Terrorists having upper hand — DANJUMA

...towards a better life for the people

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VOL. 25: NO. 62189

ONLINE | www.vanguardngr.com

N150

THURSDAY, JULY 17, 2014

25 pro-Amaechi lawmakers decamp to APC

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Why we didn't meet Jonathan — Chibok girls' parents

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Terrorists having upper hand — DANJUMA •Their days are numbered — JONATHAN •Seeks $1bn loan to fight insurgency

BY BEN AGANDE, JOHNBOSCO AGBAKWURU & JOSEPH ERUNKE

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BUJA—FORMER Defence Minister, Lt General Theophilus Danjuma (Rtd.), yesterday, lamented that insurgents appear to be having an upper hand in the country at the moment and tasked President Goodluck Jonathan to bring the insurgency to an end.

President Jonathan, on his part, is seeking approval of the National Continues on page 5

APC vows to challenge Nyako's removal in >9 cour t Mr & Mrs VICTIMS' SUPPORT COMMITTEE—President Goodluck Jonathan (3rd left); Vice President Namadi Sambo (2nd left); Chairman of the Committee on Victims' Support Fund, Lt. Gen. T. Y. Danjuma and other members at the inauguration of the committee at State House, Abuja, yesterday.

COLUMNISTS:

#Bring back our girls campaign and blackmail franchise •P.17

Politics of Marshall Plan

•P.19

CONFAB DEADLOCK: Our consequential bereavement•P.19

S-South leaders insist on true >12 federalism

2 — Vanguard, THURSDAY, JULY 17, 2014

Vanguard, THURSDAY, JULY 17, 2014 — 3

4 — Vanguard, THURSDAY, JULY 17, 2014

Vanguard, THURSDAY, JULY 17, 2014—5

POCKET CARTOON

FEC MEETING— From left: Minister of State, Foreign Affairs, Prof. Viola Onwuliri; Sports Minister, Taminu Danagogo; Minister of State, Works, Dayo Adeyeye; Interior Minister, Comrade Abba Moro and Minister of State, Education, Nyesom Wike at the Federal Executive Council Meeting at the State House, Abuja, yesterday.

Terrorists having upper hand — Danjuma Continues from page 1 Assembly for a $1billion loan to enable him fight terrorism, saying that the days of terrorists are numbered.

Both President Jonathan and General Danjuma spoke in Abuja at the inauguration of the Presidential Committee on Victims Support Fund. The fund is for victims of the Boko Haram insurgency. The committee is headed by General Danjuma.

In his speech, Danjuma, who told the President jokingly that

members of the committee would be willing to go to Sambisa Forest if the President, as Commander-in-Chief leads, challenged government to bring the insurgency to an end.

“But seriously, this war must be brought to an end. We must win this war immediately; it is taking too long. I called it civil war when it began and people say it is insurgency. The insurgents appear to be having an upper hand at this very moment. They pick and choose where to strike; they are even holding

LIFEWORDS

BY PASTOR ITUAH

Someone needs what you have; it is absolutely necessary to their success. Most great salespeople know that 14 out of 15 people will say no. So they hurry and make their presentations to as many as possible, in order to reach that one who will say yes.

TAKE HEART

BY ELLA RANDLE

Out beyond ideas of wrongdoing and rightdoing, there is a field. I’ll meet you there — Rumi

W

E all have experienced things that happened to us that didn’t make us feel good about ourselves. But the difference between people who are happy and healthy and those who are miserable and bitter is that happy people don’t internalize or create a meaning about themselves based on a particular rejection. It’s best to look at rejection as an opportunity for something else, something better, waiting just around the corner.

Resist the temptation to blame or hate the person who rejected you, even if he or she wasn’t nice about it. Find a way to wish that person well instead. You may not realize it in the moment, but that person is actually an angel in disguise, leading you in the right direction by putting an end to the path you were on. See it as a divine redirection instead. To learn more about improving your self-esteem and stepping into your full potentials.

positions and displacing us. We must win this war, Mr. President, we must do so immediately”, he said.

General Danjuma promised that his committee “ will raise the funds, and we will disburse it. I promise you we will do so diligently and transparently but we must win this war, Mr. President. May God bless our country”.

President Jonathan, who spoke earlier said: “The menace of terrorism has emerged as one of the most complex and challenging problems confronting governments in different parts of the world. Terrorists aim to cause social dislocation, spread fear and panic among the populace and disrupt government activities. But they never win. They have not won in the Middle East, in the USA, in China, in Colombia, in Italy, in the United Kingdom, in Kenya, etc. They will not win in Nigeria, and, with the support of all Nigerians, we would ensure they do not win in Nigeria. Good must prevail over evil,” he said.

Why we set up the fund — Jonathan President Jonathan noted that the decision to set up the Victims Support Fund was to provide a framework through which all persons and institutions that wish to help mitigate the pains

men and women are going through for no fault of theirs.

“We will ensure that those, who have suffered unjustly in the hands of terrorists can, in our little way, be consoled”, he said.

President Jonathan urged members of the committee “to go out there and knock on the doors of all hearts and institutions in a determined and focused way.

I am confident you will raise the required resources to help rebuild some of our broken existence,” he said, adding jocularly that even if it means going to the notorious Sambisa Forest, members of the committee should do so.

“The Victims Support Fund Committee will help to mobilise collective efforts and resources in support for the victims.

I appeal to all well-meaning Nigerians and nonNigerians, individuals and corporate bodies, to give generously to this Fund. The victims need our sympathy and empathy. We have to show that we care and can never give way or give in to agents of evil.

“I, therefore, call on all Nigerians — students, youths, boys, girls, men and women — to pause today and spare a thought for the victims; and support them. This is not a task for the rich alone. Every widow ’s mite will count, and will be appreciated. I urge

Nigerians to donate generously, even through your GSM phones”, he said.

In his vote of thanks, the National Security Adviser, Col. Sambo Dasuki assured that government would take hard decisions to bring the war on insurgency to an end.

“There are some very hard choices that would have to be made. We have been more concerned about the lives of a few versus the condition of a few million. The decision has to be made soon.

“This is not the first time we have been challenged by very senior Nigerians about the need to end this. We had a situation the other day with former heads of state. They told the President the same thing. But the constraints we are aware of. We do realise that the time has come to draw a line. As we have said, if they are taking the territories, then we have lost the first role as far as I am concerned. At this point I will like to assure you and all Nigerians that we will win the war and God willing, we will do it quickly”, he said.

The terms of reference of the committee are: z To identify sources and ways of raising sustainable funding to support victims of terror activities; zTo develop appropriate strategies for the fund raising; zTo ascertain the persons, communities, facilities and economic assets affected by terror activities; zTo assess and determine the appropriate support required in each case; zTo manage, disburse and/or administer support to the victims as appropriate; z To address related challenges as may be appropriate; z To advise Govern-

ment on other matter(s) necessary or incidental to support victims of terror activities.

Jonathan seeks Senate approval for $1bn loan Meanwhile, President Jonathan has written the Senate, seeking an approval to take a loan of $1 billion for the fight against terrorism, especially the Boko Haram insurgency in some parts of the country.

President Jonathan in the letter addressed to the Senate President, Senator David Mark explained that the loan would be used to upgrade equipment, training and logistics of the armed forces and other security agencies.

While reminding the Senate of the ongoing onslaught by the Boko Haram sect on innocent Nigerians, the President noted that the issue of terrorism had become a great challenge for the country and that it needed to be tackled frontally.

Titled, “Tackling ongoing security challenges: Need for urgent action”, President Jonathan in the four paragraphed letter stated: “You are no doubt cognizant of the on-going and serious security challenges which the nation is facing as typified by the Boko Haram terrorist threat.

This is an issue that we have discussed at various times.

“I would like to bring to your attention the urgent need to upgrade the equipment, training and logistics of our Armed Forces and Security Services to enable them more forcefully confront this serious threat.

“For this reason, I seek the concurrence of the National Assembly for external borrowing of not more than $1 billion, including Government-toGovernment arrangements for this upgrade.”

6—Vanguard , THURSDAY THURSDAY,, JULY 17, 2014

Soka ritualists' den cleared, to house model school

I went into robbery because of poor remuneration — Suspect •As Police arrest 4 Chadian guards, Nigerian for robbery

BY OLA AJAYI

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BADAN — ALMOST four months after scores of decomposed bodies were discovered in a kidnappers’ den at Soka in Ibadan, the state government has finally demolished all illegal structures on the large expanse of uncultivated land.

Also, the land has been cleared and it is now being prepared for one of the six model schools which the state government is building across the state.

Vanguard gathered that about 19 acres of the bush which had before now, harboured ritualists and kidnappers have now been cleared.

When Vanguard visited the scene yesterday, unlike before when it was overgrown with bush, building and construction materials and also workers like bricklayers were seen working on the land.

They refused to grant any interview but insisted that all questions must be directed to the government as they had allegedly been instructed not to grant any interview.

Speaking with Vanguard yesterday, the community head of Soka and its environs, Chief Bello Olupoju, was full of thanks to the government, saying he learnt that the place would be turned into a school. This, he said, would not give hoodlums room to hibernate there again.

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BY EVELYN USMAN

AGOS — THE Lagos State Police Command has smashed an armed robbery syndicate made up of four Chadian security guards and a Nigerian, terrorizing Lagos and Ogun residents, arresting four members of the gang.

Recovered from the Chadian suspects were four pump action guns, assorted locally made pistols, a large cache of ammunition, cutlasses and charms.

Their arrest, according to the command, followed series of robbery operations at Omole, Magodo and other estates in the state, consequent upon which the command boss, Umar Manko, detailed operatives of the Special Anti Robbery Squad, SARS, to go after them.

Vanguard gathered that during investigation, the operatives, alongside policemen from Isheri division, trailed some stolen goods to a suspected receiver at Ojodu Berger.

During investigation, Police sources said the suspects took the policemen to Omole Estate in Lagos and Kara cattle market just outside Lagos, where the Chadians were arrested.

Preliminary investigations, according to Police sources, revealed that “the four notorious Chadian robbers were responsible for some robberies along Lagos/ Ibadan expressway and Kara cattle market axis for a long time.

“They also confessed that they attacked several houses

The suspects at Magodo and Omole estates before we arrested them.

“They confessed during interrogation that they usually placed dangerous objects on highways to puncture tyres of unsuspecting motorists so as to rob them of their belongings.

“It is worthy of note that the suspects who gave their names as Jamal Nasiru, Ahmed Mohammed, Umaru Abubakar and Sale Abubakar are all security guards.

“Several laptops robbed from Magodo residents were also recovered from them. They are currently being detained in SARS cells.

“We are on the trail of three other members of the gang who are still at large,” Police sources said.

Poor remuneration

In his statement, one of the suspects, Abubakar blamed his travails on poor remuneration from his security guard job.

According to him, “we are paid

N15,000 every month as security men, which is not enough to take care of our needs, let alone our families.

“I was contemplating what to do to augment my salary when the gang leader, Mustapha, who is currently at large, sold the idea of robbery as alternative to me. He told four of us that armed robbery is lucrative and that he has been into it for long. That was how we formed the gang and started operating until we were arrested. Now, he is nowhere to be found.”

Dismissed policeman, Prisons staff arrested over car theft

BY SAMUEL OYADONGHA

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ENAGOA — A DISMISSED Police corporal from the Delta State

Young men participating in Mgba Okposi, a traditional wrestling festival at Egbo Ameluagu Okposi in Ebonyi State, yesterday. Photo: NAN

Police Command and a staff of the Nigerian Prisons Service in Rivers State have been arrested by men of the Bayelsa State Police Command for alleged car theft in Owerri, Imo State.

While the dismissed cop was arrested in Patani, Delta State for the alleged theft of a Mazda 323 car with number plate, AR 244 UGH, the Nigerian Prisons Service personnel was arrested, weekend, for the alleged theft of a red Golf car with number plate, KMR 128 XA. In a statement yesterday by the Bayelsa State Police Command signed by spokesman, Mr. Alex Akhigbe, the dismissed corporal was identified as James Bekem.

According to the statement, “the Mazda 323 was stolen in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State and traced to Patani in Delta State.

“One James Bekem, a dismissed corporal that served in Delta State, was arrested in

connection with the stolen car. He has confessed to the crime and will soon be charged to court.”

On the arrest of the staff of the Nigerian Prison Service, identified as Uche Onuigie, the State Police Command said though he claimed to have bought the car for N.2 million, “investigation showed that he hired a Golf car with number plate, KMR 128 XA, from a driver, by name Paul Godfrey in Yenagoa to take him to Owerri, Imo State.

“At a point, along the road, he told the driver that his driving was bad and decided to drive due to time. When the driver handed over the key and came down to move to passenger seat, he drove off. The Golf car was later found at the Prisons Service barracks in Port Harcourt, Rivers State. Uche Onuigie was arrested along with Paul Miller who hired the Golf car.”

Vanguard, THURSDAY, JULY 17, 2014 — 7

Flood washes away Apete bridge

BY OLA AJAYI

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BADAN— DIVINE providence, yesterday, prevented residents of Apete area of Ibadan from another flood disaster when a downpour that lasted throughout the night, washed away the newly-constructed make-shift bridge following the collapse of the initial one.

The rain fell heavily for several hours at night when most of the people had returned from work.

Just three weeks ago, some people were swept away by the raging flood that ravaged the densely-populated area which accommodates thousands of the students of The Polytechnic, Ibadan.

According to residents, it was God that prevented the rain from falling during daytime when scores of people would be moving to and fro the bridge.

As at now, the temporary bridge made by the government has been washed away by the flood. This has cut off the people of the area from

BY UMAR YUSUF

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The collapsed makeshift bridge, yesterday. Photo: Dare Fasube.

Ibadan metropolis.

One of the residents, Alhaja Risikat Alowonle, said: “We are back to another agonizing moment as residents of Apete because our movement in and out will be hampered again.

“The Ajibode Road/route is too narrow for the kind of

traffic that will be forced to concentrate on it as a result of diversion occasioned by the collapse of Ajimobi bridge. We even thank God it happened in the night, otherwise, we will be singing another song of sorrow now.

“Why am I saying so? Since the so-called pedestrian

bridge that just collapsed last night was put up, nothing concrete could be said to have been done on the real bridge, yet, the government boasted that by September this year, the bridge would be completed.

But, I don’t see that happening."

Houses of 3 kidnap suspects demolished in Anambra •Mother of suspect for burial tomorrow

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BY VINCENT UJUMADU

WKA — IN continuation of the battle against crime, the Anambra State Government, yesterday, demolished three more buildings used for kidnap activities at Okija in Ihiala Local Government Area and Uruagu, Nnewi in Nnewi North Local Government Area.

The three demolished houses bring to nine the number of houses of kidnappers demolished since Governor Willie Obiano assumed office under his ‘Operation Kpochapu’ programme.

The demolition exercise at Okija and Nnewi was led by the state Commissioner of Police, Mr. Usman Gwary, and the special adviser to the governor on security matters, Chief Chikodili Anara.

The one-storey building demolished at Umuatuegwu, Uhuobo, Okija was built by late Chief Pius Osuchukwu, who died over 10 years ago, but his two sons , one 'Akwaa,' still at large and his elder brother now in Police net, used the house as a depot for kidnapped victims.

The two suspected kidnappers are sons of the first wife of the late Osuchukwu, Mrs. Rosaline Osuchukwu who died recently and will be

Gunmen abduct German national in Adamawa

buried tomorrow in the same compound where the demolition took place. In fact, she was to lie in state in the demolished house.

Their late father was a prominent man and people in the community who knew the late Pius Osuchukwu were embittered at the shame his children brought to the ABOVE: The house belonging to the late Chief Pius and LEFT: the house which belonged to one Jude Okeke of Uruagu, Nnewi,demolished, yesterday.

family.

Commissioner of Police, Gwary, said at Okija that the gang used the building to shelter many kidnapped victims.

Among high profile victims that had been kept there included a manager and a cashier, both of Access Bank; a manager with Julius Berger Construction Company, who

was kidnapped while on holiday; a member of the state House of Assembly, Dr Emeka Aniebonam and a manager in CCC Construction Company, among others.

According to Gwary, the gang garnered over N200 million from the victims kept in the building.

At Uruagu Nnewi, a

bungalow belonging to a kidnap suspect, Mr. Jude Okeke was demolished.

Okeke was killed during gun battle with the police last year.

He said the late suspect was one of the early kidnappers who trained and nurtured other notorious kidnappers in the state.

The house also served as a depot when the chairman of Emeka Offor Foundation, Sir Tony Obi was kidnapped.

Others who had stayed there as victims included Chairman of Nnewi auto parts dealers simply known as Iroko and former chairman, Nnewi North Local Government Area, Mr. Ernest Obiora.

OLA — THE Adamawa Police Command has confirmed the abduction of a German national by about 10 gunmen on five motorcycles, Wednesday morning, in Gombi town, Adamawa State.

Security sources and local residents said that the incident occurred at about 6:45 a.m. at Anguwan Faransa area of the town.

The abducted German national, said to be the principal in charge of a Government Technical Skill Acquisition Centre in the town, was on his way to work when the incident happened.

A resident, Mr Joseph Ga’anda, said: “The abductors laid siege on his house, they were alleged to have slept near his house or came in the wee hours, because we saw their abandoned blankets near the house.

“The gunmen, suspected to be members of Boko Haram, came on motorcycles. And as soon as the man came out and was about to get into his car, two persons on foot approached him and pointed a gun at him.

"They now called the two other sets of people on motorcycles who approached them and they carried him away on their motorcycle.”

“Almost everybody in this town knows him because he helps us a lot, especially in the area of repairing the town’s water boreholes. Most of the time he uses his own money to buy equipment and repair our boreholes,” he added.

Another resident, who doesn’t want his name mentioned, said the incident occurred when the Police escort attached to the abducted man was away. ’The Police escort was said to be bereaved.

Meantime, the German Embassy in Abuja when contacted over the telephone said it was not yet aware of the incident.

8—Vanguard, THURSDAY, JULY 17, 2014

RAIL: FG approves N1.3bn for feasibilty studies

BY BEN AGANDE

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BUJA—THE Federal Government, yesterday, took a major step towards connecting major towns and cities in the country to rail transportation as the Federal Executive Council, FEC, approved a N1.3 billion contract for feasibility studies for the construction of standard rail gauge system across the country.

Addressing newsmen at the end of the weekly meeting of the council, Minister of Information, Labaran Maku, said when completed the rail gauge, which would cover 4,430 kilometres, would be along six rail corridors.

Maku, who was joined by the Minister of Transport, Senator Idris Umar, disclosed that the rail corridors were part of the 25 years strategic railway development policy.

Senator Umar added that the feasibility studies would encompass such scope as the viability of the rail project, identification of business and economic activities along the six rail corridors and other incidentals.

He explained that the corridors to be covered in the feasibility studies include Kano/Dai/Jimbia, (354 kilometres); Ilela/ Sokoto/Jega / Kontagora (408kilometres); Aba/ Ikot Ekpene/Itu/Uyo/ Udupkani/Calabar (340 kilometres).

Others include Kano/ Nguru/Gashua/ Damaturu/Maiduguri/ Gamburu Ngala (707 kilometres); Calabar/ Ikom/Obudu/Ogoja/ Katsina Ala/Wukari/ Jalingo/Yola/ Maiduguri (1669 kilometres) and Port Harcourt/Aba/ Umuahia/ Enugu/Lafia/ Jos/Bauchi/Biu/ Maidiguri (550 kilometres) Other areas to be covered by the studies include proposal for the alignment and connections of the urban and commercial settlements along the proposed routes, among others.

Protests in Nasarawa, as Al-Makura moves to avert impeachment

BY ABEL DANIEL

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AFIA— THERE were pockets of demonstrations in some parts of Nasarawa State yesterday, following the notice of impeachment served on Governor Umaru Al Makura, Monday, by the state House Assembly.

Some youths demonstrated at the Orange Market at Mararaba, Keffi, Akwanga and other parts of Lafia yesterday, protesting what

they described as alleged attempt by members of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, to remove Al Makura from office for selfish reasons.

Vanguard gathered that some of the protesters, who chanted war songs, were shouting ‘Don’t sack Al Makura,’‘Bring back Almakura,’ among other unprintable things against the perceived sponsors of the impeachment move.

However, some political stakeholders described the

crowd of protesters as rented.

Some leaders who spoke on the condition of anonymity said: “They are known political thugs who are being used by political contractors. It is all noise.

“The governor has not even received the letter of impeachment and they are calling for his reinstatement.”

Meanwhile, hundreds of anti riot policemen and other security operatives have been deployed to strategic positions to maintain peace in

the state.

Police spokesperson in the state, ASP Numan Ismaila confirmed that the protests had been brought under control by security agents who were patrolling the state.

Meanwhile, Governor AlMakura has travelled to Abuja in a bid to seek President Goodluck Jonathan’s intervention over his impeachment saga, just as members of the state House of Assembly had vowed to pursue the impeachment process to its logical conclusion.

CHIBOK PARENTS: From left— Mr. Nieki Mutah, Mr. Hosea Isambido, Mr. Dauda Iliya and Mr. Battah Ndirpaya, addressing pressmen on behalf of parents of the abducted Chibok schoolgirls over KIBAKU (Chibok) Area Development Association, KADA's stand on the invitation of President Goodluck Jonathan.

How Adamawa's Deputy Gov was tricked into resigning

BY SONI DANIEL, Northern Region Editor

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BUJA— FORTY-eight hours after Governor Murtala Nyako was removed from office, details of how the game plan was hatched and implemented by the House of Assembly have emerged.

A top source at the Assembly told Vanguard that the deputy governor, Bala Ngilari, who was billed to take over from Nyako, having not been found culpable of any offence, was reportedly tricked to resign as the only condition for the House leadership to impeach the governor and clear the way for him to take over.

The House, made up of mostly anti-Nyako elements, it was learnt, had convinced Ngilari that it was only after he had put in his resignation letter that they could commence the process of impeaching Nyako.

The pro impeachment

lawmakers, who wanted the Speaker, Ahmadu Fintiri to take over from Nyako instead of Ngilari, made it clear to the deputy governor that it was better for him to resign and be installed as the governor than be impeached and sent packing.

Apparently not suspecting any foul play by the lawmakers, the then deputy governor rushed a three paragraph resignation letter and handed it over to the Speaker with the hope that he would be announced as a replacement for Nyako.

However, few minutes after he had handed over the letter and with mounting expectation that he would be named the next governor, the lawmakers shocked Ngilari with an announcement that he had voluntarily resigned to avoid being impeached.

They did not read to the portion of the report indicting him along with Nyako and why he had surreptitiously quit his position before the offences against him were made public.

A top government official said in Yola, yesterday, that Ngilari played into the hands of his opponents in the House of Assembly by accepting to direct the letter of his resignation to the House of Assembly when the law expected him to hand it over to the governor of the state.

The source said that it was when Ngilari realised that he had been deceived that he complained that he had been hoodwinked into resigning.

It was the complaint by Ngillari that compelled Nyako to distance himself from the claim that his deputy resigned and asked his aide to issue a counter statement on the matter.

Nyako, who spoke through his Director of Press and Public Affairs, Mr. Ahmed Sajoh, said: “Our attention has been drawn to the purported resignation of the Deputy Governor of Adamawa State Mr. James Ngillari, which was supposedly read on the floor of the State House of Assembly.

“We wish to state categorically that Section 306

(5) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999, as Amended, requires that the Deputy Governor resigns not to the House of Assembly but to the Governor.

“As at the time the supposed resignation was said to have been tendered in the House, Murtala H. Nyako was the Governor of Adamawa State. No such letter was written to him, none was received by him and none was approved by him.

“It should, therefore, be known that in the eyes of the law, the Deputy Governor has not resigned. Mr. James Ngillari is still the Deputy Governor of Adamawa State.

It was gathered that the Presidency was contemplating compensating Ngilari with a top appointment because of his loyalty to Peoples Democratic Party, PDP. He is said to have lost out at the last minute for trying to strike a deal with Nyako to escape impeachment or work with the former governor ’s son in case of impeachment.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, JULY 17, 2014—9

APC REACTS TO IMPEACHMENT MOVES: From left—

Chief John OdigieOyegun, All Progressives Congress, APC, National Chairman; Alhaji Maimala Bunni, APC National Secretary; and Alhaji Shaibu Lawal, APC Deputy National Chairman, North, at a briefing on the impeachment moves against governors in Abuja, yesterday. PHOTO: Gbemiga Olamikan.

Presidency orders Works Minister to fix P'Harcourt-Onne Road Executed projects’ ‘

BY SONI DANIEL, Northern Region Editor & FAVOUR NNABUGWU

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BUJA—THE Presidency has given marching orders to Works Minister, Mike Onolememen, to fix the Port Harcourt-Onne Road with immediate effect.

The road, which was abandoned by a German construction firm in the height of militancy in the Niger Delta in 2009, is now a death trap, which has affected both economic and social activities in the region.

The deplorable state of the road has effectively crippled the movement of goods to and from the Onne Port and hindered the free flow of traffic between the area, Rivers and Akwa Ibom states.

Apparently worried that the non-completion of the vital road, which provides access to the Onne Port and Gas Free Zone could be used as a campaign tool by opponents, the Presidency, yesterday, ordered the Federal Ministry of Works to take urgent steps to reconstruct the road.

A source close to the Presidency confirmed to Vanguard that “Mr. President is really concerned about the Onne-Port Harcourt Road and has given a marching order to the Works Minister to put it right.

“I believe that something positive will happen to the road within a short time.”

A senior official in the Federal Ministry of Works confirmed the presidential order, adding that necessary steps were being taken to jump start work on the road.

The official said: “We are working on it. Everything has to follow to due process and once we are done with the due process, work will commence.

But l can assure you that we have gone very far on the process that will lead to the overhaul of the road.

“We want to take a holistic approach to find a lasting solution and have it done once and for all.”

It will be recalled that Onolememen recently said that the Federal Government had so far expended N1.47 trillion on 184 projects across the six geo-political zones in the country.

A breakdown of the 184 projects across the sixgeopolitical zones showed 30

projects in the North Central, valued at N275.6 billion; 27 projects in the North-East, estimated at N319.1 billion; 20 in the North-West, N157.1bn.

Others are 45, South-East, N243.2 billion; 32, SouthSouth, N107.5 billion and 30 in the South-West, N367.1 billion.

APC vows to challenge Nyako's impeachment in court zSays Presidency offered N75m to Edo lawmakers for Oshiomhole' s removal

BY JOSEPH ERUNKE

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BUJA—THE All Progressives Congress, APC, has vowed to challenge in court, Tuesday’s impeachment of Murtala Nyako as governor of Adamawa State just as it accused President Goodluck Jonathan of being behind the action of the state's lawmakers.

The party equally accused the President of being the architect of last Monday’s impeachment notice served on Governor Umaru Al Makura of Nasarawa State.

The National Chairman of the party, Chief John Odigie Oyegun, at a press conference in Abuja yesterday, alleged that the President offered each member of the Adamawa State House of Assembly $300,000 as part payment to impeach Nyako.

He also alleged that “some N500 million has been moved to Nasarawa to induce the state’s lawmakers to impeach Governor Al Makura just as he said that in Edo State, each lawmaker had allegedly been offered N75 million to impeach Governor Adams

Oshiomhole.

He said President Goodluck Jonathan’s action against the governors was because of their membership of the opposition party, warning that if the President was not called to order, the hope of sustaining the country ’s fragile democracy would be dashed.

He said the President was guiltier of the charges which the state lawmakers leveled against governors they were threatening with impeachment.

Who’s guilty?

Odigie Oyegun said: “Who is guiltier of gross misconduct than a President who is frittering away our commonwealth to induce perfidious legislators to impeach their state Governors?”

Odigie-Oyegun said President Goodluck Jonathan’s obsession with his re election bid was a clear danger to the country’s democracy and called on well-meaning Nigerians to call the president to order before he destroys democracy in the country.

He said: “Never in the history of our dear nation has any President waged war on the country the way this

President is doing. Never in the history of our country has any President desecrated national institutions like this President is doing to the very institutions that sustain democracy.

“Never in the history of our country have our people been so divided along ethnic, religious, political and social lines, with poverty rising astronomically in the backdrop of a claimed rapid growth in the nation’s GDP. “We warn that excessive political greed will always have its consequences. Any student of Nigeria’s contemporary history will realise what acts of impunity and desperation to win elections at all cost did to the country in 1965, 1983 and 1993, just to mention a few.

“We call on all friends of Nigeria to prevail on President Jonathan to apply the brakes in his obsessive quest for power, because every action has consequences.

“It is time for those who can still get the ears of this President to remind him that his ambition is not worth the destruction of a whole country.”

Single currency for ECOWAS not feasible yet — CBN GOV

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HE Central Bank Governor, Mr. Godwin Emefiele, said the launch of single currency for the West African Monetary Zone, WAMZ, by January 2015 might not be feasible.

Emefiele made the assertion when he delivered a keynote address at the 31st meeting of the Committee of Governors of WAMZ in Abuja.

According to him, from the study of countries’ preparedness, there are challenges hindering the performance of their economies from meeting the convergence criteria for single currency.

He said: “The study notes that various countries continue to make remarkable progress towards the establishment of a common market and the implementation of the ECOWAS trade integration protocols and reform of their financial systems.

“On the strength of this assessment, the study concluded that the launch of the monetary union by January 2015 is unlikely. Their level of i n s t i t u t i o n a l preparedness for the monetary union remains inadequate.”

Emefiele said the study showed that the performance of member states’ on the convergence scale relative to that required for the establishment of a monetary union was still inadequate.

He added that the study revealed that member countries business cycle synchronisation in terms of real Gross Domestic Product, GDP, inflation, broad money and interest rate remained weak.

Emefiele said there was need for the buy in of all member states in WAMZ project, adding that effort to update each other on the level of progress should be strengthened.

10 — Vanguard, THURSDAY, JULY 17, 2014

Abe receives 90 PDP decampees in Rivers LGA

We'll fast track devt, Ogulagha exco assures

BY GODWIN ORITSE

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O fewer than 90 members of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Oyigbo Local Government Area of Rivers State, have decamped to the All Progressives Congress, APC. The former PDP members, including youths and women, were received into the APC by Senator Magnus Abe. Senator Abe, who was in Afam, headquarters of Oyigbo council in continuation of his empowerment initiative, assured that they would not regret their decision, adding that they would be carried along. He described APC as the party to beat.

He said that the leader of the party in the state, Governor Rotimi Amaechi, was not fighting for himself, but for the betterment of the state and called on the people to continue to support the governor.

“Our leader, Amaechi, is clear on what we want for Rivers State. He is not fighting for himself, he is fighting because of us, so that our state will be better. We made him governor and nobody can stay anywhere and dictate to Rivers people. If they want anything, they should talk to him,” he said.

The Chairman, Senate Committee on Petroleum (Downstream) assured the over 90 persons who defected to APC that they were now major stakeholders in the party and urged those who have not officially registered with the party to do so in order to strengthen their participation in party activities.

“That thing that you have seen is what we saw and we left that place (PDP). In this business, every human being is valuable, that is why we are receiving you with open arms.”

Earlier, leader of the decampees, Mr. Chukwu Umeh, said they dumped the PDP because the party was not the right vehicle that will take them to the Promised land.

PRESENTATION: From left: Deputy Governor of Cross River State, Efiok Cobham; Governor Liyel Imoke of Cross River State; Chief F. Akpamgbo and Secretary of the association, Dr. Dan Egeonigwe, during the presentation of an Award of Excellence on behalf of Association of Nze, Ozo and Chiefs, in United States of America, to Governor Imoke.

Surveillance camera leads police to arrest armed robbery suspect in Bayelsa

BY SAMUEL OYADONGHA

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ENAGOA—THE picture of an armed robbery suspect captured during a cash transaction at a bank premises in the Kpansia suburb of Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, has led to his arrest by the men of the state police command.

The armed robbery suspect, simply identified as Peresuode, was reportedly nabbed after using one of his victim’s ATM card to withdraw the sum of N19,500 at an undisclosed bank fitted with surveillance cameras.

The suspect, armed with a Russian made cut double barrel gun, it was learnt, had last

week burgled the home of his victim, (a lady) and carted away valuables, including her ATM card after extracting the p i n number from her.

He was said to h a v e warned the lady that failure to secure access to her account would attract a more vicious at-

Amaechi assures on community devt

BY JIMITOTA ONOYUME

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ORT HARC O U RT — G OVERNOR Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers State has assured that his administration will continue to pursue development programmes in the various communities of the state.

The governor, while on a tour of some communities in Ikwerre Local Government Area of the state, also promised to build two new model primary schools in Igwuruta to take care of the growing population in the area.

The communities visited were Igwuruta, Ipo, Omademe, Ozuaha, Omuanwa, Ubima and

Omerelu.

He said: “This visit is not for campaign. We are here to discuss what will benefit the people at the grassroots. I am interested in the politics of development. I will build two new primary schools in Igwuruta. The primary schools will have 20 classroom blocks. This is because, the population in Igwuruta has increased and the geo-political setting of the area has also changed.

"I urge you people to be patient and peaceful. No more Azumba and Ihumba conflicts. When we build the schools, please send your children to school. The increased population in Igwuruta demands more development.”

tack.

Contacted, the command spokesman, Mr. Alex Akhigbe, confirmed the incident.

HE newly inaugurated executive of Ogulagha Island, a riverine community in Burutu Local Government Area of Delta State, has promised to fast track the development of the community, following years of neglect by successive governments.

The executive was inaugurated after a keenly contested election.

Mr. Friday Bebeyai, who was elected chairman, will run the affairs of the communy for the next three years.

Bebeyai, in his inaugural speech, said that the transfer of authority from one administration to another was not a common feature. He adde d that his administration will work with like minds with a view to bringing development to the community.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, JULY 17, 2014 — 11

DONATION:

Governor Theodore Orji of Abia State (left); Dr. Augustine Njoku, General Manager, Group Zonal Head, SouthSouth and SouthEast, Zenith Bank Plc (2nd right), and others at the donation of 10 stateof-the-art security vehicles by the bank in Umuahia.

Fatal masquerade's festival in Imo z 5-month-old baby killed; community suspends festival

BY CHIDI NKWOPARA

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WERRI—TRAGEDY struck, Monday, at Amakohia Ubi, Owerri West Local Government Area of Imo State, as a 10-year-old girl dumped a five-month old baby into a boiling pot of soup, while trying to escape from a rampaging masquerade.

An angry villager, Chika, who claimed that she witnessed the incident, told Vanguard that the masquerade pursued the frightened girl into the backyard of a house where a food vendor was cooking.

She said: “The man behind the mask only stopped pursuing the baby-nurse when he realised that the five-month old baby had slipped off his handler’s hand into the pot.”

According to Chika, the baby nurse was almost roasted, as she fell by the fire side. She added that some people made frantic efforts to save the children’s lives.

“Efforts made by some people at the scene to save the life of the baby proved abortive as he was pronounced dead on arrival by the doctor at a nearby hospital,” the witness

recounted.

Owu festival

Another villager, who simply identified himself as Paul, told Vanguard that “the baby was the only issue of his parents.”

Paul also disclosed that Owu masquerade festival was a cultural event in the area, but wondered why some of the participants sadly turned it into something dreadful.

He said: “Owu or Okorosha is a cultural event, but some people have sadly transformed it into a dreaded festival. The festival is now characterised by wanton display of charms and unnecessary harassment of female folks in the community.”

When Vanguard visited the home of the bereaved family yesterday, the parents of the dead baby were still bemoaning their sordid

A

BA—AN alleged kidnap kingpin reported to have terrorised the commercial city of Aba and its environs was, Monday, arrested in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, by the police from Aba, Abia State.

The man (names withheld) a native of Ohuru Amangwu in Obingwa Local Government of Abia State, was said to have been on the wanted list of the police

BY ANAYO OKOLI

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MUAHIA— ABIA State chapter of All Progressives Congress, APC, has dismissed insinuations of a faction within its fold, insisting that there was only one unit of the party in the state.

According to the party, only one congress was conducted at the War Museum, Umuahia, where officers elected have since been sworn in as the state leadership of the party.

State chairman of the party, Mr. Fabian Okonkwo, who made the declaration, said though some members of the party were aggrieved after the congress, the party had been reaching out to them.

He said: “We have been having good result. We are open, our house is open; we have been receiving people and will continue to receive people. But we will not accept somebody planted to foment trouble.”

He said the party had also set up a committee, headed by Mr. Pedro Madukwe, to reconcile all aggrieved members of the party.

