Drama, as Modu Sheriff emerges PDP chair

...towards a better life for the people

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VOL. 25: NO. 62695

ONLINE | www.vanguardngr.com

N150

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 2016

$3bn necessitated oil Senior lawyers swap, ex-NNPC boss frustrating war against corruption — EFCC boss tells probe panel 8

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Drama, as Modu Sheriff emerges PDP chair

By Henry Umoru

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B U J A — ERSTWHILE chairman of the Board of Trustees of the defunct All Nigeria Peoples Party, ANPP, and former governor of Borno State, Senator Ali Modu Sheriff was yesterday chosen to become the national chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP. The decision on Sheriff which was first proposed by the national caucus yesterday morning was subsequently ratified last night by the National Executive Committee, NEC. However, that was not without drama as the

Party's BoT mounts opposition to his emergence PDP needs prayers, says Femi Fani-Kayode There won't be regrets over me, Modu Sheriff assures

Continues on Page 5

Senate moves to suspend pro-Lawan Senator Marafa 41 OONI IN ASO ROCK—From left, the Ooni of Ife, Oba Enitan Adeyeye Ogunwusi, Ojaja II; Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo and President Muhammadu Buhari, during the visit of the monarch to the Presidential Villa, Abuja, yesterday. Photo: Abayomi Adeshida.

How Enugu Assembly rejected Equal Rights, Opportunities Bill See Inside C M Y K

COLUMNISTS:

Sacked agency heads working for PDP — OYEGUN P.17

TABIA PRINCEWILL

Rehabilitating corrupt persons, betraying the Nigerian dream

P.37

DEAR BUNMI

He gave me pubic lice

P.19

ROTIMI FASAN

Will the budget rats shame Buhari?

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Myths about devaluations 45

Mr & Mrs

2 —Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 2016

C M Y K

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 2016 — 3

C M Y K

4—Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 2016

Senior lawyers frustrating war against corruption —EFCC boss Vows to recover looted funds for devt

By Soni Daniel, Northern Region Editor

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BUJA— IN a daring tone, the Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Ibrahim Magu, yesterday, stunned the nation with a declaration that senior lawyers in the country were hampering the fight against corruption.

That challenge notwithstanding, Magu vowed to intensify the fight, defeat corruption persons and recover Nigeria’s stolen funds from whoever is keeping them.

The chairman made the position known while speaking with a coalition of civil society groups, who visited him in his office, yesterday, as part of their sensitisation programme against corruption.

The chairman accused the top lawyers of assisting corrupt elements who had looted the nation’s treasury to fight the EFCC and escape punishment for their economic crimes.

The chairman also accused the lawyers of using journalists to write negative things against the commission all in a desperate bid to stall the trial and conviction of corrupt persons.

Magu said, however, that despite the legal prowess of the lawyers and those sponsoring them, the commission would never be afraid of taking on corrupt elements who had made life very difficult for ordinary Nigerians by looting the treasury and depriving the nation of the funds to carry out development projects for all.

He said he would only fear God and show utmost respect for the rule of law in the prosecution of the anti-graft war. Magu also said the commission would pursue nothing more than national interest in the fight against corruption.

He boasted that the war being waged by the commission against corrupt persons was powered by the power of God and that of the Nigerian people, who deserve better services being denied them by the corrupt few in the land.

The chairman said: “Apart from the fear of God, we have no other fear. Apart from the interest of Nigeria, we have no other interest. And apart from the Rule of Law, we have no other rule guiding the work we are doing today. The days of impunity are over.

“One of the big challenges we have in the effective prosecution of the war on corruption is that of very senior lawyers who Nigeria has been very kind to.

“When we have corruption cases, cases of people who have stolen food from the mouths of our children; when we have cases of

people who have stolen money meant to build hospitals and buy drugs; when we have cases of people who have stolen all the money meant to buy guns for our soldiers to fight Boko Haram, when we have all these cases of wicked people who have stolen Nigeria’s money, they run to these same senior lawyers, give them part of the stolen money and mobilise them to fight us, to delay us in court and to deny Nigerians of justice. These are the people

who do not want justice for the common man.

“The other day, 34 Senior Advocates of Nigeria fought against only one small EFCC lawyer in court and he defeated all of them. What we are doing today is not by our power, it is the power of the Nigerian people and the power of God behind us.

“Corrupt people hire journalists to abuse us every day; they say we are not doing the work according to the law. But, that is

not true. There is no agency that follows the law more than EFCC. None.

“Before we arrest you or seize your property or do anything to you, we check the law; we go to court and get court order. That is why we are winning; that is why we are defeating them every day."

He declared that the agency had recovered some stolen funds and would continue to pursue others to recover more for the nation to use for its development and pleaded with Nigerians to stand by the commission and President Muhammadu Buhari.

VISIT: President Muhammadu Buhari (left) and Pastor Enoch Adeboye, General Overseer, Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) during a visit to the Presidential Villa, Abuja, yesterday. Photo: Abayomi Adeshida.

Ex-BPE boss calls for sale of refineries, passage of PIB As reactions trail sack of agencies’ CEOs

By Clara Nwachukwu, Sebastine Obasi & Ediri Ejoh

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AGOS— FORMER DirectorGeneral of Bureau of Public Enterprises, BPE, Mr. Benjamin Ezra Dikki, has called for the urgent privatisation of the nation’s refineries, saying the option of Turn-Around-Maintenance, TAM, has remained a distraction over the years.

Given the current state of the refineries, the BPE insists that “government cannot afford to waste resources at this critical time the economy is faced with.”

Dikki made the call, yesterday, at the formal hand over to Dr. Vincent Akpotaire, the most senior officer at the bureau. This was in line with the Presidency’s directive to all the chief executives of the Federal Government agencies who were relieved of their appointments on Monday.

A statement from the BPE also quoted Dikki as calling for the passage of the Petroleum Industry Bill, PIB, “to open up the Nigerian economy for private sector participation.”

Dikki was among the 26 agency chief executives sacked on Monday, an exercise that also saw the exit of four petroleum agency CEOs. The statement became the first notification of adherence to the Presidency directive to the agencies, as others were yet to formally announce their handover, even as reactions have trailed those affected in the petroleum industry.

The former BPE boss also used the opportunity to appeal to the Federal Government to “pass into law the reform bills initiated by the bureau to boost the Nigerian economy, especially in the face of dwindling revenue from oil.”

Reactions to sack of petroleum chief

The sacking of the agencies’ CEOs have elicited reactions from industry operators, some of whom noted that some of the chief executives were under tenure appointments and should have been allowed to complete their tenures: Chamberlain Oyibo, former Group Managing Director,

Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, said: “Government is the owner of the business. Government hires and fires. However, some of those sacked have tenure. There must be some form of compensation, if they are removed before the end of their tenure.

Mr. Muda Yusuf, DirectorGeneral, Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry, LCCI, said:“Often times we have argued about certain heads of operations being removed. But the critical area we are not asking questions is: are there good and sustainable structures in place?

“For me, if we have the right institution in the country, the head doesn’t count that much.

And as such, the effect may not be as profound as being portrayed. What is important is that we have an institution that is structured and running properly, and should be able to work using the platform of those institutions. The quality of the institutions is what matters most and not the change in heads or leadership.”

Boko Haram hungry, desperate —Lai Moh’d As Borno govt relocates IDPs from public schools

By Emma Ujah, Abuja Bureau Chief & Ndahi Marama

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BUJA — THE Minister f Information and National Orientation, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, has described the spate of suicide bombings and attacks on soft targets by Boko Haram, lately as actions of hungry and desperate terrorists.

His declaration came on a day a document from the United Nations indicated that the global body released $58 million to assist 2.4 million people affected by Boko Haram-related violence from March 2015 to February 4, 2016.

Borno State government also, yesterday, defied the protest by donor agencies’ and began relocating Internally Displaced Persons, IDPs, from public schools to resettlement camps to allow for the resumption of students, after the schools were closed due to Boko Haram insurgency in March, 2014.

Mohammed, who spoke on the spate of bombing while fielding questions at a press briefing in Abuja, yesterday, said Boko Haram sect members were not only venting the anger of their hunger and desperation on soft targets but also trying to demonstrate that they were still relevant. o

Borno govt relocates IDPs from public schools Meanwhile, Borno State government, yesterday, defied the protest by donor agencies’ and began relocating Internally Displaced Persons, IDPs, from public schools to resettlement camps to allow for the resumption of students, after the schools were closed due to Boko Haram insurgency in March, 2014.

Their protest was expressed through a representative from the United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund, UNICEF, simply identified as Mr. Victor, to the committee that the donor agencies “are dissatisfied with the arrangements.”

Similarly, the United Nations has released $58 million to assist 2.4 million people affected by Boko Haramrelated violence in 2015.

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 2016—5

POCKET CARTOON

He will surely punish us.

“If we insist on making the wrong choices about our leadership and if we keep taking people for granted not only will we be finished as a party but the entire country will suffer the consequences of our errors and inexplicable ways.

“May God help us and may He forgive us and deliver us from evil, greedy, corrupt, ignorant and bloodthirsty men.”

PRESIDENTIAL VISIT—President Muhammadu Buhari (R) introducing members of his Cabinet to the visiting Liberian President, Ellen Johnson Sirleaf (2nd R) at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, yesterday.

Drama, as Mode Sheriff emerges PDP chair

and successor, Governor Kashim Shettima.

Continues from Page 1 Board of Trustees (BoT)

of the party made a staunch opposition to his emergence.

The decision to elect Sheriff who joined the PDP less than two years ago was also flayed by Chief Femi Fani-Kayode, who was spokesman of the party’s 2015 Presidential Campaign Organisation.

Sheriff emerged the leading candidate to fill the vacancy in the office of national chairman from the pool of about 29 aspirants who appeared for the interview and screening before the national caucus.

Sheriff was reportedly the choice of the governors, senators, national caucus and the National Working Committee, NWC. Other aspirants considered for the position, Vanguard learnt, included former Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Engr. Abba Gana from Borno State; Ambassador Wilberforce Juta from Adamawa State; National Vice Chairman, North East, Senator Girgiri Lawal from

Yobe State; former Chief of Staff to ex-Governor Isa Yuguda of Bauchi State, Shehu Gabam; Senator Saidu Kumo from Gombe State, Muhammed Wakil from Borno and former Adamawa State governorship candidate, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu.

Ribadu who was the favourite of some notable party stakeholders, reportedly made himself unavailable for personal screening by party chieftains yesterday.

It was also gathered that after the screening, they were left with two candidates, Ambassador Wilberforce Juta and Modu Sheriff, but the national caucus reportedly settled for the latter because the Deputy National Chairman, Prince Uche Secondus, is a Christian.

The contention was that having Juta, a Christian, as a national chairman would not go well with the party, hence the choice of Modu Sheriff.

Sheriff joined the PDP in July 2014 after falling out with his one time protégé

IT'S UP TO YOU

BY AYO ADIO N our search for daily bread, we must not lose sight of why we are on earth and whose live we could change, because we could find the courage to live beyond ourselves. It’s up to you.

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TAKE HEART

BY ELLA RANDLE

Let today be the day you love yourself to no longer dream of a better life, let it be the day you act on it —Steve Maraboli

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OMETIMES Love or a better life is so close, so close. But many people choose to stay on one side of the wall simply because they cannot recognize that a better life is right there on the other side.

SAYINGS OF OUR PEOPLE The tomb of the warrior is pointed at from the house of the coward.

PDP needs prayers, says Fani-Kayode The emergence of Sheriff as national chairman of the party was yesterday flayed by Chief Fani-Kayode. In a statement made available to Vanguard, Fani-Kayode said: “I do not often speak publicly about the internal affairs of the PDP because I have always chosen to remain well above the fray.

This is because I have good friends in every single group and on all sides that constitute the party.

“However, given today’s event, there appears to be deep cause for concern. it is clear to me that, more than at any other time in its almost 17 years in existence, the PDP needs serious prayers.

“If we fail to provide the strong, united, progressive, credible and focused leadership and opposition that is needed to keep our country on course and our government on their toes then God will never forgive us and

BoT's opposition Indications of the stiff opposition of the BoT was apparent in the national secretariat yesterday as the party elders met.

After first telling journalists of the choice of Sheriff by the major party organs, party spokesman, Chief Olisa Metuh reappeared looking ruffled to tell journalists that the BoT was yet to agree on Sheriff.

This second disclosure by Metuh soon attracted support as more party stakeholders opposed the choice of Sheriff.

A BoT member said that some people simply wanted to pull a fast one on other party members. Party members were seen outside discussing in groups with gloomy faces as uncertainty, confusion and despondency enveloped the secretariat.

How the candidates emerged, by Metuh Metuh in his first briefing had said: “We had decided that the North-East Caucus should meet and bring a candidate to replace the National Chairman that resigned, Adamu Mu’azu.

But when they met, they were not able to narrow it down to one person. So, what they did was to send to us five people; one from each state of the North East.

They sent Giri Gana from Yobe State, Ambassador Wilberforce Juta from Adamawa State, Abba Gana from Borno State, Shehu Gabam from Bauchi State, Senator Kumo from Gombe State. Taraba did not have any other person. So, these five people were invited to come and see the National Caucus on Monday to take

a decision.

“At the meeting we had with them, we decided that it was important that we enlarge the scope and the number of people that will come. So, we extended and invited some other people to come and show why they want to be chairman. One or two governors confirmed that Ribadu had shown interest in becoming chairman; so we extended invitation to him to come. We were told that Modu Sheriff over the weekend expressed an interest. We invited him to come and tell us, and because Hon. Wakil had come down from the United Kingdom to participate in the process, we invited him as well.

“On Monday, apart from those five people, we interviewed Ali Modu Sheriff and Mohammed Wakil. But we were told that Ribadu was not comfortable with an interview.

“After the interview process, they were narrowed down to two persons. A little over an hour ago, the National Caucus discussed.

The governors first of all discussed and brought a candidate, the National Assembly discussed and brought a candidate, the BoT discussed and came up with a candidate, the National Working Committee discussed and came with a candidate. So, we brought the candidate at the National Caucus. One interesting thing was that unanimously, it was the same candidate that every

single organ of the party brought to the National Caucus.

“So, the National Caucus endorsed that they will bring to the Board of Trustees the choice of the National Caucus, after which both organs will bring the nomination to the National Executive Committee (NEC). So, there is no approval of the National Executive Committee but for now, I can confirm to you that the National Caucus has chosen Senator Ali Modu Sheriff to be the National Chairman of the party. But we are awaiting Board of Trustees approval and the NEC this afternoon. So, this is exactly where we are."

No one'll regret my choice, says Sheriff Following his endorsement by the NEC, Sheriff promised to take off immediately in building the party even as he acknowledged that there were different views on his emergence, but promised that no one will regret his choice as he would deliver to ensure that PDP wins the 2019 Presidential election.

“I ask everybody for prayers, whatever your feelings let's work together I will carry everybody along.”

He was immediately sworn in by Chief Emeka Etiaba, SAN, in a ceremony witnessed by the Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu; all PDP Governors and other PDP bigwigs.

Sacked agency heads working for PDP — OYEGUN

By Levinus Nwabughiogu

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BUJA—National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, said, yesterday, that President Muhammadu Buhari sacked heads of 27 federal parastatals on Monday because they were compromised by the opposition party, Peoples Democratic Party, PDP. He said the APC had no apologies for the gale of sack that rocked the agencies.

Oyegun, who disclosed this to State House correspondents after a meeting with President Buhari at the Presidential Villa in Abuja, said the sack was not about APC members filling the positions left by the

sacked parastatal chiefs, but about weeding out those sabotaging efforts of the Federal Government to bring development to Nigerians.

According to Oyegun, who led members of the National Working Committee, NWC, of the party on the visit to the President, said ‘internal sabotage' was pervasive in the affected agencies.

He said: “APC members are not concerned about the positions; we are concerned about the internal sabotage that is going on in a lot of the PDP-filled positions which are critical to our national growth and development.

“It is happening in INEC, it is happening in a lot of other institutions and that is what the concern of the

party is, not necessarily taking over.

"We should take over and they should be people who believe in the change agenda. We have no apologies for that at all, that is it.”

Asked how soon the positions would be filled, Oyegun said it was at the President’s discretion.

Speaking on the controversy trailing the 2016 budget, the APC national chairman said it was necessary to make adjustments to reflect modern realities.

“There is absolutely no confusion; this is a serious issue. I want you to please understand the complications that come from adjusting a structure from over 40 ministries to just over 20.

"The necessary

adjustments of figures and movements of institutions were very complicated, so it is natural that adjustments have to be made to the process and that is just happening,” he said.

On the mission of the NWC to the presidential villa, Oyegun said they needed to applaud the President on some issues he declined to mention.

“We just came to pay our respect to our President, and praise him on things that are on-going. We raised our concerns on one or two issues and altogether, we had a very pleasant and rewarding meeting.

“They were just internal party matters. I’m sure you are familiar with the political terrain and nothing different,” Oyegun said.

6 —Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 2016

7—Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 2016

Boutros Boutros-Ghali, dies at 93

Berliet and Ilasamaja bus stops, in Itire axis of Oshodi-Apapa Expressway, Lagos. PHOTOS: Lamidi Bamidele.

By Emeka Aginam, with agency report

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HE first African former UN Secretary General, Boutros Boutros-Ghali, has died, aged 93, the UN Security Council has said.

Boutros Boutros-Ghali, who led the UN between 1992 and 1996, died at a Cairo hospital yesterday, after being admitted with a broken pelvis.

He took office in 1992 at a time of growing influence for the UN, following its decisive role in the Gulf War, serving one five-year term.

However, he faced criticism for the UN’s failure to stop the 1994 genocide in Rwanda and Washington was angered by his opposition on NATO’s bombing campaign in Bosnia.

The 15-member Security Council observed a minute’s silence after the announcement of BoutrosGhali’s death, which was made at the start of a session on Yemen’s humanitarian crisis.

Lebanese killed in Kano

By Abdulsalam Muhammad

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ANO—KANO Lebanese community was thrown into mourning yesterday, following the death of its senior citizen fondly called Baba at his fortified residence located at Unity Road, Kano Central Business District.

The Commissioner of Police, Muhammad Katsina, told Vanguard on phone that the deceased 67 was slaughtered by his ‘close associate’ in his apartment, Monday night.

The local police boss noted that four suspects had been arrested in connection with the gruesome murder, adding “they have offered vital information to us.”

He refused to volunteer the name of the decease because of security implication, saying “details of the crime would be made known to public in due course.”

Married woman flees, as 22-yr-old lover overdoses on sex enhancement drugs

By Simon Ebegbulem

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E N I N — M I L I TA RY authorities in Benin, Edo State, are on the trail of a married woman, who abandoned a 22-year-old boy in a hotel room after she gave the boy an overdose of sex

enhancement drugs.

Vanguard learned that the boy raised an alarm when he started experiencing pains in his erect penis. The receptionist reportedly met the boy looking very weak. He was then rushed to a nearby hospital.

Vanguard was informed that

the said woman normally comes to the hotel with the boy after dropping off her children in school.

A source told Vanguard: “She will be in the hotel from 8a.m. till about 2p.m., when she will go and pick the children from school. She spends all the time

Woman gives birth to 5 babies in Ibadan

By Ola Ajayi

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BADAN—A family of two suddenly became seven as a 28-year-old woman in purdah, Mrs Sakirat Rasaq, was delivered of quintuplets, three boys and two girls, yesterday at the University College Hospital, Ibadan.

The father of the babies, 32year-old Quranic teacher, Alfa Yusuf Ewenje, said they got to know about the babies during a scan when the pregnancy was three months.

He said: “After the scan, we took her to Adeoyo hospital and they told us that she needed bed rest. They started managing her till yesterday (Monday) when we came here for delivery.

“I am greatly handicapped now because I only make living out of my Quranic teaching class. I want well-meaning people to come to my aid.

“I am using this medium to appeal to Governor Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo State, his wife, Minister of Health, Professor

Gunmen cart away Delta council's cooperative funds

By Perez Brisibe Isaac Adewole, and the Federal Government to come to my aid so that my joy will not turn sour.”

His wife, who described herself as a lucky woman, could not be photographed because of her faith as she is in purdah.

The Public Relations Officer of the hospital, Mr. Deji Bobade, said mother and

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children were doing fine, adding “they need your financial assistance.”

3 killed as political crisis erupts in Otukpo

By Peter Duru

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AKURDI—THREE persons have been reportedly killed ahead of the Benue South senatorial rerun election slated for this weekend, when supporters of All Progressives Congress, APC, and Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, clashed yesterday.

The clash, which occurred at Ugboju in Otukpo Local Government Area, is coming on the heels of the petition by Senator David Mark to the

with the boy in the hotel room.”

It was further gathered that the woman was always buying milk and sex enhancement drugs for the boy. However, on this said day, she was alleged to have given the boy an overdose, leading to the boy’s permanent state of erection.

The boy is said to be receiving treatment under the watch of some military personnel, who came to his rescue.

It was learned that police have also been informed, but that they intend to allow the boy regain his strength before going after the married woman, who is said to be a mother of three and married to a wealthy man.

Inspector General of Police, alleging threat to his life ahead of the re-run with Daniel Onjeh of APC. Vanguard learned that those killed in the crisis were Okwoche Omale, Andrew Adaji and Audu Okopi, with several houses also razed.

It was gathered that the crisis was triggered by a disagreement between the caretaker Chairman of Otukpo Local Government Area, Mr. Ijachi Ude of APC and his younger brother, Eje Ude of

PDP. When contacted, Police Area Commander for Otukpo, Mr. Fasuba Akinyele, said the report had not been brought to his notice.

The representative of Otukpo/Akpa in the state House of Assembly, Johnson Ahubi alleged that the crisis was triggered by APC supporters, expressing dismay at the attitude of the Police in Otukpo, whom he accused of failing in their duties.

GHELLI—TWO gunmen, yesterday afternoon, stormed the Ughelli North council secretariat and made away with an unspecified sum of money meant for members of the council’s corporative society.

Though details of the incident was sketchy as at press time, a female staff of the council, who spoke on condition of anonymity, disclosed that the hoodlums came in a motorcycle, and collected the money from the boot of the car belonging to an official of the cooperative.

According to the source, the cooperative official had withdrawn the said money from a new generation bank in Ughelli and went straight to the secretariat from where the money would be disbursed to members.

The source said: “He was in one of the offices at the secretariat, when he suddenly looked outside and saw the hoodlums making away with the money.”

8—Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 17 , 2016

$3bn debt necessitated oil swap deal, says ex-NNPC boss, Oniwon Says ‘I had approval limit of $10m’

By Emman Ovuakporie & Johnbosco Agbakwuru

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BUJA—FORMER Group Managing Director, GMD, of Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, Austen Oniwon, yesterday told the adhoc committee on Crude Oil Swap probe that a debt of over $3 billion necessitated the oil swap deal entered into by Nigeria and that he was entitled to a spending limit of $10 million.

Oniwon, who served as GMD of NNPC from 2010-2012, made the revelations when he appeared before the Committee of the House of Representatives, headed by Zakari Mohammed (APC, Baruten/Kaima Federal Constituency, Kwara).

According to Oniwon, shortage of cash flow in the system also made it imperative for the corporation to look for alternative ways to remedy the situation in the country.

He said: “I met a debt of over $3 billion when I took over as Group Managing Director and it became a primary responsibility to see what I can do, because our cash flow was in serious trouble to the extent that we could no longer service the federation account and pay for products.

“We had to look at options available and opted for oil swap because of the cashless situation by using the services of our creditors.”

He said the perilous situation of the three refineries in the country —Warri, Port-Harcourt and Kaduna— which were supposed to produce 125,000, 210,000 and 110,000 barrels of crude respectively, bringing it to a total of 445,000 daily, informed the need to sell the crude and convert to refined products to enable the NNPC supply same to the nation.

Responding to a question on if he was the initiator of the oil swap, Oniwon said it did not begin with him as there was an oil swap agreement between the country and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia entered into in 1989.

He explained: “No, it is not the first time we are going into an oil swap agreement. I recall that there was one entered into with Saudi Arabia in 1989. The reason then was that our crude was not suitable for the production of lubricants.”

The former GMD dispelled insinuations that the swap deal was marked by irregularities and did not meet its proposed objective, noting that the country experienced zero fuel queues through out the period because of the oil swap deal.

Asked why he failed to allow Duke Oil to go through competitive bidding, Oniwon

explained that it was difficult to do that as NNPC was heavily indebted as at that period.

I had approval limit of $10m

Meanwhile, Oniwon in response to a question by one of the committee members, said he was entitled to a $10 million approval limit as GMD.

On his part, a former GMD, Mr Andrew Yakubu, said when he came on board on June 26, 2012, the oil swap contract was already in place, but noted that he set up a committee to review the contract, with a view to making it more profitable to Nigeria.

Yakubu explained that after the committee concluded its work and turned up its report, he submitted

same to the then Minister of Petroleum Resources but the minister did not get back to him up till the time he left office on August 1, 2014.

He said the key areas of the report was a review of the contract value and how it would affect the lives of Nigerians positively.

The former GMD further explained that based on available records, the 445,000 barrel per day requirement for Nigeria, when added together, would give 17 million litres, which was less than the 35 million litres requirement per month.

MEETING: From left, All Progressives Congress, APC, Deputy National Chairman, South, Mr. Segun Oni; National Secretary of the party, Mai Mala Buni; Deputy National Chairman, North, Senator Lawal Shuaib; National Chairman, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun and Information and National Orientation Minister, Alhaji Lai Mohammed after the party's leadership meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari at Aso Villa, Abuja, yesterday. Photo: Abayomi Adeshida.

I'm not ready for trial —Dasuki

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BUJA— Former National Security Adviser, NSA, Sambo Dasuki, has said he was not ready for trial until the Federal Government complied with an order of the Federal High Court granting him bail.

In November 2015, Justice Adeniyi Ademola had granted Dasuki bail but the Department of State Services, DSS, rearrested him immediately after his release from Kuje prison.

Counsel to the DSS, Dipo Okpeseyi (SAN), announced to the court, yesterday, that the prosecution was ready for trial to commence. But Joseph Daudu, counsel to Dasuki, said the defence counsel was not ready to proceed with the trial because the Federal Government was still keeping the accused person in detention, despite an order of the court granting him bail.

He said: “We cannot be ready for trial until the defendant enjoys his constitutional rights. We apply that we should be given time to prepare the defence. The conduct of the prosecution has not enabled him to enjoy his constitutional rights.

The worst thing is that for about seven weeks we have had no idea of his whereabouts."

However, Okpeseyi argued that the prosecution was not stopping Dasuki from enjoying his freedom, saying the accused person was not allegedly held for the charges before the court.

He, therefore, asked the court to reject the request for adjournment andtocommencetrial.Butthecourt adjourned till March 3 for the hearing on a motion to discharge Dasuki.

Alleged N300m fraud: Court admits evidence against ex-PDP chair, Bello, son

By Ikechukwu Nnochiri

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BUJA — FULL-BLOWN trial of the erstwhile National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Dr. Bello Haliru Mohammed, and his son, Abba, commenced before the Abuja Division of the Federal High Court, yesterday.

The duo are answering to a four-count criminal charge preferred against them by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, following their alleged complicity in N300 million fraud.

Also charged before the court was a private firm, BAM Projects and Properties Limited, which the EFCC said was used to perpetrate the fraud.

EFCC, yesterday, opened its case against the accused persons, even as it tendered three sets of evidence before the court.

Among documents that trial judge, Justice Ahmed Mohammed admitted and marked as exhibits against the accused persons included a detailed statement of the account the 2nd defendant, Bam Projects

and Properties Limited, operated with Sterling Bank.

EFCC lawyer, Mr. Rotimi Jacobs, SAN, tendered the exhibits through the first prosecution witness, PW-1, Mrs. Rouqayya Ibrahim, who testified against the defendants yesterday.

Mrs. Ibrahim, an EFCC operative from the forensic accounting unit, narrated before the court how the commission was able to trace the N300 million into Abba’s company account.

She said: “In October/ November 2014, a special task force was created to investigate the defence and arms contract, alleged financial misappropriation in the Office of the National Security Adviser, ONSA. “After the task force was instituted, we looked at the intelligence report and commenced investigation into the allegations. During the course of the investigation, we invited and wrote letters to the relevant government agencies and relevant banks.

“Specifically in this matter, we invited staff of the Accountant General’s office for an interview.

We also invited staff of ONSA and the CBN. After our interview with them, we requested for relevant documents based on the outcome of the interview.

“Both the Accountant General and the CBN replied and furnished us with the requested documents, likewise the banks which also provided us with the relevant bank accounts.

“One of the discoveries we made after receiving documents from the Accountant General’s office was a letter written by the Ministry of Finance, requesting for N100 billion on March 2, 2015.

“It was for several expenditures, but N30 billion from the fund was for ONSA for security issues. Then on March 3, 2015, the Accountant-General of the Federation wrote to the Minister of Finance, in respect of the N30 billion for the ONSA and another N31 billion not related to ONSA, but for a different purpose.

“On March 6, 2015, the Accountant General of the Federation wrote to the CBN, authorising the release of the N30 billion which was paid into ONSA account with CBN on March 11, 2015.

“Then on March 17, 2015, N300 million of the N30 billion paid into ONSA account was paid into Bam Projects and Properties Limited (2nd defendant) account with Sterling Bank and the narration on the mandate said the payment was for safe houses.

