair

BY GABRIEL ENOGHOLASE

BY VICTOR AHIUMA-YOUNG

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ENIN — AN Edo State High Court sitting in Agenebode, Etsako East Local Government Area, has adjourned till May 21, 2013, for hearing in the suit against the chairman of Estako East Council, Mr. Sulyman Afegbua by Mr. Abu Dokpesi, calling for his disqualification on the ground of tax evasion.

Mr. Dokpesi is also claiming that Mr. Afegbua lied to Edo State Independent National Electoral Commission, EDSIEC, about his tax returns.

Afegbua, Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN, candidate in the April 20, 2013 council elections, which, he won, was alleged to have submitted the required three tax clearance certificates dated March 28, 2011; May 16, 2012 and January 16, 2013, in which he claimed he was a student to the EDSIEC. Dokpesi is contending that that in 2011 Afegbua was actually the director of Chain-Link Engineering and was paid N6.6-million for a contract to build 4classroom blocks in a school at Iddo-Okpella.

He also claimed that Afegbua personally collected the said amount and actually paid N25, 000 as taxes on March 8, 2011 and the same amount on May 15, 2012 as income taxes, only to turn around to claim that he was a student.

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SABA—DELTA State Council of Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, has condemned alleged refusal of the management of Daewoo Nigeria Limited in Ekpan, Delta State, to allow its workers join labour union as guaranteed by the Nigerian Constitution, advising the company to retrace its steps or face the wrath of labour.

Delta NLC claimed that the management of the Daewoo did not only deny its workers the right to join union, but also prevented them from participating as members of Nigeria Union of Civil, Engineering and Con-

Agbarha-Otor Kingdom donates land to Army

BY GODWIN OGHRE

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APELE — THE people of AgbarhaOtor Kingdom, Ughelli North LGA, Delta State, have donated a piece of land to the 222 Mechanised Battalion for the building of a befitting permanent army base.

Announcing the donation during the familiarisation tour of the Community Officer of the battalion, Lt. Col. Victor Ibeh to the kingdom, President General of Agbarha Improvement Union, AIU, Chief David Ohwoekevwo, noted that the proactive action of the battalion helped a great deal to bring peace and security in the kingdom.

struction Wood Workers, NUCCEWW, an affiliate of NLC, saying such impunity could not be tolerated in a democratic Nigeria.

In a statement by its Chairman, Akporegha Wiliams, NLC fingered Daewoo’s Project Manager as the major obstacle to industrial

peace and threatened to bring the full weight of labour on the company, if it failed to allow the workers join union.

NLC said: “We view this attitude by the management of Daewoo as an outright defiance of NLC’s position on anti-labour practices.

Delta militant groups surrender, seek amnesty

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WO militant groups that fought each other in the last 10 years for control of the oil and gas rich Okpai Kingdom in Ndokwa East Local Government Area of Delta State, have surrendered to the traditional ruler of Okpai Kingdom, Igwe Goldring Ugbome II, with an appeal to the Federal Government to consider them for amnesty.

Chairman of Okpai Community Development Committee, CDC, Mr. Augustine Ikwuobodo, a former militant, who brokered the peace deal that was consummated at the palace of the Igwe, narrated how the struggle for control and leadership of CDC tore the kingdom apart, leading to an attack on the Igwe’s palace, which was razed in 2004.

Igwe Ugbome survived the attack, but lost all his property and fled to Asaba for refuge until the reconciliation of the warring militant groups.

He appealed to Okpai youths to shun violence and refuse selfseeking elites and elders within and outside Okpai Kingdom from using them to destabilise the community or arming them to destroy lives and property.

Group to Obia/Akpor youths: Stop playing cannon folders in Rivers crisis ... govt urged not to short-pay workers

BY JIMITOTA ONOYUME and EGUFE YAFUGBORHI

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ORT HARCOURT — SOCIOPOLITICAL group, Nigerian Democratic Awareness Forum, NIDAF, has advised youths in Obio/ Akpor Local Government Area of Rivers State against being used as cannon folders in the raging crisis rocking the ruling People Democratic Party, PDP, in the state.

Meantime, workers in the state have appealed to the state government to ensure that the staff of Obio Akpor council were paid for the period they were shut out of the council secretariat by the police.

The Joint Public Service Negotiating Council,

JPSNC in the state in a statement by Nigerian Labour Congress, NLC, state Chairman, Mr. Chris Oruge; Chairman of the state’s Trade Union Congress, Mr. Chika Onuegbu and Chairman of the JPSNC, Chuku Emecheta, enjoined the Police to comply with the court’s order and vacate the council secretariat for workers to resume.

Meantime, urging Obia/ Akpo youths not to allow themselves to be used, Mr. Frank Onwusonye, National Publicity Secretary of the body, flayed continued threats to public peace by youths in Obia/Akpo council over the sack of the elected council cabinet.

He said: “No one is blind to the fact that the PDP war currently unsettling development and businesses in our state was not in anyone’s interest other than the self-seeking battle for supremacy over state power among leading actors and their foot soldiers towards 2015.

“Our youths must stop risking their lives in vain protests to prosecute this egoistic war. If the key actors mean well, they must first recall their children and wards from comfort zones overseas to take the frontline of these paid youth demonstrations before others will follow,” advising them to view the court as the place of last resort.

By Bartholomew Madukwe

PEOPLE SPEAK

08102479985

“We shall resist Daewoo’s stand and for the avoidance of doubt, Congress would strongly advise the management of Daewoo Nigeria Limited to retrace its steps and refrain from this obnoxious practice to avoid a possible face-off with NLC.”

(nwamad@yahoo.com)

Should crude oil theft attract death penalty? (2)

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do not subscribe to death penalty for oil thieves, but they can be jailed. I think that if as a country we use what really comes from oil for the good of all. We would not have oil pipeline vandalism or oil thievery. — Mr. Samuel Bright, Creative Writer

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IRST, let us examine the Otedola and Farouk issue, what has come out of it?

So I think that oil thieves should be punished and not death penalty. The legislative and judiciary systems themselves are faulty. — Mr. Jamiu Qudus, Activist

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hey should first be stripped off, atleast 75 per cent of their possessions and their privileges of participate in politics withdrawn before sending them to jail for 20 or 25 years. Ordinarily, they deserve to be killed. —Mr. Ifeanyi Nnadika, Student

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won’t agree with death penalty for oil thieves because killing them will not end this issue of stealing the country’s oil. There are many ways to make the oil thieves suffer for the pain they caused Nigerians. — Mr. Yusuf Oluwashina, Student

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think killing is much harsher and will do the nation no good.

Rather, the oil thieves should be punished in a way that is equal to the wrong they have committed. Their crime has put Nigeria in a big mess.—Miss Motunrayo Lawal, Student

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F in Nigeria, offences like armed robbery, murder, treason, conspiracy to treason, instigating invasion of Nigeria, treachery attract death penalty, then what is wrong in including death penalty for oil thieves? — Miss Chioma Cyprain, Model

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, MAY 15, 2013—37

FUPRE VC: Urhobo youths vow to protest in Abuja

BY FESTUS AHON

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GHELLI—COALITION of Urhobo Youth Organisations has threatened to embark on a protest to the National Assembly, National Universities Commission and the Federal Ministry of Education, Abuja, on May 28, as part of their agitation for the appointment of a Vice Chancellor of Urhobo descent for the Federal University of Petroleum Resources, Effurun, FUPRE, Delta State.

The youths, in a communiqué, said 1,500 youths selected from the 24 kingdoms in Urhobo nation, would be mobilized for the protest.

2015: Monye garners support for Delta guber race

BY TOMMY ANADUAKA

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ROF. Sylvester Monye’s ambition to become the next governor of Delta State may be gathering momentum as people from all walks of life have continued to visit the Special Adviser to the President on Performance Monitoring to pledge their support.

Prof. Monye's home in Abuja and in OnichaUgbo, in Delta State, have witnessed visits by community and political leaders, youth and women leaders, clubs and various organisations, who have pledged to work towards the emergence of the Special Adviser as the next governor of Delta State.

Speaking in Asaba, leader of Urhobo Political Agenda, UPA, Olorogun Kinsley Onakpoma; leader of Isoko Renaissance, Chief Godwin Ovuru and Ijaw Network for Good Governance, Dr. Desmond Ekiyor, described Prof. Monye as the only person that can paddle the ship of Delta State governance after the tenure of Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan in 2015 and urged all other ethnic groups to give their support to Monye.

Obio/Akpor: Police ask court to stay ruling

BY JIMITOTA ONOYUME

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ORT HARCOURT— THE Inspector-General of Police has asked a Federal High Court in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, to stay the execution of its ruling, ordering the police to vacate Obio/ Akpor Local Government Area secretariat in Rivers State.

It will be recalled that the trial judge, Justice H. A. Ngajiwa, had, on Monday, ordered the Police to withdraw from the council secretariat for council workers to resume.

Counsel to the IG, Mr. Donald Denwigwe, in the application for stay of execution of the order, is contending that an appeal had been lodged against the ruling before the Court of Appeal.

The IG, among other things, is challenging the jurisdiction of the court to entertain the matter. He said that since the issue before the court had to do with local government administration, a Federal High Court was not the proper place for the adjudication of such a matter.

Denwigwe argued that they were also challenging the va-

lidity of the appointment of the caretaker committee, adding that they had to ask for the stay of execution of the order for the Police to remain at the secretariat until the issues before the Appeal Court were dealt with. “If the Police va-

cate and our appeal succeeds at the end of the day, what are we appealing on?” he said.

Denwigwe said it was good that the Police remained at the secretariat to guarantee the safety of lives and property, as it would be proper for the court

TURBANNING: Governor Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State (left) and Crown Prince of Benin Kingdom, His Excellency Ambassador Eheneden Erediauwa, Edaiken N'Uselu, during the governor's turbanning as the Oshiosinua (divine redeemer) of Afemailand by royal fathers in Edo North, at a ceremony in Auchi.

Delta set for LG polls, as Uduaghan inaugurates DSIEC

BY AUSTIN OGWUDA

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SABA—MEMBERS of Delta State Independent Electoral Commission, DSIEC, were, yesterday sworn in, with Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan, charging them to work towards conducting a successful local government election in the state.

Uduaghan, after explaining the encumbrances that led to the delay in the council elections, said: “We do not have time, coupled with the

anxiety in the minds of our people.

“I, therefore, wish to state that the Commission is expected to immediately come up with the necessary arrangements for the local government elections. I equally expect that it would be one that is not only realistic but will be followed religiously for a successful exercise.

“As men of honour and integrity, you must strive to protect your names by ensuring that you perform your

duties with due diligence.

We have a lot to learn from the electoral process at the centre. I state, therefore, that our electoral process is maturing. Nigeria today has various political scenarios, which point to a growing and maturing democracy."

Responding, Chairman of the seven-man commission, Mr. Moses Ogbe, promised that they will discharge their duties without fear or favour, saying that they were prepared to restore the confidence of the electorate in the ballot box.

Enforce ban on public officials’ membership of cults —SSEPU Arguing the case for the

BY EMMANUEL AZIKEN

S

OUTH-SOUTH Ele ments Progressive Union, SSEPU, has asked the Federal Government to enforce the ban on public officials being members of secret cults so as to forestall a repeat of the ambush on Nigerian policemen by the Ombatse secret cult in Nasarawa State.

The group denounced the recent spate of killings across the country and charged the citizenry to rally round the

determines who should administer the council before the Police vacate the place since the Caretaker Committee and those suspended by the House of Assembly were in court over who should administer the secretariat.

Federal Government in its effort to check the reign of anarchy in the country.

SSEPU, in a statement by its National Coordinator, Mr. Joseph Ambakaderimo, reacting to the recent attacks on security men in Baga and Bama in Borno State, Bayelsa State and the ambush on policemen by the Ombatse milita in Alakpo forest in Nasarawa State, noted that the unconventional tactics adopted by the groups, and urged the administration to rely more on intelligence gathering as a way of rooting out the insurgennts.

enforcement of the ban on membership of secret cults by public officials, SSEPU said: “The ban on civil servants and members of the armed forces and the police, from membership of secret cults should be enforced in order to confront the challenge posed by groups such as the Ombatse milita in Alakpo forest in Nasarawa.

