36 govs meet on bailout for bankrupt states

...towards a better life for the people

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VOL. 25: NO. 62429

ONLINE | www.vanguardngr.com

N150

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 17, 2015

Strong men have destroyed institutions in Nigeria —Buhari

ACQUISITION: From left, MD/CEO, Capital Media, Tony Udenze; Executive Chairperson, Marwal Group, Mareme Halong; Chairman, Casers Group, Enyi Odigbo and CEO, Innova DDB Ghana, Joel Nettey, at a press conference announcing acquisition of Marwal Group West Africa and Innova DDB Group by Casers Group in Lagos, yesterday.

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Alleged corruption in NNPC due 54 to lack of budget —SARAKI

UNPAID SALARIES:

36 govs meet on bailout for bankrupt states Excess crude account, FAAC, Revenue Enhancement Scheme top agenda New govs blame predecessors for leaving huge debts

We need bailout —APC govs

By Henry Umoru, Ola Ajayi, Peter Okutu, Isiaka Oyibo, Anayo Okoli, MaryTherese Lalong, Peter Duru & Emma Una

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BUJA — TROUBLED by the precarious financial situation of 18 out of the 36 states of the federation, the governors are meeting today in Abuja to propose a bail out scheme for the financially handicapped

Continues on Page 5

Nimbo community: Where dead kings are buried after 7yrs ide ns eI e S

Mr & Mrs FREEDOM: Governor Olusegun Mimiko of Ondo State (right) with the Regent of Akungba, Princess Oluwatoyin Omosowon, during her visit to the governor after gaining freedom from her abductors, in Akure, yesterday. See another pic on page 6.

COLUMNISTS: When will I hate it when he change come for What happened to the sticks his tongue Nigerian women? fight against •P.19 in my mouth •P.39 •P.17 kidnappers?

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RAINS: Assembly asks Ambode to decongest Lagos traffic 58

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POCKET CARTOON

MEETING: Mr. Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede; President of the National

Council of the Nigeria Stock and Co-Chairman of the Nigeria-UK Emerging Capital Markets Task (ECMT) (left) and Sir Roger Gifford, Country Head for the European Bank SEB, former Lord Mayor of London, and CoChairman of the Nigeria-UK Emerging Capital Markets Task (ECMT) at a meeting of the Nigerian delegation representing a cross-section of registered capital market groups in Nigeria, at the UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office, yesterday.

36 govs meet on bailout for bankrupt states Continues from Page 1 states.

The governors are to brainstorm on possible solution to the several months of unpaid salaries in the technically bankrupt states among other issues, according to a statement issued yesterday by DirectorGeneral of the Governors’ Forum, Mr. Asishana Okauru The governors are said to be worried that if the situation in the affected states is allowed to linger, it may portend danger for the nation’s nascent democracy. The states that are financially down, it was learnt, if left on their own may not be able to address some of the very serious problems confronting them.

The governors under the aegis of Nigeria Governors’ Forum, NGF, will examine issues relating to the Federal

Accounts Allocation Committee, FAAC, the Excess Crude Accounts ( ECA) and Revenue Enhancement Scheme as it affects state revenue flow for states, according to items listed on the agenda of today’s meeting.

The meeting will be presided over by NGF chairman and governor of Zamfara State, Abdullaziz Yari.

Invited Governors

Speaking to reporters in Abuja, Okauru disclosed that all the governors, including Olusegun Mimiko of Ondo, Seriake Dickson of Bayelsa, Emmanuel Udom of Akwa Ibom, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta, Senator Benedict Ayade of Cross River, Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State, Rauf Aregbesola of Osun, Abdullahi Umar Ganduje

TAKE HEART

BY ELLA RANDLE

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ny transition serious enough to alter your definition of self will requires not just small adjustments in your way of living and thinking but a full-on metamorphosis —Martha Beck Whether you have made the choice, or have been forced to significantly alter your life, it’s time to begin navigating your transition.

Is there something you’ve been talking about, thinking about or even dreaming about for what seems like forever, yet you never seem to actually do it? Not to worry, there is possibility for it to happen.

However, there’s absolutely no reason for you to stay stuck. It’s time to stop talking and start doing.

It may be easier than you think.

Ask yourself: “Is this goal actually something I’m really passionate about or is it an old dream I need to let go of?”

It can actually be exhilarating to let go of a goal when you realize it isn’t something that you want anymore. If that’s the case, be brave and give yourself permission to release it and move to do something more purposeful for you.

of Kano; Kashim Shettima of Borno and Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo State, were invited to the meeting.

On Monday, Vanguard published a lead story on why about eighteen states in the federation can not pay their workers salaries. Some states owed their workers several months.

Oyo workers lament

Workers in Oyo State whose strength has been put at over 30,000 have been lamenting their unpaid three-month salary arrears. As at last month, the Abiola Ajimobi ledadministration was owing some of them three months while others, especially those in the state owned tertiary institutions are claiming that they only received salary in January this year. Last month workers in the state embarked on warning strike for about three weeks. Before the strike was suspended, the state branch of Nigeria Labour Congress led by Mr. Waheed Olojede and the state government signed a Memorandum of Understanding stating how the backlog of salary arrears would be paid.

The Head of Service, Mr. Soji Eniade explained that instead of the monthly allocation of N5.2 billion from the federation account, it has come down to N2.6 billion. This, he said was largely responsible for the paucity of funds in the state.

Speaking to Vanguard in a telephone interview yesterday, Olojede

agreed with the Head of Service that the shortfall in the state’s revenue was due to the cut in the monthly allocation from the federation account.

He said knowing the incapability of the state government in the area of finance; the labour union was diplomatic in resolving the issue with the government.

According to him, before the union came in, the government could not pay the salaries of workers at all and the union had to advise the government on how to pay the suffering workers.

“As at that time, about 20,000 workers in the state were yet to be paid their salaries and when we came in, the government agreed to pay January salary.

“Later, we made them to pay February. What remains now are deductions for the month of February and the government will pay that any moment from now”, he said.

Olojede further explained that the government would pay the March salary any moment from now and it will then owe April and May. He said as at the moment he was speaking with Vanguard, he could not say the exact number of workers in the state.

Internally Generated Revenue

Vanguard findings however revealed that the government has made remarkable progress in its drive to increase Internally Generated Revenue, IGR. The state’s IGR was N10.4 billion in 2014, N14.5 billion in 2012, N15.25 billion in 2013 and N16.3 billion in 2014.

All efforts to get the government’s reaction to the story were futile because former media aides and former commissioners were not ready to speak on the issue.

The state government is not in a hurry to make any appointment now.

Vanguard , however, gathered from a source that the government intentionally did not make public the population of workers in the state and the federal allocation on monthly basis.

A source who is a civil servant said they did not

have the analysis, and directed our correspondent to labour leaders who also are not willing to divulge the information.

Ebonyi

In Ebonyi, the government has raised alarm over the debt profile of the state which is estimated at over N50 billion incurred by the administration of Governor Martin Elechi.

In a chat with Vanguard, Secretary to the State Government, SSG, Prof Ben Odo stated that the debt profile included salaries owed workers and unpaid certificates generated by contractors handling projects across the state. According to him, the state government had held series of meetings with various strata of Ebonyi society, including organised labour in order to chart a new course for the payment of workers salaries and reduction of the state’s debt burden.

He expressed commitment of the present administration in the state toward improving the welfare of workers.

“We have invited the Joint Labour Team for an interaction where we presented the reality on ground regarding the huge debt profile in the state. The welfare of workers is prime to this administration and we are committed to it against all odds.

“During the interaction we told Labour to assist us in ensuring that there is a boost in our Internally Generated Revenue, IGR. We have told Labour to help us block the leakages that have kept our IGR very low in the state as we are deeply committed to the payment of workers.

“There are two categories of debts profile that make the N50 billion and it has to

do with workers salaries and non-payment of contractors. There is no money in the state presently as we are using personal resources to run the government; we presented this reality to Labour and others.”

We need bailout —APC govs

Meanwhile, Governors on the platform of All Progressives Congress, APC, have pleaded for the intervention of the Federal Government to enable them pay salaries workers and meet other necessary demands.

Rising from a meeting that lasted for over five hours, the chairman of the Governors Forum and Imo State Governor, Chief Rochas Okorcha, said the state of the economy called for urgent attention.

He said: “We the governors of the progressive party met today to review the state of the economy. We also met to review the issues as it affect our great party.

"First, on the economy of the nation, we are concerned and worried by the dwindling revenue of the states which today has affected negatively the lives of our people.

“It has become so serious and urgent actions must be taken for a bailout for the states.

States are not getting better either. We sat down to review what steps could be taken. We are calling for overhaul of the system to block all the leakages in our economy.

“We have realised that what we are going through today is as a result of the poor management of our economy in the recent time.

The APC government met a near empty treasury. This has Continues on Page 55

6—Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JUNE 17, 2015

Ondo regent, NYSC member, 3 others rescued from kidnappers' den

By Dayo Johnson

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KURE—THE combined team of security operatives, yesterday, stormed the hideout of the kidnappers of the regent of Akungba area of Ondo State, Princess Oluwatoyin Omosowon, and rescued her and four others two weeks after she was abducted.

Two of the kidnappers were arrested, while their leader, nicknamed Federal, was shot dead when he attempted to wrestle a gun from the security operatives after his arrest in their hideout.

Others rescued included a National Youth Service Corps, NYSC, member Azuibike Ijeoma, an Indian, Alex T. J., a police officer, Obute Sunday and Aliu Abduljelili.

Vanguard gathered that they were rescued by a combined team of security agents at Igbonla village in Owo Local Government Area of state.

The regent was abducted on June 2 together with three of her aides, while returning from a public function on Ikare-Owo Expressway.

The rescued NYSC member said she boarded a vehicle from Abuja to Lagos after orientation camp, not knowing it was kidnappers’ vehicle.

Speaking with newsmen after the victims met with Governor Olusegun Mimiko in Akure yesterday, Director, Department of State Services, Mr. Christian Ojobor, said all the victims, including the regent, were rescued from the kidnappers’ den at about 5a.m. by his men and officers of the Nigeria Army.

Kidnappers of Winners' pastor demand N80m ransom

By Emma Una

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ALABAR—FORTY-EIGHT hours after Pastor Seyi Adekunle, Pastor of the Winners Church, Airport branch, Calabar, was kidnapped in church, his abductors are demanding for N80 million ransom.

The kidnappers, according to a source in the church, made a phone call with the pastor’s phone at about 9p.m., Monday, to one of the pastors in the church, demanding N80 million naira before the pastor would be released.

The source said: “The people used Pastor Seyi’s phone to speak with one of our pastors at about 9p.m. on Monday and allowed the victim to speak to assure us that he was alive before one of them said if we

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AGOS—A-38-old man, Abiodun Izaka, has been arraigned before an Ikeja Magistrate’s Court, for obtaining N252,000 by false pretence for rent of a room apartment.

Izaka was alleged to have obtained the money, knowing he was not the owner, agent or

want our pastor back, we should give them N80 million.”

The source, who said they had been instructed not to talk to the press, added that no amount had been offered to the captors as the phone call was very brief.

He said meetings were going on at the top hierarchy of the church in Calabar to know what next to do.

PFN reacts

Meanwhile, the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria, PFN, in Cross River State has warned those who abducted the pastor that they would be incurring the wrath of God on themselves with their action.

The warning, which came Monday morning in a

statement by PFN Chairman, Pastor Lawrence Ekwok, and General Secretary, Apostle Frank Umo, demanded the immediate release of Pastor Adekunle.

The statement said: “The wrath of God is upon you for that act, this is more so as the pastor was kidnapped at the time he and others were praying and seeking the face of God for the good of the people of the state and country at large.”

According to PFN, the action of the kidnappers is repulsive and devilish.

Ekwok warned that any attempt by any group of people to want to make blood money by kidnapping servants of God was highly condemnable and a

RESCUED: From right— Oba Victor Kiladejo, Osemawe of Ondo Kingdom and Chairman, Ondo State Council of Obas; Christian Ojoboh, Ondo State Director of DSS; Princess Oluwatoyin Omosowon, Regent of Akungba; Governor Olusegun Mimiko; and other kidnap victims, Obute Sunday, Aliu Abduljelili, Miss Azubuike Ijeoma and Alex Thekinathu John, all kidnap victims, during the visit to the Governor after regaining freedom yesterday.

2-month-old boy, 6 others escape death on East-West Road Driver blames accident on okada rider

By Perez Brisibe

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GHELLI— A two-month old baby was among a family of six that escaped death,

Man docked for N.2m rent fraud

By Jane Echewodo

PFN kicks, invokes God's wrath

manager of the said property.

He was arraigned before Magistrate Dan Oni for obtaining money from three persons, including Elijah Jaon, Adaku Samuel and Obanife Theophilus, under false pretence Magistrate Oni granted the defendant N50,000 bail, with two sureties and adjourned the matter till July 8 for mention.

yesterday, as the vehicle they were travelling in skidded off the East-West road by Ekuigbo Junction, Ughelli North Local Government Area of Delta State, and rammed into the barricade demarcating the lanes.

The baby, identified as Samuel, was travelling in company of his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Oghenekaro Etoto, three older sisters and two elderly female relatives from Igbuku-Kwale, Ndokwa East Local Government Area of the state, where they had gone for the funeral rites of the baby’s grandfather, late Captain Stephen Etoto.

The accident, which occurred at about 5:40p.m., caused traffic

gridlock as passers-by and sympathisers helped in pushing the mangled remains of the black Subaru Impreza car with number plates, Delta AH 67 ABH, off the road.

When Vanguard visited the scene, the victims of the accident, who survived with minor scratches on their bodies, were sitting by the roadside.

Recounting his ordeal, the driver of the car, Mr. Oghenekaro Etoto, said: “I was driving on the slow lane when suddenly, an Okada rider came out of nowhere, swerved into my lane and in an attempt to avoid hitting him, I skidded off the road and rammed into the barricade.”

grievous sin which attracts the wrath of God. They called on the Nigerian Police and other security agencies to work round the clock to ensure the immediate release of Pastor Adekunle.

Police nab 25 suspected cultists near FUTO

By Chidi Nkwopara

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WERRI—IMO State Police Command has arrested no fewer than 25 suspected cultists and armed robbers, believed to be the brains behind some of the reported criminal cases in the state.

Confirming this to journalists at the Command Headquarters, Owerri, state Commissioner of Police, Mr. Austin Evabakhavbokun, said the command arrested 25 Black Axe members, whose ages ranged between 20 and 30, on Sunday, following a tip-off.

The CP, who spoke through the Police Public Relations Officer, Mr. Andrew Enwerem, a Deputy Superintendent of Police, said the suspects were arrested at Ihiagwa, in Owerri West Local Government Area of the state.

“They were nabbed after converging to hold their national conference and initiation in a bush around the Federal University of Technology, Owerri, FUTO,” the Commissioner said.

He listed the exhibits recovered from them to include one locally-made cut-to-size gun, one live carriage and some expended carriages.

One of the suspects that identified himself as Lloyd Boyd, gave his age as 21, said: “I am a civil engineering student of FUTO. Most of us were arrested in the early hours of Sunday, when we were coming out from the initiation ground in the bush.”

A native doctor, who refused to disclose his name, regretted that all he did for the smooth-running of the initiation failed.

“This is the first time I conjured what I am known for and it did not work,” the native doctor said.

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JUNE 17, 2015—7

Beninoise cooks drug family 2 weeks into employment Employer collapses in hospital, while taking husband for treatment We needed money to return to Benin Republic—SUSPECTS Profile domestic assistants before employment—POLICE

By Evelyn Usman

Arrest

Parading the suspect alongside his partner in crime before journalists yesterday at the Lagos State Command headquarters, Ikeja, the command boss, Mr. Kayode Aderanti, explained that the suspects were arrested following a petition by Fadojutimi over the incident.

He said while doctors were battling to save the lives of the victims, it was discovered that Hounkpe had sneaked out of the house.

Aderanti said: “Efforts to arrest him proved abortive initially.

But he was eventually arrested through investigation and deployment of advanced technology.

“During interrogation, he confessed to have put some substances in the food served and further confessed that David Amusu, the former cook,

By Esther Onyegbula

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AGOS—A Beninoise cook, yesterday, narrated how he drugged his boss’ family two months ago, in Lekki area of Lagos, to have free access into their inner rooms to steal jewellery and cash.

The incident, which happened two weeks after he was employed by one Omowunmi Fadojutimi, would have reportedly snuffed life out of her, her husband and two domestic workers but for providence.

The 34-year-old suspect, Victor Hounkpe, however, disclosed that the substance was given to him by David Amusu, who is also a Beninoise and former cook to the victim.

On April 22, Hounkpe was reportedly instructed to prepare vegetable soup by his unsuspecting boss. But he reportedly put a substance into the soup and served everyone.

Trouble started for the family after Fadojutimi’s husband, Mr. Nwogu Chinaka, developed severe stomach ache and reportedly collapsed. While his distraught wife was rushing him to a nearby hospital amidst severe pains, she also reportedly started feeling severe pains in the stomach, resulting in her collapsing in front of the hospital’s gate.

Shortly after, two domestic staff said to have also eaten from the vegetable soup were also rushed to same hospital, where it was discovered that their food had been poisoned.

2 guards rob filling station under their watch

POISON: The suspects, Victor Hounkpe (right) and David Amusu. who recommended him to the complainant, gave him the substance and directed him on how to administer it.

“He admitted that their intention was to gain unfettered access into the inner rooms and rob the complainant after they must have passed out.”

Hounkpe said he was promised a part of the loot that would have been got from the robbery, that his role was to open the door for David Amusu and other members of the robbery gang that fateful day.

According to him, “I put the substance into their food and it was given to me by David. He told me the drug was a sleeping tablet and that it would put them all to sleep so that they would gain easy access into the house.

“But I took to my heels when the gate man told me that the doctors said they were suffering from food poisoning.”

I ground 10 tablets of Super Appetite— AMUSU

On his part, 34-year-old David Amusu, claimed the idea was sold to him by Victor Hounkpe.

His words: “I left my former boss because I was not feeling well. I have recommended four cooks to her but she kept saying they were not good.

“Hounkpe was the last person

I introduced to her. But when he got the job, he called me and said we should rob the family, that they were rich. He asked if I had any sleeping tablet that would put them to sleep.

“So I ground 10 tablets of Super Appetite and gave it to him. Our intention was never

to kill anyone but to rob and leave for Benin Republic, where we intend to establish our business.”

He advised members of the public to avail themselves of the services of the command in profiling domestic assistance before employing them.

AGOS—HELL was let loose, Monday, when two young men employed as security guards for MFE Gas Station, located along Iju Road, Ifako-Agege, Lagos, mobilised their gang members from Okene, Kogi State, to rob the gas station they were employed to protect.

The suspects, identified as Aliu Bello and Rafiu Rasaq, allegedly led three others to attack the station just one month after they were employed.

Vanguard learned that the gang, which stormed the filling station at 8:30p.m., killed one Daramola Yemisi, a car dealer, who was still in the premises at the time.

It was gathered that on the day of the incident, the gas station had made huge sales as it was the only station that sold fuel in the area.

After sharing their loot, Aliu and Rafiu travelled to Ibadan, while the other three went back to Okene.

State Criminal Investigations and Intelligence Department, SCIID, began to investigate the case, arrested Aliu and Rafiu, while efforts are on to apprehend the others.

Kwara NYSC member's suspected killer caught, docked

By Demola Akinyemi

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LORIN—KWARA State Police Command, yesterday, arraigned Abdullahi Tanko, the suspected killer of late Miss Idowu Yetunde Shukurat, a female National Youth Service Corps, NYSC, member, before Magistrate K. A. Yahyah in Ilorin.

The remains of late Miss Idowu Yetunde Shukura was found on the street in GRA, Ilorin, in May, having earlier left a shopping mall.

Angered by the mysterious death of the corps member, the Director General of NYSC in Abuja sent a delegation to Ilorin, the state capital, to meet the stakeholders, including the police, Emir of Ilorin, Alhaji Sulu Gambari, and the state

government, among others, on the need for synergy to unravel the mystery behind the death of the youth corps member so as to serve as deterrent to others.

Police Prosecutor, Inspector Matthew Ologbon, told the court that investigation revealed that Tanko and his collaborators, now at large, conspired to trick the deceased from her residence at Saw Mill area to Shoprite area, where she was killed.

The prosecutor also told the court that the suspect and his gang had raped the deceased inside their car at Tanko’s residence, Plot 6, Simeon Okedi Str., by Ukpabi Asika Road Junction, GRA, and took her body to a nearby junction.

He added that the police

located Tanko’s house through the traces of bloodstains, prompted his arrest.

Besides, the prosecutor told the court that the mobile phone of the deceased, with number 08132188661,was found with Tanko at the time he was arrested.

He added that efforts were ongoing to arrest Tanko’s gang members.

The prosecutor urged the court to remand the suspected killer in prison custody until other suspects were arrested and completion of police investigation.

The Presiding Magistrate ordered that the accused, Tanko, 51, be remanded in Mandala Federal Prison until the case resumed for further hearing on August 10.

8—Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JUNE 17, 2015

LAW WEEK: From left; Mrs. Joy Ezeigbo, Deputy National President, FIDA Nigeria, Mr. Monday Ubani, former Chairman, NBA, Ikeja branch, Dr. Joe Okei-Odumakin, keynote speaker, Mr. Dele Adesina, SAN, chairman of the occasion and Mrs. Adejumoke Olagbegi-Adelabu, guest speaker, during the Women in Power and Decision Making to Mark the 2015 International Law Week, organized by Federation of International Women Lawyers, FIDA in Lagos, yesterday.

Strong men have destroyed instititutions in Nigeria —BUHARI Says ‘I joined politics to keep Nigeria one'

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By Ben Agande

BUJA—PRESIDENT Muhammadu Buhari regretted yesterday that those he regarded as ‘strong men’ have destroyed institutions in Nigeria but promised that his administration would do its best to ensure that institutions bequeathed to the country by the British colonial leaders were restored.

The President who spoke in Johannesburg, South Africa while meeting with the Nigerian community there after the African Union meeting also said in spite of what he described as ‘crazy people’ who are trying to ensure the breakup of the country for selfish reasons, Nigeria will remain an indivisible country.

His words: “We have a system in Nigeria. No matter what you say about the British colonialists, they built institutions for us, unfortunately we have destroyed those institutions.

Obama's first trip to Africa

“When US President, Barack Obama came to Africa which was his first trip, he went to Ghana, but he refused to come to Nigeria.

And he said Africa, or developing countries should have strong institutions instead of strong leaders. If he had come to Nigeria, he would have known that it was strong Nigerians that destroyed the strong institutions. And paradoxically, maybe another strong Nigerian will come and revive the institutions and make them strong again.”

President Buhari stated that though he would have wished to be president at a much younger age, he would still do his best to ensure that the country moves

forward.

Speaking on why he joined politics, President Buhari said he wanted to meet the expectations of the teeming masses of the people who had continued to troop to him to request for one favour or the other.

He said: “I was afraid Nigeria might be like Somalia.

The Somalis are the same people, they are all Muslims but because the elite are selfcentered, they have succeeded in making Somalia a war-torn country for the last 20 years.

“For that reason I said Nigerians are much more vulnerable, we have so many nationalities no matter how you look at it, Hausa-Fulanis, Kanuris, Ishekiris, Yorubas, Igbos. We are actually people of different cultures but since 1914, we have merged inspite of religion and culture, married across, produced children and only crazy people can think of balkanising Nigeria. But we are not short of crazy people and that is the frightening part of it.

Joining partisan politics

“In April 2002 when I decided to join Nigeria’s partisan politics, I invited a few people to my ward in Daura, where I told them that I myself and those who knew me in the military would not have believed that I will join Nigerian partisan politics. But there I found myself in it.

Two fundamental reasons were responsible for my entry into politics. After being a governor of now six states Yobe, Borno, Bauchi,

Adamawa, Taraba, and Gombe, I was Petroleum Minister under Obasanjo for three and half years, then Head of State, then chairman of PTF. And the most irritating thing was that of all these positions I have held before, people didn’t remember, they only remember my days at PTF because I bought bedsheets and put in hospitals and some x-ray machines and some buses for the schools. They remember me more as chairman of PTF than as a former Head of State, than a governor or a minister of petroleum, in spite of the fact that it was during my time that I signed the contract for Warri refinery, and Kaduna refinery.

More than 3,500 pipes were laid with more than 20 depots, we got the tankers off the road, we saved lives, we saved fuel, we save the road itself. But from 1999 till date PDP has messed it up. That is why Nigerians decided to vote me.

My election

“My election is a proof that Nigerians know what they want once they make up their minds.

You can give them the money, some refused to take it, some took it and said it is our money and they did exactly what they wanted to do.

“So why did I join partisan politics in spite of that? When I went home people knew that I have no money and I thought they will leave me alone, but they didn’t, they were coming to me asking me to do this and do that.

And I found that the only way I could do it is by joining partisan politics. And maybe if I speak even if I’m not a member at any level, people will listen to me.

“But then I joined the opposition, I joined APP (All Peoples Party). I didn’t want any political office at first, if I wanted I would have joined PDP then and maybe I would have got to where I am much earlier. But then I wanted to go with the opposition.

“The second reason I had that finally convinced me to join partisan politics, was what happened to Soviet Union.

“You know the Soviet Union was an empire in the 20th century that collapsed without a shot being fired. Everybody went home, there was confusion.

Now there are 18 countries out of the old Soviet Union. They were more advanced than the western countries in science because they wanted to go to space specifically in 1957, and they had more nuclear war heads and systems than NATO. “And that was when I decided and I believed that the best form of governance is multi-party democracy with a big caveat, election must be free and fair.

And that was why I was in trouble.

I moved from APP to ANPP to CPC, eventually to APC. “I contested in 2003, spent 30 months in the courts and ended up in Supreme Court. I contested in 2007, spent about 20 months in the courts, ended up in Supreme Court. I contested in 2011 and spent about eight months in the courts, all ending up in Supreme Court.

Why was I doing it? I know the reason. I believed in it!

“In all those cases from High Court to Supreme Court, we sent people to the field, they found out why the elections were not fair, they came to the court and gave evidence but in the end,

they will say oh well! There were some flaws in the elections but PDP has won. At last the PDP has lost!

“I have gone to this extent to tell you that when you make up your mind about anything positive, don’t be discouraged! Keep on trying!

“How I wish I became head of state when I was a governor, just a few years as a youngman, now at 72, there is a limit to what I can do. I was in the war front for 30 months during our civil war, I lost a lot of loyal people to me, I lost a relative, a lot of Nigerians died too. So nobody should come now and tell us rubbish! We are going to remain one country. God has given us another opportunity to reorganise this country.

Those who work hard, the society will pay them back” he said.

While enjoining Nigerians in South Africa to be good ambassadors of Nigeria, he promised that he will discuss with President Zuma to return Nigeria’s money that was seized from South Africa during the Jonathan administration.

“I’m told there are 83 Nigerians in prison, I don’t know what they have done but I spoke to the President of South Africa this afternoon.

He wants to come to Nigeria.

There are issues he knows we will like to talk about, I hope our ambassador will send a comprehensive report about the court cases, and about those who lost properties during the disturbances. And at that time I will attempt to ask him about our $9.7 million which was not correctly transfered.

World leaders ready to assist Nigeria

President Buhari also said he has spoken with world leaders and they are ready to assist Nigeria tackle the insurgency problems in the country.

“I met Obama, President of France, Chancellor of Germany, Prime Minister of Japan and members of the G7, they invited me and I went. They are all anxious to help Nigeria to tackle insecurity especially in the north east “We are getting our facts together, our logistics requirements and so on. For the north east, the Lake Chad Basin Commission - Nigeria, Chad, Niger, Cameroon and Benin, have tried to come in.

We have developed headquarters in Njamena, a Nigerian General is heading it, we have dedicated a number of troops ourselves and the location where they will be and by the end of July they will be in place and then we will make sure that since Niigeria was a battle ground we eliminate Boko Haram” he said.

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JUNE 17, 2015 — 9

NASS: Resolve crisis now, Abdulsalami

c‘ttee warns Senators

By Soni Daniel, Regional Editor, North

A

BUJA—THE National Peace Committee, headed by former Head of State, Gen. Abdulsalam Abubakar, yesterday, joined issues with the Senate for trying to rock the boat in its effort in selecting its principal officers.

The committee therefore, warned the Senators to quickly retrace their steps, toe the path of peace and put their house in order for the overall interest of the nation and its people.

It said: “Let the Senators very quickly restore the order, dignity and integrity that are the hallmarks of the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. We must have all arms on deck so that we can quickly rout Boko Haram, restore law and order and proceed with the much-desired change of cleansing the Augean stable and delivering quality services to the Nigerian people.”

The committee promoted peace among the different political parties prior to the elections and has Bishop Matthew Kukah as convener.

In a statement jointly signed by the former Head of State, Abdulsalami Abubakar and Bishop Kukah, the committee said it was shocked at the level of action of the Senators, who turned a simple inauguration into a vicious war that threatens to undermine the moral authority and efficacy of the Senate.

The committee described the action of the Senators as ugly and unacceptable to Nigerians, arguing that it neither dignifies the Senate nor honours Nigerians who voted for them.

The committee said that while it understands the anxiety of the APC and its members in the Senate, it is at best a family fight which should not be allowed to assume a public spectacle.

Reaping the fruits of change

Similarly, the committee said the APC should work towards making Nigerians to reap the fruits of the change it promised them by showing personal and institutional acts of patriotism, altruism, discipline, decorum, maturity, sacrifice and decency.

The committee noted: “This is why we have watched with some measure of sorrow, the unacceptable attitude of the members of the highest Legislative body, the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

“What was supposed to have been a routine process of

inaugurating the principal officers is gradually turning into a vicious internecine duel that threatens to undermine the moral authority and efficacy of that important body.

“The story of the process leading to the elections of the principal officers in that August body week is well known to all Nigerians. Given the maturity, track record and experience of the body, we wonder why a routine process has turned into an ugly and selfish dogfight. This is unacceptable to Nigerians. It neither dignifies the Senate nor does it honour what Nigerians voted for. It is not the way to thank God for what He has done to those who were lucky to be elected to that high office, nor does it honour what He has done

to our country.

Lauds Reps

“We commend the members of the Lower House who have successfully concluded their process and are positioned to face their challenge of Law making. We therefore call on the members of the Senate to very quickly put their house in order.

“We appreciate the anxieties of both the leaders of the All Progressive Congress, APC, and their members in the Senate. But this is at best a family quarrel that should not become a public spectacle.

APC's challenge

“The challenge now is for the APC to justify the confidence that Nigerians placed on them when they bought into their mantra of

change. We expect this change to be marked by personal and institutional acts of patriotism, altruism, discipline, decorum, maturity, sacrifice and decency.

“Finally, we salute the President for upholding his position and philosophy of being for all and belonging to none. Let the Senators very quickly restore the order, dignity and integrity that are the hallmarks of the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

“We must have all arms on deck so that we can quickly rout Boko Haram, restore law and order and proceed with the much-desired change of cleansing the Augean stable and delivering quality services to the Nigerian people."

VISIT: President Muhammadu Buhari (right) and former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, during a courtesy visit by the former vice president in Abuja, yesterday.

Court orders First Bank to disclose details of loan to NCAA BULLET PROOF CARS:

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AGOS—LAGOS, Justice Mohammed Yunusa of a Federal High Court, Lagos on Tuesday ordered First Bank of Nigeria Plc., to disclose details of a loan facility it granted to the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, NCAA, over alleged purchase of some bullet proof cars.

The court also gave an order of mandamus compelling First Bank to grant access to or make available to Enough Is Enough, EIE, Nigeria, the information it requested, in a letter dated October 30, 2013.

The judge issued the order while delivering judgment in a suit instituted by EIE Nigeria against the bank over its refusal to disclose the information to the

organisation.

EIE Nigeria had written an application under the Freedom of Information, FOI, Act on Oct. 30, 2013, requesting the disclosure of such information.

The suit was filed on behalf of EIE on January 9, 2014 by Mr Ayodeji Acquah of Media Rights Agenda’s Network of Freedom of Information lawyers.

In that suit, EIE is praying the court for the declaration that the failure and/or refusal of the First Bank to grant access to or make available to EIE the information it requested in its letter amounts to wrongful denial of access to information under Section 7(5) of the FOI Act.

It is also praying for a declaration that the failure and/or refusal by the First Bank to give EIE a written notice that access to all or part of the information requested would not be granted and stating reasons for the denial and the section of the FOI Act upon which the bank relied upon in denying EIE access such information, amounts to a flagrant violation of Section 4(b), 7(1), (2), and (3) of the FOI Act and is therefore wrongful.

However, EIE had obtained a similar order in March 2015, where Coscharis Motors Ltd., was directed to disclose details of the transaction.

XENOPHOBIA:

Nigerian Union reports new attacks in S-Africa

P

RETORIA—THE Nigerian Union in South Africa on Tuesday reported new xenophobic attacks against Nigerians and other foreigners in Sternkopf, Namakwa Municipality, Northern Cape Province of South Africa.

The President of the Union, Mr Ikechukwu Anyene, told the News Agency of Nigeria, NAN, in Pretoria, South Africa, that the Northern Cape Province Chapter Chairman of the Union reported the incident to its National Secretariat. ‘’The National Secretariat of Nigeria Union has received report of xenophobic attacks from Mr Kennedy Osagie, the Northern Cape Province chapter chairman of the union. ‘’The report indicated that South Africans attacked Nigerians.

“Two cars belonging to Nigerians have been reportedly burnt and they have been going from house to house looting and destroying their property,” he said.

Anyene, who said that there were 20 Nigerians living in the affected community, added that none had been reported dead in the incident. ‘’Six Nigerians have taken refuge with their families in nearby SpringBok community and they do not know the whereabouts of the other Nigerians,” he said.

He said that the Union had reported the incident to the Nigerian Consulate in South Africa.

Nigeria’s Consul General in South Africa, Ambassador Uche AjuluOkeke, confirmed the incident, saying the mission had commenced investigations. ‘’The Nigerian Consulate in South Africa has received report of new xenophobic attacks in Northern Cape Province of South Africa. ‘’The mission has commenced investigation into the incident and will ensure that Nigerians are safe in South Africa,” she said.

10—Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JUNE 17, 2015

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Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JUNE 17, 2015 — 11

Rep cries out over cult killings in Ijebuland

By Daud Olatunji

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BEOKUTA—A member of the House of Representatives representing Ijebu North,Ijebu-East and OgunWaterside in the National Assembly, Segun Adekoya, has lamented the incessant killings by rival cult groups in Ago-Iwoye and the Ijebu axis.

Adekoya yesterday said two persons were killed on Sunday and Monday evening in different parts of the town.

The lawmaker was reacting to the violence that broke out between two rival cult groups in the university town of Ago-Iwoye on Sunday which claimed two lives within two days.

This development happened about 72 hours after the state Police Command said it arrested no fewer than 30 suspected cultists terrorising people in the Ijebu axis of the state.

The lawmaker said he had informed the State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Valentine Ntomchukwu and the Area Commander of AgoIwoye about the two incidents.

He charged all security agencies to brace up and arrest any cult member disturbing the peace of the area in particular and the state in general.

Adekoya said,” The activities of rival cult groups in Ago-Iwoye

in recent times are heart-rendering.

A suspected member of a particular cult group was cut down on Sunday while another one’s life was equally cut short in retaliation for the previous day’s incident.

“These killings are worrisome.

The people of Ago-Iwoye and the

Ijebu axis are living in fear.

We appeal to the police and other security agencies in the state to urgently come to the aid of the people of Ago-Iwoye and the Ijebu axis and protect us from the menace of these cult and murderous groups.”

NIGERIAN IDOL WINNER VISITS VANGUARD: From left; Mr Olunrombi Olakunle Koya, Winner of the Nigerian Idol TV Reality Show; Mrs Laju Iren of Vanguard newspaper; Mr Ayo Onikoyi, Entertainment Editor, Vanguard; Miss Ogunmoyero Modoluwamu, 1st Runner-up, Nigerian Idol and Mr Ese-Amadasun Imuetiyan, 2nd Runner-up, Nigerian Idol, during the Nigerian Idol Winners team's visit to Vanguard, yesterday. Photo by Diran Oshe.

NUPENG decries spate of kidnappings in Nigeria

By Victor Ahiuma-Young

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AGOS—NIGERIA Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers, NUPENG,

yesterday in Lagos expressed concerns over increasing cases of kidnapping of innocent Nigerians across the country, condemning recent

UNPAID SALARIES: Osun APC calls for understanding at Ramadan

By Gbenga Olarinoye

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SOGBO—THE All Progressives Congress APC in Osun state has appealed to the people of the state to exercise maximum restraint, perseverance and understanding in the face of the financial adversity, which is leading the state into the Holly month of Ramadan.

The party made this call in a statement issued by its director of publicity, research and strategy, Mr Kunle Oyatomi in Osogbo yesterday.

According to the APC, Nigeria is going through a financial tragedy which was avoidable, but had befallen the country owing to what the party described as fundamentally due to human selfishness and careless, including gross mismanagement of the country ’s financial resources.

His words: “In times like this, when we face a collective challenge approaching the Ramadan our faith must not waver, our restraint must not snap and our perseverance should hold firm so that we can triumph over this tragedy

within the fasting period.”

“We give assurances to government workers and the people who depend on government that this crisis of non-payment of salaries and other entitlements will very soon be resolved.”

“These cynical people, are empty and incapable of even suggesting a solution; but are out there only to sow discord and pry on others’ misfortune to gloat in mockery.

“But as Ramadan approaches, our spiritual self-restraint should take control of our emotional and financial strains; and Osun should demonstrate that their religious faith is solid and capable of withstanding what we are going through.

“It is only through this unflinching demonstration of active faith that Allah will grant us relief and victory over our problems,” the party encouraged the people of Osun.

The APC reinstated that governor Rauf Aregbesola was working so hard and relentlessly to end this crisis, and, “sooner than later, the nonpayment of salaries will be a thing of the past’’.

abduction of a News Agency of Nigeria, NAN, Correspondent in Imo State.

While calling on the appropriate security agencies to be up and doing to stem the tide, the union listed recent kidnappings of the Regent of Akungba, a Kogi State High Court Judge, a Kogi State serving Commissioner, a NAN Correspondent in Imo State, Ijaw Youth Council President’s junior brother, Eradiri, former President Goodluck Jonathan’s two maternal cousins, a Catholic priest in Ekiti State and a living Faith Pastor in Calabar as one, too many.

NUPENG in the a statement by its President, Mr. Igwe Achse; “Condemns in its entirety the kidnappings and calls for a more scientific and technological approach towards arresting the kidnappers. ‘’Government must put up strategies to stop the incessant kidnappings, so that it will not be institutionalized. The art of kidnapping is given the nation a bad image in the comity of nations and tends to scare foreign investors that are needed at this point in time to help resuscitate our battered economy.”

The union also wants the Buhari administration to pursue the cancer of unemployment that has eaten deep into our social fabric. It stresses that if ablebodied men are gainfully employed and kept busy, kidnappings will stop. ‘’Some of the ways are through re-indusrialisation, reviving moribund industries and establishing new ones to absorb the army of unemployed. The

power sector must be made to work 24 hours for these industries to come back on stream. ‘’NUPENG called for special training, especially overseas for the crack team in the Antiterrorism and kidnapping section of the police, so that they will be adequately trained on methods to track the kidnappers, who live with us and are no spirits,” the union said.

Fayemi’s govt lauded for brick firm’s rehabilitation

T

HE former l a w m a k e r representing Ekiti North Federal Constituency I in the House of Representatives, Bimbo Daramola, has commended former Governor Kayode Fayemi, for fulfilling his dream to resuscitate the abandoned Ire Burnt Bricks, saying that he remained grateful to the former governor as the company rolled out its first products yesterday to the joy of management staff and residents.

He said the nay-sayers, both within the state and outside, who doubted “our sincerity to get the company back on stream” should now go to the company to see the product of vision and commitment.

Also, All Progressives Congress in Ekiti State in a statement by its Publicity Secretary, Taiwo Olatubosun, congratulated Fayemi and Ekiti people, for the resumption of production in the company.

He said Fayemi’s dynamism and commitment to the industrialisation of Ekiti State had resulted in the great feat. He urged the new administration to emulate the former governor by making industrialisation one of his development agenda.

Youths commend Kashamu’s withdrawal of suit against Obasanjo

By Etop Ekanem

A

group, Ogun Youth Alliance (OYA) has hailed the decision of the lawmaker representing Ogun East senatorial district, Senator Buruji Kashamu to withdrawn a N20.1bn libel suit he instituted against former President Olusegun Obasanjo before a Federal Capital Territory court in Abuja.

Kashamu had on February 6, 2014, sued Obasanjo for “maliciously and recklessly” publishing a letter titled, ‘Before it is too late,’ addressed to former President Goodluck Jonathan in December 2013.

The senator had asked the court to award him N20bn as aggravated and exemplary damages, and another N100m against Obasanjo for maliciously portraying him as a fugitive wanted for drug- related offences

in the United States of America.

The presiding judge in the matter, Justice Valentine Ashi, struck out the suit on May 26, 2015, following the notice of discontinuance of the suit filed by the plaintiff (Kashamu).

In a statement signed by the group’s coordinator, Mr Oluremi Akinola, in Abeokuta, yesterday, the group said the backing down on the suit by Kashamu will is a path to peace and settlement of rift between him (Kashamu) and his estranged political leader, Obasanjo.

“We want to commend the backtracking of Senator Kashamu on the N20.1 billion libel suits he instituted against our father and former President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo. This singular act has showcased the lawmaker as a forerunner of peace and not one given to vindictive acts. He has shown that it is better to jaw jaw than war war''.