“Consequent to that discovery, we requested for the statement of account of Bam Projects from Sterling Bank. They replied us with the Certified True Copy of the said account and the account opening package, including instruments used in debiting and crediting the account."

Aside the statement Abba made before the EFCC which was admitted as exhibit PL-1, other documents the court admitted into evidence, yesterday, included a letter from Sterling Bank which detailed the statements of account of Bam Project & Properties Limited, the account opening package, as well as the Certificate of Identification from the bank.

The documents were marked as exhibits PL-2 and PL-3.

The court, subsequently, adjourned further hearing on the matter till February 23.

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 2016 — 9

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10—Vanguard, WEDNESDAY FEBRUARY 17 , 2015

Ambode reads riot act to pipeline vandals, cultists

By Olasunkanmi Akoni & Monsur Olowoopejo

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A G O S — FOLLOWING continued activities of pipeline vandals and cultists in Lagos state, Governor Akinwunmi Ambode, yesterday, warned perpetrators of such acts to desist as the state would no longer condone their activities, even as he directed the Nigerian Army, Police and other security personnel to immediately intensify their arrest of suspected vandals and cultists in the state.

Meantime, the Nigerian Army has disclosed that two Naval personnel and a boat operator were last week killed by the vandals during operations in Awatshe.

The Army had, however, arrested 15 suspected vandals, recovered over 2,000 50-litres jerry cans and 36 vehicles from the vandals in the axis.

This was made known when Ambode undertook an on the spot inspection tour of Ishawo- Arepo road in Ikorodu Local Government along with the Commissioner of Police, Fatai Owoseni, Commissioner for Works, Mr Ganiyu Johnson and other security personnel.

Oyedepo hosts GSS Omu-Aran old boys dinner

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LL members of Government Secondary School, OmuAran Old Boys Association, OGSSOBA, will on Friday, February 19 gather at Canaanland, Ota, for a reunion dinner to be hosted by the president of Living Faith Church, Bishop David Oyedepo, who will be providing free accommodation and feeding.

There will also be free transportation from Ilorin and back while a bus will be stationed at Lagos Secretariat, Alausa to convey members to Ota and back. The dinner will kick off by 6 pm on Friday and end on Saturday morning.

National President of the association, Prince Olusegun Adeniyi has enjoined all old boys of the school to mobilize others, assuring that the dinner is such that will not be forgotten in a hurry.

OBSTRUCTION OF JUSTICE: EFCC arraigns Ricky Tarfa

By Onozure Dania

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AGOS—A Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Ricky Tarfa, was, yesterday, arraigned before a Lagos High Court sitting in Igbosere by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on the allegation of obstruction of justice and attempt to pervert the course of justice.

EFCC, in charge No-LD/ 2417C/16 filed before Justice Aishat Opesanwo, alleged that Tarfa on February 5, 2016 hid two suspects, Nazaire Sorou Gnanhoue and Modeste Finagnon, both Beninoise, in his Mercedes Benz Sports Utility car, thereby shielding them from being arrested and wilfully obstructing the course of justice.

The suspects were said to have fraudulently converted some sophisticated manufacturing equipment, property of Rana Prestige Nigeria Limited for their own use. They are also being investigated for alleged tax evasion running into millions of naira.

Tarfa allegedly prevented two operatives of the EFCC, who wanted to arrest the suspects, from carrying out their statutory duties.

Tarfa’s counsel, Niyi Akintola (SAN), who led 14 other Senior Advocates and about 150 other lawyers made a bail application brought pursuant to Section 115

INSPECTION: From left: Governor Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos State; Secretary to State Government; Mr. Tunji Bello; Commander, 9Brigade; Brig-Gen Bulama Biu and Navy Captain, Chindo Yahya, during a security inspection tour to Oke-Oko, where oil pipelines were vandalised works; and Operation Awaste Base in Isawo; and project tour to the road that will link to Arepo and Kara on Lagos-Ibadan Express road from Ikorodu, Lagos State, yesterday. Photo by Bunmi Azeez of the Administration of Criminal Justice Law. He urged the court to grant the defendant bail on selfrecognition.

Akintola informed the court that the defendant was granted administrative bail by the EFCC and he regularly reported to the office of EFCC every morning by 8 am.

He added that the defendant had made himself available for trial. He said Tarfa was prepared to defend the charge filed against him by the Commission.

He assured the court that as a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Tarfa would not jump bail.

But the EFCC’s counsel, Rotimi Oyedepo, prayed the court to dismiss the application for bail and remand the defendant in prison custody.

He argued the fact that he was a SAN was not relevant considering the nature of the case.

He prayed the court to disregard the submissions of the defence lawyer that Tarfa was granted bail on self recognition.

He said the administrative bail followed an undertaking by the President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA).

Justice Opesanwo, however, in her ruling granted the defendant bail in self recognition.

But she ordered that the defendant should not travel out the country without informing the court.

Justice Opesanwo maintained that the defendant presented overwhelming evidence that had not been controverted by the prosecution.

BOAT MISHAPS: MOT, LASWA to be held responsible – SPEAKER

By Ebun Sessou

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PEAKER, Lagos State House of Assembly, Mudashiru Obasa has said that henceforth both Commissioner for Transportation, Dayo Mobereola and Managing Director of Lagos State Waterways Authority, LASWA, Abisola Kamson, will be held responsible for further boat accidents in the state.

Obasa disclosed this during plenary yesterday after members had taken comments from the state Commissioner for Transportation and Managing Director of Lagos State Waterways Authority, LASWA. The House last Monday summoned the duo over incessant boat accidents that have claimed several lives in the state.

Obasa who expressed displeasure over the responses of the officers, stated that it is unfortunate that the LASWA’s office was created without a board which in turn has hindered the effective running of the organisation.

“As we speak, you have no regulation. You have not been able to do the necessary regulation to monitor the activities of the operators and you have been operating without board.

“How many times have you taken time to be on the waterways?

What is your staff strength? What is the local government doing about this? It shows, you are not in existence,” Obasa roared.

The drama took Abisola Kamson unaware as she was fidgeting and speechless.

The Speaker however said that stakeholders meeting with all the relevant agencies, would be called to address the issue holistically.

Kamson however explained that some of the causes of the

tragedies recorded on the waterways were as a result of over speeding, vessels not fitted with the required technology like speedometer and running into fallen logs along the waterways among others.

13 VCs not fired — COMMITTEE

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HE Committee of ViceChancellors of Nigerian Universities, CVC, has clarified insinuations that 13 of its members were sacked by the Federal Government, saying it was a wrong impression.

The group made the clarification via a statement signed by Prof.

Michael Faborode, its Secretary General.

It stated that nine of the Vice Chancellors had completed their tenures and could not have been sacked as they had already handed over before the announcement.

“For the nine Federal Universities established in 2011, except the Federal University Oye-Ekiti, the tenure of the Vice Chancellors expired on Monday February 15, hence it will be wrong to say they are being sacked,” the group said.

“Perhaps the date of the announcement being Friday 12 February conveyed a wrong

message that the new VCs were expected to assume office on that date, thereby giving a wrong impression that the outgoing VCs were sacked.

“This is far from the true position. Indeed, from information

available to us, all 8 VCs had handed over to their respective Ag. Vice-Chancellors (appointed by their Governing Councils) against Monday, February 15, in line with provisions of the University Miscellaneous Act.

Tompolo seeks court ruling on his appeal

By Innocent Anaba

E

MBATTLED ex-militant leader, Government Ekpemupolo, alias Tomopolo, has appealed to Justice Ibrahim Buba of a Federal High Court, Lagos, to release to him, copy of the ruling of February 8, 2016 in the charge filed against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, to enable him appeal against same.

Vanguard gathered that one of the counsel to Tompolo in the matter, Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa,

has been frequenting the court to get the ruling, to enable Tompolo appeal same with no luck.

Yesterday in court Adegboruwa made an oral appeal to the judge, expressing his frustrations in respect of the ruling. He said it was necessary to appeal to the judge to intervene because of the time limited for Tompolo to exercise his right of appeal.

The judge reminded Adegboruwa that the ruling was only delivered on February 8, 2016 and that he had a backlog of judgments and rulings to deliver.

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 17 , 2016 —11

Ooni, Adeboye visit Buhari •Ooni represents new way of thinking — OSINBAJO

By Levinus Nwabughiogu

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BUJA—THE Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, has called on Nigerians to see the present economic crisis as an opportunity to embrace agriculture and other areas in the non-oil sector.

He also noted that youth empowerment is his utmost concern.

Speaking with State House correspondents after a meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari at the Presidential Villa, the traditional ruler said he also met with the Minister of Agriculture, Chief Audu Ogbeh to work out the modalities for empowering the youths through agriculture. He also met with Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo.

Also in Abuja to see the President was the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, RCCG, Pastor Enoch Adeboye, who also met with VicePresident Yemi Osinbajo.

Adeboye, who was ushered into the president’s office barely spent 20 minutes.The meeting was said to be a private one.

On his way out, he refused to speak with journalists when approached for comments, but returned: “God bless you”, as he entered his car.

However, the Ooni, recalling that agriculture was the mainstay of the nation’s economy before now, revealed that he had assembled 200,000 youths who were ready to engage in agriculture, saying that five acres of land had been mapped out for each youth.

His words: “The meeting with the President was about peace and progress of the nation which he and I stand for. What is also key is youth empowerment, which is the main purpose of this meeting.

“There is a lot. I am currently working with the Minister of Agriculture. We have been able to assemble over 200,000 youths

within a space of 30 days. It is unbelievable.

We are encouraging them to go back to the farm.

“Something happened in Nigeria that we did not notice.

Last year October, crude oil price started going down astronomically but cocoa price went up over 100 percent and nobody noticed it.

“Nigeria in the early 1930s and 1940s was the largest exporter of cocoa in the world and the farmlands are still there. It is another positive indicator for the nation’s economy.

“We have been able to assemble youths and we are giving them five acres per youth so that they will go back to the farm.

“The Federal Government is supporting us very well. So it is going to be a model that will be replicated in all parts of the country.

“As a royal father, I am also encouraging the youths not to look for fast ways of making

A

D O - E K I T I — GOVERNOR Ayodele Fayose of Ekiti State has said that mere sacking of the Director General of Budget, Yahaya Gusau will not erase the national embarrassment generated by the errors of the 2016 budget, insisting that the budget must be withdrawn from the National Assembly and a new and error-free one represented.

In a statement by his Special Assistant on Public Communications and New

Ooni represents new way of thinking — VP

Meantime, Vice Ppresident Yemi Osinbajo has extolled the virtues of the Ooni of Ife, Oba

PARLEY: The Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi b r i e f i n g journalists after the parley between him and the President at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

Photo by A b a y o m i Adeshida.

Oyo Assembly announces nominated councils caretaker chairmen

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B A DA N — A F T E R much waiting, the Oyo State House of Assembly yesterday announced the names of the nominated caretaker chairmen for the 33 local governments in the state. The names were announced publicly during the state House of Assembly plenary on Tuesday presided over by Michael Adeyemo, Speaker of the House.

Consequently, the screening of the would-be caretaker chairmen would commence next week, the speaker said.

Unlike what obtained in the past when the appointees were sworn in the same day that their names were announced, the situation is different this time, as the house wanted to ensure that the appointees are screened one by one before they would be sworn in by the executive arm, which is ensuring that only the best emerges from their various councils.

ONDO AT 40: Anyaoku to chair symposium

By Dayo Johnson

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Ekiti airport project ill-timed – EX-GOV ADEBAYO

By Levinus Nwabughiogu

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BUJA—FORMER governor of Ekiti State, Otunba Niyi Adebayo yesterday in Abuja called on

Fayose wants budget withdrawn, re-presented Media, Lere Olayinka,

By Rotimi Ojomoyela

money, let us go back to the basis.”

Asked the response of the President to the issue, he said “He is a progressive President, he is very happy.”

Speaking on his acceptance as a traditional ruler in Yoruba land, Oba Ogunwusi stated that his emergence was divine.

He said: “I have a clear strategy. If you don’t want to accept me, I will accept you. It is very important and I will be very persistent about it because it is a divine calling. It is neither by my power nor by my might. It is a calling from the king of kings who actually appointed me to this throne. So I will be very persistent. About acceptability, if you do not accept me today, you will accept me tomorrow. It is a clear mission and I will be persistent about it”, he said.

Adeyeye Ogunwusi, saying he was embodiment of a generational shift.

Speaking during a courtesy call on him by the traditional ruler in his office at the Presidential Villa in Abuja yesterday, the Vice President said that Ogunwusi’s relationship with Nigerians across of ages, tongues and tribes was an indication of a better tomorrow.

He said: “Some of what we have seen `Kabiyesi’ do, some of those steps he has taken, handshakes across prejudices, across traditional boundaries, a visit to the Alaafin of Oyo, and several other such important steps are not just symbolic.

The Vice President also stated that leaders have to be accountable to the people, adding that “One of the very important attributes of the Kabiyesi is the fact that he represents a new way of thinking, which is not just a generational way of thinking. it is a whole new concept in the way we relate to power and authority.”

He stated that this new way of thinking and style, which the Ooni represented was not only about traditional leadership, “but it is something that relates to leadership at every level.''

Governor Fayose said what the controversial 2016 budget required was a holistic approach, not just making one person scapegoat.

He maintained that padding of the budget with strange figures, now being denied by Ministers was a clear intention to steal in advance, adding that; “Though it is good that the President heeded my call for the punishment of those responsible for the national embarrassment, mere sacking of officers at the Budget Office will not remove the stain splashed on Nigeria by the shameful budget.”

...says Ekiti is a pariah state Governor Ayo Fayose to halt the airport project, stressing that it was ill timed.

Adebayo stated that with the biting economic crunch, airport project was the least any governor would have fathomed.

Speaking at a reconciliatory meeting of Ekiti State stakeholders of All Progressives Congress, APC, convened by the Deputy National Chairman (South) of the party, Engr. Segun Oni at the APC National Secretariat in Abuja, the former governor regretted that Ekiti was now seen as a pariah state, apparently owing to the activities of the incumbent governor.

“I don’t think there is anybody in Nigeria who will say he is happy with what is happening in Ekiti State. Ekiti is being turned into a pariah state and it is unfortunate that this sort of thing is happening and that is why we, who are in the

opposition are putting our house in order and we believe that if we all stick together and make sure that the party is in stable state, we will be able to wrest power back from Governor Ayodele Fayose, that is making mockery of our state.

“Frankly speaking, even without paucity of fund, even with the way things were before, it is a surprise that any reasonable person will say that the priority for Ekiti State is an airport. It is definitely not an airport.

We have an airport in Akure, which is 45 minutes drive from our state capital. So, building an airport in Ekiti State honestly is not a well taught out project”, he said.

KURE—FORMER Commonwealth Secretary-General, Chief Emeka Anyaoku is to be Chairman at a symposium being organised by the Ondo state government as part of activities marking the 7th anniversary of the Dr Olusegun Mimiko administration and 40th anniversary of the creation of the state.

Senators Ben Murray Bruce and Shehu Sanni, Former Information Minister, Labaran Maku, Afenifere Publicity Secretary, Yinka Odumakin with woman activist, Yodama Bukar Mandara have also been named as discussants at the symposium.

12—Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 2016

VISIT: From left: Former Minister of Police Affairs, Alaowei Broderick Bozimo; the Pere of Akugbene-Mein Kingdom, HRM Pere S. P. Luke, Kalanama VIII and the Olu of Warri Kingdom, HRM Ogiame Ikenwoli, during the Olu's thank you visit to the Akugbene-Mein monarch, at Akugbene.

The Ovie of Ughelli Kingdom, HRM Wilson Ojakovo, Oharisi III (left); the Olu of Warri Kingdom, HRM Ogiame Ikenwoli (right); Chief Ayiri Emami (3rd right) and Chief Yaya Pessu, during the Olu's visit to the Ughelli monarch.

Olu of Warri pays historic visit to Ijaw monarch

By Egufe Yafugborhi & Perez Brisibe

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GHELLI—THE Olu of Warri, HRM Ogiame Ikenwoli, yesterday, visited the Akugbene Mein Kingdom in Bomadi Local Government Area, Pere S. P. Luke Kalanama VIII and the Ovie of Ughelli Kingdom, HRM Wilson Ojakovo, in Ughelli North Local Government Area, both of Delta State, in furtherance of his resolve to foster peaceful coexistence between the Itsekiri nation and neighbouring communities.

The visit to the Ijaw monarch is the first since the Ijaw and Itsekiri conflict which claimed the lives of hundreds of innocent citizens with property worth millions of naira destroyed on both sides.

Appealing for peace among all ethnic groups in the state, the Olu urged monarchs to continue to sustain the current peace in the state with a charge on youths to be patient and tolerant of their neighbours.

He said: “During my coronation, I promised to build bridges of love, peace and harmony between the Itsekiri nation and its neighbours. This is a display of such show of love.

"My visit to Akugbene was an epoch event as no Itsekiri king had ever been there before. I am personally happy that I am

C M Y K

making history.

“We may have differences but we must understand our difference. Anything that concerns you should concern me. By the time our subjects see us display such brotherly love, they will emulate us.”

Describing the visit as

historic, the Pere of Akugbene Kingdom likened the Olu's visit to the 1982 visit of the Oba of Benin to the kingdom.

He said: “Some people did not believe you would come, considering our past, but today you are here.”

The Ovie of Ughelli Kingdom, in his address, said: “Ughelli has made history today because this is the first time the Olu of Warri is visiting us. I believe that this show of love will continue unabated in order to keep both kingdoms closer than ever.”

Ireland to establish development centre in Cross River

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HE Republic of Ireland has indicated its preparedness to partner Nigeria, using Cross River State as the pilot state, to ensure it attains socioeconomic and infrastructural development.

This, the Irish government believes, will help address the problem of youth restiveness in the Niger Delta region.

Irish Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr Sean Hoy, who disclosed this during a courtesy call on the governor of Cross River State, Prof Ben Ayade, explained that he was in Calabar, to develop a framework of development that involves the states and Federal Government in a bid to find the way forward in their respective developmental strives as well as help curb restiveness in

the Niger Delta region.

Amb. Hoy, who also announced the establishment of a development centre in Calabar as part of the initiative, said: “We are here to support them, look at how the development of the Niger Delta can be done better than before. Resources are

not actually the problem, but how to prioritise issues of development.”

Responding, Cross River State Governor, Prof Ayade, said it was critical to address the restiveness that had characterised the Niger Delta region as no development can take place where crisis and tension exist.

N-Delta varsity shut over students’ protest

By Samuel Oyadongha

Y

E N A G O A — AUTHORITIES of Niger Delta University, NDU, yesterday shut down the institution following a violent protest by some students over rules on the pass mark required for them to graduate from the institution.

The aggrieved students,

made up of a section of the Faculty of Engineering, it was gathered, felt threatened by the new rule of the faculty and went on rampage with a demand that the rule be reviewed or changed.

The protesters, mainly final year students, were said to have issues with some core courses during their second year, which they were yet to get rectified.

Wike assures on even devt

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IVERS State Governor, Mr. Nyesom Wike, has said that no part of the state will be left behind in his quest to revive decaying infrastructure, noting that the Igwuruta-Chokocho-Etche Road leading to the food basket of the state will be completed on schedule.

In a statement in Port Harcourt, yesterday, by Simeon Nwakaudu, Special Assistant to the Rivers State Governor on Electronic Media, Governor Wike said that the process for the recovery of the state was effectively on.

The governor assured the people of Ikwerre and Etche Local Government Areas of the state, that the arterial road would be constructed in line with specifications to serve the development needs of the people.

According to him, no section of the state will be denied development projects. He noted that no project started by his administration will be abandoned.

The governor also assured the people of Eleme Local Government Area of the state residing along the Old Refinery Road in Akpajo that the road will be completed to improve the economy of the area.

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 2016—13

I made withdrawals from funds NIMASA paid into my account —EFCC witness

By Innocent Anaba

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Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, witness, Mr Emeka Emenalo, yesterday, told a Federal High Court sitting in Lagos that he withdrew several sums of money from his company's account within the period his account was credited by the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, NIMASA. The witness had earlier told the court that NIMASA transferred about N72 million to his account for services not rendered. He had also testified that he did not benefit from the proceeds of the alleged crime.

But under cross-examination, yesterday, by counsel to 3rd defendants, Lanre Olayinka, the EFCC witness admitted making several withdrawals from the account.

He explained that there were other cash in-flows into his account during the period.

Counsel to the 4th and 6th defendants, Ige Asemudara and Seni Adio, respectively, crossexamined him and queried the veracity of his testimony going by the transfers he made to his sister known as Ifeoma and brother, Uche Emenalo.

Examining his account statement which was tendered before the court as exhibit, the witness said he transferred N700,000 to his sister and N20 N

million to his brother on March 6, 2016 among other transfers.

The witness, who had introduced himself as sole proprietor of O2 services Plus Nig. Ltd, spoke at the resumed trial of the immediate past Director General of NIMASA, Patrick Akpobolokemi and others.

Akpobolokemi and others were charged by EFCC alongside six others on 22 counts charge of conversion and theft to the tune of N2.6 billion.

Other accused are Captain Ezekiel Agaba, Ekene

Nwakuche, Governor Juan and three companies, namely Blockz and Stonz Ltd, Kenzo Logistics Ltd and Al-Kenzo Logistic Ltd. They are standing trial before Justice Ibrahim Buba and had all pleaded not guilty to the charges prffered against them.

The EFCC said the alleged offences contravened the provisions of sections 15 (1), 15 (3), and 18 (a) of the Money Laundering Prohibition Act, 2012.

Earlier, Emenalo in his evidence in chief conducted by

the prosecuting counsel, said that sometime in 2015, his younger brother, one Uche Emenalo, sought to use his company to undertake a contract from NIMASA. He told the court that when he began to receive bank alerts, he informed his brother, who in turn informed the third accused.

Emenalo told the court that on June 18, 2015 he received an alert for N14.2 million and a further alert of N21 million. On March 15, 2015 he received an alert for N21 million and on May 4, 2015 he received an alert for N16 million.

SIGNING: Governor Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State (left), and Speaker of the state House of Assembly, Mr. Victor Edoror, during the signing of the state's 2016 Appropriation Bill into Law by the governor at Government House, Benin, yesterday.

Fresh anxiety grips Gbaramatu communities over troops’ deployment

By Emma Amaize

W

ARRI—TENSION built up in Oporoza, Okerenkoko and other Gbaramatu-Ijaw riverine communities in Warri South-West Local Government Area of Delta State, yesterday, following the announcement by President Muhammadu Buhari on Monday that government had deployed more troops to the Niger Delta region to tackle pipeline vandals.

Reports from the communities said that some residents who heeded the call of their leaders to return to the troubled areas to rejuvenate the collapsed economy and social life, deserted the localities again, yesterday, because of fear of the redeployment of more soldiers.

National President of Ijaw Peoples Development Initiative, IPDI, Austin Ozobo, who confirmed that the latest announcement by Buhari jolted the people, who expected him to find a political solution to the faceoff between the Federal Government and former Niger Delta militant leader, Government Ekpemupolo, alias Tompolo, said that the few people remaining in

the communities fled yesterday.

“If you go to the communities, you will observe that only old men, women and a few youths

are remaining. Others have fled because of the fear of the unknown and the recent announcement of redeployment of more troops worsened the whole thing.”

Vanguard could not confirm, yesterday, if more troops had arrived the creeks, but in the last few days, about four military gun boats had been stationed around Oporoza.

Oshiomhole signs 2016 Appropriation Bill into law ...vows to hand over to APC governor

By Simon Ebegbulem

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ENIN—GOVERNOR Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State, yesterday, signed into law the state's N116.6 billion 2016 Appropriation Bill into law, saying that his administration had laid a solid foundation that his successor will build upon after his exit from office.

The governor, who gave a breakdown of the budget, said N57.1 billion was budgeted for recurrent expenditure while N59.5 billion was for capital projects.

Oshiomhole vowed to hand over to an All Progressives Congress, APC, governor come November 12, 2016, expressing optimism that the next governor will be one who shares his vision for Edo State, and continue the developmental projects in the state.

He scored Education, Works, Health and Environment Ministries high in the 2015 budget, saying that though this

will be the last budget he will sign into law, he was over joyed with the successes recorded by his administration.

Rivers APC condemns killing of invasion of Omoku and the members sorrounding communities

By Gbenga Oke

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IVERS State chapter of All Progressives Congress, APC, yesterday, condemned the killing of some of its members in Ogba/ Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Area of the state.

The party also condemned the Nigeria Police over its alleged failure to provide security for the people of the area.

In a statement, the APC Chairman in the state, Davies Ikanya, alleged that suspected members of a local cult group were behind the

where they selected houses of APC members and killed them.

He said: “The killings began early evening and lasted till 10p.m., and unfortunately, the police failed to respond to calls for help until the killers had finished their dastardly mission and left with some of the heads of those they killed.

I can confirm that at least 26 people were shot dead.

“We decry a statement credited to the Rivers State Police Command, which blamed the killings on an alleged fight between rival cult groups."

Re-run poll: Rivers govt tasks FG, INEC on credible exercise

By Clifford Ndujihe & Jimitota Onoyume

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IVERS State Government has urged the Federal Government and the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to ensure that next month’s rerun National Assembly election in the state was credible and peaceful.

Also, the new Resident Electoral Commissioner in the state, Mr Aniede Ikoiwak, has said that the electoral body will use card readers for the re-run election slated for March 19.

Ikoiwak, who spoke during an interactive session with the political parties, yesterday, at the INEC office in the state, said incident forms will be used to complement card readers in special situations approved by the electoral body.

Meanwhile, Rivers State Commissioner for Information and Communication, Dr Austin Tam-George, who spoke in Lagos, also called “On all Nigerians and the international community to challenge INEC and the All Progressives Congress, APC, government to hold free, fair and conclusive rerun polls in the state.”

He said the appeal stems from what he termed APC’s ‘’political fundamentalism, its obsession to vanquish the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP,’’ and the prevailing wave of inconclusive elections in recent times.

Madam Ekwerigbe passes on

M

RS. Fani Ekwerigbe (nee Agarry), is dead, aged 88. She is survived by a widower, Apostle Paul Ekwerigbe and five children, including Sir. Emmanuel Ekwerigbe, an oil and gas consultant/professional in supply chain management.

A funeral service by Church of the Living God will precede the final internment on April 15, 2016, in Iwride-Olomoro, in Isoko South Local Government Area, Delta State.

Late Madam Ekwerigbe

14—Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 2016

BURIAL: Cross section of the family of late Deaconess Dorcas BelloOsifo, mother of Remi Diagbare, Editor, Vanguard Allure, during the burial in Benin, Edo State.

Customs in dilemma over new officers

By Godwin Oritse

T

HE management of Nigeria Customs Service, NCS, is currently in a quandary over some officers recruited by the immediate past management.

The affected officers, Vanguard gathered, were allegedly writing their final exams when they were engaged by the agency. This category of Customs officers, it was learned, did not pass the training college exams and their employment was beginning to cause murmurings within the service.

The service's spokesman, Mr. Adewale Adeniyi, a Deputy Comptroller of Customs, told Vanguard that some newly-recruited officers were not properly trained, that plans had been concluded to take them back to the training school.

It was learned that the Comptroller-General of the service was under pressure not to carry out the disengagement of the affected officers.

From left—Operations Manager, Mr. Sunny Awevia; AGM, Brand, Mr. Fred Odueme; Mrs Diagbare and South-South Regional Advert Manager, Mr. Nat Bunuju, all of Vanguard Media Ltd., at the event

Senate suspends new electricity tariff Nigerians already on ‘life support’—EKWEREMADU

By Henry Umoru & Joseph Erunke

A

BUJA—THE Senate, yesterday, mandated Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission, NERC, to immediately stop further implementation of the

new electricity tariff until the outcome of a public hearing that would be carried out by its relevant committees on the controversial electricity tariff issue.

The order of the Senate followed a motion to suspend the implementation

of the new tariff, sponsored by Senator Suleiman Nazif (APC, Bauchi North), under Matters of National Importance.

Nazif, who drew the Senate attention to the matter, opined that in view of the

FORGERY: Judge withdraws from suit seeking to remove Saraki

By Ikechukwu Nnochiri

A

BUJA—FOLLOWING a petition by the Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, Justice Ademola Adeniyi of the Federal High Court in Abuja, yesterday, withdrew from a suit seeking to remove the Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki.

Justice Adeniyi was directed to hands off the matter by the Chief Judge of the High Court, Justice Ibrahim Auta.

Already, Justice Auta has handed the case file to Justice Evoh Chukwu of the same court to commence fresh hearing on the matter.

The suit, marked FHC/ABJ/ CS/651/2015, was filed before the court by five members of All Progressives Congress, APC, in the Senate, Abu Ibrahim, Kabir Marafa, Ajayi Boroffice, Olugbenga Ashafa and Suleiman Hunkuyi.

The plaintiffs are praying the court to sack Saraki and Ekweremadu on the premise that the version of the Senate Standing Orders that was used to conduct the July 9, 2015 election that produced them as President and Deputy Senate President, respectively, was forged.

In their suit dated July 27, 2015, the plaintiffs contended that allowing Saraki and Ekweremadu to continue to

pilot the affairs of the Senate, regardless of the fact that they emerged through an act of illegality, would in itself amount to corruption.