Group calls for A'Ibom journalist's release from detention

BY ABDULWAHAB ABDULAH

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group, Justice for Akwa Ibom Forum, JAIF, has appealed to Nigerians to help secure the release of Mr. Thomas Thomas, Editor of Global Concord Newspapers, an Akwa Ibom State-based daily, who was alleged to have been apprehended by security agencies since Tuesday July 2.

Speaking with journalists

in Lagos, JAIF's Convener, and popular musician, Mr. Victor Essiet (The Mandators), said: “We demand the immediate release from detention of Mr. Thomas Thomas and any detainee(s) arrested to enable political office holders have their way against their opponents.”

Essiet said investigation by the group showed that he was abducted by security agents because he allegedly published a write up against the interest of the government.

Alleged Aba kidnap kingpin in Police net

BY ERIC UGBOR

experience, while scores of sympathisers continued trooping in and out of the compound.

Efforts made to reach either the traditional ruler, Eze Smart Nze, or the town union president for their comments on the incident proved abortive.

Meanwhile, the Okorosha festival, which normally lasts for a month, has been temporarily suspended, following the incident.

‘No faction in Abia APC’

over kidnapping and other related crimes, including the abduction of one Emenike Ihekwaba, a former Permanent Secretary in Imo State.

Ihekwaba, who was kidnapped in 2012, has not been seen to date and this was said to have prompted the Inspector General of Police’s Task Force on Heinous Crime, Abuja, to put him on their wanted list.

Consequently, the task

force was said to have raided the home of the kidnap kingpin, who is said to be the prime minister of his community, but he managed to escape, abandoning his family and Lexus SUV. Police picked up his wife, who led the team to the husband’s hotel at Amafor village, where those who were kidnapped the previous day were found blind-folded and kept under a palm tree.

He said the Department State Services, DSS, had charged him to court for terrorism, adding that the magistrate simply said he had no jurisdiction and remanded

him in custody in absentia.

Essiet, however, urged well meaning Nigerians and journalists to join the call for his immediate release from detention.

Aba judiciary workers join strike

BY ERIC UGBOR

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BA— JUDICIAL activities have been grounded in Aba, Abia State, as members of Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria, JUSUN, in the state joined their counterparts in the nationwide strike embarked by the union last week.

It would be recalled that JUSUN, in a communiqué issued at the end of an emergency meeting of its National Executive Committee, called on federal judiciary workers to be on the alert for a directive from the national secretariat to join the strike.

While some courts in Aba sat last Friday, it was a total compliance on Monday as

many courts, including the State High Court sitting in Aba, were all under lock and key.

Lawyers were left stranded as majority of them were seen chatting in clusters outside court premises.

Some of the lawyers urged the Federal Government to quickly resolve every issue that led to the strike.

They described the impact of the strike as devastating and a denial of justice to the citizenry that needed it.

According to a lawyer, Mr. Olusegun Bamgbose, “It is very unfortunate and pathetic that at a crucial time like this, such a thing is happening.

“I feel for those who are in custody, who are supposed to be released today.”

12—Vanguard, THURSDAY, JULY 17, 2014

Confab deadlock: S-South leaders insist on true federalism

BY EMMA AMAIZE, SAM OYADONGHA, SIMON EBEGBULEM, EMMA UNA, EGUFE YAFUGBORHI, TOM MOSE & CHIOMA ONUEGBU

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ROMINENT leaders and stakeholders in the South-South, yesterday, called on delegates from the region at the national conference to walk out on the next sitting if the confab was not ready to adapt to true federalism by allowing the regions to control their resources.

Reacting to Monday's deadlock at the confab over derivation votes, they insisted that the North cannot dictate to the rest of the country and rejected the 18 per cent derivation being proposed for mineral producing areas.

The leaders also ruled out the suggestion of five per cent derivation for the reconstruction of states in the northern region ravaged by insurgency and internal conflicts, saying it was a non-issue.

comes from one area alone.

“Some areas were neglected in the colonial administration, at the time when the groundnut pyramid and others were in existence in the North, as the Federal Government did not tamper with the 50 per cent that was accruable to the groundnut and cocoa proceeds, but when the military took over and by the time revenue from oil was at the peak, revenue due to oil producing communities was drastically reduced to the detriment of oil producing communities in the South- South.

“The economic essentials of the area were also drastically reduced to the barest minimum.

Animal farming was reduced because of oil pollutions, fish farming was drastically reduced and the other economic farm lands were devastated to the extent that the economic life of the people was nothing to write home about again.

“The 13 per cent was a mere gift to the people without considering the magnitude of the disaster caused by oil exploration.

Even if the oil producing communities did not ask for the 50 per cent that was in vogue during cocoa production, the eye and focus of the non -oil producing areas continued to focus on further reduction of the 13 per cent to nothing.

The result is that there is no meaningful attention by the Federal Government to develop the area.”

Senator Owie

On his part, Senator Owie said: “The controversy is very unfortunate and I see it as another plot to continue with the marginalisation of the people of the South-South, who produce the oil. I do not think it will be wrong for the delegates to give the marginalised people of the South what they deserve and stop this bickering. The SouthSouth has been of great assistance to the North. We have always supported their political interest, so they should not think we are fools.

“I do not see anything wrong if the people are even allowed to control their re-

sources while they pay tax to the Federal Government. Let us practice true federalism so that all these problems will be a thing of the past.”

HRM Ayemi-Botu

HRM Ayemi-Botu, said: “It is really disappointing that people went to the confab to turn the truth on its head. If the purpose of the gathering of the ethnic nationalities was to redefine the destiny of the nation, then, it is clear that the solution is true fiscal federalism, which the Niger-Delta has advocated over the years.”

Chairman, Ijaw, Isoko and Itsekiri Leaders Forum, Secretary, Itsekiri Leaders of Thought, Mr. Edward Okpoko, said: “If you follow the trend at the confab right now, you will notice that the agitation for resource control is being championed by the South- South alone. There seems to be an unhealthy conspiracy against the South South. I am really surprised that even the South- East and South-West are not showing enough commitment. They are just nonchalant.”

True fiscal federalism

They said that the way out of the logjam was true fiscal federalism and 50 per cent derivation to oil producing states, as practiced in pre-independence Nigeria.

They warned that SouthSouth delegates, who compromise on derivation should contemplate returning to the region at the end of the confab.

The leaders, among them former Chief Whip of the Senate, Senator Rowland Owie and Senator Francis Okpozo, who spoke to Vanguard in Benin City, Edo State, warned that peace may continue to elude the country unless the people of the Niger Delta were allowed to benefit from their God-given oil resouces.

Also, former national chairman of the Association of Traditional Rulers of Oil Minerals Producing Communities of Nigeria, ATROMPCON, the paramount ruler of Siembiri Kingdom in Delta State, HRM Charles Ayemi-Botu, said in Warri: “It is really disappointing that people went to the confab to turn the truth on its head.”

Senator Opkozo

Senator Opkozo said: “I said it from the beginning that the areas that are controversial, such as revenue allocation and devolution of power, will bring crisis to the conference. Revenue allocation is a sensitive matter which all concerned must handle diligently. The issue is this: every government in this country, states, local government and the federal, depends on the revenue that

MOU SIGNING: Mr. Paddy Ugboh, Executive Vice President, Organisation for the Advancement of Anioma Culture, OFAAC, receiving copy of the MoU from Mr. Aaron Johnson, Globacom’s State Manager, Delta State, while the HRM Chukwumalieze Victor, Obi of Onisha-Ugbo; HRM Obi Chike Edozien, the Asagba of Asaba; HRH Obi Martha Dunkwu – Omu of Anioma and HRM Obi Kikachukwu, the Obi of Ubulu- Unor look on.

Shell laments rising third party related oil spills in Bayelsa

BY SAMUEL OYADONGHA

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ENAGOA— SHELL Petroleum Development Company has expressed concern over what it called the increasing trend of oil spills reportedly caused by third party activities in the Okordia and Ikarama axis of Bayelsa State.

Shell, through its Media Relations Manager, Mr. Precious Okolobo, yesterday in a statement said that 11 cases of sabotage and crude oil theft incidents had been recorded so far

in the area this year.

“The latest occurred at the Okordia manifold on June 11. The Joint Investigation Visit, comprising representatives of the community, government regulators and security agents, state government and Shell officials, established that unknown persons had removed a valve at the manifold, causing a spill of about 600 barrels of oil.

“A Shell oil spill response team mobilised to the site on June 12, stopped the leak

and carried out repairs.

However, community youths refused access to our contractors for clean-up because of a dispute over labour costs. This has now been resolved following intervention by the community development board, which has guaranteed access.

“The contractor has since re-mobilised to the site. The spill was contained in Ikarama and clean-up is currently ongoing with the full support of the community leadership.”

2015: Omo-Agege vows to protect Uduaghan’s legacies

BY FESTUS AHON

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G H E L L I — FORMER Secretary to Delta State Government, Obaisi Ovie Omo-Agege, has promised to protect Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan’s legacies if elected as the state governor in 2015.

Speaking when he paid a consultative visit to the leadership of Urhobo Political Forum, UPF, in Mosogar and a commissioner in the state Oil Producing Areas Development Commission, DESOPADEC, Chief Michael Diden in Sapele, OmoAgege, assured that all uncompleted projects commenced by the current administration would be completed.

Noting that his governorship aspiration was being mistaken for desperation, he said his decision to join the race was informed by his passion to give good governance to the people of the state.

He said: “My aspiration is not borne out of my being an Urhobo man. My aspiration is propelled by my desire to govern the state with a pan-Delta agenda. Irrespective of the argument for or against zoning, I am running for the governorship not because of where I come from or because of the language I speak. I am running because I know I can do the job better than anyone else.

“My position on this is very clear. I do not believe in zoning. All that is important to me is about who can do the job best. Where the person comes from or the language he speaks is irrelevant. I am qualified in terms of education and experience. I have served the state in various capacities and I have not been found wanting. I have the experience and I will hit the ground running from day one.”

National Chairman of UPF, Chief Ighoyota Amori, in his response, commended Omo-Agege for the zeal with which he is pursuing his 2015 gubernatorial aspiration, adding that Omo-Agege has made the Urhobo nation proud and expressed confidence in his capacity to prosecute the gubernatorial ambition.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, JULY 17, 2014—13

Customs scaring away investors — SleepMedix boss

Delta LG polls: Chairmanship aspirant assures on job creation

BY FESTUS AHON

BY GODFREY BIVBERE

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ANAGING Director of SleepMedix Nigeria Limited, Mr. Henry Mere, has called on the Federal Government to re-orientate officers and men of the Nigeria Customs Service, NCS, posted to the nation’s airports and other entry points into the country, as their conduct is scaring away potential investors.

Speaking to Vanguard, Mere, said the attitude of the Customs officers and other security operatives was a major source of concern to potential investors.

He said: “Government must put better security in place and have better control of our Customs officers at the airports to minimise harassment.

Government must improve security as most Nigerians who want to come back express fear of either being kidnapped, robbed or harassed at the airport."

Group hails ASUP's decision to call off strike

BY JIMITOTA ONOYUME

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ORT HARCOURT— THE Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics, ASUP, has been commended for calling off its over 10 months old industrial action.

Mr. Mustapha Gbelabo, who made the commendation in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, yesterday, under the aegis of Amalgamated South South for Ibrahim Shekarau, said that the development was a sign of good things to come with Malam Shekarau as Minister of Education.

Calling for support for the new Minister of Education, the group said Shekarau's appointment was a step in the right direction, adding that as governor of Kano State, Shekarau showed his commitment and love for the education sector.

VALEDICTORY SERVICE/GRADUATION: From left: Prof. Lirong Jiang, Special Guest; Mrs. Olatokunbo Edun, Administrator, Grace Schools; His Eminence Samuel Chukwuemeka Uche, Prelate, Methodist Church Nigeria; Mr. Roland Cilliers,Principal and Prof. Ayoka Mopelola Olusakin, Guest Speaker, at the 16th valedictory service/graduation ceremony of Class 2014 of Grace High School, Gbagada, Lagos. Photo: Biodun Ogunleye.

2015: Maeba endorsed for Rivers governorship

BY GBENGA OKE

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SSOCIATION of Better Rivers State, ABRS, and Rivers Congress for Positive Change, RCPC, yesterday urged former senator representing Rivers South-East senatorial zone, Senator Lee Maeba, to contest the 2015 governorship election in Rivers State.

The groups, in different statements, said that Lee Maeba has distinguished himself as a dependable mantle-bearer, not only for Rivers people, but for the entire South-South region.

The groups, in separate statements by their coordinators, Chief Maxwell Ogbe and Simeon Pepple, said that the preference for the Ogoni-born senator was hinged on the fact that he single-handedly sponsored

the Nigerian Oil and Gas Industry Content Development Bill while in the Senate.

“Senator Maeba served actively and very prominently in his days in the Senate and made Rivers people proud just as he took the Niger Delta issues to the centre stage of legislative discourse and the Ogoni nation where he hails from and Rivers South-East, his immediate constituency, became a household name to all Nigerians and the international community.

“Senator Maeba has not only proved to be a trusted and patriotic son of Ogoni, but a detribalised leader who fought for the conversion of the Rivers State Polytechnic, Bori, to a Federal

Polytechnic, which the then Federal Government approved in principle before the end his tenure.

"He has convinced us that if given another chance, especially to serve in the capacity of the Chief Executive of Rivers State, he will do exceedingly well to the satisfaction of various constituents, districts and tribes in the state.

“Entrusting Maeba with the governorship seat will further usher in the desired peace, security, empowerment and development of Rivers State and we are calling on the people of the state to fully support and be part of the vanguard of Maeba's emergence as governor of Rivers State, come 2015,” the groups said.

Burutu PDP suspends Forteta, four others

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PEOPLES Democratic Party, PDP, stalwart and former Chairman of Burutu Local Government Area of Delta State, Mr. Asupa Forteta and four others have been suspended indefinitely by the party for what it called gross undemocratic activities in Ward 9, Ogbolubiri, Burutu council.

The other suspended members are Mr. Thursday Eniekpemi, Vice Chairman; Tony Numa, Richard Asiyai both aspirants and Benson Clark, Burutu council Transition Committee member.

The Ogbulubiri Ward 9 PDP said that Forteta's indefinite suspension was as a result of his breach of section 10(1F)(1k) of the PDP constitution 2012, as

amended, adding that his persistent disregard and flagrant disobedience to party directives has caused disaffection and factions within the party.

In a communique at the end of the meeting of the Working Committee, leaders and stakeholders by the Ward 9 Chairman, Mr. Lucky Akari and other officers of the Ward, the party said that Forteta illegally conducted councillorship primaries on July 10, 2014 and produced Tony Numa and Richard Asiyai, who were not financial members of the party and were yet to appear before the Screening Committee of the

PDP. The meeting which was attended by PDP community leaders, who also endorsed the communiqué, include Chief Emma Amgbaduba, Theodore Ezonfade, James Akari, Chief Parker Wilson, Thomas Debole, Burutu PDP Youth Leader and Lucky Ezebri.

They said: “Following Forteta's unconstitutional activities, an investigation and disciplinary committee was set as provided in the party’s constitution, but he bluntly refused to appear rather resorted to insult and threat. The Ward 9 leadership took the decision to suspend him in accordance to the PDP guidelines.”

GHELLI—A PEOPLES Democratic Party, PDP, Chairmanship aspirant in Ughelli North Local Government Area, Delta State, Prince Alex Oyoro, has promised to create jobs for the unemployed youths in the council if elected as chairman.

Oyoro, a business mogul, said: “I will enter into multilateral agreement with foreign inventors and multinational corporations that will build industries in the council which will create job opportunities for our people.

“I will liaise with corporate bodies, multinational companies, the oil and gas industries operating in the council to ensure that the people of Ughelli North council are given priority in their organisations in terms of employment and contracts.”

Bayelsa COE students protest alleged scrapping of depts

BY EMEM IDIO

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ENAGOA —STUDENTS of Isaac Jasper Boro College of Education, Sagbama, Bayelsa State, yesterday, took to the streets in protest over what they described as the scrapping of the departments of Economics and Political Science by the College authorities.

The protesting students took over Sagbama Town, obstructed traffic and chanted war songs, but were confronted by policemen, who fired canisters of tear gas in a bid to disperse them.

Reacting, the Provost of the institution, Professor Saviour Agoro, said the protest was uncalled for since the departments of Political Science and Education had not been scrapped as alleged by the students, but were undergoing restructuring.

He noted that the institution has no power to scrap any department, adding that management of the institution was already on top of the situation.

14—Vanguard, THURSDAY, JULY 17, 2014

25 pro-Amaechi lawmakers decamp to APC

BY JIMITOTA ONOYUME

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ORT HARCOURT—THE 25 pro-Governor Rotimi Amaechi lawmakers in Rivers State, have dumped the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, for All Progressives Congress, APC, during the sitting of the state House of Assembly, yesterday, at the old auditorium of Government House, Port Harcourt.

Leader of the House, Mr. Chidi Lloyd, who announced their decision to decamp, said they had all ceased to be members of PDP. He said: “The 25 pro-Amaechi lawmakers have asked me to declare our formal defection to APC. Henceforth, 25 of us should be referred to as APC members. We are telling the world today (yesterday) that we are all members of APC. All correspondence to us should describe us as APC members.”

Speaker of the House, Mr. Otelemaba Dan-Amachree, who presided over the sitting, directed that their action

should be documented.

About 14 of them were present at the sitting.

The development came one year after the free for all amongst members of the House at the chamber of the Assembly complex on Moscow Road.

The House has since the incident been divided along the

lines of pro and anti- Amaechi lawmakers.

Mr Evans Bipi is Speaker of the six anti-Amaechi lawmakers. They have continued to boycott every sitting of the pro-Amaechi lawmakers at the old auditorium of Government House, Port Harcourt.

Meanwhile, one of the pro-Amaechi lawmakers, Mr. Golden Chioma, who was kidnapped by gunmen, has been freed by his captors in the early hours of yesterday. It could not be confirmed if any ransom was paid for his release.

Police fault report on killing of three students by cultists in Bayelsa

BY SAMUEL OYADONGHA

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ENAGOA—THE Bayelsa State Police Command, yesterday, described as untrue, the reported killing of three students of the state Niger Delta University, Amassoma, in Southern Ijaw Local Government Area of the state, by suspected cultists.

The command said that though there was a cult clash outside the campus, two students suspected to be cult members sustained machete cuts on

the head and arm, but were not killed.

Reacting to a media report, the command spokesman, Mr. Alex Akhigbe, in Yenagoa, said no student was shot dead by cultists.

Describing the report as false, unfounded and lacking in merit, he said it was a calculated attempt to cause apprehension and incite students against the university authority.

Akhigbe, said: “The cult clash between AY Vagas cult group, which the report al-

luded to happened outside NDU campus and not inside the examination hall. One of the cultists sustained machete cut on his forehead, while in another clash, a 100 level student had his palm severed. No life was lost in the two cults related incidents.

“The reported killing is, to say the least, misguided, unfounded and lacks merit.

It was a calculated attempt to cause apprehension and incite students against the school authority and the government of the state.”

Rivers community declares support for PDP

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ZUAHA community ward 11, in Ikwerre Local Government Area of Rivers State, has reaffirmed its support for the ruling People’s Democratic party, PDP. Speaking at his palace during a courtesy call on him by PDP stakeholders in the area, the Paramount ruler/ Nyenweli Ozuaha, Oha Ibeneme Wosu, said that the people have decided to swim or sink with the PDP, adding that the party appears to have a defined manifesto that will protect and promote their interest especially with President Goodluck Jonathan’s transformation agenda.

The monarch said that, out of frustration, they have decided to mobilize support for all the PDP candidates to ensure their electoral victory come 2015.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, JULY 17, 2014 — 15

Fire razes Ehime Mbano market in Imo

BY CHIDI NKWOPARA

O

WERRI—TRADERS at the newly constructed Satellite Market at Umuezeala, Ehime Mbano, Imo State, are now counting their losses, as goods and property worth millions of Naira were last Monday destroyed by fire.

Reacting to the unfortunate incident, chairman of the market traders union, Chief John Eboh, recalled that he had retired to his home when the security man called at about 11.20pm to inform him about an electric spark in one of the shops.

According to the union leader, before he could get to the market, the whole place had been engulfed by fire.

While recounting with grief that they were only able to save two shops from the ravaging inferno, Eboh, however, recalled that he had previously warned his colleagues against leaving electrical appliances on when closing for the day.

“It is most regrettable that only a few traders religiously

kept to this simple instruction.

I appeal to the state government to come to our aid,” Eboh pleaded.

Speaking after inspecting the scene, the member for Ehime Mbano in the State House of Assembly, Mr. Kingsley Dimaku, lamented the huge

loss caused by the fire.

Dimaku was particularly touched by the case of one Miss Chiamaka Nnadozie, a student of Imo State Polytechnic, who recently started a petit business in the market to enable her finance her education, as well as help

her younger siblings, after losing her mother.

Dimaku said: “This young girl lost her mother recently.

Her father is also seriously ill.

She has now lost everything in the fire incident. Her case is very pathetic.”

BY NWABUEZE

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LAUNCHING: From left: Mr. Olugbenga Rotimi,Director, Legal and Company Secretary, Airtel Nigeria, Patricious Spero, Producer, Touching Lives, Mr. Segun Ogunsanya, Chief Executive Officer/ MD, Airtel Nigeria, and Mrs. Azizat Tijani, representing the First Lady of Lagos State, Mrs. Abimbola Fashola, at the launch of Airtel's Touching Lives project in Lagos.Photo: Akeem Salau.

....As monarchs storm Govt House over erosion menace

BY CHIDI NKWOPARA

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WERRI—SOME royal fathers from erosion devastated areas of Orlu, Ideato North and Ezinihitte Mbaise local local council areas of Imo State, yesterday, stormed Government House, Owerri, to protest the plight of their people.

The traditional rulers were angered by what they see as neglect and the possibility that their communities might be swallowed up by the superior force of devastating gully erosion.

Speaking on behalf of his colleagues, the traditional ruler of Isiokwu, Ihioma, in Orlu and leader of the group, Eze John Nwosu, called on Governor Rochas Okorocha to come to the aid of their respective communities.

The monarch said: “We are appealing to you to come to the aid of our respective communities.

We are seriously threatened with extinction by the evergrowing gully erosion.”

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UNESCO takes Nigeria secondary schools' competition to Anambra

The aggrieved royal father pointed out that the payment of counterpart fund as required by World Bank would fast track the project.

Responding, Okorocha promised to pay the required counterpart fund needed to get work started at the four council areas in a World Bank-assisted Nigeria Erosion Control and Management Project, NEWMAP. The governor said a technical committee, comprising traditional rulers, would be set up to over see the disbursement and execution of the projects.

Okorocha also used the event to highlight some areas his administration had intervened in erosion control and management, including Onuimo -Ntueke erosion site, which would have cut off the two communities, St. Theresa’s erosion site Orlu, and the dualisation of Orlu – Ideato road, which in addition checked the ravaging effect of erosion in that area.

OKONKWO

NITSHA—THE United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation, UNESCO, has taken a cultural competition among all Secondary Schools in Nigeria to Anambra State.

The competition, which is scheduled to hold tomorrow at Cana House Mission road in the state capital, is expected to produce Nigerian students who would represent the country at the continental level.

UNESCO Director, Professor Peter Okebukola, who disclosed this yesterday in a press statement, explained that the Institute for African Culture and I n t e r n a t i o n a l Understanding, IACIU, a UNESCO category II institute and Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library, OOPL, Abeokuta, Ogun State, had been organising series of state level cultural competitions among secondary schools in Nigeria, with a view to fostering cultural unity.

Okebukola further explained that the cultural competition would be in areas of Egwu Odinala (Cultural Dance), Nkwa Odinala (Native Drumming), Ekike Odinala (Cultural Attire), Mbem (Poetry) and Ejije Odinala (Traditional Drama).

He added that winners would compete at the national level, where they would be selected as Nigerian representatives for the Africa Cultural Olympiad scheduled for December, 2014.

Part of the press statement by Prof.

Okebukola read: ‘’The competition will serve as a platform for engaging the youth on the desirability of the protection of cultural properties of the state and also nurture them into cultural stewards."

16— Vanguard , THURSDAY, JULY 17, 2014

SENATOR BODE OLAJUMOKE'S 70TH BIRTHDAY IN LAGOS PIX: JOE AKINTOLA, PHOTO EDITOR

From left: Chief Adeola Johnson, Senator Bode Olajumoke, Princess Remi Olajumoke, Oluga Agibioke, Chief Commissioner of Scouts, Nigeria, and Chief J. Tawose, Commissioner of Scouts, Lagos Scouts Council, during the commissioning of the 4 -bedroom Bode Olajumoke 's Chalet, donated to disabled scouts to mark the senator's 70th birthday, at Ibese, Ikorodu, Lagos, yesterday.

From left: Mr. Daro Imoukhuede, Mr. Akin Aro, and Mr. Biti Shonubi, at the event.

The 4-bedroom Bode Olajumoke Chalet donated to the disabled Scouts.

Senator Bode Olajumoke and Princess Remi Olajumoke (middle), cutting the birthday cake with members of the Boy Scouts, after the presentation.

FG makes entrepreneurship studies compulsory in higher institutions

BY LAIDE AKINBOADE BUJA—IN order to reduce the unemployment problem in the country, the Federal Government yesterday, revealed that it had made the study of entrepreneurship compulsory in universities and other institutions of higher learning.

Minister of Education, Mallam Ibrahim Shekarau, stated this while declaring open the 2014 Annual National Entrepreneurship Week, ANEW, and stakeholders’ sensitisation forum, organised by National Universities Commission, NUC, and Kaduna State University in Abuja.

According to him, this will discourage Nigerian

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graduates from craving for non-existent white-collar jobs.

He said this would help deal with the vexed issues of the low employability rating of Nigerian graduates and the general unemployment problems confronting the nation.

The Minister, who was represented by the Executive Secretary of the NUC, Professor Julius Okojie, said: “Government

noted that if the global best practices must be adapted to Nigeria, entrepreneurship development must be institutionalised. ”Against this backdrop, the Federal Government in 2006 issued a Presidential directive through the Federal Ministry of Education making Entrepreneurship Education compulsory for all students of Higher Education Institutions with effect from the 2007/2008 academic session."

2015: Orji's guber selection c'ttee unsettles PDP

BY CHARLES KUMOLU

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M UA H I A — I N D I C AT I O N S have emerged that the alleged setting up of a 17man selection committee to shop for a successor to Abia State governor, Chief Theodore Orji, in 2015, has pitched the governor against the state chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party.

It was gathered that the committee is allegedly chaired by a kinsman of the governor and a former National Chairman of the PDP. Sources told Vanguard that party members, who are

not happy with the development, are considering petitioning the National Working Committee, NWC, and the Presidency on the premise that themovenegatedthenewpolicy ofthepartytoallowforprimaries.

The committee, it was gathered, had run into stormy waters, as some members rejectedtheirmembershiponthe basis that its goal had long been pre-determined.

Those who rejected the offer to serve in the committee, said the development would encourage god-fatherism in the state.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, JULY 17, 2014 — 17

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AST Sunday, many n e w s p a p e r s commemorated the 90th day of abduction of the over 200 Chibok schoolgirls. The incredible abduction remains a major blot on the conscience of Nigerians and has continued to shock people around the world. The fragile capacity of the Nigerian state has been exposed in the intervening period since the abductions, especially with the pattern of atrocities that the Boko Haram insurgency has wrought in our country. A huge swathe of Borno State has become the classic killing field, where the insurgency holds sway and our armed forces seem unable to do much to protect the people.

When the Boko Haram chieftain released a new video this week, claiming responsibility for the bombing of a shopping mall in Abuja and another one in Lagos, far away from the normal areas of the group’s operations in Northern Nigeria, it was clearly an effort to underline the strength of the insurgency, the incapacity of our security forces and dampen the spirit of the Nigerian people.

Nevertheless, the pattern of woes was interrupted in recent days with the heart warming successes recorded by the nation’s forces in the Balmo forest in Bauchi State as well as assurances given by the Chief of Army Staff, General Kenneth Minimah, that the army will soon get new weapons to fight the insurgency. Taken together, the successes and setbacks reflect a deep pattern of crises in the struggle against the insurgency as well as the struggle for the hearts and minds of the

#Bring back our girls campaign and the blackmail franchise issue into a “franchise”.

According to Ogar: “Bring Back Our Girls Movement has become a franchise and security forces know what they are up to. If it is an ordinary movement seeking to pile pressure on government or security agencies to release these girls, there will be no need for the group to begin to have tags, insisting that you must have a tag and be properly registered (to be part of them)”. In the surreal world of “security” inhabited by Marilyn Ogar, “insisting that you must have a tag”, is an anti-state offence which labels your action “a franchise”. Note that it was the United States that began to label terrorist organisations around the world as “franchises” of AlQaeda. Well, the neo-colonial copycats cannot think originally, so the “franchise” label is being borrowed to tar a persistent but peaceful group of citizens that is asking the government of the day to do the duty it swore to the

“They have bank accounts…they want to simulate a protest march inside Asokoro extension…and claim they were doing so inside Sambisa forest’! That is the same Sambisa Forest that our armed forces have been unable or unwilling to enter! Bring Back Our Girls campaigners are planning to simulate an entry into the forest and Marilyn Ogar expects Nigerians to accept such a farfetched allegation as a reason the campaign should be labeled ‘a franchise’.

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ut she went further to underline her definition of the #BRINGBACKOURGIRLS campaign a “franchise”: “I also want to ask that if it is not a franchise, why would those involved in the movement decide to carry out smear campaign against certain government officials”. Ogar did not name the government officials at the receiving end of a “smear campaign”, but she probably forgot that this is

Our secret services still find it difficult to maintain the dialectical balance between state security and regime survival; that is why they become overly gung-ho in their appreciation of the various, but often unavoidable, crises that governments have to deal with in a democratic society

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Nigerian people and the international community. In recent weeks, the Jonathan administration has paid a hefty sum of money to an American firm to put its case to the American public on the Chibok abductions and the insurgency in general. The effort included an Op-Ed piece allegedly written by President Jonathan in the WASHINGTON POST, that unfortunately did far more damage to the administration.

But it seems that the administration has been far more rankled by the persistence of the #BRINGBACKOURGIRLS campaign; the day-to-day, peaceful gathering of a courageous group of Nigerians stabs at the heart of power in Abuja.

So not surprisingly, on Wednesday, July 9, 2014, spokesperson of the Department Security Services, DSS, Marilyn Ogar, accused the campaigners of turning the C M Y K

preferences of the administration of the day. It will be far more disastrous for the Nigerian state and its security apparatus, to have a mass loss of faith in the capacity of the state to offer the protection of citizens’ lives. The danger that can follow is an anarchic breakdown and resort to self-help that will not do society any good.

Nigerian people to do! But Ogar was not done: “Security forces also know that they have bank accounts; we also know that they want to go to Asokoro Extension and simulate some false movements where they will have some foreign media to say that they are marching inside Sambisa and Chibok.

They want to simulate a protest march inside Asokoro extension in Abuja and claim that they were doing so inside Sambisa Forest to be reported in some foreign media; we also know that they brought in some experts from outside the country to come and teach them on how to beat security onslaught when they are demonstrating; to withstand police teargas and security operations”. This aspect of Marilyn Ogar ’s statement appears far more like some farfetched hallucination than any serious statement, and frankly she resembles an object of pity in that instance:

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supposed to be a democratic society. There are no sacred cows in officialdom. Every individual is open to the scrutiny of citizens; if any official of state feels that he has been unfairly libeled, such an official has the right to go to court, and frankly that should not be the business of the secret police. The problem is that the authoritarian pall of the years of military dictatorship seems to be the most cherished template within the security apparatus; otherwise, that was not an appropriate statement from the DSS. There is a related crisis that must be pointed out: our secret services still find it difficult to maintain the dialectical balance between state security and regime survival. That is why they become overly gung-ho in their appreciation of the various, but often unavoidable, crises that governments have to deal with

in a democratic society. This is very much the underlining problem in Marilyn Ogar’s statement last week.

But thank God for the #BRINGBACKOURGIRLS campaign, the whole world was sensitized to the fact that the Chibok Girls were abducted at a point that the Jonathan administration was in denial and passing the buck and attempting to play politics. That campaign lifted the lid off the hypocrisy of the government of the day and the international response that the campaign kick-started was actually the source of annoyance in governmental and security circles. That is why the campaign is being labeled a “franchise”, in the same manner that terrorist groups are labeled! It is imperative for the DSS and other security outfits to always remember that citizens have the constitutionally-guaranteed right in a democratic society to manifest for causes, especially when they are responsible and peaceful as the #BRINGBACKOURGIRLS campaigners have been. There is no law in a democracy that obliges citizens to “like” or “love” the government of the day; and there are no government officials vested with an immunity that makes them sacred cows. They have chosen to serve the country; they cream off privileges but they must also be open to scrutiny and criticism. That is in the nature of the beast of public service!

When Marilyn Ogar chose to wear the toga of a putative, local version of Joseph Goebbels, the notorious Nazi propaganda chief, she missed the point. The campaign she was smearing is actually one of the most important citizen initiatives of the years since our transition to civil rule. That ordinarily privileged members of the Nigerian establishment like Oby Ezekwesili would take time out, day-in-day-out, weekin-week-out, to ask the Nigerian government to live up to its responsibility, in respect of the abduction of young Nigerian girls from far away Chibok, is a major statement for state security than the very poor effort to label the campaign a “franchise”. I think the campaigners see farther than those who have reduced state security to the

S

o let us return to the main narrative. Over 90 days after their abduction, we are still not close to the return of the girls from Chibok. This week, President Goodluck Jonathan told the Pakistani girl child activist, Malala Yousafzai, that he would return the girls home and finally, arrange to meet the girls’ parents. Those are very commendable, if belated assurances. But we arrived at that point of responsibility by the President thanks to the work which the #BRINGBACKOURGIRLS campaign did to sensitise the world, while also insisting that the Jonathan administration did its duty to the Chibok girls and the Nigerian people. When Jonathan sought our votes in 2011, protecting the lives of the Nigerian people was the most important item on the presidential menu. If he and his officials feel offended by the sustained campaign seeking the return of the girls, they probably have not sufficiently understood the magnitude of the responsibility of leadership. It is that refusal to understand, which conditioned the franchise of blackmail, which Marilyn Ogar sought to let lose on Nigeria last week. For as long as those girls are not back home, that campaign should be encouraged to stay the course.

The #BRINGBACKOURGIRLS campaign is not a “franchise”; certainly not in the sense that Ogar attempted to conflate it with “franchise” that those in security circles use to describe terrorist organizations!

On a final note, our security apparatus seems to have a special disdain for the expression of citizen dissent in our society. But at the heart of democracy is the right to dissent; that right to decide along with other citizens to hold power and officialdom accountable and asking very uncomfortable questions of those in authority. No security service can take away that right from the citizen, if we want the survival of our state system. Of course, the security apparatus must protect all of us from terrorism and other subversive attacks on the state and society; but the most important issue is that letting lose the franchise of blackmail, in the long run, does not assist the security of the state. When citizens enjoy the rights guaranteed by democracy, they are more likely to be willing helpers in the protection of the state. That should be Security 101, in any syllabus of security training!

18— Vanguard, THURSDAY, JULY 17, 2014 ELECTIONS present the best opportunities for candidates to say the worst things about their opponents.

Threats and counter threats appear to be the only selling points of most candidates.

We heard threats as contestants jostled for space in the governorship election in Ekiti last month.

Delightfully, the threats in Ekiti did not result in the sort of violence they promised.

Osun, next month, however, is raising the violence bar to heights that should be watched. The capacity for violence appears higher than those who issued threats in Ekiti. Their utterances, if they are unchecked, would set the tone for a wave of violence that can escalate the security situation.

These are mere preludes and preparations for the 2015 elections. In Ekiti, the earliest practising pitch, a party secretariat was torched, possibly at the level of intra-party feuding. Tempers cooled as the election held.

Worries about who becomes governor, to some, are more important than what happens to the States, and the larger society. In 2011, threats were made that Nigeria would be ungovernable if certain

BY DENJA YAQUB

T

HE first time we met was sometime in 1988 soon after his youth service under the National Youth Service Corps' compulsory programme for young graduates, which prepares them for the challenges of our society away from the infatuations of the academic environment where dreams are generated and views of the reality of society are mostly in conflict with the facts of the decadence of our own society.

