TSA: Banks move N1.2 trn to CBN

...towards a better life for the people VOL. 25: NO. 62494

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ONLINE | www.vanguardngr.com

N150

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 16, 2015

CHIBOK GIRLS: FG in talks with Boko Haram, says Buhari 10

TRIBUTE

DEINDE: At last ‘the veil is lifted' — Erelu Abiola Dosumu

TSA: Banks move N1.2 trn to CBN •Inter-bank money market frozen; Lawmakers back FG •Long list of MDAs' accounts provided by CBN

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By Omoh Gabriel

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AGOS—BANKS were, yesterday, busy with the transfer of an estimated N1.2 trillion of public sector funds to the Central Bank of Nigeria in compliance with the Federal Government directive on Treasury Single Account, TSA. As the deadline for the implementation of the Treasury Single Account for MDAs closed, yesterday, Nigerian banks were sorting out accounts of MDAs the CBN circulated among banks to identify which of the accounts was domiciled in their banks.

As a result, there was no trading between banks. According to bank treasurers, banks made no bids on the interbank money market yesterday as they were engaged on how to comply with the directive Continues on Page 5

RIVERS GOV POLL: Only 293,073 voters accredited, INEC tells tribunal 43 NIGERIA/FRANCE BUSINESS FORUM: From left, President, Heirs Holdings, Mr. Tony Elumelu; Permanent

Secretary, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Amb. Abubakar Lolo; Chairman, Dansa Holdings Limited, Alhaji Sani Dangote; President MEDEF International, Mr. Pierre Gattaz; President Muhammadu Buhari; Governor Abubakar Badru of Jigawa State; Governor Ibikunle Amosun of Ogun State and Zamfara State Governor, Abdulaziz Yari, during the Nigeria-France Presidential Business Forum held at MEDEF Headquarters, Bosquet, Paris, France, yesterday.

COLUMNIST:

Who will save Nigeria's youth?

•P.17 C M Y K

Lagos motorists Widow battles Catholic Church over groan as traffic gridlock plot of land returns See Inside 52

Release my wife, Nwosu begs abductors

6

Mr & Mrs

2— Vanguard,

C M Y K

WEDNESDAY 5 WEDNESDAY,, SEPTEMBER 16, 201 2015

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY 5 —3 WEDNESDAY,, SEPTEMBER 16, 201 2015

C M Y K

4— Vanguard,

C M Y K

WEDNESDAY 5 WEDNESDAY,, SEPTEMBER 16, 201 2015

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 16, 2015—5

POCKET CARTOON

BRIEFING—From left: Mr Dele Adetiba, representing the Chairman,

2015 Panel of Assessors, Nigeria Media Merit Award (NMMA); Engr Vincent Maduka, Chairman Board of Trustees of Nigeria Media Merit Award, and Mr Yemi Akeju, Chief Administrator of NMMA, during a press briefing and inauguration of NMMA 2015 Panel of Assessors, yesterday, at NMMA Secretariat, GRA, Ikeja, Lagos. PHOTO: Kehinde Gbadamosi.

TSA: Banks move N1.2 trn to CBN Continues from page 1 to transfer government revenues into a single account with the Central Bank.

P r e s i d e n t Muhammadu Buhari had ordered that all revenues be paid into the “Treasury Single Account” (TSA) from yesterday, as part of a drive to fight corruption and aid transparency.

“No trading is currently going on because no bank was willing to put out quotes until there is a clearer direction with the implementation of the Treasur y Single Account,” one dealer said.

“The market is frozen right now, as no trading is going on,” a bank treasurer said.

Analysts have predicted

that implementation of the government policy will drain liquidity from the banking system, potentially putting some banks in a dire situation.

The overnight lending rate closed at five per cent on Monday, but dealers said the rate was initially quoted at 200 per cent yesterday. No deals were done using that rate.

About 1.2 trillion Naira, or 10 per cent of banking sector deposits, is expected to be transferred to the government account with the Central Bank in the course of implementing the TSA policy.

Bismarck Rewane, CEO of Financial Derivatives Company said: “We expect an initial paralysis in the

IT'S UP TO YOU

BY AYO ADIO ALENT in itself is cheap and will take you no where but the solution the talent profers would.

Whatever it is you call your talent, make sure it is making a difference in the life of someone. You will not be rewarded simply because you have a talent but the gap your talent fills will ultimately determine your level of success. It's up to you.

T

TAKE HEART

BY ELLA RANDLE

Don’t change so people will like you. Be yourself and the right people will love the real you

N

EVER walk on eggshells or be invisible with your precious life around anyone. A paradoxical truth to illustrate this principle is that no matter what you do in life, there will be those who love you beautifully! No matter what you do in this life, there will be those who will not like or love you! Just be yourself! Also try to recognize this divine right of another ’s beingness. To know when to love, accept what is, and move on to something better.

SAYINGS OF OUR PEOPLE

D

ONT love the one who is beautiful for the world, love the one who makes your world beautiful .

market and a disruption of operations of some of the banks, but they would overcome that.”

He said the Central Bank could reduce the size of the Cash Reserve Requirement (CRR) commercial lenders are expected to keep and inject some liquidity into the banking system to minimize the impact of the new accounting policy. The CRR, which is the amount the Central Bank requires banks to set aside, is currently 31 per cent for both public and private sector deposits.

We'll comply with directive— Banks Many of the banks contacted by Vanguard said they will comply.

This is because since it was the CBN that provided the list of MDAs accounts for banks to move the funds in them to the Single Treasury Account, it is CBN that can say a particular bank has complied. "By the end of today (yesterday) each bank will know if it has satisfied the CBN," one of the banks' treasurers told Vanguard.

An official of Guaranty Trust Bank, who did not want his name in print, said that the CBN gave banks a very long list of accounts of MDAs in banks. Each bank was told to identify the accounts domiciled in their bank and remit the funds to the CBN. He said that the list was very long, showing that the CBN did its home work.

He said that banks have no option but to comply with the directive, saying that the policy will further squeeze the already tight liquidity

situation in the economy.

He, however, said that if government fulfills its obligation by paying contractors its debt, part of the money will return to the banking system.

Another banker with First Bank said that “the deadline for the implementation of TSA was yesterday and we can confirm to you that the bank is in the process of complying with the directive. As we speak, we would not be able to give an accurate figure involved industry wide."

It was the same story at UBA. Data from the CBN indicate that as at end of June, 2015 total deposits (demand, time and savings) in the financial system was N13.5 trillion. Analysis of this shows that the private sector accounts for 90.7 per cent (N12.2trillion) of total deposits, while public sector funds accounts for 9.3 per cent (N1.3trillion) which will be lost to TSA. In a circular with reference No BSD/DIR/ GEN/LAB/08/048, dated September 7, 2015, entitled: “Deadline for transfer of Federal Government funds to Treasury Single Account,” signed by Mrs. Tokunbo Martins, CBN Director of Banking Supervision, the CBN warned that it would “impose severe sanctions on any bank that fails to comply on or before the deadline of September 15, 2015.”

P r e s i d e n t Muhammadu Buhari had on Monday set a deadline of September 15 for MDAs to commence the use of the approved government bank accounts for payments as part of efforts to ensure transparency and stamp out corruption, following observations that some officials were footdragging. Femi Adesina, the President’s spokesman, had explained that all receipts due to the government or its agencies must be paid into the TSA maintained by the CBN and linked to other government bank accounts, before the deadline.

Since August 2013, when the CBN raised the CRR from 12 per cent to 50 per cent, banks have continued to struggle to source deposits from the private sector and individuals, through increasing interest rates on savings accounts and other facilities.

Public sector deposits with banks which only fell two per cent in October 2013, representing N3.99 trillion from September’s N4.06 trillion, stood at N4.02 trillion in

November.

It states: “All revenues, or other monies raised or received by the Federation shall be paid into and form one Consolidated Revenue Fund of the Federation.”

Treasury Single Account deadline: Lawmakers laud Buhari’s political Running teaching will As the deadline for hospitals with compliance with the TSA difficult, Treasury Single Account for Ministries, says medical Departments and director Agencies (MDAs) ended yesterday, some members of the National Assembly have lauded President Muhammadu Buhari for introducing it.

The lawmakers told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that full compliance with the directive would help in blocking leakages and ensure transparency.

Sen. Ali Wakili, (APCBauchi), who commended President Buhari for the directive, said the implementation of a TSA was backed by law.

Wakili said the development would enable banks, which hitherto relied majorly on MDAs, to become more resourceful. According to him, fragmented banking has before now affected government’s ability to undergo successful cash planning and management.

Sen. La’ah Danjuma (PDP-Kaduna) said that the implementation of the policy would go a long way in revamping the economy.

He expressed optimism that the move would yield positive result in the long run.

“It is time for Nigerians to support all policies of government aimed at improving the economy.

There is no doubt that the TSA would have an immediate impact on banks but the long-term effect will be beneficial, so I support it,” he said.

The Treasury Single Account is a unified structure of government bank accounts that allows consolidation and best use of government cash resources.

Section 80 (1) of the 1999 Constitution as amended makes provision for implementation of TSA.

But the Chief Medical Director of the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital, Dr Thomas Agan, has said that the hospital will face challenges with the new treasury single account.

Speaking with newsmen in Calabar yesterday, Agan said that most of the items used in running the hospital were in a revolving system. He said that meant that the management collected items and in turn remitted the proceeds and retained a little percentage.

“We have not been given detailed information on how we are going to operate.

Until we are given a clear cut directive on our functions in the present situation, there is bound to be serious challenges,” Agan said.

He said that although the account was introduced by the government to ensure transparency in governance, it was necessary to critically analyse the whole process as it concerned the health sector.

He added that the hospital had improved on its services to the people, especially in the area of clinical services.

“We now have clinical services for the treatment of sickle cell that runs every Thursday as well as diabetes clinic that holds every Wednesday.

People can avail themselves of these and many more, including open heart surgery, to live normal lives,” he said.

He lamented the noncapture of training in the hospital’s budgetary provisions and called on the relevant authorities to reverse the trend.

6—Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 16, 2015

Release my wife, Nwosu begs abductors

By Evelyn Usman & Ebere Aham

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AGOS—THE Deputy Managing Director of The Sun Newspaper, Mr Steve Nwosu, whose wife was abducted Monday, by gunmen who raided his Ago residence, Lagos, yesterday, appealed to her abductors to release her to his family.

This is just as he has stated that he did not have the N100 million demanded as ransom for his wife, Toyin’s release, reminding the abductors that he was only a journalist.

Distraught Nwosu, who was visibly weak to speak when he returned to meet his visitors, said in an emotion laden tone as he took his seat: “I cannot imagine what my wife is passing through now.

As you can see, I have been running from pillar to post to see how I can pay the ransom so that my wife will be released to me and our children. The abductors are yet to change their stance on the N100 million ransom for her release. God knows that I do not have such money. I just want my wife back in one piece.

However, Vanguard was reliably informed that the abductors were still in contact with the distraught journalist, insisting that the 100 million ransom be paid before the release of Mrs Toyin Nwosu. Sources also disclosed that the abductors warned that discussions with them should not be revealed to security operatives.

One of the senior journalists who visited Nwosu’s home yesterday and spoke on condition of anonymity, wondered where Nwosu would get such amount as a journalist, appealing to the abductors to consider the trauma the family had been going through since the abduction of their loved one.

Mrs. Toyin Nwosu

By John Mkom

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ALINGO—TEN people were reported killed yesterday, while three others were missing in a clash between Fulani herdsmen and Tiv farmers at Serking Gudu village in Ibbi local government of Taraba State.

The crisis started when the corpse of a Fulani man was found in the bush between Serking Gudu and Dooshima villages of Ibbi local government area of Taraba State.

The Fulani man was declared missing by his relations within the village as the matter was reported to the Nigerian Army who were posted in the area to control the perennial communal crisis within the area.

The chairman, Ibbi local government chapter of Tiv culture and social organisation, Mr. Mkavga Orhembaga, explained that when the Army was informed about the missing Fulani man, all the people within the area went out in his search.

Mkavga also stated that the body of the Fulani man was found in the bush by the Army, accompanied by some Fulani men.

“When they found the body of the Fulani man, his brothers and other Fulani men went angry with the Tiv people within the area.

“In the afternoon when people were in their farms, the Fulanis went after the Tiv people in their farms, killing eight of them.

“Another person suspected to be a teacher who came from Plateau to teach in one of the primary schools within the village was also killed by the Fulani,” Mkavga said.

Mkavga further stated that three Tiv persons were still missing, adding that it had

EROSION MENACE: A section of Ojoo-Moniya road washed away by erosion in Ibadan, yesterday.

Photo: NAN.

10 killed in fresh Fulani, Tiv clash in Taraba 3 declared missing become difficult to ascertain whether they were still alive since armed Fulani herdsmen had taken over the area.

He said: “I can’t tell if these people are dead or alive because there is no way to go out and look for them. As it is, I have directed that all my people should remain at home, nobody should go to farm until security is restored in the area.”

Vanguard gathered that the

village had become a ghost town as the villagers are said to be parking out for fear of further attacks.

The area commander of Wukari police area command was also seen within the area in company of regular police and mobile policemen to control the crisis.

The Police Public Relations Officer, Taraba State command, ASP Joseph Kwaji, did not pick his call nor reply the message sent

to his phone for his comments on the development.

It will be recalled that in his efforts to end communal crisis in Taraba State, Governor Darius Ishaku recently inaugurated a committee to return internally displaced persons to their homes.

The governor also mandated the traditional rulers to keep watch on their subjectstoavoidrecurrenceofcommunal crisis across the local government areas in the state.

Octogenarian dies in kerosine blast

By Egufe Yafugborhi

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ARRI—YET another case of kerosine explosion in Delta State yesterday killed Madam Titi Takerhi, an

octogenarian, at Eyara, Ughelli South local government area.

The victim died after fruitless efforts to save her life at a private health center in neighboring

Okwagbe.

Chief Solomon Koyor, a community leader who spoke to Vanguard on the incident, said

the octogenarian was filling a lantern with suspected adulterated kerosine when it exploded in flames all over her.

Cleric escapes from kidnappers' den after 132 days

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By Perez Brisibe

GHELLI—A pastor who was kidnapped by some unidentified gunmen on May 25 along DSC Expressway in Uvwie Local Government Area of Delta State, on Monday escaped from his abductors and assisted security agents in the arrest of a suspected gun runner in connection with his kidnap.

The pastor, identified as Mr. Rotimi Adebusola, is attached to the Agbarho branch of the Living Faith Church, aka Winners Chapel, and was held captive inside a building at a bush located at Arhavwarien in Ughelli South Local Government Area.

His escape, however, led to the arrest of owner of the building, identified as Samuel George, at Okpe-Olomu who is alleged by security sources to a suspected gun runner.

Making the disclosure to

Vanguard, a senior member of Ughelli vigilante, popularly referred to as Bakassi, explained

that the pastor while in captivity, noticed that the two persons standing guard were asleep,

capitalized on it and escaped into the village where he raised an alarm.

EFCC docks 4 over N1.2bn pension job scam

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By Soni Daniel

BUJA—THE Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, yesterday, arraigned four persons before Justice Abubakar Talba of the Federal High Court, Gudu, Abuja, on a 29-count charge bordering on conspiracy, and collecting by false pretense.

The four accused personsIbrahim Ahmed Mazangari, Muhammed Sani Sulaiman, Hajia Fatima Mazangari and Saleh Yerima Tsojon, are alleged to have obtained N1.2 billion from the Federal Government by false

pretense and with intent to defraud, purporting same to be monthly pension payable to M. S. Suleiman, Saleh Yerima Tsojon, Isah U. Adamu, Daniel Mikano, and Abdulahi Garba Musa who were falsely held out as pensioners of the Federal Government, by inserting their names in the pensioners’ payroll.

The accused persons, who were offered a bio-metric contract by a former Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Steve Oronsaye, to regularize names of pensioners on the pensions’ payroll, allegedly smuggled in

names of fake pensioners, and collected unearned pension.

The fraud allegedly involved two companies – Xangee Technologies Limited and Century Construction Company Limited.

Justice Talba had at the sitting of June 30, 2015 rejected a plea bargain proposal mooted by Ibrahim Salau, counsel to Mazangari, before adjourning to September 15, 2015 as a result of the absence of Fatimah Mazangari, the third accused person, who according to Salau was ill.

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 16, 2015—7

Gunmen abduct UNIPORT VC's son P

By Davies Iheamnachor

ORT HARCOURT—SON of the Vice Chancellor of the University of Port Harcourt, Prof.

Ndowa Sunday Lale, has been kidnapped by unidentified gunmen.

This is coming barely four months after he (Prof Lale) assumed office as the 8th Vice Chancellor of the University of Port Harcourt.

A source in the community said yesterday that the VC’s son, Ejire Lale, was on Monday whisked away from the father’s compound at Abgeta Ebubu in Eleme Local Government Area of Rivers State at gunpoint.

The source, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said that Lale was in his fish farm monitoring the fingerlings when six armed young men entered the farm.

He revealed that the gunmen had already threatened and stolen some valuables from the people who lived around before entering the farm.

Vanguard gathered that the gunmen did not come with

vehicle, although it was suspected that their car was parked somewhere close to the farm.

The Public Relations Officer of the university, Mr. Obinna Wodi, who confirmed the incident, said

the boy was abducted from the father’s house at Eleme at about 7pm.

Wodi said the development was shocking to the family and institution, adding that no contact had been established with the kidnappers.

Meanwhile, the Rivers State police command said yesterday it had commencedinvestigationintothekidnap.

The Assistant Public Relations Officer of the command, Ms Grace Koko, confirmed that the boy was abducted Monday night.

....As kidnappers demand N20m to release Chief Imam of UNN

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By Chinenyeh Ozor

SUKKA—-ABDUCTORS of Sheik Adams Idoko, the Chief Imam of University of Nigeria, Nsukka Central Mosque, have demanded N20 million ransom as a condition for his release.

The Chief Imam was kidnapped last Thursday at Ogurite headquarters of Igboeze-North Local Government Area in the state while attending a meeting of Muslim faithful in the locality.

A source in Central Mosque who pleaded anonymity, told Vanguard that the kidnappers finally opened up discussions in the late hours of last Monday, having held the Imam captive for

five days without uttering a word.

The kidnappers, however, demanded for a ransom of N20 million for the Imam to regain his freedom.

The source noted that UNN Central Mosque did not have the kind of money the kidnappers were demanding, adding that they ought to know that the Imam was neither a politician nor a businessman but only a messenger of Allah.

He explained that the new additional blocks on the building was a result of contributions, and that the kidnappers suspected that money had rolled in to the mosque and went after the Imam

to be paid ransom for his release.

Musa Mohammed, a Muslim faithful, described the N20 million ransom demanded by the kidnappers as unfortunate and outrageous, questioning what crime the Imam committed for N20 million to be paid before he could regain his freedom..

He pointed out that there was no way the central mosque could afford the N20 million demanded as ransom.

Meanwhile, Enugu State Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Ebere Amarizu, confirmed the kidnap of the Imam, saying investigations had since commenced to unearth the circumstances surrounding the kidnap of the cleric.

Poly graduate awaiting NYSC call up commits suicide in Aba

By Ugochukwu Alaribe

A

BA—A graduate of Abia State Polytechnic, Aba, waiting for the National Youth Service Corps, NYSC, call up, has allegedly committed suicide by hanging himself with a rope in his family house.

Vanguard gathered that the man whose name is yet to be ascertained at press time, allegedly killed himself on Sunday after attending a mass service in one of the Catholic churches in the area.

A resident of Umuobe village, Ovom, Obingwa council area, where the incident took place, told Vanguard that the deceased had a good job, wondering why he had to take his life.

“He returned from church on Sunday and nobody suspected that such a thing was going to happen. It was around 5pm that the bad news broke. The mother and the dad we learnt are all dead. ‘’I think he is the breadwinner of the family. It is very unfortunate. We learnt that he will be among the people that will be going for NYSC soon because he schooled in Abia poly,” he said.

A cross section of sympathizers who thronged the area, told Vanguard that the incident was a sacrilege which made it compulsory for a ritual to be performed before his body could be touched and buried.

“So, it was on Monday that

they (villagers) after performing the rituals took away his corpse from the room

where it was lying,” they said.

When contacted, the Abia State Police Commissioner, CP

Habila Joshak, confirmed the incident.

UNPAID SALARIES:

FG oders MDAs to compile names of affected staff for payment

By Victor Ahiuma-Young

A

BUJA—THE Federal Government has ordered all Ministries, Departments and Agencies, MDAs, to within seven days, compile names of all public service employees owed arrears of salaries and allowances for immediate payment.

The order is contained in a circular with reference number HCSF/428/S.1/128 dated September 14, 2015 issued by the Presidency on the auspices of the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, OHCSF. The circular was signed by the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Mr. Danlandi I. Kifasi.

Confirming the development, Association of Senior Civil Servants of Nigeria, ASCSN, stressed the urgent need to compile the names of those being owed to pay them immediately,arguingthattheaffected workers had been passing through difficult times.

ASCSN Secretary-General, ComradeBashirLawal,commended President Buhari for bringing hope to thousands of public employees owed arrears of salaries and allowances for years.

Several injured as traders, motor park touts clash in Lagos Fire razes plaza

By Ligali Abdul-Lateef & Lucky Nwanekwu

L

AGOS—FIGHT broke out yesterday between traders at the popular Alaba International market, along Lagos/Badagry Expressway and motor park touts, popularly called agbero, during which several persons were injured.

This is just as a three storeybuilding used as a plaza on Lagos Island went up in flames, destroying goods worth several millions of naira.

The fight at Alaba was said to have ensued, following protest by traders over extortion of their customers by the agberos.

Vanguard gathered that the motor park touts always demanded for tolls from motorists who bought goods from traders. Failure to pay usually resulted in harassment and assault of customers.

The lingering action was said to have affected the traders, due to low patronage. Consequently, the traders were said to have protested the harassment of a customer who had gone to purchase electronics yesterday by some touts. This resulted in a verbal confrontation that led to a free-for-all, during which

dangerous objects such as broken bottles, cutlasses and guns were reportedly used.

It reportedly took efforts of a combined team of policemen from Area ‘E’ to quell the situation.

Contacted, the Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer, Mr Joe Offor, said some arrests were made, adding that normalcy had returned to the troubled zone.

Fire outbreak

Meanwhile goods worth several

millions of naira were yesterday destroyed by fire that engulfed the third floor of a three story building used as shopping plaza, located on 122/124 Broad street.

The cause of the fire which started at about 9am, was not yet known at press time. But the Director of Lagos State Fire Service, Mr. Rasaq Fadipe, said the prompt arrival of three fire trucks from Onikan, Sari-Iganmu and Alausa, prevented the fire from spreading to other floors of the three storey

Lagos State fire service men battling fire that engulfed a plaza on Lagos Island, yesterday.

building.

When Vanguard arrived the scene, the Managing Director, Lagos State Emergency Management Agency, LASEMA, Mr Micheal Akindele, revealed that no life was lost, lamenting, however, that rescue operators faced several challenges trying to put out the fire.

“Accessing the area where the fire was burning was a serious challenge to us because of the burglaries but we were able to break in to carry out our job on time,” Akindele said, even as he commended the support and cooperation of some banks around the area in attempting to stop the raging fire.

Owner of the shop, Mr Rauf, lamented that he had lost everything in the fire. He said: “The fire started around 9am and rescue operators were immediately called. As you can see, they are trying their best to put out the fire. Already, a lot of things have been damaged. I am appealing to the state government to come and help me because this is where I get money to take care of my wife and children. But all I have now is gone.”

8—Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 16, 2015

NNPC to review offshore production agreements

By Michael Eboh

A

BUJA—THE Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, yesterday, reiterated its resolve to, within the next couple of weeks, commence the review of the fiscal terms of its existing deep offshore Production Sharing Contracts, PSC, with some international oil and gas companies operating in the country.

Group Managing Director of NNPC, Mr. Ibe Kachikwu, who disclosed this in Abuja, said the move was to seek favourable benefits to Nigeria based on prevailing realities in the industry.

Kachikwu, who was speaking at the FranceNigeria Business Forum organized to mark the visit of President Muhammadu Buhari to France, said some of the contracts were negotiated over 20 years ago.

PRESENTATION: From left— Chairman, Association of Stockbroking Houses of Nigeria, ASHON, Mr. Madubuike Emeka; President, Chartered Institute of Stockbrokers, CIS, Mr. Oluwaseyi Abe; and Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, during a joint presentation by the CIS and ASHON at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, yesterday.

There's more in Nigeria than oil, Buhari tells French biz community

By Levinus Nwabughiogu

P

ARIS—PRESIDENT Muhammadu Buhari

#SwitchOn – Switch The Way You Pay Bills …let’s See How Far We’ve Come

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O you remember the early 90s? If you are over the age of 30, then you probably do. Third Mainland Bridge was always free. Abuja was still a sleepy, civil servants’ city. Everyone’s must-have gadget was the Sony Walkman and the car that turned heads on the street was the Peugeot 505 ST. The only way to pay NEPA and Water Corporation bills was to queue for hours in the nearest bank, present the cash to an irritable cashier, collect the teller, then queue up again at the utility office to present the teller and get a receipt.

By the mid-2000s, we already had GSM networks, smartphones, mobile Internet, ATMs and Internet banking.

Towards the end of that decade, a few adventurous individuals were warming up to using electronic platforms to make bill payments. For the vast majority of people though, the everlasting queues and paperwork

remained a fixture in every sort of bill payment – electricity, water, TV subscription, tax and everything in between.

Fast forward to 2015; smartphones are now everywhere, from Jalingo to Ikeja. Access to 3G and 4G internet connections is available in most parts of Nigeria.

Just about every utility provider accepts electronic transactions.

Seemingly, every bank has a friendly Android, iOS, Windows or Blackberry app in addition to an online banking interface that permits users to pay all manners of bills online.

Quickteller, Nigeria’s largest multi-channel payments platform offers online payments to close to a thousand businesses and organizations.

These days, I no longer have to leave my sofa to pay my electricity bill or renew my DSTV subscription or even pay, for my refuse collection. Big contrast to how my dad had to dedicate an entire day back in the days.

yesterday in Paris, France, told the French business community and investors that there was more to Nigeria than oil exploration.

President Buhari stated that the country was greatly blessed with lands rich in agricultural and mineral resources coupled with skilled and low-cost labour, large market, robust and competitive private sector, areas largely untapped.

He also stated that other critical areas, such as agriculture, energy, automobile and skill development needed to be expanded to provide jobs for the youths.

President Buhari spoke at a

gathering of investors at the Nigerian-France presidential business forum, held at the headquarters of the French Business Confederation, MEDEF, in Paris.

President Buhari, who urged the French investors to explore the vast untapped natural deposits in Nigeria, submitted that the idea behind his aggressive campaign against insurgency was to create a safe haven for local and foreign business and investments.

He recalled that Nigeria and France already had cordial trade partnership, saying both countries needed

to exceed their annual trade volume of $5 billion.

According to him, the long standing economic ties between the two countries dates back to 1902, when the CFO set up a training programme in Lagos State.

He also promised to evolve a competitive, virile and productive economy based on excellence, integrity, transparency, accountability and respect for the rule of law.

Earlier in his remarks, Mr. Pierre Gattaz, President of MEDEF, who described Nigeria as the biggest economy in Africa, expressed their readiness to do business in Nigeria.

Reps query 2015 budget, debt profile

By Emman Ovuakporie

A

BUJA—MEMBERS of the House of Representatives ad hoc committee on nonimplementation of the 2015 Appropriation Act, have expressed dismay over the handling of the fiscal plan, especially the 2015 budget and the public debt by the Ministry of Finance.

After a two-hour engagement with the ministry last weekend, the committee expressed disappointment with the poor information management relating to the state of finances and budgetary activities of the Federal Government so far in the current fiscal

year.

Director-General of the Budget Office of the Federation, Alhaji Aliyu Gusau, who represented the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Finance, Mrs Anastasia Nwaobia, had made presentations to the committee on the various actions of the ministry in the current year as well as the state of the implementation of the 2015 budget.

Gusau said the country's domestic debt has hit N8.396 trillion as at June, adding that external debt, at June 30 stood at $7.04 billion for the Federal Government and $3.42 billion for states and Abuja.

Reacting to the presentations, the committee's

Chairman, Aliyu Patiegi (APC, Kwara) said: “In my view, the presentation is very sketchy and does not give a holistic view for full understanding of what the 2015 budget implemen-tation is all about.

“We had expected you to provide vivid insights into the regime of import duty waiver using explanatory notes to describe how what was done and why.

“You have not done that and we cannot say for sure that the position you presented before us is the right one because each day, companies keep declaring profits running into hundreds of billions and yet they are given incentives and waiver,

when sectors such as the textile industry has no such consideration for revival.”

He urged the ministry to give details to avoid going back and forth with the explanations on key aspects of the finances of the Federal Government.

He said: “On our debt profile of N8.396 trillion, we are interested in knowing who the Federal Govern-ment is indebted to, what necessitated this huge amount of borrowing as well as how this money so-borrowed was spent.

“We also want to know from when to when did this debt accumulate and how this amount will be liquidated in both the short and long term.”

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 16, 2015—9

Lack of funds halts N52bn NASS Legislative Village project

By Soni Daniel, Northern Region Editor

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BUJA—THE ambitious N52 billion Legislative Village embarked upon by the National Institute for Legislative Studies, NILS, has suffered a serious setback due to lack of funds to prosecute the project as scheduled.

Construction work stopped in April, when the German construction firm pulled out its equipment and personnel from site due to non-payment for work already done.

The project, which is located on the Umaru Musa Yar’Adua Highway, has only been allocated N18 billion out of the total cost of N52 billion and there

were indications, yesterday, that some aspects of the works might be scaled down to save cost.

The Director-General of NILS, Dr. Ladi Hamalai, told journalists in Abuja that the project would also not be completed on schedule due to the issue of funding.

She said that the three-star accommodation, which was to be built as part of the complex, had been stepped down to reduce cost, while the private sector would be invited to render such services instead.

Hamalai disclosed, however, that the Legislative Complex would, on completion, be affiliated with the Johns Hopkins University and would

serve as a major regional hub for legislative studies in Africa.

The DG also said NILS had so far trained about 359 personnel and was working hard to elevate the work of the institute to serve Nigeria and other countries better.

Hamalai said that between 2012 and 2014 NILS implemented 349 training programmes for legislators and legislative staff on policy analysis, bill scrutiny, bill and motion drafting, among others.

The DG said 353 motions and resolutions on national issues were taken in the House of Representatives between June 2012 and June 2014.

She, however, regretted that

in Nigeria, resolutions and motions are not taken seriously by the government as they were not binding on the executive.

She said: “The greatest challenge to NASS resolutions is that the executive is not bound by such resolutions. In most countries NASS resolutions are not binding.”

Hamalai, however, defended the N120 billion allocation to the National Assembly, saying the amount was small compared to the country's budget and enormous cost centres of the legislature. But she did not give a breakdown of what a lawmaker earns monthly.

MTN'S CSR CONFAB: From left— Executive Secretary, MTN Foundation, Nonny Ugboma; CEO, MTN Nigeria, Michael Ikpoki; Chairman, MTN Nigeria, Pascal Dodie; Chairman, MTN Foundation, Julius Adelusi-Adeluyi, and immediate past Governor of Lagos State/ keynote speaker, Mr. Babatunde Fashola, at the Foundation's 10th year anniversary corporate social responsibility, CSR, conference in Lagos. PHOTO: Akeem Salau.

NSA, Monguno, fires 12 directors

By Kingsley Omonobi

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BUJA—THERE were indications in Abuja, yesterday, that the National Security Adviser, NSA, Major General Babagana Monguno (retd) has relieved 12 directors of major departments in the apex security apparatus of their duties and asked them to proceed on immediate retirement, following what security sources described as irreconcilable differences in the areas of staff welfare and other sundry security issues too sensitive to be disclosed.

Among the departments affected are Counter Insurgency Operations, Defence Affairs, Legal Department, Special Duties, Intelligence Operations, Internal Security Operations, Joint Services and Foreign Liaison.

Some of the directors affected included a Major General, a wellknown retired Colonel, who once served as legal adviser to a political party and a Group Captain.

The directors, majority of who were appointed during the tenure of

Colonel Sambo Dasuki (retd) as NSA, according to sources, played significant roles during the six weeks extension period requested by Colonel Dasuki prior to the 2015 general election, to enable the Nigerian military time to decimate the Boko Haram terrorists and thereby ensure that elections held in the entire North-East particularly Adamawa, Borno and Yobe states.

The source said the directors were handed the letters relieving them of their services in the NSA’s office, before Monguno travelled with President Muhammadu Buhari to France, Monday.

The NSA directed them to prepare their hand over notes within one week and give same to the next in hierarchy even as he also directed those deployed to the office from other agencies (serving military officer and those from DSS), who are still in service, to return to their formations.

The source said when Monguno assumed office, he was bombarded by complaints and petitions exposing shady deals allegedly perpetrated by the senior directors, including some that impacted negatively on the war on terror.

Troops clear 4 terrorists' camps; rescue women, children

By Kingsley Omonobi

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BUJA—NIGERIAN troops, Monday, cleared four Boko Haram camps and rescued scores of women and children.

A statement by Colonel Sani Usman, acting Director, Army Public Relations, said: “Nigerian troops advancing to clear all known Boko Haram terrorists’ camps towards Banki, Kumshe axis and Bama axis have cleared four more camps.

“They were able to clear the terrorists’ camp at Bolungu 1 and 2, Bula Doye and Cheehi Dare and secured a very important bridge linking the towns of Miyanti and Banki in Borno State.

“The gallant troops also rescued dozen of kidnapped women and children held captive by Boko Haram terrorists.

“The clearance by ground troops and aerial bombardments will continue till we reach the desired objective of defeating the terrorists.”

Recall that Defence Headquarters said, Monday, that with the level of attacks against terrorists, there was indication that defeat of the sect was imminent.

10 — Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 16, 2015

LASU: Assembly approves 5-year single term for VC

By Monsuru Olowoopejo

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ORRIED by the continued crisis rocking the Lagos State University, LASU, the State House of Assembly yesterday approved five-year single tenure for Vice Chancellor of the institution.

When the new approval is introduced, it would nullify the four-year two-term tenure of LASU VC. This House committee constituted to investigate the continued crisis, among others sought an amendment to the relevant laws of tertiary institutions in the state to reflect a single-term for LASU, as is the practice in most tertiary institutions across the country.

2015 BUDGET: Ambode requests additional N24bn

By Olasunkanmi Akoni, Ebun Sessou & Amarachi Chukwudi

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AGOS—GOVERNOR Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos State has sent a letter to the State House of Assembly, requesting for the upward review of N489.69 billion 2015 appropriation budget by the sum of N23.97 billion aimed at enabling his administration execute some strategic projects.

The governor’s request was contained in a letter to the

Assembly dated September 3, proposing for N5.697 billion for recurrent expenditure and N18.278 billion for capital expenditure.

The letter, which was read at a plenary yesterday, by the Senior Legislative Director, Mr. Wasiu Bisiriyu, lamented the abysmal performance of the budget, which stood at 97 percent for recurrent expenditure and 29 percent capital expenditure.

According to the letter, the rationale for proposing the budget re-ordering, included:

PRESENATION: From left; Pioneer Board Chairman of Risk Control Services Nigeria Ltd, Mr. Akin Kekere-Ekun (OFR); Mr Olufemi Ajayi, MD/CEO of Risk Control Services Nigeria Ltd & represenative of the DG, Standards Organisation of Nigeria, Mrs. Oluremi Ayeni at the public presentation of ISO 9 0 0 1 : 2 0 0 8 certification to Risk Control Services Nigeria Limited in Lagos.

Fair on Nigerian rice holds

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HE stage is set for a three-day fair targeted at boosting Nigeria’s quest to attain self-sufficiency in rice production and processing.

Organized by Growth and Employment in States – Wholesale and Retail Sector (GEMS4), with funding by DFID/UKaid and the World Bank, the Lagos Rice Fair is coming after the successful Kano Rice Fair.

The Lagos fair is billed to hold at the Lagos Television Ground, Alausa, Lagos, from September 17-19, 2015.

The fair with theme, Growing Business Opportunities with Nigerian rice, will provide a platform to the general public to experience first hand the quality of Nigerian rice, and the business community on the huge opportunities in wholesale and retail distribution of the products.

According to the organisers, the stimulation of market system changes will encourage growth and access; resulting in the creation of 10,000 new jobs and increased income for over 500,000 people, especially the poor and women in the rice value chain.

the need for the construction of pedestrian bridge at Ojodu Berger, construction of fly-over bridges at Ajah roundabout and Pen Cinema, Agege.

The letter also stated that the budget re-ordering proposal would cater for the continued construction of blue light rail project, Lekki-Epe Expressway and acquisition of emergency/rescue helicopters and heavy duty equipment (cranes and forklift) and for Employment Trust Fund and Wealth Creation Programs.

The letter read in part: “It is worthy of note that we are constrained by the fact that there are no new revenue sources for the remaining

months of the year, and as a result we would not be in a position to propose a supplementary budget, hence the recourse to a re-ordering of

OJUELEGBA CRASH: Truck owner remanded in prison

By Onozure Dania

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AGOS—THE owner of the truck whose container fell and killed three people at Ojuelegba, Lagos, on September 2, 2015, Kilani Ojo Adesanya, was yesterday charged before an Ebute- Metta Chief Magistrate’s Court, sitting at Oyingbo, on two count charges of giving the truck to a driver without driving documents.

The 50 year old man, was docked before Magistrate A. Folashade Botoku who remanded him in prison till September 23 when there will be a ruling on his bail application.

The prosecutor Inspector Chinalu Uwadione, told the court that the defendant being the owner of the truck permitted Wasiu Adeleke to drive his truck marked EPE 46 XK, without a valid driver’s license issued to him by the appropriate authority.