“We also appeal to the misguided elements and their collaborators, who are determined to drag Nigeria into a state of anarchy by discrediting President Goodluck Jonathan and his government to desist forthwith."

Court restrains Edo govt from selling water project pipes

BY SIMON EBEGBULEM

B

ENIN—AN Edo State High Court sitting in Benin, has restrained the Edo State Government from disposing or selling the water project pipes stacked in two places in Benin City for the water supply scheme project of the state government.

The court made the order following a suit by a company, AIC Limited, handling the projects, following the alleged failure to the state government to pay an outstanding sum due the company up till September 30, 2012, which included interest charges for the delayed payment.

The pipes include 5700 Ductile iron pipes and 3000 consumer meters iron pipes stacked at the Ikpoba Dam premises, Okhoro Road, Benin City. It will be recalled that the water scheme project started in 1991 during the military regime.

The company in the suit is claiming the sum of N300 million and payment of 20 per cent interest on the general damages until the general damages were paid by the state government.

Trial judge, Justice A.EdodoEruaga, after listening to parties, restrained the state government “from removing or disposing the Doctile iron pipes and consumer meter iron pipes from the premises where they are stacked.”

38—Vanguard , WEDNESDAY, MAY 15, 2013

Buhari, Tinubu, Shekarau, others for ACN UK parley

Police, citizens feud: Ebonyi govt condemns alleged mass arrest

A

CTION Congress of Ni geria, United Kingdom chapter, is organising a conference in the United Kingdom. Former Head of State, General Muhammadu Buhari, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, former Governor of Kano State, Alhaji Ibrahim Shekarau, Prof Pat Utomi, Mr. El Rufai, Dele Alake, Mrs Bisi Fayemi, Dr. Garba Abari and all governors of newly formed All Progressive Congress are expected to attend the confrence.

The conference, which would hold on June 20, 2013, is to discuss possibility of merger with other progressive groups.

Other guests include MPs from the UK who have special expertise and interest on Nigeria and African politics.

The group, in a statement, signed by Dr. Ibrahim Emokpaire, a member of Progressives Merger Committee UK , said it was in discussion with friends of Nigeria in British government and the business community.

According to him, the proposed theme of the conference is “Progressives on rescue Mission".

Appointment of NAUTH CMD: Group petitions Jonathan

BY PETER OKUTU

A

New Bishop, Rt. Rev. Okorafor and his wife, Mrs Ngozi Okorafor during his enthronement at the Cathedral Church of All Saints, Egbu Owerri.

Insecurity: Jonathan handling situation effectively—Anenih

BY PETER OKUTU

A

BAKALIKI—THE Chair man, Board of Trustees of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Chief Tony Anenih, yesterday, assured Nigerians that President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan was effectively handling the insecurity situation bedevilling the country, especially in the North.

Anenih, who gave the assurance, declared that the country was passing through difficult times occasioned by insecurity and indiscipline.

He said: “Nigeria is passing through difficult times. A lot of challenges created by insecuri-

ty indiscipline; I want to appeal to you that Ebonyi State should remain a focal point where we normally get positive signals.”

He further assured the country that with respect to the Boko Haram insurgency in the North, the Committee set up by the Presidency was already at work to ensure that the menace was laid to rest in no distant time.

The former Minister of Works, however, appealed for patience and cooperation among Nigerians as no stone would be left unturned until peace returned to the country.

“The security challenges in the country are effectively be-

ing handled by President Goodluck Jonathan and with respect to Boko Haram a committee is already working and the police are doing their job. There is no other miracle it can perform. He has set up a committee to look into it; let us wait and see what happens .”

Governor Martin Elechi of Ebonyi State, who thanked the BoT chairman of the party for his visit added that the party would remain strong and formidable despite the challenges facing it.

According to him, the state was not a failure as it concerned the operations of PDP in the country.

BY NNAMDI OJIEGO

A

group, Concerned Pro gressive Professionals, CPP, has called on President Goodluck Jonathan to resolve the leadership crises at the Nnamdi Azikiwe Teaching Hospital, Nnewi, Anambra State, over appointment of a substantive Chief Medical Director, CMD, for the institution.

The group in a statement jointly signed by the Chairman, Bonny Obunadike and Secretary, Pharm. Acada Okongwu, said the call has become necessary to save the people who relied on the institution for their health needs, from untold hardships. ”We, the Concerned Progressive Professionals wish to draw the attention of President Goodluck Jonathan and the general public to the brewing crises in Nnamdi Azikiwe Teaching Hospital, over the appointment of Chief Medical Director for the institution".

Alleged N458m bribe: Imo govt confiscates JPROS company's property As impeached Dep Gov sues JPROS CEO for defamation

BY CHIDI NKWOPARA

O

WERRI—THE last is yet to be heard about the N458 million bribe scandal rocking Imo State as the state government has ordered immediate confiscation of property belonging to JPROS International Company Limited.

In a similar development, the impeached deputy governor, Sir Jude Agbaso, has dragged the chief executive officer of JPROS, Mr. Joseph Dina, to court, claiming N5 billion as special and aggravated damages for defamation.

The Agbasos are particularly irked by the falsifications crafted and presented by Joseph Dina to the Simeon Iwunze-led ad hoc committee instituted by Speaker

of the State House of Assembly, which eventually handed down a guilty verdict against Agbaso.

Dina had claimed before the ad-hoc committee that Agbaso demanded and collected N458 million bribe money from him (Dina) with a view to making the former deputy governor to be favourably disposed to award more road contracts to JPROS. Angered by this allegation, the former deputy governor’s elder brother, Chief Martin Agbaso, engaged forensic experts that put a tracker on the alleged missing money.

During a press conference, Chief Agbaso announced that the money for which his young-

er brother was thrown out of office, had been traced to two separate accounts in Dubai and Lebanon.

Vanguard recalls that Imo State government awarded N1.5 billion road contract to JPROS and not only overpaid the bill by N200 million but also made full payment of the contract sum without the job being completed and certified by the relevant government agencies.

At the time of going to press, it was not clear how government intended to recover all money stashed away in foreign banks

by Dina but Vanguard gathered that Governor Rochas Okorocha had given a marching order to the Ministry of Works and Transport to complete the project.

BAKALIKI—EB ONYI State government, yesterday, condemned alleged indiscriminate mass arrest of 28 Ebonyi citizens by men of the state police command during the crisis that took place around Abakpa market last Saturday in Abakaliki, the state capital.

It would be recalled that the crisis in the market was triggered when a policeman who volunteered to ensure free flow of traffic and customers along the road accidentally shot a passer-by on the hand; the action Vanguard learnt made some already agitated traders and their customers to allegedly beat up the policeman, dispossess him of his gun and left him injured.

State Commissioner for Commerce and Industry, Dr. Ifeanyi Ike, who charged police authorities to train policemen on the proper way and time to use ammunition in case of crisis, said it was unlawful for the police to kill those it was meant to constitutionally protect.

“There is no way government can condone what is not proper; I learnt they were just arresting any passerby within the area of crime".

Maxi Akachi for burial

M

AZI Akachi Ume of Ume family of Amuvi village, Arochukwu is dead. Until his death, he was manager, Tax and Systems, NLNG Port Harcourt.

Burial will take place on Saturday, May 18, after a wake-keep on Friday, May 17, 2013, at his country home, Amuvi village, Arochukwu.

Late Mazi Akachi

Vanguard , WEDNESDAY, MAY 15, 2013—39

PRESENTATION: From left: Mr. Walter Dritsch, German Consulate General; Alhaji Remi Bello, Deputy President, Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry; Mr. Goodie Ibru, President and Mr. Babatunde Ruwase, Chairman, Trade Promotion Board, during the public presentation of the Prospectus for 2013 Lagos International Trade Fair in Lagos, yesterday. Photo: Lamidi Bamidele.

INSPECTION: From left: Hon Abdulmalik Usman , Hon Tobias Okwuru, Chairman, House Committee on Works; Hon Ogbuefi Ozomgbachi, site contractor, Mr. Ferdin Amin, Fort Dike and Ajibula Famurewa inspecting section 3 of Owerri-Umuahia road project in Imo State, yesterday.

RAFFLE DRAW: From left: Mr. Emmanuel Agu, Marketing Manager, Gulder, EMPOWERMENT: From left: Executive Secretary, Atakumosa East LGA, Legend & Life, Nigerian Breweries Plc; Temitope Ogunyemi, winner of Leg- Alhaji Olatoberu Jimoh, Osun State Deputy Governor, Mrs. Titi Laoye-Tomori end's unique shopping experience to Dubai, 9ice, celebrity prize presenter and others, during the 2013 youth empowerment programme, at Iwara, and Funso Ayeni, Senior Brand Manager, Legend and Life, NB Plc, at the first Atakumosa East LGA, Osun State. raffle draw to pick winners of trip to Dubai in Season 2 of Legend Extra Stout's Real Deal national consumer promotion in Lagos.

COCKTAIL: From left: Brand Manager, Johnnie Walker, Diageo Brands Nigeria, Mr. Amaechi Okobi; Marketing Manager, Diageo Brands Nigeria, Mr. Sola Oke; Diageo Africa Reserve Brand Ambassador, Mr. Tim Etherington-Judge, Marketing and Innovation Director, Guinness Nigeria Plc, Mr Austin Ufomba; Reserve Activation Manager, Mr. Niyi Ogunwuyi, at the cocktail night with Diageo Reserve Brand Ambassador in Lagos. Photo: Kehinde Gbadamosi.

AWARD: From left: Managing Director, Nigerian Bottling Company, NBC, Mr. Ben Langat, presenting an award to the team Tananko T29 combined category winners, Mr. Jerome Sastre and Mr. Peter Kolevier and National Commercial Director, NBC, Mr. Mattieu Seguin, during NBC Boat racing championship in Lagos. Photo: Kehinde Gbadamosi.

DINNER/AWARD: Mrs.Dotun Akande, Proprietress, Patrick Speech & Language Centre, PSLC (1st left); Mrs. Alaba Fadairo, representing Lagos State Deputy Governor (2nd left), presenting a PSLC award to Mrs.Uche Mbagwu (right) and Dr. A.R Kolade, Representative of Lagos State Commissioner for Health, at the PSLC dinner/award night in Lagos.

TOUR: From left: Dr Paul Orhii,DG , NAFDAC, Mrs Ethel Emma Uche, Lagos Brewery Manager and Chhaju Ram, Engineering Manager,Lagos Brewery during Dr. Orhii's tour of Lagos Brewery of the Nigerian Breweries Plc.

ANNIVERSARY: From right Chief (Mrs) Olabisi Salis, celebrant; Chief Owolabi Salis, former governorship aspirant in Lagos State; Mrs. Clara Obazele, Senior Lecturer and Mr. Jide Johnson, HOD, Mass Communication, both of Nigerian Institute of Journalism, Ogba, Lagos, during the wedding anniversary celebration of Chief and Chief (Mrs) Owolabi Salis in Lagos. Photo: Lamidi Bamidele.

40—Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, MAY 15, 2013

Kwara Govt to disburse N4bn car loan to workers

Expect heavy rain soon, Katsina govt warns residents

I

IORIN—THE Kwara State Government has concluded plans to disburse N4 billion loan to workers in the state this month to enable them buy cars.

The state’s Commissioner for Information and Communication, Mr Tunji Morounfoye, made the disclosure in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria, NAN, in Ilorin Monday.

Morounfoye said that the car loan would cut across all cadres of civil servants in the state.

He said that the beneficiaries of the loan were selected after the government had considered their ability to pay back within four years.

Morounfoye who did not disclose the number of beneficiaries said that beneficiaries were those whose appointments had been confirmed.

The commissioner said the government had disbursed N1billion as car loan to some civil servants last year.

HR confab to focus on innovation, business success

L

AGOS—HUMAN Re sources professionals from leading companies will gather next month in Lagos to share ideas and discuss policies.