Cited as defendants in the suit were Saraki, Ekweremadu, the National Assembly and Clerks of the National Assembly.

Though the court had concluded hearing on the matter, Ekweremadu filed a petition before Justice Auta, alleging bias against Justice Adeniyi.

In his petition, dated December 18, 2015, Ekweremadu insisted that Justice Adeniyi was closely related with some chieftains of APC.

Reps to engage CSOs in monitoring of constituency projects

By Emman Ovuakporie & Johnbosco Agbakwuru

A

BUJA—THE House of Representatives, yesterday, promised to engage Civil Society Organisations, CSOs, in monitoring and execution of constituency projects.

The House also assured that it would, through its oversight functions, ensure that projects and funding were done in compliance with budget plans to avoid double appropriation for the same projects.

Chairman, House Committee on Civil Society Organisations

and Development Partners and former National President of Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers, NUPENG, Mr. Peterson Akpatason, disclosed this during an interactive session with select CSOs at the assembly complex.

Akpatason, who represents Akoko-Edo Federal Constituency of Edo State, said the National Assembly hopes to relate with the Budget and National Planning Ministry to interface with the ministry and its agencies to oversee the appropriation and

implementation strategies and outcome of all aids and grants.

The lawmaker, who told the CSOs that he was on loan to politics, promised to always be a comrade.

He said: “I do not feel very proud to be called an honourable in the Nigerian context, but I feel happy when I am called comrade because a lot of good things are associated with comrade.”

Akpatason told the CSOs that the committee was to develop a legal framework for the coordination and harmonisation of the activities

of civil societies, stressing that the legal framework was needed at the moment to ensure that civil societies in the country delivered as one.

Leader of the delegation, Mohammed Atta, who is Executive Director, World Association of NonGovernmental Organisations, said that CSOs were concerned about implementation of budget.

He also emphasised the discontinuation of “envelope system of budgeting,” which, he said, breeds corruption.

biting economic hardship, it was unrealistic to increase electricity tariff.

The development came just as negotiations between the leadership of the Senate and the Federal Government over the new increment of electricity tariffs by 45 percent failed.

The secret negotiation, which was at the instance of the Senate President, took place last Thursday at the National Assembly complex.

It was gathered that the Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola; his Labour and Productivity counterpart, Chris Ngige, and some principal officers of the Senate, were in attendance.

Senator Nazif, in his motion, had prayed the Senate to wade into the controversial electricity tariff, saying the development, if allowed, could compound the present suffering of Nigerians.

Supporting the motion, Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, said Nigerians were already on what he described as ’life support.’

He urged his colleagues to reject the new increment and stand with Nigerians.

Ekweremadu said: “As Nigerians, we are now on life support. This increase is evil and we must ensure that we insist on the reversal.

“There is already poverty and hardship. Any additional load on Nigerians means we do not want them to live. We must ensure that their welfare is protected.”

Senate President's directives

Senate President, Bukola Saraki, who presided over the plenary, in his remark, mandated the Senate Committees on Labour and Power to meet with the relevant agencies of government and find a lasting solution.

He further mandated the two committees to conduct public hearings on the matter, saying the outcome would determine what will happen.

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 17 , 2016—15

BIAFRA: We won't resort to violence in self-defence —IPOB

By Chimaobi Nwaiwu

N

N E W I — T H E Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, has denied earlier reports that it has resolved to resort to violence with the security agencies who have been killing their members during protest and prayer sessions.

In a statement issued yesterday in Nnewi by the IPOB Media and Publicity Officer, Mr. Emma Powerful, he said there was never a time IPOB threatened to resort to violence in its agitation for the release of its leader and Director of Radio Biafra, Mr. Nnamdi Kanu and actualization of the sovereign state of Biafra.

He said those who were quoting IPOB or any of its coordinators or spokespersons as saying so, were either trying to be mischievous or trying to paint a picture of IPOB being a violent group that will be tagged a terrorist group by the international community .

According to him, IPOB after the killing of their members in a prayer session in Aba, Abia State by security men and several other killings that resulted to the loss of lives of over 1,000 members, resolved to defend themselves in the face of any attack, but it did not say with weapons.

His words: “We believe that some people are out to destroy

IPOB name, and it is the same people who tried without success to link us with the seizure of a merchant ship last month, which the Nigerian Army confirmed the hijackers were not from Nigeria. Now, that the plan to tarnish our image has failed, they are plotting another way by saying that we want to go violent, but their plan will not work.

“IPOB will maintain its non violent approach. Like other responsible Biafra agitators, we

will not be violent but Nigerians and the world should be rest assured that we will defend ourselves in the face of any attack by the military, police or any other security agencies because we have been pushed to the wall by the Nigerian military and the police, and we will not take that any longer.

"There are many non violent ways of defending ourselves. Self defence is approved in international law, and you should not be shooting people that were

praying and think that they will leave you unchallenged.

“We are not going to involve in any kind of arms struggle. It is not our style but we must achieve Biafra. It is funny that the people that have been killing us over the years are now jittery that we said we will defend ourselves in the face of any attack. So, they love their lives, they do not want to die but they are killing us. Let them try and kill our members again and we will show them how we will defend ourselves” he said.

SUSTAINABLE CONVERSATIONS: From left: Corporate Affairs Director, Unilever Nigeria, Soromidayo George; Vice President, Regulatory & Corporate Affairs, Etisalat Nigeria, Ibrahim Dikko; Lead Consultant, Thistle Praxis, Ini Onuk; MD/CEO, Galaxy Backbone, Yusuf Kazaure and Acting Regional Coordinator, Africa, UN Millennium Campaign/SDGs Action Campaign, Hilary Ogbonna at the Sustainable Conversations Thought Leadership Series sponsored by Etisalat Nigeria in Abuja.

Former Health Minister, Onyebuchi defects to APC

E

By Francis Igata

NUGU—FORMER Minister of Health, Professor Onyebuchi Chukwu has dumped the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, for the All Progressives Congress, APC. Chukwu registered as a member of APC at his Ugwuegu Ward in Afikpo North Local Government Area of Ebonyi State last Friday in the presence of scores of his supporters and APC members and officials.

The former minister who achieved global acclaim following his effective handling of the Ebola outbreak in Nigeria in 2014 might have left the PDP in protest against the shabby treatment he allegedly received from the party as a governorship aspirant in 2014.

However, at press time, the professor of surgery could not be reached for confirmation. His former Special Assistant on Media and Communication, Dan Nwomeh however said he was aware of the development.

Chukwu’s defection to the APC, an opposition party in Ebonyi State, was expected to generate a major transformation of the political landscape in

Ebonyi State as several of his supporters and loyalists, key politicians in their own right, were expected to join him in the APC. It was gathered that Chukwu’s defection was with the full knowledge and encouragement of top APC

leaders at the national and state levels.

It would be recalled that Chukwu was a prominent member of the Ken Nnamani-led pressure group that unsuccessfully tried to engineer a revamp of the PDP following the defeat of the party at the last

presidential election and the loss of several key governorship and legislative seats in the other elections. Senator Ken Nnamani himself, a couple of weeks ago, resigned from the PDP, stating that he was ‘stepping aside’ from active partisan politics for the time being.

Anambra to launch official uniform, ID cards for vigilante operatives various areas within

By Nwabueze Okonkwo

O

NITSHA—ANAMBRA State government may have initiated a grand plan to launch both uniforms and official identity cards for all vigilante units in the state, for the purposes of proper identification and checkmating of the proliferation of pump action guns in the state.

This development, according to the government, was to help in distinguishing between bonafide members of Anambra Vigilante Group, AVG, from the impostors who government said are hell-bent on tarnishing the image of the outfit in the state.

Chairman of Vigilante Supervisory Committee and

Special Adviser to Governor Willie Obiano on Vigilante Matters, Chief Ikechukwu Aduba who disclosed this yesterday in a press statement shortly after a crucial meeting with the state council of traditional rulers, said it is mandatory for every AVG unit and their operatives to obtain copies of the official code of conduct pamphlet of AVG to act as a guideline for all registered members.

Aduba, a retired Commissioner of Police, frowned at the proliferation of illegal vigilante outfits in the state, adding that "the central vigilante of the 177 communities are hereby mandated to compile the list of all such illegal outfits in their

two weeks and submit same to his office for proper harmonization.

The statement also directed the coordinators of Anambra South and Anambra Central units of the AVG to form a task force in collaboration with the Police Area Commanders in Awka and Nnewi to mop up all unregistered groups in their areas of jurisdiction, with an emphasis on confiscation of all unregistered pump action guns littering the entire state.

He also warned against misuse of AVG patrol vehicles procured by the state governmentandhandedovertotheAVG units in all the 177 communities in the state, adding that traditional rulers, as Chief Security Officers, CSOs of their various communities must approve the formation of any new AVG outfit in any of the communities.

Ex-perm sec kidnapped in Enugu, abductors demand N50m ransom

By Chinenyeh Ozor

N

SUKKA—A retired Permanent Secretary in Enugu State, Mr John Abugu has been kidnapped by unknown persons.

Abugu, a lawyer who hailed from Aji, Enugu Ezike was trailed by his abductors who were in an ash coloured Toyota saloon car from Imufu, Enugu Ezike where he attended the funeral ceremony of his relation to his residence in Enugu last Saturday evening before being kidnapped at his gate.

He was in the company of his wife and two daughters when the incident occurred.

The kidnappers who also seized Abugu’s wife’s telephone were said to have demanded N50 million ransom from the family of the retired permanent secretary.

Police parade 15 suspected cultists, robbers

By Vincent Ujumadu & Enyim Enyim

A

WKA—THE Anambra State police command yesterday paraded 15 suspected cultists and armed robbers, including four women, at its headquarters in Awka.

The suspects were arrested in various parts of the state, namely Nkpor in Idemili North local government area; Aroma in Awka; Enugwu Agidi in Njikoka Local Government Area; Iyiowa Odekpe in Ogbaru Local Government Area; Agulezechukwu in Aguata Local Government Area; Abakaliki in Ebonyi State and Oye Agu Abagana, also in Njikoka.

The state Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, Mr. Ali Okechukwu said the suspected cultists belong to dangerous groups such as Baggers Confraternity, which has been terrorizing parts of Nkpor, Obosi and Onitsha and Vicking Confraternity, which has become popular in many institutions of learning in the state, while the suspected armed robbers were operating from the neighbouring states.

Items recovered from them included various types of locally made pistols, live cartridges, bags of Indian hemp, initiation materials among others.

16—Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 2016

No reconciliation in Ohanaeze Ndigbo —Enugu members E

By Emeka Mamah

NUGU—OHANAEZE leaders in Enugu State have described as “nonsensical” reports that the Imo State Governor, Chief Rochas Okorocha, has brokered peace between the two factional leaders of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Chief Gray Enwo-Igariwey and Dr. Ralph Obioha with the latter dropping his claim to the leadership of the umbrella association of all Igbo socio-cultural unions.

Some of the leaders who spoke on the condition of anonymity said that the problems in Ohanaeze Ndigbo were fundamental and beyond both Enwo- Igariwey and Obioha.

Apart from this, they said that Igariwey had served out his term even as the position was rotatory between the five states of Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi, Imo, Enugu and other Igbo speaking areas of Delta among others, According to them, Igariwey was now like a king without a kingdom as it was the turn of Enugu State to produce the new chairman of the pan- Igbo union.

A former minister who spoke on the issue said: “Okorocha is not

serious about the issue. The problem in Ohanaeze is fundamental. Igariwey is from Ebonyi State. He has served out his term and it is now our (Enugu) turn to produce the chairman of Ohanaeze Ndigbo.

“In what capacity did Okorocha negotiate with Igariwey. He is like a bishop without a cathedral. Dr Obioha has no claims to the leadership of Ohanaeze, so what type of factional chairman was he?

Please, don’t mind Governor Okorocha, who sacked 3,000

workers claiming that someone asked him to do as a way of testing the waters for what he planned to do.”

The Public Affairs Officer of Nsukka Zonal Union, NZU, which is affiliated to Ohanaeze, Chief Patrick Ukwueze who spoke on the issue dismissed the reconciliation meeting, saying that both Okorocha, Igariwey and Izuogu wanted cheap publicity.

“Izuogu has no claims to the Office of President-General of Ohanaeze. Although Ohanaeze is a vehicle that takes nobody

anywhere, the truth has to be told. The problems in Ohanaeze are not about the two personalities who were said to have been reconciled.

The problems are beyond Okorocha, Igariwey and Izuogu.

“Again, it is the turn of Enugu State to produce the next president-general of the association. Nobody extended his tenure by one year, as Okorocha alone does not constitute Ohanaeze Ndigbo.

Igariwey should not destroy a group which brought him to the limelight overnight,” Ukwueze said.

ALLEGED FRAUD: Umahi recalls SA on IGR

A

By Peter Okutu

BAKALIKI—EBONYI State government yesterday recalled the Special Adviser to Governor David Umahi on Internally Generated Revenue, IGR, Chief Jeremiah Oketa for alleged involvement in fraudulent practices.

Oketa was suspended from office two weeks ago.

The Commissioner for Information and State Orientation, Senator Emmanuel Onwe stated this while briefing

newsmen on the outcome of this week’s executive council meeting.

He said Oketa has been redesignated as Special Adviser on Executive Council matters.

According to him, the Special Adviser on Transport, Chief Philip Ewuru was re-designated as S.A on Executive Council decision.

Onwe who did not explain why Ewuru was re-designated, stated that it is the prerogative of Governor Umahi to appoint,

re-appoint, designate and redesignate.

He said the Fiscal Responsibility Commission has been directed to investigate what happened in the transport sector since he assumed office.

He revealed that two Special Advisers incharge of ICT and Petroleum; Chief Aja Nwabueze and Chief Basil Chima were asked to leave the executive council and seek ways of generating revenue for the state government.

NDLEA to send narcotic officers to LG hqtrs

A

By Eric Ugbor

BA—THE Abia State Commander, National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, Mr Bamidele Akingbade has announced plans to send narcotic officers to local governments in Abia to check drug prevalence in communities.

Akingbade who made the disclosure during an interview in Aba said it would improve information gathering and planning against drug prevalence.

He noted that it was necessary to have desk officers from the agency working with local government personnel and communities to plan activities aimed at reducing drug prevalence in the state.

“We want to ensure that we send narcotic officers to all the local governments just like the Immigration, DSS and others have representatives at the local governments."

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 2016 —17

I

N the United States, there is an entire movement based on the rehabilitation of prisoners (rather than their incarceration) as studies show two-thirds of prisoners reoffend within barely two years of leaving prison, often in a more violent way than whatever offence they were previously convicted of.

Nigeria does not have a long history of convicting those guilty of corruption, financial crimes or embezzlement, so I doubt there are many studies pointing to the attitude or behaviour of convicts once they re-integrate society. Have they learnt their lesson? Are they less likely to become repeat offenders? The answer seems to be no.

It is interesting that Bashir Yuguda, a former Minister of Finance, states that he disbursed part of the #ArmsGate funds to Bode George, a PDP chieftain, despite a previous conviction (which in other societies would have ended Bode George’s public career).

Can one imagine George Osborne, the Chancellor of the Exchequer (the UK’s minister of finance) or anyone in his department disbursing government funds to buy David Cameron’s re-election?

Stigma of incarceration Not only are party funds separate from government funds, Cameron or any of his associates would not touch a felon with a barge pole. The stigma of incarceration, especially for defrauding the state is so great in the Western world, that even without being told, such individuals know better than to attempt to participate in public decision making or campaigns out of respect for the citizenry they robbed.

Now, one must also ask how Okonjo-Iweala can claim to not have known about #ArmsGate if her own minister of state admitted to the EFCC that he did indeed play a part in distributing said funds.

But let us get back to the question of whether corrupt politicians, or those sentenced to jail for corrupt acts learn their lesson. If Yuguda’s alle-

H

tprincewill@yahoo.co.uk

Rehabilitating corrupt persons, betraying the Nigerian dream gation is true in regards to Bode George, then apparently, they do not.

Bode George was famously sentenced to a 30-month jail term for abuse of office, illegal awarding of contracts and other offences, a total of which the court initially sentenced him to jail for 28 years. However, certain charges were later amended to run simultaneously for six months, while others were reduced to two years.

It is interesting that those guilty of such paltry offences as stealing mobile phones or food languish in jail awaiting trial for much longer than the entire sentence Bode George eventually served. He reportedly lived in a VIP section of

Sentencing corrupt persons to jail (and not restful VIP getaways) is the therapy Nigeria urgently needs to get back on track

the prison.

How can such a thing even exist? Prison is neither a party nor a private club, although at the rate we are going, a corruption charge seems almost like a badge of honour (especially if one escapes sentencing) that separates the “small boys” from the men.

He also according to reports at the time, wasn’t required to wear a prison uniform and allegedly had access to meals prepared and brought to him by his family, unlike any of the other inmates who were not shown this preferential treatment. The state of Nigerian prisons is one, which international human rights activists have bemoaned for decades.

crumbs to distract them has been a monarchic strategy since before the French Revolution. Interestingly, our NASS’ mentality is still very much one of “let them eat cake”!

If one remembers what happened to Marie Antoinette who threw paltry offerings at her people, one would be inclined to ask those who take Nigerians for fools to review their stance. Once the garri soaks, what will these people have left? How will they improve themselves? Are our lawmakers truly aware of their duties to the people, beyond photo ops?

Public gratification of criminality To accept such dangerous men and women within society, even once it has been proven that they are guilty, simply because they have returned all or part of the funds, as if this somehow absolves them or negates the harm they have done, sends the usual signal, that a slap on the wrist is all one will ever get, so why not try one’s luck and see if one can get away with stealing from the public purse?

Sentencing corrupt persons to jail (and not restful VIP getaways) is the therapy Nigeria urgently needs to get back on track. I call it shock treatment: let us be jolted back into remembering our values.

Wrong is wrong and right is right, the same way children are discouraged from taking what isn’t theirs, is the same way (and it’s really as simple as that no matter how the guilty try to frame it), wealth meant to empower the majority cannot be trapped in the hands of a minority, unless we believe that some are born more deserving of life and decent opportunities.

Human beings learn by example. Whatever is done once, twice, becomes a habit. Beyond the media circus, Nigerians await the trials of the people responsible for their own tests and ordeals. So let the games (I mean proceedings), begin.

Shehu Sani

Leo Okuweh Ogor

E might not be a name many Nigerians are familiar with, but the Minority Leader of the House recently became very popular (for all the wrong reasons) on social media, when pictures were released of his aides distributing garri to his constituents in his name. Perhaps this was done upon the advice of Senator Ben Murray Bruce, another NASS member who mistakes populism for public policy. Truly, the garri distribution can’t even be labeled as populist, it’s simply disrespectful and lacking in purpose or real impact. Giving the people

Without toilets or access to water, inmates are stripped of their humanity. Yet, those guilty of underfunding government through their greed and selfishness, even when caught are treated with kid gloves, almost as if they were merely vacationing at a secluded hotel.

So the question is, in the Buhari era, what will happen to those the EFCC will find guilty of corruption? A new paradigm has emerged which some seem to be unforgivably comfortable with: “if-they-return-the money-let-them-gofree”.

This is insulting to the IDPs; it is insulting to the nearly

court marshalled soldiers who were described as “cowardly” for refusing to fight without weapons, it is insulting to the idea of justice and it is most especially insulting to any Nigerian who has been denied the opportunity to progress up the ladder and to live a fruitful life due to the deficiencies of the system and the sheer evil at play.

Corruption is like murder. It is just as violent. The only way forward, in a society thathas sunk so far into decadence, waste and the public gratification of criminality, is to send strong signals that such behaviour will no longer be tolerated.

I

*Leo Ogor

This was an unfortunate, all too recurrent gesture (one remembers OlisaMetuh spending his birthday at an IDP camp; if he offered them cake, now that would have been the height of irony).

F many of our sena tors and members of the house saw themselves as anything other than government opponents, our country would be better for it. Indeed, NASS’ primary function is to “check” the executive. But why does inspection in Nigeria become curbing progress and creativity rather than safeguarding it?

Like the legislators who claim (contrary to federal government statements) that some parts of Nigeria are still under Boko Haram’s thumb, the impression given to Nigerians is one of a flippant parliament,

*Shehu Sani

which is neither earnest in its pronouncements nor serious-minded. Senator Sani alleges that the Northern governors who went abroad seeking loans to rebuild the region did so without the input of the Ministry of Fi-

nance. Can there be no governance in Nigeria without baseless back and forth accusations? Is it even possible for governors to obtain any loan without the input of the Federal Ministry of Finance? That is simply not how bilateral relations work. The problem, really, in Nigeria, is that everyone wants to communicate and be on the pages of newspapers even when there isn’t much to say. *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, FEBURARY 17, 2016 Saturday, February 13, 2016, marked 40 years after the assassination of General Murtala Ramat Mohammed by the late Col Bukar Suka Dimka in an aborted coup. Before him, there were only two other military rulers – General Johnson Aguiyi-Ironsi (the first military head of state) and General Yakubu Gowon, who led Nigeria during the civil war.

Gen. Mohammed’s six-month stint in power gave Nigeria a sense of direction. He came across as a courageous soldier who brought dynamism into leadership. Not for him the avarice and greed that consumed the generations of military leaders that came after him. He was a man with a mission and set goals towards achieving it, but the vaulting ambitions of some officers within the military truncated that dispensation after only six months in power..

Murtala’s ascension to power was at a period of economic paradox. It was a time of the first oil boom that Nigeria ever experienced, when the nation

Gen. Murtala Mohammed: 40 years after was at the height of financial prosperity, but ironically craved a turnaround from the rot that had set in after nine years in power by General Gowon, who was famously quoted to have said that Nigeria’s problem was not money but how to spend it.

The country was a flourishing nation haemorrhaging under endemic corruption aided by an over-bloated bureaucracy. That was the collective psychology until that fateful July 29, 1975 when Murtala emerged as head

of state in a bloodless palace coup while the then head of state, General Gowon was attending a conference outside the country.

Murtala, who played a leading role for the Federal side during the civil war, initiated many changes in the country and undoubtedly left enduring legacies. It was his administration that began the process of moving the federal capital from Lagos to Abuja.

His regime created additional seven states in addition to the existing 12 at

the time in response to popular agitations. The states were: Gongola, Niger, Bauchi, Ondo, Ogun, Bendel and Imo. He also hastened infrastructural development of the country. A visionary leader, General Mohammed’s government initiated the process of transition to civil rule. Its implementation fell on his successor, General Olusegun Obasanjo, who faithfully accomplished it and handed over to civilians on October 1, 1979.

One of the major landmarks of the administration was the mass purge of the civil service and the compulsory retirements of top civil servants, including the “super-permanent secretaries”. Till date, some regard the action as the destruction of the civil service and its resort to corruption for self-preservation.

Though his reign was brief, Murtala’s epoch remains a reference point in exemplary leadership, selfless service and patriotic commitment to the upliftment of the nation.

OPINION Sharpeville, Nigeria By

Chuks Iloegbunam

T

HERE are two stories to jump off from:

1)Sharpeville, March 21, 1960.

South

Africa;

“A group of between 5,000 and 10,000 people converged on the local police station in the township of Sharpeville, offering themselves up for arrest for not carrying their passbooks. The Sharpeville police were not completely unprepared for the demonstration, as they had already been forced to drive smaller groups of more militant activists away the previous night. By 10:00, a large crowd had gathered, and the atmosphere was initially peaceful and festive. Fewer than 20 police officers were present in the station at the start of the protest. Later the crowd grew to about 20,000, and the mood was described as “ugly”, prompting about 130 police reinforcements, supported by four Saracen armoured personnel carriers. The police were armed with firearms, including Sten submachine guns and Lee-Enfield rifles. There was no evidence that anyone in the gathering was armed with anything other than rocks. F-86 Sabre jets and Harvard Trainers approached to within a hundred feet of the ground, flying low over the crowd in an attempt to scatter it.

The protestors responded by hurling a few stones and menacing the police barricades.

Tear gas proved ineffectual, and policemen elected to repel these advances with their batons. At about 13:00 the police tried to arrest a protestor, resulting in a scuffle, and the crowd surged forward. The shooting began shortly thereafter. The official figure is that 69 people were killed, including 8 women and 10 children, and 180 injured, including 31 women and 19 children. Many were shot in the back as they turned to flee.” (Quoted from Wikipedia.)

2) Onitsha; Aba, Nigeria; December 2015 – February 2016.

“The current orgy of massacres of Biafrans by the Nigerian occupation genocidist military, begun on Wednesday 2 December 2015 in Onicha, has continued unabated. On Wednesday 9 February 2016, the genocidists positioned

Are Nigerians pretending not to notice because when the coffin of another’s child is being taken to the cemetery, it looks like what is being conveyed is a log?

in Aba, commercial city in southeast Biafra, shot dead 10 Biafrans attending a prayer session at the National High School, Aba, for the release of Nnamdi Kanu, freedom broadcaster of Radio Biafra and leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (Vanguard, Lagos, Friday 12 February 2016), illegally detained by the Nigerian regime in a secret police facility in Abuja since mid-October. Scores of other demonstrators were seriously wounded in the slaughter and several others seized and taken away by the genocidists. This massacre is the second within three weeks in Aba. On Monday 18 January 2016, another marauding genocidist corps gunned down eight peaceful Biafrans demonstrating for Nnamdi Kanu’s release and the restoration of Biafran independence (Vanguard, Lagos, Tuesday 19 January 2016).”

(Quoted from a report by Herbert Ekwehttp://reEkwe in thinkingafrica.blogspot.co.uk/2016/ 02/the-current-orgy-of-massacresof.html) This writer’s perspective, to be unambiguous from the onset, is from the viewpoint of Nigeria as one corporate entity. That point made, there are a few known facts that require restating nonetheless. First, in the apartheid South Africa, it was white supremacists gunning down Blacks they generally considered to be less than human. In 2016 Nigeria, it is the bullets from the country’s military and Police felling the citizens.

Secondly, reactions to the two developments mentioned above vary

starkly. Black South Africans were so outraged by Sharpeville that “the following week saw demonstrations, protest marches, strikes, and riots around the country. On 30 March 1960, the government declared a state of emergency, detaining more than 18,000 people, including prominent antiapartheid activists…A storm of international protest followed the Sharpeville shootings, including sympathetic demonstrations in many countries and condemnation by the United Nations. Sharpeville marked a turning point in South Africa’s history; the country found itself increasingly isolated in the international community. The event also played a role in South Africa’s departure from the Commonwealth of Nations.”

In the recent Nigerian massacres, whether of Biafran agitators or of Shia’a adherents in Zaria, the response has remained a deafening silence. It raises critical questions: Is the United Nations moving forward or going backwards?

Are Nigerians pretending not to notice because when the coffin of another’s child is being taken to the cemetery, it looks like what is being conveyed is a log?

I have continued to examine these questions. My changeless attitude is that the shooting of non-violent demonstrators would sooner exacerbate than solve identified problems. Does Nigeria realize that those commanded, as a matter of

Continues tomorrow •Mr. Iloegbunam , a n author, wrote from Abuja.

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 2016—19 —19 Send Opinions & Letters to: opinions1234@yahoo.com

Will the budget rats shame Buhari?

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HEN President Muhammadu Buhari presented the 2016 Appropriation Bill to a joint session of the National Assembly on 22 December 2015, he couldn’t have envisaged the type of controversy that has since trailed it.

No, Buhari couldn’t have anticipated that what was initially praised as a budget of great promise would turn out to be the non starter that it is fast turning out to be- except somebody takes the bold step necessary to salvage it from imminent asphyxiation.

For no doubt the proposed budget seems at birth to be on life support. It is in desperate need of oxygen. But is the president ready to do the needful and snatch victory from the nearcertain jaw of defeat? For if what Nigerians seems to be hearing has any truth in it, then this present administration is already being held in the jugular by so-called budget rats, a ring of mafia characters that is said to be domiciled in the civil service but with tentacles spread across and into all spheres of government including the presidency.

Perhaps it’s a measure of how powerful this criminal ring is that

the presidency not only appears unable to dislodge it from its entrenched enclave in the civil service but also seems too hobbled by its activities to reverse the destruction it has wrought with the criminal padding and/or alteration of figures and other details in the different heads and sub-heads of the 2016 budget proposal. So outlandishly criminal were the alterations made to the original appropriation bill that those supposed to have designed them couldn’t believe the evidence of their own eyes. They rather quickly disowned the embarrassing fabrication altogether.

Even when Buhari could not have anticipated the controversy that has thus far enveloped the contents of the 2016 Appropriation Bill, he must with hindsight now, if not before, realise that his so-called budget of hope had been dead on arrival, even as he presented it at a joint session of the National Assembly.

It was hardly three weeks after the president made his presentation when the first cries of horror emanated from the Senate chamber that both the soft and hard copies of the Appropriation Bill had gone missing.

Various twists and turns were offered as explanation for what the problem might be concerning the whereabouts of the documents. Was it stolen or did it simply disappear into thin air?

Were two versions of the original document presented, as some senators claimed, in a manner that rendered both versions allegedly submitted by Mr. Ita Enang unusable? Or did somebody make unauthorised changes to the documents in a bid to aid their withdrawal? The dominant song on the lips of some of our senators was that President Buhari was trying to use quite unorthodox means to withdraw the appropriation bill after realising that it was replete with errors.