He also alleged that the defendant gave the truck to the driver to drive on the highway without MOT test certificate, road worthiness certificate, and vehicle license issued in respect of the truck by the appropriate authority.

Chibok Girls: FG has opened negotiations with Boko Haram — Buhari •Vows not to release Sect’s chief IEDs maker

By Levinus Nwabughiogu

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ARIS—President Mu hammadu Buhari on Tuesday in France stated that his government has kicked off negotiations with Boko Haram to secure the release of over 200 Chibok girls.

It will be recalled that about 219 school girls were abducted by the Sect from their school in Chibok Community, Borno State over a year ago.

Speaking with members of the Nigerian community in France under the auspices of Nigerians in Diaspora Organisation (NIDO), President

Buhari who is currently on a three day official visit to the frnech country stated that the global attention and sympathy the ugly incident has attracted informed the negotiation.

He however disclosed that the government was making frantic effort to determine the genuine leaders of the group.

President Buhari also vowed not to release the developer of the Sect’s IED’s which according to him was a condition advanced by the Group before releasing the girls.

He said: “The issue of Chi-

bok girls has occupied our minds and because of the international attention it drew and the sympathy through out the country and the world, the government is negotiating with some of the Boko Haram leadership.”

“It is a very sensitive development in the sense that first we have to establish, whether they are genuine leaders of the Boko Haram. That is number one.

Number two, what are their terms because the first impression we had was not very encouraging.

“They wanted us to release one of their leaders who is a strategic person in developing and making Improvised IEDs that is causing a lot of havoc in the country by blowing people in C h u r c h e s , Mosque, market places, motor parks and other places. But it is very important that if we are go-

ing to talk to any body, we have to know how much he is worth.

According to him, “Let them bring all the girls and then, we will be prepared to negotiate and I will allow them to come back to Nigeria or to be absolved into the community.

We have to be very careful because of the concern we have for the Chibok girls. One can only imagine if they had a daughter there between 14 and 18 years and for more than one and a half year, a lot of the parents who have died would rather see the graves of their daughters than imagine the condition they are in.

This has drawn a lot of sympathy though out the world and that is why this government is serious about negotiating and recovering those who are still alive.”

President Buhari also assured the Nigerian community that his government would revitalise the economy and restore the glory days of Nigeria.

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 16, 2015 — 11

From left; Mr Tunde Rahman; MD, Western Post; Oloye Lekan Alabi; an awardee, and Brig-General Oluwole Rotimi (retd).

WESTERN POST UNVEILED: From left; Alhaji Semiu Okanlawon; Director of Bureau of Communication, representing Osun State governor; Otunba Moses Adeyemo, Deputy Governor, Oyo State, representing Governor Abiola Ajimobi; Brig-Gen Oluwole Rotimi (retd), Chairman of the Occasion; Mr Dipo Famakinwa, guest speaker and Alhaji Kashim Ibraheem, during the public unveiling of Western Post, a weekly newspaper in Ibadan, yesterday. Photos by Dare Fasube.

SCHOOLS RESUMPTION: Osun students protest demand for parents' tax clearance

By Gbenga Olarinoye

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SOGBO—SOME public secondary schools’ students in Osun State, yesterday, protested against the demands for three years tax clearance from their parents by the Osun State Government.

By the new tax regime of the state government, an adult artisan is expected to pay a sum of N1, 500 per year as tax, while the arrears of three years of tax beginning from 2013 amount to N4,500.

Also, evidence of tax payment were demanded from students resuming in new schools in the state.

Ekiti imposes education levy on students

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DO-EKITI—IN a bid to raise the state internally generated revenue and make education functional, students of public secondary schools are to contribute a token of N1, 000 per term and those of Primary Schools are to pay N500 respectively towards educational development in the State.

The Ekiti State Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Mr Jide Egunjobi, who made this known in a release issued in Ado-Ekiti, today, said all stakeholders in the education sector, including parents and teachers have consented to the introduction of the Education Development Levy.

An education summit recently held in the state had, among other reforms, recommended a developmental levies for all

AREGBESOLA: Osun judge’s case suffers set-back

By Gbenga Olarinoye

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SOGBO—AN Osogbo High Court, yesterday, fixed October 5, 2015 for the reassignment of a case filed by a judge of Osun state High court, Justice Oloyede Olamide Folahanmi against the Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Hon Najeem Salam and 10 others,for further hearing.

Justice Adeyinka Aderibigbe, who gave the order, said the process of adjournment was to allow counsel to the plaintiff, Mr Kanmi

By Daud Olatunji

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B E O K U TA — S E V E N journalists were, yesterday arrested and detained at the Ota High court premises for three hours on the orders of a judge attached to the state High Court 1, Ota, Ogun state, Justice N. I. Agbelu.

The detained journalists are Daud Olatunji (Vanguard), Samuel Awoyinfa (The Punch), Ernest Nwokolo (The Nation), Abiodun Taiwo (Daily Times), Sulaiman Fasasi (Nigerian Pilot), Wale Adelaja (TVC) and Johnson Akinpelu (Alaroye).

The newsmen arrived the court premises by 11:44am to cover two

They added that the government should look for other means to ensure payment of taxes rather than tying it to education.

Addressing the students, the Permanent Secretary, Osun State Ministry of Education, Mr. Lawrence Oyeniran, explained that the tax scheme was meant to ensure that parents with wards in public schools, pay their taxes and

By Japhet Alakam & Chris assured them Nwosu that the matter will be AGOS—PRESIDENT resolved Muhammadu Buhari has amicably. described the former Vice Chairman of The Sun newspaper, late Dimgba Igwe as a true Nigerian writer and a powerful columnist who could not stand any act of the students in state’s public schools. injustice, corruption and unrighteousness The Commissioner for Education in high places. maintained that “before now, secondary President Buhari made remarks school students were paying N100 as PTA yesterday, at Dimgba Igwe’s anniversary levy, N300 for Extra Lesson and N600 as and presentation of a book, “50 World examination fee while primary school Editors” co-authored by the late Dimgba students were paying N100 as PTA levy, Igwe and Mike Awoyinfa at the Nigerian N300 for extra lesson and N200 as Institute of International Affairs, Victoria examination fee, making N600 per term.”

Island, Lagos.

Apart from the Educational President Buhari who was represented Development Levy (EDL) of N1,000,

by Mrs Oluseye Abekande, permanent secondary school students will pay N500 secretary, Ministry of Information as Parents Teachers Association (PTA) commended the passion, zeal and levy, N600 for examination, N300 for commitment of the two authors, Mike and extra Lesson, making N2, 400 per term Dimgba for writing the book, which might while it is proposed that Primary school have caused them a fortune as they have students will pay N100 as PTA levy, N100 to travel around the world to interview for Extra Lesson, N100 for examination, the editors who have been good making a total of N800 per term. journalists and had experience He said, “in deed, this book is a labour of love for journalism. But I am sad that Dimgba Igwe is no more here with us today. His death about this time last year Ajibola, duly served the third to ninth shocked Nigerians especially for those respondents . who read his column in The Sun The defense counsels, Mr Lawal Newspaper every Tuesday.

Ibrahim and Mr Idris Mikail, had at the He is a true Nigerian writer and a proceedings tendered two applications powerful columnist who could not stand before the court . any act of injustice, corruption and The application contained a counter unrighteousness in high places. In times affidavit to show that the complainant like this, we will miss his advice and was not truthful in fair hearing, despite political commentaries. Like myself, her proxy and also an application Dimgba belonged to everybody and at the seeking the court to dismiss the case on same time belonged to nobody with his grounds of baseless fact and improper ability to call a spade a spade. He was serving of the defense counsels. that frank, as for Dimgba Igwe, he is a

Specifically, about 250 students within Osogbo metropolis, protested against the demand for evidence of three years tax payment from their parents.

The protesting students, who walked across major streets in the state capital, later moved to Abeere, the State Secretariat and caused traffic gridlock on the busy Gbongan/Osogbo Express Way. Some of the students, who spoke to newsmen, told the state government to shelve demand for evidence of three years tax payment by their parent before they are allowed to sit for their papers, stressing that many of them tried without success to get the tax clearance.

By Rotimi Olaleye

Judge detains newsmen for hours proceedings involving victims of Pakoto demolition and killing in Oke - Ore Community, which were believed to have been listed for hearing on Tuesday at the Ota High Court.

As the journalists disembarked from their vehicles, the Assistant Court Registrar (ACR) demanded to see a letter of authorisation from the Chief Judge or a Senior Judiciary officer permitting them to enter the court premises.

Upon the failure by journalists to produce the letter, the ACR went to the judge and later came back with a policeman, saying, the judge had ordered their arrest for allegedly filming the court premises without his consent.

Dimgba Igwe was a true Nigerian —BUHARI

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pride to Nigeria where impunity thrives, people commit crimes and vanish into thin air, believing that they won’t be caught.

In his remarks, chairman of the occasion Chief Olesugun Osoba who described the day as an emotional day because of the absence of one of the co authors asked for prayers for media men who he said are going through difficult times. Osoba in his speech lamented that publishers these days find it difficult to pay their staff salaries and pleaded with them to ensure they are paid.

The co-author Mike Awoyinfa read an emotional poem he wrote for his late friend, tagged “A letter to my friend”, saying the death hit him like a thunderbolt, pointing out that the passion, love and commitment to journalism was the only factor that propelled them to write the book.

He promised to keep alive the Dimgba Igwe dream saying “I promise not to disappoint him, as long as Mike is alive, Dimgba is alive. Death will not separate our friendship, in his memory we will launch a book every September and even inside the grave Dimgba Igwe will continue to be my co-author.”

Dignitaries at the book launch include, Adebayo Williams representing Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Emeka Abane of Slok Group representing Orji Uzo Kalu, Folarin Adeyemi Perm Sec Lagos State Min. of Information representing Governor Ambode of Lagos State, Louis Odion, representing Governor Oshiomole of Edo State, Dr. Adeleke Ipaye representing Governor Aregbesola of Osun State, and Akeem Bello, representing former Governor Babatunde Fashola of lagos State.

Others are Eric Osagie the book reviewer, Larry Izamoje of Brilla FM, Ray Ekpu, Mumuni Alao, Stanley Egbochukwu, Gbenga Adefaye,GM/Editor-in-Chief, Vanguard, Mideno Bayegbon, Editor Vanguard, Tunji Bello, and others.

12—Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 16, 2015

DELTA 2015: Tribunal rejects INEC witness' documents

By Festus Ahon

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SABA—THE three-man election Petition Tribunal sitting in Asaba, yesterday, rejected Governor Ifeanyi Okowa’s subpoena Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, witness document exhibits.

Governor Okowa had on Monday opened his defence at the tribunal, following the petition

by All Progressives Congress, APC’s candidate, Olorogun O’Tega Emerhor, challenging the governor's victory at the April 11, 2015 election.

At the resumed hearing, Okowa’s third witness , Mrs. Mercy Ehikhametalo, an INEC staff, led in evidence by the lead counsel to the governor, Dr. Alex Izyion (SAN) , told the tribunal that the electoral guidelines were substantially complied with during the governorship election in the state.

Okowa had sought to tender four documents as exhibits through Mrs. Ehikhametalo, but was refused by the tribunal after counsel to Emerhor, Chief Thompson Okpokor, (SAN) strongly opposed the acceptance of the documents.

Among documents that were to be tendered were: (A) Certified True Copy (CTC) of Card Reader Uploaded statute as at, April 16, 2015; (B) CTC of unit accreditation report yet to be uploaded for the governorship election as of April 16, 2015; (C) the notification of the APC governorship primaries for December 2, 2014 and (D) the INEC report of the APC congress of December 4, 2015.

Objecting to the admissibility of documents A and B, Okpoko argued that they were computer generated, and that there was no evidence before the tribunal to show that the documents sought to be tendered were produced by the witness.

He averred that the documents did not meet the mandatory requirements of section 84 (2) of the Evidence Act and therefore could not be admitted and urged the tribunal to reject it.

Ehikhametaloh, in her testimony, told the tribunal that card readers were used during the election, noting that about 67.7 percent of data from the card reader was uploaded into

the server in INEC's Abuja head office before the server was shut down.

She also told the tribunal that INEC experienced some challenges with the use of the card readers during the elections, due to poor network from service providers.

The INEC staff said the card reader had pin cards from Abuja and could not be fraudulently manipulated, claiming that during network failure, the card reader could not upload data to INEC server in Abuja.

In a short ruling, chairman of the panel, Justice Nasiru Gunmi, said; “We have no doubt in our minds that the documents she seeks to tender were documents uploaded from the Card Reader servers, but there is no indication

anywhere showing that the documents the witness seeks to tender were data generated by computer and she now used computer to type it.

“In view of the analysis above, we believe that our ruling of September 7 is not similar to this. We believe that the objections of Okpoko (SAN) to the admissibility of these documents are germane.

We believe that the two documents are computer generated documents.There is nothing on the face of the document to show that it complied with section 84 of the evidence act. In view of this we hereby agree that the documents are not admissible and they are hereby rejected.”

HERE is palpable air of excitement in Cross River State as the state gets set to host President Muhammed Buhari on Monday, September 21.

President Buhari is visiting the state to flag off the construction of the 260km Calabar-Katsina-Ala Super Highway.

The road is to serve as the evacuation route for another project, the Bakassi Deep Seaport.

Both the super highway and the sea port are estimated to cost about

UNVEILING: From left: Nollywood Actress, Bimbo Akintola; Keppy Ekpenyong Bassey; Head, Marketing and Corporate Communications, UBA Plc, Mr. Charles Aigbe; American actor, Tim Reid and legendary Hollywood actor, Danny Glover, at the world conference organised for the unveiling of the cast of 93 Days movie, yesterday.

N700 billion.

Speaking on the impending visit of President Buhari, a former member of the Armed Forces Ruling Council and former chairman of the Military wing of the Petroleum Trust Fund, General Edward Unimna, said it was a privilege that the President was visiting the state,

Itsekiri National Assembly to meet September 19

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By Perez Brisibe

GHELLI—IT was wailing and gnashing of teeth on Monday at Ekuigbo, Ughelli North Local Government Area of Delta State as one of the victims of the Sunday night clash between two suspected cult groups was interred.

Friends and relatives of the deceased, identified as Ovigue, popularly known as Montana, defied the morning downpour as they gave the victim a final farewell at his paternal residence along Onosode Drive, Ekuigbo.

Also present at the scene of his brief funeral rites was his 8-year-old son and his wife.

It would be recalled that Ovigue died on Sunday evening by Tozak Hotel located along Ughelli-Warri road at the Ekuigbo metropolis of Ughelli.

His remains were left at the scene of the incident till the early hours of Monday before he was taken away for burial in a makeshift coffin.

How he died

Cross River set to host Buhari Sep 21 T

Tears as victim of Ughelli cult attack is buried

LL Itsekiri sons and daughters, at home and abroad, have been invited to attend a meeting of Itsekiri National Assembly on Saturday, September 19, 2015.

Chairman of the group, Chief T. Yahya Pessu, JP, said in a statement yesterday that the meeting would take place at Ode-Itsekiri at 10:00 am.

stressing that this showed the high regard he had for the state.

“It is a very good pointer that the state is doing well. I must commend the Federal Government for this confidence reposed in the state. When President Buhari selected Ayade to accompany him to the Cameroon, it was a clear indication that the President is happy with what our governor is doing."

Meanwhile, contrary to earlier claims that he was killed by bullets from a rival gang, a security source told Vanguard that he was shot on the back of his head by a police guard stationed at the hotel.

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 16, 2015—13

BAYELSA GOV POLL: Dickson's aide dumps PDP over non-payment of salaries

By Samuel Oyadongha & Emem Idio

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ENAGOA—AHEAD of the December 5, governorship election in Bayelsa State, the political situation has continued to witness interesting developments, the latest being the resignation of Senior Special Assistant, SSA, to Governor Seriake Dickson, on Nonindigenes, Chief Chinedu Mba. Mba, who is the Chairman, Board of Trustees, Association of Non-Indigenes in Bayelsa State, ANIBS, played a key role in the 2012 electoral victory of the governor.

The SSA cited non-payment of his salaries and allowances for over a year among other reasons for his action.

He had led hundreds of nonindigenes on a road march for Dickson and later convinced them to vote for the governor.

Mba in his letter of resignation obtained by Vanguard said he faced intimidation, oppression and unfair treatment in the over three years he served the governor.

He said that no memo was approved for his office within the period he served the state

government.

In the letter dated September 14 and addressed to the governor, Mba said: “Since l was appointed till date, l have suffered intimidation, oppression, unfair treatments and unfounded allegations always levelled against me

without proof from the office of the SSG. My salaries and allowances were not paid for over one year. My official car, with registration number, AO 115 BY, was seized. All these unfair treatments are coming from the office of the SSG. “Despite all the

mistreatment, I still worked hard for the restoration of the government. As a nonindigene leader, I kept mobilising non-indigenes for the second term ambition of the governor, hoping that all these issues will be addressed.”

VISIT: Acting National Chairman, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Prince Uche Secondus (with mic); Akwa Ibom State Governor, Mr. Udom Emmanuel (2nd left); PDP National Publicity Secretary, Olisa Metuh (left) and Akwa Ibom State PDP Chairman, Obong Paul Ekpo (right), during a solidarity visit of PDP National Working Committee to the governor at Government House, Uyo.

Shell blames 92% of spilled oil on theft

By Samuel Oyadongha

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ENAGOA—SHELL Petroleum Development Company, SPDC, yesterday said that about 92 per cent of oil volume spilled from its facilities between 2010 and 2014 was caused by oil theft.

The Anglo-Dutch oil major noted that an average of 37,000 barrels of crude oil was being stolen daily from the SPDC Joint Venture, SPDC JV, facilities in Nigeria’s Niger Delta region.

SPDC Head, Right of Way Management, Mr. Afohron Sekobe, disclosed this in a presentation at a seminar with the theme, Effects of Pipeline Vandalism, Crude Oil theft and Encroachment Issues, organised by the company in Yenagoa for journalists in the region.

He said findings revealed that the criminal breach of oil facilities was the cause of over 75 per cent of spills from SPDC JV pipelines in 2014 alone.

According to him, over 92 per cent of oil volume spilled form SPDC JV facilities between 2010 and 2014 was caused by oil theft with the country losing about $5 million daily.

Illegal interference with pipelines and other illegal activities such as theft of well

head equipment, according to him, were responsible for the deferment of additional 110,000 barrels of production.

“We have recorded more sabotage and vandalism than oil theft,” he lamented, noting

that the illegalities were all violations of the Oil Pipelines Act, 1990, especially chapter 338, part 3, section 12 and subsections 1 and 2 of the law.

In spite of actions taken and additional deployments of

government security forces, there remains significant sabotage and illegal bunkering activities on the Trans Niger Pipeline TNP,” he lamented.

Why I stepped down for Dickson, by Okoya

By Samuel Oyadongha & Emem Idio

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E N A G O A — ARCHITECT Reuben Okoya, the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, governorship aspirant who stepped down for incumbent Governor Seriake Dickson of Bayelsa State, has given reasons why he stepped down. He said: “I bowed to

party supremacy and loyalty to friendship.”

In an interactive with newsmen in Yenagoa, Tuesday, Okoya, an ally of former President Goodluck Jonathan, noted that it was apparent that the ticket would not come to him, having seen the handwriting on the wall, hence his withdrawal from the race.

His words: “Contrary to the story making the rounds that I was pressured by former President Goodluck Jonathan to withdraw or that I was paid money to step down for Governor Dickson, let it be known that I only respected the publicly stated desire of the party to give its ticket to the incumbent as the person best placed to secure victory for the PDP."

Chevron gets 21-day ultimatum to address Itsekiri problems

By Tare Youdeowei

I

TSEKIRI Interest Initiative, a socio-political pressure group in Warri South West Local Government Area, Delta State, has issued a 21day ultimatum to Chevron Nigeria Limited to operate in line with the Memorandum of Understanding, MoU, it signed with Ugborodo

community years ago, threatening to shut down all its operational facilities in Itsekiriland.

In a statement by Austin Leleji and Omatseye Boyo, President and Secretary respectively, the group said in Ugborodo's MoU with Chevron Nigeria Limited it was spelt out that CNL will provide potable water,

electricity, health care and also train and employ indigenes as staff of the company.It lamented that despite the fact that Ugborodo played host to Chevron Nigeria Limited's tank farm, Excravos Gas to Liquid (EGTL) project, and manyflow-stations, the community had nothing to show for the company's

Delta LG boss inaugurates revenue generation c'ttees

By Onoja Innocent

B

O M A D I — DETERMINED to boost internally generated revenue in line with Delta State Strategic Wealth Creation Projects and Provision of Jobs for all Deltans, SMART agenda, Bomadi Local Government Council, has set up seven committees on Internally Generated Revenue, IGR, to address the effect of dwindling resources on the council.

Inaugurating the committees, chairman of the council, Chief Oluwole Karetimi, urged members to tackle the issue of revenue generation effectively to boost the financial base of the council.

Karetimi insisted that the total dependence on federal allocation as the only source of revenue had adversely affected the council since the falling crude oil prices in the international market began.

He said there was need for revenue generation from non-oil sectors to boost the council's revenue base.

N-Delta ex-militant leaders laud Buhari's 100 days achievements

By Onozure Dania

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EADERS of the Third Phase Presidential Amnesty Programme, have commended President Muhammadu Buhari, for good governance, after spending 100 days in o f f i c e .

While also commending him for the appointment of Brigadier General Boro Paul (retd), as the new coordinator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme for Niger Delta, they said they were confident that Buhari would take Nigeria to greater heights.

National chairman of the third phase presidential amnesty programme, Diepreye Ogbetebe, who spoke through his spokesman, Best Tochi, condemned the actions of the former chairman of the presidential amnesty programme, on his handling of the programme over the years.

14 — Vanguard,

WEDNESDAY 5 WEDNESDAY,, SEPTEMBER 16, 201 2015

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 16, 2015—15

MASSOB breeding kidnappers and armed robbers— Anambra police boss ...parades 43 members in Awka

By Vincent Ujumadu & Chimaobi Nwaiwu

T

HE ANAMBRA State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Hassan Karma yesterday in Onitsha accused the Movement for the Actualisation of Sovereign State of Biafra, MASSOB of breeding criminals even as the command paraded 43 MASSOB members in Awka.

The police Commissioner also proclaimed ban on the police in the state from following revenue agents and collectors in the name of security.

He warned people who are fond of using the police in

achieving their selfish ends in civil matter to desist from doing so and to “keep police out of civil matter as it is not part of their job. Any body who has a civil matter to sort out should go to court.”

Most members of the movement paraded were workers on building construction sites, traders and motor park operators.

The commissioner observed that there had been increase on the rate of assault on innocent people in the state in recent times by members of the group, alleging that most of those attacked were dispossessed of

their personal effects such as cash, mobile phones, hand bags, among other things.

According to him, members of the movement were arrogating to themselves so much authority as if they were acting on government’s directives and made it clear that the group did not have the backing of the law, or that of government to engage in such activities.

Mr. Karma also disclosed that the police will not give the MASSOB any opportunity to operate in the state because they are breeding criminals who will go into kidnapping and armed robbery.

Speaking during his visit to the Police Area Command, Onitsha; Central Police Station, Inland Town Police Division, Fegge Divisional Police, all in Onitsha, the Police Commissioner said that over 50 members of MASSOB who were arrested on Sunday have been moved to Police Zonal Command Umuahia, popularly known as Zone 9.

He said that 27 of them were arrested in a church in Okpoko where they allegedly held a Catholic priest hostage to pray for them, while 28 were arrested in Nnewi.

Mrs Eunice Ikunna for burial

M

RS. EUNICE Ikunna of Uzinaumu Mgbidi, Oru West Local Government Area, Imo State is dead, aged 80.

She died on August 8, 2015.

Interment will take place at Bright Ikunna compound on September 18, 2015.

She is survived by husband, children, grand children and relatives.

POST UME: UNIZIK apprehends 167 impersonators

By Vincent Ujumadu

A

WKA—NO fewer than 167 persons, who were alleged to be impersonators were apprehended during the just concluded Post University Matriculation Examination, Post –UME, of the institution.

It was gathered that the arrested persons have been handed over to security operatives for further investigation.

The university’s director of information, Dr. Emma Ojukwu said the affected persons

would be charged to court soon.

Meanwhile, of the 30, 477 candidates who made the university their first choice institution and who were invited for the Post –UME, only 28,233 candidates turned up for the exam.

According to Ojukwu, many fraudulent candidates did not turn up for the screening for fear of being detected.

He said: “The University’s newly acquired Biometric Data Capturing Machines were fully deployed whereby candidates’ finger prints were matched with what we already have.

Construction coys cry out over inability to pay workers Seek Buhari’s action on non-payment of 3yrs

By Bashir Adefaka

F

OLLOWING THE complaint by National Union of Civil Engineering Construction, Furniture and Wood Workers (NUCECFWW), which it made on Tuesday in Lagos, a director of one the construction companies had defended the lay off of some of their workers because, according to him, they could not continue to pay salaries and wages in the wake of the nonpayment for jobs done and the ones still ongoing.

The director, who spoke under condition of anonymity in a telephone interview with Vanguard, yesterday, said his own company alone had been owed in billions for over three years and that the company had retrenched not only indigenous but also expatriates as a result of the harsh financial condition.

President-General of the NUCECFWW, Mr. Amechi Asugwuni, had reportedly addressed a press

conference in Lagos on Tuesday, where he lamented that over 60,000 workers in the construction sector had lost their jobs in the past four months, signifying a massive break in infrastructure development, which he described as unfair to the workers.

But the director said: “I am not speaking only for the company but for the others because there is no way any of the construction companies could continue to pay salaries and wages under a situation where payments have never been made for the jobs done. All construction works in the country have therefore stopped for this singular reason.

“One particular company among us is owed up to N30 billion which cuts across the Federal Government and three states: one in the South South, one in the South East and the other in the South West and it has been like that for over three years

now.

The Federal Government under Mr. Goodluck Jonathan had always promised to pay us but they never fulfilled their promise.

Even the immediate past minister of works had assured us of payment of the money alongside other construction companies being owed but till the time the Federal Executive Council (FEC) rounded off, he never made good his promise.

“This is the dilemma we are into. We can only appeal to the newly constituted Federal Government under President Muhammadu Buhari to kindly look at the implications of having more people out of job as a result of this non-payment and act accordingly. We also call on the state governments owing construction companies to pay up because people being out of job can complicate the security situation in the country,” he said.

“There was also physical verification of claimed documents. The shortfall of 2,244 candidates who did not present themselves for screening may not be unconnected with the stringent processes of screening which eliminated impersonation to a large extent.”

He said that investigation of those arrested for impersonation and other malpractices showed that parents encouraged their wards to cheat, insisting that admission into the University was purely on merit.

Late Mrs. Ikunna

16—Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 16, 2015

No state pays what Labour's demanding in EbonyiGovt

By Peter Okutu

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BAKALIKI—EBONYI State government, weekend, described the demand made by the state chapter of the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC,

for increment in salaries of workers in the state as outrageous, vague and unrealistic for it to implement.

It further explained that no state in the South East geo-political zone of the country was paying such an amount to her workers.

Briefing newsmen in his office in Abakaliki, the state Commissioner for Finance and Economic Development, Chief Dennis Ekumakama reiterated that the demand of Labour, following the state salary structure was above 100 per cent increment

Ericsson signs broadcast services deal with Channel 5

By Emeka Aginam

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OMMUNICATIONS TECHNOLOGY and services provider, Ericsson, yesterday, disclosed that it has signed an exclusive multi-year broadcast and media services deal with leading UK broadcaster, Channel 5, owned by Viacom.

The new deal spans Channel 5’s portfolio of terrestrial and digital channels in the UK. The deal, which was won following a competitive tender process, included playout, media management, metadata, access services and business continuity services.

With the new development, Ericsson is expected to provide these services for Channel 5’s

entire portfolio of terrestrial and digital channels as well as for its catch up offerings, including Channel 5+1 and Channel 5+24.

Ericsson following the new deal also delivers media management services for the broadcaster’s Demand 5 video-on-demand platform. Accordingly,, all services will commence in May 2016.

Speaking on the new deal, Paul Dunthorne, Chief Operating Officer at Channel 5, said: “Ericsson showed a clear understanding of our complex playout requirements, including the extra demands of live and fastturnaround shows, such as Big Brother, which are a crucial part of our schedule. And they promise to offer us the robust and flexible support we need as we continue

to roll out our highly popular Demand 5 player, which is already available across more than 25 different video-ondemand platforms in the UK. We look forward to working with them over the coming years.”

For Thorsten Sauer, Head of Broadcast and Media Services at Ericsson, “We are delighted to be chosen by Channel 5 to provide these critical services for their portfolio of channels in the UK..

This multi-faceted deal is a significant win for Ericsson and really illustrates our ability to provide a truly world-class, endto-end offering. The industry is undergoing a huge transformation, driven by consumer demand and enabled by technology."

and that their proposed demands do not cut across workers at the lowest echelon of the state’s civil service.

Ekumakama, who noted that complying with Labour’s demand would plunge the state into untold indebtedness and hardship, accused labour leaders in the state of mischief and lack of consideration for the report submitted by the Sam Egwu-led Special Salary Committee.

According to him, the state was yet to access the Federal Government bail out loan, adding that the fund was not free, since it would be deducted from the state’s federal allocation each month until it is fully remitted.

“Why will Ebonyi State government make such payment when we receive about the lowest in the federal allocation? What Labour is demanding was not 50 per cent across board as there are discrepancies in the salary table.

The table presented by Labour is faulty and there is no state that is paying such a wage bill in the country as demanded by them.

“The bail out loan is yet to be accessed by the state government; it is a loan and will be deducted from our FAAC. This is like postponing the evil days.”

Mrs Okpaise passes on

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RS CAROLINE Okpaise, is dead, aged 87.

She died on August 23, 2015, in Lagos.

A great achiever, late Caroline Okpaise, ACIIN (UK), FCIIN, was the Nigeria's first female President, Chartered Insurance Institute of Nigeria, CIIN, and the 1st woman to study Insurance in Nigeria and Africa.

Late Okpaise is survived by children, grand children and great grand children.

Late Mrs. Okpaise

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 16, 2015 — 17

A

recent New York Times survey showed that 43% of Americans think President Obama is Muslim. Some people just can’t be helped. Some people, for all intents and purposes, will remain ignorant and perhaps that’s just the way of the world.

Some people will continue to judge others based on gender or ethnicity. Some people will think political appointments “maketh” the man or that having someone from your village at the helm of affairs will necessarily translate to your betterment (although it’s yet to truly happen). Some people revel in conspiracy theories and fictitious agendas. Maybe there’s nothing anyone can do about this.

On my worst days, this is my train of thought.

On my best days, which sometimes coincide with a Serena Williams win, I think quite the opposite: watching her joy as she does the splits to celebrate, or jumps up and down, makes me feel that I too can do anything or that outsiders in any game, can be victorious. The system in any country, or what Americans would call “the man”, is a complicated set of rules which only allows or guarantees wins for certain wellconnected (often morally corrupt), entrenched people.

People with dreams When outliers don’t just break in but beat the system, it’s a day of celebration for all other outsiders, people with dreams and ambitions that the system cannot accept or recognise for fear of the rules of the game being re-written.

Muhammadu Buhari is a very particular outsider: he knows the game and its players. He is feared and hated by the establishment because he promises to break the cartels and cabals which keep Nigerians jobless and insecure, in order to establish a level playing field. What better face for the outliers, than he?

Unfortunately, his fellow outsiders, the Nigerian youth, do not fully know or understand him.

Many don’t have the capacity to do so, due in part to the dumbing down of our popular culture.

Besides dancing to meaningless hit songs and idolising actors and actresses with little to say for themselves besides the pursuit of expensive cars and handbags obtained by “friendship” with governors, the average Nigerian youth has little to no political conscience.

How do we breed sentient, aware young people who take deliberate actions beyond “catching a husband” or engaging in exam malpractice?

There are various deep rooted reasons why Nigerian girls feel they can only exist or be recognised by society if they can attach the “Mrs” title to their name, and there are many reasons why some parents choose to encourage and help their children to cheat during exams.

Nigeria has become a country where quick wins are the preferred option, where hard work is shunned: so why not just aim to marry a rich man? It’s easier than professing independence,

tprincewill@yahoo.co.uk

Who will save Nigeria’s youth? as if marriage (to whatever sort of partner) and independence are mutually exclusive. When the President said we needed to kill corruption before it kills Nigeria, it was because corruption is the fundamental reason why one cannot live a decent, honest life and hope to be successful in Nigeria.

At some point, Nigerians are called to compromise on their ethics and principles without which progress is often impossible. So, young girls accept to be the third or fourth wife of a geriatric degenerate who might believe defiling young girls is part of culture and the law accepts his vice masquerading as a cultural peculiarity so that he too, looks away from its sins, such as the inability to protect those who cannot speak for themselves.

Or worse, those who cannot always think for themselves. Who is going to rescue Nigerian youth, trapped in a culture of quick wins and cheap fun where the depth of personality and focus is sorely missing?

Personality and focus Upon all of our excitement over the growth of Nollywood as a would-be industry, I wonder if there is much to be excited about given the strange messaging contained in the average Nollywood film. Even reading interviews granted by the wouldbe heroes of the Nigerian youth is worrisome: warped values and skewed mind-sets abound, all gobbled up by young people who never learned, due to a broken educational system, how to think critically and analyse rather than absorb unthinkingly.

terest and their disenfranchisement within society. They might have found a willing guardian in President Buhari but they are yet to find their voice, the young man (or woman) who will translate for them what the “ogas at the top” are all about and who will end their banishment or freezing-out from public affairs.

Interestingly, about 80 per cent of the Nigerian population could be categorised as “outsiders”, simply because most of that number would be comprised of people under 30.

Why aren’t there more names of brilliant, focused young people being bandied around in the lists of those called to assist the President and to serve Nigerians?

Young people

•President Muhammadu Buhari From new age TV channels to dubious “on-air-personalities” with puerile ideas on serious issues they know nothing about, young Nigerians lack mentors.

Those who portray themselves as mentors are often guilty of enslaving the youth by not train-

ing them for succession or giving them opportunities for growth.

They also don’t know how to speak to young people, to gain their interest or trust. Nigerian youth bemoan their situation; yet, many till date haven’t seen the link between their political disin-

Talented young Nigerians don’t dream of becoming civil servants (or journalists for that matter) and this is worrisome because then, who will reinvent Nigeria?

The average Nigerian’s attitude is anti-government: too many politicians believe their role is simply to attack, leaving Nigerians desensitised and civil servants devoid of direction.

We need to create simpler ways for talented young people to get into government and incentives for them to do so, beyond the idea many politicians’ offspring seem to have, which is that government is a birth right where money unilaterally flows. It is simply put, time to bring Nigerian governance into the 21st century by allowing brilliant young minds to chart a new path and destiny for Nigeria.

Stella Oduah

S

HE’s back to set a danger ous precedent. A few weeks ago, the former minister got a court order restraining the EFCC, the Attorney General of the Federation, the Inspector General of Police and the Independent Corrupt Practices and other Related Offences Commission, ICPC, from arresting her or even inviting her for questioning.

Where does one begin? There is no other place on earth where a court would be able to stop someone from being investigated. It goes against the idea of the law itself which is to protect all wronged parties not just the accused, as is done in Nigeria. Would an ordinary

•Stella Oduah Nigerian be able to stop the police from either arresting or investigating him? Definitely not. So why make excuses for

some, simply because they have the necessary funds to make justice (or their idea of it) go their way?

Jonathan’s ministers Those who portray themselves as mentors are often guilty of enslaving the youth by not training them for succession or giving them opportunities for growth

T

•Mike Onolememen

HE immediate past Min ister of Works, Mike Onolememen, was accused of taking four unidentified people to an international conference in 2011. The former minister ’s wife also apparently travelled with him.

We all know how necessary it is to have one’s wife present at a business engagement.

The minister defended his wife’s presence, saying ministers’ wives and “top female ministry officials” were included. This attitude to public of-

fice where wives, friends and often family were invited on official trips for unjustifiable reasons is just another reason why the sheriff must be allowed to pick his ministers carefully.

Tabia Princewill is a strategic communications consultant and public policy analyst. She is also the co-host and executive producer of a talk show, WALK THE TALK which airs on Channels TV.

18 — Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 16, 2015 The Inspector General of Police, Mr Solomon Arase, has renewed the advocacy by the Nigerian Police high command for victims of gunshot wounds to be given adequate and prompt treatment by doctors and medical personnel.

This is a pleasant and welcome departure from the old rule in which such victims were required to present police “clearance” before they could be treated.

In a recent media release through former spokesman of the Force, Mr Emmanuel Ojukwu, the police chief urged medical doctors to treat such victims and file reports with the police in accordance with our laws, adding that the good Samaritans who bring in the victims for treatment should not be harassed or victimised but should be cultivated for their maximum cooperation to enable the law enforcement agencies carry out their job of ascertaining the circumstances behind the gunshot

Treatment of gunshot victims injuries.

Before the change of mind by the police, the idea of rejecting gunshot victims was aimed at ensuring that fleeing criminals would be apprehended before they got well and escaped justice. But it has since been established that many innocent citizens have lost their lives in the process of waiting for police clearance. Such victims included people caught in crossfires between cops and robbers and other gangsters. Even victims of road accidents have often fallen prey to rejection by doctors.

In fact, many medical personnel

have found themselves in messy police cases for offering to treat victims, and this forced most of them to reject any injured person brought in for emergency medical attention.

The change of mind by the police authorities obviously stems from greater awareness of the rights of citizens under the law which was virtually absent during military rule. This is very commendable, even though it is coming rather belatedly.

It must be borne in mind that every citizen – even the alleged or convicted criminal - has the inalienable right to life, and the

refusal to administer life-saving treatment under any guise is a gross violation of such rights.