The event tagged HR Leaders in Africa 2013 conference has as theme: “Bringing World Class Innovation in Human Resources.”

The forum which is expected to showcase approaches taken by organisations as they adapt to the upsurge in the economies of regional countries, is drawing from the success of the inaugural HR Leaders in Africa conference last year.

A statement by the organisers said this year ’s event promises to be a comprehensive learning and networking forum for HR professionals. The conference will run from 3 to 6 June at the Four Points by Sheraton in Lagos.

K

COMMISSIONING— From left: Chief Raymond Obieri, director; Mr Clement Olowokande, Chairman; Mr. Tor Nygard, MD; all of Berger Paints Nigeria Plc and Chief Kola Jamodu, President, Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) at the official commissioning of Berger Plaza in Abuja yesterday.

Nyako commends community for facilitating arrest of gunmen Y

OLA—GOV.Murtala Nyako of Adamawa State, on Monday, commended residents of Nasarawa in Jimeta, Yola, for rising up against a gang of gunmen and facilitating their arrest.

The News Agency of Nigeria, NAN, recalls that a gang of gunmen who opened fire near a mosque on Friday in Nasarawa quarters of Jimeta while attempting to rob a super market, were dared by the residents. Many of the worshippers at the mosque rose aginst the gunmen, shouting “Allah hu akbar ”, meaning God is great.

The gunmen sighting the daring crowd rushing toward them, aborted the robbery and took to their heels.

However, some members of the Igbo community in the city blocked the fleeing robbers, leading to the arrest of some of them.

Speaking on the development, Nyako lauded the action taken by the residents, describing it as “a welcome move we must take in tackling the present security challenges in the country”.

He noted that security was not the responsibility of government alone.

The governor, who in particular commended the courageous effort of a woman in helping in the arrest of the gunmen, directed his Chief of Staff to identify the woman for special reward.

Nyako assured of his administration’s commitment to ensure safety of lives and property.

He said that his administration had embarked on various empowerment programmes to create jobs and reduce poverty.

The governor said that various skills acquisition centres opened across the

state had been training about 3,000 people annually, adding that they were given tools to establish businesses.

“Now we have less cases of theft and burglary in our neighbourhoods as many of the jobless youths have taken advantage of the opportunities we provided to be gainfully employed,” Nyako stated.

AT S I N A— T H E Katsina State Commissioner for Environment, Alhaji Aminu Ibrahim, yesterday, advised the people of the state to expect heavy rain between now and May 21, 2013.

Ibrahim said in a statement in Katsina that the alert was a follow-up to the one recently issued by the Nigerian Meteorological Agency, NIMET. He particularly warned residents of Bakori, Funtua, Katsina and environs, to be cautious as heavy downpour may occur in the areas.

Ibrahim urged the residents to embark on self help efforts to clear all blocked drainages and waterways in their communities to avert flooding.

The commissioner also warned against excavation near dam embankment to avoid the collapse of the dams.

He advised local government councils in the state to ensure that all blocked drainages and waterways were cleared to enhance free flow of rainwater.

CONTEMPT OF COURT: Two expatriates risk jail term in Bauchi

BY SUZAN EDEH

B

AUCHI—TWO expa triates in charge of a Chinese firm in Bauchi State, Messrs Chen Chour and Jack Chong now risk going to jail over alleged contempt of court.

They were alleged to have disobeyed a court order which barred them from taking over some community farm lands in the state without compensation pending the determination of the substantive suit.

Already, Chour and Chong who are the managing director and assistant manager of Tongyi Allied Mining Limited currently operating in Juga community in Toro Local Government area of the state were served with form

48 by a Bauchi State High Court presided over by Justice Ibrahim Zango for alleged disobedience of court order.

Form 48 is the first legal step before contempt charge is formally filed.

Earlier three people, Ladan Sabo, Mamman Sale and Sa’idu Toro had through their counsel, Mr Hassan Yaqub on behalf of Juga community in Toro Local Government Area, filed a motion experte, asking the court to restrain the Tongyi Allied Mining Limited, from entering their farmlands without paying them compensation.

Justice Zango granted the prayers of the plaintiff, and restrained the Chinese firm from using the farmland.

However, following complaints by the plaintiffs that

the firm disobeyed the order, Justice Zango also, directed the company to close its operations in the farm pending the determination of the motion on notice.

When the case was mentioned, Counsel to the Tongyi Allied Mining Limited, Audu Babayo filed a preliminary objection challenging the jurisdiction of the court to entertain the suit, but the plaintiffs counsel, Yaqub, remarked that the defendants refused to obey the court order served on them to close their businesses and stop any operation pending the determination of the motion on notice.

The Counsel then applied to serve them with form 48 and form 49 which was granted by the court, hence they were promptly served with form 48.

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, MAY 15, 2013

Energy resource mgt in a federal system: Challenges, constraints and strategies Chief Philip Asiodu, CON, delivered this paper at the international conference of the Nigerian Association for Energy economics in Lagos

lesser government revenues are derived. It has been estimated the “loss” incurred from the actual production from 2007 – 2012 which hovered around 2.2 million barrels a day as against possible planned production of from 2 million to 3.6 million barrels a day at over US$100 billion.

Failure to agree on appropriate pricing for gas: There can be no valid excuse for the failure over the past two decades to agree on pricing which would have led to the much needed development of gas reserves to fuel the Power Sector and gas-utilizing fertilizer and petrochemical industries. Many promoters of excellent viable projects based on gas have negotiated with the NNPC and the Government for more than 10 years to no avail. This has been disastrous for economic development. It has been bad for the environment as cut-off dates for gas flaring have been postponed continuously. The consequences for overall enabling environment for investment and ease of doing business in Nigeria have been very negative.

BY PHILIP ASIODU

I

Source: How petroleum wealth shapes the development of nations, Michael Ross

attempt a comparative assessment of situations in federal systems generally.

The long delays are not caused by federal versus state government relations: The The PIB is meant to ensure delays in formulating and improved revenues for Nigeria administering Oil and Gas Policy, while at the same time keeping or a National Energy Policy for Nigeria internationally the power sector so necessary for competitive and attractive to driving economic growth and investors in upstream and development in Nigeria at a rate downstream sectors of the commensurate with our industry. It is a sad fact, and we tremendous resource shall return to this later, that endowments have not been many important decisions have caused by disputes between the Federal and the State Governments. As far back as 1944, the Colonial Government promulgated the Minerals Ordinance which decreed that all subsurface rights and all minerals in Nigeria belong to the Central, later Federal Government. This has been carried in all Constitutions of Nigeria even after Independence. The CHIEF PHILIP ASIODU expression Nigeria been held up for more than a includes areas under territorial decade and some major waters, and the 200km offshore investments consequently exclusive economic zone. Our diverted to other countries. current 1999 Constitution assigns Equally tragic for our economic matters relating to “mines and development and diversification, minerals, including oil fields, oil the urgently needed reform and mining, geological surveys” to restructuring of the Power Sector the Exclusive Federal Legislative has dragged on for more than a List. The problems encountered decade. For reasons which will in some other federations where soon be clear I propose to deal mineral rights may belong to mainly with the management of individual landowners, or where our Energy Resources rather than legislation on minerals are state

responsibilities, and where the Central Government has to negotiate carefully interstate transportation and trade in oil and gas and other matters relating to international trade in minerals have not arisen in Nigeria. The demand by oil-producing communities for greater allocation to them of revenues from the exploitation of oil and gas is to compensate for environmental degradation and to accelerate economic development of their areas.

Ownership of subsurface rights There has been no orchestrated demand for constitutional revision of ownership of subsurface rights.

These issues have centred around the poor administration and poor results from the activities of the various bodies established from 1960 onwards to ameliorate the economic conditions in the Region such as the Niger Delta Development Commission, OMPADEC, NDDC. It is also very interesting that the world is at the beginning of a new chapter in the history of global oil and gas trade. With the new technological advances in the production of shale oil and gas, there is now the prospect within the decade of North American and US selfsufficiency in energy supplies and the transition of the US from net-importer to net-exporter. This will mean new challenges for Nigerian exporters of oil and gas.

Already during the past four years, Nigerian exports to the US declined by 70% and may cease by 2015.

Moreover, there are new discoveries in West Africa and elsewhere in Africa. The new entrants will be eager for development and will offer attractive terms and incentives

Refineries and marketing of petroleum products: It is a national shame that Nigeria with all the manpower available locally and in diaspora cannot maintain and operate petroleum refineries properly and that we have had to rely on imports for the bulk of petroleum products consumed locally. The simple reasons for this situation are corruption and crude unpatriotic political interference in the management of the refineries and in the selection and deployment of

There can be no valid excuse for the failure over the past two decades to agree on pricing which would have led to the much needed development of gas reserves to fuel the Power Sector and gasutilizing fertilizer and petrochemical industries

,

T is very interesting that the Nigerian Association For Energy Economics is holding this International Conference at this time when the Federal Government and the National Assembly are still far from concluding the discussions and negotiations on the Petroleum Industries Bill which was submitted to the National Assembly in 2008. We should note that consultations and the process of preparing the Bill started as long ago as year 2000.

The intention with the PIB is to create with a single legislation the basis for regulating more efficiently all aspects of the oil and gas industry in Nigeria. A Federal Government publication in 2009 states that it is meant to “combine 16 different Nigerian petroleum laws in a single transparent and coherent document”. It adds for good measure that “This is the first time that such a large-scale consolidation has happened anywhere in the world.”

— 41

against which Nigeria must compete. With the benefit of hindsight, we shall soon discover that the country suffered very costly losses of revenues over the past decades of delays and policy reversals in the management of our oil and energy resources.

Some of the critical issues which have remained unresolved for years include :(i) Underfunding of Joint Ventures of NNPC and IOCs, the Government persistently failing to meet its CAPEX and OPEX funding obligations.

This has impacted negatively on the replenishment of reserves, on daily production, and on the balance between onshore and shallow water production vis a viz deepwater production in favour of the latter from which, for now,

,

personnel in the NNPC. I can only recall with much regret that by August 1993, towards the end of the Transitional Council, although, they were all initially reluctant, agreements had been reached with three international oil companies to take over the three refineries in Nigeria, conduct technical and management audits and indicate what must be done on the basis of their findings and to modernize, restructure, retrain staff as necessary and to operate the three refinery complexes for a period of 18 months at normal international standards of efficiency. At the expiration of 18 months, the refineries would be privatized with the Government retaining a minority interest.

To be concluded

42—VANGUARD, WEDNESDAY, MAY 15, 2013

should President Goodluck Jonathan be elected into Aso Rock.

Two years down the line and the country practically in a state of war, many are now bringing back to memory the assertions made by Kaita in the heat of the political jostling that preceded the presidential nomination convention of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party, PDP. Mallam Adamu Ciroma who led the northern agitation for power shift gave a largely ominous sign of what would happen by his unusual reticence.

Unusual reticence

State of the nation:

Have they made Nigeria ungovernable?

PERHAPS out of political passion some northern leaders few years ago made dire threats against the peace of the nation in the event President Goodluck Jonathan made a success of his election bid . Now two years down the line and the country in a practical state of war the question as to whether the jingoists have had their way is an issue.

northern irredentists have, however, been more forceful.

None perhaps as vindictive as Alhaji Lawal Kaita who said back in 2011 that Nigeria would be made ungovernable

Since the failed move by the Ciroma led Northern Leaders Political Forum, NPLF to take the presidential ticket from Jonathan through political means failed, he has remained in the background and out of political contact with the mainstream in his party.

Kaita’s threat of lawlessness were recently echoed by Alhaji Asari Dokubo, the leader of the Niger Delta Peoples Volunteers Force in a press conference last week.

Speaking from the opposite perspective taken by Kaita, he warned that any attempt at stopping Dr. Jonathan from a second term would mean the end of Nigeria.

Before him, presidential Continues on page 43

BY EMMANUEL AZIKEN, POLITICAL EDITOR

I

T was a year ago yesterday, that Gen. Muhammadu Buhari made the famous baboon and blood threat against election riggers.