12—Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, June 17, 2015

Edo JUSUN strike: Industrial Court restrains gov, JSC from sacking members

By Gabriel Enogholase

agents or privies from terminating the appointments and advertising the positions of JUSUN members.

The court also barred the respondents from filling the positions of the workers on account of the ongoing industrial action embarked upon by members of JUSUN, pending the hearing and determination of the suit.

“It is further ordered that the 1st, 2nd and 3rd defendants are hereby restrained from carrying out anything that will lead to the termination of the appointment of the claimant/ applicant's members or advertise their position and or fill same on account of the ongoing industrial action embarked upon by the claimant/applicant’s members pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice for interlocutory injunction filed in this case,” the judge said.

Justice Ubaka adjourned

B

ENIN—THE National Industrial Court sitting in Akure, Ondo State, has restrained the governor of Edo State, Mr Adams Oshiomhole, the state Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice and the Edo State Judicial Service Commission from terminating the appointments of members of the Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria, JUSUN, who have been on strike since January 2015, pending determination of the motion on notice in their suit.

Also restrained were the Attorney General of the Federation and the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, who are also respondents in the suit

by Uyi Ogieriakhi, leader of JUSUN in Edo State.

After hearings from counsel for the claimant, trial judge, Justice A. Ubaka, restrained the respondents, whether by themselves, their servants,

further hearing on the case till June 23, 2015.

It will be recalled that the Edo State Judicial Service

B

ENIN—EDO State All Progressives Congress, APC, has denied the allegation by Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, that the Governor Adams O s h i o m h o l e administration has collected over N200 billion meant for local governments in the state from the Federation Account.

Similarly, the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria, ALGON, Edo State chapter, also traced the inability of some councils in the state to pay salaries of their workers to the alleged mismanagement of the economy by the immediate past Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, led Federal Government and not the administration of Governor Adams Oshiomhole.

A statement by Prince Kassim Afegbua, Special Adviser, Media and Public Affairs to the governor, said that rather than criticise the local government administrations, Edo PDP chairman, Chief Dan Orbih, ought to cover his face in shame at the outright plundering of the economy by the last PDP-led government at the federal level to the extent that even the Federal Government could not pay salaries of

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workers.

He said: “For some time now, we have resolved to ignore Orbih and his PDP co-travellers, not because of his obstinacy but for his deliberate attempt to distract government in the discharge of its statutory responsibilities to the people. While we are of the opinion that constructive criticism is an integral part of the democratic order, doing so with ignorance creates more problem of misinformation for the

larger society.

“The local government as the third tier of government has its own statutory functions expressly spelt out in the Fourth Schedule of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended). Part of those functions include payment of primary school teachers, payment of traditional rulers salaries, payment of pensioners in the local government, maintenance of vocational centres and adult education."

Gov Emmanuel to auction A-Ibom's private jet

By Tom Moses

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YO—AKWA Ibom State governor, Mr Udom Emmanuel, is not finding private jet ownership a worthwhile investment.

Vanguard gathered in Uyo, yesterday, that in view of Governor Emmanuel’s unfavourable disposition to the private jet acquired by his predecessor, Chief Godswill Akpabio to ease his movement outside the state, he is contemplating disposing of the aircraft.

Since his inauguration on May 29, 2015, Emmanuel is said to prefer travelling by chartered helicopters which he considers lessostentatious.

An Akwa Ibom State

judiciary workers in the state to report for duty on June 10, 2015 or face dismissal.

DINNER: L-R: Chairman, Seplat Petroleum, Dr. Ambrose Orjaiko and Managing Director/ CEO, Fidelity Bank Plc., Nnamdi Okonkwo, at a dinner in honour of Dr. Nnaeto Orazulike on his conferment of honorary doctorate degree by the University of Port Harcourt.

Oshiomhole never collected council funds —Edo APC, ALGON

By Simon Ebegbulem & Gabriel Enogholase

Commission had, in a statement last week by Mr. Issac Sanu, Secretary of the Commission, ordered all

Government House source told Vanguard that the governor was shopping for buyers of the jet to relieve him of the burden of fuelling and maintaining it.

The source could, however, not disclose the cost of fuelling and maintaining the jet.

“Governor Emmanuel is not comfortable with the idea of sustaining the ownership of the jet and is contemplating selling it, more so, because of the slash in states' allocations and the high cost of aviation fuel,” the source said.

Efforts to speak with Mr. Ekerete Udo, Senior Special Assistant,Media/ Chief Press Secretary to the governor was unsuccessful as he did not pick his calls.

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JUNE 17, 2015—13

Crisis in Bayelsa APC over expelled members

By Samuel Oyadongha

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ENAGOA—THE nine members of All Progressives Congress, APC, in Bayelsa State, led by Chief Richard Kpodo, a former Security Adviser to the state g o v e r n m e n t , expelled or suspended, yesterday, described as “laughable,” the decision by the party to sanction them over alleged anti- party activities.

The embattled APC members said the purported sanction without proper trial was a deliberate act by some persons to cause an implosion within the party in the state.

The party had on Monday, expelled two and suspended seven of its leaders over alleged anti-party activities.

The two expelled members are former Chairman of defunct New Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Chief Perekeme Kpodo and a stalwart of the party, Mr. Sunday Oputu.

Those suspended are Mr. Godwin Sid, Fred Akamu, Rosemary Okeazi, Chief Livinus Opratapu, Harrow Zuokumo, Enoch Koripamo and Christopher Abariowei.

Secretary of APC in the state, Mr. Marlin Daniel, said the duo of Kpodo and Oputu had since left the APC to join the opposition.

But Kpodo, one of the

founding fathers of the party in the state, said that the expulsion order, alongside the suspension of nine other party members, will be challenged with a petition filed before the national leadership of the party.

“The decision by the few officials of the party, led by a

member of the Board of Trustees of the party, is illegal, unconstitutional and a deliberate action meant to cause an implosion within the party,” he said.

Kpodo said that if the APC failed to put its house in order, it should forget about winning the 2016 governorship election

in the state.

“It is funny that party men cannot come together and discuss the way forward for the party. This is the result you will get. They did not follow the party's constitution and set up an avenue for fair hearing. It is criminal,” he added.

CONFERENCE: From left, Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State; Vice Chancellor, Rivers State University of Science and Technology, Prof. Barineme Fakae; Secretary-General, Association of Vice Chancellors of Nigerian Universities, Prof. Michael Faborode and Director-General,, National Information Technology Development Agency, Mr Peter Jack, at the 30th conference of Association of Vice Chancellors of Nigerian Universities, in Port Harcourt, yesterday.

Unpaid salaries: Rivers govt to verify conflicting claims by workers

By Jimitota Onoyume

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ORT HARCOURT— RIVERS State Government has said it will verify various claims of unpaid salaries by workers in the state so as to ascertain the true picture of things.

Special Adviser to the Governor on Media and Publicity, Mr Opubo NkoTariah, who spoke to Vanguard on the issue of unpaid salaries, said some civil servants claimed that they had not been paid for about four months while others in the health sector said they were being owed over nine months salaries.

Nko-Tariah, who assured that workers in the state were going to enjoy attention of the new government in the state, said their welfare was of great concern to the government.

He said that Governor Nyesom Wike inherited an empty treasury from

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the previous administration, adding that henceforth, workers will receive their salaries regularly.

He said: “The governor met an empty treasury.

Even to kick-start projects,

he had to apply to the state House of Assembly for permission to obtain loan. Luckily, his prayers were granted. He is actually on top of the situation. By the grace of God workers' salaries are

going to be paid. What I can’t say is when. Some are owed four months, some 10 months. I can’t say when he will clear the arrears. All I can say is that from now on, the situation will change,

Ogogoro: Death toll now 70 in Rivers

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By Jimitota Onoyume

ORT HARCOURT — DEATH toll from the poisonous local gin otherwise called Ogogoro has risen to 70 in Rivers State.

Chairman of an adhoc committee set up by the Rivers State House of Assembly to resolve the issue, Michael Chinda, disclosed this on the floor of the House yesterday, saying one of those who died in Ahoada area of the state on Monday deliberately consumed the poisonous gin after he told friends around that it was not going to harm him.

The committee said out of 80 cases that were affected by the gin, 70 had so far passed on as at the last count on Monday.

He said findings by his committee showed that methanol was responsible for the death.

According to him, some producers of the local gin deliberately added methanol instead of ethanol to the gin.

Twenty nine of the lawmakers later gave their support to the House to call on the government to upgrade the existing public laboratory of the Ministry of Health so it

test chemicals coming into the state for production of consumables to prevent poisonous ones going into circulation.

The Speaker also called on the Ministry of Health to collaborate with security agencies to ensure those behind circulation of the poisonous chemicals in the local gin were arrested and prosecuted accordingly.

He said the House would also encourage sensitization of citizens to comply with the ban on consumption of local gin by the federal government.

there will be a remarkable improvement in the welfare of workers."

Navy destroys 500,000 ltrs of stolen crude oil in Delta

W

By Egufe Yafugborhi

ARRI—THE Nigerian Navy, yesterday, destroyed over 500,000 liters of suspected stolen crude oil and illegally refined products during its antioil theft raid on suspected illicit refineries around Oteghele community, Warri South-West Local Government Area, Delta state.

In an on the spot operation briefing, the Commander, Nigerian Navy Ship, NNS Delta, in Warri, Commander Aliyu Sule, attributed the persistent oil and pipeline crimes to lack of lawful jobs for youths and the growing wrong notion by some individuals that they reserve the right to tamper with oil facilities sited in their localities.

Sule said: "The latest onslaught is just a warning signal. Since I assumed command of NNS Delta, people thought there was a lull in operations, but there won’t be any vacuum. We just have to be sure of our sources before we carry out any operation.

“Being unemployed does not give anyone reason to go about stealing. I urge youths in the area to desist from harvesting pipelines."

14—Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JUNE 17, 2015

Taylor appointed secretary general of CTO

By Emeka Aginam

N

I G E R I A’ S FOOTPRINT in the global information communication eco-system has been growing from strength to strength.

Just yesterday, Shola Taylor, a Nigerian Te l e c o m m u n i c a t i o n Engineer was appointed the secretary-general of the Commonwealth Telecommunications Organisation, CTO, an international treaty o r g a n i z a t i o n headquartered in London.

With this appointment, Taylor is expected to start in his new role on September 1`7, this finnancial year.

Taylor is currently the chief executive officer of Kemilinks International, a global ICTs consultancy firm based in Lagos.

His appointment is expected to bring to the CTO over 35 years of global experience in ICTs. “I am both excited and honoured at being appointed as secretarygeneral of the CTO. Given the impact of ICTs in our lives and the enormous opportunities for the socioeconomic development of nations, I have accepted this challenge to make a positive contribution towards improved access to ICTs for all," Taylor said.

NERC sanctions Abuja DISCO over excess billing of customers

By Michael Eboh & Chris Ochayi

its customers bills issued in September 2014 and issued it as bills for October 2014, without evidence of a commensurate IGERIAN ELECTRICITY increase in electricity supply within the same period.

Regulatory Commission, yesterday, ordered Abuja Electricity It also accused AEDC of failing to forward report of the estimated Distribution Company (AEDC) to refund excess monies from billings it issued in every billing circle as provided under section 9 overbilling between the months of October and December 2014 to its of the Methodology for Estimated Billing Regulation 2012, in the customers.

NERC, in a statement in Abuja, format prescribed by the regulation. directed AEDC, to with immediate NERC, therefore, investigated AEDC for arbitrary imposition of random figures on clusters of its customers ranging from 18 to 28 per cent between October and December 2014 and in some cases 1,100 per cent increase, which resulted in spike in customers’ bills as against the provisions of the Methodology for Estimated Billing Regulations 2012.

To this end, NERC said, “AEDC shall with immediate effect from the date of this Order commence refund through energy credit of all excess charges billed its customers as a direct consequence of the adjustments” in estimated methodology in some of the company’s business units.

“AEDC is to within five days notify the affected customers of the overbilling in writing in INSPECTION: From left, Engr. Mohammed Sani, Zonal Cordinator (North/West 1) of the Federal Road Maintenance Agency, FERMA; line with Regulation 9 (7) Managing Director of FERMA, Engr. Gabriel Amuchi, and Engr. of the Nigerian Electricity Nyihemba Daniel, Federal Road Maintenance Engineer, FRMS, during Regulatory Commission’s the inspection of road wash-outs on Zaria Bridge, Kankia Dutsema Road, Meter Reading, Billing, Cash Collections and and Tasha Bala Bridge in Katsina/Kano road, yesterday.

Credit Management for

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effect from the date of this Order, commence the refund through energy credit of all excess charges billed its customers as a direct consequence of the adjustments in estimated methodology in some of the company’s business units.

According to NERC, this is following earlier notice of enforcement and subsequent investigation of instances of overbilling perpetrated by the company.

NERC accused AEDC of tripling

Electricity Suppliers Regulation 2007.

“AEDC is also expected to publish in a newspaper with wide circulation within its franchise area an apology to affected customers stating their business units and the amount of excess charges billed them during the period under review.”

National Daily News Editor loses dad

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A James Omodara Otokiti, father of the News Editor of National Daily newspaper, Mr. Segun Otokiti, is dead. He passed on Friday, May 29, 2015 after a brief illness. He was 80 years old.

Christian wake-keep/ lying-in-state held yesterday at his residence, 69, Ayetoro Street, Ijare, Ondo State while interment comes up today at his residence after a funeral service at St. Michael Anglican Church, Ayetoro Street, Ijare.

Pa James Omodara Otokiti is survived by widows, children, grandchildren, nephews, nieces and many other relations.

Late Pa James Otokiti

NAFDAC to sanction smugglers, dealers of imported poultry products ...as study says imported turkey, chicken unfit for consumption

By Chioma Obinna & Jennifer Aladetan

F

OLLOWING RESULTS from a recent study that imported turkey and chicken in the Nigerian markets are unfit for human consumption, National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control, NAFDAC, has threatened to deal ruthlessly with smugglers and dealers found with the banned products.

A report from a study conducted

by Prof. Olumide Tewe, a Nutritional Toxicologist, University of Ibadan and his colleagues, had raised concern over the economic and health implications of consumption of imported poultry products due to the presence of potentially toxic metals, food borne diseases and high formalin levels in the meats.

At a press conference/ presentation of the study on C M Y K

“Prevalence, Quality and Acceptability of Frozen Poultry Meat in Major Cities in Nigeria”, the Director-General of NAFDAC, Dr. Paul Orhii who explained the implication of consuming such meat products said these products are preserved with hazardous chemicals.

Orhii who noted that imported products would no longer be

tolerated to the detriments of the health of Nigerians said NAFDAC will begin strict enforcement of the ban on imported poultry products.

Citing the study carried out in Abuja, Port Harcourt, Oyo and Lagos states, Orhii noted that improperly imported poultry products pose grave dangers to consumers, handlers and

environment.

“The study showed that their sheer volume is enough to heighten public health concerns for consumers across Nigeria. The break in cold chains during smuggling encourages a build – up of high microbial load, rendering such consignments unhealthy and unfit for human consumption.”

Explaining the Microbial load as revealed by the study, one of the researchers, Prof. C.I Alarima said the study showed that imported poultry meat particularly chicken and turkey are loaded with the microbes. Microbe is any living organism that spends its life at a size too tiny to be seen with the naked eye.

Casers Group acquires Marwal to form wholly-owned media network

By Princewill Ekwujuru

C

ASERS GROUP Nigeria has acquired Marwal Group France, making it the biggest and wholly owned media and marketing services network in West and Central Africa.

Marwal is a marketing communications network with stronghold in the French speaking and Central Africa.

Enyi Odigbo, Chairman/CEO of Casers Group, who refused to disclose the amount involved in the acquisition, said that, “the acquisition of Marwal demonstrates the agency’s commitment to prudently deploying resources that will deliver unassailable value to existing and prospective local and multinational clients.”

With this acquisition Casers Group has now become a solution

for any multinational brand looking for world class service delivery throughout West and Central Africa – to either launch or extend within the region.

“This strategic combination eliminates the need for businesses who require a regional marketing communications solution to seek partners on a country by country basis, which often results in disparate service levels, in terms of quality and resource

deployment,” Odigbo said.

According to him: “This merger was developed out of the successful DDB led partnership of Casers Group, Marwal Group and Innova DDB in partnering MTN in the Middle East and Africa. DDB currently manages MTN in Nigeria, Ghana, Liberia, Cameroun, Cote d’Ivoire, Republic of Benin, Guinea Conakry, Guinea Bissau and Congo Brazzaville.”

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JUNE 17, 2015 —15

Gov Ikpeazu vows to tackle resurgence of kidnapping, crimes

BY Anayo Okoli

U

M U A H I A — FOLLOWING the resurgence of kidnapping and other violent crimes in Abia State, especially Aba, Governor Okezie Ikpeazu has said he would send an executive bill to the House of Assembly to enact a law for a Security Trust Fund aimed at combating insecurity in the state.

The governor said that, despite the fact that kidnapping was returning back, his government was on top of the situation.

“We have succeeded in reducing the menace to a manageable level,” Governor Ikpeazu said.

Ikpeazu, who spoke when members of the 6th Abia State House of Assembly came to visit him in his office, explained that when the laws came into existence, close circuit television, CCTV, would be mounted on the streets to monitor movements of people in the state.

He vowed that the problem of kidnapping must not be allowed to rear its ugly head again, The governor also disclosed trackers would be introduced to the state to monitor the security situation as a way of fighting crimes and criminality.

Ikpeazu described the state House of Assembly members as partners in the new Abia project, pointing out that history had placed big responsibility on the shoulders of the three arms of government to raise the state to a higher level.

“As the governor, I cannot work alone as this government is desperate to ensure that Abians receive the dividends of democracy,” Ikpeazu said.

The governor called for the support of the lawmakers.

He, therefore, urged them to bury their personal and political interests and raise the interest of the state above any other interest.

Earlier in his remarks, the speaker of the House, Martins Azubuike, explained that they

were at Government House to present the entire members of the 6th House of Assembly to the governor and assured that the House would partner with him to ensure that he delivered on the

promises made to Abians during the elections.

The speaker used the forum to introduce the principal officers of the House, including Mr. Cosmos Ndukwe, the Deputh Speaker,

INAUGURATION: From left, Chairman House of Representatives Ad-hoc Committee on Welfare of members, Hon. Nasiru Baballeila; Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Suleiman Yusuf, and Deputy Chairman of the Committee, Hon. Omosede Igbenediom, during the inauguration of the Ad-hoc Committee on Welfare of members, at the National Assembly, in Abuja, yesterday. Photo: Gbemiga Olamikan

IMPEACHMENT: PDP senators battle-ready

to protect Ekweremadu —Nwaoboshi … carpets Kwankwaso over attack on Saraki

By Austin Ogwuda

A

MEMBER of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in the National Assembly, Senator Peter Nwaoboshi, yesterday, vowed that his party was battleready to resist any attempt to unseat the Deputy Senate President, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, since he was duly and constitutionally elected.

Nwaoboshi, representing Delta North in the Senate, who spoke

with our reporter in a telephone interview, condemned the comment made by the former governor of Kano State, Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, to the effect that Ekweremadu’s seat be declared vacant and returned to the ruling All Progressives Party, APC, that for the 16 years PDP ruled the country, at no time did the opposition get the benefit of having such a position.

Nwaoboshi, also a former chairman of Delta State chapter of PDP, told Vanguard: “It is an

Onitsha residents protest poor electricity supply .Demand pre-paid meters from EEDC

By Vincent Ujumadu

A

WKA—HUNDREDS of Awada residents, a high density area in the commercial city of Onitsha, Anambra State, yesterday, took to the streets to protest consistent poor electricity supply in the area by Enugu Electricity Distribution Company, EEDC. Waving placards with inscriptions such as, 'EEDC give us prepaid meters,' 'Old PHCN is better than EEDC,' 'EEDC officials are taking us for granted,' among others, the protesters drove in several buses to the offices of EEDC at Awada, GRA C M Y K

Mr. Chinedum Orji, the Leader of the House, Mr. Abraham Oba, the Minority Leader, Mr. Tony Mezie Nwaubani, Majority Whip and Chibuzo Okogbue, the Minority Whip.

and Ogidi, the headquarters of Idemili North Local Government Area, where they handed their petitions to the officers on duty.

In the petition, the protesters said though they received the privatization of the power sector and the hand-over of electricity supply to EEDC, their expectation had been met with worsening electricity supply, as well as sharp and under-hand practices by staff of EEDC. According to them, some of the calamities that have befallen them since EEDC took over electricity supply include non-reading of electricity meters, consistent outrageous estimated electricity bills, not based on electricity

consumption, frequent electricity surges and outages, total blackout that sometimes last for many weeks and removal of transformer fuses and deploying same to preferred customers.

The protest letter read: “It is worthy to note that despite promises to instal pre-paid meters in houses in our area, all the buildings in the area most regrettably, still operate under the analogue system because of the corruption of the staff of EEDC who use the analogue system to exploit us.

“The epileptic supply of electricity has disrupted social and economic lives in this area, thereby making living unbearable."

insult for Kwankwaso to make such annoying statement because he became a governor of Kano on the platform of PDP. He (Kwankwaso) is an ingrate, who enjoyed a lot of patronage including that of NDDC under the PDP platform.

“He should leave Saraki, Ekweremadu alone; in short it was his (Kwankwaso) ambition to become the President of the country that made him to leave PDP for APC and failed woefully to achieve that ambition.

"Now that he is eyeing to become president in 2019, he is ranting. He was in the hall on our inauguration even though he did not vote.

“If he is aggrieved, including those APC senators, they should know the proper thing to do.

They should initiate impeachment proceeding and not on the pages of newspapers.

Let me tell you we, the PDP senators, are waiting for them.

They don’t have the number, they don’t have the capacity to impeach.

“It is quite unfortunate that he is speaking like that. I can recall that I was one of those that went to Kano to conduct the State executive election that brought him there.

He betrayed PDP because he wanted to be President and has no right to castigate PDP over the Ekweramdu’s seat,” he added.

AL-BASHIR:

SERAP urges ICC to refer SA to UN Council

By Abdulwahab Abdulah

S

OCIO-ECONOMIC RIGHTS and Accountability Project SERAP, has called on the International Criminal Court, ICC, to refer South Africa to the UN Security Council for her inability to arrest Sudan’s President Omar al-Bashir over alleged genocide and war crimes charges.

SERAP, stated allowing Sudan’s President Omar al-Bashir to leave the country ahead of a court ruling on whether he should be transferred to the ICC to stand trial on the offences amounted to discrediting the ICC and the entire regime of international justice.

In a statement by its executive director, Mr. Adetokunbo Mumuni, it stated, “If it is true that the government of South Africa has blatantly disregarded the process of its own court to free international fugitive from justice, then there should be consequences, otherwise the authority and credibility of the ICC and the entire regime of international justice will be seriously undermined.

“The South African authorities shamefully told the court that President alBashir had gone shopping when they knew that he was already on his way back to Khartoum.

"This is a slap on the wrist, and clearly exposes the judiciary to ridicule and disrespect. It also shows that the government has absolutely no respect for the rule of law and the independence and integrity of the judiciary.

“As provided for by the Rome Statute of the ICC, the court should now request UN Security Council sanctions against South Africa. Under the Rome Statute, the UN Security Council may do what it deems appropriate.

"Without effective sanctions and repercussions, states like South Africa are not likely to be held accountable for breaching their international obligations and commitments,” it added.

SERAP urged the ICC to work with other states parties to the Rome Statute to consider the possibility of suspension or expulsion of South Africa from the Rome Statute.

16—Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JUNE 17, 2015

Rights group kicks as woman bathes house-girl with mixture of ground pepper, hot water

By Nwabueze Okonkwo

O

NITSHA—HUMAN rights group, Campaign for Democracy, CD, yesterday, condemned the action of a woman, who allegedly bathed her house-girl with ground pepper mixed with hot water at Nkutanku area of East Niger layout, Onitsha, Anambra State.

According to CD, the housewife, whose name is simply given as Mrs. Ogochukwu, now in the police custody at Fegge police station, had allegedly bathed the house-girl, whose name was also given as Miss

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Igweze Ekwutosi, which caused her severe burns in her private part.

A source said trouble started for the 13-year-old Ekwutosi when she forgot her bag in school but lied to her madam that it was seized by her class teacher.

The source stated that as she was crying and wailing in pain, sympathizers rushed in and asked the woman the reason for the injury meted out on the girl.

It was gathered that in her defence, the madam said the maid, instead of admitting that she could not return with her school bag for reason best known to her, accused her teacher of

seizing it, adding that often times, she stole her money.

As her reasons were not enough to have led to inflicting such grievous injury on her, the sympathizers quickly invited the Police at Fegge, who arrested and whisked her away to the station for proper interrogation.

At the station, the victim, who

is a cousin to the woman’s husband, revealed that her madam always beat her up, adding that in the morning of the fateful day, she used ground pepper mixed with hot water on her which caused burns in her private part.

Condemning the act at the Fegge police station, chairman of

CD, Vincent Ezemekwe, described it as wickedness, adding that the woman must be made to face the wrath of the law.

The Divisional Police Officer, DPO at Fegge, Rabiu Garba, was not on seat to confirm the incident, but a superior police officer, who pleaded anonymity, said investigations were in progress.

1st millionaire emerges in Skye Bank's promo

K

ADUNA-BASED BUSINESSMAN, Mukaila B. Hamza, has emerged the first winner of N1 million in Skye Bank’s ‘Reach for the Skye

Millionaire Reward’ scheme.

Hamza, a former Mainstreet Bank account holder, now merged with Skye Bank, became the first winner of the scheme,

following an electronic draw from over 400, 000 customers, during the unveiling of Skye Bank’s new retail banking project, tagged, ‘Retail Transformation and Growth,’ R-TAG. A surprise congratulatory phone call was made to the winner by Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of the bank, Mr. Timothy Oguntayo, who urged him to invest his reward wisely and continue his loyalty to the bank.

Speaking earlier at the launch of the project in Lagos, yesterday, Mr. Oguntayo, assured that the new business transformation project would bring about customized and needssatisfying financial solutions in a manner that will exceed the expectations of the customers.

In his words: “Our renewed drive and focus on retail banking is anchored on the premise of building a long-lasting relationship with our customers based on trust as well as supporting the financial inclusion drive of the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, so as to bring a lot more people into the financial system and the formal economy.”

On her part, the Executive Director, South South, South East and Retail Banking, Mrs. Ibiye Ekong, stated that the ‘Reach for the Skye Millionaire Reward’ scheme was instituted by the bank to encourage savings culture among the mass market segment.

Mrs. Ekong added: “Skye Bank is not just encouraging customers to save, but we are also rewarding customers for doing this. In the end, the scheme is a win-win for both our esteemed customers and Skye Bank as we seek to grow our customer base.”

She added that each month, during the monthly draws, three customers would emerge millionaires, while 10 others would be rewarded with N200, 000 each as consolation prizes for having at least a minimum opening balance of N2, 000 with the bank within that month.

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JUNE 17, 2015 — 17

M

RS. AISHA Buhari, Mrs Osinbajo, Mrs Saraki and Mrs Dogara: when will change come for Nigerian women?The rights of women and girls have, traditionally and historically, been seen as a “soft” issue, particularly in the developing world. That is, something occasionally trendy which officials in both the public and private sector (or their wives) have dabbled in. In Nigeria, it is difficult to separate feigning social consciousness from contrived publicity stunts unfortunately. Amartya Sen, a Nobel prize winning economist, famously said “more than 100 million women are missing,” stating that women normally live longer than men but that in many parts of the world, the violence and discrimination women face means they simply “ vanish”. This euphemism, or milder, more elegant word to describe the dispiriting loss of millions of women to deaths caused by backwardness and illiteracy masquerading as culture and tradition, is a brutal yet unacknowledged truth in Nigeria. How many women and children has Nigeria lost due to the inefficiencies of our government over the past 50 years?

In the Western world, “gender discrimination” means unequal pay or sexual harassment. In Nigeria, we remain at the stage of fundamental indignities and injustices, which continue to occur on a daily basis. For all of the luxury boutiques Nigerian women open across the country, or the amounts their husbands are able to amass, which paradoxically determines a woman’s social value and self-worth, it baffles international observers how prevalent poverty still is in our country today, or why a very small percentage of people seem to be holding the rest of the country to ransom, even sometimes without realising it. Women in Nigeria enable and reinforce their own stereotyping and disenfranchising but that is a topic for another day. From the World Bank to the US military joint Chiefs of Staff, it is globally recognised that empowering women and girls is the quickest way to fight both poverty and extremism.

Indeed, societies where women are marginalised are more likely to become extremist: male supremacy in society means that a country takes on a culture of aggression from which women, children and the society at large, are bound to suffer. In fact, one could most probably conduct an interesting historical, comparative analysis between the cultures and economic development of the North and the South-South, which would show the link between terrorism, religious extremism/intolerance, and gender discrimination in cultures where ironically, women have played very important roles. Some

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tprincewill@yahoo.co.uk

When will change come for Nigerian women? scholars say Muslim countries or regions are affected by terrorism not because of Islam or its teachings but rather because of the poor levels of female education and the fact that women are not active participants in the economy or the society.

Women are the developing world’s untapped resource and the change we all desire in Nigeria must go through women in order to take root.

Rather than political intrigues in the Senate, or hosting dinners involving the wives of the President, VicePresident, Senate President etc. Nigerians must demand a comprehensive agenda and strategy, from all these women to fight poverty and inequality particularly amongst women and children. Cancer initiatives, helping the homeless, these are all worthy and laudable causes but to really make a difference in the coming decade, Nigerian women of influence must come together to end the fundamental issues that put women at risk and therefore enable a host of other problems, which are all consequences of the misuse and mistreatment of women in this country.

Rather than legalise women’s pain, our government and its powerful ladies should help women thrive: Nigeria’s fight against poverty, our desire for peace and progress all starts with them

This administration’s greatest challenge will be to integrate women, youth and children into the society.

With over 10.5 million children out of school, according to UNESCO, this is both a national shame as well as an imperative. Poverty stricken women will raise children more likely to leave school, which is another generation of unemployed and unskilled youth that government must rescue. We are not going in the right direction, if the new sexual

offences bill is anything to go by. This bill imposes life imprisonment for rapists and those who have sexual intercourse with children less than 11 meaning, in essence, that it is now legal to have sex with any child so long as he or she is older than 11.

Marrying that child then allows and basically legalises paedophilia. Only the utmost depravity, would make anyone consider that a human being, a person, called a “child”—precisely because both anatomically and mentally he or she cannot

The Nigerian Senate

Y

ERIMA, Oduah, Kashamu…. what a senate! What a country.

Nigeria protects those who

RCCG and Nigerian politicians

T

HE closeness between the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Pastor Enoch Adeboye and members of the current administration is something not all Nigerians are comfortable with. The Vice-President, professor Yemi Osinbajo is a member of the church and there is nothing wrong with that. But the constant ties between politicians from all parties and some prominent churches is disturbing as these pastors are known to live grand lifestyles, which in a country of mass poverty begets certain questions as to the origins of their untaxed wealth.

Recently, governor Akinwumi Ambode and his wife were seen at an RCCG assembly and one wonders if and how membership with the “super churches” has become a precondition for good governance.

Gov. Akinwumi Ambode

do wrong and frustrates those who do right. A lot has already been said about Senator Saraki’s emergence as Senate president, all I’ll add is “only in Nigeria”: the indefensible always becomes the norm. Factions of the APC have already begun the battle for 2019 but who will fight for Nigerians?

President Buhari remains this country’s only real hope as it becomes increasingly clear that “change” to some, was always just a slogan.

Sen. Oduah

Sen. Yerima

withstand certain pressures, which is why child labour, for example, is illegal in all developed nations—would be able to endure sexual acts without physical and emotional consequences.

Proof of this is obstetric fistula, a hole created in a girl’s body during a difficult birth (her body is too young, not developed enough for the exercise) leaving her incontinent, foul smelling and alone, as her family shuns her when this happens. In Somalia, a country Nigerians would be embarrassed to be compared to, fistulas are repaired and prevented and the procedure costs just a few hundred dollars. Are you ashamed yet, Nigerians?

Edna Adan, according to reports in the New York Times, a former first lady of Somalia used her savings to build a hospital to save women around her. In Nigeria, our first ladies, besides owning expensive properties and jewels, have little to no impact, outside of their pet projects, which are conduits for corruption and further oppression. Rumours of past first ladies re-selling free vaccines given to them by donor agencies, is a disgusting trend. Mrs. Buhari, Mrs. Osinbajo and Mrs. Saraki in particular have been elevated, as spouses of the three most powerful men in Nigeria, beyond the wildest dreams of most Nigerians. Whether there is an office of the first lady or not is merely political grammar. There is a reason why microfinance organisations focus on women: global poverty, it is acknowledged, is also in part (whether our patriarchal society likes to hear it or not) caused by unwise spending by men. The world’s poorest families spend more of their income on alcohol, prostitution, sweets, sugary drinks and lavish feasts (according to reports published in the New York Times) than they do on educating children. But when women are financially enabled, this trend is reversed and girls are the biggest beneficiaries. Our first ladies should have competent people around them who can research and propose policies directed at women and children. Nigeria must make laws to ensure that when a man dies his wife inherits his property rather than his brothers, therefore plunging that widow and her children into uncertainty.

Rather than legalise women’s pain, our government and its powerful ladies should help women thrive: Nigeria’s fight against poverty, our desire for peace and progress all starts with them.

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

18 — Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JUNE 17, 2015

I

T is a great and tragic irony of history that about 200 years after Africans were being trafficked across the Sahara Desert and the Atlantic Ocean to the Europe and the Americas as slaves, Africans are willingly heading to Europe, in worse conditions than when they went as slaves.

The new slavery has arrived.

Today, a cocktail of conditions at home, resulting mainly from poor governance, causes Africans to abandon their countries in desperate search for assumed better life in Europe and the Middle East. Under the heavy yoke of quasi-slave masters, known as human traffickers, Africans submit themselves, paying heavy prices, in cash, and sometimes with their lives, to be taken to Europe. Many of them die in the inhospitable Sahara Desert. Those who survive the ordeal could perish in the treacherous waters of the Mediterranean aboard overloaded, rickety boats. They die in their thousands – Nigerians are among them.

President Muhammadu Buhari put it correctly when, at the African Union, AU, summit in South Africa he noted, “It is not only an embarrassment to us as leaders,

Tragic Migrations TTo o Eur ope Europe but dehumanises our persons. Indeed, they combine to paint a very unfavourable picture of our peoples and countries.”

Human trafficking and mass migration of Africans outside the continent have joined terrorism and internal instability across the continent as part of the pathetic conditions that diminish the stature of Africans in today’s world. It is very important for the AU to pay attention to the root causes of the migration. Bad governance, sit-tight leadership, inter-ethnic and religious rivalries, human rights abuses and corruption are at the centre of the enervating poverty in Africa.

The solution to the problem does not lie

in Africans bolting from their countries to alien climes in hopes of non-existent “better” living conditions. While efforts must be made to stem the tide of these migrations, greater efforts should be invested in ensuring the quality of leadership improves across Africa. No substitute exists for governance that improves conditions of citizens within their countries, so that such countries can improve general global conditions.

Africans should work out unique blueprints that would make it possible to improve the quality of agriculture and infrastructure, especially power supply, to broaden the base of economies and give people useful means of livelihood within their countries. These are possible with collaborations across countries and regions.

Unless urgent steps are taken to improve living conditions in Africa, the spark of xenophobia, which raged in South Africa recently, would become a fad in Europe when their citizens can no longer tolerate the influx of unwanted Africans, some of who would arrive without skills that can earn them a living.

OPINION 2019 presidential periscope: Saraki, Atiku and Tinubu factors

By Alex O. Atawa-Akpodiete

S

OME people may wonder why I will be talking about 2019, when the Eighth National Assembly has just been sworn-in and President Muhammadu Buhari has not even completed thirty days in office. That notwithstanding, smart politicians are already making calculations for 2019 and even 2023.

In fact, our able Commander-in-Chief has yet to name ministers that will make up his Executive Council. Only two media aides (Shehu Garba and Femi Adesina) have been appointed by his excellency. While President Buhari may be slow or deliberately calculating who to put in his ministerial list, the legislative arm is already embroiled in controversy.

Yes, the business of governance is supposed to have been started and in an ideal situation, a true statesman cum politician should be more concerned about delivery the nebulous dividends of democracy to the people, than concern for his next election victory. That is not obtainable in Nigeria. An astute Nigerian politician calculates every move to ensure, not only that he remains relevant by winning re-election or selecting his replacement, but also to ensure that he reduces the chances of his opponent (real or perceived) upstaging him.

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The election of All Progressives Congress, APC Senator Bukola Saraki as the President of the Eighth Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria on Tuesday, June 9, 2015, speaks not-so quiet volumes of what the unfolding political landscape will be, at least at the national level, vis-a-vis the 2019 Presidential contest.

Now that the APC leadership has averted a major conflict by seeing the wisdom of accepting Senator Saraki as the Senate President (even though it is technically not their constitutional business), minds are cracking as to where does the party go from here? Does the party now really command any total respect and loyalty? How effective will the APC government cohesively govern Nigeria in the next four years, if it cannot discipline its members and get them to act in a herd-like manner?

The other “elephant in the room” is whether Saraki will be a good replacement for President Buhari if the latter should stick

Was Saraki really Tinubu’s secret candidate or Atiku’s choice for Senate President?

to his promise to be President for only one term. As we have seen with the immediate past president, the allure of the office of the Commander-in-Chief makes it extremely difficult to fulfill the promise to stay for only one tenure. In fact, even those who have stayed for two tenures or over five years have salivated over a third tenure or desired to be life-President.

The former two-term Peoples Democratic Party,PDP governor of the North Central State of Kwara, jumped ship to APC to change his clothes and jump from Executive to legislative branch of government. Whether he will jump back to the executive arm, without changing clothes to PDP, still remains to be seen. A very valid point is the fact that he could not have become Senate President without the help of PDP senators.

While Senator Saraki may be “preparing” for 2019, we cannot overlook two key players. The former Vice President of Nigeria and 1999 PDP elected Governor of Adamawa State, Alhaji Abubakar Atiku and APC leader Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu are clear game changers in the build-up to 2019.

Atiku who has contested for president every four years (2007, 2011, 2015) since he left elected office in 2007, believes that he has been cheated all these times and deserves to be president of Nigeria someday, notwithstanding the rumoured fact that his former boss will never allow it to happen.

The fact that PDP is no longer in power at the national level, may not have any bearing as former president Olusegun Obasanjo tore his PDP card in public and is supposedly a closet APC supporter. Atiku considered a

political yoyo by some, decamped from PDP to Action Congress and contested for president in 2007, which he lost and redecamped to PDP three years later, only to again leave for APC in 2014. Atiku may also be encouraged by the fact that President Buhari also tried and succeeded a fourth time.

So, if the fourth time is the charm, it may work for him.

Tinubu, the former governor of Lagos State and undisputed APC leader, has shown himself to be a political juggernaut that can no longer be taken for granted in the politics of the South West and now Nigeria. He singlehandedly battled Obasanjo and established his former party Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) as a dominant force in Nigeria. APC could not have done as well as it did, without the power of ACN, which brought more governors and National Assembly members into the merger than Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) and All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP). Whether Tinubu himself will contest for President or anoint a candidate is left to speculation for now. Regardless of which option he chooses, he will definitely be a factor.

Was Saraki really Tinubu’s secret candidate or Atiku’s choice for Senate President? The answer to this question may affect 2019.

Will Saraki and Atiku remain in APC if they do not get the APC 2019 Presidential ticket? We all know that 2019 is not too far.

Nigerians are watching.

*Rev. Atawa-Akpodiete, a public affairs analyst, wrote from Asaba, delta State.

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JUNE 17, 2015—19 —19 Send Opinions & Letters to: opinions1234@yahoo.com

What happened to the fight against kidnappers?

W

E are a people that forget too soon. Something happens now and is soon after overtaken by other events and forgotten. But while the event that has attracted our attention lasts, it looks like we will never stop talking about it until whatever challenge it represents is overcome. Such is our attitude to kidnapping which continues to thrive in parts of this country in spite of the silence around it. There have been a few high profile cases of late, perhaps the last of which is the kidnapping of the father of the writer, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie. This has sent me down memory lane to reproduce excerpt from an article that first appeared here on December 8, 2008 under the title ‘The kidnappers in Igboland’. After reading through, you may judge for yourself what has changed. Or how what started in the Niger-Delta is now a thriving business in the South-east.

"Stereotyping works on the premise of overgeneralisation and could, therefore, be a dangerous affair. But this has not been sufficient reason to discourage it…Stereotypes could provide helpful explanations for and be

indicators of certain character traits but, as I have mentioned, they could also be misleading for the very fact of their being prone to overgeneralisation. And in a multi-ethnic environment like Nigeria where ethnic and religious suspicions…run high, one cannot be too sensitive to the ethnic pride of others. But this has not stopped us from harbouring stereotypes, however misleading, about one another, sometimes in complete disregard of one another’s feelings.

The burgeoning tribe of Nigerian comedians, immune by the nature of their trade from the suspicion of fanning ethnic tension, are making apparently easy money, weaving course jokes out of such stereotypes. And rather than incur the ire of those the jokes are on the sharp barbs of the jokes are laughed away in the light mood of the moment.

Perhaps the most enduring stereotype of a Nigerian ethnic group is that of the Igbo as grasping lovers of money. The extension of this stereotype is that the Igbo person would do anything to have money.

This, like most stereotypes, is too much of an overgeneralisation.