The president’s letter to the National Assembly would seem to confirm that view. Nevertheless everything appeared back to normal after the president’s letter. That was until the latest hue and cry from the senate that the appropriation bill was so error-ridden that it just couldn’t be passed in its present form.

Even ministers that had been invited to defend their ministerial appropriation disowned what they had supposedly drawn up. So what

It must be decisive in dealing with apparent cases of crime and must bring to justice all those suspected to have done violence to the 2016 Appropriation Bill

Of corruption, NASS and Obasanjo’s sanctimoniousness

F

By Dare Atoye

ORMER President Olusegun Obasanjo’s latest attack on the 8th National Assembly is misplaced. Granted that Obasanjo had an axe to grind with the 4th and 5th sessions of the National Assembly, especially the 5th session, for frustrating his planned tenure elongation through his ill-fated Third Term agenda, should he then commit himself, for as long as he lives, to a selfish project of whimsically and continuously denigrating the institution of the Legislature?

Obasanjo would appear, from the outset of his administration on May 29, 1999, to hate the Legislature. Such disposition was in tandem with his dictatorial approach as a retired Army general and former military Head of State who would love to rule without checks and balances. He had indicated his intention to subjugate the Legislature by influencing its choice of leadership. In the Senate, he had ensured the emergence of Senator Evans Enwerem as senate president at the expense of a more popular Chuba Okadigbo, while in the House he had pushed through the candidature of Salisu Buhari as Speaker.

But for legislators like Okadigbo, who succeeded Enwerem and later lost the seat in the supremacy battle with Obasanjo, and Hon. Ghali Umar Na’Abba who replaced Buhari as Speaker and served out his term, Obasanjo would have put the Federal legislature in his pocket for eight years. Indeed, Obasanjo had fancied a situation in which he would issue orders and the legislature would merely rubberstamp them. However, both Okadigbo and Na’Abba had galvanized the institution to fight for and defend the independence of the institution And, because he did not succeed in “conquering” the National Assembly, C M Y K

Obasanjo had resorted to blackmailing the institution and its members. It is true that the National Assembly itself was not very prudent in its relationship with the Obasanjo administration, especially in the handling of the annual federal budgets, and therefore fell into some avoidable traps. For instance, in exercising its appropriation power, the National Assembly had and has allegedly always padded the budgets in connivance with the heads of Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs). That was one area of disagreement between Obasanjo and the National Assembly.

The second area was the issue of constituency projects. It was the Obasanjo bait which the Legislators fell for. In order to foster a cordial relationship between the Executive and the Legislature, members of the National Assembly were asked to recommend projects in their constituencies which would be accommodated in the budgets. There were reports that they even nominated contractors to execute the projects, for which money was released and with many of them allegedly colluding with the contractors to divert the money released for the projects. It was thus convenient for Obasanjo to lampoon the

Selectivity in the fight against corruption which was the bane of the Obasanjo methodology and which Buhari is now being accused of, is a dubious way of prosecuting the anti-graft crusade

could have happened? Somebody somewhere must be up to some monkey business, tinkering with figures in an unseemly manner. And suspicion is strongly on the faceless civil servants working in the new Ministry of Budget and Planning and their counterparts in different sections of the civil service.

So far none of those under the cloud of suspicion have offered any explanation nor have they been called upon to speak. Everybody suddenly seems to have gone dumb.

The budget cabal or rats as they are now being called appear so powerful indeed. Given the latest narratives about the adventures of this budget proposal, what has happened to it now appears to be far more serious than inadvertent errors.

A suspected syndicate of civil servants, it is now believed, has long set up at the heart of the civil service a systematic process of defrauding the state. They are being called upon to take responsibility for the despicable padding of the budget proposal. But as I have made clear above, nobody seems to be taking the right steps to expose this despicable syndicate. Or could it be that the so-called budget cabal are the scapegoats of bigger elements within the country’s corridors of power? Why does everyone appear helpless and clueless about what has to be done?

The word ‘cabal’ must evoke unpleasant memories among Nigerians. Persons in such conclaves are up to no good. They are a bunch of usually shadowy characters that have no public face but nevertheless exert enormous power where it matters. The last time we heard of a cabal was towards the very end of the Umar Yar’Adua administration.

Then they held the entire country hostage and would not allow any smooth transition of power from the

legislators as a bunch of corrupt men and women who should be treated without respect.

The 8th session of the National Assembly under the All Progressive Congress, APC, is not culpable yet.

But the question to ask at this juncture is: what qualifies Obasanjo to continue to lambast members of the National Assembly on the issue of accountability and corruption? This question becomes imperative against the backdrop of the role he played in 2006 to get legislators to vote for elongation of his tenure during the illfated constitution amendment that was facilitated for that sole purpose. Obasanjo is disqualified in all ramifications to pontificate about anti-corruption war. He is a discredited moral crusader and should no longer relish in putting others on the spot on the issue of corruption.

In fact, what baffles me in Obasanjo’s attitude is the pretence that is so barefaced. After running a government that, for eight years, unraveled as an epitome of both spiritual and moral corruption, it is indeed preposterous that he is trying to rewrite history, thinking he can pull the cloak over our faces. Nigerians, especially those who were direct victims of the corrupt practices that were redolent in the Obasanjo administration, cannot be deceived by his seeming sanctimoniousness.

Many of the persons he destroyed on account of his failed tenure elongation plan are alive today watching Obasanjo as he does his sainthood dance and, perhaps, marveling at the sheer hypocrisy of a supposed anti-graft crusader who had since lost his temporary occupation of the moral high ground. He had viciously turned round to use the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) under Malam Nuhu Ribadu, to persecute and prosecute some of those whom he had used to fund the failed tenure elongation plan.

Knowing how the multi-billion naira funding was sourced, he simply directed the EFCC to the sources.

There was no way the funders could then deny or close their tracks, having from the

ailing Yar ’Adua to Goodluck Jonathan.

They would rather exercise presidential power by proxy or else ensure that nothing gets done.

President Jonathan seemed to be at the mercy of such a faceless group when he famously lamented that his administration had been infiltrated

by Boko-Haram sympathisers. He seemed as helpless as the Buhari presidency seems now in the face of the onslaught that the so-called budget rats have unleashed on the 2016 Appropriation Bill.

Why has the president remained silent in the wake of the disclosures from the Senate about the budget?

There appears more to this than meets the eye, even when we can all see that the more said about this budget the less Nigerians know of what is going or has gone on with it.

Why is the presidency silent on the discrepancies in the budget?

President Buhari didn’t look like a Jonathan. His reputation as a tough nut preceded him even in his first coming as a military head of state.

He may not be a philosopher-king but he is considered to be of far sterner stuff than Jonathan. Not one who would succumb to any blackmail. His candidacy was largely sold on the idea that he was of a more radical disposition than Jonathan.

He needs to assure Nigerians that he is still the same man Nigerians expected to right the wrongs of our recent past. His government which seems like a last ditch attempt to salvage Nigeria in the wake of the depredations of the last sixteen years must not fail. Nor should it appear weak on initiative. It must be decisive in dealing with apparent cases of crime and must bring to justice all those suspected to have done violence to the 2016 Appropriation Bill.

outset confided in Obasanjo how the funds were sourced.

His former “attack dog”, Ribadu, once said “that by far and even more than the Abacha days, corruption under Obasanjo’s eight years was far worse.” (Vanguard, September 11, 2011). The truth remains that it is the height of moral corruption and insincerity for Obasanjo to selectively deploy the EFCC to hunt down perceived political enemies and those who were not in his good books. This, however, is not to excuse those hapless victims. Perhaps, if they had done things properly, Obasanjo would not have had any reason to unleash the EFCC on them.

The point being made here is that selectivity in the fight against corruption which was the bane of the Obasanjo methodology and which President Muhammadu Buhari is now being accused of, is a dubious way of prosecuting the anti-graft crusade. For Buhari, he has the opportunity to rejig the strategy to drive the anti-graft war.

But unfortunately for Obasanjo, whose opportunity to recreate a new Nigeria has come and gone without taking it, he no longer has the moral voice to criticise the National Assembly or any arm of government for that matter on the issue of corruption.

The legacy of corruption in Nigeria would appear quite evident in the squandering of over $16 billion on the power sector under the Obasanjo administration at the end of which the administration left Nigeria in darkness.

In the oil sector in which Obasanjo was the minister, the massive fraud in the award of contracts at the NNPC remains one of the filthiest in the annals of corruption in Nigeria.

Was it not for his pecuniary interest that he established the so-called Transcorp Conglomerate and sold Nigeria’s prime assets to this group?Is it true that he allegedly kept from public view in the conglomerate a personal N200 million worth of shares? *Mr. Atoye,General editor, The Congress Watch magazine, wrote from

Abuja.

20—Vanguard, WEDNES DAY WEDNESDAY DAY, FEBRUARY 17, 2016

Lagos Mobile Courts: A time to be wary for motorists

By Bartholomew Madukwe

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OTORISTS plying roads in Lagos should do well to take the newly-inaugurated Lagos State Mobile Court serious and not treat it with levity. As at the last count 41 traffic and environmental offenders have been arraigned and convicted at the court after their arrest and prosecution by the state’s Environmental Sanitation and Special Offences Unit (Task Force). *Some of the recently launched Mobile Court buses Public Affairs Officer of the Task Force, Adebayo Taofiq, Maybe the situation is about to explained that 52 traffic and environ- change as, according to the Chief other road users, noise pollution mental offenders were arrested in Judge of the State, Justice Olufun- and street trading, amongst others. various parts of Lagos. milayo Atilade and the State’s AtHe expressed hope that the He added that “14 people were torney General, Kazeem Adeniji, the reduction in the commission of arrested within Agege, 22 from state would no more tolerate reckthese traffic offences, would deterOshodi and 16 at areas in Apapa, lessness and impunity on the roads. mine how much Lagos had prototalling 52 offenders in all. The Justice Atilade pointed out that gressed as a civilized society.

Magistrates that convicted the offend- flagrant disregard and violation of The Lagos State Mobile Court ers are Nurudeen Layeni (Agege traffic rules with impunity was unLocal Government), Olalekan Aka- acceptable. She, therefore, urged New Traffic Law offences is for only Bashorun (Apapa Local Government) the people of the state to discourage Traffic & Environmental Offenders and they can either be fined and/ and Patrick Nwaka (Oshodi Local and condemn the act. or imprisoned at the same time.

Government)”.

The Chief Judge also disclosed What constitutes an offence Taofiiq noted that the mobile courts that the judiciary remained comsat in an open space simultaneously mitted and would stop at nothing include driving an unlicensed at Apapa, Oshodi and Agege local to back the initiative of the State vehicle, driving with a fake plate number, driving a vehicle with an government areas and had in its con- Government. unauthorised or defective plate voy magistrates, lawyers, represenThe Attorney General, on his part, tatives from the Office of the Public said that the Mobile Courts would number, driving with a forged drivDefender, registrars, cashiers, police- facilitate prompt and immediate er’s licence, neglect of traffic directions, driving a motorcycle without men, including towing vehicles. trial of road traffic and approved crash helmet by driver environmental offenders. and passenger and operating a Environmental Offences to be tried by the Court vehicle within restricted routes or offenders include driving against traffic, re- beyond official hours. fusing to obey traffic signs like ZeIt was gathered that the 41 traffic bra Crossings and traffic light inand environmental offenders were dications, crossing the highways Reckless convicted for offences punishable un- where pedestrian bridges are driving der Section 10 (1) (a) Street Trading provided, driving on the BRT by In the same vein, Lagos State and Illegal Markets Prohibition Law non-designated vehicle and parkChairman of National Union of of 2003 and made to pay various fines ing at un-designated places, comas options to terms of three to six mercial buses on motion with their Road Transport Workers, NURTW, months imprisonment. Two motorcy- doors open thereby endangering Alhaji Tajudeen Agbede, while clists and four tricycle revenue col- lives of both their passengers and sensitising his members on the ills of reckless driving, urged them to lectors that were also prosecuted refrain from anything that would had their cases struck out for lack of destroy lives and property. proper documentary evidence.

“It is only the living that has Commercial vehicle drivers and dreams and hopes. We should not some military personnel were kill ourselves and others because identified as frequent violators of the of carelessness on the roads. Our state’s traffic law. drivers must not be reckless behind However, in spite of the the wheels and commuters must inauguration of the five Mobile also caution drivers whenever they Courts, with government’s pledge A total of 52 traffic observed that drivers were becomto end impunity on the roads, drivand environmental ing reckless on the roads for the bening against the traffic, popularly efit of all. known as one way, by commercial offenders were “Safety is number one in our job. bike riders and bus drivers, at the arrested in various We can stop all preventable human Mile 2 to Apapa expressway conand material losses on our roads tinues unabated. parts of Lagos; 14 from Lagos to Abuja to far North and Indeed Vanguard Metro observed people were East. It is the union’s responsibility that the traffic situation worsen on a to sensitise its members on the need daily basis because commercial vearrested within to shun reckless driving, obey traffic hicle operators delight in picking and Agege, 22 from laws and traffic wardens in order to dropping passengers along the prevent motor accidents,” he added.

Oshodi and 16 at roads and expressways instead of designated bus-stops. areas in Apapa C M Y K

Budget padding and electricity wahala

By Ebele Orakpo

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AHALA dey oo. From frying pan to fire, na im we dey so. We voted for change but it is obvious things are getting worse,” said Isaac, a passenger in the Apapa-bound commuter vehicle.

“When you voted for change, did you define the change?

You were promised change and you went for it and now that you are getting the change, you are complaining. You assumed the change was going to be positive,” said Joy, tongue-in-cheek. “Exactly! We should blame ourselves and not the politicians. After all, we are witnessing change though not what we expected,” said Moses.

“But we should know these politicians by now. Never ever swallow whatever they tell you hook, line and sinker.

Ask questions. We should be able to hold them accountable at every point in time,” said Isaac. Continuing, he said: “I know a politician who promised to construct a borehole for every family in his local government and provide wives for the men and food for families and the people hailed him.”

“Did he fulfil the promises?” asked Moses.

Replied Isaac: “Of course not! Everything entered voicemail. He never intended to fulfil any.”

“To be honest, there are positive changes in this administration. At least, people are being very careful now, otherwise, the fraud in the budget would not have been discovered,” said Ken. Asked Joy: “Na spirit pad the budget? It’s from the Presidency and their collaborators in the Civil Service. Until we unite as a people and put aside sentiments, our rulers will continue to take us for a ride. Sometimes we behave as if our brain knocked engine. The same poor masses being cheated by the elite are the ones fighting themselves to protect their oppressors. You don see dat kain thing before? “Said Ken: “At least now, we are sure the perpetrators will be fished out and punished unlike before.”

“Sure. PMB has already sacked so many people in the Budget office,” said Moses.

Increase in electricity tariff Said Isaac: “There we go again! This government is all about blaming, probing, sacking and jailing while the economy goes to the dogs. At this rate, we should be building more courts and prisons and employing more lawyers. Nobody is saying PMB should not fight corruption but not at the detriment of the economy, period! Enough of this blind support; telling us that PMB can do no wrong.

He is just a man and can only do so much. Like I keep saying, institutions and agencies should have well-laid down laws governing them so that they can run on auto pilot no matter who is at the helm.”

“My own headache is the increase in electricity tariff; 45%! Can you beat that? Here we are, grappling with unpaid salaries, job losses, businesses closing down and the consolation we are getting from government is increased tariff, not even a gradual increase but 45%? Haba! God dey o! In fact, the one million boys phenomenon is back where youths numbering from 20 and above, visit an area, going from house to house, stealing, maiming and killing for hours. God help us,” said Onos.

Said Joy: “I like what the Labour union did. They dropped their differences and confronted the issue head on. They gave government two weeks to rescind the decision or face industrial action.”

“Why two weeks? Bills come on the 15th of every month.

Some people have received the new bill already because they have been disconnected so they were forced to pay,” noted Onos. “That is unfair! They are asking us to pay for darkness. Is it not better to go back to using generator which is more reliable,” said Moses.

“Labour should save their breath. They should know that the Power Minister does not listen to anybody because he believes he knows what is best for us and will go ahead to do it no matter how much pain he inflicts on the people in the process. He believes that the end justifies the means.

The right thing would have been to improve electricity supply first, provide prepaid meters and then increase tariff, but no, we must do everything upside down,” said Isaac.

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 2016

Forex: CBN sold $2.5bn in November, got $2.48bn inflow •N20.4708trn, aggregate credit to the domestic •N18.7068trn, banking system’s credit to the private sector •N1.63321 trn, currency-in-circulation

By Omoh Gabriel, Business Editor HE Central Bank yester day in its Economic Report of the Nigerian Economy for the month of November 2015 said that $2.48 billion foreign exchange came into the country through it while $2.50 billion went out.

This, it said, resulted in a net out flow of $2million According to the report “Foreign exchange sales by the CBN to the authorised dealers amounted to $2.20billion and represented a 0.5per cent decrease below the level in October 2015. The average exchange rate at the inter-bank segment remained same at N196.99 per US dollar as in the preceding month, but showed a depreciation of 15.13 per cent relative to the level in the corresponding period of 2014.

The report said that “At the BDC segment, the average exchange rate, at N233.94 per US dollar, depreciated by 4.1 and 33.0 per cent, relative to the levels in the preceding month and the corresponding period of 2014, respectively. Gross external reserves increased by 3.2 per cent above the preceding month’s level.

“At N20.4708 trillion, aggregate credit to the domestic economy, on month-on-month basis, fell by 4.1per cent at end-November 2015, compared with the decline of 0.8 per cent at the end of the preceding month. The develop-

T

ment reflected the 22.0 and 2.0 per cent fall in claims on the Federal Government and private sector, respectively.

“Over the level at end-December 2014, net domestic credit grew by 6.2 per cent at the end of the review period, compared with the growth of 10.8 per cent at the end of October 2015. The development reflected the increase in claims on the Federal Government and private sector.

“Banking system’s credit (net) to the Federal Government, on month-on-month basis, fell by 22.0 per cent to N1.7640 trillion at endNovember 2015, compared with the decline of 18.9 per cent at the

by 24.0 per cent, compared with the decline of 33.5 per cent at the end of the preceding month. The development was attributed to the respective decline of 16.1 and 93.4 per cent in the foreign asset holdings of CBN and DMBs”.

According to the CBN “At N1.63321 trillion, currency-incirculation rose by 4.7 per cent in the review month, in contrast to

the 4.7 per cent decrease at the end of October 2015. The development was due, largely, to the rise in its currency outside banks component. Total deposits at the CBN amounted to N9.24037trillion, indicating an increase of 18.6 per cent above the level at the end of the preceding month.

The development reflected the increase in its components.

Of the total deposits at CBN, the share of the Federal Government, banks and the private sector was 51.0, 43.4 and 5.6 per cent, respectively. Reserve money (RM) rose by 1.7 per cent to N5.639.63 trillion at the end of the review month, reflecting the increase in currency-incirculation and banks’ reserves with the CBN”

Banking system’s credit (net) to the Federal Government, on month-on-month basis, fell by 22.0 per cent to N1.7640 trillion at end-November 2015, compared with the decline of 18.9 per cent at the end of the preceding month

end of the preceding month. The development was attributed to the 33.9 per cent decline in banking system’s holding of Government securities.

“Over the level at endDecember 2014, aggregate $115. 45 -0.10 banking system credit (net) to the Federal Gov$2,797.00 -30.00 ernment grew by 53.4 per cent, compared with the $13.18 0.03 growth of 96.7per cent at the end of the preceding month.

“At N18.7068 trillion, $33. 06 -0.33 banking system’s credit to the private sector, on $29. 13 -0.31 month-on-month basis, fell by 2.0 per cent, in contrast CURRENCY BUYING SELLING to 1.9 per cent growth at US 196 196.5 197 end-October 2015. The de283.67 284. 2766 284.

DOLLAR velopment relative to the 219.4416 220.0014 220. 5612 POUNDS preceding month reflected 199.3085 199. 817 200. 3254 EURO the 8.0 per cent fall in 1.7196 1.724 1.7284 FRANC 0.3178 0.3278 0. 3378 YEN central bank’s claims on 274. 8413 275. 5425 276. 2436 CFA the private sector. Over the 30.1762 30. 2536 30. 3321 WAUA level at end-December 52.3721 52. 5053 RENMINBI 52.2388 2014, banking system’s 29. 3919 29. 4669 29.5419 RIYAL credit to the private sector 275. 5368 276. 2397 276.9426 KRONA grew by 3.2 per cent.

CBN Exchange rate as at 16/02/2016 “At N5.2872 trillion, for-

C M Y K

eign assets (net) of the banking system, on month-on-month basis, rose by 14.4 per cent at endNovember 2015, in contrast with the decline of 9.1 per cent, at the end of the preceding month. The development was attributed to the 11.1 per cent growth in foreign asset holdings of the CBN. Over the level at end-December 2014, foreign assets (net) fell

— 21

From left, Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr .Okechukwu Enelamah; Global Head, Policy and Public Affairs, Diageo, Mr. Richard Burn and Head, Policy and Public Affairs, Guinness Nigeria Plc, Mr. Michael Onuoha, during an advocacy visit to the ministry, in Abuja

Saudi, Russia agree to oil output freeze, Iran still an obstacle

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OP oil exporters Russia and Saudi Arabia agreed on Tuesday to freeze output levels but said the deal was contingent on other producers joining in - a major sticking point with Iran absent from the talks and determined to raise production.

The Saudi, Russian, Qatari and Venezuelan oil ministers announced the proposal after a previously undisclosed meeting in Doha. It could become the first joint OPEC and non-OPEC deal in 15 years, aimed at tackling a growing oversupply of crude and helping prices recover from their lowest in over a decade.

Saudi Oil Minister Ali al-Naimi said freezing production at January levels - near record highs - was an adequate meas-

ure and he hoped other producers would adopt the plan.

Venezuelan Oil Minister Eulogio Del Pino said more talks would take place with Iran and Iraq on Wednesday in Tehran.

He said: “The reason we agreed to a potential freeze of production is simple: it is the beginning of a process which we will assess in the next few months and decide if we need other steps to stabilize and improve the market,” Naimi told reporters.

“We don’t want significant gyrations in prices, we don’t want reduction in supply, we want to meet demand, we want a stable oil price.

We have to take a step at a time” he said. Oil prices LCOc1 jumped to $35.55 per barrel after the news about the secret meeting but later

pared gains to trade below $34 on concerns that Iran may reject the deal.

OPEC member Iran, Saudi Arabia’s regional arch rival, has pledged to steeply increase output in the coming months as it looks to regain market share lost after years of international sanctions, which were lifted in January following a deal with world powers over its nuclear programme.

“We have not yet reached our level of pre-sanctions production.

So when we get there, we will be on an equal level, then we can talk,” a senior source familiar with Iran’s thinking told Reuters.

“Our situation is totally different to those countries that have been producing at high levels for the past few years.”

22 —Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 2016

8-yr-old Chinaemerem needs N1.3m to stay alive VOL. 1 NO 56 Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JANUARYWEDNESDAY, 20, 2016 Vanguard, FEBRUARY 17, 2016

— Page 24

How Enugu Assembly rejected Equal Rights, Opportunities Bill

By Emeka Mamah

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NUGU—THE Enugu State House of Assembly, Tuesday last week, threw out the Equal Rights and Opportunities for men and women and Other Matters Related Thereto Bill sponsored by a female legislator, claiming that the bill was another way of introducing gay marriage in the state.

The bill, sponsored by Dame Lydia Nkechi Omeje-Ogbu (Nsukka West Constituency) and House Committee Chairman on Gender Affairs, had scaled the first reading before suffering a setback as most members kicked viciously against it.

It took the intervention of the Speaker of the House, Edward Ubosi, to save the bill from being thrown out, outright.

Ubosi suggested that the bill be stepped down to make room for further consultations.

The Speaker, however, praised Mrs Omeje-Ogbu for her efforts so far, pointing out that the bill should be stepped down for wider consultations to be carried out.

According to Ubosi, although majority of the members had kicked against the bill, the Assembly did not want to kill it prematurely, hence the need for further debate at a future date.

Introducing the bill, Mrs. OmejeOgbu had said that the purpose was to give effect to chapters two, three and four of the 1999 Constitution, adding that when passed into law, it would protect all persons from discrimination on the basis of sex in both the private and public sectors.

She further said that the bill provided protection for women groups, integrity and human dignity just as it affirmed their rights to equal opportunities in a bid to realise their full potentials.

Omeje-Ogbu then suggested that the bill be published in the media so that any person who has any comment against all or any part of the provisions could submit same to the Clerk of the House, pointing out that neither marriage, divorce or widowhood should deny women their rights in the area of appointments in the state.

According to her, women should be given equal opportunities as men and women attended same schools and were awarded same degrees, wondering why they should be discriminated against.

However, most members of the House opposed the bill.

Contributing to the debate before it was stepped down, Deputy Speaker, Dons Uzogbado and Agbo Ugwumba of Enugu East Rural Constituency, suggested that if ever the bill should see the light of day, a lot of sections have to be either amended or deleted.

Also, Sunny Ude- Okoye (Awgu North Constituency) dissociated himself from C M Y K

such a bill “because here is Africa and not America,” adding that if anybody wanted such practice as suggested in the bill, he/she should go to America.

He said: “I have risen to declare my stand. I have risen to take my stand that this is a colossal waste. The bill is talking about the women, the women. Who is deceiving who?

“Here is Africa. Anybody who wants to practice what President Obama and Americans are practising should go to America.”

He stressed that debating the bill was a waste of time as the rights of everybody, including women, had been provided for in the 1999 Constitution. According to him, the bill was deceitful.

He added: “It is total deceit. If you say 35 percent of women, it is

deceitful. Why not say 50 percent. I am saying that I am against the bill in its entirety and will never support it.”

Another member of the House, Iloabuchi Aniagu (Nkanu West) spoke in the same vein with Ude-Okoye, adding that the bill should be stepped down for further consultations.

Aniagu said the bill might be talking about gay marriage without anybody realising it, adding, ”I can see some unseen hands in the bill.”

Enugu school where students use umbrellas in class

Aji High School, built with community efforts in the 70s.

By Chinenyeh Ozor

N

SUKKA—THE people of Aji community in Enugu-Ezike, Igboeze North Local Government Area of Enugu State, are grumbling over the poor condition of their community secondary school buildings.

The Aji High School, which was built through communal effort in the 70s, is in ruins as all the six buildings in the compound are dilapidated and not conducive for learning.

At the time South East Voice visited the school Tuesday morning, most of the building's roofs were damaged, even as the members of the Parents Teachers Association, PTA, were meeting on how to find solutions to the issue.

Enugu State government awarded a N3.6 billion contract for the renovation of over 400 primary and secondary schools in the state during the administration of Sullivan Chime, but the job was said to have been abandoned, leading to a quarrel between the then House of Assembly, led by Eugene Odo, and Chime.

A school teacher, who spoke to South East Voice in the school on condition of anonymity, said the situation had improved as the things were very terrible during the rainy season.

The teacher said: “During the rainy season, most of the students used umbrellas even in the classrooms as there was no difference between those outside and those inside the classrooms.

“Before the current dry season, the students usually pushed their lockers to a corner each time schools closed so that their text books would not be destroyed by rains before the next day.

“The PTA has been trying its best by over-taxing its members for renovation work on most of the buildings, but their effort is like putting new wine in old wine skin because the corrugated iron sheets used for the roofing are old and any little breeze would pull them off.

“The state government should come to our aid because the school belongs to it. The community built it and gave same to the government.”

Apart from the classroom blocks which were in ruins, other blocks housing the various laboratories, introduction to technology, library and computer rooms were equally not habitable.

24— Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 2016

By Anayo Okoli

U

MUAHIA—IT was a pitiable sight watching little Miss Chinaemerem Ochinihu Ikeri lay painfully on her hospital bed at the Federal Medical Centre, FMC, Umuahia, Abia State.

She could not talk, but only stared and gnashed her teeth continually.

Chinaemerem, a pupil of Ubakala Community Primary School II, who hails from Oyimo in Ubakala, Umuahia South Council Area was said to have been knocked down by an officer of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC, in the state, who later abandoned her in hospital over eight months ago.

According to her family, the little girl’s trouble started when she was reportedly sent by her teacher to buy some analgesic drugs for her across the ever busy Ubakala/Aba Road, near their school and she was knocked down by a suspected reckless driver.

Chinaemerem’s condition is said to have caused the Ikeris all their life savings in their effort to save their daughter.

Doctors at the FMC, who examined the patient, were said to have discovered that the accident affected her brain and

8-yr-old Chinaemerem needs N1.3m to stay alive

By Chinonso Alozie

O

Chinaemerem spinal cord, rendering her neurologically impaired. She also broke her legs.

According to the doctors, what Chinaemerem needs is an operation around her brain areas in a referral hospital or at best to be taken overseas for her to regain consciousness.

After a preliminary medical attention for some months at

the FMC, for which the family was presented with a staggering bill of N1.3 million, they were discharged but not cured.

Since then, Chinaemerem had continued to be in excruciating pains and to be fed through nas-gastric tubes.

Her mother, Mrs. Cecilia Obioma Ikeri, said one NSCDC

Imo community sets up Infrastructure Justice Fund

By Chinonso Alozie

O

WERRI—APPARENTLY reacting to what they described as “criminal neglect” of Umuezukwe community in Awomanma, Oru East Local Government Area of Imo State by both the previous and current administrations, the people of the area have resolved to take their destiny in their hands by developing the community.