Receiving partisans of his Congress for Progressive Change, CPC from Niger State in his Kaduna residence on a courtesy call, Buhari had said:“God willing, by 2015, something will happen. They either conduct a free and fair election or they go a very disgraceful way.”

“If what happened in 2011 (alleged rigging) should again happen in 2015, by the grace of God, the dog and the baboon would all be soaked in blood.”

Buhari who spoke in Hausa was supposedly giving dire threats against election riggers, but it was not difficult for his political enemies to take it up as one other indication of the violent streak on the part of the former head of state.

While Buhari’s assertions were essentially directed against election riggers, declarations by some other

•Kaita: Promised frustration

Kaita

The North is determined, if it happens, to make the country ungovernable for President Jonathan or any other Southerner who finds his way to the seat of power on the platform of the PDP against the principle of the party’s zoning policy.

Anything short of a Northerner president is tantamount to stealing our presidency. Jonathan has to go and he will go...he would be frustrated out.

•Dokubo:

No more cheating

Asari-Dokubo

We must have our uninterrupted eight years of two tenures I am not in support of any amendment of the Constitution that will reduce the eight years of two tenures that Goodluck Jonathan is expected to be President of Nigeria.

For a very long time, our resources from the Niger Delta had been used to feed and fund Nigeria, and some people are still feeling that Nigeria is their personal property.

•Sani: Jonathan is inciting

Shehu Sani

President Goodluck Jonathan should not contemplate contesting the 2011 presidential election.

Any attempt by him to contest amounts to incitement and a recipe for political instability.

Even though rotational presidency is unconstitutional, it has been able to address problems of regional, ethnic, sectional domination and marginalization.

•Briggs: It is fire for fire

Annkio Briggs

We hold the key for the economy of Nigeria and this country will not know peace if Jonathan is not returned as president in 2015.

If a group of cabals can boast that they will make Nigeria ungovernable if they are denied the opportunity to produce the President of Nigeria, we in the Niger Delta will make the economy of this country ungovernable.

We will make sure no single oil drop from our pipes. We will destroy everything and make sure nobody accesses our oil.

VANGUARD, WEDNESDAY, MAY 15, 2013 —43

Jonathan is bound to contest — Agbedi CHIEF Fred Agbedi is the Special Adviser to the Bayelsa State governor on Political Matters. In this interview in Yenogoa, he speaks on the strides of the present administration, the electoral space in Bayelsa and agitations on the state’s most famous son, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan to seek a second term in office as president of Nigeria. Excerpts:

BY SAMUEL OYADONGHA

W

HA T is your HAT of assessment the governance in Bayelsa State in the last one year?

Well, I am in government, so it depends on where my view is coming from. But the truth of the matter is that things have been well. We are seeing great signs of development going on and of course, Bayelsans are generally happier.

What’s your reaction to the accusation by the ‘Association of Governorship Candidates’ that the governor has become inaccessible since he assumed office and breached agreements reached with them prior to the governorship election?

As the Special Adviser on Political Matters to the Governor of this state, I want to state unequivocally that it is wrong for the people to constitute themselves as a group of former governorship candidates and that government is not creating access that will make them reach the government and that agreements were reached and the governor is reneging on them.

Responsible politician I don’t think that any reasonable and responsible politician who wants to lead his people, who feels that he has the capacity to mount the office governor of a state, to fly flag of a party using it as a vehicle to reach that maximum office to rule the people of a state will say he merely mortgaged that mandate given to him by his party because of certain negotiation, certain benefits that he is supposed to get at the end of the day.

That clearly is an indication your own intention was to really not lead the people but probably to have some kind of pecuniary benefits from the side. So, what are we talking about?

A number of former governorship candidates are getting appointments in this government. They are included in governance because they are Bayelsans and this government has opened all the doors of government to all Bayelsans whether you are of PDP extraction or not.

The PDP has always been accused of lacking internal

democracy as witnessed in the recent council polls with allegations of imposition of candidates in virtually all the council areas?

This is not true; there were no imposition of candidates. The PDP is the only democratic party in Nigeria. That is the truth of the matter.

PDP is the only party that organises party primaries, that nominates people into party offices and electoral offices for general elections.

Take for example, have you ever heard of the other parties organizing primaries? Rather they just impose candidates and sponsor them for elections.

Let us look at the three local government councils in the state (KolokumaOpokuma, Sagbama and Ekeremor) that had court judgment late last year year,, two of the chairmen, (Sagbama and Kolokuma-Opokuma) were impeached and Ekeremor spared. Some claimed the impeachment of the chairmen was orchestrated by the state government what is your take on this?

•Agbedi: Jonathan has a right to contest Well, first of all, it is wrong to use the word that ‘Ekeremor was spared’. Ekeremor councillors also rose against their chairman and till date, as we are talking they are in court. Clearly, government had no hand in what happened.

The fact remains and we have said it severally, the chairmen who the governor mandated that should be sworn in had their own councillors at the time they claimed that they were the candidates of the party.

So, when they had the judgment and were sworn in to

assume office they also wanted to bring in on board their own councillors who were in court. So, largely you see that the councillors who came against them came against them in protection of their offices and that is why they had that running battle with their own councillors.

Some of them instead of managing the councillors they met, like when Seriake Dickson came in as governor and there was a house of assembly in place.

They (chairmen) came with the feeling that these (councillors) were not their people and they

cannot work with them.

They want to sideline and push them out and do things in their own way. Of course, what do you expect of the councillors?

They will react and that was what happened. The government had nothing to do with the impeachment saga that happened in the local government councils.

2015 is gathering momentum and different interests are aligning and realigning…

(Cuts in) Of course, 2015 will come. President Goodluck Jonathan has a right to contest the election. Nothing good comes easy, he didn’t get the first tenure on a platter of gold and we know he is not going to get the second on a platter of gold.

We worked hard to get the first tenure, whether people are ganging up against him or not, it will eventually show who takes the day and by the Grace of God we know that our President will have his eight years and then somebody else will take on from there.

Is he contesting?

He is contesting. He has to.

The decision is not his personal decision. We as a people, we as Ijaw people like other people expect that we have our eight years like any other person who mount that office will want eight years.

As a people, as Ijaw people, we believe we will have our eight years. We will work for it, we will talk to all the tribes, all the zones in this country to please support us and give us that second mandate.

Have they made Nigeria ungovernable?

Continues from page 42 adviser on amnesty Mr. Kingsley Kuku had in a recent presentation to the United States Congress implied albeit subtly, that the peace in the Niger Delta was mainly because Jonathan, a Niger Delta man is president.

It was an assertion that was perhaps meant to draw sympathy towards the Nigeria administration in the United States given the linkage of U.S. oil companies to the Niger Delta. Kuku, should off course know, given his own extensive activism and linkage with the Niger Delta militants.

But if any, the assertions by both Kuku and Dokubo, have helped to stoke up tension in the polity with varying allegations of cronyism levelled against the administration by its opponents who accuse the president of orchestrating a war of intimidation.

Remarkably, the House of

•Jonathan: Is he being frustrated?

Representatives and critical stakeholders have denounced the assertions by the unrepentant Dokubo who went further days later to dare the

security agencies to arrest him.

So far, no arrest has been made against Dokubo, who interestingly had few months ago dismissed the Jonathan administration as non performing.

Annkio Brigs, a civil rights activist who like Dokubo, has in the past raised allegations of underperformance against the Jonathan administration especially in the Niger Delta, has recently entered the fray with a warning that Nigeria is at peace now only because Jonathan is president.

Not surprisingly, some are

seeking to make political capital out of the claims and counter claims. It is in that effort that threats made by Buhari against election rigging have been used to drag him into the fray.

Though Buhari had distanced himself on the eligibility or otherwise of Jonathan contesting the PDP presidential ticket on the basis of zoning, he had, however, prior to the election issued dire warnings against rigging.

Buhari had warned his supporters at a campaign rally in Kaduna on March 2, 2011 to resist rigging.

“You should never leave polling centres until votes are counted and the winner declared and you should lynch anybody that tries to tinker with the votes,” Buhari had said in an assertion that easily dovetailed into suggestions that he instigated the crisis that followed the presidential elections in the north in 2011.

44 — Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, MAY 15, 2013

•How secure is the country in the face of frequent bomb explosions in public places?

THE practice of appropriating huge sums of public money under the guise of enhancing national security has come under increasing scrutiny, following the near collapse of security situation in Nigeria. CHARLES KUMOLU reports TIME was 8 p.m. and the setting was Abuja, Nigeria’s Federal Capital Territory,FCT. The forum, which was being held at Akwa Ibom State Government Lodge, was the second meeting of the Peoples Democratic Party,PDP, Governors Forum.

His attendance at the meeting, perhaps, was unexpected.

He walked in with the party’s Board of Trustees, BoT’s, Secretary, Senator Walid Jibrin and former governor of old Anambra State, Jim Nwobodo.

And by the time he finished admonishing the PDP governors, the party’s BoT Chairman, Chief Tony Anenih had succeeded in earning commendations across various divides for his position on judicious use of security votes by state governors. Accordingly, he said that using the fund was necessary, as the Federal Government alone could not guarantee security in the country. “All of you are chief securi-

ty officers of your states, the Federal Government alone cannot give all Nigerians security and everybody must be involved. The market women, governors, members of the National Assembly and councillors must all be involved,’’Anenih noted.Continuing he said: “Most of those who destroy houses and kill people live with us and police cannot perform miracle without information.

Performing miracles Getting information now is very expensive, so I appeal to the governors that this is the time to use your security votes to seek information. Nobody will blame you for that.’’

Police cannot perform miracle: Aside from Anenih’s recent call, the 36 states governors had at a meeting in June last year, tabled a fresh de-

mand for a raise in the controversial ‘security votes’ which they collect monthly from the federal purse. The governors said the demand was as a result of the escalating violence by the terrorist sect, Boko Haram, which has stretched routine allocations. While it is true that the spate of violence and crime is on the raise, the question many have asked how well has the money been spent?

VanguardFeatures,VF, can state that security votes are funds unconstitutionally appropriated by government at all levels in Nigeria for the purpose of enhancing national security.

Origin of security votes: Since the return to democracy, billions of unaccounted funds find their way out of the treasury in the name of security vote. But many analysts have argued that the idea of security vote has always sounded antithetical to basic democratic tenets of transparency and ac-

al appropriations, large sums of money for presidential protection (Nigeria’s example of security votes for president and governors). When Nixon became President, he converted part of the allocation to develop his country home, including the provision of an exotic, state-of-the-art swimming pool.’’

Continuing, the report said: ’’Following allegations of corruption levelled against him, Nixon argued that the President could not be said to be protected if his country home was not fortified. Sensing that Nixon had beaten them to their own game, the US Congress quickly went to work and the end result was the promulga-

,

INSECURTY: What has the security votes secured?

countability. Analysts wonder how a governor, in a democratic environment, would justify the practice of setting aside a huge sum of money, ostensibly for disbursement on security matters in a state, but for which accountability is neither demanded nor given. For this singular reason, many governors have turned such money into personal slush funds, used for anything but security.

Nobody really knows how security vote got into the country’s political lexicon. Section 14(b) of the 1999 Constitution states that: “It is hereby accordingly declared that the security and welfare of the people shall be the primary purpose of government.” Nowhere did

Getting information now is very expensive, so I appeal to the governors that this is the time to use your security votes to seek information; nobody will blame you for that the section or any other part of the statue book state that there shall be a pool of fund called “security vote.”

A 2012 report titled: “Plugging the Security Vote Leakage” observed that: ‘’Some schools of thought believe that security vote had its origin in United States of America, USA, particularly under President Richard Nixon. The report revealed further that after the assassination of President John Fitzgerald Kennedy in 1963, “the US Congress started to include in the country’s annu-

,

tion of the Impoundment Act of 1974, which makes it mandatory for proceeds of the crime to be impounded if found guilty. This, in America, has since ended such squander mania.’’

Checks, however, traced that the origin of the votes from the military era to the present democratic dispensation. Its popularity had expanded following the huge amounts of money reportedly appropriated .

For instance, it is estimated that on the average, a Nigerian Continues on page 45

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, MAY 15, 2013 — 45

Insecurity: What has the security votes secured?