And under our laws, everyone is presumed innocent until proven guilty of crimes by competent courts. Therefore the rejection of treatment for gunshot victims is a violation of our laws and those whose negligence leads to loss of lives or permanent incapacitation risk being made to face the necessary penalties under the law.

Nothing stops medical personnel from treating injured persons while discreetly notifying the law enforcement agents to come in and do their work.

We are glad that the police authorities have woken up to this human rights imperative, and join in urging medical personnel to respond to the call with total commitment, also bearing in mind their professional and sacred call to save lives.

OPINION

Buhari's auto policy and Innoson’s catalyst role

By Chukwudi Enekwechi

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S President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration begins to take shape, definitely one vital sector that will demand and indeed attract their immediate attention is the automotive sector. The reason is not far–fetched considering the numerous benefits inherent in revitalising such strategic sector. Apart from being a job creating avenue, the automotive sector will readily offer the much needed technology transfer to Nigerians, as well as have a multi dimensional impact on the overall economy.

An example can be cited with the INNOSON Vehicle Manufacturing Company which has over the last ten years led a revolution in the Nigerian vehicles manufacturing sector being the first indigenous motor manufacturing.

Before the emergence of INNOSON, all the vehicles manufacturing plants in Nigeria, including PAN, ANAMCO, VON had folded up. The closures came with loss of jobs for thousands of Nigerians, with the attendant negative impact on the nation’s economy.

In fact, it can be said that over the last thirty years or more, Nigeria has remained an import – dependant economy as far as automobiles are

concerned. The implication of this is that with our ostentatious usage of foreign made vehicles, we created job opportunities for citizens of those countries from where we import the vehicles. The countries that fall in this category are Germany (Mercedes), Japan (Toyota), America (Ford), Sweden (Volvo), India (Tata), and South Korea (Kia).

With INNOSON’S emergence as the first indigenous motor manufacturer, and the federal government’s policy of patronising locally-made vehicles, we began to witness a paradigm shift in a way that most automobile manufacturers have started setting up their plants in Nigeria. Following from INNOSON’S patriotic example was Nissan, Toyota, and the latest is Ford Motors USA. This is unprecedented in the history of Nigeria, and while most Nigerians continue to applaud INNOSON for the patriotic venture, it is hoped that the

One way of realising the objective is to support indigenous automobile manufacturers like INNOSON

present administration will go a step further to patronise the INNOSON Group as a way of promoting job creation, reduce capital flight and tap into the opportunity of acquiring technological knowledge in motor manufacturing.

It is gratifying to know that President Buhari has made diversification of the nation’s economy one of his administration’s major policies. One way of realising the objective is to support indigenous automobile manufacturers like INNOSON. Of course, the federal government intends to promote agriculture as another foreign exchange earner, yet it is important that we consolidate on the advantages of utilizing the automotive sector to save scarce foreign exchange earnings, and at the same time earn more through the export of made in Nigeria vehicles.

INNOSON group has in its ten years of existence employed over fifteen thousand Nigerians at its Nnewi Plant in Anambra state, and it is a well known fact that the private sector can play a key role in alleviating the unemployment scourge plaguing the nation. While it is acknowledged that government is the main employer of labour, but this can only be said about a country like Nigeria where government has its hands in all pies. Ordinarily, the private sector ought to be the drivers of the economy by creating jobs openings, while government provides the policy frameworks.

It is therefore being advocated that the federal government – INNOSON partnership in the area of job creation and skills acquisitions be sustained. This can be realised by the government availing them of incentives such as tax relief, import duty waivers, access to low interest loans and outright patronage of their range of products.

By so doing, production will reach optimal level and more Nigerians will be gainfully employed. Secondly, with clear government support, INNOSON will be able to expand their manufacturing plants and this will lead to job creation and faster industrialisation of the country.

As it stands today, INNOSON is the only indigenous auto brand promoting Nigeria in other African countries; where their vehicles are being used. In most advanced countries of the world, their countries are often identified and respected based on the brand names of automobiles manufactured in their countries. For example, USA is synonymous with Ford and Chevrolet, UK – Rolls Royce, Sweden – Volvo, Germany – Mercedes, South – Korea – KIA, India – Tata among others.

Therefore, it is gratifying that President Buhari has undertaken to restore Nigeria’s lost glory, and one of the major ways of realising this objective is to promote Nigerian brands abroad, and INNOSON is suitable for the purpose.

•Mr. Enekwechi, a policy analyst, wrote from Abuja.

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 16, 2015—19 —19 Send Opinions & Letters to: opinions1234@yahoo.com

What about governors yet to appoint commissioners?

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T is not uncommon for Nigerian politicians to make a norm of the abnormal and by that pretend to be making some profound statement. These politicians who many times cannot think outside the box are too quick to copy habits and ways they know nothing about. I say this in the wake of criticisms that have been levelled against state governors yet to constitute their cabinets by appointing commissioners. It is on record that many of the newlyelected governors in the various states of the country are yet to appoint commissioners that will help drive the agenda of their governments. This applies mostly to governors spending their first term in office. These governors, it is now being argued, are taking their cue from President Muhammadu Buhari who, three months after his inauguration, is yet to appoint ministers.

There is no reason to believe those who attribute the governors’ behaviour to the example of Buhari are wrong. In the past, the norm was for elected public officials like presidents or governors to set up their cabinets by announcing appointments into the various portfolios within days

after inauguration. The ritual of making new appointments often occupy the time of newly elected executives at both the state and federal levels in the first two weeks after inauguration, and continues with appointments into various boards and other sectors in the following weeks. But Buhari in his own wisdom decided to toe a new line this time around and ever since governors across the country appear to be following in his track.

Whether good or bad, Buhari has told Nigerians why he has spent more than three months without ministers. It does not matter much whether many Nigerians agree with him or not. The important thing now is that he has his own reasons for his action. This is the need, even necessity, his minders say, to make a clean break with the corrupt practices of the past and start on a clean slate wiping off the rot left by the previous administration. Now the question is, if Buhari has proffered his own reason for his refusal to name ministers months into his administration, what excuse or reason do the state governors who appear to be following his example have for their own action?

Are their reasons the same as

Buhari has proffered? If yes, the question to further ask them is whether the only approach to take in addressing the matter is by not setting up a cabinet.

While Buhari would appear to know what he wants and the direction in which he is headed, governors who have either refused or failed to appoint commissioners give the impression that they have no vision of their own. At best they betray their lack of preparation for the office into which they have been elected. At worst they are mischief makers who are only looking at the lay of the land before going in whatever direction that would best help in executing their mischievous agenda. Otherwise, they would have other plans and/or approach to follow in carrying out the mandate given them by those who voted them into office than merely choosing to copy an example they know nothing about. To simply sit back and continue to watch as if waiting for directives from Abuja before going on with their own activities is irresponsible.

That Buhari is the president does not mean his approach to governance is necessarily superior to the approach of state governors

We are no longer in the military era where soldiers took orders from their commanders and barrack regimen determined the conduct of everyone within the hierarchy

Letter to President: Operation rescue Nigeria

By Sam Imadonmwiyi

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EAR SIR, I want to express my appreciation for the way you have been running the affairs of our nation since you assumed office as our President, and Commander- in-Chief of Nigeria Armed Forces. At the same time, I want to use this opportunity to thank God for the successful conduct of the election that brought you to power.

However, I will advise that you take note of these areas of our national life: 1.That Nigeria is more divided along tribal, religious, and regional lines than when you first led this country.

2.Corruption then was like a child’s play, compared to what we have today.

3. The rate of crime now is unprecedented in our nation’s history, because today there are other crimes such as ritual killings, armed robbery, terrorism, kidnapping, pipe line vandalism, illegal oil bunker), etc.

These are as a result of corruption, tribalism, nepotism and the type of constitution, laws or system we operate. The law that is so cruel and wicked to the poor but so compassionate and lenient to the rich.

The law that sends the poor to five/ ten years jail for stealing a goat or hen but frees the rich and powerful for stealing billions of Naira/ dollars on so called technical ground, that must be stopped if Nigeria must survive.

Mr. President, there is need to make a policy statement on your mission to save our nation from total ruin and your vision for Nigeria for years to come. We love your sacrifice and patriotism when you and the Vice President gave 50% of your salary to your country. But you must go a step further, that all those who want to work for this

C M Y K

country must do the same, especially, the National Assembly members, governors, ministers, commissioners, judges, head of government agencies, ambassadors, High commissioners, etc. There must be a determined effort to bridge the gap between the rich and the poor.

As the father of the nation, you must “take the bull by the horn”. I am not saying you should dictate to the people but there is need to tell our people why they must show patriotism and be ready to make sacrifices if we want to see Nigeria of our dream, beginning with all Nigerians, National Assembly Members, Labour union Leaders, students, Judiciary, Medical Workers, the Armed Forces, your party, that “a house divided against itself cannot stand”.

The North through the Emirs, the idea that “this is our time” should be put aside for the good of the country. Everybody should see himself/ herself first as a Nigerian, before

The number of Ministers should not be more than twelve, two Ministers from each of the six geopolitical zones

who know their way. He may have better experience in governance than most but that is not to say that his way is the only way. Others must fashion their own way to governance and tailor their agenda to the needs of their states as the situation in Abuja is not necessarily the situation in the various states. Whatever rot or unwholesome practices these governors may find on assumption of office will not necessarily be addressed by their failure to appoint commissioners. Had Buhari decided to appoint his ministers immediately after inauguration, I don’t see governors now pretending to follow his example being brave enough to take the criticisms that would follow their refusal to appoint commissioners. That would have been an uncharted course none of them would have been willing to take.

But now because Buhari has taken a step, suddenly many governors are following it even when the conditions that informed Buhari’s step may not apply to their states. The point might even be argued that these governors are merely looking for excuses to amass power to themselves and operate more or less like sole administrators. Sooner than later, they would have put in place unwholesome measures that would be very difficult to reverse even after commissioners would have been appointed. And in a country where patently foolish behaviour soon define fashion trends that are uncritically adopted for personal and collective conduct, the clearly aberrant would be transformed into a norm.

If Buhari has begun his fourth month in office without ministers, for how long more would the governors wait before appointing

place of birth or tribe. We should do things that will unite not divide us. If we want to see a united Nigeria, We must amend our constitution that any child born in any part of the country is a citizen of that state, and any law abiding Nigerian who lives and works for up to ten years in any part or state in Nigeria should be a citizen of that state.

Terrorism/investment Mr. President, Sir, you will agree with me that it is cheaper to prevent crime than fight it. We should not forget the adage which says “if we want peace, prepare for war”. At the moment, the terrorists are ahead of our Security Forces/ Agencies when it comes to information, strategy, surveillance and possibly weaponry.

Where robbers take over a bank for two to three hours without hindrance and get away with their loot is unacceptable and embarrassing. The Government should have a “Task force of Army, Navy, Air force, Police, supported and funded by federal, State, and Private sectors as was done under former governor of Lagos State, Raji Fashola but it can be upgraded. Their duty amongst others is to monitor, constant surveillance, patrol the streets, high ways, Airport, seaports, starting from our borders, offices, etc, fight crime and corruption which today one not only perceives the odour, stares one in the face.

If we would attract foreign investors, then there is need to more work in our human relationships particularly at the airports.

This is every visitor's first place of call when they get to the country. So poor is our human relations that it's a complete put off.

N NPC/ Oil: The first refinery in Nigeria was built by Shell. So it is not out of place if the Government should introduce a policy that all companies given license to explore oil and gas, and is able to produce up to one hundred thousand (100,000) barrels per day, must build a standard refinery. Those who cannot do so should give way for those who

commissioners? Or are they executing the same agenda or following the same timeline as the president who has picked a September deadline for the appointment of ministers? Let us remind ourselves that since the offices of the president and governors are structured in the same way, a governor can rely on permanent secretaries and other senior civil servants for the execution of his agenda in the absence of commissioners who are political appointees. But since that was not the norm, a governor that must take that option must convince the electorate that he knows exactly what he wanted to do and is not being a mere copycat without a sense of direction.

Governance is not about making populist gestures and setting illconceived fashion trends that won’t stand the test of time.

We are no longer in the military era where soldiers took orders from their commanders and barrack regimen determined the conduct of everyone within the hierarchy. Now, each elected official must render account of their stewardship to their electorate and not a president in Abuja.

Buhari has been careful so far not to interfere in matters not directly under his purview. Even the much criticised appointments that he has made are within his purview.

Criticisms have mostly been about the lopsidedness of the appointments. Thus, if the man has limited himself to issues directly connected to his office, if he has chosen to govern in a style unique to him, governors have no business following him like zombies, acting like people uncomfortable in their own minds and skins. They should be men enough to follow where their vision and mission takes them and give up on their uncritical follow-follow ways.

are wiling so that, if possible, we should be able to refine all our productions and export to other African countries. This will help to create jobs and increase our foreign reserve.

The Government must know the correct landing cost of imported fuel/ petroleum products to Nigeria. It would be better if it is duty free or 5% duty for logistics than for this subsidy to continue. The subsidy money can be used to build roads, rails, for electricity, schools, hospitals, etc.

Another area the Government should beam its search light on is the cost of running its activities and deliberate on plans to remove all the abnormalities in the constitution which is slowing down the progress of this country, encourages corruption and crime, and things that bring division among us instead of unity.

Government should assemble seasoned judicial Officials and patriotic lawyers to be headed by His Excellency, the Vice President being a seasoned lawyer himself, to amend those areas that have some irregularities and forwarded same to the National Assembly for consideration and onward passage into law. Create special Court to try cases such as corruption, armed robbery, terrorism, kidnapping, pipeline vandalism, ritual killings, for speedy dispensation of justice, even in the normal Court of Law. The number of Ministers should not be more than twelve, USA and UK are example, and should be based on zones not states, that is, two Ministers from each of the six geo-political zones. The government should aim at using 40% of its revenue for recurrent expenditure and 60% for capital projects for now, and work towards 75% for capital projects after all the loopholes and leakages had been taken care of.

I pray that God will give you and your team, the wisdom of King Solomon to lead our people to the promise land. Amen. *Mr. Sam Imadonmwiyi, a public affairs analyst, wrote from Lagos.

20—Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 16, 2015

How Lagos, RB are using research to eliminate malaria

By Chioma Obinna

W

HEN 9 –month-old, Gboyega Adesina, woke up in the middle of the night with high fever and a feeling of nausea, his mother just assumed it was “normal” fever, gave him paracetamol syrup and went back to bed. Gboyega lives with his parents in one of the slums in Kosofe, a water-logged area of Lagos associated with consistent flooding. Life in the one – room apartment is best imagined. A study done in the area showed that malaria-carrying mosquitoes breed more there. Gboyega and his siblings are unprotected from mosquito bites. They have no mosquito nets and do not go to hospital. Few days later, Gboyega was no more. He was killed by “ordinary malaria.” He is now part of the statistics lit to the disease in the country everyday.

The high death rates resulting from malaria is because Nigerians do not consider it a serious disease. When Health & Living spoke to pharmacy operators in Lagos, they blamed it on poverty and ignorance and lack of evidence based research to show that most interventions are really effective. For Abiola, the economic situation of the country and high cost of treatment in the hospital has made many people to stay away from going to the hospital. He said some who come to buy drugs in the pharmacies prefer cheap drugs which may not have effect on their fever. On how to reduce mortality due to the disease, create awareness, evaluate interventions as well as educate Nigerians in the communities, the Nigerian Institute of Medical Research and Reckitt Benckiser and the Lagos State Ministry of Health, is focusing interventions in areas and on groups most hit by the disease. Recently, Reckitt Benckiser embarked on a community research in Kosofe area of Lagos

MALARIA ELIMINATION: Officials of the Lagos State Government, Reckitt Benckiser and members of Kosofe Community during an awareness programme.

State to assess the impact of integrated approach for malaria control in Lagos state.

The assessment will provide information on the impact of using integrated approach -LLINs, insecticide ‘Mortein aerosol’ and larval source management, LSM, for malaria control in Lagos.

The campaign in Kosofe LG was not only to educate the people but to have an evidence-based research that would show that intervention can go beyond just implementation

Malaria Reduction

The Head, Malaria Research Project, Nigeria Institute of Medical Research, Dr. Sam Awolola, said the research, tagged: “The Mortein Own A Community Campaign of RB in Kosofe Local Government was not only to educate the people but to have an evidenced- based research that would show that intervention can go beyond just implementing them.

“There should be clear evidence that the intervention is working. Evidence -based implementation cannot be proven without research. RB is supporting the research to provide evidence that intervention is working. No single intervention can eliminate or control malaria. We need the

Can pain be good for you?

L AST week my Editorial supervisor asked me if pain can be good.

How can pain be "good" except to a sadist? This is contradictory to its definition.."pain is an unpleasant sensation cause by actual tissue damage or described in those terms......"

Unpleasant...tissue damage - how can these things be good?

Having being sensitized to this topic, I overheard a conversation during the week. "So you are having sudden chest pain? Good for you. You better go to your doctor. It may be a warning sign to stop your smoking and boozing?"

A warning? Surely that's good?

Research has postulated what is called: the Peak-End rule - that our perceptions about an experience are determined by how it feels at its most intense, and how it feels at the end.

To illustrate this effect, imagine that one morning you visit the doctor for a routine check-up, and later that afternoon the doctor's office calls to inform you that you're in the advanced stages of cancer and have weeks to live.... Now imagine that the doctor's office calls back five minutes later and tells you that they mixed up your lab work with someone else's - you're actually in good health. You would not immediately go back to how you felt before the first phone call; rather, you would feel extreme relief, lasting for hours or even days. Note that it was not a reward (e.g., winning the lottery) that made you feel better, only the introduction and removal of something unpleasant.

New research suggests that the introduction and re-

Mimiko bags postgraduate college award

O

doctor@lagospainclinic.com moval of physical pain may have a similar effect like the emotional example described.

The well-known phrase, 'no pain, no gain' is more true than we ever thought.

Scientists are realising how pain keeps us alive, by setting off hidden healing processes when we suffer heart attacks, and preventing chronic diseases such as arthritis breaking out.

It used to be thought that pain always delays healing in patients, and therefore should be stopped with drugs whenever possible.

In the 19th century, many believed that pain was crucial to the healing process.

Many surgeons then thought pain was a medicine in its own right.

They believed it somehow warded off infections and death after surgery, so they refused to give patients anaesthesia. Instead, they left them screaming in agony as the surgeon's blade cut into them.

This may sound barbaric, but recent research supports their case.

To be continued next week

combination of all the interventions.”

“The study design will include a preintervention cross-sectional survey followed by semi-longitudinal assessment of vector control interventions using a combination of LLINs, Mortein aerosol and LSM. The community at Kosofe will be stratified and three “mosquito hot spots” identified. LLINs + LSM + use of Mortein will be established at each hot spot covering a total of 250 households in the three hot spots.”

On the choice of Kosofe, Awolola explained that it is a community that is contained and the objective of the Own – a Community Research” is to demonstrate the efficacy of the anti-malaria education campaign, amplify mortein as leader in the fight against malaria in Nigeria, demonstrate the possibility of absolute Malaria elimination, among others.

Marketing Director, Mortein,RB, Mr. Oguzhan Silivrili said under the assessment programme, advocacy and mobilisation will be carried out in collaboration with the Lagos State Malaria Control Programme and selected community members trained on application of LSM. He said this would improve use of insecticides. Subsequently, LLINs and Mortein will be distributed to cover the target population. Community members will be educated on the proper use of each of the vector control method.”

“A pro-forma will be generated for data collection for each village. Entomological assessment of the impact of the interventions will be carried out at 0, 2, 4, and 6 months following intervention.

Active malaria case detection will be carried out using rapid diagnostic test kits at preand post-intervention, 0 and 6 month respectively following intervention.” At the end, the efficacy of the intervention will be measured in terms of reduction in number of mosquitoes and malaria cases prior to and after intervention and reports will be submitted on or before December 15, 2015.

NDO state Governor, Dr Olusegun Mimiko will be decorated with an honorary fellowship award by the National Postgraduate Medical College of Nigeria at its convocation ceremony holding tomorrow, Thursday.

According to the College’s Registrar, Professor Wole Atoyebi, the Senate of the institution considered Dr Mimiko for the prestigious award in view of what was described as his “monumental achievement in the health sector over the last six years, adding that his nomination for the award was approved as part of the activities of the 32nd convocation ceremonies of the college this year.

The National Postgraduate Medical College of Nigeria was formally established in 1979. Its main function is to produce specialists in all branches of Medicine and Dentistry, determine postgraduate academic standards and also accredit medical institutions in Nigeria for professional postgraduate training of medical doctors and Dental Surgeons.

Mimiko had before now received several awards and commendations for good governance and his government’s initiatives in the health sector.

The World Bank Team on Performance-Based Financing, PBF, had during a visit to Dr Mimiko few weeks ago commended him for “running a unique and reform-oriented health system which is globally acknowledged and well accepted”.

The PBF, Dr. Oluwole Odutolu said “Our visit to some primary health care facilities across the state on the Performance Based Financing revealed that Ondo state is a reform oriented state that deserves World Bank collaboration to deepen its reforms”.

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 16, 2015

— 21

Power, key to prosperity in Nigeria — IFC T

HE World Bank has said that constant power supply will ensure overall prosperity and development for Nigeria.

Speaking at a roundtable in Abuja Mr Richard Arkutu, Head, Africa Special Initiatives of the International Finance Corporation (IFC), said electrification would benefit Nigerians immensely.

“Electrification will make an important contribution to sharing the benefits of growth broadly among all Nigerians.

“Nigeria’s progress in reducing extreme poverty is an important contributor to the three per cent global target for extreme poverty” he said.

According to him, increasing power production to the level of South Africa can boost Gross Development Product (GDP) growth by 1.5 per cent.

Arkutu said that Nigeria’s current power consumption was a quarter of South Africa’s consumption and about 50 per cent of consumption levels of comparable middle income countries.

He said that 30 to 40 per cent of manufacturers’ costs was power related; therefore,

an increase in power generation and distribution was important.

“There is a huge potential impact that an increase in regional gas supply could have on other regional economies, including Ghana” he noted.

Other speakers at the roundtable, however, said that the World Bank had a role to play in ensuring that power supply in Nigeria was increased and sustained.

Mr David Ladipo, CEO, Azura Power West Africa Limited, said the World Bank’s role in the power sector reforms in Nigeria was beyond providing the leverage and liquidity support for Independent Power Producers (IPPs).

“The World Bank is key in leveraging investment in the transmission company and providing support in the gas sector.

“Right now it is quite critical for the World Bank to provide additional liquidity support for the government as it tries to deal with how to solve the liquidity gap at the distribution level,” he said.

He also said that the capacity of World Bank was cur-

VISIT: From Left; Mr. Gbenga Adefaye, General Manager, Editor-in-Chief, Vanguard Newspapers Limited; Mr. Haruna Baba Jauro, Acting Director -General/ Chief Executive Officer, Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, NIMASA and Hajia Lami Tumaka, Head of Public Relations, NIMASA, during the courtesy visit by Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, NIMASA, to Vanguard Newspaper s head office, in Lagos.

PHOTO: Kehinde Gbadamosi. rently greatly under utilized.

This, he said, was because the government itself was not yet in the position to draw on the World Bank’s help.

Growth in GDP, others attract foreign investors to Nigeria v —Kroll

By Princewill Ekwujuru & Michael Odoh

to have attracted the attention of international investors, says Kroll, World’s risk consulting firm.

HE rebased Gross Do Kroll’s Senior Consultant, Rt mestic Product , GDP, which Hon Mark Simmonds, disclosed positioned Nigeria as tops in Afthis to Newsmen at a media briefrica, and the growing middle ing announcing the entrant of the class comprising 73.4 million firm into Nigeria, in Lagos, where vibrant entrepreneurial workforce he said that growing consumer are some of the reasons adduced markets and a vibrant workforce are attracting investors in high degree.

1.55 The Senior Con114.90 sultant who also gave reasons why in$3,277.00 29.00 vestors have seen Nigeria as a growing $11.25 -0.25 global market said the recent successful and peaceful transfer of $46.55 0.18 power to the new democratically 44.50 0.50 elected government is another important CURRENCY BUYING CENTRAL factor that has DOLLAR 196 196.5 197 strengthened invesPOUNDS 301.9968 302.7672 303.5376 tors’ confidence in EURO 221.9308 222.497 223.0631 the maturity and dyFRANC 201.9369 202.4521 202.9672 namism of Nigeria’s YEN 1.628 1.6322 1.6363 CFA 0.3175 0.3275 0.3375 economy.

WAUA 275.2969 275.9992 276.7015 Simmonds who RENMINBI 30.7712 30.8502 30.9291 agreed that the counRIYAL 52.2458 52.378 52.5123 try also has its own SDR 276.4972 277.2026 277.9079 unique challenges, KRONA 29.7389 29.8147 29.8906 said a weakened CBN Exchange Rate as at 15/ 09 /15 currency and a low oil

T

C M Y K

price are affecting government revenues, which means investors remain cautious.

These and other factors present local and international investors with a complex set of challenges and opportunities that require expert guidance to surmount, he stated.

Simmonds who highlighted the depth of knowledge and experience of Kroll in Africa pointed out that there is a growing demand for specialized consultancy projects for Nigerian clients in private and government sectors, as well as investment advisory support.

A weakened currency and a low oil price are affecting government revenues, which means investors remain cautious

“It is trying to get there but it is not there yet. So there needs to be a lot of dialogue between the key policy makers in the government and the World Bank to tap all these un-utilised facilities that World Bank currently has.”

Mr Rumundaka Wonodi,

CEO, Nigeria Bulk Electricity Trading Company PLC, commended the World Bank for the impact it made in the privatisation of the power sector. He, however, said there was a lot of bureaucracy in the process of accessing the World Bank’s facilities.

PTDF unveils facility for production of petroleum refining substance

By Michael Eboh

P

ETROLEUM Technology Development Fund, PTDF, has unveiled a pilot plant for the production of Zeolite catalyst, an important chemical substance for petroleum refining and for a variety of applications in the petrochemical industry.

The PTDF, in a statement in Abuja, stated that its Executive Secretary, Mr. Femi Ajayi commissioned the plant located in the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, shortly after the close-out and end of tenure lecture by the PTDF chair occupant, Professor A.S Ahmed, who discovered the novel technology.

According to the PTDF, the major raw material used in the development of the product is the Kankara clay, obtained from Kankara local government area of Katsina state.

Ajayi, who was represented by the General Manager, Nigerian Content Department, PTDF, Ms Jacquelin Guyil, stated that in recognition of this breakthrough, the PTDF had filed for and obtained the in-

tellectual property right and patent on Zeolite Y catalyst, while the IPR/P on Zeolite ZSM-5 is being processed by the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment.

He further stated that the PTDF had commenced the process of developing an acceptable and implementable template on the research commercialisation with a view to reaping dual benefits of achieving its mandate and opening a window for additional source of revenue.

He said, “Further to this sound success, our humble expectation is that oil and gas operators will buy-in and collaborate with PTDF in a bid to effectively standardize this noble research product for national use by the existing four refineries.

“In line with the vision of the present administration of President Muhammadu Buhari, PTDF will continue to fund and support the production of locally synthesized Zeolite for both national and international use.

22 — Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 16, 2015

NSE index, capitalisation drops marginally by 0.19%

By Peter Egwuatu

T

RADING activities at the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) yesterday closed on negative note as market indicators, All Share Index and capitalisation dropped marginally by 0.19 per cent.Specifically, the AllShare Index declined by 58.2 basis points or 0.19 per cent to close at 30, 311.77 against 30,369.97 recorded on Monday.

The market capitalisation, which opened with N10.437 trillion, lost N20 billion or 0.19 per cent to close at N10.417 trillion due to price losses by

some blue chip equities.

Guinness led the losers’ chart with a loss of N5.32 to close at N162.45 per share. PZ Cussons came second with N1.34 to close at N26.65, while Forte Oil lost N1.11 to close at N227.79 per share.

Stanbic IBTC dipped by 79k to close at N22.11, while GTBank dropped 60k to close at N23.50 per share. Conversely, Unilever topped the gainers’ chart, gaining N1.80 to close at N45.80 per share.

Cadbury garnered N1.02 to close at N99, while Lafarge Wapco rose by N1 to close at N22.93 per share.

Flour Mills increased by 60k

to close at N22.60, while Caverton improved by 29k to close at N3.37 per share.Afrinsure emerged investors’ delight, accounting for 200 million shares worth N100 million in three deals.

Access Bank exchanged 22.09 million shares valued at N112.02 million in 267 deals, while ETI sold 20.07 million shares worth N380.39 million in 69 deals.

In all, a total of 413.88 million shares worth N2.36 billion were traded by investors in 4,331 deals.This was against 254.70 million shares valued at N3.84 billion traded in 3,798 deals on Monday.

L-R;Disha Argawal,Brand Manager Power oil;Winners of Power Oil Dance,Miss Khadijah Sanni and Adediran Kayode.At the power oil Walk-heart-on held at National stadium Surulere lagos .PHOTO;AKEEM SALAU

Union Bank emerges best in SMEs Award

U

NION Bank Plc has been adjudged the ‘best bank to support Small, Medium Scale Enterprises (SMEs)’ in the country. The award was presented to the bank during the annual banking award organised by Business Day Newspapers in Lagos.

Speaking after receiving the award, the Head of Retail Segment , SME, Mr. Rabiu Tata said this award is a clear indication that the bank’s transformation they have been working hard at for the last two years is yielding positive results and the bank is on the right path.

“Our goal is to build a simpler, smarter bank, focused on delivering value by providing quality financial solutions to its customers in retail, commercial and corporate banking segments across all industries” he said.

He further explained that the Union Bank has been an avid supporter of small businesses throughout its history and this award shows that the bank would continue to do so. Small and Medium Enterprises are the engine of any economy and when they succeed, we succeed and Nigeria succeeds as a whole.

Support and loyalty Speaking also on the award, the bank’s Head of Corporate Affairs & Communication Ms. Ogochukwu Ekezie-Ekaidem commended all stakeholders for their support and loyalty.

“This SME award is another signal that the Bank’s transformation is on the right course.

One of our critical focus areas as a Bank is to significantly

improve our customer experience at all touch points, and our product and service offerings is one of the first phase of improvements and this has clearly yielded the desired results with the bagging of the SME award. As we have done with our product and service offerings, Union Bank will continue to work to provide quality banking services and improved customer experience to all our customers and stakeholders across all our touch points,” she concluded.

Union Bank has always been a proud supporter of SME’s. In 2014, the bank was given the CBN’s Best-Support Bank on ACGSF (Agricultural Credit Guarantee Scheme for Farmers) award for the 8th consecutive year.

Change and its consequences (3)

N

IGERIA took an International Monetary Fund, IMF, loan in 1986 and with the loan there was a structural adjustment programme for the economy. The loan was to enable us meet our foreign currency obligations while with the structural adjustment programme we were to expand our non-oil exports such that our earnings from crude oil sales plus our improved non-oil exports would be more than adequate for our foreign currency requirements.

In July 1986, the government through the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, introduced the Second-tier Foreign Exchange Market, SFEM, for the management of the exchange rate of the naira to the United States dollar. SFEM was such that anyone with appropriate documentation would submit a bid for foreign currency to the CBN through his/her commercial bank. However, there has always been in existence a parallel foreign exchange market which has not required any documentation and which had nothing to do with the CBN. In 1985 before the commencement of SFEM, the exchange rate was N0.89 to US$1.00. At the start of SFEM in 1986, the exchange rate was N2.02 to US$1.00 while the parallel market rate was N4.17 to US$1.00. The government policy projection was that the SFEM rate and the parallel market rate would converge to a value between N2.02 and N4.17, after which there would be one rate applicable to both markets. At various times, the CBN introduced different procedures for the sale of foreign currency on the official market under such names as au-

One of the significant factors affecting government finances and the availability of foreign currency is that government spends a lot of money on interest payments on domestic borrowings which should not be the case

tonomous foreign exchange market, Dutch auction system, etc but the amount of naira one exchanges for one US dollar has always been on the increase. The official market rate is currently about N200 to US$1.00 and we can conclude that we have not at any time had enough foreign currency to meet our requirements and we must ask what we can do to remedy the situation.

There have been various pressures from within the banking system leading to the increase in the amount of naira one pays for one US dollar. When SFEM was introduced, if one wanted to purchase, say, US$100,000 at a rate of N4.80, one would pay N480,000 to the commercial bank and the bank would submit the bid to the CBN.

Higher figure The CBN at the close of bidding may indicate that all bids from N4.60 and above have been accepted. However, the bank may now stipulate that only $50,000 would be available to the successful bidder and that the bidder would have to purchase the remaining $50,000 at a higher rate. Some persons rejected this arrangement and would accept US$50,000 at N4.80 to US$1.00 and then submit another bid the following week at a higher figure, say N4.90 and thus the upward movement of bid rates.

There are other examples in recent times in which funds are moved from the official market to the parallel market and then back to the official market.

One of the significant factors affecting government finances and the availability of foreign currency is that government spends a lot of money on interest payments on domestic borrowings which should not be the case. Government accounts for ministries, departments and agencies were at one time domiciled with the CBN. After these accounts were moved to the commercial banks, we now have a situation in which monthly allocations to the 3 tiers of government are paid from the Federation Account by the CBN to the accounts of various governments in the banks.

Subsequently, the CBN borrows some of these amounts from the banks with substantial interest payments. We should return to the practice of having government accounts domiciled at the CBN. We should not continue to use public funds to further impoverish the people.

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 16, 2015 — 23

24—VANGUARD, WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 16, 2015

DIARY Advanced Information Communication Technology Application Workshop for Secretaries and Personal Assistants ICT009.

Date: September 21 – 25, 2015.

Venue: CMD Zonal Office, Bodija, Ibadan.

Oyo State, Nigeria.

Gartner Symposium/ITxpo 2015 Cape Town, South Africa November 8-12, 2015

Despite Nigeria’s inability to migrate to digital forms of broadcasting on the International Telecommunications Union, ITU deadline June 17, 2015, TV lovers in the country should not be denied the innovations digital broadcasting can bring about. After all there are so many digital broadcast services still available for viewers in the sector.

This is the view of the Managing Director Research &Product development at StarTimes, Dr Jiangtao Wen In fact, to Wen, innovation should be able to rebrand old ways of consuming content and put an end to ugly STBs and TVs you want to hide inside a cabinet!

Hear him on so many issues around general digital broadcasting

Digital innovation

•Dr Wen

Preview DRONE IN AGRICULTURAL SYSTEMS

Nigerians can watch soccer on mobile phones without consuming much data – Dr Wen

By Prince Osuagwu

Beyond the control of pesticides, drones have entered civilian life through police surveillance. Commercial farmers are increasingly looking into innovative ways that these E- agricultural equipment can be used for agricultural purposes, particularly for early signs of disease detection and aerial imaging of fields for farmers, aside application of pesticides alone.

C M Y K

I

NNOVATION: Innovation is non-negotiable in the technology sector, particularly in Digital broadcast Television sector where we major. That is why StarTimes created this department and attach very serious importance to it.

I have been managing StarTimes R& D for two and a half years now.

We are responsible for the research, technology development, product development and the patent process, in other words, the entire R&D and product development life cycle.

It is a unique opportunity for StarTimes to integrate an end-toend solution from content production to the network to the terminal to really fully optimize the user experience, and to provide to the end users the best programme over the most cost effective network presented on the most beautiful terminal product.

StarTimes technology driving force Our innovation is actually,

strongly driven by the end user.

After all, we serve consumers, not enterprises. We work very hard to

Generally, the digital Television landscape has totally changed for good; things are generally looking up, pointing at the direction R&D, is taking the technology industry to

I N S I D E

understand how users would like to consume the content where and when as well as the content itself.

We want to make sure that we have the most cost effective way of delivering high quality content over any networks, satellite or terrestrial broadcast networks, or the Internet to present the content to the end user in suchquality that is worthy of our customers’ trust in us, as well as the content providers’ trust in us.

Innovative product developments: Generally, the digital television landscape has totally changed for good. Things are generally looking up, pointing at the direction R&D, is taking the

NCC seeks collective action against counterfeiting PAGE 25

technology industry to.

On our part, although the StarTimes R&D is relatively new, but we have of course come a very long way since our inception in 2013. We have completely revamped our user interface design, and industrial design. Our new PVRs and decoders are just beautiful products. As a digital TV provider, we also care a lot about video processing and video compression technologies. In both areas we have worked with our partners and are leading the cutting edge in the world. Our router products make it possible to

Continues on page 27

NCS to FG: Appoint seasoned IT professional to head CT ministry PAGE 25

VANGUARD, WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 16, 2015—25

NCC seeks collective action against counterfeiting

Robust IT solutions to protect, cover assets

By Emmanuel Elebeke

T

HE Nigeria Communication Commission (NCC) has raised an alarm on the increasing penetration of counterfeit and substandard ICT devices in the country.

The Acting Executive Vice Chairman of the Commission, Prof. Umar Danbatta made the observation in Abuja, at a stakeholders meeting on combating counterfeit and substandard ICT products in the country.

He said counterfeiting has become a growing concern that is affecting a wide range of products with negative consequences on the economy.

According to him, mobile phones are usually targeted with about 250 million counterfeits sold annually in the ICT sector.

This number, he said constitutes about 15 per cent to 20 per cent of the global mobile phone market. Apart from the obvious negative economic impact of this ugly trend on the manufacturers of genuine products, Prof. Danbatta said government and authorized dealers lose revenue, copyright,

By Richard Udofia

C

•Counterfeit products and trademark infringement. Yet, he sees it as breeding unfair competition, loss of tax, cost of compliance with applicable national legislation, national security and loss of employment opportunities.

He said the menace also poses more danger to the health and safety of consumers and at the same time breaching the privacy of consumers. “For us, we are very concerned with the negative effects on communication network operations as it concerns degrading quality of service.

“We are invited to focus our attention on the following salient issues which brought home from participants at the ITU Study

Group 11 meeting and workshop on anti-counterfeiting at the ITU.” He called for adoption of changes in legal and regulatory frameworks so as to restrict the activation of counterfeit devices on telecommunications networks and restriction on the importation of mobile devices and accessories that are not compliant to industry standards or approved with a country’s legislative and regulatory framework.