Mr. Bamidele Francis Aturu, without any organisational promptings, had just volunteered himself to the movement when he took a very courageous decision to deepen the struggle against military dictatorship in Nigeria by rejecting an award of excellence as the Best Youth Corps Member in Niger State, North Central Nigeria in 1988. Aturu did not only reject the award, he also refused to have a handshake with the Military Governor of the State, Colonel Lawan Gwadabe. This threw Comrade Aturu up as one of the best of a generation of activists determined to change our society for the better.

The circumstance and methods adopted

by Aturu in that incident could easily mistake him for an anarchist who would singularly dare the devil to make a strong point. This was an individual, acting on his own instincts but speaking on behalf of millions of Nigerians excruciatingly groaning under deepening hardships imposed on them by a very tiny club of military officers who had seized the state at gun point, mismanaging our collective resources as directed by neo-liberal

Tougher Action On Thugs people did not win elections. Actors in the States are adopting the same approach, from rancorous primaries to campaigns themed on what has not been done, rather than what candidates would do.

Thugs are back in business. They have no reason to relent from a profitable venture. We did not punish thugs who destroyed lives and property during the 2011 elections. No efforts were made to find them.

Government assumed responsibility for the losses by paying compensations to victims. It is instructive that nobody was punished for riots that swept through many States. Some political leaders openly promised trouble if certain

candidates did not win.

Mobs act on some people’s behalf. They are equipped, they are fed, they are paid, they are drunk on their principals’ violent utterances, and most importantly, they are assured the law would not inconvenience them.

Election seasons have been spread to their advantage. Every few months, an election holds, and they prosper. The law excuses murderers and arsonists when they act for politicians. Duplicity in treating electoral offences makes sanctions unjust and unjustifiable.

Every Nigerian has a right to lawful contention for power. Every Nigerian has rights to legitimate alliances to access power under constitutional provisions on freedom of association. We must avoid being so consumed about winning elections that we set the country on fire.

Laws guide our country. Those who aspire to lead – and their supporters – must eschew threats in their ambitions. They should be telling Nigerians how their leadership would improve Nigeria.

The country has gone through enough violence since 2010. Voters should punish those who threaten the peace by not electing them.

OPINION Tribut e tto o an uncommon ffight ight er ribute ighter institutions who thought the absence of democracy in a potentially resourceful state is an opportunity to slide anti-people policies down our throats.

Aturu may have acted alone in Minna, but almost immediately connected with the revolutionary community to chart a collective process for a long drawn, painstaking struggle for a society decent enough to respect everyone's rights, including the fundamental right to choose who governs us.

He became a strong member of the Socialist Congress of Nigeria, SCON; together with other comrades formed the Democratic Alternative, a front mass organisation of marxists, to mobilise Nigerians against military dictatorship.

Chima Ubani, another of our finest who died in an accident during the struggle against the deregulation of the petroleum sector of the Nigerian economy was pioneer General Secretary.

From that moment, until his death at dawn on Wednesday July 9, 2014 after a very brief illness at his residence just as he was preparing to leave for the National Delegates Conference of the Nigeria Union of Teachers, NUT, at Uyo, the Akwa Ibom State capital; Aturu was part of several organisations and also took part in almost all protests against anti-people policies, including the Structural Adjustment Programme which was sneaked in by the International Monetary Fund, IMF, during the Ibrahim Babangida military dictatorship.

He was a member of Campaign for

Democracy, United Action for Democracy, Civil Liberties Organisation and actively participated in street barricades against military dictatorships.

If his action in Minna in 1988 displayed the fearlessness in him, his effective mobilising capabilities and confrontations with armed security agents during these protests brought the undaunting courage, honesty and commitment to our collective struggle he was richly endowed with. Aturu was a man of unequalled courage.

Unknown to so many people, Aturu, the son of a police officer, was a private in the Nigerian Army. He deserted the army to give himself formal education, culminating in his legal practice.

Aturu first studied Physics at the Adeyemi College of Education, Ondo, South West Nigeria. He decided to return to school soon after his youth service to study law at the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife and since completion of his law degree, which included a master degree in law, he worked with the Chamber of Professor Itse Sagay and Co. Prof. Sagay, himself another committed change agent, testified to Aturu's honesty and commitment to the struggle.

He left Prof. Sagay's chamber to establish his own with a vision to "serve the cause of social justice by effectively and competently using the law, in spite of its limitations, to defend the underprivileged, the dispossesed, the oppressed and the abused against the rich and the powerful; to be a leading voice in

the struggle against all forms of discrimination and undue privileges".

These are the vision and mission of his law chamber from the onset as stated on the chamber's website.

To emphasise his commitment and disposition of his law practice to serve the poor and underprivileged, he stated clearly that "in pursuit of this vision/ mission, we will not accept a brief simply on account that it is lucrative or reject a poor prospective client simply on account of inability to pay, if we are convinced that he or she is truly unable to pay our fee." He made his chamber a part of the movement and accessible to the underprivileged.

His law firm is part of the legal team of the entire labour movement in Nigeria.

He is an incontrovertible authority in labour laws in Nigeria and has authored several papers, articles and book on labour laws. His book, NIGERIA LABOUR LAWS, published in 2008 remain the most popular compendium referred to by academics, labour activists, lawyers and judges. Trade union organisers, popularly known as "pocket lawyers" because of their mastery of aspects of the Nigerian labour and trade union laws relating to workers rights to form and belong to trade unions, have been deeply enriched by Aturu's book and writings.

Bamidele Francis Aturu, our own BF, is dead but he continues to live FOREVER in us all if we step up our capacity to organise for a better society for humanity. *Mr. Yaqub, is an asst. secretary at the headquarters of the NLC, and close friend to the late Bamidele Aturu.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, JULY 17, 2014— 19

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HE National Conference is end ing exactly as some of us who had our reservations had predicted: a waste of time and resources. It is not going to result in a new constitutional document; neither is it going to bring about a restructured, genuine federation with fewer federating units to cut the cost of governance.

More importantly (for the purpose of this article) we are not moving in the direction of resource control or fiscal federalism, the only means of creating wealth, engendering competition and building a future that will truly be great.

What we are seeing is so much sound and fury being spent on creation of more states and squabbles over which part of the country should take more from the soon-to-be exhausted oil resources of the Niger Delta. When the delegates from the South-South zone opened their pitch to increase the derivation takehome from the present 13%, majority of the delegates from the North East and North West (Arewa) who were bent on carrying out the injunctions of Arewa Consultative Forum, ACF, that they should frustrate every move towards change, set up a road-

block.

After heated debates and fencemending efforts, which resulted in 18% increase and 5% solid minerals development concession by the Conference, Arewa delegates insisted that a further 5% should be voted from the federal purse for a “Marshall Plan” to rehabilitate parts of the North ravaged by Islamic insurgency. People quickly consulted their calculators, and it turned out that 5% of our nearly five trillion naira federal budget in 2014 amounts to a handsome N250 billion! When some Arewa delegates started canvassing for the sharing of the amount among the three zones of the North, the supposed “Marshall Plan”, which was the North’s condition for supporting the 18% derivation raise for the oil producing states, was seen for what it really was: an ill-concealed bid to extract more money from the federation account.

Hell was let loose. Some Igbo delegates and interest groups who have been slumbering for the past 44 years, suddenly woke up and remembered that the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria

had reduced their homeland to rubble, killed millions, impoverished their people, shut them away from decision making centres of the federation and even declared their property in some parts of the country as “Abandoned Property ”, among other most heinous postwar crimes ever perpetrated against a people in the modern world. A committee, apparently formed overnight and headed by surviving Zikist, Chief Mbazulike Amechi, wrote President Goodluck Jonathan demanding N2.6 trillion for the five South Eastern states and another unnamed amount for the Igbo-speaking parts of Delta where the fury of federal power laid waste people’s land, lives and property during the civil war.

Right now, we are caught between the two demands for the North (which will surpass the N2.6 trillion demanded by the Igbos in ten years if granted) and this Igbo loose cannon of a demand. So, if the North did not table their call for a “Marshall Plan” to mend theatres of

Our consequential bereavement

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EACTING to our recent article titled “No hiding place for tax defaulters”, one of our avid readers wonders why our governments handle tax defaulters with kid gloves. He submits that the payment of tax should be more than a duty; rather, it should be elevated to the level of a right of every citizen, such that if a person is denied the right to pay tax, he should go to court to enforce the right.

Listen to him: “In more civilized societies, only mad men and minors do not pay tax. This perhaps explains why those governments take seriously the burden of curing their mad ones so that they can quickly fall back into the tax bracket.

Failure to remit withheld taxes to government should be lifted to the criminal level of outright embezzlement, where it rightly belongs. Our tax laws will benefit from appropriate amendments so that default in tax payment should be visited with commensurate jail terms while delayed withheld taxes should be remitted with high interest.”

The self-acclaimed biggest party in Africa is roaring about looking for whom to destroy. At one time or another, it has exported its troubles to Anambra, Plateau, Oyo, Rivers, and lately, to Edo, Adamawa and Imo states – to name just a few.

In order to avoid swimming in murky waters, some clever State Governors have learnt to quickly build loose alliances with the big bull in marriages of convenience or cooperation by coercion. We remember Anambra State under Governor Peter Obi and the current Ondo State under Governor Olusegun Mimiko.

Wittingly or unwittingly, the bully has invariably ended up shooting itself on the foot in these states. In the immediate past elections, the big bull short-changed itself by totally surrendering to the cooperation arrangement; where the big bull and its

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candidates are always the worse for it. In Anambra and Ondo states Biggie abandoned its candidates midstream! As we speak, those candidates are still licking their wounds.

They will soon accuse us of crying more than the bereaved. But this is still our country and to that extent, we are all bereaved. Call it consequential bereavement, if you wish. Why should we not feel concerned about an emerging trend in which every state that is not within the control of the big bull must operate parallel Houses of Assembly?

Why should we not be concerned if after an election, every party returns home to set up its own Assembly as we have in Rivers and Edo states today – APC Assemblies with overwhelming majorities and PDP Assemblies with microscopic minorities of two or three members; APC Speakers and PDP Speakers; APC with authentic maces and PDP with fake maces?

Does this situation not portend enough danger to make every Nigerian feel a sense of bereavement?

In the particular case of Edo State, who really impeached Festus Ebea? APC legislators in that State may have missed the point when they put on themselves the unnecessary burden of being the ones who impeached Ebea. They failed to listen enough to Richard Nixon (1913 – 1994), the 37th President of the United States of America, who in his MEMOIRS warned people to desist from volunteering answers to unsolicited information. For Nixon, people invariably fall into trouble when they begin to answer questions that are not asked.

Essentially, Ebea impeached himself. In every legislature in this country, the position of Deputy Speaker is for the majority party. When Ebea was in the APC, he was the Deputy Speaker of the

Boko Haram and Fulani herdsmen devastation, the so-called Igbo leaders would not have seen the need to persuade the Federal Government to repair what it destroyed during the war? For more than 40 years they had a very genuine case that could have become an agenda before the United Nations. Why did nobody say anything until Arewa started their call for a Marshall Plan to rehabilitate the North from the destruction being visited upon them by their own sons (and daughters, alas!)?

The Igbos had a legitimate claim to charges of genocide against the Federal Government and the principal actors both at the war front and the state house between 1966 and 2007. Pray, what will Arewa call the evil deeds of Boko Haram against the North? Abiriba people will call it: “Mgbo’s goat eating Mgbo’s okra”. The Federal Government is actually fighting to save the North from itself, with the full support of other Nigerians, while sections of the Arewa leadership are either supporting the terrorists, blackmailing President Goodluck Jonathan, or foot-dragging and sabotaging the effort. And now, they are asking to be rewarded for it. How preposterous!

I believe that when the Boko Haram insurgency is defeated, there must be a concerted effort by the federal, state and local governments, as well as the international community and charitable individuals to help our people who have suffered from the insurgents and marauding “herdsmen” to regain their humanity. They should be assisted to their feet. We must be our brother’s keeper. As a Christian, I will not advocate the vengeful act

Edo State House of Assembly. The moment he left the APC, he removed himself from the position.

The APC members missed it when they started obtaining signatures to impeach a man who had already impeached himself. Of course, in an attempt to answer unasked questions, they fell into the trouble of whether or not they met the two-thirds

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Politics of Marshall Plan

As a Christian, I will not advocate the vengeful act of abandoning the North-East and North-Central to their fate after insurgency due to the wicked deeds visited upon the Igbos

Why should we not feel concerned about an emerging trend in which every state that is not within the control of the big bull must operate parallel Houses of Assembly?

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majority requirement.

E

bea may claim that he has not formally resigned from the APC. He can tell that to the marines! Which resignation can be more than the fact that he is the Speaker of the “PDP Assembly”? In fact, were INEC to show itself as not demonstrably an arm of the PDP, the only favour it could do to Ebea at this point would be to hold him in contempt -- belonging to two political parties at the same time?

Why should we feign lack of bereavement when we see the big bull trying to muzzle the Imo State government into unnecessary

of abandoning the North East and North Central to their fate after insurgency due to the wicked deeds visited upon the Igbos. In any case, the Igbos have since sprung to their feet, while those who were atrocious to them are the ones now mired in self-inflicted poverty, destitution and self-immolation.

But we must not accept the five per cent blackmail that Arewa delegates came up with just because the Niger Delta asked for their legitimate rights which our Constitution promised them. It will be a reward for the insurgency. It will send the signal that if you destroy your community and kill your own people and settlers you will be given oil money by the Federal Government. The same people who threatened (and failed) to make the North ungovernable for President Jonathan are at the forefront of the 5% clamour. The same ACF that decreed that Arewa delegates should block every move to make Nigeria better are prodding for this 5%. THEY MUST NEVER GET IT!!

Yes, we must assist Borno, Yobe, Adamawa, Plateau, Kaduna and Benue to recover from the Boko Haram and Janjaweed Fulani night time marauders. But no, we must not reward the saboteurs, blackmailers, those who love their region above Nigeria, the great provider (while seeking to reduce other Nigerians to serfs) and supporters of our nation’s foremost enemy!

JOIN THE DEBATE. TELL US WHAT YOU THINK OF THIS ARTICLE. GO TO VANGUARD ONLINE, DISQUS AND MY FACEBOOK PAGE AND LET IT ALL OUT. OR SEND TEXT TO: 08055068954.

submissions, all preparatory to “capturing the State”, come 2015? Why should the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria be dissipating its energy in the futile debate of the alleged attempt to issue ID cards to Northern elements resident in Imo State, even when the Imo State Government has consistently denied the allegation? And nobody wants to listen to the Imo State officials that the Northerners are the ones who want to get ID cards for themselves.

The ID cards issue has many parallels in history. If you stay in your hallowed chambers or in your air-conditioned offices in faraway Abuja and pontificate over what people are doing to save lives, you will never understand the import except you have been in a similar situation. Some of us have seen it.

The Nigerian Civil War caught us in Lagos. The Hausa soldiers were searching out “Nyamiris” (Ibos) to kill. Some unscrupulous Yoruba elements attempted to take advantage of the situation to get rid of us and create opportunities for themselves. They dubbed those of us from a greater part of then Midwest Region Nyamiris. We recall quite vividly that Col. S.O. Ogbemudia, as he was then, Col. Ayaru and late Pa Longe of Mandilas were the ones who came to our rescue. They organised ID cards for us, which we in turn cloned and distributed to some of our Ibo friends. The cards saved our lives without vitiating our citizenship of Nigeria! If ID cards were useful then, why would they be useless now?

20 — Vanguard, THURSDAY THURSDAY,, JULY 17, 2014

*The Apete bridge...under reconstruction

Ibadan flood: The lingering pain, as survivors count losses

BY OLA AJAYI, Ibadan

W

HILE some survivors of the flood disaster recorded in some parts of Ibadan metropolis are trying to put the incident behind them, others are yet to come to terms with the painful reality of the incident where a make-shift bridge collapsed and emptied those

ited the residents and gave them items to reduce their trauma.

Some of those interviewed were furious and said it was unfair to say there were no casualties at Apete where they claimed they saw many people being swept away by the flood.

To get the truth of the matter, VM accosted one of the students of The Polytechnic Ibadan who then volunteered

,

We don’t know whether people dying in this river is a form of sacrifice; all I would say is to call on government to expedite action on the bridge which is under construction

on it into the raging flood.

While it is true that the State Government has reconstructed the collapsed bridge and also provided free transportation system for residents of the area, those affected are still nursing the scars of that disaster, saying that the experience was still fresh and too painful for them to forget in a hurry.

Following claims by the state government that there was no casualty as reported in the media, Vanguard Metro, VM, tried to locate some of the relatives of the victims of the flood.

It coincided with the day that Senator Olufemi Lanlehin who represents the Oyo South visC M Y K

,

to lead the correspondent to the children of one of the dead victims, the late Kamoli Jimoh, a father of seven children.

Taoreed Jimoh, 27, a plumber who lives at Papa area of Apete gave a vivid picture of how their father, a blacksmithcum-welder, met his sudden death.

“My father was coming from his shop that fateful day and wanted to cross the make-shift bridge with other people struggling with one another and they fell into the river. Some of them were rescued but some were unlucky.

We looked for him on that Saturday but we could not locate

him. Early in the morning on Sunday, we continued with our search.

We still could not get him. we called his phone that night, it ranged but it was not picked. The following Monday, we recovered his corpse by the river side and we buried him there immediately because the body had swollen up.

“Apart from our daddy, I heard that a pregnant woman who was holding a girl also fell *Kamoli Jimoh...died in the flood into the river. Another corpse was recovered inbetween ly completed the bridges a palm tree. This is not the first linking Akufo, Apete and time the flood would kill people. Life Forte areas of Apete.

It happened also last year. We Just as the residents of don’t know whether people dy- Apete were in mournful ing in this river is a form of sac- mood, residents of Olodo rifice. areas of the city were also All I would say is to call on gov- counting their losses. ernment to expedite action on At Olodo, a whole church the bridge which is under con- building which formerly struction to check future occur- housed members of the rence. I won’t hold anybody re- Cherubim and Seraphim sponsible for the death of our fa- was completely swept away. ther. It was the will of God that An offensive stench of yethe died that way”. to-be-discovered bodies The visit of Lanlehin to the filled the air. place was timely and appreciatMany personal effects of ed by residents of the area. Lan- the dead church members lehin, who addressed the crowd littered the area. Items seen sympathised with the people. at the scene included bells, Lanlehin, who recently de- bags of cement, roofing camped to Accord Party, said the sheets, clothes, umbrella, N3 billion spent on the Mokola drum sets, standing fans, flyover could have convenient-

earthen pots, axe, digger, bags of salt, piano. Sympathisers who thronged the scene said it seemed that the river goddess was angry.

Under a cluster of bamboo trees where one of the victims was recovered, a grave was dug very close to the Jewels Secondary School but VM learnt that the management of the school refused the corpse being buried there.

The corpse, according to a resident of the area, was that of the Shepherd of the Cherubim and Seraphim church identified as Iya Tope.

Two other bodies were found at the upper part of the place close to the Methodist Primary School, Olodo and were all buried at the back of the yet-to-be-completed church.

Pastor Amos Adeduntan, a survivor of the flood, told VM that he was in church with other two members when the rain started.

“We were in the church when the rain began. Though, it rained heavily in the city, it was not that much in the area. What we noticed was that the flood just kept increasing in volume. But, because we had expanded the river path after the August 26, 2011 flood, we did not have any fear. But, when we sensed danger was looming, we ran out about 5.45pm.

Sensing of danger According to Adeduntan: “In our neighbourhood here, I can confirm that I saw three corpses. I think they are from that Cherubim and Seraphim church. We discovered the corpse of the shepherd of the church around 2pm that Sunday, while two others were seen around 5pm that same day.”

Alhaji Yinusa Animashaun whose house was submerged was met in front of the house spreading some documents on a car outside. He was initially reluctant to talk, but changed his stance when he learnt that the Vanguard crew were not officials of the state government who they all fear would soon descend on the place to demolish the structures there.

He said he and his wife were inside when the rain started and had to move to the upper part of the area to escape drowning. He added: “The rain started around 3pm and stopped by 5pm. Two hours after, water kept rushing menacingly and we had to run away. We lost items like chairs, television set, refrigerator, a big generating set”.

Reacting, Chairmen of the two councils that suffered highest casualties in the downpour, Professor Niyi Olowofela of Ido local government and his counterpart at Oluyole council, Prince Abass Aleshinloye, have however pledged that more rivers and streams would be opened up in the councils to prevent a reoccurrence of the incident.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, JULY 17, 2014 — 21

LCCI urges NER C tto o NERC address outrageous bills

BY NAOMI UZOH

T From left: Head, Debit Cards, Mr Obinna Uma; Team Lead, Debit Cards, Mrs. Funmi Fagbulu; and Divisional Head, eBanking, UBA Plc, Dr Adeyinka Adedeji, during the formal introduction of U-Advance Card, a credit card that allows workers who operate their salary account with UBA to get up to 50% of their salary ahead of payday, in Lagos.

Manufacturing sector now Nigeria’s major economic growth driver — Rencap

T

he manufacturing sec tor is now the major driver of economic growth in Nigeria, the latest economic report by Renaissance Capital, has revealed.

According to the report, with Nigeria’s rebased Gross Domestic Product, the manufacturing sector is currently growing faster than the telecommunications, oil and gas and agricultural sectors.

The report, titled, “Nigeria’s GDP: Bigger but slower – Manufacturing is the engine of growth,” was released during the week. The report further

166.85

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17.55

-0.26

110.25

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103.49

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CURRENCY BUYING DOLLAR STERLING EURO FRANC YEN CFA WAUA RENMINBI RIYAL KRONA SDR

strengthens recent figures by the Manufacturing Association of Nigeria, which showed that there was an increase in maufacturing capacity utilisation from 46.3 per cent recorded in the first half of 2013 to 52.7 per cent in the 2nd half of 2013.

Specifically, the Rencap report stated that the manufacturing sector recorded 22 per cent growth in 2013, as against the 14 per cent it recorded in 2012, noting that the growth was largely driven by the textile, cement and food sub-sectors, among others.

154.73 264.8978 210.4173 173.0954 1.5192 0.3029 238.5186 24.9395 41.2558 28.2179 238.8876

CENTRAL SELLING 155.23 265.7538 211.0973 173.6548 1.5241 0.3129 239.2893 25.0205 41.3891 28.3091 239.6596

155.73 266.6098 211.7772 174.2141 1.529 0.3229 240.0601 25.1015 41.5225 28.4003 240.4315

CBN Exchange rate as at 15/07/2014

The growth recorded by the manufacturing sector within the period under review, it said, accounted for one third of the total growth in the economy.

The report said, “Manufacturing is growing strongly, despite power deficit. The manufacturing sector is a much bigger, fastergrowing sector under the new series (nine per cent of GDP as against the four per cent previously). In 2013, it recorded substantial growth of 22 per cent (as against 14 per cent in 2012), comprising onethird of total growth.

Food, beverage and tobacco producers account for half of the manufacturing sector.

The sub-sector’s growth

accelerated to 12 per cent in 2013, against 7 per cent in 2012.

“An analysis of the growth drivers shows that telecoms is a maturing and slower-growing sector. The growth sectors are manufacturing (particularly food, cement and textile producers) and real estate.”

The report further revealed that the cement sub-sector, which accounts for about one per cent of the country’s GDP, recorded phenomenal growth in 2013, as it posted a 39 per cent growth as against the 14 per cent recorded in 2012.

I

t stated, “Several of the smaller manufacturing subsectors are growing even faster than food producers. Cement, which only comprises one per cent of GDP, grew by a sizeable 39 per cent in 2013, up from a strong 14 per cent in 2012.

“Nigeria’s large population of upwardly mobile consumers, particularly in the south-west, coupled with investments in power, implies the strong growth of manufacturers, including food producers and breweries, is sustainable.”

Conversely, the report revealed that in 2013, the oil and gas sector experienced a decline in growth as the sector contracted by 13 per cent, while trade and real estate sectors overtook agricultural and financial services to emerge as the top three growth drivers of the Nigerian economy.

“The trade and real estate sec-

tors trumped agriculture and financial services in 2013, to become among the top three growth drivers, together with manufacturing.

The decline in agriculture’s growth contribution in 2013 was partly due to the thrid quarter of 12 floods. The upside is a smaller agriculture sector (23 per cent, as against 36 per cent) that reduces the economy’s exposure to it,” the Rencap report said.

According to analysts, the level of capacity utilisation in the manufacturing sector is an index of the health of the sector. When it is low, it indicates poor growth and vice-versa. The Rencap report reflects the improving health of the Nigerian manufacturing sector. just as the rising capacity utilisation has shown.

Manufacturers in Nigeria had attributed the remarkable increase recorded in capacity utilisation within the last year to favourable government policies, especially with respect to industry, trade and investment.

The Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, reacting on the new research findings, said the analyses, done by the reputed Renaissance Capital, corroborated the fact that the manufacturing sector was being transformed under the Transformation Agenda of President Jonathan.

he Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry, LCCI, has called on the National Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) to urgently address the growing concerns over the outrageous bills to consumers by the various electricity distribution companies.

The Chamber also called for a review of the concept of fixed charges.

At a parley with the media, the President of LCCI, Alhaji Remi Bello, said there is need for NERC to urgently address the growing concerns over the outrageous bills to consumers as most SMEs spend considerable sum on payment for public power supply, adding that, often, these firms never get the power supply commensurate to payments made.

“The power situation is still a major problem for business across all sectors. Energy cost remains a major threat to business sustainability.

Expenditure on diesel and other fuels continued to increase.The power sector privatisation is yet to make the desired impact. Profit margins of firms have been adversely affected.

Let me again reiterate our position that the concept of fixed charges should be reviewed as this is an unfair demand on power consumers. Payments should be value driven to be equitable” he said. He said the Chamber welcomes a policy thrust that seeks to promote self-reliance in the Nigerian economy because there is great value in domesticating spending, but notes with concern that the recent sharp increases in the import tariff and levies on motor vehicles saying that this policy has potentially harmful effects on the economy and the welfare of citizens.

“However, in pursuit of this laudable aspiration, proper policy sequencing is imperative. Import dependency is only a manifestation of deeper issues of low productivity and weak competitiveness.

It is inappropriate to begin the pursuit for a self-reliant automobile sector with the imposition of high import tariff on vehicles when there are fundamental supply side issues to resolve. Without a good foundation, the superstructure cannot stand” he said.

22—Vanguard, THURSDAY, JULY 17, 2014

Every interaction with customers results in obtaining a wealth of information about the customers' needs and desires

Customer Centricity Vs Network Centricity

BY MIKE IMIANVAN s we move towards a fully connected world, A the communications industry

is undergoing a shift in business models, go-to-market models, service offerings and value chains. This shift means that operators need to think of different ways to relate to their customers and rethink the whole customer experience management.

There is a saying, “the bigger the head the bigger the headache”. The current digital revolution is creating significant headaches for traditional communication service providers (CSP).

Aside struggling with enormous growth in data volumes, digital alternatives are eating up there voice and messaging products and revenues. For these reasons there is an urgent need to rethink current strategies and business approaches.

In the Nigeria telecommunication industry today, co -locations, partnerships, customer experience and continuous cost reduction are key themes for digital value creation.

Hence delivering a great customer experience is a vital part of keeping loyal

convert satisfied customers to delighted customers.

In the past, retaining customers was relatively straightforward. Customers had very limited choices and were faced with much simpler set of decisions on the shelf than they do today. There were also fewer touch points guiding them along their paths. Today, the situation is different. Service providers are constantly facing fierce competition from digital parties and demanding consumers. However, for service providers the new age of coping with data volumes opens up a new world of opportunities.

Every interaction with the customer results in obtaining a wealth of information about the customers’ needs and desires.

Service providers should make better use of big data to identify their customers’ needs and primary drivers of the customer experience.

To achieve these objective, communication service providers need a customer engagement platform based on an open architecture that allows data in for use by the customer service department as well as push data out to other departments such as marketing department. To be truly effective, communications service

Customer experience should be seen as a movement that aligns with paradigm shift

,

customers and setting service providers apart from competition, while at the same time building a valuable digital brand that enables providers to charge premium prices. This interprets to mean that the more service providers understand their customers the more they can provide a great experience for them.

In order to have a first hand view of what the customers feel, some service providers set up a team to stimulate the relationship with customers.

These team walk in the customers’ shoes on all touch points to test experience and understand better the customer needs. Using selfreport measures of satisfaction and loyalty, they manage to measure the level of customer satisfaction and identify potential weaknesses.

It can be deduced from experience gathered in this industry over a span of nine years that there remains one key strategy to increase customer satisfaction and decrease churn. This strategy includes achieving operational excellence by frequent network issues and correcting operational problems that cause dissatisfied customers and

,

providers should add demographics, lifestyle data and propensity to buy from a trusted third party to provide a full perspective on consumer behaviour.

Conclusively, customer experience should be seen as a movement that aligns with paradigm shift. It is more than just evaluating performance metrics of a few customerfacing processes. Customer experience excellence is about working as a customer-centric company.

Customer experience is more than an action plan. It is a set of principles that change how company operates; it simply puts the customers at the heart of each decision. CSPs must work on providing customers with more tailored offers that answer their needs and at the same time, they should make better use of the data captured by there networks, touch points and call centers to understand the key drivers of the customer experience and make customers’ lives easier. *Imianvan currently manages a customer service outlet for one of Nigeria’s leading telecommunication companies

BUSINESS NAIRA EXCHANGE RATES Date 15/7/14

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Currency DOLLAR STERLING EURO FRANC YEN CFA WAUA RENMINBI RIYAL KRONA SDR

uail farming is a little known farming business but has lots of financial benefits. This aspect of poultry farming has been neglected by people because of the small size of the bird and its eggs. But few people who are into this farming are not only smiling to the bank, they are also enjoying the health benefits of quail eggs and meat.

Quail has been reported to cure more than 32 serious ailments and that has opened door of business opportunity to people who wants to amass wealth through quail farming. It is a small bird with brown feather specked with white, black. Tan, gray, or chestnut. The average length of the bird is between 8 and 11 inches. Quail eggs and meat are high value delicacy and a rich source of protein, minerals and vitamins.

All that is needed to start quail farming business is a good business plan, training and little money.

Quail eggs Just like quail birds, quail eggs are speckled and are 5 to 6 times smaller than chicken eggs. The nutritional value of quail bird is four to five times greater than that of chicken's egg. They are proved to be valuable sources of vitamins A, B1, B2, B6, B12 and vitamin D, iron, magnesium, iron, zinc, copper, phosphorus, and other essential micro-nutrients and amino acids and that is the reason why they are recommended for regular consumption. Various researches conducted showed that quail eggs contain 13 percent protein compare to 11 percent protein in chicken eggs. It contains 140% of vitamin B1 compared to 50 percent in chicken eggs. They contain 5 times of iron and potassium as can be found in chicken eggs.

Health benefits of quail eggs and meat Quail eggs are blessing to this generation. Though they are very tiny, they have healing effect on more than 30 serious ailments. The following are the health benefits of Quail eggs: Regulate and improve heart function; Strengthen the cardiovascular system; Lower cholesterol; Help in the treatment of tuberculosis, bronchitis, asthma, and diabetes; Have strong anticancer

Buying(N) 154.73 265.6559 210.6958 173.4641 1.5231 0.3025 238.369 24.9214 41.258 28.2519 239.0733

Central(N) 155.23 266.5144 211.3767 174.0247 1.528 0.3125 239.1392 25.0024 41.3914 28.3432 239.8459

Selling(N) 155.73 267.3728 212.0575 174.5852 1.5329 0.3225 239.9095 25.0834 41.5247 28.4345 240.6184

Quail farming guaran healthy returns

BY OLADAYO OJEKUNLE effects and may help inhibit cancerous growth; Help eliminate and remove stones from liver, kidney, and gall bladder; Regulates gastric acidity and digestion; and Help in treating kidney and liver diseases.

Others include: Help in cases of allergic rhinitis, allergies and eczema; Regulate blood sugar level of diabetes cases; Can help cure anemia; Accelerate recuperation after blood stroke and help strengthen heart muscles; Powerful stimulant of sexual potency; Promote good memory, enhance brain activity and regulate the nervous system; and Strengthen the immune system and slow down aging of organs and increase life span.

Those health benefits and many more have opened a big business opportunity for wise entrepreneurs and this is the right time to go into the business because the market is really big and ripe now.

Quail bird farming Quail bird farming is a type of poultry farming that specialises on the rearing of small birds called quail for the purpose of egg

production, meat production or for other uses. Quail birds are healthy and have strong immunity system and so do not need injection and vaccine unlike other birds. They do not die easily and are resistant to diseases. They are poor feeder and excellent layers. It is a very lucrative business.

Quail bird farming is five times better than chicken and turkey rearing. A person with 400 quail laying birds is better off than a person with 2000 chicken laying birds.

The fact above is due to the following reasons: 2000 quail birds will feed on the same feed that will be taken by 400 chickens.

They have immunity against diseases. This implies that you don't need to waste any money on medications and vaccine and that makes the business a low risk one with high return. Quail birds mature earlier and start laying eggs after 7-8 weeks. Quail farming requires less labour. A person can manage 5000 quail birds successfully. Small space is required for rearing quail birds.

They lay a greater number of eggs between 250 and 280 in a year.

The most important reason why quail farming business is easy to start is because it requires small amount of capital.

Requirement for Quail bird

Vanguard, THURSDAY, JULY 17, 2014—23

& YOU

The roles of leaders in organisations are to lead, manage and navigate the change in a way that will yield sustainable results for the organisation

PRICE MOVEMENT ON NSE (16/7/14)

COMMODITIES (16/7/14)

Top 5 Gainers (N) S/N

Company

Last Close Current

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Nestle

1112.00

1124.90

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Total

171.05

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Mobil

140.15

147.15

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NB

172.22

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WAPCO

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Commodity LightCrude

Last 100.75

Change ($) +0.79

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NaturalGas

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Sugar

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Cocoa

157.80 3,149.00

ntees

Quail bird farming is five times better than chicken and turkey rearing. A person with 400 quail laying birds is better off than a person with 2000 chicken laying birds

,

farming: The following are the requirement for quail bird farming: Capital: You don't need a big capital to start this business. In fact, you can start with as low as N30,000 and expand as you go. And this will guarantee an average daily income of N1500 and with enough capital you can become a millionaire from the business.

Training: After getting your money ready the next thing is to go for training by a competent and practicing quail bird farmer, so that you will be shown the best way to do the business and how to avoid pit falls on your way as a quail bird farmer.

Rearing Space: A space that is well ventilated is needed for the rearing of quail bird to keep your cage. It is not possible to do this business without a space. However, the space you need for quail rearing is not much; you can even start at your backyard.

Other requirements: Drinking troughs, feeding troughs, electricity or lantern, stoves or coal pot to keep the house warm (for a day to 3 weeks old)

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Rearing process: Quail bird rearing is very easy. You can rear a large number of quail in a small floor area. A room of 10ft by 12ft can take up to 400 quail birds conveniently.

You can get a day old baby quail or go for a week, 2weeks, 3 weeks or even point of lay quail birds.

Beginners are advised to go for a two or three week old quail because rearing a day old quail is technical and is quite challenging because the mortality is always high in the first week. After the first week the rearing process is so easy and even a 10 years old boy can manage it. Quail birds are so gentle and the droppings do not produce unpleasant odour unlike chicken farming.

Housing: Quails are very small and so their houses should be built specifically to prevent them from escaping.

You can build a pen, construct a cage or use a room floor to rear them. But remember, the most important thing you need to put at the back of your mind when constructing their house is to prevent them from escaping.

Feeding: They feed on poultry feeds just like chickens. Quail birds eat little feeds unlike chickens. And that makes them more profitable than any other poultry farming.

Challenges of quail farming The most common challenge of quail farming is marketing at the initial stage of the business but with more awareness of the health and nutritional value of quail eggs and meat, the challenge has been overcome. The challenge many quail farmers are facing now is how to meet increasing demand.

Another little challenge you might face if you go for a day old quail bird is mortality. The birds suffer from respiratory disorder in their first week and that may cause high mortality but the challenge is overcome after the first week.

Ojekunle is team leader of PerfectBusinessGuide.com, a site dedicated to revealing new business ideas

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1

JBerger

67.00

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DangCem

240.99

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NNFM

19.75

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CAP

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How fast is your organisation adapting to the changing world?