Continues from page 44

National security She regretted that the funds had not in anyway enhanced national security, adding that it had become counter-productive given the ambiguity and secrecy associated with the concept, adding that: “The Police should be better equipped instead of spending the money on security votes.’’

Votes not accounted for: But the Independent Elec toral Commission of Nigeria, INEC, Resident Electoral Commissioner in Cross River State, Mr. Mike Igini stressed that resources are still important tool of fighting insecurity.

Hence he warned that ‘’to divert important resources away from security is suicidal for any leadership at any level because security is the principal reason people come together to form a state. I believe the key concern of Nigerians is value for money, which boils down to three Es, namely: efficiency(maximization of security benefits from inputs), effectiveness and efficacy of security decisions and resources used. We must keep the goal of security in mind, which is to be secure, all cases of insecurity do not require the same approach, hence the quality of decisions taken is key. ‘’ On the legality of the votes, Igini said: ‘’What is unconstitutional is unlawful, I do not subscribe to any form of appropriation that is not vetted, it may be done before or after it has been applied depending on its need, but it should be susceptible to scrutiny if not by a large group but by at least a

*Mike Igini

specialised group; the core motivation of democratic leadership is the necessity to be accountable to electors or the representatives of electors.’’

But Edo State governor, Adams Oshiomhole, argued that even though the governors collect security vote, they should not be blamed for the security situation in Nigeria.

Responding to a question by this reporter during a chat with select journalists in Benin, he said issues on security votes should not be limited to governors alone.

Don’t restrict votes to governors: ‘’I don’t think it is fair for you to ask me to evaluate what other governors are doing and I don’t know why you choose to limit the matter to governors. If you look at the security votes of all the governors and that of the Federal Government, why would you limit the question to governors. I am sure that you understand that throwing money at a problem

,

governor gets a mini-mum of N300 million per month as security vote- a sum enough to pay the minimum wage of N18,000 of more than 16,000 Nigerians. It is also believed that some states allegedly set about N700 million as security vote per month.

Following the huge amount of money involved in security vote and the threatening degree of insecurity of lives and properties, like a recurring decimal the question pops up: What do governors and other elected officials at other levels of government do with security votes?

Verdict on security votes: The President of Campaign for Democracy, Dr. Joe OkeiOdumakin, told VF that the present wanton waste of lives and properties across the country, is a damning verdict against the act of appropriating money to state governors for the maintenance of law and order.

President Goodluck Jonathan

ment that has the monopoly of power in all of those. What a state government can do and what virtually all of us in varying degrees are doing, is to try to provide supports to these federal security agencies. But what makes a system work, is how we administer the carrot and the stick. ‘’For example, I have procured several vehicles, communication gadgets, portability to man various out of town and within town checkpoints. These things were made available to the Nigeria Police. So, even if I give all the money in the coffers of the state government and I have no control over them, what difference can it make?

Losing faith in federal police: “ When Chief Anenih said the governors should use their security votes judiciously, he should have extended it to Abuja. That is why people are calling for state police, by being in charge of our security.

Unfortunately, that money is not accounted for because it is unconstitutional; it is not only the governors that collect it, other top government functionaries also collect security votes, yet there is so much insecurity in the land

does not really mean that the problem will disappear,’’Oshiomhole argued.

Explaining further, he said: ‘’The tools or the institutions primarily responsible for security are federal institutions. The army, police, state security services and lately the civil defense corps. All these are federal agencies. The management of our borders to know the people coming in falls under federal control. I can’t decide who lives in Edo State. It is only the Federal Govern-

,

That is when you can hold me responsible if the security system is working or not. Although I have my reservations about state police, but increasingly, I am losing faith that the federal police is not really meeting up with the security demands. If I am a chief security officer of my state and a deputy police commissioner, who is less than or equivalent to an Assistant Director in the state civil service, will look at me and say that he is not accountable to me, what power can I have? If I don’t have power of discipline, re-

cruitment, promotion, can it translate to the desired results?

I only have power to give them money, can that produce results? But you must know that there are a lot of things that many state governments have tried to do. Here in Edo the traditional rulers have had to persuade us to give them vehicles to set up vigilantes’’.

Oshiomhole’s position on the constitutional inability of the governors to control security apparatuses, was also corroborated by Igini, who regretted that elected officials at levels of governance lack the powers to control the police.

Administrative control ‘’ He has made a very important point because the ambit of control of those who implement security should be reasonably defined at the different levels of need, for, as the basic principles of administrative control suggests, regarding the span of control of someone responsible for a task, such a person must be directly responsible to a single source of control,’’ he noted.

In addition, he said: ‘’I must float a caveat: We have never heard of a local government chairperson who requires lawful use of a DPO (Divisional Police Officer), or of a state governor who requires the lawful use of a state police commissioner who did not get the required response due to his or her authority. Moreover, the most strident opposition to the devolution of policing powers has unfortunately come from those who most need the devolution.’’ As far as the human rights activist is concerned, ‘’ the nation should devolve and de-concentrate policing powers on local issues to give elected people at lower levels sufficient

leverage on security, allowing states and local government to invest appropriately in security infrastructure according to local needs, but we cannot dispense with a national police service at our current developmental stage‘’.

Relatedly, a retired Police Commissioner, Alhaji Abubakar Tamaji, told VF that even though security vote is not constitutional, the task of providing security requires huge fund. But he is angry that despite the huge amount of money spent annually by various government agencies on security, the country remained insecure. ‘’It is very unfortunate that security votes is breeding insecurity instead of providing security. And unfortunately that money is not accounted for because it is unconstitutional. It is not only the governors that collect it, other top government functionaries also collect security votes, yet there is so much insecurity in the land.

Intended purposes The truth about security votes was made known by Kano State governor, Kwakwanso when he abolished it in his state on the grounds that he can secure the state without looting the treasury,” he noted.

Tamaji further said: ‘’Security is worth more than the money usually proposed but the big question is, will the money be used for the purpose intended?

Our prime problem in Nigeria is corruption, disloyalty and dishonesty centred on lack of patriotism”. If there is less corruption in our security service coupled with proper supervision and discipline, the spate of insecurity in the nation may be tamed,’’ he noted.

46 — Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, MAY 15, 2013

VANGUARD, WEDNESDAY, MAY 15, 2013 — 47

How Nigeria kills journalists with impunity — CPJ

the day. The events included lectures, health walks, media publicity, etc. The Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE) also warned against resort to despotic approaches to the media, saying recent developments in the country point to the frosty relationship that has always existed between government and the media.

The NGE statement, entitled ‘Reflection on World Press Freedom Day,’ and signed by its president, Mr. Femi Adesina, said the media which should be partners in Nigeria’s development and democracy, have been treated with suspicion and as adversary by various governments. United Nations in Lagos held a seminar on protecting Nigerians’ journalists through a seminar.

•UN, NGE react against brutality

BY UDUMA KALU

F

INALLY, Nigeria has joined the list of nations where journalists are slain and the killers go free. And so just a day to this year’s World Press Freedom Day, the New Yorkbased press freedom watchdog, the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), since 2008, for the first time ranked Nigeria as among nations where journalists are murdered with impunity. It is also joined as the second African country after Somalia as “worst nations in the world for deadly, unpunished violence against the press.”

Meantime, imprisoned Ethiopian journalist Reeyot Alemu has been announced winner of the 2013 UNESCO-Guillermo Cano World Press Freedom Prize. Ms Alemu was recommended by an independent international jury of media professionals in recognition of her “exceptional courage, resistance and commitment to freedom of expression.”

On how Nigeria became one of the unsafest places for journalists, CPJ in its updated “impunity index”said, “With five unsolved murders since 2009, Nigeria ranks 11th of the 12 worst countries for impunity. It is one of two African countries on the list. The other is Somalia, where 12 journalists were murdered in 2012 despite relative calm in Mogadishu.”

The Impunity Index, published annually, identifies countries where journalists are

Safety of journalists

murdered regularly and governments fail to solve the crimes. The 2013 index examines journalist murders that occurred from January 1, 2003, through December 31, 2012, and remain unsolved. Only nations with five or more unsolved cases are listed. Cases are considered unsolved when no convictions have been won.

There are 12 countries on the index this year.

The global index, which calculates unsolved journalist murders as a percentage of each country’s population, also found soaring impunity rates in Somalia, Pakistan, and Brazil. “Investigations into these killings are usually carried out with sloppiness, and no real culprits are caught,” said Ayode Longe, a senior officer with the Media Rights

Agenda, a press freedom group in Nigeria, where at least five journalists have been murdered in direct relation to their work since 2009. None of the cases has been solved. “That has emboldened others to assault journalists, believing nothing would be done to them,” Longe said.

However, Nigerian journalists organized events to mark

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, speaking in New York on the press freedom day, said journalists need to do their jobs in safety because when it is safe to speak, the whole world benefits. The theme of this year was “Safe to Speak: Ensuring the Safety of Journalists and Media Workers.” He said journalists run up against governments, corporations, criminal gangs, militias and others who want to stifle and censor their inquiries. He lamented that journalists are targeted all over the world.

The targets range beyond traditional radio, print and television to social media, blogs and citizen-led reporting. And the threats are not just physical; cyber-attacks and legislative maneuvers are among the tools of coercion.

My experience as a journalist in Nigeria, Europe —Larr Frisky Larr, A Nigerian based in Germany, is a Radio/Television Journalist with several years of working experience in Nigeria and Germany. He studied Radio/Television Journalism at the University of Ankara in Turkey, followed by a Master degree in Communication Science, Political Science and Social Psychology at the Ruhr University of Bochum, Germany. Author of several of books and articles on burning political issues in several Nigerian dailies, Frisky Larr explains his experience as a journalist in Nigeria and Europe. EXCERPTS: My job in Europe S a Radio Journalist, my working experience in Germany has basically covered the Entertainment Industry. It entails the coverage of musical events such as festivals, musical trade fairs and individual concert events. It is an occupation that has pitched me with iconic names of the entertainment business such as Jimmy Cliff, Rita Marley, Junior Marvin (of The Wailers), Dr. Alban and many more.

As in Nigeria, the profession of Journalism is also very excit-

A

ing in Europe. It is not a highincome job. It is good enough to keep you afloat footing your bills and taking care of your immediate responsibilities. It guarantees you access to many areas that are ordinarily inaccessible.

Journalism in Nigeria, Europe The notable difference between Journalism in Nigeria and in Europe is that Journalists are hardly ever kept waiting for their salaries in Europe. Many of my friends practising this trade in Nigeria often complain of salaries

unpaid over several months.

The result is that today, Journalists in Nigeria try to make money from events covered by them, which is a clear breach of ethical rules. Understandably too! But this practice is not known in Europe at all and may lead to license withdrawal if it happened. Media people cover events in Europe at no cost and are paid by their own establishments. I had my own encounter with this practice in 2011 when I launched my first book in London. The Nigerian journalist

who covered the event thought it was absolutely normal to demand £1000 from me. As a journalist living in another part of Europe, I was shocked and taken aback until I discovered a few months later that it was the normal practice in Nigeria.

Disregard for professional ethics This brings us to challenges fac-

•Larr

ing the media in Nigeria. In my first book “Nigeria’s Journalistic Militantism” I had to judge the Nigerian media very harshly for its partly correct but too emotionally charged criticism of former President Olusegun Obasanjo. I identified a huge disregard for professional ethics in the way the profession is practised in Nigeria. Emotional sympathies often go down as facts. For instance, while the former President was strongly criticised for many things he did wrong and never praised for what he got right, his immediate successor was allowed to get away with inaction and even with the wanton disruption of progress already made in several areas such as the power sector. In that book, I also identified the role of the new media and Citizens’ Journalism.

48 — Vanguard,

WEDNESDAY, MAY 15, 2013

Security guard,30, docked for forgery, impersonation in Lagos Stories by ONOZURE DANIA

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30-year-old security guard, Charles Olise, has been arraigned before an Ikeja Magistrate’s Court over alleged forgery and impersonation.

Olise, who was docked before Magistrate Dan Oni is facing a three-count charge bordering on conspiracy, forgery and impersonation.