He also called the establishment of necessary global industry and authority alliances and solutions for validation of original products by authorities, consumers and sales channels.

HIEF Executive Officer of Risk Control Services, RCS, Mr. Olufemi Ajayi has promised that his company would provide more IT solutions to protect and cover customer assets.

He made this statement as the company attains ISO 9001:2008 Certification recently. He however noted that with IT networking and electronic security becoming increasingly interwoven, there is need to have a working knowledge of the two areas in order to perform very well in anyone of the two.

Ajayi said that the company having being certified, is charged to provide more solutions to

NCS to FG: Appoint seasoned IT professional to head CT ministry

By Emeka Aginam O maximize and deepen the benefits of electronic governance and digital transformation in Nigeria, the President of the Nigerian Computer Society, NCS, Prof Adesola Aderounmu has urged the Federal Government of Nigeria to consider the appointment of seasoned IT professionals to head the Ministry of Communication Technology and other IT agencies in the country.

Aderounmu who stated this in Abuja during a courtesy visit to Secretary to the Government of

T

the Federation (SGF), the Engr.

Babachir David Lawal, said that the CT ministry, with other IT agencies in Nigeria, if well managed, can resolve Nigeria job crises and further create wealth for the nation similar to the IT revolution going on in India.

While urging the government to give priority to the use of registered local IT professionals and registered local IT companies to execute IT jobs, the university don said that was need to appoint seasoned IT professionals on the boards of ministries, departments and agencies.

Pre-qualification requirements for IT projects According to him, the government should as a matter of urgency direct the Bureau of Public Procurement , BPP , to amend the pre-qualification requirements for IT projects to include evidence of registration with Computer Professionals Registration Council of Nigeria, CPN, and the Nige-

From left: Chris Uwaje, immediate past President of Institute of Software Practitioners of Nigeria (ISPON) in discussion with Alla El Kashen , Vice president of ECCO Outsourcing (BPO) Hub of Egypt at the just concluded ICT conference 2015 organised by the Johannesburg Software Engineering Centre/ Aficta at the Protea Hotel Joburg , South Africa.

rian Computer Society, NCS, in addition to the newly introduced pre-qualification requirements such as evidence of registration with, National Pension Commission, PENCOM, and evidence of remittance of fund to Industrial Training Fund, ITF. IT professionals in MDAs For a digital Nigeria, he said that the present administration should mandate MDAs to appoint IT professionals as directors of IT, as well as direct all MDAs to establish IT career structure if not yet in place.

To avoid quackery in the IT profession, , he advised the government to implement the use of CPN registration as a condition to employ IT professional staff in MDAs to level 10 as approved and gazetted by the Federal Government of Nigeria, adding that the government should also mandate NCS in collaboration with NITDA to supervise all IT projects to be implemented in Nigeria.

security management, providing certification programmes, carry out forensic and counterfeiting services among others.

He said that with the trend of increasing security challenges in virtually all sectors of the economy, the company is up to the task of meeting the multiple cutting edge skills in IT and technical surveillance systems to check and track all forms of security threat.

Security threat “Many companies and organizations today complain of lack of adequate recovery mechanism by risk firm to recover lost assets undertaken through emeans, but I want to assure our customers that solutions are in place to provide security on assets even through IT solution and electronic means,” Ajayi claimed.

He said that with the introduction and intervention of IT networking , the company will be able to categorise, design, implement, install and perform maintenance of network and electronic security systems in order to protect corporate information assets including legal, regulatory and governance issues.

How technology drives competitive advantage for SMEs in Nigeria

By Maximillian Anosike

V

ODACOM Business Nigeria has said that technology can help small and medium enterprises adapt to market changes, increase productivity, and improve competitive advantage.

Sharing insights on this possibility recently at the NigeriaCom 2015, CIO Forum, Vodacom’s Executive Head of products and services, Wale Odeyemi, said that one of the most important benefits of unified communications for SMEs is that customers can access the network from multiple

devices at the same time.

This makes it easy to manage contacts, send and receive voice over internet protocol (VoIP) calls and carry out multiple communications at the same time, which enables video conferencing to take place on a laptop while a voice call takes place on a worker’s mobile phone.

Business employees Odeyemi revealed that 75% of small business employees say that flexible working has made them more productive.

According to Odeyemi, productivity gains are one of

the many reasons for SMEs to take advantage of unified communications. Other gains include cost reduction, increased customer service and improved competitive advantage.

He explained that from instant messaging features to using the internet for voice calls unified communications improves profit margins by boosting overall operational efficiency; this is especially true for businesses that have mobile employees.

26— Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 16,

2015

VANGUARD, WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 16, 2015—27

Nigeria still big Market for cloud computing —Opeke •As MainOne partners Microsoft on cloud computing

By Richard Udofia

C

HIEF Executive Officer o f MainOne Technologies, Ms. Funke Opeke said that with the current 6.8 to 10 percent broadband penetration in Nigeria, the economy still remains a huge market for cloud computing.

This was her summation to the chances of cloud computing service providers in playing in the Nigerian IC T market. Her statement was particularly significant on the day her company’s data center subsidiary, partnered MDX-i, in launching a new cloud computing based prepaid solution.

She said the solution is built on Microsoft Azure’s enterprise grade infrastructure which provides flexible, highly available and fully secure private computing environments to companies on a Pay-asyou-Go basis.

The CEO said that with the combination of expertise in different data sourcing, in technologies and geographic specialization, MDX-i

cloud services delivers a solution tailored to meet the needs of enterprise customers in West Africa.

She claimed that the partnership came at the right time, considering that, IT MD, Rack Centre, Ayotunde Coker, DG, NITDA, Peter Jack, organizations R-L, NITDA Gov Board Member, Engineer Wilson Agu and MD/CEO a n d for IXPN, Muhammed Rudman, at a visit to Rack Centre multinational data outfits, at the moment, Tier III Data Center. are faced with the problem subscription basis.

On data security, she This ensures quick and of dealing with big data in agile provisioning of relation to how these data assured customers of data infrastructure for can add value to security if their data is analysed on the company’s businesses and individuals. government agencies as Opeke said that the platform because it has met required, thus improving company is out to ensure all the international their time to deliver oncloud services on data conditions for floating data demand applications and utilization, promote e- outfit.

“The new solution is the services”, she added. service, render data Managing Director of sourcing and analysis first Cloud service MDX-i is launching in Microsoft, Mr. Kabelo among others.

Makwane said that the Benefits of the partnership with us. It is company is building a Infrastructure as a Service powered by Microsoft, the global cloud data outfit that (IAAS) solution include leading global provider of is effective, consumer and access to a wide range of Cloud Services. MDX-i is data friendly, improved computing resources, such positioned to meet the quality of output among as storage, CPU, memory, computing infrastructural others and capable of security firewalls and needs of companies hosting numerous data network bandwidth, deploying private, public from every sector of the provisioned on a or hybrid clouds from our economy.

Nigerians can watch soccer on mobile phones...

Continues from page 24 monitor and manage your content consumption in the household. I think you can see a trend here, for the first time in our history, one can see something beautiful in this industry, not the ugly STBs and TVs you want to hide inside a cabinet!

Applications: We developed the Tenbre app.

It’s a one-stop shop for you as an end-user to renew your subscription, to recharge your smart cards, to schedule your watching times, to video trailers and promotional videos, to watch live Bundesliga

games for free, and to share your feedbacks and experiences in chat rooms with the StarTimes family.

There’s also the Projector TV, designed for entertainment and TV lovers who love extra large sharp screens. The projector TV enables you to have your cinema in your home and it projects about 70 inches screen size with a sharp clear definition image. With it, you do not require a decoder or a TV; the device has everything in built, DTT, DTH, External device options among other things.

In addition to projector TV,

there is also an entire family of terminal products.

They share many attributes; they are all very beautifully designed.

The user interface design is beautiful and easy to use. We have multiple hardware products, including new decoders, PVRs, LCD and integrated TVs, our smart phones and tablets. All these were designed for the user to enjoy our content anywhere, anyway, e.g. via satellite, terrestrial broadcast, or the internet.

We are also introducing our Tenbre router product, which is again a great looking product. Not only is

it a great Wifi router in terms of both performance and price. It can also be used to deliver TV signal via inhouse Wifi to any phone or tablet screen in the household, so you can now watch TV anywhere in the house.

Competition: Competition is always welcome because it is part of life. Everybody is struggling to be at the top of the market but innovation is what makes the difference.

For instance, we are using our video encoder, to encode soccer games to 200 kbps which is available almost everywhere in the world.

Renux partners PeopleLink for low bandwidth, telepresence in Nigeria

By Favour Anthony

R

ENUX Media, an integrated service and communication solution company has entered into strategic partnership to bring Peoplelink, low bandwidth unified communication and telepresence to Nigeria.

Renux Media Outfit is operated by the finest minds from the Media, Public Relations, Marketing Communication and I n f o r m a t i o n

Communication Technology.

Renux provides robust end to end solutions to clients spanning across different industries as well as government and nong o v e r n m e n t organisations.

According to External Communication Manager, Renux Media, Mr. Caleb Achu, the Peoplelink VC solution is integrated with image capture and compression technology, which enables

it to deliver utmost picture quality at any capture resolution. For video encoding, transmission and decoding, Peoplelink solution makes use of H.264 VBR/CBR encryption protocols for video and G.273, G.711 and GIPS as audio compression algorithms, which ensure a stable audio video clarity under all network bandwidth conditions. The solution is most capable of achieving 1080p resolutions at the most

optimal bandwidths.

He claimed that Peoplelink Solution has come to unlock various doors of collaborative possibilities for SMEs, Institutions of Learning, Religious Organisation, Health and Manufacturing Sectors, Government and its agencies, Nong o v e r n m e n t Organisations. Peoplelink is an ideal gateway into experiencing a ”Smart City” Concept for Nigeria and Africa at large.

28 — Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 16, 2015

AFRICA GAMES:

Adesokan wins Powerlifting Gold, sets World record

N

igerian powerlifter, Yakubu Adesokan yesterday afternoon won a 2015 All Africa Games gold medal as the powerlifting event started at the D’Ornanou, here in Brazzaville..

Competing in the 49kg

category, Adesokan lifted 182.5kg to take home the gold medal, leaving his Algerian counterpart with the silver medal. Adesokan’s 182.5kg lift is also a new world and African record.

“I’m excited, I can’t thank God enough for this,” a happy Adesokan said after his glorious moment.

Meanwhile, organisers of the on-going 11th All Africa Games have put to a stop ticket sales at various centres of the events. Instead, they have asked that gates be thrown open to allow people free access to the games. This is coming in the wake of days after tickets were put on sale at CFA1000.

Nigeria among top 4 in Africa N

igeria is currently placing fourth on the medals table of the ongoing 11th African Games holding in Brazzaville, Congo.

Team Nigeria now has a total of 63 medals as at Sept. 14, made up of,17 gold, 25 silver and 21 bronze medals.

However, the team won two gold medals on Monday, in men’s triple jump and 100 metres in T11 women’s para-athletics.

The country would be expected to win more medals from parapowerlifting events that commended on Tuesday.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Team Nigeria is banking on 11 gold in para-powerlifting events, in order to shore up its medals prospects at the Games.

Meanwhile, Egypt is still maintaining the lead in to the top position and followed by South Africa in the second and Algeria in the third.

•Adesokan

Debuting table tennis players express divergent views C

•Olumide

•Tosin Oke C M Y K

ontinental junior table tennis players debuting at the ongoing 11th African Games in Brazzaville on Tuesday expressed divergent views on their first appearance in the Games.

The new entrants include, Rashidat Ogundele from Nigeria and others from Angola, Uganda, Libya and Algeria.

Nigeria’s Ogundele told NAN that attending the Games for the first time had thrown a lot of challenges to her. “I think it is a challenge to me that I must work hard in order to win a medal in my debut.

“Having attended the Commonwealth Games for the first time in 2004, I am believing that my debut at the current African Games will be a memorable one,” Ogundele said.

The 17-year-old Angolan duo

of Ruth Tavares and Isabel Albino showed a lot of promises in their matches with their enterprising style of play.

Even the hairstyle that the young lads wore, singled them out of the crowd.

The duo won bronze medals in the doubles event at the African Junior Championship held in Mauritius in 2015.

Alvares said she felt great playing among the top players in the continent, because most of the top players were highly experienced.

“Unlike us that have no experience in major competitions, we will continue to give out our best, hoping for the best in Brazzaville.

“We will not be afraid to play against any player in the

Ben Efe reporting Games,’’ Alvares said.

Peter Muturi, 18-year-old Kenyan, said attending the Games for the first time rekindled the zeal in me to continue to work hard. “I never expected what I am seeing in Brazzaville because I thought I could make a headway among the senior players.

“But what I have seen from the quality of play has shown me that I must work hard and train well. I still need to spend more time in training”.

The Kenyan teenager, however, openly expressed his admiration for the African number one seed, Omar Assar

of Egypt, describing Assar as the best player in the continent due to his quality of play.

Muturi added that he was also still excited at the quality possessed by Segun Toriola of Nigeria, in spite his age. “I am surprised that Toriola is still playing well because I have been hearing about him when I was much younger.

“Seeing him in this competition has shown that he still has a lot to offer. He is a very friendly athlete and I love his attitude, on and off the table,” he said, — NAN

•Ogundele

Eulogies as APGA buries Zik’s son

VOL. 1 NO 43

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 16, 2015

•Obi of Onitsha, S-E govs, others boycott ceremony -Page 8

•Protesting widows at the site of the demolished building

Widow battles Catholic Church over plot of land

By Enyim Enyim

O

N I T S H A - I N Anambra State, there are incessant reports of encroachment on lands owned by communities, families or business institutions by Christian churches mainly for the sole interest of expanding their evangelical outreach. A widow became the prime recipient of sour grapes from the Catholic denomination, St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church, Awka. The church took over the land belonging to Princess Tina Aronu at Agu-Awka.

Princess Aronu, whose husband died shortly after the family acquired the plot of land meant for a business school, Decency Institute of Fashion, offering Designing, Hair Dressing and Cosmetology.

The widow cried for help when the Catholic church started trespassing on her land.

The problem started when the Parish Council of St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church decided to extend some structures beyond the existing expansive compound of the main church C M Y K

and it was the land of Princess Aronu that gave the required space.

She was approached through some land speculators for her to sell part of the land to the church at a very cheap price, but she refused.

Still in the course of negotiating with the widow, the Parish Council of the church felt it would be reasonable to first enquire from the state Ministry of Lands, Survey and Town Planning and ascertain whether the land in question was encumbered.

Land revocation Surprisingly, in the search made, it was discovered that the land had been revoked by the state government under Mr. Peter Obi’s administration in 2012. At this point, the church authority started a fresh deal with the ministry of lands by trying to have a renewed allocation contract of that particular plot of land.

At the end, the church eventually secured the allocation and was allegedly warned by

the Ministry of Lands to start the development of the area, otherwise they would suffer the same fate like the former occupant of the land. This action, that could be interpreted as double crossing by the church, became a poisoned chalice for

The problem started when the Parish Council of St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church decided to extend some structures beyond the existing expansive compound of the main church and it was the land of Princess Aronu that could give the required space

Princess Aronu. She felt that her initial engagement with the officials of the Parish council was a deliberate ploy to hoodwink her by being privy to her land documents.

However, Princess Aronu acquired the plot of land, of about 1.669 hectares in September 1992 during the administration of former governor of the state, Dr. Chukwuemeka Ezeife and it is located at a choice area called Business District in Awka, Anambra State capital.

She had already erected two gigantic structures in 1993 when she procured the Certificate of Occupancy and Allocation paper in accordance with plans approved by the Awka South Planning Authority.

It would be recalled that when the church approached her to sell part of the vast land to them, she refused because she was having problems with Awka indigenes over the compensation for the land. It was in 2012, when the indigenes of Umuoramma clan from Ukanma village, Awka dragged her to Awka High Court claiming

that the plot belonged to them because the state government was unable to offset the compensation fee required. At this juncture, it was gathered that they demanded N10million, but Princess Aronu could only afford N5million which they rejected.

In 2013, the presiding Judge, Justice Chinwe Emembolu was said to have granted them an interlocutory injunction in suit number A/214/12 and A/247/12, restraining parties from entering the land. Since then, the building of those structures stopped and the church came up with their plea. A source from the state Ministry of Lands told Vanguard that the land was revoked because Princess Aronu violated the terms of allocation. The three reasons given were that they discovered that Princess Aronu divided the land and was purported to have sold a part.

Second,that she did not pay the ground rent and that she also did not effect the development as required by the terms, and so they revoked it. But Princess Aronu refuted the statement, saying that she perfected all the necessary requirements needed in consonance to the allocation terms provided.

In spite of this, the source further said that the church capitalized on that opportunity to strike a deal with the ministry in order to have the allocation. The church went ahead to fence the place without letting Aronu know that her land had been transferred to them despite the negotiation that was in progress at the time between the two parties.

Ongoing fencing And when she discovered that there was ongoing fencing of the plot, she was alleged to have masterminded the action that took place by pulling down of the entire wall over night. To worsen the situation, on June 26, 2015, around 9a.m., the church went on revenge mission on the site with a bulldozer and demolished one of the existing structures erected by the widow.

According to Princess Aronu: “On that day, they were bulldozing one of the buildings and I rushed there and it was real. “I saw one man in a bulldozer, busy pulling down the entire structure, I then reported the matter to the police and that man was arrested. The Police Officer Continues on page 2

2 — Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 16, 2015 •One of the existing structures at the same site of the demolished building

Widow battles Catholic Church over plot of land

•Rev Fr Obiora Continues from page 1 asked the man who contracted him to do the work; he said it was the Catholic Church and that he came down from Onitsha where he is working with P.N. Emerah Company. ” This generated a sort of protest by some widows, who visited the scene and were cursing whomever that masterminded the act against their fellow widow. Be that as it may, a source who is a member of the Parish Council of the church told a national daily that the church discovered from the Ministry of Lands that Princess Aronu allegedly sold part of the land to one construction company at the sum of N80 million without obtaining the permission of the state governor.

In a swift reaction, Princess Aronu said that such allegation was a mere figment of their imagination. She challenged that if any person or group of persons that framed up such a story has any evidence to prove it, let the person come up and prove it but for her, she maintained that the entire land still remained her legal property and nobody would deny her of it.

Legal adviser But the legal adviser to the diocese on land matters, Rev. Fr. Edwin Obiora also narrated that the crux of the matter started in 2014, when the church discovered that the land was being used by some criminals who used the place as a hide-out for criminal activities.

According to him, those criminals usually dispossessed worshippers of their personal effects and prevented them from normally attending early morning mass. As a result of

•Princess Tina Aronu this, the church decided to develop an outstation and made some enquires for the acquiring of the land. In this process, the Ministry of Lands told them that the land had been revoked due to that Princess Aronu's allegedly violating the terms of allocation. The church requested for an evidence of the revocation of the land from the ministry and they were shown the revocation document which indicated that the land was revoked on December 18, 2012 and assented by the former governor, Mr. Peter Obi.

Revocation paper Meanwhile, about 210 lands were revoked within that period and plot S/11 is the number 59th in the revocation paper.

“The new structure at the site was newly built by the widow in order to authenticate the principles of the agreement she violated.

"Shortly after we got possession of the land, we discovered a certain man started developing the land immediately in the month of March, 2014 and within three months, he completed the building,” he stated.

Obiora continued stressing that the land was allocated to the church in May 28, 2014 by the present Commissioner of Lands, Stella Onuorah and was given 18 months to develop it.

“The Building Covenant with the church is that to complete the development of the structures to the minimum of N50 million fit for occupation and use and apply for and obtain Certificate of Occupancy within 18 months from date of the letter of allocation. Failure will lead to the cancellation of the allocation letter.” he stated.

To this extent, Obiora denied having any previous negotia-

•Demolished building by Thomas Aquinas .Catholic Church at Agu awka tion with Princess Aronu and said that if there was any person talking about the negotiation without their consent, that person should be on his own.

Contrary to this denial, a source in the Parish Council confirmed to Vanguard that Princess

The legal adviser to the diocese on land matters, Rev. Fr. Edwin Obiora also narrated that the crux of the matter started in 2014, when the church discovered that the land was being used by some criminals who usually dispossessed worshippers of their personal effects and prevented them from normally attending early morning mass

Aronu was promised to be compensated with a reasonable amount of money despite the way things changed, citing that it was initially agreed to buy the land before to the sale issue of searching for any encumbrance of the land.

Nevertheless, Okoli Akirika, the then Commissioner for Lands, on whose authority the lands were revoked, told Vanguard why he took the action during his administration in 2012. He said that there was general and massive revocation of lands in the state because every per cent of those allocations were either nonperforming or not developed.

Electronic media According to Akirika: “I found out that many estates and plots were not developed, so I issued the requisite notices and gave days, weeks and months of grace and made public in print and electronic media.

Many people responded by paying the fees and when the notice expired, I had no other option except to do what the law permitted me to do, to revoke non-performing and undeveloped plots and those affected were Agu-Awka, Abuja district, O d e r a , I k e n g a extension,Iyiagu and Abakpa estates in Anambra State.

“So, any person, who is affected should find out the reason that estate or plot was revoked because when I was still

in office, some of them came back, picked up applications and we considered some of the applications on their merits.

“Some of them said they were having problems by being disturbed by original owners, who claimed they have not been compensated.

“I am aware that 80 per cent of those, who applied were successful when we found out that the villagers could not allow them to move in and develop.

We talked to the villagers and they allowed them.

“Essentially, rights of allocations are gotten not on purchase. Nobody buys government lands. They were allocated lands and those allocations were predicated on certain radical and fundamental terms.

Allocation authority So, an allotee of land who fails to keep his or her own part of agreement has made the contract breachable or voidable at the instance of the allocation authority.”

Princess Aronu appealed to the state government, Governor Willie Obiano, Bishops of Catholic churches and other appropriate quarters to come to her rescue and prevail on the church to leave her land alone.

She regretted that she had not been able to see Bishop Ezeokafor personally to intervene but, had gone to the Bishop’s house twice and was told that he went for a Bishops’ conference.

“I met one Rev. Fr. Akaenyi and I narrated everything to him. He promised me that they would address the matter, but over the time now, I have not heard from him.

“I am a widow and I don’t know why my land should be taken by force by those I feel should protect the interest of the down-trodden. I am a poor widow; they should come to my rescue. Let them help me, let them help me, I am begging them,”Aronu said.

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 16, 2015 — 3

Age grade: Bedrock of devt in most Ebonyi communities

By Peter Okutu

A

BAKALIKI-THE Age grade system is a major Hallmark and a measurement index that can be used to evaluate the sociopolitical platform and performance of the Igbo race as a well coordinate integral part of the African Society.

The Igbo society is unarguably the most open, most democratic and most republican ethnic nationality in the whole of Africa as it is rated one of the top 10 ethnic nationalities in terms of population and land mass.

A test of the Igbo man’s democratic temperament was reflective in 1921 when they resisted the imposition of the warrant chiefs on the Igbo people and the resistance of Igbo women against the issue of taxation as more than 50 of them lost their lives in the struggle.

Igbo community being a well organized society where the role of leaders and stratification of authority are key in decision making, also between 1967 and 1970 embarked on the struggle for self determination as proof that of their ethnic distinction and temperamental disposition in any political arena even before Nigeria’s independence.

In Ebonyi, the issue of age grade pervades different localities in the 13 local government areas of the state.

Developmental initiative However, in Ekoli-Edda community of Afikpo South (Edda) local government area of the state, the importance and capacity of the age grade cannot be over estimated as it has over time formed the bedrock for sociopolitical organization and developmental initiative of the people.

It has not only ensured regular implementation of policy formulation but also sustained the existence of social, political and economic initiatives for the betterment and well being of the people.

In a chat with South East Voice, a key stakeholder in Ekoli-Edda community and Caretaker Committee Chairman of Afikpo South LGA, Barr Eni Uduma Chima explained that the age grade of his community were pivotal and catalytic to both the historical and modern day developmental impacts existing in the community.

Giving an insight into the developmental impacts of the Age grades, Eni added that: “Projects built by communal efforts through the Age grades include Secondary Technical School situated between Ekoli Edda and Nguzu Edda (Ofia Etiti) and built in 1976 . This mixed school, which at one time could boast of the best Boarding

facility, Technical Workshop, Science Laboratory, Assembly Hall e.t.c in old Imo State, was built by the combined efforts of Age grades in the two sister Communities of Ekoli Edda and Nguzu Edda.

“The Age grades that participated include Oganiru , Silver, Ejiudoeme, Adumba among others. There was positive competition among the Age grades on the provision of social amenities in the area.

“The Obimba Age grade built the first centre hall in Ekoli known as “Obimba Hall” . In Ekoli, the Age grades established a primary school, “Igboeze Town School” in 1957 and the Ekoli Community Primary School.

The Ekoli Health Centre and Maternity Home was built in the same manner and handed over to Government in 1966 just before the Civil War. “The Ekoli Cottage Hospital now known as The Presbyterian Joint Hospital was built by “ Egbebere” Age grade, the Ekoli General Assembly Hall by “Ejiudoeme”, the Modern

Library Complex under construction by “Udoka” Age grade, the Police Station under construction by “ Ubolo” Age grade, the Girls High School by Community efforts.

“Also, Age grades upon the realization of the importance of Education, funded the Education of bright Sons of the Community

They go to war on behalf the community whenever the need arose; they engage in social entertainment activities of the community, help their parents in the farm and engage in hunting of animals

in the past. The highest active Age grade known as”Ikejiogo” is responsible for policy formulation and general bye laws for the Community while the execution of such initiative is left in the hands of the various Age grades. Age grades recover Community levies from their members and remit same to the Community in bulk.

“It is the duty of the Age grades to carry out all community manual labour like clearing of farm paths and roads; roads leading to streams and maintenance of high sanitary standard and general cleanliness of the community.

There are no more inter-tribal wars , so that role has been rendered obsolete” Also, a social commentator and stakeholder in the Ebonyi project, Chief Abia Onyike further explained that the provision of the Age grade system in the Igbo mode of administration reduced to a large extent the complexities surrounding the Igbo society.

According to him, the age grade as a social formation was

meant to organize the Igbo society along lines of age set as members themselves participate in communal work for the development of the entire community without any atom of discrimination.

“They go to war on behalf the community whenever the need arose; they engage in social entertainment activities of the community, help their parents in the farm and engage in hunting of animals.

“And whenever they come back from hunting, portions of meat are shared based on seniority; the age grade also engage in adult masquarades and engage in the provision of internal security and as members of the vigilante group they watch over the community day and night against incidences of crime and criminality” Also, the age grade keeps to the norms and values of the Igbo society and ensures that regular sanitation work and environmental cleanliness of the community are done by them.

Encomiums as Eze emo donates N1m boat to Anambra riverine dwellers

By Vincent Ujumadu

A

WKA - The joy of the riverine Igbokenyi community in Anambra West local government area of Anambra State knew no bounds recently when the Anglican Bishop of Mbamili Diocese, Rt. Reverend Henry Okeke took delivery of a fast moving Engine Boat donated to St. Mary ’s Anglican Church in the area by a philanthropist, Mr. Godwin Ezeemo.

Igbokenyi, an Igala -speaking •From left, Bishop Henry Okeke of community in the state, is Mbamili Diocese, his wife Julie Okeke and surrounded by the River Niger Rev. Victor Ogbalu, parish priest of St. Mary's and at this time of the year, Anglican church Igbokenyi. transportation of their rich agricultural produce is usually shower His blessings and protection on a big problem. Ezeemo had, in him.

March this year, pledged to Also speaking, the parish priest of St. purchase the boat for them Mary’s Anglican Church, Igbokenyi, following the difficulty they Rev. Victor Ogbalu said Ezeemo has truly were encountering in travelling shown that he is a true philanthropist from their community to other •Bishop Okeke consecrating the engine whom God has chosen to wipe away parts of Anambra State. tears from the suffering people of When the philanthropist made boat donated by Godwin Ezeemo.

Igbokenyi. the pledge, the people never “This man, Ezeemo is a great gift to have to pass through Ellah in Delta State believed that such a boat would be the church and humanity in general,” he stationed on the banks of their river so and then to Onitsha to continue their said.

Though Ezeemo was not present soon, considering the long time it journey to other parts of Anambra State, during the handover ceremony, the normally takes to build that type of boat. which is why they see the purchase of the Anambra State chairman of Progressive boat as a turning point in their lives.

The high-capacity engine boat, that cost Presenting the boat to members of the People’s Alliance (PPA), Mr. Mathias over N1 million, came at a time members Ameke and Dr. Ralph Chikwenze who of Mary’s Anglican Church in the area church, elated Bishop Okeke and his wife, represented him, hoped that the boat appeared trapped as the current flood has Julie, as well as other Anglican priests, would meet the expectations of the commended Ezeemo for the gesture and considerably reduced their movement and prayed God to continue to sustain him and people. They observed that the donor visitors hardly come to the area. had demonstrated a great sense of Apart from enhancing missionary work, members of his family. According to the humility in the service of humanity and the boat would also serve as a means of cleric, Ezeemo has become a willing urged other well to do Nigerians to instrument used by God to bring sucour, transportation for the entire inhabitants emulate him. of Igbokenyi community. The problem of not only to the church, but to humanity, the people of Igbokenyi is such that they assuring him that God would continue to

4 — Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 16, 2015

Gov Umahi fulfils promise to construct road at Ntezi - Aba •Church hails Umahi’s initiatives

By Peter Okutu

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BAKALIKI-THE road leading to the Headquarters of Dominion City Church in Ebonyi State and its environ has been in a deplorable condition for over a decade as it became a major source of concern to all and sundry.

The road, located within Ntezi-Aba community in Abakaliki Local Government Area of the state, cuts across Dr. Echiegu Street and Dominion City Avenue. It is usually impassable, especially during raining season.

Following its condition, especially at night, hoodlums had used the opportunity to rob innocent members of the church, including the general public of their possessions, ranging from cash, hand-sets and other valuables.

This also made the church and even the management of the hotel in the area to always

make provision for security personnel such as the Army, Police and Department of State Service, DSS, during their key events to avert incidents of crimes and criminality in the area.

And so, when Governor

The governor made the promise while attending a child dedication ceremony at the Headquarters of Dominion City Church last month in Abakaliki.

He also promised to instal street-lights alongside the construction of the road

Dave Umahi made a promise to rehabilitate the road, it was greeted with loud ovation and acceptability by the church and the people residing within the environment.

He made the promise while attending a child dedication ceremony at the Headquarters of Dominion City Church last month in Abakaliki. He also promised to instal street-lights alongside the construction of the road.

In a chat with South East Voice, the Project Administrator of Dominion City Church in Abakaliki, Engr. Austin Nwakanma, who hailed the initiative of the present administration in the area of road construction, noted that the road when completed would ease both human and vehicular movements to the church and other locations within NteziAba community.

According to him, the road is usually over-flooded during raining season as it has even hindered some members from

•Road under construction regularly attending church services whenever it rained.

“The church is happy about this development and we are grateful to God and our governor for this ongoing road construction work. The condition of the road had been a major

challenge, but we thank God that it will soon be a thing of the past. The Governor has done marvelously well by bringing democracy dividend closer to the people. We are happy with him and wish him a successful stay in office.”

Motorists lament deplorable federal roads in Abia

By Vincent Ujumadu

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M U A H I A — MOTORISTS and other road users are lamenting the deplorable state of federal roads in Abia State. Virtually all the Federal roads in the State are in deplorable state. Among them are the Enugu-OkigweUmuahia-Aba express road that leads to Port Harcourt, the Umuahia-Ikot Ekpene road, Umuahia-Bende-Ohafia, Umuahia-Uzuakoli-OhafiaArochukwu and UturuIsuikwuato roads.

The state of these roads aptly qualifies them as real death traps. In fact, some of them have been abandoned by motorists for long now.

Major rehabilitation Worst of them all is the Ohafia-Arochukwu road which links the State with three neigbouring states of Akwa Ibom, Cross River and Ebonyi.

The state of the road, especially during this raining season could best be imagined.

From from communities in the area hardly travel home or out due to the condition of the road.

This 37 kilometer road which

was first constructed in 1967 had never witnessed any m a j o r rehabilitation since then.

I r o n i c a l l y, contract for the O h a f i a Arochukwu was awarded to an indigenous contractor over five years ago and flag-off ceremony •Another failed portion with a youth volunteer doing paliative measure was done with great hype and result of the of only one lane of noise. The contractor who was from the site. alleged to have to have The state government and the road, much pressure has collected substantial part of the FERMA over the years tried been put on it making it to contract sum soon vanished to put up palliative measures deteriorate. The contractors are mainly during dry season to not helping matters either as enable the communities in the they find it difficult to use some area to travel home for their materials to fill the The economic life of deadly and Christmas and New Year numerous the people is also celebrations. Presently, the dangerous potholes, some of affected, as according condition of the road is them dangerously on the centre and people from of the express road, making it to Ekpo, traders from indescribable the area are appealing to difficult for motorists to dodge. other communities President Muhammadu Buhari to look into the problem of the Lamentations that used to come to road and what happened to their market and buy past contracts awarded for its galore rehabilitation.

The only saving grace palm produce from Though contract for the presently is the effort of some the rural farmers no Okigwe-Umuahia-Aba road young men from the villages longer come because has been award and work is who come out daily to excavate currently going on in one lane sand and fill the potholes to of the deplorable of the road, the snail speed of enable motorists pass through. condition of the road the work is worrisome. As a

FOR the people along the Umuahia-Ikot Ekpene road, including Amizi Awomnuzie Community, it has ben lamentation galore over the deplorable state of the road.

According to a community leader in Amizi, Sam Ekpo, the situation is very pathetic that some car owners in the community no longer drive them, they only warm up the engines on daily basis in their compounds.

The economic life of the people is also affected, as according to Ekpo, traders from other communities that used to come to their market and buy palm produce from the rural farmers no longer come because of the deplorable condition of the road.

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 16, 2015 — 5

KINGSHIP TUSSLE:

Traditional ruler gets staff of office after 7yrs

By Peter Okutu

A

B A K A L I K I — G O V E R N O R Dave Umahi of Ebonyi State, last wednesday, completely laid to rest the contention as to who is the authentic traditional ruler of Ishiagu autonomous community of Ivo Local Government Area of the state.

At the occasion which took place at the International Conference Centre, Abakaliki, the traditional ruler, Agu III of Ishiagu kingdom, His Royal Majesty, HRM Eze Moses Okafor Ngele was issued a Certificate of Recognition and staff of office by the governor of the state.

The kingship tussle that rocked Ishiagu community in Ivo Local Government Area of Ebonyi State lasted over seven years ago since the death of the Agu II of Ishiagu kingdom.

The position which had been in contention during the dispensation of former Governor Martin Elechi of Ebonyi State had previously led to intense division and rancour among both prominent stakeholders and the people of Ishiagu community to the extent that an aggrieved section of the people took the matter to the court to seek redress.

Okafor Ngele as the king of the Ishiagu.

In a chat with South East Voice, the Agu III of Ishiagu kingdom, HRM Eze Moses Okafor Ngele reiterated that his reign would foster economic prosperity of the people, checkmate incidences of violence and crime and establish togetherness and peace in the whole of Ishiagu community.

According to him, the action of the Governor laid to rest the contention and agitation that had surrounded his coronation. The Agu III described Governor Umahi as an epitome of good leadership and prayed God to guide and bless his administration.

The position which had been in contention during the dispensation of former Governor Martin Elechi of Ebonyi State had previously led to intense division and rancour among both prominent stakeholders and the people of Ishiagu community

•The Agu III of Ishiagu Kingdom, HRM Eze Moses Okafor Ngele after receiving his Staff of office from Governor Dave Umahi of Ebon yi at the Int'l conference centre, Abakaliki.

Community offers scholarships with resources from sand endowment

Unanimous endorsement Recall that the Agu II of Ishiagu kingdom, HRM Basil Onu died in 2008 and since his demise, the community had stayed about seven years before a new king was unanimously endorsed by the people and elders of the community.

Meantime, before the issuance of staff of office to the traditional ruler by the Governor, he (Eze Okafor) was presented to the local government area for acceptance and approval by the people of Ivo LGA of the state.

The event which witnessed the presence of a large turnout of the people of Ishiagu from all the villages in the area, women groups, chiefs, members and Executives of Ishiagu Community Development Union, ICDU, the Council boss, politicians among others confirmed the overwhelming endorsement and support for Eze Moses

•Members of Odo Beach Developers Association during their inauguration at Isiakpu village hall

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By Vincent Ujumadu

WKA- THERE was jubilation at the sleepy village of Isiakpu – Awgbu in Orumba North local government area of Anambra State last week when the leadership of the community’s Odo Beach Developers Association announced the award of three university and six secondary school scholarships to indigenes of the area It was the first major project being executed by the association since its formation six years ago.

The scholarship scheme, which will be funded with revenue from sand collected from Odo River that passes through the community, will be awarded to brilliant children from the area whose parents could not afford to further their education.

Chairman of the 126-member association, Chief Anthony Okeke, while speaking at the handover ceremony of certificates to the shareholders association,

said the scholarship scheme was a way of giving back to the community that made it possible for them to be collecting the sand, which had helped to improve the living standard of the people.

He explained that the number of the scholarship beneficiaries would increase as the association generates more money, adding that a transparent selection committee would be set up for the identification of brilliant students from the community.

He said: “The cost of every tipper of sand is usually divided into two after deduction of government levy of N700 and N100 for security and half of it is reserved for the development of the village, including the funding of the scholarship and rehabilitation of rural roads. That is why we have also set of an eight –member Board of Trustees, BoT, to liaise with the management committee for the smooth operation of the association.”

Explaining how the business started,

Okeke said his people noticed that the sharp sand was just wasting and the villagers met and decided to form a cooperative society that handles the collection and sale of the sand.

