Army not empowered to monitor polls-JEGA

...towards a better life for the people

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VOL. 25: NO. 62363

ONLINE | www.vanguardngr.com

N150

TUESDAY, MARCH 17, 2015

My contract with Nigeria, by Buhari

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Oba of Benin indisposed, says Traditional Council 13

Army not empowered to monitor polls — JEGA •Says: I've a job to do; it's disservice to quit now •Insists INEC is prepared for free, fair, credible polls

By Joseph Erunke & Jude Opara

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BUJA — IN an apparent warning to the military to stay away from the forth-coming general elections, Chairman of Independent National Electoral Commission,

Continues on Page 6

COLUMNISTS: Buhari and the Lion of Bourdillon •P.17

Letter to Iran, affront to White House •P.28

Mr & Mrs

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Se e

Community to Bayelsa govt: We‘ll demonstrate our anger at the polls

In sid e

RALLY: A rally by Coalition of Concerned Nigerians on the state of the nation and the forthcoming general elections, from OjotaIkorodu Road to National Stadium, Lagos, yesterday. Photo: Kehinde Gbadamosi

Troops rid Bama, Goniri of Boko Haram camps 9 ICC to probe allegations of incitement against First Lady 16

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POCKET CARTOON

AWARD: From left: Iya-Oge of Lagos, Chief Opral Benson; Judge, Etisalat Prize for Literature, Jamal Mahjoub; Chair of Judges, Etisalat Prize for Literature, Sarah Ladipo Manyika; winner, 2014 Etisalat Prize for Literature, Songeziwe Mahlangu; and Chief Executive Officer, Etisalat Nigeria, Matthew Willsher at the award ceremony of the 2014 Etisalat Pan-African Prize for Literature, in Lagos, Sunday.

Army not empowered to monitor polls Continues from page 1 Professor Attahiru Jega, yesterday, hinted that the power of the military as enshrined in the 1999 Constitution (as amended), does not empower it to monitor elections.

The INEC chairman spoke at a town hall meeting in Abuja, organised by Reinvent Media in conjunction with Ford Foundation and Kukah Centre, where he entertained questions on the state of preparedness of the electoral commission ahead of the March 28 and April 11 elections.

Military can't monitor polls

He specifically said the military can only intervene by mounting security at the polling units, if there was any breakdown of law and order, adding that they can only do that at the invitation of the Inspector-General of

Police, whom he noted, would solicit the support for security.

He said: "The Army are not supposed to be visible at any polling unit except there is a breakdown of law and order and they have been invited by the Inspector-General of Police.”

He equally said the Police, which he noted, can handle security during elections, would only be required to stay some 300 metres from polling units during coming elections.

Military must be restricted to its role

INEC ready for free, fair, credible polls He cautioned that the —Jega

military must be restricted to its role as defined by the Constitution if there is a breakdown of law and order.

He said: "They (military) are there so that if there is a breakdown of law and

TAKE HEART

BY ELLA RANDLE

Motivation is fire from within. If someone else tries to light that fire under you, chances are it will burn very briefly —Stephen R. Covey

I

order which the Police are unable to contain, then they could be rapidly deployed to be able to assist.

“The Army is not supposed to be visible or to be around any polling unit unless there is a breakdown of law and order and they have been invited by the InspectorGeneral of Police.

“As far as we are concerned, the role of every security agency as it affects the electoral process is to add value but within the constitutionally-defined roles.”

T happens to everyone. Your happiest moments dissipate and you have little or no energy to work creatively and enthusiastically. You feel mentally and emotionally drained.

All your excitement about accomplishing your dreams, working on a project, pursuing a new career, committing to an important relationship, achieving your financial goal, starting the business in which you have invested time, energy and finances is suddenly at a low ebb.

You can’t understand it or explain it. But there is one thing you are certain of: you want your enthusiasm back.

When you readjust your focus, you can recapture your motivation. Start by identifying with people who bring the sparkle to your life, listen or read about the inspiring stories of these people, this can help rekindle your flame from within.

On the preparedness of the commission, Jega insisted that INEC was well prepared to conduct free, fair and credible elections in line with international best practices, saying the six weeks extension for the conduct of the polls at the instance of security, had given INEC opportunity to improve tremendously on its preparations.

He said he was satisfied with the improved security situation in the north eastern part of the country, reiterating that only Internally Displaced Persons, IDPs, in the three affected states of Borno, Adamawa and Yobe, will be allowed to vote.

I'm not under pressure to resign

Answering questions about his alleged unpleasant roles in the coming elections and calls

in some quarters on him to resign, the INEC chairman declared that he was not under pressure to resign from office, just as he hinted that he had no intention of quitting his position.

According to him, it will be "a disservice to do that at this time,” adding that "I have a job to do.

“Nobody has asked me to go on leave. A lot of things being said out there are diversionary. I have a job to do until April 11, 2015.

“We have a job to do and we are determined to do it for the country. We need to move forward, not backwards, and we are doing everything possible to ensure that nobody is disenfranchised.

“I have a job to do and I remain focused to do it. It will be a disservice for me to resign now.

“No reasonable person in my view who is holding this kind of job like the one I am holding will contemplate dropping

everything and going on leave before the job is concluded.

“For me, it is not an option and nobody has asked me to go on leave. We remain focused and we have a job to do and we are determined to conduct the best election for this country.

"I am not under pressure to resign. It would be a disservice to the nation for me to say that I will resign when I have no reason to resign.”

On card readers

The INEC boss reiterated the commission’s use of card readers for the elections, saying the equipment will add value to the credibility of the polls.

He said: "We are doing everything humanly possible in addition to other logistical deployment to be able to conduct a hitch-free poll that will be fair, credible, and remarkably better than the 2011 elections conducted by the commission.”

He said the commission had used the period of the postponement to address the myriad of concerns about the card reader, adding that the body has satisfactorily conducted a quality assurance as well as field tests on the workability of the equipment, hence INEC’s determination to deploy it for the polls.

He pointed out that the card reader will only read cards that have been produced and issued by the electoral umpire as well as facilitate easy audit of accreditation information in case there are concerns about fraudulent alterations of results.

On PVCs

Giving an update on the Permanent Voters Cards, PVCs, collection across the states generally, the INEC chairman disclosed that 68.8 million people registered with the electoral umpire, adding that 67.8 million of the cards produced have already been taken to states for distribution.

He, however, lamented the nationwide collection level of the cards which, according to him, was only 56 million, adding: “There are millions of cards out there that people have not gone out to collect.

700,000 PVCs still being produced

"Of these 68.8 number, about 700,000 cards are still being produced and will be distributed to the states next Saturday.

“If we get to the 28th of this month and people have not come forward to collect them, then you cannot talk of INEC disenfranchising those people.”

Buhari, Osinbajo’s wives attacked in Ilorin, 10 vehicles vandalised

By Demola Akinyemi

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LORIN — THE convoy of the wife of the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Hajia Aisha Buhari was yesterday attacked by suspected hoodlums in Ilorin, Kwara State.

The hoodlums vandalised about 10 vehicles during the attack.

State chairman of the

party, Alhaji Ishola Balogun Fulani, said this at a press conference last night in Ilorin and fingered a chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP. Mrs. Buhari was in the company of the wife of the vice-presidential candidate, Mrs Oludolapo Osinbajo; Kwara State First Lady, Mrs Omolewa Ahmed and wife of the immediate past governor of

Kwara State, Mrs Oluwatoyin Saraki among others on the way to a women sensitization programme in Ilorin.

According to Fulani, “a worrisome development took place today( yesterday) during the visit of Hajia Aisha Buhari, the wife of the APC presidential candidate as her convoy was attacked at the Film House along Emir’s Road, Ilorin. About 10 vehicles were vandalized.”

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By Emmanuel Aziken, Political Editor & Henry Umoru

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LL Progressives Congress, APC presidential candidate General Muhammadu Buhari yesterday put forward a covenant with Nigerians spelling his blueprint to confront corruption, insecurity and infrastructure decay.

Buhari, who vowed to lead by example in all areas, pledged to declare his assets and liabilities publicly and encourage all his aides to do so. He also promised to stop what he described as the weekly contract bazaar by the Federal Executive Council by inaugurating the National Council on Procurement, the statutory body for contract awards.

President Goodluck Jonathan, the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP immediately faulted Buhari saying that he, Jonathan was in a better position to fight corruption on the ground that Buhari was surrounded by corrupt persons.

President Jonathan said that Buhari’s legacy in government put him as the last person to fight corruption on the ground that he has no respect for the rule of law, further asserting that his military administration jailed people indiscriminately.

The APC presidential candidate said his covenant was derived from the manifesto of his party and his on the ground experience during his recent travels across the country. He also pledged in his covenant to ensure that no inch of Nigerian land is ever taken by terrorists vowing to ensure that all victims of kidnappings including the Chibok girls are quickly recovered.

The 11-point covenant spread through various areas including Corruption and Governance; Access to Justice and Respect for Fundamental Human Rights; Insurgency and Insecurity; Niger Delta; Diversity; Health and Education. Other elements of the candidate’s agenda are Management of the Economy for Shared Prosperity and Sports and Culture.

Following a review of the present situation in each of the enumerated areas, Buhari followed with a pledge on how he would confront the situation.

On corruption and governance, he said: “No matter how vast our resources, if they are not efficiently utilized, they will only benefit a privileged few, leaving the majority in poverty. I believe if Nigeria does not kill corruption; corruption will kill Nigeria.”

He thus pledged, to “Publicly declare my assets and liabilities and encourage my political appointees to also publicly declare their assets and liabilities.” ''Affirm that our strategy for tackling corruption will not only focus on punishment. Rather, it will also provide incentives for disclosure and transparency. ''Show personal leadership in the war against corruption and also hold all the people who work with C M Y K

My contract with Nigeria — BUHARI ...Vows to publicly declare assets and encourage aides to do same ...Not to cede any inch of Nigerian land to terrorists, recover Chibok girls said as a father he felt ...Jonathan says Buhari lacks capacity to fight corruption occasion the pains of all victims of violence me to account. ''Inaugurate the National Council on Procurement as stipulated in the Procurement Act so that the Federal Executive Council, which has been turned to a weekly session of contract bazaar, will concentrate on its principal function of policy making. ''Review and implement audit recommendations by Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI). ''Work with the National Assembly towards the immediate enactment of a Whistle Blower Act. ''Work with the National Assembly to strengthen ICPC and EFCC by guaranteeing institutional autonomy including financial and prosecutorial independence and security of tenure of officials. ''Make the Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU) an autonomous and operational agency. ''Encourage proactive disclosure of information by government institutions in the spirit of the Freedom of Information Act. ''Ensure all MDAs regularly comply with their accountability responsibilities to Nigerians through the National Assembly. ''Work with the leadership of the National Assembly to cut down the cost of governance. ''Present a national anticorruption Strategy.

Following the avowals, Vanguard sought a response from President Jonathan, who responded that he was in a better position to fight corruption than Buhari. however, President Goodluck Jonathan, speaking through his campaign spokesman, Chief Femi Fani-Kayode, cannot fight corruption because he is not only surrounded by corrupt men but also unable to give what he does not have.

He said: “more than any other President in the history of Nigeria President Goodluck Jonathan has fought corruption and has successfully plugged all the loopholes that allow corrupt persons to operate freely and with impunity in our country.

“His reforms in the agricultural sector with special reference to the new system for the procurement of fertiliser and his reforms in NNPC and the whole area of oil subsidies prove this.

Millions of dollars have been saved in these areas alone as a consequence of Mr. President’s new and innovative initiatives.

“His focus is not just on arresting people without any credible evidence and parading

them before television cameras in handcuffs. He believes in fighting corruption in a responsible, humane and credible manner with special emphasis on civil liberties, human rights and the rule of law.

“Unlike others that came before him, he believes that the fight against corruption should not be selective and neither does he believe in using the security agencies to intimidate or persecute innocent people or his perceived enemies. This was not the case up until he became President, and everyone knows this.

“His government did not fight corruption but was, in fact, the biggest manifestation of corruption and abuse of power in the history of Nigeria. He jailed innocent people and sent many to their graves for

no just cause. He also applied retroactive legislation to kill people.

“Buhari says he now wants to fight corruption but the truth is that this is a contradiction in terms, and it cannot be so simply because he is surrounded by some of the most corrupt, dishonest, incompetent, irresponsible and perverse souls in Nigeria. Anyone that doubts this just needs to consider the names of some of those that are leading his party.

“His promise to fight corruption must be taken with a pinch of salt and can best be described by Shakespeare’s famous words when he said ‘it is a tale told by an idiot, full of sound and fury, signifying nothing’.”

On how he would confront insurgency and insecurity, Buhari promised to rise to the

and thus pledged that under his watch to: ''Ensure that under my watch, no force, external or internal, will occupy even an inch of Nigerian soil. I will give all it takes to ensure that our girls kidnapped from Chibok are rescued and reunited with their families. ''Deliver a Marshal Plan on insurgency, terrorism, ethnic and religious violence, kidnapping, rural banditry and ensure that never again will Nigerian children be killed or kidnapped at will.' ''Boost the morale of our fighting forces and the generality of Nigerians by leading from the front as the Commander-in-Chief and not hide in the comfort and security of Aso Rock. ''Give especial attention to the welfare of our armed forces and all other security personnel and their families.''

WORLD ORAL HEALTH DAY: From left; Senator Nkechi Nwaogu; Senate president and the oral health champion ambassador, Senator David Mark; Brand Building Director, Unilever Nig, Ltd, Mr David Okeme; Supervising Minister of Health, Dr Khaliru Alhassan and Chief Dental Officer, Dr Adebimpe Adebiyi, during the 2015 World Oral Health Day in Abuja yesterday. Photo: NAN.

Patients lament as Lagos doctors begin indefinite strike

By Sola Ogundipe, Chioma Obinna & Gabriel Olawale

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AGOS—THE storm has been brewing in the Lagos State health sector over the months, broke yesterday as doctors under the aegis of the Medical Guide made good its threat to embark on indefinite strike over irreconcilable matters with the Lagos State government.

Hundreds of patients who turned up at the public hospitals in the state expressed surprise at the doctor’s action as they were caught unawares.

The doctors employed by the State are protesting the

government’s failure to accede to their demands.

The Medical Guild, the umbrella body of the doctors serving in the state’s public hospitals, had on March 8 issued a 10-day ultimatum to government to pay all outstanding monies allegedly withheld as a result of previous strike, leadership of the Guild directed that all clinics and General outpatients departments, GOPD, would remain shut, while all elective surgeries were suspended while only emergencies and critically ill patients were to be attended to.

At the Lagos State University Teachiing Hospital, LASUTH,

Ikeja, a number of patients, most of who arrived as early as 6:30am were later turned back after several hours of waiting for attention.

When Vanguard arrived the hospital around 9:30am, there was calm at the entrance gates, even right up to the wards.

Things were looking normal and the situation at the gate however, apparently gave hope to many of the patients that their appointments with doctors at the hospital would be kept.

Unfortunately, many received the shock of their lives on arrival at the Health Records department where the scenario was a contrast of what was happening outside.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, MARCH 16, 2015 — 9

Army Chief talks tough on terrorism ...As troops rid Yobe of Boko Haram camps

By Kingsley Omonobi

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BUJA—THE Chief of Army Staff, Lt. General KTJ Minimah has vowed that never again will the Nigerian armed forces allow the Nigerian nation to go through the pains and murderous orgy visited on the country by terrorists

even as he noted that President Goodluck Jonathan demonstrated tremendous leadership and unflinching support to the Nigerian armed forces in the face of the predicament the army found itself.

The Army Chief made the vow even as the Defence headquarters disclosed that Nigerian troops have

finally completed clearing terrorists out of Bama in Borno State and Goniri in the last Local Government area occupied by Boko Haram terrorists in Yobe State.

Speaking at the COAS 1st Quarterly Conference held at the Command Officers Mess in Abuja, General Minimah who was addressing General

POLLS: ICC warns politicians, Nigerians against violence

By Innocent Anaba

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HE Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court, ICC, Fatou Bensouda, has threatened to prosecute any Nigerian politician or any other person, who incites or engages in acts of violence in the coming general elections.

Bensouda in a statement, yesterday, said “Following my statement on February 2, 2015 and my Office’s subsequent visit to Nigeria from February 3-5. I reiterate my previous message.

“At a time when abhorrent levels of violence already

plague parts of the country, I recall that the ICC has jurisdiction over Rome Statute crimes committed on the territory of Nigeria.

Any person who incites or engages in acts of violence in the context of the upcoming elections or otherwise – including by ordering, inciting, encouraging or contributing to the commission of crimes that fall within ICC’s jurisdiction – is liable to prosecution; either by Nigerian courts or by the ICC. “No one should doubt my Office’s resolve to prosecute individuals responsible for

the commission of ICC crimes, whenever necessary.

“Violence is not a solution.

The conduct and outcome of elections in Nigeria, free from violence, will not only prevent further instability in the country, but will also send a clear message that electoral competition does not have to result in violence and crimes that shock the conscience of humanity,” the statement added.

The Office of the Prosecutor of the ICC conducts independent and impartial investigations and prosecution of the crimes of genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes.

Officers Commanding, Corp Commanders, Principal staff Officers and Commanders of Special and Joint Task Forces, said, “Having turned the tide around, I want to say it is forward ever. Never again shall we allow our country to go through this process. Never again shall the Nigerian Army be humiliated”.

On the conduct of the Operation Zaman Lafiya, Gen. Minimah attributed the sustained successes being recorded in the ongoing battle to flush out Boko Haram terrorists from Nigerian territories,

to the continued induction of new equipment into the Nigerian Army inventory and intensified training of the officers and soldiers both within and outside Nigeria.

“We also took steps to improve on the welfare services of our personnel particularly those in operational theatre.

These measures have added impetus to our operational posture and contributed immensely to our current exploits in the ongoing military operations against Boko Haram terrorists in the North Eastern states especially Adamawa,

Borno, Yobe, Bauchi and Gombe states.

“The Nigerian army with the support of sister services, the Nigeria Police force, security agencies, local vigilante groups and regional partners have continued to record strings of successes against the terrorists group who had laid siege to a number of cities, towns and villages in some of these states”.

“These achievements would not have been possible without the sacrifice, commitment and devotion of our gallant troops some of whom paid the supreme sacrifice in the process. I salute these brave men and women and the Nigerian army remains proud of the service to our fatherland.

Their efforts and sacrifice shall not be in vain”.

RALLY: From left; Minister of Housing and Urban Development, Mrs Akon Eyakenyie; Mrs Patience Jonathan; Mrs Ekaete Akpabio, wife of the governor of Akwa Ibom State and her husband, Governor Godswill Akpabio at the airstrip in Uyo to welcome Mrs Jonathan to the PDP women presidential rally in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State.

Laws regulating criminal trials in Nigeria archaic — CJN 16 establishes a central

By Ikechukwu Nnochiri

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BUJA—THE Chief Justice of Nigeria, CJN, Justice Mahmud Mohammed, yesterday, said there was urgent need to overhaul the current criminal justice system in Nigeria, insisting that the laws regulating criminal trials in the country are archaic and obsolete.

The CJN who stated this while declaring the 2015 Refresher Course for Judges on Alternative Dispute Resolution and Criminal Justice Reform, which held at the National Judicial Institute, NJI, in Abuja, yesterday, urged the National Assembly to speedily pass the ‘Administration of Criminal Justice Bill’, into law.

He maintained that the Bill when passed into law would institutionalize several innovative C M Y K

measures that will significantly improve the delivery of criminal justice in the country, noting that the Bill, among its major provisions, seeks to abolish the dichotomy between the Criminal Procedure Code and Criminal Procedure Act, by repealing both Acts.

The CJN said: “Permit me to use this opportunity to highlight some other challenges to the administration of justice particularly as it affects the criminal justice system. We face prolonged delays in the trial of criminal cases leading to an increase in detainees awaiting trial and the congestion of the prisons. I believe we are well aware of these and other problems. The situation is made more precarious due to the archaic and obsolete nature of the laws regulating the criminal justice system.

“The Bill, via the provisions of Part 2, Section

criminal records registry system as a veritable database of offenders and also provides a snapshot to courts and prosecutors as to whether an accused person is already on the registry, thus aiding in the administration of criminal justice.

In her welcome address, the Administrator of the NJI, Justice Rosaline Bozimo, said the 2015 refresher course for judges, which has the theme: “Entrenchment of Speedy Dispensation of Justice in Nigerian Courts”, was organized by the NJI in fulfillment of its mandate of providing continuing Judicial Education for all categories of Judicial officers and their Staff as stated in section 3(2) of the Act establishing the Institute.

She said the course would enable judges to reposition themselves for optimum performance of their judicial duties.

10— Vanguard, TUESDAY, MARCH 16, 2015

PROTEST: OPC,

pro-Jonathan group paralyse Lagos zIt was a sponsored brigandage—APC

By Olasunkanmi Akoni &

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Ikenna Asomba

AGOS—MEMBERS of the Oodua Peoples Congress, OPC, created scene Monday morning at the 7-Up end of LagosIbadan Expressway, in Oregun/ Alausa area, as they gathered in preparation for anti-Jega protest and pro-rally for the incumbent President Goodluck Jonathan.

OPC members who were believed to have come from different zones in Lagos and neighbouring states, were seen brandishing weapons such as cutlasses, guns, knives and others and occupied one side of the highway, harassing road users, including motorists and pedestrians.

The ethnic militia group members were also joined with some individuals, in black vest, believed to be FERMA/SURE-P personnel whose yard is located around the old toll gate area.

Their activities caused heavy traffic, especially, driving inward Alausa and from Olusosun to either Iyana Oworonsoki and Ojota axis, just as the protesters marched from the toll gate through Ikorodu road to the National Stadium, Surulere, the venue of the pro-Jonathan rally.

The anti-Jega protesters were also seen sharing and distributing flyers and leaflets, highlighting points against the INEC chairman, Professor Attahiru Jega as well as why Jonathan deserves re-election into power.

It would be recalled the Movement for the Actualization of

the Sovereign State of Biafra, MASSOB, last Friday staged its anti-Jega and card readers protest in some South eastern states, including Anambra, Ebonyi, Enugu and other locations in the zone.

Similarly, the opposition All Progressives Congress, APC, in a release Sunday announced that it had uncovered a plot by the Jonathan’s administration to release the sum of N9 billion for organizing protests against Professor Jega and card readers, to be spearheaded by the exmilitants and ethnic militia

groups.

APC reacts

Meantime, Lagos State chapter of the All Progressives Congress, APC, has described the protest as “syndicated demonstration of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, being sponsored all over the country to disrupt the forthcoming general elections, which it is now convinced it cannot manipulate.”

The party said that the syndicated protests by MASSOB and OPC were desperate efforts

by a dying government to create confusion and trouble so as to sabotage the election when it had become obvious to them that it had lost the support of Nigerians in the coming elections.

The state Publicity Secretary of the APC, Joe Igbokwe, while reacting to the development, noted that the sponsored campaigners went about destroying campaign posters and bill boards of the APC in their mercenary traits, “This tells so much of the mission they are sponsored to do, ” he said.

CAMPAIGN: From left: All Progressives Congress, APC, candidate for Oriade/Obokun Federal Constituency, Hon. Nathaniel Agunbiade, South West Coordinator, Buhari/Osinbajo Presidential Campaign, Governor Rauf Aregbesola, his deputy, Mrs. Titi Laoye-Tomori, APC state Chairman, Prince Gboyega Famodun, and candidate for Obokun State Constituency in the State House of Assembly, Mrs. Olatunbosun Oyintiloye, during a Door to Door/Grassroots campaign rally for presidential/national and State Houses of Assembly, at Ilase-Ijesa, Obokun Local Government Area, Osun State.

LIBEL SUIT: Court stops AIT from airing documentary

on Tinubu

By Abdulwahab Abdulah & Bartholomew Madukwe

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AGOS—A Lagos High Court in Ikeja yesterday granted an interim order restraining the Africa Independent Television, AIT, from broadcasting a documentary titled “Lion of Bourdilion” allegedly aimed at tarnishing the image of former Lagos State Governor, Chief Bola Tinubu.

Justice Iyabo Akinkugbe arrived at the decision after Tinubu’s counsel, Chief Wole Olanipekun, SAN, made an oral application asking the court to grant an interim order restraining AIT from airing the contentious documentary.

“The defendant is hereby restrained from further airing, publishing or disseminating broadcasting the documentary “Lion of Bourdilion”, pending

the determination of the interlocutory application,” Justice Akinkugbe said.

In the suit, Tinubu is claiming N150 billion as damages against AIT, alleging that the documentary was libellous and aimed at tarnishing his image.

Tinubu, through an ex-parte motion, among others, sought an order to restrain the TV station from continuing the broadcast of the documentary, which it started

airing on March 1 and had been repeating daily, pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice dated March 5, 2015.

During yesterday’s proceeding, Olanipekun sought to move the interlocutory application but counsel to AIT, Chief Mike Ozekhome, SAN, objected the move arguing that he had not responded to the application.

...another nullifies Lagos monthly which authorizes the sanitation exercise restriction of movement of

By Innocent Anaba

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AGOS—A Federal High Court sitting in Lagos, yesterday, nullified the monthly environmental sanitation policy of the Lagos State government which involves keeping citizens indoors for three hours.

Trial judge, Justice Mohammed Idris held that there is no law in force in Lagos State, by which any citizen could be kept C M Y K

indoors, compulsorily.

In the judgment, the court also said the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria grants freedom of movement to every citizen, and such freedom cannot be taken away by executive proclamation, in the absence of any law to that effect.

It found that there is no regulation in force presently, in Lagos State,

citizens, on the last Saturday of the month, for the purpose of observing environmental sanitation.

A Lagos lawyer and rights activist, Mr EbunOlu Adegboruwa, had in the suit against the Inspector-General of Police and the Lagos State government, challenged the restriction of human movements on the last Saturday of every month, for the purpose of observing environmental sanitation.

Why I 'll review Lagos govs, deputies' severance package —AKELE

By Clifford Ndujihe & Anozie Egole

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AGOS—LAGOS STATE governorship candidate of the National Conscience Party, NCP, Comrade Ayodele Akele, is not happy with the huge cost of governance in the state, which he said is hampering delivery of democracy dividends and abolition of poverty, the motto of his party.

Specifically, he is piqued by the huge severance package and pension scheme of the governor and deputy governor, and has vowed to abolish it, if elected because it is scandalous and cannot be sustained.

Apart from the Lagos State Governor and Deputy Governor Pension Law of 2007, Akele said another package has been worked out for the Speaker and Deputy Speaker.

Speakingatanewsconference in Lagos, Akele said: ‘’Lagosians must know this; the obnoxious law,initsoriginalformasprovided for the former Governors and Deputy Governors is a criminal and scandalous legacy in the greedyexpropriationofthescarce resources of Lagos State.

Methodist Church Lagos West holds Synod

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AGOS—THE ninth annual Synod of the Methodist Church Nigeria, Diocese of Lagos West will commence on Thursday with the Ministerial and Lay Sessions.

Governor Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State, is expected to declare the four-day synod open while the Synod programme will be rounded off with a thanksgiving service on Sunday, 22 March.

The theme for this year’s Synod is “Aglow with the spirit. “ According to the Chief Host of the Synod, the Diocesan Bishop, Rt. Revd.

Oluyemisi Ogunlere, “the promise of God to us as a nation and the whole world in general is to bring a total stoppage to all the calamities in our land, all natural disasters and self destructions around us and ultimatelyturnallourchallenges to opportunities."

Vanguard, TUESDAY, MARCH 17, 2015 —11

Atiku supporters endorse Jonathan

Tribunal indicts Army, asks for apology

BRT VANDALISM:

By Monsuru Olowoopejo

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AGOS—THE tribunal of inquiry into the July 4, 2014 road traffic accident and subsequent arson and vandalism of the Bus Rapid Transit, BRT yesterday submitted its report to Governor Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State, indicting the Nigerian Army of perpetrating the acts.

The tribunal added that Nigerian Army should publicly apologise to the state government and residents of Lagos State for disturbance of public peace and destruction of public utilities which was instigated by some of its officers.

The submission came eight months after the state government set up a three-man tribunal chaired by Justice Ebenezer Adebajo, rtd, to investigate the cause of the incident which occurred at Palmgrove axis of the state and submit its findings within 60 days after its inauguration.

Adebajo while reading the tribunal findings, said: “The accident occurred on the night of July 3, 2014 when the soldier (late Lance Corporal Ishaya Mathew) ran his motorbike (with number plate MUS-565 QB) into a stationary BRT bus MO63 at Palm Grove Bus stop, Ikorodu Road.”

He noted that the accident occurred outside the BRT corridor, adding “the soldier caused his own death.”

Explaining how the accident occurred, the chairman said: “The BRT was stationary on the highway as a result of loss of fuel supply. LAGBUS left the bus on the highway longer than necessary; while it was determined that the bus driver was not in breach of any law.

“The late motorcyclist rode his motorbike without a helmet. And this action was against section 3 (3) of the road traffic law 2012.”

The chairman stated that the discovery of the corpse of late Lance Corporal Ishaya Mathew on July 4, 2014 led to the mayhem.

According to him, “Extensive vandalism, burning of BRT buses, destruction of personal phones, harassment of innocent citizens which followed the death of the soldier- motorcyclist were caused by identified soldiers of the 9th Bbrigade of the Nigerian

Army, Ikeja Cantonment.”

For perpetrating this act, he said that the tribunal has recommended that; “Apology should be demanded

by Governor of Lagos State from the Nigerian Army. The Nigerian Army should on behalf of the 9th Brigade, Ikeja Cantonment, Ikeja apologies in writing to the people of Lagos State. And it should be published in at least two national newspapers."

A

By Dayo Johnson

KURE—CHIEFTAINS of the All Progressives Congress, APC, who are supporters of Alhaji Abubakar Atiku, AAA, collectives/Peoples Democratic Movement, PDM, in South West yesterday endorsed the re-election of President Goodluck Jonathan for a second term.

They hinged their support for the President on his promise to implement the recommendations of the last national conference if re-elected.

Speaking at a press conference in Akure, their coordinator, who is a former member, House of Representatives, Hon Bode Ajewole, said they also took the decision because of the process and outcome of the party Presidential Primaries which left much to be desired.

Ajewole who is the South West Coordinator said members of the group cut across all political parties.

....They're not our members —PDM PRESENTATION: From left: Mr. Ade Ipaye, Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Justice Ebenezer Adebajo, Tribunal Chairman, Governor Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State, Mr. Nurudeen Ogbara, and Mr. Jude Igbanoi, during the presentation of the report of tribunal on enquiry on BRT-LAGBUS vandalization on July 4, 2014, at Lagos House, Alausa, Ikeja, Lagos, yesterday. Photo: Bunmi Azeez.

Alleged dollar rain can't buy Yoruba votes —Osun APC elders

By Gbenga Olarinoye

O

SOGBO—THE Elders’ Council (Igbimo Agba) of the All Progressives Congress, APC, in Osun State has described last minute efforts

by President Goodluck Jonathan to influence Yoruba to support his reelection efforts through monetary inducement as

too little too late.

In a statement signed

by Chairman of the Council, Sola Akinwumi and made available to newsmen in Osogbo, yesterday, the Elders’ Council maintained that Yoruba people are not articles that could be purchased by the highest bidder.

T

HE PDM, in a swift reaction, however, denied those involved in the endorsement saying; ‘’Our attention has been drawn to a press conference, addressed by some aggrieved members of APC who defected to the party from PDM last year, at which they endorsed the candidature of President Goodluck Jonathan in the forthcoming presidential election. The press conference was held on Monday, March 16, in Akure, capital of Ondo State. ‘’We wish to make it categorically clear that members of the group that addressed the press conference in question are not members of PDM. They defected from our party in June last year to pursue their aspiration in APC and arenolongermembersofourparty.’’

Airtel's director provides insight on crisis management on stakeholders.

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NDO—DIRECTOR of C o r p o r a t e Communications & CSR, Airtel Nigeria, Emeka Oparah, has called on reputation managers and Public Relations practitioners to continuously engage and connect with their various stakeholders, stating that effective stakeholders’ engagement is a critical element in successful crisis management especially in C M Y K

the new communication world order ruled by social media.

Oparah, who urged communications executives to pay close attention to social media, stated that with the overwhelming influence of this new media, it is extremely important for media managers to adopt a proactive and robust strategy in managing its influence

The Airtel Executive, who delivered a paper entitled Contemporary Challenges in Reputation and Crisis Management, at the Performing Arts Theatre, Elizade University, IlaraMokin, Ondo State as part of activities marking the 60th birthday colloquium for Dr. Wole Adamolekun, provided insights into how Airtel Nigeria managed its 2011 call centre crises and a bomb attack on one of its flagship showrooms in Kano, in 2012.

12—Vanguard, TUESDAY, MARCH 17, 2015

N-Delta leaders, rights groups storm Warri for Jonathan’s re-election

By Emma Amaize

W

ARRI—NIGER DELTA leaders and Civil Society Organisations, CSOs, will converge, Saturday, in Warri, Delta State, to discuss the political relevance of the region and fine tune strategies for the re-election of President Goodluck Jonathan.

It was gathered that Delta State is already agog for the summit, as the belief of the leaders and groups is that Niger Delta would not be cowed to give up the presidency.

Director, Mobilization and Campaigns, Niger Delta Political Leaders and Civil Societies Forum, Mr. Okeh Erieh, in a statement, said that the mass mobilisation for Dr. Jonathan’s 2015 presidential election victory will be chaired by a former Delta State chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Mr. Pius Sinebe.

He said: “Let those who are hiding under the fictitious philosophy of the so-called change wait till 2019. We believe in equity and indeed,

President Jonathan should be supported to complete his constitutional mandate of two terms unequivocally.”

President Jonathan is expected at the event, while Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan is the special guest

of honour. Senator Emmanuel Aguariavwodo, Sir Tom Amioku and Olorogun David Edevbie are the chief hosts.

Mr Michael Diden and exmilitant leader, Chief Government Ekpemupolo, alias Tompolo, will serve as

special patrons and special leader of the event.

The keynote speakers are Professor G.G. Darah, Professor Kimse Okoko and the PDP governorship candidate in the state, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa.

RALLY: Mrs. Patience Jonathan (right), and other top PDP women at the PDP Women Rally at Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium in Benin City. Photos by Barnabas Uzosike.

