Code of Conduct Tribunal docks Saraki tomorrow

...towards a better life for the people

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VOL. 25: NO. 62495

ONLINE | www.vanguardngr.com

N150

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 17, 2015

I won't devalue Naira — BUHARI

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ALLEGED FALSE DECLARATION OF ASSETS:

Code of Conduct Tribunal docks Saraki tomorrow •13-count charge filed against Senate President •EFCC set to charge wife, Toyin to court

By Henry Umoru, Ikechukwu Nnochiri & Bartholomew Madukwe

•All claims on charge sheet false, says Saraki

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BUJA—THE Code of Conduct Bureau, CCB, will tomorrow, dock the Senate President, Bukola Saraki, on a 13count charge bordering on alleged corruption and false declaration of assets at the Code of Conduct Tribunal, CCT. This came as the Economic & Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, is said to have

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Nigeria's crude production increases by 65,000bpd 8

AREPO—File photo of DSS operatives against illegal bunkerers.

Pipeline vandals kill 9 DSS men at Arepo COLUMNISTS: Of bread, cinema, We can only fight photos and Ilorin As Boko Haram corruption with begins to ‘surrender' incorruption reminiscences •P.17

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•P.19

•P.19

Mr & Mrs

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Igali regains freedom, narrates ordeal48

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POCKET CARTOON 2004, were allegedly committed between October 2006 and May 2007.

CCB’s allegations frivolous, political witch hunt – Saraki

ARRIVAL—From left, Chief of Staff to the President, Abba Kyari; Vice President Yemi Osinbajo and President Muhammadu Buhari, on arrival from France at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, yesterday.

Code of Conduct Tribunal docks Saraki tomorrow Continues from Page 1 concluded plans to also

drag his wife, Toyin, to court over alleged complicity in shady contract deals during Saraki’s tenure as governor of Kwara State between 2003 and 2011.

A source at the agency hinted that Toyin would be arraigned immediately the judiciary resumes from vacation this month.

Meantime, Saraki was, in the charge sheet before the CCT, marked ABT/01/ 15 and dated September 11, 2015, alleged to have falsely declared his assets contrary to constitutional requirements.

Specifically, he was accused of deliberately manipulating the assets declaration form that he filed prior to his assumption of office as the Senate President, by

making anticipatory declaration of assets.

The offence, which attracts imprisonment, was said to have been committed while Saraki held sway as Kwara governor.

Saraki, who has been in the Senate since 2011, was in the charge sheet signed by a deputy director in the office of the Attorney General of the Federation, Mr. M.S. Hassan, equally accused of failing to declare some assets he acquired while in office as governor.

Besides, he is expected to explain before the CCT, how he acquired some assets which the Federal Government believes were beyond his legitimate earnings.

Other charges against him include an allegation that he owned and operated foreign bank

IT'S UP TO YOU

BY AYO ADIO

W

E lose a lot of life’s battle not because we are weak but because we perceive ourselves as weak. How you see yourself and what you think about yourself will determine how you respond to issues of life. It's up to you.

TAKE HEART

BY ELLA RANDLE

When we are no longer able to change a situation.

We need to change ourselves —Viktor Frank

A

N alone time is a gift. It could be more revealing in many ways and uplifting. These rare moments of inspirations and insights comes with a beautiful knowing that there are no limits in life, you can go beyond conventional thinking. It may seem like you’re staring at the edge of eternity but when you can cast your fears aside, you can take the long awaited plunge as you spread your wings and fly higher to your dreams.

SAYINGS OF OUR PEOPLE

O

UR life begins with our cry, our life ends with others' cry. Try to utilize this gap and laugh as much as possible.

accounts while serving as a public officer.

His actions were classified as a gross violation of the Fifth Schedule of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999, as amended.

More so, Saraki, in the charge sheet, which was transferred to the tribunal by the CCB on Tuesday, was accused of breaching Section 2 of the CCB and Tribunal Act, an offence punishable under Section 23(2) of the Act and paragraph 9 of the said Fifth Schedule of the 1999 Constitution, as amended.

The CCB alleged that Saraki claimed that he owned and acquired No 15A and 15B McDonald Road, Ikoyi, Lagos, through his company, Carlisle Properties Limited in 2000, when the said property was actually sold by the Implementation Committee of the Federal Government landed properties in 2006 to his companies, Tiny Tee Limited and Vitti Oil Limited for the aggregate sum of N396, 150, 000. 00.

He was alleged to have made false declaration on or about June 3, 2011, by refusing to declare plot 2A Glover Road, Ikoyi, Lagos, which he acquired between 2007 and 2008 through his company from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) for a total sum of N325, 000, 000. 00.

Similarly, Saraki was said to have refused to declare No1, Tagnus Street, Maitama, Abuja, which he claimed to have acquired in November 1996 from one David Baba Akawu.

Some of his alleged offences while in office as governor, which are said to be punishable under Section 15(1) and (2) of the CCB and Tribunal Act, Cap C15, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria,

However, Senate President Saraki has described the CCB’s 13count charge of corruption as mischievous and political witch- hunt.

According to Saraki, the allegations are not only false but also frivolous. He vowed not to be shaken by what he termed as moves by his political enemies to distract him from carrying out his duties as a senator and Senate President for which he was elected.

Speaking with journalists yesterday in Abuja after a courtesy call on him by the management of the Public Complaints Commission, Senate President Saraki wondered why the Bureau would suddenly wake up with such allegations about 13 years after he declared his assets and said he would defend the charges.

Asked if he perceived a witch-hunt, Saraki said: “There is no doubt about that. It is mischievous, it is not correct and the issues therein are not true.

As far as we are concerned, we are not shaken. We will focus on what we have come to the Senate to do. I was elected by the people. I was elected by my colleagues to work for what is good and in the interest of this country and that is what I will do.

“For the Code of Conduct Tribunal to wait for 13 years before working on a declaration that was made since 2003 is ridiculous. I have always done my declaration and we will defend those allegations but we will continue to do our work here”.

I’m yet to be served court processes

Saraki, who noted that he was yet to be served court processes, said if served, he is prepared to meet those behind the plot in court, adding that the case is based on outright fabrication and mischief which cannot stand the test of justice.

Earlier in a statement by his Special Adviser, Yusuph Olaniyonu, Saraki described the claim as a desperate move initiated because of external influence and interference.

The statement read: “The attention of Dr. Bukola Saraki, President of the Senate, has been drawn to a charge sheet being widely circulated in the online media, upon which he is expected to be tried at the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT).

“It should be noted that at the time of writing this statement (10.00am on September 16, 2015), Dr. Saraki has not been served the court process.

However, we recognize that as a public officer, he owes members of the public explanation on the allegations contained in the charge sheet.

“We therefore state as follows: That all the claims contained in the charge sheet are false, incorrect and untrue.

“That Dr. Saraki has consistently declared his assets as required by law at every point before resuming any political office and that of 2015 is not an exception. It is surprising that the alleged charges is now referring to his asset declaration made in 2003 while in office as Governor of Kwara State to formulate their charges.

They therefore ignored the recent declaration for which they last week issued an acknowledgment.

“That we believe that the Code of Conduct Bureau following their processes in which after a declaration is submitted to the bureau they ought to have carried out their verification of the assets and ascertain the claims made and not wait till 12 years later to be pointing out alleged inconsistencies in a document submitted to it in 2003.

“This is why we are of the opinion that the present effort is a desperate move initiated due to external influence and interference.

“It should also be noted that contrary to the procedure indicated in the law setting up the CCB, the bureau never wrote to Dr. Saraki to complain of any inconsistency in his asset declaration forms.

“It should also be noted that Dr. Saraki as Governor of Kwara State never operated a foreign account.

“That some of the issues contained in the charge sheet are subjects of earlier decided and ongoing court cases. We therefore believe those behind filing of these

charges are engaging in forum-shopping.

“It should be noted that we do not know on whose authority these charges are filed when the Code of Conduct Bureau and Tribunal Act clearly indicate that any prosecution must be authorized by an Attorney-General and we know the nation last had an A-G in May 2015. This is another clear indication that the CCT is acting under influence from outside its domain and therefore ready to bend the rules to achieve this obnoxious objective “We therefore conclude that this is not an anticorruption driven case and cannot be part of the moves aimed at fighting corruption. It is simply a pure malicious and politically motivated prosecution aimed at undermining the person and office of the Senate President.

“Those behind this plot will definitely meet Dr. Saraki in court as this case which is based on outright fabrication and mischief will not and cannot stand the test of justice.

“It should be noted that throughout his career as a public official democratically elected to high public service, Dr Saraki has always held himself, to global standards of transparency and accountability, to a far higher standard of diligence, disclosure, and compliance, than required or even

requested by Nigeria’s Code Of Conduct protocols. Thus, Dr Saraki has always, lawfully and accountably, declared his assets, both directly owned, and in which he may derive any historical and on-going degree of beneficial interest.

“In view of the above, Senator Saraki hereby affirms his belief in the justice system and that when the proposed case comes to the tribunal, he will diligently state his case. He is also ready to co-operate with the Tribunal and other lawful government agencies in the bid to genuinely fight

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6—Vanguard, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 17, 2015

Man, 27, pleads guilty to biting off policeman's ear

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By Bartholomew Madukwe

AGOS—A 27-year-old man, Ibrahim Ayelangbe, has been remanded in prison custody by an Ikeja Chief Magistrate's Court in Lagos, after pleading guilty to biting off a police officer’s ear.

The police officer, Cpl. Ebere Nwogidi, was said to have been assaulted by the accused who allegedly tried to escape when he was caught trying to gain entrance into No. 21, Temple Road, Ikoyi area of Lagos.

The Magistrate, Mrs Oluwadamilola Olanipekun, ordered the remand of the accused following his guilty plea when the charge was read to him.

Ayelangbe (accused) whose address is not known is facing three-count charge bordering on unlawful entry and grievous assault.

Police prosecutor, Insp.

Benson Emuerhi, informed the court that the accused assaulted the said police officer on July 10, at 3:00am.

Octogenarian, 2 others docked over alleged burglary

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By Onozure Dania

AGOS—AN 86-year-old man, Ebenize Okpara, and two others, were yesterday arraigned before an Igbosere Magistrate's Court over alleged burglary and stealing of properties worth N1.5 million.

The other defendants, including Joseph Akuwugwu, 38; and Kenneth Ukaegbu, 33, are facing a three-count charge bordering on conspiracy burglary and stealing preferred against them by the police.

The defendants, who are security guards, reside at 10, Owurin Ikotun, Ijegun, 6 Okerin Street, Oworo and 13, Femi Pears, Victoria Island respectively.

The prosecutor, Sergeant Esther Adesulu, told the court that the defendants and others still at large, committed the alleged offences between August 28 and 29, 2015.

She said the incident took place at about10:55pm at 9, Bourdillon road, Ikoyi, Lagos.

Gunmen kill businessman in Bauchi B

By Suzan Edeh

AUCHI—GUNMEN suspected to be fraudsters have killed a businessman in Bauchi State.

According to a press statement by the Acting State Police Public Relations Officer, DSP

Adulrahaman Ahmed, the gunmen accosted their victim, one Idris Mai Dawa of Gwalaga ward, along Lere junction in Tafawa Balewa Local Government Area of the state and shot him.

The statement said after the gunmen killed their victim, they

dispossessed him of a huge amount of money and absconded to an unknown destination.

The statement read: ‘’It is in the light of this development that the state police command is warning members of the public to be cautious of fraudsters, especially

those who engage in the sale of foreign currencies.

“Members of the public are, hereby, advised to report any person or group of people with suspicious character to the nearest Police Station.”

FIRE ATTACK: People going through the rubbles after fire gutted the pupular Katangwa Market in Abule Egba area of Lagos, yesterday. Photo: Sola Oyelese.

19 feared dead in Plateau gun attacks

By Marie-Therese Nanlong

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OS—NO fewer than 19 persons were feared dead early yesterday morning at Kadunung village in Mangu Local Government Area of Plateau State, following gunmen’s attacks on the community where houses were also razed and shops looted.

But spokesman of Operation Safe Haven, Op SH, Capt.

Ikedichi Iweha, who confirmed the incident, said no one died in the attack which had rendered many homeless.

The gunmen, residents said, came in their scores, killing and injuring people and setting houses ablaze.

“It is true there was an attack on Kadunung village, houses were burnt, residents are displaced but the situation has been brought under control. The troops got the information very late but we have taken over the areas in search of the gunmen,’’ Iweha said last night.

Management Committee Chairman of Mangu local government council, Titus Bise, who a source said was involved in rescuing the victims, has appealed to government agencies at federal and state level to come to the aid of victims as a large number of people were now homeless and hungry.