According to him, the availability of the sharp sand on Odo River had helped in no small way to save the people living around Orumba and Awka areas from the hazards of traveling to Onitsha for it, adding that his people were grateful to God for giving them the natural endowment.

He however warned that sand collectors were barred from going close to the Odo River Bridge to ensure that the foundation of the bridge was not threatened.

President General of Awgbu Progress Union, APU, Professor Chuks Onwuka commended the association for the scholarship scheme and urged them to sustain it.

Scholarship scheme He said: “It is very thoughtful of members of the association to make education one of their priorities because education helps to develop the society.

There are many children in our community who have passed their examinations, but have nobody to train them and this scholarship scheme will serve as a morale booster to them and their parents.”

He urged the association to rehabilitate roads in the area since government does not have the resources to meet the needs of all communities in the state and urged the people to consider themselves lucky to have the natural endowment in their area.

He observed that though some people may not like the developmental plans being embarked by the association, such projects should go on once the majority agreed to execute it.

6 — Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 16, 2015

OVIM: A rural community on fast-track transformation by Nigerian army U

By Anayo Okoli

MUAHIA—BEFORE now Ovim, a sleepy hilly rural community in Isiukwuato Local Government Area of Abia State was only indentified with railway lines that pass there. Another thing that perhaps Ovim could be identified with is the fact that the community had produced a number of Military Generals and Officers.

In fact, it is often referred to as the Langtan of the South East.

But these factors never in any way translated into any meaningful development for the community. However, the recent establishment a Military Institute, Nigerian Army Language Institute, NALI, has changed a lot in the community. Today, this quiet sleepy rural community is undergoing rapid transformation in terms of infrastructural development.

The institute, Language training institute for the Army, and indeed other members of the Armed Forces, other security agencies and paramilitary, has suddenly changed the face of Ovim, turning it to a bustling semi-urban centre, with various business concerns springing up on daily basis.The landscape has equally transformed for better.

Partnership with the institute Attracted by the former Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Azubuike Ihejirika, who hails from Ovim, NALI has put the name of Ovim in the world map as many international communities have indicated interest to partner with the institute. Already, the French Government has visited NALI through its Defence Attaché in Abuja.

Established in 2013 with Col. Joseph Bamidele Ajanaku as the Commandant, the Army Institute has commenced six months French training for some Army officers and soldiers. As it continues to grow, Army sources said that there is plan for the study of other Languages such as Arabic, Germany, Spanish, Italian and Swahili in the institute.

Located in a vast hilly expanse of land with serene environment conducive for learning, the institute has brought a lot of advantages to the community in the area of security and economic development.

According to HRH, Eze Eke Peter Ginikanwa, of Ohonja Autonomous community, one of the communities in Ovim, the community is very happy with the citing of the Institute there and is grateful to the Federal Government, the Nigerian Army and their son, Ihejirika for his foresight in bringing the school to Ovim.

Eze Ginikanwa confirmed that the presence of NALI has transformed the rural community in

•HIs Royal Highness, Eze Ginikanwa. many ways. Besides changing the face of Ovim, he said that it will also benefit Abia State and the entire South East zone in general, especially in the area of security and Federal Government attention.

The monarch was very particular in the level of security the presence of the Military institution has brought to Ovim and its surrounding communities which he said has helped to boost the economic activities in the area.

He also expressed hope that it would provide jobs for the people because as the institute grows and the need for civilian workers arises, the host community and surrounding ones would benefit.

On the possibility of the com-

•Some structures at Ovim NALI

munity having friction in future with the institute especially over land, Eze Ginikanwa ruled it out.

“Ordinarily, our people are very

Ovim could be identified with is the fact that the community had produced a number of Military Generals and Officers

peaceful lot who welcome development. The community welcomes this gesture by the Federal Government and will even be willing to give out more land if need be. Our people are happy with visitors and relate with them very well. So there will be no problem”, Eze Ginikanwa assured.

One of the officers currently undergoing a French Language training course at NALI, a Major, commended the foresight of the former Chief of Army Staff in bringing the institute to the community, a decision he admitted has transformed the community and would continue to impact of the life of the people.

“As we are here undergoing this training any thing we need we

buy them from the community.

You know what it means, enhancing their economic life. And remember that there will always be officers and soldiers receiving training here at any given time.

So I think the General has very good vision for his people”, he said.

For the former COAS, Ihejirika, the commencement of training in NALI was for him “transformation of vision into reality”.

According to him, realizing the need for Nigerian soldiers, and indeed the Armed Forces to be knowledgeable in other languages, especially French, as the nation is surrounded by French speaking neigbhours, he mooted the idea of establishing NALI in 2013.

Alleged disqualification of Igweship candidate splits Anambra community

By Nwabueze Okonkwo

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NITSHA - The people of Adazi-Nnukwu community in Anaocha Local Government Area of Anambra state may have split into two factions, following an alleged disqualification of Ichie Emmanuel Chukwuma, one of the three contestants that were presented for an election into the Igweship throne.

The community had for the past one year, initiated the process of selecting a new traditional ruler that will replace their late monarch, Igwe Michael Orjiako who joined his ancestors since 2008 and left the royal stool vacant and as such mandated the Nnukwu clan, one of the three clans in the area whose turn it is to produce a new Igwe this time around to select credible persons from the clan and present them to the general assembly for a general election that will produce one person as the new Igwe. With such a mandate, the Nnukwu clan screened about 12 aspirants, out of which they selected three among them, including Professor Augustine Obiekezie, a Deputy Vice-Chancellor at University of Calabar; UNICAL, Dr. Chike Ezeude, an Abuja-based hotelier and Ichie Emmanuel Chukwuma, a philanthropist and international business guru based in Cote’Divoire.

•Adazi nnukwu traditional chiefs After the selection, the clan presented them to the Central Executive Council, CEC to conduct a general election among the candidates, expecting to receive from the general assembly for a job well done and for a peaceful selection process.

But while waiting for the CEC to schedule a day for a general election among the three prominent personalities, after their presentation in good fate, a cross section of the community led by the President-General of the community Chief Ben Enemuo convened a general meeting that declared that declared Chukwuma disqualified from the contest because he does not have a national Diploma certificate as his minimum qualification.

This development did not go down well with majority members of the community who wanted Chukwuma to become the Igwe at all cost because of what they termed as his philanthropic

activities which has over the years, cut across the entire community and which had benefited many citizens of the area in terms of cash gifts, cars, motorcycles, tricycles and food items.

They insisted that since Anambra state government gazette did not prescribe National Diploma as minimum educational qualification but only prescribed First School Leaving Certificate as minimum qualification, and besides, Chukwuma has his Diploma Certificate from a French School, having based in CoteD’Ivoire, a French speaking country for a long time now, he should be allowed to contest among the three candidates.

Speaking on the development, the traditional Prime Minister of the town, Chief Lawrence Alloh and a member of the Central Executive Committee, CEC, Ide Innocent Okaforcha, expressed disgust that after Nnukwu clan laboured for three consecutive times for about a year now to produce these three personalities and presented them to the entire community to conduct a general election which will produce one of them as the new monarch, some persons are now coming up with educational qualification issue which they said is not even in the state government gazette.

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 16, 2015 — 7

Cherubim and Seraphim concludes 90th anniversary celebration

By Chimaobi Nwaiwu

•Prelate and Baba Aladura urge faithful to be be law abiding, support constituted authorities

T

HE Eternal Sacred Order of Cherubim and Seraphim early in the week, rounded off the week long activity marking its 90th anniversary with a Church service in Onitsha and a call by the Prelate, His Most Eminence,the Baba Aladura, Elder (Dr) Lazarus Onyeleonu calling on the Church faithful to continue to be law abiding and respect the constituted authorities where ever they are in the world.

Elder Onyeleonu also appealed to Nigerians to support the present administration of President Muhammadu Buhari in its commitment to make the country a better place and stamp out corruption that is bedeviling the country, saying that it is only by supporting and praying for the President that he will succeed in his administration.

Addressing newsmen on behalf of Prelate Elder Onyeleon and His Eminence Elder Ndukwe Ndukwe who is the Chairman, Central Management Council, CMC 2 of the four Provinces of the church in Anambra State, Secretary of the CMC 2, Special

Secretary of Management Council of Four Provinces of Anambra State Eternal Order of the Cherubim and Seraphim, and Chairman of Christian Association of Nigeria Anambra state, Senior Apostle Timothy Okpala addressing the press on behalf of the Prelate Baba Aladura Lazurus Onyeleonu in Onitsha with other leaders of the Church in Anambra state Senior Apostle Tim Okpala thanked God for allowing Elder Onyeleonu and the entire members of the of the church to witness the 90th anniversary.

The four Provinces of the church in Anambra State

comprises of Onitsha, Nkpologu, Awka and Uga with His Eminence Elder Ndukwe as the Chairman and Okpala as Secretary.

He said the church is growing from strength and currently has over 75 provinces in the world and each of the provinces has

not less than 65 branches adding that the church has made great achievements and is planning to own a University in Nigeria.

He also called on the people of Anambra state support Governor Willie Obiano, whom he said his administration has recognized the church, and appealed to the Gov-

Nwamba family out to retrieve lost kingship

Chief Chigbo Nwamba, a contender to the throne of Igwe of Eha-Ulo

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HE Nwamba family of Amundi, Eha-Alumona in

THE TEAM

Editor: Emeka Mamah - Enugu (08033218645; email: emekemamah@yahoo.com) Anayo Okoli, Umuahia Vincent Ujumadu, Awka Austin Ogwuda, Awka Chidi Nkwopara, Owerri Peter Okutu , Abakaliki Chimaobi Nwaiwu, Nnewi

Francis Igata, Enugu Nwabueze Okonkwo, Onitsha

Ugochukwu Alaribe, Aba Enyim Enyim, Onitsha Chinoso Alozie, Owerri Obialunamma Nwadiogbu, Amawbia Eric Ugbor, Aba

Elders and some youths of Amundi, in a meeting in front of the palace of Atama Ezugworie Nwamba of Eha-Alumona, built in 1910, the home of the late Atama Nwamba, who administered Nsukka Province and environs in the pre-colonial and colonial times. They now want to reclaim the crown of Igwe of Eha-Ulo, the current recognised traditional title in the area.

Nsukka Local Government Area of Enugu State have vowed to fight till the last drop of their blood to retrieve their lost kingship which saw them dominating the old Nsukka Province and beyond.

Citing their pioneer king as Ugwu Onugwu, the people claim that the kingship was bestowed on them from the throne of the Attah Igala, where they said they originated from.

They said that for decades, their ancestors ruled the old province of Nsukka, now Enugu North Senatorial Zone, from generation to generation as recognized during the pre-colonial and colonial times. The “onyishi” (oldest man) of Amundi, Chief Eke Nnamchi, said that oral history was able to record four kings who reigned successively, including Atama Ezugworie Nwamba, whose palace was the first storey-building in the province.

Atama Nwamba, also known as

Atama Eze Nsukka, was reputed to have married up to 100 wives from the various parts of the province and beyond, including one of the daughters of the famous Onyeama family of Eke in Enugu West Senatorial Zone.

Chief Nnamchi listed the four recorded kings as Ugwu Onugwu, Atama Nwamba, Asogwa Nwamba and Sam Nwamba.

He said that it was after Sam Nwamba, also famous for his large bevy of wives, that the throne went awry and people trained by the previous kings turned against the family.

“Our elders trained people in various parts of Nsukka and beyond, but they turned against us and took our title away.

“We are determined to reclaim the title. We know it is now the Igwe that is recognized. We are willing to take that one. Our stool is vacant now and we are ready to go for it,” Chief Nnamchi

said.

Corroborating the claim to the kingship, the Onowu of EhaAlumona, Chief Peter Akwaa Nwamba, lamented that the title eluded them when it was given to the late Chief Charles Abangwu as the pioneer Igwe of Eha-Alumona.

Akwaa Nwamba said that people opposed to oligarchy blocked the Nwamba family from producing the pioneer Igwe of EhaAlumona as history demanded.

He said that the people were ready to reclaim the title, even though Eha-Alumona has been split into seven autonomous communities, each with its own Igwe.

ernor to extend the same help he has been giving to other churches in the state to the Eternal Sacred Order of the Cherubim and Seraphim, especially in the completing of the multi million naira church project going on at Fegge, Onitsha Branch of the Church.

Senior Apostle Okpala who is also the Chairman of Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, Anambra State branch described the Cherubim and Seraphim as a church whose foundation and doctrine is based on the spiritual direction from God. In spite of the criticism of people, the church has been growing rapidly from strength to strength, all the things other churches have been criticizing us, and give impression that the church is a secret cult, are being done in the present day churches. “ The Eternal Sacred Order of Cherubim and Seraphim started as a praying band led by St Moses Orimolade Tunolade Ajaguunmokadi, who began his evangelical and Missionary journey from Ikare in Ondo State, and succeeded in winning souls for Christ all through the old Western Region of Nigeria, before he came into Lagos on July 12, 1924.

“We were criticized for wearing white garment which to us is a sign of equality and purity, for using candles, incense, singing and dancing, go to rivers to conduct prayers and baptism and conducting night prayers and today those churches that criticized us are doing all these things, the conducts night service and call it night vigil and crusades, they do mid night prayers for which they called us secret cult” he said.

Senior Apostle Okpala said they do not wear shoe into the church because it is scriptural injunction they drew from the book of Exodus Chapter 3, verse 5, adding that all the things they do are all according to Spiritual direction of God,noting that the Holy Order holds unalloyed faith in the Bible.

Autonomous communities Akwaa Nwamba said that since the demise of the late Abangwu, the Eha-Ulo Autonomous Community has not had any traditional ruler, saying that it was an opportunity for his people to reclaim the title.

A contender to the title, Chief Chigbo Nwamba, said it would amount to a failure on the part of the present day people of Amundi to let the title pass them by. “Our forefathers got this title and managed it very well. It was a kingship well established and recognized. We, the youth of the Nwamba family, will do everything in our power to reclaim the kingship,” he said.

The church is growing from strength and currently has over 75 provinces in the world and each of the provinces has not less than 65 branches, and has made great achievements and is planning to own a University in Nigeria

8 — Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 16, 2015

By Nwabueze Okonkwo

O

NITSHA—WHEN the news of the demise of Chief Chukwuma Azikiwe, the Owelle II of Onitsha and first son of Nigeria’s first President, Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe was broken on May 10, 2015, at the age of 75, family members, friends and foes, relations and political associates were jolted. As usual, his father’s Inosi Onira Retreat turned into a Mecca of sort as was the case during his father’s death in 1996, as political heavyweights, prominent Igbo leaders and traders paid condolence visits, one after the other.

Notable among the condolence visitors to the Inosi Onira, who visited the uncompleted multimillion Zik’s Inosi Onira Mausoleum project in Onitsha, included the immediate past National Chairman of the All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, Chief Victor Umeh; the Ogirishi Igbo, Chief Rommy Ezeonwuka; Chairman of Freedom League, the voice of traders in Onitsha, Chief Robert Ozigbo, son of first republic parliamentarian, Chief R. N. Muojeke and member representing Onitsha North I state constituency in the state House of Assembly, Hon. Chugbo Enwezor.

country.”

Umeh said that till his death, the deceased was intellectually sound and always engaged in meaningful discussions of issues of national concerns, adding that he was greatly pained by his demise which is an irreparable loss to the country and Igbo people in particular.

Describing the deceased as a bridge-builder and an apostle of inclusive negotiation, Umeh therefore, commiserated with the family, people of Onitsha, Anambra and Nigeria as a whole for this loss, adding, “we cannot question God; but we believe that he would rest in the bosom of the Lord.”

Advocate of unity: Umeh was accompanied to the visit by his wife, Mrs. Priscilla Umeh; a member of APGA Board of Trustees, BoT, Chief Rommy Ezeonwuka

Victor Umeh, signing a condolence register, while Rommy Ezeonwuka, 'Ogirishi Igbo,' stands at his back.

Eulogies as APGA buries Zik’s son •Obi of Onitsha, S-E govs, others boycott ceremony

Common good In his speech during the visit to the bereaved Azikiwe family, the former APGA boss, Umeh, described the late Azikiwe as an apostle of political negotiation, who sought common good of Nigerians irrespective of differences, adding that most of his recent close interactions with the deceased showed that he still maintained the belief which his father, late Zik of Africa, had in the unity and indivisibility of Nigeria as brought about by agelong socio-cultural and historical ties.

According to Umeh: “When Chief Chukwuma Azikiwe was alive, he always talked about the unity, oneness and indivisibility of the country, which long sociocultural and historical ties had made possible, adding, Chukwuma even believed that APGA is a political party, which every Igbo-man and by extension the entire old Eastern region must belong to, so that we, Ndigbo would have a platform to negotiate with other political parties at the Federal or national level.

“During his life time," Umeh continued, "Chukwuma advised us to negotiate with all political parties without closing the door on any; which is the political pattern and position the late Zik of Africa, his father, took to achieve so much for the east and entire

Late Chukwuma Azikiwe and the Publicity Secretary of Ohanaeze Worldwide, Mr. Emejulu Okpalaukwu, while highlights of the visit were the signing of condolence register by Umeh and a group photograph of Azikiwes and APGA executive members.

In his own reaction, Ezeonwuka, who expressed shock over Chukwuma’s demise, described him as an advocate of

The Obi of Onitsha, the entire Onitsha Obi-in-council and other notable Onitsha indigenes, were conspicuously absent apparently as a result of existing rivalry between himself as the Owelle II of Onitsha and the Obi-in-council

unity between Ndigbo and the North, as started by his father, the late Zik, adding that the Federal Government should, as a matter of urgency, complete the on-going mausoleum project.

Ezeonwuka recalled that late Zik of Africa had during his lifetime championed the Second Republic accord between the Igbo dominated Nigeria Peoples Party, NPP and Northern dominated National Party of Nigeria, NPN known as NPP/NPN accord which turned out then to become a formidable alliance between the North and the East.

He noted that this time around, Chukwuma, in his own case, followed his father’s step by identifying with an Igbo core party which is in alliance with Northern core party that is also moving towards the right direction.

The Igbo leader, therefore, urged the administration of General Muhammadu Buhari to endeavour to complete Zik’s mausoleum project as a mark of respect for the late sage and his son.

In his own comment, Ozigbo said that if men had the power to

prolong person’s life, they would have preferred him to live till the completion of Zik’s mausoleum project.

Ozigbo, who described Chukwuma as quiet, learned gentleman who chose not to dabble into violent politics, however, advised Ndigbo not to mourn as faithless people, since it is "only God that giveth and taketh."

Obiora Muojeke, son of a first republic parliamentarian, R. N. Muojeke, recalled that it was Zik, Chukwuma’s father that assisted his own father, Muojeke to win the parliamentary seat during the First Republic, adding that the Muojeke family was deeply touched by the death of Zik’s son.

Enwezor, chairman of the House Committee on Judiciary and Legal Matters, who had just been re-elected for the second term in office, urged the in-coming Buhari administration to complete not only Zik’s mausoleum project, but also make Zik’s compound befitting before Chukwuma’s burial, as a mark of honour for both the father and son who were the Owelle I and Owelle II of Onitsha respectively.

He, however, noted that it was the prerogative of the Obi of Onitsha to formally announced the demise of Chukwuma as Owelle II of Onitsha, in accordance with the Onitsha customs and traditions, just as it is the prerogative of the bereaved family to announce the burial arrangements at their convenient time.

Unfortunately, after all the encomiums, prominent personalities boycotted the burial ceremony at the Inosi Onira, last Saturday.

The attendance at the ceremony was scanty as both the Obi of Onitsha, and the entire Onitsha Obi-in-council and other notable Onitsha indigenes, were conspicuously absent, apparently as a result of existing rivalry between himself as the Owelle II of Onitsha and the Obiin-council.

Although there were eulogies

from members of the defunct Zikists movement who were in attendance, including Chief Emma Okocha (Onyeamuma Ndigbo) (Igbo Prophet), Chief Simon Okeke, former Chairman of Police Service Commission, PSC and Chief Ifedobi, a political analyst, but none of the South East Governors was present, a situation which created an impression that something was wrong somewhere.

It was not clear as to what led to such a develoment, one of the members of the defunct Zikist movement, Emma Okocha expressed disappointment that Onitsha people did not attend the burial ceremony because of the rivalry between the late Owelle and Onitsha traditional institution.

Traditional institution Speaking to newsmen, shortly after the interment, Chukwuma’s younger brother, Ambassador Emeka Azikiwe who declined to comment on the situation, acknowledged Anambra State government’s contributions towards the burial arrangements, adding that government helped in repainting some of the buildings within the Inosi Onira compound.

Chukwuma’s son, Ikechukwu Azikiwe and his daughter, Dr. Chinwe Azikiwe, described their late father as an intellect, man of integrity and above all a good man who loved to associate with the less-privileged ones.

Earlier in his sermon, the Anglican Archbishop Emeritus of Niger Province and Bishop Emeritus of Awka Diocese, Rt. Rev Maxwell Anikwenwa, urged Christians to always bear in mind that all of us here on earth must go back to our Creator one day and face God’s judgement, adding that we should as a matter of necessity, we should always keep off from sins and obey God’s commandments.

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 16, 2015 — 29

Emenike: I will keep scoring

Awoniyi begins training with FSV Frankfurt

UPER Eagles striker Emmanuel Emenike has said he hopes to continue scoring goals after he netted a brace on his league debut for Al Ain. The former Karabukspor of Turkey star scored twice in a 2-0 win over Al Wasl last Sunday to take his goals’ haul to four in three games in all competitions.

“I am happy to continue the scoring form for Al Ain, it’s something I always want to do and I hope to keep it up in the subsequent games,” Emenike said. “Scoring goals means a lot to me especially at this time because everybody expects goals from me and so I am working hard every day to justify their confidence.

“It’s good to keep the club in front and my goals have a lot to do with that.” He continued: “I need

igeria U23 striker Taiwo Awoniyi has begun training with German Bundesliga 2 side FSV Frankfurt after securing his travel papers and visa in England.

Awoniyi, 18, is on a season-long loan from EPL side Liverpool. “He has begun training with FSV Frankfurt after he got his necessary papers to fly down to Germany,” a source familiar with the player ’s transfer informed.

Frankfurt, who finished 13th last season, are 12th on the table with seven points after six rounds of matches. Their next game is on Sunday against the new club of Nigeria forward Obinna Nsofor, MSV Duisburg.

S

N

to justify the confidence many have in me as well as the huge expectations of the club and fans.

“I believe I will score more goals with the help of my team mates.”

D

•Mamic

INAMO Zagreb coach Zoran Mamic admits Champions League opponents Arsenal are “frightening” and has revealed that he has turned to Slaven Bilic for advice on how to beat the Londoners.

Arsene Wenger ’s side travel to Zagreb for their Group F opener today and Mamic has been highly impressed by Arsenal during his scouting trips, especially after the 20 home win over Stoke on Saturday.

Mamic said: “I have watched Arsenal in many games, I went to see them against Stoke this weekend and

Mourinho: We know we are the better team

J

Arsenal are frightening, admits Zagreb coach I got the impression they were playing in second or third gear, and should have won 10-0!

“It is frightening and fascinating how they play. I believe we will be better than Stoke.

“Cazorla and Ozil are key Arsenal players, but the team is so strong that danger comes from everywhere.”

Dinamo have lost their previous six matches against English opposition but Mamic has been taking tips from West Ham boss Bilic – who beat the Gunners 2-0 in August - as he plots the club’s first win in a Champions League match since 1999.

•Taiwo Awoniyi

OSE Mourinho will make changes to the side for the opening of the Champions League campaign and has put those team choices into context.

The manager shared his thoughts on player selection when speaking to the media ahead of the home game against Maccabi Tel Aviv, when a second competition is added to the season’s schedule.

A good start at Stamford Bridge on matchday one is important to avoid the type of difficult group-stage tests Chelsea overcame well the previous two years, and Mourinho highlighted what the squad has achieved in the very recent past as a

source of strength at this time.

‘It is like the fans sing,’ said Mourinho. ‘We know what we are. We are champions of England.

‘We have started so bad but it is not because of that that anyone can steal what we are.

Nobody can steal our trophies.

Some teams have to go back years for good results. We have to go back months.

‘Now we play a new competition. There are zero points for everyone and I know that two years ago we lost the first match at home and last season we drew and we had to win games in Germany and Lisbon, so if we can win today we put ourselves in a better position.

Bayern confident of Ribery’s comeback B

ayern Munich winger Franck Ribery will return to action this year after fully recovering from a dragging ankle injury, club Chief Executive KarlHeinz Rummenigge said on yesterday.

The Frenchman has been out of action since March after being injured in their Champions League game against Shakhtar Donetsk with an initial recovery estimate of a few days.

Six months on and Bayern can still not provide a comeback date for Ribery, who has admitted to being frustrated by the slow recovery progress.

“It is now mid-September and I think that will be the case, that during 2015 he will be a whirling again,” Rummenigge told reporters.

“What was important is to have the right diagnosis and treatment. I am not that pessimistic and I think in the not too distant future he will come back. That of course does not mean this week or next week,” Rummenigge said.

“But he will come back. I am fully convinced of that and that is the key thing.”

The 32-year-old has missed the final stretch of their league title-winning season as well as the entire preseason preparation as he still struggles with the injury.

•Mourinho

y Champions League matches toda

•Franck Ribery

AA Gent Bayer Leverkusen Chelsea Dinamo Zagreb Dynamo Kiev Olympiakos FC Roma Valencia

v v v v v v v v

Lyon BATE Borisov Maccabi Tel Aviv Arsenal Porto Bayern Munich Barcelona Zenit St. Petersburg

7:45pm 7:45pm 7:45pm 7:45 7:45pm 7:45pm 7:45pm 7:45pm

30 — Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 16,

2015

VANGUARD, WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 16, 2015 — 31

THE success of every business entails more than just having the knowledge or the finances to run a business. Without dedication and passion, a business does not get off the ground. Mrs. Yomade Jemirade, fondly called Mrs. J, a teen & pre-teen entrepreneurial & financial management coach, and also a research lover. She is the CEO of Young Boss Consults; a learning institute for children which comprises a pre-school and a training facility where training is done for children within the ages of 8-17 on financial management and entrepreneurship skills.

By Anino Aganbi

H

OW have you been able to bring in good business ideas and make them work for you?

You need people. There is no point having an idea which you can scream at the top of your lungs but if you do not have people to buy into that vision, it will die inside of you. For me, it’s keeping it plain. I am always open to ideas, I have an unofficial board I talk to and I am accountable to them. And also I have staff which I have to explain to, this is where we are going to, this is the vision; you have to keep saying it over and over again. You have a plan and somewhere along the line you find out it is not working, you have to adjust. You also need to be honest and open. A lot of people are not open in Nigeria and this brings about complications. Most people just assume you are competition.

How has your growth been over the years?

It has been good. I always use contract staff for the trainings, I pay them and they go. Now with the pre-school, teachers have to be on ground so we have some staff. As we grow, the number of staff will increase.

What has your profit margin been like in the past six months to one year and what are your plans to improve on it?

For this year so far with all the moving and everything,we have been able to cross over the one million naira mark in terms of profit because it is an off school calendar but generally with summer, we hit close to seven million usually.

Social media This year because of the move, we did not have as many activities as I would have loved for us to have. We have our own facility which makes life easier and cheaper. We do not have to pay for space where we do our trainings. We are going to do a lot of social media and whether the schools like it or not, we are going to be in their faces.

That is the fastest way to get to the kids and their parents. Oneon-one works but it is not as effective. We danced around with the idea of doing a media parley but that does not guarantee people reading it. School business is really slow but once it picks up, it picks up, especially once your standard is high.

Tell us a bit about what you do.

We have a facility where we encourage teenagers to learn beyond the basic education they are offered at school. We have classes on entrepreneurship and financial management. We do different classes like C M Y K

I disagree when people say starting a business is difficult — Jemirade

Now they are both extremely rich because in those cultures, behavior of saving money has been imbibed in them. Kids are still in the formative years, so by the time they go through all the facets of it, they get tempted as there are so many frivolities they could be involved in but it becomes a habit.

With a steady income coming in, you know how to plan. That gives you an ultimate head start.

We do social media and all of that, but like you rightly said, people would easily buy a product they can touch and feel as opposed to service and especially services for their kids.

They believe these children going to school should be okay.

A lot of women see running a business as being hectic or too challenging, what’s your view on that?

Business for me was a no brainer. Having your own business is the only way you are going to be with your kids when you want to except you take up a teaching job.

Starting a business

•Mrs. Yomade Jemirade photography, shoe making, mock tales and quite a few other entrepreneurship skills for kids.

We also offer life skill classes; so we do some etiquette, self awareness, personal mastery.

The goal really is that any child who goes through our curriculum and completes the training should be financially independent by the time they are thirty.

We equip them with everything they need to be able to make some wise decisions about business, their lives; so that by the time they turn thirty, life is good.

How were you able to sell your idea to your clients?

Being honest has worked a great deal for me. Sometimes I told people to just bring their kids without charging anything because I just wanted a chance to prove my worth. For those who were not willing, all I did was paint a picture in their minds. I tell them to imagine themselves starting a business when they were nine and started saving at that age. Over the years, they

have learnt different things and are now done from the university

Being honest has worked a great deal for me.

Sometimes, I tell people to just bring their kids without charging anything because I just want a chance to prove my worth

at age 22.

So, in twelve years, they have made all the mistakes/ errors, learnt a lot about business and about themselves, so they have twelve years head-start as opposed to someone who started at the age of twenty two. If you do any business for five years consistently, you are a master at it.

Mistakes in business You have someone who is twenty two and has literally made all the mistakes most people would make in business and the person has a twelve year headstart; that makes a whole world of difference as opposed to someone starting at twenty two.

So, someone who has been saving money for so long now gets a job at that age with a better income, knows how to manage their finances better. Warren Buffet started doing business and saving money when he was nine and so did Farrah Gray.

When you have an idea, you do not need that much money to start. Start something you enjoy and get paid. When I hear people say starting a business is so difficult, I tend not to agree with them. There is nothing wrong with you dreaming big but eat your elephant bit by bit.

I come from a lineage where a lot of them did business, so it was not much of a hardship for me coupled with the fact that I had a lot of support from my husband.

Going for a corporate job just wasn't it for me. I did it but it was just to get the experience.

I understand it can be challenging because of the financial aspect of it. It is a decision that when you have made up your mind that you want to do it, then you go all out.

There are women out there making money, who own businesses and are employing people. I want to be that person.

What level are you taking your business to?

We are going global. I am a big dreamer. I have a journal where I write my thoughts as they come. Later on I go back and just read through. Looking back at some of the things I had written, I find I am not surprised to be where I am today because I had written them a long time ago.

In the long run, my business name will be a buzz name bigger than Disney. It will be a house hold name.

32— Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 16,

2015

VANGU ARD, WEDNESD A Y, SEPTEMBER 16, 2015 —33 ANGUARD, WEDNESDA

He doesn't want me back

Mother, daughter want me in bed Dear Bunmi, ELIEVE IT or not, I am a virgin at the age of 25.

My problem now is that my boss and her daughter are both trying to get me into bed. After I finished at the law school, my mum arranged for me to work in her friend’s chambers to gain experience. Sadly, my mother recently lost her battle against breast cancer. She died, leaving me devastated and my boss said if I ever needed anyone to talk to, she would always be there for me.

Then, she started inviting me to her place for meals. She’s a single mother of two and lives with her daughter who is my age-mate. I was leaving her house one night, after a meal when she asked me to wait. She shut the door and started kissing me, but she stopped when her daughter arrived home.

The next day at work, she started sending me saucy emails, saying, "I think you have a hot body."

Now, she’s confessed she has feelings for me and she wants things to get sexual between us.

I’ve never had sex before, so I don’t think I’d be much good to her.

I’ve also been spending time with her daughter. She’s single and I’ve introduced her to my friends because she wants to meet a man. This had taken my mind off things and got me socialising again. My boss’ daughter is very pretty and I thought she’d find a man quickly, but it hasn’t happened, so, I asked her why. She said it was because the person she would really love to be with is me. Then, she asked me to come up to her bedroom. I was shocked and a bit lost for words. Why has this happened? I don’t know what to do. It’s stressing me out. I’m

B

The last thing you need is a weird mother/daughter sex triangle. If you can find another legal firm to work with, do so. If not, let the mother realise that ...you’re not interested in having a relationship that is more than maternal

worried one of them will say the wrong thing to the other at home and it’ll all blow up in my face. What should I do?

Bayo by e-mail.

Dear Bayo, You seem like a sweet guy and I fear you’re letting these two women take over and dictate your life. You’re 25 and still a virgin and, judging by the female attention you’re getting, I’m guessing you’re an attractive man. So, it’s fairly

Daughter resents my new man Dear Bunmi, FTER BEING single for 10 years, I finally met my current boyfriend through a mutual friend. We’ve been together for two years and plans are under way for us to get married later in the year. I would

A

I don't mind being his third wife Dear Bunmi, ’VE BEEN with my partner for almost eight years. He is a fairly successful businessman and was married twice. His two wives don’t live with him. He’s told me from the word go that he was not keen on living with a woman. I live in my own house and he is supportive. I have a son and would want at least a child now that I’m approaching 40. He said he would go along with me having his child, but he’s not getting married to any woman again. Do you think he will

I

safe to presume there is a reason other than lack of opportunity as to why you’ve hung onto your virginity.

If you were eager to put the proverbial notches on your bedpost, you’d have slept with the mother and the daughter, instead you resisted the mother and while you were attracted to the daughter, the attraction faded when she tried to lure you into bed. You are obviously not out for sex, you are out for a real connection. But, it is okay to be. You have lost your dear mum and are feeling lost and vulnerable. The last thing you need is a weird mother/daughter sex triangle. If you can find another legal firm to work with, do so. If not, let the mother realise that as much as you’ve appreciated her support, you’re not interested in having a relationship that is more than maternal.

As for the daughter, I think you should steer clear. it’s going to be very messy if you date her. Hell has no fury like a woman scorned, but mother losing out to daughter is something even more dastardly. You deserve to be with someone, who really cares about you, who’s willing to take it slow and lets you initiate sex when you feel ready to have it. So, go back to socialising with your friends and simply enjoy yourself until you feel truly ready fot a relationship.

change his mind? I don’t really mind being a third wife.

Nike, by e-mail.

Dear Nike, After eight years together, there’s absolutely no chance your partner is going to change his mind. He’s been honest with you from the start that this is the type of life he intends to live. Can you live with this? You have for the past eight years, though a lot of women looking for better commitments would have given him his marching orders.

be blissfully happy if it wasn’t for my 24-year- old daughter. She’s often quite nasty to him and has been like this from the word go.

She’s always been a daddy’s girl and I think she feels some misplaced sense of loyalty to her father. She knows there’s no chance of me getting back together with her dad and my poor fiance bends over backward to please her.

Rita, by e-mail.

Dear Rita, It’s a shame that your daughter is not giving her support when you most need it. It’s not as if you had a whirlwind romance, and you split with her dad many years ago.

At 24, she should be more mature and happy that you’ve found someone to share your life with. She’s obviously afraid of change and you need to have a good talk with her and let her know you intend to go ahead with the wedding and you would still love and care for her after.

At 24, whatever she then decides to do is her problem.

Dear Bunmi, Some months back, I told my boyfriend of two years to let us cool things a bit in spite of the fact that he was the most loyal, honest and caring man I’d ever met. I had just met someone else then who swept me off my feet; he wined and dined me and I was in seventh heaven until I came crashing down when he moved on to another relationship.

I felt rejected and decided to go back to my ex. But, he doesn’t want me back now that, according to him, I had been used and dumped. He says I broke his heart when I had the fling with the other man, and that he’l1 never take me back. Should I give him time?

Tosan, by e-mail.

Dear Tosan, I wish i could tell you a way to get your ex back, but I don’t honestly think he’d come back to you. Often, when people are badly hurt, they emotionally cut off the one, who caused them such pain - and that’s what your ex has done. In my experience though, people don’t go off with someone else for no reason. They do it because their relationship is on the rocks. Your ex may be the most wonderful man when you went out with him for two years, but that didn’t stop you from going with another man who offered you excitement. Obviously, your ex wasn’t right for you, so, find a man who is right, then you won’t be unfaithful to him.

Why is my husband sleeping with prostitutes?

Dear Bunmi, I recently found out, through a colleague in his office, that my husband of almost 20 years has been sleeping with prostitutes. according to this colleague, some of them call at the office and he takes time off to take them to motels. i haven’t confronted him yet - i’m still in shock. how could he? now i just wish i’d never found out in the first place. i still love him and can’t imagine life without him. we have three teenage children.

Wunmi, by e-mail.

Dear Wunmi, You’re bound to be deeply

upset at the moment, but you need to find out how credible your ‘informant’ is. Not only has your trust been blown away, but you should be worried about your own sexual health too. You need to sit down and have it out with him. In order to save your marriage, he needs to stop. You’re still in love with him and it would be a major upheaval if you left him.

Sadly, a lot of married men resort to prostitutes for sexual gratification in spite of the health hazards involved. So have things out in the open and pray he’s not yet a sex addict!

You need to sit down and have it out with him. In order to save your marriage, he needs to stop. You’re still in love with him and it would be a major upheaval if you left him. Sadly, a lot of married men resort to prostitutes for sexual gratification in spite of the health hazards involved. So have things out in the open and pray he’s not yet a sex addict!

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, SEPTEMBER 16 , 2015—34

Urhobo, Isoko oil host communities petition Buhari over alleged neglect B

By Simon Ebegbulem

ENIN CITY—OIL and gas producing host communities in Urhobo and Isoko nations in Delta State, have petitioned President Muhammadu Buhari over alleged neglect and lack of employment opportunities for their indigenes.

They appealed to the President to look into their plight and assured that they would allow the Federal Government open up the Utorogu gas plant and flow stations which the communities shut due to the alleged neglect.