Rivers elders drum up support for Jonathan

By Jimitota Onoyume

P

ORT HARCOURT— RIVERS Elders and Leaders Council, RELEC, has called on Rivers people to vote for President Goodluck Jonathan in the presidential election.

Chairman of the body and former Director, State Security Service, Chief Albert Horsfall, who addressed newsmen in Port Harcourt at the end of a meeting of the body, said that as elders, they had resolved to call on all indigenes of the state to vote for Jonathan, adding that the call was in line with the agitation of the region for a South-South president.

He said: “We must not be deceived to vote against the Niger Delta project. We must take it that we are voting for the objectives which prompted our people to fight for their rights in this great country.

“We must, therefore, vote for Jonathan, the only Niger Delta presidential candidate in the forthcoming elections in order to sustain the aspirations of our forefathers. We are, therefore, not voting for Goodluck Jonathan per se; we are voting to sustain and maintain our deserved right as a responsible political, economic, cultural people among other groups within the

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comity of Nigerian ethnic nationalities.

“Therefore, Rivers people, go to the polls, vote for Jonathan

and if you ask yourself why you must vote for him, say it is because voting for Jonathan means voting to sustain the

century-old Niger Delta peoples’ struggle and the dividends that have accrued from it.”

Bayelsa voters besiege INEC centres for PVCs

By Samuel Oyadongha

Y

E N A G O A — ELIGIBLE voters in Bayelsa State, yesterday, besieged the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, designated centres to collect their permanent voters cards as the state government embarked on “Operation show your PVCs.” The state government had declared yesterday (Monday) a work-free day, the second time in two weeks, to enable registered voters to collect their PVCs. The usually busy state secretariat complex and public schools in Yenagoa were under lock and key but some of the private schools were in session when this reporter went round the town.

The state government had earlier called on traditional rulers in the state to prevail on their subjects to take advantage of the extension of deadline by INEC to collect

their PVCs. Dickson in continuation of the state government’s “Operation Show Your PVC” exercise in Yenagoa Local Government Area, charged royal fathers to engage the services of town criers to further sensitise the people on

the importance of the cards.

He said the call had become imperative, in view of the state government’s desire to achieve 100 per cent collection rate to enable the people exercise their franchise in the forthcoming general elections.

Delta APC alleges plot to recruit fake INEC staff

By Perez Brisibe

U

GHELLI—DELTA State chapter of the All Progressives Congress, APC, has alleged that there was a plot by one of the political parties in the state to recruit staff into the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, for the March 28 and April 11 general elections.

Speaking to Vanguard, state Deputy Chairman of the party, Chief Cyril Ogodo, while drumming up support for the use of card readers in the elections, said the party has

petitioned INEC on the recruitment plot.

He said: “While the APC would continue to pledge its support to INEC and its Chairman, Prof. Attahiru Jega, the commission should also note that there are plans by a political party in the state to recruit Presiding Officers and other adhoc staff through the use of fake admission letters from certain universities in the country.

“INEC should ensure that they x-ray the results of persons applying for various positions as adhoc staff to checkmate any form of electoral irregularity.”

Aluminium roofers endorse Buhari, Emerhor for election

T

HE Association of Aluminium Roofers and Fabricators of Nigeria, AAROFAN, South-South chapter, has endorsed the candidatures of Gen. Muhammadu Buhari and Olorogun O’tega Emerhor of All Progressives Congress, APC, for the February, 28 presidential election and April 11 Delta State governorship election respectively.

In a statement by its President, Mr Adeyemi Lukman, the group noted that they arrived at the decision after considering several variables of governance that weighed heavily in favour of Buhari and Emerhor, insisting that Buhari, as president of Nigeria and Emerhor, as governor of Delta State, will engender the yearnings and aspirations of the masses in the country and Delta State in particular.

ING: Group challenges Fayemi to produce evidence

M

OVE on Nigeria, a Civic Action group promoting good governance and democracy, has dismissed the claim by the immediate past governor of Ekiti State Dr. Kayode Fayemi, that he had evidence of President Goodluck Jonathan’s plan to install an interim government and that Asiwaju Bola Tinubu was invited to be part of the ING arrangement.

In a statement yesterday by its national co-ordinator, Mr Clem Aguiyi, the group said: “President Jonathan has said over and over that ING is unknown to our constitution. He went as far as saying that the idea was treasonable while asking those nursing the idea to perish the thought."

The group challenged Fayemi to make public his evidence that President Jonathan was packaging an Interim National Government.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, MARCH 17, 2015—13

Oba of Benin indisposed, says Traditional Council

By Gabriel Enogholase

B

ENIN—AFTER several weeks of speculation about the health of the Oba of Benin, Oba Erediauwa, the Palace has announced that he is indisposed and as such would not engage in any public engagement for the time being.

A statement by Secretary, Benin Traditional Council, Mr. Frank Irabor, in Benin, yesterday, said: “It is hereby announced for the information of the general public that in the Palace parlance, Uhunmwun ve Ekpen vb’ Ato, meaning “the Leopard is ill in the Savannah bush.

“The explanation is that Oba Erediauwa, the Oba of Benin is indisposed.”

He added that public engagements including courtesy visits, hearing of complaints from individuals, families and communities, and in particular, complaints over inheritance and land disputes, are therefore, suspended until

further notice.”

The Palace directed all Beni

Palace Chiefs and functionaries to note that their

routine traditional duties continue as usual.

By Simon Ebegbulem

B

BRIEFING: Governor Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers State (right) and state APC Chairman, Chief Davies Ikanya during a Press briefing on poltically motivated violence and deaths in Rivers State. yesterday. Photo: Nwankpa Chijioke.

Amaechi alleges daily killings of APC members in Rivers

By Jimitota Onoyume

P

ORT HARCOURT— GOVERNOR Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers State has again accused the Police of bias in the state, saying that they are being used to unjustly arrest and harass members of his All Progressives Congress, APC. The governor, who spoke, yesterday, at Government House, Port Harcourt, said the Police are allegedly conducting themselves as a political party contesting elections with the APC. The governor, who said the Police had allegedly failed to arrest anyone in connection with alleged killings of APC members in the state, adding that 30 members of his party have so far been killed.

According to him, a minimum of one APC member was killed daily.

Amaechi further accused the First Lady of allegedly orchestrating the attacks against APC members in the state.

He said: “I am calling attention to the daily killings and harassment of APC members in Rivers State under the watchful eyes of the Nigeria Police. Despite several letters to the Inspector General of Police and numerous meetings with the Police Commissioner in Rivers State requesting protection of lives and property, APC members have been denied the most basic of human rights, the right to life.

“Regrettably, Rivers State’s

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Oshiomhole congratulates new NLC President

greatest offence is being the home state of the wife of the President, Dame Patience Jonathan.

“Over 30 APC members have been killed so far. Give me till 8p.m., I will give you the names of those killed today. The election is between us and the Police and not the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.” The governor also alleged that

the Police had withdrawn security attached to the governorship candidate of the APC, Dr Dakuku Peterside, saying it was part of an alleged plot to assassinate the candidate.

He alleged that the plan was to take out Peterside as the last resort as that was the only way the opposition felt they could stop the victory of the APC in

the forthcoming elections based on the popularity and acceptability of the APC candidate among Rivers voters.

He expressed fear over the recent withdrawal of Police security from top APC chieftains in the state, including those of its gubernatorial candidate, Dr. Peterside.

Shell’s Seibou well oil spill in Bayelsa traced to equipment failure

By Samuel Oyadongha

Y

ENAGOA—THE crude oil spill from Seibou well in Bayelsa State operated by Shell Petroleum Development Company, SPDC, has been traced to a ruptured pipeline.

A Joint Investigation Visit, JIV, report on the incident indicated that some 549 barrels of crude oil were discharged into Ogboinbiri River in Southern Ijaw Local Government Area and impacted several communities.

A visual assessment of the underwater six-inch crude flow line by all the parties in the JIV team showed that the pipeline failed due to corrosion.

The JIV report obtained yesterday, indicated that the visit was concluded on March 13, 2015.

Shell had, in a statement last week, said that the leakage was reported on January 23, and subsequently shut the facility afterwards when it became safe to do so.

The JIV team comprised Bayelsa

Commissioners for Environment, Mr Iniruo Wills, Agriculture, Mr Thomas Commander, officials of SPDC and National Oil Spills Detection and Response Agency, NOSDRA. The group, Environmental Rights Action/Friends of Earth Nigeria, ERA/ FoEN, a non-governmental organisation and members of impacted communities were also part of the investigative visit.

Oil workers were deployed at the Seibou well head location in the channels of Ogboinbiri River to excavate the pipeline for inspection to unravel the cause of the spill.

Shell's oil spill response team had used booms to cordon off the canal to ensure that any residual oil leak was trapped and recovered.

Speaking during the joint visit, Bayelsa Commissioner for Environment, Mr. Wills, noted that the state government had resolved to overhaul the entire spills and pollution response process.

ENIN—FORMER President of Nigeria Labour Congress and governor of Edo State, Mr Adams Oshiomhole, has congratulated the new President of the NLC, Mr Ayuba Wabba, on his election, urging him to provide a focused and dynamic leadership for the labour movement.

Oshiomhole also appealed to those who feel aggrieved by the outcome of the congress to resist the temptation of convening a factional congress. He asked them to sheathe their swords and extend a hand of fellowship to the new president to help reposition the congress.

In a congratulatory letter to the new NLC President, Oshiomhole said: "I am pleased to offer my hearty felicitation over your election as President of the NLC, during the just concluded 11th National Delegates Conference of the congress.

Your emergence as President of the NLC, in a hitch-free exercise, is no doubt well deserved. It is a befitting recognition of your leadership capabilities, sound trade union antecedents, loyalty and commitment to the Nigerian Labour Movement.”

14 — Vanguard, TUESDAY, MARCH 17, 2015

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Vanguard, TUESDAY, MARCH 17, 2015—15

Stray bullets rain on journalists' estate

Youths shut Benin hotel over boy's death in police custody

By Daud Olatunji

By Simon Ebegbulem

A

BEOKUTA— RESIDENTS of Journalist Estate, Arepo, in Obafemi-Owode Local Government Area of Ogun State have cried out over the stray bullets that had shattered roofs and car windscreens in the estate.

The residents, under the aegis of Journalist Estate Residents Development Association Phase 2, Arepo, had on Monday petitioned the Department of State Services, DSS, Abeokuta, over the development.

The Chairman of the association, Eniola Bello, Managing Director of THISDAY newspapers, in the petition, entitled SOS: Flying High Calibre Bullets in Our Estate, dated March 16, said that at 10am on Friday, March 13, a bullet from high calibre rifle, suspected to be an AK-47, pierced through the roofing of his house, shattering the plaster of Paris decoration and landed in his bedroom.

He added that on Sunday, March 15, a similar type of bullet pierced through a car, Honda CR-V, with number plate FKJ 364 AT, belonging to one Ms Rakiya Suberu, inside her compound, two houses away from his own.

Bello said the residents had reported the incidents to the Divisional Police Headquarters, Ibafo, and that they decided to petition DSS because of the frequency with which bullets were landing in their bedrooms and compounds.

“Sometimes in September 2014, another resident of the estate, Ms. Gbemi Egunjobi, found a similar bullet pierce through the building into her bedroom at about 10pm, while she was preparing to go to bed.

“Also last year, one other resident got the windscreen of his car shattered where it was parked in his compound from a similar bullet.

“We have been lucky that nobody has been injured or killed. We, however, do not want to continue riding on the wings of luck. It is for this reason we have decided to run to you to save our souls.”

C M Y K

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Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board, JAMB, candidates awaiting their turn at the ongoing Unified Tertiary Matriculation, UTME, examination in Dutse, Jigawa State, yesterday. NAN PHOTO.

LP House of Reps candidate kidnapped in C-River

By Emma Una

C

ALABAR—HOODLUMS, numbering seven, Sunday night, abducted Chief Dominic Aqua Edem, Labour Party, LP, House of Representatives candidate for Calabar South/ Akpabuyo/Bakassi Federal Constituency and took him to an unknown destination.

The hoodlums, according to one of his aides, laid wait for him outside his home at Ikotenim in the Western part of

Calabar.

According to him, on his return from an outing “the hoodlums descended on him, assaulted him, bundled him into a vehicle and sped off.”

Aqua Edem, who is the former member representing Cross River State in the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, was not with his police escort at the time.

The aide said: “On Sundays, he allows his escort to take some time off and was not with any

security detail. That perhaps was the reason the people could strike without resistance.”

At press time, the hoodlums were yet to contact the family.

Mr. Hogan Bassey, Cross River State Police Command spokesman, said police are investigating the matter.

“The incident just happened and our men are combing the town for clues as to where they have taken him and how to apprehend his captors,” he said.

CHILD-BRIDE: She can't escape death penalty through back door—PROSECUTION COUNSEL

By Abdulsalam Muhammad

K

ANO—THE prosecution counsel canvassing death penalty for 14-year-old child bride, Wasila Tasiu, over culpable homicide, has told a Kano High Court, Gezawa, that the suspect cannot escape justice through back door.

The prosecution counsel, Lamido Dinki’s position came on the heels of a no-case submission by the defence counsel, Hussaina Ibrahim, who urged the court to acquit and discharge the accused person.

Wasila Tasiu has been standing trial for the past 10 months for allegedly killing her husband and three others through food poisoning.

The prosecution lawyer told the court not to evaluate his evidence, especially as the defence lawyers were yet to enter their defence.

The state counsel further argued that “the issue about the credibility of our witnesses does not even arise, because the law said the testimony of our witnesses should only be

treated on case value.”

Dinki cited Supreme Court judgement on Agbo versus the state in 2013 that “a no-case submission should be determined within the narrow compass of the legallyadmissible evidence produced by the prosecution, and as such should be based on a case value.”

He said the no-case submission could not stand on the case under review, adding that such step would pave way

for the accused persons to escape justice through the back door.

However, the court has reserved ruling on whether Wasila Tasiu has a case to answer under the law for March 31.

The presiding judge, Justice Muhammad Yahaya, ruled: “The court, hereby, fix March 31 for ruling on the application by the defence counsel on nocase submission on behalf of Wasila Tasiu.”

ENIN—ANGRY youths, yesterday, crippled activities at Protea Hotel, Benin, following the death of a 26-year-old boy, identified as Chibuike Edeh, an indigene of Enugu State, in the custody of the police at the area command in the state capital.

The deceased, who was a staff of the hotel, was alleged to have stolen N42,000 from a guest and was handed over to the police at Area Command, Sapele Road, by the Chief Security Officer of the hotel last Friday.

However, to the surprise of the family of the deceased and residents of Stadium Road, where they reside, somebody called them on Saturday evening, informing them that the deceased body was found at the University of Benin Teaching Hospital, UBTH. Mother of the deceased, Christiana Edeh, said when she saw her son at the area command Saturday morning, he told her to try and remove him from there, that he was innocent; only for her come to back in the afternoon and was informed that her son was missing.

The entire guests at the hotel were evacuated as the protesters took over the entire premises, forcing management staff of the hotel to take to their heels.

Not even the presence of policemen could stop the protesters.

Some of them went naked, vowing to remain at the hotel premises until police and the management of the hotel produced the deceased.

Police nab 4 suspected kidnappers in Lagos

By Esther Onyegbula

L

AGOS State Police Command has arrested four members of a kidnapping gang in Lagos.

The suspects, identified as Edet Ekuno, 32; Sunday Samiga, 24; Hope Okon, 27; and Unuagbon Isaiah, 31, were apprehended after the command received intelligence report on their activities.

Parading the suspects before newsmen, the Commissioner of Police, Kayode Aderanti, said

on March 7, at about 2am, information got to him that some kidnappers were lodging in D2 Hotel located at Ojodu Berger, Lagos, and that they were perfecting plans to kidnap a businessman in Magodo Estate.

On receipt of the information, Aderanti immediately ordered the OC SARS, SP Abba Kyari, to arrest them.

All the suspects confessed to several kidnappings in Akwa Ibom and Lagos states.

Vanguard gathered that efforts

were on to arrest the remaining members of the gang.

Confessing to the crime, Okon said: “I am a kidnapper, and I have kidnapped several people in Akwa Ibom State.

In his account, Samiga said: “I owned the guns. I used to snatch bags from people, using commercial motorcycle. Later, I joined this gang.”

In his defence, Ekuno said he did not participate in any of the kidnap operations, adding that his role was to give the gang information on the victim.”

16—Vanguard, TUESDAY, MARCH 17, 2015

Buhari is Nigeria's Mandela —Okorocha

By Clifford Ndujihe

I

MO STATE Governor Owelle Rochas Okorocha, has likened the All Progressives Congress, APC, presidential candidate, Major-General Muhammadu Buhari (retd) to late Dr. Nelson Mandela of South Africa and urged Nigerians to give him the mandate to steer and stabilise the ship of state.

Addressing Imo State indigenes who gathered on the banner of Imo State Towns Development Association Lagos (ISTDAL) at a colourful reception for him at Teslim Balogun Stadium, Lagos, Okorocha said at 72, the only thing uppermost in Buhari’s mind was to clear the rot in the polity and move on.

The governor, who spoke in Igbo language, said if the South-East Zone wanted to produce the president in the immediate future, the people must elect Buhari. Reason: “Buhari is the Mandela of our time. At 72, what does he want? He will do one term, fix the country and move on and then power will be come back to the South. When power rotates to the South, the SouthEast will have it in 2019 because the South-West has had it through Chief Olusegun Obasanjo and the South-South through Dr Goodluck Jonathan.’’

However, he said the South-East

would not be in the stead to produce the president if they did not get their politics right by voting for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), which he claimed had marginalised the South-East.

According to him, ‘’under

President Jonathan administration, the South-East is not among the five topmost positions in the country (President, Vice President, Senate President, Chief Justice of the Federation, Speaker of the

House of Representatives), does not have any of the service chiefs, Inspector General of Police, Controller of Customs, Immigration, Civil Defence, etc.

We only have controller of Prisons.

This is not fair.’’

....Why Obasanjo denied me VP slot

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KOROCHA WHO said Imo people should not think twice before handing him reelection mandate to enable him complete his rescue mission in the state, said his prime ambition

was to be president. ‘’I did not plan to be governor.

My ambition is to be president of Nigeria. I came second to late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua at the PDP presidential primaries.

I should have been nominated as Yar’Adua’s running mate. Chief Obasanjo chased me away because they feared they cannot control me. So they gave the Igbo slot to President Jonathan.’’

BRIEFING: From left, The 1st Deputy President, Kaduna Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture, KADCCIMA, Alhaji Awwalu Makarfi; President, Dr. Abdul-Alimi Bello, and Director-general, Alhaji Usman Saulawa, at a media briefing on the 2015 Kaduna International Trade fair, yesterday. Photo: Olu Ajayi.

ICC to probe incitement allegations against Patience Jonathan T

HE International Criminal Court, ICC, said it would investigate allegations of incitement against the First Lady, Dame Patience Jonathan, The Cable, an online newspaper reported yesterday.

The decision to investigate and possibly prosecute the First Lady followed a petition submitted to the ICC by All Progressives Congress Presidential Campaign Organization, APCPCO. The Director-General of the APCPCO, Governor Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers State had last week signed the petition against the First Lady, alleging incitement during her recent campaign speeches in some sections of the country.

Following the petition, The Cable had sought confirmation from the Office of The Prosecutor, OTP, at the ICC over the issue.

The OTP in its confirmation of the petition claimed to have formally received the petition and would consider it within the ambits of the law.

It said: “Under Article 15 of the Rome Statute, the C M Y K

Prosecutor of the ICC may receive information on crimes within the jurisdiction on the Court (also called ‘communications’),” The Cable quoted the OTP to have said.

Response

It said: “With regards to your enquiry, the Office of the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court can confirm receipt of the communication referred to since the sender of the communication has made this fact public in the media.

“The Office will give consideration to this communication, as appropriate, in accordance with the provisions of the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court, as it does with all such communications.”

The online medium had also quoted the United Kingdom branch of APC to have also confirmed receipt and adoption of the petition.

“The ICC, based in The Hague, has sent confirmation to APC-UK, that an investigation will begin against Mrs Jonathan, who

repeatedly called for the stoning of opposition APC members as captured in the videos released earlier this month,” the party was quoted to have said.

“The criminal case investigation ICC reference number is: OTP-CR-83/15,” it added.

Mrs. Jonathan has drawn mixed reactions on some of her statements, including statements urging supporters to stone anyone that comes to preach change to them.

Also yesterday, Fatou Bensouda, prosecutor of the International Criminal Court, had in a statement affirmed that Nigerians, who provoke violence ahead of, during and after the elections could be liable to sanctions from the ICC.

The statement

He said: “Following my statement of February 2, and my Office’s subsequent visit to Nigeria from of February 3 to 5, I reiterate my previous message.

“At a time when abhorrent levels of violence already

plague parts of the country, I recall that the International Criminal Court ('ICC' or the 'Court’) has jurisdiction over Rome Statute crimes committed on the territory of Nigeria.

“Any person who incites or engages in acts of violence in the context of the upcoming elections or otherwise— including by ordering, inciting, encouraging or contributing to the commission of crimes that fall within ICC’s jurisdiction— is liable to prosecution; “Either by Nigerian courts or by the ICC. No one should doubt my Office’s resolve to prosecute individuals responsible for the commission of ICC crimes, whenever necessary.

“Violence is not a solution.

The conduct and outcome of elections in Nigeria, free from violence, will not only prevent further instability in the country, but will also send a clear message that electoral competition does not have to result in violence and crimes that shock the conscience of humanity.”

Labour threatens to cripple Defence Ministry

by Victor AhiumaYoung

A

SSOCIATION OF Senior Civil Servants of Nigeria, ASCSN, yesterday in Lagos, stepped up planned industrial action against the Ministry of Defence over lingering issues of unpaid workers salaries and other labour matters.

The union also insisted that activities of the ministry would be crippled once its ultimatum to the management of the ministry expired without positive response.

The union had last week issued a 14 day ultimatum to the Ministry of Defense to convene a meeting to address lingering issues on workers salaries and welfares or face industrial action.

ASCSN threatened to cripple operations of the Ministry unless it paid thousands of its civilian employees their allowances, including promotion arrears outstanding since 2011.

Glo preserving Nigeria's culture — NTDC

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HE Director General of the Nigerian Tourism Development Corporation, Mrs Sally Mbanefo has commended Globacom for its robust support for major festivals which had helped to preserve the country’s rich cultural heritage.

Mrs Mbanefo gave the commendation in her address at a seminar on Oke’badan festival, noting that it was very heart-warming that Globacom had lent full support to the festival by sponsoring it.

Mrs Mbanefor added that with this kind of support, there was the assurance that the cultures of the Nigerian peoples would not go into extinction.

Represented by a senior official of NTDC, Mr. Ody Anumba, Mbanefo noted that festivals like Oke ‘Badan were a veritable tool for tourism.”

Vanguard, TUESDAY, MARCH 17, 2015 — 17

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NE month ago, the APC had whipped its supporters into frenzy in believing it is bound to win an election it really has no chance of winning. In truth, if the election had been conducted then for chairman of the EFCC, Muhammadu Buhari would have been declared winner by a landslide. However, with postponement of the election, a lot of water has passed under the bridge.

Even Buhari’s self-styled credential as Mr. Integrity has unraveled.

Buhari’s entire campaign posture for the 2015 presidential election stands on two shaky grounds. He fashions himself as Mr. Integrity; the implacable enemy of corruption in Nigeria. He is the one who reportedly is going to ensure that corruption is a thing of the past in Nigeria. He is also the one who is going to destroy the Boko Haram in the twinkling of an eye; even though a number of months ago, he was negotiating for amnesty and golden handshakes for the insurgents, and they nominated him as their preferred middleman in any truce negotiation with Nigeria.

Buhari's disappearance Things have not gone too well for the Buhari campaign since the postponement of the election. He did not help things by disappearing off the political radar for virtually two weeks. By the time he resurfaced, Boko Haram was toast. We no longer needed Buhari’s vain promissory notes to deal with the insurgency.

One after another, town after town were recovered from the Boko Haram. In many respects, they have been routed as the Nigerian army came into its own after having received its new consignment of weapons.

As a result, we are no longer hearing anything from Buhari about whipping Boko Haram.

All he had left was his anticorruption mantra. But that one also came to grief with the airing of AIT’s tripartite documentary entitled: “The Lion of Bourdillon.” This alleged that Bola Tinubu, the self-styled national leader of the APC, is steeped in corruption. It claims Tinubu is the biggest landlord in Lagos, and maintains he has acquired so much property through very sharp practices.

While the veracity of these allegations is yet to be ascertained beyond reasonable doubt, the documentary has brought to the fore the flies in the anticorruption ointment of Buhari. The truth is that corruption in Nigeria is not the exclusive preserve of the PDP. It is also the chronic ailment of the APC. Neither is corruption only the malaise of the Federal Government; it is equally the malaise of state governments, including those ruled by the APC.

Buhari and the Lion of Bourdillon Indeed, Murtala Nyako of the APC was impeached and removed as governor of Adamawa State partly because it was alleged that he had corruptly enriched himself with government funds.

The question then is this: Does Buhari’s so-called zerotolerance for corruption extend to his APC colleagues?

Will Buhari, in the unlikely event that he becomes president, go after APC thieves as well as PDP thieves?

Or will he turn a blind eye to APC thieves and mollycuddle them? Suddenly, the anti-corruption searchlight turned on to Buhari and his friends, and just as suddenly, we discovered what some of us have always known: that Buhari, the Emperor of AntiCorruption, has no clothes.

Buhari’s response to the issue of corruption in APC ranks reeked with sheer hypocrisy and doublestandards.

Like charity, Buhari’s anti-corruption must begin at home in the APC if it is to be credible. However, Buhari is not inclined to prosecute his friends.

Instead, he came up with a pronouncement that virtually rubbished his anticorruption posture. He said: “Whoever that is indicted of corruption between 1999 to the time of swearing-in, would be pardoned. I am going to draw a line, anybody who involved himself in corruption after I assume office, will face the music.”

Insurance for corrupt supporters This means as long as you steal money between 1999 and 2011, you have nothing to fear under a Buhari

Why is Buhari, Mr. AntiCorruption, now suddenly determined to shield corrupt politicians from prosecution?

presidency. This is, of course, an insurance policy for his corrupt supporters, assuring them that they would have nothing to fear by giving him their vote. Buhari did not come out in strident support of Bola Tinubu. He did not come out to tell the world that, contrary to the AIT documentary, the Bola Tinubu he knows is a man of unimpeachable integrity.

Instead, he told the world that if there are thieves among his friends, they can rest assured that he would pardon their thievery.

When President Jonathan pardoned the former governor of Bayelsa, Diepreye Alamieyeseigha, a man who had been convicted of corruption and was a refugee from justice from Britain, Nigerians were incensed. This was rightly seen as the president condoning corruption. One would have thought this kind of thing would not occur with a man who talks anticorruption day and night.

However, in the case of Buhari, he would not only pardon one corrupt associate, he would pardon them all.

When asked how he was going to get funds to revitalise the economy, Buhari stated that he was going to get all corrupt past leaders and officials cough out their stolen money.

This was nothing but a nonsensical policy. It is bizarre and odd for Buhari to think he can run Nigeria, revamp the educational system for example, by recovering stolen money. Where will he get this money from? Who will give it to him? Would such recovered money not amount to a storm in the teacup?

But now that he has dumped this anti-corruption charade in favour of a blanket pardon for the corrupt, it is clear that political reality is beginning to erode Buhari’s highfalutin campaign grandstanding. It is equally significant that Buhari’s new stance on corruption comes coincidentally after AIT documentary on “The Lion of Bourdillon,” where one of his most important allies was accused of corruption.

Clearly, it is high time Buhari stopped deluding Nigerians that he is genuinely anticorruption and that he can

eradicate corruption in Nigeria by sending corrupt politicians to jail.

Buhari was Nigeria’s headof-state for a period of 18 months in the 1980s. At the time, he ran so rough-shod over the Nigerian judicial system that the Nigerian Bar Association proscribed Nigerian lawyers from appearing in any of Buhari’s kangaroo courts. Buhari sent both corrupt and noncorrupt politicians to jail, sometimes for up to 300 years.

Nevertheless, corruption was not eradicated. It continued unabated because it was not addressed structurally. Even the practice under Obasanjo of shooting armed robbers by firing squad in Bar Beach failed to stop armed robbery.

All it did was to brutalise the Nigerian public.

Jonathan's effective approach Surely, the more reasonable and effective method is to remove the avenues for corruption. This is what Goodluck Jonathan has been doing. He has sanitized the payroll system by removing some 50,000 ghost-workers, saving the country a whopping N200 billion in the first instance. He has removed the fertilizer middlemen; saving Nigeria hundreds of billions of naira. He has sanitized the electoral register.

Over three million ghost voters have been removed; one million in Zamfara State alone.

He is going after corruption in the oil sector with the Petroleum Industry Bill.

In the vainglorious case of Buhari, it did not help matters that he fought corruption with corruption. He interfered blatantly in the judicial process. The judge who sent Fela to jail later went to apologise to him in hospital afterwards that he did it under government duress.

Nevertheless, some members of the Nigerian public, baying for the blood of corrupt politicians, hanker back to the high-handed days of the Buhari era, when the human rights of innocent Nigerians were violated on the altar of anti-corruption, and some Nigerians were even judicially murdered under heinous retroactive decrees.

What Buhari is not telling them is that he has no power

to do this under today ’s democratic dispensation.

Buhari goes on the stomp and says: “When we come into power, anyone who steals Nigerian money will end up in Kirikiri Maximum Prisons.

We are going to make sure that Nigeria’s wealth belongs only to Nigerians.” But the truth of the matter is that, in a democracy, the president does not have the judicial power to send anybody to Kirikiri. If the EFCC does not prosecute, the president cannot become the chairman of the EFCC. If the judges do not convict, Buhari cannot transform himself into a judge.

Deceived electorate All those who have been deceived into believing that Buhari will just become president and begin to lock up corrupt politicians left, right and centre are dreaming. In the unlikely event that Buhari becomes president, he will neither have the power to do so, nor the inclination to do so. The reason is simple: many of the thieves are his friends and allies in the APC. Buhari talks change, but he is running around with the old breed of politicians. You can always tell a lot about a man by the composition and character of his friends.

Buhari fashions himself as Mr. Integrity, nevertheless, he was not averse to serve under Sani Abacha, one of the most corrupt heads-of-state in the history of Nigeria. Even more significant, Buhari insisted that Abacha was not corrupt at all. On the 10th anniversary of Abacha’s death, Buhari told incredulous Nigerians that all the allegations of looting the treasury leveled against Abacha were “baseless.” He said: “ten years after Abacha, those allegations remain unproven because of lack of facts.”

Buhari held this position in spite of the millions of dollars of Abacha’s loot recovered from banks around the world, and in spite of the fact that the Abacha’s family signed a formal agreement to return over $1 billion of such monies to the Nigerian government.

We can see therefore that, from the point of view of Buhari, only the PDP has the copyright on corruption.

Every allegation of corruption leveled against his friends and financiers must surely be “baseless.”

It is this kind of double standard that prompted Buhari to jail Vice-president Ekwueme while only putting President Shagari under house arrest. Fela AnikulapoKuti poked fun at this in one of his songs. He said: “Driver commit accident Buhari lock conductor.” Given the many corrupt drivers that abound in Buhari’s APC’s, we can anticipate that he will only be interested in locking up conductors in the unlikely event that he ever becomes president.

18 — Vanguard, TUESDAY, MARCH 17, 2015 THE tragedy of the continued clashes among various security agencies is that each episode is quickly consigned to a long list of similar incidents that failed to stop new dangerous incidents. Why do agencies that should work together clash? Is there anything the commanding officers teach their rank and file?

Clashes among security agencies are not new. They no longer bewilder the public as used to be the case. Why would those meant to secure us set on themselves with such ferocity that results in mayhem?

How then would these agencies work together in an election settling, an election that is doused in tension?

What would happen on election day if the security agencies decided to fight over superiority? Different arms of the military also fight over matters that are sometimes indiscernible. Each wants to show its superiority, and the best way it seems, is by unleashing excessive force on the other. The police that are supposed to manage internal security are the least regarded in the entire setup.

When the Air Force and Police clashed

When Security Fight Each Other in Lagos, years back, both sides fought for days, taking turns to fight not only identifiable personnel from both sides, but anyone with a car sticker that aligned with either side.

All that seems to matter during such incidents is that if colleagues of an aggrieved party fail to retaliate the hurt with more excessiveness, then the arm of the security agency he represents has also been disgraced. The individual’s offence is unimportant in fighting for the group to maintain the service.

In Aba, months back, the Army fought the Police over a minor traffic incident. It led to soldiers invading a police station

before superior officers on both sides intervened. So much damage had been done before order was restored.

Each arm of the security agencies thinks it is superior to the other and never misses an opportunity to show it. Unfortunately, when these incidents occur, senior officers support their men. It is doubtful if the security authorities punish their personnel, where they are the offending party.

These fights could be minimised without the ease the ravaging parties access assistance from their colleagues. There always appears to be troops on standby to carry out these invasions, with an acumen that suggests they are critical to their career, or the well-being of their agency.

It is important the authorities deal with these matters thoroughly. If security agencies fight themselves, we should not be wondering why they are not cooperating to manage national security.

If they take this attitude to the elections, it would not take much imagination to predict what their activities at the elections would be.

OPINION

By Aiyevbekpen Osakue

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RDINARILY, an apology is the act of declaring ones regret or remorse or sorrow for having wronged another.

Curiously, Edo State has in recent times been inundated by unsolicited apologies. First, it was Chief Frank Erewele who apologized during a Television programme for the role he played in facilitating the election of Comrade Adams Oshiomhole as Governor of Edo State in 2007. He did not elaborate.

Next, was Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu, former Secretary to Edo State government and now, State Coordinator of Jonathan’s Presidential Campaign. He expressed regrets that he was in the frontline of the efforts that produced Comrade Oshiomhole as Edo State Governor.