The community, under the aegis of Umuezukwe Development Union, UDU, made this known during the unveiling of the town’s newly constructed town hall and launching of their 2016 almanac.

However, in a bid to achieve the laudable objectives of developing their community, UDU stated that they would set up an Infrastructural Justice Fund, IJF, to enable good spirited sons and daughters of the community contribute their quota.

Under the IJF, the community would embark on construction of roads and other self-help projects to reduce the hardship in the area.

According to the Chairman of the occasion, Mr. Louise

Anglican Knights warn against occultic traditional titles

The newly-constructed Umuezukwe hall.

Orioha, IJF would be managed by the community to assist them in accomplishing their aims.

Also, donations into IJF would be open to all the sons and daughters and the in-laws of Umuezukwe community, to enable them assist in the financing of some of the projects, which he said would begin this year.

Recalling that they were able to access the Umuezukwe Road due to the fact that it was dry season, he pointed out that nobody would have done so in the rainy season even as the road had been in the present bad condition since the community came into existence.

He further said that the road was the only entrance to the

community, adding that people would no longer be scared to visit their ancestral homes during the rainy season or festive periods when tarred.

On electricity, Orioha said that the only transformer in Umuezukwe has been in use since 1976 and, hence, needed to be supported with at least two new transformers.

He said: “From 1976 till date the population of the people of Umuezukwe community has increased, surpassing the capacity which the old transformer can carry.

“So the best we can do is to mount more transformers to assist in the distribution an improvement in electricity supply to our people. We believe that our people can do more than we have planned.”

officer from Ubakala, Abuchi Ume, hit her daughter and later abandoned the family.

Mother's story

Narrating the ordeal of her daughter, Mrs. Ikeri, a sachet water (pure water) seller explained that she took her daughter to the school that fateful morning before going to hawk her market, not knowing the ugly fate that awaited the family.

According to her, “my child was hale and hearty and full of life when she went to school.

On my way to where I sold sachet water, I went to her school to give her the food I bought for her and exchanged pleasantries with her teachers and left.

“Few hours after I left, Chinamerem’s teacher sent her across the busy road to buy her paracetamol tablets and she was knocked down in an accident, which has rendered her neurologically impaired.

“A neighbour came to the place of my business and informed me about the accident and when I saw my daughter at Ubakala Road lying almost lifeless in a pool of her own blood, I was confused and temporarily lost myself.”

She lamented that while her family was going through serious hardship looking after their daughter, the NSCDC authorities acted in bad fate by transferring the officer, who knocked down their daughter, to Bayelsa State to continue his work, abandoning the little girl.

Mrs. Ikeri, however, pleaded with well-meaning Nigerians and the government to come to their aid to ensure the survival of Chinaemerem, who needs N1.3 million to regain consciousness.

Those wishing to assist Chinaemerem should call her mother on her phone number: 07030394255.

WERRI—THE members of Knights and Ladies of St. Christopher, Diocese of Owerri, Anglican Communion, Imo State, have been asked to shun any occultic traditional title if they wish to be good Christians.

The President of Knights and Ladies of the diocese, Mr. Gabriel Odah, gave the advice during their 2016 Council Meeting at the Church of Transfiguration of Our Lord, Owerri, the state capital.

Odah said that some members of the association were more interested in earthly rather than God’s recognition and had, as such, destroyed the purpose for which they were initiated into the knighthood.

His words: “In the first place, we cannot serve God and mammon at same time. Some of us as Knights and Ladies are still interested in other traditional titles, not minding whether they are secret, occultic or otherwise.

“Some say they want to be recognised and accepted by the higher echelon of the earthly society. One begins to wonder which recognition is higher than those from God. “The founders of knighthood saw this problem of dual identity in the Anglican Church and decided to save our souls from this satanic temptation.

“Knighthood, as the highest order of the laity in the church, is the envy of many and it is only greed and unchristian life that takes us to the other side.

“Knighthood is all about service, because Christ came to serve and save mankind. If we love Him and are bearers of his burden, we should selflessly serve Him and our fellow human beings.

“We should know that we are servant leaders/elders of the church. We should serve selflessly as Christ did, with all our might and strength with all that we have and in all that we do.”

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 2016—25

By Chidi Nkwopara

O

WERRI—TO say that the Catholic Diocese of Ahiara has never known peace since the pioneer bishop of the diocese, Rt. Rev. Victor Adibe Chikwe, died September 2010, amounts to stating the obvious.

The ordinary man in the street started sensing, and rightly so too, that “something was definitely wrong in the House of God,” when the Holy See was unable to announce Chikwe’s successor after about two years.

The immediate past Catholic Pontiff, Pope Benedict XVI, on Friday, December 7, 2012, announced the name of Monsignor Peter Ebere Okpalaeke, as the Bishop-elect of Ahiara Diocese. This was also ratified by Pope Francis.

While a section of the clergy carefully tutored some members of the laity on why Okpalaeke’s appointment should be stoutly resisted, many other ardent Catholics, who were brought up in strict Catholic tradition, expressed favourable disposition to welcoming the new Bishop.

However, conspiracy against the new Bishop was so deep that he had to abandon his official residence at Nnarambia, Mbaise, and relocated to Awka after his consecration.

Since then has remained a Bishop in Diaspora! This sorry situation has however, not stopped those who believe in the time tested Catholic tradition and faith, from periodically visiting and celebrating mass with Bishop Okpalaeke.

The recent trip to Awka was both emotional and an eye opener as scores of Mbaise Catholics hired no fewer than 300 commercial vehicles, which ferried people to Awka,

THE TEAM Supervising Editor: Chioma Gabriel, Lagos (08052201257) Editor: Emeka Mamah - Enugu 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 Chinenye Ozor, Nsukka Eric Ugbor, Aba

Mbaise Catholics want Bishop Okpalaeke

Catholic Bishops in Mbaise.

Catholic faithful in Mbaise.

Anambra State, to felicitate with Bishop Okpalaeke.

Others, including traditional rulers, knights, priests and nuns, travelled in private vehicles to Awka with Parking space became a huge problem.

Celebrating with Okpalaeke

The day’s event started with a Pontifical mass at the Chapel of the Good Shepherd, Awka.

As with the parking space, so it was with the sitting arrangements.

Every space in the Chapel was taken up, including the gallery. All available plastic chairs were employed, but many still stood throughout the duration of the mass.

Preaching the homily, the Bishop urged all Catholics in Ahiara Diocese to remain united and dedicated to God despite the tribulations, which the diocese was currently passing through.

He said: “Politics, political rivalry, social economics and status, as well as crude suspicion is sadly destroying our once cherished society. It is sad to note that political rivalry and differences, social economics and mad quest for

social status, as well as crude suspicion is fast destroying our once cherished society and faith, including Ahiara Diocese.”

He went down memory lane and gave a graphic account of how St. John of the Cross was appointed to reform the Carmelite Order and how his close associates urged him to resign his appointment, but he refused because he saw his assignment as divine.

Okpalaeke said: “I feel for you. I feel your pains. God appointed me to serve you and we can never be separated.

The distance cannot separate us.

“Temptations will come.

Crisis moment should be our moment of grace. We must experience a lot of hardship for the sake of Christ.”

He equally recounted the biblical accounts of the ordeals of those who tried to run away from reality, like Jonah, and how did not find it easy, pointing out that he will not surrender.

He said: “The weight we are carrying now may be very heavy, tough, long lasting and excruciating, but please

remain focused.

“Do not be discouraged by the current tribulations facing us in Ahiara Diocese. It is our fervent prayer that the Good Lord will solve our problem at His own appointed time.”

The full complement of St. Rose’s Catholic Parish, Ihitte, Ezinihitte, Mbaise, the official station of the Vicar General/ Delegate, Rev. Fr. Clement Okechukwu Ebii, appointed by the Vatican, sang during the mass.

Speaking later at the reception, Fr. Ebii commended those that made the trip to Awka, despite the short notice, even as he recognised the fact that “a host of others wanted to be part of the trip but could not make it due to distance, vehicle space and work schedules.”

In his speech, one of the aged but very vibrant, fiery and respected traditional rulers and committed Catholics in Mbaise, Eze Desmond Oguguo, recalled that he had used every opportunity available to him, to plead that a bishop be appointed for the diocese.

Catholic women launch dance band

O

By Nwabueze Okonkwo

NITSHA—WITH their new dance band, Divine Grace Dance Band, Onitsha branch of Catholic Women Organisation, CWO, St. Dominic’s Catholic Parish, Adazi-Enu in Anaocha Local Government Area of Anambra State, recently took their dance steps to the Heaven’s Gate with inspiration and a desire to see God. The occasion, which took place penultimate Sunday at the Bethany House, Basilica of the Most Holy Trinity, Onitsha, and attracted dignitaries from all walks of life, including Obiora Muojeke, a legal luminary based in Onitsha and son of the aged First Republic parliamentarian, Chief R. N. Muojeke, marked the first outing of the new dance band.

In a welcome address by their Chairperson, Lady Ifeoma Okpalanozie and Secretary, Lady Ngozi Ezenduka, the CWO described the day as a moment of joy, gladness, jubilation, deep reflection, counting of blessings, showing gratitude to God and appreciation to men, as well as a day of turning around and making new decisions.

They testified to the loving kindness of God towards their members as so enormous, maintaining that His unquantifiable goodness towards their members, their families and their well-wishers was worthy and commendable.

They also added that it was on that basis that they join their voices to chorus: “we give thanks to you our God for you are good.”

They, describing CWO, Adazi-Enu, Onitsha branch as an organisation that unites all women married into the Catholic family that lives in the commercial city of Onitsha and its environs.

Lady Okpalanozie and Lady Ezenduka further explained that they are an organisation where mothers come together to discuss the welfare and progress of their families and the church at large.

They noted that their members were special mothers, being role models, pace-setters and first among equals, adding that it was during their regime that CWO, Onitsha branch, produced another dance after the famous Ejemili.

26—Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 2016

Photoreel

The Nigerian Red Cross Society, NRCS, Anambra State branch-organised sensitisation, preparedness and response programme for Lassa Fever disease in Awka, Anambra State, where it was suggested that equipment be procured by the government for Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University Teaching Hospital, COOUTH, Awka.

Aji High School, Enugu-Ezike, Igboeze North Local Government Area, Enugu State, built by community effort in the 70s, in ruins. (Story on front page).

LEFT: Catholic Women Organisation, CWO, St. Dominic’s Catholic Parish, Adazi-Enu, Anaocha Local Government Area, Anambra State, launching Divine Grace Dance band at Basilca Bethany House.

From left— State Chairman, Mr. Victor Agunulah; President of the Council, Mrs. Debola Osibogun, both of Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria, CIBN; Deputy Governor of Enugu State, Mrs. Cecilia Ezeilo, and the institute’s Director, membership service, Mr. Segun Shonubi, during a visit to the Deputy Governor in Enugu.

51

Governor Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia State flanked on the right by his Deputy, Mr. Ude Chukwu, and on the left by Brig. Gen. Lawrence Fejokwu, new Commander 14 Brigade, Ohafia, during a visit to the governor.

The Senior Prefect of Crowder Memorial College, Umuikwu, Ijeoma, receiving a cheque of one million Naira on behalf of the students and proprietor of the school, Bishop Henry Okeke (right) of the Anglican Diocese of Mbamili, from Mr. Peter Obi, former Governor of Anambra State (left),during Mr. Obi’s visit. He said the visit was in fulfilment of the promise to the proprietor of the school, Bishop Okeke, that he would remain part of the school’s progress.

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 2016 — 27

28 — Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 2016

Enyimba, Akwa United battle for Charity Shield in Abuja N

•Iwobi

Iwobi hailed for choosing Nigeria over England

N

IGERIA and Arsenal youthful talent, Alex Iwobi’s decision to choose Nigeria over England has been described as a “brilliant decision” while he is a ticking time bomb ready to explode.

Writing on Arsenal’s official website, Josh Sippie poured encomiums on the young Nigerian saying he is Arsenal and Nigeria’s future star.

He writes: “Iwobi has gobs of potential. He is a big, strong winger with the ability to drive right at the defense. We have seen him do such things, mainly against Burnley and we even saw him score a rather impressive goal in the pre-season.

•Oshoala

Oshoala to speak at FIFA women’s football forum

IGERIAN champions Enyimba FC are in battle again, few days after they drew the short end against Ugandan champions Vipers FC in a first round, first leg CAF Champions League encounter in Kampala.

This time, the People’s Elephant are up against Federation Cup winners Akwa United of Uyo in the annual Charity Cup match, in what is billed to be a titanic session at the National Stadium, Abuja today. The Charity Cup traditionally opens the football season.

Akwa United are brimming with immense confidence following a run of marvelous results, including beating better –fancied Lobi Stars to win the Federation Cup and conquering fellow continental campaigners (Enyimba FC, Warri Wolves and Nasarawa in two rounds of the Super Four organized by the League Management Company.

On Saturday, the boys from the Land of Promise boldly promised more, by beating more experienced Vita Club Mokanda of Congo 1-0 in Pointe Noir in a CAF Confederation Cup first round, first leg match.

In Abuja on Wednesday, Ubong Moses Ekpai, whose goal in Pointe Noir has made the return leg against Vita Club Mokanda an easier session, will seek more goals, with goalkeeper Olufemi Kayode, former junior international Samuel Okon, Namso Edo, Ubong Friday, Kufre Ebong and U-23 star Godspower Igudia also set to impress.

Enyimba FC have returned from Uganda feeling a sting, and it is the right time to let off steam and regain confidence

C M Y K

Afelokhai. Afelokhai was in action in Kampala, but any of the three can do a great job any day. They also have on their books Super Eagles’ aces Chima Akas, Kalu Orji and

GOtv Boxing NextGen search begins today T

HE GOtv Boxing NextGen Search, a hunt for professional boxing talents, kicks off today. The event, which holds at the Lagos Boxing Hall of Gym, Olatilewa Road, Surulere, Lagos, will run for two days.

GOtv Boxing Night is being organised under the auspices of the Nigerian Boxing Board of Control (NBB of C) and in partnership with Lagos Boxing Hall of Fame.

According to the organisers, GOtv NextGen Search is conceived to discover boxing talents who are

not older than 28.

Boxers registered for the event will take part in sparring sessions and will be ranked by accomplished judges who will select the best among them.

Selected boxers will be eligible for medical examination paid for

by the sponsors, who will similarly pay for their professional boxing licences.

Those in this category will have added the bonus of being eligible to attend a sport and medical seminar to be addressed by leading resource persons.

Morocco unveil Renard as coach

F

Renard led Ivory Coast to the Africa Cup of Nations title in 2015, three years after winning it with Zambia.

After his Nations Cup victory with the Elephants Renard left to take over at French club Lille in May but was sacked in November.

Zaki left as coach of the Atlas Lions by mutual consent on 10 February.

As well as the full national team the Morocco football federation have announced that Renard will coach the UPER Eagles and Watford striker one for locally-based Odion Ighalo says Arsenal players and oversee the defender Laurent Koscielny is the Olympic side. toughest opponent he has come up ORMER Ivory Coast boss Herve Renard has been appointed as the new coach of Morocco on a three-year deal, replacing Badou Zaki.

Ighalo rates

Koscielny as toughest opponent

S

uper Falcons striker, Asisat Oshoala joins a raft of footballing legends and big football names who will speak at the Fifa Women’s Football and Leadership Conference, Switzerland on March 7, 2016.

The gathering titled ‘Equality Through Reform’ accords with the International Women’s Day will bring together diverse voices from sport and wider society to channel a roadmap in which women in football can be further promoted.

Oshoala joins 2012 Fifa Women’s World Player of the Year, Abby Wambach, Samar Nassar (Chief Executive Director of the Local Organising Committee for the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup Jordan 2016) and Brigitte Henriques (General Secretary of the French Football Association) in the forum which is a proactive step for the world football governing body to drive progress for a new era of development and engagement in women’s football.

ahead of the return leg against Vipers FC. Enyimba boast three of the best goalkeepers in the land, namely Olufemi Thomas, Moses Ocheje and Theophilus

Ezekiel Bassey, as well as other decent names like Chinedu Udoji, Ugwu Uwadiegwu, Christian Pyagbara, Bartholomew Ibenegbu, Daniel Etor, Mfon Udoh, Andrew Abalogu, Oladapo Olufemi and Nzube Anaezemba.

The match is also the perfect tune-up for both teams as the new Nigeria Professional Football League kicks off this weekend.

S

Pix: Ighalo-Koscielny

against this season.

Arsenal claimed a 3-0 win at Watford when the teams clashed back in October last year and Ighalo remembers getting very little out of the game due to Koscielny’s presence.

“I think I have faced a lot of difficult defenders this season,” Ighalo said.

“But I would say against Arsenal, Koscielny did not give me enough space to do what I wanted and this match was really difficult. “Koscielny is the best defender I’ve faced this season.”

Watford will face Leeds United in the next round of the FA Cup this coming Saturday.

• Renard

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 2016 — 29

Roma out to upset Real Madrid

Bale out as Marcelo returns for Roma R

EAL Madrid left-back Marcelo has surprisingly been included in the travelling squad for today’s Champions League roundof-16 first leg at Roma, but Gareth Bale remains sidelined with his calf problem.

Marcelo was expected to be out for a couple of weeks after suffering a painful shoulder injury in Madrid’s 2-1 win at Granada on Feb. 7, but the Brazil international has returned to training and is now an option to start the game at the Stadio Olimpico.

When Bale picked up his calf problem against Sporting Gijon on

Jan. 17 it was hoped he would be fine for the trip to Italy, however coach Zinedine Zidane admitted last weekend that the Wales international was not feeling ready to return, and there was no need to take risks.

The naming of Madrid’s 20 man travelling party to the Italian capital came in a short statement which also confirmed that Portugal centreback Pepe remained unavailable with his foot issue.

Earlier on Monday, Marcelo’s return to training had been announced in another club statement.

A

•Totti- De Rossi

FTER securing four consecutive Serie A wins, Roma switch their focus to the Champions League today for the visit of Real Madrid to the Stadio Olimpico.

The Giallorossi have been reborn under Luciano Spalletti, and with the addition of key signings last month, they are firmly back on track in their bid to finish in the top three.

However, their form in Europe in recent times has been poor, as they picked up just six points in the group stage having won only one of their six games.

Furthermore, the Italian giants have won only two of their last 15 games in this competition, while keeping just one clean sheet in their last 20 outings.

In contrast, the visitors are unbeaten in the Champions League this year, scoring 19 goals in the group stage which was more than any other side and have kept 12 clean sheets in their last 16 outings in Europe.

Neither side have any suspensions to be concerned with, although they have experienced differing degrees of luck with regards to the fitness of key players.

Spalletti is set to welcome back both Francesco Totti and Daniele De Rossi, after the influential duo returned to training on •Nainggolan Monday. tomorrow (today).

However, there has been You’re a special player. Mohawk, less positive news for tattoos...

Zidane ahead of his debut I know that I come across as a bad as a coach in Europe’s boy, but anyone who knows me knows premier competition with that I’m a good lad. I get on well with Gareth Bale and Pepe set everyone. When those sorts of things to miss out, although happen I try to to put them behind me Marcelo is fit to feature. because otherwise they eat you up. I’m really sorry for what happened.

Nainggolan:

We need a miracle to knock out Real Madrid R

ADJA Nainggolan never goes unnoticed. We met the Indonesian-born Belgium international at Roma’s Trigoria training ground.

Has Spalletti explained how to stop Real Madrid?

They’re a very attack-minded team so I’m sure they’ll give us some space. We just have to take advantage of that space. We’re going to try and hurt them. We’re playing at home and we have to get a good result to take into the second leg. In other words, try to pull off a miracle. Real Madrid are a great team, but you have to stand up to them.

Have you spoken with Rafinha after what happened?

I sent him a message and he thanked me for it. I hope he comes back as soon as possible. I think that he’ll be fit again soon. I was really sorry. I went for the ball and I kicked him with my other leg.

Fortuitous or not, it’s part of our job and it could happen to me

•Marcelo and Bale

Gent keen to avoid costly slip against Wolfsburg I

RKED by an away-goals loss to Club Brugge in the Belgian Cup, Gent’s Hein Vanhaezebrouck, 52 today, has warned his side against making “stupid mistakes” versus Wolfsburg.

Hein Vanhaezebrouck, Gent coach

said, “The difference [compared to the group stage] is that home and away goals are important. We saw the consequence of that in the Belgian Cup [against Club Brugge]. We conceded an avoidable goal at home and that cost us a place in the final. At this level it is even more important to avoid such stupid mistakes.

Once you are past 50, birthdays do not count as much anymore – you just hope the years pass by as slowly as possible, otherwise you will get

Draxler leads resurgent Wolfsburg against Gent

too old for this profession. I am not the kind of person who is too concerned about, however. It’s not so important.

We know it is going to be really tough against a good team and if we were to win, we’d be very surprised to be in the draw with seven top sides. For now we must focus on the task in hand to get a good result at home in order to improve our chances for the second leg.

W

CHAMPIONS LEAGUE Matches today AA Gent Roma

v v

Wolfsburg R/Madrid

8:45pm 8;45pm

•Draxler

olfsburg head to Ghent for today ’ s Champions League last 16, first-leg, with renewed confidence after Germany’s Julian Draxler helped break their six-match winless streak.

German cup holders Wolfsburg powered their way into the knock-out stages by beating Louis van Gaal’s Manchester United 3-2 at home last December to condemn the Red Devils to the Europa League.

Germany midfielder Draxler ran riot while Brazilian defender Naldo headed two goals to put Wolfsburg in the last 16 of Europe for the first time in the club’s history.

C M Y K

30—VANGUARD, WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 2016

Five ways to keep your tech swag despite high electricity tariffs PAGE 31

Communications minister says Zinox can rival world’s best technologies if…

PAGE 31

•Prof Danbatta

•Broadband

Why broadband is focus of NCC’s 8-Point Agenda — Danbatta …says we won’t spare recalcitrant operators

By Prince Osuagwu & Emmanuel Elebeke

T

HE Executive Vice Chairman of the Nigerian Communications Commission, NCC, Prof. Umar Danbatta has explained that the exponential economic boost and new opportunities created by recent data explosion across the world were part of the reasons the commission made affordable broadband the focus of its 8-point agenda on ICT development.

According to him, both the global and local ICT market is growing exponentially and creating whole brand new and exciting opportunities and so, there is every need to make these opportunities real for all Nigerians.

He said that “Nigeria’s economy is strengthening by the day and the world is taking note.

So we need to bring these whole new opportunities down here, especially for the young people C M Y K

who are already shaping the future through innovation.

“We believe that Nigeria has the potential to gain a global competitive edge in innovation, what we need is to work together to gain the extra momentum that is necessary and invaluable for the successful realization of our Vision as an industry,” Danbatta said. He also revealed that the

I can assure you that the process of licensing infrastructure companies to deploy broadband infrastructure in the remaining part of the country is in motion

policy goals of the NCC recognized the immense socioeconomic importance of ICTs to national development and therefore seek to ensure that the infrastructure necessary to provide ubiquitous broadband services is available and accessible to all citizens at affordable rates.

“Broadband still remains the next frontier in the ICT industry which will help in the speedy transformation of the Nigerian economy, and this formed the basis for our 8-point agenda” he declared. Meanwhile, to realise the plan, Danbatta told stakeholders at the unveiling of his 8-Point Agenda in Kano, at the weekend that the agenda would be achieved in line with the national broadband plan.

He said that the role of NCC in the plan is to drive broadband infrastructure, first, in major cities across Nigeria and subsequently in areas that have not been served with communications

services.

To ensure faster penetration across the country, Danbatta noted that there was also an ongoing plan by the commission to license five more Infrastructure Companies (InfaCos) to deploy broadband infrastructure to the rest of the country, following the successful licensing of MainOne Cable Company and IHS Communications as service providers for Lagos and North Central zones respectively.

Licensing infrastructure “In the South, we have the South West, South East and South South zones yet to be licensed. Similarly, the North West and North East zones are yet to be licensed.

“But I can assure you that the process of licensing infrastructure companies to deploy broadband infrastructure in the remaining part of the

country is in motion, waiting to finalized by the regulatory framework. I am confident that the NCC will soon take the next step.

“It will be kick-started with the advertisement for interested companies to submit their tender, for appraisal towards providing broadband infrastructure in the remaining zones of the country.

That is how we intend to increase broadband penetration from 6.5 per cent to 10 per cent, through this infrastructure,” he explained.

Free Broadband Access: Dambatta informed the audience that, “time will come, when the price for internet will not only be affordable but will be free. But this cannot be realizable now because the infrastructure is not adequate. “We are trying to encourage the operators that want to provide more infrastructure to join the market by providing them with incentives for entrance Continues on page 31

VANGUARD, WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 2016—31

Five ways to keep your tech swag despite high electricity tariffs T he Nigeria Labour Congress and the Trade Union Congress have been kicking against it all week, but many Nigerians who are already feeling the bite of hike in electricity charges imposed by the ministry of power, works and housing. You're most likely too busy hustling for your daily bread to embark on any protests, but here are some ways to make this new development easier on your pocket:

By Laju Iren •Energy saving bulbs Some might argue that Light Emitting Diodes, LED, bulbs are the next best thing since instant noodles. And they would probably be right. LEDs are extremely cost effective and consume 90 percent less power than incandescent bulbs.

•Rechargeable, rechargeables Except you're a millionaire in dollars, you have absolutely no reason not to own a few rechargeable lamps and fans. Save yourself tones of money by investing

in rechargeable devices, especially those that don't require much power to recharge in the first place. For bigger organisations, it might pay you in the long run to go solar, although this might require a bulk of initial investment •Stalk your meter Despite talk about metres being given aware for free, many distribution companies are charging as much as N5,000 per house for metre installation.

Since your metre is costing you so much, you might as well get the best out of it. Study your meter. Find out which applianc-

•Power meter es take up more units and use them sparingly. It goes without saying that you should put off appliances when they are not in use.

•Opportunity cost There was a time when it paid to cook with your electric stove so that you could save cooking gas or kerosene. That era just might be over now. Figure out what should be the foregone alternative when it comes to choosing a power source for specific tasks.

•Know your limits Desperate times call for desperate measures. Discipline yourself to know when it's time to put off the air conditioner, or when you've had enough television time.

•Satellite widescreen

Communications minister says Zinox can rival world’s best technologies if…

By Prince Osuagwu

T

HE Minister of Communications Technology, Mr Adebayo Shittu, has commended Nigeria’s technology conglomerate, the Zinox Group, saying products from this indigenous technology company can rival any product from the developed economies.

The minister who came on a working visit to the company in Lagos, recently, noted that with numerous landmark strides the company has made in the area of Information and Communications Technology, it only needed enabling environment and government support to rival world’s best technology companies.

The Minister who was led on a guided tour of the company by the Group Chairman, Leo Stan Ekeh, witnessed the various infrastructure and facilities within the premises including the digital computer hardware manufacturing and assembly plant, telecoms e-Hub unit, Data Centre, bandwidth aggregation and digital security infrastructures, warehousing facilities as well as after-sales service and support centre, among others.

In his address to members of Management and the Press corps, the Oyo State-born lawyer lauded the huge capabilities, human capital potential and technological proficiency on display in the various facilities, while expressing

Shittu (left) receiving a Zinox computer from Chairman of the Group, Leo-Stan Ekeh.

C M Y K

confidence in the ability of the company to hold its own against ICT giants from other parts of the world.

“I have embarked on similar visits to organizations abroad but what I have seen today gives me huge confidence in the ability of our serious local companies to do the country proud even when benchmarked against other companies on the world stage. It is clear with the huge investment I have seen here that the ZinoxGroup is highly focused and committed to raising the standards in the country.

“Although I have known Leo Stan Ekeh for a relatively short period of time, his story is one that I am very familiar with in the last 20years, especially as it mirrors that of the Chinese tech giants Huawei.

“I must commend Leo Stan as I have witnessed the relationship you enjoy with your colleagues and your commitment to helping them grow. “From my tour round the structures, I have also seen enough to assure me that, with the right support from the government, the Zinox Group can be a name we can all be proud of as Nigerians”.

Reacting, Ekeh said that the Zinox Group remains the single largest 360 degrees ICT conglomerate in the sub-region with advanced competencies in the entire spectrum of the sector, ranging from hardware manufacturing, distribution, integrated ICT solutions, Telecoms, retail, world class support and much more with offices in many other countries. He pleaded for more support and level playing ground for Nigerian companies.

Why broadband is focus of NCC’s 8-Point Agenda Continues from page 30 into the infrastructure market.“If our experience in data services is anything to go by, the scenario that is gradually unfolding is data services, which is set to dominate the market in the foreseeable future.

“The telecom network support going by the demand is high but the capacity is very inadequate. The overall 8 point agenda is to ensure that internet services are affordable and that is why we hinged our agenda on ensuring that services are available, accessible, and affordable,” he said. According to Dambatta, there is urgent need for Telecom Infrastructure Fund, which he said NCC is providing to ultimately facilitate the provision of infrastructure for cheap and fast internet services.