They also expressed their desire to give the Federal Government the opportunity to deal with the issues raised without resorting to crisis.

Chairman of Otu-Jeremi, Olorugun Eric K. Sajini and President General of Edjophe, Chief E.O.B. Akpoguma, in a letter addressed to the President, lamented that the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, and the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs which were set up to address the problems in the region, were used as drain pipes rather than tackling the problems of the region.

“These federal and state agencies rather than alleviate the

plight of the people, now serve as drain pipes through which corruption thrives. It is our belief, Your Excellency, that the present administration, with its change agenda and anti corruption crusade, will bring succour to our people. In as much as we are ready to support your administration, it is our fervent prayer that you set up a fact finding body that will look through the areas and report to

you on the way forward.

“It is our belief also that since the Niger Delta Progressive Forum has intervened in this matter, they will be able to follow it to a conclusive end.” The chairman of the NDPF, Austin Atakpo, said the essence of intervention of the body was basically to ensure that peace reined within the region which contributes more of the nation’s wealth and that with the shutdown of the gas plant in the communities,

it was felt that activities of the people did not send the right signal to the present government in place.

Atakpo pointed out that the leadership of the NDPF needed to prove to the federal government that “we are in support of what it is doing, so shutting down the gas plant was a distraction, even though the issues raised by the aggrieved communities weregermane.”

FIGHT AGAINST HYPERTENSION: From left: Gloria Chukwumah, Head of Department, Food and Drugs, Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Health, Mr. Linus Awute and Chief Executive Officer, Neimeth International Pharmaceuticals Plc, Mr. Emmanuel Ekunno at the Fight The Good , FITGAH, executive presentation in Abuja.

Sacked poly teachers drag Rivers govt to industrial court P

By Jimitota Onoyume

ORT HARCOURT— ABOUT 435 staff of Ken Sarowiwa Polytechnic (formerly Rivers Polytechnic) recently sacked by the state

Pa Samuel Ebbah is dead

P

A SAMUEL Ebbah of Eku and Obaghoro, both in Delta State, is dead. He died on August 9, 2015, aged 82 years, after brief illness. He was a businessman and community leader in Sapele.

He will be buried on October 30, at Eku, Delta State.

He is survived by his widow, children, grandchildren, and other relations.

The late Pa Samuel Ebbah

government have dragged the government to the National Industrial Court, NIC, Port Harcourt Division, challenging their sack.

Amannah Ireju, Jekey Lekue and Oruwari Sotonye, on behalf of themselves and the others, are praying NIC to, among others, declare their employment by the state government between September 2013 and April 1 2015 valid.

They also want the court to declare that they were genuine staff of the institution, urging NIC to also declare

their recent sack by the state government unlawful, seeking “a declaration that the purported termination of the claimants, employment with the defendant is unlawful, null and void and a breach of the claimants contract of employment.

An order mandating the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Education, Rector/Registrar of the said Polytechnic to reinstate the 435 workers immediately and pay them all outstanding salaries forthwith.”

They also prayed the court to issue an order restraining the

Registrar/Rector of the school from engaging new staff to replace them.

In the same vein, they urged the court to give an order mandating the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Education, and the Rector/Registrar of the school to reinstate them.

The Attorney General of Rivers State is the first defendant, while the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Education and the Rector, Ken Sarowiwa Polytechnic, are the second and third defendants respectively.

Edo govt to set up Public Defender Office

B

By Simon Ebegbulem

ENIN CITY— GOVERNOR Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State has announced plans by the state government to establish an Office of Public Defender within the state Ministry of Justice to ensure justice for families whose relatives were unjustly killed by law enforcement agents.

The governor, who disclosed this during a meeting with Civil Society Organisations in the state who paid him a visit, said: “I have been concerned about reported

cases of people who have been killed under very suspicious circumstances allegedly by law enforcement agencies.

"One thing I have promised, in the spirit of this meeting, I would fast track it by next week as to establish the office of public defender within the Ministry of Justice and ensure that the office is not connected to people in government otherwise it would be afflicted by the disease that attack the public service.

“It will be controlled by nongovernmental organization, the

cost of servicing the office would be borne by government but the officer will hold the office at the pleasure of nongovernmental organization.

That way, it would be faithful to the NGOs and not the state government.”

The governor commended the civil society organizations for helping to raise awareness on human rights. “I believe that the NGOs are playing an important role in the socioeconomic life of the state," he said.

Frontline News plans beauty pageant, others for Ibusa

I

B U S A — T H E management of Frontline News, a grassroot tabloid, has unfolded plans to embark on three-in-one programme to showcase the socio-economic and political developments of Ibusa nation in Delta State.

Part of the of activities in the programme include a beauty pageant for Ibusa female indigenes, publication of a magazine on the happenings in Ibusa and merit awards to illustrious sons/daughters in the community, including the Diokpas (village heads) of the ten quarters that make up the town.

Speaking in an interview, the publisher/C.E.O of the newspaper, Dr. Dan Awana, said the purpose of the proposed programme billed to take place in December was aimed at creating awareness on the need for indigenes, especially those outside the community, to come together, interact and be abreast of various customs and tradition of Ibusa and places of importance towards the socioeconomic development of the town.

Old Boys plan ICT centre, others for St. Malachy's Gram Sch, Sapele

S

APELE—HEAD of National Office, West African Examination Council, WAEC, Mr. Charles Eguridu will lead other dignitaries to Saturday ground breaking ceremony for the construction of ICT Laboratory and Library by St. Malachy’s Grammar School, Sapele, Old Boys Association National President of the association, Mr. Lucky Siakpere, said the legacy projects were part of the efforts and drive by the old boys to return the school to its past glory.

Siakpere explained that the governor’s acceptance to be the special guest at the epoch-making event was a pointer to the boost education in Delta State would receive in his administration.

Old boys of the school from all parts of the country, will be in Sapele to witness the event.

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 16, 2015—35

Fear of epidemic looms in Owerri

By Chidi Nkwopara

O

WERRI—FEARS of an impending epidemic have gripped residents of Owerri and its adjoining communities, following heaps of uncleared refuse scattered in several parts of the municipality.

Already, fat house flies and rodents have made the dumps their home, while very offensive odour emanating from the decayed heaps of refuse is keeping the residents uncomfortable.

When Vanguard went to town to sample the opinion of residents of Owerri, the respondents were unanimous in their belief that government has remained indifferent to the situation.

A house wife, Mrs. Tina Iwuala, lamented that virtually all the markets in Owerri, had been taken over by refuse.

“House flies and rodents are now competing for space with human beings in our markets. It is sad that from the look of things, government is not serious about evacuating the heaps of refuse in the markets,” Mrs. Iwuala said.

In his own reaction, Pastor Ejike Emereonye expressed regret that the present administration simply jettisoned the system Chief Ikedi Ohakim used in tackling refuse

collection and dispossal.

“The streets are overflowing with refuse. It appears that those charged with the responsibility of evacuating refuse have either abdicated their duties or the government that sent them out is not funding their activities,” Emereonye reasoned.

He urged government to take

notice of the likely effect of enthroning a filthy environment on the citizenry, stressing that “the state cannot afford the luxury of handling any epidemic in this period of cash crunch.”

When contacted for his comment, the Governor’s Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Sam Onwuemeodo, expressed regret

N

ATIONAL EXECUTIVE Council of the University of Nigeria Alumni Association, UNAA, has called on the Federal Government to accelerate the establishment of Independent Power Projects and industrial clusters to influence the economic growth of the nation.

In a communique issued at the end of its NEC 89th meeting, in Nnewi, Anambra State, the group commended the disciplined and austere lifestyle of President Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR, and urged all to emulate same

By Glory Ekwenuya

PPP SUMMIT: Emir of Kano welcomes

focus on social infrastructure

By Anozie Egole

E

MIR OF Kano, Alhaji Muhammadu Sanusi II has thrown his weight behind the forthcoming 2015 Nigeria Infrastructure Public Private Partnership Summit scheduled to hold in the last quarter of this year.

The former Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria, gave his nod to the summit while speaking to the Summit Planning team recently in his palace in Kano when the latter paid a courtesy visit to him on the event. The visit was part of several scheduled consultations with various stakeholders on infrastructure development in the country.

The planning team was led by A.B Mahmoud (SAN), managing partner at Dikko & Mahmoud, and it included Gori Lusina Daniel and Hakeem Adeleye, both from Adams & Moore, a U.K based global professional advisory firm, Ibrahim Abdullahi and Zubaida Mahmoud from Dikko & Mahmoud, a full service law firm.

Emir Sanusi, who highlighted the need for a pragmatic approach in developing Nigeria’s infrastructure across different sectors, bemoaned the nonimplementation of several recommendations from previous successful summits by past governments.

While assuring the team of his support, the Emir also called for priority attention on social infrastructure, especially in areas

Alumni association tasks FG on speedy devt

By Amaka Abayomi

at the situation.

“My brother, this issue of refuse collection and dispossal is annoying. It was assigned to a particular task force. I am at the airport now, but when I come back to Owerri, I will check the group that is responsible for it,” Onwuemeodo said.

African Bar Association commends NBA President for successful conference

and shun corruption.

Entitled ‘Manufacturing industry, key to socio-economic revival and the restoration of the dignity of man,' the guest speaker, Princess Jaanna NwaforOrizu, listed the factors that influenced the economic growth of Japan, Singapore, Malaysia and China to include: high savings rate; investment in new technology and education; and export boom accelerated by industrialization.

She advocated a paradigm shift in Nigerians' thought patterns, urging them to think more on how to create wealth rather than

engaging in corrupt practices.

The communique by National President and Secretary, Andrew Oru and Emeka Nwanevu urged government to establish Dry Cargo Airports to evacuate produced goods and receive raw materials for our industries.

It also commended the continued cordial relationship between the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Benjamin Chukwuma Ozumba, and UNAA, and readopted UNAA commitment to the successful hosting of the West African University Games, WAUG.

such as health and education, both of which, according to him, are primarily critical to the well being of the people.

“I understand the critical role infrastructure plays in developing our economy, and in particular, the need for Nigeria to address the key social infrastructure deficit particularly in education and health that will deliver a better quality of life not just for the elite, but for those in society for whom access to N1,000 could make the difference between losing a child and obtaining the medication and treatment that could save a child’s life.”

Sanusi II has recently been appointed Chairman of the Board of Black Rhino, a Blackstone portfolio company focused on the development and acquisitions of energy and infrastructure projects across Africa.

The leader of the delegation, A.B. Mahmoud (SAN) during his speech told the monarch that the summit aims to establish a private sector-led community of practice with the mandate to work with government at all levels to ensure the delivery of sector-specific roadmaps for the development of critical infrastructure through public private partnerships.

Gori Daniel, partner and Africa Regional Director at Adams & Moore, in his own remarks noted that the summit would focus on four critical sectors – power, health, transport and education, aligned with the Federal Government’s stated development priorities.

B

ENIN CITY— THE African Bar Association has commended the President of the Nigerian Bar Association, NBA, Augustine Alegeh (SAN) for the success recorded in the just concluded 55th Annual General Conference of the NBA. In a statement by the association’s Director of Media, Samuel Abasilim, the association adjudged the conference as the best so far in the history of NBA just as it commended the ingenuity of the NBA President and the planners of the conference for a successful event.

Meanwhile, the AFBA has announced the election of Mr. Ibrahim Mark into the Executive Committee of the association.

Also appointed are Messrs Kolade Adegboyega as Treasurer/ Secretary and Dagogo Karibi-Whyte as Director of membership and organization.

Their appointments according to the statement is with immediate effect.

By Bartholomew Madukwe (08102479985) nwamad@yahoo.com

PEOPLE SPEAK

On President Buhari’s anti-corruption war?

W

ell, the only real solution I can conceive is a psychomoral exorcism. Nothing short will cure the mess. Without it, all this talk of fighting corruption is a grand delusion. -Mr. Darlington Ehondor, Journalist

F

or PMB to end corrup tion that has eaten deep in Nigeria, let him start from the root of corruption. For instance, to kill a tree that has grown so big and has deep rooted, it is not by cutting its branches that will kill the tree. -Mr. Jerome Samson, Communicator

C

onventional courts cannot handle corruption cases, given that major EFCC cases are lying perpetually pending and unresolved. I move that a Special Court manned by judges of international repute be created to handle it. -Mr. Abubakar Ogunbona, Businessman

B

uhari cannot sincerely fight corruption. EFCC and ICPC do not even have a good blueprint on how to fight corruption. He is surrounded by many corrupt individuals who sponsored his campaign. Miss Lizzy Popson, Self Employed

T

here are two ways to fight corruption. Government must prepare a welfare package for the jobless, an amount that can feed and house family that has no job. There must be laws guiding investments and businesses in Nigeria. -Mr. Aramide Adebisi, Worker

C

apital punishment is long overdue for corrupt politicians in the country. I am in support of this, as long as we follow due process. With two or three scape-goats, that cancer of corruption in our society will disappear. -Miss Constance Nduba, Graduate

36 — Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 16, 2015

We're working with Buhari to protect lives in Plateau — LALONG

By Innocent Anaba

J

OS—GOVERNOR Simon Lalong of Plateau State has said that the state government was collaborating with President Muhammadu Buhari and the military task force in the state, “Operation Safe Heaven” to ensure the security of life and property.

The governor, who stated this at the Church Of Christ In Nations, COCIN, headquarters in Jos, during the special thanksgiving to mark his 100 days in the office, said very soon, the insecurity challenges facing the state would be a thing of the past.

He said: “Soonest, we will prepare people to go to heaven, not to die, but we will make Plateau MEETING: Chairman, Joint Tax Board (JTB), Mr Tunde Fowler (left), with the secretary State heaven for people to stay.” of the board, Mr Muhammad Abubakar, at a meeting of JTB on improving revenue He thanked God and the People collection through enhanced collaboration of tax authorities, in Abuja. Photo: NAN of Plateau State for his election, saying: “We are not celebrating 100 days in office, we are only have paid salary arrears up to five The Airport road and bridge people of Plateau State.” reminding the people of Plateau of months without receiving bailout contractor will be mobilised to go Earlier in his sermon, the the contract which we have with funds. We have not received our back to site this week.

President of COCIN, Rev. Dr. them and with that contract, people own bailout fund and as soon as “We are restructuring the civil Dachollom Dachiri urged leaders will like to know the steps we are we receive the fund, we will not service for the overall interest of to hold unto God so that they can taking to fulfil our obligations to allow unpaid salaries any room the people. On security, we are serve the people better. them. Many people do not last for in the state. Government is a doing a lot of things with the He said: “Hold unto the Lord 100 days, but God in His infinite continuum, we are addressing the Presidency and Operation Safe well. If you hold Him tight, the mercies has kept all of us and given uncompleted projects we inherited Heaven, very soon, insecurity changes you will bring will be us the grace to be here today. from the past administration will be a thing of the past, we good and permanent, the Plateau “We have many days to go, we because they are for the people. must protect the lives of the project is the project of all of us.”

UNIJOS named Africa’s centre of excellence for Phyto-medicine Research Devt

By Marie-Therese Nanlong

J

OS—THE emphasis placed by the University of Jos on provision of high quality teaching with quality research has earned it

20m Nigerians infected with hepatitis virus — EXPERT

By Suzan Edeh

B

AUCHI—NO fewer than 20 million people are infected with Hepatitis virus in Nigeria, Bauchi-based Gastroenterologist of the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa Teaching Hospital, Dr Mustapha Umar, has said.

Dr Umar, who stated this in an interview in Bauchi yesterday, as part of activities lined up to mark this year’s Hepatitis Week, said 3.6 million people were currently infected with the virus in Bauchi State.

He said the disease could be contacted through contact with unsterilized blood carrying the virus and urged members of the public to ensure that they got vaccinated to avoid being infected.

“The hepatitis disease has become very worrisome because current reports show that over 400 million people are being infected with the virus worldwide.''

Africa’s Centre of Excellence for Phyto-medicine Research Development.

The Vice Chancellor of the university, Prof. Hayward Mafuyai, disclosed this while addressing journalists in Jos on the preparation for the 40th anniversary celebration and 27th and 28th combined convocation ceremonies.

Prof. Mafuyai also said the World Bank gave the institution an $8 million grant to conduct research in the development of new medicines, using natural plants and herbs.

To make access to information easier in the institution, the VC added the university would soon start online issuance of transcripts to ease the difficulties faced by graduates.

He said: “After 40 years, the University of Jos has produced over 150,000 from its regular, part-time, undergraduate and postgraduate programmes and certificate courses.

Defend yourself before Senate or resign, CSOs tells Lamorde

By Evelyn Usman

E

MBATTLED chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Mr. Ibrahim Lamorde, has been given seven-day ultimatum to appear before the Senate to defend himself against allegations of diversion of over N1 trillion proceeds recovered

Delta PDP slams APC over comment

By Glory Ekwenuya

D

ELTA State chapter of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has described as baseless and malicious a recent media report credited to the state chapter of All Progressives Congress, APC, claiming that the PDP-led government in Delta State had nothing to show for its one hundred days in office.

The state chairman of the PDP, Chief Edwin Uzor, in a statement in Asaba weekend, said the APC lacked the moral

“In our efforts to achieve more and enhance our reputation nationally and internationally, we have developed new programmes relevant to the needs of our communities and the country.''

justification to score the government in the state low when the APC-led Federal Government and APC controlled states had not done better.

Chief Uzor said within 48 days of assuming office, Governor Ifeanyi Okowa, presented to the State House of Assembly the Delta State Capital Territory Development Agency Bill and the Technical and Vocational Education Board Bill, which were passed within the first week in office and had been assented to by the governor.

by the anti-graft agency or resign.

The ultimatum was given by a group of Civil Society Organisations, under the aegis of Anti-Corruption Coalition, ACC. The group, which frowned on what it described as seeming footdragging on the part of Lamorde, wondered why he had failed to appear before the Senate Committee two weeks after the allegation was made public.

Calling on the need for Lamorde to be probed, ACC’s National Coordinator, Comrade Mohammed, in a statement issued in Lagos, said: “It has been two weeks since the nation was greeted with series of weighty allegations of fraud against the EFCC Chairman, Mr. Ibrahim Lamorde as contained in a petition submitted to the Senate by a whistleblower, Mr George Uboh.

“Recalled that on August 26, the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions held a public hearing on the allegations of fraud against Lamorde but he snubbed the panel.''

Science School offers scholarship to 40 orphans in Bauchi

By Suzan Edeh

B

AUCHI—THE management of Sunnah Science School in Bauchi State has announced its decision to sponsor 40 orphans in institutions of learning in the state.

The Director of the school, Alhaji Danlami Alhassan, who stated this during a meeting with the parent association of the school in Bauchi yesterday, said the gesture was to give a sense of belonging to the orphans The meeting was organized by the school to strengthen the existing cordial relationship between parents and the school.

He said: ”One of the vision of this school is to impact the society by giving knowledge and a sense of belonging to the less privilege among us.

“Currently, we are shouldering the responsibilities of orphans studying at nursery, primary, secondary and NCE levels in the state and we are calling on the state government to compliment the efforts of the school by assisting us with funds to construct 750 capacity hall and a laboratory.”

Friesland Campina marks 1000 days of workplace safety

By Chioma Obinna

F

RIESLAND CAMPINA WAMCO Nigeria Plc, last week blazed the trail in workplace safety as it hits 1000 days with no staff forced to stay away from work due to injuries sustained on duty.

Addressing workers during its SHE Week with the theme: “Safety in Your Hands”, Hearts, and Mind”, the Corporate Affairs Director, Ore Famurewa, described loss time accident, LTA, as an employee’s time off work as a result of injury sustained at work during daily operations.

Famurewa further disclosed that the organisation is now ISO14001 and OHSAS 18001 certified for maintaining the best regulatory standards for environment-friendly energy use and waste management as well as promoting the best occupational health and safety standards without legal breaches.

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 16, 2015 — 37

HONOUR: Presiding Bishop, United African Methodist Evangelical Church, Yaba, Rt. Revd Zaccheus Sanyaolu (left); presenting a Bible to retired Lt. Gen. Oladipo Diya (right) during the conferment of Cathedral Father on Diya.

NYSC/GUINNESS: From left— Head, Policy and Public Affairs, Guinness Nigeria Plc, Mr. Michael Onuoha; Director-General, National Youth Service Corps, NYSC, Brigadier-General, Johnson Olawumi, and Corporate Relations Director, Guinness Nigeria Plc, Mr. Sesan Sobowale, during a courtesy call on the DG in Abuja.

From left— Professor Oluwole Atoyebi, Registrar; Professor Rasheed Arogundade, President, and Professor Opubo Lilly-Tariah, Treasurer, all of the National Postgraduate Medical College of Nigeria, at a briefing on the college's convocation coming up tomorrow in Lagos, yesterday. PHOTO: Biodun Ogunleye.

FIRST BANK/FUTA: From left— Mrs. Olubukola Akinbogun, Business Development Manager, First Bank, Akure; Dr. Kayode Alese, First Bank Endowment Chair; Professor Tolulope Akinbogun, Deputy Vice Chancellor, Development, Federal University of Technology, Akure, FUTA, at the car presentation and BoT meeting of the bank's Computer Science Endowment programme, at FUTA, Akure, Ondo State.

ENGINEERS/BoI: From left— Managing Director/CEO, Bank of Industry, BoI, Mr. Rasheed Olaoluwa; President, Nigerian Society of Engineers, NSE, Engr. Ademola Olorunfemi; past President, Engr. Mustafa Shehu, and President, Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria, COREN, Engr. Kashim Ali, at a meeting between NSE and BoI in Abuja.

BIRTHDAY: From left—Security detail, Office of Lagos State Deputy Governor, Mr. Fagbemi Adebimpe (middled); Permanent Secretary in the office, Mr. Michael Dawodu (right) and another staff, Mr. Yisa Aloba, during Mr. Adebimpe's birthday celebration in Lagos.

INDUSTRIAL SEMINAR: From left—Commissioner for Special Duties, representing Governor Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State, Mr. Didi Adodo; President, National Union of Chemical, Footwear, Rubber, Leather and Non-Metallic Products Employees, NUCFRLANMPE, Mr. Boniface Isok, and representative of Dangote Cement, Mr. E. F. Ali, at the 24th annual National Industrial Relations Seminar in Benin, Edo State.

FIDSON AWARD: From left—Divisional Manager, North, Fidson Healthcare Plc, Mr. Rotimi Afolaogun; ME/CEO, Tony Pharmacy, Kano, Mr. Anthony Osimire, and Field Sales Manager, North 2, Fidson, Mr. Lucky Oriabure, during the Fidson Retail Reward event in Kano.

MEDICAL COLLEGE:

38—VANGUARD, WEDNESDAY,

SEPTEMBER 16, 2015

2015: KOGI DECIDES AUDU'S RUNNING MATE:

Group hails nomination of Faleke

By Kingsley Fanwo

A

•Wada: Emerges PDP candidate

How Wada beat bookmakers to snatch victory

By Kingsley Fanwo

T

HOUGH the result of the Kogi PDP governorship primary may give it out as an easy victory for the incumbent governor, Idris Wada, people in the know are aware of the behind-the-curtains intrigues, which gave victory to the governor.

Shortly before the primary, the stakes became very high especially after some members of the House of Representatives moved against the governor. Members representing Yagba and Kabba/Bunu Federal Constituencies respectively were seen openly campaigning for Alhaji Isah Jibrin Echocho. Their grouse, according to one of them, was the governor’s lack of political inclusion.

Efforts by the governor’s men to reach out to the opposition figures were rebuffed, setting the stage for a titanic battle at the primary. Indeed, the opposition, it was gathered, had raised the stakes by demanding that the governor trade his running mate, Arc. Yomi Awoniyi and offer six cabinet positions to Echocho, a demand that the governor was said to have stoutly rebuffed.

Lack of ciommitment Indeed, tension exacerbated after speculation blew across the state that oil magnate, Otunba Jide Omokore was backing Echocho. The body language of former Governor Ibrahim Idris also appeared to show lack of commitment to the Wada project.

With opposition building against the governor, bookmakers were banking on the division to tip Echocho for victory. But then, the story changed as the governor and his core supporters held on.

The governor’s team was able to pull through by holding on to some highly respected leaders of the party such as former PDP National Chairman, Dr. Ahmadu Ali, former Senator, Tunde Ogbeha and many others. The founding leaders of the party were able to give Wada C M Y K

victory at the primary.

Can the governor pull through in the general election?

Since the emergence of Capt. Idris Wada as the candidate of the PDP, different permutations have been crafted by

To win the general election, the governor, pundits assert, needs to properly reconcile with party leaders

political pundits in the party.

To win the general election, the governor, pundits assert, needs to properly reconcile with party leaders. He will need to reassure such leaders of his readiness to work with them if he wins the general election.

Also, there is need for the governor to expedite action on the ongoing Lokoja Township Road project. The condition of the major road that runs through Lokoja has continued to be a major campaign issue.

However, of even more advantage to the governor is the fact that PDP leaders seem to have come to the reality of the need to retain the state beyond 2016 for the political survival of many of its leaders and the threat posed by the candidature of Prince Abubakar Audu of the APC.

Goodman emerges APGA candidate

By Boluwaji Obahopo

C

OMRADE Akwu Goodman, on Saturday, emerged the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, for the November 21, 2015 governorship election.

His candidature was ratified at the NUJ Centre by party delegates after emerging as the sole aspirant at the primary. Goodman immediately promised that the party would spring a surprise against the permutation of the All Progressives Congress, APC and the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, at the governorship polls.

“My party, APGA, will upstage them (APC and PDP) to form government in the next dispensation, " Goodman said adding that his chances in the election remains very bright, because he represents a paradigm shift from the old order and charged it is high time the elderly politicians quit the stage for the younger ones.

He pointed out that the focus of his administration if given the mandate, will be youth empowerment, and education, “I enjoin the electorate not to toy with their future. They should vote for APGA in the November 21 governorship polls. My party has a well articulated programme that will put the state on sound economic pedestal.

“A vote for APGA is a vote for liberation. The down trodden who form the larger percentage of the people of the state cannot continue to wallow in abject poverty in the midst of plenty”.

He assured that his administration would carry all segments of the state along in the scheme of things, stressing that minority ethnic groups are agitating for power shift due to bad governance and injustice.

“Although the responsibility of flying my party ’s flag in the coming governorship election is a big task, I will not betray the confidence reposed in me.

I promise to be a good ambassador of my party by running a purposeful and transparent leadership if elected.”

SOCIO-POLITICAL group, Okun Youth Frontiers has hailed the nomination of Hon. James Abiodun Faleke as running mate to the APC governorship candidate, Prince Abubakar Audu.

In a statement in Lokoja, the group promised to mobilize over 200,000 Okun youth to vote for the APC ticket in the November 21 governorship election.

“In terms of experience, Abiodun Faleke has it in abundance. For the Okun-born politician to be elected twice to govern the highly cosmopolitan Ikeja Local Government Area is a testimony to his astuteness and administrative acumen. He was also the campaign coordinator for Buhari/Osinbajo in Lagos State.

“Having acquired quality in Nigeria and abroad, Faleke has shown the Okun spirit of resilience, hard work and loyalty. He is eminently qualified to pilot the affairs of the state with his boss, Prince Abubakar Audu.

“We are sufficiently aware that those kicking against his choice do not love Okunland. When the late S.B. Awoniyi and Chief Ola Akande were both Senator and Deputy Governor respectively, Ijumu and Kabba/Bunu didn’t complain because we knew we were one people. That is what we remain to be”, he said.

Also, the group applauded the national leader of APC, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu for releasing Hon. Faleke after investing so much in him to develop him as a first class politician and administrator, saying the Okun nation will reciprocate the gesture by voting massively for APC.

•Faleke

VANGUARD, WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 16, 2015—39

Bayelsa’s political struggles BAYELSA DECIDES

By Samuel Oyadongha

aspirants among them a woman contesting. That may look like a crowded field. However, findings show that the battle for the APC ticket is between former Governor Timipre Sylva and Chief Timi Alaibe.

Head or tail, a Timi will be the candidate of the APC. But who gets the ticket in the APC depends on the horse trading and the political suave of the two leading aspirants.

Interestingly Bayelsans want someone who they can trust. Can Chief Sylva defeat the incumbent? It is a big question.

Some observers say the other Timi may be able to pull the strings having aimed at becoming Governor on three different occasions like President Buhari. Is Alaibe the “Abraham Lincoln” of Bayelsa?

A

S the battle for the soul of Bayelsa gets tougher, the two leading parties, the People’s Democratic Party, PDP and All Progressives Congress, APC are plugging all loose ends and ironing out rough edges to ensure victory in the December 5 governorship election.

For the ruling party, PDP the flag bearer is known, as all other aspirants have fallen by the wayside. Governor Henry Seriake Dickson is the candidate having muscled his way with the gospel that Bayelsa is not only a PDP stronghold, but also drawn sentiments to the party as the party that produced the first Ijaw man as vice-president and as president of the country which should not be forsaken by the Ijaws.

Another leading aspirant in the race to grab the PDP ticket, Arc Reuben Okoya, last week threw in the towel as the political arena became too hot. His followers were totally disappointed but he defended his action by saying that he was bowing to party supremacy.

Only three aspirants presented themselves for screening last week- Dickson, Chief Ebikitin Diongoli and Senator Emmanuel Paulker.

Internal war in APC must stop

•Dickson

— UNITY FORUM

By Emem Idio

A

Screening committee Though the duo of Diongoli and Paulker were reportedly disqualified, a source close to Paulker, however, told Vanguard that his boss was not disqualified as rumoured but that he was asked to go and correct the forms he wrongly filled and return same.

“The screening committee having noticed some mistakes made by Paulker, a ranking senator while filling his forms asked him to go and correct same, admitting that he may have made the mistakes due to the busy nature of his work as a serving senator saddled with enormous responsibility,” the source said.

But a PDP source who spoke on condition of anonymity confirmed the successful screening of Dickson.

This effectively makes Dickson the de facto flag bearer of the party and he has said that he stands every chance of being reelected primarily because he has a record of outstanding performance. He reels out his achievements at the slightest opportunity. Besides, the state owned radio and television station have not failed in trumpeting his achievements. He has built roads, roads and roads.

He has built bridges and C M Y K

•Sylva changed the face of Yenagoa the state capital. It is on record that Bayelsa is one of the states that is not owing workers salaries.

Dickson is eloquent and is aiming to return to office on the strength of what he says are his achievements.

But critical observers say Dickson has derailed, as according to them “When he came on board on February 14, 2012, there was enthusiasm everywhere as he embarked on eye catching projects”.

He also claimed to have turned Bayelsa into a huge construction site. But a leading critic from the opposition, Chief Alex Ekiotenne says Dickson’s achievements are mostly on the pages of newspapers.

The defection of many PDP top shots to the opposing APC is not a threat to the incumbent says Chief Donald Evareda.

According to him, “those who

•Alaibe have decamped lack electoral value as they are not interested in the overall good of Bayelsa but the perks of office.”

He added that it is for that simple reason that all the leading defectors want to become the next

But the battle for Creek Haven will be Herculean as Bayelsans are not ready to be taken for a ride this time around

governor. “How is that possible?”, the governor’s aide on media queried. But the battle for Creek Haven will be Herculean as Bayelsans are not ready to be taken for a ride this time around.

The ruling party has repeatedly declared that the APC has no grassroots support and has no structures. “The APC are strange bed fellows and can never uproot PDP from Bayelsa, its stronghold,” supporters of the PDP have insisted.

Mr. Patterson Ogon, spokesperson for one of the leading aspirants in the APC quipped: “This was how the APC was dismissed as a ranting party at the federal level before President Muhammadu Buhari bulldozed Jonathan from Aso Rock leaving PDP faithful wondering what went wrong.”

With few days to the APC primaries, there are still 19

GROUP styled The Unity Forum in the All Progressives Congress, APC, in Bayelsa state has expressed worry over recent hate campaigns by some members of the party against aspirants for the Saturday governorship primaries of the party in the state.

Chairman of the forum Mr. Ibaralayoun Theophilus in a press statement in Yenagoa, while condemning the statements of hate credited to some members of the party in the media, particularly those who defected only recently from the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, to the APC. The group described the development as “sad and unfortunate.”

The group said that rather than engage in issues based campaigns, that some in the party have resorted to mudslinging of the very people who nurtured the party to bear the fruits they are reaping.

Theophilus regretted that such campaigns of hate will not only give politics a negative image but will also make people lose confidence in the party that professes change , stressing that, it will be a replay of the rancour in the PDP. He appealed to members of the party to desist from such acts and respect the right of individuals to exercise their democratic rights of participation in the electoral process.

40 — Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 16,

2015

At last ‘the veil is lifted' TRIBUTE

By Erelu Abiola Dosumu Oh my Deinde – Even in death your innermost wishes are being thwarted by human frailties and manipulations – Sun re e You came, you saw and you conquered! You set the bar for corporate Nigeria, our traditional institutions and wore the badge of Nigeria like a shield of Honour.

You were a Giant as you were a Dove.

You were proud like a King and as humble as a servant.

You were valiant but ruled with a gentle heart.

Most importantly, you accepted the presence of the Almighty; otherwise why your outburst to me in the midst of your pain “You did the work for the wealth for which they all want to kill themselves”

Y

OU left home at the age of 18, in search of the Golden Fleece. You traded in commodities between Africa and America. We met in 1972 on one of your return journeys with your business proceeds. You constantly used the profit from your business ventures to add value to the lives of families, friends and sundry; examples of your kind hearted generosity abound: you changed dollars at less than 50 per cent value to help them pay their children’s school fees, pay hospital bills and even give their families much needed holidays.

We discovered our families were old friends and after all the initial courtesies and ceremonies, we got married in April 1973. It was with great pomp and pageantry in the palace of the then Oba of Lagos with the wedding reception attended by several dignitaries including the then Governor Lawal. We waited on the Lord for our baby to arrive and in March 1976, our daughter Oyinkan Antoinette Fernandez (whom you named after your mother and first daughter of your mum) was born.

Private rooms I was in the process of completing the purchase of “Habib Building” on Berkeley Street, Onikan when you exclaimed ‘How can you have a property like that when I do not have a leaf in Nigeria?’ I had it transferred to you at cost to the amazement of the Habib family.

For me what ever was mine was yours and whatever was yours was mine. I carried out the renovation of the three office floors, 34 residential flats and built private rooms for us on the th 18 floor, while providing jobs to teeming Nigerians. The rooms still stand till today despite the fear of professional engineers.

We were so happy there – I convinced you to come back home and we spent fifteen

•HRH Erelu Abiola Dosumu glorious years together in this Lagos with our children, our new large family. Teju, Gbemi, Tony, Akin, Titi, Koye, Kunle, Dewunmi and later Oyinkan our daughter, who came along in 1976. It was truly the only home you ever had. Oh you used to entertain us with Gelede dance using dustbin as your bum, towel as your masque and bed sheet as your wrapper!

Having succeeded in making you come back to Nigeria, we embarked on the business of creating wealth. Brigadier Mobolaji Johnson (still a living witness) gave us twenty hectares of land on Badagry Road to build our first factory. I reassured him you were not going to be an absentee landlord and as the senior officer to my late husband he gave us every support. As usual I sprung into action and almost pestered the life out of Engineer Segun Jawando to facilitate the sand filling of the land, as it was a swampy area.

You brought the prestigious Gorenje Company to our shores; we set up a factory to assemble the CKD of white goods – cookers, fridges, washing machines etc – our fellow Nigerians were employed and, therefore, empowered as senior and junior staff. As a result of this innovative commercial enterprise, all manner of people, tertiary institutions and communities benefited greatly.

Your last wish was for you to be brought back to Nigeria and to be buried in Lagos as a Catholic, where you were once a choir boy

Next was the “Fernandez Food Corporation”. We competed with Uncle Bens Rice by acquiring rice from the same source and packaging it in our factory on Badagry road; we also ventured into the manufacturing and packaging and distribution of other foods. Many illustrious Nigerians were our valued customers and distributors including the revered Mama Awolowo who was very kind to me and a lot more people were empowered through the factory.

I was the businessperson and you were the philanthropist with a heart of gold who being almost generous to a fault, gave a lot away without payment!

Living legend Then we veered into the oil industry. You were the first private Nigerian to lift crude oil partnering with major oil companies including Tenneco and Texaco. You would have built the first private oil service station with my ‘Head’ as the logo but as a visionary, you were well ahead of your time and the technocrats in the civil service were not ready to see indigenous Nigerians actively involved in the oil industry. Chief Phillip Asiodu a living legend of the Nigerian civil service can corroborate this.

We bought land in other parts of Nigeria to set up rice farms but the Federal Government bureaucracy scuttled all that effort, hence the decision to look to other parts of Africa and the World. We took some of our proceeds from Nigeria to Congo where you already had interest.

We sent my Rolls Royce Phantom VI to the President of Mozambique and bought twenty-five cars for the people there, to be used as taxis. Many other philanthropic gestures abound and formed part of your way of doing business in every land you created enterprise; such as Swaziland where you had a beef factory, Angola where you operated oil fields in Cabinda, Geneva where you had a trading company dealing in oil and gemstones from Congo etc.

Africa embraced you, pulled you to her bosom, although

you were the son in whom he was well pleased. You loved him, we took great care of him both at home and abroad. You took care of the entire Royal family. We paid school fees of some Lagos Island families and extended families. We paid school fees of their children, we contributed funds to v a r i o u s indigenous trust funds including Isale-Eko •Late Chief Deinde Fernandez descendants Nigeria gave you birth, nurtured Trust Fund. We built houses for and empowered you, Africa gave some. Some we gave jobs, some you wings, made you a world you just empowered to be able renowned diplomat, a global to stand on their own feet. Papa citizen, a father, mentor and honoured you with the title motivator of Nigerians indeed “Bajiri” of Lagos (the Pillar and Africans in Business. You never First Consultant of the king) in ever stopped wearing the 1974 and the family unanimously Nigerian shield like a badge of bestowed on me the title of the honour. You gave support to the Erelu of Lagos. Despite all this, advancement of politics. I can still you never left the church. remember many visits of our great Monsignor Pedro Martin was politicians like Papa Adeniran your spiritual father and we Ogunsanya and the revered Zik visited him every night when we of Africa Dr Nnamdi Azikiwe; were in Lagos. We worshipped Alhaji Ganiyu Daudu (to name with him every Sunday in Apapa, but a few) to our Tower Fernandez he even christened our daughter home and most leaving with Oyinkansola in Apapa. When he heavy bags of support. moved to Dodan barracks, we You revolutionized our followed him to worship there, traditional institutions, you tread every Sunday. Your last wish was where the pseudos feared to for you to be brought back to venture.