The apologies are stiff, bumptious and without remorse. It is significant to note however, that both had fallen out of favour and parted ways with the Governor before they realized their so-called mistake. Would they have been caught in this web of apologies if they had remained in APC and obtained endorsement for Osagie Ize-Iyamu to succeed Comrade Oshiomhole ahead of 2016? Certainly not. An apology proceeds from a burdened heart and represents the moral strength of the one who realized where and how he/she erred. It is critical to reconciliation of broken relationships, restoration of dignity, stimulation of reflection and healing of wounds. But for an apology to achieve these goals, it must be authentic, honest, straight, undiluted and most importantly, it must come from the heart. The said apologies are peripheral and lacking in values. They are smoke screens C M Y K

Web of apologies in Edo meant to play on political sentiments and more like a feel-good strategy contrived to promote the electoral interest of the PDP. Such stiff apologies are indicative of harumscarum and lack of appraisal of the hurting impact of their action on individuals and the State. Upon sober reflection, they will come to the knowledge that their action was ironically poor on individuals but positive on the State. That means that the emergence of Comrade Oshiomhole as Governor of Edo State was God’s divine arrangement to lift the people out of insular backwaters.

However, the operators of the chosen platform snookered the polity with malarkey thereby trampling on the rights of some other individuals. Thus, they have continued to be weighed down by a heavy burden of apology!

One wonders why it has become such a nightmare for them to factually recount the actions they are apologizing for? The inability of offenders to contend with the defeated state of mind that comes with confessing wrong doings amount to deviant denial of responsibility. In any case, the facts of that episode in our political trajectory are bare enough to be summarized thus: The then opposition party, the Action Congress (AC) was birthed in Edo State by few individuals including Hon. Charles Idahosa.

Shortly after establishment, a faction of the

The said apologies are peripheral and lacking in values

PDP in the name of Grace Group under the proxy leadership of Osagie Ize-Iyamu dissolved into the new party but Osagie IzeIyamu was still wielding superfluous influence in the PDP government of Lucky Igbinedion. The new entrants emerged as the dominant political bloc in the party. In the run up to gubernatorial nomination in 2006, the then governor and his proxy leader of the Grace Group effectively manipulated the party from the back stage.

Thus, several gubernatorial aspirants were either bought over or muzzled out of the race save Charles Idahosa. Consequently, gubernatorial primary was reluctantly planned and organized to pick the party candidate between Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, who was suddenly drafted into the gubernatorial nomination race of the party and Hon. Charles Idahosa, who refused to be bought or persuaded out of the race.

However, rather than organize free and fair party primaries for the contestants, the result of the primaries were simply written and announced at the party Secretariat in favour of Comrade Adams Oshiomhole and thus, he became the candidate of the party in 2007.

From the above account, is it not clear enough that the most injured in the subterfuge is Charles Idahosa, who was conspiratorially schemed out of the gubernatorial nomination of a party that he founded along with few others? The reasons as widely speculated at the cocktail of their actions were that Idahosa was too independent minded, too courageous and

fearless and may be uncontrollable if made a Governor. The offenders must however realize that there is no short cut to apology. If you have wronged anyone, you must come clean and confess it straight to the one you have wronged because the injured person wants to be vindicated and healed as well. In this case, not only should the apology be properly delivered and specifically directed at the injured, it must be done in a humble manner that diminishes the offender. Lastly, the transgressors have a binding obligation to apologize to Edo State for the monumental rape, pillage and sleaze that she suffered during the dark days of Ize-Iyamu – Igbinedion led PDP administration.

Interestingly, the same Charles Idahosa who was clothed in the image of a bugaboo has worked closely, peacefully and harmoniously with the people-centred government of Comrade Adams Oshiomhole as Special Adviser on Political Matters for six good years. Not many would recall that Charles Idahosa was only in the government of Chief Lucky Igbinedion for only a little more than three years, out of a total of eight years in office. It is therefore, to the chagrin and utter amazement of the manipulators, that not even once has the relationship between Idahosa and Comrade Oshiomhole been unduly pressured to the point rupture.Therefore, if indeed, Osagie IzeIyamu and Frank Erewele apologized for helping Oshiomhole to power, the apologies must have been deeply motivated by less ennobling grounds than the common good of the society. *Mr.Osakue, a political strategist, wrote from Benin City, Edo State.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, MARCH 17, 2015— —19

By Sunny Ikhioya

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HE ways of nature and man are unfathomable, deep and endless. The more we try to find meaning to life, the more it pushes us into deeper search and it goes on and on.

At certain points in time, nature had thrust certain individuals into positions of preeminence, it is difficult to rationally explain how but they arrive their destination and fulfill their due destiny despite the machinations, wiles and devices of men.

Barak Obama is one of such, born of an African father who landed in the United States as recently as the 1960s and a Muslim. The two combinations cannot logically add up for somebody that aspires to be the president of today’s America but here you have him as the president doing his second term.

Nelson Mandela was not the foremost freedom fighter South Africa had when he was put in jail in the early sixties but destiny thrust him in the forefront of the apartheid struggle, right inside jail , the rest is history, before his death, he was arguably the greatest man that lived in his time.

Olusegun Obasanjo came out of prison to become president of Nigeria, he was only fulfilling destiny, even as his people

A child of destiny rejected him, and he still managed to find himself as the president of Nigeria.

That is life, unpredictable and unexplainable.

Goodluck Jonathan grew up in a rural minority ethnic village.

According to his account, as a small boy going to school, his parents could not afford to buy him shoes. He did not deliberately or consciously seek to become deputy governor, governor, vice president and president respectively but today, he has occupied all of these positions with little effort or struggle. The South-south minority ethnic groups have an abundance of very capable, intelligent, focused, creative and exuberant young men, who can stand their own anywhere in the world, not only in Nigeria but destiny picked a certain Goodluck Jonathan to attain the position of president; what people are killing and dying for, he got effortlessly.

That is the way of life, if a man of history is riding his destiny, whether for good or for bad, there is nothing any man can do. It is at this point that those who are spiritually sensitive will ask the people to pray, for direction for our leadership and for peace in the country.

By Bashir Ibrahim Hassan

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AST week the Nigerian Deposit Insurance Corporation (NDIC) was at the public hearing organised by Senate Committee on Banking and Finance to defend its quest for amendments of its 2006 Act to make it more effective in serving depositors’ interest. It met with resistance from an unlikely quarter—the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

The differences that came to the fore at the public hearing between these bedfellows of our macro-economic policies conclave and the dramatic circumstances in which these differences were expressed were not lost on the media, which gave them extensive coverage.

But the drama left in its wake series of questions -- What are these differences about? What is at stake? In other words, what section of the law is NDIC seeking the National Assembly to amend? Who is to gain? And who will lose out of the amendment sought by NDIC is granted.

Let’s start from the fears expressed by the CBN at the public hearing. According to media reports, the CBN governor, Godwin Emefiele, speaking through his Deputy, Suleiman Barau, said the amendment NDIC was seeking is capable of causing chaos and anarchy in the financial sector, insisting that the implication of the amendment would make the NDIC a parallel or coordinate regulator for banks as CBN. In a calmed response to the CBN claim, the Managing Director of the NDIC, Alhaji Umaru Ibrahim, said: “We are for collaboration; we are for the safety and soundness of the system. We are not in competition with the CBN” So what are these amendments? They are many actually; over twenty -- from the mundane to more serious ones. The mundane ones include correction of editorial errors as well as drafting errors in the extant act; the need for declaration of public policy objectives; the composition and tenure of the board of directors; the vacancy of membership and appointment of more executive directors.

The more serious amendments include: adequate provision for general reserve fund; prohibition of payment of dividends by insured institutions while in default of

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Nigeria is a blessed country, with a lot of potentials. A people get the leadership that they deserve. If there is peace across the land, there will be development, you cannot call for war, abusing the leadership as clueless and ineffective and expect something good to come out of them. The holy book tells us that there is power in our tongue, what you say is what you get. You cannot deliberately undermine the leadership because you want to attain their positions and expect to enjoy it

Jonathan is not the problem of Nigeria and he is also, not the problem of the PDP. We all know the PDP governors who decamped for their selfish reasons after ensuring that the party imploded

when you get there, it does not work like that.

That is how I see things.

Jonathan is a child of destiny and there is no deviousness of man that can change that.

It is very instructive for us to note that, at this time of our democracy, we have a person of Goodluck Jonathan’s temperament as the president of Nigeria. People have deliberately goaded him to react in a manner that will set the nation ablaze but he has disappointed them with his calm and peaceful demeanor.

Those who could not pass the Freedom of Information Bill, FoI, during their time in government are now coming out to talk; some could not even accommodate their vice presidents and deputy governors. Jonathan’s Freedom of Information Bill has now made it possible for the citizenry to know how much is spent on drinking tea in Aso rock villa.

The NNPC was run consistently for eight years like a cult by Obasanjo and his cronies, dishing out subsidies and rentals of all types, yet, nobody said a word.

Jonathan’s openness has put the NNPC debate on the front burner and some people are yet to be appreciative of this.

I saw President Obasanjo the other day on television, gesticulating and talking about the country’s leadership, the question that I have for him is this: What leadership example did he leave behind in his

NDIC-CBN tangle, let the interest of depositors prevail assessed premium charges; the right to set-off guarantors’ deposits against the claim of the failed bank; payment of insured sums in the event of suspension of payment or imminent difficulty for payment even where operation license has not been revoked; and the supervision of related entities of insured institutions particularly under consolidated supervision.

Others are power for immediate action required to conduct special examination by managing director without delay from its Board of Directors and presentation of examination report to the board of insured bank, prompt corrective action; the Corporation as conservator; power of the Corporation as liquidator, transfer of pending suits, interest on judgment sum; liability of directors and officers; other parties at fault; criminal prosecution and offences and civil penalty and service of process.

A close look at these operational needs makes one wonders how such needs were not taken care of by the extant laws in the first place. But the point is that man-made laws are made to achieve effectiveness in the regulation and administration of human endeavours and, when over time they become deficient, they need to be amended to achieve the much sought after efficiency and effectiveness.

On a further look at these amendments, one can see that they are set to address

The NDIC and the CBN have always cooperated in designing our macroeconomic policies.

This cooperation should also focus on protecting the depositors’ interest

the expectations of the stakeholders.

Depositors look up to the NDIC to offer relief to them when their funds are threatened or trapped in failed or ailing financial institutions. The NDIC demonstrated its ingenuity in 2011 when it introduced the bridge bank model in failure resolution.

The option put the interests of the banking public first, especially the primary depositors and, to prevent outright liquidation which would have had systemic consequences on the financial system and undermined or eroded public confidence in the banking system. The corporation took-over assets of the critically distressed banks and assumed liabilities in the three bridge banks, namely, Mainstreet Bank Limited, Keystone Bank Limited and Enterprise Bank Limited to replace the erstwhile Afribank Plc, Bank PHB Plc and Spring Bank Plc, respectively. The CBN subsequently revoked the operating licenses of the three banks (i.e. Afribank Plc, Bank PHB Plc and Spring Bank Plc) on August 5, 2011.

The Bridge Bank mechanism had a salutary effect on the banking system as it preserved and sustained operations of the three banks in all their branches and allowed over 3.7 million depositors to continue to enjoy banking services in the premises of the affected banks. In the process over 6,000 jobs were saved in the banking system and no depositors lost their funds, a condition hitherto absent in our financial system.

With these kinds of open display of ingenuity in the protection of the interests of the depositors, NDIC deserves all the support it needs from all and sundry to review its laws that will help it addresses its operational challenges that continue to threaten its ability to discharge its mandate. I do not see any conflict here with the role of CBN. If anything, NDIC is leaving up to its expectation and is demonstrating that it is alive to its mandate as minimizer of risks, and is willing to ask for any assistance – even

uncountable years in office?

Everybody is shouting PDP, the destruction of democratic structures in the PDP started with Obasanjo’s interference with the Senate leadership. If he had done his part, the whole debate about transparency in the NNPC and the rest would have been a thing of history by now.

The culture of imposition and arbitrary removal of people from positions gained grounds during Obasanjo's PDP tenure. How many senate presidents, party chairmen, governors were unconstitutionally removed from offices? And how many prominent politicians were killed? Have we forgotten Bola Ige so soon? Harry Marshall, Dikibo et al?

And, the so called progressives are now busy clinking glasses, wining and dining with him and asking him to navigate for us.

Jonathan is not the problem of Nigeria and he is also, not the problem of the PDP. We all know the PDP governors who decamped for their selfish reasons after ensuring that the party imploded.

I am not a politician, neither do I owe any allegiance to any political god father, but I have the conviction that as a child of destiny, a child of circumstance, Jonathan will fulfill his before he leaves. *Mr. Ikhioya, a commentator on national issues, wrote from Lagos.

including amendment of its law to achieve safety, stability and soundness of the banking system in Nigeria. All responsible monetary institutions in the world are constantly reviewing their laws to plug loopholes that can be exploited by greedy operators.

Some of the amendments that NDIC is seeking are akin to what the Federal Reserve in US is doing under Comprehensive Capital Analysis and Review. The review by the Federal Reserve was implemented in the aftermath of the 2008 financial crisis.

The review tested US banks’ ability to lend to households and businesses even in times of stress. Banks that failed the tests, which means they have high risks, were forced to suspend dividend payments to shareholders, and international lenders can be prevented from sending their earnings back to their parent companies.

These are drastic measures but measures which are needed to protect the depositor.

All banks with more than $50bn in assets in the US are subjected to annual examinations.The 31 lenders tested this year together account for roughly 80% of the banking sector. They were all deemed to have enough reserve cash to deal with a shock, but the Federal Reserve found fault with Santander and Deutsche Bank's financial plans according a BBC news report.

In this drama between NDIC’s need to strengthen its legal framework to ensure it performs its function better and the panicky resistance from the CBN for fear of its perceived danger of losing some of its role as apex banker in the country, the interest of the depositor must prevail. The National Assembly will be the ultimate judge. Will it help protect the banking public and the depositor or will it protect some archaic legal frameworks that hinder the operations of other equally important financial regulatory institutions in the country?

The NDIC and the CBN have always cooperated in designing our macroeconomic policies. This cooperation should also focus on protecting the depositors’ interest. After all the depositors are the lifelines of our banking systems.

•Mr. Hassan, a media executive, wrote from Abuja.

20 — Vanguard, TUESDAY, MARCH 17, 2015

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Vanguard, FRIDAY, MARCH 17, 2015 — 21

BYPETER EGWUATU

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NVESTORS, yesterday, lost N363.5 billion as value of stocks on the Nigerian Stock Exchange market, (market capitalisation) declined by 2.75 per cent to N9.987 trillion from N10.250 trillion on Friday.

Operators stated that major loses recorded by the banking sub sector contributed significantly to push down market capilisation. The market capitalisation represents the total value of shares traded on the exchange.

In the same vein, another stock market indicators, the All share Index (ASI)fell by the same percentage value as it shed 889.80 points to close 29,929.56 points from 30,719.36 points on Friday.

The banking sub sector index declined by 4.78 per cent; Industrial stocks sector shed 3.03 percent, and Consumer Goods sector dropped by 2.23 per cent.

Specifically, the downswing of the banking sector was attributed to the losses of recorded by ETI, UBA, GTBank , Sterling Bank, Access Bank, Skye Bank and First Bank Nigeria Holding, FBNH. ETI dropped by 4.95 per cent to close at N18.05, followed by UBA dropping by 4.84 per cent to close at N3.93. GT

Pupils and teachers of West End Mixed Secondary School, Asaba during a Berger Paints Nigeria Plc sponsored “Career Talk” for public secondary schools in Nigeria

Investors lose N363bn as stock market value drops to N9.987trn Bank shed 4.00 per cent to close at N24.00, followed by Sterling Bank with a loss of 2.5 per cent to close at N2.34 per cent, and Access Bank declined by 1.97 per cent to close at N5.98.

Other losers include Skye Bank (1.74 per cent to close at N2.26) and FBNH (1.18 per

cent to close at, N8.40).The loses recorded by Champion Breweries, Nigerian Breweries , NB , Dangote Sugar, NOSCON and Guinness Breweries, contributed significantly to depress the Consumer Goods index. Specifically, Champion Breweries nosedived by 5.00

to close at N4.75), NB shed 5.00 per cent to close at N132.05, followed by Dangote Sugar which dipped by 4.92 per cent to close at N5.99.

NASCON depreciated 0.46 per cent to close at N6.46 and Guinness dropped by 0.28 per cent to close at 125.68.

The top losers in the

Anxiety over 2015 polls: LCCI urges business operators not to panic

By Monsur Olowoopejo

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HEAD of the general elections in the country, Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry, LCCI, weekend, urged business operators not to express any worry over the effect of the elections on the country’s economy.

Vice President and Chairman of Trade Promotion Board of LCCI, Dr. Michael OlawaleCole gave the assurance at the unveiling ceremony of the 2015 Information Communication Technology and Telecommunication, ICTEL EXPO, held at the LCCI conference and exhibition centre, Lagos.

Olawale-Cole said “Don’t be disturbed by the upcoming elections, it will come and go.

And the country will remain one. We have experienced worse things than this and the country remained united. We

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need to have faith in this country.” He asked that business operators should

One activity that business operators should duel more is how best they could use internet to promote their activities. He said, “In the coming decade, businesses will only be completely done online and not the conventional style

continue their daily activities, saying that they will not experience any electoral violence before, during and after the elections.

The Vice President stated that one activity that business operators should dwell more on how best they could use internet to promote their activities.

Conventional style He said, “In the coming decade, businesses will only be completely done online and not the conventional style. Thus, it is important for business operators to embrace it now.”

On the need to embrace ICT, the President of LCCI, Alhaji Remi Bello, said that there had not been effective link between the users and producers of ICT in the country, saying “This is the primary objective of this EXPO; to provide platform for

producers and users of ICT in the country.” The aftermath of the mobile phone penetration was the boom in internet service demand in the country. The fact that it was now easy to access the World Wide Web through the mobile handsets resulted into an unprecedented boom. And today 73 million subscribers use their telephone to connect the internet, a number greater than the entire population of some countries.”

Industrial stocks sector were Portland Paints 4.96 per cent which closed at N3.45 followed by WAPCO which declined by 4.91 per cent to close at N80.4 and Dangote Cement shed -1.97 per cent to close at N150. Activity was nothing to write home about as turnover amounted to a paltry N1.83 billion. A few notable trades of the day were the deals consummated on; GT Bank: N287 million ; Access Bank N196 Million, Zenith Bank N157 million, NB N136 million and WAPCO N133 million.

$132.00 $2,913.00

5.55 -9 .00

$12.94

0.24

$52.93 $43.35 CURRENCY

BUYING

DOLLAR POUNDS EURO FRANC YEN CFA WAUA RENMINBI RIYAL KRONA SDR

196 289.982 207. 3876 194. 5023 1.6138 0.2979 269.0838 31. 2865 52. 2582 27. 8065 268.6964

-1.74 - 1.49

CENTRAL 196.5 290.7218 207.9167 194.9985 1.6179 0.3079 269.7703 31.3668 52.3916 27.8775 269.3819

197 291.4615 208.4457 195. 4947 1.6221 0.33179 270.4671 31. 447 52.5249 27. 9484 270.0673

CBN Exchange Rate as at 16/3/15

22 — Vanguard, TUESDAY, MARCH 17, 2015

Another reality is that if your desire is to invest in a personal business activity, you have to build up some savings overtime

,

TOP 10 PERFORMING STOCKS

BY NKIRUKA NNOROM

O

n the top performing stocks last week were the shares of May & Baker Nigeria Plc, UBA Capital Plc, Cadbury Nigeria Plc, NPF Microfinance Bank Plc, Fidelity Bank Plc and Cutix Plc. Others were International Energy Insurance Company, IEI Plc, FCMB Group Plc, Transnational Incorporation of Nigeria (Transcorp) Plc and Caverton Offshore Support Group Plc.

M

ay & Baker Plc, a household name in pharmaceutical products, led the pack with 17.76 percent or N0.27 to close at N1.79 from N1.52 earlier in the week. There have been reports of interest by foreign and local investors, including venture capitalists to buy into the company. This followed the World Health Organisation (WHO)’s certification and prequalification process with the issuance of General Manufacturing Practice (cGMP) to May & Baker. The company is currently in the process of completing the pre-qualification of its products from its WHOstandard manufacturing complex at Ota, Ogun State-The Pharma Centre. The completion of the prequalification by the WHO will enable May & Baker to export its products globally and to also participate in multi-billion naira donorfunded drug manufacturing and supply contracts in Nigeria. It will also be able to undertake global contract manufacturing for other global pharmaceutical companies. Notably, May & Baker Nigeria is one of two quoted companies that have received the high-profile certification. However, the company has had its own share of r e g u l a t o r y indictment following its failure to keep to the NSE, report and accounts filing calendar. Particularly, it was flagged among listed entities operating below the Nigerian Stock Exchange, NSE, postlisting standard requirements for non-rendition of its first quarter financial reports and accounts for March 2014. It was sometime ago also fined N200,000 (two hundred thousand Naira) for nonrendition of its 2012 audited financial reports and accounts for 2012.

U

BA Capital Plc followed with 12.58 percent or N0.19 price appreciation, closing at N1.70 from N1.51.

Investors and shareholders

taking position in the company to benefit from the 20 kobo dividend being proposed by directors of the company for the year ended December 31, 2014. The proposed date of closure of register of members is 23rd March, 2015, while payment will be made on 20th April after the annual general meeting and approval from shareholders. The 2014 full year report and account released alongside the dividend proposition showed that it recorded marginal growth in revenue to N4.677 billion from N4.573 billion, representing 2.3 percent growth. Its profit after tax grew by 4.8 percent from N1.763 billion to N1.848 billion in the previous year. The company is one of companies to have launched online trading platform to facilitate stocks transactions in the Nigeria capital market and to enable its clients fund their investment accounts directly and instantly, without the need to go through an account officer in the option of a client-company funds lodgment.

UBA Capital was listed on the NSE on January 2013, after United Bank for Africa, UBA, divested from it, as a separate and independent company that has five operating and unique businesses focused on investment banking, asset management, securities, trusteeship and life insurance. adbury Nig. Plc was the next with 8.92 percent or N3.38 increase to close at N41.28 from N37.90 per share. Cadbury is among 10 other companies commended by the Exchange for filing their 2013 year end result two weeks ahead of the stipulated timeline. Following disappointing revenue reported by Cadbury Nigeria Plc for its half year to June 2014, analysts at Renaissance Capital had lowered their Cadbury Nigeria Plc FY14 headline earnings per share (HEPS) forecast from N3.21 to N1.75, a 45 percent decline. They also reduced the company’s revenue forecast from 15 percent growth to a five percent decline, while its operating margin was reduced from 18.8 percent to 12.1 percent.

NPF MfB gained 8.89 percent or N0.08 to close at N0.98 from N0.90; Fidelity Bank went up by 8.63 percent or N0.12 to close at N1.51 from N1.39; Cutix advanced by 8.57 percent or N0.12 to close at N1.52 from N1.40; IEI rose by eight percent or N0.04 to close at N0.54 from N0.50; FCMB advanced by 7.92 percent or N0.19, closing at N2.59 from N2.40; Transcorp added 7.14 or N0.20 to its share price, closing at N3.00 from N2.80, while Caverton rose by 6.05 percent or N0.17 to close at N2.98 from N2.18 per share.

C

,

INVESTOR

How about non-financial investment? (3)

I

By Babajide Komolafe

don’t want to invest in shares, bonds, bank deposits. What can I invest in? This is the question posed by some readers. The last two editions highlighted the reality of risk in every type of investment, and the fact that to invest your money, you either invest the money yourself in a business activity of your own, or you give (lend) the money to somebody who must use it to

generate income, from where he can derive profit and return your money with interest.

The last edition also explained the difference between investing in financial instruments offered by financial institutions (banks etc) and non financial instrument.

While there are rules and procedures guiding investment in shares, bonds and bank deposits, it is mostly not so with other typesw of investment.

The above leads to the following questions, “Do I want to invest in something that is regulated or something that is not regulated?

Do I want to invest in something that if anything goes wrong, I can seek and get relief from the authorities or something where the possibility of seeking and getting relief is slim? Do I want to invest with people who are mandated to operate by a set of rules or people that are free to operate as they like?

Another reality is that if your desire is to invest in a personal business activity, you have to build up some savings overtime. While you are doing this, it is either you keep the savings under your pillow or you give it to somebody for safe keeping and possible returns. If

MARKET NEWS

By Nkiruka Nnorom

L

AFARGE Africa Plc has reported decline in key performance indicators for its financial year ended December 31, 2014 with the profit after tax falling by a 43 percent.

Highlights of the 2014 results

Lafarge Africa’s profit after tax falls by 43% released, weekend, showed that the it recorded N34.661 billion as profit after tax for

the year as against N60.953 billion achieved in the same period in 2013. Similarly, its profit before tax

From right: Chief Corporate Services Officer, Smile Communications Nigeria Limited, Mr. Tobe Okigbo, receiving the Lagos State Ministry of Education CSR Support for Schools Initiative Award on behalf of his company from Permanent Secretary, Lagos State Ministry of Education, Mrs. Omolara Erogbogbo and Permanent Secretary/ Tutor-General Education District IV, Mrs. Derinsola Soname, while CEO, Compact Communications Limited, Mr. Chuddy Oduenyi watches during the presentation of Corporate Social Responsibility Support for Schools Initiative Award to Smile Communications Limited by Lagos State Ministry of Education, in Lagos.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, MARCH 17, 2015 — 23

you choose to invest it by lending it to somebody, the person could deploy the money in business activities or investment that can go bad and the money would be lost. But you can keep the money in a savings account or fixed deposit where you are sure of the safety of the money and also interest income on it. Even if you have the benefit of regular savings in a cooperative group, the group would have to lend the money to other members or deposit the money in bank.

The summary of these scenarios is that while there are alternatives to investing in shares, bonds, bank deposits, these alternatives

Instead of lending your money to a friend to do a business, you give the money to the bank, which then lends the money to that friend to do the business

fell by 36 percent to N41.198 billion from N64.262 billion reported in the previous year. During the year, it recorded basic earnings per share (EPS) of 738 kobo representing 45 percent decline over 1,343 kobo achieved in 2013.

However, there was no obvious change in the revenue as it stood at N205.945 billion compared to N206.073 billion recorded in the previous year, while cash of N49 billion was generated from the operations during the period. The cost of sales rose marginally by one percent to N138.754 billion from N137.364 billion in 2013.

The Board of Directors has also approved a dividend of N3.60, representing a nine percent increase over prior year subject to shareholders approval.

In his statement, the chairman, Board of Directors, Chief Olusegun Osunkeye CON, said “it is with pleasure that we publish the first audited results of our newly transformed company. The good performance even in a volatile market affirms the strength of our new company and our commitment to achieving excellence”.

Also commenting on the results, the GMD/CEO, Lafarge Africa Plc, Mr. Guillaume Roux, said: "Our company has shown impressive performance; our business combination plans have been well executed within set timelines. We are committed to improving

come with significant risks and stress. There are risks and stress associated with investing your money in a personal business. There are risks and stress in lending your money to somebody by yourself. As it is true that people have lost money investing in shares, bonds and bank deposits, it is also true that people have lost money investing in non financial and non formal business and investment activities. The basic difference is that financial instruments and the financial markets were developed over time to allow people invest their money, through intermediaries, that bears the risk and stress for the investor, and the intermediaries are regulated and mandated to play by set of rules. Thus instead of lending your money to a friend to do a business, you give the money to the bank, which then lends the money to that friend to do the business. Before the bank lends him the money, it makes sure it has taken the entire necessary step to minimise the risk of the borrower not paying back the money. So you are spared the agony of worrying about not losing your money and you are assured of interest on your money. So which of this do you prefer? operational performance by leveraging on opportunities this presents to us to deliver sustainable returns to our shareholders’.

“Lafarge Africa has shown remarkable performance in the year and we remain highly committed to driving business excellence. We expect cement demand to increase both in Nigeria and South Africa in 2015.

“In Nigeria, the demand growth should be supported by increasing needs for housing and infrastructures, but could be lower than normal growth levels given the exchange rate development.

This should be partly cushioned through the South African cash flow,” Roux added.

He assured of the company’s commitment to delivering innovative building materials while leveraging on the operational strength and pedigree of the Lafarge Group.

He recalled that on 7 November 2014, Nigerian Cement Holdings B.V. (NCH), a 50 percent affiliate of Lafarge Africa Plc, entered into an agreement with Flour Mills of Nigeria, defining a roadmap to purchase Flour Mills of Nigeria’s 30 percent investment in United Cement Company, UNICEM, saying, “We are pleased to announce that the first phase of the acquisition of 15 percent was completed recently.”

,

S FORUM

Even companies would not be happy that after they must have spent a lot of money to train members of their audit committee, you then come up with a law that stop them from performing that duty

,

INVESTORS SPEAK

Suspension of audit c'ttee rule:

"Shareholders not carried along"

T

By Providence Obuh

HE Securities and Exchange Commission, SEC approved the suspension of Rule 42 (5)(e) of the Consolidated Rules and Regulations of the Commission for 90 days, effective February 25, 2015.

The suspended rule provides: “Membership of an Audit Committee shall be for a term of three (3) years, subject to good performance; Provided, that such Member shall not be eligible for re-election until the expiration of three (3) years after his previous term”. In this interview with Alhaji Gbadebo Olatokunbo, shareholder activist, he said the regulators should listen more to the shareholders.

Exerpts What is your view on this issue?

I have been a member of audit committee since inception of so many companies. If today with the experience I have acquired because shareholders association do arrange seminar and companies too do send their members of audit committee for training. If I tell the experience I have acquired today is only that I don’t have ICAN certificate and I don’t work as an accountant but some companies do put those who have that experience by the sideline and only those with certificate and inexperienced are considered as audit committee memebers, this is too bad .Even companies would not be happy that after they must have spent a lot of money to train members of their audit committee, the regulator then come up with a law that stops them from performing that duty.

The truth is that it takes time for someone to get acclamatised even for corporates to start developing confidence on people that would keep their secret. That does not mean you will not be vocal at meetings.

You will tell them what they need to do but a company is more relaxed when they know that you are reliable no matter how sensitive the information passed to you, you will keep it as a member of the family, you keep it within the company. By the time you start changing them, those you ask to come and replace them, the company will first of all start studying them to know their competencies in doing the job, then they can say yes this people need training. But do we have budget for them this year, ok it will be next year, by the time they train them next year, they have just one or two years to spend, then you change them. There is a saying that you don’t change a good team in between the match but there may be other factors too.

There may be some people who are not performing, they are just there and the company would want them out. Companies that have

•Gbadebo

skeleton in their cupboard wants knowledgeable members of audit committee.

They want dummies that would be there, doing nothing. But every good company wants competent hands, people that would be communicating with them at the same level.

So if you join and you are not up to standard, they will push you off and make you measure up to their standards because they have already established a standard. The point I'm trying to make is that the Securities and Exchange Commission, SEC at times rushes to make decision without even engaging the stakeholders, they just believe they can throw away the baby with the bath water. They look at shareholders association as not being responsible and then try to set rules for them without making them part of those rules. Listen to them and let them say whatever rubbish they want to say. That will help you (SEC) in coming to a decisive decision. carry all stakeholders along but our regulators do not do that. They just believe they know where shareholders belong, forgetting that shareholders are owners of the companies, even if they are not performing well today it is your responsibility to make them perform.

In fact, it is not only SEC, almost all the regulatory authorities, even the companies, when they want to do certain things, they listen to shareholders but they still take advice of their own consultants, forgetting that the consultant is there to make money but shareholders give advise that will benefit the company. Example, some companies came to the stock market, when they know the market The is down, they come with high price, regulators we then advise them on what to do, they will tell you is alright we will should listen consider it but they will do more to the otherwise. They do these things because they have a way of shareholders manipulating the price.

24 — Vanguard, TUESDAY,

MARCH 17, 2015

Fuel importation: Nigeria spends N161bn on petrol …Earns N3.60trn from crude, gas Stories by Michael Eboh

U

A

BUJA: Nigeria imported N160.732 billion of Premium Motor Spirit, PMS, also known as petrol in the fourth quarter, Q4 of 2014 data released by the National Bureau of Statistics, NBS, has revealed.

The NBS in its Foreign Trade Statistics for Q4, also disclosed that N85.36 billion was spent onthe importation of floating or submersible drilling or production platforms, while ‘other gas oils,’ were imported for N14.09 billion.

Furthermore, the NBS said about N13.06billion was expended on the importation of parts for gas turbines, exclusive of turbo-jets and turbo-propellers.

However, despite the amount spent on PMS imports, the country recorded crude oil and natural gas export of over N3.60 trillion in the period in review.

Specifically, the NBS report stated that about N3.14 trillion was earned from the export of petroleum oils and oils obtained from bituminous minerals, while N462.64 billion was earned from the export of natural gas and liquefied natural gas.

Giving a further analysis of crude oil export destination, the NBS data revealed that India was the highest buyer of Nigeria’s crude oil in the quarter under review, accounting for 20.04 per cent

Workshop:From left: DGOD, Gas Division, DPR, Engr. Chiemela Onyenkwere; Corporate Secretariat & Legal Division, NNPC, Mr. O. S. Ademade; Assistant Director,DGOD, Gas Division, DPR, Mr. M. A. Alaku; Deputy Director, Gas Division, DPR, Engr. A. B. Ekaluo; Commercial Department,NGC, NNPC, Mrs. A. Erivona; General Manager, GPI, G & P, NNPC, Engr. S. Ndukwe; & Commercial Department, NGC, NNPC Engr. Hammed Saheed all members of the Joint DPR/NNPC Implementation Committee on the Nigeria Gas Transportation Network Code, NGTNC.

or N628.89 billion of total crude oil export.

Spain followed with the purchase of N379.04 billion; South Africa purchased N325.8 billion;NetherlandsN261.125 b i l l i o n ; U n i t e d KingdomN211.85 billion; France N132.334 billion; and Indonesia N165.082 billion.

Contrary to reports that the United States of America, USA, has stopped buying crude from Nigeria, the data however revealed that the US imported about N160.33 billion oil in the last quarter of, 2014,making it

the eight highest buyer of Nigeria’scrude.

Other crude exports during the period were to Brazil worth over N128.18 billion;and Italy about N103.28 billion.

Generally, Nigeria’s total crude export in the year 2014, according to the NBS, stood at N12.79 trillion, appreciating by 8.32 per cent from about N11.81 trillion recorded in 2013.

Continuing, the NBS said, “The value of the export trade totalled N3.854 trillion in fourth quarter 2014 showing a

decrease of N843.4 billion or 18 per cent, over the value recorded in the preceding quarter. On annual basis the total exports of Nigeria stood at N17.203 trillion at the end of 2014, representing a rise of N2.959 trillion or 20.8 per cent over the level in 2013.