Vanguard gathered that most of the villagers have fled their homes to safe areas and that those who stayed back were having hard times living in the open in the face of rainfall.

Bise commended the efforts of security agencies but called for more proactive steps to forestall a repeat of such incident in the area.

Meanwhile, Governor Simon Lalong has called for calm on the part of all citizens in the state, particularly victims of the unfortunate attacks.

The governor in a statement signed by his Director of Press and Public Affairs, Emmanuel

Nanle, said: “It is regrettable that as efforts are being made by government to see to the end of violent conflict in Barkin Ladi, Riyom and parts of Jos South Local Government Areas, the state is faced with another communal crisis.”

He commended security agencies for their prompt response in curtailing the escalation of the situation and the management of Jos University

Teaching Hospital, Comprehensive Centre, Gindiri, for providing medical services to the injured.

He directed the State Emergency Management Agency, SEMA, to provide relief materials to all those affected by the attacks.

The governor appealed to all citizens of the state to remain calm, embrace peace and not take the laws into their hands but report all suspicious movements to security agencies.

Native doctor, trader in Police net over Celestine, was coming to go to the bank where we have been client's death doctor, sendingmoneyforourbrotherstreatment administer treatment.

By Esther Onyegbula & Ligali Abdul-Lateef & Ediri Michael

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A G O S — T H E Police in Lagos are currently investigating a native doctor, identified simply as Celestine, for allegedly burying a client who died while receiving treatment.

It was learned that on September 1, 2015, Nnamdi, a spare-parts dealer residing in Abuja called his business partner, Austin Ororporo, to inform him that he had been paralysed as a result of stepping on poison while entering his shop.

In an attempt to assist his colleague, Austin asked him to come down to Lagos, assuring him that he knew a native doctor that could heal him completely.

Vanguard gathered that Nnamdi reportedly travelled down to Lagos and lodged in White House hotel, located on Ijo road, Ajegunle, where the native

However, trouble started a few days later when Celestine decided to take Nnamdi to his shrine for treatment when he wasn’t showing any sign of improvement. Nnamdi later died in his shrine on September 7, 2015.

Vanguard learned that without notifying the Police or Nnamdi’s family of the incident, the native doctor proceeded to bury the victim after detaching his sim card and battery from his phone.

Sensing foul play, the family of Nnamdi who had been sending money for his treatment through Austin's bank account became suspicious when they couldn’t reach him on phone.

According to a relative of Nnamdi who spoke to Vanguard, “when we couldn’t reach Nnamdi online, we knew all was not well and since we didn’t have his friend’s number or the native doctor’s number, we decided to

to make inquiry for the address of Austin who introduced him to the native doctor.

After explaining to them, they gave us Austin's address. It was the address that we used to locate Austin at Ojo road.”

In his defence, Austin said: “I am a spare-parts dealer in Ladipo market, reside in Owoyeni Street on Ojo road in Ajegunle. Nnamdi is my business partner, also dealing in spare parts but resides in Abuja. Usually, he sends money to me to help him buy spare parts andsendtohiminAbuja.On September 1, he called to say that he stepped on poisonandwasnowparalysed.Itoldhim about a native doctor who can heal him of his affiliations, so he came to Lagos and lodged. Initially, the native doctor was coming to the hotel to treat him but whenNnamdididnotshowanypositive response to the treatment he was receiving, the native doctor decided that Nnamdi should be taken to the shrine for further treatment. It was at his shrine thathedied.Iaminnocent,Ionlywanted to help."

Vanguard, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 17, 2015—7

Vandals kill 9 DSS operatives in Arepo As bodies of policemen earlier killed still missing

By Evelyn Usman, Bose Adelaja & Ifeanyi Okolie

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AGOS—NINE operatives of the Department of State Services, DSS, were on Tuesday night shot dead by vandals at Konu, a border between Arepo in Ogun State and Ikorodu, Lagos State, even as scores of persons have been declared missing as a result of the attack on the area.

At press time, no one could ascertain the command the operatives were from.

The activities of the vandals spilled over to OkeOko, Ikorodu area of Lagos State as residents deserted the community, following an attack by the vandals, suspected to be militants.

The incident occurred around 5pm on Tuesday, and left an unidentified number of persons missing.

Unconfirmed report said the killing of the DSS operatives occurred less than six hours, after seven other security operatives were allegedly killed at the Ishawo area of Ikorodu by suspected vandals.

who opened fire on them, killing nine on the spot.

Another account had it that the operatives had gone to Ikorodu to attend the social wake-keep of one of their colleagues but had fire opened on them by the vandals who thought they were in the area to arrest them.

The exact number of operatives that left for the operation could, however, not be ascertained last night but Vanguard gathered that the vehicle they rode in to the area was still at the spot at about 1pm yesterday.

It could also not be ascertained whether the bodies of the slain operatives were taken away by their assailants.

Vanguard was reliably informed that vandals suspected to be militants have taken over Arepo creeks and have dared security operatives to come and dislodge them.

It was also gathered that aside yesterday’s killing, other security operatives have been killed, with their bodies taken to the creeks where they are buried in shallow graves.

Killing DSS operatives, Appeal to Ogun govt policemen

The killing of the DSS operatives occurred barely three weeks after four policemen were shot dead by vandals at Ikorodu area of Lagos,with their bodies suspected to have been taken away by the vandals still missing.

Vanguard gathered that the over 20 vandals, clad in black shirts and trousers, with red bands tied round their heads, stormed Arepo creeks where they broke a pipeline belonging to the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC .

They reportedly loaded over eight trucks with petroleum product siphoned from the pipelines, while their members drove the trucks through Konu.

There were, however, different accounts on to how the DSS operatives were killed as a version of the account had it that the operatives who acted on a tip off, stormed Konu to effect the arrest of the vandals and the trucks load of petroleum product.

Ambush

The DSS operatives reportedly ran into the ambush laid by the vandals

At the moment, residents of Konu are appealing to Ogun State government to nip activities of vandals in the bud to prevent the problem from spinning out of control.

A resident who spoke on condition of anonymity, said: “Yesterday’s shots was like a theatre of war.

Though we are used to gun shots around this area, it has never been like this in recent times.

“There is no night that we

don’t see tankers driving in and out through this route. Most times, some of them would drive the trucks, while other will follow behind in different cars.

Sporadic gun shots

‘’They usually announce their arrival with sporadic gunshots, while others will just hang around making phone calls. ‘’But nobody dares to challenge them . If you do, they descend on you and ask if the oil belongs to your father. At times, they will even kill the person.

So, we are living in fear."

Spokesman of Lagos State police command, Joe Offor, could not state exactly who were killed but simply stated that the sounds of gun shots were heard by policemen attached to Owutu.

“We don’t know whether anyone was killed, we do not know whether any DSS operative was also killed. What we know is that there were skirmishes in that area yesterday (Tuesday) night,” he said.

Efforts to reach his Ogun State counterpart, Muyiwa Adejobi, failed as calls were being diverted.

Also efforts to reach spokesman of Lagos State command of DSS, Mr Ade, could not also go through.

SourcesattheDSS,however, gave a conflicting figure on the number of those who lost their lives. While some put the number at six, others said they were five. DSS sources, however,statedthatthosekilled were policemen and not their personnel.

Controversy trails detention of rape victim by Police

By Evelyn Usman & Esther Onyegbula

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AGOS—Controversy is currently trailing a case of rape of a teenager, following her alleged detention and torture by policemen attached to Man Centre division, Ikeja, Lagos.

Vanguard gathered that a concerned Lagosian, identified simply as Emmanuel, reported at the station that the 16-yearold girl, Chidera, was allegedly raped by her father, one Mr Kelvin.

Subsequently, policemen

were said to have effected the arrest of Kelvin and his wife. They were also said to have invited Chidera and her younger sister to the station, where they maintained that her father allegedly had carnal knowledge of her .

On his part, Kelvin told policementhathisdaughterwas mentally unstable. Surprisingly, the policemen were said to have detained Chidera while they released her parents. Close friends to the detained teenager were said to have made frantic efforts to reach the Commissioner of Police , Lagos, Mr Fatai Awoseni, to no avail.

8—Vanguard, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 17, 2015

We’ll soon overcome Boko Haram— Anyaoku, Gambari

By Clifford Ndujihe & Prisca Sam-Duru

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DIASPORA: Vice President Yemi Osinbajo (right); Permanent Secretary, Political Affairs, Mrs. Ibukun Odusote (2nd right), and Ecobank Sales Hub, FCT, Mr. Friday Abah (left), at Ecobank's stand during the Diaspora Day 2015 at the Presidential Villa.

ORMER Commonwealth Secretary General, Chief Emeka Anyaoku and Nigeria’s former Under-Secretary General of the United Nations, Professor Ibrahim Gambari, yesterday, said Nigeria will soon overcome her prime security challenge, the Boko Haram insurgency.

In separate chats in Lagos after launching a book, Consolidation of

Nigeria’s crude production increases by 65,000bpd

By Clara Nwachukwu

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IGERIA’S daily crude oil production has been boosted by additional 65,000 barrels per day, bpd, as Esso Exploration and Production Nigeria Limited, a subsidiary of ExxonMobil Corporation, yesterday announced first oil from its Erha North Phase 2 project.

Nigeria currently produces about 2,000,000bpd, of which ExxonMobil, which became the leading producer some years ago, contributes about 30 percent of production.

This percentage has edged even higher with these additional barrels.

Notwithstanding the crash in oil prices, the additional barrels are cheery news, as there had not been additional production in the country for a while now and existing production was hampered by crude theft, thus reducing total output.

Confirming the start-up of production from the facility, ExxonMobil also said in a statement yesterday that the new volumes now ramps up total production in Erha North field to approximately 90,000bpd.

ExxonMobil project

The statement said: “The project is estimated to develop an additional 165 million barrels from Erha North field.”

It added that the project saved $400 million in cost.

The Erha North Phase 2

is a deepwater subsea development project under a Production Sharing Contract, PSC, located 60 miles offshore, in 3,300 feet of water and four miles north of the Erha Field, which has been producing since 2006.

It is situated in Oil Mining License, OML 133, where ExxonMobil operates the field with 56.25 percent interest and Shell holds the remaining 43.75 percent.

Cost saving

Speaking on the cost saving, President, E x x o n M o b i l Development Company, Mr. Neil Duffin, was quoted as saying: “Executing successful projects such as Erha North Phase 2, ahead of schedule and under budget, results from ExxonMobil’s disciplined project management approach and expertise.

“We are able to create additional shareholder value by optimizing existing infrastructure, which reduces capital spending requirements and improves capital efficiency.”

Duffin said the aheadof-schedule start-up was supported by strong performance from Nigerian contractors, which accounted for more than $2 billion of project investment for goods and services, including subsea equipment, facilities and offshore installation.

“These contracts are bringing direct and indirect benefits to the

Nigerian economy through project spending and employment, consistent with project objectives,” Duffin said.

However, industry analysts argue that the cost saving could be double edged, as while it u n d e r s c o r e s ExxonMobil’s prudent management and efficiency, it also questions the National Petroleum Investment Management Services, NAPIMS’s capacity to efficiently assess the budgets for industry projects.

Challenge to economy

Ordinarily, the boost in production output is expected to enhance Federal Government’s revenue, since Nigeria is a mono-product economy.

However, the crash of the oil market throws up the additional challenge of where to sell the product, in addition to the fact that even when the barrels are sold, government’s take on account of the PSC contract will not be much, due to producers cost.

Although the PSCs are considered by international oil companies, IOCs, as the best contracts for them in terms of return on investment. But the contracts have also been widely criticized as being tilted heavily in favour of the oil companies at the expense of Nigeria.

This is because the operator uses the first oil to offset development costs before declaring the left over for profit sharing,

a situation the Petroleum Industry Bill, PIB, is seeking to redress to reflect current environment realities.

The Group Managing Director, Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, Dr. Ibe Kachikwu, has already declared that government was going to review existing contracts that will favour all stakeholders in the industry.

Selling crude

Commenting on the challenge of marketing the crude, the Managing Director, International Energy Services, Dr. Diran Fawibe, whose company also partook in the subsea production system for the Erha North 2 project told Vanguard on the telephone that oil companies also need to device strategies to sell Nigeria’s oil, particularly those under PSCs. He said: “The new volume will put a lot of pressure on Nigeria’s output in terms of marketing the oil.

“So it will not be the government only that will look for ways to market the product.

The oil companies will have to devise strategies to also sell their own products.

But if the market is good, then it is a win-win situation for all stakeholders.”