Despite your Nigeria and to be buried in sophistication and exposure to all Lagos as a Catholic, where you that is refined in the world, you were once a choir boy. wined and dined with the grass roots; even I used to marvel at Choir the level of your love and boy humility, especially when you shared the same ‘IGASI’ to drink Deinde, there is no end to your gin and schnapps! You made us contributions. I should reserve believe that our tradition and the rest for the book I am writing culture, traditional religion etc are in your honour. our Legacies, which we should In London, Claridge’s hotel cherish, respect, protect and lights up when Chief Fernandez uphold knowing that we look is in residence with your array of upon the same Almighty and great business associates and Omnipotent God. royalty. King Hussien of Jordan loved you like a brother. The Traditional Crillon in Paris rolls out the red palaces carpet always for the “Grand Chief” Fernandez. America was We traversed the length and your oyster. The world was at breath of our traditional palaces your feet. We bought the house together. We gave great gifts and in Connecticut in America and even put some traditional rulers the Chateau in France to be our on salaries as there was not an homes away from home, but alas effective local government system it was not to be. The lawyers then, as we have today. We single pressurized me to claim my right handedly furnished and but I told them we don’t take our renovated some palaces. The husbands to court where I come Ooni of Ife, Oba Adesoji from. I am still an “Isale-Eko” girl Aderemi was so impressed by at heart.

Nigeria it is time to welcome your love for tradition. He gave you the title of “Woye-Ileri” of Ife home your son, a conquering while at the same time gave our hero, a true proud Nigerian like one year old daughter, Oyinkan no other. You used to draw my a royal title and royal beads and picture while asleep and when I said to me you are already asked why, you would say that royalty! The Alaafin of Oyo was when God made me He used a our greatest ally; he honoured special mode, which he never you greatly as you also honoured used for anyone else. My Deinde him. Oba Lipede, the Alake of it is more true for you than for Egbaland loved you me. Good night my Darling……..

HRH Erelu Abiola Dosumu unconditionally and we were constant guests around his table. (Princess Fernandez), Erelu Kuti Oba Oyekan was your father, IV of Lagos.

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 16, 2015 — 41

PRESIDENT MUHAMMADU BUHARI @ THE NIGERIA/FRANCE BUSINESS FORUM IN FRANCE. Photos by Abayomi Adeshida.

From left, President Heirs Holdings, Mr. Tony Elumelu; Perm Sec, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Amb. Abubakar Lolo; Chairman, Dansa Holdings Ltd, Alhaji Sani Dangote; President, MEDEF Int'l, Mr. Pierre Gattaz; President Muhammadu Buhari; Governor Abubakar Badru of Jigawa State; Governor Ibikunle Amosun of Ogun State and Zamfara State Governor, Abdulaziz Yari.

President Muhammadu Buhari (left) exchanging pleasantries with the Patron, Newspapers Proprietors Association of Nigeria, (NPAN) Mallam Ismaila Isa Funtua and others, after inspecting a guard mounted to honour him.

From left, MD, Nigeria Sovereign Investment Authority, Mr. Uche Orji; Governor Ibikunle Amosun Participants at the Forum and CEO Lafarge Africa, Mr. PeterHoddinott after signing business agreements at the Forum

THE DIMGBA IGWE'S ANNIVERSARY BOOK LAUNCH IN LAGOS. PPhotos hotos by Akeem Salau

From Right; Mr Mike Awoyinfa, author of the Book, ''50 WORLD EDITORS'', in honour of Dimgba Igwe; Prof Adebayo Williams, representing Bola Tinubu; Aremo Olusegun Osoba, Chairman of the occasion; Mrs Oluseyi Abegunde, Director, Information, Federal Min of Information, representing President Muhammadu Buhari; Mr Folarin Adeyemi, Perm Sec, Lagos State Min of information & Strategy, representing Governor Ambode of Lagos State and Mr Tunji Bello,SSG, Lagos State.

From left; Mr Ted Iwere, MD, Daily Independent Newspaper; Mr Lanre Arogundade; Mr Gbenga Adefaye, GM/Editor-in-Chief, Vanguard Newspapers and Mr Bayo Onanuga,Editor-in-Chief, The News.

From right; Stanley Egbochukwu, Publisher/CEO Marketing Information Service Ltd; Mrs Funsho Oshunkeye; Mr Shola Oshunkeye, MD, The Sun, Ghana and Mr Tunji Olugbodi.

Mike Awoyinfa flanked by Glory (left and Victory Dimgba Igwe.

42 — Vanguard,

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WEDNESDAY 5 WEDNESDAY,, SEPTEMBER 16, 201 2015

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 16, 2015—43

RIVERS GOV POLL: Only 293,072 voters

accredited, INEC tells tribunal

By Ikechukwu Nnochiri APPOINTMENT: From left, wife of the Deputy Governor, Nnenna Igwe; Deputy Governor, Kelechi Igwe; Governor David Umahi of Ebonyi State, his wife, Rachael Umahi, and the Coordinator, Afikpo North Development Centre, Mrs. Ugochukwu Okoh, a physically challenged that was appointed by the governor, during the swearing-in of 64 co-ordinators of development centres, in Abakaliki, Monday.

A

BUJA—INDEPENDENT National Electoral Commission, INEC, yesterday, said only 293, 072 voters were electronically accredited for the governorship election in Rivers State on April 11, 2015.

The Commission made the disclosure at the resumed hearing on the petition before the Rivers State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Abuja, by the All Progressives Congress, APC, and its governorship candidate in the state, Dr. Dakuku Peterside.

Testifying as the PW-49, an Assistant Director in the ICT Department of INEC in Abuja, Mrs. Abimbola Oladunjoye, told the tribunal that the figure represented the total number of electorate captured by the Card Reader Machines used for the poll.

Oladunjoye, who is in charge of the Commission’s database, however, admitted that some electorate in the state could have been accredited manually, especially in areas where the Card Reader Machines failed.

She told the Justice Mohammed Ambrosa-led tribunal that information concerning the number of accredited voters for the election was transferred from the Card Reader Machines to a central server created by INEC. According to her, the Commission stopped uploading data from the machines to its server, six months after the election held.

She said in some instances, the unavailability of network inhibited the upload of data from the Card Reader Machines.

Exhibit “If the card reader is damaged before there was an attempt to upload data, it cannot be uploaded to the server. It is also important for me to emphasise that the card reader was designed to capture only electronic accreditation,” the witness stated.

Asked if she could state with certainty that the figure was a true reflection of the total number of electorate that participated in the Rivers governorship poll, the witness said: “My lords, I really do not have any document from the ICT department of INEC in Rivers to the effect that all the data were uploaded before the six weeks cut off date elapsed.”

Nevertheless, the tribunal, yesterday, admitted and marked the report from INEC as exhibit A-9.

Earlier, the Nigeria Police Force told the tribunal that the governorship election in Rivers State was marred by violence and widespread rigging.

Sequel to a subpoena issued on the Inspector General of Police, C M Y K

IGP, Solomon Arase, by the tribunal, three police officers, appeared and testified as witnesses for the petitioners.

In his testimony, one of the police officers, (the PW-48), Mr. Garba Michael , told the court that his team arrested over 70 persons thumb-printing ballot papers at the Secretariat of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, at Sime in Tai Local Government Area of Rivers State.

He said: “I was detailed to move materials from INEC office to Korokoro. I was sitting down at INEC office when my squadron commander at about 12:45p.m. got a distress call from Sime area. I was immediately asked to move there with my team. At the PDP secretariat, we met people with election materials and arrested them. I called my squadron commander and told him about the development. He came down with a lorry and we evacuated the people and materials to our base in Tai Local Government Area.

“We arrested over 70 people including security men. Others were Youth Corps members serving as ad-hoc INEC staff and PDP agents. What we recovered on the scene included Card Readers, thumb-printed ballot papers, inks and pad, vests, electoral boxes and result sheets.

I took some snap-shots with my phone and transferred it to a flash drive.”

Attempt by the witness to tender the photographs was opposed by counsels to INEC, Governor Nyesom Wike and the PDP, all respondents to the petition.

The respondents relied on sections 98, 102 and106 of the Evidence Act and challenged the admissibility of the pictures in evidence.

Though counsel to the petitioners, Chief Akinlolu Olujimi, SAN, argued that all the photographs were originally

pleaded at paragraph 812 of the petition, the tribunal declined to admit the exhibits into evidence.

In its ruling, the tribunal held that proper foundation was not laid by the petitioners to warrant the admissibility of the photographs.

Massive Thump-printing In his own testimony, the PW50, a Deputy Superintendent of Police, Yusuf Buba, from 56 Police Mobile Force Squadron Ogoni, claimed he witnessed massive thumb-printing of ballot papers at a football pitch situated inside a police station.

He told the tribunal that an Assistant Commissioner of Police and the Electoral Officer incharge of Kana Local Government Area in the state, masterminded the electoral malpractice.

He said: “I was a unit commander and was posted on election duty to Kana Local government. I led 63 other officers. We were detailed to take charge of INEC office with a view to securing INEC materials stored in the office and providing security for INEC staff there. At 1900 hours, ACP Kenneth Akubue came to INEC office and took the Electoral Officer, EO, to an unknown destination. The EO remained there till after midnight. Later a bus carrying unknown persons came into the INEC premises and I was alerted.

“I immediately went to where the vehicle parked and I asked them to explain the reason for their being there. None of them could give me a satisfactory and cogent answer, so I asked them to leave. As they were leaving, I asked my men to raise a barrier blocking the entrance to INEC premises. Things remained like that till 0700hours on April 11, when the EO resurfaced. There and then we started asking her questions about where she went to because she left her fellow

INEC staff in that office. Her answer was that she observed that her life was in danger and she was left with no option than to follow the Area Commander.

“Being the commander in charge of that place, I told her to go and start issuing materials to her staff after addressing them, and she complied. At about 0900 hours, sporadic gunshots erupted from Zaakpon axis. I quickly gave a swift order to my men to dash down, and we all dashed down, observing where the shots were coming from. Some men, unknown to me where sighted making calls, as soon as they finished the call, the shooting ceased. We got information that the people perpetuating the act were boys of Solo from Yege.

“At about 10a.m., the Area Commander came and destroyed the barrier we created and allowed political thugs to get access to the INEC premises.

Under the watch of the Area Commander, the thugs started carting away electoral materials.

We could not control the place again because it was very rowdy.

I quickly gave a situation report through my GSM to my squadron leader, CSP Valentine Oluse.

Patrol “At Boni Area Command, I met people thumb-printing in a football field. I immediately disembarked and went to the Area commander’s office where I met the EO seated in his office. I reported to him about what I saw and he said I should mind my business. I was left with no option than to leave his office and continue my patrol. We visited various other places like Gwara, Okpoku, Banga, Daaba, Kor, Lubara, Uiikara, Sogo and what I noticed was that there was no election taking place in all those places.

“I called my Squadron commander and gave him the

SitRep and he asked me to keep watching. We returned to INEC office after our patrol. There, I was told that the materials released in the early morning were all snatched at gun-point.

When I asked about the policemen on duty, I was told that all of them took to their heels.”

He told the tribunal that his team was overwhelmed by thugs, saying, “we were only 63 men but they were thousands."

Asked under cross-examination if he wrote a report of all the things his team observed during the election, the witness replied in the negative.

PW-51, DSP Ezebuiro Chisom, Mopol 48, PMF, Ahoda, told the court that no accreditation or election held in the area.

He told the tribunal that a leader of a cult group identified as ‘The Icelanders,’ one Martins Mana, who, he said, was arrested by soldiers with an AK-47, was quickly released.

The witness said despite the restriction on movement, he said people freely moved about in cars, speedboats and bicycles on the election day.

Meantime, Governor Wike, through his lawyer, Mr. Emmanuel Ukala, SAN, yesterday, alleged that the police officers were induced by the APC to feed the tribunal with lies.

Ukala insisted that all the police officers were lodged by the APC at a guest room at Area 1 district in Abuja.

At the time of filing this report, the tribunal was still listening to other witnesses produced by the petitioners.

Going by an earlier decision of the tribunal, the APC is expected to close its case tomorrow, even as the respondents have six days each to open their defence.

Burial

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RS. COMFORT Mba (NeeNwanyi Ocha) of Obinolu Ngodo Isuochi in Umunneochi, Abia State, is dead, aged 85.

Mr. Emma Mba on behalf of the family said there will be commendation service on Friday, September 18, 2015, at Anyajide’s compound, followed by interment.

Condolence visit will be on September 19.

Late Mrs. Comfort Mba

44—Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 16, 2015

Northern leaders reject Jonathan’s confab report •Call for fresh one to address northern challenges •We wish them the best—Afenifere •They ‘re not speaking for the North –Uwazurike

By Soni Daniel, Northern Region Editor, Clifford Ndujihe & Dapo Akinrefon

P

ROMINENT Northern leaders, yesterday, rejected the implementation of the 2014 report of the National Conference convoked by former President Goodluck Jonathan, saying that it did not address the key issues affecting them.

In its place, the northern leaders are asking President Muhammadu Buhari to convene a fresh conference that would take

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into cognisance the challenges facing them and proffer solutions to them.

The northern leaders who are mostly former political office holders under the aegis of Northern Reawakening Forum (NRF) and headed by a former member of the House of Representatives, Mohammed Kumalia, said it would be wrong for Buhari to implement the report of the conference called by the former leader.

The group, which met in

Abuja, Tuesday, issued a strong view on the last conference, and asked for the dumping of the report in the interest of Nigeria.

Kumalia, who read the communiqué on behalf of the NRF, said: “The last conference was convened by the PDP government. You do not expect this government to take hook, line and sinker what was put in place by the last government. It was convoked by the PDP government and unfortunately, the PDP lost election. You do not expect the opposition to accept the resolution of the previous government which has its own objectives which this government is not aware of.”

Paradoxically, the chairman of the NRF, Kumalia and other members of the forum, participated actively the 2014 National Conference, whose outcome they are now distancing themselves from.

Specifically, they are calling for a new conference that would focus on how to rebuild the North and cater for those who have been displaced by terrorists, who have been attacking the North East for years. “What are the problems in the North East? Has anybody tried to ascertain the problems in the North East?

The essence of the national conference is to analyse the extent of damage done to the

North East. The working document would be used to rebuild the region.

There is no resemblance between the conference we are proposing and the 2014 National Conference.

Many things have been destroyed and we need people with experience to discuss how the area will be settled,” he said.

“The North has the highest number of people below $2.00 a day. 71.5% of the population in the North East live in poverty and more than half are malnourished. A 2013 World Bank Report showed that poverty in 16 out of the 19 Northern states have doubled since 1980. The north has the lowest literacy rate in the country. Lagos is at 92% , Kano 49% and Borno less than 15%. 65% of Northern girls and 53% of boys are not in school compared to only 20% for the Southeast,” Kumalia pointed out in the communiqué.

Meanwhile, Pan-Yoruba socio-political organisation, Afenifere, said it was not disturbed by the rejection saying it wishes the Northern leaders the best.

Afenifere’s National Publicity Secretary, Mr Yinka Odumakin said: “Those of us who are pushing for the restructuring of Nigeria were trying to save Nigeria from the terminal crisis. If they think they can sustain Nigeria as it is, on what basis is that? Nobody is begging that Nigeria should be restructured any more, what will restructure Nigeria is already here. We wish them the best and see how all this goes. It does not come as a surprise to us, we are not worried at all.”

However, Chief Godwin Uwazuruike, President of Aka-Ikenga, the Igbo intellectual group, who was a delegate at the national conference poohed poohed the Kumalia group saying they are not speaking for the North but themselves.

His words: ‘’They are not speaking for the North or northern leaders. They are speaking for themselves. At the national conference we had a similar incident where some people came and addressed a press conference. However, 24 hours later, a lot of delegates from the NorthCentral and North-West came out to reject the view and restated their agreement with the confab.

How can you reject an amicable solution worked out by the confab to address the problems of the country? It is superfluous for anybody to claim to be speaking for the whole North. The majority of the North want the report of the confab implemented.’’

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 16, 2015—45

16 die, 172 hospitalized as cholera hits Maiduguri IDPs camp

By Ndahi Marama

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AIDUGURI—CHOLERA outbreak in three Internally Displaced Persons, IDPs, camps within Maiduguri, Borno State, have left 16 people dead and 172 in critical conditions, with World Health Organization, WHO, and UNICEF battling the epidemic.

However, Information Officer of National Emergency Management Agency, NEMA, Mallam Abdulkadir Ibrahim, in a telephone interview, said it was not an outbreak of cholera, but reported cases of diarrhoea and vomiting.

NEMA is the sole agency in charge of feeding the IDPs since inauguration of President Muhammadu Buhari’s government.

The affected camps are those housing IDPs from Mafa along Dikwa/Ngala Road.

Health officials at the camp told Vanguard that so far, 16 people had died of the outbreak, while 172 were in serious condition as they work with international organization to bring the

situation under control.

One of the health officials working with UNICEF told Vanguard, yesterday: “The situation at the camps is terrible. It was sudden and already a large number has been affected.

“At the last count, we have 16 dead and about 172 affected. We are in an emergency health situation in those camps.”

Damage control

It was also gathered that the affected IDPs were prevented from leaving the camp by security agents in a move to prevent spread of the disease into the metropolis until the situation is brought under control.

Also, those affected have been separated from the unaffected, and all the IDPs are being treated with

preventive medicine.

Another medical official said: “The camps were unkept, unclean and with all sort of waste all over which informed the outbreak and encouraged its wild-fire spread.

“We are doing everything possible to ensure that we control the spread. We encourage the IDPs to ensure cleanliness.”

N28bn BAILOUT: Benue workers to undergo biometric verification before payment

By Peter Duru

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AKURDI—BENUE State government would carry out biometric verification of its workforce before the payment of backlog of salaries owed workers in the state from the N28 billion bailout funds from the Federal Government.

Governor Samuel Ortom, who made this known yesterday in Makurdi, said the

exercise became necessary given the conflicting figures of the state’s workforce and the huge sum being expended monthly on salaries and overheads.

The governor insisted that the bailout funds would not be diverted but applied for the payment of backlog of salaries owed workers in the state.

He said: “In the next few days, we will access the N28 billion bailout funds from the

Federal Government to pay the backlog of salaries. As it stands, we expend over N3 billion in the payment of salaries and overheads, which is obviously on the high side compared to what comes into the state.

“That is why it became imperative that we carry out the biometric verification of our workforce to know the actual figure at the state and local government levels.”

Osinbajo, el-Rufai for KCOBA 106th anniversary

By Dayo Adesulu

V

ICE President Yemi Osinbajo and Governor Nasir el-Rufai of Kaduna State will grace King’s College Old Boys Association, KCOBA's 106th Founder ’s Day, which commences tomorrow at the school assembly hall, Onikan, Lagos.

KCOBA's Vice President, Dr. Leke Oshunniyi, said el-Rufai will deliver the Founder ’s Day lecture, with Osinbajo as special guest of honour.

He said the event would renew alumni ties.

He said Friday, September 18, will be anniversary Jumat service to thank God for His mercies on the college, while the grand finale is on Saturday, which will include the Founder’s Day dinner.

46—Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 16, 2015

Presidency under pressure to relocate Villa Chapel, Mosque •Children’s church partially shut

By Soni Daniel, Northern Region Editor

I

N D I CAT I O N S emerged last night that despite denials by top officials of the administration, the Presidency had come under pressure to relocate the Villa Chapel, where Christians have been worshipping on Sundays.

Informed Presidency sources familiar with the location of the Villa Chapel, which was built and inaugurated by President Olusegun Obasanjo, is said to be too close to Buhari’s bedroom and kitchen and must give way.

Findings show that unlike Obasanjo who deliberately built the church to be close to his official residence so that he could enjoy worship and prayers from the comfort of his bedroom, the same would not apply to the new president, who is of a different faith.

Competent sources told Vanguard that the late President Umaru Yar’Adua, who inherited the Villa chapel from Obasanjo, had assured his predecessor that he would not relocate it despite its proximity to his residence.

Findings show however that some overzealous aides of President Buhari were uncomfortable with the location of the church and had already made efforts to stop the use of the facility by Christian worshippers on August 30, 2015, thereby causing a national uproar in the process.

National uproar A source in the Presidency said that as a prelude to effecting the plot, security agents prevented the Villa Chapel choristers from entering the building for their weekly rehearsal on Saturday, August 29, 2015.

According to the source, the plot was to erect canopies and have the church service there but the plan soon leaked and the Vice President, Prof Yemi Osinbajo, had to intervene by reaching out to President Buhari before the security men gave way for service to be conducted that day.

The Presidency source said: “Osinbajo was uncomfortable with the plan and he had to reach out to the President before service could be held that day in the chapel.”

It was learnt last night as prelude to relocating the Chapel, the Children’s church, which forms part of the Villa Chapel, has been shut and some rooms, converted to shops for storing food items.

Findings by Vanguard showed that as a result of the closure of the children’s church, the children were forced to relocate to the office of the Chaplain, Seyi Malomo, for their normal service.

A source at the Presidency said on Tuesday, “As we speak, the children’s church remains shut and everything relating to the church has been removed.

We had to beg them to allow us to remove our property.

The children’s church has been turned into a store,” the official said.

“As a result of the unforeseen development, we had to collapse some facilities to accommodate the children and keep our worship going.”

That was why the Chaplain said that the church had not been shut but ‘ we only had some

procedural issues that needed to be sorted out’.

However the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Mr Femi Adesina has denied the closure of the church by the Presidency.

Last week, when the issue came up, Adesina, quickly posted pictures of the church service on his Facebook.

Similarly, the acting Chaplain of the Aso Villa Chapel, Pastor Joseph Sheyi Malomo also said that the church was not shut but did not make mention of the fact that his office was being used in the place of the shut children's church.

Malomo merely admitted that there were some procedural issues on August 30, 2015 that needed to be sorted out, but did not say what they were.

Vanguard learnt that the Presidency is considering relocating both the Mosque and the Church from their present locations to a more spacious area in the Villa so as to prevent any accusation.

Akwa Ibom Gov's driver not an impersonator—Umana

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ONTRARY to a report by a national daily (not Vanguard) that the official driver of Governor Udom Emmanuel is not a personnel of the Nigeria Police, Akwa Ibom State commissioner for information and communications, Mr. Aniekan Umanah has said that Mr. Bassey Edet is a bonafide officer of the Force.

Speaking in his office on a story in the Monday, September 14, 2015 edition of the paper which purported that the driver is involved in a Police impersonation saga, Mr. Umanah said that Edet is a certified, trained spy policeman and, therefore, cannot be said to be an impersonator.

The Information boss said that Mr Edet’s Police Force Identification Number is 1522, having attended Police Training School, Ikeja, Lagos State, and wondered how he could be accused of breaching any rules by wearing his uniform.

Umanah who displayed photocopies of Mr Edet’s police identity card and certificates, explained that the officer is a duly trained personnel of the police, working with the

State Government.

He dismissed as false, the allegation that the Governor ’s driver was defrauding financial institutions by taking multiple salaries, noting “I have on good authority that the bank referred to in that report, like other international organizations, does not hire drivers, therefore, could not have had his name on its payroll.”

While decrying the partisan disposition of some reporters in Akwa Ibom, which he said is well known, Mr. Umanah stressed that it is unfortunate that the writer of the story allowed sentiments to becloud his reportage of events in the state. He charged journalists to avoid being used by any persons or interests to subvert the truth and to always ensure fairness and objectivity in their reports.

The commissioner reaffirmed that Governor Udom Emmanuel and all members of his cabinet are law-abiding, and would not engage in any act that is unlawful or inimical to the peace, progress and development of the society.

VANGUARD, WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 16, 2015 — 47

Mugabe reads wrong speech in Parliament Saudi suspends construction firm •Bad weather suspected as likely cause Z S CRANE COLLAPSE:

AUDI Arabia has sus pended the Saudi Binladin group from taking on new projects, just days after a deadly crane collapse in Mecca.

A statement by the Saudi government on Tuesday said the company’s operations had been stopped until a review of all their work had been completed.

The Saudi Binladin group is one of the region’s largest construction firms with contracts across the country.

Initial investigations by Saudi authorities suggested a “balance issue” in the crane and bad weather contributed to the tragedy that left at least 107 people dead and hundreds more injured at Islam’s holiest site immediately prior to the start of the Hajj.

Al Jazeera’s Omar alSaleh, said the move was

Hungarian police preventing refugees from entering Hungary yesterday. “very significant”.

“The Mecca incident brought everything up to the surface, you can sense there were issues beneath the table,” Saleh said.

“There is an indication that the construction firm misused the manufacturers instructions, an indication perhaps of negligence.”

The Hajj, one of the largest religious gatherings in the world, has been prone

to disasters in the past, mainly from stampedes as pilgrims rush to complete rituals and return home.

Hundreds of pilgrims died in such a crush in 2006.

Saudi authorities have since spent vast sums to expand the main Hajj sites and improve Mecca’s transport system, in an effort to prevent more disasters.

Germany can deny benefits to migrants, court rules claimed subsistence al- daughter Sonita had been

G

ERMANY can bar EU migrants from certain social security benefits even if they have previously worked in Germany, the EU’s top court has ruled.

The European Court of Justice (ECJ) ruling applies to all EU member states.

Even after six months’ residence in an EU state a migrant may still be refused any social assistance, the ECJ ruled.

The judgement concerned a Bosnian-born Swedish national - Nazifa Alimanovic - who had

receiving unemployment benefits since December 2011. Child support had also been paid for two more children - Valentina and Valentino.

Denying certain noncontributory benefits - also called “social assistance” to EU jobseekers from another EU country “does not contravene the principle of equal treatment”, the ECJ said.

An ECJ ruling in November 2014 found that Germany also had a right to refuse benefits to EU migrants who had no intention of finding work in Germany, in the Dano case.

Ms Alimanovic’s three children were born in Germany. The family had returned there from Sweden in 2010. Ms Alimanovic ernment. and her elder daughter The US and its Western had worked for less than a allies oppose President year before claiming benAssad, and say that back- efits.

‘Supports UK stance’ ing him risks prolonging The Conservatives’ emthe conflict.

But Moscow has been ployment spokesperson in a key ally of Mr Assad Europe, Anthea McIntyre, during the bloody civil called the ruling “a major war, which began in endorsement of our stance on benefit tourism and our 2011.

It says military equip- views on free movement.

“Increasingly the rest of ment is being sent to SyrEurope is seeing things ia to help the government combat the so- our way. It bodes well for one of our key areas of called Islamic State. renegotiation.”

lowances after losing her job in Germany.

The UK Conservatives say the ruling strengthens Prime Minister David Cameron’s hand in his push for major EU reforms.

Changes to EU policy on migrant benefits are a key part of his renegotiation, ahead of a UK in/out referendum on EU membership, set to take place by the end of 2017.

Benefits stopped In 2012 a job centre in Berlin stopped paying social security to Ms Alimanovic. She and her

Russia makes military pledge to Syria

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USSIAN President Vladimir Putin has pledged continued military support for Syria’s Bashar al-Assad despite growing concerns over Moscow’s role in the war.

Mr Putin urged other countries to join Russia in sending “militarytechnical assistance”.

He said the flow of refugees to Europe would have been “even bigger ” without Russian support for Syria’s gov-

IMBABWE’S Presi dent Robert Mugabe has read out the wrong speech at the opening of parliament.

He gave the same one during his state-of-the-nation address on 25 August, when he was heckled by opposition MPs. His spokesman told the state-run Herald paper the error was because of a mixup in the president’s secretarial office.

The BBC’s Brian Hungwe in Harare says tensions were high ahead of the speech and the state broadcaster cancelled its live feed fearing further disruptions.

At least six MPs from the opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) received a text message from a sender called “Death” warning them to behave.

“Warning: Immunity ends in parliament... act wisely by not disturbing the proceedings of parliament,” the message on opposition MP Nelson Chamisa’s phone said.

Before the 91-year-old

president spoke, the parliamentary speaker also warned against disrupting proceedings.

After Mr Mugabe began speaking, it was not long before it dawned on those present that they had heard it all before, our reporter says.

But during the speech, the MDC members sat quietly, while ruling Zanu-PF party supporters clapped at regular intervals, Reuters news agency reports.

The president made reference to the country amending labour laws to protect workers from arbitrary termination of employment, efforts being made to stimulate investment and the country registering modest growth in tourism and agriculture, our correspondent says.

The first time Mr Mugabe read the speech opposition MPs sang protest songs against his 10point plan to solve the country’s economic crisis.

•President Mugabe

Kenyan security forces accused of extra-judicial killings

K

ENYAN security forces have carried out 25 extrajudicial killing in the last two years in a crackdown on militants, Kenya’s official rights body says.

The Kenya National Commission on Human Rights said it had also recorded 81 “enforced disappearances” since 2013.

The report covers the period since the attack on Westgate shopping centre in Nairobi by Islamist militants.

It added that it was concerned that ethnic Somalis and Muslims were being disproportionately targeted.

There has so far been no official response to the report by the governmentfunded agency.

The al-Shabab Islamist group, which is based in neighbouring Somalia, has been increasingly operating in Kenya.

It was behind the four-day siege on the Westgate mall in the capital that killed 67 people in 2013 and the raid on Garissa University in which 148 people died in April this year.

The Kenya National Commission on Human Rights (KNCHR) said combating

terrorism through “official terror” was counter-productive.

In the report, The error of fighting terror with terror, the KNCHR said it had recorded 120 “egregious” violations by the security agencies.

“These violations are widespread, systematic and well co-ordinated and include but are not limited to

arbitrary arrests, extortion, illegal detention, torture, killings and disappearances,” the report says.

It said it had testimonies of suspects being rounded up and detained for periods “ranging from a few hours to many days in extremely overcrowded and inhumane and degrading conditions”.

S/AFRICA: Hunter accused of killing lion

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Zimbabwean pro fessional hunter charged over the death of Cecil the Lion has been arrested for allegedly trying to smuggle sable antelopes.

Theo Bronkhorst was detained after the discovery of 29 antelope being smuggled into South Africa.

He is in custody in the southern city of Bulawayo, police said.

Mr Bronkhorst is on bail for running the allegedly illegal hunt in July culminating in the

killing of Cecil the Lion

by US dentist Walter Palmer.

The case sparked an international outcry, with Mr Palmer only returning to work earlier this month after going into hiding.

Conservationists in Zimbabwe said Cecil - a major tourist attraction had been lured out of a national park using bait before being shot.

Mr Bronkhorst is due to appear in court on the smuggling charges on Wednesday.

48 — WEDNESDAY Vanguard, SEPTEMBER 16, 2015

‘I keep my gun with a policeman’ •Alleges suspected robbery kingpin that operate in army uniform

By Esther Onyegbula& Ebere Aham

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PERATIVES of the Federal Special AntiRobbery Squad (FEDSARS) have arrested a suspected member of an armed robbery gang for impersonation and armed robbery.

The 37-year-old suspect, identified as Godwin Ofigbo, a.k.a. Ominigbon, was arrested along Benin bye-pass after the operatives received intelligence reports that the gang which operates within Benin City in Edo State, had been terrorizing travelers.

During interrogation, the arrested suspect disclosed that he has a gun which he gave to a police officer for safe keeping.

Crime Alert learned that the suspect, also his gang's kingpin, equally parades himself as a lance corporal in the Nigerian army. He was arrested after Police received intelligence reports from transporters at Benin bypass and Upper Sakponba area of Edo State.

It was gathered that the officers recovered 23 different vehicle keys, different denominations of Biafran currency, two ATM cards issued

by GTB and Ecobank, digital camera, Nikon camera, Sony MP 4, MP 5, two BlackBerry phones, five i-Phones, three Samsung phones, two HTC phones, and two Tecno phones.

The suspect, Godwin Ofigbo, a.k.a. Omonigbon, told Crime Alert: "I am a fisherman. I live at 13,

Utehile Street, Afowa Junction in Benin-City. I got married to my wife Vera in Bakassi in 2014. Later, I left Bakassi for Benin with my family where I started repairing phones. I am not a soldier. It was my late father that was a soldier. It was his uniform that I usually wear.

I have a locally-made pistol. I gave the gun to a police officer called M.O.G. I know I have committed an offence — having an army uniform in my possession."

Wife's account: According to his wife, Vera Ofigbo, a 23-yearold provision seller: "I am from Calabar and presently, I’m a garri seller. My husband was an iron seller when I met him while his father was a retired soldier. The name of our first son is Wisdom. I knew quite well that my husband is not a soldier but has been wearing their uniform. I am aware that the uniform my husband wears belongs to my

The suspect has been threatening the lives of people in the community

sister’s late husband who was an army officer. I warned my husband when he took the said uniform from my sister ’s luggage without her consent.

Since then, I have been seeing him with a gun. I have never challenged him, but I don’t know what he uses the gun for.

The kind of gun he was using has a big mouth but it is a short gun.

This year alone, my husband has gone to Bakassi three times

and each time he travels, he spends about a month before coming back. Honestly, I don’t know where my husband got the handsets from as he doesn’t sell or repair handsets. I don’t know if my husband is a robber or not. What I know is that he deals in scrap iron.

Crime Alert gathered that the suspect later took detectives to a serving police officer who he earlier claimed keeps the gun for him. However, when they got to the house of the officer,

the suspect made a u-turn and denied knowing the police officer.

A resident of Ikpoba Okha L.G.A community identified as Osamede Egiharasor, told Crime Alert: "The suspect has been threatening the lives of people in the community.

There was a time the Enogie of the community contacted the police because of his nefarious activities and all efforts to arrest him have been abortive."

POWA ends annual convention in style

By Ebere Aham HE leadership of the Nigeria Police Officers Wives Association (POWA) led by the wife of the Inspector- General of Police and President of POWA, Mrs. Agharase Arase, held a two -day convention and election into various offices following the expiration of two

T

years tenure of the outgoing executives.

The event took place on Wednesday and Thursday at POWA National Secretariat, Hera Okiro House, Asokoro FCT Abuja. The annual convention also featured discussions on security awareness during which members were admonished on the need to be conscious of their environment considering the

prevailing security situation in the country. The elected POWA officials are Mrs. Esther Orobosa Etim, National secretary. Mrs. Zainab Hamisu, National Assistant Secretary. Mrs. Bukola Towuru, Publicity Secretary. Mrs. Bahago Ahmed Hauwa, Treasurer and Mrs. Veronica Ogochi, Financial Secretary. The convention had over 300 POWA members in attendance.

Cp Oyo holds stakeholders meeting A SECURITY stakeholders meeting was convened by the new commissioner of Police in Oyo State, Mr Leye Oyebade, yesterday. CP Oyebade addressing some of the DPOs before the commencement of the security stake holders meeting held at the Command headquarters.

*Rapid Response squard, RRS, and officials of KAI in Lagos recently, arrested some people for crossing the expressway at Ketu area of Ikorodu road. Pix show the susupects.

WEDNESDAY Vanguard, SEPTEMBER 16, 2015—49

Abia Police sets agenda at stakeholders' meeting

By Ugochukwu Alaribe, Aba

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N bid to seek better ways of combating crime and improving relationship between the police and the public, the Abia State Police Command, last Wednesday, convened a town hall meeting with the theme “Community Partnership Approach to Security and Crime Management in Abia State.

Synergy with the police Addressing a large audience comprising traditional rulers, religious leaders, the academia, tricycle operators, lawyers, road transport workers and market traders at the Central Police Station, Umuahia, Commissioner of Police in the state, Habila Joshak, explained the importance of synergy between the police and the community in modern day policing. He said; “The Abia state police command intends to work hand-in-hand with the public in designing solutions to the inherent security problems across the state.

A bid to improve relationship: The CP disclosed that the meeting which is the initiative of the InspectorGeneral of Police, Solomon Arase, was convened to find ways in which grey areas in the police and the public relationship could be improved upon in the interest of the society. He warned Policemen against engaging in acts which tend to widen the seeming mistrust between the Police and the public.

Calls for proper funding of the Police: Speaking at the occasion, First Deputy Chairman of the state Council of Traditional Rulers, Eze Godwin Chionye, added that the town hall meeting was timely and advocated a synergy between the Police and the traditional institution as the war

against crime remains the business of all.

NBA speaks: In his contribution, Chairman of the Nigerian Bar Association, NBA, Umuahia branch, Adizua Okoroafor, who commended the Commissioner of Police for the command's proactive efforts in the fight against crime in the state, lamented that lawyers are often confronted with challenges in the course of carrying out their constitutional roles.

PFN, lecturer, too: Chairman, Pentecostal fellowship of Nigeria, PFN, Abia State, Rev. Dr. Anyimson, in his contribution, maintained that everyone should police his or her environment, and called on the community to seek the face of God by going to Church for the transformation of the society.

A lecturer who simply gave his name as Dr. Chimaroke, called for re-branding and reorientation of the Police for greater efficiency and confidence-building between the Police and the community as public relations is the key to

The Abia state police command intends to work hand-in-hand with the public in designing solutions to the inherent security problems across the state

*Cp Joshak with the stakeholders effective policing.

PCRC calls for collaboration On his part, Chairman, Police Community Relations Committee, PCRC, Abia State, Amb. Emma Nwosu, called on traditional institutions to collaborate with the Police in providing vital information that could assist in checking crime in the communities.