But

stereotypes don’t have to be hundred percent correct to be valid or be thought so: that is why they are stereotypes- it’s also the reason they could be misleading and therefore injurious. A pattern only needs to be established to make them, for some, valid indicators of group behaviour. Such patterns are most often than not consequent upon the action of a sizeable minority. This, after much rambling, brings me to the heart of my discourse, namely, the new tribe of kidnappers in Igboland. The first questions to ask are: Who are these people and what do they want?

Framed differently the question is, What are their grievance(s)?

The criminal act of kidnapping, now glamourised for several reasons including the (once upon a time) genuinely political, has assumed a new dimension in Nigeria. It was not always so. As a child growing up in Lagos kidnappers were among the most odious criminals parents warned their children about. There were times in those days of the late 70s when Lagos would be taken over by rumours of kidnappers on the prowl. We were warned not to keep late nights, walk alone from or to school or accept gifts or assistance from unknown persons. Many were the cases of children lost to such kidnappers.

Kidnapping for money doesn’t seem a good way to make money

Agro-processing to drive Nigeria’s new economy

By Roberts Orya

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IGERIA is in a transition from supreme oil-dependency to a more diversified economy. Susceptibility of the domestic economy to external revenue shocks, when oil prices fall, well informs this transition. But if oil prices were to stabilise at the $147 per barrel peak, there would still be very strong reasons why Nigeria must broaden the base of formal economic activities.

One of the reasons why economic diversification is an imperative for Nigeria is because the country is too richly endowed with natural assets for us to concentrate on tapping just one. The one we have concentrated on – oil – is a depleting asset. And then, the production of hydrocarbon resources employs too few labour for Nigeria’s fast-growing population and huge workforce. Therefore, the economic diversification model that the country needs is one that can help absorb fiscal shocks, fend off monetary instability, provide employment for the teeming work-age population as well as generate more revenue for the government to meet its commitments to the people.

Prospects of global agriculture Agriculture represents the low hanging fruit in the quest to structurally transform the Nigerian economy. The outlook of global agriculture supports this assertion. Since the global spike in food prices in 2008, food security has remained at the front burner of the international policy agenda. Even the downward trending of food commodities in the past few months only further raises concerns about global food security. If lower food prices stifle new investments in agricultural production, the downward pressure on prices can only continue for so long before it stirs a sharp reversal as a consequence of ensuing supply shortfall.

C M Y K

Beyond this, global agriculture itself is undergoing multiple layers of transition.

Population growth and changing consumption habits have started to drive up demand for food in multiple varieties. By year 2050, the world population will reach nine billion. That means additional two billion people would require food in 35 years’ time, compared with now. But the upward projection of demand for food is met with constraints to expansion of supply by the traditional international producers. Climate change and other constraints have continued to shrink the hectarage of the world’s arable land. Latin America and sub-Saharan Africa are now the last bastion of sizeable arable land. The MENA region (Middle East and North Africa), Europe, Central America and the swath of Asia now have little room to upwardly adjust food production because of limits to available arable land.

This means that sub-Saharan Africa and Latin America will be the food baskets of the world in the future. According to World Bank data, Nigeria’s arable land continued to expand between 2000 and 2014. In this period, the available arable land as a percentage of Nigeria’s total land mass increased from 36.2% to 38.4%. It is a trend that is unique to only a few countries. However, low level

To unlock potential for agricultural production, expansion of agroindustries is an essential pre-condition

There were and still are cases, even, of missing adults believed to have fallen victims of kidnappers.

At about this period of the late seventies I speak of, an aunt, several months pregnant, left home to visit a family member and has since never been seen, except she returns tomorrow. The point I’m making is that kidnapping was truly a serious crime: a traumatic experience for both the victim(s) and their family. In recent times kidnapping has assumed a glamorous status. It started as a genuine, some might say misguided, instrument of negotiation and an attentiongetting device by militants in the Niger-Delta.

Nigerians, especially foreigners working in the oil sector of the Niger-Delta were fair game for hostagetaking by the militants determined to chase the oil multi-nationals away from the region. The strategy seemed to have worked like fire and soon the militants started demanding huge sums of money before such kidnapped workers were released.

The evil that money represented in such a struggle would lead to other fringe groups, hired hands in the pay of politicians, without any coherent political agenda, joining the bandwagon. Such venal groups and merchants of pain acted for purely pecuniary reasons and the peculiar politics of their sponsors.

But the mercantilist thinking behind their action was veiled by the genuine struggle for redress going on in the area. They could therefore play the part of freedom fighters. But even they would spoil their act with serious bits of overreaching when they resorted to kidnapping children and other well-heeled persons in return for huge sums of money.

utilisation, in which Nigeria became dependent on a number of imported food items – including mostly those that can be grown in the country – might have exerted the greatest influence on supply of arable land in Nigeria.

The interplay of current domestic demand and supply scenarios also supports a buoyant outlook for agriculture and the agro-industry in Nigeria. On the demand side, Nigeria is a growing market. Although we currently profile the over $10 billion we spend yearly on food importation as negative, it actually also paints the picture of an aspect of effective demand which can be served locally, and which can help conserve our foreign exchange and make the local currency less volatile in value. This therefore provides a strong-financial-returns impetus for additional local investments in agro-food processing. More success with poverty reduction and strengthening of the middle class will further boost food demand growth.

On the supply side, the country is blessed with a wide range of agricultural resources, including a favourable climate. We also have the benefit of the knowledge of once being a predominantly agric-economy, before commercial production of crude oil began in the country in the early 1970s. Even now, annualised Nigerian agricultural output tops $122 billion. Therefore, some of the key factors for a successful transition to an industrialised economy in which agriculture and agroindustrialisation play important roles, including providing domestic food security, contributing to export revenues and supporting strong employment numbers, are present with us. In the last four years, we actually saw a strong momentum to the transition, under the Agriculture Transformation Agenda of former President Goodluck Jonathan.

Agro-processing virtuous cycle In line with the statutory mandate of Nigerian Export-Import Bank as the Trade Policy Bank of the Federal Government, we see Nigerian agriculture from the prism of agro-processing. This is because agroprocessing inspires the virtuous cycle of

All of this happened in the NigerDelta- at least in the South-south of it. But soon action would shift to the South-east with criminal elements kidnapping others for no apparent reason. Unlike the kidnappers in the Niger- Delta, the kidnappers in Igboland have neither presented nor articulated a meaningful agenda, political or otherwise. Yet, they’ve continued to kidnap, it’s getting clear, for the monetary gain of it, leading to threats by some states in the region to enact stiff laws to punish persons caught in the act. Aside concerns of political marginalisation, there are environmental challenges such as the devastating consequences of erosion in parts of the South-east. But these cannot explain the criminal act of kidnapping that is becoming rife in this part of the country.

Why in any case should one Igbo man want to kidnap another in order to attract attention for some perceived federal neglect- if at all that is the reason for all this? It makes no sense at all. Thus the only explanation is that these criminals in the East are driven by purely monetary gains. This would be lending dangerous credence to the Nigerian stereotyping of the Igbo person as someone ready to do anything for money. Kidnapping for money doesn’t seem a good way to make money. However, it can only lead to the demonisation of a whole people. Which is why all must support the tough action being proposed by some states in the East. Better to act now than allow the monster to grow out of proportion."

What, if one may ask, has happened to the anti-kidnapping laws proposed by South-east leaders? Could failure in the Southeast case be reason kidnapping as a money-making business is spreading to other parts of Nigeria?

increased agricultural productivity, industrialisation in the value chain, sustainable growth in the export of secondary agricultural products, creation of domestic employment, and poverty reduction. For this reason, NEXIM Bank in the past five years has put forward agro-processing, with other three sectors, as the major frontiers of economic transformation in Nigeria. The other three sectors are manufacturing (which I recently devoted an op-ed to), solid minerals and services. The sum of these sectoral focus constitute the MASS Agenda of NEXIM Bank.

Policy intervention to increase agroprocessing will, no doubt, prove revolutionary for the country. Africa-level statistics, which sit well with the Nigerian reality, put postharvest losses for fruits and vegetables at 3550% of total production. The level of loss for grains is at 15-25%. These high levels of losses weigh down production and ultimately deny farmers the needed revenue to facilitate expansion of their farms. Little wonder then that, for a region that produces much less food than it needs, the share of agro-industry to total manufacturing declined over the period of 1995 to 2006, according to a UNIDO 2013 report.

To unlock potential for agricultural production, expansion of agro-industries is an essential pre-condition. The factors that constrict the agro-processing sector, which include poor integration of agriculture with markets, lack of know-how by SME agroindustrialists, inadequate investment in equipment and poor storage system, are solvable. With the fertiliser subsidy conundrum already solved, government can deploy fiscal tools to provide massive support for farmers in the acquisition of equipment.

NEXIM Bank’s credit guarantee instrument could be strengthened to provide much stronger support for industrialists in the postharvest value chain to acquire equipment and tools.

Continues on Thurs Pg.18 •Mr. Orya is MD/CEO, Nigerian ExportImport Bank

20—Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JUNE 17, 2015

Watch these petrol tanker fires!!

By Ebele Orakpo

Bloody day at Ikorodu jetty: How ‘Oyinbo’ met his tragic end

By Bose Adelaja

T

EARS flowed freely just as it was curses galore when sympathisers thronged the Bayeku/Oke-Ira Jetty in Ikorodu, area of Lagos State.

The emotions were precipitated by the gruesome killing of a commercial boat operator in the area. The victim who was simply identified as “Oyinbo” or “Yellow” was shot at close range by persons suspected to be armed robbers who had robbed a bank and were escaping with their loot through the waterways.

The throng also heaped praise on the courageous boat operator who, despite the hot pursuit of the robbers, ensured that the boat berthed safely and all the 22 passengers on board, escaped unhurt. But for his bravery, the passengers might have drowned.

Oyinbo, who is said to be an indigene of Ilaje in Ondo State, was returning to Ikorodu when he ran into the robbers who were trying to escape in another hijacked boat. On sensing danger, Oyinbo, whose wife allegedly put to bed barely two months ago, decided to berth the boat in a nearby jetty. This decision paid off, as his assistant and all the passengers on board, escaped unhurt.

The assistant boat operator was said to have also removed and hidden the hose of the boat before taking to his heels.

Vanguard Metro, VM, learnt that trouble started that fateful Monday morning when some unknown armed men, who wore charms, stormed the jetty in an old boat. Sources told VM that the men who arrived in the 22-seat boat around 9am, forcibly took over the jetty. Some boat operators who were not on duty, were mending their boats when the fierce-looking men arrived.

They were said to be carrying cans of fuel and other luggage in their own boat.

VM further learnt that immediately they berthed, the robbers disembarked and went straight to inspect boats parked there. Their mission was to exchange the rickety boat they came in with a better one. As soon as they sighted one, they quickly transferred their luggage into it but to their chagrin, the boat had no fuel. This development must have upset them and they (robbers) had no alternaC M Y K

*Sympathisers at the jetty where Oyibo met his tragic end tive than to pick any other boat available to make their escape.

It was at this point that the boat operators raised an alarm which attracted residents and commuters to the jetty. Eye witnesses told VM that as the robbers were trying to escape with the boat they snatched, they sighted an oncoming boat which was incidentally driven by Oyinbo.

Sensing that it was better than the boat they had already snatched, the dare-devil robbers gave him a hot chase, prompting Yellow to berth at nearby jetty. But instead of escaping with other passengers, Oyinbo who was apparently unaware that his assistant had demobilised the boat, struggled with the assailants for its (boat’s) possession. It was in the process that he was shot at close range and died on the spot.

When the Police failed to show up

The robbers were trying to escape when they sighted an oncoming boat which was driven

by Oyibo; he was shot at close range and died on the spot

on time, residents of the area sent distress calls to ‘Onyabo’, a local vigilante group in Ikorodu. Although they swiftly responded to the call, they were unable to apprehend Oyinbo’s killers apparently because they were illequipped. When sympathisers searched the boat which was left behind by the robbers, they found a bag filled with bullets and charms. These items were later taken to the police station in the area.

The incident grounded activities in the area, forcing intending boat passengers to look for alternative means of travelling.

Distraught residents of the area told VM that the thieves were coming from Ijede, Ikorodu where they had robbed a new generation bank. They allegedly escaped in an old boat, hence they diverted their journey to Bayeku in a bid to secure a better boat.

Reacting to the ugly incident, Chairman of Ifelodun Ferry Transport Association, Bayeku, Alhaji Lukman Ganiyu enjoined government to provide adequate security in the area.

Similarly, the Baale( traditional ruler) of Bayeku, Chief Saudi Aleje called on the government to empower the local vigilante group to complement the effort of Nigeria Police Force.

“HMM

, walahi, talahi, I smell rat with these tanker fire accidents. I hope my suspicion is wrong,” said Ade this Tuesday morning as the newscaster on the local radio announced yet another petrol tanker fire incident in Lagos.

“Seems you are thinking what I am thinking,” said Ngozi.

“Could it be that the almighty Boko Haram destroyers have devised a new means of mass murder?” asked Idowu.

“You mean suicide bombing,” asked Carol.

“This is not bombing; it is suicide petrol tanker mass murder,” replied Idowu.

“Yeah, whatever; but on a more serious note, it looks like the Boko guys are at work,” said Carol.

“Haba! You guys with your conspiracy theories. Can’t accidents just happen without you reading sinister motives into them? Most of these trucks are accidents waiting to happen,” said Audu.

“Exactly! We are experts at propounding conspiracy theories. Even in religious circles, nothing just happens. If you hit your toe on a stone, some enemy must be at work. If you see a cat going on its own jejely and minding its business, it must be a witch sent after you,” said Iyke.

“Do you blame us? Nothing in nature happens by accident. Now, just look at the tanker incidents critically and analyse them. Apart from happening a few days apart, many would have been avoided. The Onitsha incident, for instance, could have been avoided. If you know the area very well, they have these very wide gutters that the driver could have veered into without causing much havoc. But instead, he directed the tanker into a busy park with so many passengers and somebody is saying that was not premeditated? Again, the Iyana-Ipaja incident; another brake failure and the brake chose to fail in a busy area, around a market? Hmm, thank God it was in the early hours of the morning, otherwise, it would have been something else,” said Ngozi.

“In as much as I want to believe your Boko Haram angle, but the truth is that most of these tankers are not in good shape and the drivers are not well trained. Most of them get drunk before taking over the steering; so what do you expect?” asked Iyke.

“My advice is that we should be extra vigilant.

Someone rightly said that Lagos will be a very soft target for Boko Haram because of our I-don’tcare attitude. We think they are only attacking the North East and we are careless,” said Ade. “Just look at this: First Onitsha, then Iyana-Ipaja in Lagos; a market at Owena, Ondo State; then a tanker loaded with kerosene crashed at Magbon area of Badagry, though it did not result in fire.

This was followed by a diesel tanker explosion at Idimu Bus-stop, Egbeda, Lagos at about 12:00 midnight destroying 34 houses, 70 shops and one tricycle. The latest is the petrol tanker that crashed in Ibeju Lekki, Lagos, spilling its content.

All these between May 30 and today! And have you noticed that the Boko guys have intensified their attacks in Borno, Adamawa, Benue and Plateau states?” asked Carol.

“I am glad the new administration in Lagos State has moved to ban the sale and consumption of ogogoro (local gin) in the parks,” said Ade. “Ban wetin? Ok, so what will they give the boys in exchange? Champagne? You and I know it is impossible. These boys fought for them and did all that was necessary for them to remain in power so they cannot be rewarded by banning the same substance that gives them the energy and boldness to do their job,” said Idowu.

“But it is for the good of the society. It will mean fewer accidents on our roads caused by drunken drivers and robberies carried out by area boys empowered by alcohol and drugs,” noted Iyke.

“The bottom line is that we should be more security-conscious and more prayerful. The way things are going, I think the Biblical end-time is here with us. Wickedness is indeed increasing on daily basis. The Boko boys are coming up with different strategies. Just imagine two people pretending to be fighting and when people gathered, they detonated their IEDs!” said Ngozi.

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JUNE 17, 2015

—21

SMEDAN creates over 340,000 new jobs

By Dotun Ibiwoye

T

PRESENTATION: Prof. Julius Okojie, Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Universities Commission (3RD left) presenting Geoscience equipment to the Vice Chancellor, Federal University of Petroleum Resources, Effurun, Prof. Akii Ibhadode, while Mr. Ahmed Abdullahi of NAPIMS, Dr. Macjohn Nwaobiala, Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Education, Mr. Mike Udoh and Paul Arinze, both of ExxonMobil, watch at the ExxonMobil’s 2015 University Partnering Programme presentation at NUC Head Office in Abuja.

Services sector gulps 41.5% of April forex sales —CBN

By YINKA KOLAWOLE

O

UT of a total $2.39 billion sold by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to authorised foreign exchange (forex) dealers in the month of April, the invisible (Services) sector accounted for 41.5 percent.

The apex bank which disclosed this in its Economic Report for the Month of April 2015, also

$129.85 $3,244.00

reported that banks’ aggregate credit to the domestic economy fell by N62.09 billion to N20.695 trillion at the end of April, representing a decrease of 0.3 percent from previous month.

The invisible sector generally constitutes payment for various kinds of services such as remittances, education, medical, etc. The sector is also subject to various interpretations by analysts,

2. 05 37. 00

$11.41 -0.05

$63.76 -0.19

59.74 CURRENCY BUYING

0.22

CENTRAL

DOLLAR 195.9 196.4 196.9 POUNDS 303.4099 304.1843 304.9587 EURO 219.4668 220.0269 220.5871 FRANC 209.743 210.2784 210.8137 YEN 1.5844 1.5885 1.5925 CFA 0.3143 0.3243 0.3343 WAUA 272.955 273.6516 274.3483 RENMINBI 31.5618 31.6428 31.7238 RIYAL 52.2372 52.3705 52.5039 KRONA 29.406 29.4811 29.5561 SDR 274.8281 275.5296 276.231

CBN Exchange Rate as at 16/ 06 /15

and can be likened to security votes which governors spend without accountability. Analysts decry the high percentage of forex going to the invisible sector, noting that it can easily be abused because details of disbursement to the sector are not usually made open like other sectors.

Other beneficiary sectors, according to the CBN report, include: industrial (17.9 percent); minerals & oil sector and (17.5 percent); food products (10.9 percent); manufactured product (9.7 percent); transport (1.8 percent) and; agricultural products (0.7 percent). CBN

noted that the $2.39 billion forex sold to authorised dealers during the period, reflected a decrease of 14.9 and 34.3 per cent below the levels in the preceding month and the corresponding period of 2014, respectively. “Of the aggregate sales, inter-bank and BDC sales were $1.40 billion and $0.37 billion, respectively. Also, a forward contract valued at $0.12 billion was disbursed at maturity. At the BDC segment, the average exchange rate appreciated by 5.8 percent to N210.70 per US dollar, above the level in the preceding month, but

Analysts decry thehigh percentage of forex going to the invisible sector

indicated a depreciation of 19.2 per cent relative to the level at the end of the corresponding period of 2014.

The average exchange rate at the inter-bank segment, at N197.00 per US dollar, indicated an appreciation of 0.04 per cent relative to the level in the preceding month, but showed a depreciation of 17.7 per cent against the rate in the corresponding period of 2014,” it stated.

On the banking system’s credit to the economy, the CBN report stated: “At N20,695.6 billion, aggregate banking system credit (net) to the domestic economy at endApril 2015 fell by 0.3 percent, on month-on-month basis, in contrast to the growth of 0.5 per cent at the end of the preceding month.

The development reflected, largely, the decline in (net) claims on the Federal Government.

Relative to the level at endDecember 2014, aggregate banking system credit (net) to the domestic economy, grew by 9.7 per cent, compared with the growth of 10.0 percent at end-March 2015.

“Banking system’s credit (net) to the Federal Government, on month-onmonth basis, fell by 3.6 percent to N2,100.3 billion at endApril 2015, in contrast to the 12.5 percent increase at the end of the preceding month.”

he Small and Medium E n t e r p r i s e s Development Agency of Nigeria, SMEDAN, has disclosed that 340,560 new jobs have been created and 55,605 Cooperative societies were formed and registered as at December 2014.

Speaking at a two day conference, organised by the Global Women Inventors and Innovators Network in Abuja, SMEDAN’s Director General, Bature Umar Masari said 7,568 Business Plans from various cooperative societies were forwarded to Bank of Industry (BOI), Bank of Agriculture (BOA) and Microfinance institutions for appraisal and access to finance.

Represented by Engr. Abu Ozigi, Director, SMEDAN, Masari affirmed that SMEDAN is expectant that most of the enterprises in the micro category, which it said presently constitute 99.8 percent of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises, MSMEs, grow to Small and subsequently Medium Enterprises.

Masari also noted that in the process, more jobs would be created and contribution to GDP would be enhanced and the recognition of this imperative made the Federal Government of Nigeria to introduce the National Enterprise Development Programme, NEDEP, to address the challenges militating against the optimal performance of MSMEs towards employment generation.

NEDEP’s implementation structure involves the synergy between SMEDAN, in entrepreneurship training; Industrial Training Fund, in industrial and vocational skills and Bank of Industry, in the access to finance.

He also said that the growth component is important considering the fact that the year 2013 National survey conducted by the Agency, in conjunction with the National Bureau of Statistics(NBS), revealed that there are 37.0 million Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises(MSMEs) in Nigeria, employing 59.7 million persons.

The representation according to him is about 84 percent of the labour force, contributing 48.5 percent to the GDP and the MSMEs contributes 7.3 percent to export while the findings will be useful to MSMEs operators and educational institutions.

22 — Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JUNE 17, 2015

,

Justifying the association’s reason for picking Ogun State as a pilot state for the database, Thomas noted that insurance in Nigeria was traceable to Abeokuta, Ogun State, saying, the state was also one of the states to first indicate interest in the project.

Fake insurance: NIA parleys FRSC, VIO

,

INSURAN Don’t pay anybody to access your retirement benefits, PTAD warns

By Favour Nnabugwu

T

he Nigeria Insurers Association (NIA) is in talks with the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC), Police and Vehicle Inspection Officer (VIO) on the Nigeria Insurance Industry Data (NIID) in order to nip fake insurance in the bud.

Director-General of NIA, Mr. Sunday Thomas, in Ilorin, Kwara State disclosed that only 3million vehicles are genuinely covered under the umbrella body data base.

According to Thomas, the NIA is collaborating with security agencies to rid the industry of fake papers. So far the platform has captured over three million vehicles and the association is launching the project in collaboration with state governments.

NIA said it has found out that over 75 percent of vehicles plying Nigerian roads do not have verifiable insurance papers.

Defining the NIID, the NIA boss said, it is an electronic platform designed by the NIA to store data of insured vehicles, aid verification of genuine policies and curb the menace of fake insurance certificates.

With the NIID, a motorist can send SMS to 33125 with policy number or vehicle plate number or visit the NIID website to verify genuineness of his or her vehicle insurance papers.

According to the NIA, the current effort represents a steady improvement, considering the fact that NIA uploaded about 300,000 policies when the database kicked off in 2011.

Since about 11.5 million vehicles ply Nigeria roads, the Association is working with relevant security agencies, such as the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) and the Vehicle Inspection Officers (VIOs) to ensure that road users have genuine insurance papers.

Appreciative of the technology applied by road safety especially in Ogun and Lagos states where the law enforcement agents have been using the gadget to track down holders of fake third party motor insurance certificate, the NIA test run cracking down of fake insurance papers from the two states.

The association had deployed over 25 gadgets to VIOs in Ogun State to verify vehicles in the state through the NIID so as to speed up the patronage of genuine motor insurance policy.

Justifying the association’s reason for picking Ogun State as a pilot state for the database, Thomas noted that insurance in Nigeria was traceable to Abeokuta, Ogun State, saying, the state was also one of the states to first indicate interest in the project.

The association is about to launch the project in Akwa-Ibom sates and Abuja.

Insurance operators believe that low government patronage and low awareness on insurance are some of the challenges confronting NIID project but are confident that when government at all levels abide by the compulsory insurance scheme, which motor insurance is part of the database will robustly expose those with fake papers.

While applauding the performance of the project since it was introduced, the DG averred that the success achieved so far from the first module had led to the proposed implementation of the second module in marine business.

Thomas, who seems happy about the significant progress recorded so far in the fight against fake certificates, assured that the industry will not rest until fake papers are totally eradicated.

He said the association has also deployed the marine platform to keep fake certificates out of marine business.

Send comments & enquiries to insuranceandyou@yahoo.com C M Y K

Stories by Rosemary Onuoha

N

ARRATING his encounter with fraudsters, a pensioner who pleaded anonymity said he got a call from someone who introduced himself as working in the Pension Transitional Arrangement Directorate (PTAD) and was willing to help him to process his gratuity and pension very fast. He said after series of discussions, he sent his employment details to enable the man process his pension and after some days, the person called back to demand a token of N50,000 so that he will use the money to grease the palms of the people who will endorse his file.

The pensioner said he got excited and was ready to part with the money demanded since it was very small compared to what he was expecting as gratuity and pension.

The retiree volunteered to take the cash to the imposter who rather gave him an account number to pay in the money. He said he told the man he was willing to bring the cash himself or pay with a bank draft but the imposter turned down the offer. He then became suspicious and cut off from him and he has not called him again, knowing his game was up.

The case of another retiree was not too different from the one above. His caller identified himself as a staff of the National Pension Commission (PenCom)

and offered a similar assistance in return for some money to grease the palms of the officers who will approve the payment.

He said he got suspicious and rushed to PenCom’s office for further enquiries only to find out that the caller was a fraudster.

Many retirees, particularly those under the Defined Benefits Scheme have had similar encounters with fraudsters at different times.

While some were as lucky as the pensioners above, having realised in time that the people calling them were imposters, others were not so lucky. They were duped and their financial predicaments worsened before they knew what was happening.

Pension fraud, a global

The pensioner said he got excited and was ready to part with the money demanded since it was very small compared to what he was expecting as gratuity and pension

phenomenon Fraud targeting pensioners is not a new phenomenon, it has been an age long crime, even in civilised societies. This prompted several researches by different groups into this type of crime.

One of such researches was conducted by Citizens Advice, which alerted those approaching retirement that criminals are ever seeking new ways to defraud pensioners.

The group reviewed 150 cases of fraud involving pensioners and identified various kinds of such scams including those encouraging pensioners to move their savings into a purported ‘new’ pension, fake investment opportunities and those offering apparently ‘free advice’ and support which actually costs money.

The organisation observed that in some cases pensioners were charged a fee for a service that is not necessary, while in some other cases pensioners were encouraged to send personal information and bank details, either by email or phone. It therefore, advised pensioners and those about to retire to be wary of the rising incidence of pension scams.

The Chief Executive of Citizens Advice, Mr. Gillian Gup observed that scammers see pensioners as prime targets, saying “there are many people looking to benefit from the new pension rules, including scammers.

Fraudsters can ruin people’s retirement plans by taking a

BRIEFING: F rom left, Mr. Sunday Thomas, Director General Nigerian Insurers Association(NIA); Mr. Fola Daniel, Commissioner of Insurance; Mr. Mohammed Kari, Commissioner for Insurance Technical, and Mr. Adamu Balanti, Director, Research and Statistics, National Insurance Commission (NAICOM), during the annual seminar for insurance correspondents in Ilorin, Kwara State.

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JUNE 17, 2015

BRIEFING: From left, Mr. Segun Omosehin, Managing Director, Mutual Benefits Life; Mr. Akin Ogunbiyi; Group Managing Director of Mutual Benefits Group and Mrs Ellen Offo, Head Corporate Communications of the company during a media briefing held at its head office in Lagos.

Don’t pay anybody to access your retirement benefits portion or all of a victim’s pension pots.”

In Nigeria, Many retirees are victims of pension fraud, particularly those that retired under the Defined Benefits Scheme (DBS). Many have parted with various amounts of money to induce some nonexisting pension officers to approve their gratuity and pension. Some others have received calls, telephone messages and electronic mails demanding for money to speed up the processing of their pension and gratuities only to be duped by fraudsters.

Fraudsters often succeeded in duping pensioners because many workers close to retirement age are usually confused about how to access their retirement benefits.

Dependants of missing and deceased workers and retirees also fall victims to fraudsters.

Stakeholders in the pension industry, including regulator, retirement savings managers, and pension experts have all warned retirees and workers nearing retirement age to be wary of the activities of pension fraudsters. “You are not required to pay money to anybody to access your pensions and those demanding tokens to help you process your gratuity and pension are fraudsters. Be warned,” they stressed.

Documentation under Defined Benefits Scheme The Pension Transitional Arrangement Directorate (PTAD), the body charged with the management of Defined Benefits Schemes in the country has introduced a biometric data

capturing programme to provide a reliable and comprehensive database of pensioners under the scheme in the country. Eligible pensioners under this scheme are expected to participate in a biometric verification exercise conducted by the agency for the different organisations under its purview.

Showing up personally and presenting all relevant employment and retirement details during the exercise and follow-up ones is the only thing a retiree under the scheme is expected to do to get his pension monthly. Nobody can influence this process so anybody asking a retiree to pay money to do so on his behalf is a fraudster.

According to the PTAD’s Director in charge of the

Pension Support Department, Mrs. Roz Benokagbue the agency makes sure that the exercise is seamless and that participating retirees enjoy a level of comfort during the exercise.

“We are taking the full biometric capture because the whole point is that we will never have to do this again. This is the only time we will call them together again for verification.

In the future, we will just have a mild verification every six months, which will only require their fingerprint. This is just to show that they are still alive. We now have their full details and information,” she assured.

Documentation under CPS Under the Contributory Pension Scheme (CPS), a worker who retired mandatorily on

,

CE & YOU

— 23

We are taking the full biometric capture because the whole point is that we will never have to do this again.

This is the only time we will call them together again for verification. In the future, we will just have a mild verification every six months, which will only require their fingerprint.

attaining 60 years of age or 35 years in service or retired voluntarily on attainment of 50 years of age, is expected to present an official notice of retirement/exit from last employer, his last pay slip not less than three months from the date of retirement (stamped and signed by employer) or any evidence of last annual remuneration and a certified true copy of the Retirement Bond certificate if he is retiring from the public sector.

If he is retiring from the private sector or self-funding Ministries, Department and Agencies (MDA), he will provide evidence of any accrued pension entitlements not remitted into his RSA and a confirmation of any contributions owed by his employer as well as an evidence of the terms and conditions of employment for those retiring from the private sector.

In addition to the above, the retiring worker is expected to submit a duly completed Retirement Withdrawal form, two passport photographs, completed Programmed

The RSA balance of a deceased worker may consist of proceeds of the Group Life Insurance Policy, if he was in employment when he died; the accumulated contribution and accrued pension benefit.

,

Withdrawal Agreement and Retiree Indemnity form deposed to before a Commissioner of oath or Notary Public, Birth Certificate/Age Declaration and photocopy of any form of identification (i.e.

Driver’s license, National ID, etc.).

If one is retiring on medical ground, in addition to the above, he is expected to present a certified true copy of a medical certificate issued by a properly constituted Medical Board or a suitably qualified physician.

In the case of deceased or missing worker or retirees, the beneficiary under a Will or an Administrator appointed under a Letter of Administration will access the balance in the deceased or missing person’s Retirement Savings Account (RSA) in line with the Pension Reform Act, 2014 or the Regulations for the Administration of Retirement and Terminal Benefits en-bloc.

The RSA balance of a deceased worker may consist of proceeds of the Group Life Insurance Policy, if he was in employment when he died; the accumulated contribution and accrued pension benefit.

About PTAD Established August 2013 in line with provision of Section 30(2) (a) of the Pension Reform Act, 2004 and now Section 42 (1) of the Pension Reform Act 2014, the PTAD took over the management of the Defined Benefits pension schemes of federal parastatals and agencies and has been implementing a new structure, which is a clear departure from the old system and also introduced a new orientation to service delivery to meet the needs of pensioners.

MBAG attributes award to dynamism of NAICOM

M

anagement of M u t u a l Benefits Assurance Group has said that the recent award from the African Insurers Organisation, AIO, is recognition of the Group’s efforts, initiatives, as well as investments in the Nigerian insurance industry.

Group Managing Director, Mr. Akin Ogunbiyi, who disclosed this to journalists at the corporate head office of the company in Lagos, said that the award shows the dynamism, leadership, as well as support of the National Insurance Commission, NAICOM, all through the years.

Ogunbiyi hailed NAICOM for its dynamism, support and initiatives in the past eight years which has led to the company emerging the Most Innovative Insurance Company 2015 at the AIO awards held in Tunis, Tunisia last Month.

Recall that Mutual Benefits Assurance emerged winner at the AIO awards sponsored by African Reinsurance.

According to Ogunbiyi, there cannot be any innovation when the regulators are not dynamic, understanding, and supportive towards the operators and the business of insurance.

According to him if NAICOM had withheld its leadership role and support towards the

company, it would not have been able to win the Most Innovative Insurance Company in Africa.

Ogunbiyi said that the greatest platform which made Mutual Benefits win the award is the introduction of Market Developmental and Restructuring Initiative (MDRI) by NAICOM. He said that the major focus was to take insurance to the grassroots and ensure that the majority of low income earners have access to insurance, noting that those who began the sale of insurance in Nigerian focused more on the grassroot.

He assured that Mutual Benefits is poised to take

insurance out of the cities and to the rural areas in order to ensure financial inclusion.

The award ceremony which is in three categories namely: Insurance Company of the year, Insurance Innovation Company of the year and Insurance CEO of the year award saw Mutual benefits Insurance clinching the award over two other companies in Africa.

Mutual Benefits won the “Innovation Company of the year Award” for the use of technology, breakthrough in products/ service delivery and innovative distribution channels /method introduced in the sale of insurance products to reach the grass root.

24 — Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JUNE 17, 2015

FrieslandCampina increases equity stak e in subsidiar o 68% stake subsidiaryy tto Stories by PETER EGWUATU

F

RIESLANDCAMPINA has increased its equity stake in its subsidiary FrieslandCampina WAMCO Nigeria Plc from 54.58 to 67.61 percent and has notified the Securities and Exchange Commission of Nigeria, SEC of the transactions.

Specifically, FrieslandCampina acquired 13.03 percent of the shares for a total consideration of approximately 180 million euros.

CEO of Royal FrieslandCampina Roelof Joosten said: “The size of the market, the

growth outlook and the commitment of the Nigerian people to bolstering the stability and economy of the country are the reasons why FrieslandCampina will continue to invest in its subsidiary FrieslandCampina WAMCO.” FrieslandCampina WAMCO has been a key player in Nigeria since 1954. The Nigerian Peak brand is one of the key brands in FrieslandCampina’s portfolio and enjoys iconic status in Nigeria.

FrieslandCampinaWAMCO Nigeria produces, packages, markets and distributes a large

variety of dairy products and is a major force in fastmoving consumer goods in Nigeria. Besides Peak, its leading brands are Three Crowns and Friso. With this transaction FrieslandCampina demonstrates its commitment to Nigeria and to its dairy market.

Under the terms of the transaction which was executed on the NASD OTC trading platform, FrieslandCampina has acquired 127,184,030 ordinary shares in FrieslandCampina WAMCO at NGN315.67 per share.

ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING : From left, Chairman, Suleiman Yahyah; MD/CEO, Norbert th Bielderman and another Director, Faruk Umar, during the company’s 34 Annual General Meeting, AGM held at the Sheraton Hotel, Abuja.

Vono repositions, assures shareholders of improved performance V

ONO Products Plc has disclosed that it has embarked on a number of initiatives to reposition it as a leading brand in the Nigeria’s manufacturing sector, while assuring shareholders of improved performance.

Speaking with journalists after the company’s Annual General Meeting, AGM, the acting Managing Director, Mr. Olatunji Anjorin explained that the company was not just a manufacturer of foams as it has series of other products in its portfolio.

According to him, the company would roll out many innovative products that appeal to different segment of the society including children and youth.

Anjorin, noted that as a major brand, Vono Products would continue to live up to expectation of its diverse stakeholders.

“We are sensitive and innovation. We are taking advantage of social media space to ensure full inclusion of the young ones in our new approach to product development “We are looking at our payment system aesthetically to make our products affordable by different segment of the society.”

Addressing the company’s shareholders, the chairman, Mr Mohammed Yinusa C M Y K

expressed joy that despite the inclement operating environment, the company achieved operating revenue of N889.7million, a modest growth of more than 5 percent over the previous year.

“Operating profit improved significantly by 5 per cent (N26.4 million in 2014 as against N17.4million in 2013) .

The growth in turnover particularly reflected the marketing efforts of the growing customers’ satisfaction with our products.

The business continues to gain momentum, recording another modest improvement on out profit before tax...” , he said.

On the proposed integration of Vono Products with Vitafoam Nigeria Plc, Anjorin explained that professionals had commenced work and the outcome would be made public later.

Commenting on the tough operating environment, Anjorin lamented the high cost of infrastructure in Nigeria. He appealed to the federal government to create an enabling environment were manufacturers could operate at optimal level. He also emphasized the need for quality products saying that government policy should discourage high influx of inferior products in the real sector.

Quoted companies and their shareholders in 2014 (2)

T

HE previous week, we made subsidy claims which started with the were the payments they made mention of the Annual to their creditor banks. The General Meetings, AGMs, of recent announcement by the companies during this year. CBN that the names of bank The reports from the meetings loan defaulters would be indicate that shareholder published should, on comments were favourable publication, give sufficient with respect to the insight into the nature of these performance of the companies. loans that are conveniently For the banks, the described as oil and gas credits. shareholders were The Federal High Courts also complaining about payments have a number of suits arising that the banks made to the from these post-2009 oil and gas Assets Management credits. One of the banks that Corporation of Nigeria, understood the risk has AMCON, the Central Bank of indicated that it would not grant Nigeria, CBN, and the any loans to premium motor Nigerian Deposit Insurance spirit traders because the bank Corporation, NDIC. One was convinced that any business interesting idea from one of the that required a subsidy to be meetings was that the bank’s claimed from government directors should be made before it could make a profit was personally liable for certain not a good business for the fines levied by the bank.

CBN. For First Bank example, a bank First Bank’s Nigeria Limited, is required to corporate the major obtain the business unit of permission of the culture may FBN Holdings CBN if the bank have been built Plc, recently wishes to engage on the announced that as a shareholder its current Chief principle of in a non-banking Executive would enterprise. The enthroning a retire at the end fine for failure to Chief of 2015 after obtain CBN Executive who serving on the permission, I Board of believe, is would carry Directors for N2million. This is out the bidding about seven the sort of fine that of the years, first as an the shareholder Executive kingmakers would want the Director and then liability to be for two terms as placed on the bank directors. Chief Executive. When the By and large, I believe that current Chief Executive was the shareholders’ comments appointed, a number of the were simply indulgent of the bank’s executive directors had performance of their banks’ to retire apparently because management. AMCON came these executive directors had into being after the CBN’s been appointed to the Board of intervention in some banks in Directors before the current 2009. A visit to the Federal Chief Executive. Some of these High Courts would confirm retired directors continued their the large number of suits banking careers as Chief between AMCON and the Executives in other banks with bank loan defaulters. The significant improvements in the impression one gets is that the performances of these other banks raised substantial sums banks. First Bank’s corporate through share offers in 2007 culture may have been built on and thereabouts and the principle of enthroning a subsequently these sums and Chief Executive who would more were thrown at high risk carry out the bidding of the loans. kingmakers. However, the More recently, the significant bank’s performance has not bank loan defaulters are matched that of the two other petroleum products traders. major banks, Guaranty Trust Various traders obtained loans Bank and Zenith Bank. One from banks after the traders would expect that in appointing were granted licences by the a new Chief Executive, First authorities for the importation Bank would put in place a team of premium motor spirit. When of a Chief Executive plus the products arrived, some of executive directors that would the traders sold the products bring about substantial and failed to remit sales improvements in the bank’s proceeds to the banks which performance. provided the credits for the importation. The traders also •TO BE CONTINUED

VANGUARD, WEDNESDAY, JUNE 17, 2015—25

26—VANGUARD, WEDNESDAY, JUNE 17, 2015

DIARY ICT

Africa Cape Town, South Africa July 15-16, 2015

Preview Prosthetics you can feel!

Nigeria drops in Networked Readiness ranking ... As African countries face digital transformation task

By Prince Osuagwu

F

A

n artificial leg able to “feel” could make the prosthetic limb safer to use while also helping eliminate phantom pains.

Attaching the “sensory enhanced” prosthetic leg involves first surgically moving the patient’s nerve endings so they will connect to the stimulators in the leg, which communicate with six sensors in the foot of the prosthetic. When these sensors detect pressure, that information is transmitted via the stimulators to the patient’s brain, allowing the patient to “feel” the pressure. This added sensation helps to improve balance while walking while also relieving the phantom pains triggered by the brain as it searches for signals from the missing limb.

C M Y K

ORGET the toga of being the fastest growing telecommunications market in the world; the unprecedented mobile penetration and the huge market potentials, Nigeria may not be in the digital future, if adequate policy measures are not urgently taken.

This is because technology is dynamic; it does not count on what you have done before, it thrives on innovation and speed of scalability to new trends.

Frightening statistics are now emerging, which show the urgent need for the country to get its act right through proactive ICT policies or risk playing catch-up in the new world.

The just released 2015 Global Information Technology Report, GITR, by World Economic Forum, found several African countries, including Nigeria, dropped in Networked Readiness Index ranking.

Networked Readiness is a crucial

I N S I D E

indicator to the ability of a country to harness the potential of ICT infrastructure at its disposal to drive social and economic development.

Among the African top four technology countries, Nigeria, South Africa, Kenya and Egypt, only Kenya was found by the report to have improved in networked readiness- meaning that it may also be the first digitized African country if others do not shore up activities appropriately.

According to the report, “while Kenya’s Networked Readiness ranking improved, climbing six places to 86th position, the same is not true for other major African economies. Nigeria dropped seven places and now ranks 119th; South Africa dropped five places and now ranks 75th and Egypt dropped three places and now ranks 94th”.