Meanwhile, ExxonMobil said it expects to increase its global production volumes this year by two percent to 4.1 million oil-equivalent bpd, driven by seven percent liquids growth.

Peace in Africa: The Role of the United Nations Peace Building Commission, authored by Ambassador Eloho Otobo, the elder statesmen said President Muhammadu Buhari’s effort in combating the insurgency and insecurity will soon yield dividends.

While Anyaoku chaired the book launch, Gambari delivered the keynote speech. The book was launched by the Pan African Institute for Global Affairs and Strategy, PAIGAS, in partnership with The Diplomat Newspaper.

Anyaoku said: “We have been having relationships (with other countries) but we have never had relationships as concretized as they are beginning to be now.

“Starting with the formal arrangement that we have succeeded in making

with our immediate neighbours, the joint force combating Boko Haram did not exist before.”

Gambari, in his speech, urged Nigeria to start preparing for postinsurgency peace building efforts in the North-East zone.

His words: “Drawing on my experience in the services of the UN in various capacities, I can assert with a high degree of confidence that peace building has political and social-economic dimensions.

“Although the crisis of the Niger Delta has receded, there is an unfinished peace building agenda that ranges from repair of environmental degradation to economic revitalization of many of the communities to provide assured means of livelihood for the people.”

#SwitchOn – Switch The Way You See Banking …How My Dad Used Banks in 1996 and How I Do So Now

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NE of the most enduring images from my childhood is a Saturday afternoon in 1996. I opened the boot of my dad’s Peugeot 504 GR and found bags of raw cash. For an inquisitive and precocious six year-old searching for his pencil case, this was an eye-popping discovery, one which my irritated dad did not see the funny side of. Perhaps it was one of those childhood memory flashes which made me grow up with the enduring misconception that my (comfortable) family was “rich”.

In fact, as I much later found out, dad was handling a real estate transaction as a middleman and the seller wanted his money on Monday. The buyer had paid in N3,000,000 by cheque the previous Monday and after the arduous waiting period of three working days, it would take another three working days after the weekend for the seller to get it if my dad carried out a bank transfer or used a cheque. He was left with no option than to go to the bank with the oldest, shabbiest car in the house (to throw off any potential robbers) and physically withdraw N3,000,000 in N50 notes which were then packed into the boot of the car and left there over the weekend. I suspect N50 might have been the highest denomination at that point.

The following Monday, he then drove to his client’s bank with a boot full of N50

bills and then carried several cash-filled bags to the bulk room where they manually counted N3,000,000. After removing his 10% commission, he then drove to his own bank to deposit N300,000 – which turned out to be a year’s school fees for myself and my younger sister.

That was in 1996.

A few Saturdays ago, I was relaxing in bed around 10a.m when my phone rang. It was a relative who urgently needed N70,000 to prosecute a piece of business she had just secured. The profit would cover her son’s upcoming school fees and a few other pressing expenses. The client gave her a cheque for the following Monday but she needed to make the delivery on that day without fail. She was relying on me to pull this off.

I picked up my phone and quickly launched my banking app.

After entering her account details and payment amount, I hit ‘transfer’. A few seconds later, I received a debit confirmation for N70,000.

She received it instantly and set to work on her delivery.

The deadline was met and on Monday morning around 10.30a.m, I received a credit alert for N70,000.

Her son’s school bursar also received a credit alert for her son’s school fees a few minutes later.

Financial transactions at the speed of thought, welcome to the world of Intuitive exchange!

How will we carry out banking in 2024?

Vanguard, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 17, 2015 — 9

33 arrested over supply of foodstuff to insurgents

By Kingsley Omonobi

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SUPPLIERS: Suspected food suppliers to Boko Haram terrorists arrested in Borno State, yesterday.

I won't devalue Naira—BUHARI Says delay in ministerial appointments not harming markets

By Omoh Gabriel, Business Editor

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RESIDENT Muhammadu Buhari said, yesterday, in Paris, France, that he opposed a further weakening of the Naira and openly endorsed the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN’s policy of restricting foreignexchange trading.

The President, who was answering questions in an interview on France 24, said: “I do not think it is healthy for us to get the Naira devalued. The Central Bank is providing ample foreign exchange to essential services, industries.”

CBN has been under pressure from foreign investors to further devalue the naira. Nigeria had, last year, devalued the Naira to N197 to the dollar from N160.

The Naira was further adjusted slightly in July to N199 to the dollar. As a result of the continued pressure on the Naira, CBN introduced some measures to curb the excess demand for foreign exchange.

This, however, did not go down well with some of the foreign investors. After the crash of oil prices last year, the CBN Governor, Mr. Godwin Emefiele, reacted to the Naira’s drop to a record low in February by extending trading curbs and introducing bans on purchases of dollars for 41 items, which CBN said cannot access foreign exchange from the Nigeria market.

CBN, JPMorgan clash The Naira has since stabilized at the inter-bank market, but foreign investors, local businesses and even some members of CBN Monetary Policy Committee have complained that the Naira is

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overvalued.

Reacting to these measures put in place by the CBN, JPMorgan delisted Nigeria bonds from its bond index.

Reacting to JPMorgan’s decision, CBN’s Debt Management Office and the Ministry of Finance, in a joint statement, said: “It will be recalled that Nigeria was included in the index in October 2012, based on the existence of an active domestic market for FGN Bonds supported by a Two-Way Quote System, dedicated market makers and diverse investors.

“However, in January 2015, JP Morgan placed Nigeria on an Index Watch as a result of their concerns in the operations of our Foreign Exchange, FX, market, namely lack of liquidity for transactions, lack of transparency in the determination of the exchange rate and lack of a fully functional two-way FX market.

“In our continuous bid to strengthen the Nigerian financial market and enhance our status as a preferred destination for investors, we took measures to improve the market.

Despite the fact that oil prices have fallen by nearly 60 percent in one year, which should expectedly reduce the amount of liquidity in the market, CBN ensured that all genuine and effective demands were met, especially those from foreign investors.

“On transparency, CBN mandated that all FX transactions were posted online in the Reuters Trading Platform so that all stakeholders can easily verify

all transactions in the market.

In addition, the official FX window at CBN were closed to ensure a level-playing field in the pricing of foreign exchange. It is important to note that a functional two-way FX market already exists in Nigeria.

CBN justifies regulation

“However, given the high propensity for speculation, round tripping, and rentseeking in the market, it became imperative that participants are not allowed to simply trade currencies, but are only in the market to fulfill genuine customer demands to pay for eligible imports and other transactions.

“In the light of this, we introduced an order-based, two-way FX market, which has resulted in the stability of the exchange rate in the interbank market over the past seven months and largely eliminated speculators from the market.

“Despite these positive outcomes, JPMorgan would prefer that we remove this rule, even though it is obvious that doing so would lead to an indeterminate depreciation of the naira. With dwindling oil prices, we believe that an order-based two-way market best serves Nigeria’s interest at the moment.

“While we would continue to ensure that there is liquidity and transparency in the market, we would like to note that the market for FGN Bonds remains strong and active due, primarily, to the strength and diversity of the domestic investor base.

“For the avoidance of doubt, the Federal Government sees

Nigeria and the interest of Nigerians as paramount. It will, therefore, only continue to take economic decisions that will impact positively in the lives of all Nigerians.”

President Buhari also said in the interview that markets were not being harmed by the delay in ministerial appointments, which he says will happen by the end of the month.

He said: “Work is being done by technocrats; they are there and they provide the continuity.”

BUJA—TROOPS prosecuting the war on terror in the NorthEast have arrested of 33 suspected food suppliers to Boko Haram terrorists in Damboa axis around Azir-Wajiroko Road, Borno State.

The suspects were arrested with large quantities of food stuff meant for Boko Haram terrorists at Korode.

Making the disclosure in a statement, Acting Director, Army Public Relations, Col Sani Usman, said: “Nine of the 33 suspects are from Korode, five from Auma, 10 from Geargube, four from Kausautaya, four from Bulbul and one from Dolomi villages.

“Although some of the suspects claimed to be traders, they did not, however, deny selling food items to the terrorists.

Interrogation is still ongoing to further unravel the level of involvement of the suspects.

“During clearance operations of Boko Haram hideouts, troops have discovered and successfully destroyed Improvised Explosive Devices, IEDs, at Sandia village along Korode Road.”

‘Presidency's talk with Boko Haram informal’

By Soni Daniel, Northern Region Editor

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BUJA—THE talks between the Presidency and Boko Haram with a view to ending the carnage in the North-East have so far been carried out at an informal level, credible sources have told to Vanguard.

President Muhammadu Buhari disclosed in France, Tuesday, that his administration was indeed negotiating with Boko Haram on how to end the violence, but did not disclose who government was discussing with.

However, sources with knowledge of the issue, told Vanguard, yesterday, that some key elements of the sect were talking individually with the Presidency on how to achieve peace.

The development, according to the sources, is

coming following sustained military bombardment of Boko Haram havens.

The source, which has been involved in previous negotiations between the government and the sect leadership, pointed out that there had not been any formal dialogue on a ceasefire with the Presidency.

The source said: “It is true there has been an informal line of communication between the Presidency and the sect members, but the leadership has not mandated anyone on its behalf to begin discussions with the government.

“Unlike before when the Department of State Services, DSS; office of National Security Adviser, NSA, and other agencies of the Presidency were all reaching out to even phantom groups and individuals claiming to be representing the sect and claiming non-existing peace, this President has not made any formal contact with the sect yet.”

10 — Vanguard, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 17, 2015

TSA: Labour warns Banks against retrenchment

IKORODU ROBBERY: Court remands suspects in prison They stole N99.5m — POLICE

By Onozure Dania

By Victor Ahiuma-Young

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A G O S — ORGANISED Labour in the nation’s banking industry, yesterday in Lagos, said that it would not accept a situation where workers were used as a sacrificial lamb over the Federal Government new Treasury Single Account, TSA, policy.

Operating on the platform of the National Union of Banks, Insurance and Financial Institutions Employees, NUBIFIE, labour lamented that there is the fear of massive loss of jobs in the media and among banks workers as one of the consequences of the TSA by Federal Government A release by NUBIFIE’s President and Deputy General Secretary, Danjuma Musa and Etim Okon, respectively, advised the banks to among others, strategise and devise urgent means of overcoming this federal government challenge to their existence in business.

NUBIFIE warned operators in the finance industry that any attempt to sack members without due process would be resisted, saying; “As a union, we sympathise with the banking community due to the effect of the federal government decision in its daily operations.''

Ambode appoints tertiary institutions’ council members

By Olasunkanmi Akoni

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A G O S — GOVERNOR Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos State, yesterday, announced the appointment of members, Governing Councils for the tertiary institutions in the state.

The tertiary institutions are: The Lagos State University, Micheal Otedola College of Primary Education, Lagos State Polytechnic, Adeniran Ogunsanya College of Education and the Lagos State College of Health Technology.

Ambode, in a statement by the Secretary to the State Government, Mr Tunji Bello, named Justice George Oguntade (retd) as Chancellor for the Lagos State University and Professor Bayo Ninalowo as Pro Chancellor and Chairman of the Council.

Members include: Mrs. Tayo Olabenjo, Dr. L.O Durosinmi, Engr. Kayode Anibaba and others.

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AGOS—MAGISTRATE M. O Olajunwon of an Ebute- Metta Magistrate Court sitting at Oyingbo, yesterday remanded the four members of a robbery gang that robbed two banks in Ikorodu area of Lagos on June 24, 2015.

The four, are Kowei Victor, 42; Friday Abiwa, 20; Omolaja Omoboye, 39, and Agbojule Bright 25.

The Magistrate ordered that the robbery suspects be remanded in prison custody, pending the legal advice from the office of the Director of Public Prosecution DPP. They are facing a two count charge bothering on conspiracy and stealing preferred against them by the police.

When the defendants were arraigned yesterday , the prosecutor Godwin O. Osuyi, from the Legal department of Lagos state police command, told the court that the defendants and others now at large, had on June 24, 2015, at about 9.20 am, while armed with AK47, dynamites and other offensive weapons, robbed

INSPECTION: From left: Engr.

Rasheed Akindele, Deputy Director, Civil; Engr. Ajibade BadeAdebowale, Perm Sec, Min of Works and Infrastructure, Lagos State and Engr.

Bosede Aisidas, Resident Engineer, Lagos Badagry Express-way, during the working tour and inspection of reconstruction of Lagos-Badagry Carriageway at Alakija and Mile-2, Lagos, yesterday.

Photo: Bunmi Azeez two banks, First Bank Plc and Zenith Bank Plc. He further informed the court that during the robbery operation which lasted about two hours, the suspects carted away the total sum of N99.536 million.