BY ‘UJU ONWUZULIKE

"I can’t change the direction of the wind, but I can adjust my sails to always reach my destination..." Jimmy Dean

W

ith the rate of change in the business world of today, it is not advisable for any organisation to still have the "air of invincibility" or "too big to fail" mentality? It is not safe for organisations to think that they are invulnerable to failure or losing marketplace positioning. Whenever I share with leaders on Change or Transfor mation issues, I always let them know that Change is a shift in the external world and not from the internal. If those shifts in the external world are not managed strategically in the best interest of the organisation, there might be a looming danger. A general case for all organisations is that change happens to all of them. But the speed of adapting to the change differs from one organisation to the other.

The right thing for any forward looking organisation to do is to drop the title of being "too big to fail" or "too young to lead". Since the business world is changing by day, not adapting fast (not just adapting) to the changing world can lead to a catastrophe. Do you know that a new bank or business that pays attention to the changing world has the potential to survive faster than the big banks that are resting on their laurels? A real life example is Industrial & Commercial Bank of China (ICBC). As at December 31, 2009, ICBC holds the 11thposition of the biggest banks in the world in terms of total assets (1.726 trillion dollars). Having taking a systems approach and

adapting fast to the changing world, ICBC became No. 1 biggest bank in the world in total assets in 2012 (with 2.953 trillion dollars). The lesson here is that, it is not what your organisation is today that matters, but what it can continue to be tomorrow – having adapted fast to the changing world.

The challenge for organisations has been to be able to scan the future/ external environment in order to key into the changing world. Many organisations have not known how to do this.

Environmental scanning is the foundation for strategic thinking and planning. True scanning breaks out of the

,

Coffee

Change

Environmental scanning is not fortune telling. You can't predict the future, but you can prepare for the future

,

internal focus and limiting paradigms that keep us from seeing and understanding the driving forces in the environment. Environmental scanning is not fortune telling.

You can't predict the future, but you can prepare for the future.

To identify the changing world and how it affects future businesses, organisations should begin to use the acronym SKEPTIC™ (as used

by Haines Centre). This will enable the executives to identify, evaluate, and correlate relevant dynamics relating Socio-demographic to K(C) ompetition to Economic and Ecological factors and Political nuances touching Technology, Industrial, and Customer: SKEPTIC! It is best to have each scanning team assigned based on SKEPTIC. It also helps if you get a senior management sponsor for each team, using the natural roles that the different functional executives play, i.e., S (socio demographics) to the VP, HR, E (economics) to VP, Finance, P

(political) to VP, Legal, T (technology) to CIO or Head of IT etc. In addition, ask for volunteers to assist them. The idea is for each team to scan the environment and come up with what is changing in the world that can affect or alter the way business is being done. They should report to the CEO at least on quarterly basis.

Points to ponder: Before now, does your organization have a way to identify and report the changing world as to how it affects your business? Don't confuse this with SWOT analysis.

SWOT analysis is more of today's issue and not more for the future.

Has your organisation carried out Future External Environment Scanning Assessment to even understand why your organisation is not adapting to the changing world? Why do we have four Asian banks in the list of the ten biggest banks in the world in terms of total assets? What did they do differently? Where they able to prepare for their future?

Final note: In terms of opportunity and growth, there is no way you can compare organisations that are open to the changing world and also preparing for it to organisations that did not prepare for the change. The later organisations will be swept away by the change.

Regardless of the size of your organisation, institutionalising Future Environmental Scanning team (using SKEPTIC tool) that will report to the CEO about the changing world is a way to start. Assign scanning tasks to several members of the organisation: form 3-to-6-member teams who do this as part of their normal job. The roles of leaders in organisations are to lead, manage and navigate the change in a way that will yield sustainable results for the organisation. Lastly, your organisation may not be able to predict the future, but should be able to be prepared for one.

Email: uju@hainescentre.com Mobile: 09091142093 C M Y K

24 — Vanguard, THURSDAY, JULY 17, 2014

Rise in inflation to persist — Financial Derivatives

F

By BABAJIDE KOMOLAFE

INANCIAL Derivatives Company (FDC) said that the three months increase in inflation rate will persist this month but with zero impact on the exchange rate of the naira.

The inflation rate measures the rate at which prices of goods and services increase within a period of time.

The inflation rate has been on the upward trend since March.

In March, it rose to 7.8 percent from 7.7 percent in February.

It rose further to 7.9 percent in April, and 8.0 percent in May. The Financial Derivative Com-

pany predicted further rise to 8.1 percent in June and 8.2 percent in July.

The company, in its Economic Bulletin issued on Tuesday said. “The national headline inflation for June 2014 is projected to increase marginally to 8.1 percent in June. This is the first time it has risen above 8.0 percent in the last nine months.

Although, the year-on-year (yo-y) inflation has been within the CBN band of 6-9 percent for 2014, the trend in the last quarter has shown that inflation has been creeping upward.

There have been three consecutive upward notches which were caused primarily by the steady rise in the food and core

sub-indices of the CPI. “In July, we are of the opinion that there would be a further increase in the headline inflation rate in spite of the commencement of the harvest season.” According to FDC, the steady rise in the inflation rate is driven by a combination of factors. These include: the steady growth in money supply; slow but steady impact of the new automotive policy on transportation cost; disbursement of capital votes under the 2014 budget; higher cost of power; and increased security spending.

The company was however of the opinion that the rise in inflation rate would not lead to a change in monetary policy by

the Central Bank of Nigeria. ”In the event that the inflation rate comes in as forecast, it will be the fourth consecutive increase in the rate of inflation. We do not believe it will lead to a change in the monetary policy stance at the MPC meeting next week.

“If the increase in consumer prices continues and remains persistent, the market will anticipate an increase in interbank interest rates. However, the market is expected to remain square and tentative pending the MPC meeting while market liquidity continues to determine interest rate directions.

“The impact of a marginal increase in the headline inflation rate is expected to be neutral on the exchange rate in the near term. In addition, stakeholders would be keen on the direction of global oil prices and the impact on the external reserves as well as the country’s trade balance statistics.”

Managing Director/Chief Executive, Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation (NDIC), Alhaji Umaru Ibrahim (9th left on the front row) responding to questions during the public hearing on the amendments of the NDIC Act 2006 by the House of Reps Committee on Banking and Currency. Seated are: Former NDIC ED (Corporate Services), Prof. Peter N. Umoh (6th left); former MD, Alhaji Ganiyu Ogunleye (7th left); Acting Board Secretary/Director (Legal Department), Mr. B. A. Taribo, member of NDIC Board, Ms Benedikter Molokwu and ED (Corporate Services), Hon. Lola Abiola Edewor.

Nigeria mo o 2nd position on so movves tto sovvereign wealth ratings N

IGERIA has moved to the second position on the rating of sovereign wealth funds in the world.

This follows the improved rating of the Nigeria Sovereign Investment Authority (NSIA) as a sovereign wealth fund by the LinaburgMaduell transparency index administered by the Sovereign Wealth Institute.

In the official statement announcing the second quarter 2014 ratings, the Institute singled out the NSIA for special mention stating that the Nigerian Sovereign Investment Authority (NSIA) has been upgraded to nine points out of a possible 10 from a score of 4 in the previous rankings. This rating translates into a leap from a position of joint 33rd to

joint 2nd; the only African sovereign wealth fund so ranked. With the latest rankings, NSIA is in credible company alongside sovereign wealth funds from the USA, France, South Korea, Brazil and Malaysia.

More significantly, the improved transparency ranking validates NSIA’s commitment and adherence to the highest prescriptions of the Santiago Principles with respect to corporate governance, investment strategy, disclosures and SWF best practices. The NSIA believes that the capacity to deliver on its statutory mandate, for the benefits of all Nigerians, depends on these values hence the unwavering commitment to best practice standards in all policies, procedures and systems.

The Linaburg-Maduell Transparency Index was developed at the Sovereign

Wealth Fund Institute by Carl Linaburg and Michael Maduell and is a method of rating transparency in respect to sovereign wealth funds. In arriving at the rankings, the index amongst others considers the following principles Fund provides history including reason for creation, origins of wealth, and government ownership structure, Fund provides up-to-date independently audited annual reports, Fund provides ownership percentage of company holdings, Fund provides total portfolio market value, returns, and management compensation, Fund provides guidelines in reference to ethical standards, investment policies, and enforcer of guidelines, Fund provides clear strategies and objectives if applicable, the Fund clearly identifies subsidiaries.

NDIC, Poland’s deposit insurer partner on capacity building

T

he Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation (NDIC) and the Polish deposit insurer, Bank Guarantee Fund (BGF) of Poland have signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) on capacity building and experience sharing in the supervision of finance institutions and deposit insurance law and practice.

The NDIC in a statement, said, “The choice of BGF Poland by the Corporation for the MOU, was based on the BGF accomplishment and recognition of the Polish stable financial system.

Furthermore, the BGF of Poland is being led by the current President of IADI, Mr. Jerzy Pruski, who has wealth of experience in banking and deposit insurance and has been an Executive Council Member and one time Vice President of the international Association of Deposit Insurance and a onetime Vice President of (IADI). Mr. Pruski is also the current Economic Advisor to the President of the Republic of Poland and representative of the President at the Polish Financial Supervision Authority.

“By signing the MOU with the BGF of Poland, the Corporation will benefit immensely towards enhancing its effective implementation of the deposit insurance system in Nigeria. The International Association of Deposit Insurers (IADI), a body setup in 2002 with the vision of “sharing deposit insurance expertise with the world” encourages member countries to interact and create a platform for sharing information through various channels such as workshops, conferences, seminars, attachments and knowledge sharing.

Being a founding and executive council member of IADI as well as a member of several IADI Standing Committees, the NDIC is in the forefront of championing the ideals of IADI by tapping from the experiences and expertise of other deposit insurance systems and sharing its own expertise and experiences with all the IADI members. 3line, FCMB partner to offer agency banking services 3line Card Management and FCMB have formed a partnership to provide agency banking services, which would cater to the needs of these people.

The agency banking strategy would break down the traditional barriers hindering financial inclusion of millions of Nigerians and bring low-cost, secure and convenient financial services to urban, semi-urban and rural areas in Nigeria in line with the CBN policy.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, JULY 17, 2014 — 25

*The Academic Staff Union of Polytechnic resumes duty nationwide after almost 10 months strike . Picture shows some students of Yaba College of Technology arriving at the college Wednesday . Photo by Biodun Ogunleye

NEW EDUCATION MINISTER:

Stakeholders reel out expectations from Shekarau

BY DAYO ADESULU

L

AST Wednesday, the education sector got its 18th Education Minister from June 1999.

After over 10 months without a substantive education minister, Mallam Ibrahim Shekarau eventually assumed office as the Minister of Education. It would be recalled that Professor Ruqqayattu Rufai bowed out of office as the Minister of Education in September 2013.

Since Shekarau was confirmed minister on July 10, mixed reactions have trailed his appointment. While some stakeholders hailed his appointment saying he is a round peg in a round hole because he was a teacher, others have queried it, arguing whether he is really the best hand for the job or that the post was politically motivated. Because of the sensitive nature of the education sector, many believe that any person who will minister the sector must be passionate about education, have vision for it and be ready to proffer solutions to the lingering problems of the sector. Does C M Y K

Shekarau possess these qualities?

Without doubt, Shekarau should be ready to confront the seemingly insurmountable problems of industrial action by lecturers and students, provide admission spaces for estimated 1.2m students writing JAMB every year and should be ready for another round of ASUP strike if at the end of three months nothing concrete is done to meet their demands. For ASUU, the new minister must ensure that the agreement reached with the Union is maintained.

Since June 1999, 17 ministers have served in this office and they all inherited one problem or the other which were either half-solved or compounded the ministers before leaving office.

We're worried ASUP might resume strike again —Poly students Pg. 28

Tunde Adeniran (June '99Jan. 2001); Alhaji Lawam Batagarawa (June '99 - to 2001); Babalola Borishade (Feb. 2001 - June 2003); Alhaji Bello Usman (Feb. 2001 - June 2003); F. N. C. Osuji (July 2003 - Feb. 2005); Hajia Bintu Musa (July 2003 - June

2005); Chinwe Obaji (June 2005 -June 2006); Halima Tayo Alao (June 2005 -2006); Grace Ogwuche (Feb. 2006 - June 2006); Oby Ezekwesili (June 2006-April 2007); Sayadi Abba Ruma (June 2006 -April 2007); Adewunmi Abitoye (June 2006-May 2007); Igwe Aja Nwachukwu (June 2007 - December 2008); Jerry Agada (June 2007-Dec. 2008); Hajia Aishatu Jibril Dukku (June 2007 - ?), Sam Egwu (De. 2008 to March 2010); Ruqqayat Rufai (April 2010 – Sept. 2013) and Mallam Ibrahim Shekarau 2014.

Can Shekarau make a difference in the sector before 29 May, 2015?

Reacting to Shekarau's appointment as Education minister, Professor Oyesoji Aremu of the University of Ibadan said, “If you look at what produced Mallam Shekarau as a minister, you will discover that he left APC for PDP because he has a misunderstanding with Governor Kwankwaso of Kano. The issue of 2015 election brought him on board so he can secure Kano for President Jonathan.

"His appointment as a minister is political. He has just left APC and not yet settled down, therefore in the Ministry of Education, he would not give it everything because his eyes are on the Kano State Government seat. He will not be totally committed to the ministry. He won't behave as a professional. He is a square peg in a round hole. In this country, we have true educationists, people that talk and teach education. It might not be a professor, but a core professional who is not a politician. However, I believe he will be a better minister than Nyesom Wike because he will be less controversial than Wike.”

To buttress his point that he will be relatively better than Wike, Aremu said that Shekarau has education background, adding that as the former governor of Kano State, he will be proactive when it comes to the issue of the Education ministry in Nigeria.

According to him, the new minister has to adopt a holis-

Continues on page 26

How Bauchi education stakeholders make case for out-of-school children

By SUZAN EDEH

O

ne of the major challenges rocking the northern part the country is the problem of out-of-school children. Even though the government of Nigeria has increasingly recognised the

right of children to education and development, efforts by respective state governments in the north have not necessarily translated into equitable advantage for the out-ofschool children in the region.

The United Nations Children's Fund, UNICEF report shows that out of the 10.5 mil-

RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT

So you want to be a lawyer? Be careful the varsity you Pg. 30 attend (1)

Why roasted meat could cause cancer Pg. 29

lion out-of-school children in the country, 6.5 million are in the northern part of the country. The most worrisome aspect of the report is that 40 per cent of Nigerian children aged 611, do not attend any primary school with the northern region recording the lowest school attendance rate in the country.

Another area of challenge in the North is the issue of girlchild education. The gender gap remains particularly wide and the proportion of girls to boys in school ranges from one girl to two boys, to one to three in some states.

Despite increased enrollment rates of children into schools in the country,

Continues on page 26

26 — Vanguard, THURSDAY, JULY 17, 2014

a major hindrance.

Another cause of low enrollment and completion in the north due to cultural bias, parents preferring to send their children to Qur ’anic schools instead of formal schools, poverty and early marriage for girls.

The Principal Avi-Cenna, Mr. David Ogburn making a presentation to one of the outgoing students at the ceremony.

Bauchi education stakeholders make case for out-of-school children Continues from page 25 literacy rate among children between the ages 5-16 is relatively low at 41 per cent with the North-East region ranking 8.7 per cent for boys while that of girls ranked 7 per cent.

Insecurity, a contributing factor: One major challenge giving rise to the challenge of out-ofschool children is the current wave of insecurity bedeviling the north. Activities of insurgency has discouraged many parents from sending their children to school, hence enrolment is relatively low in the region.

Since 2012, teachers and students have been increasingly targeted by insurgents, resulting in killings, abductions and threats.

Many schools were bombed, set on fire or attacked by insurgents in the north and increasingly, insurgents have turned their attention to students and teachers, according to the Global Coalition to Protect Education from Attack in 2013.

Additionally, the Borno State Ministry of Education estimated that 15,000 children in the state stopped attending classes between February and May as a result of attacks.

School teachers appeared to be targeted specifically, with some 30 reported to have been

shot dead, sometimes during class, from January to September 2013. A number of teachers also said they had been intimidated by Boko Haram elements or subjected to close surveillance by the group in remote towns in Borno State.

Abduction of school girls – April 2014: More than 200 girls were abducted from their school in Chibok, Borno State since April 2014. Recent reports have also stated that eight more girls were kidnapped by Boko Haram in May. Stakeholders in the country have continued to call on the abductors to immediately return these girls unharmed to their communities, and for those with influence on the perpetrators to do everything they can to secure the safe return of the girls and to bring their abductors to justice.

Other factors militating against basic education in the northern part of the country range from the fact that many children do not attend school because their labour is needed to either help at home or bring additional income to the family. Many families cannot afford the associated costs of sending their children to schools such as uniforms and textbooks. For others, the distance to the nearest school is

UNICEF calls for action by stakeholders: It is against this backdrop that UNICEF D Field office in Bauchi in collaboration with the Bauchi Radio Corporation, organised a one day media interactive session to mark the Day of the African Child (DAC).

The DAC is a resolution passed by the African Union Assembly in 1991 to celebrate June 16th of every year in commemoration of the 1976 protest by school children in Soweto, South Africa. The students protested against an education designed to further the purposes of the apartheid regime. The brutal response of the apartheid security agencies to the students' protest resulted in the death of a number of them. The protest eventually led to the collapse of the apartheid regime.

The aim of the interactive session was to update education stakeholders on the state of basic education in the north, the interventions of donor agencies towards education, and to address bottlenecks/ challenges militating against basic education in the region.

The meeting was facilitated by the UNICEF Chief of Field Office, Dr. Abdulai Kaikai, Managing Director of Bauchi Radio Corporation, Mohammed Ahmed Abdullahi, UNICEF D Field Education Specialist, Mariam Dikwa and UNICEF Field Communication Officer, Samuel Kaalu.

The facilitators harped on the need for respective state governments in the region to complement efforts of donor partners like UNICEF and DFID by ensuring the timely release of budgetary allocations for the funding of basic education in the north in order to address the problem of out-ofschool children.

At the meeting, Dr. Kakai made a presentation on the

NEW EDUCATION MINISTER: Stakeholders reel out expectations from Shekarau Continues from page 25 tic approach to the issues in the ministry. He said that for over 10 months, polytechnics and colleges of education were on strike.

For Shekarau to succeed, he reiterated that he must approach the issue of strike holistically. The polytechnics, he noted, suspended their strike giving him the benefit of the doubt to look into the issues raised by the union. He urged the minister to call a meeting to look into some of the issues raised and tackle them holistically so that in the nearest future, there won't be indus-

trial action.

Also, Aremu expects Shekarau to look into the secondary schools especially, the Unity schools as regards the issue of terrorism in Nigeria.

On the Safe School Initiative, he maintained that schools can only be safe where learning takes place adequately and where learners and teachers are in an environment devoid of tension.

He said: “As we have it right now with the issue of insurgency, adequate learning cannot take place. I expect the minister to have a synergy with the Ministry of Defence. Because education industry cannot stand alone, it has to be done in such a way that there will be protection for the school

children.

“Besides, the issue of Almajirai should be looked into so as to get them back to school.

Aremu who lauded the Federal Government initiative to educate the almajirai stated that there is need to get them back to school and give them quality education.

About university education, he said: “All appears to be okay. however, that is not to say there are no issues that are yet to be resolved. The new minister should look into the agreement reached with ASUU and ensure that every letter of that agreement is taken into consideration.

That will make university education safe from any industrial action for many years.

Moreover, NECO, WAEC and JAMB should be looked into to have a comprehensive education agenda in Nigeria.”

current situation of basic education in the 10 D Field Office states of Borno, Adamawa, Bauchi, Yobe, Jigawa, Taraba, Gombe, Plateau, Sokoto and Kano.

Kaikai who was represented by UNICEF Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation Specialist, Dr Danjuma Almustafa said that stakeholders in the north must strive to change the negative values attached to western education in order to address the problem of out-of-school children.

According to him, “Governments in the north must create the conditions that will enable children to access basic education by providing enough schools that are accessible to the people, providing enough and qualified teachers, make provisions for learning materials and monitor how inputs are producing desired results.”

In the area of prompt release of budgetary allocations to education, Danjuma said that both state and local governments should map out education sector plans because according to him, “once a problem is analysed, one will know what kind of resources are required.

“After analysing the areas of challenges in the sector, the next thing is for government to ensure that what is planned is actually carried out and to monitor when it is actually released so that it is properly applied.”

He said government should not hesitate to sanction corrupt local or state governments that misappropriate funds for education, adding that government should redouble its efforts and redeem its commitments towards the sector.

In her submission, UNICEF’s Education Specialist, Saratu Yunusa said

the basic education intervention of UNICEF is in 13 high burden states selected based on the lowest education indicators of enrollment, attendance, completion and gender disparity.

According to her, one of UNICEF's approach to improve quality of education and address the problem of out-of-school children, particularly that of girls in the north is through the implementation of the Girl-Child project.

She said the project was first launched in Nigeria in 2004 to address gender disparity in education and was implemented in two phases.

The first phase (2005-2008) covered six states of Bauchi, Borno, Jigawa, Katsina, Niger and Sokoto. The support got 423,000 girls into primary schools and 225,000 girls transited to Junior Secondary schools.

“The second phase was implemented in four states; Bauchi, Katsina, Niger and Sokoto from 2008 to 2012. In Bauchi State for instance, the Girls’ Education Project II commenced alongside GEP I with the replication of GEP in all the 20 local government areas of the state.

The implementation of the second phase of the GEP in Bauchi , recorded tremendous successes as there was an increase in the enrollment of girls in schools by eight per cent. The total girls enrollment increased from 290,469 in 2009/2010 to 685,644 while it increased from 304,929 to 737,505 in 2010/2011/” She gave an overview of the GEP, with the UNICEF Education Specialist, Mairama Dikwa saying that GEP I and II informed the design of the third phase of the project and is implemented in Bauchi, Kastina, Niger, Sokoto and Zamfara states.

Former UNN VC refutes allegation of EFCC arrest over fraud

BY DAYO ADESULU

T

HE immediate past Vice-Chancellor, University of Nigeria Nsukka, Professor Bartho Okolo has refuted the allegation that he was being quizzed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission last week, adding that he never saw any EFCC staff.

Okolo who described the allegation as cheap blackmail aimed at tarnishing his image told Vanguard in Lagos that the cooked up story was the handiwork of some few persons in the UNN whom he consistently hindered from embezzling money meant for the school.

“All these are happening now because we closed all the loopholes and stopped them from all the scavenging.”

He said: “I wonder that with the achievement on ground some people are still writing rubbish in newspapers.”

He noted that if the fraud story was true, EFCC would have arrested him while in office as there was nothing like immunity clause attached to the office of the VC. "Does one person give contract in the university?" he asked.

His words, “What we did at UNN had never happened in the history of the institution. There are just few bad eggs that are trying to hold the institution to ransom. I see being a leader as an opportunity to impact your people. ”I challenge the alumni of UNN to come and see the transformation on campus.

“The former Minister of Education, Prof. Ruqqayattu Rufai testified to the transformation in UNN, even Chief Olusegun Obasanjo who does not give in to frivolous talk testified to the transformation in UNN when he was invited as a guest speaker during our convocation few years ago. If at all you want to criticize anybody, it should be done constructively.”

Vanguard, THURSDAY, JULY 17, 2014 — 27

We need more skills than certificates in Nigeria ODUFUWA —

BY DAYO ADESULU

U

*Engr. Babatunde Odufuwa

,

NIVERSITIES and Polytechnics are clearly a key part of all tertiary systems, but the diverse and growing set of a public and private tertiary institutions in every country -nursing schools, research laboratories, distance learning centres and many more institutions that support production of high level capacity necessary for development.

Knowledge and advanced skills are critically determinants of a country’s growth and standard of living as learning outcomes are transformed into goods and services, greater institutional capacity, a more effective public sector, a stronger civil society, and a better investment climate.

Good quality, merit-based, equitable, efficient tertiary education and research are essential parts of this transformation. Both developing and industrialised countries benefit from the dynamics of the knowledge economy.

This was the position of the Chairman, Governing Council, Lagos City Polytechnic, Engr. Babatunde Adewale Odufuwa during its eighth convocation.

He disclosed that improved and accessible tertiary education and effective national innovation systems can help a developing country progress toward sustainable achievements of the Millennium Development Goals, particularly those goals related to all levels of education, health, and gender equity.

Schools should be designed not only for learning but for thinking

In many countries, he noted that education is viewed as a good investment in national development as it is expected that the educational system will produce the quality and quantity of human resources required for the economic growth of the country.

Odufuwa who concurred that Nigeria's educational sector has been consuming quite a large proportion of annual budgets of the three tiers of government budgets, added that there is need to establish and maintain standard operating criteria at all levels of the education system.

According to him, "it is now a common practice in most, if

,

not all universities and colleges to include Entrepreneurship Study, Information Technology and other related subjects into the curriculum so that there is a linkage between the private sector and the economy which these institutions serve.

“It is also important to mention that the curricula in various countries of the world are made to reflect not only the need of each country but the requirements of global world economy through e-learning, ecommerce etc, as re-

UNN graduates 40 Veterinary doctors

BY CHINENYE OZOR

V

ETERINARY Council of Nigeria has issued probation licences to 40 fresh graduands of the University of Nigeria Nsukka while inducting them to the practice of veterinary medicine in Nigeria.

Issuing the probation licences which will last for one year, Dr Marcus Avong, Registrar, Veterinary Council of Nigeria (VCN) warned the new veterinary graduands to shun unethical practices as the council would not renew any licence under questionable circumstances before one year elapses.

Avong gave the warning at Princess Alexanderia auditorium, University of Nigeria Nsukka during the 35th oath-taking ceremony of the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine of the institution, explaining that the 40 fresh veterinary doctors, were expected to obey the ethics of the profession as well as accord respect to older colleagues in the profession.

He commended parents of the new veterinary doctors for investing in a education of their children for the six-year study in the university.

C M Y K

I commend parents, who in spite of the economic challenges made this huge investment in education, as their dream has been realized with the induction of the graduands,” he noted .

In his speech, the Vice-Chancellor of the university, Professor Benjamin Ozumba said he was optimistic that the 40 graduands have been found worthy in both character and learning as the university excels in the field of veterinary medicine.

He urged the graduands to be good ambassadors of the university .

“The oath-taking requires graduands to use their scientific knowledge and skills acquired for the benefit of the society in discharging their professional duties.

Earlier in his speech, the Dean, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Prof Vincent Shoyinka, urged the new doctors to be shining examples of the faculty at all times in the society by adhering to the ethics of the profession.

He expressed gratitude to the VCN for the full accreditation of the faculty as announced by the president of the council.

flected in ICT development by the internet which has reduced the world to a global village,” he said.

Odufuwa added: “In Nigeria, we need more skills than we need certificates.”

He maintained that there is a growing disconnect between the products of our tertiary institutions and skills requirements of the economy, saying that this underscores the need for closer interaction between our institutions and operators in the economy. ”There is need to focus more on Research and Development, manufacturing and industrial growth set for exports as opposed to projects which are not employment-generating. These challenges affect our educational standard and inhibit our efforts at achieving the Vision 20: 2020," he said, pointing out that "our educational system must be home-made to reflect the need of our environment and learn from the mistakes of developed countries.

According to Odufuwa, our education system must produce teachers and artisans who must be well educated in the use of their skills to serve and support the graduates of engineering, medicine, arts, science and humanity.

He averred that the re-opening of training centres where artisans are trained will assist in enhancing the delivery of skills in our educational system.

He insisted that we must trae the training for these semi-skilled labours by updating their education through in-service training, industrial attachment, seminars and workshops where modern techniques and knowledge will be acquired.

“It is the entrepreneurs that make things happen in an economy. They are the drivers of the economy and the creators of wealth. An economy can only be as robust as its entrepreneurs. Therefore, if we must make progress in this economy, our private sector would have to play a major role. The public sector would also have to create the enabling environment,” he said.

On the way forward, he said: “Now literacy has gone beyond learning. Schools should be designed not only for learning but for thinking.

Schools and colleges are being asked to produce men and women who can think, make new scientific discoveries, find adequate solutions to impending world problems, who cannot be brainwashed, men and women who can adapt to change and maintain sanity in this age of acceleration. ”Every individual has been endowed with the gift of creativity, innovation and imagination.

Nigeria French Language Village gets new Director/ CEO

T

he Federal Government has appointed a substantive Director/Chief Executive Officer for the Nigeria French Language Village, (Inter-University Centre for French Studies) Ajara, Badagry. He is Prof.

Raufu Adebisi and he assumed office on June 18, 2014.

Until his appointment, he was a Professor of French at the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria.

He had his early education in Ghana before returning to Nigeria for secondary and postsecondary education. He obtained his first degree in French from the Ahmadu Bello University and was subsequently employed by the university as an Assistant Lecturer. Adebisi had his post- graduate degrees from the same university where he later became a professor in 2004.

He was sponsored to undergo a basic certificate course in Chinese language in 2008 by the Chinese Government.

He held various positions of responsibility in the university as Head of Department, Acting Dean, Coordinator, etc.

His tenure as Director/CEO of the Nigerian French Language Village is five years.

Nigerian Air Force upholds culture

O

n Thursday, July 10, Air Force Secondary School (AFSS), Sam Ethnan Air Force Base, Ikeja held its cultural day to round off 2013/2014 academic session.

The school which has nine academic and nine social clubs had nine performances that were a potpourri of native Nigerian, French, hip hop songs and dances and a dance drama on religious uprightness, all presented by students of the junior secondary school and the visiting school, Command Day Secondary School, Nigerian Army Cantonment, Ikeja.

Speaking on the essence of the cultural day, which also featured presentations by some academic and social clubs, the Commandant, AFSS, WG CDR IS Azubike, said; “cultural day in the school is aimed at reinforcing the need for our indigenous culture, dressing food and general way of life. Children convince your parents to take you to visit your hometown.”

The cultural day ushered in week-long activities to be capped by the 25th speech, prize giving day and passing out of cadets on July 17, which will feature Col. Sobo rtd as guest speaker on the topic Education as a Security Tool, under the organizing proficiency of Mrs Iroegbu R.A, vice principal administration and chairmanship of Commandant Azubike.

28—Vanguard, THURSDAY, JULY 17, 2014

GOLDEN PEN AWARD:

In defence of youth, education sector who emerged the first runner up for his captivating story entitled, NB Stuns Lagos Community with Independent Powered Street Light and Mojeed Alabi of New Telegraph, was the second runner up in the Golden Pen Reporter of the Year Category, with Victory at Last: WAEC Finally Releases Withheld Certificate, 5 Years After. Mojeed dedicated his award to Alhaji Suleiman Bisalla — the late editor of the paper who died in the bomb blast at Emab Plaza in June — and to the abducted Chibok girls.

Raheem Akingbolu of ThisDay, emerged winner of the Nigeria Breweries' Report of the Year with the story Star: Beyond music in the bottle.

In the Golden Pen Photojournalist of the Year Category, Sulaiman Hussain of New Telegraph won Best Photo-

BY PRISCA SAM-DURU

I

t was in an effort to lend a voice towards resuscitating the dying education sector as well as set agenda for the need to engage the youths positively, that the 2014 Golden Pen Award was dedicated to education of Nigerian child and empowerment of the youth.

The award, initiated by the Nigerian Breweries which is in its 6th year, was designed to encourage and celebrate journalists who have excelled and distinguished themselves in the course of journalism and pursuit of excellence.

According to the company, this year’s award with choice of Education and Youth Empowerment as the theme, was hinged on the fact that no country can lay claim to development and prosperity without giving adequate attention to the education and empowerment of its youth.

With his work, The rich envy us the way we live which exposes life in Dustbin Estate, a community in Ajeromi-Ifelodun Local Government Area of Lagos State, a Senior Correspondent with The Nation newspaper, Seun Akioye, emerged winner of the Nigerian Breweries' Golden Pen Reporter of the Year.

The work earned him the award as the Nigerian Breweries' Golden Pen Reporter of the Year, N1 million cash prize and an ipad.

Other winners at the award include Joseph Undu of Daily Champion, *

journalist of the Year. Stanley Ogidi of The Punch was first runner-up and Ayodele Ojo of Daily Sun was the second runner-up.

Too bad, female journalists were missing in action at the ceremony which held at the Lantana Hall of Eko Hotel and Suites, Victoria Island.

The show anchored by comedian, Okey Bakassi, was attended by leaders of the corporate world, publishers, journalists, the award-winners and their colleagues.

The MD/CEO of Nigerian Breweries Plc, Mr Nicolaas Vervelde applauded the Nigerian media for supporting the initiatives and aspirations of Nigerian Breweries over the years. He said the award was instituted by the company to recognise and reward professionalism and other ethical values in journalism in Nigeria.

*From left: Dr Yomi Ogunbiyi,Chairman of the Jury; Mr Nicolas Vervelde, MD/CEO NB; Mr Seun Akioye, award winner, Mrs Nkechi Ali Balogun, member of the Jury, Mr Gbenga Adefaye, Editor-inChief/General Manager, Vanguard Newspaperas and Prof. Ralph Akinfeleye, members of the Jury.

Avi-Cenna urges students to shun bad habits

BY TARE YOUDEOWEI

A

uthorities of the Avi-Cenna International School, Ikeja, has urged its outgoing Year II students to develop their personal attributes and shun habits that can hinder realisation of their dreams of growing into successful and responsible adults.

“Don’t depend too much on others and don’t live other people’s dreams. We have a limited time on earth, so don’t waste it. Pain and disappointment are inevitable but suffering is optional, and remember, tough times are always temporary.

Treat failing as an essential component of self-improvement. Be honest and truthful with yourself and in your dealings with others,” the Principal, Mr. David Ogburn told the students at the graduation ceremony held at the school’s premises recently.

Ogburn, who urged the students to continue to develop their personal attributes and involve themselves in a variety of pursuits beyond academics, noted that “at AviCenna, we go beyond the aca-

demic. We try to create a holistic education. We stress the importance of a rounded individual as a pre-requisite for success in today’s constantly evolving world.

We try to create an appreciation of learning that develops creativity and teaches critical thinking.

This makes our students more versatile, adaptable and capable of creating better life choices for themselves. Also important are the social skills, communication skills and the building of character. These are essential components of a rounded education.”

Loral students present No to Poverty

BY ESTHER ONYEGBULA

T

he students of Loral International Secondary School have enacted a short drama titled No to Poverty. The drama which centres on the increasing rate of unemployment and its attendant effects on the Nigerian economy was part of the activities to celebrate democracy day. Seeking practical ways via agriculture in tackling poverty in the country, the drama presented by the SSI students C M Y K

of the school charged the Nigerian government to make the agricultural sector attractive to the youths and encouraged youths to go back to agriculture as a way of breaking the cycle of poverty.

Set in a typical Lagos commercial bus, the first scene begins with an unemployed graduate who was returning from failed job hunting; caught up in a heated argument with the bus conductor over his balance.

This led to a massive transfer

of aggression between the duo.

The characters reveal two major categories of people in the society, the average man on the street (unemployed youths, market women, okada riders and artisans) and the oga at the top (politicians, businessmen, directors and MDs of companies). Relating to the challenges of the average unemployed Nigerian graduate, the drama exposes the rot in the system and the labour market while seeking lasting solution to the scourge of unemployment.

We’re worried ASUP might resume strike again — Poly students

BY LAJU ARENYEKA

A

FTER being out of the classroom for 354 days, as a result of the strike embarked upon by the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics, ASUP, polytechnic students are afraid that ASUP’s suspension of the strike last weekend will be short-lived.

Those who spoke to Vanguard Learning, VL, expressed worries that ASUP might resume strike again if the Federal Government is unable to resolve the extenuating issues in three months as promised.

Recall that the new Minister of Education, Mallam Ibrahim Shekarau met with the leadership of ASUP last Thursday and after listening to the list of the union's demands, indicated his strong desire to tackle them but requested for a little time. In a Press release, the ASUP chairman, Dr. Chibuzo Asomugha said: ‘The Hon. Minister has also passionately appealed to our union to suspend the strike in the interest of the nation. Our NEC met and reviewed developments concerning the strike, particularly appeals from the various stakeholders and the overwhelming threat of irreversible hurt to polytechnic education. We have also considered the requested of the new Minister to be given a little time to attend to the issues in contention. As we have always done, we have no reasons to doubt neither him nor his capacity to handle the issues.