“The structure of Nigeria’s export is still dominated by crude oil exports. The contribution of crude oil to the value of total domestic export trade amounted to N12.791 trillion or 74.4 per cent in 2014 (estimate figures).

Crude swap deal: Senate committee clears PPMC

A

BUJA: The Senate Committee on Drugs, Narcotics, Financial Crimes and Anti-Corruption has apologised to the Pipeline Products and Marketing Company, PPMC, for misrepresentations over its involvement in crude oil swap arrangement and exonerated the company from any allegation of fraud.

According to a statement by spokesperson for the PPMC, Mr Nasir Imodagbe,the Senate Committee apologised to its Managing Director, Prince Haruna Momoh, over a misrepresentation of its invitation to him.

Imodagbe said contrary to reports, Momoh was invited by the Committee to explain the operations of PPMC, adding that the content of the invitation

DPR chides tank farm operators for compromising safety

which also asked for explanation on dynamics of the petroleum swap programme was clear and never alleged any involvement in fraud by the company ’s Managing Director.

Chairman of the Committee, Senator Victor Lar, was reported to have apologised to the PPMC boss when he appeared before the committee and expressed displeasure over the erroneous misrepresentation of the committee’s invitation, adding that it had taken steps to clarify the distortion of its invitation to him.

Lar was quoted as saying, “In one of the dailies, it is alleged that Momoh is being invited in connection with fraud, that is not correct. Momoh is just a function of the petroleum industry. He heads

an organ. He cannot therefore be responsible for the fraud, if any.

“Mr. Momoh, on behalf of the committee, please accept our apology. We don’t believe in media trial and we call on the media

However, despite the amount spent on PMS imports, the country recorded crude oil and natural gas export of over N3.60 trillion in the period in review

organisation in question to correct the impression.

“The Managing Director had explained to the committee that the SWAP arrangement was never arranged by PPMC. The Swap Arrangement was approved by late President Yar’Adua for and in favour of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC. “It is based on the 445,000 barrels crude oil allocation to the NNPC for domestic consumption.

The proceeds are remitted to the Federation Account directly by NNPC.” Lar explained that all issues relating to and surrounding NNPC remittances to the Federation Account have been subjected to series of thorough investigation and rested.

By Tom Moses

YO-Director, Department of Petroleum Resources, DPR, Mr. George Osahon, last week took a swipe at the operators and managers of petroleum tank farms and depots in Akwa-Ibom and Cross River states for allegedly compromising prescribed standards in their operations.

Osahon expressed his displeasure after an on-the-spot assessment of the state of petroleum dispensing facilities at Eket, Akwa-Ibom State, and Calabar, Cross River State.

He subsequently met with the operators and managers of the tank farms and depots at the Calabar Free Trade Zone, CFTZ, saying it was mind-boggling the manner the operators compromised with the issues of standards and safety of the tank farms.

“It is mind-boggling the way you compromise on the issues of standards and safety in the tank farms whereas you have the operational guidelines with you.”

Disturbed by the development,Osahon attributed such carelessness as being one of the reasons for the recent raising of a section of the Tempogate Oil and Energy Company Limited, Calabar by fire and the attendant loss of one life.

He therefore said the DPR would review the guidelines of operation of tank farms and depots in the country to forestall future occurrences.

“We will have to go back and review your operational guidelines because we cannot continue where there are no standards and where safety guides are not taken seriously.

Every activity you embark on in the tank farms must be of standard,” he stressed.

He also noted that the way the tanks were positioned in the tank farms were too close to each other and could pose irreparable danger should explosions occur, and urged the operators to give reasonable spacing between tanks when new silos are being built.

Osahon also frowned at the observed disorderly manner tankers went into the depots to lift products, and disclosed of DPR’splan to computerise its operations.

Part of the plan is to also calibrate all trucks in order to instantly capture the quantity of petroleum products lifted, those lifting them and their destinations to avoid diversion and other criminal activities.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, MARCH 17, 2015 — 25

Vandalism: Why NNPC, NLNG adopt communityBy Michael Eboh based strategies

By Sebastine Obasi

I

n a bid to nip the growing scourge of pipeline vandalism in the bud, the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, and Nigerian LNG Limited, NLNG, have resolved to involve the various communities in their areas of operation to provide security for their infrastructure While the NNPC announced the renewal and extension of the pipeline protection contract to some of its host communities, the NLNG said their host communities have been made critical stakeholders through provision of amenities, contracts, scholarship and training programmes for the youths.

According to NLNG source, “Our 120 kilometres of pipeline are intact because in our host communities, we identify owners of the land, families give us their representatives.

“We empower them; give them contracts so that they will be busy. We give them scholarships, electricity and water, so as to give them sense of belonging.They become stakeholders in the NLNG and protect our facilities,” he said.

Explaining the rationale behind the renewal of the contract which was first awarded to communities in 2011, the NNPC spokesman, Mr. Ohi Alegbe, said that there has been a noticeable increase in the spate of attacks on crude oil, products, and gas pipelines since the expiration of the first community-based contract in 2012.

He said the attacks have led to frequent production shut-ins and deferrals of gas supply to power plants.

“The pipeline protection contract is part of our community engagement programme across our host communities aimed at getting community members to help in the task of protecting the pipelines around their communities,” he said.

He explained that the involvement of communities in the past helped minimise the spate of pipelines vandalism.

According to him, “It would be recalled that while the earlier pipeline protection contract to the communities which lasted from 2011 to 2012 subsisted, breaches to our pipelines were minimal which condributed to the rise in production.”

Construction sector to grow by 11% despite crude price decline

By Ediri Ejoh

A

nalysts have predicted a positive long-term high reward market growth of 9.80 per cent and 11.04 per cent in the Nigerian construction sector for 2015 and 2016 respectively, despite the current decline in major oil projects and continuous fall of oil prices.

Business Monitor International, BMI, in its Infrastructure Key Projects Database, said the growth averages over 10.6 percent within a 10-year forecast period.

According to the BMI, the catalyst to drive the country’s growth as well as revenue generation to the economy is the development in power supply and transport links, adding that the fall in oil prices and its effect on government revenues and the Naira devaluation will stall investments.

It stated that the infrastructure sector is more exposed to the numerous risks in the country’s business environment, adding that current reforms and development plans implemented under the current administration (although slow to get off the ground), are beginning to attract the needed

.

Oil Refinery

investment that will boost other sectors of the economy.

Moreso, it stated that despite the potential of the country’s infrastructure market which has long been known, a chronic lack of investment and the laborious business environment has limited its growth prospects.

The report highlights persistent risks hampering the implementation of major projects, blaming it on deeprooted corruption and violence perpetrated by militants popularly known as,Boko-Haram, vandals, and inefficient bureaucracy.

The report had earlier listed Nigeria among other countries to risk over $30 billion about N5.1 trillion worth, of oil and gas pipelines projects due to the persisting decline in crude oil price.

It further stated that some major infrastructure project in the pipeline are being threatened or being heavily curtailed, as falling oil prices force those governments reliant on oil revenues to make cuts.

The report however studied major oil producing and dependent

countries like: Iran, Iraq, Russia, and Nigeria, as having at least $30 billion of projects at risk.

The report said: “The current oil price environment will put a strain on infrastructure projects around the world. We have already seen the cancellation of petrochemical projects in Saudi Arabia and Qatar, and we expect that across most markets oil and gas pipelines and industrial construction projects in the refining sector will likely face similar prospects.

However, it predicted that over the coming years the impact will have a much broader effect on some markets in particular, adding that these countries risk project completions because of the falling oil strides.

“With this in mind, we highlight Iran, Iraq, Nigeria and Russia as markets with sizeable portions of their project pipelines ($30billion plus) in the planning stages which are vulnerable to cutbacks.

Continuing, it maintained that “With the instability in the crude price, questions are raised over the country’s fiscal sustainability and ability to fund its infrastructure plan.

This is because the country has one of Africa’s largest infrastructure project pipelines, with $65bn worth of projects across all sectors in the planning phase.”

World coal demand to reach 9bn tonnes annually—Report

By Sebastine Obasi

W

orld demand for coal over the next five years is expected to increase exponentially breaking the 9billion-tonne level by 2019, the International Energy Agency, IEA, said in its report.

This is coming in the wake of the federal government’s partnership with One Nation Energy Platform Limited, to develop the coal sector, through the coal to power generation initiative aimed at generating 500 megawatts through coal.

Also, the federal government and a Chinese firm, HTG-Pacific Energy Consortium, recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding,MoU, for the development of 1,000MW of coal electricity.

At the ceremony, President Goodluck Jonathan, said, “Coal resources present an excellent opportunity for us to diversify our energy sources, to the extent that 30 per cent of our electricity generation should come from

coal, using environmentally friendly clean technology.

“Nigeria is endowed with abundant coal reserves of the required quality necessary for power generation. And so there is no reason why we should not exploit that sector.”

With regard to the Report, IEA Executive Director, Ms Maria van der Hoeven, said,”We have heard many pledges and policies aimed at mitigating climate change, but over the next five years they will mostly

According to the BMI, the catalyst to drive the country’s growth as well as revenue generation to the economy is the development in power supply and transport links

fail to arrest the growth in coal demand.

“Although the contribution that coal makes to energy security and access to energy is undeniable, I must emphasise once again that coal use in its current form is simply unsustainable.

For this to change, we need to radically accelerate deployment of carbon capture and sequestration.”

The Executive Director also called for more investment in highefficiency coal-fired power plants, especially in emerging economies. “New plants are being built, in an arc running from South Africa to Southeast Asia, but too many of these are based on decades-old technology,” she said. “Regrettably, they will be burning coal inefficiently for many years to come.”

Global coal demand growth has been slowing in recent years, and the report sees that trend continuing.

Coal demand will grow at an

average rate of 2.1 percent per year through 2019, the report said.

This compares to the 2013 report’s forecast of 2.3 percent for the five years through 2018 and the actual growth rate of 3.3 percent per year between 2010 and 2013.

As has been the case for more than a decade, the fate of the global coal market will be determined by China. The world’s biggest coal user, producer and importer has embarked on a campaign to diversify its energy supply and reduce its energy intensity, and the resulting increase in gas, nuclear and renewables will be staggering.

However, the IEA report shows that despite these efforts, and under normal macroeconomic circumstances, Chinese coal consumption will not peak during the five-year outlook period.

The report’s forecasts come with considerable uncertainties, especially regarding the prospect of new policies affecting coal.

Authorities in China as well as in key markets like Indonesia, Korea, Germany and India, have announced policy changes that could sharply affect coal market fundamentals.

26 — Vanguard, TUESDAY, MARCH 17, 2015

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28—Vanguard, TUESDAY, MARCH 17, 2015

Why Ajimobi’s actions remain unmanaged

By Akanmu Adeyanju

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JIMOBI’s political cum media spokesman should be pitied because he has turned his professional position to that of a glorified praise singer and lately a court jester blessed with the obsession to fabricate lies all in the name of providing service for his paymaster and seeking public attention. He really deserves our pity. Festus has tried so many times through his writeups to rubbish and insult the cousin of his boss, Senator Adewolu Ladoja who has been a shield for his boss. He believes he is doing all in the name of politics and that he is in a better position to decide for the people of Oyo State.

On each occasion, he has been told that the product he wants to force on the people to buy is a bad product that cannot stand the test of the time with the product he is out to rubbish, no matter the number of tricks used by him. Some of us can now understand why Ajimobi's utterances and actions remain unmanaged.

In an attempt to tarnish the image of Senator Ladoja, Festus has lost his credibility with the cantonment of lies usually fabricated by him. This is known not only by members of the public but also his colleagues. Many months ago, Festus wrote that Ladoja never constructed roads, he was told that he lied and the roads constructed by Ladoja were listed. Weeks after that, he wrote that Ladoja constructed roads but the roads did not last for more than six months.

Heavy traffic Again, he was told that he lied and that the Mokola-Ojoo dualized 8.2 kilometers constructed by Ladoja despite the heavy traffic on it did not collapse even years after construction. Festus was also told the achievements of Ladoja during his administration, an administration he called a monumental failure.

In his last political interview with Saturday Tribune he admitted that the 30 per class of Ladoja is an achievement. He claimed that Ladoja joined active politics in 1999 and he was told that Ladoja became a Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria in 1992. In his desperation, he lied that armoured tanks were deployed to Ladoja's house to disperse protesters during Accord primaries and he was told he lied and that he should provide police report. How can such an incident happen and our vibrant press and the citizens press will not report on it. We can go on and on.

The question is – why should Festus continue to season his writeups on Ladoja with lies, anger, abuses, hatred and 'let me destroy him' attitude? He even went to the extent of using God's creation manifestations that he noted on Ladoja to If Ladoja is denigrate him.

Despite all these, not the issue, Ladoja's image is why deploy all waxing stronger.

As a matter of fact, the APC Oyo his likes are State arsenal providing the fuel for the continued to attack and rising profile of blackmail him Ladoja.

His

March 7 interview in the Saturday Tribune confirms his worries that despite the series of attacks by Ajimobi court jesters, the popularity of Ladoja continues to increase in a divine manner.

After Festus' many failures, he carried on his operation through another faceless group called Odua seekers of truth. A group that is not different from Ajimobi’s publicity consultant group of which he is a key member. With all the financial backing of the powers that be, all they want is to seek relevance and cause distraction by focusing on Ladoja for one simple reason because “ Ladoja is the issue of Oyo State politics today.” All they do is a s k questions.

Questions that lack commonsense.

Why ask questions if you are sure Ladoja of your f a c t s ?

Insinuations based on fabrications to gain political attention or tarnish the image of a political Governor Ajimobi opponent cannot stand the test of time. The people of Oyo State are no fools. How can Ladoja answer questions that are based on insinuations. He has better and more important things to do with his time.

Silence is the best answer for court jesters.

Why would Festus not find out and publish the facts instead of asking frivolous questions? Why would his court jesters not investigate STB bank to find out whether the bank took undue money to serve Ladoja’s interest when TIB was liquidated?

The important question that Festus and his Odua group should answer is why is Ladoja still relevant after eight years of leaving office? Why is it that despite the billions of naira Ajimobi is spending on billboards, adverts, spin-doctoring, propaganda, Ladoja is still the issue of Oyo State politics? If Ladoja is not the issue, why deploy all the APC Oyo State arsenal to attack and blackmail him. The simple truth is that Ladoja is the political nemesis of Ajimobi. It is the divine truth.

Since the Odua truth seekers are out for the truth, they should find out what happened to the five billion naira the Ajimobi government claimed they spent on abandoned five star hotel; why civil servants and pensioners are being owed in arrears: find out the truth about the 500 used agricultural tractors that became moribound immediately they were purchased: seek the truth about the N2 billion spent on the abandoned technical university and why Ajimobi publicly ridiculed his deputy governor during the launching of the state APC at Mapo?

They should find out the reasons for the poor result of Oyo State in the WAEC examination result and why up till now Oyo State government owes WAEC fees for conducting examinations.

•Adeyanju is the director of public communications, Ladoja 2015 organisation

Letter to Iran, affront to White House

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N a space of one week, U.S. Republican law makers in Congress acted most disrespectfully to President Barack Obama in particular, and the White House in general. First, it was Speaker John Boehner's undiplomatic snub when he unilaterally invited Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to address Congress, without the courtesy of informing the White House about the invitation.

Of course, the prime minister who currently faces an uphill re-election campaign at home readily accepted the invitation and used the speech opportunity to attempt to the add some spice to his not-too-promising reelection bid at home. He all but told President Obama that he was a daydreamer to think that the on-going talks with Iran over nuclear issues would yield any tangible result.

No sooner had Netanyahu left the podium than a group of U.S. senators decided it was time to give the White House a piece of their mind, still on the same nuclear talks with Iran. Fortyseven of them appended their signature on a letter to Tehran, lecturing Iranian authorities on how the U.S. system works, and letting them know that Obama was powerless over any international treaty unless Congress supported him. They reminded the Iranians that sooner than later, President Obama would bow out of government, but they would be around for a very long time.

One of the perhaps unintended but symbolic things about the number, 47, is that it is reminiscent of what former Republican presidential candidate, Mitt Romney, told his millionaire financiers at a private dinner in the last presidential election. He had told them that he really did not care about the “47 percent” of less fortunate Americans he knew would never vote for him. For added pun, Romney was born in 1947. The letter to the Iranian government was as cheeky as it was illadvised. It said in part that “It has come to our attention while observing your nuclear negotiations with our government that you may not fully understand our constitutional system.”

The great wonder about this ill-advised letter is that it was written by Tom Our goal Cotton, a rookie senator from is simple: to Arkansas. But the stop Iran greater point of bewilderment is that from Cotton managed to obtaining a get old-hands in his party to sign it. One nuclear of them is Senator weapon Rand Paul who is

nursing the ambition to contest the presidency on the platform of his party.

Another is Senator John McCain of Arizona who needs no lecture on what is appropriate when it comes to the conduct of foreign policy. Senator McCain has since made a tactical “ withdrawal” from this embarrassment. He told reporters that “maybe that wasn’t the best way to do that, but I think the Iranians should know that the Congress of the United States has to play a role” in such nuclear talks.

Other Republican senators who did not sign the letter did not hold back in saying that it was just a misguided thing to do. One of them is Senator Bob Coker, who is the chairman of the Senate’s Foreign Relations Committee.

He put his objections this way: “I didn’t think it was going to further our efforts to get to a place where Congress would play the appropriate role that it should on Iran. I did not think that the letter was something that was going to help get us to an outcome that we’re all seeking, and that is Congress playing that appropriate role.”

As expected, the Democrats who are now in the minority in the U.S. Senate are not impressed with the idea and tone of the letter to Iran. Senate minority leader, Harry Reid, bluntly stated that “The judgment of my Republican colleagues seems to be clouded by their abhorrence of President Obama. It’s unprecedented for one political party to directly intervene in an international negotiation with the sole goal of embarrassing the president of the United States.”

Humiliating the president With a history of trying to humiliate the president at every turn, what Senator Reid said about his counterparts may not be far from the truth. Perhaps, no U.S. president has been heaped with such disdain as President Obama has endured in the hands of compatriots who do not believe that he should be in the White House.

While explaining the rationale behind the letter, its author, Tom Cotton, said this: “Our goal is simple: to stop Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon…. I do not take my obligations as a senator lightly. Nor do those who are signatories to the letter.

If the president won’t share our role in the process with his negotiating partner, we won’t hesitate to do it ourselves.”

If the first-term senator believes that his letter is what is needed to have Iran panic and abandon its nuclear ambitions, then that goal is not only simple, as the senator said, but just simplistic. The Iranian government will not quaver because a young and inexperienced U.S. senator wrote a “simple” letter and got his colleagues to sign it, regarding a matter that is important to Tehran.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, MARCH 17, 2015— —29

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30—Vanguard, TUESDAY, MARCH 17, 2015

By Theodore Opara

GAC GS5 SUV makes serious in-road G

AC Motor's Trumpchi GS5 is one of the most talked about compact sport utility vehicles, SUVs, in the country at the moment.

Though a Chinese made SUV, the GS5 possesses the attributes of Japanese and European crossover vehicles with the creativity of the Chinese.

From its design to comfort level, safety and performance, the GS5 stands out in all respect.

According to GAC Motor, Trumpchi's quality comes from global intelligence as the best international standards were applied in designing and producing the GS5.

This informed GAC’s confidence to showcase the GS5 and its other products at the North American Auto Show earlier in the year.

Powered by a 2.0 litre engine with automatic transmission, the GS5 delivers amazing performance with low fuel consumption.

The 4-cylinder, in line DOHC normal aspirated engine, has a maximum power of 108/6300 kw/rpm with a torque of 187/4500, Nm/rpm, while the top speed is 180 kw/h.

The GS5 comes in front wheel 2WD and i-4WD, which account for the low fuel consumption even as an urban SUV.

•GAC Trumpchi GS5

Porsche announces management changes

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For all roads

With alloy wheel as standard feature, the GS5 suspension system is design for all roads. While the front is double fork arm independent suspension, the rear is multi-link beam independent suspension.

Braking system of the GS5 is ventilated disc brake at the front and disc brake and parking drum brake at the rear, which makes braking distance very short an precise.

•GAC Trumpchi GS5 interior

The GS5 is available with an array of features that further stands it out from outside to indside.

Exterior features include: daytime running lamp, AFS intelligent headlight Servo System, headlight automatic clean-

ing system, headlight light time-delay function, alarm for headlight timing on, LED taillight + LED, high mount braking light and front and rear fog lamps.

Inside features of the GS5 are countless. They include leather multi-

function steering wheel, leather seats, six-way regulation for driver seat, 4/6 folded rear seats, front central armrest with storage, among others.

Safety-wise, the GS5 is loaded with best in class features as standard.

Ford named among 2015 world’s most ethical companies

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ORD Motor Company has been named on the Ethisphere Institute’s 2015 list of World’s Most Ethical Companies.

The honour comes at a time in which the way a company conducts its business is viewed as every bit as important as the products and services it provides, new research shows.

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“This award celebrates doing business the right way, and making the right choices every day,” said Ford Motor Company Executive Chairman Bill Ford.

“Ethics and corporate citizenship are important factors that affect a company’s reputation and success, and we are proud Ford is the only automaker to have re-

ceived this honour for six consecutive years,” he added.

The World’s Most Ethical Company assessment is based on a framework developed by the Ethisphere Institute to assess an organization’s performance in an objective, consistent and standardized manner.

It is given based on ratings in five categories: eth-

ics and compliance, corporate citizenship and responsibility, culture of ethics, governance and leadership, innovation and reputation.

“The World’s Most Ethical Companies embrace the correlation between ethical business practice and improved company performance,” said Timothy Erblich, Ethisphere Chief Executive Officer.

ORSCHE AG has a n n o u n c e d management changes in the sports car manufacturer’s important sales regions and subsidiaries.

Franz Jung, 52, will become Chairman of the Executive Board of Porsche China from June 1. Mr Jung has beenwithPorschesince2014 as the Vice President of the Region Overseas and Emerging Markets, providing valuable stimuli within a short period.

His predecessor in China, Deesch Papke, 53, who had

We are certain that they and their teams will also contribute their part to supporting Porsche’s profitable growth sustainably in the future

developed this market successfully over the past two years, returns to Dubai and takes over the management of the Porsche Middle East & Africa subsidiary.

“Deesch Papke’s great dedicationhaspromotedPorsche in a market that is very important for us. With his experience in the expansion of international markets, Franz Jung should continue to advance the dynamic development,” said Bernhard Maier, Member of the Executive Board Sales and Marketing of Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche AG. He added: “We would like to thank them both for their work so far and also wish them continued success in the new tasks and markets.

We are certain that they and their teams will also contribute their part to supporting Porsche’s profitable growth sustainably in the future.”

Franz Jung’s successor as the Vice President of the Region Overseas and Emerging Markets will be Klaus Zellmer, 47.

As Chairman of the Executive Board of Porsche Germany since 2010, he has catered for dispro-portionate growth in a market, which is saturated to the greatest possible extent.

31 —Vanguard, TUESDAY, MARCH 17, 2015

By Theodore Opara

Kia posts global sales of 208,700 vehicles in Feb

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Porsche 911 GT3 RS: Race car for circuit, everyday driving W

ITH the unveiling of the new 911 GT3 RS, Porsche is once again breaking down the boundaries of possibility, redefining what it means to create a car at the cutting edge of motorsport technology, which is suitable for everyday driving.

Celebrating its world premiere at the 2015 Geneva International Motor Show and with exceptional on-track capabilities, the 911 GT3 has once again cemented its status as the benchmark in its class— straight from launch.

Through extensive modifications to its drive system, aerodynamics and lightweight design, the new 911 GT3 boasts even greater, standardsetting performance.

With a lap time of seven minutes and 20 seconds, the new 911 GT3 RS even beats the historic record value of the Carrera GT super sports car on the North Loop of the Nürburgring by nine seconds.

Behind the superior performance of the model lies Porsche’s unrivalled heritage of motor-

sport expertise and pioneering technology.

The 911 GT3 RS is powered by a four-litre six-cylinder engine with 500 hp (368 kW) of power and 460 Newton metres of torque, combined with a specially developed PDK transmission.

The engine, which has the largest displacement and most power of any naturally-aspirated engine with direct fuel injection in the 911 family, accelerates the car from zero to 100 km/h in 3.3 seconds and to 200 km/h in 10.9 seconds.

Its combined NEDC fuel consumption is 12.7 l/100 km. Functions such as declutching by “paddle neutral”— which is comparable to pressing the clutch with a conventional manual gearbox— and speed limiting by the Pit Speed button have been customised for motorsport use.

They give drivers more freedom in terms of driving dynamics, while also providing them with more assistance when driving on a circuit racetrack.

The 911 GT3 RS is a masterpiece of intelligent lightweight design. For the first time, the roof is made of magnesium; carbon fibre is used for the engine and luggage compartment lids, and other lightweight components are made of alternative materials.

This makes the RS model around 10 kilograms lighter than the 911 GT3.

In addition, the lightweight roof lowers the sports car ’s centre of gravity, which improves its excellent lateral dynamics.

Nissan improves five spots in 2015 JD ranking

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ISSAN jumps ahead of the industry average in annual dependability study of three-year-old vehicles with new reporting model 2012 Murano ranked most dependable in Midsize SUV class.

Altima, Frontier, LEAF are all among top three models in their segments.

Nissan brand moved up five positions and achieved an above industry average ranking

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for vehicle dependability according to the 2015 J.D. Power Vehicle Dependability Study.

In this year ’s J.D. Power study of model year 2012 vehicles, Nissan jumped to 13th among brands with 128 problems per hundred vehicles, PPH. Nissan recorded 19 fewer PPH than the industry average of 147.

Overall, four Nissan vehicles ranked among the top-three most de-

pendable within their respective segments, with the 2012 Murano taking the top honour in the Midsize SUV category— up two spots from the previous year.

Nissan Altima, Frontier and LEAF each ranked second most dependable within their respective segments.

“Quality and dependability are two core attributes of Nissan vehicles designed to ensure our customers feel

confident in their purchase decisions,” said Pierre Loing, Vice President, Product Planning, Nissan North America.

He added: “Long-term brand quality is one of the leading factors in a customer ’s purchasing decision and we believe the results of this year’s J. D. Power Vehicle Dependability Study demonstrate Nissan’s dedication to fulfilling that requirement.”

IA Motors Corporation has announced its February 2015 global sales figures (export sales, domestic sales and sales from overseas plants) for passenger cars, recreational vehicles, RVs, and commercial vehicles, recording a total of 208,700 units sold.

This figure represents 0.0% year-on-year growth compared to the same month of 2014.

In February, Kia posted year-on-year sales increases in North America (5.8% growth with 48,230 units sold), China (3.3% growth with 47,211 units sold) and the domestic Korean market (1.2% growth with 35,405 units sold).

Cumulatively, through the first two months of 2015, Kia’s global sales totalled 420,891 units for a year-onyear decrease of 1.0%. North America (90,233 units sold) and Korea (72,072 units sold) have seen a 4.3% and 4.5% rise in sales, respectively.

Kia’s bestselling model in overseas markets during February 2015 was the B-segment Rio (known as ‘K2’ in China) with 32,719 units sold. The C-segment Cerato (known as ‘Forte’ or ‘K3 in some markets) was the second best seller with 28,711 units sold, while the Sportage compact CUV, Optima D-segment sedan and mid-size Sorento CUV followed with 27,128, 17,721 and 14,280 units sold, respectively.

Coscharis delights lovers with BMW 3, 5 series at Epe Resort

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OSCHARIS Motors, in partnership with Epe Resort, added more spice to all lovers and customers lodged in the resort during the valentine weekend in the outskirt of Lagos.

Coscharis Motors and Epe Resort’s partnership jointly created the expected ambience for their common customers who came to celebrate the Valentine weekend in a unique way by having the opportunity to get a good deal to own any of the BMW 3 and 5 series on display, while staying at the Resort.

Speaking on this collaboration, the General Manager, Marketing, Coscharis Motors, Abiona Babarinde, who promised two weeks ago to excite lovers at the Resort during the Valentine weekend, really lived up to his promise as lovers truly had fun with the opportunity to test drive BMW 3 and 5 series on display.

One of the customers, Mr. George, who obviously came with his partner, said: “I am very excited to be part of this year’s valentine celebration at the Resort because, relative to last year, the fun is much better and with the postponement of presidential election, it gives more privilege for us to move around.

“I surfed with my partner in the BMW 3 series. I enjoyed the external compatibility, unprecedented roomy interior, sleekness and movement on the road even though the distance was short. The Resort’s serene ambience, room comfort and on-point services by their staff were also incomparable; I really did enjoy my weekend.”

Lovers were really given the much-needed treat to make their Valentine’s weekend a memorable fun.

The Operations Lovers were Manager, Epe Resort, really given Bruce Prins who was also at the Resort all throughthe much out the weekend said: needed treat to “Initially, I was sceptical to be part of this partnermake their ship.

Valentine’s “Afterwards, I now testify that this partnership weekend a truly worth the while as memorable we look forward to more partnership opportunity fun with Coscharis Motors in the near future.”

32— Vanguard, TUESDAY, MARCH 17, 2015

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PODIUM…

CANDIDATE SWAPPING:

In Delta, politicians are ‘dying,' ‘resurrecting'

PAGES 6

VOL. 1: NO. 441 1

POLLS: Ijaws table Jonathan’s re-election before Amasiekumor deity PAGE 5

TUESD AY, MAR CH 117, 7, 20 15 TUESDA MARCH 201

Community to Bayelsa govt: We‘ll demonstrate our anger at the polls

By Emem Idio

A

KENPIA—AKENPIA community in Yenagoa Local Government Area, Bayelsa State has written-off the Bayelsa State Government for allegedly neglecting the town, promising that the people would demonstrate their anger at the polls.

Acting paramount ruler of Akenpia, Chief Saviour Obi, who spoke to Niger Delta Voice, lamented the total lack of government infrastructure in the community, saying parents have withdrawn their children from the only primary school in the town because there was no road and teachers.

According to him, teachers took undue advantage of the inaccessible condition of the road to the school to absent themselves from work.

The situation is so terrible that residents had to make use of makeshift wooden bridge, popularly known as Monkey Bridge to access their homes.

Written to govt, interventionist agencies Chief Obi noted that the community had made several appeals and written series of letters to government and intervention agencies, calling on them to construct the road, all to no avail.

His words: “I am highly disappointed with the Bayelsa State government of Mr. Seriake Dickson. How can we give all our votes to the governor and get nothing in return?

“There is no single government project and presence in Akenpia community.

The government is so unconcerned about us.

“We want our governor to remember our community and construct roads for us, especially the road leading to the only primary school.

“For the records, this school was not built by government. We are suffering a lot and sometimes we begin to wonder whether we are part of Bayelsa state.”

PDP will get protest votes from us—RESIDENTS

Some visibly angry residents and indigenes, who spoke to Niger Delta Voice said they have resolved to vote against the ruling People Democratic C M Y K

A road at Akenpia.

Party, PDP, at the upcoming elections as they are yet to enjoy the dividends of democracy.

An indigene, Mr. Izibeya Godknows, said: “Thank God the elections are here again; we will use our votes to express our hard feelings.

“Since we are yet to benefit from the

ruling party after giving them our votes, it is better that we vote for the opposition party because we are not feeling the impact of our votes and that is if we will vote because it is disheartening that as big and populous this community is, there is no tangible local, state or Federal Government presence to give us a

sense of belonging. We feel so alienated.”

Another resident, Mr. Alexander Warrant, said: “I must confess the road is extremely terrible. During the rainy season, it is difficult and almost impossible for us to access our homes Continues on Page 7

2—Niger Delta Voice, TUESDAY, MARCH 17, 2015

AKWA IBOM...

LAND OF PROMISE

Akwa Ibom community spoils for showdown with construction firm

By Tom Moses

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DEM EKPAT — RESIDENTS of Edem Ekpat, Etinan Local Government Area, Akwa-Ibom State are at daggers drawn with E. T. Dicks Construction Company, the firm handling the Ikot Akpabio-Edem Ekpat/ Ndon Eyo-Oniong Road projects in the state over alleged destruction of their property and contamination of their only source of drinking water.

The road projects were awarded to the Federal Government interventionist agency, company by the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC. The villagers accused the firm of poor construction work, denigrating and destroying graves, farmlands and residential quarters of an indigene, Dr. Paul Noah.

The community also claimed the company routed rain water to damage the only source of drinking water for the community, denigrated family graves and the residential quarters of Dr. Paul Noah, an indigene of the community.

Village head, elders avert mayhem It took the intervention of Ete Idung (Village Head) and other elders to avert a breakdown of law and order in the community, last Friday, when the youths attempted to picket the work site.

Dr. Noah, who spoke to our reporter, lamented that the construction company, E. T. Dicks Construction Company, deliberately channelled flood water to destroy his property, farmland, crops, economic trees, ecological damage and degradation.

According to him, the poor quality of work by the construction company, earlier in December 2014, provoked the community to stage a protest, only for the company to channel flood to cause havoc to the community.

Noah said the company should compensate the community for contaminating their only source of drinking water and damage to their farmlands.

He added that he should be compensated for the damage to his property, economic trees and family ’s grave, which he said is sacred.

At press time, efforts by Niger Delta Voice to reach officials of the company, E. T. Dicks Construction Company, were rebuffed.

Community celebrates 50-bed cottage hospital

By Tom Moses

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Damage to Edem Ekpat community and Dr. Paul Noah's property.

Akpabio, wife build bungalow for widow

By Chioma Onuegbu

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KOT OBIO NDOHO— WHEN the Akwa Ibom State Governor, Obong Godswill Akpabio, breached protocol while on a state function, September 14, last year, by making a spur-of-the-moment stopover at the rural Ikot Obio Ndoho community, Mkpat Enin Local Government Area of the state, his security aides and other members of his entourage were taken aback.

They were further stunned when the governor headed straight to a crumbling mud house.

He was attracted by the ramshackle nature of the house, he did not believe a human being should be residing in such a place in the 21st century, but behold, it is the dwelling of a 41-year-old widow, Mrs. Rose Udofot Victor and her six children.

The governor was stirred by what he saw. He took up the matter with his wife, Mrs. Unoma Akpabio, whose similar passion made her to establish the Unoma Akpabio Shelter for Widows Programme and last Wednesday, barely six months after, the keys of a brand new furnished twobedroom bungalow were handed over to the dazed widow, as her new home.