Osuyi also alleged the robbers disposed the two banks of $2.750 USD, and •120 Euro, after

blowing up the banks with dynamite.

The defendants' pleas were not taken.

Meanwhile the prosecutor urged the court to remand the defendants in prisons custody, pending the time they will be properly arraigned before a competent court.

Consequently, magistrate,

Olajuwon, ordered that the four robbery suspects be remanded in prisons custody, pending an advice from the Director of Public Prosecution, DPP, on the matter.

Olajuwon also ordered the prosecutor to duplicate the case file and forward it to the DPP for legal advice, while she adjourned the matter till October 23., for mention.

Ambode, Bagudu advocate women inclusion in governance

By Olasunkanmi Akoni & Monsur Olowoopejo

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AGOS—GOVERNOR Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos State and his Kebbi State counterpart, Mr. Atiku Bagudu, have stressed the need for the inclusion of women in governance in order to enhance rapid development.

The duo also called for womenfriendly policies at all levels of government to better the lot of women-folk nationwide, saying their tested skills will put the nation’s economy on the path of sustainable growth and development.

They made the call yesterday, at the opening of a three-day annual women national conference organised by the Committee of Wives of Lagos State Officials, COWLSO, at Eko Hotels, Victoria Island, Lagos.

The event had in attendance wives of present state officials

and former governors’ spouses.

Ambode in his address at the event with the theme: ‘Relevance in Economic Turbulence,’ expressed the commitment of his administration of pursuing programmes and policies that will empower women to be selfreliant.

The governor noted that economic realities of today necessitated the need for improved protection of girl-

child and empowerment of women in the country.

Ambode said Lagos alone has a female population size of over 11 million, making up 48.2 per cent of the total population and of this number seven million forms 30 per cent of the state’s labour force.

Bagudu, in his address before declaring the conference open, said, “The theme of the conference is timely, considering the difficult phase our nation is presently

COPYRIGHT: Court to decide Sunny Ade’s N2bn suit Oct 30

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AGOS—A Federal High Court in Lagos yesterday fixed October 30 to deliver judgement in a N2 billion suit filed by juju music star, Dr. Sunday Adeniyi Adeye a.k.a (King Sunny Ade) against African Songs limited and seven others.

Other defendants in the suit are; Take Your Choice Records Store

limited, Lati Alagbada Nigeria Limited, Record Manufacturers of Nigeria, Ibukunola Printers Alhaja Awawu Amodu and one M. O. Alagbada.

Justice James Tsoho adjourned the matter for judgement after counsel to the Plaintiff, Mr. Dapo Oduwole and that of the respondents, Mr. Ademola Olowoyeye adopted their final

Lagos committed to accessible quality education – DEP GOV

By Amaka Abayomi

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AGOS—THE Deputy Governor of Lagos State, Dr. Idiat Adebule, has reiterated the state government’s commitment to providing quality education to all children in Lagos State particularly special needs children.

Speaking at the third quarter stakeholders’ forum of Private School Owners, organized by the

passing through. It calls for a concerted effort and contribution of everyone that has a stake in the prosperity of the country.’’

In her welcome address, Chairman of COWLSO, Mrs. Bolanle Ambode, said the conference was in line with government’s vision of providing a platform for women to contribute positively to the development to families, communities and the nation.

Office of Education Quality Assurance, Lagos State Ministry of Education, the Deputy Governor said the state’s development plan of 2012-2025 desires that 100% of children in Lagos State attend basic school by 2025; reduce classroomstudent ratio at JSS and SSS from 1:70-80 to 1:30 by 2020; while each school will have sporting facilities, portable water and safe sanitation by 2020.

Appreciating the critical role played by the private sector in achieving the desired results from government’s policies, Adebule said the state’s mandate is to ensure that education remains free up to the secondary school level and accessible to all children in the state.

“We want to ensure that updated guidelines on establishment and operations of private schools are available.''

written addresses.

The plaintiff (Sunny Ade) had in suit number FHC/L/CS/196/97 demanded for N2 billion as general damages against the defendants over alleged infringement and copyright of his musical works.

In his 41-paragraph statement of claim, the plaintiff alleged that in 1970, he entered into a five-year agreement with the 1st defendant to reproduce the said works and sell under its record label.

But the first and second defendants in their amended statement of defence and counter claim urged the court to dismiss the plaintiff’s suit with substantial cost for lack of reasonable cause of action.

They urged the court to hold that the agreement made on October 6th, 1970 between the plaintiff and the first defendant still subsists and that the plaintiff’s quest to exercise right of ownership of the copyright is an abuse of judicial process.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 17, 2015 — 11

APPOINTMENTS: Muslims urged to take Fayose’s ‘stomach infrastructure’

By Rotimi Olaleye

favour of Christians.

The body warned Muslim faithful to avoid being used to drag Islam into politics under any guise, saying such could erode the respect the religion commands among Nigerians.

A statement made available to newsmen in Ado-Ekiti yesterday by the General Secretary, League of Imams and Alfas, described the governor as a defender of all faiths and that

offered them for Eid-el-Kabir celebration to protest alleged DO EKITI—THE marginalisation of their General Secretary, members.

League of Imams and Alfas in Adenipekun, who countered Ekiti state, Alhaji Abdulrasak the allegation, described Adenipekun has urged Muslim Oguntuase as an impostor, community in the state to saying he remains the authentic disregard the order that they and only recognized authority that should reject Sallah gifts from can sign on behalf of the body, Governor Ayodele Fayose over adding that those dragging the allegation that his Islam into politics are incurring the appointments were skewed in wrath of Allah, if they refuse to desist.

In his words, “We wish to dissociate the league of Imams and Alfas in Ekiti from the purported press statement credited to Alhaji Oguntuase. While we don’t want to get involved in politics as a religious organization, we must state that Fayose has demonstrated the highest respect for Muslims faithful in the state.

“On the purported call on Muslims not to receive Sallah gifts from Governor Fayose, we want to state that Muslims in Ekiti are not only expecting gifts from Fayose, we will gladly accept the gifts.

“We must state that the governor has never doscriminated against Muslims. During his first tenure, MOU: Chairman, Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, Osun State chapter, Comrade Jacob Adekomi (middle); Chief of Staff to the Governor, Alhaji Gboyega Oyetola (right), and Head of Service, Mr he appointed a Muslim Perm Sunday Owoeye, during the signing of memorandum of understanding between the labour and Sec, Alhaji Yakubu Sanni. The present Special Adviser on Osun State Government on payment of workers salary at Government House, yesterday.

Political Matter, Alhaji Ademola Bello, is a Muslim.''

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he has been fair to Muslims in the appointments made so far.

A group under the League of Imams and Alfas in a statement signed by Alhaji Quadri Oguntuase, on Tuesday issued a statement condemning Fayose over what it described as deliberate marginalization of Muslims in his appointments.

Aside this, the group ordered all Muslims adherents in Ekiti to reject rams and other gifts

Osun begins payment of outstanding salaries – NLC

By Gbenga Olarinoye

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SOGBO—OSUN State government was yesterday said to have commenced the payment of outstanding salaries to workers in the state.

The Chairman of the Osun Chapter of the Nigeria Labour Congress NLC, Jacob Adekomi while addressing newsmen after a meeting with representatives of government on the disbursement of bailout loan for workers salary at the Government House in Osogbo, commended Governor Rauf Aregbesola for disbursing

the bailout loan for the payment of backlog of workers salaries.

Adekomi stated that there was no disagreement between Labour and government on whether the bailout loan will not be used to pay workers salaries as speculated in some quarters.

He stressed that, labour all this while was sure that the fund was intact but was meeting with government on the modalities of how it will be disbursed based on the Memorandum of Understanding, MoU, of 13th July, 2015 entered into with government by labour.

Speaking on the MoU between

government and the committee inaugurated on disbursement of bailout loan, the NLC boss said the funds to be disbursed will cover the payment of outstanding salaries for the month of January to June.

According to him, “In order to ensure sustainability of payment of salaries in Osun State, the first disbursement from the bailout loan should cover the payment of outstanding September and December 2014 deductions, balance of January and February salaries and full payment of March, April and May 2015 salaries for government workers.''

51ST OONI: Some ruling houses fault Giesi’s choice

By Gbenga Olarinoye

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SOGBO—THERE have been strings of rejection by the other ruling houses in Ile-Ife following the announcement of Ife kingmakers on Monday who asked the Giesi Ruling House to present candidates to fill the vacant stool of the Ooni of Ife. The Ooni-Ilare ruling house within the Ogboru dynasty, Ilare, Ile-Ife, has denounced the Ife Chieftaincy Declaration of 1980, on which Ife kingmakers, led by Obalufe of Ife, Oba Solomon Folorunso Omisakin and the C M Y K

Lowa of Ife, Oba Joseph Ijaodola requested the Giesi Ruling House to submit names to fill the vacant stool.

The Ife kingmakers had at a briefing stated that going by the latest Ife Chieftaincy Declaration of 1980 which places emphasis on rotation, it was the turn of the Giesi ruling house to produce candidates for the exalted Ooni of Ife stool.

They also noted that the same official 1980 document, which has not been reviewed was the one used to install Oba Okunade Sijuwade, whose transition in July left the stool vacant.

But the spokesman of the Ooni Ilare royal family, prince Adewuyi Adetogun faulted the position saying there was a lacuna in the 1980 chieftaincy declaration, which knocked off rotational arrangement established in the 1957 Ife chieftaincy declaration.

Adetogun gave a break-down on who is qualified to ascend the throne of Ooni saying what is expected from the kingmakers is fair play and justice by inviting all the four ruling houses to present candidates and then allow the Ifa oracle to pick the best among them.

Youths allege diversion of grants

Meantime, worried by the prolonged non-release of their grants, eleven beneficiaries of the Youth Enterprise with Innovation in Nigeria (YOUWIN) in Ekiti State have called on President Muhammadu Buhari to intervene in their plight.

They alleged that their findings from the Federal Ministry of Finance indicate that the grants meant for beneficiaries in Ekiti and Osun States have been allegedly diverted for personal use.

YOUWIN is a job creation platform established by the Goodluck Jonathan administration aimed empowering young entrepreneurs to help winners to strengthen and expand existing as well as turn innovative ideas into solid businesses.

Addressing reporters in Ado Ekiti on behalf of the YOUWIN awardees, their coordinator, Stephen Afolabi, explained that out of the 1,500 beneficiaries of the grant in Nigeria, Ekiti has only 11.

NUJ, others condemn newsmen’s detention in Ogun

By Daud Olatunji

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BEOKUTA—THE Ogun State council of Nigeria Union of Journalists, the Committee for the Defence of Human Rights, Ogun State chapter and Movement Against Corruption and Injustice have condemned the detention of seven journalists in Ogun State by a judge, Justice Nasiru Agbelu.

The judge attached to Court 1 at the State High Court, Ota, Tuesday ordered the detention of the journalists for allegedly filming the court premises and not getting permission to cover proceedings in the court.

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

The Vanguard correspondent and his colleagues had gone to the court premises by 11:44am to make an inquiry in respect of two matters - cases involving victims of Pakoto demolition and killing of a 19-year-old Bidemi Akinde, in Oke-Ore community, which were believed to have been listed for hearing this Tuesday, but were asked to be detained.

They were detained for three hours, after which they were let off the hook, after Justice Agbelu, had lectured them that the “court is not a public place.”

The NUJ, in a statement by its Chair man, Wole Shokunbi and Secretary, Soji Amosu, described the journalists' detention as “unwarranted and high level impunity.”

Ondo to pay salaries after ongoing verification – GOVT

By Dayo Johnson

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KURE—ONDO State government yesterday assured workers in the state that the bailout received from the federal government would be used to pay their outstanding

salaries as soon as the final stage of the on-going verification is completed.

Workers in the state are yet to collect their July and August salaries.

The chairman of the verification Cabinet Committee Mr Akin Adaramola said this in Akure.

12—Vanguard, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 17, 2015

BOOK LAUNCH: From left: Mr Adjarho Oyibo,Chief launcher;Mrs Esther Otobo, wife of the author; Amb. Ejeviome Eloho Otobo, author;Prof Ibrahim Gambari, Guest Speaker; Chief Emeka Anyaoku, chairman of the occassion and Mr. Tom Brisbe, Chief of Staff to the Governor of Delta State, at the public presentation of The Role of the United Nations Peacebuilding Commission by Ejeviome Eloho Otobo in Lagos, yesterday. Photo;Joe Akintola;Photo Editor.