The police prosecutor, Edet Okoi, told the court that the defendant and one Austin, at large, conspired to commit the alleged offence on April 23, 2013, at about 1.30 p.m at Gloworld Opebi, Ikeja. He said that the suspect forged an

identity card and presented himself as Mr Timothy Ogunsola at the Gloworld office in order to retrieve Ogunsola’s functional glo line.

Okoi also alleged, that the defendant, intended to use the Glo line of Ogunsola to commit felony, thus falsely presenting himself as the owner of the number. He added that it was discovered upon checking the customer data on the system that the information given did not tally with the registered number. The prosecutor said that the offence committed contravenes Sections 78(b) and punishable under section 363 and 409, Criminal Laws of Lagos State 2011.

...Bus driver, conductor in court for unlawful possession

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commercial bus driver, Bamidele Jacob, 25, and a bus conductor, Waliu Tiamiyu, 28, were yesterday docked before an Ikeja Magistrate Court for not being able to give a satisfactory account of a Toyota Camry car which was allegedly found in their possession.

Jacob and Tiamiyu, who both reside in Demurin Street, Ketu, Lagos, are facing a two-count charge of conspiracy and unlawful possession levelled against them by the police.

The police prosecutor, Roman Unuigbe, informed the court that the defendant and others at large committed the said of-

fence at about 10 p.m on March 29, 2013, at Berger, Lagos/ Ibadan Expressway, Lagos. He said that the suspects were caught with a Toyota Camry car with registration no. BM 930 RBC, and could not give satisfactory account of its ownership.

Unuigbe, said that the offence committed contravenes Section 327 and is punishable under section 409, Criminal Laws of Lagos State 2011.

However, when the charges preferred against the suspects were read to them, they pleaded not guilty.

••Tricycle driver, passenger also for being in possession of pistol

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Commercial tricycle driver, Okeoghene Ejeboh and a passenger, Obinna Nwogo were arraigned before a Magistrate’s Court sitting in Ikeja, for allegedly being in possession of a pistol. Ejeboh, 27, and Nwogo, 28, were arraigned before Magistrate B.O Osunsanmi, on a two-count charge of conspiracy and unlawful possession.

The police prosecutor, Inspector Benson Emuerhi, told the court that the defendants and others at large committed the offence on April 25,2013 at about 4.20pm. Emuerhi, alleged that the defendants were caught with a locally-made pistol which they could not give a satisfactory account of.

He said that the defendants who conspired amongst themselves committed the said

crime at Ekoro Junction at Abule Egba area of Lagos. According to the prosecutor, the defendants were caught by some police officers attached to the division who were on patrol.

He said there were two passengers in the tricycle along with Nwogo who is a trader, while the stop-and-check by the police was going on and upon sighting the police men, the other two passengers dropped from the tricycle leaving their bag behind.

However, Nwogo and Ejeboh did not know why they dropped but when the police men came to search them and discovered a bag in the tricycle, they could not give account of it.

The prosecutor said the crime committed is punishable under section, 409,327 of the law of Lagos state of Nigeria 2011.

How I was raped and defraude in my neighbourhood

By UJU MBANUSI

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27- year-old man identified as Morufu Garba is currently cooling his heels in police net for defrauding and assaulting a 20 -year- old lady in EbuteMetta area of Lagos, recently.

The incident happened on the 12th of April, 2013 at about 10pm; when the victim identified as Aminat Ajala, a fashion designing apprentice at Ebute-Metta, returned from work; tired and hungry only to discover that there was no food in the house. She opted to go get some toast bread at a shop not too far from her 91, Freeman Street residence, where she and her siblings live with their maternal grand mother, after the untimely death of their biological mother. Little did she know that Morufu Garba, a notorious fraudster was lurking somewhere in the neighbourhood, looking for Freeman street, Ebute-meta, Lagos. an opportunity to play a fast one on unsuspecting ladies, of which she soon became a victim.

Aminat Ajala told Crime Alert that she had opened it. They opened the door and went walked few metres from her residence when she straight to the refrigerator, she tried opening it, noticed that someone tapped her shoulders from but encountered some difficulties as the padlock behind; she turned to see a young man, walking used in locking it could not open. Morufu went close to her. He politely requested to have some out side, found an axe placed at a corner near chat with her, a request she granted. From that the shop and used it to forcefully open the moment on, she alleged she was not in control of refrigerator and took over N80,000 kept there. actions that ensued; as Morufu, told her he is a He then took her to meet another victim of prophet with a special message for her. He further his, a 22- year- old hair dressing apprentice told her that it was revealed to him that she will be dead the very next day if certain sacrifice was not carried out; to this he demanded that she provide the money by all

By EMMA NNADOmeans to enable him cancel ZIE, Crime Editor However, it is not surpristhe death spell hanging ing that the nomination is around her.

HE recent announcement raising such a jubilant dust Afraid and under the of the nomination of going by the track record of influence of some power former Inspector-General of Okiro even before he ascendbeyond her control, Aminat Police, Sir Mike Mbama ed the throne as the number thought of ways to generate Okiro, to head the Police Serone police man in the counthe money, as she had nothing vice Commission, (PSC), was try in 2007. His excellent peron herself.

She then received with wild jubilation formance as the police helmsrevealed to Morufu that she across the length and breath man in the City of Excellence, is just an apprentice and has of the country. In fact, the joy Lagos, was a pointer to what no money to that effect, he was more pronounced in pohe did at the police headquarasked her if she knew any lice formations across the ters in Abuja. other means to raise the country as both the rank and His era in Lagos typified an money, perhaps through her file openly commended the unprecedented crackdown on parents, or siblings, but choice made by President all sorts of crime and crimiwarned her not to disclose the Goodluck Jonathan even nality that bedeviled the city information to any one else. when the relevant bodies are then.

At that suggestion, she told yet to endorse it.

Particularly, he was able to him her grand Ma, who owns From all indications, this sincheckmate the then dreaded a buka on the street, has some gular appointment should be Oodua Peoples Congress, money stuck in a refrigerator recorded as one of the rare ap(OPC), which was on the ramsomewhere in her shop, that pointments made by the page, perpetrating all kinds she also knows where the key present administration that of atrocious acts against resiis kept. He escorted her back received the loudest acclamadents of Lagos State. to her residence to get the key, tion and commendation from Okiro’s tact and mastery of after she succeeded with that, the start. the combat readiness of his she led him to the shop, and

Police Service Commission T

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, MAY 15, 2013

Kidnappers kill victim after payment of ransom in Enugu

ed by fake prophet — fashion designer identified as Ruka, who lives on the neighboring Glover Street at Ebute-Metta, he claimed he was trying to also help perform some sacrifice to stop her mother f r o m destroying her life. He had charged her N10,000; and she gave him N1,500, as what she had on her then.

They agreed he will get the money over the weekend. After that, he led her to the venue where he was to perform the sacrifice, some where in Makoko area of Lagos. On getting there, he took her to a one room apartment, spread a mat on the floor and asked her to take off her clothes and lie on the mat. She obeyed, and all she can recall was that she was raped. When he was done with his “sacrifice”, he inserted some objects suspected to be charm into her private part, and abandoned her there. The next day, still under the influence of the charm, the lady managed to gather herself and left the place, but she had no

•European-returnee brother in coma

clue where she was. She was later found wandering in Makoko area by one of her neighbours from Freeman Street. “He noticed my unusual behavior and suspected that something must have gone wrong somewhere , he brought me home.

Crime Alert also gathered that members of the Ajala household were worried over the unusual disappearance of Aminat from home. It was gathered that after they waited for her to return home with the toast bread to no avail, her grand mother, popularly called Alhaja was worse hit, as she was said to be apprehensive of the thought of what might have happened to her granddaughter, not after their mother died at a premature age. She had organized a search party, and stayed awake till the next morning when Aminat was brought back by the neighbour.

Recovery from the ordeal After Aminat was brought back home, the case was reported to the Oyingbo police station and she was taken to a clinic for medical check up, which confirmed that she was raped and bleeding. Aminat gave her statement after she recovered from the ordeal. But when she took the policemen to the house where she was raped, Morufu was no where to be found. When inquiries were made, neighbours at the place said they don’t know any body with the identity they described.

To affect Morufu’s arrest, the Oyingbo police DPO invited Ruka, whom he was expecting N10,000 from, and tactically asked her to place a call to Garba on the number he gave her, to come get the money at Makoko junction. He swiftly came, and was arrested on the spot and thereafter charged to court. Information from the court disclosed that Morufu Garba has been charged for a similar case in the past.

By CHINENYEH OZOR, Nsukka

A

building materials merchant in Olo community, Enugu State who was kidnapped by a yet-to-be identified gunmen alongside his maternal brother who just came back from Europe, has reportedly been strangled to death by his abductors. The deceased, Cajetan Nweke, a graduate of Enugu state University of Science and Technology, ESUT, Enugu, with his maternal brother Maite Onyibo were abducted at •MD Abubakar-Inspectornight while they were step- General of Police ping out from a bar at Nkwo raise the ransom demanded Olo Market settlement. fast. A family source disCrime Alert gathered that closed that it took up to 30 few days after the two brothminutes to untie the rope ers were whisked away by round Cajetan’s neck and unknown gunmen, the lifebody which was an indication less body of Cajetan was that he was strangled to death found around 7up bottling while his brother was beaten company at 9th mile near to pulp almost half dead and Enugu where the abductors receiving treatment at the indirected the family having tensive care unit of an undispaid N1million ransom someclosed hospital. where in Anambra state inThe family of the stead of the N2 million earlideceased was astonished er demanded by their abducwhen they arrived at the destors for the release of the ignated spot only to see the young men. lifeless body of Cajetan while Investigations revealed that his maternal brother was the gunmen had allegedly writhing in pain, almost half told Cajetan’s senior brother dead because of the beating on phone while negotiating meted on him by the abducthat they were bought to kill tors. him should the family fail to

under Okiro, the chicken has come to roost

•Sir Mike Mbama Okiro, Nominee, PSC men and the professional wizardry which he brought to bear on the battle to flush out the group culminated in the outright ban and total clampdown.

It is on record that he, as the

Commissioner of Police,was embarking on night patrols with a view to fishing out not just criminal elements, but also the indolent members of the force who could not do their job well.

These tasks, he glowingly accomplished, to the admiration of many in the city and beyond.

Then came the era of his holding sway as the InspectorGeneral of Police. It is on record that amongst the numerous successes he recorded, he was able to, for the first time in the history of policing in Nigeria, provide monthly allocations directly to Divisional Police Officers in their respective formations without hindrance.

He also embarked on laudable housing projects which, unfortunately, was later sacrificed on the altar of dirty politics instead of being the succor which it’s initiator earlier projected. Better still, the draft and

— 49

action plan for the present peace being enjoyed at the Niger Delta area of the country was initiated and single-handedly presented to the Federal government, which led to the amnesty granted the militants in the area.

Aside his numerous other achievements, Okiro was able to galvanize efforts and infuse better policing tactics in the members of the force.

Passing out parade His achievements were so loudly acclaimed to the extent that during his passing out parade, both members of the force, market women and men including the academia and members of other security agencies fought over each other at the parade ground to honor him.

Now that he has been elevated to a greater height, it calls for better understanding of the onerous responsibilities entrusted unto him.

There is no doubt that a more purposeful Police Service Commission will definitely contribute to a better police force in Nigeria. He cannot afford to fail this time around and the only way to achieve commendable success is to, urgently, delve into those areas where his predecessors failed and come out with new agenda that will transform the force. He should also consolidate where they achieved results. That is why it is very apt to conclude that his nomination has made the chicken to come to roost because it is a terrain he knows very well. Failure will, definitely, be catastrophic.

High profile killing The deceased had his early education at his country home, Community Primary School Ogulogu, Olo,Ccommunity Secondary School, Olo and Enugu State University of Science and Technology, Enugu. He was married with children.

When Crime Alert visited Nkwo Olo market settlement, a resident who pleaded anonymity expressed shock at the gruesome high profile killing of Cajetan by his abductors.