The report however, challenged them to take full advantage of the potential offered by information and communications technologies, ICTs, to drive social and economic transformation.

2015 IT Assembly: Stakeholders call for strict regulation, better funding of ICT sector PAGE 27

Only 39% of the global population enjoys access to the Internet despite the fact that more than half now owns a mobile phone

Nigeria needs more awareness, not legislation on collocation — Coker PAGE 28

Worried by this scenario, some Senior Cisco Executives have highlighted the considerable challenge facing most African countries as they seek to develop the infrastructure, institutions and skills needed to reap the full benefits of ICTs. According to them, only 39% of the global population enjoys access to the Internet despite the fact that more than half now own a mobile phone and Africa ranks as one of the highest in mobile phone penetration.

Again, they discovered that lack of access to the Internet is depriving many Africans of the opportunity to take full advantage of e-learning as well as online financial, data and health services.

To them, these challenges call for governments to shape policies that will spur development of broadband access.

Cisco believes that crucial to achieving societal and economic transformation is the ability to embrace the Internet of Everything (IoE), the connections between people, process, data and things, to create unprecedented opportunities for African citizens as well as the public and private sectors.

However, in order to embrace the IoE, African governments and businesses must be fully digitised, supported by a highly robust and secure network.

Continues on page 28

VANGUARD, WEDNESDAY, JUNE 17, 2015—27

New Horizons powers N400m ICT centre at Babcock University

By Emeka Aginam

T

O deepen Information Technology, IT, education in Nigerian universities, New Horizons Nigeria, one of the largest private IT training companies, has powered a N400 million ($2m) state- of the -art ICT skills acquisition centre at the Babcock university, Ilesan-Remo, Ogun State.

The center will contain 2,000 computers, bestin- class education technologies like InMotion- Biometrics (IMBM) , SAP LMS success factor, U-Pointer among others.

With this development, Babcock after completion of the ICT centre is expected to boast of a 3,000 computer training facility.

The overall vision is to make Nigeria the IT hub for Africa and the world by getting Nigerian graduates and youths in general to replicate and even beat the exploits of Bill Gates, Mack Zuckerberg, Michael Dell, Steve Jobs, among others through development of innovative software, applications to benefit the world.

Speaking at the weekend during the foundation laying ceremony, Mr. Dotun Sulaiman, Chairman, New Horizons Nigeria, said that the facility when completed will position Babcock as the premier IT learning higher institution in Africa.

The building which will be called New Horizons/Babcock ICT Empowerment Centre, according to him, will be used by undergraduate and post graduate students as well as those outside seeking the university’s international ICT certifications.

According to him, each floor of the new building will have 500 seater computers including intelligent boards, multimedia projectors, networking, software, international IT-E biz courses/curricula, furniture, UPS, certified instructors, international exams centre and students

2015 IT Assembly: Stakeholders call for strict regulation, better funding of ICT sector *Say lack of optic fibre network retards devt

By Emeka Aginam

A

LTHOUGH Nigeria has achieved tremendous growth in Information and Communications Technology, ICT, since independence, the booming sector is also going through some challenges.

Despite tremendous success recorded in ICT since the liberalization of the sector, there are still tremendous opportunities for growth, job and wealth creation that must be harnessed by government.

ICT experts at the just concluded 2015 Computer Professionals Registration Council of Nigeria, CPN , IT Assembly with theme “Developments in Information Technology in Nigeria: The Gains, Challenges and Way Forward” while taking stock of the industry rose up from the conference saying that there was need for strict regulation, better funding, deployment of fibre optic network by the government, among others.

Earlier in his report, the Registrar/ Secretary to the Council of CPN, S.A Sikiru while admitting that the Nigerian IT Profession has no doubt established its presence and relevance in the development of the nation noted that the year under review was characterized by some challenges especially funding.

Even with the financial constraints coupled with the general apprehension in the country on security, he said that CPN was not deterred from carrying out its regulatory functions.

The regulation: “The Act 49 of 1993 makes mandatory for all persons and organizations seeking to engage or engaged in the sale or use of computing facilities, and/ or provision of professional services in computing in the country to be registered by the Council and licensed to carry out such activities.

SOCIETY & SOCIAL MEDIA

By Agbolade Omowole @iamagbolade

5 strategies to power up your social media marketing plan business that must survive in the age of social

A

CHIEVING extra- ordinary results using social media has very little to do with energy.

It is all about building a strategy to achieve your end goal. We will look at 7 strategies that will work all the time. They are: Dialogue: Twelve years ago, there was no Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, StumbleUpon, Google+ and Foursquare. In just around a decade we have moved from a monologue oriented conversation to dialogue.

With the birth of social media, there was a paradigm shift in the way we communicate.

Experts say you no longer have a choice if you should do social media, the question is how well you do it.

Increase your followers: While engagement matters most in social media marketing, it is also important to increase the numbers. More followers provide you with the opportunity to get more people to hear what you have to say.

The way to increase followers is to clearly define your target audience, and then talk about what they want to hear. Provide answers to their questions and solutions to their problems. The last thing to do is to buy followers. Most times, the followers you buy are robots who are not capable of spreading your message.

Listen first before selling: Social media is a paradigm shift in business to consumer relationship. It is shifting the power from the hands of the companies to the hands of consumers. Any

media must prioritize the needs of consumers.

The last thing to do is to sell using social media because people hate to be sold to. It is better to engage your consumers and end users and highlight the benefits of your products and/ or services and let them make the decision to buy or not.

Companies must learn how to listen to their employees also. They will open up easily on Facebook. Employees have the ability to discover information which they can contribute to in a positive way Guard your Reputation: Statistics have revealed that 78 percent of consumers buy based on peer recommendation and only 14 percent of them trust advertisements. In other words, what people are saying about your brand on Facebook counts more than all the money you spend on a television advertisement Transparency: Employees, managers and executives are now sharing what they are working on, how they are feeling, who they are meeting with, and what is happening with their department or the company as a whole in a discoverable and public way. Being open and transparent make them connect more easily with consumers.

If you want to get your consumers glued to your products and services be lovable and likeable because people do business with people they like and trust.

Former President/ Chairman of Council, Computer Professionals Registration Council of Nigeria, CPN, Alhaja Sekinat Yusuf, newly elected CPN President/ Chairman of Council, Prof. Vincent Asor, and the Registrar/ Secretary to Council, CPN, S.A Shehu at the just concluded CPN 2015 IT Assembly held in Cross River Calaba. Photo

by Emeka Aginam

“It is definitely illegal to engage gathering that no nation can in computing professional plan, develop, compete or practice without satisfying the aspire without the efficient use above condition, registration of information technology.

He said the nation was faced and possession of currency with myriad of challenges, valid license”, he noted.

Admitting that poor funding particularly the issue of quality of the Nigerian IT sector remains education.

“Our education system and amajor obstacle to digital economy, he said that reality computing curriculum do not puts the IT professionals at a equip student with requisite crucial position in determining skills needed to face present the direction and pace of the day technology tasks neither is it preparing our nation for future nation’s development.

“We should not allow challenges. To fight corruption, mediocrity and quackery in the nationa has to rely on IT. whatever form in the industry. The burden of innovation, That is the only way to position towards actualizing our joint aims in this the IT industry in generation lies on the national Data is us” scheme of Data and privacy things”he added. wealth. policies Fibre network Data is part Another major In the opinion of challenge the Professor Zsolt of our industry faces, Lipcsey of the natural according to him is department of the the existing data Computer Science, resources. protection and University of And in privacy policies.

Calabar, in his “ Data is wealth. paper titled: today’s Data is part of our ‘’Emerging knowledge natural resources. technologies for And in today ’s n a t i o n a l based knowledge based development," the economy, data is economy, biggest obstacle to about everything. the development data is The Federal of the Nigerian ICT Government about sector is lack of forecasted that it fibre network. everything would generate “Due to market annual revenue of failures, including 6.8 trillion naira indiscriminatory ($34.2bn) this year access to the from oil and gas submarine cable capacity and international sales. Some of the biggest gateways, exorbitant back haul technology companies generate and interconnection fees, in multiples of this from the expensive domestic transit sales of “Big data” in some form. prices and lack intercity fibre An example of such is connectivity and weak and WhatsApp” he explained.

While Nigerians patronize uncompetitive broadband all these companies heavily access infrastructure, the bandwidth is not used. Nigeria and contribute their data is one of the countries with these freely for them to process, store and ultimately sell, he symptoms”, he explained. said that these companies Speaking during the opening among others do not have motivation for ceremony, Austin Okere in his any keynote address told the infrastructure development in Nigeria.

28—VANGUARD, WEDNESDAY, JUNE 17, 2015

Nigeria needs more awareness, not legislation on collocation — Coker

Nigeria drops in Networked Readiness ranking Continues from page 25

By Prince Osuagwu

C

ollocation and shared infrastructure are practices which have found it difficult to penetrate freely in the Nigerian ICT market. While many companies are sharing infrastructure, a whole lot believe in slugging it out with each other in amassing infrastructure which ordinarily they should have shared from somewhere. While some industry stakeholders call for legislation to compel Organisations to collocate, Chief Executive Officer of Rack Centre, Mr Tunde Coker in this interview, said what is necessarily required is more awareness.

Excerpts: You've been in business for sometime now, how has the Nigerian market responded to data centre services?

It is changing and we talk about the addressable market. Our analysis shows that there is a significant addressable market in Nigeria. However, we will have to unlock that market a bit like it happened in telecoms market over the last 10 years. We have been doing a lot of work in that regard. It is also credit to the media which is actually devoting space for some of us to articulate presentation of the changes in the marketplace right now for connectivity and shared collocation services. Businesses have to thrive through technology. Banks, telcos and oil and gas firms need to have highly reliable technology to support their systems. Energy companies coming in after the privatisation need to put in technology very quickly to efficiently run and thrive. They all need data centres. If the data centre is down, your business is in jeopardy. You have to invest in core infrastructure - networks and data centre.

Recently you partnered with the Internet Exchange Point of Nigeria (IXPN) and Vodacom Business? What benefits can consumers derive from this partnership?

We are carrier neutral, we are not tied to any particular network carrier. It is a unique positioning for us. We are integrated into the IXPN, which means therefore that for online traffic, the inter-change is pretty much instantenous. There is no latency in a high-quality, highreliabilty environment that we have here. We are delighted to have this partnership and I think it is indeed transformstional for the economy. No advanced economy exists successfully without fundamental technology infrastructure. Broadband, collocation and fixed internet facilities. are fundamental and having an exchange point here actually raises the game in moving Nigeria foward as far as international core infrastructure capability is concerned. class, highly reputable, Pan-

African companies.

But Rack Centre seems to focus more on the large corporates and multinationals.

Are there services tailored towards survival of the SMEs? We don't turn back attention from Small and Medium scale Enterprises. Some of the things we do with our reseller partners are particularly targeted at SMEs. We provide opportunities for SMEs to have base technologies that are the same standard. We package out the solutions specifically for the SMEs. Do you know what would transform SMEs in this country?

Cloud computing.

Almost all the telecommunications operators in Nigeria are building their own data centres, how do you intend to still retain your market share?

We are carrier neutral - so that's a plus. Telecoms companies, with their own data centre are also our partners. We have MTN, MainOne, Globacom, Vodacom Business, and so on.

Do you know what would transform SMEs in this country?

Cloud computing These are the networks our clients use. When a customer comes in here, basically they have a choice of carriers. They can have their primary, backup and they can switch to any network. That's the

•Tunde

Coker

value proposition we give to corporates. Our value proposition to partners in the telco space, as we build out the range of customers we have, it also opens up the opportunity for them to have their network to be fully utilised.

So, it is a symbiotic relationship. Competition is not a bad thing. We need to increase the capacity in the economy.

For businesses in Nigeria, is outsourcing the way to go?

I would rather say rightsourcing is the way to go. The world has moved on. The old days when big multinationals actually build their own network has changed.

Do you think regulation is needed to compel businesses to collocate?

I think businesses would have to come to terms with it. It is a straight-forward business issue. It is a matter of available capital, time to market, skills and competencies. We do not need legislation, what we need is more awareness.

Meanwhile, to become a digital economy, requires an agile IT model, and the ability to rethink core processes for the digital era. It requires embracing new security, cloud, mobile, social and analytics technologies. In fact, to fully digitize takes imagination, investment and expertise.

This is why Networked Readiness is such a crucial indicator of a country’s ability to implement and take full advantage of ICTs. According to GM, Cisco, Nigeria, Ghana, Liberia and Sierra Leone, Dare Ogunlade, “at Cisco, we have learned that technology helps people find innovative solutions to address societal problems. We believe there has never been a better time to combine human ingenuity and technological innovation to improve the lives of all Africans. As home to nine of the world’s 15 fastest growing economies, Africa is ripe for transformation and is an increasingly attractive environment for global business investments. Technology is at an inflection point and African economies need to prioritise ICT adoption to take full advantage of the benefits that embracing digital transformation strategies will offer.”

The GITR report suggests that investing in infrastructure and education; supporting the development of local content; and creating an enabling environment by promoting competition through sound regulation will correct the imbalance in many African countries today. Cisco is committed to working with public and private sector organisations in Africa to work on strategies for the digital transformation, thereby helping them transform their IT strategy, connect everything, embrace analytics, and secure their technology and operations.

“Africa can make massive strides in connecting more citizens and bringing about positive social and economic change by improving its Networked Readiness. With political will and commitment from the private sector, progress can be made in bringing the benefit of ICTs to more people. We are already facing the next wave of the Internet – the Internet of Everything (IoE) –Africa needs to prioritise ICT development if it is to benefit from the new experiences and efficiencies that the IoE will bring,” Ogunlade added.

How technology boosts hospitality business, by Akpabio

By Prince Osuagwu

M

anaging Director of foremost hospitality management company, Nanet group, Mr. Ini Akpabio has lauded the advancements tech-

•Ini Akpabio

...sets tourism agenda for Buhari nology has brought to the hospitality business and the entire tourism Eco system in Nigeria.

For him, any hospitality business that does not ride on the back of technology may lose huge patronage which may lead to extinction.

Akpabio said that for his Nanet group which has hotels spread all over the country, technology has been a dependable tool for advancements the group has undergone in recent time.

He however regretted that some prevailing circumstances and lack of infrastructure to support some of the technologies that can further help hospitality, have limited his groups desires for some advanced tech facilities.

"We have created wifi network for our customers. A technology like CCTV which we deployed in all our hotels has ensured adequate security for our customers.

We have also innovated to the new trend where our menu lists are presented to customers on' iPads and

other tablets.

"However, there are many technological innovations we can copy from other hospitality businesses from advanced countries but we are afraid to bring them here because there is no electricity to back them up."

Tourism Agenda for Buhari Meanwhile, Akpabio who is also the Vice President of the umbrella body of Nigerian tourism and hospitality business practitioners also identified few quick steps the new president, Muhammadu Buhari can take in the tourism sector to be able to harness the potentials for economic growth.

According to him, "there's no gainsaying the truth that over time, government has exhibited laxity in policy formulation as it regards foreign intervention in Nigerian business sector and tourism is not exempted. Wrong people who are not core professionals are always appointed to head very sensitive and

strategic sectors. This has led to very little or no government will, to see how industries are regulated and managed.

"Now, if President Buhari must make a headway, if he must leverage on the tourism potentials of the country to salvage the economy like other countries of the world are doing, he must first of all agree that Nigerian economy needs diversification. Tourism is one of those areas it should divert to, in order to get things steady. However, relevant professionals should man positions so that appropriate development is achieved.

"He should re-enact presidential committes on sectors like that of tourism, which he himself will be the head. By doing that we will rub minds and together appreciate the problems and solutions.He should also implement the tourism blue prints and also establish the tourism bank which will always see reason to come to the aid of tourism practitioners whenever the need arises. These little steps if taken, will surely bring this economy to its glorious past" he added.

VANGUARD, WEDNESDAY, JUNE 17, 2015—29

‘ICT outsourcing can generate 30m jobs yearly’

By Emmanuel Elebeke

E

VEN as the new administration is tinkering with how best to tackle the daunting task of engaging the army of unemployed youths across the country, stakeholders in the ICT sector, say Business Process Outsourcing has the potential of generating 30 million jobs in a year, if constraints bedeviling the nation’s infrastructure are removed.

The stakeholders urged the Buhari-led government to pay close attention to the sector if the government hopes to achieve its job creation plan.

The assertion was made at a round table meeting of the ICT experts with the theme “Jobs for All - Sustainable, Demand Driven Job Creation in Nigeria through Information Communication Technology’ organized by NAITEOC in conjunction with the World Bank in Abuja.

The Chairman of the meeting and Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Communication Technology, Dr. Tunji Olaopa stated that Nigeria needs to deepen and consolidate on the laudable ICT initiative formulated in the past so as to

expand its contribution to Gross Domestic Product and create jobs to arrest the d a u n t i n g challenges of unemployment in the country.

He said that Nigeria needed to expand the scope of ICT to cover more outsourcing because it has the potential of creating the jobs.

‘Dr. Olaopa maintained that “with proper policy framework and implementation, the nation will be able to solve the challenges of unemployment using ICT especially in the area of outsourcing. Look into the direction of Public service, the MDA need to shed off some of its secondary functions and concentrate more on their primary mandates hence encouraging outsourcing to thrive.”

In his opening remark, the Director General of National Information Technology Development Agency, (NITDA), Mr. Peter Jack noted that adopting multistakeholders approach to the outsourcing project in Nigeria would help in ICT sector to be

a catalyst for job creation.

He said the challenge the subsector is facing now is the idea of domain control which has defined our national life adding that efforts of some MDA in creating job were not yielding the desire results because of lack of coordination and partnership.

He said the Agency has tried to adopt the NASCOM of India models of developing outsourcing in the country.

“We wish to take outsourcing from the proper way by looking at the innovators and design an ecosystem for it to form a chain line of development.

Jack said that the Agency has come up with intervention programme on this by approaching Abuja Technology Village to incorporate the Computer Market in Wuse, in its master plan while the Pan African University of Technology would provide the academic training for most of the technicians.

Inlaks makes case for unbanked Nigerians

I

By Maxmilian Anosike

CT infrastructure and solutions provider, Inlaks Computers, has emphasized the need for Nigeria to tap into the huge potential of the unbanked but bankable population in the country by reaching out to them to boost revenue from retail ecommerce sales.

As one of the guest speakers at the recently concluded 5thMobileMoneyExpo 2015 seminar in Lagos, Inlaks spokesperson, Mr. Jide Oladipo buttressed that Nigeria is still abysmally behind in the global mobile money revolution of reaching the large number of people at the bottom of the pyramid.

The MobileMoneyExpo is an annual event which brings together top executives from mobile network operators, banks, regulators, card processors, switch providers, systems and application providers. It showcases more case studies on digital financial services, agency banking, policies, mobile payments, cards, micro-finance and

technologies driving financial inclusion.

Speaking on ‘Charting Africa’s Cashless Future’, Strategic Account Manager, Inlaks, Mr. Jide Oladipo, said “the strategy and brainstorming sessions should be characterized by the need to reach the people at the bottom of the pyramid, more of

the unbanked.

In his presentation, he enumerated five key factors that are driving cashless initiatives in Africa as; continued economic growth, experience in other markets, technological advancements, readiness of African consumers for the payment revolution and regulations. He pointed out that Africa has the world’s fastest growing population and its market accounts for 4 of top 30 global markets for mobile payment readiness.

•From left: Multimedia Personality, Olisa Adibua, OLX Gives back buyer, Mrs. Enoh Bakare; PR & Communications Manager, OLX Uche Nwagboso; OLX gives back buyer, Desmond and OAP Dan Foster, during the OLX gives back dinner, in Lagos.

30 — Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JUNE 17, 2015

Esperance move to sign Bulbwa T

unisia’s Esperance have moved swiftly to secure the services of Nigeria U-20, Flying Eagles forward Bernard Bulbwa by moving to pay him $80,000 as part of his signing-on fee.

Bulbwa has said that he does not have a valid contract with the top Tunisian club after they have stalled from discussing with his London-based agent on some grey areas regarding the contract he reportedly signed in March.

“Esperance have now contacted me to furnish them with my bank details so that they could pay part of my signing-on fees. But I have directed them to my agent, he is the man they have to deal with if they really want me to play for them,” he disclosed.

Bulbwa’s contract will only kick off on July 1, 2015, even though the Tunis club asked him to come over immediately after the Flying Eagles crashed out of the FIFA U20 World Cup in New Zealand.

In the meantime, there are strong indications that a Norwegian club have moved to lure Bulbwa.

Sources informed the club have been hot on his chase since the African Youth Championship in Senegal.

F

•Osede

•Bulbwa

Real Madrid youngster’s Nigeria dream

ormer Spain youth international defender Derik Osede Prieto has revealed to BBC Sport why he wants to play for Nigeria.

The 22-year-old centre-back, who is known simply as Derik, has played at all youth levels for Spain including two appearances for the Under-21 team.

But Derik, a regular for European giants Real Madrid’s B side, is eligible to play for the Super Eagles because his father is Nigerian.

And under Fifa rules he is free to switch because he has not yet played for a country’s senior national team.

Despite possessing the talent to potentially make the step up to Spain’s senior side, Derik has issued what appears to be effectively a come-and-get-me plea to the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF). “I have lived in Spain all my life and I am not sure the people in Nigeria are aware that I have Nigerian blood,” Derik told BBC Sport.

“But I crave for something special with Nigeria because it will give me a chance to properly connect with the ancestral home of my father. “My father is from Benin City [southern Nigeria] and even though I have never been there I always follow events in Nigeria. “I celebrated when the country won the Africa Cup of Nations in 2013 and I was cheering the team at the last World Cup in Brazil.”

Derik joined Real Madrid’s academy in 2002 at the age of nine and has steadily made the transition from the club’s C team to the Castilla side [B side], where he has become an integral member of La Fabrica.

•Sokari

Sokari demands more cash from Esperance

K

ingsley Sokari has demanded for more cash from Tunisia’s Esperance as clubs in Europe and Egypt have joined the chase for the Enyimba midfield ace. Esperance and Enyimba have agreed a transfer fee for Sokari, who has been capped by Nigeria at U-20, U-23 and full international levels. What is now left is for Esperance to agree personal terms with the player, who is expected this week to fly out to Tunisia with his agent for the negotiations.

He and his agent have been issued express visa to Tunisia, but it remains a fluid situation because Al Ahly of Egypt and now an unnamed French club have jumped into the race to sign the player fresh from the U-20 World Cup in New Zealand.

“Sokari wants more money from Esperance and he and his agent may well stall unless they get their way as they have several other clubs in Europe and Africa after the player now and they have been begged to hold on for formal offers from them shortly.”

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JUNE 17, 2015 — 31

Bolivia, Chile take lead in Copa America •Sanchez

Aguero eyes Ballon d'or at City A

guero has scored 107 goals for City in 163 appearances since joining the club in a £38million transfer from Atletico Madrid four years ago.

The 2014-15 campaign was his most impressive, with 32 goals in 41 games vindicating a change of training regime and diet after past problems with muscle injuries.

The challenge is now to continue on improving and reach the exalted status the likes of his Argentina teammate Lionel Messi and Real Madrid star Cristiano Ronaldo have reached as world players of the year.

A

gainst all odds Bolivia appeared today as co-leader of Group A alongside the local squad of Chile, both with four points after the results of Monday at the Copa America.

After achieving a goalless draw in its debut against Mexico, the Bolivian team starred in an extraordinary performance by beating Ecuador 3-2 in a match held at Elías Figueroa Brander stadium, in Valparaiso.

Ronald Raldes in the fifth minute, Martin Smedberg (18') and Marcelo Moreno through a penalty (43') scored the goals for Bolivia, which returned to win a match in the Copa America after 18 years, while Enner Valencia (48') and Miller Bolaños (81') scored for Ecuador.

The win put Bolivia to dream with qualifying for the quarterfinals, while the Ecuadorian side added its second loss of the tournament and is bound to beat Mexico in its next match to feed its almost nil chances of advancing to the next phase.

Mexico also had an amazing performance by drawing 3-3 with the favourite Chilean squad in a close game full of ups and downs on the score, with a stage at Julio Martínez Prádanos National Stadium, in Santiago.

Matias Vuoso scored twice in the minutes 21 and 66 to lead the attack of Mexico, seconded by Raul Jimenez (29 ‘), while Arturo Vidal on two occasions (22’, 55 ‘) -the second one through penalty- and Eduardo Vargas (42 ‘) scored for the locals.

PSG ‘leading Pogba race’ P

Aguero, speaking as he joined the race to partner Messi on the EA SPORTS FIFA 16 UK cover, said: “The truth is that I would be very happy with the Ballon d’Or I had a great year, I missed some games but the season has been very good, no?

“The Premier League has this vision where (they want) everybody in the world to watch it so I have plenty of chances to at least be nominated for the Ballon d’Or. “I think for any player it’s important Playing in the Premier League, obviously I have a lot of opportunities.”

•Pogba

•Aguero

aris St Germain are leading the race to sign Juventus midfielder Paul Pogba, according to Barcelona presidential candidate Agusti Benedito.

The French midfielder is expected to leave Juve this summer with top European clubs, including Barcelona, Manchester City and Paris Saint Germain reportedly keen to prise the 22-year-old away from Turin.

“Our people had a meeting with Pogba’s entourage and it was made clear that he has an offer of 12million euro per season from PSG and he does not want to turn it down,” Benedito said to the Spanish press. “And Juve will not sell him for less than 80million euros.

“I don’t discard it (his signing) but it’s not a case of Pogba yes or Pogba no.

“Considering those high demands, there are also other important players out there.”

Barcelona will hold presidential elections on July 18 and Benedito, a Catalan businessman, is in the running to become the next Barca supremo.

Barca, meanwhile, cannot field any new players until January 2016 due to a transfer ban imposed by FIFA for breaching rules on the transfer of players aged under 18.

Pogba was an important member of a Juve side that won a Serie A and Coppa Italia double this season as well as reaching the final of the Champions League.

The France international, who joined Juve on a free transfer from Manchester United in 2012, is under contract at the Italian champions for another four seasons.

Mexico held by Chile in six-goal Copa America thriller

H

osts Chile had to come from behind twice before themselves being pegged back by Mexico in a thrilling 3-3 Group A clash at the Copa America.

Mexican striker Matias Vuoso and Chile midfielder Arturo Vidal both scored twice in a game that roared from end to end and never let up in intensity. The result leaves Chile and Bolivia on four points, ahead of Mexico on two and Ecuador bottom without a point.

Chile face Bolivia in their final group game in Santiago while Mexico face Ecuador in Rancagua, both on Friday.

Vidal said Chile were improving as the

tournament wore on.

“It was a tough match, an end-to-end match, but the important thing is that we played better than in our opening game and we’re getting better,” Vidal said. “Now comes the match against Bolivia and we need to be at 100 percent.” Both sides went on the offensive from the outset and it was the Mexicans who took the lead in the 21st minute. Jesus Corona crossed from the left, Juan Carlos Medina knocked the ball back across the face of goal and Vuoso stabbed a left-foot shot past goalkeeper Claudio Bravo from close range, silencing nearly 50,000 fans in Santiago’s national stadium.

32 — VANGUARD, WEDNESDAY, JUNE 17, 2015

C M Y K

VOL. 1 NO 37

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 17, 2015

•Governor Willie Obiano, Obi of Onitsha Igwe Achebe in red cap and management team of SAB Miller and Intafact Beverages Limited during the commissioning of the new plant

SAB Miller’s Intafact Beverages Ltd to provide 40,000 jobs

BY CHIMAOBI NWAIWU

N

NEWI—The SAB Miller Plc is to provide 40, 000 additional jobs for youths in Anambra State and environs, the management of the company has said.

The management made this known during the commissioning of the $100 million Intafact Beverages Limited, one of its subsidiaries.

SAB Miller Plc, established in 2009 has the new plant at its Harbour Industrial Layout Onitsha base, in Anambra State.

The new facility was part of the main plant established with the assistance of the immediate past governor of the state Mr. Peter Obi, in which the state has an equity share of 10 per cent and is still asking for more allocation from the company, just as the new administration Governor Willie Obiano has declared its interest to buy from those who wanted to sell their own equity.

C M Y K

Speaking shortly after commissioning the facility, Obiano said that the focus of his administration was to support investments with potentials to grow the state economy and create employment opportunities for the teeming youths in the state.

He expressed satisfaction with the rapid growth of the company within the short period of its establishment, and attributed it to the investment-friendly environment created by his administration, even as he assured that his government would do more.

However, the history of the company cannot be written without mentioning the dogged, resilient, and relentless

effort of former Governor Obi’s administration.

Obi who was criticized and called all sorts of names when the ground breaking ceremony was done in 2009 however remained focused and ensured that the first phase of the factory was completed.

He was even accused of owning the highest number of shares in the company by political opponents who were not happy that his administration was attracting a gigantic and world class brewery like SAB Miller, the parent company of Intafact Beverages to the state, which was one

With this plant we are commissioning today, it makes one single largest brewery of SAB Miller outside South Africa

of its kinds in the South East.

Chief Host of the ceremony and SAE MD Nigeria and OPS Director West Africa, Mr. Simon Harvey said that SAB Miller had invested over $170 million in Intafact Beverages Onitsha, and thanked the Nigerian public for their support.

“With this plant we are commissioning today, it makes one single largest brewery of SAB Miller outside South Africa, and we have invested about $170 million so far. We are satisfied with the result of our investments; we are equally satisfied with the support we are getting from the traditional rulers and the people of the state.

“We have created 350 jobs and invested $5 million in training of staff.

We use local raw materials and local staff in production in our company, thereby making the state and the country gain all round,” he said.

Chairman of the company’s Board of Continues on page 2

2 — Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JUNE 17, 2015

By CHINENYEH OZOR

T

HE rich culture and tradition of Nimbo community in Uzo-Uwani local government area, Enugu State dates back to 1225 A.D as the

US-based Enugu Ezike people float health fund for kith and kin back home I

N a bid to make life more meaningful to the rural communities, the people of Enugu Ezike residing in the United States of America, USA, are to float a health fund aimed at addressing the ‘’basic medical needs’’ of their kith and kin back home in Enugu State.

The launch is to coincide with their 2nd Annual Convention in New York City, USA, starting from July 16 to July 18, 2015.

Already, eminent personalities from across the globe have been invited to grace the occasion which would witness cultural shows that depict the uniqueness of the people of Enugu Ezike, popularly known as Ezike Oba. In an email to South East Voice on the preparations for the convention, the President of the Enugu Ezike people in USA, Prince Linus Eze said, ‘’We are a non-profit volunteer based organization. We foster a positive environment for our members. Our membership comprises of people originating from the four old autonomous communities of Umuitodo, Ozzi, Esodo and Ezeodo residing in the USA; conscious of the uniqueness of our culture, but appreciative of the diverse cultural values and orientation inherent in the US to which our culture shall be subsumed as may be practically

feasible and out of relative obscurity to discover our destiny and fulfil our mission under brotherhood, unionism, compromise, rectitude and in pursuance of selfless service for the common good of our people in the United States and in Enugu Ezike. ‘’Furthermore, it is with great pleasure that we would like to extend the invitation to all Enugu Ezike in Diaspora to join our fabulous convention.

We would like to use our event to bring the spotlight on the Basic medical need of families in Enugu Ezike. Our members and our friends in the United States particularly those interested in the economy of health care delivery. We will launch our health care campaign immediately following the New York Convention. As a matter of fact, the arrangements for the convention have been completed and all are invited.’’

Enugu Ezike which now comprises of 36 autonomous communities in Enugu State is known for its unique culture, dialect and gerontocracy.

Although, split into several autonomous communities, the people still have one revered spiritual and political head known as Onyishi Enugu Ezike, who administers the other communities through their own respective Onyishis.

•Linus Eze, President, Enugu Ezike residents in USA

Nimbo community: Where dead kings are buried after 7yrs tradition of the area could be seen as the oldest in that part of Igbo land. In Nimbo, their kings (Eze) are never buried till after seven years of their death.

South East Voice gathered that the community which comprises 10 villages has a chequered history of its kingship even as only one out of the 10 produced kings for the rest of the community from 1225 A.D till date.

A source who confided in South East Voice revealed that the death of a king who is the arrow head of development usually kept the community in a state of mourning for seven years when he would be buried after some burial rites including consultation of oracles.

It was learned that oracles were consulted on how to preserve the king for seven years before burial. ‘’Today, we still do not bury our kings till after seven years of his death. Burials after seven years still stands unless the present king of the community, Igwe John Akor, who was just

•Igwe John Ako, King of Nimbo

coroneted as traditional ruler of Nimbo Community decides otherwise with the consent of the traditional king makers,” the source added.

It was learned that the preservation of the corpse of a king was by local method of the community which is done after consulting three different soothsayers that would agree on a particular woman who would take care of the corpse for seven years before it was interred. It was further said that the woman chosen for the preservation would be provided with all her needs by the entire community for the seven years she would take care of the king's corpse.

Late kings of the community were not buried in a grave; there is a cave which serves as the graveyard for all the late kings till date, they were taken to the cave as their final resting place, dating back to the fist king of the community who ruled from 1225 to 1272 A.D. The genealogical table of the kings and their period of reigns including seven years of interregnum showed that the first king, Dim Anieke Omeme (Agaba Idu) reigned for 47 years (1225—1272 A.D), and was buried after seven years and since then, the system has not been altered according to the custom of the community.

He was followed by Dimozi who reigned for 57 years (1272—1329 A.D), Ikeaka Nkwo reigned for 50 years (1329 A.D—1379 A.D), Utazi Ikeaka reigned for 49 years (1379—1428 A.D), Utazi Okpulike reigned for 38 years (1428—1476 A.D), Eze Ngana ruled for 40 years (1476—1516 A.D), Oshewe Urama ruled for 32 years (1516—1548 A.D) and Ako Achanwu ruled for 33 years (1548 —1581A.D).

SAB Miller’s Intafact Beverages Ltd to provide 40,000 jobs Continues from page 1 Directors and the Obi of Onitsha, Igwe Alfred Nnaemeka Achebe, said the factory was built at record time and with record budget, adding that it had continued to perform beyond expectation.

He said that out of 530 employees of the company, 220 people are from the state representing 45 per cent of people employed by the company, adding that the company had also created more that 2,000 indirect employment for the people of the state, as well as paid taxes to Anambra State government.

He said that all their products, including the popular Hero larger Beer, had gained acceptance in the country and urged the state government to encourage other private companies to invest in the state by creating conducive environment for them to operate.

“The company has set up Hero Farm and Hero C M Y K

Foundation to take care of youth’s development and it will create opportunities for 40,000 youths in entrepreneurship, the company has equally increased its production from 700 to 2.1 million hecto-litres and the Can Hero is now in the market for consumers to buy,” he said.

Breaking into alcoholic and non-beverage market in South-East

According to Achebe, the breaking into the alcoholic beverage market by the company was strategically done by the management.

“Onitsha residents are still expressing surprise with the speed with which Intafact Beverage Limited broke into the alcoholic and non alcoholic market. While some people say it was the result of good product, other say it was the combination of many things, namely good relationship with the consuming public, good product with consistent maintenance of quality and

love for the consumers whom they have treated with invitation of entertainment industry players no company has ever done in Onitsha. ‘’According to some people other alcoholic beverage companies, especially those that are into production of alcoholic beverages, neglected the residents and consumers in Onitsha by not identifying with the grassroots.

Any company with low quality products has no business in the Nigerian emergingmarket, as the consumers will show it the way out by shunning its products

“The company then cashed in and penetrated into Onitsha and won the hearts of the residents, both consumers and non consumers of alcoholic beverages.”

Well known musician like PSquare, Flavour, David Doo, Patoranking, Bunner Boy, and others, were for the first time brought to Onitsha to perform on two occasions by Intafact Beverages management at no cost to both the consumers and non consumers as they danced and drank all through the nights, thus helping to endear the company and their products to the people, who now regard Hero and other products from the stable of the company as their own, and nicknamed Hero Larger beer as “O mpa” Hero mmanya ayi.”

Mr. D.K. Deshmankar, one of the senior managers of the company, had promised consumers during the unveiling of one of the company’s milk products, ‘Super Shake’ yoghurt drink at Sharon House Onitsha, of maintaining and even

improving on the quality with which their products came into the Nigerian markets from the onset, instead of reducing the qualities when they gained acceptance.

“The era of companies cheating Nigerian consumers with low quality products and reduction of quality and quantity after their products gained acceptance in the market has gone. Nigerian consumers have learnt to boldly confront companies cheating them through reduction in size and quality.

“A lot of companies are coming into Nigeria to invest because of the abundant market for all good products, any company with low quality products has no business in the Nigerian emerging market, as the consumers will show it the way out by shunning its products,” he said.

He said that the company will rather; increase from time to time the quality and quantity of their products, based on the feed-back it gets from the consumers.

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JUNE 17, 2015 — 3

How former Gov Chime’s administration ended in protests over activities of aides

By FRANCIS IGATA

E

NUGU—The twilight of the eight -year administration of former Governor Sullivan Chime of Enugu State which ended last Friday was fraught with protests from different communities in the state over alleged expropriation of farm land and imposition of traditional rulers by his officials.

In Mbu, Isi-Uzo Local Government Area, leaders of thought in the community had alleged interference from the former Commissioner for Chieftaincy Matters, Pastor Emeka Abugu, on the election of its traditional ruler.

The leaders represented by Mr. Robert Duhu, chairman, Mr. Godwin Asuke, secretary and Godwin Duhu, youth leader, regretted that the activities of Abugu, were capable of turning Mbu into a battle field.

“The community is now under the siege of strange redeye looking faces at all the local bars and joints, smoking Indian hemp with reckless abandon, threatening to deal with anybody who dares to oppose their hirer,” the leaders said.

Ndiagu community protests imposition

Also, natives of NdiaguUwani in Akpugo Community, Nkanu-West Local Government Area of Enugu State, took to the streets to protest alleged imposition of a traditional ruler by Abugu on them.

Scores of Ndiagu-Uwani, Akpugo community people who besieged Abugu’s office wielding placards that read,”we say no to certificate stealing, Edengwo is our traditional ruler elect, conduct election before giving certificate and imposition is evil,” alleged that he had imposed an unpopular candidate as the traditional ruler of the community against the collective will of majority of the people.

Town Union President, Mr. Boniface Ede told South East Voice that, “Abugu allegedly connived with the impostor to adopt a different constitution from the one adopted by the community.

“The constitution they adopted thwarted the view of the people. It gave traditional ruler-ship to a particular family which is not supposed to be so.

“We are saying that there

should be a proper election before a traditional ruler can emerge. Government should conduct election for the position. How can a particular family have the exclusive right to produce traditional rulers? “ Reacting, the former Commissioner for Chieftaincy, Abugu dismissed the allegations of imposition of candidates adding that he had not written to the governor to request for certificate of recognition on anybody in the community.

Former commissioner’s side Frowning at the accusations, Abugu, said: “I am conferred by law, the authority to administer to chieftaincy matters in the state. The buck starts and ends on my table.

“It is ridiculous that people who have not presented themselves for election will bandy falsehood. They want to destabilize the peace prevailing in the community and Enugu State. I stipulated the date for the election.

“Anybody who is interested in the traditional ruler’s stool should present himself for the people to make their choice.”

On Ndiagu He said, “Somebody has been

• Agbudu and Enyimba communities protesting expropriation of farmland

Over one million palmtrees, pineapples, melonsamong other cash crops have been destroyed.We can no longer fendfor ourselves let lone pay our children’s school fees. We have appealed to them through several fora but to no avail

presented by the local government as the traditional ruler since 2012. The practice in the community is that a particular family produces the traditional ruler of the community. The family that produces the traditional ruler claims they are the owners of the land while the ones protesting are visitors. And it has been working for them.”

Expropriation of farmland Over 500 natives of Agbudu and Enyimba Communities in Agwu Local Government Area of Enugu State, protested alleged expropriation of their farmland and destruction of cash crops by San-Calous Company Nig. Ltd (a government-owned company).

The protesters mainly aged women and men marched round the entrance gate of Enugu Government House chanting solidarity songs. They also carried placards with inscriptions that read,”Enugu State Government want us to become militants, San Calus Company has destroyed our

farmland and refused to pay compensation since three years now, we are dying of hunger and cannot pay our children’s school fees.”

Oji Clifford and Thomas Chukwu of Agbudu and Enyimba communities respectively regretted that San Calus company Nig. Ltd expropriated their farmland three years ago without any compensations.

According to the town union leaders, “the company came and forcefully took our farmland. As if that was not enough, they have destroyed all our cash crops.

“Over one million palm trees, pineapples, melons among other cash crops have been destroyed. We can no longer fend for ourselves let lone pay our children’s school fees. We have appealed to them through several fora but to no avail.

“We have decided to bring our plight and predicament before the government for interven-tion. We will not relent in our agitation until justice is done.”

Firm tasks students on professionalism *Don’t expect miracle from Buhari — Odemena

By FRANCIS IGATA

E

NUGU—A firm, Digital Consult has tasked students of the Department of Business Administration, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, UNN, Enugu Campus to imbibe the culture of professionalism and hard work as key virtues required in the emerging labour market.

This was contained in a speech delivered by the President, Dignity Consult, Omotmewo Blessing, to scores of students who were inducted during the 15th Annual Induction/Elevation ceremony held last week in Enugu.

She said, “we are bent on promotion of professionalism and proficiency through human capital development and objectivity, to serve as an umbrella body for students in

the faculty who want to attain proficiency in their career; to help members improve their knowledge beyond classroom work by organising industrial

tours, workshops, symposia for members and encourage members to embark on group and private research in business fields.”