‘I never knew God’ll remember me this way’ Mrs. Victor, bursting with joy after the apartment was commissioned, said: “I never

expected that God will remember us in this way.

“I am thankful to the governor’s wife for bringing joy to this family. We are very happy and grateful to God for using the governor’s wife to touch us. We did not have a house and today God has wiped away my tears and suffering.

“She is the angel sent by God to wipe my tears and restore hope to my children. This whole thing to me is like waking up from a dream.

“God has remembered me and my children through the governor and his wife and I pray to God to continue to bless the governor's wife for helping and supporting the poor hopeless widows like me.

“I cannot thank the wife of the governor enough because of this wonderful thing she has done for me and my children.

“That day that the governor stopped here to see our house

that was already falling was the day of our miracle. I am very happy today, and I and my children are grateful to Akwa Ibom state government.”

Protect rights of widows—Mrs. Akpabio Commissioning the house, Mrs Akpabio declared that widows were among the most vulnerable members of the society that needed to be provided for and shown love, just as she urged the society to work to promote laws that protect the right of widows.

She added, “I want to specially thank the chairman of the council, Ephraim Akpan and his wife for supporting us in this Shelter for Widows Programme, which is a special aspect of my pet project, Family Life Enhancement Initiative, FLEI, by furnishing this twobedroom apartment built for a poor widow in your community.”

Mrs. Rose Udofot Victor and children at their new home.

KET—INHAIBITANTS of Nduo-Eduo community, Eket Local Government Area, AkwaIbom State, have commended the chairman of the area, Mr. Aniekan Akpan, for establishing a multi-purpose 50-bed capacity Cottage Hospital in the town.

Niger Delta Voice gathered that the hospital, which is 95 per cent completed, will undertake the diagnosis, prognosis and treatment of children-related ailments, women and adults health challenges.

It was gathered that the community recorded high incidences of avoidable casualties in the course of emergencies which is why members of Nduo-Eduo see the establishment of the hospital as a welcome development.

Mrs. Hannah Okon Bernard said until the establishment of the hospital whose date of commissioning is not yet fixed, the impression was that the community is not a part of Akwa-Ibom State.

Aside from one major road linking the community with other villages constructed during the military era, the community has not had any other government presence.

According to her, the few amenities in the community were put in place through community efforts.

An elder in the community, Chief Akaiso Idung, who corroborated Mrs Bernard’s claim, lamented that in spite of the mineral endowments in the area, development was far from the people and extolled Akpan for remembering them in his projects prioritization.

THE TEAM Emma Amaize, Editor Jimitota Onoyume Samuel Oyadongha Simon Ebegbulem Gabriel Enogholase Festus Ahon Egufe Yafugborhi Emmanuel Una Akpokona Omafuaire Godwin Oghre Tom Moses Chioma Onuegbu Ike Uche Davies Iheamnachor Emem Idio Brisibe Perez Barnabas Uzosike Nath Onajoke Chijioke Nwankpa

Niger Delta Voice, TUESDAY, MARCH 17, 2015—3

Sand merchants endanger Bayelsa seaside communities

One dead, many wounded as CRiver communities fight over land CROSS RIVER… THE PEOPLE’S PARADISE

By Samuel Oyadongha

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By Emmanuel Unah

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ALABAR—A long-drawnout land squabble between Kasuk Qua and Ikpai Qua clans in Calabar, Cross River State, has claimed the life of a 21year-old villager, Asuquo Duke with many others wounded.

Niger Delta Voice gathered that hostilities broke out between the two communities at a sand quarry in Ikot Uduak, last week.

Counsel to Kasuk Qua, Barrister Orok Ironbor, stated that fight erupted following the contravention of a subsisting Zone Six Police Command order barring the contending from the land in contention, which was allegedly infringed by the Ikpai people, who kept on excavating sand from the pit located on the land.

Fingers police In a petition written to the Inspector General of Police made available to Niger Delta Voice, Barrister Orok also accused the police of taking sides in the matter by allowing the Ikpai clan to have access to the quarry sites to dig sand while constantly harassing the Kasuk Qua people, who go close to the area.

Untimely death He said on the ill-fated day, the people of Ikpai were in the area excavating sand when some youths from Kasuk Qua got wind of the development and came to demand an explanation why they were contravening the police order, adding, they were attacked and Asuquo Duke was killed while several others were wounded in the fracas.

His words: “Under threat to our clients and in a bid to cover their partisanship and lack of investigation, the police got our clients to sign an undertaking, restraining them and Ikpai from the land pending when the matter is decided by Court of Appeal, which is a clear evidence that on their own your officers have decided ownership of the land.”

But, reacting to the claim of the Kasuk Qua clan, Head of Ikpai clan, Ntoe Emmanuel Orok and the Secretary, Clan Council, Barrister Godwin Asuquo, said the claim by Kasuk Qua that Ikpai people were the ones contravening the undertaking signed with the Zone Six Police Command and the High Court ruling is a ruse.

They said the culprits were the people of Kasuk Qua clan,

BA YELS A ...

BAYELS YELSA THE GLORY OF ALL LANDS

DEAD... Asuquo Duke. who daily excavate sand from the area in contention.

Asuquo said: “We were not even aware that there was any clash in the area because our people are keeping away from the area in obedience to the police order and the undertaking they signed.

“They must have had the fracas with some other people as the Inok Edim they mentioned in their petition is not in service of the Ikpai Clan.”

According to him, there have been several judgments since 1952, which declared that the land in contention belongs to Ikpai clan and that the land was originally acquired by the Cross River State Government in 1984/85 and given to the Nigerian Air force to develop a base, which never took place. ”After 28 years, the Nigeria Airforce did not pay compensation. In 2010, we wrote to the government requesting for repossession of the land for lack of compensation payment and in November, 2010, the government returned the land to us.”

Asuquo said when the government in 2012 decided to construct the Margaret Ekpo by- pass, they requested communities with interest in the area to forward their claims and it was only Ikpai Clan that got N6.3 million compensation while the request by Kasuk Qua was thrown out.

We’re investigating—Police At the Airport Police Station, the Divisional Police Officer, Mr. Asuquo Effiong, said the matter was under investigation and the police acted to save lives when they got re-

ports that there was fracas at the sand pit at Ikot Uduak.

Chairman of Calabar Municipality, Mr. Donatus Etim, said: “Both clans have the same ancestral roots and we are working towards peace.”

ENAGOA—THE dumbfounding demand for sand for construction work and land filling in the predominantly riverine Bayelsa State is threatening the existence of communities, along the rivers, creeks and rivulets, across the state due to the jumbled quarrying for sand.

Niger Delta Voice investigations revealed that prior to the invasion of the rivers and creeks by the sand merchants with their hi-tech foreign built dredgers and locally fabricated dredgers, many of the communities were troubled by marine erosion.

No fewer than 15 dredgers were seen excavating sand, along the Yenagoa-AgburaOtuokpoti-Onuegbum waterways alone, due to the head to foot demand for sand in the state on daily basis.

The large presence of dredgers along the troubled environment, analysts warned, could spell doom for the previously crumbly river banks.

Renowned Niger Delta environmentalist, Comrade Alagoa Morris, grumbled that some of the dredging sites are

Calm returns to Ekori after PDP, LP clash CROSS RIVER… THE PEOPLE’S PARADISE

By Ike Uchechukwu

E

KORI—PROPORTIONAL peace has returned to Ekori community in Cross River State where three persons were killed in an orchestrated violence between the People’s Democratic Party, PDP, and Labour Party, LP, faithful in the area over political rally.

Schools, markets and hospitals in the town were shut down as a result of the crisis and until the police intervened, the political thugs, who held the entire community hostage as they shot now and again, were not prepared to simmer down.

Speaking in his palace where he played host to the Special Adviser to the Governor on Orientation and Public Affairs, Prof Osam Edim Temple, who was on a peace mission to the community, the Obol Lopon of Ekori, HRH Donatus Ofem, called on politicians to the overall interest of the people above their personal and parochial interests.

He said what happened in

the past few days in Ekori was appalling, as some people sat in Abuja and other places to sponsor crisis in the town.

Professor Temple, who represented the governor, Senator Liyel Imoke, warned that the state government would not condone political merchants of violence, who see chaos as the best path to achieving their political ambition.

You can campaign anywhere- Imoke “Nobody or politician has the right to close the door of his/ her community against other candidates from going there to campaign, the entire door of the state should be open to all for campaigns just as there should be a level playing ground for all, irrespective of their political coloration or platform,” he asserted.

I tried to stop them—Monarch The monarch told Niger Delta Voice that on that fateful day, a political party wanted to carry out rally and another was preventing them from doing so, and he sent messengers to tell them to allow the other party to carry out their rally, but to no avail, and from there crisis erupted.

so close to houses, warning that the trend, if not addressed, could be cataclysmic for the communities.

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Morris said, ”The scale at which sand is being sourced now in the state, especially within the vicinity of the state capital and not so far from it has assume an industrial proportion and becoming a source of concern for environmentally conscious citizens and other keen observers in the state.

“The way and manner sand is being mined with dredgers in our rivers and creeks; especially as it is currently sailing within parts of Yenagoa and Ogbia local government areas of the state has not only attracted genuine concerns, but also calls for the attention of the authorities to step in to allay the fears of those expressing concern; specifically about the negative impacts and safety of communities around such large scale dredging sites.

“Before the creation of Bayelsa State, sand required for construction of building purposes was minimal and oftentimes such demands were met by local sand divers around our communities. To some extent, they also moved away from the community before engaging in the act.

“This was because they also took into consideration the negative impacts of removing sand from the river/creek right in front of the communities.

And that was very fine.

“Today, even though the locals could still be found doing their sand diving around our community environment, the industrial scale mining is alarming as in some community environment , over 10 dredgers are positioned and dredging on daily basis.

Landslide “With the volume of sand removed daily along our water ways like Kolo Creek, Ikoli River, Taylor Creek, Otuokpoti, Agbura and others, there is this fear of landslide in the near future or very serious coastal erosion leading to the loss of vast expanse of land; including houses and may be, loss of lives.

“It is only proper that the state government, through the Ministry of Environment wade into the situation and ensure a proper Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) is carried out at such sites before approval is given for such industrial scale sand mining around our communities.”

Govt should approve sites for dredgers Another concerned Bayelsan, Moneyman Jones, pleaded that dredgers should dredge only at government approved sites around the state.

4—Niger Delta Voice, TUESDAY, MARCH 17, 2015

DELTA...

FINGER OF GOD

Shell withdraws funding of Delta Youth Training Centre different companies, some of the beneficiaries have not started operations for us to know which is which, and for now, we do not even know which company is responsible for Shell’s funding in the centre.

“I will ask questions to find out so that we can approach them to continue with the kind responsibility.”

Uduaghan’s vow Comrade Newuwumi said Governor Uduaghan was totally committed to the overall development of youths in the state and that was the reason the centre was set up.

He said: “No effort will be spared by the administration of Governor Uduaghan to tame youth restiveness, our dynamic governor is committed to the development of our youths and other sectors.”

ABOVE : Commissioner Omolubi Newuwumi listens as the centre administrator gives his welcome speech.

TOP: The state-of-the-art mechanic workshop at the centre.

By Emma Amaize

E

GBOKODO—SHELL Nigeria Exploration and Production Company, SNPECo, one of the three finance partners of the Delta State Government –owned Multipurpose Youth Training Centre, Egbokodo, Warri, Delta State, has pulled out of the funding of up-to-theminute vocational institution.

The state government, United Nation Development Programme, UNDP, and Shell had been jointly funding the centre, founded in 2008 and managed by the United Nations Office for Project Services, UNOPS, until recently.

The fact came to light when the Commissioner for Youth Development, Comrade Omolubi Newuwumi, visited the multi-billion naira youth training centre to inspect the facilities at the centre, a job creation and conflict initiative of the governor, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan.

Omolubi was conducted round the centre by the Administrative Manager, Mrs. Ngozi Mogbolu, who explained: “The certificate we offer is City and Guilde.

“It is also important to note that the centre is funded by three development partners,

though funded by two for now because one of the funding three partners, the SPDC, had since withdrawn.

“Presently we have the United Nation Development Projects, UNDP, as a funding partner and the Delta state government, which is the major funding partner, while the United Nations of Projects Services, UNOPS, is the man-

aging partner of the project.”

Why it withdrew—Omolubi The commissioner told Niger Delta Voice that the withdrawal of Shell from the centre followed the divestment of the company from its operations and liabilities in the state.

He said: “Since Shell divested its operations in the state, including its liabilities to

Appeal to youths “It is my appeal to our youths to take full advantage of this place; they should key into the activities of the centre as this administration is determined to develop our youths mentally and physically.

“We are out to change the mindset of our youths. We must sell what we have so that we can reach out to so many of our youths and as a Ministry, we are ready to join the management of the centre to give the place the needed publicity.

“We are using this opportunity to tell all Deltans that we have everything in the centre. We are more than capable in transforming every youth to be a better person in Delta state.”

Vision Conducting the commissioner round the centre earlier, Mrs. Mogbolu said the vision behind the setting up of the place was to take Delta youths off violence by making them usefully

engaged.

She said: “On the long run, state government hopes to establish two more of such and is tailored towards different sectors of the national economy.

“I will also say that the centre is very well positioned to contribute to two if not three development objectives of the Government Uduaghan-led administration, which is human capital development, peace and security.

“Presently we have about 120 students, though the full capacity of the center is about 150, but we have 120 for now.

We conduct training for the student in seven vocational areas.

“We have the Information and Communication Technology, ICT, Carpentry and Joinery, Electrical and Electronics Installation, Catering and Hotel Management, Welding and Fabrication and Motor Vehicle Mechanics and Diesel plant Fitting and Maintenance.”

Free boarding, food, tuition There are some peculiar things about the school.

Besides modern boarding facilities situated in apposite learning environment, food, fees for tuition, courses, accommodation and examinations are free for students. All the students have to do are to make themselves available for studies.

Challenges She, however, said the school was facing challenges, notable among which is accreditation by the National Board of Technical Education, NBTE, and gazette of the centre.

“It is the thinking of the partners that if the gazette is facilitated and concluded before the exit of Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan, who is the initiator of the program, it will go a long way to facilitate our activities and ensure the sustainability of the centre,” She added.

Urhobo oil communities threaten to shut down Utorogun Gas Plant

By Egufe Yafugborhi

U

GHELLI—THE Host Communities of Nigeria Producing Oil and Gas (HOSTCOM), Urhobo ethnic nationality chapter, Delta State, staged a cautionary protest to the Utorogun Gas Plant, hosted

by Otor-Udu, Otughievwen and Iwhrekan in Udu and Ughelli South Local Government Areas of the state, last week, to draw attention of the Nigerian Petroleum Development Company, NDPC, operator of the plant, to their lingering demands.

The protesting oil communities threatened to shut down the gas plant, a development that could plunge several areas and

industries in Lagos, Ogunu and environs into darkness if their grievances were not expeditiously addressed.

Our complaints Chairman of the group, Efe Okovwurie, said the issues of dispute emanate from nonconsultation of the host communities when ND Western and Shoreline Company jointly acquired the 45 per cent of Shell Petroleum Development Company stakes following its divestment as operator in 2012.

Okovwurie also said HOSTCOM wants “equity shares in the operations of Oil Mining Lease (OML) 26, 30, and 34 as obtains in Seplatoperated facilities in Sapele

area with release of two and half percent stakes to host communities.

“We demand release of one day production in every 30 days to host communities to cushion the hardship experienced by host communities from the negative impact of oil and gas exploration in our land,” he asserted.

They flayed incessant change of management heads in NPDC, saying it was hampering effective relations with communities, while also demanding prompt payment of community contractors and creation of a vendor office in Warri to prevent host contractors from travelling to Benin, Edo State, to process dealings.

“We are here today because NPDC has refused to grant audience and dialogue after repeated letters since taking over operations in this area. In the event of refusal to respond positively to this peaceful warning, the next line of action would be total shut down of the gas plant.

Warning “This facility you know supplies the gas, which powers the Egbin thermal power plant, shutting it down means throwing several part of Lagos, Ogunu and other major cities and industrial areas into blackout. May be, it is then we will be heard, “the protest leader added.

Niger Delta Voice, TUESDAY, MARCH 17, 2015—5

POLLS: Ijaws table Jonathan’s re-election before Amasiekumor deity

By Emma Amaize & Akpokona Omafuaire

O

POROZA—AMASIEKUMOR festival is a fiesta that the Ijaw of Gbaramatu Kingdom, Warri South-West Local Government Area, Delta State and their kinsmen from other parts of the Niger Delta region hold fire for at Oporoza, the traditional headquarters of the kingdom, annually.

Amasiekumor is a female deity whose origin dates back to over 400 years. Its devoted worshipers believe that the goddess protects and blesses the faithful, irrespective of circumstances and even in times of battle.

In fact, some of them, perhaps blasphemously, describe the deity as Jesus Christ. Ex-militant leader and top-ranking figure in the kingdom, High Chief Government Oweizide Ekpemupolo, alias Tompolo, said, “Amasiekumor is just like Jesus Christ to us.”

This year’s celebration of the deity was not different. It was a five-day event that kicked off March 10 and ended March 15 with cleansing and purification exercise for all sons and daughters, who were involved in blood covenant and other related sins.

The goddess, who is housed at a bravura temple in a small forest adjacent the Oporoza Guest house of Tompolo is reverently treated. Soldiers of the Joint Task Force on Niger-Delta were amazed at the people’s uncommon belief in the goddess when they bombarded the community in 2009 and did everything to destroy the shrine.

Arrival/commencement It started with making of various sacrifices ranging from sin to purification offerings, as Amasiekumor forbids uncleanliness. Everywhere on the Oporoza canal, last Thursday, was littered with assorted foods and live chickens for the deity.

Every participant or visitor was subjected to a compulsory sanctification ritual; a mixture in a native pot is compulsorily splashed on your head, as you dismounted the speedboat with the aid of leaves. It is said that any man or woman who had sexual intercourse (probably on the day of the festival) will not be allowed entry into the arena and there is no ransom to redeem it.

Not even journalists, irrespective of their religious belief, were spared of the purification exercise. The zealots said it was to avoid polluting the ceremony.

Last Thursday was the grand finale and merrily dressed men and women from all walks of life trooped to the arena. Aged women were dressed in branded white Tshirts with white head gears, while some youths in similar fashion, also had white pieces of cloth tied round their head.

Tompolo’s patented appearance Tompolo, who is rarely seen, could not hide on that day. Decked in a branded Amasiekumor T-shirt atop a branded PDP wrapper with a white cloth piece tied

TOP: A black masquerade cleaning the environment before the white masquared arrival .

TOP LEF T: High Chief Government Ekpemupolo, alias Tompolo (1st right) decorating Amaseikumor and the Chief Priest with naira notes during the festival at Oporoza, Gbaramatu Kingdom in Warri South West Local Government Area of Delta State.

LEF T: A cross section of Gbaramatu women interceding for President Goodluck Jonathan with his photograph.

around his neck and head, he was the cynosure of all eyes.

A special song was rendered in his honour and visitors, who barely saw him, had the opportunity of snapping him with their phones and cameras, as he walked to and fro from the adrenaline-charged rhythms of the drummers.

Women, led by Chief Vero Tangbowei swayed their bodies and wriggled their waists in a fashionable manner likened to Owigiri dance steps in a high spirit.

Enter the deity Ear-plitting canon shots burst out, following an announcement that the arena be cleared for the materialization of Amasiekumor.

A broom-wielding black masquerade, led Amasiekumor and its chief priest flanked by Tompolo and other high ranking officials of Amasiekumor into the arena.

The black masquerade swept the ground as it swaggered with the parrot feather capped deity in a special cavalcade. Shouts of joy rent the air as people struggled to behold Amasiekumor.

Distinct songs in its praise were sung until it sublimely took its seat in front of a covered white tent with the chief priest.

The black masquerade swept round the arena followed with great dancing by aged women in a single file with youths in the middle of the circle dancing.

Mint Naira notes for the goddess Food and drinks were in surplus supply, scores of goat skulls obviously offered for

sacrifices plagued the place. Meanwhile, twirling continued as Tompolo and other wealthy Ijaw sons and daughters threw mint Naira notes in the air in front of the deity.

This year’s festival culminated in the endorsement of President Goodluck Jonathan and special prayers for the success of the March 28 and April 11 elections.

For Jonathan Clutching a photograph of President Goodluck Jonathan, the female spiritual head of Gbaramatu kingdom, Mama Ebolomorbo-Ere, joined by all white dressed aged women, stood in front of the Ijaw deity to pray for his victory. The chief priest thereafter sanctified the prayers with a native chalk.

It was declared shortly after that Jonathan’s electoral victory was secured and rumbles of celebration and dances followed, as Amasiekumor, the chief priest, Tompolo and others entered into the white tent for a special session. Canon shots were later released and the departure of Amasiekumor was announced.

Tompolo speaks Speaking shortly, Tompolo said, “Amasiekumor is celebrated to protect the unity and integrity of the Ijaw nation.

Amasiekumor means, no matter what happens a mother will protect her child, we want Jonathan to return again and by the grace of God, he is victorious already.”

Director General, Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency,

NIMASA, Mr. Ziakede Akpobolokemi, said, “Amasiekumor is one of the greatest festivals we have, it shows who we are and how united we are. Everyone requires prayers, which is why we have come to pray for the president, he needs all over prayers and support.”

Beginning of good things —Pudie Public Relations Officer, PRO, Gbaramatu Kingdom, Chief Matthew Pudie, asserted, “It started very long time ago, it means there will be no more evil, calamity, defeat and failure and it marks the beginning of good things, blessings and promotion.

“It is cleansing the land for prosperity to come; it is done for the good we are expecting in the coming election. The celebration will climax with the declaration of everybody for Jonathan’s re-election,” he declared.

Amasiekumor protected us during the struggle— Bounanawei Ex-militant leader, “General” Godday Smith, aka Bounanawei (Owner of the forest) of Niger Delta said: “Amasiekumor is very important and unique to us, we succeeded in the struggle because of the special protection we enjoyed. It is a deity of prosperity; our struggle was for prosperity of our land.

“We are here today to renew and revive our spiritual standings, the land has been cleansed and victory and prosperity are here. It has nothing to do with religion; it is the way of our life.”

6—Niger Delta Voice, MARCH, MARCH 17, 2015

PODIUM…

CANDIDATE SWAPPING: In Delta, politicians are ‘dying,' ‘resurrecting'

By Brisibe Perez

S

APELE—A signed death certificate of All Progressives Congress, APC, House of Representatives candidate for Okpe, Uvwie & Sapele Federal Constituency, Delta State, Chief Christopher Anirah, sent to the National Chairman of the party, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, is generating commotion in the state chapter of the party.

In the letter dated January 15, signed by one Mr. Chidi Okonji, entitled Substitution of a Dead Candidate and another dated, January 20, addressed to the Chairman of Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, Professor Attahiru Jega, purportedly signed by Chief Odigie-Oyegun, said: “The party is seeking to substitute the candidacy of Chief Anirah with Mr. Gibson Akporehe, following the demise of Chief Anirah.”

Reacting to the news of his death, Chief Anirah in a chat with Niger Delta Voice, said the forged death certificate is the height political rascality, adding that the rumour of his death was being peddled by individuals bent on replacing his name as the party’s candidate ahead of forthcoming general election.

He said: “There is no iota of truth in that statement. I have been introduced severally by the governorship candidate of our party, Olorogun O’tega Emerhor as the APC flag bearer for Okpe, Uvwie & Sapele Federal Constituency and am very certain of victory at the polls.”

“I am still alive and would be contesting the election on the platform of APC. Those peddling such rumours are my political detractors, who are bent on stealing the mandate of the electorate.”

APC Deputy Chairman reacts Deputy Chairman of the party in the state, Chief Cyril Ogodo, said the controversy was part of the political manoeuvrings involved in a democratic setting, adding that the episode is centered on desperate moves by both individuals to outsmart each other.

He said: ”I have seen counter papers from both individuals, including the one purportedly removing Akporehe, who was the original candidate that I submitted to the national body of the party.

“Though I have heard from both sides, there are some documents with signed affidavits using some constitutional provisions that Gibson withdrew from the race and by virtue of my position, I have heard from both sides.

“At a point, INEC had Akporehe’s name as the party’s candidate having won the primaries for the position, but persons from some quarters, who wanted somebody else, mysteriously assisted in the name's disappearance.

“With the position of things, we (APC) can no longer say who is the right candidate; it is the court or INEC, after x-raying all the details surrounding both individuals, that can decide on who is C M Y K

The substitution letter.

Chief Anirah' certified dead.

LEFT: Chief Christopher Anirah... I'm not dead; I'm alive.

RIGHT: Mr. Gibson Akporehe.

Letter to INEC, allegedly from APC National Chairman. the right candidate.

“As an individual, I think all these are normal in politics as there are the ingredients that make the soup sweet and we all know that whoever emerges as winner, the overall winner would be the party.

Notification of death allegedly from the Anirah family.

“But give and take, the unanswered question is: who went to INEC to change Gibson’s name with Anirah?”

INEC's website Niger Delta Voice findings revealed that in the final list of presiden-

tial and National Assembly candidates for 2015 general elections, as displayed on the website of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, as at the March 13, Chief Anirah is the APC candidate for Okpe, Uvwie & Sapele Federal Constituency.

Niger Delta Voice, TUESDAY, MARCH 17, 2015—7

Akenpia community to Bayelsa govt: We‘ll

demonstrate our anger at the polls Continues from Page 1 and places of businesses.

“It is virtually impossible for the pupils to go to school during the rainy season and this is unfair.

“We were made to understand that this school was built by Shell Petroleum Development Company. But after the building of the school, it is the responsibility of government to provide other facilities.

“We are, therefore, appealing to government and other interventionist agencies to come to our aid to assist us so that the residents, particularly children of this community, can enjoy going to school.

“If you look at the number of pupils in the school, you will see that they are not much and there used to be a large population of students before.

“But due to the fact that there is no good road, parents and

Akenpia

by SPDC.

Community Primary School, donated

guardians have withdrawn their children from the only community primary school.”

Be patient —Commissioner for Works Meanwhile, Bayelsa State

Commissioner for Works and Infrastructure, Mr. Lawrence Ewhrujakpo, has appealed for calm among the residents, urging them to exercise patience with the present administration.

Mr. Ola Oba, resident of Akenpia community.

Ewhrujakpo, who was reacting to questions during the weekly inspection of ongoing projects in the state, said the state government was concentrating on completing ongoing projects, especially

Rivers communities list needs for Peterside RIVERS… THE TREASURE BASE OF THE NATION

By Davies Iheamnachor

E

TCHE—MONARCHS, chiefs and residents of several rural communities in Rivers State have told the All Progressive Congress, APC, governorship candidate in the state, Dr. Dakuku Peterside, that the overriding problems confronting rural dwellers in the state are insecurity and lack of basic amenities of life, including potable water and travellable roads.

The people, however, expressed satisfaction with Governor Rotimi Amaechi and promised to vote Dakuku to continue from where Amaechi would stop.

Peterside, who had visited about 312 wards in the state in the last few weeks, canvassing for votes and wooing the people to vote for him with his Greater Together Campaign Organization, asked the people pointed questions in his bid to hear from the horse’s mouth.

On some of the challenges, he made promises of what he would do if elected governor and gave instant solution to others.

Anxiety in Kalaibima, Finima At the riverine Kalaibima and Finima communities in Bonny local government area, the people told him that inse-

curity, lack of land space for residential homes and farming, potable w ater, among others were their bellyaches.

They asked him to put protective measures in place for them when he takes over from Governor Rotimi Amaechi because they are easily attacked by pirates at the moment.

They also complained that they do not have good jetty to easily access their boats.

Uncertainty in Omuma, Abua, Etche At Omuma and Abua communities in Omuma and Abua/Odua local government areas respectively, the people lamented that they were living at the mercy of hoodlums.

They reechoed that there was high level of insecurity in the area, while the people of Etche, who could not hide their problem, complained that they lack good road networks.

Similarly, some of the traditional rulers visited pleaded the candidate to help them gain recognition by elevating their stools if elected.

The monarchs and their communities visited duly endorsed the candidate and gave him their blessing.

Why we support APC—Monarchs The monarchs in their various speeches endorsed the APC standard bearer because of the performance of the incumbent governor, Chibuike Amaechi.

The Etche Council of Chiefs

at the palace of HRM, King Samuel Amaechi, Onye-IsiAla Igbo Etche Kingdom, said “We have vowed to vote for the APC all the way in the forthcoming elections because of the developmental efforts of Gov Chibuike Amaechi.

Affirming the position, King Amaechi assured the candidate that the Etche people would vote APC. He said Amaechi’s administration was beneficial to the people and they will pay back by giving their votes to APC in all the elections.

In the same vein, HRH, John Berebon (Mene Bodo) of Gokana, HRH, Emere Bebe Okpabi of Ogale Eleme, HRM, Dr. Chinedu Igwe of Igburu and Eze Usomini, HRM, Dr. Allen, endorsed Dakuku, saying they had no doubt that he will consolidate and

improve on Amaechi’s legacies.

My mission Responding, Peterside promised to tackle the challenges enunciated by the people within his four years in office as governor and consolidate the efforts of Amaechi.

Dakuku reassured the people that he would run an allinclusive government, adding that he would give more facilities to boost the primary health care system in the state and deliver more dividends of democracy.

He also pledged to bring pipe borne water to some of the zones with immediate need to avoid further outbreak of cholera. He also vowed to build roads and ensure the security of life and property

Ex-militant warns youths against thuggery

By Davies Iheamnachor

P

ORT HARCOURT—AN ex-militant leader in NigerDelta, Mr. Precious Iyoyo, alias Commander Playboy, has advised youths in the region not to consent to be used as political thugs by politicians.

Iyoyo, who is the leader of the Niger-Delta People’s Democratic Front, NDPDF, made the call at a sensitization workshop at Port Harcourt, Rivers State, organized by the group for members drawn from different communities in the region.

He said: “Youths of Niger Delta should imbibe the spirit of discipline, humility and respect to the candidates of the parties, especially at this time of election. We need peace in this country.

“We do not want our members and other youths to be violent at this period. I encourage the youths not to allow yourselves to be used as political thugs during and after the election by desperate politicians.

“We have found out that no nation can develop under crises so we need peace.”

the major senatorial roads.

He noted that due to the dwindling resources, the government prioritized projects and sued for understanding among communities with development challenges.

PHRC flags off training for Eleme, Okrika youths

By Jimitota Onoyume

P

ORT HARCOURT— Port Harcourt Refining Company, PHRC, has flagged off its Youth Empowerment and Skills Acquisition Programme, YESAP, for Eleme and Okrika communities in Rivers state, a scheme designed to increase opportunities for wealth creation and check youth restiveness.

Mr. Ikenna Okpani of the Public Affairs Department of the company told newsmen that the programme was part of the company’s efforts to impact positively on its host communities, saying it will usher in economic development and boost wealth creation in the areas.

He said: “The programme has the main aim of increasing opportunities for wealth creation; economic empowerment through employment generation and human capital development.

“The programme will engender sustainable community development and promote peace and harmony with various stakeholders.

“Under the programme, the selected beneficiaries will be deployed to different government certified vocational training centres.”

C M Y K

8—Niger Delta Voice, TUESDAY, MARCH 17, 2015

AGENDA Bayelsa plans ‘regulatory shock therapy’ for oil companies—COMMISSIONER

A crude oil pipeline on fire in Bayelsa creek.

IT is not going to be business as usual for the oil multinationals operating in Bayelsa State if the current move by the state government to save the state troubled environment is anything to go by. Commissioner for Environment, Mr. Iniruo Wills, who is also Chairman, Bayelsa State Inter-Ministerial Committee on the Environment, weekend, led other stakeholders on a tour of the troubled creeks of the state and spoke on the administrative, regulatory and legal enforcement measures being proposed by the state government to compel environmental best practice by the petroleum industry and other major operators in the state.

By Samuel Oyadongha How would you react to the recent major spills from Shell and Agip facilities?

Yes, two recent oil spill disasters occurred from the facilities and operations of the Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria Limited and Nigerian Agip Oil Company Limited respectively in Bayelsa State. Precisely on Sunday, 15th of February, 2015, crude oil was noticed spreading to Keme-Ebiama and other communities, along or around the Ogboinbiri River in Southern Ijaw Local Government Area.

From the reports available to us, this crude oil spill was from Shell’s Seibou facility and may have occurred several weeks earlier, but an attempt was made to contain it by deploying a boom across the canal where much of the oil had flowed into. The boom failed and the oil spread into the River and is affecting the environment, health and social-economic life of the communities in the area.

The other crude oil spill occurred along Agip’s Ogboinbiri/Tebidaba pipeline, affecting Ikebiri community, and was first noticed by the community early in February.

From indications, it happened when the clamping done to contain an earlier spill failed. The effects on the environment and surrounding communities are similar.

These recent pollution disasters bring back into focus the grave plight that has become daily cliché for Bayelsa state and our hundreds of communities. In both cases, the response of these operators has been grossly unsatisfactory, reflecting a settled culture of corporate impunity C M Y K

that must be checked.

The priority placed on pollution prevention and diligent post spill management by the oil industry is abysmally low, and we shall henceforth insist on environmental excellence from operators who are in or whose operations affect our State. We will need the support of all stakeholders, and in particular the media, in doing this.

While we are intent on exploring all courteous means of getting oil industry operators to comply with Nigeria’s environmental laws and globally acceptable standards of oilfield practice, it is obvious to the Bayelsa State Ministry of Environment that a considerable dose of regulatory shock therapy is needed to cure the errant practices of these corporate giants lest our ecological heritage continues to perish, while public health is further imperilled and local economies irretrievably destroyed.

Given the cumulative life-and-livelihoods implications of perennial hydrocarbon pollution for the state and communities, what measures are being adopted or considered with respect to the instant spills and other pollution incidents, as well as for purposes of pollution prevention and deterrence..

The Bayelsa State Ministry of Environment will henceforth be involved in the detailed monitoring and oversight of pollution management activities from containment, recovery, clean up and remediation to restoration of affected sites, communities and ecosystems.

The ministry in collaboration with the National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency NOSDRA will require the registra-

tion, regulatory accreditation and/or prequalification of contractors and consultants before they are engaged for clean-up and remediation operations. We shall also confirm and certify satisfactory completion of work before the close out of such remedial operations.