“I am at a loss to guess the reason for the killing of Cajetan. The ransom they demanded was made available promptly yet they strangled him to death. What has he done to deserve death. I pray that the perpetrators of this heinous crime would soon be fished out. Since after the tragic incident, the Nkwo market settlement has virtually been deserted as most of the residents now leave in apprehension.

50 — Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, MAY 15, 2013

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, MAY 15, 2013 — 51

Nigerians urged to shun corruption, avarice

Pastor’s cry for freedom

By SAM EYOBOKA

F

OR about 24 years Miss Charity Uzoechina had lived close to her parents, go-ing to school and return-ing to join the mother in the family business until last year when she got admission to read Public Administration at the Federal Polytechnic, Bida, Niger State.

Before then, she was an obedient child who follows her parents regularly to the Red-eemed Christian Church of God, RCCG, Christ Chapel Zone in Kwan Kwanshe, Niger Provin-ce 2 with headquarters in Suleja.

The father, Raymond Uzoechina who hails from Ogwashi Ukwu in Delta State is the pastor-incharge of the RCCG zone where all his three chil- *Pastor Raymond Uzoechina dren—two girls and one According to him, he had visited boy—are active members of the the Emir’s Palace on two occasions church choir.

She had no issues with any- to secure the release of his daughbody and nobody smelt any trou- ter but all his pleas have fallen on ble when in the morning of March deaf ears, and adopt other means 1, this year she spoke excitedly following threats to his life.

“We have appealed to the Emir with the pa-rents, saying she had to release our daughter, Charity to rounded up her examin-ations no avail. We have involved several and would be coming home in eminent persons including the Intwo days time on Sunday, March spector General of Police, AIG Zone 3.

Few hours later hell was let 7 and the Niger State Commissionloose as Pastor Uzoechina re- er of Police, National Human Rights ceived a call from an unknown Commission and many others but man (a turbanned staff of the the Emir will not bulge. I gather Emir's Palace) who informed him that he is a retired brigadier-genthat his daughter he spoke with eral and a member of the Security earlier, is currently in Emir of Bi- Council with intimidat-ing credenda’s Palace, and summoned him tials that instill fear in those willing to intervene,” he stated. to Bida.

Worried that the youngest child The caller repeated the message in the family may Charity is of age, she can have been hypor under practice any religion but she notized a serious spell that would make doesn't have to do that at her deny her parthe Emir's Palace ents and renounce her relithe following morning insisting gion, the RCCG pastor said he had that he must come to Bida which also written an appeal to the Gencreated an un-warranted appreeral Overseer of RCCG, Pastor hension in the mind of the reEnoch Adejare Adeboye through tired Federal civil servant that he the pastor-in-charge of Niger Provhad to rush to Bida to ascertain ince 2 for his intervention in the what was wrong. matter.

A week earlier, Uzoe-china reHis fear was further heightened called an incid-ence when the when he discovered that the Emirdaughter called her mother urgate had forcefully teleguided Charing her to appreciate a woman ity to sue the parents in a Sharia who had been of assistance to her Court. On March 4, 2013, the case since she moved out of the famiwas allegedly reported, filed, ly house for the first time in her heard, judgment was given and life. execution was conducted same day Narrating his ordeal, Pastor where the Sharia Court gave cusUzoechina told Vanguard that he tody of the 24-year old girl to the disco-vered to his chagrin that Emir without the consent of the fahis daughter had been illegally ther. “This is injustice of the highwithdrawn from school and was est order,” the pastor exclaimed, now residing in the Emir of Biadd-ing “we have been variously da’s Palace just as the Etsu Nupe threatened by many persons who and Emir of Bida, Alhaji Yahaya want to divert attention from the Abubakar was said to have rereal issue at hand from hostage named her Aisha.

,

taking to that of change of relig-ion.

We are constantly afraid that they may waylay us and kill us, if nothing is done to re-medy the situation fast.”

He is therefore appeal-ing to President Good-luck Jonathan to inter-vene, arguing that if the Emir had shown any interest in marrying his daughter “there are much more civilised approaches that will involve both families.

And per adventure, she had chosen to change religion, as they claim, the Emir should demon-strate his statesmanship by inviting us with some measure of respect as parents.”

At the Sharia Court, Bida the ‘Plaintiff’, Aisha Uzoechina prayed the court to take custody of her because the father would kill her for con-verting to Islam.

Custody of the plaintiff According to the court headed

by Hon. Judge Mallam Abdulkadir Idris, there were attempts to invite the defendant, Pastor Uzoe-china to the proceeding but the registrar failed to serve him and so the judge ruled; “this Hon. Court is hereby order that the custody of the plaintiff be entrusted in the hand of Etsu Nupe for the time being and the Etsu Nupe should employed a qualified Islamic scholar who will be teaching her and showing her, how the Islamic customs is all about and the plaintiff can even be watching and selecting a man of her choice whom she will want to marry as her partner.” (sic) Uzoechina said: "Con-trary to the impression they created that my daughter would not want to see me, when I insisted I want to see her, two young men brought her to the office of the turbanned staff. Imme-diately I called out: "Chairty your mother is very sick because of you, let us go home." She said "Yes Daddy, let me go and carry my things." And as she made to free herself, the two captors held her down.

Continuing, Pastor Uzoechina said "Charity is of age and can practi-ce any religion, but she doesn't have to do that at the Emir's Palace. And if it is marriage, marriage has a process," adding that he begged the Niger Police Commissioner to help him secure the daughter's release but she refused, "directing me to the AIG in Abuja.

NIGERIANS have been advised to shun avarice, corruption and imbibe the spirit of selfless service to the nation in order to make Nigeria attain greatness to the pride of the present and future generations, reports OLAYINKA LATONA. Speakers at a seminar on “Rethinking National Peace, Stability and Progress" organised by the Lagos zone of the Rosicrucian Order, AMORC, at the Golden Gate Restaurant, Ikoyi, Lagos, lamented that selfishness has caused monumental damage to the nation’s unity, stability, peace and progress since independence.

Grand Administrator and Director, Supreme Board of Rosicrucian Order, AMORC, Dr. Kenneth Idiodi who spoke on: “Rosicrucianism for personal and societal integration” lamented that the country is not yet safe, stable and secure after 100 years of efforts at political, social and economic integration.

He maintained that there is the urgent need for individuals in the country to contribute their quota to the development and stability of the country.

In his words: “For this nation to move forward all Nigerians must see themselves as part and parcel of the development process, nobody must see him or herself as a stranger but rather contributor. Our heterogeneous nature must be seen as an asset and not liability.

"Nigeria is a diverse but highly religious-oriented society. If we are sincere in our meditations, prayers and attitudes towards nation building, we will see the beauty of the unity in our diversity. If by our individual and collective thoughts, utterances and actions, we are diligent in our pursuit of national development and cohesion, then national peace, stability and progress shall be ours and the labours of our heroes past shall not be in vain,” he stated.

Speaking on “Nigeria’s Stability and Development: How far and what else?" Dr. Hussain Abdul, country director, Action Aid Nigeria, noted that members of the ruling elite in Nigeria operate mostly in the selfalone mode, while corruption and abuse of power reign supreme in the country.

Dr. Hussain urged government to embark on people-centered policies, adding that, in time past, various governmental policies did not work because they are not people-oriented.

Fr. Johnson Ikube, managing consultant/CEO, J I Global Solutions Ltd, who spoke on: “Understanding God, Imperative for individual and societal peace”, charged Nigerians to do away with their differences and “focus humanity on the way of spirituality”.

Other speakers at the event were Otunba Francis Meshioye, Managing Director,JMG Engineering Nig Ltd, John Idiodi, Professor of solid state physics at the University of Benin.

Odutola retires from BSN

*Rev FRED ODUTOLA GENERAL Sec retary/CEO of The Bible Society of Nigeria, BSN, Rev. Fred Odutola will retire from the organization with effect from July 31, 2013.

Rev. Odutola, who will attain the mandatory retirement age of 55 years in the organization on July 7, 2013, rose through the ranks to become the General Secretary/CEO of the

organization in 2000.

He is the longest serving staff of BSN having joined the organization on June 1, 1982 as Lagos Area Secretary and has brought in exceptional leadership style and managerial acumen that transformed the organization to an enviable position.

During his tenure, BSN became the leader of other 40 Bible Societies in Africa in growth and in Bible distribution. The Bible Society of Nigeria is the largest distributor of English Bible in the world.

In recognition of his expertise, skill and knowledge of the job he was elected the chairman, United Bible Societies Africa Area Board in 2009.

Odutola strongly believes that God’s business has to be done in a businesslike manner for continuity.

,

52 — Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, MAY 15, 2013

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, MAY 15, 2013 — 53

EU pledges zx500 million euros to rebuild Mali T

HE European Union has pledged more than half a billion euros($650 million) to help Mali rebuild after months of conflict, European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso said yesterday.

“Tomorrow we will commit 520 million euros for Mali between 2013 and 2014,” Barroso told reporters ahead of a conference of aid donors in Brussels today.

The Malian government is seeking roughly 2 billion euros in support from the conference, which is being organized by the European Union, to help fund a 4.34 billion euro plan to keep the peace and help restore infrastructure to the country.

“If we can get to 1.5-1.6 billion then I would say we are about there,” Mali’s President Dioncounda Traore told the briefing.

“Mr Barroso announced a figure, I think that’s a good start. Tomorrow or the day after tomorrow, in a

week or in a month, it is clear that the international community, the European Union, will inject a lot more than that.” The former French colony in West Africa sought urgent

S

Islamist rebels have been pushed back from the main urban centers of northern Mali into the mountains and desert, but the French action has failed to stop

rebels from waging a guerrilla war. Over a year of conflict has also resulted in the exodus of tens of thousands of refugees to the surrounding countries

of Burkina Faso, Mauritania, and Niger.

France is looking to withdraw thousands of its troops and hand over security duties to a U.N. peacekeeping mission.

Syrian rebels unite to retake strategic town near Damascus S YRIAN rebels including the al Qaeda-linked Nusra Front have counterattacked east of Damascus to retake a town that served as a conduit for arms from Jordan into the capital before it was seized by government forces last month, rebel sources said.

The rebels’ struggle to end four decades of Assad family rule has been complicated in part by internal divisions along ideological and political lines, as well as a shortage of heavy weaponry that could decisively turn the tide of conflict.

But in a rare move, brigades operating in

S/Korea proposes border meeting with North OUTH Korea has proposed to hold a border meeting with North Korea to discuss bringing finished goods and raw materials from an industrial park that the two countries jointly operated until last month.

The Kaesong Industrial Complex has been idle since North Korea withdrew all its 53,000 workers, accusing the United States and South Korea of plotting to invade the North. South Korea pulled out the last of its citizens from Kaesong on May 3, severing the last economic ties between the Koreas.

Neither the North nor the South has officially closed the eight-year-old complex, the best-known symbol of inter-Korean cooperation. But its fate has become a test for inter-Korean relations.

President Park Geunhye insisted that South Korea would not reward the North’s bad behavior over Kaesong with compromises. But she

military support from Paris in January to halt advances

by Islamist rebels who had seized control of the northern two-thirds of the country.

Since the intervention,

said she was open to dialogue with North Korea to “build trust.”

As a token of good faith, she said North Korea should allow South Korean factory owners to return to Kaesong in order to ship out millions of dollars worth of finished goods stranded there, to help relieve their financial strain.

“We call for a positive response from the North,”

Ghouta, a largely agricultural region on the eastern outskirts of Damascus, have united under one command to wrest back the town of Otaiba, two miles northeast of Damascus international airport.

“This is a huge target no brigade can deliver on its own, even al-Nusra cannot do it alone, so we all agreed to unite to retake it,” said a commander whose brigade is one of the 23 taking part in the battle.

“With God’s will this will be a decisive battle in rural Damascus that will stop the advance of the regime army and reopen the supply route.”

Brigades from the Western-backed rebel General Command and Islamist units joined forces over the weekend and pledged to share weapons

and fighters. They took as their flag a white banner with the Muslim declaration of faith: “There is no god but God; Mohammad is God’s

T

in the battle.