‘NEC of our great Union at an emergency session held on 12th July, 2014 at the Labour House Abuja, resolved that the strike be suspended for three months with effect from Tuesday, 15th July, 2014; That lecturers in Nigeria’s polytechnics put in double effort to fully ameliorate the loss suffered as a result of the strike; That the Federal Government should invest requisite human and material resources to ensure that all outstanding issues are resolved within the three-month window in order to avert a resumption of the strike.

The President, National Association of Polytechnic Students, NAPS, Mr. Adeyemi Lukman said that students are worried that "after such a long time, the strike was suspended with the issues unsolved." He said: "The last time government made such a verbal agreement, nothing was done. But this time, we are hoping that the new minister, Mallam Ibarahim Shekarau, will be a man of his word and bring some stability to the education sector."

The Student Union President, Federal Polytechnic Ado-Ekiti, Mr. Owolade Oluwasijibomi expressed mixed feelings about the turn of events. "We are very happy about the situation. There has been a lot of jubilation from students since we heard the news.

On the other hand, however, we feel bad about the fact that we were out of school for so long, and yet the issues have not been resolved. We are afraid that in three months' time, ASUP might resume strike again.

"It wouldn’t be the first time such a thing would be happening; when the strike was first suspended last year, it had gone on for 81 days already and the issues were still not resolved. ASUP resumed strike a few months after suspending it.

We are just praying to God that the new minister can settle the issues in three months like he promised so that we don’t lose more time if ASUP decides to go on strike again."

The Student Union Chairman of the Federal Polytechnic Ede, Mr. Adewale Saheed also expressed mixed feelings about the situation. He said: "It is a very good thing that the strike has been called off.

We can really see the minister’s efforts at making the system work. But we just hope that everything will be settled on time, if not, ASUP will go on strike again. We believe that there must have been a written agreement between ASUP and the new minister, so if for any reason it doesn’t pan out, I hope ASUP can seek redress in court instead of going on strike again."

Vanguard, THURSDAY, JULY 17, 2014—29

C

BY EBELE ORAKPO

as es of various forms of cancer, the deadly disease seen by many as death sentence, have been on the rise. Although experts have not been able to pinpoint the exact cause or causes of cancer, some believe that diet could be playing a very important role in cancer formation. Only recently, an article in one of the national dailies warned people against consuming suya, a Nigerian shish kebab as according to the article, it could cause cancer. Interestingly the meat is not the problem but the method of cooking. One of the byproducts of roasting meat is Benzo(a)pyrene (BaP), a polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) which arises as a result of incomplete combustion or burning of organic items such as gasoline, wood and cigarettes. BaP is said to produce serious cytotoxic, mutagenic and carcinogenic effects in tissues and organs in both animals and humans, so the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), listed it as a Group 1 carcinogen (a substance that causes cancer.)

In this chat with Mrs Binta Iliyasu, a Principal Research Officer at the Nigerian Institute for Trypanosomiasis Research (NITR) in Vom, Plateau State, and a 2014 African Women in Agricultural Research and Development (AWARD) Fellow, speaks on her research with Prof. G. H. Ogbadu on roasted chicken and the link with cancer. She advises the public to use alternative methods of food preservation and preparation. Excerpts:

*Smoked chicken: Exercise restraint while consuming smoked food products

A

ccording to Iliyasu, interest in this research was “motivated by the high incidence of car cinoma of the alimentary tract in other countries where smoked foods are consumed in large amounts. The prevalence of gastro intestinal carcino*Mrs Binta Iliyasu... other means of fish/meat preservation should ma among Nigerians as be explored rather than roasting. against other forms of cancer suggest a dietary association which is not far-fetched considering that the known chemical carcinogenic contaminants of Nigerian foods have the liver as their primary target organ of attack followed by the intestine.”

So they decided to carry out of different types of cancer inanalysis of roasted chicken cluding cancer of the liver samples from Samaru and (hepatic cancer)."

Tudun Wada in Zaria, Kaduna State and Malumfashi, Materials and methods: Katsina State and then esti“Roasted chicken samples mated the Benzo(a)pyrene were obtained from three diflevels as earlier studies have ferent localities (Samaru and documented links between Tudun Wada in Zaria and Benzo[a]pyrene and cancers Malumfashi, Katsina State) “Cancer is not a disease reand the Benzo(a)pyrene level stricted to the industrialised in each sample was deterworld. Evidence now shows it mined. " to be as much a problem also in less developed and less inResults: dustrialised nations like NiAt the end of the research, geria. she discovered that there are- Malumfashi sample than the "Nigeria is ranked among to the prevalence of more higher levels of others. countries with high incidence "This is believed to be due of the factors that raise the Benzo(a)pyrene recorded in

Why roasted meat could cause cancer

,

People involved in the smoking/roasting of fish and meat especially for retail, should take adequate control of contamination by reducing the occurrence of the factors that affect Benzo(a)pyrene formation during smoking

,

level of Benzo(a)pyrene formation during smoking.

She enumerated the factors to include: proximity to heat source; length of period of smoking; whether or not the melted fat and juice which oozed out of the chicken while roasting was allowed to fall into the heat source; smoking temperature and fat content of the chicken.

"Generation of a lot of smoke, coupled with high fat content and longer period of roasting could have been the possible contributing factors to the higher levels of Benzo(a)pyrene observed in the roasted chicken sample from Malumfashi," she said.

Recommendation: Iliyasu recommended that restraint should be exercised while consuming smoked food products such as roasted chicken.

“Other means of preservation of meat and fish such as massive refrigeration in cold houses, should be explored rather than roasting so as to reduce PAH contamination.

"People involved in the smoking/roasting of fish and meat especially for retail, should take adequate control of contamination by reducing the occurrence of the factors that affect Benzo(a)pyrene formation during smoking," she advised.

We’ll facilitate completion of AAUA projects — Ondo Assembly

BY IKENNA ASOMBA

I

MPRESSED by the judi-cious use of the funds approved over the last five years to it by its Visitor, Governor Olusegun Mimiko, the Ondo State House of Assembly Committee on Education, Science and Technology, last Wednesday, commended the management of Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba-Akoko, assuring that it will not hesitate to facilitate the approval of more funds for completion of other projects in the school.

The newly-inaugurated seven-man committee gave this assurance when its Chairman, Hon. Adeyinka Banso led a delegation on a familiarisation visit to the univers i t y, a s p a r t o f i t s o v e r s i g h t functions.

Stating that the university must C M Y K

not rest on its oars in keying into the vision and transformation agenda of the Visitor, Banso said: “We are very proud that this university is really doing a lot and making us proud. There are so many justifications for the funds that the House of Assembly had appropriated for this university. The array of projects that you have executed with what we are giving to the university goes on to say that you have used judiciously the little we have given you, and so we will not have any hesitation to give you more.”

Another member, Hon. Fidelis Akinwolemiwa, who is also the Chairman of Finance and Appropriation of the Assembly added, “I want to assure you of our cooperation in every way possible,

particularly, at the appropriation level where I happen to be the chairman.”

Responding to the request of the Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Prof.

Rotimi Ajayi, to facilitate the quick completion of the hostels being sponsored by the Ondo State Oil- Producing Area Development Commission, OSOPADEC, and the Niger-Delta Development Commission, NDDC, Hon. Akinwolemiwa said, “I want to assure you that we will try our best to sell your plight to OSOPADEC and other agencies.”

Earlier in his address, the Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Prof.

Rotimi Ajayi, who received the committee on behalf of the ViceChancellor, Prof. Femi Mimiko,

who is representing the state at the on-going National Conference, had described the visit as a demonstration of the staunch interest of the committee in the university and its love for higher education development in the state.

He said: “We would continue to require and solicit your continued support so that together, we will achieve the vision of the founding fathers of this university, to be a foremost university that moves manpower development in the direction of self-apprenticeship, a first-class university in research, knowledge, character and service to humanity, and accomplish our mantra, which is Building a 21st Century University.”

30 — Vanguard, THURSDAY, JUNE 17, 2014

,

Even all of our first generation universities are running their courses on perpetual “provisional accreditation

,

So you want to be a lawyer?

Be careful the university you attend (1) My Dear Dele, Please help us find out if Afe Babalola University has accreditation for Law – not provisional accreditation. We have a daughter wanting to read law there. Thanks! From Chief J.O.A Ayomike. Warri.

W

HEN about three years ago I started to undertake personally funded re search into the situation with universities, one of my objectives was to get parents and prospective students applying to read various courses, at Nigerian universities to be able to make intelligent and informed choices.

The proliferation of public and private universities, without a corresponding increase in the number of teaching and even non-academic staff (not any jackass can be a good Bursar or Registrar for God’s sake) was the first thing to draw my attention; and it pointed to serious problems ahead for university education in Nigeria.

The second thing which was most disturbing for public and private universities springing up nationwide, was the clear possibility that many proprietors of the universities, particularly the private universities, might not fully understand the economics of university management. Too many of the universities were becoming monuments to individual egos rather than institutions that would stand the test of time.

So, for two years, I went about quietly visiting universities, taking notes, and collecting information. It must be admitted that not all

the universities have been visited. But, I seldom miss an opportunity to enter a university – once I am close to it. Mostly what I discovered was alarming. To be quite candid, it is a mystery to me why the National Universities Commission, NUC, would even grant provisional accreditation to those units – many of which are glorified Higher School Certificate or GCE Advanced level certificate peddlers.

Faculty of law or what?

Reproduced below is the most up-to-date status of Nigerian universities offering Law as a discipline.

The update speaks volumes. Only one university in Nigeria, University of Lagos, UNILAG, has full accreditation. Even all of our first generation universities are running their courses on perpetual “provisional accreditation” – meaning that there is some deficiency in the service delivery.

Most of our SANs went through schools which are still operating with "provisional accreditation" 20 years after they graduated.

That again speaks volumes about the universities and the NUC which grants 20 years "provisional accreditation".

Some disasters have followed when some universities granted "provisional accreditation" admitted students for several years and later have the accreditation withdrawn or suspended. The students who spent over three or four years, at those universities, face bleak futures.

Continues next week

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Mastering Your Internal Communication T

WO men are told by doctors that they have prostate cancer and are given two years to live. One of the men accepts the doctors’ report and begins to wind-down his affairs in preparation to die in the next two years. However, the other man communicates to himself that he cannot die of prostate cancer that he has so much impact to make in the world and cannot afford to leave the stage of life at the time. In fact, he tells himself; I will beat this; I am more than this; I will beat this at the cellular level. He listened to healing tapes and meditates on the words. He went to every person he knew that had conquered cancer to hear their testimony. He went on to host the highest rated cancer syndicated talk show in the world. It’s over eight years and counting, Les Brown is still alive whole and hearty and is accomplishing his dreams like never before.

Two men graduate from the university and get employed but lose their jobs eight consecutive times. In fact, their third boss said categorically, “You are the single greatest disappointment in my entire career-you will never succeed in marketing.” One of the men communicated to himself that losing eight jobs in a row coupled with what his former boss had told him means that he is a failure in life. He goes through life with a failure mentality barely scraping by in order to survive. On the other hand, the other man communicates to himself that losing those jobs was just a feedback informing him that there was something that he was missing out. On his former boss' statement, he said to himself; “Somebody’s opinion of me does not have to become a reality.” And he went on to believe that he could become an extraordinary success and learnt what he needed to do right. On his 10th job, Steven Scott began a business that in a matter of months grew from nothing to millions of dollars in sales.

Internal communication is the heart-to-heart talk we have with ourselves through our thoughts and the images or the pictures we hold in our minds. It is the conversation we have with ourselves all day long. The quality of our internal communication determines the quality of our external communication with our outer world which sets the pace for our success or failure in life. Blessed are those who have learned how to master their internal communication for they will become master of their own lives.

To transform our lives, we need to change the way we communicate with ourselves and with other people. If you want to rise up, you must look up; if you want to live up you must think up. If you want to experience health, wealth, happiness and success in every aspect of your life, then you must change your internal communication which begins from the thought level which is the seed of your life.

And seeds (thoughts) determine the kind of fruits (results) you produce in life. We need to listen attentively to the inner conversations in our head; are they positive; nonjudgmental; believing in you; unconditional; encouraging; supportive; wanting the best for you? You can never succeed when you tell yourself that you can’t. You can never climb high in life when you continually doubt yourself and your abilities. “Fate”, “Can’t”, “Doubt” are success erasers; erase them from your vocabulary.

We need to consistently hold up the mental picture of the things we want out of life. Mentally experience yourself living your ideal life. Visualise success and it will spur you to take successful actions which lead to successful rewards.

Affirm your strengths. Tell yourself, “I CAN”, “I WILL”.

Talk yourself to success. Assert the divinity within you.

Claim your birthright of success. When negative thoughts erupt in your head, say aloud, “CANCEL”. Tell yourself you have been engineered for success; organised for victory and fashioned for greatness.

Tune into great conversations or internal dialogue with yourself and you’ll tune into a grand life experience. You Can; You Will!

Vanguard, THURSDAY, JULY 17, 2014 — 31

C M Y K

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Vanguard, THURSDAY, JULY 17, 2014 — 33

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Vanguard, THURSDAY, JULY 17, 2014 — 35

C M Y K

36—VANGUARD, THURSDAY, JULY 17, 2014

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t was a sight to behold!

Hearing their sonorous voices from the other side of the fence, one would have thought that a new Pentecostal church had relocated to the M&M Event Center which is adjacent to the Nicon Luxury hotel in Abuja.

Their chants rented the air, the results had just been announced, Mr. Augustine Alegeh, SAN, has emerged as the 27th national president of the Nigerian Bar Association, NBA. In their ‘euphoric-ecstasy’, lawyers quickly composed a song with his name. The younger ones- both male and female- gyrated and danced to the admiration of their senior colleagues.

That indeed was the general mood that permeated the hall where the NBA election was held last Tuesday.

Remarkably, the promise of providing sustainable “stomach-infrastructure” for legal practitioners across the federation had formed the nub of the campaign manifesto of almost all the presidential aspirants.

The manifesto night was held a day prior to the D-day.

“Please vote for me, and I promise to put food on your table” one of the aspirants had begged the delegates.

The election, which is regarded as the most expensive electoral contest ever organized by the NBA, saw five senior lawyers battling against each other to clinch the presidential slot.

Typical of every election, there was intense horsetrading and mudslinging, with the aspirants bombarding delegates with text messages, calls and emails.

“What transpired before this election, even the conduct of some of the aspirants, was not palatable at all. In essence, they were not befitting of the legal profession”, lamented the outgoing president of the association, Chief Okey Wali, SAN, shortly after the election results were announced.

Aside Alegeh who got a landslide victory having polled 691 votes, others that equally vied to take over the leadership of the NBA come August 29 when the tenure of the current executives will expire, were; Mr. Oladele Adeshina, SAN, who came 2nd with a total of 370 votes.

Whereas Mrs. Olufunke Adekoya, SAN, came 3rd with 255 votes, the two other contenders, Chief Adeniyi Akintola, SAN, and Mr. Osas Erhabor polled 126 and 17 votes r e s p e c t i v e l y .

Likewise, the immediate past chairman of the Abuja branch of the NBA, Mr. Afam Osigwe, was elected to take over from Mr. Emeka Obegolu as the General Secretary of the legal body.

Others equally elected on Tuesday were Taiwo Obayemi Taiwo (Vice President), Francis Ekwere (1st Vice President), Taiwo Obayemi Taiwo (2nd Vice President), Akintokunbo Oluwole (3rd Vice President), Amina Mustapha (Treasurer), Gbolahan Gbadamosi (Publicity Secretary), Olatunji Salawu (1st A s s i s t a n t secretary), Nwaeke Ephraim Adimabua (2nd A s s i s t a n t Secretary),

Augustine Oyarekhua Alegeh, SAN,

NBA election:

A tale of the good, the bad and the ugly Adebisi Ayeni Enoch (Legal Adviser), Alabelewe Mas’ud (Welfare Officer), Ezinwa Kelvin (Financial Secretary) and Cecilia Ugboji (Assistant Financial Secretary).

Meantime, the election which was conducted amidst tight security had a total of 1728 registered delegates and 1482 accredited voters. It was undeniably a tale of the good the bad and the ugly.

The goodness of the poll obviously stems from the fact that aside occasional outburst of anger by one aggrieved delegate or the other, it was peacefully coordinated.

Right from the entrance gate, unaccredited persons were barred from accessing the election venue by gunwielding operatives of the Department of State Service. More so, majority of the delegates hailed the

election as very credible.

The bad aspect however was that delegates were forced to stand under the sun for several hours waiting for their batch to be called into the election hall to cast their votes.

Though, the chairman of the election organizing committee, Mr. Okey Amechi, SAN, ensured

,

BY IKECHUKWU NNOCHIRI

delegates complained that they were forced to endure hunger for over nine hours.

On the ugly side, while three delegates complained that their phones were stolen right inside the venue, a lawyer from the Idemili branch of the NBA was arrested and whisked

The goodness of the poll obviously stems from the fact that aside occasional outburst of anger by one aggrieved delegate or the other, it was peacefully coordinated

that the election commenced before 9am, counting of the votes did not start until 1:07pm, while the results were announced around 5:30pm.

Consequently, some of the

Behold, the man Alegeh Page 37

,

away by men of the DSS after it was discovered that he attempted to vote with an identification tag that belonged to a deceased lawyer.

Meanwhile, in his inaugural

speech, the new NBA president, Alegeh, SAN, who is from the Benin branch of the association, said he would make the issue of welfare of lawyers the focal point of his administration.

“You have voted for change and I assure you that you will get that change you need. It is unfortunate that a lot of things that ought not to happen happened. I will take it as a challenge to ensure that such things never happen again. I have therefore decided to put electoral reform on the front burner ”, he added.

Alegeh said he would introduce electronic voting which he said would obviate some of the difficulties the delegates faced.

Decrying the ethnic polarity currently tearing the NBA apart, Alegeh said he would not dance to the tune or favour any region more than the other.

“I will do whatever needs to be done to unite the entire bar. The votes that pushed me through today did not come from any particular region, it came from a cross section of the entire country. I believe in one bar and will fight to see that the bar remains one. Our collective interest should be the development of the bar. I promise to serve selflessly, uprightly and transparently. I will seek advice from both the old and the young. Like I said in my manifesto, the welfare of lawyers in the country is my number one priority”, Alegeh stated, amidst thunderous ovation from the crowd.

Looking at some of the factors that occasioned his victory, Alegeh, was believed to be the anointed candidate of the outgoing NBA president, Wali, who had on different occasions, appointed him to head various organs of the association.

Whereas NBA branches from the South-East and SouthSouth massively supported his candidature, he equally got block votes from branches in the Northern parts of the country.

The zoning system that was adopted by the NBA had streamlined the process, and would have made it possible for the president to emerge from the South-West region.

It will be recalled that the outgoing president, Wali, who

Continues on page 37

Fashola, CJ, others proffer solution to justice delay

Page 38

VANGUARD, THURSDAY, JULY 17, 2014 — 37

BY DAYO BENSON

A

six footer with a bari tone voice, his impos ing frame confers a commanding presence of a no-nonsense leader.

Bespectacled Alegeh comes across as one whose mission to lead the bar is backed by a clear vision and a sense of direction.

He was the only candidate that rode to the election on the crestwave of a popular support from his Mid-West Bar Forum Constituency .

Armed with the forum’s endorsement, it was gathered that he was able to make easy in-road to the branches in the South-South and South-East.

Like other candidates , he also has support base in other zones of the country.

For one who was christened Augustine because he was born in August, clocks 50 on the 10th.

He is expected to bring a wealth of experience gathered over the years to bear on the NBA Presidency.

Augustine Oyarekhua Alegeh, SAN, hails from Ikabigbo, Etsako West Local Government Area, Edo State. He was was born to the family of Late DCP & Mrs. Matthew Alegeh (Rtd.) in Warri, Delta State.

He attended St. George's Primary School, Falomo, Lagos, for his Primary Education. In 1974 he commenced his secondary education at St. Paul's Seminary, Benin City in the hope of becoming a Reverend Father. In 1975 his parents transferred him to Edo College, Benin City to continue his Secondary School education. He obtained his West African School Certificate (‘O’ levels) from Edo College in 1980 and proceeded to Federal Government College, Warri in January, 1981 for his ‘A’ levels but completed only Lower Six before gaining admission to the University.

He gained admission to study law at the prestigious University of Benin in 1981 and graduated with Second

EDITORIAL TEAM Innocent Anaba ( Head) Wahab Abdulah Ikechukwu Nnochiri Dayo Benson (Supervising Editor) 08056180119 dayobenson@yahoo.com

Behold, the man Alegeh Class Lower Division in 1985. He was called to the Bar on the 16th of October, 1986 after obtaining Second class upper division from the Nigerian Law School, Lagos.

At the Law School, he won the Bola Ajibola Prize for Civil Procedure.

Between 1986 and 1989, he cut his legal teeth in the law firm of Sadoh & Co. (Legal Practitioners). In March 1989 following the appointment of the former Principal Partner of Sadoh & Co., as a Judge of The Bendel State High Court he became the Managing Partner of The Firm, which then became known as Alegeh, Agun & Co. In September 1990 the firm became known as Alegeh & Co. following the departure of the Firm’s Partner (Francis Agun) to practice in The New York Bar. He expanded the practice base of The Firm and opened offices in Lagos and Abuja.

The Law office at present employs over 50 lawyers and support staff. It is again expanding with the opening of offices in Warri and Asaba both in Delta State.

He is an active member of The NBA and the Chairman of The Database and Documentation of Nigerian Lawyers Committee, from 2012 – 2014,a committee set up by The NBA. He is a member of The International Bar Association. He has attended various International and Local conferences.

In 1994, he was appointed a Notary Public by the Chief Justice of Nigeria. He has acted as Lead Counsel in a host of decided landmark cases in Nigeria. He is actively engaged in Appellate Litigation and has argued several contentious matters before The Supreme Court of Nigeria which are widely reported in the law reports such as the locus classicus in Labour Law; Omagbemi v. Guinness, as well as Sunday Ndidi v. State and Ilekwoba v. State to mention a few.

Alegeh, has acted as Counsel in a host of cases involving novel legal issues and contributing to Nigerian legal jurisprudence. He is currently acting for the Federal Government of

Nigeria, Federal owned Parastatals as well as several State Governments in matters before the Supreme Court and other Courts in Nigeria and in other jurisdictions.

In recognition of his modest contribution to the development of the law in Nigeria, The Legal Practitioners Privileges Committee elevated him to the rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria in 2007.

Despite this elevation and being undeterred in his quest for knowledge and in keeping abreast with the dynamics of the practice of law, he attended Keble College, Oxford University, United Kingdom and was awarded with a Diploma in International Commercial Arbitratio in 2009. He was in 2010 made a Fellow of The Institute of Chartered Arbitrators, United

Kingdom.

He is a member of the Board of Directors in a host of companies with vast interests in Construction, Information Technology, Engineering, Real Estate and Fast M o v i n g

Augustine Oyarekhua Alegeh, SAN,

Consumer Goods (FMCG).

He is a lover of the games of cricket and football and as a demonstration of his interest in the game of cricket, he was made Chairman, Edo StateCricket Association between 1996 and 2000. He was Founding Secretary of Crescent Sports Club, Benin City, a football club of young intellectuals and di-

verse professionals. He later became The President of the Sports Club.

He also has a burning passion for general reading.

He is happily married to his lovely and amiable wife of 20 years and childhood sweetheart – Mrs. Ferishat Alegeh and blessed with children.

A tale of the good, the bad and the ugly Continues from page 36 is from the Port Harcourt branch, slugged it out with Chief Emeka Ngige, SAN, (South-East) at the last election, his predecessor, Chief Joseph Daudu, SAN, emerged from the Kaduna branch.

Alegeh’s candidacy had sparked series of protests, with many, insisting that he is not from the core South-West region.

It was however assumed that the situation would be redeemed with the numerical strength of branches from the

chosen region.

Nevertheless, the inability of all the candidates from the South-West zone to agree on a consensus candidate prior to the election date, culminated to the fragmentation of votes from that region, thus making it possible for Alegeh to carry the day.

Had it been that the trio of Adeshina, Olufunke and Akintola, agreed among themselves to allow only one of them to contest, probably, the region would have been able to poll a total of 751 votes as against Alegeh’s 691.

More over, Alegeh was said to have the backing of so many South South governors, even as insinuations were rife that he was given a whooping N500million to coordinate his campaign.

That notwithstanding, with the election over, it is expected that all the stakeholders should within the next two years, work together with the new national officers towards making the NBA a body that is truly organized to be responsive to the needs of its members and the country in the 21st century.

38— VANGUARD, THURSDAY, JULY 17, 2014

Fashola, CJ, others proffer solution to justice delay O

ne issue that has bedeviled the justice sector over time, has been the delay in the administration of justice.

Hence, how to quicken dispensation of justice has remained at the fore of discussion at every fora organized by stakeholders in the justice sector. To underscore their determination to put an end to it, the issue was the only topic tackled for several hours by the egg-heads in the sector at a one-day conference of operators in the justice sector held penultimate week, reports Abdulwahab Abdulah.

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takeholders in the justice sector converged in Lagos in the penultimate week to develop an action plan aimed at bringing to an end issues of delay in justice a d m i n i s t r a t i o n .

The conference held at City Hall, Laqos attracted the governor of Lagos State, Babatunde Raji Fashola, the out-going Chief Judge of the State, Justice Ayotunde Phillips, the Head Judge, Justice Funmilayo Atilade, former attorney general and solicitor generals of the state and members of the bench and the bar, the prisons, and the police among others.

Leading the discussion was the governor of the state, Babatunde Raji Fashola who charged lawyers to restrict themselves to their areas of specialization while accepting briefs from clients in order to CHIEF THEODORE EZEOBI SAN, FOR BURIAL JULY 31

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rominent Lawyer and distinguished Senior Advocate of Nigeria ,Chief Theodore Anachuna Ezeobi will be buried in his home State Anambra on July 31st according to the family.

Chief Ezeobi who died in Enugu at the age of 75 was an accomplished Barrister at- Law .

He was a quintessential gentle man, the Lawyer ’s Lawyer, a dedicated Bar man, a teacher and mentor. Chief

minimize delays in Justice Administration. He frowned at the avoidable delays in justice administration pointing out that this could portend denial of justice.

Fashola said one of the major reasons why there are delays in court processes in the nation’s courts was the issue of ‘nontrial lawyers’ accepting cases and going to court to handle such cases adding that the result of such situations was unnecessary adjournments.

He compared the situation with what obtains in other professions, arguing that just as in the medical profession where a practitioner who is not a surgeon cannot go into the theatre, a non-trial lawyer would only be a nuisance in a trial court as he would be lost before a trial judge.

“How many of us really are trial lawyers and how many of us admit that they are not trial lawyers and still go to court? Because it is not every medical practitioner that is a surgeon, so some of those clear distinctions must be made”, the Governor said charging the on-going conference to “at least ventilate if not resolve to ventilate the issue.”

Noting that the argument that solicitors should be separated from barristers is an on-going discourse, Fashola declared, “but these are some of the hard pills we may have to swallow ”, adding that the distinction has been made a long time ago in the judicial system of the United Kingdom.

Ezeobi was a product of Government College Umuahia (1952) (Government Scholarship), University of Lagos (1962) (Standard Bank of Nigeria Ltd. Scholarship), University of Nigeria, Nsukka (1965) (Standard Bank of Nigeria Ltd. Scholarship), Law school programme, Enugu, (1966), Nigerian Law school, Lagos (1970) (Standard Bank of Nigeria Ltd. Scholarship).

His was a heroic, noble, accomplished and content life of service to humanity and his very much loved field of endeavor, the practice of Law. Chief, as he was fondly called, was the first Nigerian Company Secretary/Legal Adviser, Standard Bank of Nigeria Ltd., now First Bank of Nigeria PLC, past Chairman; Nigerian Bar Association, Lagos Branch, NBA Disciplinary Committee Panel B, Nominee of the NBA at the National Judicial Council (NJC).

Gov. Fashola, Ade Ipaye and Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, SAN Fashola also advised lawyers to debunk the concept that they must win every case they handle in court pointing out that a lawyer should restrict himself to getting justice for his client according to the rule of law adding that if lawyers understand this and put it into practice it would narrow down the issues in court.

Urging Judges to insist on trial lawyers narrowing down the issues in court, the Governor declared, “If my car hit someone else’s car, it will be of no value in court to argue whether or not my car hit the other car, that is self evident already. The argument is the quantum of damage caused by the impact”.

The state Attorney General, Mr. Ade Ipaye, in his address noted that lawyers and litigants are key players that can either speed up or slow

down the process of adjudication. Other factors which he noted could also delay administration of justice include the judges, court buildings and equipment, court rules of procedure, court staff and registry, enforcement and custodial facilities among o t h e r s .

He said all these factors determine the quality and pace of adjudication.

In reducing trial time, he said that the state established the Multidoor Courthouse and the inclusion of Alternate Dispute Resolution(ADR) in the rules of Civil Procedure.

Ipaye said that front-laoding also stemmed the influx of frivolous cases adding that in recent times, cases filed at the High Court of Lagos State has reduced gradually from 6,696 in 2011 to 6,584 in 2012 and to 6,043 in 2013.

He said that the number of cases which now achieve early settlement has increased due to ADR and the establishment of fast track courts.

The Solicitor General, Mr. Lawal Pedro(SAN) in a welcome address remarked that the mischief of delay in justice administration will be better appreciated when the advantages gained by the society is considered noting that litigation precludes resort to violence and circumvention for self-help.

Pedro suggested a four way approach out of delay in justice administration.

He suggested that a week in each quarter of the year be declared Law conference week for judges and lawyers to attend to find solution to the i s s u e s .

The Solicitor General said that in criminal justice system, the Inspector General of Police (IGP) should be made to issue directives that no policeman involved in criminal investigation is posted outside a state without clearance from the Attorney General.

In his remarks, former Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo described justice delayed as high impunity on the part of the practitioner noting that people file any type of application, no matter how frivolous because he is aware that there is no penalty. To him, the legal system must come in a way to protect the legal values.

He said the bar and the bench must come together to redefine this rule stressing that the delay often experienced in court is caused by men and not “spirits”.

To reverse the trend, Prof.

Late Esiso’s firm: Retired director alleges threat to life

BY BARTHOLOMEW MADUKWE retired director in the Federal Ministry of Jus tice, Mrs. Eunice Oddiri nee Esiso and her siblings have alleged a threat to their lives, following battle with one of her elder brothers over ownership of their late father’s multi-billion Naira firm in Warri.

Speaking with newsmen in Lagos, Mrs Oddiri pointed out that her father’s first son out of the 16 children, Mr Yoma Ghandi Esiso, has gone to press while investigation of the Special Fraud Unit (SFU) of the police was still on over a petition of alleged forgery for Power of Attorney, dated January 24, 2014.

According to her, their father, Chief Edward Akponovwe Esiso, before his death, allegedly excluded their eldest brother (Yoma) from forming part of any activities pertaining to him, which was stated in a letter he titled: “The Black Sunday of the Year (June 21, 1992)”

A

The letter read in part: “I in-

vited all my children and we held a meeting on Friday January 1, 1993. After narrating to them the terrible thing that happened on the Black Sunday, my daughter (Mrs Ogbodu) replied on behalf of the entire children with sensible speech.

Narrating her arrest by the SFU in Lagos, she said: ”I retired as a director from the Federal Ministry of Justice in February. I was in the Federal Ministry of Justice for 34 years.

I was a director for 14 years of the International Commercial Arbitration, Falomo. Regional Centre for International Arbitration, Lagos. So I told the policemen that I was an officer of the government two months ago. The policemen came from Special Fraud Unit, 13 Milverton Road, Ikoyi.

been appointed, using a form CAC3 that was forged, which was used to appoint the directors of Gateway Estates Ltd and Oil Field Transport Services. I was locked up in a cell in SFU on June 13. It was the next day that a colonel came and bailed me. Then they followed me to my place for search and nothing was f o u n d . ”In the warrant of arrest that they showed me and not give to me, I read there that there is a petition that I forged a Power of Attorney. The petitioner claimed that with the Power of Attorney that I forged, I used it to go to Land registry in Asaba to cart away all the documents belonging to the company (Gateway Estates Ltd and Oil Field Transport Services).”

”I do not have a copy of the search warrant nor arrest warrant. The petition was dated January 24, 2014 and titled alleged forgery for Power of Attorney. When I read the petition, at the end part it stated that we have fraudulently

Mrs Oddiri asserted that the said companies were formed by her late father (Chief Esiso) and mother in 1967/ 1968 as a private company, adding that before her father’s demise he had made shares available to all his children.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, JULY 17, 2014 — 39

40—Vanguard, THURSDAY, JUNE 17, 2014

Aturu: Labour loses a confidant FUNMI KOMOLAFE&VICTOR AHIUMA-YOUNG

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“A man with a good heart, always impatient with the dehumanizing status quo, his was constantly striving for the attainment of a just and humane social order for Nigeria. Mr. Aturu was both a rebel and a revolutionary combined.

Right from his student days till his passing, he had been at the forefront of the popular struggles for social justice and total democratization of the polity in Nigeria.

Strong advocate Mr. Aturu was a strong advocate and ally of the Nigerian labour movement, as legal activist and intellectual. He was equally a dogged and selfless defender of the oppressed, in the true tradition of the late Alao Aka-Bashorun and Chief Gani Fawehinmi and other freedom fighters.

He deployed his legal training not for selfish enrichment, but for curtailing the excesses of power, fighting injustice, and expanding the democratic space.

“He will surely be missed not only by the Nigerian legal community to which he contributed immensely, notably by his jurisprudential interventions, but by all those committed to social justice and the liberation of our great country from political oppression, economic underdevelopment and cultural degradation.

Mr. Aturu paid his dues, fought the good fight, and left an indelible legacy that will stand the test of time.”

"Aturu was a very sound legal mind, ever ready to assist, especially the oppressed. He was a God-fearing man, a man of high moral standards and integrity. If there is one movement that benefitted from Aturu's activism, it was the Labour movement. In the movement, he belonged to the same class with the Late Chief Gani Fawehinmi (SAN) and Femi Falana (SAN). They were ever ready to defend and advice the movement, especially the NLC during the no-love-lost relation between the government of President Obasanjo and NLC under Adams Oshiomhole.

Addition of a sentence Aturu's addition of a sentence based on an agreement reached between some leaders of the NLC and a Senate Committee that was fine-tuning the draft law sponsored by the Obasanjo administration to kill the NLC, saved NLC from being legally killed by the Trade Unions (Amendment ) Act, 2005.

The sentence is captured in Section 3 and it reads: "The requirements for registration of trade unions or federation of trade unions introduced into the Principal Act by this Act, shall not apply to any of the unions which immediately before the coming into force of this Act, had been duly registered or deemed duly registered under this Act (as amended) and such trade unions or federation of trade unions shall, subject to the requirements introduced by this Act, continue to exist........" this was the clause that saved NLC from the Obasanjo administration's hammer. Aturu represented NLC in the ILO project that drafted several bills on industrial relations matters. The labour movement has lost a friend".

Peter Esele former President, TUC and PENGASSAN Comrade Esele, while giving his

thoughts on late Aturu to Labour Legal team part of labour Vanguard, wrote “Comrade Bamidele For Comrade Denja Yaqub, Assistant Aturu, will never allow legal General Secretary (Information and confrontation with a fellow activist Public Relations) Nigeria Labour without exhausting all other means Congress Headquarters, in an article in possible that is less divisive and less memory of Aturu, “His law firm is part expensive. of the legal team of the entire labour I won’t forget when he called me on movement in Nigeria. He is an the phone that he had a incontrovertible authority in labour laws brief against the union I was leading. in Nigeria and has authored several He stressed the need for a meeting papers, articles and a book on labour instead of going to court and staying laws. His book, Nigeria Labour Laws, there, till God knows when. With his published in 2008 remains the most inside knowledge of the labour popular compendium referred to by movement and labour laws, the issues academics, labour activists, lawyers and were resolved without a strike or the judges. expensive journey to the unknown Trade union organisers, popularly court. known as “pocket lawyers” because of Our mutual love and respect for each their mastery of aspects of the Nigerian other made me to recommend him to labour and trade union laws relating to hold brief and serve as our legal counsel workers rights to form and belong to when I was President of Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Aturu's addition of a sentence based Association of Nigeria on an agreement reached between (PENGASSAN).