Tricycle riders lament: While insisting that some policemen have made the operations of tricycle riders very strenuous in the state, an official of the Tricycle Riders Association, Comrade Osita Ukaumunna, added that the harassment faced by their members in the hands of the Police is unbecoming as they are always arrested on flimsy excuses and their tricycles confiscated.

Government reacts: Gov. Okezie Ikpeazu who was represented by his Adviser on Security, Capt.

Awa Udonsi Agwu (rtd), commended the efforts of the Commissioner of Police in convening the town hall meeting and called for a

Shows Officials of POWA in a group photograph after the election.

regular interface between the community and the police. He advocated the installation of CCTV cameras at strategic locations within the state as this will check the excesses of hoodlums and urged hotel owners in the state to always align themselves with security regulations.

Traders too: Chairman, Abia State Market traders Association, ASMATA, which is the umbrella union for traders, Christian Nwaubani, urged the Police to always follow due process while extending investigations to the markets by

consulting with the executive who will take steps to assist in the course of the investigations.

Youth Council,Student’s Union, others commend Police Other stakeholders and representatives of National Youth Council of Nigeria, NYCN, students unions, community leaders and other unions, commended the CP for collaborating with other security agencies for the low crime rate being witnessed in the state and called for better collaboration between the police and the public to fight crime and other social vices.

50— Vanguard,

WEDNESDAY 5 WEDNESDAY,, SEPTEMBER 16, 201 2015

AS NIGERIA AWAITS RELEASE OF WATER FROM LAGDO DAM:

Flood disaster looms (2) LAST week, Vanguard Features published the first part of the report on the looming danger from flooding following information from Cameroun that the authorities there would soon be releasing excess water from the Lagdo Dam. The report chronicled the dangers of another flood disaster in the light of the flood tragedies of 2012 in Nigeria after water was released from the same dam, the responses of the relevant authorities to the recent flood alert and what can be done to stem the looming tragedy.

But even as the reading public was trying to come to terms with the flood threat highlighted in the VF report, the Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency issued a follow-up or reminder flood alert to communities located along the shores of the River Niger and River Benue which are likely to be affected by flooding in the event of water being released from the Lagdo Dam and Kainji Dam. The Agency’s Director General, Dr Moses Beckley, said the vulnerable communities are in Niger, Anambra, Taraba, Nasarawa, Kebbi, Sokoto, Adamawa, Kogi and Benue states. The residents of the affected communities were, therefore, advised to relocate to safer places to avoid a repeat of the 2012 flood tragedy. We hereby serve you the concluding part of last week’s report:

By Mike Ebonugwo, Jude Njoku, Favour Nnabugwu, Peter Duru & Funmi Olasupo

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HE added that her team was in the state to assess its preparedness to tackle the impending challenge, visit flood prone areas and make arrangements that would forestall a similar occurrence to that of 2012 during which 360 lives were lost and N17 billion spent nationwide.

Lagdo Dam: Source of flood disasters in Nigeria: The Lagdo dam was built between 1977 and 1982 by a combination of engineers and Chinese workers, along with Camerounian labourers. The construction was carried out by the China International Water & Electric Corp. But today, international power company, AES SONEL, runs the hydroelectric dam.

Supply of electricity The dam is located 50 kilometres south of the city of Garoua on the Benue River. Its construction was intended to supply electricity to the northern part of the country and allow the irrigation of 15, 000 hectares of crops land downstream. The dam is 308 metres long, 40 metres in height and 9 metres thick. It is located within the Arrondissement de Lagdo in the Département de la Benoué in the North Province.

Aborted plan to build a buffer or ‘shock absorber’ dam: Since the Lagdo Dam was built by Cameroun along the course of the Benue River, lowland communities in North Eastern Nigeria, notably Borno, Adamawa, Taraba and Benue states, are usually flooded

*Houses submerged during the 2012 flooding in Makurdi after water was released from Lagdo Dam whenever water is released by Cameroun from the dam.

In1980, an agreement to build a similar dam in Nigeria was reached between the Nigerian government and Cameroun. The dam named Dasun Hausa was to be built along the course of River Benue at a town called Dasun in the Fufore Local Government Area of Adamawa State. It was essentially billed to contain water released from the Lagdo Dam. This measure was expected to curb the perennial flooding and destruction of lives and property in the affected communities.

The Dasun Hausa Dam which was supposed to act as a buffer or “shock absorber ” was designed in 1981 and was expected to generate 300 megawatts of electricity as well as irrigate about 150,000 hectares of land. Apart from these benefits, the proposed dam which was to be about 1.4 kilometres long and 40mm deep, was to create about 40,000 jobs.

Unfortunately, successive Nigerian governments paid little or no attention to this all

important project, thereby leaving residents of the front line states at the mercy of heavy flooding whenever Cameroun releases excess water from Lagdo dam.

A top official of the Federal Ministry of Water Resources who would not want to be identified, told Vanguard Features that

We ought to have built what is known as Dasun Hausa dam; so the only available option for us now is to enlighten those in high risk areas to move away from those areas

flooding as a result of water released from Lagdo dam accounts for only about 25 percent of the flood disasters in the country. He explained that construction of the Dasun Hausa dam may not be realised in the near future because nobody wants to go to the site due to the activities of insurgents in the area. He revealed that the location of the dam is one of the hotbeds of Boko Haram activities in Adamawa State.

VF learnt that the original feasibility study on the project is now outdated and would require fine-tuning to meet modern requirements.

The Permanent Secretary in the Federal Ministry of Water Resources, Mr Musa Isitfanus, explained that it would take a minimum of 36 months to complete the construction of the dam even if the government commences the project now. “The only remedy is for those living in low-lying areas to relocate to safer places. It is the rainy season and the dams have a capacity.

We ought to have built what is known as Dasun Hausa dam

which is about 20 kilometres up the River Benue from Yola. We have not done that, so the only available option for us now is to enlighten Nigerians particularly those in high risk areas to move away from those areas,” he said in an NTA current affairs programme monitored in Lagos.

“The truth about it is that the forces of nature must operate normally. It is true that our planning process had some challenges along the line, especially funding issues. But we have completed the feasibility studies of the Dasun Hausa dam and in our Ministry’s briefing to Mr President, we actually raised the issue and we told him that in our memorandum of understanding with Cameroun which we are yet to sign, we did agree with them that we will create a buffer dam at Dasun Hausa. It was one of the things the Ministry presented to Mr President during the briefing and we are hoping that something will be done. But you know that dam is not something that can be constructed even within a year,” he added

Poor management of River Basins Another issue affecting the country is the poor management of the River Basins.

Many Nigerians dump their wastes along the river beds. The rains can break the banks of the such rivers and this, experts posit, can result into flooding.

The question of whether Cameroun should be prevailed upon to stop releasing water from the dam, experts say, should not be contemplated. This is because it would be more disastrous if Lagdo dam packs up due to its inability to release its excess water.

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY 5 —51 WEDNESDAY,, SEPTEMBER 16, 201 2015

•Cross-section of participants at the sensitisation campaign on unlawful practices against children

UNLAWFUL PRACTICES AGAINST CHILDREN:

When prosecution of offenders is not enough

By Chioma Onuegbu, Uyo

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HE various offenses committed against children, ranging from child trafficking, child theft/abduction, child abandonment, child abuse, child labour, rape and baby factory prevalent in Akwa Ibom State, have been a source of serious concern to government and residents.

Vanguard Features, VF, gathered that the issues of child abduction, theft, trafficking and baby factory are more prevalent in Nsit Ubium, Nsit Ibom, Nsit Atai and Ikot Ekpene local government areas, while child rape is prevalent in riverine areas, particularly Oron Local Government Area in Akwa Ibom State.

Death penalty The alarming rate of these crimes, especially child abduction and theft, had prompted the pronouncement of death penalty on child abductors in the early part of 2015 by the immediate past state governor, Chief Godswill Akpabio.

No doubt such unlawful practices are not peculiar to Akwa Ibom State but cuts across many other states in the country.

However, most incidents of child abduction, theft or trade in the state are being encouraged by parents and relatives. It has become a social problem where parents or families see these crimes as business ventures and sometimes actively support and participate in it.

Apart from being among the first few states in the country to domesticate the Child’s Rights Law in 2008, the Akwa Ibom State

government went ahead to adopt strategies for the implementation of the law and to prosecute violators. It established the Family Courts presently operational at the Magisterial and High Court levels within the three senatorial districts for this purpose.

Other conscious efforts by the state government to stem the heinous crimes include regular awareness and sensitisation campaigns to churches, communities and schools, establishment of Child Protection Network to report cases of child maltreatment from communities to Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Welfare.

Because of the continued perpetration of the acts in some parts of the state, government recently intensified awareness campaigns and sensitisation efforts with the aim of addressing the worrisome trend.

Just recently the present administration through the Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Welfare took the sensitisation and awareness campaigns to the 10 federal constituencies in the state to reawaken the people’s concern and commitment in the war on all forms of maltreatment meted on children.

The five-day advocacy exercise which was well attended by royal fathers, community leaders, the womenfolk, and even youths at the respective constituencies featured presentation of papers titled: ‘The Rights and Responsibilities of a Child’ and ‘The Effects of Child Abuse, Child Trafficking, Child Labour, Child Abandonment, Abduction and Baby Factory’.

While flagging off the awareness campaign at Eket Local Government Secretariat

recently, the state governor, Udom Emmanuel, who spoke through the Commissioner for Health, Dr. Dominic Ukpong, reassured Akwa Ibom residents that his administration would not rest until all unhealthy practices against children become history.

The Governor said the theme of the sensitisation campaign, “The Rights of a Child: A collective Responsibility” was apt and timely because everyone from the community and traditional leaders, mothers, fathers, youths and, of course, security agencies are stakeholders in the crusade against illicit practices as some people have chosen to violate the rights and privileges of children .

Decrying the situation he said: “It is a great concern that children have become commodities to be traded in exchange for money by people with a conscience of the devil. In place of love and nourishment they have been fed with the diet of cruelty, psychological and emotional abuse. Such practices are evil and

Children must be protected and collectively too by all of us

must be condemned by all rational and right thinking people.

“These immoral practices are offences against humanity that we must collectively resist. Children are gifts from God to us as a people and therefore they should be treated with unbridled love and affection so that they can grow to become productive future citizens of the state in particular and the nation in general.

“Child maltreatment is not acceptable anywhere in the world, therefore we all as a people have the obligation to ensure the wellbeing of children because every child has the right to develop morally, physically, mentally, socially, and spiritually with the freedom and dignity they require.

They must be protected and collectively too by all of us.”

Patriotic initiative Speaking further, the Governor warned that his administration would stop at nothing to ensure that Akwa Ibom State is rid of all forms of illicit practice that infringe on the fundamental human rights of children and commended the organisers of the programme for the patriotic initiative.

Governor Emmanuel added: “Akwa Ibom Child’s Rights Act forbids any form of child maltreatment and makes it a criminal offence. Let us come together and say no to this evil by ensuring that people without conscience do not use our domain for sacrilegious activities. This we must do by reporting every suspicious person to security agencies.

Others who spoke during the campaign, especially women, were quick to condemn the role

played by most mothers in assisting and encouraging the ill practices in most parts of the state.

VF gathered that most illegal maternity homes were run by traditional birth attendants who use such homes also to carry out the nefarious activities, especially the selling of babies to desperate childless couples who prefer not to go through the legalised adoption procedures.

Member representing Okobo constituency and Chairman House Committee on Women Affairs, Mrs. Felicia Bassey, was quick to point out that the issue of these ill practices centres around the women, identifying insatiability for money and other material possessions as well as lack of love as factors that lure them into the act.

Her words: “Akwa Ibom women cannot claim ignorance of the existence of the Child’s Right Law in the state and mothers have a great role in the upbringing of children. So if we as mothers love ourselves as God commanded, we will not engage in such immoral vices of subjecting children, whether yours or not, to child labour and trade”.

Similarly, the Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Welfare, Dr. Glory Edet, regretted that children were mostly abused and abandoned by their own parents and guardians. “It is sad to say that despite various efforts put in place by government to ensure the promotion and protection of a child, children are often times trafficked for the purposes that constitute the worst forms”.

Right to survival Edet listed the Fundamental Child Rights and Privileges as enshrined in the Akwa Ibom Child Rights Law to include right to survival and development, right to a name, family and nationality, freedom of association and peaceful assembly, freedom of thoughts, conscience and religion; right to private and family life, right to freedom of movement, right to freedom from discrimination.

Others are right to dignity of the child, right to leisure, recreation and cultural activities; right to health and health services; right to parental care, protection and maintenance; right to free, compulsory and universal primary education, junior secondary and senior secondary education/appropriate trade; right of child in need of special protection measures; right of the unborn child to protection against harm as well as contractual rights of the child. Meanwhile, many residents of the state have expressed the view that except something was done to address the high rate of unemployment that have contributed to increase in crime rate throughout the country efforts at tackling these immoral acts and other social problems in the society may not yield the desired result.

52 — Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 16, 2015

road due to the on-going strike embarked upon by operators of container-carrying trucks in protest over their restriction. The Joint Task Force set up by the Ambode administration to ensure free flow of traffic is yet to swing into action as at the time of this report.

Govt reacts: Restating government’s determination to ensure strict enforcement of the Traffic Law 2012, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Transportation, Mr. Oluseyi Whenu, stated thatthemeasurebecamenecessary following incessant auto accidents involving articulated vehicles, especially, the fatal one at Ojuelegba.

According to Whenu, the state government would henceforth go tough on any trailer or long vehicle driver that contravenes the law as such vehicle would be impounded and the driver or owner made to pay the stipulated fine accordingly.

Lawmakers proffer solution: Members of the state House of Assembly have also decided to take a position on the unfolding development as they have called for automation of the entire traffic monitoring system in the state.

Traffic-locked....Tankers and commercial buses struggling for space at the Berger axis of the Oshodi-Apapa Expressway

Lagos motorists groan as traffic gridlock returns Whither Road Traffic Law, LASTMA? •Lawmakers intervene

By Olasunkanmi Akoni, Monsur Olowoopejo&Bose Adelaja

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ANY motorists in Lagos had bitter stories to tell last Monday, no thanks to the chaotic traffic that virtually paralysed movement on major roads of the metropolis. Motorists were locked up for several hours in the traffic without any clear reason for the delay.

But it soon emerged that operators of commercial buses, otherwise known as danfo drivers and motorcycles aka Okada were, as usual, the major culprits as they perpetrated acts in clear violation of the state traffic law. It was learned that indiscipline on the part of the danfo drivers and Okada riders who were picking and discharging passengers on the road with impunity led to the chaotic traffic situation.

The experience was perhaps more painful for motorists plying the Oshodi-Apapa Expressway as the traffic jam there was compounded by an accident at the Toyota Bus-stop. The accident was blamed on a heap of sand discharged in the middle of the highway by an unidentified tipper

driver who fled the scene immediately the act was done. To add to the confusion, several container-carrying vehicles have since taken over the Berger axis of the expressway despite government directive to them to vacate the road.

Some of the roads where traffic gridlock is gradually making a return in recent time after a lull are Ikorodu Road, Oshodi-Apapa Expressway, Funsho Williams Way, formerly called Western Avenue; Lagos Abeokuta Expressway, Agege Motor Road, Lagos-Ibadan Expressway by old Toll Gate, Mile 2-Iyana Iba Road, Egbeda in Alimosho Local Government Area, among others.

Many residents have continued

The presence of the trucks on the road created serious traffic gridlock last Friday and left many angry motorists and residents swearing in frustration

to raise serious concern over lack of road safety measures and discipline on the road by motorists and other road users.

But where is LASTMA: Unlike what obtained in the immediate past, men of the Lagos State Traffic management Authority, LASTMA, could only watch helplessly obviously because they can no longer arrest traffic offenders on the spot.

It will be recalled that the state Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode, recently, cautioned LASTMA, Vehicle Inspection Officers, VIO, Kick Against Indiscipline, KAI Brigade, and other uniformed operatives in the state against unlawful arrest, harassment, detention and impounding of vehicles of motorists for their selfish gains.

Mixed reactions trail Ambode’s directive: But with respect to LASTMA, mixed reactions have, however, continued to trail Ambode’s directive that its officials should not impound any vehicle whose driver violates the Road Traffic Law 2012, but instead have such driver booked and sanctioned through the data points.

While some motorists in the state hailed the Governor for introducing a human face in the enforcement process, others said that the

directive has doused the zeal of the traffic officials in managing traffic in the state.

A commercial driver who spoke to Vanguard Metro, VM, on the matter, Mr Alao Dauda, lamented that for 16 years, many commercial drivers were in bondage, saying: “We could not drive on the road effectively because of the fear of LASTMA and police, but now we are free from their extortionist actions.”

Commercial drivers On the impounding of vehicles, he said: “Many commercial drivers were forced to auction their vehicles in LASTMA yard due to excessive fines imposed on the vehicles which the owners could not pay”.

On tankers: Tankers and other articulated vehicles reappeared sometime last week and have been contributing to the emerging traffic chaos. This is after the Lagos State government announced enforcement of the State Road Traffic Law 2012, restricting them from plying the metropolis between the hours of 6am and 9pm, threatening to impound vehicles of offenders. The presence of the trucks on the road created serious traffic gridlock last Friday and left many angry motorists and residents swearing in frustration.

As at yesterday, the trucks were still parked on the road up to Otto Wolfe on the Apapa Oshodi Expressway, leaving just a lane for other motorists. It was gathered that the trucks were parked on the

Monitoring system This they have done through a motion which was brought up on the floor of the House by Yishawu Olusegun representing Eti-Osa II. Olusegun had submitted thus: “The effort made by the Lagos State Government in enacting the Lagos State Road Traffic Law, 2012 with a view to restoring sanity as well as protecting lives and property on Lagos roads has not been fully achieved, meanwhile, there is need for the House to adopt the motion”.

He further explained that though “the behavioural change which is the goal of the law has improved, but minimum acceptable level has not been achieved in some areas such as restriction from Bus Rapid Transit, BRT, lanes; traffic light compliance speed, seat belt compliance, use of mobile phones, driving against traffic as well as parking on side walk and medians”.

The Speaker, Rt. Hon. Mudashiru Obasa, however, resolved to call on the Governor to direct the Ministries of Transportation; Science and Technology and other appropriate agencies to commence the process of automation of the entire traffic monitoring system in the State.

LASTMA seeks cooperation of stakeholders: As part of efforts to ensure residents are able to commute freely within the state metropolis, General Manager LASTMA, Bashir Braimah, who led the top officials of the agency on traffic management assessment yesterday, unveiled plans to meet and engage all stakeholders in the management and control of traffic.

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 16, 2015 — 53

Shocker! Igali detained in Congo

P

RESIDENT of Wres tling Federation and former Canadian Olympic gold medalist, Daniel Igali was detained on arrival at the Brazzaville International Airport yesterday.

Igali who sent a terse sms to our hotline said that the Congolese detained him because they

claimed that his name was not on the list of Nigerians being expected at the airport. He was detained alongside four other Nigerians.

Igali said that all entreaties for him and the other Nigerians to be released failed on deaf ears as the Congolose

•Igali

K

eita brace takes Sene gal to final

I

BRAHIMA Keita scored twice as Senegal defeated hosts Congo Brazzaville 3-1 Tuesday in the first African Games football semi-final.

The gangling striker struck the second and third Senegalese goals at a packed Stade Alphonse Massamba Debat as they booked a place in the final against Nigeria or Burkina Faso.

Senegal, runners-up to Nigeria in Group B, took the initiative from the kick-off and Christoffer Mafoumbi, the goalkeeper of Group A win-

ners Congo, prevented a first-minute goal.

But the tall shot-stopper had no chance after 16 minutes when an acrobatic overhead kick from Cheikhou Dieng looped into the net.

The combination of a defence-splitting pass and a timely off-the-ball run by Keita set him up to fire low past Mafoumbi on 37 minutes for a 20 half-time lead.

Congo improved dramatically after the break and Merveil Ndockyt reduced arrears on 55 minutes via a closerange shot after a cross was not cleared.

Ben Efe reporting

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Nigeria by the global community, we imploy the Africa continent to come together and emulate Europe and Asia with their block votes.

“Today we have executive committee members from Saudi Arabia in IAAF despite no record of Athletics, because Asia went to the election with their block votes as against a divided Africa.

Should Kalu Orji decides to contest for the FIFA presidency, let us all as Nigerians support with the same zeal we use to support the national teams of Nigeria. We all have to see the FIFA Election as a 90 minutes game to put Nigeria at the top as always. lets throw our hats for Orji Ozor Kalu.”

‘Look at what happened at the last IAAF elections in Beijing and how Asia came together to ensure two of their own,Ahmadi AL Kamali from the United Arab Emirates and Nawaf Bin Mohammed Al Saud from Saudi Arabia got elected into the IAAF Council albeit they are not strong nations as far as the sport of track and field is concerned.

get to the officials of Team Nigeria and Nigeria Olympic Committee failed.

A second part of his sms showed that the Director-General of NSC, Alhassan Yakmut sent people and documents including Nigerian Embassy staff but the Congolese refused to listen to them. ‘’This is malicious, wicked, dehumanising and unacceptable’’, Igali who is a member of the Bayelsa State House of Assembly and Technical Commission Chairman of Nigeria Olympic Committee wrote.

Aspire Football Dreams project begins in Lagos

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FIFA PRESIDENCY Continues from B/P Speaking with examples about the lopsided trends in sports administration globally and Nigeria’s indifference towards seeking such offices when the opportunities present itself, Itemuagbor stated that:”Nigeria is the only country in Africa that participates in all FIFA events in Africa despite the huge cost of these competitions, yet lacks presence in the global sports bodies.

“If a Jordanian Ali fully backed by the people and government of Jordan despite their nonparticipation or presence among the countries of football in the world why not people of Nigeria back Orji” “Nigeria is the main issue and Orji is behind at the forefront of football in Nigeria because he has the requisite management experience having governed a state for 8 years in Nigeria besides being a publisher, also a football enthusiast and an administrator, who has committed his personal resources in the past. With the new recognition of

failed to honour his accreditation for the ongoing African Games.

Igali’s Wrestlers, unaware of the misfortune of their coach waited for him in vain during their Greco-Roman weightcontrol.

“As I write you, I am still under illegal detention at the Airport.

We’ve been here for over seven hours’’, Igali wrote in the sms to our hotline.

Wrestling is one of the sports in which Team Nigeria hopes to shore up its medals and perhaps win the African Games. All attempts to

•Nigerian wrestler: Sinivie Boltic

Double tragedy Burkina Faso doubled their lead after 73 minutes through Omar Kabore, before substitute Etor Daniel reduced the deficit in the 75 minute after good work by Junior Ajayi.

But just when it looked like Nigeria will stage a remarkable comeback, Burkina Faso increased their lead to 3-1 in the 78th minute courtesy of Arba Dicko.

Burkina will now slug it out with Senegal, who were deserved 3-1 winners against home team Congo in the other semi-final on Tuesday.

Meanwhile, pregames favourites The Super Falcons also lost 2-1 to their Cameroonian counterparts in the Women's semi-final.

pants a platform of developing their skills and learning the rudiments of the game in a proper way from their infancy.”

He disclosed that similar projects were also being organised in countries like Senegal, Ghana, Cote d’Ivoire, Mali, Morocco, South Africa among others.

He recalled with pride that some Nigerian players who passed through the project in the past have played for either the Golden Eaglets or Flying Eagles.

“So far, over 30 youngsters from Nigeria have benefited from this project and some have gone ahead to play for the various youth teams.

Yakmut Continues from B/P

Continues from B/P chances, while Nigeria were wasteful in front of goal and paid the price for such wastefulness.

The Burkinabes were also very physical and forced Nigeria to make two changes as a result of injuries - Umar Aminu was replaced by Kingsley Sokari in the 48th minute and 10 minutes later, Mustapha Abdullahi came on for the injured Ndifreke Effiong.

Burkina Faso, who only advanced to the semi-final of the tournament by the luck of the draw after they were tied on all statistics with Sudan, went in front after 12 minutes when defender Seth Sincere put the ball through his own net.

HE 2015 edition of the Aspire Football Dreams project in Nigeria has kicked off in Lagos with 50 kid footballers in attendance.

The children who were presented to the media in Lagos yesterday were selected from all over the federation from the over 700 that attended the preliminary programme held in the 36 states of the federation and Abuja.

Out of the fifty, three to five will be selected to go to the famous Aspire Academy in Qatar.

Speaking at the media briefing yesterday, Director, Aspire Football Dreams (Nigeria), Sam Ahmedu, a retired Colonel said, “the project provides partici-

Egypt and South Africa now appear to be out of sight for Nigeria on the medals table, in terms of position and number of medals won.

“Team Nigeria has maintained its character, that of always coming up in the last few days of the competition.

“Most of our best events are always held toward the end of the Games.

So, right now, our medals haul has been improving, and it is ‘so far, so good’,” Yakmut said.

He, however, acknowledged that Team Nigeria was out of contention for the first two places on the medals table.

“First or second position is no longer possible for us, even though we are winning many medals now and we are going to win more.

“The problem is in fact that we didn’t take advantage of some areas, such as fencing, while badminton didn’t give us what we expected.

“Athletics, particularly, has not given us what we should have and that has been disappointing,” the NSC directorgeneral said.

He, however, praised the efforts of Team Nigeria in cycling and boxing, saying boxing had been the best for the Nigerian team so far.

Yakmut also pointed out that the country has a future in cycling with the Games’ performance.

54 — Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 16, 2015

Zambia, Botswana deny Nigeria 400m gold N Ben Efe reporting

D’Tigress overrun Gabon to advance to semi-finals A

DAORA Elonu scored 22 points and scooped eight rebounds to pivot the D’Tigress to a 73-65 defeat of Gabon on Tuesday in Brazzaville at the ongoing 11th African Games.

The victory ensured the National female basketball team advanced into Thursday’s semi-finals of the competition, even though it was not as smooth as expected.

But for sterling performances from Joyce Ekworomadu (11 points, eight rebounds), Helen Ogunjimi (11 points, two rebounds) and Sarah Ogoke (seven points, four rebounds), the Gabonese were aiming for an upset.

Nigeria led 12-9 after the first five minutes, and could only take a 2019 lead into the second

quarter, in a game that kept going back and forth.

They extended their lead to 29-27 midway into the second quarter, but as the Gabonese fought back they could only take a 35-34 lead by the half time mark.

Then, the Gabonese had a remarkable return, taking a 46-43 lead midway into the third quarter, before the D’Tigress rallied for a 5350 lead by the end of the quarter.

The Nigerian team’s head coach, Scott Nnaji, said their performance was not surprising to him, and it could only get better and rewarding with success in the final.

“We have done this before, and it can only encourage us to go on. But where we want to be is in the final and winning the gold medal.

“Then, we will aim at qualifying for the 2016 Rio Olympics,” he said.

•George

Kenyan girls win volleyball gold

K

ENYA came from a set down on Monday afternoon to beat Cameroon 3-1 and win gold in the ongoing All African Games in Brazaville, Congo.

Cameroon looked set to hand Kenya its second defeat in the games after taking the first set.

But in a reverse of what had happened between the two teams earlier in the tournament, it was Kenya’s turn to come from behind this time as they lifted the next three

•The Tigress celebrates

sets and lift the gold against all odds.

Coach Paul Gitau was elated though he insisted he had expected a podium finish after the team had come from the group stages on top.

“I said it here that if we top the group, we will go all the way to win gold. I am happy we have proved that we were the best coming here,” he said.

Egypt beat Seychelles 3-0 to finish the competition with a bronze medal.

Zewude wins Ethiopia’s first gold medal T SEBELU Zewude ran a tactical race to strike Ethiopia’s first gold at the All African Games in Brazaville, Congo in the men’s

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10,000m race.

While it was a close finish, the Ethiopian had the final punch that saw him clock 27 minutes 27.19 seconds to beat

Kenyan Leonard Barsoton.

Barsoton clocked 27:27.55 to finish second.

Going into the final lap, it was anybody’s race as

Zewude and compatriot Adugna Takele battled to ward off challenge from Kenyans led by Barsoton, Vincent Kipsegechi and Geoffrey Kipkorir.

•Zewude

I G E R I A ’ s impressive performance in the women and men 400m remained the topic of discussion among Athletics Federation of Nigeria officials even as Patience George-Okon settled for silver, in a race she was primed to win.

Also Urukpe Eriyokan failed to find the form that saw him run 44. 95 in the semi-finals, he was placed sixth in the men’s race.

The 400m races were keenly contested, after the semi-final heats produced some i n t e r e s t i n g performances from Eriyokan and Botswana’s Isaac Makwala.

Also in the women, Okon-George who had the fastest time of the season heading to Games and Mupopo Kabanga held an attraction.

However, it was the Zambian who set herself free from pack in the last curve. Okon battled hard to keep abreast but Mupopo was moving too fast and strong, she finished 50.22 seconds to set a new national record for Zambia. OkonGeorge was second with 50.71 a personal best for the athlete. Namibia’s T. Herunga clocked 50.35 seconds for the bronze.

Nigeria second entry, Tosin Adeloye was Fourth with 51.30 season’s best.

The men’s race lived up to its billing. The athletes went off -in blistering start and by 200m it was plain that the field had no answer to Makwala’s powerful strides, he coasted home in 44.35. Kenya’s Boniface Mweresa was second while Botswana’s C. Nkolobo took third with 45.60 seconds.

Nigeria’s hopeful Eriyokan was left in the lurch as he settled for 45.73 seconds finish.

“I am so excited about the times they returned,” said AFN president Solomon Ogba.There were medals for Nigeria in para athletes where Lovina Onyegbule won a sprint double. She clocked 12.60 and 25.27 respectively in the T 11 100m and 200m. Nigeria also won the discus gold and bronze.

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 16, 2015 — 55

Mourinho: I’ve nothing to prove J

OSE Mourinho has insisted he has nothing to prove to anyone despite Chelsea making their worst start to a season for 30 years.

“Why some managers can’t be in difficult situations five, six, 10 years and I am the current champion of England: why should I be in trouble? Why? I think that’s a good question you don’t know how to answer.

“When we say business as usual, it’s true. Business as usual, with one diference. We are not happy.

“The players’ mood?

This is a question always with the same answer: we are not all smiles, laughing and joking. It’s a basic answer. When people are not getting their success that you work for, and I promise you we work a lot for that, people are frustrated and not happy. That’s basic.

“It’s so simple to accept the results are not good because that’s football, because every season you have some teams who don’t start well and have bad results. It’s so

easy to connect that with football, with injuries, with bad luck, with bad moments. It’s so easy to do that, so it’s quite sad that people go in other directions and try to find problems that don’t exist.

“But our problem would be if problems are real. The only real problem we have is we don’t have good results.

“Our lives are about getting good results but, you know. At other clubs you have to go back two, three, five, six, 10 years to remember good results. In our case you have to go back three months."

A

HEAD of yesterday’s Champions League match between PSV and Man Utd, PSV fans attempted to give Louis van Gaal’s side a ‘sleepless night’ by igniting fireworks outside the Manchester United team hotel.

A video emerged on Facebook page ‘PSV Primeur’ claiming to show fans setting off fireworks outside United’s hotel.

“Every little advantage is a bonus,” they claimed, with the sound so loud that it caused “some car alarms to go off”.

•Mourinho

Gerrard jealous of my achievements — Diouf F

ORMER Liverpool striker El-Hadji Diouf has accused Steven Gerrard of being jealous of him after the ex-Reds captain said the Senegalese forward was the player he had liked the least at Anfield in his new autobiography.

Diouf hit back at

•Diouf

Gerrard in an interview given to a radio station in his homeland after the former England international said he had no respect for the striker, who he claimed had “no real interest in football and cared nothing about Liverpool.”

But Diouf, who signed

Messi Ozil: I joined Arsenal because of Wenger impossible ESUT Ozil has what the manager wants M revealed Arsene from the team.” to define Wenger’s reputation as a “Our game centres •Ozil manager who promotes around playing good, — Garcia a brand of ‘technically- technical football and

Messi

R

OMA Coach Rudi Garcia says Barcelona’s Lionel Messi is ‘impossible to define’ and promises a performances of ‘humility and ambition.’

“We know they ’re a really strong team, they’ve won their first three league games, but you don’t need to say much because everyone knows that,” Garcia said at today ’s pre-match Press conference.

“There aren’t sufficient adjectives to define Messi – he’s one of the best, if not the very best"

PSV fans set off fireworks outside Man U hotel

strong’ football influenced his decision to sign for the Gunners.

“Before I joined, I knew that Arsenal were always a technicallystrong team,” he told the club’s official website.

“That’s also why I decided to join this club, because I know exactly

that’s good.

“It’s thanks to the manager because he’s worked on that for years and has formulated a technically-gifted team that can dominate any opposition.

“That’s why we’re really pleased to have a manager like him.”

Del Piero: ‘Pogba is unique’

J

UVENTUS legend Alessandro Del Piero describes Paul Pogba as

Pogba

‘unique’ and discusses Manchester City.

“Pogba is a great player,” Del Piero told Sky Sports.

“And he is improving.

He has a rare talent and is unique. He has great mobility and technique, combined with an impressive physicality.

“Could he join Manchester City? He’s with Juve and I don’t think he’s for sale, at least not in the immediate future.”

for Liverpool in 2002, has now responded to the comments by insisting Gerrard was merely jealous of him and his global fame.

“Gerrard is just jealous of me. He hasn’t achieved what I have done in football,” he told Senegal’s Radio Futur Media.

“When I came to Liverpool, I came up with the status of boss and he lives there. I am respected in world football, the greatest football experts have appointed me among the seven best players in the World Cup, the top 100 players of the century. Several big players do not belong.

Everywhere I go out of my country, they worship me - while Gerrard will be abused whenever he leaves his home city of Liverpool.”

Seven die in French Alps avalanche The government of the French Hautes-Alpes region have reported that at least seven climbers are thought to have died in an avalanche in the Massif des Écrins area of theFrench Alps.

The avalanche took place at around midday local time, on the 4,015metre high Dôme de Neige des Écrins peak, with no “special alert” having been issued by the met office.

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 16, 2015

Adesokan wins gold in powerlifting, sets new world record — Pg.28

FIFA PRESIDENCY:

Itemuagbor backs Kalu P

AMODZI Sports Marketing (PSM) boss Mike Itemuagbor has backed the FIFA Presidential bid of former Abia State governor Orji Uzor Kalu describing it as a Nigeria project worthy to be embraced by everyone.

Continues on Page 53

HISTORY MAKER: Adesokan celebrate his gold medal at the World Paralympics Games. He repeated the feat yesterday in Congo.

Double tragedy in Congo!

U-23, Falcons fumble

•Kalu

African Games: So far so good — Yakmut A

LHASSAN Y a k m u t , Director-General of the National Sports Commission (NSC), has said Team Nigeria’s performance at the ongoing 11th African Games in Congo had been good so far.

Yakmut, who was at the Makelekele Gymnasium to watch the Nigerian women beat their Gabonese counterparts in basketball, said that Nigeria’s current standing was expected.

Continues on Page 53

B

URKINA Faso will clash with Senegal for the prestigious gold medal of the men’s football event of the 2015 African Games after they shocked Dream Team of Nigeria 3-1 on Tuesday.

Burkina Faso made the most of their Continues on Page 53

Igali detained in Congo P. 53 •Yakmut

Ben Efe reporting

Today’s Champions League games AA Gent Bayer Leverkusen Chelsea Dinamo Zagreb Dynamo Kiev Olympiakos Roma Valencia

v v v v v v v v

Lyon 7:45pm Bate Borisov 7:45pm Maccabi Tel Aviv 7:45pm Arsenal 7:45pm FC Porto 7:45pm Bayern Munich 7:45pm Barcelona 7:45pm Zenit St. Petersbu7:45pm

QUICK CROSSWORD

TODAY'S

PUZZLE

FRI DAY'S FRIDAY'S

ANSWERS

ACROSS 1 Fidgety (5) 5 Cupboard (6) 8 Abrupt (5) 10 Distant (6) 11 Imitated (4) 14 Hat (6) 15 Widespread (7) 18 Pinch (3) 19 Faucet (3) 21 Trial (4) 23 Dissuade (5) 24 Grasped (4) 27 Lair (3) 29 Lout (3) 31 Swiftly (7) 32 Insane (6) 34 Delicate (4) 35 Tie up (6) 38 Seam (5) 39 Club (6) 40 Regional (5)

DOWN 2 Employ (3) 3 Stocked (6) 4 Still (3) 5 Petal (4) 6 Believe (6) 7 Meal (6) 9 Discounted (7) 12 Enclosure (3) 13 Drug (4) 16 Relax (4) 17 Subsequently (5) 20 Punishment (7) 22 Dirty (4) 24 Feverish (6) 25 Bread (4) 26 Stunning (6) 28 Restaurant (6) 30 Marshland (3) 33 Hollow (4) 36 Fish (3) 37 Epoch (3)

YESTERDAY'S SOLUTIONS ACROSS: Script 5, Damp 8, Lover 9, Ass 10, Prey 11, Site 12, Acted 13, Threat 16, Rest 18, Vale 20, Yes 22, Rut 23, End 24, Wade 25, Reel 28, Dollar 30, Staff 32, Meal 33, Iota 34, Sot 35, Melee 36, Tied 37, Tender.

DOWN: 1, Scanty 2, Reserved 3, Poplar 4, Boycotted 5, Deserved 6, Arid 7, Peer 8, Lea 14, Terrified 15, Old 17, Sue 19, Analysed 20, Yap 21, Settled 26, Locate 27, Crater 29, Omit 30, Same 31, Foe.

How to Play Sudoku

P

lace a number (1-9) in each blank cell. (No line can have two of the same number).

Each row (nine lines from left to right), column, (also nine lines from top to bottom) and 3 X 3 block within a bold block (nine blocks) contains number from 1 through 9. This means that no number can appear twice in any block, column or row.

No mathematics is involved – no adding, subtraction, division or multiplication, just plain logic and your imagination.

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