From left: Mr Oma Djebah, Chairman, New Diplomat Newspaper; Eddy Odivwri, Deputy Editor, Thisday Newspaper; Chief Emeka Anyaoku, chairman of the occassion; Mr Adjarho Oyibo and Dr Martins Uhomoibhi, former Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Foreign Affiars and founder of the PanAfrican Institute for Global Affairs &Strategy, at the book launch.

A-Ibom gov warns against one-party state U

By Tom Moses

YO—Governor Udom Emmanuel of Akwa Ibom State has expressed confidence in the ability of President Muhammadu Buhari to address the issue of the invasion of the state’s Government House by operatives of the Department of State Service, DSS, last Friday even as he warned against alleged attempts to skew the country into a oneparty state.

Governor Emmanuel who spoke yesterday when members of the National Working Committee, NWC, of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, led by its Acting National Chairman, Chief Uche Secondus, paid him a solidarity visit, said democracy would thrive better if the country was not coerced into a one-party state.

He said: “Our democracy would be better if the country is not forced into a one party state because this is a thriving economy which therefore recommends that we must allow multi-party system to thrive so that people will take the business of leadership seriously."

Speaking on the recent invasion of the Akwa-Ibom State Government House by men of the DSS, the governor said: “President Buhari is my president and the president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and not the president of a single party. I am sure he will look at the issue dispassionately as the president of this country.”

He thanked Chief Secondus for the solidarity visit which he said had rekindled his hope and that of the people of the state in the party, adding, “By this solidarity visit, I feel confident that I have a party.

This solidarity visit is highly cherished by Akwa Ibom

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people. PDP is really entrenched in Akwa Ibom State and we salute your style of leadership because you have been able to unite us into one family. This is one state that will continue

to make PDP proud with quality leadership and provision of dividends of democracy.

“Akwa Ibom is peaceful.

Here we don’t discriminate against anyone along

partisan or ethnic lines. The free and compulsory education, free health for pregnant women, children under five and the aged is enjoyed even by nonindigenes.”

Ministerial appointments: Buhari'll be guided by sensitivity of zonal politics in Delta —Emerhor

By Egufe Yafugborhi

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ARRI—DELTA State governorship candidate of All Progressives Congress, APC, in the 2015 general elections, Olorogun O’tega Emerhor, has said that President Mohammadu Buhari will be guided by the sensitivity of zonal politics in Delta in picking ministerial appointees from the state.

Emerhor, in a statement yesterday, was reacting to the avalanche of protests and enquiries over the anticipated appointment of ministers particularly as it affects Delta

State following media leakage of nominees already undergoing screening for appointment.

He told Delta APC faithful: “The seeming delay in appointment of the President’s aides and ministers is as a result of his interest to reach out to stakeholders to manage the varying peculiarities and sensitivities in different states.

Buhari is conversant with the zonal politics of Delta State and will ensure balancing in his appointments.

“He only recently appointed Dr Ibe Kachikwu from Delta North as Group Managing

Director, NNPC. He is aware the current state governor, Ifeanyi Okowa and current CBN Governor, Godwin Emefiele are also from Delta North. I believe being aware of this situation, the President will strive to balance further appointments from Delta state by looking towards the other zones, Delta Central and Delta South.”

He urged the party faithful in Delta not to panic or resort to protests even as Pat Utomi, also from Delta North has been mentioned to fill the ministerial slot for Delta among names recently speculated in the media.

Court restrains IGP, DSS, EFCC, others from arresting Kuku

By Soni Daniel

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immediate past Special Adviser to President Goodluck Jonathan, Mr. Kingsley Kuku appears before the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission to answer questions relating to his tenure, a Federal Capital Territory High Court has restrained the security agencies from arresting hime.

Kuku, who was invited by the EFCC in late July to clarify issues relating to his tenure at the Presidential Amnesty Office, however got approval to proceed with a major surgery on his knee in the United States of America.

He is due to report to the S

EFCC on September 30, but there are claims that the security agencies have laid ambush to arrest him as he enters the country ahead of his appearance before the anti-graft agency.

Those restrained by the order issued by Justice Valentine Ashi are: Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Inspector General of Police, Department of State Service, DSS, Nigeria Immigration Service, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps and the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission.

Justice Ashi issued the restraining order after listening to arguments from counsel for EFCC, ICPC and DSS and that of Kuku arising from suit No.

CV/2695/2015 and a motion marked No: M/9541/2015 before the court.

A certified copy of the order signed by the Court Register, Balami, E.P, warned the respondents not to interfere with the freedom of the former presidential aide pending the hearing and determination of the case.

He said: ‘The respondents whether by themselves, their agents, servants or privies howsoever else described are hereby jointly and severally restrained from arresting or in any way interfering with the liberty of and freedom of movement of the applicant."

Ndoma-Egba to PDP: I've left your fold

By Emmanuel Aziken, Political Editor

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FFIRMING that the present policies and direction of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, have become inconsistent with his commitment to democratic principles, erstwhile Senate Leader, Senator Victor NdomaEgba, has formally resigned from the party.

Ndoma-Egba, in a letter dated September 14, 2015, to the PDP chairman in his Akparabong Ward, Ikom Local Government Council of Cross River State, urged that his resignation be immediately effected in the party’s records.

In his letter, Senator Ndoma-Egba said: “I returned to politics to pursue certain ideals and values, to contribute towards strengthening democracy, to give a voice to my people, a people who have been most kind and generous to me, retain my state, Cross River State in the national consciousness, attract Federal Government presence to my State, and to offer our people political choices and options.

“The current policies and direction of the party have become inconsistent with my philosophy and commitment to democratic principles. I cannot, in the circumstances, pursue my political beliefs in the party in its current state. I, therefore, resign my membership of the Peoples Democratic Party forthwith and urge you to take the necessary steps to reflect this in your records."

Vanguard, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 17, 2015—13

Bayelsa 2015: Paulker campaign blames Jonathan for disqualification

By Samuel Oyadongha

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ENAGOA—FACTS have emerged on why Senator Emmanuel Paulker, representing Bayelsa Central senatorial district and former chairman of KolokumaOpokuma Local Government Area, Chief Ebikitin Diongoli, were disqualified from the governorship race on the platform of Peoples Democratic Party PDP. The duo had last week appeared before the party's zonal screening committee in Port Harcourt but were not cleared.

While Senator Paulker was reportedly disqualified based on the non-availability of his Pay As You Earn, PAYE, clearance certificate from the National Assembly, Chief Diongoli was disqualified over alleged financial misconduct during his tenure as council chairman in the state.

But Senator Paulker ’s governorship campaign organization described the alleged disqualification as shocking and laughable.

Director General of the organisation, Chief Ayakeme Whisky, while addressing newsmen in Yenagoa, said the supporters of both Paulker and Diongoli could not fathom the

reasons for their disqualification by the Screening Committee.

According to him, “neither the senator nor Diongoli was briefed on the basis on which they were disqualified. We later discovered that it was based on spurious allegations, one of which was that Paulker did not attach acceptable tax documents. This was indeed

incredulous and laughable.

That a sitting senator, who ordinarily, should have nothing against him, should be disqualified by the same party that allowed him fly its flag to the Senate barely six months ago on flimsy excuse of tax papers, is most unfortunate."

Whisky blamed former President Goodluck Jonathan

as the alleged author of the disqualification of Senator Paulker.

He said the initial pressure mounted on the serving senator by former President Jonathan to withdraw from the race and the eventual disqualification, “ was a culmination of a well choreographed plot."

VISIT: Governor Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State (right) presents a souvenir to Comrade Fackson Shamenda, the Minister of Labour, Zambia, during the latter's visit to the governor in his office, yesterday.

Rivers gov poll was peaceful, state REC insists

By Jimitota Onoyume

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ORT HARCOURT— RIVERS State Resident Electoral Commissioner, Dame Gecilia Khan, has insisted that the governorship election in the state was peaceful.

Speaking in her office in Port Harcourt when she was presented with merit awards by three different groups for conducting peaceful and credible elections in the state, Dame Khan said before assuming duty as REC in the state she was told that Rivers State was noted for electoral violence.

The groups that gave the awards are Bayelsa Ijaw community in Rivers, Weekly Watch newspaper and Rivers Youth Vision, She said she went round the 16 local government areas in the state with her officials before the elections, sensitising women, youths and other stakeholders against electoral violence.

She also commended the media for helping to sensitise voters against violence.

Khan said all through the period of the elections she never had any call from her national chairman over issues

relating to electoral violence in the state.

She said: “As Resident Electoral Commissioners, we

all knew Rivers, Lagos and Kano states were flash points.

"There was no time my

chairman called me over any community on fire in the state. I thank you the press for all you did for me."

Delta community tasks state govt on completion of Jeddo-Ughoton-Omadino Road

By Akpokona Omafuaire

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ARRI—THE people of Okpe Kingdom have called on Delta State Government to hasten the completion of Jeddo-UghotonOmadino Road in order to hasten the development of the area.

The Omorhan of Okpe Kingdom and PDP leader in the area, Chief Robert Onome, made the appeal during a

reception in honour of the Commissioner for Works, Chief James Augoye, at Ughoton, in Okpe Local Government Area of the state.

He said: ”Within two to three years, you can imagine the development in Ughoton if the Ugbokodo, Jeddo and Ughoton road is constructed by the Delta State Government.”

Onome, who lauded the appointment of Augoye, commended the Delta State

governor for appointing their son as a commissioner, noting that the reception was organized in his honour because his appointment was the first in the history of Okpe Kingdom.

Commissioner for Works, Chief James Augoye in his response, charged Okpe people to be united and support the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, for future elections.

NUPENG cripples Chevron operations in Delta

By Mmadukwem Stephen

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A R R I — T H E lingering dispute between Chevron Nigeria Limited, CNL, and Nigerian Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers, NUPENG, yesterday came to a head yesterday as aggrieved oil workers, picketed and crippled CNL’s business operations in

Warri, Delta State.

NUPENG and CNL have been in a running battle over what NUPENG termed “sack of 2,000 of its members without payment of their full entitlements, refusal to allow workers to join union, engaging in Yellow Dog (hire and fire) employment and casualisation of workers among other unfair practices by Chevron.”

Led by Warri Zonal Chairman

of NUPENG, Cogent Ojobor and NUPENG’s Senior Assistant General Secretary incharge of the zone, Precious Otite Onowhowho, respectively, the protesting workers, it was gathered stormed CNL two operational offices in Warri as early as 6 am and barricaded the gates preventing management and other visitors from gaining access to the offices.

Delta gov assures on accomplishment of SMART agenda

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ELTA State governor, Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa, has reiterated his policies for the growth and development of the state and its citizens.

The governor, who was represented by the Special Assistant on Political Matters, Chief Okiemute Kent Akigho, at Kokori, Ethiope East Local Government Area, said the state governor would accomplish his promises to the people of the state.

Okiemute said the governor’s SMART agenda policy had been maintained throughout his first 100 days in office and had yielded visible results across the state.

Among the programmes initiated by the governor, according to Okiemute are, Skill Training and Entrepreneurs Programme and Youth Agricultural Entrepreneurs Programme, YAGEP, which are intended to bring prosperity to all Deltans.

60, 000 Delta youths apply for state's STEP, YAGEP programmes

By Perez Brisibe

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G H E L L I — D E LTA State Government yesterday said it received over 60, 000 applications from youths across the state in the first phase of the Skill Training and Entrepreneurship Programme, STEP and the Youth Agricultural Entrepreneurs Programme, YAGEP. Making the disclosure during a courtesy visit to the management of NECONDE Nig. Ltd., Special Assistant to Delta State Governor on Youth and Community Development, Mr. Eric Omare, urged multinational oil companies operating in the state to key into the state government’s job and wealth creation programme as part of their corporate social responsibility to their host communities.

He explained that owing to the limited resources of the government, it could not accommodate up to 50% of individuals willing to participate in its skills and agricultural training programme, hence there was need for companies to assist in job creation to accommodate graduands of the programme.

14 — Vanguard, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 17, 2015

Medical experts proffer solution to sound paediatric care

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BUJA—MEDICAL experts have identified three main areas of infant and child healthcare to include nutrition, skincare and neonatal resuscitation.

At a scientific forum held in Abuja on the theme: “ Promoting Sound Paediatric care for Neonates, Nutrition and Skin Health”, the experts argued that nutrition starts with exclusive breastfeeding for proper developmental milestones while skincare on medical basis ensures infant delicate skin is nurtured to guarantee protection of the internal organs as well as protective and barrier functions for effective performance of skin as excretory system and outpost for immune surveillance. The third area which is neonatal resuscitation according to them helps to rescue endangered infants and neonates suffering from Neonatal Respiratory Distress Syndrome (NRDS/ Hyaline Membrane Disease).