Patron laments Mr. Peter Odoemena, patron, Dignity Consult regretted that the huge gap between the rich and the poor in the society had progressively widened adding that the situation had worsened with the poor industrial base of the nation.

His words, “we are buffeted with huge electricity bills; failed privatisation of the power sector. We should not expect miracles from the President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration which inherited crisis in most of the economic sectors.”

•Students at the induction ceremony C M Y K

4 — Vanguard, WEDNESDAY,

JUNE 17, 2015

Okopoly reacts to allegation of awarding marks to deceased student

T

HE Management, Federal Polytechnic, Oko, Anambra has described as malicious, misleading and inciting ‘’rumours” that a certain deceased student was awarded marks by the management, saying that it was a deliberate ploy to tarnish the image of the institution and further discredit the innovation of the Computer Based Test, CBT, by those whose nefarious activities were stopped through the exercise.

The Public Relations Officer of the institution, Mr. Obini Onuchukwu, who spoke on the issue, told South East Voice that those making the alleged malicious allegations that a deceased student was awarded marks due to the irregularities in the CBT were mischievous.

Obini, who spoke on behalf of the Management, explained that after an investigation into the matter, it was discovered that a student of Science Laboratory Technology, late Uche Henry, participated in all academic work, including examinations in August 2014 but died at about 9p.m. on Sept 17.

He said that the deceased student having passed all his course work had his results released along with those of his mates, but unfortunately some staff cashed on the situation with some few students in the department to blackmail the institution.

“It is really sad that people

for their own selfish interests could politicize the death of a student. Would they do that if he was their child? It’s really unfortunate. It shows the level of desperation by people who are no longer allowed to operate their illicit business as usual.

“Personally, about three weeks ago, I was called on the phone by one Emeka Umeagbalasi, an agent of a Civil Liberty Organization, CLO, based in Onitsha to complain that some students in my institution were being victimized, that they were not given their actual marks. I quickly replied him that such no longer happened in the institution.

“I gave him an instance of a student who wrongly informed his brother working at War College, Abuja, that she was demoted to evening programme for no just reasons and when investigated, it was discovered that the girl went for her registration late, when the class was filled up and the Head of Department must not exceed the capacity so she had an option of going for the evening programme. However, I requested Umeagbalasi to send the students to me, so that I could hear from them and possibly refer them to appropriate quarters.

“Two students came into my office and repeated what Umeagbalasi said on the phone, then added that even a

•Main gate of Oko Polytechnic

dead student was awarded marks, just to make their point.

I requested them to give me a short while to make inquiries and direct their case properly for investigations.

“But to my greatest surprise, few days later some journalists started calling me on the phone to react to press statement from Umeagbalasi, alleging same.

In the course of the investigation, it was discovered that some staff hid under the students to perpetrate this act.

"They wrote to all government

Ourstudents remain the best in the polytechnic across the country.

The institution recently received letters of commendations fromgovernment agencies

•Rector, Oko Poly, Prof.

Godwin Onu agencies they remembered to blackmail the institution. It was also discovered that some of those students who complained failed the course. This is criminal.

“We already have names of the staff and clear evidence of their involvement. The matter is being handled,” he said.

On the allegations that students of Oko were no longer admitted in other institutions of learning because of dwindling standards in the Polytechnic, Onuchukwu said it was untrue.

According to him, the Federal Polytechnic Oko produced best students now, with its sophisticated electronic teaching aids and other facilities in place just as “more structures, better serene environment for learning, more

Former Gov Elechi’s huge debt saddens Ebonyi people

By PETER OKUTU

A

BAKALIKI—The nostalgic feelings about the out-gone administration of Chief Martin Elechi seem to have evaporated as facts are now emerging that most of the campaign promises of the octogenarian former governor were not fulfilled.

Former Governor Martin Elechi just like the present administration in the state started with high expectations from the people, but ended with lots of people feeling disappointed with the huge debt burden it left behind for C M Y K

his successor and former Deputy Governor, Dave Umahi.

Apart from several months of salary arrears of workers, Elechi was said to be owing

•Former Ebonyi State Governor, Martin Elechi

contractors over N50 billion for which certificates generated for payment were not honoured.

The former administration which initiated several laudable projects also left most of them uncompleted.

Some of the uncompleted projects include the construction of 13 General Hospitals across the 13 local government areas of the state, transforming the stateowned University to Ebonyi State to an international university, construction of two mega water projects at Oferegbe and Okawu both in Ikwo and Onicha Local Government Areas respectively, Ebonyi State International Market, the

Ochudo City as well as the Ebonyi International Trade Centre, among others.

Speaking in an interview with South East Voice, a civil servant, who simply identified himself as Mr. Nwite, described the past administration as a failure in the area of human capital development and infrastructure facilities across the state.

“Governor Elechi’s administration is noted for bogus projects which it didn’t complete. The government carried more than it could do for the people. He failed in the area of human capital development, but succeeded in opening up development across the state,” Nwite said.

committed lecturers, as more effective monitoring team moves round to ensure that lecturers are there to deliver lectures at the right time.

“Our students remain the best in the polytechnic across the country. The institution recently received letters of commendations from government agencies.

Recently, we played host to several universities, polytechnics and colleges of education who came to understudy the magic of our super digital Rector, Prof.

Godwin Onu whose name is synonymous with achievement.

“Our students are now hot cakes in the labour market, especially in engineering related courses; mass communication where we have the best radio and television stations for practical. It is on record that two of our students made recent presidential award by immediate past President, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan for quality performance during their Youth Service programme, amongst other awards.

“Our Printing Technology came first in a competition among tertiary intuitions recently. It is also on record that in 2012 over 74,000 candidates preferred Federal Polytechnic Oko, in that year’s Joint Admission Matriculation Board entrance examination. Our institution is cult free. Our institution has understanding with no fewer than five foreign universities in areas of research and recently introduced over 25 new innovative courses including Aviation Technology which a contract worth N250 million has been awarded for the construction of the department at Atani campus.

“The Rector has also introduced a system of CBT, which checks lots of anomalies in the classrooms. The system increase speed and motivates students to read thoroughly. It checks examination malpractices because there’s a soft ware that shows students full details including photo card while in exam halls and questions are joggled. It also saves the institution lots of money in printing of examination materials and ensures easy computation of results, no missing scripts, no harassment … Over five institutions of higher learning have come to understudy the system.

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JUNE 17, 2015 — 5

Umuleri (Anambra) hosts 30 bishops

By CHIMAOBI NWAIWU

N

NEWI—The riverine town of Umueri (Umuleri) in Anambra East Local Government Area of Anambra State, weekend, played host to over 30 bishops in South East and as well as 150 officers and men of the Armed Forces. The event that attracted the visitors was the enthronement of Bishop of Niger West Diocese (Anglican Communion), Rt. Rev, Johnson Ekwe.

Ekwe could be said to belong to both the military and the Church as he is a retired soldier.

The clergy included the Bishop of Aguata Diocese/ Archbishop of Niger Province, Maxwell Anikwenwa,rtd; Bishops Owen Nwokolo of Diocese on the Niger, Godwin Okpala of Nnewi Diocese, Samuel Ezeofor of Ogbaru Diocese, Ralph Okafor of Ihiala Diocese, Henry Okeke of Mbamili Diocese, and Alex Ibezim of Awka Diocese as well as the immediate past Bishop of the Diocese, Prof. Anthony Nkwoka, were all in attendance to felicitate with one of their newest colleagues.

From the military circle where Bishop Ekwe served before he was made Bishop included the Deputy Commandant, Nigerian Defence Academy, NDA, Kaduna; Air Vice Marshal A.B.C Nweze, represented by the Commandant, Director of Administration NDA, Commodore E. R. Yakubu,

Director Chaplain, Protestants Services of the Nigerian Army, Rev. Col. Dauk Danfulani, and Commander 302 Artillery Regiment, Col Mohammed Bello, among other senior and junior military officers and men.

The highly elated Bisop Ekwe, in his sermon on the occasion, said that his coming to Niger West Diocese, seen as one of the poor dioceses in the Niger Province, was an act of God. In his sermon at Cathedral Church of St Gabriel, entitled, 'God of Humble Beginning,' Bishop Ekwe, assured the people of the diocese, that there is no dry place, rather, what we have is dry people, adding that if people work hard, what was seen as impossible will be made possible as the God he served was the God of possibility.

Quoting copiously from the Bible to assure the people that he was not afraid that he was posted to a diocese seen in the eyes of the people as dry.

He read from Book of Job Chapter 8(6 to 7) which stated, “If you were pure and upright, surely now, He would awake for you and make the habitation of your righteousness. Though your beginning was small, yet the later end should greatly increase.”

Using Job as an example of those who trusted God and had everything working for him irrespective of tribulations, as he was stupendously rich and very upright, Ekwe said that Job showed perseverance in his dealing with God. He said he was exposed to the work of God by the military

•Bishop and his wife being presented with a gift from the Armed Forces who delegated duties that were far above him and he did not disappoint, adding that this time he would not fail because the task ahead of him in Niger West Diocese was not really difficult, with God on his side.

He thanked the Armed Forces, especially the Chief of Army Staff, whom he said, sent him a text message that will remain indelible in his mind, lecturers in the NDA, his course mates as well as Col. Bello of 302 Artillery Regiment for always being around to assist while the preparation for

Bishop Ekwe is a gallant officer andcombatantof both the Church and the Nigerian Army, so Niger West Diocese is a small place to what he has seen andconquered as a priest and an Army Officer

the enthronement was going on, describing him as focused and forthright. He also, prayed for the good health for his predecessor, Rt. Rev. Nkwoka.

He said some of his programmes in his new diocese would include the introduction of fire power evangelism, partnering with the state government on youth development, development of agriculture and other development projects that would change the face of the diocese.

He said that “whatever the Devil has planned in the lives of the people of Niger West Diocese God will overrule. Niger West will move from greatness to greatness,” and expressed satisfaction with the government return of mission schools to the church.

He urged Governor Willie Obiano of the state who incidentally is from Aguleri which is part of Niger West Diocese, to provide the diocese with a 32- seater bus and another 14 -seater bus for him to settle down for work, as he currently shuttled from Onitsha to Umuleri.

“We need a Bishop’s Court, I am a Y2K Bishop and I must live in a Y2K Bishop House. I am currently squatting somewhere in Onitsha, we need an ultra modern Bishop’s Court. Imagine where the Governor’s Bishop is squatting!” he said.

A Seniour Special Assistant to Obiano, Sir Anslem Okafor, who represented him on the occasion, promised that he would take all the requests from the Diocese to his boss for action to be taken.

Also speaking during the occasion, Rev. Col. Danfulani, expressed happiness that the Nigerian Army had been producing men, who serve God honestly and urged Bishop Ekwe ‘’to live the truth, impact the truth,” even as he knew that Ekwe was an achiever per excellence.

“Bishop Ekwe as a military man has traversed different locations, different backgrounds, taken charge of different groups and have interacted with denominations other than Anglicans, and so will not have difficulty changing the face of Niger West Diocese for the better.

If I am not a mortal, I would have scored him 99 per cent.

“Bishop Ekwe is a gallant officer and combatant of both the Church and the Nigerian Army, so Niger West Diocese is a small place to what he has seen and conquered as a priest and an Army Officer.

“All I am asking people here is to give him cooperation; he will deliver. Let them look at him as a Nigerian, his number in the Military is ‘N’ is not Anambra or Enugu State but Nigerian, he is a gallant combatant officer of both the Lord and the Nigerian Army,” he said.

Wh e kidnapped sc hool cchildren hildren — Suspects Whyy w we school

By CHINONSO ALOZIE

O

WERRI—Ebuka Ibe and Kelechi Nwogu both 22, have confessed that they kidnapped Chukwuma Nzeribe and Chigozie Nzeribe of the same parent while returning from school at Amazu, Amato in Orsu Local Government Area, for financial benefits.

The suspects confessed to the crime at the Police Headquarters, Owerri, Imo State, when they were paraded by the state Police Commissioner, Mr. Austin Evbakhavbokun for child stealing and trafficking.

Ebuka, agreed that he committed the crime of child stealing, while pretending to be on their way with his colleague “to buy something on

a motorcycle,” said that they abducted the two siblings, Chukwuka Nzeribe and Chigozie Nzeribe on the road.

Kelechi, whose voice was low apparently due to his mood

while being paraded, asked to be forgiven on what he described as a mistake of their lives, adding that such a thing would not happen again if they were pardoned by the police.

•Kelechi Nwogu and Ebuka Ibe arrested for child kidnapping

According to Police C o m m i s s i o n e r Evbakhavbokun, who said that the suspects specialized in the stealing and trafficking of children, added that the suspects were arrested through the quick intervention of men of the anti-kidnapping unit of the police, while on their way to a prospective buyer of their victims.

The commissioner also said that the rescued children had since been reunited with their family, pointing out that subsequent search conducted in Ebuka’s residence led to the recovery of several exhibits, including one locally made single barreled gun, two big iron cutters, one locally made shot gun with one cartridge and one locally made revolver pistol with one round of .99mm live ammunition.

According to him, the suspects would be charged to

court after investigations had been concluded.

He said that other suspects that would be charged to court along side with the child trafficking syndicate include Barnabas Chidiebere, 34; Chinwendu Okara, 29; Chibundu Amadi, 32, and Kenneth Ordu, 29, whom he (commissioner) said were also arrested by the police for kidnapping Mrs. Martina Ndukwu from Umuokanne, Mbirichi road in Ohaji/ Egbema Local Government Area.

The police commissioner, however, said that Mrs. Ndukwu was rescued unhurt.

He further said that the suspects hail from Ohaji/ Egbema Local Government Area and that during their arrest one Toyota 4 Runner Jeep with vehicle number KTU- 168-AU was recovered.

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6 — Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JUNE 17, 2015

IBC, Niger Delta Youths give reasons for protest

BY CHINONSO ALOZIE

O

WERRI—The Staff of the Imo State Broadcasting Corporation, IBC, have said that they embarked on protest to the Government House to drive home their demand for the payment of their backlog of unpaid entitlements.

According to them the protest was also meant to nudge the government to develop a mechanism that would streamline the processes for the regular payment of their salaries in their organization.

Those who led the protest to the seat of government at Douglas House were Sam Eke and Mr. Tony Eluchie.

The IBC staff also alleged that they decided on the protest because some government officials in the Okorocha’s administration had withheld their salaries for more than two months as if the establishment was their personal estate or business empire.

They explained that they wanted the general public and the government in particular to be aware of the delay in payment of their monthly salaries and as some top officials in the corporation had been bribed secretly in order to suppress the junior staff from speaking. ‘’Our salaries were withheld

even when the government told us they had been released. We felt that there was something secret which had been making it impossible for us to receive our salaries as and at when due.

“We felt that if the government has announced that it has released salaries, such salaries should be paid promptly as the labourer deserves his wages.

The labourers in this case are IBC staff,” they said.

Some of the workers, who spoke to the South East Voice on the condition of anonymity, asked the Okorocha’s administration to investigate the matter beginning from the office of the state Accountant General.

•Road to Tansian University, Umunya, Oba

Tansian varsity gets new governing council, wants govts to assist private varsities

BY NWABUEZE OKONKWO

O

•Monsignor Professor John Akam

NITSHA—Founder and Chancellor of Tansian University, Umunya, Anambra State, Monsignor John Akam (who is also a professor) has appealed to the three tiers of government to assist private universities in the infrastructure development of their various institutions,

Staff of the Imo Broadcasting Corporation protesting at the Imo government House recently

Multi-million naira FG silo in Imo, Okigwe LGA, abandoned again

By ANAYO OKOLI

U

MUAHIA—THE multimillion naira Federal Government owned silo located at Ezinachi in Okigwe Local Government Area of Imo State, has been abandoned again.

Strategically located on the busy Enugu-OkigweUmuahia-Aba-Port Harcourt Express road, the silo, which has seen appreciable work done on it, has now been overtaken by weeds.

The project which was started by late President Musa Yar’Adua administration progressed rapidly before it was abandoned for several years.

However, shortly before the April 2015 general elections, perhaps as a political campaign gimmick, the then Jonathan administration hurriedly cleared the place to recommence work on the project.

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In an elaborate ceremony to showcase the projects the administration had in the South East, a former Minister from Imo State led other PDP chieftains to the project site and work quickly recommenced there with the construction of what was supposed to be an office complex.

But shortly after that the place was abandoned again. The premises have again been

•The silos

taken over by weeds. No single worker is seen there, these days.

In fact if not for the improved security on the busy highway, hoodlums perhaps, would have taken over the place as their abode.

According to an indigene of the community, who gave his name simply as Okezie, the community was disturbed about the rate work was going on at the silo project site.

“When the project was located here we were elated, we believed that a big federal project that would give our people job had come. At the initial stage work was going on very fast and well. But later everything stopped and weeds took over. Our hopes were dashed.

“And recently, they raised our hopes again when some top government officials from Abuja came here and we thought that work on the project would be completed, not knowing that they came here to play politics. We are calling on P r e s i d e n t Muhamadu Buhari to note this very important project and complete it,” he said.

since such institutions were also partners in the educational development of the country.

Akam said that leaving private universities to their fate would not augur well for the desired high standard of education and students’ comfort, even as both private and public schools were working towards the same goal of educating the entire Nigerians.

He spoke at the university’s permanent site at Umunya while inaugurating a 14-man Governing Council for the institution, adding that students admitted into private universities were Nigerians, who had right to education just as the staff employed by these universities were those who would have been in the labour market or roaming the streets, constituting social problems for governments.

He said at present, the value of Tansian University stood at N6.25billion, adding that the institution had been spending huge sums of money to ensure that the right infrastructure was put in place to reflect the vision and mission of its founders.

The Chancellor identified bad road network on campus as one of their major headaches, pointing out that between N105 million and N225 million would be required to construct the 10-kilometre road traversing the Umunya permanent site where studies had begun in earnest with the students' population increasing every day with asphalt and street lights.

“As a Catholic priest, I don’t have biological sons and daughters, but these students are my sons and daughters. I train them for the benefit of humanity as our own contribution to national development. But governments have abandoned private universities. It is not fair and we must never lower our standards because of government's neglect or any reason. The government can only bring fees down in the private universities by giving them helping hand in educational matters. We are contributing immensely to national development.

“In terms of value system, we are doing some wonderful jobs.

There are certain qualities we have which government universities don’t have,” he said.

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JUNE 17, 2015 —7

Abia CP seeks support in crime fighting

By UGOCHUKWU ALARIBE

A

BA—ABIA State Commissioner of Police, Joshak Habila has solicited the support of the residents of the state in the area of providing useful information about suspected criminal activities of their neighbours to the police.

Habila, who made the call in the wake of recent successes recorded by the police in the state, said that the command had developed crime fighting strategies which had enabled it to be ahead of criminals.

He, however, said that the police cannot fight crime alone as residents must play their part by cooperating to expose the bad eggs in their midst. Habila, who spoke through the state Police Public Relations Officer,

PPRO, DSP Onyeke Ezekiel, added that the police command had recorded many successes and nipped crimes in the bud as a result of timely information and tip-off by residents.

“The Abia State police command is determined to make the state crimefree and safe for inhabitants. We are pressing on with our anti-crime strategies intended to nip crimes in the bud. This strategy requires a healthy synergy of all stakeholders and well-meaning residents as security is no longer the exclusive preserve of the police,” he said.

He listed some of the recent successes recorded by the police to include; arrest of suspected kidnap and armed robbery syndicate of Victor Onyenechihie and Timothy Onyenechihie, who were nabbed by the Ohuru Ishimiri Police Division on May 18, 2015, with a locally made revolver pistol, iron seal of the Federal Polytechnic, Nekede, official stamp of the Polytechnic’s Registrar and a military camouflage.

Others were the arrest of Ezekiel Nwoke, who was found with an American made revolver pistol and an unregistered black Sangyang motorcycle as well as the recovery of a tricycle at Ubakala, among others, which he said, were through the support of residents.

Abia State Commissioner of Police, Joshak Habila.

Enugu motorists, residents cry out over flooded Rangers Avenue motorists made U-turns on reaching the flooded portion of the road.

Except for Sports Utility Vehicles,SUVs, saloon cars were unable to pass through for fear of being submerged.

By FRANCIS IGATA

E

NUGU—Motorists in Enugu metropolis are grumbling over the state of the Rangers Avenue as the road has permanently been taken over by flood water.

The road, which links the famous Presidential Hotel, the Nigerian Union of Journalists, NUJ, Press Centre as well as Zodiac Hotel, also leads to the old Commissioners’ or Ministers’ Quarters as well as the Speaker's Lodge in the good old days.

Named after the Rangers Football Club because of its exploits in the 70's and 80's, the road is now a nightmare to its users as the water channels in the area were completely blocked by commercial builders who took over the area following the sale of plots belonging to the International Conference Centre, ICC, started by the former administration of Chimaroke Nnamani, but abandoned by his successor and immediate past governor of the state, Sullivan Chime.

However, the distortion of serene area close to the seat of power, the Lion Building (as the Enugu State Government House is popularly known) started during the Chimaroke regime.

It was during his regime that the Ministers’ Quarters gave way for the Renaissance University

Motorist laments

• The flooded Rangers Avenue owned by the former governor.

South East Voice investigation showed that the road had hitherto been free from flood until former governor Chime allocated land within the abandoned ICC to friends and cronies at N25 million per plot.

The beneficiaries had quickly developed the property and erected drainage channels within the ICC, whereby rain water now flowed towards Rangers Avenue.

Road flooded each time it rains

I thought the essence of government was to alleviate the sufferings of the people rather than compounding same!

As a result of the activities of the developers at the ICC and the nearby Edozien Estate, whenever it rained, flood from the ICC and other adjourning streets converge on Rangers Avenue, causing massive flood which caused motorists and residents untold hardship as the road literally become impassable.

South East Voice was at the scene when it rained last Friday morning to observe how

Amaechi Ekwu, a motorist who owns a Toyota Camry, 2000 model, regretted that the road had remained passable until Chime’s desperate bid to allegedly ‘’settle his friends and cronies.’’

He said: ”I wonder what the former administration of Chime has achieved by parcelling that lCC land which he vowed never to complete because it was one of the legacies of his predecessor, Chimaroke Nnamani.

“Look at it now, the developers have channelled the water to this ever busy Rangers Avenue, making it impassable for motorists and residents. I thought the essence of government was to alleviate the sufferings of the people rather than compounding same.”

Another resident, Miss Uchenna Ike wondered what the appropriate government agency was waiting for before salvaging the situation, adding that the condition of the road would worsen with time if nothing was done to avert the impending destruction of households and other property by flood.

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8 — Vanguard, WEDNESDAY,

JUNE 17, 2015

O

NITSHA— For an upward of five years now, auto crashes had consistently occurred at the sloppy Upper Iweka axis on the Onitsha end of Enugu/Onitsha expressway, with attendant high rate of casualties.

The crashes usually occurred at quarterly or yearly intervals and in most cases, heavy duty vehicles fully loaded with goods usually developed brake failures and end up with disastrous consequences.

However, this particular incident of Sunday, May 31, 2015, appeared to have turned the most tragic among similar incidents in the previous years as the number of casualties ranged between seven and 18 as the case may be.

But to the chagrin of all and sundry, this latest fuel tanker carnage claimed up to 70 lives at a stretch, according to the figures released on the spot by both the officials of the Nigerian Red Cross Society, NRCS, and the Federal Road Safety Commission, FRSC. The NRCS and FRSC officials were among those who joined hands with the police and other security agencies in carrying out both rescue operations and evacuation of the deceased and injured ones to different hospitals and morgues for depositing From left, Publisher of Orient Daily and Magazine, Mr. Godwin Ezeemo; his wife, Mrs. Nneka and medical attention.

Ezeemo, a doctor with Toronto Hospital, Onitsha and the Chief Medical Director of Toronto Although, the management of Onitsha General Hospital quoted Hospital, Onitsha, Dr. Emeka Eze, during a visit to the explosion victims its own casualty figure as only 43, eye-witnesses and Harcourt, Rivers State to survivors said the figure was inquire from her if I had a second phone number but the even more than the 70. time they were calling my The Chief Consultant-Indaughter co-incided with the Charge of Onitsha General time she was in a labour room Hospital, Dr. Mercy in a hospital waiting to be Ebelechukwu had stated that delivered of a baby and as contrary to the 69 and 70 such, she was not responding casualty figures quoted by *Unidentified dead victims may be given mass burial — Medical experts to them effectively. voluntary agencies, the correct "So, by the time the news of figure of the dead stood at 43, to my rescue, he simply told my narrow escape was broken while only six were injured.

BY NWABUEZE me that he could not lift up the to her and her delivery was According to her, 22 corpses OKONKWO bus alone and as I continued broken to me, we all sang were brought to the General begging him to call others, he praises to God. However, up Hospital morgue on the fateful party to the hospital to left me and fled the scene. till now, I have not seen my day, while 20 other corpses sympathize with victims “As I continued crying and younger brother, Ifeanyi who remained at Toronto hospital hospitalized there, Dr. Eze shouting the name of Jesus was helping me in my newsmorgue, adding that out of the added that there were still Christ, I became unconscious stand and my conclusion is that seven injured ones, one more corpses, to be claimed by their at a stage and was beclouded he was among those burnt by some strange fellows beyond recognition.” died on the way to Anambra relations which could not be dressed in snow white State University Teaching easily identified.

Another witness, who Eze, who noted that state garments.I noticed that the identified himself as Evarist Hospital, Awka and the corpse had sent fellows were angels of God Anyanwu, declared: “I watched was brought back to General government pathologists take samples of sent by Jesus Christ to rescue the fire ravaging one woman, Hospital morgue bringing the me. At once I started hearing a popularly known as Mama number of corpses at the the dead, added that the voice telling me to pull out. As Ejima (Twin’s Mother) and her General Hospital Morgue to prompt intervention of both the Federal and state if the bus was being lifted up husband, Papa Ejima and their 23. governments when the gradually, I began to pull twin children, adding that this She further explained that out incident occurred, showed myself out until I stood up and type of disaster had ‘’repeated of the 20 corpses deposited at that the present leaders had jumped the fence.” itself on an annual basis within Toronto Hospital morgue, 12 the interest of their people at Two minutes after I jumped that particular spot.” were moved to General heart. the fence, bleeding profusely, One other witness, who Hospital morgue to bring the He also attributed burns to I heard a very big bang as the simply identified himself as •Mrs. Ihezie, a survivor total figure now to 35, while the the increase in the death-toll, tanker exploded and caught Nelson, attached to a popular remaining eight were still in adding, “we have isolated the According to her: “As the bus fire, while I ran from place to transport company based in the Toronto morgue, adding victims. They would have died place in search of medical Onitsha, called on the state that out of the remaining six if not that we isolated them. We was holding me on the laps, I treatment. I went to Menax government to ban petrol tried to pull myself out but I injured ones at Toronto, one heat up the rooms where they Hospital but was told that the tankers from plying the roads was transferred to Awka are kept because they have no couldn’t. Rather, the more I doctor was not around. during the day to avoid future struggle, the more blood was Teaching Hospital, apart from skin in them and feel cold.”

However some of the nurses occurrence. gushing out from the laps and three other injured ones who Responding Ezeemo said he He said that if the incident when I saw a man running treated me and I went home. were rushed to Menax private felt bad when he heard of the away and I begged him to come Ever since then, the medical had occurred at night, there personnel my husband might be little or no casualty at hospital, out of which one had incident and resolved to come and sympathise with some of engaged have been coming to all, adding that he would like been discharged. my residential home to dress to correct the impression that She expressed the fear that the survivors.

Extending his sympathy to the wounds. Therefore, I must the tanker swooped on many the situation might lead to mass confess that I am a living vehicles in the park and killed burial because most of the the Obi of Onitsha, HRM Alfred Achebe at his palace, testimony to that incident. all the passengers. corpses were burnt beyond Ezeemo urged him to use his “Before that incident, I was He stated that as an eye recognition and as a result, they in my news-stand and when I witness, “what actually had already started decompo- position to prevail on the authorities to help look for discovered that my GSM happened was that the tanker sing to the extent that if more better locations for motor parks battery was low, I decided to driver lost control of the vehicle time was wasted, there could instead of having them along go and look for where to as a result of suspected brake be an out-break of epidemic, the Express way. recharge the battery but as I failure, rammed into a bus in spite of the chemical However, one of the just stood up to go out, the carrying few passengers, contents being poured on the survivors, Mrs. Virginia Ihezie, incident occurred and I was killing few of them and corpses to curtail the odour. a newspaper vendor, trading trapped. So, when my fellow trapping others, but when The Chief Medical Director of under the name of Obura News newspaper vendors were sympathizers thronged the Toronto Hospital, Onitsha, Dr. Agency, told newsmen how calling my number, my phone scene and wanted to rescue the Emeka Eze, attributed the high one of the buses knocked down did not ring because of the low few passengers trapped on the death-toll during the fuel by the tanker trapped her on battery and they concluded that bus, the liquid content now tanker incident to stampede. the ground. She said the bus I was among those burnt by the exploded and spread the fire Speaking when the leader of held on her two laps and as she fire. on the sympathizers, the Progressives People’s Alliance, was shouting for help as people “Then, they called one of my vendors and those reading PPA, in the State, Chief Godwin were running away from the daughters who lives with her newspapers at their news-stand Ezeemo, led a delegation of his scene. husband in far away Port and roasted them.”

Agony of Onitsha petrol tanker fire disaster:

How angels of God saved me at the mention of Jesus Christ’s name — Survivor

What actually happenedwas that the tanker driver lost control of the vehicle as a result of suspected brake failure, rammedintoa bus carrying few passengers, killing few of themandtrapping others

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VANGUARD, WEDNESDAY, JUNE 17, 2015 — 33

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34—VANGUARD, WEDNESDAY, JUNE 17, 2015

Chris Anyanwu

A

letter credited to Nigerian female journalism living legend addressed to Wole Soyinka on her controversial sexual offences bill is being circulated on blogosphere.

Excerpts:As always, your aim was to speak as the voice of reason in our increasingly confused society. My dear Baba, my dear icon, you are wrong; very wrong. You were misled by someone who deliberately distorted the content of one of the most profound bills ever passed by the Nigerian legislature, scandalized the proponent and the institution for reasons that you and I may not know.

Nowhere in the bill passed by Senate was it stated that you can defile an 11 year old.

Here is what was passed in relation to your area of preoccupation which is defilement clause 6 (2): “A person who commits an offence of defilement shall upon conviction be sentenced to imprisonment for life”.

You claimed that the bill redefined “female adulthood as marital status”. The extreme distortion of the spirit, intent and even content of this bill leads me to think that you may be talking about an alltogether different piece of legislation.

For emphasis, let me state that the bill makes no such linkages as you erroneously

stated. I think it may be fear of Sen Yerima that is at play here.

For your information, Senator Yerima and all other Senators who participated in the debate the two times the bill came up on the floor supported it as a vehicle for instituting a stringent law barring all ranges of sexual offences in Nigeria.

They did this because they also have children, wives, daughters, even mothers and cannot afford to leave them in the current state where abuses are rewarded with a slap on the wrist of the perpetrators because our laws are outdated, without strong inbuilt deterrence mechanisms for monitoring and control are absent.

Omotola Jalade Ekehinde

Kate Osamor

I

t is the week of Nigerian women in the diaspora on blogosphere, chief of which is Nigerian British MP and activist, left wing politician and mother of one.

Kate started her 15 year service to the NHS by working at an Out Of Hours CoOp before moving on to becoming a GP practice manager.

In 2014 Kate was elected onto the Labour NEC to represent constituency members alongside Ken Livingstone and others.

Early 2015, following the late retirement of outgoing MP Andy Love, Kate was selected as the Parliamentary Labour candidate for Edmonton.

V

ery hot on blogosphere this week is African icon and actress Omotola, who appears to be doing more advocacy than acting these days. The actress had been at the World Economic Forum where she spoke on women empowerment against poverty with the “poverty is sexist” campaign.

Back home she was special guest at the Congo film festival, “Festival Cinef ” celebrating female filmmakers in cinema and landed in Kinshasa with her team ready to inspire the country’s female filmmakers.

Here is a woman who knows how to bow out when the ovation is •Omotola loudest, writes one commentator.

Angelina Jolie

A

nother actress turned activist trending this week is Hollywood star, Angelina Jolie, who made a star appearance at

•Angelina Jolie

C M Y K

the 25th African Summit in South Africa last week. The U.N. special envoy on refuge issues charged African leaders to support women rights.

Jolie, who had been invited to speak on Women and Conflict, stressed the need for women protection in Africa and beyond.

Jolie said: There is a global epidemic of violence against women – both within conflict zones and within societies at peace – and it is still treated as a lesser crime and lower priority.

•Chris Anyanwu

•Ezeigwe •Kate

Nneka Ezeigwe nother Harvard undergrad from Nigeria has A won an important laurel. Each year, apparently the school asks students a simple question, taken from the lines of a poem by a Pulitzer Prize-winning author: “Tell me, what is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life?”

Ezeigwe’s response was the best.

She wrote: Truth is: I’m part tourist, part native in many places. I’m frequently described as ‘lucky’ to have been exposed to many enviable experiences globally. I feel lucky, mostly, but a big part of me wishes I had the choice to grow up in the land of my birth (Nigeria), wishes I had the choice to attend high school and university with childhood friends, and wishes I had the choice to start my career close to family.

Patti Boulaye

N

igerian English musical legend Patti Boulaye shouted out on social media on her latest honour last week, thanking those who made it happen.

So proud & honoured to be awarded an OBE at the Queen’s * God bless my husband, family and friends who made this happen for me.

Blogoshere is shocked she is still looking hot.

•Boulaye

VANGUARD, WEDNESDAY, JUNE 17, 2015—35

Every business woman aspires to be successful — Morin O

C

reative Promoter, Mrs. Maureen Obaweya( Morin O ) though a pharmacist by training has given twenty years to promoting arts in its entirety, traversing Europe, U.S.A, Asia and Africa curating arts exhibitions and promoting unique works of arts. She saw a gap and bridged it. She has brought to her bags and labels timeless packs that defy age, attitude, enhance confidence and sartorial elegance. This woman who set out to be an inspiration to others has brought something unique to the business world within Nigeria and around the globe. Talking to Women in Business, she discloses more. Read on.

By Anino Aganbi

H

ow has your journey been as a business woman?

I realized I had a business interest not too early in life. It was after my University days I discovered I wanted to do something outside what I had studied. I had studied pharmacy as a profession but I loved the arts and I loved creativity. I wanted to do something that was my passion and would not cost me so much. So I decided to go into the field of Arts. I started with a gift shop and shortly after that I decided to pick up and develop my interest in arts, paintings and crafts. I approached some artists and decided to set up an exhibition.

From that exhibition, I started an arts gallery. That led me to look out for the arts and creativity, not only in Nigeria but even outside Nigeria, in African countries. I did a lot of travelling even in Asia because I recognized that in Asia, there were lots of arts that booked like what we had in Africa. Along the course of my travelling, I was privileged in October 2010, to go for a sponsored training for women leaders in handicrafts . At the time, I had a lady who was very interested in what I was doing, she had seen us through a lot of exhibition and she was involved in Nigeria export trade; boosting and facilitating trade of our art to the world. She encouraged me to go for that training.

C M Y K

It was at that training I saw women designing their own products.

That gave me the push I needed to start designing my own bags and leather accessories. That was how I started Morin O. What makes Morin O label distinct?

Morin O Label, which is an authentic brand is an aesthetic line of design with pure leather as a medium of expression. All of these products are in genuine high grade leather, crocodile skin, alligator and leather skin. Our sense of aesthetics, embellishment , attention to details and flawless finishing make our products stand out.

What was your debut collection about?

Our debut collection was called pelts of distinction, this represented and still represents luxury in its true form. It is a confluence of master craftsmanship, art and sophistication represented in limited editions of briefcases, wallets, ladies handbags, iPad covers all in real leather and precious stones. Materials were sourced from India and Italy, but fully manufactured in Nigeria, Morin O crafts a bold statement in inno-

For every business woman, your hopes and aspirations would be to be successful. I think that success for a business person is to have an appreciable return on investment

Maureen Obaweya

vation and stylish designs that challenges international benchmarks.

How were you able to successfully start up your business?

Like they say, necessity is the mother of invention. As a creative person, I reflect a lot. I knew that whatever business I would have would be a business I am passionate about. One I would do with all my strength and resources even if I don't have to get paid for it. As I did that, I put in a lot of drive, did a lot of reading, trying to employ those people that will bring their expertise to make the business work.

What are your hope and aspirations as a business woman?

For every business woman, your hopes and aspirations would be to be successful. I think that success for a business person is to have an appreciable return on investment. So that you know the effort in time, money, investment that you are putting in is worth it. You are looking at profit, return on investment and an opportunity to impact positively in your environment. You also want to be in a position where you can make choices, good choices, better choices for yourself, other people and for the people around you.

What prompted you into owning your own business?

It was necessity and the desire to own my time and space, and to make it work.

If I can have a source of income by doing what I like at my own time, then why not.

Would you say it was a good career move as at the time you decided to have

your business?

Timing, is the issue. Yes, it was a good move. I think I could and should have waited. I would have probably achieved more in less time if I had worked and gained a little bit more experience before launching out on my own.

How have you been able to impact others as a business woman?

Well, I believe I have been able to motivate other women basically because I am someone who believes in using what you have to get what you want. I believe there is always an idea, a seed, a tool, an opportunity that you can make use of to excel , to be a better person , or have a better life. A lot of people just by looking at me and what I do; how we have come to where we are at, I encourage just by thinking it could happen. We try to make our business as sustainable as possible by active lives, creating opportunities, providing avenues where people can learn how to do what we do and impact their lives and people around them as well.

Did your career path play a major role in your choice of business?

I studied pharmacy, I also work with health care consultants so it is not as if I don't apply that knowledge at all. I have always had the passion for arts and creativity. I needed to give time to what I am really passionate about. I am passionate about pharmacy, healthcare, helping people but I also saw an opportunity where I could follow through on my creative path. I worked for about two years in a pharmaceutical company and launched out my own creative business.

How do you hope to make

your mark in the business world?

Well, by setting an example and the pace for Nigerian businesses on a global level , pursuing the ideals of a successful, ethical, sustainable business, putting in excellence, creating job opportunities, impacting our environment socially and training people who would have those kind of ideals in their businesses. Wanting to make a difference, contribute and make social impact and change.

A lot of women believe you must have so much capital before you can run a business, what is your take on that?

The greatest investment that one can have is am someone idea. A well thought out plan or idea, a need that has been identified, a niche that has been developed , that is the greatest asset in any business because when you have an idea that is crazy then the money to sustain that idea will come. There are many avenues where that money could come .

Advise for upcoming business women......

Firstly, my advise would be that you have to know your area of expertise, the areas you have passion in and you need to be able to home your skills.

It is not just about having an idea, it is also good to amass the relevant knowledge that you need to make the idea work. When you do that, your opportunities become very doable. You learn from others, do a lot of research, look at the figures and what really obtains. When you do a sojourn in homing your skills and learning about that particular business idea, finding out if others have done it, finding out where they made mistakes and putting together a good team to make it work, that is the greatest thing one could do for her business.

36—VANGUARD, WEDNESDAY, JUNE 17, 2015

APC: A progressing crisis UNEASY lies the head that wears the crown, and so, the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC seems to be learning almost every day.

•Saraki: Upturned Tinubu's permutations

•Kwakwanso: Calls for caution Saraki would have easily emerged as speaker.

When the former governor cautioned Saraki about his ambition, it inevitably brought to fore the flowing issue of the 2019 ambitions of the separate leaders of the APC which their critics in the opposition Peoples Democratic Party, PDP had for long argued would be the ruin of the new ruling party.

Saraki’s alleged 2019 presidential ambition, as has been generally reported, was the basis of the opposition several party leaders had against his emergence. Kwankwanso who teamed up with the Bola Tinubu camp in opposing Saraki’s Senate Presidency quest is also reported

•Oyegun: Atiku's man, Frank wants his resignation

By Emmanuel Aziken, Political Editor

S

ENATOR Rabiu Kwankwanso was dressed in a flowing white gown with the red Kwankwansiya cap to match this past Monday evening. His posture was far from a rattle snake about to limp for prey as he sat down to a session with newsmen in his Maitama Abuja residence.

However, after about an 80 minute session with newsmen that evening, he had sufficiently

C M Y K

•Frank: Supports Saraki, Ekweremadu

rattled his party in a way only a rattle snake could have done on a prey. The APC was, however, not Kwankwanso’s immediate prey that evening.

“It is sad that the party did not get it right; it is unfortunate and I can tell you categorically that the party is divided, but it is not too late to correct many things and that is what I think the party should be doing right now”.

The president of the Senate, Senator Bukola Saraki and his deputy, Ike Ekweremadu were the immediate preys of Senator

Kwankwanso who warned Saraki not to destroy their party, with his alleged ambitions.

Senator Kwankwanso did not hide his objection to the emergence of Saraki as the President of the Senate and Yakubu Dogara as Speaker of the House of Representatives.

Indeed, in the perspective of a key associate of Dogara, Senator Kwakwanso did more damage more than anyone else to stop the emergence of Dogara as speaker and it was said that if not for him, Dogara and as such,

When the former governor cautioned Saraki about his ambition, it inevitably brought to fore the flowing issue of the 2019 ambitions of the separate leaders of the APC

to be interested in the 2019 pie having been deputy speaker, governor, minister and now, senator.

Remarkably, Kwankwanso and Saraki were central leaders of the G7 or new Peoples Democratic Party, PDP group who left the then ruling party in November 2013.

In his session with newsmen, an emboldened Kwankwanso who probably only defers to President Olusegun Obasanjo, confessed that he supported Senator George Akume in the Senate leadership contest and switched on to Senator Ahmad Lawan when Akume stepped down for Lawan.