He was never afraid some leaders of the NLC and a Sento stand by what he believed in; always ate Committee that was fine tuning ready to stand by his the draft law sponsored by the friends. Also, he was one of the very few Obasanjo administration to kill the lawyers we consulted NLC, saved NLC from being legally for legal opinion before killed by the Trade Unions (Amenda strike action. He also participated effectively. ment ) Act, 2005 He was a strong believer that the trade unions, have been deeply enriched institution was greater than the

by Aturu’s book and writings. individual.

He also made a powerful presentation “There were moments also where we at the annual Kolagbodi Foundation bantered about his invoices: He would lecture series in collaboration with the jokingly remind us that he had salaries Friedrich Ebert Stiftung (Friedrich Ebert to pay. He once asked the treasurer and Foundation), which was published in I if we were from Ijebu? (laughter all 2010 titled: Nigerian Labour Movement over). He could not understand why an and the making of an authentic oil workers’ union, with so much money constitutional framework for the woud query his invoice! As usual we development of Nigeria ". always paid.

Adieu Comrade Bamidele, you have His service to us was always higher moved on but your works live on. than our financial commitment. If there Adieu..." had been no communication for a long while; in his boisterous voice, he would

,

Adams Oshiomhole, Edo state Governor and former NLC president

Late Bamidele Aturu

Ivor Takor- former president of NASU and NLC treasurer

Textile Union In a condolence letter to the family, NUTGTWN, through its President and General Secretary, Comrades Oladele Hunsu and Issa Aremu, respectively, wrote among others, “As a legal luminary who graduated from the prestigious University of Ife, late Comrade Bamidele Aturu devoted much of his legal practice to representing marginalized or oppressed individuals and groups. He was indeed a ‘Senior Advocate of the Masses’.

As our union’s lawyer for many years, he was instrumental to the remarkable progress we made in the defence of workers’ rights. His effort led to the progress we have made in the payment of outstanding benefits of our members in closed textile factories in Kaduna notably, Finetex and Nortex Limited. We will forever remember him for his passion for workers’ rights and trade union development.”

“Death is a necessary end and it will come when it will come”, those were the words of Williams Shakespeare in the the famous dramatic tragic novel “JULIUS CAESAR”.

ARRISTER Bamidele Francis Aturu’s life was brief, but very impactful, touching the lives of Nigerians from the low to the mighty and leaving a legacy and a vacuum almost impossible to fill. Commentators since his sudden demise on Wednesday July 9, 2014, at a young age of 49, have been unanimous that this was a man who bestrode the Nigerian socio-economic and political discourse like a colossus.

Late Comrade Aturu was a legal practitioner with a passion for labour.

He was part of the team that worked with the International Labour Organisation, ILO, on the review of Nigerian Labour Laws and the draft of the five labour bills.

He produced well researched and brilliant analyses on labour laws.

At the time of his death he was still working on labour-related issues with Friedrich Ebert Stiftung, FES. Labour Vanguard shares with readers, the thoughts of others on Aturu.

remind you how he thought you had abandoned him. This communication was normally in Pidgin English.

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Vanguard,THURSDAY, JULY 17, 2014—41

Workers trust Trustfund — Olejeme

BY FUNMI KOMOLAFE

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ENSION and You was at the sixth annual general meeting of the Trustfund Pensions Plc held in Abuja.

Addressing stakeholders at the AGM, the chairman of the Board of Trustfund Pensions Plc, Dr. Mrs. Ngozi Olejeme gave an overview of the nation’s economy .

Speaking specifically on the “ Nigerian Business Environment”, she said, “ Provisional data from the National Bureau of Statistics ( NBS) indicated that the Nigerian economy grew by 6.81% in the first three quarters of the year. This is higher than the 6.48% recorded in the corresponding quarter of 2012”.

She explained “ this improved performance was largely driven by the recovery of agriculture which accounted mainly for the increase in the non-oil growth of 7.95% in Q3, 2013 up from 7.55% in the corresponding quarter of 2012”.

Dr. Ngozi Olejeme however noted “ little progress was

decentralization of the operations of the industry’s regulatory body, the National Pension Commission ( PENCOM)” She said “ Pencom established six zonal offices in the South West, South East , North West, North Central, North East and the SouthSouth”.

Overall, she said, Trustfund Pensions Plc “ has over the years witnessed a steady and impressive growth on all key financial metrics”.

An optimistic chairman, Dr. Olejeme said, “ the outlook for Nigeria and the Company , despite the security situation and heightening political tension remains bright”.

Formal speech over, Pension and You had a chat with Dr. Ngozi Olejeme.

How would you assess the contributory pension scheme?

The scheme is moving on well and people are getting their retirement benefits as at when due. The supervisory board has explained that Trustfund is

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The workers in Nigeria trust Trustfund Nigeria Plc because any retiree gets his/her pensions in less than one month of his/her retirement recorded in the power supply during the year despite government’s bridge investments in power generation which targeted 7,000 MW in 2013".

On the money market, she said, “ the money market was stable and responded to liquidity dynamics during the first half of the year. Inter bank interest rates hovered within 10% and 16% band during this period” She added, “ the market however became volatile at the end of July through August and September resulting in a rise in interbank interest rates to over 42% “.

Dr. Olejeme put her assessment of the capital market this way “ The performance of the Nigerian Stock Exchange in 2013 was very impressive”.

On the pension industry, she said, “ the Nigerian Pension Industry during the year 2013 consolidated on its efforts to create awareness of the contributory pension scheme”.

For her and her board, “ a remarkable achievement of the pension industry during the year was the successful

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living up to expectations Madam Chair, you talked about security situation during your speech, how has this affected the operations of Trustfund in the country?

Trustfund is not deterred by the current security challenges in the country right now.

Trustfund is moving forward to the aspirations of the common citizenry in the country; and of course the Federal Government is doing enough to ensure that Nigerians live in peace.

Are you still operating in the Northern part of the country where Nigerians are facing the challenges of the Boko Haram sect?

We are operating in all the 36 states of the country, including the Federal Capital territory Trustfund is about trust, and that is what your motto says; to what extent can workers in the country trust Trustfund Nigeria Plc.?

The workers in Nigeria trust Trustfund Nigeria Plc because any retiree gets his/her pensions in less than one month of his/her retirement So, we are doing well and the

From left, Executive Director Operations Trustfund Pensions Plc, Mr. Olawale Oluwo, Managing Director Mrs. Helen Da-Souza, representative of one of the Social Partners the NLC, Com. Abdulwaheed Omar the NLC President and Board Chairman Dr. Mrs. Ngozi Olejeme at the Company's Annual General Meeting in Abuja at the weekend. workers are happier when they retire from their places of work because their retirement benefits get to them as at when due What are you doing about gender issues. A woman is the chairman of the Board and another is the managing Director of the company?

This shows that women play a bigger role in the political and managerial dispensation of this country This is a pointer that

Nigeria will witness more women in political offices come 2015 general elections, be it Governors, Senators and other key political positions You will see them in 2015 by God’s grace. This shows that women in the country can deliver and with President Goodluck Jonathan, who has given women opportunities to deliver to see the stuff they are made of, we thank him It is on record that Nigeria recently witnessed how a

Nigerian woman was appointed the NDLEA boss which has never happened in this country and it is because that woman can deliver that made her to get such an appointment.

Madam, from your body language, there are indications that you may contest for the post of Governor in Delta state come 2015, could you please comment on this?

Wait to see it happen. Thank you

Pensioners commend Jonathan, NASS over Pension Law

BY JOHNBOSCO AGBAKWURU

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he Federal Universities Pensioners As sociation, FUPA, has commended President Goodluck Jonathan and the National Assembly for the of Pension Reform Act 2014 recently passed and signed into law.

FUPA described the law as auspicious, indepth, responsive to the pains of Nigerian pensioners and workers, and in line with international best practices in pension administration.

National President of FUPA, Dr. Ayuba Kura in a statement shortly after President Jonathan signed into law the Pension Reform Act also advised the judiciary to ensure that the law bites hard by meting out prescribed punishments to offenders without fear or favour.

FUPA particularly expressed happiness with the regime of new offences and stricter penalties for all shades of corruption, mismanagement, and diversion of pension funds and assets by any Pension Fund Administrator, Pension Fund Custodian or any individual or entity.

Dr. Kura in the statement said, “We welcome especially the provisions of Section 100(1) of the Act, which stipulates that “Any Pension Fund Administrator or Pension Fund Custodian or person or body who misappropriates or diverts pension funds commits an offence under this Act and is liable on conviction to a fine of an amount equal to three times the amount so misappropriated or diverted or to a term of not less than 10 years imprison-

ment or both fine and imprisonment.

“We fully endorse and welcome with profound gratitude the provisions of Sections 42 to 49 of Act which has properly established the Pension Transitional Arrangement Departments (PTADs) to ensure that pensioners under the Defined Pension Scheme (those of us who retired before the coming into force of the Pension Reform Act 2004 and therefore not captured under the Contributory Pension Scheme) have their monthly pensions paid directly into their accounts by the Office of the Accounted-General of the Federation.

“The proper establishment of the PTADs, we hope has finally freed suffering pensioners from the heavy yokes of untimely death and massive hardship brought upon us by the various Pension Departments through acts of corruption and sharp practices. It is the shortest possible journey between us and our money. “In the same vein, we welcome the new law for now making it possible for the States and Local Government public services to now benefit from the Contributory Pension Scheme as these tiers of government have failed woefully in meeting the pension bills under the Defined Pension Scheme being operated at those levels.

“While the Pension Reform Act 2014 stands out as the most aggressive offensive by any Nigerian government against pension thieves, FUPA is, however, mindful of the culture of fine laws and poor enforcement bedeviling the country."

42—Vanguard, THURSDAY, JULY 17, 2014

Nyako: A messy story THE removal of Admiral Murtala Nyako as governor of Adamawa State was a prediction long foretold. But why he walked straight into the booby trap is a wonder

BY EMMANUEL AZIKEN, POLITICAL EDITOR

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HE atmosphere in Yola, the Adamawa State capital, hours after Admiral Murtala Nyako was removed as governor of the state on Tuesday was largely serene. Citizens went about their businesses largely unconcerned with the political asphyxiation of the state’s former number one citizen. The indifference was largely reflective of the feeling of detachment with which the former governor related with a large section of the citizenry.

Nyako in the estimation of some was largely devoted to himself and his family with the appointment of friends and family in strategic positions in government.

Remarkably, family cronyism was one of the charges leveled against the former governor by the State House of Assembly.

When his political pangs came in the last few weeks it was as such remarkable that Nyako had very few associates to call up.

One person he rushed to was Atiku Abubakar, the former vicepresident of the country, a man with whom he had maintained an on-again-off-again political relationship. Even when he was squeezed of cash by the federal authorities, Atiku was said to have rejected pleas for cash from the Nyako camp, allegedly after reports emanated that previous assistance from some All Progressives Congress, APC governors was not appropriately deployed to the correct judicial channel it was meant to help assuage.

Atiku had become perhaps the only high profile citizen from the state who identified with the former governor. It was also partly in Atiku’s interest to sustain Nyako, if not, for the benefit of protecting the former vice-president’s backyard ahead of the 2015 presidential contest.

It was remarkable that Atiku was the only major political office

holder from the state to have condemned the impeachment.

Difficult political options

With the loss of Nyako, nay, Adamawa by the APC to the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Atiku would have difficult political options ahead of him in securing his home base.

Another person Nyako sought to make peace with in the state was his embattled deputy, Bala Ngilari to whom he apparently rushed to for an emergency political détente after months of political hostility between the two.

Ngilari had refused to follow Nyako to the APC when the former governor decamped to the opposition party and by that, widened the political chasm between the two men.

Though Ngilari was served with the impeachment notice, sources in the state say that the notice on Ngilari was only a decoy to deceive Nyako as it had been negotiated with the original authors of the plot that Ngilari would resign at the last minute.

“Why do you think that his resignation letter appeared at the last minute and it was immediately accepted, while Nyako was not given the same opportunity,” a source privy to the development said.

Religious balance

The basis for Ngilari’s resignation, it was learnt, was to maintain the delicate religious balance between the Christian and Muslim populations in the state which are almost equally divided. By resigning, Ngilari, a Christian and former member of the House of Representatives allowed the speaker of the House, Umaru Fintiri, a Moslem to emerge as acting governor of the state. The Peoples Democratic Party, it was learnt would also work to ensure that a Moslem emerges as the substantive governor in the emergency election due after three months following which it would be the

turn of a Christian to get a fresh four year term.

Remarkably, last week, Nyako almost contemplated resigning, but fourth columnists around him, especially those who wanted to punish his past acts of political indiscretion wanted to rubbish him totally and persuaded him not resign. So, Nyako soldiered on, even eating his words on President Goodluck Jonathan who he had contemptuously dismissed only a few months ago.

While Nyako was persuaded not to resign, his deputy ’s resignation letter was kept in safe custody in the Assembly complex.

Aloofness

But as the people of the state carried about their activities with scant regard for the fortunes of their former governor, some attributed his woes to aloofness. ”I sent him a couple of text messages warning him to reverse some of his actions and to stop the concentration of power within his family,” a former political associate of the former governor told Vanguard on Tuesday hours after the State House of Assembly voted to remove him from office upon his indictment by the seven man investigative panel of enquiry constituted by the immediate past chief judge of the state, Justice Ambrose Mammadi who retired from the judiciary a week ago.

Justice Mammadi it seemed for days was reluctant to constitute the panel as required by the constitution, but at the last minute, just days before he retired from the judiciary, he constituted a seven man panel to investigate Nyako and his deputy, Mr. Bala Ngilari of the multiple allegations leveled against them in the impeachment notice raised by the House of Assembly.

Nyako’s downfall many

Nyako's Political Pathway * Nyako was a member of Gen. Buhari’s ruling junta * He was also a member of Gen. Babangida’s junta * He returned to public service and was elected governor in 2007 with the support of Senator Jibril Aminu. * Not long after he came to office he became isolated from Senator Aminu and all those who backed him * Strongly supported President Jonathan in the 2011 PDP primaries against homeboy Atiku Abubakar *Defected to the APC in November 2013 upon issues he had with former party boss, Bamanga Tukur

•Nyako observers note, is reflective of his bad politics. After his emergence as PDP gubernatorial candidate in 2007 he wasted the immense political goodwill bequeathed from Senator Jibril Aminu and other patrons who invested him with power with unnecessary bickering. By the time he went for re-election in 2011, he was virtually on his own, as he had quarreled with virtually all his political patrons. Atiku was the only exception.

Though he almost single handedly had a say in the election of all 25 members of the House of Assembly, it was reflective of his bad politicking that by the time he crossed over to the All Progressives Congress, APC that not one of them went with him. Not even his deputy, Ngilari. So when push came to shove he was virtually on his own in the widened conspiracy against him.

Akwa Ibom Pension

BY INNOCENT ANABA

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HE Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly recently repealed the controversial amendment of the Governors and Deputy Governors’ Pension Law. Even before the bill was repealed, the state governor, Godswill Akpabio, had hinted of plans to tinker with some sections, which had attracted public outcry.

The action of the House was to douse tension generated by the law, which pegged the payment of N100 million for ex-governors and N50 million for ex-deputy governors in the state as their annual medical allowances.

The provision of free medical services for former governor and spouse at a

sum not exceeding N100 million per annum and N50 million per annum for former deputy governor and spouse by the law, also generated public outcry, which was the major reason why it was repelled.

It will be recalled that when the news of the Bill first broke, many Nigerians never knew it was an existing law that was being amended as a cross-section of Nigerians and civil society organisations descended heavily on Akpabio, accusing him of profligacy.

“It was meant to be paid to health institutions involved in the treatment of the former governors or former deputy governors and their spouses.

It was, therefore, deliberate falsehood and organised misinformation to claim that the said money will be paid to former governors or deputy governors every year. This has never been the practice and the amendment has added nothing to give credence to

Vanguard, THURSDAY, JULY 17—43

Delta 2015: It is my destiny – Gbagi Olorogun Kenneth Gbagi, industrialist, lawyer, criminologist and former Minister of State (Education) is one of those angling to succeed Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan of Delta State, next year. In this interview, he adds a new twist to the race saying that there are plots by people, he describes as Biafrans, to capture the state and warns Deltans to foil the plots. He also speaks on the abducted Chibok school girls and says they could be rescued in 24 hours if the government did the needful.

BY CLIFFORD NDUJIHE

HOW do you see the inability of the security agencies to rescue the Chibok school girls three months after their abduction by Boko Haram insurgents?

The President should take a decision because that is a state of national emergency. It means we don’t have army, police, DSS and any security service. I disagreed totally with the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) when he said the other day that they (Chibok girls) are our children and we are being careful. I was with a foreign ambassador recently during a

As I we speak, I am already suffering. I have German moulds and machines in my factory in Warri. The German government has issued a restriction that no German citizen must enter Nigeria because of the Chibok problem.

So, I have to use a cargo plane to move the machines to Germany, ordinarily they would have just told somebody here to fix the machines.

If we are fighting insurgency in Nigeria, the soldiers should also be happy to fight insurgency because it makes them to get more money. Now, soldiers are no longer in government but they are

Deltans have a date with destiny and I am not going to contest any other election except the 2015 polls

,

marriage ceremony that I attended and I was the Chairman. The foreign ambassador said: “Kenneth, if you know what is good for you, tell your government to go and release those children before it is too late.”

* Says Chibok schoolgirls can be rescued in 24 hours if…

•Gbagi

,

technically bringing themselves back to government. So, we must think quickly. Jonathan must issue a directive and instruction today, ‘Chief of Army Staff, give me Chibok children in 24 hours or I quit you. Whoever wants to

be my Chief of Army Staff, can you give me Chibok girls?’

Let it be the criteria. We cannot be a laughing stock in the world. If they want to know the technicalities and how to do it, I am a criminologist, I would provide it. If they take instructions, we will get our children within 24 hours.

Recently, you traveled to the Ireland to receive an award, what is the significance of the award?

People in Nigeria and all over the world recognise honest people. I was given an award

Law: Succour for Akpabio this obviously politicised orchestration.

“In the course of its implementation, we noticed a lacuna in the 2007 law, particularly on account of its openendedness in the provisions relating to the medical expenses and provision of funds for the employment of domestic staff for the former governors and deputy governors and working with the House of Assembly, we sought to protect the law from abuse by putting a ceiling on the medical expenses for the treatment of these senior citizens of Akwa Ibom State.

“It was meant to be paid to health institutions involved in the treatment of the former governors and former •Akpabio deputy governors and their spouses. It was, therefore, deliberate falsehood and organised misinformation to claim that the same money will be paid to former governors or deputy governors every year. This has never been the practice and the amendment has added nothing to give credence to this obviously politicised orchestration,” he

•Akpabio added.

Meanwhile, the state House of Assembly and Governor Akpabio have been commended for listening to the voice of the people. Many

of those who spoke were of the view that the response of the lawmaker and the governor was a demonstration of the harmony that exists between the legislature and executive in the state.

A Lagos-based legal practitioner, Okon Ubot, said “No matter what anybody thinks, we really need to commend the lawmakers for listening to the voices of the people as far as the law was concerned. I know of states in the country that won’t even blink, much more repeal the law. They will just allow Nigerians make ‘noise’ for a few weeks and then sweep the issue under the carpet. We really need to give them credit because if they refused to repeal the law, there is nothing anybody would have

for leadership with particular emphasis to the advancement of girl child education in Nigeria. I don’t know that these people have a track record of what I did. The beautiful award was presented to me by the Mayor of Cork, a great woman who is fighting for girls’ education in Africa.

The district governor of Rotary in the city of Cork and everybody were there to welcome me. They said that they came because a leader in the world that exemplified Africa, hard work, transparent done.”

Chief Nduese Essien, a former Minister for Lands and Housing, said with the quick review of the controversial aspects of the heated law, Akpabio has proved that he is a democrat. Speaking in Abuja, he noted that one of those who interacted with the governor privately on the controversy generated by the pension bill, and expressed satisfaction that the governor stood on the side of the people.

“I didn’t join others to castigate him publicly, but I reached out to him privately because I have always known him to be a listening governor,” he said.

He maintained that the hallmark of a caring and sensitive administration is defined by the ability of the leader to listen and take decisions based on the advice of his people.

wealth and honesty had come to Cork. It was like a carnival and I was very happy.

A sad twist However, there was a mild twist and provocation. On the day that I paid a courtesy visit to the Mayor of Cork, as I alighted from my car, I saw about 250 Nigerians in front of the Cork Municipal headquarters. They were all in their Biafran uniform. They were children, men, adults and elderly people.

I went to them and asked, ‘what are you doing here? You are Nigerians, what is the problem?’

A man who is the leader of the group told me, ‘you are a Biafran.’ I said, ‘no, I am a Nigerian.’ The man insisted that I (Gbagi) am not a Nigerian but a Biafran.

I asked the man, ‘ what is Biafra? Why are you so stupid?’

The man had a radio on his hand; he tuned his radio and said I should ask questions.

I lost my temper and abused the man. The man said the entire Urhobo people are Biafrans. According to him, the Urhobo, Isoko, Itsekiri, Ijaw and Ukwuani are Biafrans. I had to defend Itsekiri, Urhobo and other tribes the man mentioned. I asked the man, ‘are you saying that the Itsekiri monarch and Orodje of Okpe Kingdom are Biafrans?’ He said ‘ yes,’ that they are prepared to take over Delta State that they must produce a Biafran as Delta State Governor in 2015.

I said ‘ what?’ The man repeated that they must produce a Biafran Governor in Delta State. At that point, you can imagine my conduct. The exchange got out of hand and the president of Cork held me.

It was very painful and the man revealed a lot of things. He said there is a grand arrangement to take over Delta State because another state is not being created for the Igbo people and Delta State is part of Igboland. Having said so, Deltans have a date with destiny and I am not going to contest any other election except the 2015 polls. At 52, I have done my best. I believe that I have what it takes to change Delta State massively.

I am using the little resources and everything I have now to do my best. I think with the resources of government, which I am not interested in and I am not one of those who is interested in government deals.

44—Vanguard, THURSDAY, JULY 17, 2014

Green smoothies; healthy blood transfusion (1)

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more Veg focused diet is not only about eating. You can also get great nutrients from having drinks like smoothies. Especially green smoothies can be really healthy.

More and more places in urban centres in Nigeria spring up and offer these health boosters. With our amazing variety of leaves, we are predestined in Nigeria to have green smoothies. Already people are blending Ugwu leaves and others.

Hakeem Jimo’s

Ve ggie Victory

veggienaija@gmail.com

Benefit of Green smoothies The benefits of green smoothies are the following: Green smoothies are very nutritious. The ratio in them is optimal for human consumption; about 60 percent ripe organic fruit mixed with about 40 percent organic greens.

Green smoothies are easy to digest. When blended well, most of the cells in the greens and fruits are ruptured, making the valuable nutrients easy for the body to assimilate.

Green smoothies literally start to get absorbed in your mouth.

Green smoothies, as opposed to juices, are a complete food because they still have

•Green Smoothie. fibre. Consuming fibre is important for our elimination system.

Green smoothies belong to the most palatable dishes for all humans of all ages. With a ratio of fruits to veggies as 60:40 the fruit taste dominates the flavour, yet at the same time the greens balance out the sweetness of the fruit, add-

ing a nice zest to it. People are usually quite surprised that something so green could taste so nice.

A molecule of chlorophyll closely resembles a molecule of human blood. "Consuming chlorophyll is like receiving a healthy blood transfusion", some advocates of green smoothies say.

‘Hygiene, sanitation, water can reduce diarrhoea by 50%’

BY CHIOMA OBINNA

U

NITED Nations Children Fund, UNICEF, Specialist, Mr. Job Omoniyi, has said that adequate provision of good water, sanitation and hygiene can reduce diarrhoea cases by 50 percent.

Currently, statistics from UNICEF has shown that Nigeria has one of the worst diarrhoea prevalence rate with 18.8 percent in sub-Sahara Africa.

Diarrhoea accounts for over 16 percent of child deaths in Nigeria and an estimated 150,000 deaths mainly amongst children under five occur annually due to this disease mainly caused by poor sanitation and hygiene practices.

Speaking at a media workshop in Enugu, recently, Omoniyi who noted the importance of good hygiene, water and sanitation called for action plans that will facilitate change in communities for risky hygiene behaviours.

Explaining that hygiene is the practice of keeping oneself and one’s surroundings clean, especially in order to prevent illnesses or the spread of diseases, he decried poor hygiene behaviours among Nigerians.

He explained that hygiene promotion will maintain the safety of water from source to

point of use, ensure safe use of toilet facilities and prevent the spread of diseases.

Identifying diarrhoea as one of the diseases associated with poor hygiene, Omoniyi described the disease as leading killer of under five children in the world and Nigeria in particular.

"An estimated 1.8 Million people die each year and 90 percent of them are children under 5. It is also equivalent to a jumbo jet crash every half an hour. Estimated 4 billion cases of illness is recorded annually, resulting in school absenteeism, lost work days, among others, "Inadequate water, sanitation & hygiene contribute to 88 percent of the cases.”

Speaking on the need for provision of toilet facilities to ensure proper disposal of faeces including that of children, Omoniyi maintained that using a toilet or latrine is the best way.

The UNICEF Specialist called on Nigerians to embrace the culture of proper hand washing with soap and water at appropriate times (after using toilet, before touching food and before feeding children).

"There is need for proper storage of water and food, safe disposal of household garbage."

COMMON SEXUAL PROBLEMS AND THEIR NOVELTY BASED SOLUTIONS (ADVERTORIAL)

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Vanguard, THURSDAY, JULY 17, 2014—45

EU moves to abolish death penalty in Nigeria

BY IKECHUKWU NNOCHIRI

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WINNERS: From left— Chikezie Nwankwo, Ogbonna Chidera, Abdulkareem Dantata, Okafor Ugochukwu, winners of Legend’s trip to Dubai; Emmanuel Agu, Marketing Manager, Gulder, Legend & Life; Nengak Zunji, Oriladewo Adeleke, Prince Peter Onyeali and Peter Dike, winners, in Dubai during the Legend Dubai Shopping Experience.

Why we didn't meet with Jonathan— CHIBOK PARENTS

BY EMMANUEL ELEBEKE & LAIDE AKINBOADE

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BUJA—THE twelve parents of the abducted Chibok schoolgirls, yesterday, explained that they refused to meet President Goodluck Jonathan in Abuja last Tuesday because they were not in the city at the instance of the Federal Government or any of its representatives.

They said they were in Abuja on the full understanding that they were coming to meet with Malala, an advocate of girlchild education.

Spokesperson of the Chibok community in Abuja, Mr. Dauda Iliya, who gave the explanation while briefing newsmen in Abuja, insisted that the parents and the five escaped girls did not come to Abuja at the instance of government and as such had no basis to meet with the President without the permission of other parents they left in Chibok.

He said: ‘‘The logistics and meeting between the 12 fathers and five girls and Malala were facilitated by Abuja Chibok Community and the Citizens platform of Bring-Back-OurGirls with our consent and on trust, considering their sustained and focused advocacy to bring back our daughters.

“On behalf of these Chibok parents, we offer to Nigerians the facts as they are and to put the records straight and correct the erroneous impression making rounds in the media on the botched meeting with the President.

“These parents and escaped girls did not come to Abuja at the instance of government or its representatives for a meeting with Mr. President, but on the full understanding that they were coming to meet with

z Absolve Bring-Back-Our-Girls of blame Malala; an advocate of girlchild education and most importantly one who has suffered a similar fate as their daughters.

‘We were just 2% of the victims’

“In the course of the interactions with Malala, neither the parents nor the escaped girls asked for a meeting with the President or any government functionary, rather the narrative back home was to persistently ask why the President had not visited them in Chibok since the abduction.

“It is obvious that 12 fathers and five girls is about two percent of the parents of the 219 abducted girls still with their abductors and the 57 girls that escaped.

“Therefore, these parents decided on their own accord to review the announced visit, which they first heard of like every other person during Malala speech in Abuja.

“That consequent to their decision to revert to other family members to incorporate every stakeholder on the matter and avoid discord and suspicion on a change of plans from the original mission to Abuja, they reached out to the Malala team and through them to the Presidency; to request for a new date for an expanded and more representative meeting that has a legitimate mandate to meet with the President.’’

Iliya further explained that their request for such a

meeting was also in recognition of the huge opportunity of a meeting with the President for the first time, adding that after over 90 days of the tragic abduction of their daughters, the situation required better consultations, structure and formality as against an instant advocacy request.

The group, however, described as misleading and unjust the accusation against the citizens’ platform, BringBack-Our-Girls, as being responsible for the decision made by the 12 parents and the Chibok community.

New meeting set

He said: “We take full responsibility for our decision and welcome the formal invitation by the Presidency as a follow up to Malala’s visit, which we received this morning.”

The meeting was arranged

after education activist and a victim of terrorist attack, Malala Yousofazai, met with President Jonathan on Monday and pleaded with the President to meet with the parents of the abducted girls to encourage them.

Jonathan, in a statement delivered by his Senior Special Assistant on Public Affairs, Dr. Doyin Okupe, accused the Bring-Back-OurGirls activists of politicising the planned meeting by taking the parents out of Abuja before the meeting could hold.

According to the President’s statement, every arrangement had been made for the planned meeting with the President, including sending a bus from the Presidential Villa, to bring the parents of the girls before the meeting was botched.

Meanwhile, the Presidency has extended another invitation to them set for July 22 at the Aso Villa, which they accepted to honour.

BUJA— THE European Union, EU, yesterday, urged Nigeria to explore other alternatives to death penalty, saying it had commenced moves to secure the release of 88 inmates sentenced to death by different courts across the federation.

The EU, which made the call at the official release of a report on cases of death penalty in Nigeria from since 2011 by an international human right body, Avocats Sans Frontieres France, ASFF, also known as Lawyers Without Borders, said it had, through the Saving Lives, SALI, project, succeeded in securing freedom for 35 inmates facing the death penalty.

The Head, Political Governance and Democracy Section of the EU delegation to Nigeria and to the Economic Community of West African States, ECOWAS, Mr. Alan Munday, insisted that the death penalty ought to have been abolished in the country, “especially in view of the imperfect legal system in existence.

“Under the SALI project, the enforcement of certain rights has been brought to the fore.

“The case of Maimuna Abdulmumini, accused of murder when she was 13 years old and sentenced to death while nursing an infant emphasises this.”

Reps summon Jega over ‘haphazard distribution of permanent voters' cards’

BY EMMAN OVUAKPORIE

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BUJA— THE House of Representatives, yesterday, summoned Chairman of Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, Professor Attahiru Jega, to appear before it within 72 hours to explain why there were discrepancies in the distribution of voters’ cards.

The lawmakers, in plenary, also accused the electoral body of disenfranchising some

states.

This development was sequel to a motion brought under matters of national importance by Yakub Balogun, APC, Lagos, entitled Alleged haphazard distribution of permanent voters cards and imminent disenfranchisement of some states of the federation.

Balogun, in his submission, had argued that “part of the responsibilities of INEC is to ensure free, fair, credible and peaceful elections as well as

provision of voters’ cards to all eligible Nigerians.

“INEC has succeeded in providing temporary voters’ cards which were used and widely accepted for the conduct of the 2011 general elections in Nigeria.”

He expressed concern over reports from states where the distribution was ongoing, which indicated that INEC had not been able to effectively replace all the temporary voters’ cards with permanent ones.

46—Vanguard, THURSDAY, JULY 17, 2014

Hajj: Chief Imam counsels intending pilgrims

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BUJA—THE Chief Imam of Apo Legislators’ Quarters in Abuja, Sheikh Nuru Khalid, yesterday urged this year’s intending pilgrims to Saudi Arabia to be good ambassadors.

Khalid enjoined the pilgrims in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja to portray the country in good image while in the Holy Land.

He advised them to shun acts capable of projecting the image of the country in negative light.

The cleric also urged the pilgrims to imbibe the spirit of love, forgiveness and to always help one another, especially in times of difficulties.

He said: “According to Prophet Muhammad ‘No one is a true believer until he likes for his brother what he likes for himself.”

The imam urged them to tolerate each other during the exercise, saying: “Pilgrims should try as much as possible to obey the laws and traditions of the Holy Land to avoid any breach and embarrassment.

“They should also comply with the laws as stipulated by the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria.”

9 killed, 98 injured in auto accidents in Plateau since Jan — FRSC

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OS—THE Federal Road Safety Commission, FRSC, yesterday said that nine persons were killed and 98 others injured in road accidents in Plateau between January and June, this year.

The Commandant of the commission in the state, Mr Sunday Maku, made this known in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria, NAN, in Jos. Maku said the deaths and injuries were recorded in 31road incidents in the state during the period.

He said that the 2014 half year accident record in the state was a “sharp decline” from 25 deaths and 90 road crashes recorded in the corresponding period in 2013.

He said the commission had increased efforts to reduce accidents in the state to the barest minimum.

C M Y K

FG awards N5bn contract for construction of rehabilitation centres

BY SUZAN EDEH

B

AUCHI—A member of the Presidential Committee on Relief and Rehabilitation of Flood Victims, Dr Sani Abubakar Lugga has said that the committee has awarded N5 billion contract for the construction of rehabilitation centres in the country.

Lugga spoke in Bauchi yesterday when he led a delegation of the committee members on a courtesy visit to Governor Isa Yuguda, shortly after flagging off the distribution of relief materials to victims of flood, insurgency and communal clashes in the state.

According to him, the committee decided to extend its humanitarian gesture not only to victims of flood disaster, but also to victims of insurgency, communal clashes and cattle rustlers.

He said the committee went out of its assigned duties to purchase food and non-food items worth N750m to cushion the effect on victims of insurgency and communal clashes in the 10 states.

He said, “ the committee earlier had a stakeholders meeting with members of Red Cross, State Emergency Management Agency, SEMA, National Orientation Agency, NOA to work out the modalities for distribution in the 10 states so that the relief materials will get to the affected victims” ”The committee chose to flag off the distribution of the relief materials in Bauchi State because of its quick response to issues of disaster management and assisting

the committee with a plot of land for the construction of rehabilitation centres for the victims” He regretted that some state governments, NGO’s and individuals had not been able to redeem the pledges they made to the committee since 2013, stressing that the committee was working round the clock to give succour to victims of flood disaster, insurgency and communal clashes in the federation.

Lugga further said the distri-

bution of the materials including food and non-food items to the victims of insurgency and communal clashes would take place in 10 states, which include Adamawa, Borno, Bauchi, Benue, Kaduna, Katsina, Gombe, Nasarawa, Plateau and Yobe.

The committee was set up by the government, in 2012, with the Chairman, Alhaji Aliko Dangote with the mandate to mobilise funds for the rehabilitation flood victims in the country.

Responding, Governor Yuguda said that Bauchi was one of the states in the country that was worst hit by the influx of internally displaced persons from neighbouring states due to flood, ethno-religious crisis and insurgency.

Represented by his deputy, Alhaji Aminu Sagir Saleh, Yuguda said his administration established four rehabilitation centres in the state for internally displaced persons in addition to eight rehabilitation centres setup by the previous administration.

LAUNCH: From left—Strategic Assistant to Managing Director, Unilever Nigeria Plc, Garba El-Suleiman; Nollywood Actress, Ronke Ojo, aka Oshodi oke; and Brand Building Director, Home and Personal Care, David Okeme, at the New Omo Fast Action Trade Launch held in Lagos.

Police arrest 6 robbery suspects in Bauchi

BY SUZAN EDEH

B

AUCHI—THE Bauchi State Police Command has arrested six suspects said to have specialized in robbing and dispossessing their victims of their valuables within the state capital, adding that items recovered from them included an AK 47 rifle, a locally made pistol and some quantity of ammunition.

In a statement signed by the command’s Public Relation Officer, DSP Haruna Mohammed on behalf of the Commissioner of Police, Shewu Lawal, it stated that suspects were arrested Tuesday. ’’On July 15, 2014, a joint police and vigilante group on patrol intercepted a gang of armed robbers and arrested one 50 -year old Musa Garba of Gommadaji village and another Umar Ibrahim of Jarawa village while three others escaped.’’

According to Mohammed, the suspects who were beaten to stupor by a mob that gathered, had robbed one Musa Mohammed of N23,000, one Nokia phone and another Tecno handset, two sets

of wrappers, five yards of Shedda cloths and a box containing different wears and documents. ”On July 8, 2014, at about 9pm, the police patrol team attached to Tafawa Balewa Housing Estate Division also arrested one Abubakar Danladi and another person, both of who entered the shop of one Onuk-

wube Alphonsus at the estate and made away with money and other valuables. Suspects were in possession of locally made pistols and a vehicle suspected to have been stolen. ”On July 5, 2014, at about 7.20 pm, detectives attached to the Kirfi Division arrested one Umar Yaro Yar’adua along with one other person both of who

conspired and attacked one Rauta Polmi at Kirfi Local Government.