The scientific forum was organized by Thompson and Grace Pharmaceuticals Limited, Humana Infant Nutrition Products from Germany, and BLES from Canada Mrs. Folasade Ewarts who presented a paper on Humana Nutrition Products, A Panacea for Healthy Child Nutrition identified mother’s milk as the best food for infants, but said where it is impossible to feed the children with mother’s milk as a result of lack of enough milk, illness or death, a credible alternative should be used.

Dr. Obumneke Genevieve Kalu, Medical Director, Thompson & Grace Pharmaceuticals Limited, in her presentation on Neonatal Resuscitation, submitted that improved techniques and potent surfactants will eliminate avoidable infant mortality, particularly the neonates at birth. She further submitted that the prevalence and high mortality rate of the new born and infants emanating from Neonatal Respiratory Distress Syndrome (NRDS/Hyaline Membrane Disease) are a known fact to Neonatologists.

NBC secures N34b fund for digital switchover

By Emeka Aginam

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A G O S — A LT H O U G H Nigeria could not meet the June 17, 2015 deadline of transiting to digital terrestrial broadcasting set by the International Telecommunications Union, there are positive signals that the transition is possible.

Reasons: The Director General of the National Broadcasting Commission, NBC, Emeka Mba in a press conference yesterday disclosed that the Commission had secured 34 billion naira slightly less than 50% of the initial estimated budget of seventy billion naira.

How the fund was raised

The fund, according to the NBC boss was raised by the commission after successfully licensing MTN Nigeria Ltd to use a part of the 700 MHz to provide digital pay TV broadcasting services.

According to Mba, NBC as part of the roadmap to Digital Switch Over, DSO, has coordinated another agreement with the West African neighbours and have agreed on a new deadline of June 20, 2017 to complete the digital switchover and achieve

analogue switch off.

Even though the government was to provide both direction and financial support to enable the country meet the high expense elements of the transition, Mba assured that, “With the current arrangement through which we have secured more than half of our budgetary needs to transit, and as we

explore other avenues, we are confident that the new date is achievable”.

It would be recalled that the Commission had budgeted seventy billion naira for successful transition to DSO but was unable to secure it from government because of lack of available fund. As a result, the government had to cut the budget to fifty billion.

Nigeria points the way for African countries

Through this singular move, Nigeria he said has once again pointed the way for other African countries struggling with the effort of finding financing for their own digital switchover programmes.

“It was not until June 17, 2012 that the White Paper giving direction to the process came out.

Again, we continued doing those things we could which included engaging and sensitising the broadcast sector, setting out the technical specifications for the set top box and putting in place then Electronic Programme BRIEFING: From left; Director, Public Affairs, National Broadcasting Guide system, Commission (NBC), Mallam Awwalu Salihu; Director General, Mr. Emeka in addition to a Mba and Deputy Director, Public Affairs, Mrs. Maimunna Jimada; , during successful pilot a world media briefing on the Digital Switch Over (DSO) in Nigeria, by project in Jos, the Commission, in Lagos, yesterday. Photo by Kehinde Gbadamosi.

Plateau State.

Code of Conduct Tribunal docks Saraki tomorrow Continues from Page 5 corruption and eliminate impunity in our public affairs.

“We also note that anytime you try to fight corruption or insist that the right thing should be done, the system will always come after you. This is another case of desperation to fight Dr. Saraki because of his recent stance on national issues.

Lawyers divided The issue immediately elicited sharp disagreement among lawyers. Those who spoke on the issue include Professor Itse Sagay (SAN), Chief Morah Ekwumoh and Tayo Oyetibo (SAN).

Nothing wrong about the charge – Sagay Speaking on the matter, Sagay said: ‘’Well, we all know the rule and we are to abide by it. When we fail, we know the consequences. If it is true that he did not truly declare his assets as governor of Kwara State between 2003 to 2011, that is an offence.

Whatever is done as a result of that is normally to be expected in a democracy that is to be run transparently by people of integrity. So there is nothing wrong about the charge leveled against him by the Code of Conduct Bureau.’’

Its voice of Jacob, hand of Esau – Ekwunoh Ekwunoh, on his part doubted the originality of the move, saying: ‘’No doubt, the 13-count corruption charge against Senate President Bukola Saraki constitutes synthetic smokescreen of voice of Jacob and hand of Esau, in joint and several considerations, including its high-wire political timing and other extenuating circumstances.

Saraki should be given fair hearing – Oyetibo On his part, Oyetibo said: ‘’It is better to get the detail of the charge in order not to prejudice the fair hearing. It may not be advisable for me to make comment on it to avoid contempt of the court. The Code of Conduct Tribunal ) is a court of competent jurisdiction. You do not make comment on the merit of said charge. But it can only be general comment that he (Saraki) should be given fair hearing. I cannot say the allegation was an act of corruption because when a charge is brought before the CCT, it is entitled to fair hearing.’’

Vanguard, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 17, 2015—15

Apologise for invading worship centres, rights group tells IGP IGBO LEADER TO MASSOB: Biafran Republic not now

By Nwabueze Okonkwo

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NITSHA—A human rights group, the Campaign for Democracy, CD, South East Zone, yesterday, condemned what it termed last Sunday ’s invasion of some sacred worship centers by the police and other law enforcement agencies to arrest members of the Movement for the Actualization of Sovereign State of Biafra, MASSOB, during their thanksgiving church service to mark their 16th anniversary.

In a press statement to newsmen in Onitsha yesterday, Chairman of CD in the South East Zone, Uzor Uzor said the action was not befitting of the security operatives.

According to the statement, “Tell me if such a practice will happen in a civilized society like Europe, America, Asia?

“The Inspector-General of Police, IGP, should apologise to all the clergy men in the South East region for invading their various churches in search of MASSOB men and at the same time, he should ask them for forgiveness to avoid incurring the wrath of God,” Uzor stated.

He asked rhetorically: “When has a thanksgiving become an offence to have warranted such an invasion?

The IGP should order the release of all the MASSOB members and other citizens arrested during the invasion with immediate effect".

But the Ogirishi of Igboland, Chief Rommy Ezeonwuka has advised those who identified themselves as MASSOB members to stop deceiving themselves by parading themselves in a manner that presents them as treasonable offenders because it is not yet time for Biafra to come.

He said Biafra will come after adequate security is installed in all parts of Igbo land and all Igbo investors brought back their

investments back to the land and transform South East into a Taiwan, Japan or Dubai of Africa.

In a telephone chat with

AWARD: From left, Dr. Emmanuel Egbogah, former Special Adviser to the President on Petroleum Matters, presenting a plaque to Engr. Charles Odita, Managing Director/CEO, Midwestern Oil & Gas Company Limited, during 2015 Leadership Award, entitled ‘Making Things Happen,’ in downstream oil & gas enterprises, in Port Harcourt.

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adequate security to Igbo land so as to create a conducive atmosphere for Igbo sons and daughters who have their investments scattered all over the world to bring them back home for the development of Igbo land. It is only then that we can now concentrate and begin to chart the Biafra course.

“Biafra is not yet ripe for now but it will come at the appropriate time. If they think they will get Biafra now as their leaders are saying, it is not true.

Their leaders are only deceiving and extorting them."

World Igbo Congress challenges govt on security of lives, properties in S/East

By Emeka Aginam

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HE APEX Igbo Organization in Diaspora, the World Igbo Congress, WIC, at the end of its 21st annual convention held in Los Angeles , California, the United States of America has urged both the Federal and State governments in Nigeria to treat the issue of security of lives and property in the South East states and Nigeria with priority attention.

In a communiqué jointly signed

by Chief (Dr) Larry Udorji, WIC Chairman, Chief Cyril Nwaguru, WIC Secretary General and Chief Jimmy Asiegbu, Public Relation

Officer, the diaspora group after deliberating on the issues presented by the group, Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, noted that, whereas they share their concerns, WIC would not support or encourage bearing of arms against the government.

Accordingly, the group in the communiqué demanded that the Nigerian Police should cease and desist from harassing, intimidating and killing young Igbo youths for exercising their rights to free speech and lawful assembly as guaranteed in the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended.

The group called on the President to ensure that further

KOGI PDP GOV PRIMARIES: Delegates hail Gov Ugwuanyi on transparency OME DELEGATES to the just concluded Kogi State Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, governorship primaries have commended the Chairman of the Electoral Panel, Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State and his members for the peaceful, orderly and transparent conduct of the exercise in the state, saying that it was a mark of a new dawn for the PDP. The Enugu State governor, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi had on Monday, led a five-man electoral panel from the National Leadership of the PDP to Kogi State to organize the keenly

newsmen yesterday, Ezeonwuka declared: “the MASSOB members should forget the movement for now and concentrate on giving

contested primaries which was won by the incumbent governor of the state, Capt. Idris Wada.

Governor Wada scored 709 votes out of the 858 votes cast to defeat his main challenger, Alhaji Jibrin Isah, popularly known as Echocho, who scored 139 votes.

Alhaji Isah midway into counting of the votes embraced Governor Wada and congratulated him.

The delegates, who were reacting to the outcome of the primaries, noted that it ended peacefully, devoid of rancour or any form of manipulation due to the commitment of members of the electoral panel headed by

Governor Ugwuanyi, who insisted that the exercise be conducted transparently and in line with the dictates of the electoral guidelines of the PDP. They said that the primary election was a true reflection of the wishes of the delegates and the PDP family in the state, adding that such keenly contested primaries where the loser, mid-way into the counting of votes, embraced the winner and pledged to work for the party’s victory at the gubernatorial election was a rare positive incident in the annals of party politics in the country.

massacre of lives of any group for exercising their free speech and assembly is stopped forthwith.

The group urges the federal government of Nigeria to explore peaceful means of dealing with these ethnic groups.

The Chairman of WIC, Larry Udorji earlier in his speech urged Ndigbo to ignore charlatans and self-dealing operatives in Diaspora, who do not know the difference between ground breaking and cutting of ribbon, but who were bent on bastardizing the name and image of the WIC. The 21st annual convention centred on in-depth discussion of all issues concerning Ndigbo in the present day Nigeria, including the disunity associated with Igbo groups all over the World, and under the leadership of President Buhari.

JOGS 74/79 set meets

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JEBU-ODE Grammar School, JOGS, Old Boys Association, 74/79 set's next meeting will hold on September 20, 2015 at 7, Ayotola Ogunnaike Avenue, Animotu B/Stop, Isasi Road, BergerAkute, Ogun State.

Host is Adedayo Ayanjoke, CEO, Dabak Pharmaceutical Company Nigeria Ltd.

Lack of befitting hospitals in S-East worries Ugwuanyi

By Francis Igata

E

N U G U — DISTURBED by the decadence in hospital facilities across the SouthEast geopolitical zone,Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State has expressed worry over the lack of modern and wellequipped hospitals that would meet the health needs of the people in the zone.

Underscoring the need for modern health facilities in the zone, the governor noted that when the diagnostic centre project embarked upon by Enugu State government is completed, it will reduce the current craving of the people for medical attention outside the country.

In a speech delivered when the management team of Star Deep Water Petroleum Limited, a Chevron Oil Company and Agbami Co-ventures paid him a courtesy call at the Government House, Enugu, Ugwuanyi appealed to the group to come to the aid of the area by establishing a befitting hospital in the zone to promote health care delivery for the people.

GHOST WORKERS: We

saved N300m in 3 months —Gov Ikpeazu

By Anayo Okoli

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MUAHIA—ABIA State governor, Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu said his administration has saved N300 million from ghost workers in the last three months even as he has assured that he would clear the backlog of arrears of salaries by next month.

Ikpeazu said the arrears of salaries would be cleared with the bailout fund the state would soon access from the Federal Government.

Speaking at the flag-off of the 2016 Budget Defence with the theme, 'Budget of Restoration through Enterprise,' Ikpeazu commended civil servants in the state for working with his government to save the sum of 300 million from ghost workers.

He warned that any

16—Vanguard, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 17, 2015

Concluding part of President Buhari's official visit to France

President Muhammadu Buhari, displaying a sovenir presented to him by the NIgerian Ambassador to France, Amb. Hakeem Sulaimon (left), during the concluding events of the President's official visit to France. Photos: Abayomi Adeshida

From left, Governor Ibikunle Amosun of Ogun State; Chairman, Bulet Conctructions, Mallam Ismaila Isa; Governor Abubakar Badaru, and Abdulaziz Yar.