His reason for supporting Akume ahead of his fellow nPDP co-leader some said was simply in view of 2019 given that Akume is not in the permutations for the presidency.

If Kwankwanso was restrained in his vituperations against Saraki, the outbursts the same day, of the deputy national publicity secretary of the party, Comrade Timi Frank against the national chairman and working committee simply went overboard.

Frank, in another session with newsmen in Abuja demanded the resignation of Chief John OdigieOyegun as national chairman. He even took on the party icon and his immediate boss,, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, charging him with misdemeanour in the discharge of his duties. Those who contacted Mohammed on the issue said the party spokesman was in a state of shock over the issue.

Noting that his party was slacking in its promise of change, Frank said faulted the party’s decision to present a set of nominees for the National Assembly leadership contests saying that the decision of the leadership had shown the party to be out of touch with its base.

“If my party could not keep to the promise of change, then we must correct them to keep to that.

I have no fear or favour than to say that the current leadership of the party has practically failed.

With this incident alone, the chairman should resign from his position after taking a position against the people and the people’s position has finally come to stay.

“In the Western world, by today the party’s national chairman would have resigned honourably.

Not just the national chairman but the entire leadership that took this decision of conducting mock election against the outcry of the larger members of the party.

Against the bigger picture of Nigerians. A hand-full of the party leadership came to take a decision, and by today the people have shown that the voice of the people is the voice of God. “You could see the way the party including the national chairman was speaking before the NASS leadership elections; it

Continues from page 37

VANGUARD, WEDNESDAY, JUNE 17, 2015—37

totally bad because I have been in a country like Nigeria and like a constituency I come from, where if not for zoning in the first place, I wouldn’t have gone there. So certainly, if I came, I should be willing to make space for another person to go. So, whereas we want legislators to remain but we cannot take our eyes from the fact that this is Nigeria with so many tribes, so many diversities, sometimes we just have to tolerate things a bit.

The 8th assembly is going to have serious problems and I will compare it with the 4th assembly in 1999 when Obasanjo came on board. The 8th assembly will work with a President who has never been subject to legislative powers. He had ruled as a Military Head of State, he ruled in the PTF without being subjected to oversight. For a man of over 70 years all of a sudden be subjected to questions by

•Kaze: PDP will rise again

We won't allow PDP to die — Kaze

By Marie-Therese Nanlong

In this interview, Mr. Bitrus Kaze who represented the Jos South/Jos East Federal Constituency of Plateau State in the House of Representatives between 2007 and 2015 speaks on his experience among other national issues.

Excerpts:

H

AVING been in the National Assembly since 2007 to 2015, have you reflected on the journey and would you say that your constituency, Jos South/Jos East is better now than you met it?

It is better for my constituents to answer for me as reflecting whether the constituency is better than I met it. I believe that in the last eight years that I represented the Jos South/Jos East federal constituency, I had done my best to make issues bothering our people more known than they were when I stepped in.

So what are your next plans after your time in the House?

I remain in active politics; I don’t really have a defined plan for me because man proposes God disposes. In the course of the evolution of Nigeria’s political, democratic experience, a lot of things are going to

happen. This is the first time we are going to have a ruling party in the history of Nigeria all of a sudden becoming an opposition party. I hope to play a role in ensuring the PDP regains its feet.

We have a group of members who have left parliament who believe that we should not leave the PDP and that we should support all organs of the party from the national to the state, to the local government even the wards in giving courage, in assuring the party that no matter how bad things look, we will remain and salvage whatever is left of the party. So, for the immediate days to come, I will engage myself in that wise and you never can really tell what God has for it is only He alone that knows but I can assure you of my commitment to developing the party to continuously represent issues that matter to my constituency even after leaving office.

I may not be a member of the House, but I will still be a citizen and native of this constituency, so whatever bothers the Jos South/ Jos East constituency, Plateau North and Plateau state if not the whole nation, I am free to speak about and I guarantee you, I will continue to do that.

What do you see as the major challenges facing the 8th Assembly?

Now, as to the challenges of the 8th Assembly, it is rather unfortunate the high replacement rate that we have after elections.

Legislative work is not learnt in the classroom; it is a job you learn

with your hands on the desk and you don’t learn with experience overnight, it takes time. The trainings, the exposures, the experiences gathered by members over the years once more will be lost. But it is not

The 8th assembly will work with a President who has never been subject to legislative powers. He had ruled as a Military Head of State, he ruled in the PTF without being subjected to oversight

people he literary gave birth to is not going to be an easy experience and I have repeatedly pleaded with my colleagues that as they take seat, they must bend backward for General Buhari but he too must gear up, he must brace up and ensure that he understands the workings of legislature, the workings of parliament and that the wheel of lawmaking by nature does not roll very fast, it takes time.

He needs to understand that he cannot do them without the support of the National Assembly, it is not possible.

What were your challenges and do you have any regrets in your eight years of service?

I am not sure I have any regrets, since the question was asked, I have been thinking, I am not really sure I have any regrets and yes, I had challenges and I almost lost my life in this job and there were several times I went through life threatening situations because of the work, but whatever people think makes me a hero at home makes me villain outside and whatever make people so happy with me because of what I did; makes another person feels so angry.

You must stand for something, if you stand with good; evil will fight you, if you stand for evil, naturally, good will fight you. I had stood for something and not everyone wants it, that is the challenge but that is the nature of the job and that is why I say yes, I might have offended people but I never woke up one day and deliberately plotted to offend anybody.

APC: A progressing crisis Continues from page 36 showed clearly that the chairman had totally taken sides which wasn’t meant to be. I understand, he took some of those decisions based on pressure. In this century, APC as a party does not need a chairman that will be under pressure.

“And the party ’s national chairman caused it because times without number some leaders told him to come up with a zoning formula from the beginning. He was asked to take a decision and let people follow that but he didn’t do that. They were playing hide and seek with the issue until the last minute when they saw the danger, and they wanted to play hanky-panky, which led us to lose one position at the Senate.”

Frank’s call immediately echoed the sound of war from the leadership contest. Frank is a well known associate of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and even though he didn’t claim to

be speaking on his behalf, few would doubt that he resounded the opinion of Atiku on the National Assembly leadership contest.

Atiku had backed Saraki and Dogara against the desire of Kwankwanso, Tinubu and others and the reason was easily because the duo did not back his own presidential aspiration last year.

There is also the growing perception that Atiku has joined the school of thought which believes that Tinubu’s wings in the party should be clipped.

It was as such not surprising that his Man Friday, Frank in the same outburst questioned the alleged claim by his party boss, Lai Mohammed that President Muhammadu Buhari is not the party leader.

“Let’s go back and ask Lai Mohammed who the leader of the party is. If he does not recognise the president as the leader. In my own view, If Lai Mohammed that is my direct boss

could come up to tell Nigerians that the president is only a product of the party and not the national leader of the party, then he should have been able to tell us who the leader of the party is.

“We have seen that even in then PDP, former President Goodluck Jonathan was the leader of the party. If in our own case the President cannot be the leader of the party, he should tell us who the leader is then,” Frank averred.

Against the call by the likes of Kwankwanso that Ekweremadu should resign his position as Deputy Senate President, Frank dug in saying, “those that are calling for the deputy senate president to resign are antipeople, and I will campaign against it. I will continue to support Bukola Saraki and Ike Ekweremadu and every progressive Nigerian should support this mission as it will take Nigeria to the next phase because failure to do this will disrupt democracy.”

38—VANGUARD, WEDNESDAY, JUNE 17, 2015

Uduaghan was a misunderstood gov — Idawene, Delta SDP chairman

By Dapo Akinrefon

DR Oke Idawene is chairman of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) in Delta State. In this interview, Idawene assess the past administration of Dr Emmanuel Uduaghan of Delta State saying he was a misunderstood governor.

He, however, advices President Muhammadu Buhari not to not scrap the amnesty scheme.

W

HAT is your assessment of President Buhari’s inaugural speech?

The speech was very touching and fair enough exactly what Nigerians want to hear at this present time. I urge him to do accordingly, we pray God gives him the will to do it.

Now that President Muhammadu Buhari has taken over the reins of power,

what do you think should be his focus?

His major priority should be security, war against terror, that is Boko Haram, crimes and other security challenges, Stabilizing the economy, power, employment opportunities for the youths, He should not in any way take decisions out of sentiments that will make us lose confidence in him.

What do you think should be his agenda for the South South?

He should consolidate on the massive development of the South - South Region. He should be more friendly, get confidence from the SouthSouth people and consult with former President Jonathan as at when necessary.

In your view, do you think he should scrap the amnesty programme?

No. he should not scrap the amnesty scheme. Rather, he

•Idawene: Okowa should run an all inclusive government should make it better, more efficient and acceptable to all.

But if he insists on scraping it, he should offer something better than the amnesty programme.

How do you see your party, the SDP, faring in the Delta State House of Assembly?

The Social Democratic Party has men of impeccable character, tested and trusted in persons of Hon. Ofobruku and Hon. Abigor. I want you to know that the SDP will soar in the 6th assembly of Delta State.

The people of Delta State should watch out for us.

How would you assess the administration of Dr Emmanuel Uduaghan?

Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan was the most misunderstood governor in Nigeria. His three point agenda; namely peace and security, human capital development and infrastructural development was a good one. I score him 70 per cent in all. The SDP wish him well.

What should be the focus of governor Ifeanyi Okowa for the state and how do you think he can succeed?

Governor Okowa should consolidate on democratic dividends by completing all on-going capital projects and also design new ones.

The infrastructural development of Delta State should be his focus apart from creating jobs, business friendly environments to attract investors within and outside Nigeria.

He should run an all inclusive government. He has no excuse to fail, SDP wish him well and ready to support his leadership at any capacity, we shall excel in Delta State, Prosperity to all.

We welcome Okowa on board.

EDO PDP AND ANENIH: Deconstructing Osunbor’s unsavoury narrative

By Francis Ulinfun

F

ORMER Governor of Edo State, Professor Oserhiemen Osunbor, in a two-page interview published at pages 46 and 47 of Vanguard edition of Monday, June 8, 2015, revisited a political past that should have been better forgotten when he spoke on the so-called money quarrel between him and former Chairman of the Board of Trustees (BoT) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Anthony Anenih.

But since Osunbor had decided to dance naked by his unsavoury narrative, it is only proper to recall and put the event that happened in 2007 in context so that Edo people in particular and Nigerians in general who may be interested in the issue would not be deceived by the one-sided story told by a man who is still in pains over how he allowed power to slip through his fingers as governor. Contrary to the impression he may have created in some quarters that Anenih was instrumental to his loss of the governorship seat, his misfortune was deservedly self-inflicted.

The historical fact that Anenih mentored Osunbor in politics is an eloquent testimony to my assertion: while not maintaining that Anenih is not easily offended by the disloyalty of his followers and associates, I must state without any fear of contradictions that he has on so many occasions welcomed home some of his prodigal followers and associates who have shown penitence and promised to be of good behaviour

in their political relationship with him.

I shuddered when I read Osunbor’s claim that he had gone to Anenih on countless number of times to beg for forgiveness. Osunbor was a Professor of Law at the Lagos State University (LASU) from where Anenih (who did not even know him from Adam nor did he know his first name), acting on a recommendation by some associates, got the powers-thatbe to nominate him into the 1994/ 95 Constitutional Conference.

Strengthened by his belief that Osunbor did well at the Conference, Anenih decided to procure the nomination form for him to contest election to represent Edo Central Senatorial District from 1999-2003. Anenih funded the entire electioneering.

He also ensured that he was returned unopposed for a second term in the Senate from 2003 to 2007.

Strapped Osunbor was offered the gubernatorial ticket in 2007.

It was Anenih, after the most popular aspirant-Odion Ugbesia-had been prevailed upon to withdraw from the race, who directed his delegates to cast their votes during the December 9, 2006 governorship primaries for Osunbor at the expense of Professor Julius Ihonvbere, who was next to Ugbesia and more popular than Osunbor.

That was how with the solid support of Anenih, he emerged as the PDP gubernatorial candidate and went ahead to win

the 2007 governorship election.

No sooner did he become governor than he began to challenge Anenih for control of the PDP structure in the State.

He resorted to biting the finger that fed him. Perhaps, unknown to him, Anenih was not new to political treachery, confrontations, disloyalty and accusation of being high-handed by some of his followers. With God on Anenih’s side, the plot

by Osunbor to use his office as governor to humiliate him did not succeed. Osunbor’s action was indeed shocking to many of us who were watching the development then. That Osunbor could allow some forces within the party to incite him against his mentor-a man who almost single-handed helped him into political prominencewas awfully painful.

This brings to the fore the socalled money quarrel which he said existed between him and Anenih. Some leaders who were privy to the funding of the election campaign that produced Osunbor as governor have clarified that Anenih had already spent over N500 million before he sought for a bank loan when the campaign ran out of funds.

According to one of them, Anenih had in company with Osunbor met with the bank officials in his Uromi country home where he requested for N300 million-loan; but the bank could only give N200 million in addition to another N10 million which the bank donated to the

•Anenih: campaign. Anenih provided the Certificate of Occupancy of one of his property as collateral, which the bank took possession of before granting the loan. The campaign at the end overdrew the loan by additional N6 million. Osunbor was said to have paid back the loan while in office.

Osunbor’s assertion that “I didn’t see any N200 million that Anenih contributed to finance my election; but I am aware that he contributed N100 million to the PDP in Edo State and, as governor, I ensured that money was paid to him,” is dubious and self-indicting if, indeed, Anenih facilitated and secured the N200 million-loan with his connection and property as collateral.

Is Osunbor claiming that he does not remember his meeting in Anenih’s Uromi country home with the bank officials where the deal was perfected?

In fact, Osunbor turned his back on his friends, followers and leaders while in office. He surrounded himself with a coterie of praise singers and hypocrites who did not have the capacity,

•Osunbor: influence or the wherewithal to intervene for him when he desperately needed assistance.

It was therefore not surprising that he lost the legal battle he faced at the Election Tribunal in spite of the fact that he is a Professor of Law. He did not get his acts right and he apparently misplaced his priorities by concentrating on needless plots to bring down Anenih.

He understandably and explicably lost focus and with the loss of focus, it was not surprising that he was not able to fight with a single-minded purpose for the validation of his governorship election “mandate” both at the Election Petition Tribunal and at the Court of Appeal. I expect that Osunbor should have by now learnt his lesson and try to avoid the mistakes of the past rather than celebrating them and trying to blame Anenih for his gubernatorial misfortune.

•Dr Ulinfun, JP, KSC (B.sc, M.A, M.Ed, Ed.D) and the Odonebholo of Esanland, is the PDP Leader in Esan West Local Government Area of Edo State.

VANGU ARD, WEDNESD A Y, JUNE 17, 2015—39 ANGUARD, WEDNESDA

Once a cheater always a cheater?

He knows my past and is blackmailing me Dear Bunmi, IN my student days abroad in the early 80s, life was tough and I did a lot of things to keep going as funds coming from home were virtually non-existent. I slept with a lot of men for money and was able to finish my studies.

I got married and had two children but the marriage didn’t last and I came back home. I have a good job because I’m well qualified. I have my own flat and a loving partner.

Recently, my partner, who is married, visited my flat with one of his good friends and

Most men, just like their female counterparts, like to think of themselves as attractive to the opposite sex At his age he should respect himself Dear Bunmi, My current man is 67 and we get on well together. I’m in my early 50s. His fault is that he’s constantly eyeing young girls when he’s with me.

When I asked him why he looks at 16-year-old girls, he replied: “They are well developed these days.”

Why does he behave like this at his age? I’ve told him a few times that I find his behaviour annoying. I look after myself, have a nice figure and a good disposition. Isn’t that enough We’re compatible otherwise, but his lecherous way really spoils things.

Risikat, by e-mail.

Dear Risikat, Like most men, your boyfriend tends to behave in ways that suit his self-image.

Most men, just like their female counterparts, like to think of themselves as attractive to the opposite sex.

Now that your man’s sexual attractiveness is declining, he increasingly seeks fulfillment in fantasy— maybe he used to see himself as a stud who had sex with young, fertile women! Now that has become impossible, he chases dreams in which his continued sexual

success as a man is guaranteed.

His behaviour might be shocking to you, but your best bet is to ignore him. Stop competing with the young girls he seems to be panting over and be yourself.

For now, the only woman he wants and can have is you.

So humour him— or ogle younger men to give him a good run for his money!

you can imagine my shock and embarrassment when he turned out to be one of my ‘ regular customers’ in my student days abroad.

He didn’t let on that he knew me and I was grateful to him for that. However, a few weeks after the visit, he came calling on his own and it was plain what he wanted.

I told him I was now involved with my partner and he said he wasn’t looking for a permanent relationship and that he would keep his mouth shut.

Of course, it was blackmail and, I’m ashamed to say, I let him have sex with me. He left some money and went away.

I feel dirty and used and dread his coming back. I would hate for my partner to find out about my sordid past.

What can I do to get rid of this shameless man?

Nonye, by e-mail.

Dear Nonye, Your past should be well behind you and you have to call the bluff of this shameless man from your past. It is a pity that you gave in to his blackmailing tactics.

When and if he comes calling again, let him know you’re not having any of his crude overtures, and that if you had to, you could come clean with your partner. It would be nice if you had a tape recorder to record what would transpire between the two of you in case he denied anything.

I am sure if your man is any friend of this creep, he wouldn’t breathe a word about pestering you for sex to him.

I hate it when he sticks his tongue in my mouth Dear Bunmi, Ever since I could remember, I’ve always hated having things in or near my mouth even brushing my teeth makes me feel uneasy— and kissing is a big problem.

Unfortunately, my current boyfriend feels kissing is not passionate enough unless we both use our tongues. I often resent this and he’s starting to think I don’t love him because I don’t kiss him ‘properly.’

Of course, I love him and I’m sure there are better ways of showing this. Any ideas?

Lara, by e-mail.

Dear Lara, A strong reaction such as you have is often the result of something nasty that’s happened to you in the past.

It could be that when you were very young, you were made to eat something you didn’t like or you had a bad experience with chewing sticks or the dentist.

Now you have a phobia of things near your mouth.

You need to talk to a professional, who could help you rethink the past and put the ‘something nasty’ in perspective.

In the meantime, let your boyfriend know of this fear and together, you could beat it.

Dear Bunmi, My partner is in his 40s and was married before. He is a widower and has confessed that all the time he was married he’d had girlfriends, which his wife condoned.

When I told him I don’t like unfaithful men, he assured me he was now older and had more important things to think about.

We currently live together and any time I can’t account for where he is, I instantly assume he’s shagging someone somewhere— once a flirt, always a flirt. Am I right?

Munirat, by e-mail.

Dear Munirat, It is a fact of life that a man who has had affairs is much more likely to have another one; so you do have reason to be anxious. Since he’s now being honest with you and assuring you of his loyalty, you have no choice but to believe him.

Except you have other reasons to suspect he is still a ladies’ man, I would get on with making the best of the relationship if I were you.

In this type of situation you have to follow your instinct and not rush into making rash assumptions.

I need to make amends Dear Bunmi, For close to 10 years, I was married to a man who was a control freak and very abusive to my family. It got so bad that he threatened to kill me if I saw my family or attend any of their functions.

I was so terrified of him that I took his threat seriously and cut off all contact with my family and friends.

Now I’m divorced from the brute and for the first time in a long time, recognised him for the spineless coward he was. I will very much like to get back in touch with the people he forced me to cut off contact with. But I’m worried about what they will think after I’ve ignored them for so long.

Dorothy, by e-mail.

Dear Dorothy, It’s almost certain your family and friends understand exactly why you stopped seeing them. They had seen a flash of violence in your marriage and know you had to save your life.

If, however, they seem not to understand, you need to explain to them how abusive your ex-husband was.

Make it clear you’ve always loved them, but were just too afraid to make contact until now because of his threats.

I am pretty sure that once they really appreciate the situation you were in, your family will be happy to have you back. So get in touch now.

You’re out of the clutch of the monster that alienated you from them.

In this type of situation you have to follow your instinct and not rush into making rash assumptions Why has he gone off sex?

Dear Bunmi, I love my boyfriend so much.

Though he’s overweight, that has never bothered me as I adore his cuddly body. We had a good sex life too until a few months ago when he changed.

Now every time I’ve tried to get near him, he backs away and calls me a ‘naughty’ girl.

What do you think is wrong?

Lisa, by e-mail.

Dear Lisa, A man who backs off from sex

usually does it for one reason— he’s afraid of failing. It could be that your partner is embarrassed by his weight and feels too ugly for sex. So you need to build up his confidence.

Or he may be having some difficulty in getting an erection.

If so, you need to reassure him that erectile problems can almost be cured easily by having a word with his doctor.

Patience and a lot of support will soon get this problem sorted out.

Share your problems and release your burden. Write now to Dear Bunmi, Vanguard Newspapers, P.M.B 1007, Apapa, Lagos, or bunmsof@yahoo.co.uk

40— Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JUNE 17, 2015

Police begin manhunt for criminals on wanted list in Anambra

By Nwabueze Okonkwo, Onitsha

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nti-crime operatives attached to Ogidi Police Division in Anambra State, have launched a manhunt for suspected criminals on their wanted list. The manhunt followed on-going frequent robbery attacks on residents of Nkpor-Uno in Idemili North Local Government Area of the state, which is now giving residents sleepless nights.

Attack on restaurants A dependable police source told Crime Alert in Ogidi, yesterday, that the latest manhunt was triggered by last Sunday's midnight robbery attacks on some restaurants during which both the owners and their customers were manhandled and robbed by the same criminals on the police wanted list. According to the source, the criminals had between 9 and 10 p.m on Sunday, swooped on some restaurants and their customers, and at gunpoint, dispossessed them of cash and other valuables.

Counter-attack However, the robbers narrowly escaped as vigilante operatives trailed them to another restaurant shortly after the initial operation and engaged them in a counterattack. During the counteroffensive by vigilante operatives, the second restaurant was taken apart, but the robbers escaped arrest.

After the incident, a fresh twist to the episode of attack and counter-attack emerged as owner of the restaurant, Mrs. Nwakaego Okafor, a widow, rushed to Ogidi Police Station on Monday and made a statement. In her statement, she alleged that some irate youths stormed her restaurant and set it ablaze because she was allegedly opposing the continued leadership of one Chief Raphael Nnabuife (Asha) as Acting PresidentGeneral of Nkpor Development Union, NDU, caretaker committee which was appointed by the state government years earlier.

Family reacts But after her statement, her own mother and elder brother, Mrs. Veronica Okafor and Emmanuel, also went to the same police station, and alleged that Nwakaego’s restaurant was being used by robbers as a hiding place, adding that they had warned her on several occasions to relocate her restaurant business out of the area. They

Spent ammunition pellets at the restaurant scene of encounter between the robbers and vigilante operatives further alleged that they said this because the robbers who patronize her usually take off from there and return after operations.

Reports said they further alleged before the Divisional Police Officer, DPO, Ogidi, Mr. Hassan Musa, that they are now living in fear as criminals who operate from Nwakaego’s restaurant always terrorize residents of the area. They added that their kindred had given her two options of relocating to Umuoji community, her late husband’s home or to any other place far from their Nkpor-Uno home, but she refused and continued to mingle with the criminals who are now terrorizing inhabitants of the area.

Mother's anger Nwakaego's mother, Mrs Veronica Okafor recalled that she had earlier taken the matter of her daughter before the women's wing of the community which ordered her to quit, but she refused. She (Nwakaego)insisted that it was her father ’s compound, nothwithstanding the fact that she was married to another community. Mrs Okafor added that the activities of the criminals has deeply traumatised her.

Brother's accusation

Nwakaego's brother, Emma Okafor, corroborating their mother's narrative, revealed that the robbers took off from his sister’s restaurant, went and robbed others with their customers and returned to his sister ’s restaurant, but they were being pursued by the local vigilante group whose men fought them relentlessly.

His words: “On arriving my sister ’s restaurant, they had a bloody encounter with the vigilante group that was pursuing them and in the process, the

After robbing us, they went back to her restaurant and the vigilante operatives trailed them there and engaged them in a battle, leading to destruction of her restaurant

restaurant structure was pulled down. As a result, she went to the police and reported that the vigilante operatives who chased criminals to her restaurant were angry youths who were after her because she was opposed to Nnabuife’s continued leadership.”

He pleaded for assistance from the police, the town union and Anambra State Government to help relocate his sister to another place to avoid the presence of criminals in their house as their presence makes the entire family uncomfortable.

Nwakaego's defence However, it was gathered that in her defence, Nwakaego denied the allegations, adding that she had become the bread winner of the family since the death of her husband.

“I feed my mother and siblings from the proceeds I make from the restaurant. The girls you see here help me run the restaurant and I have been in this business for 11 years now.

"The angry youths came and ransacked my restaurant at about 12 midnight, took away cash, demolished the structure and set ablaze the chairs”, she said.

Neighbour's witness

A woman who runs another restaurant, Mrs. Nwakaego Nweke, accused Nwakaego of harbouring criminals and told the police that the robbers took off from Nwakaego’s restaurant, robbed her and her customers including other restaurants and returned to her restaurant as they were being pursued by the vigilante group.

"I lost N15,000 and three handsets, while one of my customers also lost N15,000 to the robbers. After robbing us, they went back to her restaurant and the vigilante operatives trailed them there and engaged them in a battle, leading to destruction of her restaurant."

Police reacts Crime Alert learnt that based on the development, detectives in the state have been directed to spread their dragnet and comb all the nooks and crannies of Ogidi and beyond with a view to fishing out the wanted criminals on police list and their accomplices. The source further said, “It is when we arrest these robbers that we'll know the true picture of last Sunday night robbery at Nkpor-Uno but for now, we have spread our dragnet to ensure that they are tracked down and brought to book.”

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JUNE 17, 2015 —41

*Bullet marks at the palace

*Igwe Obosi's vehicle that was destroyed

How Anambra monarch survived assassination attempt *Govt, Police vow to fish out culprits

By Nwabueze Okonkwo, Onitsha

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AST Monday's attempt by four armed men to snuff life out of the traditional ruler of Obosi in Anambra State, Igwe Chidubem Iweka III, met a brick wall after members of his vigilance group rose up to the challenge and accosted the intruders. In fact, it was gathered that the alleged hired killers were almost breaking into the bedroom of the monarch when agile palace guards confronted them and succeeded in repelling the attack.

Coming after two other attempts to eliminate the traditional ruler since 2012, the latest incident jolted both the government of Willie Obiano and Police authorities in the state, prompting a warning signal to criminals in the state to relocate or face the consequences of their actions.

Visit by govt officials Governor of Anambra State, Chief Willy Obiano and the State Police boss, Hassan Karma who sounded this note of warning during their visit to the Palace of the traditional ruler to commiserate with him on the attempted assassination said adequate security measures have been put in place in the state to ward off criminal elements permanently.

How it happened The incident, according to an eye witness, occurred between 1 a.m. and 2 a.m. on

Monday, when the gangsters stormed his palace at Obosi on two motorbikes, entered the compound and attempted to gain entrance into the Igwe’s bedroom before they were halted by vigilante operatives attached to the palace.

According to the source, as soon as they stopped their motorbikes in front of the open gate leading to the palace, they entered into the large compound and when one of the security guards attached to the palace flashed his torch and asked who they were, one of the gunmen opened fire on him and before he could regain his balance with his colleagues to return the attack, the gunmen jumped onto their bikes and zoomed off.

Guard's ordeal Narrating his ordeal to Crime Alert at the palace, the vigilante operative who gave his name as Ikechukwu

The state government is determined to reduce armed robbery, assassination, kidnapping and other crimes to the barest minimum in Anambra State

Enedah said: “On Monday, June 8,2015, at about 1.30am, four armed men wielding pump-action rifles stormed the palace of the traditional ruler, demanding for his whereabouts. When I demanded to know who they were, they shot several times at me. Luckily, the bullets only threw me off balance and tore my clothes. They started shooting sporadically at the palace. The second security guard returned fire and in the ensuing gun battle, they escaped with the two motorcycles they came with.”

Media consultant reacts In a press statement issued on behalf of the palace, the Media Consultant to the monarch, Okwudili Oguegbu (Akaeze), alleged that the assassination attempt on the monarch was the third of its kind since 2012. According to him, “this is coming on the heels of the spate of arrests of some Obosi youths by a crack team of Anti-Cult Squad of the Nigerian Police following a petition written by a retired AIG of Police, an indigene of the town. The assassination attempt on the Traditional ruler was because the monarch was known and widely acknowledged for his crime fighting stance.

Earlier attempts “In 2012, some gunmen had fired AK-47 rifles sporadically into the palace, injuring some of the security men on duty.

Also in 2013, another group of gun men operating on a motorcycle attacked the

*Igwe Chidubem Iweka III convoy of the traditional ruler which was returning from Asaba Airport where he had gone to drop the monarch travelling to Abuja and a Police corporal attached to the monarch was seriously injured. I will, however, appeal for calm because law enforcement agencies are capable of handling the situation to a logical conclusion.”

Gov Obiano, CP Karma spit fire While at the palace of the monarch, Governor Obiano declared: “No Jupiter will make this to continue. The state government is determined to reduce ar med robbery, assassination, kidnapping and other crimes to the barest minimum in Anambra state as its priority policy thrust. I will

not relent in my efforts to ensure that peace reigns in all the communities in Anambra State, including Obosi.

"My administration will ensure that the monarch and his opponents are united to form a formidable team to fight crime and criminality in the town, which has been identified as a crime-prone area for cultists and other criminals.”

In his statement, the police boss, Karma announced the immediate redeployment of the DPO at Obosi for effective policing of the area, even as he ordered his men to fish out the gunmen with immediate effect. Both the Governor and CP Karma assured that they would leave no stone unturned to ensure that the culprits were brought to book.

42—Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JUNE 17, 2015

21 LGs can’t pay workers in Delta A

By Emma Amaize

SABA—TWENTY–ONE out of the 25 local government councils in Delta State cannot pay monthly salaries to their workers due to lack of money, investigation has revealed.

Workers of the affected councils, Isoko North, Isoko South, Oshimili North, Oshimili South, Aniocha North, Aniocha South, Ika North-East, Ika South, Patani, Ukwuani, Ndokwa East, Ndokwa West, Ughelli North, Ughelli South, Okpe, Sapele, Ethiope East, Ethiope West, Udu, Warri South and Uvwie, have been on strike since May 11.

Only four councils, Warri SouthWest, Warri North, Burutu and Bomadi have been paying their workers, but there are fears that they will join others, as their allocations dwindle.

At press time, some of the councils, which had been paying their workers half salary for more than a year owed seven months arrears, while some have not paid at all in the last five months.

Chairman of Association of Local Government Chairmen of

Edo Speaker urged to cooperate with Oshiomhole

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AT I O N A L chairman of Ikolo Esan, Prof. Gabriel Oteze, has advised the Speaker and members of Edo State House of Assembly to close ranks with the state governor, Mr Adams Oshiomhole, to move the state to the next level.

Ikolo Esan, an apex sociocultural group of the Esan speaking people of the state, in a congratulatory statement to Mr Victor Edoror, by Prof. Oteze, said it was heart-warming that Edo Central has finally taken its place in the politics of Edo State.

He appealed to all members of the state Assembly to cooperate and work with the executive arm to sustain the progress recorded in the state so far under the present government.

“The Assembly has started on a very good note with the election of Edoror.

We appreciate the step the new House has taken by considering the neglect of Edo Central senatorial district. With this election, we feel that Esan people will be part of the present government, because in the past, we were not considered in this manner," he said.

Nigeria, ALGON, in the state, Sir Itiako Ikpokpo, told Vanguard that the situation was very disturbing to council chairmen, blaming the problem on the deduction of primary school teachers’ salaries from the allocations of the councils.

Ikpokpo, who is the chairman of Isoko South council, said that until the Federal Government takes over the responsibility of paying primary school teachers and grants autonomy to councils, the third tier of government will remain dysfunctional.

The governor of the state,

Senator Ifeanyi Okowa, had stepped into the row between the councils and their workers, led by the state chair of National Union of Local Government Employees, NULGE, Mr. David Ofoeyeno.

Governor Okowa met with the council chairmen on the matter some days after he assumed office, after which his deputy governor, Mr. Kingsely Otuaro, took over to explore short and long-term measures to the problem.

The deputy governor had also met with representatives of the council chairmen, NULGE,

Directorate of Local Government, Accountant-General of the state and others to work out solutions to the problem. After the meeting, he inaugurated a sub-committee headed by the Secretary to the State Government, Mr. Festus Agas, to work out the details.

However, Ofoyeno, also a parallel chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, in the state, told Vanguard, yesterday, that the state government only appealed to the workers to call off the strike with nothing concrete on the payment of salary, which is the main reason for their action.

RECEPTION: Prof. Viola Owuiliri, Pro-chancellor Nigeria Maritime University; Mr. Kingsley Otuaro, Delta State deputy governor; Mr. George Ekpemupolo, Chairman, Warri SouthWest Local Government Area and HRH Patani Heavens, Regent of Gbaramatu Kingdom, during a reception for the university in Gbaramatu.

Okotie-Eboh no longer in APC —Onokpasa

By Perez Brisibe

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GHELLI—A chieftain of All Progressives Congress, APC, in Delta State, Mr. Jesutega Onokpasa, has described comments by Alex Eyengho on behalf Chief Adolor Okotiebor as uncalled for, alleging that Adolor and his group have no locus standi to make such statement.

Speaking to Vanguard, Onokpasa said that Adolor and his group were no longer members of the party as they stand expelled by virtue of Article 21 (x) of the APC constitution which automatically expels any member that drags the party to court without following due internal processes.

He said: “By commenting on a matter before a court of competent jurisdiction, Adolo and his group have also exposed themselves to contempt charges.

“Above all, their statement has now confirmed the fears of APC faithful during the days of the APC congresses that Adolo was a PDP sponsored candidate for the

chairmanship position of APC in Delta State.

“Having failed in their attempt to foist Adolo as APC chairman and having continued to work for the PDP, in their latest gambit, the group has tried to extend the order of court to provide a basis for the invalidation of all APC candidates, who are now

at the tribunal over the 2015 elections to reclaim their stolen mandate from the PDP. “It must be stated that the court order has been appealed against and Adolo and his group who stand expelled cannot now describe themselves as a faction of the APC as no faction exists in Delta chapter of the party.”

Emami to PDP: I vacated my position before your purported impeachment

By Onuzure Dania

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ARRI—THERE was drama, yesterday, at the Warri South-West Local Government Area, Delta State, Legislative Arm in Ogbe-Ijoh, when the councillors elected on the platform of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, during a sitting purportedly impeached Mr. Thomas Emami as Deputy Leader of the House over his defection to All Progressives Congress, APC. Reacting, Emami described the action of his colleagues as an indication “of ignorance of what the law stipulates,” insisting that he had sent his letter of resignation as Deputy Leader of Warri South-West Legislative Arm since June 12, and that the Clerk of the House read it out during the sitting, yesterday.

Emami, who described the action of his colleagues as witch-hunting, said that only his constituency has the right to recall him as councillor and as such did not require the consent of his PDP colleagues to join the APC. He vowed to use every legal means to continue to represent people of Akpakpa Ajudaibo Ward in Warri South-West, citing the examples of former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Mr Aminu Tambuwal as well as former Speaker of Delta State House of Assembly, Mr Victor Ochei who retained their legislative seats despite decamping to other political parties.

Maritime workers lament increased pirates’ attacks in Bayelsa

By Samuel Oyadongha

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ENAGOA—MARITIME Workers in Bayelsa State have expressed concern over the inability of the state government to tackle the upsurge in sea pirates’ activities on the waterways of the state.

Vanguard gathered that the pirates attacks is more pronounced along the creeks and waterways of the state's East senatorial district where the hoodlums have been on the rampage, attacking boat drivers, passengers and dispossessing

them of their valuables.

Only last Saturday, a Navy officer was shot dead at Ogbokiri jetty along Akassa River in Brass Local Government Area of the state by the hoodlums.

Chairman of the state chapter of Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria, Lloyd Sese, in an interview with Vanguard in Yenagoa, lamented the sad turn of events on the waterways, saying that they have resigned themselves to fate as shouting has not solved the security challenges in the creeks.

“We are tired of talking.

Remember we went on strike sometime last year with a view to drawing government’s attention to the parlous state of security on the waterways and the situation has not changed.

“Our people in the riverine communities are suffering despite their being from oil producing communities. Lives and valuables have been lost due to the deplorable security situation on the waterways.

Also, Saturday, a naval officer was shot dead at Government Jetty along the Akassa River,” he said.

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JUNE 17, 2015— 43

Huawei enters ‘top 100 global brands’

Court remands 2 over homosexual activities in Onitsha

By Jonah Nwokpoku

By Chimaobi Nwaiwu

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L O B A L INFORMATION and communication technology solution provider, Huawei, has been named by a global research agency, BrandZ, as one of the world’s top 100 brands for 2015.

Huawei ranked 70 in the list, marking its debut on the ‘Top 100 Global Brands’ list developed by Millward Brown Optimor.

BrandZ is one of the world’s most authoritative evaluations of brand influence, using a ranking system based on both brand value on the views of both potential and existing brand consumers and financial data.

Huawei’s brand value is estimated to be over $15 billion in 2015 and ranks 16th in the technology sector on the BrandZ’s list.

Speaking on Huawei’s emergence on the list, Global Head, BrandZ, Ms. Doreen Wang, said: “Huawei has made it onto a BrandZ list for the first time. This is the result of Huawei’s solid carrier business and also its active expansion into the enterprise and consumer businesses, and has invested in its global technology offering."

NEWI—A Chief Magistrate Court sitting in Onitsha, Anambra State, presided over by His Worship Nkemdilim Ike, yesterday remanded two persons in prison custody over alleged homosexual activities.

The two accused, Ebuka Anyasi, 23, Michael Ikegbunam 19 and others at large were alleged to have conspired among themselves to commit felony by having canal knowledge of Ifechukwu Okafor, 14, and Tagbo Chukwuma, who were both placed in confinement while the unnatural act lasted for seven days.

In a Charge No MO/99C/2015, the two accused and others at large were said to have been carrying out the unnatural act between 2010 and June 6, 2015, at Okolonji Street, Odoakpu, Onitsha, in Anmabra State.

“That you, Ebuka Anyasi, male, Michael Ikegbunam, male, and others now at large on the same date, time and place at afore Magisterial District did have canal knowledge of one Ifechukwu Okafor, ‘M’ 14 years , that you Ebuka Anyasi ‘M’ on the same date time and place did hhave canal knowledge of Tagbo Chukwuma ‘M’ which is against the order of nature and thereby committed an offece punishable under section 196 (a) of the criminal code, cap 36, Vol. II Revised Laws of Anambra State of Nigeria 1991 as amended,” the charge sheet read.

One of the accused, Ebuka, was charged for unlawful confinement or detention of Chukwuma Tagbo against his will, thereby committing an offence punishable under section 316 of the criminal Code Cap 36, Vol. II of Revised Law of Anambra State of nigeria1991 as amended.

Both accused, however, pleaded not guilty to the threecount charge against them.

The lead Defence Counsel, John Chukwuma, prayed the court to grant the two accused bail since the offence was bailable.

“There is no need to further detain my clients, since before the

law, they are innocent and their accusers have no evidence to prove the case,” he said.

The prosecutor, Clem Nwancho, an Assistant Superintendent of Police, ASP, opposed the plea for bail for the accused, on the grounds that some of the members in the cartel of homosexuals who were caught with the two accused and granted bail by the police were nowhere to be found, even in their residence. ‘’It is clear that they would jump bail and abscond as others have done and they are at large now,” he said.

Umeh destroyed vision of APGA founders —Ukaegbu

By Ugochukwu Alaribe

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BA—A chieftain of All Progressive Grand Alliance, APGA, in Abia State, Barr. Prince Nnanna Ukaegbu, has accused former national chairman of the party, Chief Victor Umeh, of destroying the vision of its founders.

In an interview with Vanguard in Aba, Ukaegbu, who is in court against Umeh over his suspension as Abia State chairman of the party, said the former national chairman has destroyed the heritage bequeathed to APGA by Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu

Ojukwu and other founding leaders by shutting out nonAnambra people from the leadership of the party.

He lamented that APGA was now a caricature of the vision of its founding fathers and had been taken over by mercenaries.

He said: “It is unfortunate that the vision of APGA founding fathers has been trivialized to this extent by Umeh that non members now lead the party. ‘’This development and the purported emergence of another Anambra man as National Chairman of APGA after Victor Umeh’s more than ten years reign is an affront to the entire Igbo race and is

ABIA: Police take anti-crime campaign to communities, motorcycle unions

By Ugochukwu Alaribe

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BA—IN a bid to rid Abia State of criminal elements, the police in the state have embarked on anti-crime campaigns to communities and motorcycle operators’unions in

the state.

Addressing youths and motorcycle riders at Umuikea junction, Isiala Ngwa South council council, Police Area Commander in charge of Aba, Peter Wagbara, an Assistant Commissioner of Police, ACP,

Lead counsel to the plaintiff, Godwin Mmadubuko, also objected to the bail application, insisting that they would not be faithful to appear before the court when necessary, adding that “keeping them out of custody within the society would endanger the lives of the victims, their families and the society at large, since they would gang-up with their cartel to harm others.

Another counsel to the plaintiffs, Jude Umennajiego, prayed the court to give a directive to the State Ministry of Health to conduct a medical test on the victims.

called on them to organize themselves into identifiable associations by the approved unions in the state.

Wagbara, who noted that this would assist in regulating the activities of motorcycle riders and checking their excesses, warned them to shun criminal activities

and stop using their communities as a hideout for criminals.