They robbed him of N8.5m and the suspects were charged to court,” he stated.

According to him, the exhibits recovered from the suspects included one AK 47 rifle with registration number 1986 RF 9861 with a magazine containing 14 rounds of 7.62mm ammunition, one lo

BlackBerry wins Red Dot awards for product design

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ANADIAN smart phone maker, BlackBerry Limited has won three acclaimed Red Dot Awards for the high design quality of its flagship products, BlackBerry Q10, BlackBerry Q5 and BlackBerry Z30 smartphones, respectively.

This year, the Red Dot Awards international 40member panel of experts evaluated 4,815 entries from 53 countries. Winners were selected based on the quality and innovative strength of each product.

Speaking of the awards, Brian Paschke, Senior Industrial Designer, Portfolio Direction, said; “We pride ourselves on industrial design that is simple and intuitive in functionality, while maintaining iconic and familiar elements such as our keyboard and productivitybased user experience.

“While our smartphones have evolved over time, we remain focused on being highly detail oriented in order to deliver modern and high quality devices.”

The winners of this year ’s Red Dot Awards will be recognized in Essen, Germany at the Red Dot Gala and subsequent Designers’ Night.

“The BlackBerry Design Team is honored to accept the prestigious Red Dot Product Design Award for the Q10, Q5 and Z30,” said Alison Phillips, Managing Director of Industrial Design at BlackBerry.

“This award is a welcomed addition to the Red Dot Product Design award the team received for the BlackBerry Z10 smartphone last year,” Paschke said.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, JULY 17, 2014—47

FG to discourage use of mercury, cyanide for mining

Disabled women seek end to domestic violence

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BY MARIE-THERESE NANLONG

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OS—DISABLED women in Plateau State have decried incessant domestic violence perpetrated against them.

They also called on the government and parents of children with disability to empower their wards by giving them good training so that they would be independent to contribute their quota to nation building.

The women also lamented the treatment disabled girl children get in the schools environment which discouraged them from attending schools only to become liabilities in future.

In a disability awareness training for peace building organisations, organised by a disability based group, Inclusive Friends, in Plateau State, Director of Inclusive Friends, Grace Jerry, who is a disabled person, said time had passed when people with disabilities were pitied, saying every person with disability should be empowered to contribute meaningfully to the society.

According to her, “we are crying out for an end to issues of domestic violence against women. We have been victims for too long and we say enough of being treated as lesshuman.

"Disabled people are not sick; we just need the right atmosphere and should be carried along when issues concerning us are discussed. ”We want disabled issues to be main-streamed into every programme because we are not sick and we have a lot to contribute to our issues. ”We also want to be involved in peace building process because we suffer a lot during conflicts; we are not clumsy but we are not fast and can’t run like the able-bodied persons during conflict. That is why we seek an end to violent because they do us no good.” ”More needs to be done but we appreciate the British Council through Nigeria Stability and Reconciliation Programme, NSRP, which have assisted us.”

Director General, Nigerian Teachers Institute, NTI, Dr. Aminu Ladan Sharehu; Regional Director, UNESCO, Prof. Hassana Alidou and Chairman, NTI Governing Council, Mr. Ali Sa'ad Birnin-Kudu, when the UNESCO team paid a visit to the institute's headquarters in Kaduna.

BOKO HARAM: Borno CAN demands deployment of more troops ...as insurgents kill 27 in fresh attack

BY NDAHI MARAMA

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AIDUGURI — THE Borno State Chapter of Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, yesterday, asked the Federal Government to deploy more troops into the state to reduce what it described as incessant attacks on some communities by the Boko Haram Islamic sect.

Chairman of CAN, Rev. Titus Pona, who made the call in Maiduguri, the Borno State capital, said there was need for immediate deployment of the troops as the insurgents now attack and ransack more villages and communities in the state, causing havoc.

This was even as reports have indicated that no fewer than 27 people were killed yesterday when some suspected members of Boko Haram terrorists invaded Sabon Gari village in Damboa Local Government Area of of the state.

In a signed statement, Pona furher said members of CAN were worried over shortage of troops in the remote areas of the state and called on the authorities to remedy the situation.

The statement read in part: “Our members in the state are very much worried and concerned on the gross shortage of security personnel that will effectively fight terrorism and the killings of many innocent people in Borno.

"We also express sadness on the gross shortage of security

personnel in Borno, Yobe and Adamawa States, because several villages in the affected states are either being sacked or killed in their homes as a result of the increasing waves of attacks.

“Chibok schoolgirls have not been rescued from their abductors, a situation that has traumatised parents and guardians of the abducted girls.

“It’s 90 days now, we have not seen our girls. Our traumatised parents are being eliminated village by village due to lack of enough security.”

He, therefore, called on the federal and state governments as well as foreign partners to come to the rescue of the people who had now become slaves in their fatherland."

Pona urged well-meaning

individuals, groups and associations to play their roles well to ensure peace in the three affected states in the North-East sub-region.

Insurgents kill 27

Meanwhile, some gunmen have attacked neighbouring Mandafuma village in Biu Local Government Area of the state where about 20 civilians were killed while seven people lost their lives while trying to bury their dead ones.

Sources said the latest attack took place at about 6pm, Tuesday.

The attack which is the second time occurred barely 12 days after the deadly attack on Damboa town where a Commanding Officer of 195 Battalion, a Divisional Police Officer, 16 soldiers and six Policemen along side several terrorists lost their lives.

BUJA — The Federal Government has said that it would encourage the use of borax for mining operations instead of the popular mercury and cyanide.

Acting Director of Mines Inspectorate, Ministry of Mines and Steel Development, Mr Dauda Awojobi,made this known in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria, NAN, in Abuja.

Awojobi said borax was a more environmentally and human friendly chemical than mercury and cyanide.

He said: “Mercury and cyanide are extremely toxic.

Latest research and development have revealed that the use of borax is internationally acceptable and friendly.”

He recalled that the ministry collaborated with civil society organisations, global agencies, Ministry of Health and Ministry of Environment to remediate polluted environment after the lead poison incident in Zamfara State.

“We made the people to realise that their mineral extraction methods are harmful. They were using mortar and pestle to grind the schist called pegmatite,” he said.

He explained that in the process of grinding the minerals, the dust and other elements from the minerals infiltrated the body systems of the people and made them to develop serious health problems.

Awojobi further said the Federal Government had developed a new concept called “safer mining method” which involved the use of wet mini machines for mining activities.

Customs rakes in N6.6bn, arrests 2 truck-loads of rice

BY UDEME CLEMENT

I

N line with the policy of the Federal Government to increase revenue generation for economic growth and development, the Oyo/Osun Command of Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has realised over N6.6 billion from January to June 2014.

The command also recorded a total of 247 seizures with a Duty Paid Value (DPV) of N337.2 million within the period under review.

The Customs Area Controller (CAC) of the command, Mr. Richard Oteri, who disclosed

this in a chat with Vanguard, said over 7,089 bags of rice with a total DPV of N85.3 million were among the seizures.

The CAC further revealed that one of their patrol teams led by DSC Alajogun, J. A., on a tip-off intercepted two trucks, with numbers plates, AKD 15 XB and JJJ 998 XL, loaded with 750 bags of rice along Igbeti axis of the state.

He said: “The bags of rice intercepted in two trucks were concealed with veterinary chemical products by smugglers in attempt to escape security checks. The rice was estimated at the monetary

value of N4.1 million. This seizure shows our resolve to make the command a no hiding place for unpatriotic Nigerians who engage in this illicit business of smuggling.

“We use this medium to restate that importation of rice through the border remains prohibited and all those who wish to import rice should use the nation’s sea ports.

"The Comptroller General of Customs, Alhaji Abudullahi Inde Dikko, is passionately committed to reducing smuggling of rice into the country."

48 — Vanguard, THURSDAY, JULY 17, 2014

COMMISSIONING: From left: Mr. Nyesom Wike, Minister of State for Education, Mallam Yakassai, Deputy Director, Public Relations, National Universities Commission, NNUC, Mrs. Omobola Johnson, Minister of Communication Technology, and Mr. Phillip Obioha, Chief Operating Officer, Computer Warehouse Group Plc., during the commissioning of Nigerian Research and Education Network, in Abuja.

GRADUATION: From left: Mrs. Olatokunbo Edun, Administrator Grace Schools,His Eminence, Samuel Uche,Prelate, Methodist Church Nigeria, Mr Roland Cilliers,Principal, and Professor Ayoka Olusakin, guest speaker, at the 16th valedictory service/graduation ceremony of Class 2014 of Grace High School, Gbagada, Lagos. Photo: Biodun Ogunleye.

From left: General Manager, UGRL, Mr. Vipul Gajjar; Godswill Ogudoro and Ebube Odeluga of Childline Private Schools, Ikeja, UGRL IT Instructor, Mrs Dasola Isiaka and Mr. Samuel Naneinotor of Childline Private School, at the presentation of prizes to winners of the 3rd UGRL Annual Inter-School ICT Quiz Competition in Lagos.

COCKTAIL: American Consular-General in Nigeria, Mr. Jess Hawkins (left) and Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi III, at the cocktail organised to mark the 238th Independence anniversary of the United States of America, USA, in Lagos.

SIGNING: Mr. Herbert Wigwe, GMD/CE, Access Bank Plc., (2nd right), displaying a copy of the signed new Code of Conduct in Nigerian banking industry, Mrs. Debola Osibogun (2nd left), President/Chairman of Council, CIBN, Mr. Seye Awojobi, Ag. Registrar/CE, CIBN (left) and Mr. Roosevelt Ogbonna, Executive Director, Access Bank, at the signing in Lagos, yesterday.

From left: Amstel Malta Brand Manager, Mrs Hannatu Ageni-Yusuf, Amstel Malta brand ambassador, Mikel Obi and Marketing Manager, Mr Sampson Oloche, at the Amstel Malta Party in honour of the brand ambassador, in Lagos. Photo: Kehinde Gbadamosi.

VISIT: Rotn. Isichei Osamgbi, Chairman, Installation Committee 2014/15 (left), and Rotn. Okonkwo Charles, President, Rotary Club Ikoyi, during the visit by the Rotary Club of Ikoyi team to the Vanguard Newspapers' Head Office, Apapa, Lagos, yesterday. Photo: Biodun Ogunleye.

From left: Representative of Lagos State Commissioner for Environment, Bade Adebowale, representative of Governor of Lagos State, Hon. Adefunmilayo Tejuoso, and Chairman , Mushin Local Government, Hon. Olatunde Adepitan, at the 20 14 tree planting exercise in Mushin, Lagos.

COCKTAIL: From left: Mr. H.O. Osarenren, Public Relations Officer, University of Benin,UNIBEN, Ag. General Manager, Protea Hotel Select Emotan, Ms Sandra Ogbahor, Mrs Vivian Irumudon of Pan Ocean Oil Corporation and Mrs. Ebahi Uwangue of Nigeria Institute for Oil Palm Research, NIFOR, at a cocktail organised by Protea Hotel for its guests, in Benin City.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, JULY 17, 2014 — 49

50—VANGUARD, THURSDAY, JULY 17, 2014

Truly, I’m not a bad person — Omisore

•Omisore

BY DAPO AKINREFON Osun State Governor, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola addressing participants at All Progressives Congress State Secretariat, during his Endorsement for Second Term in office by former Local Government Chairmen under [ALGON]

Stop inducing Osun civil servants for votes, Akinwusi tells Aregbesola

BY GBENGA OLARINOYE

T

HE governorship candidate of Social Democratic Party (SDP), Mr. Olusegun Akinwusi has cautioned the state governor, Mr. Rauf Aregbesola to stop inducing the state public workers for votes.

Akinwusi in a statement issued in Osogbo, Osun state capital titled “Stop this dangerous trend of politicization of the civil service” accused Aregbesola of causing disaffection among the state workers.

However, he called on the state workers to be wary of the governor’s tactics, saying it was a mockery for a regime that failed to recognize the worth and importance of civil servants in the last four years to wake up four weeks to election to curry their favours.

According to the former Head of Service HOS, public servants are saddled with the sacred duties of ensuring continuity of government institution and are expected to be anonymous, neutral and impartial and therefore should enjoy security of tenure.

“In Osun state today, the yardstick to enjoy a measure of freedom on the job is to be a card carrying member of All Progressives Congress APC. “The civil servants also should know their friends.

They should not for a temporary gratification sell out their future.

“And more importantly, all the atrocities against civil servants at the anticipated return to

power, the consequences of this for workers and the system should never be compromised”.

Akinwusi promised the state

workers that if elected as the governor, he will take the welfare of the state public servants as the highest priority

because civil service as the oldest institution all over the world is indispensable to democracy.

APC accuses PDP of pre-determined results

BY DAPOAKINREFON

T

HE APC has accused the national leadership of the PDP of planning to foist fabricated results on the people of Osun State saying that all such attempts would be steadfastly resisted as it will lead to chaos.

In a statement by its Director of , Research and Strategy, Mr Kunle Oyatomi, the party : “for the avoidance of doubt APC likes to draw public attention to the fact that PDP is only preparing people’s mind for a pre-determined result which the party is fully aware will be false, unpopular and most likely to create chaos. “ “Where the PDP is leading

Nigeria is very clear; it is into the dumps of a failed state. It is now absolutely clear that a plan is already perfected to rig in Osun election”, it stated.

“But the PDP will be stunned by the determination of the people of Osun to choose their leaders themselves, the PDP’s evil plan will fail”, the APC added. While reacting to an earlier statement credited to the PDP’s National Publicity Secretary, Olisa Metuh in which the PDP adviced the APC to campaign now before it is too late, Oyatomi said: “Another side to this nonsense from Olisa Metuh is a possible attempt to create an excuse to rig the election by making people believe that the PDP is

“campaigning hard” while the APC is supposedly “gallivanting.”

We know that PDP is a “nest of killers” as described by noble laureate Professor Wole Soyinka, and those who are inhuman enough to be “killers” would not see anything wrong in telling ignoble lies like the one Metuh has told.

So Metuh can run his mouth as dishonorably as he could.”

“But fact is, Osun people have never seen crowds since the creation of the state, and a massive public demonstration of support for an individual as APC governorship candidate, Rauf Aregbesola, has attracted all over the state.”

APC ‘spy’ vows to remain in PDP •I remain in PDP —Towobola, expelled member

BY DAPOAKINREFON

O

NE of the PDP chieftains expelled from the party allegedly for being moles of the APC in the party, Major Raphael Towobola (rtd) has rebuffed the expulsion.

Speaking with Vanguard, Towobola faulted the expulsion arguing that he did not face any disciplinary panel before

the expulsion was carried out.

Towobola was among the six PDP chieftains recently expelled by the party for allegedly being spies for the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC. Towobola said “I read it in the newspapers just as you read it.

I still remain a PDP member and I am still the secretary of the party in Osun State

because I did not go through any disciplinary committee.

Whether the expulsion is true or not, I do not know. I think it must be a joke of the year. Can someone be at home and be in jail at the same time? Anyone who is in jail, must first go to court and the court must pronounce judgement on such a fellow. Maybe somebody is day dreaming somewhere.”

G

OVERNORSHIP candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Osun State, Senator Iyiola Omisore says that the plan by the APC to paint him in a bad light will fail.

Omisore, who said this in an interview dismissed the negative image being painted of him.

He said “they are trying to make people believe that I am a bad person. Behaviour is like smoke. When you hide it, it will still come out, people have now seen that Aregbesola is a bad person. They have also seen that I am a gentleman per se. With my pedigree, my educational qualification and exposure, I cannot be a bad person.”

The PDP flag bearer added “people already know that, they cannot be deceived anymore, that is why I have massive support in the state.

We are trying to let them know that we know more than they do, we know the fake and the original.” Besides, he said “People have seen beyond them, they have seen that Omisore is the best for this job.

I believe that the best should lead the rest.”

On why he desires to govern Osun state, he said “It is actually a mission. The desire to have a standard government, an impeccable leadership, a frame of governance which people will be able to emulate in the future is my burning desire.”

“I have been in and out of government, I have seen both the state and the federal. I am more experienced to handle this state than anybody else.

Like I have said, my message to the people of the state is that they should be patient and vote for the candidate of their choice on August 9”, he stressed.

V anguard anguard,, THURSDAY, JULY 17, 2014 —51

The New Pension Revolution cognate experience.” Of course, the decision to review the qualification for membership of the governing board of the CommisLTHOUGH the Pension Reform Act sion was informed by a clearheaded consid2014 has been widely hailed by Nigeeration of the submissions of stakeholders rians, especially the labour and pensioners during the joint public hearing of the Senate as a bold step in the right direction, one of and the House of Representatives; global best the worries expressed by virtually everybody practices; the Constitutional provisions for the has been the question of implementation. appointments of some of the top-notch judiFor instance, a statement issued by the cial officers and public servants; and other Federal Universities Pensioners Association, comparative finance and investment regulaFUPA, on the Act stated that “While the Pentors like the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), sion Reform Act 2014 stands out as the most the Nigeria Deposit Insurance Commission aggressive offensive by any Nigerian gov(NDIC), and the Federal Inland Revenue ernment against pension thieves, FUPA is, Services (FIRS). however, mindful of the culture of fine laws It is noteworthy that Mrs. Anohu-Amazu and poor enforcement bedeviling the counhas been a key player in the pension industry.” Concerning the judiciary also, the body try over the years. She was part of the team wants the courts to ensure that the law bites of experts (the Fola Adeola Pension Reform hard by meting out prescribed punishments Committee) set up by former President Oluto offenders speedily and without fear or segun Obasanjo to midwife the Contributofavour. ry Pension Scheme in Nigeria. The work of These worries are not unfounded. For inthat Committee led to the enactment of the stance, Section 30(2) of the defunct Pension Pension Reform Act 2004. She received a Reform Act 2004 provided for the Pension presidential commendation for the quality of Transition Arrangement Departments work done. She was later appointed as the (PTADs), which would have prevented/ first Commission Secretary/Legal Adviser of curbed the multi-billion naira corruption bethe PENCOM. But before her pension odfouling the Pension Departments in the hanyssey, she consulted for many private sector dling of benefits meant for pensioners uninitiatives, non-governmental organizations, der the Defined Pension Scheme, DPS (that and public institutions including the Bureau is, those who retired before the take of the of Public Enterprises (BPE).

Contributory Pension Scheme, CPS, in 2004).

Mrs. Anohu-Amazu holds a LL. B. in Law It is supposed to ensure that pensions travel from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka. A directly from the Office of the Accountantmember of the Bar and a Master’s deGeneral of the Federation to the pensioners gree in Telecommunication & Informaaccount, not the Pension Departments. But tion Technology Law from the London the PTADs were left unpowered for 8 good School of Economics, she is a member of years until the coming of Mrs. Chinelo Anothe Chartered Institute of Arbitrators, hu-Amazu as the Acting DG of PENCOM London and has attended the Executive in December 2012. In fact, a Director-GenerEducation programme in the Wharton al for the PTADs was only appointed in NoBusiness School, Pennsylvania where she vember 2013, nine years after, following her obtained certification in “Negotiations: enforcement and repositioning drives in the Bargaining for Advantage”. She obtained sector. another certificate in “Leaders in DevelNigerians have also watched the bizarre opment: Managing Economic and Politdrama in the courts in which pension looters ical Change” from Kennedy School It is noteworthy that Mrs. Anohu-Amazu the of Government and has been a key player in the pension inhad sort knowledge at the Graduate dustry over the years School of Business, get a pat on the back or totally evade punColumbia University. All these explain ishments because of the corruption in the her giant strides at PENCOM since her prosecution and judicial system. The case of appointment as the Acting Director Genone convicted fraudster who was handed eral of the agency in December, 2012. down a paltry N750,000 (seven hundred and Through the President’s super support fifty thousand naira) fine for stealing N23 and encouragement, she has successfully billion has remained a reproach to judiciachampioned a major review of the Penry. Although there are no more legal rooms sion Reform Act 2004, which resulted in for such crooks to get away so easily given a the Pension Reform Act 2014. biting regime of offences and punishment Very notably, under the leadership of regimes enshrined in the Pension Reform Mrs. Chinelo Anohu-Amazu, pension Act 2014, the popular reactions to the new asset has risen from N2.9trillion in Delaw has been that we need a no-nonsense cember 2012 to N4.1trillion as at Decemman or woman at the helms of the PENCOM ber 2013 due to her robust drive for comto drive the reforms in the manner intended pliance and enforcement. As an upshot by the Act. of President Goodluck Jonathan’s EcoIt is against this backdrop that the recent nomic Transformation Agenda, Mrs. nomination of the Acting Director-General Anohu-Amazu has no doubt continued of the National Pension Commission, PENto stimulate the development of secure COM, Mrs. Chinelo Anohu-Amazu to the investment vehicles for pension funds to Senate for confirmation as substantive DG of impact on the ongoing Government efthe agency has left no one in doubt of Presforts at reducing Nigeria’s infrastructure ident Goodluck Jonathan’s determination to gaps. She facilitated the hosting of the totally overhaul the sector. She not only resoundingly successful World Pension knows the nation’s pension system insideSummit in Nigeria and indeed Africa for out, but has the youthfulness, integrity, and the first time. experience to bring about the new era the All these and more are the reasons her nation yearns for. nomination, when confirmed by the SenThis is in line with Subsection 2(d) of the ate, will indeed be a befitting icing on Act, which stipulates that “The Director-Genthe new pension era. eral shall- possess relevant and adequate •Oyeleye, a public affairs analyst, lives qualification in pension matters with 15 years in Abuja

BY MAUREEN OYELEYE

A

,

For Nation Building, ‘Geo-Economic’ Zones Are Better

BY BOLAJI OGUNSEYE ITH the national confab in progress, the subject of this article is so ‘on-time’ that I intend, before the process concludes, to launch straight into the heart of it without the essayist’s introductory niceties and elegant phrase-making. I think it’s a near-disaster that the Nigerian political lexicon came up first with the phrase ‘geo-political zones’ to refer to its major ethnogeograhic areas while we are yet to find deeply-rooted organizing principles for economic modernisation and nation-building. Sustainable nation-building should be 90% about sound economic policy, with positive socio-psychological values reinforcing good governance.

Among others, one innocuous background to the virus of lowquality policy versus high-tension politics in most African countries (with perhaps the thankful exception of Botswana, Mauritius, Tunisia, Morroco and, arguably, post-genocide Rwanda) is a famous statement by one of Africa’s political giants of the anticolonial struggle. I mean immor-

W

tal Kwame Nkurumah. He was quoted as declaring, with a hectoring cross-continent voice, that Africa’s newly independent countries should first ‘seek the kingdom of politics, and all other things would be added unto them .…’, echoing one of The Bible’s best known, elegant and timeless admonitions concerning the Kingdom of God. Nkurumah, of course, spoke in a different season for a different reason, as compared to the largely anti-development context in which Africa’s pernicious political dynamics has played out in recent decades. The great man, who, like Zik of Africa, was a deeply active young intellectual overseas, had been inspired by North America’s and the Caribbean’s politico-literary-intellectual movements against imperialism, racism and colonialism in the first half of the last century.

This pumped-up student of the ‘Harlem Renaissance’ deployed that famous statement only to emphasize the crucial importance of using our newly-won independence to ensure near-total emancipation of the African mind.

To be concluded

,

52—Vanguard, THURSDAY, JULY 17, 2014

JAPHET ALAKAM

A

BIBLICAL adage says that a prophet is not honoured in his home town but last week in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital the entire people of the state, led by their number 1 citizen, Senator Ibikunle Amosun rolled out drums for the celebration of their own, the renowned writer,poet, activist and first African Nobel laureate, Prof Wole Soyinka who turned 80 last Sunday.

To them, Kongi as he is called is not just an ordinary writer, he is a great ambassador of the state, a freedom fighter and one who has helped to put Ogun State on the map. “We all know what life expectancy is in Nigeria and for a man who has lived such a turbulent life to cross over to 80 is very significant, so there is always a reason to celebrate our own WS as if we fail, somebody else will celebrate him.”

It was as a result of these that a whole lot of activities were planned for the celebration, courtesy of WS80 International Cultural Exchange project designed

by Zmirage Multimedia Limited for the purpose of using the platform of Literature, Arts and Culture to affirm and uphold the dignity of man.

The project which started four years ago when Soyinka turned 76, has three main aspects. The essay competition which is open to Nigerian secondary school students anywhere in the world, Stage plays featuring renowned Nigerian and International actors

•Prof Wole Soyinka(M) with his wife and the students during the visit to his house

WS@80,drums loud for avatar of literature

treated to the best of performances during the period.

But the highlight of the events was the live essay competition on the topic, “Education, Paths to Freedom and the Future” by 80 student finalists from the various geo-political zones of the coun-

,

We all know what life expectancy is in Nigeria and for a man who has lived a turbulent life to cross over to 80 is very significant

and Advocacy lectures.

This year, the events started with series of activities since July when Wole Soyinka Portraits Exhibition tour curated and produced in partnership with Olu Ajayi was held in Lagos, Osogbo, Abeokuta, Ibadan, Jos etc.

Thereafter in far away Ghana, there was a drama presentation in his honour titled “Child Internationale” directed by Grace Adinkwu on July 7. The Soyinka conference on the topic: The Soyinka Impulse( Art, Humanity, transition and permanence) calibrating Soyinka at 80 where literacy giants spoke about the man , Soyinka and his exploits in the literary field.

The June 12 Cultural Centre, Kuto, Abeokuta came alive on the 12 and 13th as various activities like Soyinka Conference, drama performance of Oba Koso, directed by Isiaka Egunbunmi for Duro Ladipo Memorial company, spokeN word, debate by the students, essay competition, children mentoring and others took place. It was very lively and entertaining as the audience were

,

try. It was a real test of the students ability to express themselves in writing and after that, the judges led by Razinat Muhammed, a senior lecturer from the University of Maiduguri took over the marking to get the

best five for the awards.

The students also competed in reading , poetry, cultural dance/costume display and others where they were also tested on how well they can express themselves in the different areas and at the end the best three winners were selected and presented with prizes.

The day also featured a mentoring section by the First Lady of Ogun State, Mrs Amosun who took out time to educate the students on the topic “Education, Paths to Freedom and the Future.” She told the children the importance of education and what they stand to get if they are educated, pointing out that it is a basic funda-

mental human rights promoted by United Nations Organisation and it was on that basis that the government of Ogun state made education free at the primary and secondary schools levels, to ensure that all children have access to education. She however cautioned them on the use of Internet facilities, pointing out that many use it negatively which does not help them.

At the end, prizes were given to the winners in the various competitions.

The next morning, the 80 students paid a visit to the governor of the state, Senator Ibikunle Amosun where the result of the essay competition was announced by the judge, Mrs

Razinat Muhammed. The first prize went to Miss Akpan Ewongobong Enefiole from Toys Faith International School, Akwa Ibom. Akinwumi Taiwo Omolayo from Ondo state took the second prize, Opatola Peter from Oyo state came third, Oyibe Theophilus Chinonso from Ebonyi state took the fourth prize while the fifth prize went to Adogbo Sekinat from Oyo state.

The governor commended them for the feat they achieved and enjoined them to be focussed and dedicated in their education as it was education that made Soyinka what he is today. He later presented the prizes to the winners and certificates to all the participants.

Day, Loral kids created visual feast for parents I

n line with its resolve to dis cover and nurture talents in the production of artworks, the management of Students of Loral International boarding school, and art department of the school Igbesa campus, recently treated art loving public and parents to a special art exhibition.

The exhibition, aimed at creating a visual feast and celebration around the school’s Humanities Day through the ingenuity of the children; intellectually and practically was part of the activity lined up to help acquaint and educate students on the importance of the humanities department and what the department seeks to achieve in the academic endeavour.

The highlight of the exhibition which featured selected creative and

beautiful exploration of works of art by the students of the school done in different genre was the unveiling of an art work a replica of boy’s hostel by students in the arts department. Other art works include paintings, batik, tie and die, drawings, beads and others.

In his presentation, the guest speaker, Dr. T.A Oduwole, from North American •One of the works by the students University, Republic of Benin, noted that not the aspect of our life that we should nethe department of humanities explores glect so the school embarked on the mission and examine issues which are important in order to make the to human society. It encompasses all children use creativity to achieve whatever fields of endeavour ranging from sci- they want to do. She also pointed out that the ences, economics, government, sociol- idea was based on the need to educate, train ogy, philosophy, anthropology to linguis- and put together school children from her tics. In fact humanities is the most pro- school to be independent thinkers with courtean comprehensive and inclusive of all age to go beyond group mentality, plagiahuman spheres. According to the School rism, copying or repetition of works that exSenior Principal, Mrs. Ezinne tend the experiences of parents and observUzuegbunam “the field of humanities is ers.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, JULY 17, 2014—53

Entertainment will rebrand Nigeria S

TAGE and Screen can spearhead the campaign of rebranding Nigeria but should be keenly guarded by the knowledge and wisdom of an active Censors Board.

Also, reviewing and reconstructuting of the Ministry of Arts & Culture will ginger fresh interest in the arts and give the industry the credibily and vitality it needs to invite government and private sector support in giving the necessary service to rebrand Nigeria.

tainment market.

Now, we have film makers without a film industry, in fact most of our indigenious and pioneer film makers have been forced to retire or turn to other forms of Arts. Thanks to Ben Brue for keeping the cinema culture going with the showing of foreign films which seems to be exempted from Nigerian films censoring.

The Ministry of Arts& Culture, the Censors Board , Nigerian Film Corporation and

,

The video market has abused and scattered things, things have to change for things to get better. The propaganda machinery has to be fuelled to work out the correction

It is not all about cultural dances to welcome guests and dignitaries at air terminals ; nor home videos recycling stories of ancient rituals and telling stories of fallen pastors preaching 3 Christ, the answer to the converted . Home video traders have overtaken the enter-

,

all the shake holders of the Nigerian, Entertainment Industry should find out and be in compromise about the existence of this one tribe home video click named Nollywood branding half-baked actresses 3 Nollywood Actresses as Nigeria s movie stars.

I have heard of 3Holly-

wood actresses nor Elstree or Pine wood actress , yet those places exist in America and England as studios but here we don t even have studios or reserved areas called Nollywood yet we name any exposed bossom displayed on newspaper spread 3Nollywood Actress .

How do we build an industry with no good stories, no impressive camera shots and no good actors. Our universities are churning out unemployable graduates. They should be advised to train more actors not just theatre historians who end up looking for bank jobs and 3personal assistants jobs or increasing the queues of the jobless graduates .

The industry needs them for productions . Every stage production needs a good number of actors , stage managers, directors , producers, prop Managers, lights, sound men etc.

So too every movie production but where do we get them from, if they tell you they hey are majoring in arts criticism, script writing , theatre history etc.

The Ministry of Arts & Culture needs to turn attention to some of these tips to build a force that can serve this nation in producing movies of our time, drama documentaries and such socialo-cultural movies that can tell the story of our generations. Films like Oyenusi, Cry Freedom, Aiye etc have more meaning and make more meaning to our history and society. The Government should support the industry to servr the nation .

Accessible endowment

This is one industry that is so disorganized , it has no rules , it is free to admit all, touts or traders, no quality control, no accessible endowment fnd, no retirement benefits. It is now more than any other time in the histo-

ry of Nigeria for the government to mobilize the entertainment industry to render this all time service of entertainment to the nation. Yes, Nigeria needs rebranding and it could best be done through stage , screen, radio and the print media. The Nigerian government needs to pay special attention to the workings of the entertainment industry especially.

The film corporation and the dormant stage. Nigeria was introduced to big time entertainment through western movies and it started on very high footing through films with people like Ogunde, Ugboma, Oladele, Ola Balogun, Ade Love, Kelani etc The video market has abused and scattered things, things have to change for things to get better. The propaganda machinery has to be fuelled to work out the correction.

54 —Vanguard, THURSDAY, JULY 17, 2014

FG approves N300m for TCN

L

AGOS—THE Di rector-General, Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE), Mr Benjamin Dikki, yesterday said about N300 million has been approved for the infrastructure development needs of the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN).

Dikki made the disclosure in an address at the post-monitoring of Ikeja Electricity Distribution Company (IKEDC) activities in Lagos.

He reassured Nigerians that the challenges facing the nation’s power supply would soon become a thing of the past.

The Director-General said the Federal government provided the N300 million to TCN from its one billion Euro-bond dedicated for the improvement of the nation’s infrastructure.

According to him, government had also channeled the loan received from African Development Bank, AfDB, to TCN. He said that currently, funding was not the major challenge of TCN but the process of identifying projects to be executed with the fund.

Educationists seek frequent training for school administrators

BY LAMIDI BAMIDELE

T

HE need for fre quent training of schools administrators to effectively impact sound education on Nigerian child has been stressed.

Speaking at a workshop on how to successfully drive the business of education, Managing Director of Showers Kiddies Publishers Limited, Mrs Abosede Ogunlari, spoke of the need for continuous training for School owners and administrators.

He said “A lot of us are not aware that we need to help our schools to run better than we are running it now. We are trying to create awareness on how we can help school to grow, build and keep good relationship with parents and teachers.”

Sign Disability Bill into law, Olajumoke tasks Jonathan

BY BOSE ADELAJA

L

AGOS—A MEMBER of the Board of Trustees, BOT, of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Senator Bode Olajumoke, has urged President Goodluck Jonathan to sign the Disability Bill into law, to lessen the suffering of physically challenged persons in the society.

Senator Olajumoke spoke yesterday while handing over a fourbedroom chalet at Ibeshe area of Ikorodu, which he donated to Baden Powell International Scout camp, in commemoration of his 70th birthday.

Olajumoke, who turned 70 on

July 1, expressed disappointment in the presidency for delaying signing the Bill into law, saying ‘’I proposed a Bill which was passed by both the lower and upper Houses to ensure public infrastructures are usable for the physically challenged. However, the Bill has been pending since October 2011, just like the Medical Bill, which the Presidency attributed to lack of funds.’’

He called on the Senate to use its veto power to enact the law, noting that ''The physically challenged are talented. If well funded, the sky will be their limit to prove there is

ability in disability.”

The Senator said he was inspired by former Justice Adeoba to donate the chalet stressing, ‘’this is a challenge for other wellmeaning Nigerians to encourage this kind of venture while they are alive. A good example was late Justice Adeoba, who donated an acre of land to the Anglican community. What would have happened to the land if he had not donated it?’’

Senator Olajumoke later threw the gathering into a laughter mood saying, ‘’the luncheon was prepared for the special Scout (physically challenged) mainly to mark my 70th birthday. When I turned 70 recently, my friend and Chairman of Vanguard Media Limited, Mr. Sam Amu-

VISIT: Governor Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State (2nd-left); Chairman, Conference 57 and Chairman, Bariga LCDA, Hon. Akeem Sulaimon (left), Chairman, Egbe-Idimu LCDA, Hon. Adebayo Bello displaying his Best Chairman of the year 2014 Award he won at the second Eko Awards organized by Lagos State Government and Chairman, Badagry Local Government, Hon. Husitode Dosu (right) during a courtesy visit to the Governor in his Office.

ka said he would start calling me 'Baba kekere', meaning Small Daddy. So, I prefer to be called ‘Small daddy’ than ‘Pa’.’’

Earlier, State scout Commissioner, Chief Jonathan Tawose, described the Senator as a man who had single handedly sponsored the physically challenged Scouts on jamborees outside the country and had also made donations in various places.

He said; “A man is successful if he is able to touch the lives of others. This is what Senator Bode Olajumoke has done.’’

Speaking, Chief Commissioner of Scout in Nigeria Olusoga Sofolahan Olori-Omoba called on scout leadership to support the special scout saying, ‘’we appreciate Senator Olajumoke’s leadership support in the last decade and also his continuous participation to ensure scouting grows both nationally and internationally. We don’t want things to fall apart, as a result, we shall continue to work together as brothers,’’ In a chat with Vanguard, the celebrant said he enjoyed devoting his time to cater for the less privileged in the society.

“Doing this is a norm. I enjoy spending my time in the midst of the less privileged. This is just a repeat of my practice. At 70, I expect continuous grace from God Almighty’, he said.

Present at the occasion were the Senator’s wife, Princess Remi, government representatives, community leaders, traditional rulers and members of the Boys Scout, who expressed gratitude at the donation.