This is in the light of our observation that most clean-up jobs are shoddily done, sometimes involving the hazard of burning forests and vegetation, either as a deliberate “clean up” measure or accidental, but easily foreseeable consequence of unprofessional and poorly monitored execution.

Our position is also informed by the rampant failure of the clamps put in place to contain previous spills, thus leading to fresh spillages.

For maximum effectiveness and transparency, we shall seek the collaboration and support of independent observers and experts, local and global, in the overhauling, monitoring and quality assurance of spills management, starting from joint investigation visits JIVs. Such support may include technical, logistical, financial, material and advocacy assistance. The ministry and other relevant government institutions will explore avenues for securing prompt and adequate redress for Bayelsa State government as a distinct stakeholder and for affected communities; such redress to include the payment of professionally valued compensations, civil and criminal fines, personal criminal prosecution of culpable corporate executives and operational officers, remediation and restoration.

The channels for this will include but by no means be limited to appropriate administrative and regulatory sanctions, lawsuits to be filed in suitable jurisdictions and in compelling situations the possible actuation of a formal (humanitarian) emergency status for pollution disasters, within the context of the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

What is the government doing to ensure oil industry executive/administrators make their presence in the state?

To ensure environmental best practice and speedy spill management, we shall

press for each major operator in the state to establish a functional executive presence in state.

The nonchalant and clumsy management of oil pollution that had placed Bayelsa state as the worst petroleum-polluted geography in the entire world is largely due to the fact that the decision making executives of these polluting operators are stationed in cities too far away for them to care about the ravaging effects of their communities’ operations on Koluama, Ikebiri, Oluasiri, Keme-Ebiama, Biseni and other petroleum host communities in the state.

Shell has to upgrade from the mere liaison office it currently maintains to an executive/administrative base with high capacity manning levels commensurate with the volume of its operations in Bayelsa, which include some of the most prolific onshore fields in the country such ad OML 29. For Agip, Chevron and Consolidated Oil (Conoil), they have to set up similar presence, and they currently have none in the state. This will help to reverse the massive pollution and disaster trail and save our delicate ecology.

The Ministry will also work with other stakeholders to instigate two associated initiatives and these include a credible integrity and lifespan audit of the network of pipelines crisscrossing our state and an industry wide overhaul of pipeline surveillance systems.

In this connection, it is our hope that Federal Government institutions such as the Federal Ministry of Environment, the Federal Ministry of Petroleum Resources, NOSDRA, the Nigerian Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative, the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation and the Niger Delta Development Commission on the one hand and the oil producers/pipeline operators on the other hand, along with key international bodies will work in concert to quickly commission a global comparative survey by the most reputable experts/firms and recommend best available technologies and practices in pipeline quality standards and monitoring systems.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, MARCH 17, 2015— —33

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34 — Vanguard, TUESDAY, MARCH 17, 2015

Oyatomi's daughter weds

Jumoke Oyatomi, daughter of Barr. Kunle Oyatomi, Director of Publicity, Research and Strategy of the All Progressive Congress, APC, Osun State and Segun Ayinla, son of Mr. Oluwakemi Ayinla, weekend, solemnised their marriage with a wedding at the Faith Arena, Winner Chapel, Isheri-Olofin. Lagos. The couple with the officiating Ministers of God, during the wedding ceremony. Photos: Bunmi Azeez

from left: Mr. Idowu Ogunbayo, Mrs. Esther Ogunbayo, Chief[Mrs] Bola Obasanjo and Mrs. Reginad Fadayomi, during the wedding.

From left: Mr. Oluwakemi Ayinla, groom's father, Mrs. Elizabeth Ayinla, groom's mother, Mrs. Kemi Oyatomi, bride's mother, Barr. Kunle Oyatomi, bride's father, during the wedding.

from left:Rotn. Chuks Okonkwo, Mrs. Bilgis Ahmed Shuaibu and Rotn. Tijani Ahmed Shuaibu, at the wedding.

Jonathan to move entertainment industry to tourism ministry

By Benjamin Njoku & Anozie Egole

P

RESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan has promised to move the entertainment industry from the Ministry of Information to the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and National Orientation, if he returns to power after the March 28 presidential election.

He also promised to tackle the lingering issue of piracy which has become a major problem in the nation’s entertainment industry.

Jonathan made these promises, while speaking, weekend, at an interactive session with Nollywood stars in Lagos, tagged, “ Showbiz Interactive with Mr. President.”

Answering questions from the entertainers at the event, Jonathan said, if the nation’s entertainment industry stakeholders believe that separating the industry from the Ministry of Information is what they want, he will definitely help them to achieve the dream.

“I can move the entertainment industry from Ministry of Information to Ministry of Culture and Tourism.

Definitely, it is possible.

Before now, each department of government was under one ministry.

Ministry of Water Resources was under Ministry of Agriculture. But we separated them just as Communication and Technology was separated from the Ministry of Information. At a time, the Ministry of Tourism and National Orientation was separated from the Ministry of Information. So, if the entertainment industry believes that it will be good for them, we will do that,”Jonathan promised.

Also, speaking on why he is very passionate about the Entertainment Industry,

Mr. President who was accompanied to the event by the National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Adamu Mu’azu, Chairman PDP’s Governors Forum, Governor Godswill Akpabio, and other top government officials said, the entertainment industry like sports is very important not just at the national level but also, at the local level.

He said, “We are yet to exploit the potentials we have in the industry as I am seeing a big potential in it.

In Bayelsa State, we have started promoting the African Movie Academic Award, AMAA.''

Ogun govt, LG urged to repair roads

T

HE new New Baale of Sango Ota, Chief Abdul Waheed Olawale Akilo has appealed to Ogun State Government and Ado Odo/Ota Local Government to repair the roads and streets in his domain.

He said the condition of roads is so deplorable during the rainy period, stressing that Sango needs to be repositioned as industrial nerve centre of the state.

Chief Akilo who was installed coronet Oba of

Sango last year urged the authority to curb excess of miscreants for the peace to reign in the area.

A graduate of Lagos State University (LASU), the new Oba promised to take Sango Ota to the next level and appeal to market leaders, chiefs and the entire community to cooperate with him on the task ahead.

He, however, gave kudos to Amosun’s government on developmental projects and Sango Police on security issues.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, MARCH 17, 2015— —35

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36—Vanguard, TUESDAY, MARCH 17, 2015

By Chioma Onuegbu

W

HA T is the guarantee HAT that if APC takes over power power,, it will bring the so much talked about change?

We have said, and said it again. You see corruption is the main problem of the Nigerian society and it is a fact that when we budget three or more trillions we only put about one sixth of that in the economy and the rest go to the pocket of people. But the guarantee APC offers is that we are bringing a man, a group of human beings that are determined to serve Nigerians, to cleanse the society; that are prepared to use every kobo as budgeted. And we know that if that happens, that Nigeria has more than enough for all the promises. That is the guarantee.

But some are now questioning the records of your candidate, Muhammadu Buhari?

I don’t know about the past records such speculators have but our own past records which is real and true is different. He has been a governor, he has been the head of state; he has held several ministerial portfolios and in each of the occasions that he came up he left something behind. He is the man that built the whole refineries in Nigeria.

He is the man that institutionalized discipline in the body polity of Nigeria. He is the man that can show by his actions that what he says he does and that he can lead by example. For example I am a witness. I have been to his home town in Daura. He has a bungalow, his old family house which he has taken over. He also has another house which is also a bungalow in Kaduna.

Aside these two houses he has no other house.

Opportunities to amass wealth But remember that he had opportunities to amass wealth but he did not do each time he had opportunity. He is a Muslim remember and by his religious offering which is also a culture, he is allowed to marry four wives, but he is married to one wife.

And why are they so strongly trying to ensure that he does not come in? As far as they are concerned the moment Muhammadu Buhari comes in they are in jail. Unfortunately he is not that man he was and I don’t believe he is going to put everybody in jail.

The only problem is that that is their fear. And they have done everything, from certificate to health. Ok, in the case of certificate I can tell you one thing. I came through the same process. Unfortunately when he went into the military it C M Y K

•Ewang: Only corrupt persons need be afraid of jail

Buhari cannot jail everybody — Capt Ewang •Says the whole world is watching PDP GROUP Capt. Samuel Ewang (retd) is a member of the Board of Trustees of the All Progressives Congress, APC and a former military governor of Ogun State. He is presently the Akwa Ibom State Coordinator, of the Buhari Campaign Organization. In this interview, he speaks on issues relating to the presidential election and his candidate. Excerpts:

was not Nigerians that were managing the military, it was Britain. So nobody could have said, oh when he came in he was favoured so he did not submit his certificate. He did.

The guarantee APC offers is that we are bringing a man, a group of human beings that are determined to serve Nigerians, to cleanse the society; that are prepared to use every kobo as budgeted

So the issue of certificate doesn’t come in. Now they are talking about health and I have been laughing at them. When I sit down with my friends I will say no problem, you don’t need to worry about whether he is healthy or not.

There is something we do in the military every year to find out whether somebody is healthy or not. You go on 10 kilometer jog. And since they call Buhari an old man, so he is sick, let them bring the young president and keep and let him start 10 kilometers jog with Buhari. If the President can go 10 kilometer jog at the given time we will find out who is healthy. This is the test of health and endurance, so you don’t worry about whether he is sick or not please bring President Jonathan and bring our presidential candidate let the whole world watch them go on a 10 killometer jog.

Give them time whoever returns is the healthy man isn’t it and whoever did not return is either going to die or be taken to the hospital because

that has always been the case.

That is how we select a healthy man in the military and I can assure you that Mohammadu Buhari even as at his age will return on time.

With your experience as a one time military administrator do you administrator,, support the idea of using the military for the elections?

No you are not supposed to bring in the military. It is not constitutional. Even the police, it should be one police to a polling unit and should not hold any arms. Nobody that day should carry arms. See, what is election? We are in democracy. Election is a celebration of democracy; that is the day you celebrate democracy so are you coming to kill your people with arms during the democratic celebrations?

So you don’t need the military. Provided elections are allowed to be free and fair Nigerians are very law abiding.

And you will agree with me that Nigerians are very law

abiding. They work by the rules, so we don’t need the military.

But the consequence is that the government is going to use the military to cause mayhem that is where the problem lies and I hope it does not happen.

But that is contrary to views that the military would help to maintain peace and security during the elections?

The military is not for internal security. The military has a constitutional responsibility to defend the territorial integrity of the country, even though, it also provided that if there is any uprising in the country the military could be used in limited provisions, very precisely stated, to handle internal security, but they are not constitutionally to maintain law and order.

That is the duty of the police. In this case there is no war. We should wait after election if there is violence you then bring in the military but not before that violence. That is what the constitution provides. The first line of action is to deploy the police. Where the police cannot maintain law and order then you call in the military.

Why do you think some in the PDP are calling for the removal of Prof. Jega as chairman of INEC? Let us see how they are going to do that. See their intention was that the time of extension will give them time to send away Jega and to stop the use of card reader. Let us see how they will succeed in doing that.

Order for card readers The whole world is watching them, how PDP having released money from the budget that was budgeted by INEC and INEC has gone to order for the card readers which they approved of.

Of course Jega’s tenure is constitutional and everybody knows that he will go in June.

We want to see how they will remove Jega before June. The world is watching how they will stop the use of the card reader and use the old voter cards which they want so that they will rig.

They were the ones who ordered for it and now they calling for change and that have only made us believe the more that the card reader would make the elections credible. It is only going to be used for the accreditation of voters and we think that is good enough.

And we only believe that they should allow INEC to do their job. Jega was the one that put Jonathan in office in 2011. And he is only a figure head. He is the head of the team. I am sure that Jonathan employed all the INEC Commissioners so why do you now disbelieve in your institution.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, MARCH 17, 2015—37

2016.

And irrespective of the fact that the political leaders will sit down to decide where and who gets it.

I think that asking that Edo South should produce the next governor of the state is not out of place.

Is it true that you are in the race?

You know I am a politician and you know that I tried to run in 2012 and I was not successful.

However, God willing, and if the conditions are right, it is still my hope and wish and aspiration. I am not shying away from the ambition, but the most important thing is that we have to first and foremost ensure that the PDP wins the elections which are so immediate.

Jonathan mustn't hang people to show he's fighting corruption — Iduoriyekemwen HON. MATTHEW Iduoriyekemwen was at one time the Majority Leader in the Edo State House of Assembly and subsequently became the commissioner representing Edo State in the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC. In this interview, the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP chieftain projects the chances of the party in the forthcoming elections.

Excerpts:

By Gabriel Enogholase

W

HAT are the chances of President Jonathan wining in Edo State?

Edo State is a PDP state not minding the change of government which happened that we now became opposition in the state. Edo State and Edo people are progressives.

They appreciate the achievements of the PDP and Mr. President. From all the responses we have been getting from our campaigns, I believe Mr. President will win Edo State convincingly.

My joy is that Nigerians appreciate what Mr. President is doing, the man has done well and I have never hidden the fact the president has done better than every other president I have seen in this country. A man that is doing well should be encouraged to continue with his programmes of transforming and developing the country.

They talk of corruption. Yes, now do you say a man is fighting corruption by hanging all those who are perceived to be corrupt?

We have the police, ICPC, EFCC and Code of Conduct Bureau and the judiciary. Mr. President has provided for them all the funds they require to perform their constitutional responsibilities.

That to me is fighting corruption.

Fighting corruption It is only when people come out to say there are corrupt cases that government has suppressed or subverted that you can say he is not fighting corruption.

President Jonathan has done well; all Nigerians should encourage him and make sure he is re-elected to continue with the good works that he is doing.

Can anybody direct the Binis on the direction to vote?

I am a Bini man and there is no Bini man no matter how highly placed that can tell the entire Bini nation on where to go politically. The Oba of Benin is our father, our traditional leader and even at that, he is also the father to all Binis irrespective of political affiliation.

So, the Oba of Benin is

apolitical, so no one Benin person can direct the Binis on where they should go politically.

Bini leaders in PDP can direct them on where they should vote, so, also, APC leaders can direct the Binis in the party on where they should go.

That the Binis as a people should go to one particular political direction is not for any one person to say. The issue of who to support or not to support

Major elections

•Iduoriyekemwen: Edo State is a PDP state

My joy is that Nigerians appreciate what Mr. President is doing, the man has done well and I have never hidden the fact the president has done better than every other president I have seen in this country

are issues of personal convictions which deal with the individual.

Do you agree with some that the Binis have been marginalized by the Jonathan administration?

Looking at it holistically, one would agree that the Benin people have not been patronized by this current administration as a people. The Bini people, yes, they are not really in Jonathan’s government, I cannot point to any Bini man right now that is holding any position in the Federal Government and in any capacity whether as a Minister, Special Adviser or Senior Special Assistant or as a Director – General in any federal establishment. So, in that regard, I can say yes, that the Binis are really being marginalized by the

Jonathan administration.

I cannot point to any Bini man that has been appointed to any position since the present administration has been in place.

But before now yes; the PDP administration surely patronized some Binis, but pointing solely to this Jonathan’s administration, none. So, I take side with my people that the Bini people have been marginalized.

How do you think that the Binis can work to produce the next governor of the state in 2016?

I will say that it is only fair to the Bini people that the whole state should agree with us that Edo South should produce the next governor. That is the agitation of our people, that is their wish, that is their hope for

The governorship election is in 2016, and I know that a lot of people are working and seem to be interested. But we cannot do this now when we nave major elections at hand.

How do you rate Oshiomhole Performance?

I tried as much as possible not be dragged into the issue of performances. I know Edo people have eyes and they can see. Here is a man who is trying to the best of his ability because that is the best he can offer. But you and I know that Edo State can be better than what it is now.

So, it is not for somebody to say that he is not performing or performing. Yes, give it to him that he performed in some areas.

In his first term, he tried to do some roads and all that, but in his second term, he left governance completely, you cannot come out of your houses in the GRA once it rains all over the city.

As I always said, after elections, as citizens, we should encourage government to perform. My own assessment this time around is not impressive.

We shouldn't be intimidated into voting the wrong person — Mbisiogu PRESIDENT of Good Governance Initiatives , Mr. Festus Mbisiogu, in this interview speaks on issues of national significance.

By Victor Gotevbe, Vera Anyagafu & Prisca SamDuru WHAT is your position on the state of the nation?

My position in respect of the political situation at present is clear. I want to state that Nigerians should be given the chance to vote according to their choice during the general elections. They should not be intimidated into voting the wrong

person, thereby mortgaging the future of the country. Whichever party that finally wins should ensure that the country is provided with steady power supply, good roads and all necessary infrastructures.

If all these are put in place, we would have resolved over 90 per cent of our challenges and everyone would have been happy.

During the 2011 electioneering campaign, President Goodluck Jonathan promised fixing the power sector if elected, on the strength of that what is your assessment of the power sector?

My constant advocacy for

steady power supply in the country is based on the fact that every country needs constant power supply to enable a progressive economy. I have always urged the Nigerian government to do more on power supply. It is important for the government to understand that the availability of steady power supply is one thing that made a country like China the second largest economy in the world.

In Nigeria, almost every home and office generate power from generating plants, and from the statistics made available to me, Nigeria has about 2,400 manufacturing industries, out of which 800 have already stopped

production because of unsteady power supply and high cost of maintaining power generating plants.

It is sad to know that all profits made during sales of manufactured goods are eaten up by fuelling and maintenance of the generating plants. With this on ground, the rate of unemployment surges and it also discourages Diaspora Nigerians, who are eager to erect industries in the country.

The Igbo are most creative, hardworking and if provided with steady power supply, Nigeria will overtake China. My

Continues from page 38

38—Vanguard, TUESDAY, MARCH 17, 2015

Ugwuanyi reminds us of young Nwobodo in '79 — Edoga, ex- Reps spokesman Hon. Chijoke Edoga special assistant to the president on National Assembly Matters was a former chairman of the House of Representatives committee on information at the onset of the present democratic dispensation in 1999.

Edgoa who is from Enugu State and an enthusiastic supporter of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP governorship candidate, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi in this interview reviews the contest and expectations from the people of the state.

Excerpts:

•Edoga: Ugwuanyi is our flag bearer

W

HAT is your reaction to the court judgment upholding Rep. Ugwuanyi’s candidature?

It is firstly a victory for the PDP and democracy, then a victory for Ugwuanyi himself. I say so because if the court had ruled otherwise, it would have meant that the PDP national headquarters, which conducted the primary must have perpetuated or promoted illegality. It would also have meant that the whole membership of the Enugu PDP, all the Enugu political stakeholders, the ad hoc and statutory delegates, which trouped out en masse to elect Ugwuanyi as our flag bearer would have wasted our time. So, I am happy that the Court respected our wish.

Where does Enugu PDP party go from here?

If you read the statement issued by the Enugu PDP, you would have noticed that much as we are very and feel vindicated, we believe nobody should be left in the cold. Ayogu Eze and Sam Onyishi are members of our big family.

The political stakeholders in Enugu in general and the Nsukka area where they all come from, including the traditional institutions, believe that the aggrieved former aspirants should join hands with Ugwuanyi to move the party and the state forward. That, to me, is the best way to go. We can’t litigate forever.

Now, let us talk about the campaign in Enugu, where you were very visible. Would you say your party’s candidate, Ugwuanyi is on course to

victory?

Yes. I participated in the campaign actively, both in my capacity as a member of the PDP and as a staff of the President of the Federal Republic. At each place where my presence was announced, the fact that the personal representative of the president was in the campaign was also part of the larger campaign of the Jonathan administration.

As a bonafide member of Enugu state PDP, I also participated. The campaign lasted close to a month because it started on the 19th of January and ended on the 12th of February. That is almost a month. It was a month of excitement, drama and

enthusiasm. It will be a coronation when election holds because it is widely said that, there is no other candidate since Hon. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi’s emergence. His acceptance rivals only that of Jim Nwaobodo.

People compare him to Nwobodo in terms of charisma and popular appeal. We are witnessing the kind of his speech, enthusiasm, public acceptability, that was witnessed when Jim Nwobodo emerged as Governor of old Anambra state in 1979. That was the verdict of almost all the people who witnessed both eras and their dispensations.

But what do you make of the absence of some key members of the party in the rallies?

No. Only few people stayed away. It is difficult to know really who stayed away or who did not stay away, because, as I told you the attendance was high. The large crowd made it difficult for anybody to look out for a particular person who was there or absent.

So in all the Local Governments we went to, prominent sons of the Local Government came to support the campaign. That lent credence to the credibility and further legitimacy to the campaign that was going on.

Music was provided, beautifully dressed women led by Mrs Nwofor , the PDP women leader touched up the atmosphere .

So we had the spiritual authority conferred in almost all the Local Government Areas to the candidate. We had leaders like Jim Nwaobodo, Okwesilieze Nwodo, Nnamani Former governor Ogugua , Ekweremadu, Doctor Eugene Edoga all enthusiastically participated .

We shouldn't be intimidated into voting the wrong person — Mbisiogu Continues from page 37 wish is that President Goodluck Jonathan focuses more on power to solve this dampening power situation.

You emerged the Igbo person of the year. Can you tell us about it?

The award given to me as the Igbo person of the year 2014, will definitely spur me to do more for my people and the good people of Nigeria. I did not know that people are seeing what God is doing through me and when Igboamaka called to say I am going to be awarded the award , I was marvelled. About eight years ago when I moved some of my businesses to Dubai from China, I discovered that Nigerians, especially Igbo constitute over 80 per cent of

•Mbisiogu Africans in China, yet the presence of the Nigerian government was lacking.

Many, if not all Nigerians in the Guangzhou province of China, travel through a distance to receive consular services. I felt the pain and was prompted to do something about the situation.

•Ballot boxes

ELECTIONS: Announcing the results

By Tom Moses

T

HE announcement of results of elections had for long been a persistent sore in the country. Election management bodies preoccupied with keeping their turfs had sought to constrain journalists and in some cases prescribed sanctions for journalists who cross the border in announcing election results.

The authorities had in the past sought to preserve the right of announcing results at the polling centres and the final results at the collation centres. It is a duty the electoral commission even under Prof. Attahiru Jega would want to preserve.

But given the admonition by some political parties, especially the opposition All Progressives Congress, APC to their supporters to monitor their votes and the evolution of different forms of technology, the monopoly of the commission to announce results is now under serious threat. GSM telephones, twitter, facebook and some other new communication platforms are now available to push results even before the final results are declared by INEC. The Akwa Ibom Resident Electoral Commissioner, Mr. Austin Okojie, himself a former broadcast journalist, frontally confronted the issue yesterday at the beginning of a two-day workshop on ‘Responsible Reporting of the 2015 Elections for Media Practitioners and Civil Society Organizations in Uyo. The workshop was organized by VIBRAM Nigeria Limited in conjunction with the Akwa-Ibom State Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), the INEC, Department of State Service (DSS), the Nigeria Police, Akwa-Ibom State Command and Civil Society Organizations.

Given the curiosity that is the currency of the media, Mr. Okojie announced a compromise on the issue.

According to him, presiding officers would announce the votes cast at polling units while wards Collation Officers would do same at the wards collation centre.

“The Local Government Area Collation Officer shall also announce the votes cast at the local government Collation Centre. At the constituency level, the Collation Officer collates the votes and returns the winner.

According to him, “it would be unlawful for any individual or group to announce results not declared by INEC or its officials,” as he urged his former colleagues to exercise patience as the responsible officials at the various levels announce the results.

“You must cross-check facts and report accurately. You must see objectivity as your watchword in all your reportage”, Okojie stressed.

•Okojie

Vanguard, TUESDAY, MARCH 17, 2015—39

• Doctors at the National Eye Centre, Kaduna, training with new diagnostic equipment for detection and prevention of blindness. (Photo: Royal Times). Concilia Concilia Umunnakwe (right) a patient of glaucoma recounting her experience.

Glaucoma: Silent rage of a blinding disorder • I didn’t take the warning signs seriously until it was almost too late — Victim

By Sola Ogundipe

S

INCE she was 13, Concilia Umunnakwe, has coped with glaucoma, a silent but irreversible eye disorder. Today, at 25, she has lost 60 percent of her sight to the dreaded ailment.

Concilia, who literally cannot see beyond her nose, blames her predicament on on gross ignorance and indifference that culminated in late detection.

Sharing her experience with Good Health Weekly, the fairskinned young lady stated that her travails began rather suddenly.

Warning signs: “I began seeing what appeared like a rainbow around any source of light whenever I attempted to glance at it.”

Concilia who shared her experience during the 2015 World Glaucoma Week event put together by St. Mary's Catholic Eyes Hospital, Ago-Iwoye, Ogun State in conjunction with Pfizer Pharmaceuticals, recalled that she was in JSS2 when she first noticed the ‘halo’.

“My parents didn't take my observation serious because I was still able to see quite well and put it down to stress caused by my hawking of wares for my mother after school.

“I felt no changes or pain in my eyes. I never knew the rainbow colour I was seeing around the bulb was a sign of glaucoma.

“I dismissed it. I could see well enough although I was unable

to clearly see objects that were far away, such as the chalk board whenever I sat at the back of the class room. ''After my secondary school, I enrolled in a computer school for a six-month programme to acquire some skills. But on my graduation day, something quite strange happened. It was on 31st October 2009, on that day Concila became partially blind.

“All I could see were shadows.

Day almost turned into night. I could not tell if it was midday or midnight. ''Immediately after the event, my parents took me to St. Mary's Catholic Eyes Hospital AgoIwoye, Ogun state. It was there doctors discovered I had lost 65 percent of my sight.”

It was a rude shock. Both her eyes were affected, though the right eye was worse. What Concilia thought was just a minor eye problem turned out to be a grave complication.

The doctor remarked that because Concilia had glaucoma, she was unlikely to see any sign or symptom until she had lost up to 40-60 percent of her sight.

“By that time, substantial, irreversible damage would have been done to my eyes. There is no cure and my only hope was to preserve and maintain the unaffected part.”

Not too long after, she went in for surgery.

“After the surgery even though I was still on drugs and wear my glasses, my vision remained dull

and I could not see far objects. I was advised not to go out at night and when the weather is hot.”

Concilia’s case is typical of most glaucoma patients who “suddenly” discover that their sight is failing.

Silent epidemic

During the event which included a road show aimed at sensitising the community on the need to eradicate avoidable blindness through early screening, an ophthalmologist, Dr. Okwudishu Izuka, said lack of symptoms in glaucoma patients makes its detection difficult at the onset except through regular screening.

Izuka also worried at the

Glaucoma is the leading cause of irreversible blindness in the world and the second leading cause of blindness in Nigeria being responsible for 16.7 percent of blindness in the country

alarming rate at which the elderly were losing their vision as a result of the disorder. ''The commonest type of glaucoma in our environment is usually symptomless, so before many patient present at the hospital they might have lost 40 to 60 percent of their vision.

“They come to the hospital with cloudy vision, even when the sight is deteriorating they attribute it to old age or family issue until they become blind totally. If glaucoma is detected early the problem of vision loss can be prevented.

Prevention tips: “Check your eyes once a year with an ophthalmologist to eradicate glaucoma-related blindness.

Glaucoma is a silent destroyer of sight, early detection prevents blindness,' he urged.'

Medical Representative, Pfizer Pharmaceutical, Pharm.

Asiabaka Loveth urges persons diagnosed with the disease to comply with medical advice. ''The drugs they are going to be using is not to reverse those area that has been damaged in their eyes but to help them maintain good vision in the remaining part of the eyes that is not affected,'' she added.

Data from the World Health Organisation, WHO, shows that the most common form of glaucoma in Nigeria is Primary Open Angle Glaucoma, POAG, which is characteristically symptomless in the early stages.

Experts describe glaucoma as

a serious problem in Africa with approximately 70 percent of the world's glaucoma patients being Africans.

Glaucoma is the leading cause of irreversible blindness in the world and the second leading cause of blindness in Nigeria being responsible for 16.7 percent of blindness in the country, according to a recent Nigerian National Blindness and Visual Impairment Survey.

Prompt diagnosis before significant visual loss has occurred, but requires the presence of a high level public awareness and a culture of periodic routine eye checks to increase case detection.

Experts however, worry that low awareness and inadequate detection facilities and expertise are driving a silent epidemic of glaucoma in the country.

Improved awareness and better perception are recommended as measures to positively influence the accuracy of the eye health education messages and motivate regular glaucoma screening thereby enhancing prompt diagnosis, treatment and reduction of the risk of blindness.

Challenges in detection and treatment include high cost and difficulty assessing treatment.

Problems in availability of screening and monitoring equipment contribute to low detection rates and very poor compliance with treatment even after a diagnosis.

40—Vanguard, TUESDAY, MARCH 17, 2015

• One of the theatres at the new Lagos State Cardiac and Renal Centre. L-R: Permanent Secretary, Lagos State Ministry of Health, Dr. Modele Oshunkiyesi; Commissioner for Health, Dr. Jide Idris; Chief Exceutive, Renescor Health, Dr. Ladi Awosika and Director of Clinical Services and Training, LASUTH, Dr. Ayoade Adedokun, during an interactive section on the Lagos State Cardiac and Renal Centre last week in Lagos.

Succour beckons as Lagos solves heart, kidney puzzles

By Chioma Obinna

I

N 2012, the World Health Organisation, WHO, reported that Non Communicable Diseases, NCDs, notably Cardiovascular Diseases have attained epidemic proportions particularly in developing countries like Nigeria.

The report came at a period when Lagos state had attained megacity status and was experiencing the difficulties of handling rising cases of renal and cardiac diseases. Cases of patients requiring financial assistance for treatment and/or transplant surgery abroad had to be coped with as well.

Even today, many Nigerians who go abroad for surgery return either worse off with mismanaged cases or lose their lives in the attempt. Others are faced with challenges of post treatment such as access to drugs. This has been the scenario for years.

But light appears to be at the end of the tunnel for Nigerians seeking such specialised care for cardiac and renal problems as a permanent solution to diagnosis, management and surgery of these conditions is on the horizon.

Lagos residents and by extension all Nigerians, can now benefit from a new, world class Cardiac and Renal Centre just opening at the Gbagada General Hospital.

The N5 billion Centre, first of its kind in Nigeria, will manage cases of CVD and Chronic Kidney Disease, CKD. A dangerous outcome of CKD is end-stage renal disease and its prevalence is increasing worldwide due to changes in demographics of the population, differences in disease burden among racial groups, and under recognition of earlier stages of CKD and risk factors. CKD increases the risk of other CVDs

The WHO had estimated that by 2015, about 20 million people would die from CVD, representing 30 percent of total world death.

The health body also estimated that by 2030, there would be a great shift from infectious diseases to NCD, with NCD accounting for more than 75 percent of deaths worldwide.

In Lagos State secondary and tertiary health facilities, 22,785 cases of hypertension were managed in 2012 and 23,203 in 2013.

The state-of-the-art centre billed to be officially opened tomorrow would render out-patient services, diagnostic services, admission for all cardiac conditions requiring hospital stay, among other routine and specialised services.

Under renal care, the Centre will also render a complete retinue of diagnostic services from ultrasound to haemo-dialysis for acute and chronic kidney diseases, renal surgery. “'This is the first of its kind and the beginning of solving cardiac problems in the country," said State Commissioner for Health, Dr Jide Idris. Nigerians will now have access to affordable open heart surgery and kidney transplant locally among other treatments.

Idris, in a chat with Good Health Weekly said: "In recent times, there has been an epidemiologic shift in the disease pattern with an increase in NonCommunicable and Mental Health disease burden seen across the state especially hypertension, diabetes mellitus, cancers and Road Traffic Accidents. State Hospital statistics also show an increase in end-stage renal disease.”

The 67-bed facility has on the ground floor as Renal Centre with four specialist renal clinics, four specialist cardiac clinics, resting and stress test

electrocardiography (ECG) rooms, echocardiography laboratory, exercise room, cardiac rehabilitation room, and telemedicine conference room amongst others.

A, five-bed Intensive Care Unit, 64 slice CT scan, catheterisation laboratory and 2-bed recovery room complement the package.

Further, Idris disclosed that 10 percent of the services at the centre every month will be free of charge. "As at this point in time, LASUTH has about 60 patients who need open heart surgery but cannot afford it. These children may be the initial beneficiaries of the 10 percent services."

He said the idea of the facility being situated within the premises of the Gbagada General Hospital was to reduce the spate of medical trips abroad as well as build local capacity especially for ailments that should be treated locally but where expertise and facilities are not available to manage them.

Idris observed that the State government through the Ministry

Setting up of the facility will help bring back home Nigerian medical specialists.

It is as a way of 'brain gain' to defeat the 'brain drain' phenomenon

of Health considered it appropriate and timely to have a befitting cardiac and renal Centre due to the increasing number of patients presenting with end stage renal failure and coronary heart diseases .

The lack of a purpose built renal specialist centre, the periodic nature of the cardiac and renal missions which has limited the number of beneficiaries and the need to conserve the financial resources currently being expended in the management of patients with renal and cardiac diseases in foreign countries are other reasons for building the facility.

"A copulation of these factors prompted the need for us to build facilities locally, find a way of staffing them locally to provide the needed services to treat people of these ailments, reduce the money we are spending to sponsor people abroad, and more importantly to build local capacity.

"Setting up of the facility will help bring back home Nigerian medical specialists. It is as a way of 'brain gain' to defeat the 'brain drain' phenomenon.”

The building project started in 2008 when the award was made to Messrs Deaux Project Limited which also equipped it, It will be managed privately through a five year operation and management concession by a suitably qualified competent consortium of medical professionals renewable for another five years subject to satisfactory performance and mutual agreement of the parties wherein the proponent will provide all the health care services; clinical and non-clinical and total facilities management required for the valueengineering Renal and Cardiac Centre.

On donor organs, Idris said the drive for donors must be patient specific. “We will address that in the centre because donor issues are patient specific because all the

organs must march. All these things must match to ensure patient compatibility.”

He said indigent patients fall into the 10 percent free services each month and excesses will be borne by the state government through the state's insurance scheme.

"Hopefully there is a bill pending in the House that will address things like this. It has passed first and second readings and public hearing. And it is the final reading that is left. Once they pass it into law, the issue of affordability will be addressed properly.

Speaking, the Chief Executive of Renescor Health, the Concessionaire, Dr Ladi Awosika said the Centre is a good beginning to solving the problems in question, however regretted that about 10 more facilities are required to finally address cardiac and renal problems.

"The Centre has the capacity, in the next six months carry out three open heart surgeries in a week, four interventions in a week. With the catherisation lab which only two Nigerians can perform the services.