“You must give credible and timely information to the police on any form of criminal activity going on in your area because the perpetrators of such criminal activities will either reside among you or live in your community,”

designed to drive a wedge between the Ndigbo and ultimately destroy APGA. “Take a look at the present leadership structure of APGA; Gov. Willie Obiano is Leader and BOT chairman. Who is Victor Oye, the person they claimed to have been elected APGA National Chairman who joined APGA from PPA a day to the party convention. ‘’The BoT chairman and national chairman are from the same Anambra State. When did former Minister and PDP member, Labaran Maku, who is now National Secretary, join APGA to deserve his position? ‘’So, you can see that the APGA members who have laboured over the years to keep the party going have been kept away?

Ukaegbu further told Vanguard that in 2005, a notable Igbo son warned him against backing Umeh as the latter would pursue what he described as Anambra agenda.

“His position then was that Chief Victor Umeh would not allow any other Igbo man other than his kinsman to head APGA or any of its structures."

By Bartholomew Madukwe (08102479985) nwamad@yahoo.com

PEOPLE SPEAK

On state govts' inability to pay their workers’ salaries

T

o compound the states’ woes, their internally generated revenues are not growing concurrently to match their exposures to these revenue outflows. Do these states even have any revenue generating mechanism of their own? Miss Jane Nwosu, Worker

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ost of the states owing workers do not have any tax structure in place. They all depend on whatever the Federal Government in Abuja appropriates to them in a budget that is solely made up of oil revenue. -Mr Stanley Olisa, NYSC member

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ow we know these states have been mismanaged, is this not the right time to charge the governors under whose tenure the mismanagement occurred. If it was a corporation, the Managing Director will be in court by now. -Mr. Masha Houston, Commenter

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tates do not need oil money. All states are capable of generating money from hard work and dignity. Ask Japan, which has only sand and not a drop of oil how they have come to be so technologically advanced. -Mr. Nonso Azudiefe, Graduate

T

his is insane! Majority, if not all our politicians, have their children abroad schooling and paying in foreign currency. Can anyone of them tell us if they have at once missed their children's school fees because the state is broke?

-Mr. Chijioke Jannah, Communicator

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ow can they tell these workers there is no money to pay them, with all this high salaries and allowances being thrown at politicians? Have they not been paid their own salaries and allowances all this while? -Miss Cynthia Osuchukwu, Graduate

44 — Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JUNE 17, 2015

‘Why Jonathan deserves Nobel Peace Prize'

Abubakar to Yuguda: Show how you spent N834bn in 8yrs

By Suzan Edeh

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ENIN CITY—MR Jude Imagwe, a former Special Assistant to President Jonathan Goodluck Jonathan on Youths, said yesterday that his former boss deserves the Nobel Peace Prize for accepting defeat in the last presidential elections.

According to Imagwe, “If not for his calm attitude and his not being crazy for power, Nigeria would have been burning today. The people must not forget the sacrifice made by this man to save Nigeria.”

He lampooned the forrmer Governor of Bayelsa State, Timipre Sylva, who recently said that conceding defeat by the former President should not be seen as an achievement, therefore, suggested that the former President should not be given a hero’s status.

Imagwe, who spoke to newsmen in Benin City, shortly after a thanksgiving service for a successful tenure, at the Saint John Vianney Catholic Church, stressed that Jonathan’s singular act disappointed doomsday prophets, who had predicted that the country would be plunged into bloodshed after the 2015 general elections.

Ramadan: Etsu Nupe charges Islamic clerics

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INNA—THE Etsu Nupe, Alhaji Yahaya Abubakar, has urged Islamic religious preachers to preach peace and tolerance as the holy month of Ramadan approached.

Abubakar made the call yesterday at his Wadata palace, when he met with Imams, Islamic clerics and representatives of various market traders in Minna, the Niger State capital.

He also cautioned preachers against provocative sermons capable of inciting the public against one another before, during and after Ramadan.

He said “religious sermons during this period should be targeted at maintaining harmonious relationship among the people and nothing should be done to divide the people.”

The traditional ruler stressed the need to promote harmonious relationship among people so as to enhance peace and unity.

B

AUCHI—THE Governor of Bauchi State Mr Mohammed Abubakar has urged his predecessor, Mallam Isa Yuguda to toe the path of honour by justifying the expenditure of N837 billion being allocations to the state from Federal Government in eight years.

Abubakar, who spoke at the Government House, while addressing newly - inaugurated

state assembly members, lamented what he described as the high level of fraud during Yuguda’s era, promising that he would unravel all the shaddy deals allegedly perpetrated during the period.

“Most of the road projects Yuguda claimed to have executed were purely fraud and never completed.

The state is indebted to the sum of N17 billion in terms of gratuity of retired workers. The unpaid gratuity of local government staff stand at N11 billion, bringing the total of such indebtedness in the

sector to N28 billion.

“I am going to reveal what the PDP under Yuguda administration has swept under the carpet because it is expected that the N837 billion collected from Federal Government as allocation took care of the International Airport, the Specialist Hospital project, including the abandoned roads he claimed to have executed. So, where is our money? ‘’It’s unfortunate that Yuguda is supplying grains to people ahead

PRESENTATION: From left; Architects Ibrahim Kyari and Shakiru Kayode Yekeen, both of Artec Practice Ltd, with staff of GGSS Maimuna Gwarzo, Tudun Wada, Kaduna during the presentation of computers to the school by Artec Practice Ltd in Kaduna recently.

‘I'll sponsor bill for early payment of jornalists' salaries if elected—ODUSILE Conference of the union in Abuja. fact that media workers were

By Aliyu Dangida

D

UTSE—A presidential aspirant of the Nigerian Union of Journalists, NUJ, Abdulwaheed Odusile has said that he would sponsor a Bill for the early payment of salaries of journalists if elected during the forthcoming 2015 Delegates

Odusile made the pledge in Dutse, the Jigawa State capital, during his campaign tour of the state.

He said that the bill if passed into law, would force media proprietors to pay their workers as and at when due.

He explained that the law became necessary considering the

Baraje warns aggrieved APC senators over Saraki because Saraki’s emergence

By Demola Akinyemi

I

LORIN—FORMER acting National Chairman of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, and chieftain of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Alhaji Abubakar Kawu Baraje has warned aggrieved leaders of the party against challenging the emergence of Dr Bukola Saraki as the Senate President because of the consequences of such action on the party.

Baraje who spoke with news men in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital, yesterday during the graduation of 171 students of Baraje Centre for Arabic and Islamic Studies, noted that the warning became necessary

followed due process.

According to him,’‘The process was legal; there was no breach of any rule of the National Assembly, NASS and the NASS is not dependent on government.''

owed several months of salary arrears by their employers, describing the situation as not only unjustifiable and inhuman but capable of creating quackery in the profession.

His words:- “My agenda for the Nigeria Journalist is Special Media Salary Structure, SMSS, eradication of quackery and sanitizing of the social media and focus on professionalism with emphasis on training, retraining and registration of members.”

According to him, his other plans included setting up of NUJ Radio for revenue generation to the union, enhanced welfare programme and defence of press freedom among others.

of the Ramadan, when he could not do that while in office. This is simply a plan to divert the attention of the people with a view to escaping the attention of anti-graft agencies.

Ogbeha tasks Buhari on institution building

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BUJA—FORMER military governor of Benue and Akwa Ibom states, Senator Tunde Ogbeha, has tasked President Muhammadu Buhari to focus on building strong institutions if he hoped to succeed.

Ogbeh spoke at a two-day national conference of the Public Administration and Management Development Institute, PAMDI, while delivering a paper entitled: ‘Building Strong Institutions: A necessity for Good Governance, Rule of Law, Transparency and Accountability’ held in Abuja.

He said there cannot be good governance in the face of the violation of fundamental rights of the people, saying that good governance and fundamental rights are mutually reinforcing any egalitarian society.

Ogbeha, who listed corruption, lack of exemplary leadership and electoral fraud as major challenges militating against strong institutions cited the recent scandal of Federation of International Football Associations, FIFA, which led to the resignation of its president and warned Buhari to aspire to lead by example to continue to attain global recognition and respect.

The former military governor, who also described the controversial NLC election as a misadventure called on the new helmsman to use the outcome of the 2015 elections as a stepping stone to make the Nigeria’s electoral system better through reforms.

While emphasizing on the importance of strong institution in national development, Ogbeha also underscored the need for Nigeria to look forward for strong leaders who can in turn build strong institution.

Customs agents on warpath with terminal operator

By Ifeyinwa Obi

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GGRIEVED members of the Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents, ANLCA, particularly those plying their trade at the Tin Can port, have concluded arrangement to disrupt the activities at the Tin Can Island port over what they described as mindless extortions and inefficiency

at the Tin Can Island Container Terminal, TICT, one of the port concessionaires at the Lagos port.

The aggrieved agents, who spoke through the executive members of the Tin Can Island chapter of ANLCA, complained that they were fed up with the unbridled corruption, extortions and official arrogance of the management of TICT, which they claimed has made the cost

of transaction at the terminal unbearable.

Chairman of the Tin Can Chapter of the association, Kayode Oyinlola, his deputy, Ada Akpunonu and the SecretaryGeneral of the chapter, My Chucks Kanikwu, in a statement, alleged that TICT operates strange and unorthodox practices which has defied all known norms in port operations.

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JUNE 17, 2015—45

MTN: From left— Ms. Nonny Ugboma, Executive Secretary, MTN Foundation; Mr. Kayode Aderanti, Commissioner of Police, Lagos State; Mrs Yinka Makinde, Managing Director/CEO, AppleTree Limited and Johnson Kokumo, Deputy Commissioner of Police, Operations, Lagos State, at the handover of patrol vehicles to Lagos State Police Command by the Foundation in Lagos. PHOTO: Akeem Salau.

AIRTEL: From left— Mr. Ajay Bakshi, Vice President/Director, Customer Service; Mr. Segun Ogunsanya, MD/CEO, and Mr. Dele Anifowoshe, General Manager, Brands, all of Airtel Nigeria, at the unveiling of Airtel power of potentials campaign, tagged It's Now, in Lagos. PHOTO: Lamidi Bamidele.

NAFDAC: From left— Dr. Bukar Usman, Director, Veterinary Medicine and Allied Products; Dr. Paul Orhii, DG, both of National Agency for Food and Drugs Administration and Control, NAFDAC; Dr. Ayoola Oduntan, National President, and Mr. Onallo Akpa, DG, both of Poultry Association of Nigeria, PAN, at a briefing on the consumption of smuggled poultry products and its effects in Lagos, yesterday. PHOTO: Biodun Ogunleye.

ITALY'S DAY: Mr. Yero Sow, representative of Mali Embassy (left) and Marcello Difranco, Deputy High Commissioner of Canada to Nigeria, during the Italian National Day of Consulate-General of Italy in Lagos. PHOTO: Akeem Salau.

CHARITY:

Mr. Peter Onoriobe (2nd right), and others during the presentation of food items and cash gift to widows and the less-privileged

by Peter Mission for the lessprivileged at Iwhremaragha village, Ughelli North Local Government Area, Delta State.

ISACA: From left— Tope Aladenusi, President, Information System Audit and Control Association, ISACA, Lagos Chapter; Tokunbo Martins, past President, and Peter Ineh, immediate past President, during the investiture of Aladenusi and other board members in Lagos.

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FOR BOKO HARAM VICTIMS: From left— Mrs Ifeyinwa Awagu, Executive Secretary, Foundation for African Cultural Heritage, FACH, lawyer; Dr. Ijeoma Anaenugu, member, Doctors Health Initiative, DHI; Dr. Henrietta Maria Williams, Chairman, Fertility Care Centre of Africa, FCCAF, and Dr. Nkechi Asogwa, Director, FACH, at a briefing on Humanitarian Aid to Boko Haram Victims, organised by FACH, DHI and FCCAF, in partnership with Terra Kulture and Federation of Muslim Women's Associations in Nigeria, FOMWAN, in Lagos.

INVESTITURE: From left— Dr. Oladimeji Alo, past President, Chartered Institute of Personnel Management, CIPM; Mr. Abiola Popoola, CIPM past President; Mr. Anthony Arabome, new CIPM President; Mr. Bunmi Oni, past President, and Mr. Victor Famuyibo, immediate past President, CIPM, at the investiture of Mr. Arabome, 17th CIPM President/Chairman of Council, in Lagos. PHOTO: Diran Oshe.

46— Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JUNE 17, 2015

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Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JUNE 17, 2015 —47

Bloodbath in Berom land as terrorists intensify attacks Continues from page 46 will bring this thing to an end? If the security agencies want this thing to come to an end, give them two days, they will do so.

“The Fulanis residing here with us go to neighbouring states and recruit mercenaries and bring them to kill people. Unfortunately, the military lacks sufficient manpower to cope with the problem.

The point here is that the President moved the headquarters of the military to Maiduguri. Why not do a similar thing in the three local government areas: Riyom, Barkin Ladi and Bokkos of Plateau; why not move a reasonable number of security agents to form a sub-headquarters there because we all share boundaries and these attacks mostly take place here? Why don’t they set up a place, station from where they can handle this thing once and for all instead of treating it with kid’s gloves?”

Loman added: “Some of the Fulanis will even tell you they don’t want this rubbish.

At times you discover that when there is an attack, response from the security is very slow and by the time they arrive, the havoc had already been done. We are helpless and do not understand what else to do; but something must be done urgently because in Barkin Ladi alone, over 200 people have been killed since January this year.”

Ambushes and silent killings

Similarly, the Chairperson of Riyom Local Government Area, Mrs. Josephine Piyo, also narrated the ordeal of the people in her local government area.

She stated: “In fact, I cannot tell you this is the actual problem or the reason for these continuous attacks in Riyom and Barkin Ladi. Even what people regard fresh or renewed attacks after a break for some time, are not actually the case because there have been ambushes and silent killings on continuous basis.

“The security operatives have been trying in their own way but they really need to do a lot more because how do you regard a situation where you will contact security men that are supposed to be there to protect you and they will tell you that they have not been given orders to act? I think it is very unfortunate. Like in

the situation in Shonong in the attack of Thursday May 28, just a day before the inauguration. The military at Shonong told the people to run for dear lives; that the assailants were so many and they(security men) would not be able to contend with and repel them. The people fled after that; what followed was the looting and burning of people’s houses.

Why the Federal Government should urgently intervene

“A whole school has been completely razed down, all the buildings burnt; there is nothing in the place. This is

*Displaced women in one of the affected areas as his mobile line was not reachable, but the Police spokesman, DSP Emmanuel Abuh said: “We have done all we can for this thing to come to an end. The people should try and settle their differences because we have talked to them, held series of meetings and sensitised them on the need for peace. We are still trying to end this; all security agencies are on their toes to see it end.”

Peace ambassadors to the rescue

*Loman, chairman Barkin Ladi LG why I am crying out to the Federal Government. I appreciate the President in his inaugural speech saying that he was going to make sure

We are helpless and do not understand what else to do; but something must be done urgently because in Barkin Ladi alone, over 200 people have been killed since January this year

*Josephine Piyo, chairperson Riyom LG

that terrorism or security challenges is completely wiped out in the whole country and has directed that the Defence Headquarters be relocated to Borno State to contain Boko Haram. But I want to suggest that the President should also hear our cry here in the Plateau and other North Central states where the attacks are frequent. He should also re-enforce the number of security agents by posting many of them here.

Plateau should be considered just like Borno because we are also experiencing terrorists attacks in the State.

The steps taken in Maiduguri are encouraging; such should be extended to us here.”

Speaking on the problem in Wase, the member representing Wase Constituency in the House of Representatives, Mr. Idris Maje said: “The is-

sue of security is not about one person. An individual does not have the capacity to stop insecurity, it is a collective issue, and it requires the cooperation of everybody.

“I have contributed my quota in solving the problem by calling everyone together and dialoguing with the warring parties. I want to believe the administrations of Governor Simon Lalong and President Buhari have been briefed and they will do whatever they will have to do to address the security issues in the land.”

Meantime, in the early hours of Friday last week, Rakung village of Barkin Ladi was attacked by gunmen with four people, a woman and three men, killed in the incident.

Captain Ikedichi Iweha, spokesman of the STF did not comment on the development

Meanwhile, the Institute of Governance and Social Research, IGSR, in a bid to bring the insecurity problem to to an end has trained 502 persons, mainly Berom, Fulani and other youths, on how to arrest the cycle of violence in the six local government areas of Jos North, Jos South, Jos East, Barkin Ladi, Riyom and Bassa.

The President of the IGSR, Prof. Isawa Elaigwu who addressed the youths at their camp at the Citizenship and Leadership Training Centre, Shere Hills, Jos urged them not to allow anyone to use them in perpetrating violence.

He stressed: “Avoid using violence to settle differences; dialogue is the best answer.

As you have been trained in these seven days in the Youth Peace Camp V, put the training in practice and resolve to be peace ambassadors in your various communities.”

The youths in a communiqué issued at the end of the training assured of stepping down the training to others in their communities as well as resolving not to make themselves agents of destruction in their communities.

48 — Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JUNE 17, 2015 YOUR LUCK TODAY

LEISURE

By Joshua Adeyemo Phone 08056180139 VIRGO; Emphasis will continue to be on career related issues.

However you will not be wrong if you take matters-of-theheart more seriously now. Be more loving.

LIBRA; Mid-morning till early afternoon period may bring more promises than it can actually deliver; your being clever will see you through. Be very practical.

SCORPIO; Continue to attach necessary importance to your family values. Here is a day when joint ventures can bring you under pressure between 9.46am and 12.43pm.

SAGITTARIUS; Other people will continue to feature in your activities; that is to say you will need to be as co-operative as reason permits. Watch it between 9.46am&12.43pm CAPRICORN; You may be in position to minimise the pressure of yesterday. And you will need to watch your mood from 9.46am to 12.43pm.

AQUARIUS; It is important you don’t take things for granted around mid-morning and early afternoon period so that you will not run into avoidable disappointments.

PISCES; If you are in position to control your actions you would fare better if you can wait till after 12,43pm before you make an important move. Be family minded.

ARIES; Your being receptive can enhance your prospects but that is not to say you have to be naïve, especially during midmorning and early afternoon periods.

TAURUS; Success is boldly printed on your cards and like yesterday if priority attention is given to money the scope of your success will be wider.

GEMINI; Although things may be happening around you, you are the right person to make things happen and give others opportunities.. Be wise.

CANCER; Take note that others may break promises made before early afternoon period; that is to say you should not take anybody for granted before 12.43pm.

LEO; Although friends are willing to assist you circumstances may not allow complete help as expected. 9.46am to 12.43pm can be a bit sensitive

ASTROLOGICAL COUNSELLING Send yyour our dat th ttoo the As tr ological datee and place of bir birth Astr trological Counselling, PP.M.B .M.B 1100 00 7, Apapa, Lagos 007,

THOUGHT FOR TODAY

By Richard Eromosele

Need a friend?-1

E RY O N E E Vneeds a

friend. However, not everyone wants to do what could bring about the much desired friendship.

Friendship is a

deliberate and curteous act aimed at making the other man or woman to like yoiu. Do you want a friend?

TERROR MUDA

Then, be friendly disposed to other people. Today, one of my my closest friends is someone I met at the bible college. I

in “Never say goodbye”

KAPTAIN AFRIKA

in

“Pretty Lunatic’

was sitting in one corner of the room when he accosted me, asking: Can I shine youir shoe?

And I quickly answered: Yes, you can. Tell me, who wouldn’t reciprocate such a friendly gesture?

By Lanre Kehinde

By Andy Akman

Are they compatible?

Dear Joshua, Kindly analyse horoscopes of two young lovers willing to share the rest of thie lives together. I am concern because one of the is my own son. However I want you to leave out their birth dates.

Ikpeazu, Umuahia.

Dear Ikpeazu, COMPATIBILITY GUIDE What will follow here-under are analyses of their horoscopes , so that they will know each other very well vis-à-vis strong and weak points of each other. By this you will decide if actually what you are looking for is in the relationship.

THE HOROSCOPE DATA/PLANETARY PLACEMENT OF THE LADY SUN SIGN = AQUARIUS; SUN IN 13TH DEGREE OF AQUARIUS. MOON SIGN = CANCER ; MOON IN 3RD DEGREE OF CANCER MERCURY IN IST DEGREE OF AQUARIUS VENUS IN ZERO DEGREE OF ARIES MARS IN 29TH DEGREE OF PISCES JUPITER IN 29TH DEGREE OF CAPRICORN SATURN IN 27TH DEGREE OF SCORPIO. URANUS IN 16TH DEGREE OF SAGITTARIUS. NEPTUNE IN 2ND DEGREE OF CAPRICORN PLUTO IN 4TH DEGREE OF SCORPIO. NORTH NODE IN 23RD DEGREE OF TAURUS. SOUTH NODE IN 23RD DEGREE OF SCORPIO. ANALYSIS OF THE CHART SUMMARY Here is a gentle person who cares so much for both her extended family (especially her mother) and her personal family. She can be highly emotional, although highly intelligent too.

THE WEAK POINT She can unexpectedly burst into tears whenever she fails to control her husband. And if she does not result to weeping she can many times force this man to turn violent to the detriment of too many things. She in particular will many times become jealous for no reason and can be difficult to manage by this man.

Although she loves freedom, she will want to be in firm control of the man’s freedom. Issues of control and freedom must be clearly defined before final marital rite, or else serious trouble would be the result.

THE HOROSCOPE DATA/PLANETARY PLACEMENT OF THE MAN SUN SIGN = TAURUS MOON SIGN = ARIES; MOON IN 20TH DEGREE OF ARIES. STELLIUM SIGN = SAGITTARIUS MERCURY IN 22ND DEGREE OF TAURUS. VENUS IN 1ST DEGREE OF CANCER. MARS IN 25TH DEGREE OF TAURUS. JUPITER IN 8TH DEGREE OF SAGITTARIUS. SATURN IN 29TH DEGREE OF LIBRA. URANUS IN 7TH DEGREE OF SAGITTARIUS. NEPTUNE IN 28TH DEGREE OF SAGITTARIUS. PLUTO IN 27TH DEGREE OF LIBRA NORTH NODE IN 23RD DEGREE OF GEMINI SOUTH NODE IN 23RD DEGREE OF SAGITTARIUS ANALYSIS OF THE CHART SUMMARY Here is a man who will be very generous to his wife and/or woman. Great LEADERSHIP quality is his portion. He likes to make money (gives much of his energy to money making) and become successful.

WEAK POINTS Although intelligent, kind and like the woman loves his personal family, he will stubbornly refuse to give away his FREEDOM which the woman will greatly demand Although he is not violent by nature, this lady can provoke him to become, one simply because of unnecessary jealousy and demand of his freedom by the lady.

VIRGINIA

HOME & ABROAD

dadadekola@yahoo.com

By Lawrence Akapa

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JUNE 17, 2015—49

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50—Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JUNE 17, 2015

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Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JUNE 17, 2015—51

Fulfill campaign promises, diaspora Nigerians tell new administration

By Vera Samuel Anyagafu

A

LARGE number of diaspora Nigerians have called on the new Nigerian government to put to practice the much campaigned love for Nigeria as well as ensure it diversifies the country’s economy. This they insisted should be done by making concerted efforts towards charting a pathway through which Nigeria’s reliance on a mono-product for financing development could be relieved, stressing that developing other possible sources of revenue for the country would bring a huge relief.

Also, many who appear dissatisfied with the much reported cases of maltreatment of Nigerians in various countries of abode abroad, suggested that the new administration should act quickly by putting in basic infrastructures that would discour-

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and should go against the background of states depending more on the federal allocation for sustenance. We need to experience from this new era henceforth, responsive, responsible and accountable governance in order to have the rebirth we voted for. Therefore, Nigerians have to refuse the continuous mediocrity of leadership and followership. We need a country where corrupt and irresponsible government

•President Muhammadu Buhari age a sizeable number of Nigerian youths from migrating to foreign countries.

A source who refused to have his name in print, told Vanguard Consular Advisory that Nigeria’s demography spans across continents and many have migrated out of the country due to lack of economic opportunity, unemployment and fear of increasing insecurity in the

country.

He said that Nigerians are highly educated and responsible more than any other immigrant group across the globe, but unfortunately, migration has made it possible to brain drain a huge number of them in countries they have migrated to.

“This new era needs to introduce added value to the Nigerian economy

We genuinely care for the emergence of a new Nigeria, because many of us do not wish to die and be buried in foreign lands

officials would not rob us off our rights as bona-fide citizens, “It is within this narrative that I urge both diaspora and resident fellow countrymen to endeavour in efforts to discouraging any level and form of trampling on human rights, while encouraging many diaspora Nigerians to enthrone in the country what they live abroad for, in order to achieve a better and peaceful Nigeria”, source added.

Also speaking to VCA, a senior member of Association of Diaspora Nigerians, Chuks Madueke, who said that the Buhariled government is expected to remain focused on change and other developmental issues that will bring progression in the country, expressed the importance of forming partnerships and support groups that will assist the new administration to reach the totality of Nigerians.

He said that Nigerians need additional new and deeper layers of positive transformation to the country narrative.

This he said is achievable by extending outreaches through faith based groups, Non-gov-

ernmental Organisations (NGO’s) professional bodies and youth groups, until a reasonable level of change is achieved.

“Importantly, Nigerians need to define the shape of what is to come by the much enthusiasm and commitment displayed.

It is worthy of note that many Nigerians who migrated to other countries in search of greener pastures would never have left the shore of the country if past governments had maintained their mandates.

"We genuinely care for the emergence of a new Nigeria, because many of us do not wish to die and be buried in foreign lands, making it impossible for our children to identify and associate with their roots,” Madueke concluded.

In view of the foregoing therefore, the new administration is faced with the challenge of doing things differently, towards realizing a progressive Nigeria.

In other words, both diaspora and resident Nigerians are looking forward to experiencing policies and priorities that will bring about huge positive change in telling Nigeria’s story.

52— Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JUNE 17, 2015

Bloodbath in Berom land as terrorists intensify attacks *Residents send SOS to Buhari

By Marie-therese Nanlong, Jos

I

T is no longer news that Plateau State has for over a decade been a hotbed of crises, though the immediate past administration headed by Jonah Jang did its best to curb the trend. But the lull engendered by government’s intervention has since the new governor was sworn-in over two weeks ago given way to fresh and even more ferocious attacks, resulting in many villages in Barkin Ladi, Riyom and Wase local government areas now being deserted.

Though the problem in Wase is unconnected with those of Barkin Ladi and Riyom which borders on clashes between the Fulani herdsmen and native Berom farmers, residents of the three areas are presently living in fear and many had fled the areas to seek refuge in perceived safe environments.

Over 400 lives have been lost at Barkin Ladi and Riyom between January 2015 and the time of this report.

Communities like Sho, Foron, Kakpwis, Vat, Zakupang, Ropp, Fan, Jong, Lobirin, Rabuk, Zim, Ninji, Garshish, among others, in Barkin Ladi as well as Rim, Sharubutu, Sopp, Kwi, Shonong, Bachit and Jol have suffered one attack or the other, and many of their houses, churches, schools, markets, clinics burnt down by the attackers.

Most villagers in the affected villages are taking refuge in public facilities in the respective local government headquarters, while farming and trading, their means of livelihood, are now paralysed and their children out of schools. While these calamities unfold, there has been no reprieve from security agents, especially the Special Task Force, STF, charged with the responsibility of keeping peace in the State, but whose members are also being ambushed, attacked and killed.

Herdsmen on rampage; prowl villages

Few youths who stay behind in the villages report of Fulani herdsmen dressed in black, with faces covered, carrying dangerous weapons

*Men of the Special Task Force, STF...Helpless? and roaming the vast land which they have forcefully taken over. Persistent distress calls to security agents have so far not yielded the desired result.

Most of these attacks which occurred when villagers were asleep have recently taken a new dimension as the gunmen now prowl the villages in the day time in defiance of the curfew imposed in the areas. On daily basis, there are reports of isolated killings, ambushes and attacks with mostly women and chil-

They came with sophisticated weapons and their firearms are superior to those of the STF; there are ambushes and attacks with mostly women and children being murdered in cold blood

dren being murdered in cold blood.

The residents claim the “unprovoked attacks are a ploy by the herdsmen to dislodge us from our ancestral homes and forcefully claim our lands. They hire mercenaries to intimidate and kill people and burn property; once you relocate, they take over.”

Speaking on the issue, the Chairman of Barkin Ladi Local Government Area, Mr. Emmanuel Loman said: “On Tuesday last week, there was another attack in Sho village in which a young man was killed; the attack was carried out by the Fulani. On Friday night/early Saturday morning, this same people waylaid and killed a security personnel and critically injured one. They always come in their hundreds and we know they have brought in mercenaries and if you see the mode of operation, it is being done professionally.

“They came with sophisticated weapons and their firearms are superior to those of the Special Task Force, STF. The police men that are stationed in Sho tried their best but throughout the night, there were gunshots in the village and its environs.”

Lamenting the attacks, Lo-

man stressed thus: “It is a worrisome situation. We have been saying that these are terrorists, that the Federal Government should come to our aid but nothing has been done. What these people are saying is that this is their government; Buhari is their own, so this is the time that they will create havoc and seize the land. So, the Federal Government must do something.

The President Buhari that I know will not welcome that nonsense; I don’t know whether information has reached him or not but I am using this medium to call on the President of this country to, as a matter of urgency, do something.

“I appreciate his effort in trying to tackle terrorism. I learnt he has been to Chad and other countries to talk to the leaders of these countries on how best to tackle terrorism. It is a good idea but back home, something must be done; I wish he will have the opportunity to come to Plateau and see for himself the havoc being caused by these terrorists.

The Fulani, unfortunately, have submitted themselves to these barbaric acts but something must be done immediately.”

Many meetings, no positive result

The Chairman also disclosed that series of meetings have been held with Ardos (Heads of Fulani settlements) and other chiefs but there has been no positive result.

According to him: “The way a Fulani man behaves is very funny. In the meetings, they will talk as if they don’t know what is happening nor the perpetrators, while in the real sense some of them support these attacks. The kingpins are well known; we have submitted names to the security agencies but nothing has been done. If the kingpins are not properly handled to serve as a deterrent to others, I don’t think this thing will be solved.

“There is no time a Berom goes to attack a Fulani; it has never happened; it is always the Fulanis coming to attack the Beroms. What does that signify? The security agencies are aware of this fact. In fact, some of the security agents are also victims. Is that not reason enough for them to take an action that

Continues on page 47

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JUNE 17, 2015 —53

Bloodbath in Berom land as terrorists intensify attacks Continues from page 46 will bring this thing to an end? If the security agencies want this thing to come to an end, give them two days, they will do so.

“The Fulanis residing here with us go to neighbouring states and recruit mercenaries and bring them to kill people. Unfortunately, the military lacks sufficient manpower to cope with the problem.

The point here is that the President moved the headquarters of the military to Maiduguri. Why not do a similar thing in the three local government areas: Riyom, Barkin Ladi and Bokkos of Plateau; why not move a reasonable number of security agents to form a sub-headquarters there because we all share boundaries and these attacks mostly take place here? Why don’t they set up a place, station from where they can handle this thing once and for all instead of treating it with kid’s gloves?”

Loman added: “Some of the Fulanis will even tell you they don’t want this rubbish.

At times you discover that when there is an attack, response from the security is very slow and by the time they arrive, the havoc had already been done. We are helpless and do not understand what else to do; but something must be done urgently because in Barkin Ladi alone, over 200 people have been killed since January this year.”

Ambushes and silent killings

Similarly, the Chairperson of Riyom Local Government Area, Mrs. Josephine Piyo, also narrated the ordeal of the people in her local government area.

She stated: “In fact, I cannot tell you this is the actual problem or the reason for these continuous attacks in Riyom and Barkin Ladi. Even what people regard fresh or renewed attacks after a break for some time, are not actually the case because there have been ambushes and silent killings on continuous basis.

“The security operatives have been trying in their own way but they really need to do a lot more because how do you regard a situation where you will contact security men that are supposed to be there to protect you and they will tell you that they have not been given orders to act? I think it is very unfortunate. Like in

the situation in Shonong in the attack of Thursday May 28, just a day before the inauguration. The military at Shonong told the people to run for dear lives; that the assailants were so many and they(security men) would not be able to contend with and repel them. The people fled after that; what followed was the looting and burning of people’s houses.

Why the Federal Government should urgently intervene

“A whole school has been completely razed down, all the buildings burnt; there is nothing in the place. This is

*Displaced women in one of the affected areas as his mobile line was not reachable, but the Police spokesman, DSP Emmanuel Abuh said: “We have done all we can for this thing to come to an end. The people should try and settle their differences because we have talked to them, held series of meetings and sensitised them on the need for peace. We are still trying to end this; all security agencies are on their toes to see it end.”

Peace ambassadors to the rescue

*Loman, chairman Barkin Ladi LG why I am crying out to the Federal Government. I appreciate the President in his inaugural speech saying that he was going to make sure

We are helpless and do not understand what else to do; but something must be done urgently because in Barkin Ladi alone, over 200 people have been killed since January this year

*Josephine Piyo, chairperson Riyom LG

that terrorism or security challenges is completely wiped out in the whole country and has directed that the Defence Headquarters be relocated to Borno State to contain Boko Haram. But I want to suggest that the President should also hear our cry here in the Plateau and other North Central states where the attacks are frequent. He should also re-enforce the number of security agents by posting many of them here.

Plateau should be considered just like Borno because we are also experiencing terrorists attacks in the State.

The steps taken in Maiduguri are encouraging; such should be extended to us here.”

Speaking on the problem in Wase, the member representing Wase Constituency in the House of Representatives, Mr. Idris Maje said: “The is-

sue of security is not about one person. An individual does not have the capacity to stop insecurity, it is a collective issue, and it requires the cooperation of everybody.

“I have contributed my quota in solving the problem by calling everyone together and dialoguing with the warring parties. I want to believe the administrations of Governor Simon Lalong and President Buhari have been briefed and they will do whatever they will have to do to address the security issues in the land.”

Meantime, in the early hours of Friday last week, Rakung village of Barkin Ladi was attacked by gunmen with four people, a woman and three men, killed in the incident.

Captain Ikedichi Iweha, spokesman of the STF did not comment on the development

Meanwhile, the Institute of Governance and Social Research, IGSR, in a bid to bring the insecurity problem to to an end has trained 502 persons, mainly Berom, Fulani and other youths, on how to arrest the cycle of violence in the six local government areas of Jos North, Jos South, Jos East, Barkin Ladi, Riyom and Bassa.

The President of the IGSR, Prof. Isawa Elaigwu who addressed the youths at their camp at the Citizenship and Leadership Training Centre, Shere Hills, Jos urged them not to allow anyone to use them in perpetrating violence.

He stressed: “Avoid using violence to settle differences; dialogue is the best answer.

As you have been trained in these seven days in the Youth Peace Camp V, put the training in practice and resolve to be peace ambassadors in your various communities.”

The youths in a communiqué issued at the end of the training assured of stepping down the training to others in their communities as well as resolving not to make themselves agents of destruction in their communities.

54—Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JUNE 17, 2015

BOKO HARAM: Amnesty Int’l report on military demoralising—CAP

By Oboh Agbonkhese

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AGOS—THE A m n e s t y International’s report on the military in the fight against Boko Haram has been described as demoralising and a mockery of the country.

Community Agenda for Peace, CAP, gave the verdict at a briefing on the Amnesty report, which claimed that the military was committing war crimes with the death of over 8,000 people since the campaign against insurgency began.

CAP National Coordinator and Publisher of The Mandate Monitor, Mr. Obueshi Phillips, told newsmen in Lagos that for Amnesty International to call for senior military commanders to be investigated for “participating, sanctioning or failing to

prevent the deaths of more than 8,000 people murdered, starved, suffocated and tortured to death” was demoralising at a time everyone needed to get behind the military.

He said: “We frown at the double standard being employed by Amnesty in their advocacy for the protection of human rights worldwide.”

On June 3, under the title Nigeria: Stars on their shoulders. Blood on their hands: War crimes committed by the Nigerian military, Amnesty International claimed on its website that in fighting Boko Haram, Nigerian military forces have extrajudicially executed more than 1,200 people, arbitrarily arrested about 20,000, committed countless acts of torture and effected “enforced disappearance” with 7,000 dead in military detention.

From left— Mr. Joseph Akinlaja, member representing Ondo East/West Constituency; Mr. Yusuf Lasun, Deputy Speaker, House of Representatives, and Mr. Yakubu Dogara, Speaker, during a meeting in Abuja.

Alleged corruption in NNPC due to lack of budget—SARAKI

By Henry Umoru & Joseph Erunke

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BUJA—THE Senate President, Senator Bukola Saraki, yesterday, attributed alleged

corruption at the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, to what he termed “lack of operational budget,” saying the era of nonprovision of budget for agencies of government to function was over.

He said such situation leads to “serious leakages,” especially in income generating agencies.

Speaking yesterday in his office when some civil society groups under the aegis of Civil Society Situation Room, led by Sir Clement Nwankwo, paid him a courtesy visit in Abuja, the President of the Senate disclosed that the 1999 Constitution Amendment Bill, the 2011 Electoral Act Amendment Bill and the Petroleum Industry Bill, PIB, which were either passed by the National Assembly or refused assent by former President, Goodluck Jonathan, would be given priority attention as soon as the Senate resumes from its current break.

Responding to the group’s request that the eighth National Assembly must revisit some peopleoriented bills as soon as possible, Saraki noted that some of the bills were critical to the current reform project of the Federal Government and would soon be given accelerated attention.

He said: “You have raised a number of bills, one of which is the Electoral Act Amendment Bill, which is key to deepening the electoral process.”

President of the Senate,

who urged the CSOs to be more proactive and constructive in their approach to issues, said: “I recognise the importance of civil society organisations in a nascent democracy. You have done creditably well so far.

“On our part as legislators, we will be open, transparent and accept to work together as a team in order to transform our abundant resources to the betterment of Nigeria and Nigerians.”

CSO commends Senate

Earlier, Convener of the group, Clem Nwankwo, while commending the successes recorded in the elections of the leadership of the Senate and that of the House of Representatives, said his group was in the legislature seek partnership in the governance process of the country.

He solicited the support and partnership of the National Assembly while highlighting areas of interest such as bills on people living with disability, electoral acts (as amended), PIB and the constitution amendment, which he prayed the Senate to ensure its effective implementation.

Nwankwo further promised to work with the National Assembly to evolve issue-based legislations, avoiding unnecessary bickering and confrontation to achieve a stable and

conducive platform for the nation’s democracy to thrive.

In attendance during the courtesy call were the Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, senators Andy Uba, Tijani Kaura, Aliyu Abdullahi, Rabiu Ibrahim and Mohammed Hassan.

Ukpedi gets caretaker c'ttee

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HE people of Ukpedi Kingdom in Ughelli South LGA of Delta State have appointed a caretaker committee for Ukpedi union, pending when elections will hold.

Mr. David Ohwimu, from Iyara, is the new President-General; Chief July Egodomroren, from Erhuwarhen, Vice President General; Chief Geofrey Onakemu, Okwagbe waterside, Secretary General; Mr. Michael Oghenegueke, Otu Ughievwen, Assistant Secretary, and Mr. Kelly Okpodu, Agbohwiame, Treasurer.

Others are Mr. Daniel Kpumueki, from Iwhroku, Social/Publicity Secretary; Mr. Christopher Duyemi, Obi-Ayaha, Financial Secretary; Mr. Bules Ubeku, Otor-Okwagbe, Otota and Mr. Peter Okpan, from Agbaghare, Auditor.

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JUNE 17, 2015—55

36 govs meet on bailout for bankrupt states Continues from Page 5 become very worrisome, not just for us, but for the entire nation.

“We have some natural challenges in the country because of the drop in oil price and the issue of oil theft. There are other issues like the crude swap. We have the gas revenues which has never reflected before.

We have the mismanagement of oil subsidy. Few year ago, we paid about N200 nillion. Today, it is about N1.4 trillion. We are worried.

Plateau

In Plateau State, Mr Emmanuel Nanle, Director of Press & Public Affairs said: “The government of Simon Lalong inherited the situation and what the Transition Committee is doing and what government is trying to do, is to understand basically the reason for non-payment of salaries.

"Basically, one couldn’t really guess what would have been the reason.

The governor has also mentioned clearly that he feels that if the previous government did not dip their hands in the face of dwindling economic resources and fall in revenue profile into wide-spread government projects that had not been prioritized with cost benefit analysis, we wouldn’t have found ourselves in this situation.

Right now, we found ourselves in this situation wherein you have debt servicing taking a large chunk of the money and leaving recurrent expenditure hanging and as such salaries could not be paid.

"Right now we need to streamline our priorities, identify the projects that are of necessity that must be finished and then once those projects are tidied up and staggered alongside the resources that are available at hand to be able to address the myriads of other problems being for attention.”

On how soon the arrears of salaries will be liquidated he said: “I am sure you are in tune.

That is why Labour called off the strike in the last few days. The reason for the calling off of the

strike is that they arrived at a common agreement with government to the effect that salaries will be paid concurrently with one month arrears.

"That has been worked out and signed and everyone in Plateau state is expectant, full of hopes and waiting to see that they receive one month arrears.

"Those who have not received November, 2014 salary will receive double, those who received will get only one month until everyone is brought at par then they will receive December and they will receive the subsisting current one. In a period of six months, all arrears would have been paid.”

Katsina

In Katsina, Vanguard findings showed that the newly inaugurated administration of Governor Aminu Bello Masari may not be able to pay workers salaries because it inherited an empty treasury. The governor’s spokesman, Labaran Abdul told Vanguard in an interview that apart from the huge debt incurred by the immediate past administration, Shema emptied the treasury.