C M Y K

From left, Permanent Secretary, Foreign Affairs, Amb. Bukus Lolo; Dean, African Group of Ambassadors, Mr. Henri Marie-Joseph Lopes; President Muhammadu Buhari, Nigerian Ambassador to France, Amb. Hakeem Sulaiman, and the DG, Nigerian Institute of International Affairs, NIIA, Amb. Ayo Oke, during the President's meeting with African Group of Ambassadors.

Cultural Troupe dressed in Edo State attire, entertaining President Muhammadu Buhari.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 17, 2015 — 17

I

HAVE spent the weekend in Ilorin, after a week’s visit to Maiduguri. And that included my birthday, September 5th, which meant that, for the umpteenth time, I was away from my family, on the eve of my children’s return to school for the new session.

When I tell my friends that I carry the gene of travel as a good Fullo, the fact that I always seem to travel just underlines the issue.

And living in three cities, Abuja, Ilorin and Kaduna, completes the nomadic enigma of my life. But whenever I return to Ilorin, I reflect deeply on the changes that our anarchic form of modernity has wrought on the community where I grew up and one that I love with a passionate intensity.

It is that love and the knowledge I have at how things have evolved that drive my unending search for rectitude for our community.

And any conscientious chronicler of the changes our urban space has witnessed will know that the period since 2003 has seen the most irreparable damages to the structure, values and ethos of our community. The consequences of the negative social engineering associated with politics, governance and impunity since 2003 will haunt us into the future.

This realisation provided the backdrop to the explorations that I do on the shores of hindsight and the trigger to write the piece today, came from an innocuous signboard on the Murtala Muhammed Road in Ilorin. And there it stood at No 41; the signboard of MAFAROSERE BREAD! Now, from the 1960s, that was THE bread to eat in Ilorin, because it was by far the most popular bakery.

Popular bakery And it was clearly an expression of the evolving culinary culture of the community that bread was increasingly becoming a vital part of urban taste in Ilorin.

MAFAROSERE BREAD was therefore uniquely placed to profit because it was located in that part of the city with a lot of people working in modern establishments: railways; post and telecommunications; electricity and government offices. The other popular bread was OWODUNI BREAD, located in the Ita Onitanganran area of Ilorin’s heartland and was owned by an intrepid Ijebu businessman Alhaji Owoduni.

By the beginning of the Twentieth Century, Ijebu businessmen were becoming prominent traders in Ilorin. They were “factors” for the big colonial companies and traded in shoes, bicycles, clothes and so on. They included S. A. Ibironke and Oshinaya. And of course, Alhaji F.A Sadiku, whose FAS SUPERMARKET, provided the earliest experience of modern supermarket culture in Ilorin.

The children of these great merchants became prominent members of the community, with many of the females marrying into the Ilorin community. Kunle and Rotimi Ibironke and the late Segun Oshinaya, were some of the friends we made from C M Y K

Of bread, cinema, photos and Ilorin reminiscences childhood and they were part of the Ilorin experience that is now lost!

If bread provided food for the stomach, then the cinema offered very early peeks into an exotic world and an opening of the mind to the cultures of other lands. These had three expressions in old Ilorin. The first was the only cinema house in Ilorin, PALACE CINEMA, located a stone throw from the Emir ’s Palace. The fare was standard: endless romantic Indian films and their songs; the American cowboy films and war films.

There were intriguing issues associated with the little knowledge people had of the culture of cinema; that was the fact that the censors board often removed from films violent and sexually explicit materials. That led to ‘jump cuts’. The audience responded by raining curses on the film operator who was crippled in one leg.

They genuinely but ignorantly believed that he deliberately removed scenes from films to send them home early! By the middle of the 1970s, with the emergence of Bruce Lee, Chinese films entered the repertoire and children of my generation found a new love in the Kung Fu art!

Today that film house is literally dead and the experience of sitting inside the darkened hall as films rolled is lost; what was also lost was the comical sight of people who slept through the films, but beseeched a neighbour to “please wake me up during the finale (EJI MI TOBA D’IJA THE END!)!

Mobile film unit: The second cinema experience came through the Northern Nigerian Information Ministry’s mobile

It is the worry about the present and scare about what the future holds negatively, that makes me hold ever more firmly to a memory of the wonderful culture of a disappearing past

Modibbo's first birthday

film unit. They arrived on a three or six weekly interval with films showing developments taking place in Northern Nigeria, in education, healthcare and other activities of the regional government.

The other mobile films came every three weeks and these were often old Westerns and cowboy films from the silent era. A commentator gave a blow-by-blow account of proceedings. At selected intervals the film people then advertised their drugs. I am not too sure they sold very much but the entertainment value that they brought into the community was immense.

The films were nicknamed “IYA JEN RIRAN (Mama please let me see!). We were always primed for the shows especially because the mobile film vehicles went around and from the mounted public address system they announced the content of their films. That was also the duty that was performed

by Ibrahim Dan Boyi, who was the live mobile film advertisement board for PALACE CINEMA. He was the ultimate showman: dressed like the most popular Indian actors of the day and with the pointed “Abdul” shoe to match!

He was a perennial presence at social events, school annual

entertainment shows and local football marches.

The board slung around his neck would carry posters of the film of the day and when it was a war film, Dan Boyi would caution people to ensure they were not in white when they came to the film house that night.

People would ask why not. And he would hilariously answer that there might be blood splashing in all directions! That man is still very much part of the social scene in Ilorin today and is a walking encyclopedia of the social history of the past sixty years in the Ilorin community.

Photo studios and photography: The final part of that jigsaw for me was photography. By the 1960s, photo studios and photography had become very important aspect of social life.

OLAIYA PHOTO; OYES PHOTO (the signboard is still hanging in Ilorin) and DANSCO PHOTO are some that I remember vividly. They described themselves as “DAY AND NIGHT PHOTOS”! They attended birthday parties, ‘freedom’ events for artisan such as tailors and other social events, armed with a camera that was often mounted on a huge “duo pod” (tripods came later).

Square films They carried plank like square films that were inserted into cameras that had triggers for the shot and there was always a cloth backdrop like a cyclorama.

Everybody was encouraged to pose in particular ways, often with one hand on top of the other, while you were ordered to look straight into the camera (to see a bird!) and to also smile! The photographer deepened the myth, with a red cloth that covered his head as he adjusted the camera lens several times before triggering.

Not long after, taking photos in the studios took a life of its own.

There were artistic backdrops and I think my favourite was the airplane with BOAC (British Overseas Airways Corporation) emblazoned on the plane and plank staircases mounted so that

the person posing for the pictures could have the illusion created that he was climbing into the BOAC plane! Some were even more adventurous and the plane door was actually slit open and the person taking the picture went behind the backdrop and head will pop out, as if he were in the BOAC plane! Sometime there is a second person on the other side shaking hands with the man ‘inside’ the plane.

The greatest mystery of photography was of course the “dark room”. No one seemed to know what really went on inside, and I was very curious too. It was a young Igala boy that became my friend, and was an apprentice with DANSCO PHOTO on Niger Road, opposite the famous Niger Hotel (I have to write about that premier hotel in Ilorin someday), who helped me through my curiousity. John Ebiloma took me into the dark room and showed me that final piece of the photography jigsaw of my childhood. Those photographers were chroniclers of the evolving social graces of their times in our community. The old black and white pictures from the 1960s are very useful in telling the stories of our encounter with modernity and the sureties associated with the lived experiences of that period in our communal and national history. I was very lucky, because my mother just kept a record of my life from very early and I have those pictures from when I celebrated my first birthday. And I have attached that picture to the piece for this week.

Scare of a disappearing past The Ilorin community that I grew up in was still relatively smaller than the huge urban jungle that it has evolved into. We were lucky up to a point, because a succession of governments from the old Northern Regional Government, through the military administrations of Colonel David Bamigboye and especially the late Colonel George Innih, did a lot to create an admirable infrastructural basis for the modernisation of the city. That was also taken to a height by the military administration of Ibrahim Alkali.

When civilian rule returned in 1999, the late Governor Muhammed Lawal, being conscious of his origins as a bona fide son of the community, tried in his own way to renew some of the infrastructure of our community. But political party periods of civil administration often stoke the basest instincts in people and by 2003 we entered a new stage that has remained till today.

A negative trend of social engineering has been the motif of this phase in our collective history. As Marx once said, everything solid melts away. We have been at the receiving end of a culture of impunity. Communal ethos were degraded and set to naught, while a deliberate divisiveness was implanted within the community that has seen the destructive erosion of values that used to glue the community together.

18 — Vanguard, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 17, 2015 OSUN is one of the states owing workers’ salaries for several months.

Like in other affected states across the country, the situation has foisted untold hardship on the workers and their families. Some of them have been sending SOS to their friends and relations. Feeding has become difficult and their children sent out of schools over inability to pay fees.

It was therefore a great relief for all when the federal government bail-out came the way of the affected states.

However, reports emanating from Osun are totally at variance with the expectations of many, particularly the workers.

Much to the chagrin of many, the Osun State Government (OSG) has instructed civil servants to produce their First School Leaving Certificate as a pre-condition for payment of their salary arrears. To this effect, screening forms were issued to some of the workers last week. The forms, according to reports, bear a specific instruc-

Salaries and primary school certificate sage tion to attach the primary school certificates.

The development was sequel to the state government’s decision to conduct a fresh screening exercise to determine the actual workforce of the state. Much as it is the absolute responsibility of the state government to carry out routine staff audits, a question that however pleads for an answer is: why should such exercises be tied to the payment of salaries

owed workers?

Why on earth should workers be required to produce their primary school certificates before they can receive salaries for the months they had already worked for? This is seen as a clever way the OSG is trying to sidestep its obligation to its workers knowing full well that a large number of the civil servants would be unable to locate their primary school certificates due to them being lost for one reason

or the other.

The Osun State Government must be called to order. Every worker deserves his or her wage and on time. It is bad enough that workers are owed for month on end It is patently unwholesome, morally reprehensible and unacceptable for tany government to make impossible demands from workers it is indebted to.

We urge Governors in states owing workers salariesto desist from playing cheap politics with the wellbeing of the people that gave them their mandate. They are in office by virtue of their votes for him, and the public funds they preside over belong to them.

There is no law in Nigeria that requires workers to tender their primary school certificates before they are paid backlog of salary arrears. Besides, President Buhari made it clear that the bail-out funds must be primarily devoted to offsetting salary arrears of workers, and we hold all state governors accountable for that.

OPINION

Electricity rip-off: Buhari must act

By Adedeji Badejo

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Y experience in recent times concerning electricity supply, and this could be assumed to be the same experience for millions of Nigerians necessitates this piece. I bought a prepaid meter in 2008, and quite early in 2011 the meter stopped working.

Consequently, I was made to pay fixed sum till a new billing system was introduced.

In the first instance, the only alternative Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) now Eko Electricity Distribution Company (EKEDC) could provide is for me to buy a new prepaid meter, which was annoying and irritating. For a family of three (wife and a kid), it is so surprising that my monthly bill had jumped from an initial N5,000 to almost N30,000 in a tworooms apartment. I have however kept to my monthly payment of N5,000 not minding their threats and what have you.

Many things are wrong with this system.

Firstly, there is no known template or yardstick for determining the actual electricity consumption, since there is no meter to be read nor monitored. I dare say somebody somewhere arbitrarily determines the electricity consumption

and cost. Just like that. What a manner of an unfair system could this be? This is unfair. This is what Nigerians are passing through virtually every month.

Secondly is the issue of N750 fixed charge. The purpose of the charge has not been explained till today, no tangible or tenable explanation has been offered for this amount which is collected monthly.

Of what essence is this fixed charge if when a customer’s prepaid meter is faulty, the only available option is a new one? Will the government whose mantra is fighting against corruption remain quiet in the face of this rip-off?

Finally, if a customer is ready to buy a prepaid meter, the process itself is a continued rip-off and short-changing.

Such a customer will be required to clear

It is said that the cabal behind these power organisations is gargantuan and hegemonic. Have they taken this new government hostage?

all his bills including crazy ones and the estimated bill arrived with no template of electricity usage, after which a customer is expected to pay through bank draft the sum of N38,700 for the prepaid meter. Then the customer will be told that in six months the meter will be ready. In the meantime, within the next six months (some were not given meter even in twelve months), the very same estimated bill (that the customer was asked to clear before beginning the process of buying a prepaid meter), will still be sent to the customer on monthly basis, and as expected the customer has to pay. To me, this is a booby trap and expression of a wicked attitude towards the citizens by EKEDC. A customer who has paid for prepaid meter, not given same and at same time made to pay estimated bills, again.

President Buhari should look into this issue.