Government forces have regained the initiative in the past few weeks, pushing rebels from areas close to central Damascus.

Free Syrian Army fighters return fire after what they say was during clashes with forces loyal to President Bashar al-Assad in Deir al-Zor.

Russia to expel ‘CIA agent’ in spy recruitment scandal

R

USSIA says it will expel a US diplomat briefly detained in Moscow for allegedly trying to recruit a Russian intelligence officer as a spy.

The diplomat, named as CIA agent Ryan Fogle, was held overnight before being released to US officials.

He has been declared “persona non grata” for “provocative actions in the spirit of the Cold War”, the Russian foreign ministry said on its website.

Mr Fogle is said to have worked as third political secretary at the US embassy in Moscow, which has

Congo to build town in honour of Patrice Lumumba HE Democratic Republic of Congo is to build a town in honour of independence figure Patrice Lumumba, government spokesman Lambert Mende has said.

The new town of Lumumbaville would be a merger of two existing communities in central DR Congo, he added.

Mr Lumumba - a Soviet ally - was elected prime minister in 1960 after

prophet”. “We are fighting for the same goal and that is to topple Assad - so why shouldn’t we unite?” said a commander from an Islamist brigade involved

almost a century of colonial rule.

His killing some four months later at the age of 35 was widely blamed on US and UK intelligence agencies.

In April, UK House of Lords member Lord Lea said that former MI6 officer Daphne Park told him the UK had been involved in Mr Lumumba’s death.

The BBC’s Maud

Jullien reports from DR Congo’s capital Kinshasa that the government’s decision is likely to be welcomed by most people, as he remains an extremely popular figure.

Lumumbaville will be built in Kassai-Oriental province, the birthplace of Mr Lumumba, to “honour the memory of a great Congolese statesman”, Mr Mende said.

issued no comment on the matter so far. The diplomat was reportedly arrested with a large sum of money, technical devices and written instructions for the Russian agent he had tried to recruit.

Photos purporting to show Mr Fogle’s detention have been widely circulated in the Russian media.

The foreign ministry said it had ordered Mr Fogle to leave the country, in a statement posted online on Tuesday afternoon.

“Such provocative actions in the spirit of the Cold War will by no means promote the strengthening of mutual trust,” the ministry said.

The incident creates an uncomfortable atmosphere at a time, when the US and Russia are involved in delicate diplomacy over Syria and in taking cautious steps towards defrosting relations, the BBC’s Steve Rosenberg, in Moscow, reports.

But it is unlikely to have any long-term political consequences, our correspondent says, as both countries know that espionage did not end with the Cold War. Russia’s Federal Security Service earlier released images allegedly showing Mr Fogle during and after his arrest.

Wearing a blue checked shirt and a plain baseball cap, he was shown being held on the ground with his hands bound, then being escorted away.

Another photo showed him sitting at desk, his hat removed. Possessions said to be Mr Fogle’s are laid out on a table. They include a sum of money in 500-euro banknotes and two wigs, one of which he was apparently wearing at the time of his detention.

Also on the table are a compass, map, knife, dark glasses and small mobile phone.

54 — Vanguard,WEDNESDAY, MAY 15, 2013

Sports Federations' elections:

Ogba, Ndanusa return .... As Ejiogu, Edeze lose

BY BETHEL OBINNA, Abuja

I

•Nwuche (W/lifting)

•Igali (Wrestling)

•Onyeama (Cricket)

•Umar (Basketball)

NCUMBENT President of the Athletic Federation of Nigeria Solomon Ogba on Tuesday battled in an energy sapping election to return as the President of the board by defeating Hon. Ibrahim Gusau 7votes to 3 after the first three voting failed to produce a winner as they tied at five votes.

Ogba whose immediate past board has lifted the sport said the victory was for all athletes; past and present and pledged to surpass his achievement by ensuring that Nigeria does not lag in the committee of world sports.

He noted that the election was worth it as the contest proved that the era of selection on to the board of the federation was over and called on his board members to gird their loins and get ready to work round the clock so as to make sure that the country excels in all international and c o n t i n e n t a l competitions.

Ogba maintained that the AFN would intensify its drive for grassroots development which would pave way for replacement of ageing athletes, open more chances for the country to amass medals at the various competitions.

“I am grateful to my board members who have confidence in my ability to lead the federation again. I want to say that what we witnessed was a worthy election and that would spur us to really work and take the sport to a greater height.”

In another development, the

Emmanuel Agaladima of Union Bank going for a dunck against Dodan Warriors during the 2013 DStv Basketball League held at the Indoor Sport hall of National Stadium Surulere, Lagos. Union Bank won by 75-71. Photo: Kehinde Gbadamosi President of Nigeria Olympic Committee, Engr. Sani Ndanusa was returned unopposed as the President of Nigerian Tennis Federation.

Ndanusa, a former minister of Sports said while celebrating his victory that his reelection, though unopposed is a big challenge and assured tennis loving Nigerians that his board would do its best to reposition the sport.

The highlight of the elections was the defeat of incumbent President of Nigerian We i g h t l i f t i n g Federation; Chimdi Ejiogu by former House of Representatives member Chibudom Nwuche in a close contest. Hon. Nwuche polled six votes against Ejiogu’s five to win as the NWF president.

Lagos State Commissioner for Sports Oshodi Waheed emerged winner in the Nigerian Table Tennis Federation election. He polled four votes to defeat Ishaku Tikom and Abdulwahab Omotosho that polled three and two votes respectively.

Former Olympic Games gold medalist Daniel Igali defeated incumbent Austin Edeze 7 -3 to win the Nigerian

Wrestling Federation President while Engr.

Habu Gumel of Nigerian Volleyball Federation, Yusuf Dauda of Handball Federation of Nigeria, Tijani Umar of Nigerian Basketball Federation and Justice Seinchi of Badminton Federation of Nigeria returned unopposed respectively.

Other results are George Ashiru; Nigerian Taekwondo Federation, Dr. Abubakar Haruna; Darts, Timothy Nsirim; Nigerian Judo Federation, Engr.

Emeka Onyeama; Nigerian Cricket Federation, Baba Abdullahi of Nigerian Traditional Sports Federation and Usman Nahuche of Deaf Federation.

The Chief electoral officer, Hon. Bolaji OjoOba noted that the elections were the best in the history of national sports federations’ elections even as some people still protested against some results.

He noted further that the election was conducted in a transparent manner that even those protesting would have nothing to hold against the National Sports Commission.

Olympic Day Run beckons

BY UCHE UDEH

I

N celebration of the ideals of the Olympics, the Nigeria Olympic Committee (NOC) and the Nigeria Sport For All Commission have said that the 2013 Olympic Day celebration will hold on Saturday, June 29 in all states of the federation.

The celebration will also be replicated globally on the same day.

Disclosing this yesterday, the Public Relations Officer of the NOC, Tony Ubani, said the Olympic Day “is a chance for people of all ages and all abilities to experience some of the magic of the Olympic Games in their own communities. Last year, more than four million

people took advantage of the opportunity to participate in the annual Olympic Day celebration, which takes place around the world”, said Ubani.

While encouraging all states in the country to mark the day with a a run, the NOC Image Maker, said that 12 States, comprising, Akwa Ibom, Edo, Bayelsa, Plateau, Oyo, Abuja, Osun, Ogun and Ondo, Lagos, Anambra and Ekiti have already indicated their interest to organise the event, which he noted “was an ideal platform to highlight the benefit of physical activity, which allows people to learn about Olympic values and to put them into practice in their everyday life.

IG Continues from BP The embittered Police officer even threatened to arrest the chief Electoral Officer, Dr Bolaji Ojo-Oba if he was not allowed in the basketball federation

board.

It took a phone call from the Sports Minister, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi to the IG to stop the angry police officer and recalled him from the election ground at the Abuja National Stadium.

Drogba Continues from BP Galatasaray team have already secured the Turkish championship, wasted little time in highlighting that both Fenerbahce goals were scored by Cameroon striker Pierre Webo.

Drogba said on Galatasaray’s Facebook page: ‘You call me monkey but you cried when Chelsea beat Fenerbahce in 2008, you called me monkey but you jumped in front of your screen when I won the Champions League.

‘You called me monkey but you got mad when I became champion with Galatasaray and the saddest thing is you called me monkey and forgot that you jumped when my ‘monkey ’ brother scored twice yesterday... and you call yourself a true fan?

Check all the

Galatasaray fans comments and learn from them.’

A man claiming to be the supporter who waved the banana told a local television show that he had the fruit in his hand to eat but declined to give his name.

‘I didn’t wave the banana with the aim of racism, I just joined a jeering against (Galatasaray goalkeeper Fernando) Muslera.

‘I am not like that. I apologise to Fenerbahce and Galatasaray fans,’ he added.

Pierre Webo, the Cameroon international, scored both of Fener’s goals.

It was yesterday confirmed that a Fener fan was killed on the way home from the game after he was attacked by a group reported to be Galatasaray fans.

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, MAY 15, 2013 — 55

C M Y K

VANGUARD, WEDNESDAY, MAY 15, 2013

‘Monkey’ taunts: Drogba hits back D

Sports Federation Elections

IG averts chaos

BY PAT OMORODION

T

HE Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Abubakar yesterday saved what could have been a crisis as he stopped an

aggrieved police officer working in the Presidential Villa who brought his men to stop the election into sports federations.

The police officer(names with-held)

IDIER Drogba has hit back at the racist abuse he suffered from Fenerbahce fans in the Istanbul derby against Galatasaray on Sunday.

The former Chelsea striker and fellow Ivorian Emmanuel Eboue were subjected to monkey chants from the crowd as Fener won the match 2-1.

Drogba, whose

Continues on Page 54

whose grouse was that he was not allowed to be in the basketball federation, but taken to chess is said to work directly with the President in Aso Rock.

Continues on Page 54

Returned: Ndanusa Abuse: A supporter of Turkish football club Fenerbahce holds a banana in his hand(up) while Drogba calms tension.

EUROPA CUP FINAL Benfica vs Chelsea 8:45pm

Returned: Ogba

Barcelona have paraded through the streets of the city to celebrate wrestling the Spanish title back out of Real Madrid’s hands.

QUICK CROSSWORD

Sudoku TODAY'S

PUZZLE

•Charlton Ehizuelen writes on page 29

YESTER DAY'S YESTERDAY'S

ANSWERS

ACROSS 1 Bogus (4) 4 Away (3) 6 Grasp (4) 9 Youth (3) 10 Coined (8) 11 Top (4) 14 Wicked (3) 16 Kingdom (5) 19 Interceded (8) 21 Allude (5) 23 Loathed (8) 24 Glued (5) 27 Wand (3) 31 Cunning (4) 33 Custom (8) 34 Golf-peg (3) 35 Ooze (4) 36 Owing (3) 37 Plimsoll (4)

DOWN 2 Pass (4) 3 Bearing (4) 4 Old-fashioned (8) 5 Pale (4) 6 Clearing (5) 7 Knock (3) 8 Perfect (5) 12 Gather (5) 13 Farewell (5) 14 Ban (3) 15 Postpone (5) 17 Sharp (5) 18 Temperamental (5) 20 Explode (8) 22 Colour (3) 25 Banal (5) 26 Crawl (5) 28 Rushed (4) 29 Pace (4) 30 Dross (4) 32 Shelter (3)

YESTERDAY'S SOLUTIONS ACROSS: 1, Fabrics 5, Suffer 8, Contrite 9, Trip 10, Sea 12, Cowry 15, Ate 17, Moo 18, Limp 19, Pep 20, Dense 21, Par 22, Lie 23, Lea 24, Die 26, Dread 29, Lid 33, Fame 34, Chastity 35, Better 36, Tawdry.

How to Play Sudoku

THE VIGILANTE

DOWN: 2, Arose 3, Rate 4, China 5, Spear 6, Fate 7, Exist 10, Sapid 11, Ample 12, Coded 13, Range 14, Yield 15, Appal 16, Erred 25, Irate 27, Recur 28, Apart 30, Inter 31, Sent 32, Stow.

e-mail: rowolove@yahoo.co.uk

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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