Drop Calls: Frowning at the menace of drop calls, the NCC boss said that the commission has the capacity to monitor quality of service by all the service providers and vowed to apply the key performance indicator (KPI) rules in checkmating the operators. “The drop call is one of the menaces of the poor quality of service in the country. There is a limit to which each call should not be dropped and this is applicable to all operators.

Quality of networks This drop calls parameter is one of the KPIs for assessing the quality of networks, which the NCC has the capacity to monitor. “We monitor within the required the acceptable limit and immediately direct the operator to rectify it. Data on KPI is available and is also made available to operators to see how much they are doing. It is happening now because of mechanism put in place. “We are going to intensify monitoring on all operators waiting for days of reckoning and we are going to force them to address the problem. It can also result to sanctioning recalcitrant operators.” he said.

8-Point Agenda implementation: “When we will be monitoring the implementation of the agenda, focus will be on how much had been done and how much that remained to be done. We shall continue to monitor the implementation in phases. So, we have mechanisms for monitoring and evaluation of the agenda, which will take place in 2021 and 2022.

This is to enable us decide how much, we have succeeded in implementing the 8-Point agenda and what remained to be implemented. The agenda is a five year plan and so, we will continue to make appropriate budget over the period,” Danbatta said.

32 — Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 2016 YOUR LUCK TODAY

LEISURE

By Joshua Adeyemo Phone 08056180139 SAGITTARIUS: You can make it a successful day with positive approach on your part. You will be in a better position to defuse tension within your working arena. Try to be more ambitious.

CAPRICORN Yes! You’re not scared a bit even, when opposition and/or competition come your way but, if you give in to diplomatic approach, you’ll fare better today.

AQUARIUS: Pressure that came your way suddenly will give way unexpectedly, today, to the betterment of your course. The more financially ambitious you are today, the better for you. Be steadfast.

PISCES: You sincerely believe in intelligent argument or discussion. And if you allow your ability to be diplomatic come to play today, you’ll be better for it. Enjoy your love life.

ARIES: You’ll tend to become both creative and persuasive to the administration of others. Then those who’ve been resisting secret love may slip suddenly and become excited.

THOUGHT FOR TODAY

By Richard Eromosele

A

MBITION is what you want to achieve. It could be long term,it could be medium, it could also be for the

No Future Ambition? short term.It is a good thing for every human to be ambitious. A man(woman) without ambition is like a car

TERROR MUDA

without driver.

Such a car cannot move forward.It is ambition that propels the man to strive,to stress

in “Scavenger Elite”

and to challenge himself to attain s e e m i n g l y unattainable goals. A man without ambition is a man without future. What is your ambition?

By Lanre Kehinde

TAURUS: Your creativity quotient within your working arena will today be enhanced. You’ll be blamed if you keep official issues secrets from your colleagues at work.

GEMINI: After a few tension soaked days, you’ll have the needed opportunity to look through windows of the world and have your way as well. Magnetic and/or magic days is predicted for lovers today.

CANCER : Even if you continue to work under pressure via increased workload, you will have good results to show for your efforts today. Be steadfast.

LEO: Even if opposition persists, supports you are getting from the influential people will be enough to see you through.

Yet, the more cooperative you are the better.

VIRGO: Better than yesterday. And the more co-operative you are today the better for you. Those of you travelling for love are in for an exciting day . Success indicated for you.

LIBRA: Those of you willing to let go hard feelings at work are for a progressive day to the betterment of your finances. Let go yesterday, move ahead. You are closer to good luck today.

KAPTAIN AFRIKA

in “HEY’

By Andy Akman

SCORPIO: Once again, you’ll have the needed opportunity to assert yourself to the administration of others.

Both love and financial success can be yours with efforts.

Reason with your tried and trusted friends.

ASTROLOGICAL COUNSELLING Send yyour our dat tr ological datee and place of bir th ttoo the As Astr trological Counselling, PP.M.B .M.B 1100 00 7, Apapa, Lagos 007,

When was I born?

Dear Joshua, Kindly tell me how the planets lined up when I was born and the day of the week I was born but don’t publish my date of birth.

Adedoyin, Lagos.

Adedoyin, You were born on a Sunday.

YOUR HOROSCOPE DATA Sun Sign = Scorpio. Sun in Zero Degree of Scorpio Moon Sign = Libra: Moon in 5th Degree of Libra Mercury in 12th Degree of Scorpio Venus in Zero Degree of Sagittarius Mars in 1st Degree of Aquarius Jupiter in 29th Degree of Cancer Saturn in 10th Degree of Scorpio Uranus in 27th Degree of Cancer Neptune in 25th Degree of Libra Pluto in 26th Degree of Leo North Node in 8th Degree of Capricorn South Node in 8th Degree of Cancer No planet in earth spar sign, one in available, two in fire, three in air, four in cardinal, fixed and water star signs hosted five planets each.

PUSH-FULL INFLUENCE = 50% NON-PUSH-FULL INFLUENCE =50% PLANET AT HOME = NONE ANALYSIS OF THE HOROSCOPE DATA You are both an intelligent and emotional person. And as there was no planet at home when you were born, too many ideas will always struggle for prominent place in your mind, thus decision making is difficult but most times, your intelligence comes to the rescue.

Certainly, you appear to other as a gentle person who can be mistaken for soft fellow but in your inner-self is the personality with a steel-like-will-power.

You are the consistent type who may find it difficult to change once you have made up your mind as indicated by distribution of the planets as written out above.

One major challenge you have been battling for a very long time is constant worries, some times, necessarily and the other time, uncalled for, as indicated by conjunction Mercury and Saturn formed when you were born.

Placement of your natal Sun (basic self head) and Moon (your sub-conscious self) in Scorpio and Libra respectively are indications of your being mainly Scorpio born person and partly a Libran. And that is to say basic characteristics of both Scorpio and Libra are highly pronounced in you. Then, you are spiritually gifted; if you don’t develop it is another thing.

VIRGINIA

HOME & ABROAD

dadadekola@yahoo.com

By Lawrence Akapa

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 2016—33

NANS to APC: Stop your attacks on Judiciary

By Festus Ahon

A

SABA—THE National Association of Nigerian Students, NANS, has warned the leadership of All Progressives Congress, APC, to be mindful of its attack on the country's judiciary.

The APC had reportedly called for probe of the Supreme Court over its judgment on the elections of the governors of the Rivers and Akwa Ibom states.

NANS, Zone B, in a statement by its President, Mr Pedro Obi, said that the attack on the Supreme Court by the APC lacked basic political logic and legal backing.

Observing that the recent attacks and aspersions on the Supreme Court chiefly on the basis of its judgment on the governorship election petition in the two states which confirmed the election of Mr. Udom Emmanuel and Mr. Nyesom Wike as governors of their respective states was provocative.

Obi said: “We learned that the APC is only using the political brawl in the states to indirectly accentuate its quest

....Probe S-Court to save Judiciary, A-Ibom APC tells Buhari

By Emma Ujah

C

HAIRMAN of All Progressives Congress, APC, Akwa Ibom State, Dr. Amadu Attai, has called on President Muhammadu Buhari to probe the Supreme Court over its verdict which upheld the election of Governor Udom Emmanuel.

In a statement in Abuja, Dr. Attai said that a probe of the apex court over that judgment was the only way to restore the dignity of Nigeria’s highest court.

According to him, “We believe the leadership of the country and indeed all Nigerians should not sit and watch the judiciary collapse under the watch of the current Chief Justice of Nigeria.

We, hereby, call on the President to arrest the drift in the third arm of government by probing the rot in the Supreme Court.”

Dr. Attai claimed that the spate of attacks on the Supreme Court following its decisions in some of the governorship election petitions, including that of his state, were indicative of the lack of confidence in the court, by many members of the Nigerian public.

This, he contended, portends grave dangers for the nation as it could lead those who felt they had been denied justice to resort to self-help.

for the oil-rich states of Akwa Ibom and Rivers which have slipped off its political sway.

This, the party's National Chairman, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, could not hide in a recent interview.

“It is really unfortunate that the Chairman of Akwa Ibom State chapter of APC, Mr. Amadu Attai, has shown his

party's desperation to take over Akwa Ibom State by all means.

“The statement released by the chairman Akwa Ibom State chapter of the APC, in response to the Supreme Court verdict on the Akwa Ibom State election, is a political propaganda that doesn’t hold water. It is,

therefore, an orchestrated attempt to derail the governor ’s industrialization blueprint which has started to yield result. Hence, it is a stratagem aimed at distracting the governor who is willing to work for the benefit of Akwa Ibom populace, especially the indigent ones.”

MEDIA TOUR: From left: Abia State Commissioner for Health, Dr. John Ahukana; Director of Public Health, Chief Franklin Orji and Head of Corporate Communication Unit of NACA Project Implimentation Unit, Mrs. Stella Agbim, during a fund advocacy awareness media tour of NACA/ SURE-P HIV/AIDS facilities in Abia State.

Construction firm faults ILOT on DESOPADEC contract report

By Daniel Gumm

W

ARRI—AN indigenous construction firm, A & J Construction Company Limited, has denied an allegation by Itsekiri Leaders of Thought, ILOT, that it collected a huge sum of money from Delta State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission, DESOPADEC, for the sandfilling, drainage/landscaping within the hostel and dining hall section of Ogidigben Grammar School, Ogidigben, in Warri South-West Local Government Area, Delta State, without executing a commensurate work.

Project/Site Manager of A & J Construction, Mr. Tuoyo Igbiaye, in a statement after conducting newsmen and members of Concerned Itsekiri Social Media Activists, CISMA, led by its Coordinator, Prince Jerry Onesan, round the project site, said: “There is an obvious error in the assertion that the reclamation of swamps by way of sand-filling /drainage/ landscaping in the hostel and dining hall section of Ogidigben Grammar School awarded to our firm was not done and money paid. It is not true. We think the people that forwarded that report misrepresented the fact of the matter.”

Noting that his firm still reveres ILOT, Mr. Igbiaye added: “The fact of the matter is that the swamp reclamation work

(sand-filling), which is the major aspect of the job, is about 85 per cent complete. All materials for landscaping, namely interlocks and kerbs, have long been produced at site. But for the recent Ugborodo crisis which made us to demobilise from site, it would have been a done deal so long as DESOPADEC released funds.”

He listed landmark projects successfully executed by A & J Construction for Delta State Government in Itsekiri communities to include Delta State Housing Estate in Ogidigben, which was built in three months, swamp reclamation, fencing/

landscaping of the estate at Ogidigben, construction of Ugborodo Skill Acquisition Centre, done within four months, construction of two hostels and dining hall in Ogidigben Grammar School and the extension of 33KVA lines from Sapele to Abigborodo and Arun Owurun with two sub- stations.

He explained that contrary to reports that money was collected for LED TV contract in Obodo and Deghele communities for jobs not done, contracts for the aforesaid jobs were still being processed and the contractor has not mobilised to site. He wondered how payments could have been made for such contracts as claimed.

Edo govt, PDP bicker over LG bosses' alleged reinstatement

By Gabriel Enogholase

B

ENIN—EDO State Government and the opposition Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in the state are at loggerheads over alleged reinstatement of two of the four suspended local government chairmen by the state House of Assembly.

While the PDP state Chairman, Chief Dan Orbih, claimed that he was in possession of the report of the panel set up by the state government showing that those indicted were reinstated, while those cleared were not

reinstated, the state government insisted that the PDP could not have been in the possession of the report since the panel did not report to the PDP. Orbih had, while speaking during a sensitization tour of the PDP to Orhionmwon and Egor councils, accused Governor Adams Oshiomhole of jettisoning the recommendation of the panels he set up to investigate the four council chairmen.

According to Orbih: “Victor Enobhakare (Egor) was indicted by the Tunji Araya-led commission of inquiry and among others, was asked to refund over N77 million."

Delta LG petitions DTHA over suspension of five councillors

By Tare Youdeowei

F

OLLOWING the suspension of councillors of Ughelli South Local Government Area Legislative Arm, Delta State, due to alleged gross misconduct, 10 of the 20 councillors have petitioned the state House of Assembly over the alleged illegal and malicious suspension of five of their members by the chairman of the council.

In a letter by Nelson Koto, Maxwell Urhogu, Emmanuel Okpatako and seven others, addressed to the Speaker, Mr Monday Igbuya and member representing Ughelli South Constituency, Reuben Izeze, they stated that since the council Chairman's assumption of office on October 27, 2014, he had allegedly refused to render monthly statements of income and expenditure, including annual reports, to members of the legislative Arm, which contravenes section 23 (C) of the Delta State Local Government Law, 2013.

Rights group hails Dickson's election victory

By Onosure Dania

C

OALITION for Good Governance and Economic Justice in Africa, CGGEJ, yesterday, hailed the Ijaw nation for the reelection of Governor Seriake Dickson of Baylsa State, saying it had opened a new era for the state.

CGGEJ in a statement by is Media Coordinator, Mr. Patrick Omene, congratulated the people and government of Bayelsa State for achieving the feat while urging the governor to build bridges where there are rivers and take sincere measures to heal political wounds in order to lead a people-oriented government.

He said: “The governor must take concrete measures to quell the corrosive tension and bad blood generated by the election that gave him victory, for a peaceful Bayelsa. He must, as a matter of necessity and urgency, know that the famously rich Niger Delta state's economy is losing life and as such, the need to diversify the state's economy so that his renewed tenure can open a new era in the Ijaw nation in terms of sustainable development."

34—Vanguard, WEDNEESDAY, FEBRUARY 17 , 2016

FACTION: Okorocha brokers peace in

Ohanaeze Ndigbo O

By Chidi Nkwopara

WERRI—IMO State Governor, Chief Rochas Okorocha, has successfully brokered peace between the two factional leaders of Ohanaeze Ndi-Igbo, Chief Gray EnwoIgariwey and Dr. Ralph Obioha with the latter dropping his claim to the Office of President-General of Ohanaeze.

Dr. Obioha equally accepted Chief Enwo Igariwey as the only President-General of the Organization and also pledged to give Chief Igariwey all the needed support and cooperation to enable him succeed.

The reconciliation of the two factions, which was presided over

by Okorocha, came after a very lengthy meeting between the two leaders, members of their

Chief Fredrick Ude for burial

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HIEF FREDRICK Okeke Ude, 80, of Obinagu Agbogugu in Awgu Local Government Area of Enugu State is dead. Late Chief Fredrick was a retired senior civil servant, devout Christian and philanthropist. A statement by his son, Engr. Stanley Ude, said the burial rites will hold on Friday February 19, with a wake at his country home, Obinagu Agbogugu while internmentfollows afterarequiemMass at St. John’s Parish Agbogugu.

Late Chief Fredrick Ude

respective executives and delegates from the states that make up Ohaneze, at the Government House Owerri.

Vanguard gathered that one of the agreements at the meeting was that the tenure of Chief Igariwey was extended by one year, and at the expiration of the one year, fresh elections would be conducted to select new leaders for the body.

Similarly, all those suspended from the body while the squabble

lasted, were also recalled, and all the court cases occasioned by the dispute would also be withdrawn.

“A 17-member committee that would see to the implementation of all that was agreed including the issue of election was set up with Dr. Obioha as Chairman, while the governors will produce one member each,” the communique stated.

In his speech, Governor Okorocha expressed gladness that “the Ohanaeze family is back as one,” stressing that “we have proven to the world that Igbo are their brothers' keepers.”

The governor said: “The President of Ohanaeze will soon address the Igbo nation. All Igbo must joinhandswiththeOhanaezeleadership to move the Igbo nation forward. With this peace, we are going to see a new kind of support for Ohanaeze. The rest of the world will hear about the Igbo nation. The jinx has been broken.”

ChiefIgariweyandDr.Obiohaintheir respective speeches, said achieving peace in the leadership of Ohanaeze and reconciling the two factions should be celebrated by all Igbo because the division did not augure well for the august body and the interest of the Igbo in general.

DPR begins inquest into Nnewi gas Limited, Mr. Austin Nwagboso Continuing, the ZOC explosion and DPR officers from Lagos, explained that as a Department

O

By Chidi Nkwopara

WERRI—AN inquisition in respect of the gas explosion and fire incident at Intercorp Gas Plant, Nnewi, Anambra State, was yesterday flagged off in Owerri, by the Zonal Office of the Department of Petroleum Resources, DPR. Some notable participants at the event included the Managing Director of Chikason Group, Mr. Linus Ilozue, the General Manager of Intercorp Oil Nigeria

Enugu, Aba and Owerri.

Addressing the participants earlier, the Zonal Operations Controller, ZOC, Ogbuefi Morrison Nwokedi, recalled with grief that 11 innocent citizens lost their lives in the incident.

“The tragic accident occurred at a time when people were preparing for the festive season with the anticipation of joy and fanfare that comes with the end of year season. Unfortunately, 11 of them didn’t make it. The loss is irreparable”, Nwokedi said.

bestowed by law, to regulate the oil and gas industry in Nigeria, they have a responsibility to find out what went wrong, share the learning points with others, as well as forestall a recurrence.

“Indeed, we have taken time to investigate the immediate and remote causes of the incident, visiting the site on December 26 and 31, 2015, and January 20, 2016. We have asked a lot of questions and are now here to share our findings,” Nwokedi said.

Andy Chukwu, Ebonyi govt unveil Street to Skills for youths "This project I will say is passion

A

By Anozie Egole

BAKALIKI—POISED to take Ebonyi youths who are into street hawking off the streets, veteran Nollywood actor cum producer, Andy Chukwu, has partnered with the Ebonyi State government on a skill acquisition programme tagged, Street to Skills, which ensures to train and empower all Ebonyi youths who are into street hawking.

In a chat about the programme, Andy Chukwu said that the rate at which Ebonyi youths are involved in street hawking in the major roads of the country is

disturbing the state governor and that is the reason why he decided to come up with the programme.

His words: “The programme which is divided into three phases is made to take Ebonyi youths off the street. The first stage which we are on now is to visit the major cities of the country and take statistics of all Ebonyians hawking on the roads. The second stage is to design a programme to rehabilitate these youths after which we will start empowering them. We are also partnering with Lagos State government on this project.

driven. I have long had passion for something like this and I am so grateful that Governor David Umahi-led Ebonyi State administration has thrown their support behind me. I have been doing this before now as I always relate with Ebonyians wherever I see them anywhere, even in neighbouring countries.”

In a statement made available to Vanguard, the Secretary to Ebonyi State Government, Prof.

Benard Odoh, said that the government has made adequate plans to properly empower the youths.

ebruary 14 is a day we show our loved ones how much we care. People observe Valentine’s Day in various ways. As for me, I will be going out to swim with someone that cares.

Miss Imelda Daniel, Worker

T

still in the race —APC candidate

O

HAFIA—THE All Progressives Congress, APC, senatorial candidate for the Abia North senatorial zone of Abia State, Mrs Nnenna Okoro has debunked rumours making the rounds that she has withdrawn from the March 5, INEC rescheduled re-run election in the zone.

Mrs Okoro who spoke with journalists yesterday in Ohafia blamed her political detractors, mischief makers and opponents who were intimidated by her credibility and wide acceptance by the people of the zone as peddlers behind the unfounded rumour.

She said: “Why would I step down from the race, step down for who? It is inconceivable and non-debatable. I am in the race to win and we are campaigning vigorously and by the grace of God with the volume of acceptance of our people, victory is assured.”

Mrs Okoro explained that she was in England when the Court of Appeal in Owerri nullified the election of Abia North senatorial zone and called for a repeat of the entire exercise and that shortly after she arrived the country, she started hearing the rumour that she has been paid money to step down for a particular candidate.

She said: “When I heard it, I thought that it was the handiwork of mischief makers but when somebody from the high quarters asked me about it, I felt it was time and proper to put the records straight."

What does V alentine’s Da o yyou? ou?

Valentine’s Dayy mean tto

he feast of Saint Val entine’s Day is a celebration observed on February 14 each year.

It is celebrated in many countries around the world, although it is not a public holiday in most of them. Miss Rosemary Agham, Businesswoman

T

hough the practices of Lupercalia have been repackaged and dressed up in the form of Valentine’s Day, these verses indicate they remain just as detestable as they have always been in our Creator’s eyes. Mr Femi Igwe, Engineer

L

ove is seeing all of someone’s darkness and still wanting to be with that person regardless. It is so unfortunate that in this part of the world, even children observe Valentine’s Day. Miss Ify Kelvin, Student

By Eric Ugbor

By Bartholomew Madukwe (08102479985) nwamad@yahoo.com

PEOPLE SPEAK

F

ABIA NORTH RE-RUN: I'm

I

am happy that you are treating this as a subject because for long I have said I will ask this question and allow Nigerians to answer. Is Valentine’s Day limited to men and women in relationship alone? Miss Olive Ejura, Self Employed

S

ometimes, I find Valen tine’s Day a bit suffocating, feminist, and discriminatory. This year’s celebration falls on a Sunday, otherwise it would also have been observed in schools including nursery and kindergarten schools. Mrs Jennifer Otuu, Graduate

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 2016 — 35

Kogi Speaker, Lawal impeached ...Impeachment move, kangaroo adventure — Lawal

By Boluwaji Obahopo

VISIT: Vice President Yemi O s i n b a j o exchanging pleasantries with the President, N i g e r i a Association of Law Teachers (NALT) Dr. Abdulkarim Abubakar Kana, during a courtesy call on the Vice President at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, yesterday.

L

OKOJA—THE Kogi State House of Assembly, was yesterday thrown into confusion with the reported impeachment of the Speaker, Momohjimoh Lawal, his Deputy Aliyu Akuh, and Majority Leader, Kolawole Matthew.

Imam Umar, who was announced new speaker, pledged in his acceptance speech, to collaborate with the executive in moving the state to an enviable heights.

The alleged impeachment of Lawal was done behind close door, as journalists were barred from entering into the complex.

However, the embattled Speaker, who survived two previous impeachment attempts, dismissed the purported impeachment, describing it as a “Kangaroo’ arrangement that cannot pass under a sane atmosphere.”

But addressing newsmen

outside the chamber after the ‘meeting/sitting’; the ‘new’ Majority Leader of the House, Friday Sani, claimed Lawal was removed because of incompetence, greed, betrayal and lack of focus, stressing that he was running the House like a sole proprietor.

Though only five of the members

were seen leaving the chamber, but Sani claimed due process was followed in the impeachment of the Speaker , insisting that 15 members signed the impeachment notice a day before and that the House formed a quorum of ‘seven’ yesterday to ratified the process.

Kano celebrates late Gen Murtala Muhammed

K

ANO State Government, in collaboration with Topseal Communications Limited is organising a commemorative event in honour of the late military Head of State, General Murtala Ramat Muhammed.

General Muhammed, regarded as an illustrious son of Kano, was one of the two indigenes of the state that had so far governed the nation.

He is believed to have left an indelible legacy as a leader and his accomplishments are of reference till today.

Widely regarded as having played a significant role in shaping the destiny of Nigeria and Africa, at large, General Muhammed was seen as a leader, who had exemplary attributes of heroism, patriotism, dynamism, integrity and selflessness.

In a tribute to Murtala Muhammed, with whom he served on the War Cabinet during the Nigerian Civil War, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, one of Nigeria’s most highly respected statesmen and authorities on leadership had this to say about him: “He was tough, dogged and fearless. He was frank to a fault, and like all those cut out for greatness, he was

constant and unchangeable.”

Some observers are also of the opinion that there is a catalogue of correlations between the present President Muhammadu Buhari Administration and the regime of General Muhammed, especially in the area of anticorruption drive and far-reaching policies aimed at repositioning the country. President Buhari is also regarded as a faithful protégé of General Muhammed.

The state government and the Topseal believe that 40 years in the wake of Murtala’s tenure and demise is a milestone period to commemorate the iconic leader and also celebrate his legacy.

Highlights of the commemorative programme, taking place on Saturday, February 20, 2016, at the

Coronation Hall, Government House, Kano, include: Tributes, Book Presentation and Endowment, Exhibition and Cultural Activities.

Many indigenes and dignitaries from within and outside the state, including the Emir of Kano, Mohammed Sanusi, are expected to grace the occasion.

During the occasion, the widely acclaimed biography of General Muhammed, The Hurricane, authored by a journalist, Taiwo Ogundipe, with the foreword written by ex President (General) Olusegun Obasanjo, a close associate and successor of the late leader will be presented and its endowment for wide distribution to schools, libraries and other institutions will be instituted.

Nigeria, Japan plan $800m rehabilitation credit for Jebba Power Plant add 578.4 megawatts(MW) of available generation

By Victor Ojeme

A

BUJA—THE Federal Government and the government of Japan have completed arrangement to sign all relevant agreements towards securing $800million credit to

power generation capacity to Jebba Hydro Power Plant.

This is just as one of the plant’s turbines with a generation capacity of 96.4MW, which was rehabilitated by Japan after a fire outbreak, was commissioned to increase its

Rotary gov gives recipe for better Nigeria

By Caleb Ayansina

A

BUJA—THE District Governor of Rotary Club (District 9126, Nigeria), Dr Mike Omotosho, has said Nigeria will not change for the better unless Nigerians change, saying “for the desire change to happen in the country, it must begin with us.”

According to him, culture is one of the major tools to promoting C M Y K

According to him: “What is needed in impeaching a speaker starts with collation of signatures and I can assure you that 15 of the 20 members, which is more than 2/3 signed for his impeachment.”

Reacting to his perceived impeachment, the Speaker which described it as a Kangaroo adventure claimed 15 out of the 20 members had being in his house since morning and wondered where the seven quorum were gathered from.

He said: “Aside being with me, the 15 members presented a ‘vote of confidence’ on my leadership. The impeachment can only take place in an insane society.”

Lawal however blamed external forces for the crisis in the Assembly, saying “the five members were just acting out script prepared by their paymasters”.

While the Umar Imam leadership adjourrned till March 2 for sitting, the MomohJimoh Lawal said they will return to the House tomorrow to continue their legislative duties.

attitudinal change, hence the club plans to launch a 4-Way Test Code to instill in to the heart of every Nigerian the act of honesty, truthfulness and sincerity that build a better society.

The 4-Way Test: Is it the truth? Is it fair to all concerned? Will it build goodwill and better friendship? Will it be beneficial to all concerned?

Briefing ahead of the launch in Abuja, Omotosho said: “both the

leaders and the followers must live by example, by asking themselves if their thoughts, utterances and actions are true, fair and of mutual benefits. The reality of it is that everything you want to do starts with the thinking process, so if our people are not properly cultured, the whole process will be faulty, but the moment we get our mind right then, naturally, things will change.''

capacity to 482MW. Deputy Head of Mission at Japan’s Embassy, Mr. Masaya Otsuka, who made the disclosure in Jebba when Japan handed over to Nigeria at Jebba the overhauled unit of the six generating turbines it rehabilitated for the country at the plant, said the credit line would be used to rehabilitate and extend the lifespan of four extra units of the plant.

The loan, he said, was part of Japan’s support for Nigeria’s power sector, noting that it was under the Tokyo International Conference on African Development, TICAD, framework, and would include 1.4 per cent concessionary rate for 40 years.

Plateau, NSC moves to revive Jos container depot

By Marie-Therese Nanlong

J

OS—PLATEAU State government in partnership with the Nigerian Shippers’ Council, NSC, is to resuscitate the Jos Inland Container Depot, Heipang, as part of efforts at creating jobs and empowering youths to curb restiveness in the state. Similarly, the Federal Ministry of Transport, FMT, through its Chief Executive Officer, Inland Container Depot, Mr. Ogunleye Ogunsola, who was in the state yesterday on a visit to the Depot, promised the Ministry’s support for the successful take off of businesses at the depot.

At the event which drew delegates from the FMT, NSC, the state Ministries of Lands and Survey as well as Commerce among others, speakers highlighted the importance of the depot not only to the state but the entire North Central region.

Commissioner for Lands and Survey, Mr. Festus Fuanter, told the gathering that it was necessary for the state to resuscitate the depot as doing so was in line with its resolved to create enabling environment for private businesses to thrive and create job opportunities for its citizens.

According to him: “We just had a retreat where we were sensitized on ways of generating IGR, the seriousness which the state government gives this project shows that we won’t rest on our oars till the project takes off and provide a means of livelihood for our people.”

The representative of the FMT. Mr. Ogunsola said , “We are here to inspect and see things for ourselves, advise the Ministry accordingly and assist the Company in the way we can so that the people of the State can benefit from it.”

North Central Zonal Coordinator, NSC, Kparbong Bali expressed hope that there were positive indications that the project which was put on hold since 2014 when the former administration in the state ordered the demolition of the project site “will see the light of the day.”

36 —Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 2016

VANGU ARD, WEDNESD A Y, FEBRU ARY 17, 2016—37 ANGUARD, WEDNESDA FEBRUARY

He gave me pubic lice

He was given the wrong diagnosis Dear Bunmi, My husband, who is in his early 50s, had just been through harrowing experience when he was treated for enlarged prostrate.

He is a health conscious man and had regular check-ups, which were all-clear. Now the doctors at the teaching hospitals have confirmed that some of these diagnostic centres give false results and they often have to correct these bogus results after symptoms have worsened.

Can’t these charlatans be brought to book?

I’m so angry that my husband had to go through

the humiliation of being fixed with a catheter while being treated. Thank goodness he’s alive!

Rita, By e-mail.

Dear Rita, It’s a fact that a lot of men are shy when it comes to seeing a doctor - they would rather go to these so-called ‘discreet clinics’ to have a quick test - the results could be catastrophic for both male and female. A fancy clinic doesn’t guarantee genuine diagnosis, and your best bet is to go to a teaching hospital, or seek a second opinion.