Abdul said although the immediate past government did not owe worker salaries, the PDP led government of the former regime of Governor Shema left an empty treasury.

“So, I think we may be finding it difficult to pay salaries as at when due because as I talk to you the accounts of the state government have been frozen. Abdul said the governor in his determined effort has vowed to ensure that sanity was brought to bear in the governance of Katsina State as business would no longer be as usual.

Abia

V a n g u a r d investigations also showed that in Abia State, there is no I n f o r m a t i o n Commissioner yet, and no official was willing to dabble into discussing the issue of why workers were not paid, perhaps for fear of political persecution, bearing in mind how the present governor emerged.

However, state chairman of Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC),

Comrade Uchenna Obigwe said that Labour expected the new government to open up on the issue so that Labour can ask questions and follow up.

Obigwe said 70% of the state’s workforce of about 20,000 is still being owed salary arrears. The figure, according to him, constitute mainly teachers, local government workers, pensioners, parastatals’ staff, including tertiary institutions.

Labour in the state, he said, has already compiled the debt profile and sent to its headquarters. However, the aggrieved workers who are being owed blamed their woes on the huge amount of money spent in the last elections by the previous government. Others blamed it on the “wasteful lifestyle of past government officials” and their insensitivity to workers.

For now, it is not yet known how the new government of Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu intends to offset the salary arrears as he has not opened up on this sore issue. But a source close to him, disclosed that he has been talking to banks to raise money to offset the arrears.

Abia received between N4 and N5 billion from the federation account before national allocations nosedived and now it gets about N2 billion while it has a wage bill of over N1.5 billion, and an IGR of about N500 million.

Benue

In Benue State, Vanguard gathered that a few days ago, Governor Samuel Ortom disclosed that the state is owing its workforce backlog of salaries amounting to over N12 billion. The governor stated that the accumulated five months salary arrears were inherited from the immediate past Gabriel S u s w a m - l e d administration.

Ortom said his administration had already commenced moves to clear the backlog, promising that in the interim, his government would pay one month of the arrears across board, while efforts would be Continues on Page 61

56— VANGUARD, WEDNESDAY, JUNE 17 , 2015

Pope probes Vatileaks

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Mediterranean migrants: EU split over quota plan E

U ministers have failed to agree on a plan to distribute asylum seekers more equally across all 28 EU states.

“There was no common view,” Latvian Interior Minister Rihards Kozlovskis said, referring to a plan to transfer 60,000 migrants on a quota system.

Efforts to reach agreement over the Mediterranean migrant crisis will continue at an EU summit next week.

Separately on Tuesday, Italian police removed dozens of migrants camping at the French border.

Police in riot gear forcibly shoved some of them onto buses and took them away from Ventimiglia, not far from resorts in the French Riviera.

The migrants, mostly from Eritrea and Sudan, had been prevented from entering France.

The European Commissioner for Migration, Dimitris Avramopoulos, insisted that only a compulsory mechanism - not voluntary - would work to redistribute 40,000 migrants among the EU states.

The other 20,000 - many of them Syrian refugees would be moved to Europe from UN refugee camps under a voluntary scheme, once their claims to asylum were proven to be genuine.

“Solidarity does not come in pieces,” Mr Avramopoulos said after the interior ministers’ talks in Luxembourg. “We made

UK police investigate Syria bound sisters

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ELATIVES of three sisters from Britain who disappeared in the Middle East with their nine children were appealing yesterday for information amid fears the group may have travelled to Syria to join the Islamic State group. Police yesterday were trying to establish the whereabouts of the Dawood family, from Bradford, England, who disappeared after going to Saudi Arabia. Their disappearance comes amid questions about how to tackle the radicalization of young people attracted to the Islamic State group’s slick propaganda campaigns.

“The family are quite understandably distraught,” the family attorney."

past and it didn’t work” referring to an attempt to ease Malta’s migrant burden.

Earlier Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi warned that without agreement Italy would adopt a “Plan B” that would “hurt” Europe.

While some EU states including Germany and Austria back the quota idea, others argue that migrants should not be forced to move to countries where they do not want to settle. The UK, Denmark and Ireland have exemptions from the quota plan.

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SRAEL, yesterday pledged to protect any refugees who fled towards the Jewish state after a rebel offensive in Syria and Islamist violence there raised fears about the Druze minority’s safety.

A significant number of Druze live in Israel, and leading members of the

NATO condemns Russia’s move to increase nuclear arsenal

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ATO has condemned Russia’s move to strengthen its nuclear arsenal, saying it amounted to “nuclear sabre-rattling” and was “unjustified” and “dangerous”.

President Vladimir Putin said Russia would put more than 40 new intercontinental ballistic missiles into service this year.

It is part of a widereaching programme to modernise the country’s military.

The move comes after the US proposed increasing its military presence in Nato states in Eastern Europe.

Tensions are high over Russia’s role in the conflict in eastern Ukraine.

Nato Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said that the statement from Mr Putin was “confirming the pattern and behaviour of Russia over a period of time - we have seen

Russian RS-24 Yars/SS-27 Mod 2 solid-propellant intercontinental ballistic missiles drive during the Victory Day parade at Red Square in Moscow, Russia Russia is investing more in defence in general and in its nuclear capability in particular”.

He said: “This nuclear sabre-rattling of Russia is unjustified, it’s destabil-

the Vatican spokesman, the Rev. Federico Lombardi, to Magister advising him of the sanction was posted on the bulletin board of the Vatican press office.

Magister told The Associated Press that his editor, not he, obtained the document and decided to publish it.

“I just wrote the introduction,” Magister said in a text message, adding that he had promised the Vatican to keep quiet about the scoop.

In the draft of the encyclical, Francis says global warming is “mostly” due to human activity and the burning of fossil fuels.

He calls for a radical change in behavior to save the planet for future generations and prevent the poor from suffering the worst effects of industryinduced environmental degradation.

Israel vows to protect refugees

Migrants from West Africa returning from Libya. progress today, but we are not there yet.

“It’s time we looked beyond national interests and avoided the lowest common denominator, the bargaining and fingerpointing.”

He said the EU “tried a voluntary approach in the

HERE’S something of a whodunit going on in the Vatican to discover who leaked Pope Francis’ environment encyclical to an Italian newsweekly, deflating the release of the most anticipated and feared papal document in recent times.

L’Espresso magazine published the full 191 pages of “Laudato Si” (Be Praised) on its website Monday, three days before the official launch. The Vatican said it was just a draft, but most media ran with it, given that it covered many of the same points Francis and his advisers have been making in the run-up to the release.

On Tuesday, the Vatican indefinitely suspended the press credentials of L’Espresso’s veteran Vatican correspondent, Sandro Magister, saying the publication had been “incorrect.” A letter from

ising and it’s dangerous.

“This is something which we are addressing and it’s also one of the reasons why we now are increasing the readiness and the preparedness of our forces.”

He added that “what Nato now does in the eastern part of the alliance is something that is proportionate, that is defensive and that is fully in line with our international commit-ments”.

community have called on the government to help their brethren in Syria following the recent violence.

Without mentioning the Druze, Israel’s military chief of staff chief Lieutenant General Gadi Eisenkot said the authorities were preparing for a possible influx of Syrian refugees and would prevent a potential massacre at the border.

“The reality in the Golan Heights, where internal fighting is near the border with Israel, is of great concern to us, including the possibility we might have to deal with refugees from Syria arriving at the border,” Eisenkot told a parliamentary committee, his words conveyed by a spokesman.

“We will take measures to prevent a situation where refugees are massacred. Our action would be humanitarian,” he was quoted as saying.

The spokesman said Eisenkot was referring to areas adjacent to the ceasefire line on the Israeli-occupied sector of the Golan plateau.

Druze leaders in Israel, including Ayub Kara, a member of parliament with the ruling rightwing Likud party, have appealed to the government to step in.

US kills deputy Al Qaeda leader in Yemen bombing A U.S. airstrike has killed Al-Qaida’s No. 2 leader, who commanded its powerful Yemeni affiliate, dealing the global network its biggest blow since the killing of Osama bin Laden and eliminating a charismatic leader at a time when it is vying with the Islamic State group for the mantle of global jihad.

Nasir al-Wahishi is the

latest in a series of senior figures from al-Qaida’s Yemen branch eliminated

by U.S. drone strikes the past five months, including its top ideologue and a senior military commander.

The U.S. has intensified its campaign, trying to push back the group as it has captured new territory in Yemen by taking advantage of the southern Arabian

nation’s chronic chaos.

The US activity against alQaida is also not limited in Yemen. Over the weekend, a U.S. airstrike in Yemen targeted an al-Qaida-linked militant commander, Mokhtar Belmokhtar, who led a 2013 attack on an Algerian gas complex that killed 35 hostages including several Americans. US officials are still trying to

confirm whether he was killed in the raid.

Al-Wahishi was a former aide to bin Laden who, after the al-Qaida affiliate in Saudi Arabia was crushed in the mid-2000s, rebuilt it in his homeland Yemen and turned it into the terror network’s most dangerous branch.

He also served as deputy to Ayman al-Zawahri, who

succeeded bin Laden in 2011 as the network’s leader.

The U.S. put a bounty of up to $10 million on alWahishi.

The Yemeni branch, known as al-Qaida in the Arabian Peninsula, claimed responsibility for January’s attack on the French satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo that killed 12 people.

VANGUARD, WEDNESDAY, JUNE 17 , 2015 — 57

Canada opens new visa centre

By Victoria Ojeme

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Court upholds Morsi's death sentence C

OURT confirms death sentence for deposed president Mohamed Morsi on charges related to a 2011 jailbreak case.

An Egyptian court upheld a death sentence against deposed president Mohamed Morsi for plotting jailbreaks and attacks on police during the 2011 uprising.

The court had initially sentenced Morsi and more than 100 other defendants to death last month.

Tuesday’s ruling comes after the court consulted Egypt’s grand mufti, the government interpreter of Islamic law who plays an advisory role.

Earlier on Tuesday, the same court sentenced

•Morsi Morsi, the country’s first democratically elected president, to life in prison on charges of spying for the Palestinian Hamas

movement, Lebanon’s Shia Hezbollah, and Iran.

Tuesday’s verdicts can be appealed.

Then army chief and

now President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi ousted Morsi on July 3, 2013, and since then has overseen a sweeping crackdown against his supporters.

The crackdown has left hundreds of Muslim Brotherhood supporters dead and thousands jailed.

Hundreds have been sentenced to death after speedy mass trials described by the United Nations as “unprecedented in recent history”.

In the jailbreak trial, exiled Egyptian-born cleric Yusuf al-Qaradawi was also condemned to death in absentia from his base in Qatar.

Mugabe criticises ICC on arrest warrant Z

IMBABWEAN leader and African Union chairman Robert Mugabe yesterday harshly criticized the International Criminal Court after Sudan’s president dodged an international arrest order by leaving early from a meeting of the continent’s leaders in South Africa, a news agency reported.

Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir arrived in Khartoum, Sudan, on Monday from South Africa, where a court instructed that he be arrested, but after his plane had left with him aboard. Al-Bashir is wanted by the International Criminal Court for war crimes allegations linked to the conflict in Sudan’s Darfur region.

The African News Agency, which is based in South Africa, quoted Mugabe as saying at the late-night close of an African Union summit in Johannesburg that the International Criminal Court is not wanted in Africa.

“This is not the headquarters of the ICC; we don’t want it in this region at all,” said Mugabe, who is chairing the 54-member African Union for one year.

South Africa is a signatory to the statute that set up the international court. But some African leaders say the court has unfairly targeted African heads of state and the African Union said delegates to the summit in Johannesburg had immunity.

According to Mugabe, South African President

Jacob Zuma said “he would not allow” police to arrest al-Bashir, the African News Agency reported.

A spokesman for Zuma’s office referred questions about alBashir to government spokeswoman Phumla Williams. Williams was not immediately available on Tuesday, a national holiday in South

Africa. Nick Kaufman, a lawyer representing several victims in the Darfur case at the ICC, called on the court’s prosecutor Tuesday to ask judges for a formal “finding of noncompliance” by South Africa for failing to arrest al-Bashir and to have the matter reported to the United Nations Security Council.

Rwanda’s ruling party endorses Kagame’s third term

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WANDA’S ruling party have backed calls to change the constitution that would allow strongman Paul Kagame a third term in power as president, reports said yesterday.

Over 3.7 million people have signed a petition calling for a change of Article 101 of the constitution, which limits the president to two terms, the New Times newspaper reported.

Kagame’s Rwandan Patriotic Front (RPF), after a weekend meeting of some 600 top members, issued a statement calling for constitutional change.

“Considering the wishes of many Rwandans and those of members of the RPF, we support the proposed

•Kagame amendment of Article 101 of the constitution and any other provisions in the law that need modification,” the statement read, according to the New Times.

Kagame, 57, has been at the top of Rwandan politics since 1994, when an offensive by his RPF

ethnic Tutsi rebel force put an end to a genocide

by Hutu extremists that left an estimated 800,000 mostly Tutsis dead.

As minister of defence and then vice president, Kagame was widely seen as the power behind the throne even before he took the presidency in 2003, winning 95 percent of the vote. He was reelected in 2010 with a similarly resounding mandate.

From the trauma of genocide, he has been painted as a guarantor of stability and economic development, earning praise from donors — and his supporters say many in Rwanda view the prospect of his departure as a step into the unknown.

HE Government of Canada today announced the opening of a new visa application centre (VAC) in Abuja.

A statement made available yesterday said, Citizenship and Immigration to Canada is expanding its VAC network around the world to provide valuable administrative support to applicants before, during and after their temporary resident application is assessed by a Citizenship and Immigration officer.

According to the statement, “ VACs have

longer hours of operation than visa offices in embassies. Service agents are available by phone, email or in person to answer questions in local languages and to make sure that applications are complete.

“This helps avoid unnecessary delays or refusals due to incomplete applications.

For an additional fee, VACs also offer other services, including photocopies, application photographs and selfservice computer terminals for those wishing to take advantage of online applications.

Zuma gets seven days to explain Bashir’s exit

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HE South African government has a week to explain to judges why it defied a court order barring the Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir from leaving the country.

Bashir flew out of South Africa on Monday, before the end of the African Union leaders’ summit, despite an earlier ruling blocking him from leaving.

A court Monday ordered the government to disclose why he was allowed to leave, in a ruling which criticised the authorities’ action as inconsistent with

the constitution.

Bashir, who is wanted by the International Criminal Court (ICC) for genocide and crimes against humanity in Darfur, arrived in South Africa on Saturday to attend the AU summit, prompting a court bid by a rights group to have him arrested.

The South African government said it would investigate the circumstances surrounding Bashir’s departure on his presidential jet that took off from a military base.

Benghazi attack: Congress insists on Clinton’s testimony

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HE chairman of a House panel investigating the deadly 2012 attacks in Benghazi, Libya, complained yesterday that his committee should have received emails between Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Rodham Clinton and a longtime Clinton confidant long ago.

The confidant, Sidney Blumenthal, testified in a closed session before the House Benghazi committee Tuesday morning

about frequent emails on Libya he sent to Clinton when she served as secretary of state. Blumenthal worked in the White House under President Bill Clinton and is a longtime friend and adviser to the Clinton family. The committee announced Monday night that it had received roughly 60 new emails totaling 120 pages from Blumenthal.

The emails are between Clinton and Blumenthal and were not previously produced to the committee or released to the public.

African campaigners seek end to child marriage

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T’S a scandal that any family in a continent as rich as Africa, with its vast oil and mineral wealth, should be so poor they feel forced to sell their daughter, the African Union’s (AU)goodwill ambassador on child marriage said.

Globally 15 million girls are married off every year - the equivalent of the population of Zimbabwe or Mali - sometimes in exchange for a dowry or “bride price”.

“It’s very painful when families say we have no choice, we’re so poor and that’s why we married off

our daughter,” Nyaradzayi Gumbonzvanda told the Thomson Reuters Foundation.

“Really, can we be that poor? The extent of poverty which compels families to sell off their daughter is a wake-up call for the continent,” she said on Tuesday, Day of the African Child, which this year focuses on child marriage.

Gumbonzvanda was speaking from South Africa where heads of state, gathered for an AU summit in Johannesburg, adopted a continent-wide plan for ending child marriage on Monday.

58— Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JUNE 17, 2015

Airtel launches new voice-based product

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AGOS—IN line with its vision of enriching and adding value to the lives of customers through the provision of exceptional experience, leading telecommunications service provider, Airtel Nigeria, has launched smart talk, a voice based product that offers Nigerians 11 kobo per second call rate to all networks in Nigeria all day and all night.

Unveiling the product, Airtel Nigeria’s Chief Commercial Officer, Maurice Newa, explained that the new package reiterates the Telco’s commitment to continually provide customers with a variety of products aimed at helping them stay connected to their families and friends at affordable rates.

He said: “We are aware of the role communication plays in our world and we realize the need for people to constantly communicate with others within their circles, this is the reason we have created this product to keep our customers connected at an affordable price”.

Newa noted that smart talk will not only help deepen friendship and family ties but will also help foster better relationships amongst Nigerians. “At just 11k per second, customers can talk to anyone in Nigeria for as long as they wish,” he said.

RAINS: Assembly asks Ambode to de-congest Lagos traffic

By Ebun Sessou

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AGOS—RISING from its first plenary session after inauguration, the Lagos State House of Assembly yesterday passed a resolution calling on the State Governor, Akinwunmi Ambode to direct all relevant agencies to sanitize the state of traffic gridlock.

The resolution followed a motion raised by Lanre Ogunyemi, APC Ojo II, stating that road users along LagosBadagry expressway and other parts of the state have been undergoing harrowing experiences due to on-going reconstruction on the road.

The lawmaker added that the Federal Road Maintenance Agency, FERMA, should urgently brace up to carry out palliative measures on the road to ensure that sanity is restored as the rainy season begins in earnest.

“We are all aware of the situation of roads especially during rainy season. Lagos is below sea level and you know the effects of flooding on our roads where we battle with potholes leading to heavy traffic.

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AGOS—AS the warning strike called by Resident Doctors at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital, LUTH, enters its second day, the Chief Medical Director of the hospital, Prof Chris Bode yesterday faulted the industrial action, describing it as “gross insensitivity.”

Bode, who spoke in Lagos said the warning strike was a misplaced priority on the part of the protesting doctors as the new government, that ought to consider its demands is still trying to settle down.

His words, “Skipping policy is the policy of the Federal government, not of LUTH. It was the previous government that made the policy and it is only naturally for the new government to decide whether to continue with it or not.

I think it is grossly insensitive on

''Lagosians spend productive hours in traffic particularly where commercial drivers drive against traffic,” Ogunyemi said.

Also speaking, Bisi Yusuf, APC Alimosho I, who is a co-sponsor of the motion called on all agencies responsible for the implementation of traffic law to go back to the drawing board.

According to him, every segment

in the transportation system must adhere to traffic laws, adding that there is so much impunity in the transport system and that drastic measures must be taken to address the situation.

A lawmaker representing Amuwo Odofin 1, PDP, Dipo Olorunrinu in his response called all the people living in Lagos to support government in the fight

against traffic gridlock by ensuring complete compliance to the traffic law.

In his contribution, Abiodun Tobun, APC Epe I, noted that some hoodlums in the state have taken advantage of the traffic situation in the state by unleashing havoc on Lagosians and dispossesing them of their valuables.

FG, stakeholders set to sanitize personnel outsourcing

By Funmi Komolafe & Leke Adeseri

L

AGOS—THE federal ministry of Labour and Productivity and the Human Capital Providers Association of Nigeria (HuCaPan) are collaborating to tackle the abuses associated with labour

LUTH mgt faults resident doctors’ strike

By Chioma Obinna

WORKSHOP: From left: Mr Timothy Olawale, representing the Director General of the Nigeria Employers Consultative Association ( NECA), Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Labour, Dr. Clement Iloh, and the Human Capital Providers Association of Nigeria (HuCaPan) president, Mr Neye Ochuko Enemigin at the second national workshop organized by the ministry in collaboration with HuCaPan in Lagos … yesterday.

the part of resident doctors to go on warning strike. Let’s face, who are they warning? The old or the new government?, he queried, while stating that the country demands more patriotic disposition from the doctors than she is getting considering the economic crisis.

“We lost innocent lives last year to strike. We can’t continue like this. Resident doctors should at least wait for the new government to consider the policy before going on strike. We should give the new government the benefit of doubt. Money should not be our priority right now,” CMD LUTH said.

Speaking, the LUTH ARD Chairman, Dr Moronkola Ramon, who declared the three-day strike, had threatened to an indefinite strike if their conditions are the met.

outsourcing to bring it in line with Decent Work Agenda of the International Labour Organization (ILO).

Government also expressed the intention to work with other stakeholders to ratify Labour Organisation’s Private Employment Agencies Convention 181 of the ILO .

Many companies in Nigeria utilize the services of private employment agencies in the recruitment of employees especially those that are not engaged in the core business of the companies.

The ministry ’s permanent secretary, Dr. Clement Illoh in his opening address at the second national workshop organized in collaboration with HuCaPan said; “ It is common knowledge that unregistered recruiters are the bane of the industry. As you know , these faceless operators do not have regards for the core values of the industry especially those relating to the fundamental principles and rights at work”.

Illoh added; “More than anything else, whenever one of our critical stakeholders- the trade unions express concern over the adoption of out sourcing as a preferred mode of employment, it is actually the abuses perpetrated by unregistered operators that they are poised to fight.”

Speaking in the same vein, the

President of HuCaPan, Mr. Neye Ochuko Enemigin said the association’s interest in regulation cannot be over-emphasized.

He said; ‘’Regulation is the way to check quacks, to ensure that standards are observed and maintained to ensure compliances within laid-down rules and to ensure that professional ethics are observed in line with international best practice”.

Enemigin added that his association is of the strong view that effective and efficient collaboration between the Ministry and HuCaPan can help to eliminate quacks from the industry, reduce unfair practices by some employers of labour and enhance the productivity of outsourced employees.

The International Labour Organization represented by Dr.

Runo Onasode noted that Nigeria is yet to ratify Convention 181 on the regulation of Private Employment Agencies.

She said the Convention when ratified among other things is aimed at promotion of workers’ rights and the protection of the rights of migrant workers.

Onasode advised the relevant stakeholders to work towards the ratification of the ILO Convention.

In his address, the directorgeneral of the Nigeria Employers Consultative Association (NECA), Mr. Olusegun Osinowo represented by Mr. Timothy Olawale said participants should use the opportunity of the workshop to address issues that are very important to them.

He noted that operators have complained about dealing with multiple unions in one sector.

Court orders ‘detention’ of kerosene-laden ship

By Innocent Anaba

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AGOS—A Federal High Court sitting in Lagos, yesterday, ordered the arrest and detention of a vessel laden with 5,000 metric tonnes of kerosene over an alleged breach of contract.

The cargo, covered by an allocation letter by the Pipelines

and Products Marketing Company Limited, PPMC, is on board MT Sea Pioneer on Lagos waters.

Trial judge, Justice Chukwujekwu Aneke made the order following an application by a petroleum products dealer, Stallionaire Nigeria Limited, who sued Acorn Petroleum Plc, Pipeline Product Marketing Company, PPMC and others.

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JUNE 17, 2015—59

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60 — Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JUNE 17, 2015

Mikel waits on Chelsea to confirm Al Ain move J

OHN Obi Mikel has confirmed his moved to Al Ain and it is for left United Arab Emirate based club to agree on the 12 million dollars, Chelsea has slammed on the player.

His agent Babawo

Mohammed revealed that: “Mikel has agreed personal terms with Al Ain and it is now left for Chelsea and the club to agree on a transfer fee.”

“He has returned to England to communicate all these to Chelsea. We

just have to wait and see what Chelsea say in this regard.”

Al Ain van already boast Ghana star Asamoah Gyan among their ranks, as well as UAE favourite, Omar Abdulrahman.

Indians, Nigerians prepare for Int’I Yoga day

By Vera Samuel Anyagafu and Glory Echewodo

I

T is notable that most people doing yoga often emerge energized and centered, for fact that the benefits of the ancient practice are positively rewarding, hence, the reason thousands have been preparing for the upcoming Yoga Day, where about 35,000 persons are expected to practice yoga at Rajpath (King’s Avenue),

in the capital Delhi.

As India prepares focusing the world’s attention on the many benefits of the ancient discipline ahead of the first International Day of Yoga, the Indian High Commission in Nigeria, suggests that yoga be practiced in exercise classes, while pointing out that although everyone has different flexibility, overstretching is often the cause of the many fears and incidences of hurting and

leaving one with a longterm damage.

According to Head of Chancery, India High Commission, Lagos Office, Mr. Choudhary, Indians and their Nigerian friends will be hosted to a memorable Yoga practice, following a resolution moved by the India government and cosponsored by 177 UN member nations for a wider dissemination of the importance of practicing Yoga world-wide.

Mikel is currently one of Chelsea’s longest serving players after first arriving from Lyn Oslo as a teenager in 2006, and is among just a handful of individuals still left over from Jose Mourinho’s first spell in charge.

Although rarely an automatic starter during his Chelsea career, the 28-year-old saw his playing time decrease dramatically in 2014/15 as the Blues romped to a first Premier League title in five seasons.

Mikel, who has made 224 appearances for the club in nine years, winning two Premier League titles, four FA Cup titles, two League Cups, one Community Shield, one Uefa Champions League and one Europa League title.

CAS throws out Giwa’s case

By Jude Opara, Abuja

T

HE crisis that rocked the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) following the 2014 elections into the board of the federation may have come to an end as the Court of Arbitration for

Sports (CAS) based in Lausanne, Switzerland yesterday threw out the case instituted by Amb. Chris Giwa who was also laying claims to the position of the president of the football house Giwa and five other members of his group

Toure’s new Airtel ambassador

A

IRTEL Africa will today in Lagos announce Yaya Touré as the new African face for its upcoming continental campaign.

Airtel’s partnership with the Ivory Coast’s captain and Manchester City’s midfield will launch the brand’s “It’s Now ” campaign which seeks to nurture and grow talent in Africa through various consumer touchpoints such as sports, lifestyle and music.

Airtel Africa Chief

•Touré

Executive Officer, Christian de Faria, said that the campaign reiterates the company’s commitment to support the youth in Africa as well as drive economic growth by unlocking people’s potential.

“We are excited to be signing the pact with Mr. Touré who is respected in Africa and beyond. As the first player to win African Player of the Year four consecutive times, Touré is an inspiration to everyone working to achieve their potential and striving to be their best every day,” said Mr. de Faria.

Speaking on his partnership with Airtel Africa, Mr. Touré said, “Throughout my career I have been fortunate to have a great deal of success on the field.

However, I know that the strongest performances come only when you commit 100 percent to the task at hand and display the strength and mettle to give it your all.''

had querried the rationale behind FIFA president, Sepp Blatter congratulating the NFF president, Amaju Pinnick because that was a clear endorsement of the September 30 election in Warri, Delta State where Pinnick was elected.

But in its ruling, CAS argued that a congratulatory letter cannot mean an endorsement because it has no legal bearing on what happened in Warri.

On why FIFA did not recorgnize the August 26th Abuja congress where Giwa and his team claimed that they were elected, the Court ruled that FIFA has the right not to recorgnize elections of member associations where there are convincing evidence to prove that there was a third party interfetence. It cited the video evidence where state operatives arrested some members of the then Aminu Maigari board.

AFCON 2017 Continues from BP new to the team.

“I think by next qualifying match, they will play better than they played.

“And if you watched the team, you would see that the team was a young one.

“Almost 80 per cent new boys playing together maybe for the second time or first time.

“They did their best winning 2-0.

“These days, it is not easy. Some people will say it is Chad.

“But is there a small team anymore in the football world?

“Everybody wants to aspire to the highest level.”

Okpala said that win

will boost their confidence, and they will get better with subsequent games.

“He (Stephen Keshi) was able to, within one week, nurture these guys.

Egypt and Nigeria top Group G with three points each from one match played so far, while Chad and Tanzania are on third and fourth having conceded two and three goals respectively.

Egypt, however, tops the group with a superior goals difference.

The Egyptians defeated Tanzania 3-0.

The Taifa Stars will host the Eagles next in the weekend of September 4.

•Going East... John Obi Mikel after almost 10 years with Chelsea is aiming for his retirement pay check with Al Ain. But will the UAE club pay 12m dollars Chelsea are asking for?

Keshi Continues from BP the non-leaguer the revered number 10 jersey. It did not matter whether the player was confined to the bench throughout the match.

The NFF frowned at his being in the squad.

As if that was not enough trouble for the coach, a former Director of Sports in Katsina State, Alhaji Aliyu Muhammad Kofar Soro has called on the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), as a matter of urgency, to sack the coach in order to avoid disgrace of not qualifying for the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations in Gabon.

Alhaji Aliyu Muhammad Kofar Soro made the call shortly after Nigeria’s Super Eagles laboured to a 2-0 win over lowly rated Chad in Kaduna.

The former director explained that Coach Stephen Keshi does not have the ability to lead the country to Gabon 2017.

According to him, some invited players had no business being in the team and stressed the need to hire a foreign expert to handle the team for better results.

The former director

said that if the NFF fail to sack coach Keshi, they may eventually risk in running the worst football administration in the country.

Alhaji Muhammad Kofar Soro however, called on the NFF to caution the Manau Garba led Flying Eagles to improve on their performance in future competitions or replace them with a sound technical crew.

Falconets Continues from BP Keita and Isatou Touray as Assistant Referee 1, Assistant Referee 2 and Reserve Referee respectively.

Fatou Camara from Mali will be the Match Commissioner.

Powered by the pace, technical ability and precision of Asisat Oshoala, the Falconets flew brilliantly all the way to the final in Canada in August last year, only losing to Germany by a lone goal.

But Oshoala was adjudged the Most Valuable Player of the Tournament, and with her seven goals, also won the Top Scorer award.

Next year’s FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup finals will be held in Papua New Guinea.

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JUNE 17, 2015—61

36 govs meet on bailout for bankrupt states Continues from Page 55

intensified to clear the remainder.

The governor also disclosed that the former administration in May took an overdraft from its receiving bank to the tune of N1.9billion. He also attributed the development to the dwindling allocation to states from the federation account.

He said: “When we received our allocation for that month which was just N1.6 billion it was withheld by the bank, leaving us with nothing but an outstanding N300million to be paid.”

Contacted, Media Adviser to the Governor, Mr. Tahav Agezua said the former administration should be in a better position to explain why salaries were not paid.

Agezua added further that “on our part, we are making efforts to pay, but we are starting payments from June and thereafter intensify efforts to clear the backlog.”

Cross River

It will be recalled that on May 26, 2015, two days to the end of Senator Imoke’s administration, workers in Cross River state went on strike occasioned by the non-payment of their April salaries which were outstanding at the time.

The workers were afraid that Senator Imoke who had earlier promised to offset all salaries owed the workers during his final May Day address to the workers during the May Day celebration would leave office without fulfilling his promise and the strike was to pre-empt any such move.

Senator Imoke however prevailed on the workers to call off the strike and to keep to his word, while he was handing over to Senator Ben Ayade, the state civil servants apart from their counterparts on the payroll of the Local Government Service Commission received alerts from their banks notifying them of the payment of their April salaries.

Also few days after Senator Ayade assumed the mantle of leadership, he ordered payment of

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May salaries to the workers, leaving out primary school teachers, medical and health workers and others on the payroll of local governments. These categories of workers were in the months of January, February and March paid half of their salaries.

However during the negotiation with Imoke, their leaders asked that instead of the piecemeal payment, the workers were ready to wait till the month of June for the complete salaries for the months of April and May. State AccountantGeneral, Mr Henry Ojugwu told Vanguard that the state has one of the least allocations among states in the South-South occasioned by the loss of its seventy six oil wells to neigbouring Akwa Ibom State but has been doing its best to pay workers their salaries.

He said the state’s monthly allocation from the federation account oscillates between N22.5 billion Naira, and that worker ’s and political office holders salaries take bulk of the allocation .

“We spend about N1.7 billion on salaries alone and we have quite a number of on-going projects under execution and as such we need to create a balance between the payment of salaries and project execution by sourcing for additional funds.”

Though he would not mention how the additional funds are sourced to run the state but internally generated revenue and loans account for a large chunk of the additional funds as the state makes about N1.3 billion naira every month. The state in 2012 generated N15.3 billion as internally-generated revenue, which funds have been very useful in helping to offset the cost of salary payments and other administrative needs.

The meeting of the 36 state Governors is coming on the heels of another factional group which was loyal to former governor Jonah Jang of Plateau State that was held on Tuesday, an indication that the crisis which rocked the Governors

Forum during former President Goodluck Jonathan’s tenure was set to continue.

The factional group fixed its first meeting for Tuesday with Governor Olusegun Mimiko of Ondo state as leader. In a statement signed on Monday by the Coordinator of the Forum, Earl Osaro Onaiwu, the meeting is scheduled for 7.00 p.m. in Maitama, Abuja, just as it was the first post election meeting, adding, “top on the agenda are issues like post-election assessment of the party, the wayforward as well as the election of the chairman from amongst the thirteen members.”

The Tuesday meeting by the factional group came barely twentyeight days after the meeting of the NGF was held in Abuja with former Governors Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers State and Godswill Akpabio of Akwa Ibom, who were at the centre of the crisis of the meeting in attendance, an indication that they have all buried the hatchet and prepared to work together as one body.

The governors, made up of the All Progressives Congress, APC and the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP met last month at the Lagos/ Osun Hall of Transcorp Hilton, Abuja and it was the first of its kind since 2013 when they fell out. Governor Abdulaziz Yari of Zamfara State was elected chairman of the forum and he took over from Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers.

Present at the said meeting were former governors Akpabio of Akwa Ibom and Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers; Muazu Babangida Aliyu of Niger; Ramallan Yero of Kaduna; Saidu Dakingari of Kebbi; Emmanuel Uduaghan of Delta; Isa Yuguda of Bauchi; Governors Adams Oshiomhole of Edo; Rauf Aregbesola of Osun; Abdullahi Umar Ganduje of Kano; Kashim Shettima of Borno; Abiola Ajimobi; Emmanauel Udom of Akwa Ibom; Deputy governor of Kogi, Yomi Awoniyi; Deputy governor of Nasarawa State and Deputy governor of Imo State.

62—Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JUNE 17, 2015

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Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JUNE 17, 2015 — 63

Ancelotti ‘sacked for mistreating Bale’ A

N extraordinary report from Spain claims that Carlo Ancelotti would still be Real Madrid’s coach were it not for his treatment of Gareth Bale.

Spanish newspaper AS claims that Ancelotti’s success in bringing Real Madrid their long-awaited ‘La Decima’ - their 10th European title - might well have saved his job, despite a trophyless 2014-15 season.

But Real Madrid president Florentino Perez reportedly told a group of club directors that Ancelotti’s treatment of world record signing Bale was too much to bear.

The dispute is said to have flared up when Bale was substituted with 20 minutes to go during the Liga clash against Valencia in January, which Real ended up losing 2-1 the moment at which their superb start to the campaign really began to turn sour.

AS reports that Perez was apparently quizzed about Ancelotti’s sacking, initially saying that it was, “a question of loss of trust” in the coach.

One club director then apparently pressed Perez, asking why he would lose faith in a man who won four trophies in his first season.

Perez then said that Ancelotti had not treated Bale well, “a key strategic player for us... once he took him off, and I reproached him over it, and Carlo didn’t understand it. After that he lost my trust.”

The papers sources add that Perez told Ancelotti at the time: “To bring off Bale is to attack me.”

C Milan have dismissed coach Filippo Inzaghi after his first season at the helm of the Rossoneri, the Serie A club said on Tuesday.

The firing of the former C M Y K

I

T was all going so well for Rafael Nadal in a grasscourt comeback that looked to have eased the summertime blues that dogged him on his favoured clay – until he ran into an inspired Alexandr Dolgopolov at Queen’s.

In the space of two hours and 13 minutes, the Spaniard’s Wimbledon preparation has had the air taken out of it. The Ukrainian, playing well above his world ranking of 79, simply outplayed the recently demoted world No10 on enough key points to go into the second round on the

•Nadal back of a wholly deserved 6-3, 6-7, 6-4 win in front of a stunned Centre Court audience on a warm, still afternoon.

Lineker's wine collection stolen

F

ORMER England striker Gary Lineker has revealed he is mourning the loss of his

UNTOUCHABLE — Gareth Bale and Ancelotti before he was sacked for mistreating the Welsh player.

C

HELSEA’s plans to redevelop Stamford Bridge into a 60,000-seat stadium could see them play their home matches elsewhere for at least two seasons should the goahead be given for work to begin on their home of 110 years.

The Premier League champions are to reveal proposals to residents and fans at an exhibition at the stadium running from 30 June to 2 July.

The consultation meeting will include an explanation of “the rationale for expansion”,

Milan striker, who had one more year remaining on his contract, is expected to pave the way for the hiring of Sinisa Mihajlovic after his departure from Sampdoria.

Inzaghi quit playing in

•Lineker

prized wine collection after it was stolen by thieves.

The BBC and now BT Sport presenter has blamed his builders for the theft, which has left him very upset.

The Match of the Day host believes that the wine collection was stolen during the refurbishment of one of his properties, believed to be in Surrey. Lineker had been building up his collection of fine wines for his retirement, something he has done since the 1980s, he has said.

Chelsea to vacate Stamford Bridge for two seasons with Chelsea, who are restricted by a site comprising around 12 acres when around 20 acres would normally be required for a stadium of the proposed size, likely to build over the adjacent railway tracks. They are also considering digging below street level.

The cost of the project, which would increase the capacity from 41,798 and effectively allow the

Inzaghi fired as AC Milan coach

A

Nadal crashes out to Dolgopolov

2012 after winning two Serie A and two Champions League titles in 11 seasons at the Rossoneri. He took over the club’s youth team and was promoted to the first team squad in 2014.

•Mourinho club to house a new generation of younger fans, could stretch to £500m, which the owner, Roman Abramovich, would have to meet.

Chelsea could rebuild the arena piece by piece, a project which could drag on for three or four seasons while the team continue to play at there, but are more likely to seek to undertake the extensive redevelopment all at once with the team temporarily moving out.

CONTEST -- Mikel Obi fights for the ball with Berbatov at Stamford Bridge.

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JUNE 17, 2015

Falconets begin 2016 World Cup race against Liberia

T

HE U-20 Women National Team, Falconets, will begin their quest for a place at the 2016 FIFA U-20

‘Sack Keshi now’

Women’s World Cup against Liberia next month.

Liberia got past Sierra Leone for the right to face Nigeria, who finished as runner-up at the last tournament held in Canada.

Already, the Confederation of African

Football has appointed officials from Guinea to take charge of the first leg of the fixture, which will take place in Monrovia on July 11.

Aissatou Inter Keita will be the Referee, with her compatriots Fantagbe Kaba, Manty Continues on Page 60

T

HESE are certainly not the best of times for Super Eagles coach, Stephen Okechukwu Keshi. Only yesterday, the coach was queried by his employers the NFF for not only inviting a rookie, Gabriel Okechukwu from an unknown Abuja based club to the Super Eagles but for also handing him a starting shirt in the Eagles line up against Chad. Keshi aggravated his offence by handing

Continues on Page 60 •Keshi

ge Pa 63

Ancelotti ‘sacked for mistreating Gareth Bale’

AFCON 2017: Don’t write off Super Eagles, Okpala tells Nigerian fans F

•Bale and Ancelotti

SMOOTH CONTROL... Super Eagles player Olanare Samuel (M) displaying during the first leg of AFCON qualifier against Chad. Nigeria won 2-0.

ORMER Super Eagles player and assistant coach, Sylvanus Okpala said the national team will rise above the lack luster performance it displayed

against Chad in their opening match of the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers.

Okpala who was forced out of the Super Eagles, by the Nigeria

Football Federation board of Aminu Maigari said the Eagles did not play as team because about 80 percent of the players invited were Continues on Page 60

•Okpala

QUICK CROSSWORD

TODAY'S

PUZZLE

YESTER DAY'S ANSWERS YESTERDAY'S

ACROSS 4 Throw (5) 7 Immature (6) 9 Also (3) 10 Rodent (3) 12 Proprietor (5) 13 Cook (4) 15 Angry (5) 17 Instrument (6) 19 Part (4) 20 Representative (5) 22 Plunge (3) 24 Scorned (7) 27 Encountered (3) 28 Perch (5) 31 Dread (4) 33 Locating (6) 35 Performer (5) 37 Gaelic (4) 38 Carp (5) 39 Horse (3) 41 Spotted (3) 42 Chase (6) 43 Cut (5)

DOWN 1 Tree (6) 2 Maintain (6) 3 Because (3) 4 Bottom (4) 5 Drop (5) 6 Unnecessary (8) 8 Tarry (4) 11 Custom (9) 14 Store (4) 16 Parched (4) 18 Detail (4) 21 Create (8) 23 Fairy (4) 25 Repose (4) 26 Finished (4) 29 Monster (6) 30 Poured (6) 32 Elevate (5) 34 Snare (4) 36 Clothed (4) 40 Firearm (3)

YESTERDAY'S SOLUTIONS ACROSS: 1, Chef 4, Cab 6, Stab 9, Aid 10, Revolver 11, Beat 14, Orb 16, Berth 19, Reported 21, Eerie 23, Demanded 24, Press 27, Tit 31, Rite 33, Original 34, Sin 35, Bent 36, Ash 37, East.

DOWN: 2, Heel 3, Flog 4, Cavorted 5, Bore 6, Sabre 7, Tie 8, Adapt 12, Creep 13, Spine 14, Ore 15, Beret 17, Ready 18, Hardy 20, Diminish 22, Eat 25, Raise 26, Spent 28, Rota 29, Pile 30, Pass 32, Tin.

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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