"Dialysis is going to be scaled up; probably we will be doing 60 a day in the next few weeks. It is not just about the cost but a lot of people are dying without getting any intervention. We will now have to face the long term sustainability of care which can only be addressed when the health insurance bill is in place.

There is no country in the world that it works without the heath insurance scheme. It is expensive to run dialysis three times a week even at the cheapest cost of N20, 000 per session and N60, 000 per week. Not many people can do that for a week and whenever you are on chronic dialysis you have to end up with renal transplant.

That comes with it challenges too.

It is very expensive.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, MARCH 17, 2015—41

Health Insurance, poverty alleviation measure -- Dr. Patrick Korie, MD, Managed Healthcare Services Ltd.

• Dr. Patrick Kori.

time for seeking healthcare. It encourages sick persons to go and seek healthcare rather than stay at home because they don't have money until the illness gets worse.

At the end, they spend more money.

Health insurance eliminates all that, but we need to make our people know that poverty that is making people not to pick up health insurance, is making them poorer, because if there's any illness, that family plunges deeper into poverty. Some end up selling their property. Insurance eliminates that completely.

Awareness creation: We need to create the awareness. We need to do more, as HMOs. The practitioners of health insurance need to have references so we are calling on those that have enjoyed health insurance to speak up. If you have enjoyed health insurance, speak out.

But if there is no demand there will be no supply. We can break the supply chain, so it is now left for the relevant government

tell a man who is struggling to put food on the table to set aside certain money for health insurance, he will tell you that he needs to survive first. So poverty is a problem; poverty of the mind. But then, health insurance is actually meant to address poverty because payment of medical care from out-of-pocket medical expenses have plunged so many families into poverty. Disease has plunged people into poverty but health insurance is meant to address this.

Health insurance creates improvised access to medical care. It reduces or eliminates completely out-of-pocket medical expenses that plunges people into poverty. Insurance reduces the waiting

What we are saying is that people should change the system of payment from out-ofpocket to health insurance , because paying out of pocket impoverishes the family

By Sola Ogundipe & Damilola Akingbade

M

ANY Nigerians are yet to sign up with the National Health Insurance Scheme, NHIS, but Managing Director, Managed Healthcare Services Ltd., a Health Maintenance Organisation, HMO, Dr. Patrick Korie, describes the Scheme as a poverty alleviation measure. Excerpts: Attitude: Attitude is affecting the uptake of health insurance. Two things contribute to this attitude. When we started the NHIS, we were begging people to please register, we were moving around the Ministries and parastatals begging, but today the attitude has changed. Now they come to our offices to register because they have seen it work and seen people benefit from it.

I had a client whose wife delivered her baby in the same hospital with the wife of a friend whose family is covered by health insurance. The wife of the man with insurance paid 10 percent of the cost of drugs, while the wife of the other person paid over N100,000 for the same drugs.

He cried out and wanted to know why the huge difference for the same service in the same hospital.

It is health insurance advantage, he was told. That is what the NHIS has done. So you can see the difference between getting registered, and not being registered.

Seeing what insurance can do has created knowledge and people come for it.

Poverty connection

Poverty of knowledge and money is an issue. At certain income level, when you

agencies to break the supply chain of fake insurance in Nigeria.

Health insurance vs life insurance

Before you get a life insurance, you go for medicals but after picking the medicals, your health can change the following day and if it changes there is nothing to sustain it. If you are to operate a life insurance, you have to show evidence of maintenance of your health. The two should go together.

More importantly, when we look at health insurance, there are people who cannot pay. Who pays for them? That's why it's for every Nigerian, and it's not discriminatory, whether you are rich or poor, so long as you are a Nigerian you must have access to basic health care.

It is a good thing that government is thinking of making provision for the less privileged. That is going to be a buffer, something to augment the existing act to ensure that every Nigerian should have access to insurance.

Stopping out-of-pocket payment: Definitely we are ready. Medical care is funded through taxation. This is already happening in Nigeria. We are ready for it.

What we are saying is that people should change the system of payment from outof-pocket to health insurance, health insurance is cost effective, health insurance ensures that medical care is delivered, health insurance is a poverty alleviation measure because paying out of pocket impoverishes the family. It even impoverishes organizations because they are paying for the medical bill of their staff out-of-pocket instead of having a defined budget for health. Other methods of payment do not give a defined budget for health.

COMMON SEXUAL PROBLEMS AND THEIR NOVELTY BASED SOLUTIONS (ADVERTORIAL)

P

LEASE I have a problem. My wife and I have been married for two years now. We both work and earn money and yet, she expects me to take care of everything. Things are difficult and this is her family too - Nwokolo Don’t worry, things will change. You see, As the head of the family, the man has always been expected to be the financial care taker of his family. It has been like that for centuries and even in these modern times, it is still hard wired into the human psyche that the man is the provider while the woman is the home maker. So women expect this even when they don’t admit it.

This might seem old school and unfair but honestly, that is the one reliable formula that keeps the family unit functioning the best. From a logical point of view, of course both men and women should contribute to their households. It makes sense. Unfortunately in life, some things make sense and still don’t work.

Here is an ancient fact about the relationship between a man and a woman that everybody needs to understand.

Money and sex are the two biggest influences in a relationship. They are also the two main causes of divorce/ break ups. Women control the sex in every relationship because they decide if and when there will be sex. This is why man needs to be the provider.

When a man controls the money and the woman controls the sex, there is a natural balance of power in that relationship. But if your wife controls both the money and sex in your relationship, there is no balance. You have no power and soon you will be the one complaining of not being respected in your marriage.

So this is what I advise you to do. Forget about what your wife earns and make your budget based on what you earn, even if you don’t earn enough.

Women eventually contribute but not in the way you expect. If you pay attention, you will just notice one day that your children have nice clothes, toys and a bunch of other things that you did not buy.

Women’s money often goes to the upkeep of their children and a variety of domestic expenses that men hardly notice.

But if you are trying to make her pay rent this year because you paid rent last year, forget it. That approach will end in disaster.

Avoid forcefully controlling how she spends the money she makes. Sensible women always end up contributing.

So if you are broke and you need your wife’s support, be gentle. Let her know that you need her help in the nicest way possible. If you married a sensible woman, she will come to your rescue – Uche I read in your last article that you now have Sex Voltz.

Is this the same Sex Voltz supplement you used to have years ago? If it is, please I need it. I really liked it because it was gentle to my body and still gave me the needed erection – Samuel Yes it is Samuel. The packaging is different now but it is still the same supplement – Uche Please I need two more units of Gladiator Power Cream. I still have the one I bought for premature ejaculation but I don’t want to hear that it is finished when next I need it. Thanks – Ejiro Just call the numbers below to get it or order online at www.zeevirtualmedia.com – Uche I need a female libido booster that is as powerful as this X Again for men that you talk about all the time.

Since I finished having children, I hardly feel like sex and it is affecting my marriage – Funke Get the Kangaroo for Her supplement. It is the most powerful supplement for women – Uche And that is it for today. Adults in need of the above novelties and treatments can call us on 08027901621 or 08051924159 or any other number here to order or they can order online at www.zeevirtualmedia.com.

We deliver to you wherever you are in Nigeria. For enquiries email us at custserv@zeevirtualmedia.com Uche Edochie, MD, Zee Virtual Media.

42 — Vanguard, TUESDAY, MARCH 17, 2015

By Ikenna Asomba

O

VER the last 16 years, it has been tales of woes for thousands of residents residing in Gbaji-Seme axis, a border community in Badagry West Local Government Development Area of Lagos State, as they have been living without electricity, following a rainstorm that struck the community felling most of the electric poles and cables.

Since 1999, when that devastating rainstorm wreaked havoc, the community with 30 villages and a population of over 100, 000 people have continued to live in absolute darkness, even as countless promises made by successive administrations at the local, state and federal levels to fix the problem have gone unfulfilled.

Visibly angered that their community have now become a mecca of a sort for politicians coming to canvass for votes ahead of the 2015 polls, the irate youths numbering over 500, Weekend, shut-down commercial and vehicular activities for several hours along the Gbaji-Seme Border Expressway, to send home their plights to the Lagos State Government and the Federal Government.

Protesting under the umbrella of Gbaji-Seme Border Youth Initiative, GSBYI, the youths however, threatened to boycott the March 28 and April 11 polls, if the power problem in their communities is not urgently addressed.

Chanting solidarity songs, they carried various placards bearing inscriptions such as ‘For over 16 years, we have been sleeping in darkness,’ ‘Give us electricity before election,’ ‘We won’t vote if you don’t give us light,’ ‘The Federal and State Government generate the highest revenue from these axis,’ ‘International Border without light,’ ‘We sleep, wake inside darkness for 16 years,’ ‘No more promise, give us light,’ among others.

According to them, the protest became imperative as past attempts to draw the attention of the LCDA, State and Federal Governments, through writing have fallen on deaf hears, leaving them to dehumanising conditions. This is also as they bemoaned the humongous bills spent on fuelling power generating sets at their homes and business places.

When Vanguard visited the area dotted with shanty houses, many with thatched roofs of raffia palm leaves, most of the electric polls and cables were fallen and their cables vandalized. The transformers, as well as the street lights along the highway were already rusted, owing to years of neglect.

It was also gathered that bar, restaurant and hotel operators who are still in business, move as far as Benin Republic to get iced-blocks to cool their drinks, sachet and table waters.

This situation, Vanguard learned had forced the prices of C M Y K

Some of the protesting youths marching to Seme Border

16 YEARS BLACKOUT IN LAGOS COMMUNITY:

Angry youths shut down Seme border, threaten to boycott polls •Hoteliers travel to Benin Republic to buy iced-blocks essential commodities in the area to rise. For instance, our correspondent who wanted to quench his taste after the protest bought a bottle of plastic coke that ordinarily sells for N100 at N150, while a bottle of malt that sells for between N100 and N120 was sold to him at N170 in a restaurant in the community.

Vanguard gathered that some of the affected communities are Aivoji, Oglogbo, Gbethrome, Asakpo, Boglo, Fanuvi, Yard, Ashipanu, Kenwewemeh, Pengbo, Bapo, Azangbeme, Aketegbo, Wesere-Topa, Hovemeto, Tota, Shito, Gbegbome, Petimeh, Falola, Ozinigbo, Kparada, Akpato, Whaigbemeh, Akoro-Koji, Ogorin-Beach, Thosivi and Yenawa.

Also other affected institutions in the community are the Nigeria Police Force Divisional Headquarters, Seme Border, the quarters of all the law enforcement agencies operating at the Seme-Border post, new generation banks such as Zenith Bank, First Bank, Union Bank, UBA, Skye Bank; petrol stations such as Conoil, Forte oil, Oando oil, MRS oil, Total, Addidas oil, Timmynat oil, Agbeke oil, Atok oil; as well as hotels such as Seaview, Dieu Merci, Jitax, PJ, Bendel, Esolaye among others.

Speaking during the protest, the former President, Lagos State University Student Union Government (LASU-SUG) and Coordinator of GSBYI, Comrade

Badaru Abdul-Basit said: “This is an international border that generates the highest revenue to the Lagos State Government and the Federal Government. This is the only international border across the world that has remained in total darkness for over 16 years. This is the only international border that has no good roads, no schools, no hospital, no pipe-borne water.

“If not for the grace and mercy of God, we would all have died of this devastating neglect. For us, today is the turning point. If the Lagos State Government and the Federal Government of Nigeria fail to provide us with electricity, on or before March 28, we are going to mobilise all the youths in all the 30 communities making this area to boycott the coming elections. We hereby say enough is enough to these

For over 12 years now that I have built my house in this community, I have never set my eyes on electric light. I never knew this is the problem residents here have been facing

•A protester standing by the transformer abandoned for 16 yrs endless years of waiting on unfulfilled promises. We have persevered enough over these last 16 years without electricity.”

Similarly, Semako Josu, who runs a Photo/Video Editing suit, in the community said: “If not for God’s grace, my business would have gone down because of this total blackout in this community.

Aside what I spend on petrol at home, I spend over N2, 000 daily to fuel my power generating set in my business place. When you sum this up in a year, I, alone spend over N698, 000 on fuel to keep my business running. It is worrisome that we have been subjected to this level of neglect over these years.”

According to Innocent Ikechukwu, who lamented the situation, he said “the endless wait for electricity have forced several residents to migrate to other communities. If nothing is done to address this problem urgently, on election day, these self-serving politicians would see no one coming-out to queue to vote for them.”

“The age-long lack of electricity in this community has no doubt,

scared prospective investors from coming here to set-up companies and firms. That is why you see so many youths, even graduates who are jobless here. What is more worrisome to us is that the federal government generates billion of naira daily from this border, but there is little or nothing to show for it in terms of development,” said another aggrieved youth, Comrade Bukoh Mauton, in an emotionladen voice.

For Wale Babalola, another resident, the neglect of the area by successive administrations have left some of the youths with no other option than to go into smuggling business.

Abdullahi Issa, a driver, residing in the community for over 12 years expressed regret coming into the community to build his house. “For over 12 years now that I have built my house in this community, I have never set my eyes on electric light. I never knew this is the problem residents here have been facing. Infact, I regret ever coming into this community,” he said.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, MARCH 17, 2015 — 43

Mosan-Okunola residents renew call to rehabilitate abandoned roads

By Olasunkanmi Akoni

A

FTER five years of complaints and petitions to the Lagos State Government over the horrible state of roads in their community with no solution in sight, residents of Fanimokun Estate Development Association, in Mosan-Okunola Local Council Development Area, LCDA, have again renewed calls for the rehabilitation of these roads.

According to the residents, some of the affected roads such as Remi Ogunjimi, Jezza, Adaranijo, Olusegun Ogunro and Ararat Streets, also require functional drainage, even as the roads were said to serve as major link to the ever-busy Egbeda Bus Stop through Idimu Road and Okunola Road, usually experiencing traffic snarls daily.

Worried by the several manhours lost on the roads, the residents have called on Governor Babatunde Fashola to come to their aid, stating that something urgent must be done as the rains are here again.

The Secretary of the association, Mr. Ade Adeoye, who spoke to Vanguard, said several petitions and complaints letters had been sent to Governor Babatunde

Fashola of Lagos State; the Deputy Governor, Mrs. Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire and Chairman of the MosanOkunola LCDA. Adeoye, stated that the association had in a letter dated May 17, 2010, to the governor, requested for immediate intervention before the situation degenerated.

Consequently, a team from the Ministry of Works and Infrastructure was said to have been dispatched to carry-out an assessment of the area.

“They (government officials)

We are again appealing to the state government to urgently rehabilitate these roads which continues to get worse and hazardous at every seconds of the day

• The deplorable Jezza Street in the area can only be plied by commercial motorbikes actually came, did some survey of the area and promised to come back for proper reconstruction, but since then, nothing has been done. Every effort by the community to get them back to work has met brick-walls.

“The community leaders again wrote a reminder letter to the governor on February 18, 2011, requesting for intervention. Ït is very regretting to note that the community has suffered total neglect since inception of the present administration despite our unrelenting efforts for recognition to the past governments. Promises made by the government to bring development and dividend of democracy to our community have remained unfulfilled,’’ lamented Adeoye.

However, a fresh letter jointly signed by 12 community leaders in the area read in part “Ït is worthy to mention that one of the above mentioned streets, that is, Olusesan Ogunro Street which houses a branch of the council

tax offices is yet to be developed.

“The need for the rehabilitation of these roads cannot be over emphasised. Consequently, we are again appealing to the state government to urgently rehabilitate these roads which continues to get worse and hazardous at every seconds of the day.

“While counting on your (Fashola), cooperation, it is also our sincere trust that you will give this matter your early attention.”

It will be recalled that sometime last December, 2014, the Lagos State Government said it has commenced massive grading and surface dressing of inner roads across the state. The government disclosed that the work would also complement the over 300 roads under construction in the state. During an inspection of some of the roads, Commissioner for Rural Development, Mr. Cornelius Ojelabi, said the government decided to grade the roads as a

palliative measure.

He said that due to lack of funds, the state government could not carry on construction of new roads.

Ojelabi said, “Presently, the state has over 9,000 roads that need to be constructed or upgraded, but the funds are not available. As a result, the government is constructing roads in phases with available resources. But the governor approved that the roads should be made motorable for the people by grading them to make commuting easier.”

The commissioner said the grading of roads would be done in all the five divisions of the state and that over 100 roads are expected to be graded at the end of the first phase of the exercise.

He however, called on residents and community leaders to ensure they maintain the roads by channelling their waste water properly into their soak-aways and not on the road.

WINDSTORM: Fashola visits Agege, as victims recount ordeal

By Dotun Ibiwoye

R

ESIDENTS of Papa Ashafa area of Agege, in OrileAgege Local Council Development Area of Lagos State, have continued to recount their ordeal, following the aftermath of last week’s downpour which dealt a devastating blow on several houses and firms in the area.

The extent of damage, it was gathered had forced several residents to be resettled, even as the Lagos State Government said it would assist the victims with the materials required to renovate the affected roofs and other damages caused by the windstorm.

The state government had earlier warned residents to be cautious stating that the month of March is a period prone to windstorm and torrential rainfall.

At a sympathy visit to the area last Friday, Governor Babatunde Fashola said that the windstorm is about nature at work and usually happens around March.

According to the governor,

the victims will be assisted with slates, building materials and other items needed to cover them, adding that the government has moved in artisans, bricklayers, carpenters and some that have been produced from the State’s Technical Colleges to help them rebuild houses.

Fashola said: “If you recall three years ago, it is around March that the windstorm usually comes to Lagos. Two years ago, it happened on Third Mainland Bridge and destroyed all street poles there, last year it was in Epe and this year, it came here.

“If people had watched the news on Friday morning, they would have observed many European countries busy preparing for the approach of thunderstorms which could leave devastation in its trail.

“In the last three days, for those who lost their roofs, we have assembled carpenters; we have also got roofing sheets. Those whom the slates of their

homes have been broken, we have taken slates. All of them would be sorted out; they should please just exercise patience. We would look at ways to settle the payment. That is what we are using your taxes for”.

“We need to put shelter and dignity back to our people very quickly before the rains come at full speed. We would go and tidy all the paper work for procurement later because this is an emergency.”

The Governor charged the residents to ensure that the refuse

that gather in their drains and gutters are cleaned regularly and implored them to also ensure that they form themselves into community groups like Community Development Associations and Community Development Committees, as well as Landlords and Tenants Associations to clean their gutters.

Governor Fashola, who had an interactive session with residents of the area on imbibing the culture of proper disposal of waste, also had a practical

A car smashed by a tree as a result of windstorm

demonstration of the dangers of improper disposal of refuse into the drains for the residents “Your drain is no dumping place for refuse. Keep all your refuse in a PSP approved refuse bag and the Waste Management Authority would come and pack them but not in the gutters. The drains take in and out our water and when it gets to a place where it cannot move anymore, it will flood our houses”, he stated.

Responding on behalf of the people of the area, a community leader, Alhaji Yussuf Agboola, said the present administration in Lagos State has done a lot not only in response to the present incident but also when there was a terrible problem of flooding in the area in 2007.

“Our Governor did a lot to assist the entire community and when this incident happened, immediately he was informed, he sent out all his team of engineers, they came, we went round all the areas and saw the effect and immediately relief materials have been coming in to support those affected and not only that, those who are displaced have been taken care of and taken to Resettlement Camp Igando.

44— Vanguard, TUESDAY, MARCH 17, 2015

C M Y K

Vanguard, TUESDAY, MARCH 17, 2015—45

Itsekiri leaders blast Jonathan for postponing EPZ groundbreaking again

By Emma Amaize

W

ARRI—CHAIRMAN of Ogidigben Interface Committee on the Export Processing Zone, EPZ, Delta State, Mr Austin Oboroegbeyi and other Itsekiri leaders, have lampooned President Goodluck Jonathan for failing again to perform the groundbreaking of the EPZ project slated for yesterday.

Oboroegbeyi said: “Mr President's failure, again, to keep his promise to perform the groundbreaking of the Ogidigben EPZ project rescheduled for today (yesterday) is, to say the least, disappointing and embarrassing.”

Secretary of Itsekiri Leaders of Thought, ILOT, Mr Edward Ekpoko, who reacted to same, said it was surprising that no official reason had been given for the failure of the groundbreaking to take place.

But an Ijaw youth leader, Mr Paul Bebenimibo, said: “The March 16 date for the Gas City and the Deep Sea Port groundbreaking was tentative.

“Therefore, the Itsekiri should not trouble themselves over the issue. Mr President is committed to the project and, of course, the groundbreaking. Some of us are tired of the Itsekiri's frequent

Asaba youths storm Julius Berger site, demand employment

By Victor AhiumaYoung

W

ORK was temporarily halted when unemployed graduates from Asaba, Delta State, besieged the premises of Julius Berger Plc, the company handling the construction of the on-going second Niger Bridge, demanding for employment slots in the company.

They claimed that the law governing employment in Delta State provided that companies must employ 50 percent and 30 percent of their unskilled and skilled workers from their immediate environment.

The youths, under the aegis of Umu-Ezenei Association of Graduates, Artisans and Professionals, UAGAP, made up of both males and females, displaying placards with several inscriptions, partially blocked the main entrance to the dredging site of the company, alleging that Julius Berger had failed in its responsibility to its host community.

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statements that they will not vote Mr President if the groundbreaking ceremony is not performed before the election.

They should know that the issue is not just performing the groundbreaking, but having a peaceful atmosphere for the project to continue.

“Mr President did not approve the March 16 date. It was a tentative date that did not work out. They should give him time to come up with a suitable date before the election.”

Meanwhile, the Itsekiri nation has said that the attack on Ogidigben, host of the $16 billion Export Processing Zone, EPZ, by

Ijaw youths, last weekend, was part of the larger agenda of the Ijaw ethnic group to annihilate the Itsekiri, which President Jonathan is allegedly pursuing.

Secretary of Itsekiri Leaders of Thought, Mr. Ekpoko, said: “The Itsekiri nation knew about this agenda for a very long time and Jonathan is part of it.”

He spoke amid report that there has been tension in some riverine communities in the affected area in the past three days over the unprovoked violence with some people thinking that the Itsekiri may carry out a reprisal attack.

Ekpoko, said: “If the masterminds of this attack are not

brought to book, the Itsekiri people will drag President Jonathan to the International Criminal Court. This is not going to be like previous attacks on Itsekiri communities by the Ijaw in 1997 after which nothing was done.”

Chairman, Sokebolou/Yokri People’s Congress, Burutu Local Government Area, Mr. Bob Towei, who confirmed that there was tension in the creeks over the gunshots and explosions on the EPZ ground, said: “We are not surprised that explosions and gunshots rocked the proposed EPZ land because we have called on the governor to reconvene a meeting of all stakeholders, but he did not.”

DEDICATION: From right: Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan of Delta State; President, Nigerian Baptist Convention, Rev. Samson Ayokunle; Delta State CAN Chairman, Rev. Gideon Oyibo and the former Minister of State for Education, Chief Kenneth Gbagi, during the dedication of First Baptist Church, Oginibo, in Ughelli South LGA of Delta State. Photo: Henry Unini.

Edo Majority Leader tasks INEC on prosecution of alleged PVC buyers

By Simon Ebegbulem

B

E N I N — MAJORITY Leader of Edo State House of Assembly and All Progressives Congress, APC, House of Representatives candidate for Etsako federal constituency, Mr Philip Shaibu, has urged the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to commence the prosecution of those arrested over alleged purchase of Permanent Voters Cards, PVCs, from people so as to serve as a deterrent to others.

Appealing to the people of the state not to sell their PVCs so as to vote for candidates of their choice, the lawmaker urged them to vote out the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in order to end the current hardship suffered by Nigerians.

Shaibu, while campaigning in Osomegbe, Udochi, Ekperi, Okpella and Agbovo communities in Etsako Central

Local Government Area, said: “Those who are still purchasing PVCs cannot stop unless they see people prosecuted for doing that.

Those perpetrating this act know they cannot use it to vote if the card reader is used

but in the event that the card reader is not used then it will be useful for them.

“So, INEC must start prosecuting such people because the PDP has no other option than to look for any means to rig.”

Accord Party to Delta PDP: Stop denying our alliance, or we'll pull out

By Festus Ahon

A

SABA—THE Accord Party in Delta State has warned that it would pull out of the understanding it has with the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in the state if the PDP does not desist from denying the alliance between them.

Chairman of Accord Party in the state, Mr David Ashikodi, while reacting to recent media reports credited to his PDP counterpart, Chief Edwin Uzor, said: “The PDP Chairman’s utterance smacked of arrogance. It is politically immature on his part

to deny the alliance on the ground that politics is a game of inclusion and not exclusion.”

Ashikodi in a statement, said that Accord Party would not hesitate to pull out of the alliance and open its doors of negotiation with other political parties for the governorship election “if the PDP persists in its present campaign.

“I am surprised that the PDP chairman could make such a statement. I want to warn that the PDP should not act arrogantly because politics is about inclusion and not exclusion. Instead of wooing other parties, the PDP is denying the working alliance."

Illegalities in Edo SDP, laughable —DO-CAN

D

ICKSON Oarhe Campaign Network, DO-CAN, has described as laughable, a recent advertorial in a national daily. He said that it was sponsored to mislead the general public having come in through the back door to falsify the truth on who is the authentic candidate of Social Democratic Party, SDP, for the House of Representatives, Owan federal constituency in Edo State.

DO-CAN, in a statement in Benin City, by Mr. Sylvester Uhunmwangho (Director of Campaigns, Diaspora Relations, Rome) and Braimoh Ofemu of the Owan Progressives Youth Solidarity Vanguard, said that while the international community was watchful of the outcome, such publications sponsored by the imposter now masquerading as candidate of the party, was a clear case of an evildoer covering up his sins.

Ziegbe vows to deliver Ijaw votes to Otuaro/ Okowa, others

A

HEAD of the presidential and governorship elections slated for March 28 and April 11, the Woman Leader of Obotebe Ward 10 in Burutu Local Government Area of Delta State, Mrs Joy Kpenu-Ziegbe, has assured the governorship candidate of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa, his running mate, Kingsley Otuaro, and other PDP candidates of bloc votes in her ward and other communities to ensure their victory.

Kpenu-Ziegbe, who fielded questions from newsmen after campaigning in her ward, also vowed that no opposition can succeed in her ward as all the people have decided to work and deliver PDP in all the elective positions from federal to state Houses of Assembly polls.

46—Vanguard, TUESDAY, MARCH 17, 2015

APC, APGA, PDP trade blames over fake election results sheets in Anambra

T. B. Joshua: Youths seek end to coroner inquest

By Enyim Enyim

O

NITSHA— THREE political parties in Anambra State, All Progressives Congress, APC; Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, and All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, are trading words over allegations of printing fake result sheets for the forthcoming Presidential and National Assembly elections.

However, PDP and APC are accusing the ruling party, APGA, of having a hand in the fake result sheets.

State Chairman of PDP, Mr. Ejike Oguebego, told reporters in Awka: “Our party is a law abiding one that play politics with the ambit of the law.

“Our party cannot get involved in this act of illegality.

It is only the political party in the state, which is about to go into extinction, that is desperate to win election.

“Their party had tried to play fast by adopting President Goodluck Jonathan as its Presidential candidate; now we are hearing of fake result sheets.”

The two political parties alleged that cartons of result sheet booklets for the election have already been printed and smuggled into Anambra State from Asaba, Delta State, in a bid by some desperate politicians to share it to staff of

By Olasunkanmi Akoni

A

coalition of youth groups in the country has demanded immediate stop to the coroner enquiry into the collapse of a six-storey building at the Synagogue Church of All Nations, SCOAN, owned by Prophet Temitope Joshua.

The groups are the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, National Youth Frontier; Igbo Youth Group and the Northern Nigeria Youth Alliance.

In a statement by Mr. Oladipo Seyi of PDP National Youth Frontier and others, the coalition said it was in solidarity with the founder of SCOAN, Joshua, adding that the coroner inquest being pursued by Lagos State government was meant to smear his image.

It said irrespective of the several insinuations making the rounds against Joshua and SCOAN, prominent youth groups in Nigeria remained in strong solidarity with him and the church.

Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC. They further alleged that the original result sheets would be exchanged with the fake sheets for the election, while the original sheet would be submitted to INEC with falsified results.

Only APGA can do this— APC

Similarly, state Chairman of APC, Emeka Ibe, described the development as not only unfortunate but sad, adding that such antics could only come from APGA. He said: “Last time, a chieftain of APGA in Awka South Local Government Area was arrested with cartons of permanent voters card, PVC, which he ultimately wants to use during the election.

“Now with the introduction of card readers, the party’s game plan has failed and now the allegations of fake result sheets being printed have come into the centre stage. We urge the law enforcement agencies and INEC to be alive to their responsibilities.”

They're crying wolf—APGA

However, state Chairman of APGA, Chief Mike Kwentoh, told reporters that PDP and APC are merely crying wolf where there is none.

He said: “Some people are

afraid of losing election and they are now looking for reasons and those to blame for their failure. APGA is on ground and all these other parties are not in the picture.

“People should not listen to rumour mongers, who are out to scuttle our democratic process. APGA, as a party, cannot condescend to illegality and to the level of printing result sheets because we do not need them.”

O

NITSHA—THE Coordinator of President Goodluck Jonathan campaign organization in Anambra State, Chief Ugochukwu Okeke,

yesterday called on the electorate to shun the campaigns of calumny against President Jonathan by the opposition.

Okeke, who spoke in Ihiala Local Government, described

the campaigns as calculated attempts to turn back the clock of progress already initiated by the President.

He said Jonathan's achievement since assuming office was there for all to see.

By Chidi Nkwopara

O

WERRI—MEMBERS of Imo State House of Assembly have been urged to pass the Public Finance Management Bill, PFMB, which has for long, been yearning for their action.

Citizens, who spoke to Vanguard yesterday on the issue, were of the view that if the Bill had been passed into law, the level of transparency and accountability in the management of goods and services in the state would have been enhanced.

Dr. Don Ekechukwu reasoned: “We all desire a

He further explained that the President's viable economic policies and programmes had not only empowered the people, but also restored their hopes in governance as stakeholders.

HIS is the way for ward to avoid any avoidable mistake that can make or mar the credibility of this general elections Nigerians have invested so much resources and manpower in. We cannot afford to fail in this project.—Mr. Ogwu Benjamin, Marine Superintendent.

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N

people-centred government.

This could have been further enhanced if PFMB had been passed into law.”

It was the considered opinion of Dr. Ekechukwu that the quest for transparency and accountability in governance begins with putting the right legislations in place.

“If we get it right in public finance management, functions towards achieving value for money and accountability in public expenditure would naturally queue in,” he said.

He insisted that if the legislature had passed the PFMB and it had been signed into law by the governor, it would invariably breathe more life into the state’s quest for transparency and accountability.

Imo State Auditor General, Sir Anthony Kamachi, said transparency should be the key word in all public and private transactions.

He said: “If transparency is allowed to play a prominent role in all transactions, it would promote integrity.”

By Bartholomew Madukwe (08102479985) nwamad@yahoo.com

PEOPLE SPEAK

T

INEC's Public Relations Officer in Anambra, Mr. Frank Egbo, said: “This is a criminal offence. They should report the matter to police and get those perpetrators arrested; they should also show us the INEC staff involved.

“As far as we are concerned, INEC is not aware of this and we are not involved in it at all.

INEC is committed to free fair and non- violent elections in Anambra State.”

Imo Assembly tasked on PFMB Bill

Electorate urged to ignore anti-Jonathan campaigns

By Enyim Enyim

INEC reacts

On card readers for general elections

IGERIA’S future will depend on the outcome of the 2015 general elections. The issue of whether or not INEC can use card readers must be addressed immediately for all to appreciate their importance on the days of the elections proper.—Mr. Babatunde Owolabi, Worker.

W

ELL, my view on INEC’s intention to use card readers for the forth coming elections is that it is a good start, even if success won’t be maximized. The future will justify INEC boss (Jega) for introducing something good.— Apostle Femi OluEsho, Cleric.

T

HE so-called card reader has failed.

Consequently, you cannot deploy failed card readers in such an important presidential election, whereby every vote cast must count.

INEC should withdraw the card readers now.— Mr. Ezekiel Olatade, Chorister.

I

NEC would not have carried out the testrunning of these card readers if not for the widely expressed fears about the reliability of the device. Now we have seen that there is still work to be done and there is limited time.— Mrs Ifeoma Anyambuba, Businesswoman.

T

HE fault is not in the card readers, the fault lies with the inept leadership of the country and INEC’s incompetence for trying to implement a system without making adequate room for trial runs to be conducted. Now, there is a problem.—Pastor Nelson Azubuike, Clergy.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, MARCH 17, 2015 — 47

POLLS: Sambo predicts victory for PDP

in Kaduna V

ICE PRESIDENT, Namadi Sambo has predicted a resounding victory for the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Kaduna State, saying that the state is the home of the party.

Sambo spoke during a fund raising dinner in support of the party’s governorship candidate, Mukhtar Yero and his running mate, Nuhu Bajoga, at the Hotel 17 in Kaduna, weekend.

This was contained in a statement by his Special Adviser, Media and Publicity, Umar Sani, yesterday.

The statement read: “Kaduna State is a stronghold of the PDP and we have the objective of surpassing our previous records of performance.

"I have no doubt in our ability to meet our expectations in view of the wide acceptability of the party and possible indications that greater victories await our great party, the PDP. We have always been a popular pillar of the party and we shall prove our mettle. ‘’Since the inception of this democracy, the successive administrations in the state are a continuation and consolidation of one another and that is why the state enjoys maximum benefits of good governance.

"Succinctly put, PDP is Nigeria and Nigeria is PDP. If you go to every nook and cranny and in even the remotest part of Nigeria, PDP has a system in place. You can’t beat the reach!”

Also speaking on the occasion, the former Governor of the state and the party ’s senatorial candidate for Kaduna Zone I, Senator Ahmed Makarfi urged members to donate generously to

ensure victory for all the party’s candidates.

Earlier in his remarks, the state Governor and governorship candidate of the PDP, Mukhtar Ramalan Yero, said that all funds

A

FEDERAL High Court sitting in Lagos, has adjourned till March 27, 2015, to hear the contempt proceedings initiated against Samsung Heavy Industry Nigeria Limited and Total Upstream Nigeria Ltd, over their alleged disobedience of an order of court, ordering parties to maintain status-quo in the controversial storage and offloading unit FPSO in Egina Field within OML 130 contract.