I can’t keep up with him Dear Bunmi, I recently met my boyfriend at a friend's party and we’ve been having a very passionate affair. We make love most nights and don’t get out of bed until late at the weekend.

Recently, I was given a challenging responsibility at work and needed my sleep more than sex. A few nights ago, I woke up early in the morning to find my boyfriend masturbating next to me in the bed.

I didn’t let on I was awake, but I was shocked. We’ve been having so much sex I feel insulted he couldn’t take a break for the four weeks my work-load would ease. Is he some sort of a sex maniac?

Lynda, By e-mail.

Dear Lynda, It’s often difficult for women to understand some aspects of male sexuality. For many men, masturbation is a regular and often daily thing, no matter how much sex they’re having.

This kind of self-satisfaction has little to do with emotion and is not meant to challenge your relationship. Some men see it as a way to satisfy an urge, like scratching an itch.

While men can become aroused easily, women need adequate stimulation as well as the emotional side. If a woman’s brain isn’t tuned in, then she won’t feel turned on, no matter how technically good her lover is. This is why romance and fantasy are important for women.

This makes it harder for women to understand how a man can simply pleasure himself without it meaning something.

You need not be threatened by his action. Research shows that men having lots of sex in satisfying relationships are more likely to masturbate than if they’re single.

Fantasies and thoughts of their lover fuel their sex drive so they have more pent-up sexual energy to work off. So feel flattered, not insulted.

Having said that, it seems that more men know about breast cancer than about prostrate cancer, in spite of the fact that the latter is on the increase. Here are essential facts given by the medics about two of the most common cancers in men: Prostrate Cancer: The prostrate gland lies at the base of the bladder and produces nutrient fluid for ejaculation. Cancer of the prostrate is the most commonly diagnosed cancer in men. It gets more common over the age of 50 but men as young as 40 can be affected too.

Often, urine symptoms are the first signs that something is wrong. Sufferers find they go to the loo more frequently, and when they do, it’s harder to start and the urine stream isn’t as strong as usual. Other symptoms can be back pain or problem with erection. There are many treatments for prostrate cancer depending on how aggressive the cancer is and whether it has spread.

Caught early, there is a good chance the symptoms can be controlled or the cancer cured.

Testicular Cancer: It is the most common cancer to affect men between 15 and 45 years old. Cases of this cancer are on the rise but nobody knows why. The most common symptom of this cancer is a lump on a testicle. Most lumps in the scrotum turn out not to be cancer but if you feel a lump, get a check up. Some men get a dull ache in their lower abdomen .

If this cancer is caught early, there is a 99% cure rate. So, get familiar with the normal feel of your testicles, examine yourself regularly and see your doctor if you feel any changes.

My mum sides with her abusive step-son Dear Bunmi, I am 15 and the only child of my mother who remarried about three years ago. We moved into her new husband’s home and some time last year, my step-brother, who is now 18 forced me to have sex with him.

Whenever my mother and stepfather go to our home town, which is at least once a month, he forces himself on me. When it first happened, I threatened to tell my mum. I later told her that my step-brother was touching me, she said I was trying to break her marriage because I didn’t like my stepfather. My mum told me my C M Y K

step-brother merely had a crush on me and I was being silly. I am scared of what would happen if I told her that he was actually having sex with me.

Davida, By e-mail.

Dear Davida, The most loving of parents sometimes find it hard to accept that a member of the family or a family friend is abusing their daughter. Yet it is within family relationship that sexual abuse is most likely to occur. Among the most frequent victims of abuse are girls who fall prey to step-

fathers or step-brothers.

A young girl being abused within the family is terrified of the effect on those they love most if the truth is revealed so the secrecy, reinforced by threats the abuse often continues.

It is urgent that you tell someone who has access to your mother no matter what immediate distress this may cause.

Your happiness and peace of mind is important. There is also the danger of your getting pregnant. Speak out now and insist that your mother protect you.

Dear Bunmi, I have been going out with my current boyfriend since the beginning of this year.

Recently, I was horrified to discover that I had pubic lice.

When I told my boyfriend and insisted on checking his pubes, I discovered he had them too.

He swears he’s been faithful to me even though I’ve had my suspicion for a long time about his so-called faithfulness. He goes out a lot to nightclubs and comes home late.

I know there’s no other way he could have caught these disgusting bugs - or is there?

Eileen, By e-mail.

Dear Eileen, It’s true that your man could have caught these lice through sexual contact, but he could also have easily caught them through close contacts with sheets and blankets.

Remotely, he could catch them trying on other people’s clothes!

Having said that, you were suspicious of his behaviour even before you discovered the lice, so you need to confront your partner about your fears. Have a heart-toheart talk with him so you can find out what’s really happening and get those lice out of your pubes, and his!

I am so unhappy Dear Bunmi, I’m in my late 20s and a bit unhappy. My current relationship is stressful as my boyfriend doesn’t really want to commit to it. He’s the same age as I am but has one or two other girlfriends and no matter how hard I drop hints on marriage, he’s simply not interested.

As if I haven’t enough on my plate, my head of department in my place of work is really hostile. He’s always criticizing my work and running me down. I can’t leave because it took me a long time to get this job.

Please help.

Dora, By e-mail.

Dear Dora, One important fact you’ve faced about your relationship is that you’re not getting the emotional support you need from your current partner and you’re understandably upset.

It’s unhealthy to stick with anything that’s making you unhappy - and this also includes your relationship at

work. The stress that comes from ongoing conflict, resentment or being unhappy leaves you powerless - and it can take years off your life.

Medical findings show that if you’re in a stressful situation for longer than a few months, you’re setting yourself up for short term problems like headaches, hair loss, skin disorders and digestive problems, and, in the long term, increased risk of heart disease.

The psychological toll can range from insomnia to serious depression.

Now you’ve identified your problems, take stock of your feelings and take urgent decisions. If you want a stable relationship, your current partner is not the answer. You need to sit down with your man, have a heartto-heart talk.

Move on if he’s not serious.

As for your problem at work, is it possible to change departments? It may not be easy, but if you don’t want to sacrifice your health, it’s worth making changes.

It is urgent that you tell someone who has access to your mother no matter what immediate distress this may cause.

Your happiness and peace of mind is important; there is also the danger of your getting pregnant; speak out now and insist that your mother protect you

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

38—Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 2016

CHIEF Patrick Ogbu, the immediate past Chairman of the board of directors of the Nigerian Television Authority, NTA, a grassroots politician, and director in the Senator David Mark’s re-election campaign organization. In this interview he spoke about external forces against Senator Mark, why these forces are urging and supporting Daniel Onjeh to run against Mark in the coming Benue South senatorial rerun election and how the PDP would bounce back in 2019 among other issues. Excerpts: Stories by Peter Duru

W

HY have the Idoma people found it difficult to unite around David Mark in the forthcoming Senate rerun election?

The Idoma are very much united for Senator Mark, but because of the external forces that are intruding in the affairs and politics of Benue South district and that is why you are seeing all this confusion around.

I want to make it clear to you, that our people cannot downgrade their dream just to please the whims and opinion of others. There is no alternative to Senator David Mark.

We agree that the government is for Daniel Onjeh and he Daniel Onjeh is for the government but the people are for David Mark and he David Mark is for the people. As it is today, Mark is the hero of our people anytime and day.

He has continued to project the image of our people and for us he represents our symbol of strength. We are proud of him as the longest serving senator for the sixth time.

So there is no alternative to him and we will demonstrate that in the forthcoming rerun election because nobody can fool our people.

Our people in Benue South are aware of what is going on, the gang up and the fight against our people. The fight today is not the fight of David Mark or Daniel Onjeh but a fight between the

Idoma kingdom and others. But we want to sound to these external forces that enough is enough, they should leave us alone and allow us choose who we prefer to represent us at the Senate.

For us, we see our senator as our own governor, since they are not ready to relinquish the governorship position of Benue State to an Idoma man. So for us the senatorial position is our own governorship position. And the general impression among our people is that, if Mark is not there for us the Idomas will lose greatly.

So, you think Daniel Onjeh is being prompted by external forces?

You know them very well, they are the people of Benue North East and North West districts.

How many people from Benue South are sponsoring Daniel Onjeh if not the external forces?

So, do you see the alleged external forces manipulating the election against Senator Mark?

As it is today, Mark is the hero of our people anytime and day, he has continued to project the image of our people and for us he represents our symbol of strength

SHOWDOWN IN David Mark is fighting for us against Tiv oppression — OGBU

•Ogbu: David Mark is for the people Well, if that happens the people will resist it. Do you think our people will abandon a man who has given them a sense of belonging in a state where power will never shift to the Benue South, where an Idoma man cannot be a Chief Judge of the State, the Speaker of the State Assembly and even Vice Chancellor of the state owned university? That will not happen and those urging Onjeh know the truth, but they are looking for how they would perpetually enslave us.

The people of Benue North East and West are obviously crucifying Mark today because of what he has been doing for the people of Benue South.

They have gone as far as using some persons from within to carry out the smear campaign but we are not deterred. History will be made at the end of the election because we are determined to elect the longest serving hardworking senator in our democratic journey.

But Idoma elders seem to be standing aloof on this?

I want to believe that they have tried but there was no leeway.

You certainly cannot force a horse to drink. Forget about the so called defection of some persons from the PDP to the APC in our district, it’s all a faux. They all know where they stand. They are all aware that the APC members are already insulting them, calling them unprintable names for jumping ship and not remaining in their party.

My brother these are people Mark helped. It’s a shame that some persons lack integrity and are shameless. Nigerians are watching and waiting, there is always a payback time, and the people of Benue South will pay them back in their own coin for what they are doing today, just mark my words. Some of them will come back crying. I’m also assuring you that PDP will very soon bounce back because we have learnt our lessons.

So, given the crisis in the PDP, do you think the party can muster enough support for Mark this weekend?

For your information, PDP is not in disarray, we have serving National Assembly members and Governors. We are not in disarray we are rather trying to correct the mistakes of yesterday. And above all, very soon we are going to have our convention where we will elect new officials. Of course, quote me, quote me. The APC are also fumbling and Nigerians are watching and we are going to capitalize on their mistakes, that is the beauty of democracy and that is what it entails.

Why David Mark's re-election is an issue

By Abel Daniel HE cancellation of the election of the immediate past senate president, Senator David Mark in Benue south senatorial zone by the Appeal Court has created serious political curiosity and tension in the state. While it is obvious that David Mark was not the only senator who probably lost an election, the reverberation from the annulment is a clear indication that the embattled Mark is a big factor in Benue politics.

Events preceding the re-run election in the Benue state senatorial zone scheduled to take place this Saturday has attracted the attention of friends and lovers of the zone as Senator David Mark of the Peoples Democratic Party PDP slugs it with Comrade

T

C M Y K

Daniel Onjeh of the All Progressive Congress APC. The rerun contest has remarkably been shadowed with ethnic connotations given the alleged determination of politicians from the Tiv speaking area to influence the election against Mark.

While zone A and B districts are purely made up of the Tivs, Zone C is dominated by Idomas, a minority that has never tasted the position of governor since the creation of the state.

Senator Mark has been in the Senate since the advent of democratic rule in 1999 and by the time the North-Central region was to produce the Senate President Senator Mark invariably was the most qualified for that office from his zone, being the most ranking Senator.

The allegation from the camp of Senator Mark is that the drum beat of Comrade Onjeh’s campaign is being beaten by Tiv political elites.

It is to David Mark’s credit no doubt that location of the new site of College of Health Sciences (i.e.

Faculty of Medicine, University of Agriculture Makurdi) whose foundation has already been laid in Otukpo, the federal technical college, federal government college Otobi in the zone are all the effort of Mark’s representation at the upper house.

Idomas may not forget Mark’s laudable projects such as the Oweto-Loko bridge / road which is almost at its completion level; the Otobi Dam and very many others. He single-handedly built and donated a structure worth N60 million for the National

O p e n University in Otukpo and then a scholarship scheme worth over N900 million he has consistently doled out to the good people of Zone C and many other e l i g i b l e students since •Mark 1999. It is true that David Mark is not an angel and may not have satisfied every Idoma son and daughter but there is no denying the fact that his representation of the Idoma nation at the upper legislative chamber has brought the minority Idomas to

recognizable strata in the society in various ministries and agencies of the Federal Government.

Idomas should prove to Mark that they are with him as they have always been, and this will challenge him to serve them

VANGUARD, WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 2016—39

BENUE SOUTH For 17 years, David Mark gave us nothing — ONJEH COMRADE Daniel Onjeh was a one time president of the National Association of Nigerian Students, NANS. He contested the last Benue South senatorial district election with the former senate president, David Mark, on the platform of the APC and lost but the Appeal Court in Makurdi in its ruling ordered a rerun of that election. In this interview, Onjeh spoke on why he is running against Senator Mark, the rumours that he is being sponsored by political godfathers from the Tiv speaking areas of the state and lots more.

HY are you running for the Senate?

I am in this race to liberate my people from the claws of the PDP and Senator David Mark. You will agree with me that •Onjeh: I am in this race to liberate aside the legislative duties of the lawmaker, my people there are also the oversight functions and And also, my courage to challenge my constituency projects and as far as we know our people have not enjoyed any dividends opponent was driven by the vision to of democracy and good governance that liberate my people from 16 years of ought to have come from the office that the oppression. And that is what is giving me the confidence to win the election. former Senate President occupied.

But it is alleged that you are being There were so many dams and feeder roads that ought to have come to our people sponsored by politicians outside your district to suppress the Idoma agenda? but that did not happen and lots more.

It is definitely from the camp of my This is an oppression, my people have been under neo-colonialism, if I may say, opponent. They have not hidden it, they hence we need a total liberation from the say it openly at various fora. Why is he shackles of oppression, and that is what saying it? Why wasn’t this an issue at the informed my decision to step into the race March 28th election? I would say my opponent has consistently used political and nothing more.

Are you confident of putting up a good gimmick to perpetuate himself in office.

The first was the sing song of Apa state fight in the coming rerun election ?

I want to borrow a leaf from the historic creation. And then, that political gambit battle of David and Goliath. David was a having fallen flat on the ground and not sellable to the people, he moved to the misfit and an underdog in that battle.

All it took to challenge a Goliath was just issue of remaining as Senate President in the courage and courage has to be driven order to take the people to a position of by vision. David’s courage was driven by prominence in the nation, prominence which did not improve the wellbeing of the courage to liberate his people. the people, which did not translate to the development of the people.

I expected my opponent and his team to come out with positions by giving account of his stewardship to the people better. Senator Mark should see and what more he has to offer and things himself and the mandate not as he hoped to achieve in his remaining a right but a privilege to three years because obviously he has champion the course of his stayed for 17 years. I think the issue of constituency particularly the being sponsored or being a surrogate are youths and not to be just talks that are meant to divert attention disheartened because of those from the real issues. Are these same people whom he helped and have that are said to be sponsoring me also deserted him. responsible for the 17 years of All forms of hate campaign underdevelopment of Benue South? aimed at maligning and creating Didn’t he also at some point enjoy the enmity among Idomas from the support of the Benue State government various constituencies should be when Senator Akume was a PDP eschewed. The unity and civility Governor? On two occasions he contested which is the identity of Idomas against Usman Abubakar and won. certainly will be tested as they Akume was the Governor and he got all go to the poll on Saturday. the state support to remain as a senator.

No one should volunteer him When it suits him, it’s not a crime. Come or herself to be an agent or victim to think of it, are Governor Ortom and of election violence. Losers and Senator Akume PDP? No, they are APC. winners should embrace and Is he encouraging them to do anti-party? work together to deliver the The David Mark we know cannot do dividends of democracy to Idoma anti-party for sentiments, relation or friend. nation.

He would definitely not.

W

C M Y K

40—Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 2016

WHEN GUNMEN INVADED OMOKU :

Our children were butchered — Parents

By Jimitota Onoyume, Port Harcourt

F

OR about four hours last Friday unknown gunmen seized Omoku, headquarters of Ogba Egbema Ndoni local government area, shooting unchallenged and finally left in their trail about 25 corpses.

Soldiers and policemen were reportedly in the area but they kept their distance from the scene of the shootings.

Residents were helpless as they ran indoors, not knowing what fate will befall them should they fall into the hands of the callous and heartless assassins who were armed with guns and battle axes.

My son, two others killed in my compound —Septuagenarian Seventy two-year-old Martin Uge said his son, Elemchukwu, was among three persons shot dead in his house at number 19 Umumeci Street. According to him, the gunmen knew their targets because they did not touch him, his wife and the other children in his own wing of the house. He added that the only question they asked him was if he had a phone. “I told them I didn’t have.

Searching the ceiling They collected my wife’s phone. Searched our ceiling and everywhere in my apartment before going inside the compound. They did not touch us, “ he said.

When asked if he recognised any one or could place their ages, his response captured the fear while the killers operated: “I did not look at their faces because that could have resulted to another thing. How many they were I don’t know“.

The septuagenarian paused at a point, gazing at the floor in his sitting room and said his third son, Elemchukwu, was killed when the assassins went into his compound. He said they killed the son in his room while the killers marched two other of his tenants outside the compound and shot them dead.

Govt should stop senseless killings He said his son was not a politician and had noting to do

with politics. “ He was 32 years old and was a butcher. My inlaw(his son’s wife) sustained gunshot injury. “ Continuing, he said the marriage had not been blessed with a child before the sad incident.

The 72-year-old man who was yet to recover from the incident that claimed the lives of about 25 persons in Omoku said “government can stop the senseless killings in the area if it truly wanted to”. They have the army, the Police. What else can innocent and harmless citizens do when there are those armed with guns to protect lives and properties, “ he said.

I don’t know why they beheaded my husband — Widow Like Pa Uge, Mrs Helen Ahiakwo said she did not know what provoked the mindless killings that night. Her 42-year-old husband, Emeka Ahiakwo, was beheaded that night by the rampaging assasins at their Umuchikere Street residence.

“I don’t know what happened.

They just called me that my husband was dead. He was a fitter before he was beheaded.”

She sobbed, rolled on the mat she sat on in the sitting room as she spoke. “ We were married for 20 years and we had six children. Where will I start from. I am a just a house wife,” she cried.

*Bishop Udoji...Escaped attack

*Helen...Husband killed The remains of the husband was buried in a fresh grave in front of the two room bungalow they lived.

Three of the children who should be in school were at home.

They killed my two sons in front of our house — Madam Nze Madam Blessing Nze said they killed two of her sons at her residence on Umuemegi Street. “I don’t know what happened. They came and killed them in front of our house.

Dragging of the younger brother

Elemchukwu was killed when the assassins went into his compound; they killed the son in his room while the killers marched two other of his tenants outside the compound and shot them dead

I had three sons but now two are no more, “ she said with tears streaming down her cheeks.

They killed my brother and his wife — Udoji Bishop Udoji, a Pastor, said the gunmen first banged on his door, smashed his windows when they came to their family house on Dr Innocent Mazi Street before moving to his father’s end of the house where his younger brother and the wife lived.

He said the assassins dragged the younger brother and the wife outside and shot them dead.

“We started hearing gunshots from 9pm till about 11 pm that Friday night . They banged on my doors for several hours, broke the windows but we did not come out.

Later they moved over to my fa-

*Pa Uge...son killed

*Elemchukwu...killed ther’s side, smashed the windows and pulled out the burglary proof.

The gunshot was everywhere.

It was something else. I think about 25 persons were killed that night.

They killed my younger brother, Ekpelum Ugoji and his wife outside the compound, “ he said.

They left with about ten human heads: Vanguard Features gathered that the assassins left with the heads of about ten of those killed.

What will the killers do with the heads,what is the offence of those killed that their killers will also disappear with their heads? These were some of the many questions on the lips of many in Omoku when VF visited.

The entire Ogba Egbema Ndoni Local Government Area has been in the news for over five years for similar mindless killings. Some have traced the crisis to cult war linked to oil in the area since the local government plays host to two major multinational oil firms.

The ugly situation heightened as it became difficult in recent time to separate party politics, cultism and struggle for attention from multinational oil firms in the area in most of the crisis.

The state Police Spokesman, DSP A h m a d Muhamaad, said preliminary investigation showed that the killings last Friday had to do with battle for supremacy by rival cult groups.

The incident happened barely 24 hours after a former member of the Fifth House of A s s e m b l y, Monday Eleanya who represented the area in the House of Assembly was shot dead in Port Harcourt by unknown gunmen.

CTC Chair begs for peace Media aide to the Caretaker Committee Chairman of the local government area, Mr Hopeson Daki, in a chat with the VF passionately appealed to stakeholders in the local government to sink their party differences and unite to end the crisis. He said the killings had nothing to do with politics.

Nothing to do with politics “They don’t ask if you are a member of PDP or APC when they come to kill. They just do their dirty jobs and leave. Let us all unite to end this mindless killings, “ he pleaded, Residents who spoke said the military and other security agencies should intensify their operations in the area.

Curiously,the killings occurred after the military raided the area for arms and hoodlums.

“The soldiers and the Police should do more. You can’t imagine that the boys shot for about four hours with no resistance from any security body.

We only started seeing security men on the streets the following day after the killing,” a resident, who did not want her name in print, said.

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 2016—41

Niger Delta: NNDC, Buhari and the burden of intention OBASANJO'S CORRUPTION ALLEGATION AGAINST NASS:

Senate moves to suspend Marafa, pro-Lawan senator •Saraki and supporters are jokers, says senator

By Joseph Erunke BUJA—THE Senate, yesterday, mandated its Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions, to investigate alleged uncomplimentary remark made by Senator Kabiru Marafa against it in particular and the National Assembly in general.

Marafa, who was a strong supporter of Senator Ahmad Lawan’s Senate presidency bid, during the race for the seat, was alleged to have disparaged the Senate and by extension the National Assembly in a recent interview he granted a national daily(not Vanguard), where he allegedly backed former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s recent letter to the Senate President, Bukola Saraki and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, that the legislature was stinking of corruption.

At its resumed sitting yesterday, the Red Chamber put a machinery in place for disciplinary action against Marafa, who is the spokesperson of Senate Unity Forum, SUF, a group that was at the forefront of Lawan-for-Senate-president bid.

The development came following the presentation of a copy of a newspaper, said to contain his uncomplimentary statement against the legislature before the Senate by Senator Isa Misau, APC, Bauchi Central.

But in a swift reaction on telephone, Marafa described the Senate President and other senators that asked that he be investigated as jokers even as he remained evasive on whether he would appear before the ethics committee when summoned. “I want to tell you that both Saraki and all those supporting him to continue to perpetrate illegality in the Senate are jokers,“he said. Senator Kabiru Marafa, APC, Zamfara Central, in the interview, as laid before the Senate, had supported former President Olusegun

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Obasanjo’s submission that corruption thrives in the National Assembly.

The outspoken senator in another interview in the same edition of the newspaper now before the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions, also called on the Senate President, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki to resign from his position in the face of his on going trial at the Code of Conduct Tribunal, CCT on charges bordering on alleged false assets declaration.

“With this judgment, the honourable thing for Saraki to do, is to resign his position as Senate President , so as to save the already battered image of the Senate from further battering”, he was alleged to have said.

He also called on fellow senators in the interview to rise up in calling for Saraki’s resignation at this time , failure of which he said, may warrant recall of all of them as senators from their various constituencies. His words: “If the senate president refused to step aside, we expect Nigerians especially those who voted for us to represent them at the senate to ask questions. We expect them to ask us why we failed to take action despite the bad image that the development is creating for the federal parliament.

“Our constituents should even recall us if we find it difficult to take action. This is somebody who had committed constitutional blunder when he unilaterally increased the numbers of committees in the senate”.But the Senate through a motion moved by Senator Misau, APC, Bauchi Central, and seconded by Senator Mathew Urhoghide, PDP, Edo South, took serious exception to Marafa’s comments and ordered its committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petition, to interrogate him over the comment and forward appropriate recommendation to the Senate within a week.

EFCC arrests NDDC project director over contract-splitting, bribery

By Soni Daniel, Northern Region Editor

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BUJA—THE Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has begun to beam its searchlight into the high

Unilag holds inaugural lecture today

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HE University of Lagos holds its inaugural lecture entitled “Daggers, Drivers and Tools (DDT) of Heart Disease in Malaria” today.

The lecture which will be held at the institution’s Auditorium at 3.00 p.m. will be delivered by Professor Janet Ngozi Akpara Ajuluchukwu.

level of fraud in project management that has been going on in the Niger Delta Commission over the years.

The commission has already arrested the director in charge of project management, Engr.

Roberts A. Obioha, who is believed to have been privy to the many cases of contract-splitting that has made the commission to fritter away hundreds of billions of taxpayers’ money without anything to show for it.

The commission has been enmeshed in a series of contract-splitting in breach of the Public Procurement Act, leaving it with huge debts amounting to about N2 trillion. After being arrested and questioned by EFCC operatives for contract-splitting, Mr. Obioha allegedly offered

the sum of N150,000 to the Head of the EFCC Zonal Office in Port Harcourt, Mr. Ishaq Salihu, to buy ‘recharge card’.

He was promptly arrested and detained and would soon be charged to court for offering bribe to the operative. “The suspect who is under investigation with the commission was invited to write a statement in a case of contract splitting and overinflation. He was quizzed and offered administrative bail, but when he reported the next day to perfect his bail, he went to the Zonal Head’s office and offered him the sum of N150,000 to buy recharge card,” EFCC Spokesman, Wilson Uwujaren, said on Tuesday. The suspect claimed that he offered the said money to Salihu in order to build a good relationship with him.

By Ross AlaboGeorge

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HE Niger Delta Development Commission was established in 2000 by the NDDC Establishment Act. This Act repealed the Oil Mineral Producing Areas Commission Decree 1998, and among other things, also established the Niger Delta •Niger Delta geo political zone Development Commission with a re-organised on the master plan, but his push was administrative structure for increased resisted by vested interest. His idea was effectiveness. The Act sets out the to focus on the big picture, and unleash mandate of the Commission which is to a development strategy that was not deploy allocations from the Federation only regional but one that fitted into the Account and contributions from broader national infrastructure development partners for tackling framework. His vision was simple: Open ecological problems which arise from up the Niger Delta. He dusted the exploration of oil minerals, design and feasibility report for the East-West implement lasting solutions to the socio Coastal Road - done by the previous economic challenges of the Region by board, a 740km road that traversed the facilitating rapid, even, and sustainable pristine vegetation of the Niger Delta development of Niger Delta, and from Calabar, through almost 600 transforming it into a region that is communities and terminating at the Epe economically prosperous, socially, area of Lagos, with over 30 bridges regenerative, and politically peaceful. including three iconic cable-stayed Since its establishment in 2000, the bridges over the Bonny, Forcados and story of the NDDC has been chequered. Escravos Rivers. Mr. Ugwuoha and the The euphoria that greeted the creation board were convinced that the key of the commission and the hope it once strategic development challenge in the engendered in the minorities of the region was the economic barrier of access Region, have been obliterated by a set of to markets and resources. chronic, or maybe, recurring, issues.

These issues are purely institutional East-West faults exacerbated by diverse political Coastal Road interests and paucity of funds. The commission has suffered mostly from the The Niger Delta Regional Master Plan instability of the management structure. recommended the construction of an Since its inception, only one board has East-West Coastal Road running from completely survived its entire tenure Calabar to Lagos. The goal of that without being hit by a torpedo, and only proposed highway is to open up the one Managing Director, Chief Timi Niger Delta and interconnect the lower Alaibe, has served out his full term. I will lying communities through a common not want to fall into the temptation of accessible spine. The preliminary giving too much relevance to the political design and final design of that ambitious structure of the commission, which I project was completed in 2013. Though believe has been the major hindrance to the commission did not have the huge productivity and performance. resources needed to construct the However, I have been impressed by highway, it had approached the former some of the landmark achievements of President Goodluck Jonathan some of the former Boards. Most administration to take up the project. importantly, the Chief Onyema This is the last good news that came out Ugochukwu/Dr. Godwin Omene led of the NDDC. Board that spearheaded the big task of The Niger Delta Development developing a modern, comprehensive Commission has some of the best and strategic master plan for the Region. professionals in the country’s civil Chief Timi Alaibe will gain the credit for service. Chartered and certified delivering the master plan and setting professionals, Fellows of Institutes, the framework for its implementation. Doctorate and Masters Degree holders, However, the exit of the initiators and most importantly very experienced signalled the and well trained manpower. The end of the problem is definitely not the personnel, implementation but the fact that even the personnel are of the Niger lesser stakeholders in the affairs of the Delta Master commission. The commission has a Plan.

The Planning Directorate but its functions document was seem to have been usurped by the not adopted politicians with influence. Successive regionally by the Boards have been more concerned about s t a t e awarding new projects than completing governments, old ones. This has led to an embarrassing I have been and eventually stalemate that if not checkmated was seen as an impressed immediately may worsen the already N D D C bad financially crises. by some of blueprint.