The Olu of Ibeshe, Oba Richard Ogunsanya was represented by three Baales, Chiefs Jimoh Badejo of Oluwoye, Awoyemi Tijani of Oke-Ota and Rasaq Sanni of Osorun town.

One-third of Nigerians are hypertensive — CONSULTANT

L

AGOS—PROFESSOR Olu muyiwa Odusanya, a Consultant Public Health Physician, Lagos State University College of Medicine, Ikeja, yesterday said one-third of Nigerians were hypertensive.

Odusanya said this at the Ordinary General Meeting and Scientific Conference organised by the Association of Resident Doctors (ARD), Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, Ikeja.

The theme of the event was entitled: “Double Tragedy: Increasing Incidence of Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) in the Presence of Infectious Diseases“.

The consultant said many Nigerians were unaware they were hypertensive, stressing the need for increased awareness on preventive measures against NCDs. “If you gather 100 Nigerians, about 30 may be hypertensive, even those we know are not on treatment. It is a big issue for the country, particularly, adults and

so we need to be aware and continue to be on treatment and do things to prevent such diseases, “ he said.

He said continued policies from the three tiers of government, engagement, and en-

couraging people to exercise more were ways that would reduce intake of fatty foods.

“Government should do a lot in terms of looking at how people should limit the amount of salt they put in their food. We have

got to reduce the amount of sugar in carbonated drinks, and we also need to see how we can make more available cholesterol free oils for people.These are the policies we need to take, “ he said.

Nigerians in U.S support Aregbesola’s re-election

N

IGERIANS in United States of America, USA, have thrown their support for the re-election bid of Governor Rauf Aregbesola of Osun State.

The endorsement, which was reached at a gathering organized by All Progressives Congress, APC - USA, New York Branch, at Radisson Hotel, was attended by Osun indigenes and Nigerians across the USA. The gathering was addressed

by Hon Dele Alade, Mr. Tony Isama, Alhaja Adenike Oyejide, Professor Adesegun Labinjo, Alhaji Hammed Famuyide,

Princess Titi Arojojoye, Mr. Henry Adesanya, Mr. Kehinde Kolawole, Ambassador Dennis Antoine, a personal friend of the governor, among others.

They all outlined the achievements of Aregbesola in office and lauded the exceptional love he had for the Osun people, the Yoruba and Nigeria.

Aregbesola was commended for his education policy, the building of world class schools and provision of learning materials and equipment in the schools, including laptops for the students.

On agriculture, the speakers, including Ambassador Antoine testified to the large scale mechanised farming going on in the state in collaboration with international partners to it a major food producer and supplier for consumers not only in Nigeria but also in the West African region.

In the area of road construction, speakers including Alhaji Famuyide, Prof Labinjo, Princess Arojojoye and Alhaja Oyejide noted that the good roads with drainage systems constructed

by Aregbesola government throughout the state.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, JULY 17, 2014 — 55

Osun guber: We are claiming the state — JONATHAN zSays Aregbesola didn't win through election

BY HENRY UMORU

A

BUJA—AHEAD of August 9 Osun State gubernatorial election, President Goodluck Jonathan vowed yesterday that the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP would win the election, saying the state belongs to PDP. He insisted that those presently occupying the government house did not get into office through elections.

Speaking during a meeting of PDP national campaign organisation for Osun State at Legacy House, Maitama, Abuja, chairman of the Committee, Vice President Namadi Sambo however assured Nigerians that the Federal Government would provide an enabling environment for the conduct of a credible governorship poll in Osun State.

According to Sambo, his boss, President Jonathan had promised that in Osun State, the election would be free, and fair and it would be “one man, one vote, one woman, one vote and one youth one vote.

“We all know Osun State belongs to PDP, people there now never got there through the poll'', he said.

He expressed appreciation of the President and National Chairman of PDP, Alhaji Adamu Mu’azu to members of the com-

G

PROTEST: People from Ijare-Ekiti, Erinmope-Ekiti, Ikosun-Ekiti and Ikun-Ekiti, Moba local government area of Ekiti State protesting over the proposed Ero Local Council Development Area and siting of its headquarters at Igogo-Ekiti, at the state Assembly complex, Ado-Ekiti yesterday. Photo: NAN.

mittee for their efforts to bring Osun back to the PDP, adding that the committee would work with members of the party ’s National Working Committee, NWC and the people of Osun State to ensure the electorates in the state were allowed to make

free choice during the governorship election.

Also at the meeting were Deputy Speaker, House of Representatives, Emeka Ihedioha; Chairman, Board of Trustees, BoT, Chief Tony Anenih; Chief Bode George; Chief Ebenezer Babatope; Erelu Olusola Obada; Minister of State,

Works, Adedapo Adeyeye; Minister of State, FCTA, Oloye Olajumoke Akinjide; Political Adviser to the President, Prof. Rufai Alkali; Political Adviser to the Vice President, Alhaji Abba Dabo; Minister of Police Affairs, Jelili Adesiyan, Chief Olusola Oke; and some members of the National Working Committee, NWC.

Ekiti guber tribunal holds inaugural sitting amidst heavy security

BY GBENGAARIYIBI

A

DO EKITI—EKITI State Election Petition Tribunal, set up to hear petitions from the June 21 governorship election, yesterday commenced its sitting in Ado Ekiti amid tight security.

Mr. Ayo Fayose of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, was declared winner of the election

by Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, defeating incumbent Kayode Fayemi of All Progressives Congress, APC, and Opeyemi Bamidele, of Labour Party, LP.

The heavy security presence at the premises of the Ado-Ekiti State High Court, Ado Ekiti, where the tribunal is sitting is made up of armed policemen among others, who barricaded the dual carriage way linking Fajuyi Park with Basiri side of the state capital.

New LCDAs: Ekiti SIEC fixes referendum date as PDP kicks

BY GBENGAARIYIBI

A

DO EKITI—EKITI State Independent Electoral Commission, EKSIEC, has fixed a referendum over planned creation of additional 18 Local Government Development Council Areas. LGDAs, for this Saturday, even as the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Ekiti State, urged the people of the state, to shun the proposed referendum.

EKSIEC in an announcement on the state radio station, invited the people in all the 16 local government areas of the state to participate in the referendum to be conducted on the new councils on Saturday.

Since the beginning of the week, EKSIEC has been making public announcement on the referendum.

Amosun appoints new aides, constitutes TASUED council

But PDP in a statement by its Publicity Secretary, Pastor Kola Oluwawole, in Ado-Ekiti urged the people to ignore the call, saying it would amount to exercise in futility Oluwawole noted that the PDP had gone to court to challenge Governor Kayode Fayemi and the state House of Assembly over the matter.

According to the statement “The proposed referendum is an illegal act, as it did not following the due process expected of such an exercise. The legal matter over the constitution of EKSIEC is still in court.”Apart from the matter of the constitution of EKSIEC being at the Supreme Court, Ekiti PDP has also gone to court challenging the creation of the new LCDAs and that is still in court. Any action taken

by Fayemi, EKSIEC and the Ekiti State House of Assembly on the matter is null and void and we are calling on the people of the state not to waste their time going out on Saturday for any referendum. It will end up a sheer waste of time and resources.

“It is going to be an exercise in futility and we are calling on the people of Ekiti State not to allow themselves to be used, as the incoming administration will not recognise any such illegal act. We are reiterating again that the PDP is committed to the growth and development of the state in all ramifications and as a law abiding party, will never support any illegal act.''

The PDP urged people of the state to prevail on Fayemi and the APC to follow due process in the handling of the matter.

At the hearing, counsel to APC, Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, represented byMr. Kabir Akingbolu, sought the leave of the court to withdraw the ex-parte motion earlier filed at the tribunal.

APC had filed a motion exparte seeking the permission of the tribunal to inspect the electoral materials used during the election in the custody of INEC. He argued that they wanted to withdraw the motion as same had been overtaken by events.

In a short ruling, Chairman of the three-man panel, Justice Mohammad Siraj, consequently struck out the motion.

The APC in the petition, is praying the tribunal to invalidate the June 21 guber poll, contending that Mr Fayose, the candidate of PDP in the election and winner, was not fit to contest the election in the first place on ground of his impeachment in 2006 as the governor of the state.

The APC is also contesting what it called undue militarization of the election by the Chief of Army Staff, Gen Kenneth Minimah and the Inspector General of Police, Alhaji Mohammed Abubakar.

It also argued that the poll was manipulated electronically.

OVERNOR Ibikunle Amosun of Ogun State has appointed four new aides on students and youth affairs, as well as rectors for the state-owned Institutes of Technology, Ijebu Igbo, Igbesa, Itori and Sapade.

Also, the state government has constituted a new Governing Council for the Tai Solarin University of Education (TASUED), Ijagun.

A statement by Secretary to the State Government, Taiwo Adeoluwa, said the new special assistants, who will be sworn in at a date to be announced, are Mr. Clement Olusegun (Student Affairs), Hon. Kunle Adegboyega, (Youth Affairs-Central), Mr. Rafiu Awoyemi (Youth Affairs _ East) and Hon. Musefiu Lamidi (Youth Affairs _ West).

The new rectors, whose appointments take immediate effect, are Prof. (Mrs.) Jumoke BilesanmiAwoderu for the Institute of Technology, Ijebu Igbo, Dr. (Mrs.) Olufunke Olanike Akinkurolere for the Institute of Technology, Igbesa, Dr. Adeola Odedina for the Institute of Technology, Itori, and Dr. Kolawole Oyeyinka for the Institute of Technology, Sapade.

SSANU-UNAB protest alleged victimisation

BY DAUD OLATUNJI

A

B E O K U TA — MEMBERS of the Senior Staff Association of Nigeria University, SSANU, yesterday protested against the authorities of the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta over alleged victimisation of their leaders, especially the indefinite suspension of their chairman and secretary, Abdul-Subour Salaam and Olurotimi Fasuwun, respectively.

They accused the ViceChancellor, Professor Bamidele Oyewole, of not only victimising and threatening their leaders, but also trying to cripple the activities of SSANU, in the institution.

56 — Vanguard, THURSDAY, JULY 17, 2014

MR. Rasheed Olaoluwa is the new Managing Director/ CEO of the Bank of Industry, BOI. In this interactive session with journalists in Lagos, the commercial banker turned development banker, shares his vision of how he and his management team will transform the BOI into a world class development financial institution over the next four years. Excerpts:

By OMOH GABRIEL, Business Editor & FRANKLIN ALLI

C

AN you give us an insight into what you' ve have been doing since you took over the leadership of BOI? Since my assumption of duties on May 19, 2014, I have engaged with several other stakeholders in our development finance journey.

These include organisations such as Manufactures Association of Nigeria, MAN, the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation, UNIDO; African Development Bank and the Nigeria Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture, NACCIMA. I have also engaged with relevant agencies of government such as the Nigerian Export Promotion Council, NEPC, the Industrial Training Fund, ITF; The National Automotive Council, Nigeria Export Import Bank, NEXIM, the Infrastructure Bank, the Presidential Advisory Committee on the implementation of the National Industrial Revolution Plan, NIRP, and the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria, SMEDAN. How has BoI keyed into government’s Transformation Agenda vis –a-vis Agriculture and the recently launched NIRP, NEDEP? The transformation Agenda of President Goodluck Jonathan, part of which deals with employment generation and wealth creation is the major focal point of our efforts at BOI.

Major focal point As you are aware, our Minister at the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr. Olusegun Aganga, is leading the efforts to industrialise Nigeria and to create millions of jobs in the process.

At BoI, we are passionate about these objectives. My meeting with the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Dr. Akinwunmi Adesina, was very fruitful. We discussed issues relating to various Agricultural Development Funds managed by the BoI as part of his ministry’s

efforts to transform Nigeria’s Agricultural sector. We are in agreement that there is room for wider collaboration between his ministry and BoI, especially in the area of financing the Agricultural value chain. Very recently, the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Mr. Godwin Emefiele, and myself held some discussions and both saw it necessary to address the development agenda and the need for a robust intervention from the CBN. What is the state of the managed funds for industrialising Nigeria?

In the recent past, BoI was very instrumental in the management of the following funds: *CBN’s Intervention Funds (N235 billion SME Restructuring and Refinance Fund, and the N300 billion Power/Aviation Intervention Fund). *Various Funds by the Federal Ministry of Agriculture for the development of the Cassava Bread, Rice, Food security, Sugar and Automotive.

Rebasing exercise *SME Matching Funds by eighteen state governments.

These funds have enabled BOI to grant loans both directly and through interventions, creating close to a million jobs in the process. Although, the BoI has become more active in recent past, there is still a long way to go when compared to similar development finance institutions in the developing/ emerging world. The recent GDP rebasing exercise as a result of which Nigeria has now become the biggest economy in Africa further underscores the need for BOI to continue to take the lead, especially when compared to similar institutions in South Africa, Egypt, Brazil, Malaysia and Indonesia.

Transformation of BOI has become a national strategic imperative especially in view of the National Industrial Revolution Plan, NIRP, and the National Enterprise Development Programme, NEDEP launched recently by Mr. President. In order for us to make an impactful contribution to the implementation of the NIRP, we estimate that BOI will require

ideas. We believe there are many Nigerians out there with creative ideas at heart that BOI can explore. To this end, we have created a contact email address: ideas@boinigeria.com. We welcome submissions, not more than 1-2 pages. We undertake to consider all the ideas and act on those considered feasible.

You have been in commercial banking and now in development banking. What specifically are you bringing on board, and secondly, BOI is a development bank and government owned.

Do you have the thick skin to withstand pressure for political loan?

Oil and gas energy The second sector is oil and gas/ energy. I think we all agree that we derive a lot of revenue from there but the value adding to the oil sector in Nigeria is very low. Under the Rasheed Olaoluwa, Managing Director, Bank of Industry: Financing our country’s NIRP, we want to endevelopment agenda is a huge task. We do not claim to have all the ideas. sure that there is a lot of value –added I have in the course of the last by encouraging petrol chemical funding to the tune of US$5 billion over the next two years. Al- 26 years interacted with several and fertiliser industry so that the though we are confident that our sectors both in Nigeria and out- value –addition ; also in terms of key shareholders-the Ministry of side Nigeria. I have interacted energy, gas infrastructure will be Finance Incorporated, MOFI with development finance insti- encouraged. When I met with and the CBN will continue to tutions both locally and interna- Governor of the CBN, this is one support us with some equity in- tionally. What is critical at this of the areas we discussed. There jection. We take cognizance of the level is the understanding of the is going to be a lot of emphasis fact that there is a lot of demand issues and the issues are very on gas infrastructure. One of the on government’s resources. Con- clear to me. There is always a de- reasons for gas shortages is besequently, we are exploring al- velopment agenda that support cause of lack of infrastructure to ternative modes of funding such the provision of long-term low in- transfer the gas from the plant to as continuation of sector-specific terest rates to industries and to where they are required in power intervention funds by the CBN, small scale enterprises with a view plants.

The third sector is solid minerMinistries of Agriculture, Solid to helping to industrialise the Minerals, etc; managed funds economy and also to help in cre- als and metals. By metals I mean steel, aluminum, etc. If we are from various state governments ating jobs.

The issues are the same every- talking about industrialising Niand High Network Individuals (HNIs/ Foundations; long-term where and I believe all the expe- geria, the metal sector is very critiloans at very low interest rates Although BoI has become more active in from multilateral/ international development institutions, domesrecent past, there is still a long way to go tic and international bond issuwhen compared to similar development ance , and other sustainable anfinance institutions in South Africa, Egypt, nuity sources that may become statutorily imperative in the meBrazil, Malaysia and Indonesia dium-long term.

Global Best Practices: In order riences I have gathered over the cal. The recently rebased GDP figfor us to execute the foregoing last 26 years will help me in good ures put our manufacturing funding programme successfully, stead at BOI. You mentioned sector‘s contribution to the GDP we must adopt global best prac- something specifically about be- at 6.8 per cent. If you look at comtices in the management of BOI. ing able to say No to pressure from parable countries like Brazil, The management of BOI will be government officials. I don’t South Africa and Indonesia, highly engaged in the pursuit of think you meant to say No, just Malaysia, they are in excess of the following goals and objectives for the sake of saying No but to 15 per cent and the only way to over the next four years: good say ‘No’, when there is a cause do that is to add some processing corporate governance, sharp fo- to say No. And all I can say to to the solid minerals that we are cus on core mandate; sound risk you is that I have spent roughly mining in the metal sector. Lastly, management and compliance; about two months and I have not we are looking at light manufacventure capital investments, part- seen anything that is worth say- turing, in terms of Fast Moving nerships and collaborations; cus- ing No to. But if it gets to that Consumer Goods, FCMG. So tomer service and responsiveness stage, if you check my back- these are the key sectors we have and linkage between innovation ground, you will realise I am a identified. In addition to the key and industry. man that is able to stand up to sectors, the SMEs were also Financing our country’s devel- superiors when they are wrong. identified under the NEDEP and opment agenda is a huge task. So far so good, I haven’t had Continues on Page 57 We do not claim to have all the cause to do that.

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Financing Nigeria’s development agenda is a huge task — MD BOI

You are seeking to raise $5 billion for projects financing.

Which sectors are you looking at?

The $5 billion I mentioned is an estimate and it is sector-focused. There is the NIRP which has identified four key sectors in which Nigeria has a comparative advantage.

The first is the agroallied processing sector, whereby we are looking at not just exporting crops from the farms but adding value locally, processing those crops before we consume them locally or export them.

,

Vanguard, THURSDAY, JULY 17, 2014—57

Financing Nigeria’s development agenda is a huge task — MD BOI Continued from Page 56 studies have shown that SMEs contributes more than 90 per cent employment generation, and we must have a way to really crack that sector. There have been a lot of talks in the past by various stakeholders and what we need to do is to ensure we have concrete steps towards the sector.

On the issue of car loans under the automotive policy, what we are trying to do as a development bank is not to compete with commercial banks. BOI finances long-term industrial projects and if you are going to take car loans commercial banks are doing very well as far as car loans are concerned in Nigeria today. What is the nature of our intervention in the automotive industry?

There are companies that are looking at local assembly; there are companies that are looking at manufacturing the vehicle components locally rather than importing them for instance, car seats, batteries, etc. These are people we are in discussion with; we can finance manufacturing of some of the car components.

These are some of the interventions that we are looking at.

What did you find in BOI, for instance, Corporate governance issue?

I have not come to BOI to in-

tries. They have engaged with us on a number of sectors; what they do in their intervention is sector-specific.

For instance, in the textile sector, we have done a study and realised that these are the issues and if you do this way, Rasheed Olaoluwa, Managing Director, Bank you can do of Industry better; and if you follow through, hopefully forming ratio today at 2.2 percent. you will get results. Recently, They are actually better than they partnered with Nigeria on some of our private sector banks industrialisation and their inputs in Nigeria. That is the benchwent into the NIRP and in fact, mark we are giving ourselves; they have shortlisted two coun- yes, we are going to pursue sotries in Africa for investment pro- cial impacts. At the same time, motions and they have chosen we will be rigorous enough to Nigeria and Ethiopia. So this is ensure the loan portfolio remains of good qualjust to highlight how close the ity. It is an onpartnership is and they are looking at agricultural sector, indus- going conversation we are tries and how to link agric to inhaving within dustries; how to link innovations the bank.

Textile sector There is a development bank in Brazil that intervention/ is very big - BNDs has a loan performing business ration today at 2.2 percent. They are actu- model you want to adopt ally better than some of our private sector to drive the bank? banks in Nigeria. That is the benchmark Textile inwe are giving ourselves dustry: the truth is that we vestigate BOI but I believe there to industries, and so on. As part have actually are institutions that are empow- of the effort to address the probintervened in ered to do that and they are do- lems of industries, they also work the sector. We ing that. We are subject to su- on a concept which they call the have a Cotton, pervision by the CBN, DFI de- mini –hydro power in some states Textile and partments. From time to time, of the federation , even if it is 8,10 Garments, they come and examine us and mw of electricity.

CTG fund on to issue their report. So we beWhat is the level of your loan which today lieve there is a process for en- portfolio? we have dissuring that. If there is anything I admit, we don’t have the best bursed in exuntoward, they will be brought loan process. But we are taking cess of N51 bilto the notice of the appropriate steps internally to overhaul our lion to most of authority to deal with them. On credit delivery process. We had the textile comcorporate governance, the truth a meeting recently to look at how panies but is that there is always room for we can accelerate the process and there are few improvement. one of the things we are looking issues here at is: for the SMEs, our current and there that Room for practice of doing a whole gamut we are trying to improvement of credit analyses and a whole manage . We package- instead, can we have a are intervenIt is not the best currently and product programme. That is , this ing, we have that is what we are trying to im- is the kind of product you want intervened and prove upon, and I don’t think it to do , a product that people can we are hoping is best in many places, and that benefit from. What are the crite- that the interis what we are trying to do: to ria, so that if company x satisfies ventions can keep improving; we are striving the ten items on the checklist, he actually lead to for best practices. It is a journey should get the loan automati- the turnand we would keep at it. cally? We are looking beyond fi- around of most Partnership with UNIDO? nancial analyses and all those of the players.

Essentially, what UNIDO does things. We believe this would reYou menis to work with governments to sult in a very efficient credit ap- tioned that fashion out the right industrial praisal process. There is a de- one of the inipolicies to increase the level of velopment bank in Brazil that is tiatives we are industrilaisation in those coun- very big. BNDs has a loan per- looking at is

,

that we want to deal with what we call Business Support Firms, BSF, and the whole idea is a large percentage of loan applications that come to BOI are substandard .That is the fact.

Bankable proposals There is a lot of back and front, issues are raised, you have to go back, then ,come and go back; what we think is a good way out is, we will engage with what we call BSF. They will receive your applications and help to review it ; they are professionals who understand what a bankable proposal should look like and they will be available in every state.

T h e y would sit d o w n with the SMEs and help them to package their proposals.

That is one element of our busin e s s model

going forward.

Manufacturers complain they are unable to access working capital loan from the bank.

How are you going to address this?

Like I said earlier, we try as much as possible not to be in competition with the commercial banks but to collaborate with them.

We are actually looking at a model whereby BOI partners with SMEs friendly banks so that as we are giving long-term project loans, commercial banks will also be giving short-term working capital facilities and that way, we can work together to succeed in this sector.

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58—Vanguard, THURSDAY, JULY 17, 2014

Sultan appeals to Boko Haram

By Luka Binniyat

K

ADUNA — SUL TAN of Sokoto and President General of the Jama’atu Nasril Islam, JNI, Alhaji. Sa’ad Abubakar III, has called on the Boko Haram and other terrorist groups in the country to cease hostilities in the

country and embrace peace.

Abubakar also urged Muslims in the country to make the best use of the last 10 days of the Ramadan to seek for the night of power.

This was contained in statement signed by the Secretary General of JNI, Dr. Khalid Aliyu Abubakar in Kaduna yesterday. The state-

ment read, ‘’The Sultan of Sokoto has called on Nigerian Muslims to mark the significance of the last 10 days of Ramadan by maximally reciting more of the Qur’an; being punctual in observing the daily obligatory prayers- the Tarawih and Tahajjud in congregation

Vanguard, THURSDAY, JULY 17, 2014 — 59

Van Gaal starts new era at United

Navas moves to Real

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S

OUIS van Gaal start ed a new era at Manchester United yesterday as the Dutch manager arrived for his first day in charge of the fallen giants.

Just days after securing the Netherlands’ third place finish at the World Cup, van Gaal jetted into Manchester to begin the task of restoring United to their position as the Premier League’s preeminent force.

The 62-year-old Dutchman was appointed as replacement for the sacked David Moyes two months ago, but his World Cup commitments meant he had to wait until now to officially take the reins at Old Trafford.

Van Gaal faces a significant rebuilding job after United endured a miserable campaign under Alex Ferguson’s handpicked successor Moyes, finishing seventh in the Premier League and failing to qualify for the Champions League.

With much to do, van

Gaal, back in club management for the first time since leaving Bayern Munich in 2011, was so keen to get down to business that he opting against taking a holiday after the World Cup. The former Barcelona boss arrived in England on a private plane and was whisked from the airport to United’s Carrington training ground in a Chevrolet car.

Van Gaal was welcomed by his new assistant, United legend Ryan Giggs, and the club’s chief executive Ed Woodward, who gave the Dutchman a tour of the training ground after posing for pictures posted on the team’s official Twitter feed.

Dressed smartly in a blue suit, van Gaal may have raised a few eyebrows in Manchester for choosing a blue and white tie — the colours of arch rivals and Premier League champions Manchester City — rather than the red of United.

PANISH giants Real Madrid have reportedly secured the services of Costa Rica’s World Cup star Keylor Navas.

Navas, who shone between the posts for the Central Americans as they reached the quarter-finals of this year ’s Mundial in Brazil, is set to join the European Cup winners after his club Levante agreed a deal with the Galacticos.

According to Spanish publication Marca, Madrid have met the player ’s buy-out clause of €10 million (R144 million), eight of which will go to the club, and two to the player himself.

Levante are looking to

cash on their star shotstopper, rather than see him leave for free in January when his contract expires.

•Navas

Debuchy to complete £10 million Arsenal move today

A

•Van Gaal

Kroos close to Real Madrid move B

AYERN Munich midfielder Toni Kroos is on the verge of joining Real Madrid after revealing to a Spanish newspaper he expects the move to go through “tomorrow or the day after ” (today or tomorrow).

Bayern chairman KarlHeinz Rummenigge confirmed on Tuesday that negotiations had been opened up with the Champions League winners.

Kroos, whose contract with Bayern has only a year left to run on it and who has turned down their offer of a renewal, is currently holidaying in Majorca after winning the World Cup with

•Kroos (r) vies with an Argentine opponent.

Germany.

While on the Spanish island, he met up with his agent on Tuesday before confirming his intentions to sports daily AS.

RSENAL fans should prepare to welcome another new summer signing as ITV claim that Newcastle right-back Mathieu Debuchy will complete a £10 million move to the Gunners today.

Reports have consistently linked Debuchy to Arsenal since before the summer saying a deal was bound to happen and Arsenal legend Lee Dixon confirmed as much with a tweet before

Alexis Sanchez signed.

The France full-back played in four of his country’s five games at the World Cup so Arsenal fans can be happy with the fact that they are essentially getting an upgrade on Bacary Sagna.

Newcastle have already replaced Debuchy with Holland right-back Daryl Janmaat who impressed at the World Cup.

Sir Emeka Offor with officials of the Paralympic Committee of Nigeria on their visit to the Chrome Group Hqtrs in Abuja

Canada names squad for FIFA U-20 World Cup F

OR FIFA and Cana dian organizers, next month’s U-20 Women’s World Cup is a test run for the 2015 Women’s World Cup. For Canadian coaches, it’s also a chance to see

future and present talent in action.

Players on coach Andrew Olivieri’s under-20 squad, announced Wednesday, who have already featured on John Herdman’s senior

team include centre backs Kadeisha Buchanan and Rebecca Quinn, fullback Sura Yekka and midfielders Ashley Lawrence and Jessie Fleming.

Forward Nichelle

Prince made her senior debut in the Four Nation’s Women’s Tournament in China in January 2013, coming off the bench to score against South Korea.

Defender Kylie Davis is

a veteran of the 2012 U20 World Cup. For them and their teammates, the U-20 tournament will be a valuable preface to the World Cup if they make that squad — ensuring they have a taste of what

it’s like to play under the pressure of being the host team.

The U-20 tournament is scheduled for Aug. 524 in Edmonton, Moncton, Montreal and Toronto.

60 — Vanguard, THURSDAY, JULY 17, 2014

I’ll fight to stay at Inter Milan – Obi N

I G E R I A international Joel Obi has said that he hopes to stay and fight for his place at Serie A giants Inter Milan after his latest loan spell with Parma.

The 23-year-old leftfooted midfielder, who made just eight Serie A appearances during his loan spell with Parma last term due to injury woes, maintained he is looking forward to fighting for a place in the Nerazzurri’s starting line-up this summer and so he is making himself fully available for selection by coach Walter Mazzarri.

Obi said he wants to prove himself at Inter and insisted he will ignore all

•Joel Obi rumours regarding where he might end up in the future.

“I’m ready to fight for a starting spot in Inter,” the Nigeria international told Complete Sports."

“I’m back with my team and if all goes well, I would be more than happy to stay."

Club owners

A DIVER? Netherlands winger Arjen Robben in one of his theatrics at the World Cup.

Robben wins Golden Dive Award D

UTCH winger Ar jen Robben has won the Golden Dive Award for the best dive at the FIFA World Cup Brazil 2014.

The accolade was awarded by the Diving Is Cool Society (DICS) for the Bayern Munich’s player super dive against Mexico in the tournament’s round of 16 in Fortaleza.

Robben leads the special ranking ahead of Greece’s forward Georgios Samaras and Brazil’s full-back Marcelo.

“I must apologise, the one [at the end] was a penalty, but the other one was a dive in the first half. I shouldn’t be doing that,” the 30year-old even admitted after their 2-1 victory over the Mexicans.

Wenger

Continues from BP Arsene Wenger who has been carrying out a post-mortem of the African champions’ showing in Brazil.

Wenger said the Super Eagles could have progressed farther than they did in the competition in Brazil if conditions were ideal.

“Nigeria had no solidarity. They showed the whole world the problems they had before the World Cup and it was the same with Cameroun.

“The problem was not lack of talent but with

poor tactical organization,” Wenger said..

Wenger however identified positives in the play of the Eagles in Brazil and praised the team’s first half display against eventual conquerors, France.

“Nigeria was not too bad against France.

They had a good first half but could not maintain the momentum in the second half,” he said.

Nigeria have never progressed beyond the round of 16 at the World Cup.

Champions League: Celtic off to a winning start

C

ELTIC Glasgow with Efe Ambrose in squad beat Icelandic champions KR Reykjavik 1-0 in Champions League 2nd qualifying round.

Despite taking 19 shots on goal, Celtic managed to win only 1-0 thanks to a goal scored by Callum McGregor in the 84th minute of the game. Efe Ambrose played entire 90 minutes for the Hoops, but did not have much work to do as the hosts had only one shot on target. Other Nigerians who participated in

•Ambrose Tuesday’s games are Nurudeen Orelesi and Lateef Elford-Alliyu. Orelesi also played for 90 minutes and his club - Skënderbeu Korçë from Albania secured a valuable 0-0 away draw.

Benin

Continues from BP

Cup of Nations qualifier against Malawi in Cotonou on Sunday.

The FIFA ban has already caused former FIFA referee Linus Mba a CAF appointment for this weekend.

Nigeria have till Thursday to quash a court ruling which restrained the Nigeria

Football Federation (NFF) from office and reinstate the NFF board.

If they failed to do so, the country will be replaced at the FIFA U20 World Cup in Canada.

The country ’s U17 team are also due to take on their DR Congo counterparts on Sunday in a qualifying match billed for Kinshasa.

Continues from BP The proposed visit was part of the resolutions of an Emergency meeting of the Club Owners Association held last Monday in Abuja.

“The foundation of every country’s football is rooted with the Clubs and as such the Chairmen and Managers of football Clubs stand a better position to proffer solutions to issues that border on the principles and protocols of football management and administration,” Acting Secretary of the Association, Alloy Chukwuemeka said, while confirming the development.

“Yes, the need to meet with the Minister was canvassed at the meeting and we are making efforts to ensure that the meeting holds as soon as possible.”

The Club Owners also

called on all the concerned stakeholders in football to cooperate and ensure that everything possible is done to get the Fifa suspension on Nigeria lifted, just as they advocated for respect and strict adherence to football statutes, rulebooks and extant laws as approved by Fifa.

“We urge all the stakeholders to come together because we strongly believe that the synergy of our collective efforts will help us in building the capacity to solve our problems,” Chukwuemeka said.

“More so we urge all the stakeholders to maximize the usage of all the available internal mechanisms in resolving football issues instead of the several litigation in the conventional courts which Fifa frowns at.”

Baribote Continues from BP Victor Rumson Baribote is not only lifted but will also have the luxury of returning to the Nigeria Football Federation but with a clause - through due election.

The complainant has agreed with the top sports administrators that held a meeting again on Tuesday with her and her husband and have also set a machin-

ery in motion to get the case thrown out from the Plateau State High Court in Jos. “As I speak with you now, some top officials from the federal government level have waded into the matter and Mr President (Goodluck Ebele Jonathan) wants the issue to be resolved early enough not to attract Fifa’s ban, because as a sports lover he knows what football means to an average Nigerian fan."

Vanguard, THURSDAY, JULY 17, 2014 — 61

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62 — Vanguard, THURSDAY, JULY 17, 2014

Vanguard, THURSDAY, JULY 17, 2014 — 63

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VANGUARD, THURSDAY, JULY 17, 2014

FIFA ban: Benin Republic reject Nigeria

A

Wenger: Eagles lack organization Van Gaal starts new era at United — Pg.59

N international friendly match involving Nigerian club Sunshine Stars and Benin Republic in Cotonou has been called off following a FIFA ban on Nigeria, officials informed .

“The match did not take place as planned because of the FIFA ban on Nigeria, which forbids any international football contact with Nigeria,” a Benin FA official informed AfricanFootball.com Sunshine Stars are now due back in Nigeria by

•Fabiyi would played against Sunshine Stars the weekend after being in Cotonou for several days.

Benin had planned to use this test game to prepare for a 2015 Africa Continues on Page 60

Baribote to withdraw suit against NFF today

T

•Wenger

P

OOR organization and not “lack of talent” has been identified as the reason behind the failure of Nigeria’s Super Eagles to progress beyond the round of 16 at the 2014 Fifa World Cup finals in Brazil.

This is the verdict of the Arsenal manager,

Continues on Page 60

POOR: Super Eagles' lack of tactical organisation allowed France midfielder Pogba opened scores in Brazil. France won 2-0.

HE long running feud in the Nigeria Football Federation is set to be resolved with the withdrawal of a suit against the body by the owners of Nembe Football Club The suit filed against the Nigeria Football Federation at a High Court in Jos by owner of Nembe Football Club, Mrs Ebiakpo Baribote, is expected to happen on today, which is also the

new deadline given by Fifa for the reinstatement of the Aminu Maigariled NFF board.

Mrs Baribote has been persuaded to withdraw the case in the interest of Nigeria while the powers that be will ensure the 15-year ban imposed on her husband Continues on Page 60

NFF crisis: Club owners to meet with Minister

T

HE Association of Premier League Club Chairmen and

Managers (Club Owners) are set to meet with the Hon. Minister/

chairman National Sports Commission Dr. Tammy Danagogo to

chat about the way forward.

Continues on Page 60

•Baribote

QUICK CROSSWORD

TODAY'S

PUZZLE

YESTER DAY'S YESTERDAY'S

ANSWERS

DOWN ACROSS 2 Stretch (3) 1 Instruct (5) 3 Make (6) 5 Sooner (6) 4 Headgear (3) 8 Wireless (5) 5 Tether (4) 10 Erase (6) 6 Called (6) 11 Divide (4) 7 Cure (6) 14 Fur (6) 9 Lodge (7) 15 Ration (7) 12 Skill (3) 18 Golf-peg (3) 13 Rank (4) 19 Sorrowful (3) 16 Gemstone (4) 21 Cart (4) 17 Nude (5) 23Enjoyed (5) 20 Signified (7) 24 Otherwise (4) 22 Atmosphere (4) 27 Number (3) 24 Infuriate (6) 29 Finish (3) 31 Commissionaire (7) 25 Remit (4) 26 Encipher (6) 32 Sour (6) 28 Author (6) 34 Drug (4) 30 Immerse (3) 35 Consuming (6) 33 Adroit (4) 38 Sweetmeat (5) 36 Era (6) 39 Anticipate (6) 37 Born (3) 40 Strayed (5)

YESTERDAY'S SOLUTIONS ACROSS: 1, Sudden 5, Emit 8, Shame 9, Arc 10, Cute 11, Ease 12, Yearn 13, Cursed 16, Dell 18, Edit 20, Ate 22, Fee 23, Den 24, Mien 25, East 28, Select 30, Cured 32, Poor 33, Nigh 34, Tan 35, Peace 36, Reed 37, Bridge.

DOWN: 1, Scarce 2, Decorate 3, Exceed 4, Cheerless 5, Emerged 6, Mean 7, Tied 8, Sty 14, Deference 15, Tin 17, Lea 19, Deserted 20, Ail 21, Ensured 26, Tether 27, Stance 29, Spar 30, Cope 31, Die.

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.

C M Y K

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