Defendants in the suit are Attorney General of the Federation; National Petroleum Investment Management Services, NPIMS; Nigerian Content Development Monitoring Board, CDMB; Samsung Heavy Industry and Total Upstream.

Mr. John Owubokiri, a lawyer in the substantive suit, is asking the court to declare that the award of the contract to Samsung Heavy Industry Nigeria for the engineering, procurement, construction and commissioning of the Egina FPSO is unlawful, tainted by irregularities in that NPIMS, CDMB and Total Upstream Nigeria ignored all extant laws, regulations, C M Y K

Microsoft signs MoU with Jobberman

By Emeka Aginam

I

MEETING: From left, 2015 House of Representatives candidate for the All Progressives Congress, Mr. Chibuzor Obiakor; Senator Chris Ngige and Mr. Stanley Okeke, during a reconciliatory meeting between Obiakor and Okeke, at the palace of Igwe of Nkpor, Chief Christopher Ibegbunam II, last Friday.

Avoid being used for violence, NANS urges students

M

AKURDI — THE National Association of Nigerian Students, NANS, has urged students to resist being

used by self seeking politicians to perpetrate violence and crisis in the country during the forthcoming general elections.

Court to hear contempt proceeding against Samsung, Total March 27

By Innocent Anaba

realised at the dinner would be utilised for not only the governorship campaign, but for all the PDP candidates to ensure victory at all levels in the state.

YOUTH UNEMPLOYMENT:

directives, and guidelines guiding such awards.

Justice Okon Abang, had last year, ordered the defendants to “maintain status quo ante bellum as per the plaintiff’s claims before the court pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice dated 19/11/2014.”

But the plaintiff had complained that work was still ongoing on the contact, despite the clear court orders.

The trial judge, also yesterday, said it will hear the preliminary objection by defendants, challenging the jurisdiction of the court to hear the matter, after trial.

In his ruling on which of the pending applications to take, Justice Abang upheld the plaintiff’s counsel argument that the preliminary objection, having been filed out of time, would be heard at the end of trial.

The plaintiff had argued that the objection was filed out of time, while the defendants argued that due to the judicial workers' strike, they were not able to file same on time, but in reply, plaintiff argued that even if the application was affected by the strike, they ought to have sought leave of court to file same out of time, which they did not.

This was part of the resolution adopted by the association at its 70th Senate Meeting, weekend, at the Federal University of Agriculture, in Makurdi, the Benue State capital.

The meeting which was presided over by NANS Senate President, Thomas Ochai, also, vowed to expose any politician who wanted to use students to orchestrate crisis.

“We implore students to be watchful and also resist any attempt to be used by some self seeking politicians to perpetrate violence in the forthcoming elections,” NANS stated.

Lamenting the killing of some National Youth Service Corps, NYSC, members who were involved in the conduct of the 2011 general elections, NANS urged the Federal Government to put measures in place to avoid a repeat of such dastardly acts.

LG boss provides relief materials to rainstorm victims

B

ENIN CITY—THE Chairman of Esan South East Local Government Council of Edo State, Mr. Joseph Ikpea has donated relief materials to rainstorm victims, just as he gave assistance to indigent persons in the council.

He donated bundles of zinc to rainstorm victims at ward 7 Ubiaja and also a laptop to an indigent boy, Vincent Ehiaghe who is computer literate.

While also donating the sum of

N100,000 to Mr. Wilson Agwumede, an accident victim from ward 8, the council boss said the gesture is part of his efforts to bring smiles on the faces of the victims and indigent people in the council.

According to him: “This is not about politics, but caring for the needy because my elder brother has a foundation that he is using to alleviate poverty in the society and for me, it is to complement his efforts because one person

cannot do it alone.

“Besides, I'd experienced life both as a poor boy and what I am today. I'd discovered that poverty is not good at all. So we have to help the poor because without that you cannot sleep comfortably in your home,” he stated.

Responding, one of the beneficiaries, Mrs Okoh Oboh expressed gratitude to the chairman of the council and prayed God to always protect him and his family.

N A concerted effort to tackle unemployment and unlock youth potentials in the country and the rest of the Africa, platform and productivity company, Microsoft Nigeria, weekend, in Lagos, signed a Memorandum of Understanding, MoU, with Jobberman, one of the Nigerian recruitment websites.

With this development, Microsoft Nigeria and Jobberman would create platforms to promote employment opportunities, career guidance, employability skills, and enterprise development for young people in the country, Ghana, Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda and Ethiopia respectively through collaborative efforts and contributions to bridge the barrier against the local youths through the use of technology.

2 groups ask PDP states to mobilise voters for Jonathan

By Marie-Therese Nanlong

J

OS — THE Middle Belt Professionals Forum and Technocrats Association, MBPFTA, Jos branch, have called on the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, controlled states in the region and beyond to mobilise the citizens to ensure they vote for President Goodluck Jonathan.

The group, which is canvassing support for Jonathan’s re-election, observed that the President was the most criticised Nigerian leader, adding however, that such criticisms did not mean that he failed, but result of the freedom of expression in the country.

In a statement by its branch Coordinator, Nyior Sekulla, he argued that the re-election of Jonathan would give him the opportunity to complete the projects he started across the country.

48—Vanguard, TUESDAY, MARCH 17, 2015

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Nigeria’s crude oil prices face decline over low demand

By Eboh Michael

A

growing overhang of unsold Nigerian crude oil cargoes for March-loading could depress values for the April program, West African (WAF) crude traders said yesterday.

According to reports by Platts, with the March program in the middle of being loaded at the terminals, pressure is growing on traders to dispose so-called “floating” cargoes which have been loaded before being sold.

“Around 10 million-12 million barrels are currently on the water from the March program.

The lack of pricing attractiveness for April cargoes is driving sluggish demand at this stage [of the trading cycle],”

a European refiner said.

Another trader said there was a light sweet crude supply overhang.

In addition, nearly half of Nigeria’s April program is still available, according to Platts cargo tracking.

With the May loading schedule expected soon, traders said that competition among sellers could soon become still more intense.

Shipping sources said that the volume of Nigerian crude currently sitting in tankers awaiting orders should tighten up the West African Suezmax position list in the coming weeks.

“It might not have an

immediate effect on the supply of ships because those ships would have been employed at this time anyway, but if they end up sitting off Nigeria for a long period of time that will have a definite impact,” a ship broker said.

Others said that the impact of the floating crude had already been felt.

“I know of one charterer that has two VLCCs and two Suezmaxes with cargoes on board that haven’t found buyers yet. It has definitely tightened up the WAF position list,” a broker said.

The longer that the Nigerian crude cargoes on the ships remain unsold, the longer the ships would be

kept off WAF tonnage lists, sources said.

This reduction in the supply of vessels would then likely lead to a rise in WAF Suezmax freight rates.

Suezmax rates on the WAFUK Continent route, basis 130,000 mt, were assessed Worldscale 5 higher at w105 Friday and market sentiment remained bullish Monday due to high levels of charterer inquiry for April loading dates, and a couple of cargoes still to be covered for March.

“The WAF Suezmaxes are incredibly active as charterers pile in for April dates, March cargoes are going to be very tricky with very little tonnage left,” said a shipbroker report.

INEC treading on faleshood — YDP

By Ifeyinwa Obi

T

HE Young Democratic Party (YDP) has accused the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, of deliberately treading on falsehood, saying the Commission risked plunging the nation’s democracy into crisis if it continued playing hide and seek with its (YDP) registration and participation in the 2015 elections.

In a press release signed by its national publicity secretary, Barr.

Ugo Nwafor, the party accused INEC of deliberately shielding the facts of the case from the Nigerian public.

“In demanding the release of our Registration Certificate, couple of times we did approach INEC for it, but all appeared not forthcoming. In this, we wrote the SSS, IGP, Human Rights Commission and some other international institutions, wherein we alerted them of INEC’s refusal to heed our legal demand.

Development of Anioma, my priority — OCHEI

T

HE Accord Party Delta North Senatorial candidate, Mr. Victor Ochei, has advanced the urge for the overall development of Anioma people as his reason for seeking election to the Senate.

The former Speaker of Delta State House of Assembly spoke at Illah in Oshimili North Local Government Area in continuation of his electioneering interaction with the Delta North electorate.

H s aid this desire informed his decision to decline governorship overtures from some political parties, as well as ensuring that Delta North unites to vote massively for Dr Ifeanyi Okowa as a means of actualizing the age-long desire of producing a governor of Anioma extraction.

At Ebu, Ochei intimated the Onu-in-Council, headed by Chief Opili, of his intention to ensure that Ebu benefits from the dividends of democracy.

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56— Vanguard, TUESDAY, MARCH 17, 2015

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58 — VANGUARD, TUESDAY, MARCH 17 , 2015

Putin reappears after 10 days absence

Cyclone Pam: UN confirms 24 dead as 3,300 displaced in Vanuatu T

HE United Nation in Vanuatu says 24 people have died and 3,300 are displaced after Cyclone Pam hit the Pacific archipelago early on Saturday.

The UN Disaster Assessment and Coordination team in the capital, Port Vila, said 37 evacuation centres had been set up, but communication with outer islands was still down.

President Baldwin Lonsdale said the storm had “wiped out” all development of recent years.

While calling for international aid, of those who died, 11 were from Tafea island, eight from the main island, Efate, and five from Tanna.

The evacuation centres were catering for the many people who had lost their homes, the UN said, adding that the response effort was for now focusing on the capital and Efate.

After aerial assessments of the damage caused by the storm, Shefa remained the only province declared

•The devastation is widespread an emergency, the UN said. Aid began arriving in the storm-hit nation - one of the world’s poorest - after flights to Port Vila resumed.

Tropical Cyclone Pam is slowly weakening as it travels towards New Zealand and poses no further threat to Vanuatu or the South Pacific, a report by the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) says.

R

USSIAN President Vladimir Putin reappeared yesterday after 10 unexplained days out of public view, laughing off the “gossip” over his health that had erupted during his absence.

The 62-year-old leader met the president of Kyrgyzstan at a lavish Tsarist-era palace outside St Petersburg in his first appearance since Feb. 5.

His absence had fueled rumors he was ill, had been overthrown by the army or had even flown abroad to attend the birth of a love child.

“It would be boring without gossip,” Putin said, smiling easily before television cameras.

He looked relaxed, if pale.

His spokesman, Dmitry Peskov, mocked the press for its interest, referring sarcastically to the various rumors: “So you’ve seen the broken, paralyzed president, who has been captured by generals? He’s only just flown in from Switzerland, where he attended a birth as you know.”

In a choreographed double-act, Kyrgyz President Almazbek Atambayev vouched for the Russian leader’s health, saying that Putin “just now drove me around the grounds; he himself sat at the wheel.”

Closing in on nuclear deal: US demands ‘tough choices’ from Iran

T

HE United States and Iran inched closer to a political deal that would set the stage for a landmark nuclear agreement, but a U.S. official warned yesterday that Iran must make tough choices to allay fears about its atomic ambitions.

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry and Iranian

Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif held nearly five hours of talks in the Swiss city of Lausanne before the Iranian delegation headed to Brussels for meetings with European ministers.

After that meeting a senior U.S. official told reporters that it was not clear if an end-March deadline for

a framework agreement between Iran and six major powers could be met.

“We are trying to get there but quite frankly we still do not know if we will be able to,” the official said on condition of anonymity. “Iran still has to make some very tough and necessary choices to address the significant concerns that remain about

its nuclear program.”

Without elaborating, the official added that the Iranian delegation also raised in the meeting with Kerry an “ill-timed and ill-advised” letter from 47 Republican senators to Iran’s leadership warning that they could undo any deal President Barack Obama made with them.

Muslim Brotherhood leader Badie sentenced to death in Egypt

A

S/ African opposition threatens Zuma S

OUTH Africa’s op position party yesterday said it would launch a court battle to try to force President Jacob Zuma to pay back money lavished on his private residence.

The $24-million (22.7million-euro) “security upgrade” to Zuma’s rural home in the eastern KwaZulu-Natal province has become the focus of accusations of government corruption.

“If the president goes on to not pay back the money, (we) would take him to court over the matter,” Mmusi Maimane, parliamentary leader of the Democratic Alliance, told reporters in Johannesburg.

Maimane described the spending on Zuma’s house as “a poster for corruption”, adding “the president must pay.”

Last week, Zuma struck a defiant note in parliament, saying he had no plans to repay the money.

Public Protector Thuli C M Y K

N Egyptian court has handed down death sentences to the leader of the Muslim Brotherhood movement and 13 others, state media has reported.

Mohammed Badie and the other key members of the group were found guilty of planning attacks against the state.

Mr Badie is embroiled in several trials and has been sentenced to death before, although the sentences were later reduced to life imprisonment.

Egypt’s government declared the Muslim

Brotherhood a terrorist group in 2013.

Hundreds of people have been sentenced to death in a crackdown on Islamists following the removal of President

US defends backing event for DR Congo activists

T

HE US has defend ed its decision to back an event denounced by the Democratic Republic of Congo’s government as an attempt to fuel unrest in the central African state.

DR Congo’s security forces detained at least 18

Wife of Burundi politician Agathon Rwasa shot South African president Jacob Zuma during question and answer session at the parliament in Cape Town last week.

Madonsela, the country ’s ombudswoman, found in 2014 that Zuma and his family had “unduly benefited” from the work on his home, which included a swimming pool, and recommended he repay some of the cash.

Under public pressure, Zuma then appointed the minister of police to de-

termine how much he should repay.

The minister, who is a Zuma appointee, has not yet made a recommendation.

Zuma’s supporters accuse architects and contractors of inflating costs, while critics say the president must have been aware of what was happening at his own home.

T

HE wife of promi nent Burundian opposition politician Agathon Rwasa has been shot and wounded at a hair salon in the capital, Bujumbura.

The gunman fled after opening fire on Annonciate Haberisoni as she was waiting for her hair to be done, witnesses said.

Mr Rwasa accused the government of attempting to assassinate his wife. It has not commented on the allegation.

Tensions have been ris-

Mohammed Morsi in 2013.

Earlier this month Egypt carried out its first execution over the violence that followed Mr Morsi’s overthrow.

ing in Burundi ahead of elections in May and June.

Mr Rwasa said at a press conference that his wife was being treated for head injuries at a local hospital, and her condition was not critical.

He would not be intimidated by Sunday ’s shooting, he added.

Mr Rwasa accused the government of compiling a hit list of people to be targeted in the run-up to parliamentary elections in May and presidential elections in June.

people on Sunday, including a US diplomat and other foreign nationals, over the alleged plot.The US said the event was nonpartisan.

Concern about stability in DR Congo is mounting ahead of presidential elections next year, analysts say.

More than 40 people were killed in protests in January after the opposition raised concerns that President Joseph Kabila intended to delay elections in an attempt to cling to power.

Mr Kabila has served two terms as an elected president, and the constitution bars him from running for office again.

He has not yet indicated whether he will step down in next year’s election.

Sunday ’s detentions came after police broke up a press conference called by pro-democracy activists to announce the formation of a new civil society group.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, MARCH 17, 2015—59

Man nabbed for car theft in Enugu

By Francis Igata

E

NUGU—MEN of Nsukka Division of Enugu State Police Command on stop and search operation, yesterday, arrested Chukwuneke Onah, 26, for alleged car theft, on Nsukka-Idah Road at about 4.15p.m.

The suspect, a native of Orba in Udenu Local Government Area of Enugu State, allegedly stole Mazda MPV Space Wagon with registration number RSH 101 DE from an unidentified owner in Abuja and was proceeding to the point of sale when he was apprehended.

Police Public Relations Officer, Mr. Ebere Amaraizu,DSP,confirmed the incident in a statement to newsmen in Enugu.

Amaraizu said: “Our operatives through surveillance report,got wind of the stolen car. The men on stop and search at Okutu,along Nsukka-Ida road flagged the suspect down.

2 docked for stealing N1.3m valuables

Analysts forcast further rise in inflation for Feb ...new figures for release today

By Emeka Anaeto, Economy Editor

A

HEAD OF the expected release of February, 2015 inflation statistics by The National Bureau of Statistics, NBS, today, economy analysts have posited a further upswing in the statistics as a result of persistent pressure on the Headline Index arising from the tension in the external

AGOS — A 35-yearold unemployed, Sunday Awoyemi, and a businessman, Rokeeb Eniafe, 30, were, yesterday, docked before a Tinubu Chief Magistrates Court on Lagos Island for allegedly stealing a bag containing valuables worth N1.3million.

Awoyemi, who reside at 10 Onielegbale Street, Lagos Island, Lagos and Eniafe who resides at 15, Olumegbon Street, Lagos Island, respectively, are facing a two-count charge bordering on conspiracy and stealing preferred against them by the police.

The prosecutor, ASP Chidi Okoye, told the court that the defendants committed the offences at 9.30p.m on March 11 at Asogbon Street, on Lagos Island in Lagos.

He said the defendants stole a bag containing recharge cards of various mobile phone networks valued at N1million, cash sum of N300,000 and three mobile phones valued at N50,000 belonging to one Olawepo Olawale.

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movements in consumer goods in February 2015 would increase the Consumer Price Index to 166.84 points, representing a month-onmonth increase of 0.63%.

The investment bankers estimate that the increase in the CPI in February will produce an inflation rate (year-on-year) of 8.3%, higher than the figure recorded in the month of January.

Looking ahead, therefore,

CONFERENCE: Cross section of participants in a 2-Day Stakeholders' Workshop on Performance Management System Policy, at the State House Conference Centre, Abuja. Photo: Abayomi Adeshida

FSDH concluded, the inflation rate for the month of March 2015 is expected to be higher than the February 2015.

The latest inflation rate for the month of January 2015 was 8.2%, higher than 8.0% recorded in the month of December 2014.

Last month NBS reporting for the period of January 2015 said that the monthly Composite Consumer Price Index, CCPI, for All Items for the month of January stood at 165.8 points, an increase of 0.8% from December 2014. The CCPI 12-month average for January 2015 stood at 8.1%, up from 8.0% in December 2014.

The NBS noted that the increase in the inflation rate in January 2015 was due to the upward pressure on the Headline Index, which was largely as a result of increasing divisions that contribute to the Core Sub-Index.

Prices increased at a faster pace in most of the major non-food divisions such as housing, water, electricity, gas and other fuels; furnishings; household equipment maintenance; and clothing and footwear divisions.

Food prices measured by the Food Sub-Index held at roughly the same pace of increase in January 2015 as in December 2014.

Obiano marks 1yr in office today

By Vincent Ujumadu

By Onozure Dania

L

sector as well as the political environment.

NBS is expected to release the inflation rate figure for the month of February 2015 today, based on the Data Release Calendar available on the Bureau’s website.

According to the research report of FSDH Securities, a leading investment banking outfit in Nigeria, the dynamics of price

A

WKA — GOVERNOR Willie Obiano of Anambra State is one year in office today. The one year has been very remarkable as many landmark projects have either been executed or flagged off.

The most outstanding achievement of the governor within the one year was in the area of security and this has led to the drastic reduction of crime, especially in the commercial city of Onitsha, which has become a no go area for criminals.

Like his predecessor, Mr.

Peter Obi, Governor Obiano had consistently been funding primary and secondary schools and hospitals adequately, including those returned to their original missionary owners.

All projects started by former Governor Obi, such as the five –star hotels in Onitsha and

Agulu, as well as the shopping malls in Onitsha, Awka and Nnewi are in progress.

He had also continued with the demolition of houses belonging to identified kidnappers in all parts of the state, which had also led to drastic reduction of the rate of kidnapping in the state.

TAN Diaspora Montreal mobilises int’l support for Jonathan

D

IASPORA CHAPTER of Abuja-based international advocacy group, the Transformation Ambassadors of Nigeria, TAN, has mobilised international support for the reelection of President Goodluck Jonathan.

Coordinator of the TAN Diaspora, Mr George Chukwu,

who led other members and volunteers to move round the Canadian cities, defying the harsh snowy weather to make their intensions known to the world said in Montreal that having laid such a firm and solid economic, political and globally celebrated political foundation for the nation in the last five years of his

presidency, it would be ideal and very inarguable to allow President Jonathan consolidate within the next four years.

That any break at this critical time would amount to a big drawback and drain on reason and industry already put in the build-up these past years.

He said: “ Nigeria’s presidency

Groups urge court to order INEC to allow use of TVC

By Chimaobi Nwaiwu

N

NEWI — ANAMBRA State chapter of Congress of Civil Society Groups has urged the Federal High Court sitting in Awka to make an order compelling the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to allow the use of Temporary Voter’s Card, TVC, in

the March 28 and April general elections.

The group asked the court, presided over by Justice M.L. Abubakar, to declare that the temporary voter’s card should remain valid and be used in the elections scheduled for March 28 and the April 11, 2015,especially where the TVC holder had not got his/her permanent voter’s card.

Damian Ogudike,Godwin Edeh,Obum Ezeh and Peter Onyegaer, acting for themselves and on behalf of Congress of Civil Society Groups, had in their suit against the INEC at the Federal High Court sought for six reliefs among which is a declaration by INEC that only the permanent voter card should be used for the coming elections.

and leadership is neither a private corridor nor meant for a circle of friends or colleagues, but for statesmen of humane stature and transformation spirit. Those who have been consigned to history should remain there. We do not wish to recycle any more spent forces, giving a very odious impression that there are no more capable hands. And those with high propensity for bigotry and penchant for violence to go extinguish same somewhere else…”

He cautioned every Nigerian citizen to be guided by the unfolding events in the nation’s political experience to note that each person’s historical background would count in the future.

He stated that Jonathan's transformation again which had positively impacted on all sectors of the economy had improved the standard of living of the electorate.

60 — Vanguard, TUESDAY, MARCH 17, 2015

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Vanguard, TUESDAY, MARCH 17, 2015 — 61

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Vanguard, TUESDAY, MARCH 17, 2015 — 62

As Arsenal seek miracle of Monaco:

Ozil pushes for quarter-finals slot A

RSENAL play maker Mesut Ozil believes his side can still qualify for the Champions League quarter-finals despite losing the first leg 3-1.

“It’s very important to score early, but we will remain patient,” Ozil told Arsenal’s official website. “We want to fight and battle from the first minute until the last. This is a match that we are determined to win. We have to score three goals and our aim is to do just that while remaining tight in defence.

Atletico ready to hit Leverkusen back

A

TLETICO Madrid’s players firmly believe they will hit back from a first-leg deficit and beat Bayer Leverkusen to stay alive in the Champions League tonight.

The Spaniards will be back at the Vicente Calderon stadium needing to rebound from a 1-0 defeat in Germany if they are to reach the quarter-finals of the Champions League.

“We don’t think about anything else (other) than turning around the tie on Tuesday,” defender Jesus Gamez told Spanish sports newspaper Marca.

“We know it’s going to be difficult but our enthusiasm is big.''

“If we play as we are capable of doing in Monaco, I still believe that we have a real chance to progress.”

Ozil added that Arsenal’s recent FA Cup victory over Manchester United at Old Trafford is evidence they have what it takes to make a proper match of Tuesday night’s Champions League second leg.

“We want to disrupt their rhythm and try to score as early as possible,” the former Real Madrid star continued.

“It’s going to be difficult to score three times be-

cause they have defended well in the tournament so far, but if you look at our past matches and the way we played against Manchester United last week, I think there’s a chance we can still progress.

“We have to believe in yourselves. When you believe in yourselves, a positive energy grows that you can achieve your aims. In football, things that may look unlikely can happen.

“I know that if we believe in ourselves and utilise our potential, we can still go through.”

Moutinho: Monaco’ll defend 3-1 lead

J

•Ozil

OAO MOUTINHO insists Monaco have the ability to defend their first-leg lead and kill off Arsenal’s Champions League dreams.

“We can show our best qualities against the top teams. Play in Ligue 1 is very closed, very aggressive. “Some teams are good technically, but others rely on the physical side, on defending and counter-attacks.

“It’s hard to find space and you have to come

up with different tactics to get the wins.

“No one believed in us in the Champions League and yet we have really played well. We deserve to be where we are.

“I have full confidence in our side, despite our lack of experience.

“With the team spirit we have we can go even further and why not a repeat of Monaco and Porto in 2004?”

Henry backs Arsenal to knock Monaco out

T

HIERRY Henry has backed Arsenal to overturn their first leg deficit in Monaco and progress to the quarter-

Hazard prays for Arsenal

C

HELSEA star Eden Hazard has revealed that he hopes Arsenal beat Monaco in the Champions League.

Arsenal lost the first leg at the Emirates Stadium against the Ligue 1 side 3-1, so Arsene Wenger’s side will need three goals at the Stade Louis II to progress to the quarter-finals of the competition – which will be no mean feat as Monaco have only conceded two goals in the entire competition.

“I have a friend Ferreira-Carrasco over there [at Monaco] and I wish him the best.

“But for English football, I hope Arsenal go through.”

Hazard once again put in another fantastic performance this weekend, although the Belgium international could not snatch a winner for the Blues.

Arsenal, on the other C M Y K

hand, are now just seven points behind the Blues, having won their last five consecutive games in the league.

The Gunners have emerged as shock outside title contenders, but will need to win all their remaining games to seriously challenge Mourinho’s men.

•Hazard

•Henry finals of the Champions League.

“Paris Saint-Germain and Schalke both pulled off shock results in the Champions League.

PSG stunned Chelsea while Schalke gave Real Madrid a fright with their away win,” Henry wrote in his column in The Sun. “And I believe Arsenal can do the same at Monaco on Tuesday. People will say I’m biased, I know, but despite trailing 3-1 from the first leg, my former club can produce a big result in the big game.

“It won’t be easy, of course. Yet with the right commitment, Arsene Wenger’s team can deliver a performance they will never, ever forget.”

Vanguard, TUESDAY, MARCH 17, 2015 — 63

We’re not afraid of Nigeria — Ghana coach B

LACK Satellites’ coach, Sellas Tetteh, has said he is not disappointed with his semi-final date with perennial rivals and tournament favourite, Nigeria.

Ghana succumbed 1- 0 to Mali in their last Group B match at the African Youth Championship (AYC) played at the Caroline Faye Stadium in M’bour on Sunday.

The results mean Ghana, finishing second in the group with six points, has set up a semi-final date with Nigeria in Dakar on Wednesday. Tetteh told reporters in a post match interview that, “I am not disappointed that we will be meeting Nigeria.

We knew any other team in the semi-finals is capable.

“We know we came and could not conquer which means the team we have to meet is Nigeria. All we have to do is to prepare well and beat them

AAG qualifier: Siasia targets big win over Zambia

D

*Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan in a group photograph with participants at the opening ceremony of the 1st Clergymen Tenis Tournament put together by the Delta State Government, held in Asaba yesterday.

on Wednesday.” Tetteh, who rang changes in his starting line-up against Mali said, “I introduced four new players into the team. This is a tournament and at any given time you need to have the opportunity to see all the players. “It was a calculated risk that I took to introduce those players so we know how they will gel incase we will need them as we progress."

Nesiama distances self from Okpekpe race T

HE Technical Director of the Athletics Federation of Nigeria, Navy Commodore Omatseye Nesiama has distanced himself from the annual Okpekpe Road Race, denouncing recent media reports as-

sociating him with the high paying race.

Speaking with Sports Vanguard, the AFN chieftain said, “I have no hand in the Okpekpe Race and nobody should associate me with it.

“I did not talk to anybody. What was reported about me was the figment of the imagination of the reporter. I never said what was reported about me.”

The Navy Commodore said the nearest he had worked with organisers of the Okpekpe Race was in the first edition and after that we had our differences and I walked away. I have nothing against them.

I’m a man of my words and cannot turn around to eat my words. I insist that I have nothing to do with the Okpekpe race’’, Nesiama concluded.

REAM Team VI manager, Samson Siasia, wants to take a healthy advantage to the second leg of the All Africa Games qualifier against Zambia. The Nigeria Under 23s will confront their Zambian counterparts on Sunday in Abuja, and Siasia knows his squad will have a foot in Congo-Brazzaville, where the 11th All-Africa Games is scheduled to take place if they thrash their opponents.

“My boys are ready for the Zambians. Our focus is on doing the job here in Abuja on Sunday so that we can then put our feet down in the return leg. Our match against Lobi Stars on Saturday helped a lot. We have been able to notice a few places that we need to continue to work on.

“Our first target is the All-Africa Games, and then we start the qualification series for the CAF U-23 Championship where the qualifiers for the Olympic Games would emerge, “ said Siasia.

Ibrahimovic told to leave France by Front National leader Marine Le Pen

F

RANCE’s far-right Front National leader Marine Le Pen has called on Zlatan Ibrahimovic to leave France following his comments in the wake of Paris St-Germain’s defeat to Bordeaux.

Speaking in English, the Sweden striker can be heard saying on Canal+ TV footage: “In 15 years I’ve never seen a [good] referee in this shit country ... [they] don’t even deserve PSG.” The French football league said it had launched an inquiry into the remarks which have caused a political outcry in the country. “Those

who consider that France is a shit country can leave it,” Le Pen told the France Info radio station.

Jérôme Guedj from the Socialist party described the remarks as “unacceptable” and added: “Let him play football and shut up, or at least

Bassel Saad

tal but passed away two days later, resulting in Saad being charged with involuntary manslaughter.

The 37-year-old pleaded guilty and was sentenced to a minimum of eight years in prison and ordered to pay €8700 towards funeral costs by judge Thomas Cameron, who delivered a final damning verdict on Friday.”

Continues from BP

to have committed another foul and prepared to show him a second yellow card. Instead of accepting his punishment, the player reacted by knocking the referee unconscious with a single punch, leaving him lifeless on the pitch.

Bieniewicz, 44, was taken to a Detroit hospi-

*Zlatan Ibrahimovic

be respectful of this country, the football supporters who were also insulted.”

Bazuaye

Continues from BP

when Bauldwin Bazuaye, Willy ’s son, called to break the sad news. We stopped the event, but later went on with it after observing a minute’s silence,” chairman of Edo State Football Association, Mr. Frank Ilaboya said.

Ilaboya led members of the Edo State Football Association executive board to pay a condolence visit to the Bazuaye family on Monday evening. Bazuaye, 80, died of complications to his kidney, a side effect of the stroke he suffered several years ago.

Bazuaye played for Nigeria’s senior team for several years, including featuring at the Men’s Football Tournament of the 1968 Olympic Games, and was assistant coach to the U-23 National Team when the squad wongold at the Olympic Games, in 1996.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, MARCH 17, 2015

TODAY'S MATCHES Monaco v Arsenal 8.45pm Atletico Madrid v Lever Kusen 8.45pm

AYC: F/Eagles’ll beat Black Satellites

Bazuaye, 80, is dead

F

ORMER Nigeria international Willy Bazuaye has died, few days after being rushed into intensive care unit of the University of Benin Teaching Hospital.

“We were set to conduct the Draw for our State preliminaries of the 2015 Federation Cup Continues on Page 63

Footballer bags 8 year sentence for killing ref

A

footballer has been jailed for at least eight years after punching to death a referee in a Michigan United Soccer League match in America.

Bassel Saad had already been booked when official John Bieniewicz adjudged him

—Hamilton F

ORMER Flying Eagles head coach, Paul Hamilton has said the side have what it takes to overcome the Ghanaian opponents, the Black satellites.

Both sides will clash in the semifinals of the ongoing Orange African Under-20 Championship in Senegal on Wednesday at the Leopold Sedar Senghor Stadium, Dakar.

The Nigerian campaigners finished top of Group A on seven points while the West African foes were runners-up in Group B behind Mali to pave the way for the epic

clash.

Hamilton said though the encounter will be difficult he believes Flying Eagles will emerge victorious at the end of the day.

“I believe Flying Eagles are equal to the task of confronting the Ghanaian opponents, the Black Satellites.

“I’ve no fear at all that the Nigerians will emerge victorious at the end of the day.

“Though it’ll be a difficult encounter given the age long rivalry between both countries, Eagles have an edge with the quality of players in their fold".

We’re not afraid of Nigeria — Ghana coach TODAY'S

PUZZLE

Bassel Saad sobs

G

YESTER DAY'S ANSWERS YESTERDAY'S

Continues on Page 63

Gus is gone!

US Poyet has parted company with Sunderland after the club decided to fast-forward plans to replace him in the summer.

The Uruguayan’s sacking ends an often turbulent 17-month tenure on Wearside featuring a near-miraculous escape from relegation, a League Cup final and increasing tensions with the club’s board. *Ifeanyi: Flying Eagles defender

*Late Bazuaye

*Poyet

QUICK CROSSWORD ACROSS 1 Wreckage (6) 5 Idiotic (6) 9 Trail (5) 10 Riff-raff (6) 11 Character (6) 12 Weird (5) 14 Marketed (4) 17 Performed (3) 18 Yield (4) 20 Javelin (5) 22 Rented (5) 23 Thrilled (7) 24 Heaped (5) 26 Disprove (5) 29 Frozen (4) 30 Material (3) 32 Unusual (4) 33 Deadly (5) 35 Eavesdrop (6) 36 Bigger (6) 37 Heron (5) 38 Fester (6) 39 Costlier (6)

DOWN 1 Constraint (6) 2 Chattering (6) 3 Island (4) 4 Rate (5) 5 Compact (5) 6 Shrub (4) 7 Golf-club (6) 8 Dashed (6) 13 Curl (7) 15 Gin-measure (5) 16 Old-fashioned (5) 18 Drink (5) 19 Object (5) 21 Free (3) 22 Woman’s (3) 24 Column (6) 25 Diminish (6) 27 Firework (6) 28 Dread (6) 30 Scope (5) 31 Faded (5) 33 Sense (4) 34 Tardy (4)

YESTERDAY'S SOLUTIONS ACROSS: 4, False 7, Sensed 9, Pal 10, Pod 12, Medal 13, Eros 15, Miser 17, Thresh 19, Tiff 20, Payee 22, Pup 24, Deleted 27, For 28, Ready 31, Golf 33, Asking 35, Laden 37, Thin 38, Minim 39, Don 41, New 42, Tussle 43, Deign.

DOWN: 1, Asleep 2, Snooty 3, Pep 4, Fame 5, Alert 6, Scafold 8, Dame 11, Dispersed 14, Shed 16, Shut 18, Reef 21, Apposite 23, Peri 25, Load 26, Dent 29, Aghast 30, Yanked 32, Fling 34, Knot 36, Amen 40, Nub.

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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