Maybe it should be said the way it is: In 2010, then the the NDDC is almost bankrupt. This is Managing because, while it is funded from the 15 Director, Mr. landmark per cent deduction from the state C h i b u z o r achievements allocations and three per cent of the Ugwuoha, budgets of Oil and Gas companies of some of attempted to operating in the Niger Delta, the initiate a the former budgeting of the commission is more development Boards political than functional or realistic. strategy based To be continued

42 —Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 2016

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 2016 —43

Ultramodern diagnostic centre Corporate commitmments begin to cut food waste opens at OSUTH

By Chioma Obinna

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S part of the activities to mark the 40th anniversary of Ogun State, an ultramodern fully-automated Diagnostic Centre was launched at the Olabisi Onabanjo University Teaching Hospital (OSUTH), Sagamu.

Ogun State Commissioner of Health, Dr. Babatunde Ipaye said services at the Centre which is open to all Nigerians, are discounted to enable the less privileged in the society have access to the modern radiology diagnosis facilities.

The Centre is a Public Private Partnership with Hospital Assist Nigeria, HAN, an indigenous healthcare investment / consultancy company.

The CEO of HAN, Dr. Wale Alabi said the Centre is deployed as a hub for diagnosis service in Ogun State. All other General Hospitals in the state can be linked to the Centre for remote reporting of their radiological investigations.

“OSUTH Diagnostic is designed as a Hub for diagnostics services in Ogun State, with capacity to report CT Scan, Digital x-ray, Echocardiogram and Mammograms. This model will reduce the cost of healthcare services in the State.”

He also informed the Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo who represented the President, that similar models can be replicated in other states of the federation. Alabi urged government to

look for local solutions in other to ameliorate challenges in healthcare delivery in the country.

Equipment includes the latest Siemens CT Scan, multifunctional fluoroscopy machine, digital x-ray, 4D/ 3D Ultrasound, Mammography machine.

Among those present at the ceremony were the Ogun State Governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, Speaker of the House of Assembly, Adekumbi Suraju Ishola, the Ogun State Deputy Governor, Mrs, Yetunde Onanuga, and wife of the State Governor, Mrs Olufunso Amosun and other top government officials.

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S part of the 10th Bi-annual US Africa Business Summit, The Rockefeller Foundation has announced the Africa launch of YieldWise, a sevenyear, $130 million initiative that will demonstrate how food loss and waste can be cut in half globally.

Disclosing this, President of The Foundation, Judith Robin, stated that the amount of food lost or wasted before it ever reaches a table is simply unacceptable, with devastating impacts on people, profit, and planet.

“Yet, it’s a challenge that can be prevented with a blend of existing

BRIEFING: From left;Mr Tim Connell;Country Director,Concern Universal Nigeria;Mr Peter Ndegwa;Managing Director;Guinness Nigeria with Dr Micheal Ojo;Country Representative waterAid Nigeria and Mrs Olayinka Edmond; Communications Manager Guinness Nigeria Plc., at a Media briefing on their partnerships on Water Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) programmes in Lagos.PHOTO;AKEEM SALAU

solutions, from technologies that help farmers keep more of what they grow to models for private sector engagement that ensure those crops will be bought, rather than left to rot.”

She said through YieldWise, The Rockefeller Foundation will finish the business started with the Green Revolution more than a half-century ago – to ensure more of the world’s people are fed and the planet’s precious resources are protected.

The Food and Agriculture Organisation states that enough food is grown to feed all the 1.2 billion hungry or undernourished people on the planet, yet one-third of the food is never eaten.

"We look forward to working with the Rockefeller Foundation to make the food supply chain stronger, more efficient and more sustainable in Africa and beyond.

“This effort has vast potential to benefit small farmers, local communities as well as consumers, and we’re excited to have the chance to advance the cause of sustainable agriculture while helping to improve the lives of people near and far," said Muhtar Kent, Chairman & CEO of The Coca-Cola Company YieldWise’s immediate focus will be in Kenya, Nigeria and Tanzania, where up to half of some crops are lost to inefficient harvesting, storage, processing and time to market.

The Rockefeller Foundation will focus on streamlining the supply chain from farm to market, putting proven technologies – many of them simple – in the hands of smallholder farmers to increase yield and create new paths to prosperity.

Secondary Health Care...the magic wand!

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N the simplest of terms Nigerian health services are organised along three tiers of Governments as follows: Primary healthcare - Health Centers at local government, ward and community level; Secondary healthcare - General and state hospitals; Tertiary care - Federal teaching and specialist hospitals.

Primary health care is the first level of contact of individuals, the family and community with the national health system bringing health care as close as possible to where people live and work, and constitutes the first element of a continuing health care process.

Much has been spent and continues to be spent on PHC. Yet, our health statistics have plummeted over the last three decades.

For example : Maternal Mortality rate (MMR) Despite our excellent obstetricians, skilled birth attendants and community health workers, Nigeria is amongst the world's worst.

A pregnant woman developing complications at the PHC level will be sent to a SHC facility. There, bleeding, infection and anaesthesia-related problems remain the biggest killers. Many believe we should not just pour funds into PHC (prenatal care, health education etc) and ignore the PERIOPERATIVE inadequacies at SHC facilities.

From a 2000 publication the ratio of PUBLIC secondary healthcare facilities to teaching and specialist hospitals (tertiary care) was 16:1. If you add the PRIVATE secondary facilities the ratio becomes 71:1.

Assuming the ratio remains the same today, it is clear that a SUBSTANTIAL amount of Nigeria's healthcare lies in the grasp of SECONDARY healthcare services.

PROBLEMS in Secondary Healthcare Services (1) LEGISLATION. Due to lack of legislation, all the stakeholders involved in providing the Secondary Health Service have not been performing their roles &

responsibilities according to policy guidelines.

(2) STRUCTURES •Most of the buildings are dilapidated, Uneven distribution of facilities Inadequate maintenance culture. Abandoned projects. Lack of optimal use of facilities (3) EQUIPMENT • There is acute shortage of basic equipment; • Most of the equipment are obsolete; and not procured according to needs and technical specifications, • Poor maintenance culture.

(4) DRUGS & SUPPLIES • unavailability of adequate essential drugs & consumables; • Inadequate funds; • Fake and sub-standard drugs; • Poor management of the DRF system.

(5) HUMAN RESOURCES • shortage of skilled staff • lack of continuing education (capacity building) • poor motivation/incentives • wrong distribution (6) BASIC AMENITIES (UTILITIES) • Basic amenities are lacking in most of the facilities, especially in the rural areas. “(7) FUNDING • Poor funding of SHC • The untimely & irregular release of funds makes planning difficult. • Non-implementation of Budget (8) MANAGEMENT • Lack of managerial skills for Health Professionals; • Limited available Health Human Resource is ineffective and inefficient for service delivery • Culture of corruption and self –interest in management.

(9) HEALTH MANAGEMENT INFORMATION SYSTEM • Poor data collection; • Inadequate planning Where data is available it is not used in planning & decision making at the Hospitals • Lack of reliable data returns from facilities to SMOH. (10) COMMUNITY PARTICIPATION AND OWNERSHIP • Lack of involvement of host communities in the establishment and running of facilities • Lack of awareness, commitment, enlightenment and knowledge on the part of the Communities and those involved in the management of facilities.

(11) PRIVATE SECTOR PARTICIPATION • Inad-

doctor@lagospainclinic.com equate involvement of private sector participation in SHC delivery.

(12) REFERRAL SYSTEM • Poor & uncoordinated referral system • Lack of feed back mechanism in the referral system.

I have a confession to make about the brilliant points listed above : They are not mine! They are quoted verbatim from an FMOH's 2005 document "Strategies for Strengthening Secondary Healthcare Services (SHC) Delivery Service" on ilo.org.

In developed health systems the disparities in standards between tertiary and secondary facilities is negligible. Not so in Nigeria. Human and material resources, and funding, differ greatly in both types of facilities.

If this anomaly is addressed with commitment and vigour, our health indices will immediately improve.

The solutions already lie in that 2005 FMOH document.

Do you agree Lassa is being handled brilliantly by our Minister? As for our NASS Health Chairmen.......did you watch the remarkable insight displayed by our Distinguished Doctor during his TV interview? And have you heard the encouraging words from our Honorable Representative?

We now have square pegs in square holes handling our health matters in the executive and legislature. It is time to face secondary healthcare in Nigeria....squarely.

44 —Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 2016

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 2016—45

that the dollar prices of some of our largest imports, fuel and wheat, have fallen to almost record lows then the inflation worry is minute.

So the reality is, devaluations do cause inflation but not that much. Despite a devaluation, the Central Bank still has lots of tools at its disposal to keep inflation in check. Ironically, according to some studies, the black market premium, i.e. the difference between the official exchange rate and the black market exchange rate is a bigger driver of inflation than devaluations.

Does Nigeria have an import problem?

•Emefiele

•Buhari

Myths about Devaluations THE naira issue has been the topic of debate for a while now.

Should we devalue or not? Can we cope with the effect of devaluation? What happens if we don’t? And so on. Over the next few days, I and other colleagues, experts in their fields, will give views on a variety of issues regarding the naira devaluation debate. To kick things off it is useful to discard some bad ideas which have been tossed around for a while.

By Nonso Obikili

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IGGER number, stronger currency?

THE first myth to debunk is the false idea that if you exchange a bigger number for a smaller number then the currency with a bigger number is weaker than the currency with a smaller number.

You typically hear people say: “Wow, one dollar is exchanging for 16 rand. The rand is weak.

The dollar is strong.” That kind of thinking is faulty mostly because it doesn’t take into account the purchasing power behind the currency.

For example, if an individual living in the US earns 300 dollars a month, then that is technically identical to an individual in South Africa earning 4800 rands a month, given that 1 US dollar exchanges for 16 rands. So long as that exchange rate holds then the rand is not weak or strong, it’s just the rand.

In reality the strength or weakness of a currency has little do with what the actual exchange rate is. So although 1 Ghanaian cedi exchanges for 30 Japanese yen, you cannot say the cedi is stronger than the yen.

Similarly, although one Turkish lira exchanges for 6 Mexican pesos, you cannot say the lira is strong and the peso is weak. That would be wrong.

What then determines a currency that is “ weak” or “strong”?

A weak or strong currency is currency that is changing, or that everybody expects to change soon. For example, if the naira changes from 150 to the US dollar to 165 to the US dollar, then during the period the change is taking place the naira is relatively weak and the dollar is relatively strong.

The same applies if the currency is expected to change soon. If everyone expects the naira to change from 197 per US dollar to 300 per US dollar, then the naira is weak relative to the dollar. The weakness persists as long as the expectations about the change persist. If the change eventually happens, the naira moves to 300 to a dollar, and everyone believes that is the end of it, then the naira is no longer weak. It is just the naira.

Weak currency, bad economy?

The second myth to dispel is the idea that a country whose currency weakens consistently over time cannot grow. This could not be further from the truth.

The poster child of why weakening currencies do not imply slow growth is South Korea. South Korea grew its GDP per capita from about 1100

US dollars in 1960 to about 24,500 in 2014. What happened to its currency over the period?

In 1960 1 US dollar exchanged for about 63 won. Today 1 US dollar exchanges for almost 1200 won. In short over the period where South Korea has “developed”, its currency has also weakened consistently.

Similar patterns can be seen for some of the other fastest growing economies over the period, such as Chile, Vietnam, and Indonesia. The majority have grown relatively quickly even with weakening currencies. In fact, many countries try to weaken their currencies to boost growth. One of goals of Abenomics, a fancy name for policies implemented by the Japanese Prime Minister, was a devaluation of the yen to boost growth. China

We do not have an import problem. Even if you assume that 50% of our imports go unrecorded, that still leaves us at a healthy 25% of GDP, which is still not a problem

was accused for years of artificially weakening its currency.

There are many other examples from around the world. The Vietnamese dong trades at 22,300 per US dollar today from about 1 dong per US dollar in 1983 and Vietnam still managed to grow at an average of 6.5% per year over period.

The Indonesian rupah trades at 11,800 per US dollar today from about 600 rupahs per US dollar in 1980 and Indonesia also still managed to grow at an average of 7% per year over the period.

Bottom line, a currency that loses value over time is not the doom it is made out to be.

Devaluation , uncontrollable inflation?

The third myth is the idea that devaluations lead to runaway inflation, an idea that is not technically true. To be clear devaluations do lead to inflation but not nearly as much as people think.

For example, the South African rand has devalued by about 40% in the last year yet inflation has ticked up by less than 1 percentage point to 5.2% from 4.4% a year ago.

The Russian rubble has devalued by 126% since the middle of 2014 yet inflation has gone from 8% in mid-July of 2014 to about 13% today, although it peaked at around 16%. A significant increase, but nowhere near catastrophic.

Finally, we can look at Nigeria where the naira lost about 20% of its value between October 2014 and March 2015. Despite the devaluation, inflation, which was about 8% then, is still below 10%. If you add the fact

Send your reactions to: news@vanguardngr.com C M Y K

The final myth to bust is the idea that Nigeria has an import problem. You typically hear statements like “How can we be importing everything from toothpicks to fish. It is unsustainable.”

Often left out of such statements is the fact that we have a N90tn economy. And you cannot have a N90tn economy that does not import.

Is it odd that a N90tn economy would import N100bn worth of building materials or N26bn worth of shoes? No it’s not.

According to comparable data compiled by the World Bank, Nigeria imported only about 12.5% of GDP in 2014. Of the 160 countries for which the World Bank has data available, Nigeria had the lowest imports to GDP ratio.

Côte d’Ivoire imported about 38.9% of GDP in 2014, Ghana imported about 48.9%, Mauritius imported about 63%, Belgium about 83.1% and Ireland about 95.4% of GDP. So according to the data, we do not have an import problem.

Even if you assume that 50% of our imports go unrecorded, that still leaves us at a healthy 25% of GDP, which is still not a problem.

However, we do have an export problem, highlighted by the fact that crude oil accounts for 90% of our recorded exports and crude oil prices are volatile.

Recognizing this key difference between an import problem and an export problem is very important because it determines what kind of policies that should be implemented.

Import substitution policies and policies that look to limit imports probably won’t work because they do nothing to tackle the real problem, which is an export one. ***** •Nonso Obikili holds a PhD in economics and works as a researcher and consultant. He has published peer-reviewed articles in various international academic journals and blogs frequently on Nigerian economic issues. Follow him on twitter: @nonso2.

46—Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, FERBUARY 17, 2015

Drama, intrigues as Lagos bizman escapes abduction •Alaba traders protest •Police say it was not kidnap attempt

By Evelyn Usman & Faith Ake

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FRIGHTENING drama played out, Monday evening, at a popular eatery situated at Second Rainbow bus-stop, along the Oshodi / Apapa express-way, Lagos, after five men suspected to be kidnappers laid siege there.

Their target was a wealthy businessman domiciled at the Alaba International market on the Mile Two - Badagry express way, Chief Emeka Mmozoba.

The businessman was savouring a delicious meal of jollof rice in the eatery when he noticed unusual movements of unknown faces around his tinted official bus.

As he wondered why the suspicious looking faces were peeping into his bus, he saw some of them making a quick dash into the eatery.

Control of activities At this stage, he cleverly made for the toilet inside the eatery, leaving his food on the table. From there, he made calls to friends and police associates. Meanwhile inside the eatery, the strangers started scrutinising customers faces.

While this was ongoing, manager of the eatery who apparently sensed danger, dashed out to alert some policemen in front of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC filling station around the area.

Unfortunately before the policemen who responded to the alert could cross the ever busy express way to the eatery, three of the unknown faces had disappeared from the scene, while the rest who were said to have attempted to break into the toilet and fish out their target, were arrested.

Luckily, as the policemen with the businessman who came out of the toilet sweating profusely were heading towards Festac police station, the target was able to identify one passer-by as among those he saw around his bus earlier.

Consequently, the suspect was also arrested and taken to the station. Shockingly, the suspects were discovered to be traders at the same Alaba market where the prospective victim headed is a unit.

Intrigues: Incidentally while residents of the area and

•Some of the Protesting traders

•Solomon Aranse, Police IG frightened businessmen who have been suffering incessant kidnappings were heaving sighs of relief and jubilating over the prompt arrest of the suspects whom they believe would reveal the true identities of their sponsors, news filtered in that the Police had concluded plans to charge the suspects to court as early as 8am yesterday.

This development sent shock waves all over the area as residents expressed fears that charging them to court without thorough investigation would make their sponsors get away with the crime. Moreover, residents alleged that the Police did not even conclude investigation by interrogating eye witnesses which included the manager of the eatery that alerted them of the presence of the suspects in his place.

While the fears spread like wild fire all over Festac Town and its environs, traders at Alaba market who also got wind of the information besieged the police station, chanting solidarity songs and calling for proper investigation to be carried out before charging the suspects to court.

When Crime Alert called the Area ‘ É ‘Commander on phone, he said that the case was not that of kidnap.

According to him “It is not yet a case of kidnap. We did not see the suspects with any weapon. They did not even enter with a vehicle. We are still investigating.”

Victim’s account: The businessman in the eye of the storm, Mmozoba in this interview with Crime Alert said “Ï drove into the eatry at about 5pm, yesterday, to take my lunch, when I noticed strange faces peeping through my car. I recognized three of them. I ran into the toilet at their approach. They came to the toilet and started knocking on the door but I did not

respond. I overheard them discussing that I was inside.

One of them said they should break the door but another said no, as that would attract attention. I heard one of them giving orders to two members of his gang to stay behind to monitor my moment while others should go and lay ambush for me outside. At that point, I started sending text messages to security operatives that I know, including my family members and friends.

After spending about 45 minutes inside the toilet, I peeped through the window and saw one of the private guards attached to the eatery.

I beckoned on him to come and when he did, I narrated everything to him and asked him to inform his m a n a g e r.

Later, the DPO Festac and other policemen arrived the eatery in their van, from where I was taken to the station to make a statement.

But to my surprise, the p o l i c e removed the handcuff from the suspects and returned their mobile phones to them. That was when I suspected something was amiss.”

Manager of Tank and Tummy, who refused to disclose his identity confirmed that the businessman was in the e a t e r y, adding that he had to

contact the police following the alarm raised by him.

Protesters: Irked by the purported plans to hurriedly charge the suspects to court without proper investigation, the protesting traders who chanted solidarity songs yesterday, displayed placards which read ‘Ahbu where is our N110 million interlocking money?' 'Ahbu and his accomplies are not above the law, they must face the law.' Led by the chief security officer of Fancy and Furniture Association, Mr Edwin Umeze, the protesters commended the Police for their prompt arrival at the scene but urged them to conduct thorough investigation before charging the suspects to court.

Investigation ongoing — Police: When Crime Alert contacted the Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer, Dolapo Badmus to find out the court that the suspects were charged to, as well as the charges levelled against them, she stated that the case was still being investigated.

She said “There was indeed a distress call about an attempt to kidnap and the subsequent arrest of some suspects. He (businessman) raised an alarm, Police moved in and after the arrest, we discovered they (suspects) were people he had grudges with. They all do business together in Alaba market.

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 2016 — 47

Why I stopped NFF from sacking Oliseh —Dalung

By Jude Opara, Abuja

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INISTER of Youth and Sports, Barr. Solomon Dalung yesterday explained why he prevailed on the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) to rescind its plan to sack the Chief Coach of the Super Eagles, Sunday Oliseh. And in doing so he also exposed his inadequacies and poor understanding of the matters.

The Minister who spoke yesterday at a media briefing in Abuja said after listening to both the NFF and Oliseh, he came to the conclusion that the issue may not have been as drastic as it was painted. Oliseh called Nigerian critics “insane” and insulted the football federation on social media.

He broadcast his comments and the minister interpreted what Nigerians heard as not drastic as it was painted. But nobody painted any wrong picture. Oliseh broadcast his comments himself.

Dalung also hinted that he pointed it out to the NFF that sacking Oliseh with barely one month to the all important 2017 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifier against the Pharaohs of Egypt will be counter productive.

He further argued that the federation should

Neymar Continues from B/Page

$50 million. A Sao Paulo federal court rejected an appeal from the Brazilian striker last week and started issuing warrants to freeze the assets worth 192 million reals (almost $50 million), Brazilian media reported on Monday.

Last year, Neymar, his family and related businesses were found guilty of evading 63 million reals in taxes (almost $16 million) between 2011 and 2013 when he was playing for Brazilian club Santos.

He has denied any wrongdoing.

The 23-year-old Neymar used the jet to travel to Brazil for World Cup qualifying matches and holidays.

Iagaro Jung Martins, an auditor with Brazil’s federal tax agency, told The Associated Press that Neymar isn’t likely to go to jail if he pays C M Y K

*Oliseh endeavour to purge itself of the character of sacking coaches with the slightest excuse because that in a way is also an indictment on them.

“Let me tell you that the NFF and the coach even had problems with the venue of the match against Egypt. While the coach wanted Port Harcourt, the NFF wanted Kaduna. So when I waded in I let them understand that as the referee, I had the responsibility to mediate, so I appealed to them.

“Oliseh told me that there were a lot of negative issues that needed to be addressed and when I asked the NFF people they started to talk against the coach and I told them not to go far with the issue of sacking the coach because I am not too much interested in that. We should

be able to do things right.

“I told the federation that even as a novice, my own judgement of why we lost that match against Guinea is because after the 4-1 win over Niger, the players became overconfident.

So I told them that they don’t need to sack the coach. They brought the issue of You Tube and I said that in the 21st century we should not be using You Tube to analyze somebody’s behaviour. So after I spoke to Oliseh for about 16 minutes, I did not notice any bitterness in him.

He was talking about issues we need to address and the NFF knows how he trained those players.

So I told them to forget about sacking Oliseh for another coach whom they will equally sack when we play and lose

what regulators say he owes.

“He can still appeal that decision, but it is a step forward,” Martins told the AP. “Nothing changed to what was in place last year: if he pays what he owes, the case is closed. Our legislation isn’t too harsh.”

The assets seizure is the latest in a streak of bad news for the Brazilian star off the pitch.

On Feb. 2 Neymar and his father were questioned for three hours in a Madrid court about the player’s transfer to Barcelona. The case was brought by Grupo Sonda, which invested in Neymar early in his career and was allegedly entitled to 40 percent of the total transfer amount.

Barcelona maintains the deal cost the club 57.1 million euros (then $74 million). Santos officially received a payment of 17.1 million euros ($18.5 million), with the remaining 40 million

euros ($55.5 million) going to a company owned by Neymar’s father, Neymar Santos.

But investigations in Spain later showed that Barcelona spent nearly 83.3 million euros ($90 million) to acquire Neymar.

Former and current Barcelona presidents and representatives of Santos were also questioned. The Brazilian club also claims to have been hurt by the transfers. All parties denied any wrongdoing.

to Egypt, then after sacking that one we will hunt for another coach that we will sack and then we also will sack the NFF because it is sack game.”

The minister ’s comment portrayed him as a pessimist who probably has lost hope on the Eagles-Egypt match.

He concluded that if the NFF keeps employing failed coaches, it also means that they too have failed because they employed bad coaches.

W

ORLD football governing body FIFA have ordered that Nigeria premier league side Akwa United be docked three points should they fail to pay off Meshack Chukwubuikem and his agent.

It is believed that Nigeria cup holders Akwa owe the player and his agent, Ojore Oka, a total of 2.5 million Naira.

FIFA have instructed the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) over the past year to open disciplinar proceedings against Akwa United over the non-payment of agency fees agreed with the FIFA-licensed agent of their former player Chukwubuikem.

Meshack, it would be recalled, had a very successful loan period with Akwa United during the 2012/2013 season before he left the club.

According to the final decision of the FIFA disciplinary committee after a series of letters to Akwa United management dated June 9, 2015, revealed that the club are guilty of failing to comply with the decision passed by the Single Judge of the players’ status committee on 23 September 2014 and are, therefore, in violation of

le on an opponent. The player then retrieved a gun from his bag and shot Flores three timesonce in the head, neck and chest. The referee died thereafter.

“It all happened during the match,” a police spokesman said. “We

*Chukwubuikem

art. 64 of the FIFA disciplinary code.

“The club Akwa United are granted a final period of grace of 30 days as from notification of the present decision in which to settle its debt to the creditor, t h e players’ agent, Dr Ojore Oka,” read the ruling in part. If the payment is not made by this deadline, the creditor may demand in writing from the secretariat to the FIFA disciplinary committee that three (3) points be deducted from the debtor’s first team in the domestic league championship."

Diack faces justice in Senegal

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APA Massata Diack, who is accused of corruption and money laundering by investigators of the ongoing athletics scandal, will reportedly be grilled by authorities in his native Senegal.

The son of former International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) President Lamine Diack is currently wanted by French prosecutors and a “red no-

tice” for his arrest has been issued by Interpol.

Efforts to apprehend him have so far been thwarted by the fact that he is in Senegal, with the African country ’s Prime Minister Mahammad Boun Abdallah Dionne refusing to extradite him.

However, Dionne said that Papa Diack did not have the “right to impunity ” and reports in Dakar say he has been

summoned to appear in front of the Criminal Investigation Division in Senegal’s capital.

Papa Diack, a consultant, was one of three people banned for life by the IAAF Ethics Commission in January, which found him guilty of accepting money as part of a blackmail plot to cover up doping cases involving Russian athletes.

El-Kanemi

okay to return to play in Maiduguri until another Boko Haram attack about 20 kilometres from Maiduguri around the time a decision was to be taken,” said a very disappointed El Kanemi official.

“So, the agreement is that the decision be put on hold for the time being, may be after the first

four weeks of the season.” The 10,000-capacity El Kanemi Stadium in Maiduguri has undergone a major renovation in anticipation of the new season, which begins this weekend.

The Warriors last hosted a Nigeria league match in Maiduguri in the 2013 season, where they finished an impressive fourth.

They have struggled in the past two seasons, finishing 13th and 14th in those campaigns, while they have had to spend thrice as much when they have been forced to stage their home games in safer northern cities.

El Kanemi will now play their new opening home game against Wikki Tourists in Katsina on Sunday.

Continues from B/Page

the premier league were favourably disposed to returning to play league matches in Maiduguri, the birth place of Boko Haram. The Islamic State affiliate group has killed over 17,000 people since 2009.

“The clubs were all

Player guns down referee over red card Continues from B/Page

Transfer saga: FIFA order Akwa Utd be docked 3 points

don’t know what happened with the referee but the player was angry and went to get his gun and killed him.”

The incident happened in the Campo de la Ribera area of Cordoboa, Argentina. Another player, Walter Zarate, was also hit by a bullet and was taken to hospi-

tal, though he is not in critical condition.

The killer is still on the loose and the subject of a police hunt.

The shooting appears to have taken place during an amateur game that the Argentina’s Football Federation might not have organized.

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 2016

B/Haram keeps El-Kanemi away from Maiduguri E

L KANEMI Warriors will play their home games in the new Nigeria league season in Katsina “for the time being” no thanks again to recent Boko Haram terrorists attacks around their base in Maiduguri.

Top El Kanemi officials disclosed that clubs in Continues on Page 47

Dalung: Why I stopped NFF from sacking Oliseh *Iwobi

—P.47

Court freezes Neymar’s $50m assets B RAZILIAN author ities have blocked assets of Barcelona star Neymar, including a yacht, a jet and several properties worth almost

*TOUGH CHALLENGE: Action during a league match involving ElKanemi and Kano Pillars

Continues on Page 47

Player guns down ref for showing him red card Tonight’s Champions League Games A

N Argentine young player has murdered a referee minutes after the latter gave him his marching orders.

Police say referee Cesar Flores, 48, showed the assailant a red card for making a heavy tackContinues on Page 47

T OD AY'S PUZZLE ODA

AA Gent v Wolfsburg 8:45pm Roma v R/Madrid 8;45pm For more on Champions League --P 29

FRI DAY'S ANS WERS FRID ANSWERS

Neymar

DOWN ACROSS 1 Rescued (5) 3 Enquired (5) 2 Principal (5) 9 Astounded (6) 3 Serpent (3) 10 Sick (6) 4 Severe (6) 11 Cost (5) 5 Every (4) 12 Pitcher (4) 6 Expire (3) 15 Pleasant (4) 7 Number (5) 17 Guard (7) 8 Heron (5) 20 Child (3) 21 Domesticated (5) 13 Occidental (7) 14 Attain (5) 23 Diplomacy (4) 16 Pardon (7) 25 Temper (4) 18 Relaxed (5) 26 Flutter (5) 19 Border (3) 28 Stray (3) 22 Doctrine (5) 30 Gemstone (7) 24 Pull (3) 33 Soon (4) 27 Tape (6) 35 Declare (4) 28 Premature (5) 36 Sphere (5) 29 Waken (5) 38 Bureau (6) 31 Egg-shaped (5) 39 Tenant (6) 32 Parched (5) 40 Inclined (5) 34 Mirth (4) 36 Solidify (3) 37 Newt (3)

YESTERDAY'S SOLUTIONS ACROSS: 1, Topple 5, Staple 9, Enter 10, Easier 11, Winter 12, Rodeo 14, Clot 17, Lad 18, Hope 20, Hired 22, Waned 23, Ralied 24, Messy 26, Tepid 29, Idle 30, Wed 32, Sole 33, Faded 35, Repeat 36, Panted 37, Tenor 38, Rudder 39, Tendon.

DOWN: 1, Trench 2, Pastor 3, Leer 4, Enrol 5, Sewed 6, Trio 7, Pennon 8, Earned 13, Dallied 15, lived 16, Terse 18, Hades 19, Peril 21, Day 22, Wet 24, Mirror 25, Sloped 27, Posted 28, Deaden 30, Water 31, Depot 33, Fate 34, Dare.

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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