The president cannot and must not claim ignorance of all this practice by electricity providers. The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Agency (NERC), though empowered to deal with such issues seems to have fallen asleep allowing the DISCOs to get away with 'murder' as it were. If the president claims ignorance of this rip-off, it behoves Messrs Femi Adeshina and Garba Shehu, to bring this to the notice of the president. President Buhari needs to ask questions on the provision of prepaid

meters, at least made-in-Nigeria prepaid meters (which are not available to customers) that was presented to him during the briefing from the Ministry of Power.

Now a word for the president. I will state as a matter of fact, that the patience of Nigerians is running low for the present administration. Not that Nigerians did not know the enormity of the problem at hand, and not that an average Nigerian is expecting miracle but the slow pace of governance is worrysome. It is not defensible that a man who pursued a particular position for almost 13 years would get to such a post and start asking for more time. Let me say, without apology, before I am painted otherwise (by latter day Buhari supporters), I voted Buhari in 2003, 2007, 2011 and 2015 presidential elections.

It is said that the cabal behind these power organisations is gargantuan and hegemonic. Have they taken this new government hostage? Again, the government owes the citizens responsibility to defend them from unfair practices, particularly citizens must not be made to pay for what they did not use.

Mr President must act now. *Mr. Badejo, a commentator on national issues, wrote from Lagos.

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

As Boko Haram begins to ‘surrender'

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IGERIA is not just a hotbed of Islamist terrorism; it is also a very fertile ground for it. Nigeria may have to get ready to live permanently with Islamist terrorism unless our leaders, especially those at the commanding heights of political power, change their cowardly, dubious and wretched attitudes to these criminals who have slaughtered well over 15,000 Nigerians, uprooted millions from their homes and cost the nation billions of dollars that could have been invested in crucial services.

Compare and contrast the following.

Former President Goodluck Jonathan, in his naïve attempts to “please the North” and secure their support for a second term in office, once referred to Boko Haram as “our siblings”, adding: “you cannot just send the army to go and wipe out your family”! He declared “states of emergency” twice and extended them thrice, yet Boko Haram ballooned to a point when, in September 2014, they were controlling sixteen local government areas in Borno, Yobe and Adamawa States, with several cities designated as parts of their

malaria “Islamic caliphate”.

Northern “elders” and media gadflies intimidated the Jonathan regime with their virulent propaganda.

The more Northerners he put in high positions of his government the more strident the anti-Jonathan propaganda became. By the time of the presidential campaigns, he had become a persona non-grata across the North and his supporters were not even allowed to show their faces publicly. The same people that accused him of using a “nonexistent” Boko Haram to “declare war on the North” turned around to accuse him of looking the other way as the terrorists killed Northerners in an attitude of “let them kill themselves”.

By the time the true story of the Boko Haram war is told, you will understand why I said Nigeria is a fertile ground for this sort of affliction. How did our smaller, weaker, poorer neighbours deal with the same problem? th On February 17 2015, the people of Niger Republic, which is more Islamised than Northern Nigeria, responded massively to the call of their president, Mamadou Issoufou, for a national

rally against Boko Haram which he personally led. On February th 28 , Cameroun citizens did the same in Yaoundé. Has anyone seen any anti-Boko Haram rally or protest in the North, apart from the highly policiticised #BringbackOurGirls rituals led by anti-Jonathan Dr. Oby Ezekwesili?

Rather than staging rallies or speaking out against evil, Northern “leaders”, such as Prof.

Ango Abdullahil, Dr. Junaidu Mohammaed, former IGP Ibrahim Commassie, Malam Nasir el Rufai, former CJN Mohammed Uwais, former SGF Ambassador Babagana Kingibe, former Ambassador Ibrahim Gambari and a host of others, called for “amnesty” or “negotiation” or “dialogue” with Boko Haram.

Chad was even more proactive.

They banned the wearing of hijab; something you dare not even suggest in Nigeria, where hijab-

The “surrender” of Boko Haram is the beginning of a more difficult phase of the war on terror, because we would admit them to come and live, once again, among us

We can only fight corruption with incorruption

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ORRUPTION in Nigeria today is so pervasive that our current war against it may not be capturing its total catchment portfolio. Yet, people are calling for capital punishment to address the problem. But, shall we scratch the body with the intensity of the itching, at the risk of being totally bruised?

We are quick to accept the legal dictum that those who approach equity must do so with clean hands. That is also what the war against corruption demands – all those engaged in the war against corruption must put on the garb of incorruption. The war must involve all segments of society. This nation can be saved not by a single fiat or legislative act or the stroke of a statesman’s pen; but by millions of separate steps, an inch at a time.

The thieving industry in Nigeria has assumed a frightening dimension. And sadly, stealing is gaining a warped legitimacy in many quarters, to the extent that some who stole their States blind ran to the court on the eve of their departure from Government House to procure perpetual injunctions restraining everybody from questioning them. Shamelessly, we watch as these same perpetrators use their illacquired wealth to lord it over those who chose the path of honesty.

It used to be one of those tales by moonlight that there was a notorious thief in a village.

Disturbed by the activities of this thief, the villagers came together at the village square to seek a way out of their predicament. As soon as they gathered, the thief came out and issued a stern warning that nobody should talk about him.

Our Labour Unions have just demanded that corruption should be visited with the ultimate punishment – death penalty. In C M Y K

May 2010, the then Chairman of the EFCC, Farida Waziri, recommended the same punishment. The issue was quickly taken to the public domain by a popular Nigerian Newspaper. The people returned an overwhelming verdict of more than 75% in favour of death penalty.

Funny enough, the less than 25% who voted NO did so, not necessarily because they did not believe in the efficacy of the death penalty, but more as to who would cast the first proverbial stone. Their salient question was: How many Nigerians would still be alive after everyone adjudged corrupt has been summarily dealt with?

Among those voices that are loudest when it comes to criticising corrupt politicians are school dropouts who managed to find their way to the Customs but meanwhile, they possess the most primitive accumulations in bank accounts and sprawling landed property across the land and beyond; opinion leaders who will not encourage their people to vote unless the office-seeker has purchased their conscience; and community heads who have scorned politicians unable to donate N20 million to their community project.

Clearly, a society that encourages corruption; and a political process, which emphasises unhealthy rivalry and

The call for capital punishment looks like a booby-trap intended to return President Buhari to his military past. He must run away from it!

clad women and disguised men have murdered thousands.

Recently, Chad lined up convicted Boko Haram terrorists and publicly executed them. Chad, Niger and Cameroun have also contributed to the Multinational Joint Task Force and their soldiers have never been reported to collude with the enemies or flee from them.

But back here in Nigeria, a police officer alleged to have aided the escape of suspected terrorist, Kabiru Sokoto, was recently recalled from retirement. He was exonerated and then retired with honour. That was the third time this wonder policeman was being retired after being named in bloody anti-social activities!

Soon after he assumed power and appointed Service Chiefs, President Buhari ordered the release of 182 Boko Haram suspects from military detention. They were given a VIP reception in the Borno State Government House, Maiduguri.

They were said to have been “cleared” of culpability. Just last week, another 148 people were released. Commissioner of Police for Delta State, Mr. Ikechukwu Aduba, described the process as “the height of illegality”, saying it is the Police that has the responsibility to carry out what the Army did in compliance with presidential order.

I am not against the release of people found to be innocent of their accusation as “terrorists”. Such is the price people often pay for situations of wars, violent crises and conflicts. All I am saying is, did the military authorities do a thorough, professional job? Or did they rush to please PMB who is obviously rather ardent in his desire to secure freedom for the suspects? We only seem to hear more of efforts to free Boko Haram

suspects and punish erring military personnel violating “human rights” than following Chad’s example of zero tolerance for terrorists.

This is question is very pertinent, especially as we hear that Boko Haram fighters have “started surrendering”. I hope the president and the military have not forgotten the kind of enemies we are confronting. They are full of wiles and will do anything to get at their targets. The decimation of their command and control, and the plugging of their supply lines and escape routes could force them to adopt the tactics of infiltration into the populace, from where they might form cells of terror and suicide squads. The military must refrain from approaching this phase of the war with a conventional mindset, or it will spell doom for everyone.

The abduction of the Chibok girls th on April 14 2014 came in the shadow of a lull when Boko Haram sold the military a dummy of ceasefire for surrender. They rode on the back of the Chibok girls abduction to grow in stature and rating as the most murderous terror outfit in the world. Already, we are reeling from the casualties of eleven people who lost their lives in the Yola and Madagalli Internally Displaced Persons camps in Adamawa. These were victims of Boko Haram terrorists who infiltrated the refugee camps posing as IDPs. The “surrender” of Boko Haram is the beginning of a more difficult phase of the war on terror, because we would admit them to come and live, once again, among us. We could be back to square one. I hope I will not have reason to, one day, remind us with a heavy heart: I SAID SO!

ostentatious consumption is, without doubt, a sure prescription for widespread graft.

Who will really cast the first stone? Is it the legislative branch, which demonstrably, is not any less corrupt than the executive? There is something patently wrong with that system, which at the end of tenure sends the Governor to jail while the legislators who gave him his annual appropriations, with all sing-song about legislative oversight of the administration, walk our streets in unfettered freedom.

Or, is it the judiciary? If for nothing else, we commend the Labour Unions for their resolve to henceforth run-over those judges and their courts that grant the bogus blackmarket injunctions restraining thieving executives from being prosecuted.

The judiciary must live up to the expectation that ultimate deterrence rests on rationality and on the fear of apprehension and a belief in the certainty of penal sanctions. It is not going to be business as usual where investigations and trials will drag on ad infinitum.

The anti-graft agencies cannot, in all conscience, claim to be on top of the situation when thousands of people keep being invited and the conviction rate still remains at nearzero.

As a way of demonstrating its seriousness and pointing at the direction it wants to go, this administration must quickly show a few concrete examples of what a decisive war is all about! There must be vigorous enforcement, which relies on the military maxim that the best defence is a strong offensive.

The workers, too, must stand to be counted.

Admittedly, it takes at least two to tango. In the case of a rational offence like stealing, placing a security guard near the basket of

mangoes is likely to reduce the number of mangoes stolen – that is, if the security guard is not the one stealing the mangoes!

Invariably, every stealing by the politician is aided and abated by the workers.

If the anti-graft crusade must succeed, the workers’ involvement must transcend the shouting bouts on our streets and at the stadia into that of everyone playing well his role. It is incumbent for anyone who sees corruption to cry out. The disease of corruption can only be cured by the medication of incorruption.

Coming at a time when the abolition of capital punishment is gaining currency world-wide, Nigeria cannot now be seen to be adopting the same atavistic measure.

Even for the ultimate crime, murder, the new world order rejects capital punishment because besides offending Christ’s message of forgiveness; punishing killing with another killing also runs counter to the way society treats other heinous crimes. For instance, rapists are not being punished by being sexually assaulted.

Wittingly or unwittingly, the call for capital punishment looks like a booby-trap intended to return President Buhari to his military past. He must run away from it!

The fundamental cause of corruption is traceable to our perverted value system, which glorifies and worships material wealth acquisition without sparing a thought as to the source of such wealth. No meaningful change here can afford to leave behind the idea of general re-orientation of society.

Anything that affects all must be approached by all.

20 — Vanguard, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 17, 2015

*The grieving villagers at the grave side just before Bidemi was buried

Death of 19-yr-old: Villagers want alleged killers brought to book

By Daud Olatunji

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MOTION ran high penultimate Tuesday when scores of villagers of Oke-Ore in Ado-Odo/Ota local government area of Ogun State committed the remains of a-19-year-old Bidemi Akinde to mother earth in the presence of his both younger and elder family members. Tears rolled down the cheeks of the villagers as the body of Bidemi who was allegedly killed while some suspected land grabbers attempted to forcefully execute a purported court judgement was being lowered into the grave.

Vanguard Metro, VM, gathered that the suspected land grabbers had stormed the rustic community with weapons, ostensibly to enforce a court judgment over a controversial land.

Detachment of soldiers But a detachment of soldiers stormed the area and arrested the suspected leader of the group, identified as Mutairu Owoeye.

He was handed over to the police.

It was further gathered that, a relation of the boy, who is a captain in the Army, was contacted and his arrival paid off as Owoeye was arrested.

Mr Akinde, the father of the late Bidemi, has cried out to the Ogun State and Federal governments to bring the culprits to book.

Akinde,34, said though his son was gone for ever, he is calling on government to check the activities of land grabbers and speculators in order to forestall senseless loss of lives in the state.

Bidemi was the second child of Akinde’s five children.

C M Y K

The bereaved father who spoke before the burial took place, said: “I was the one that woke him up on that Wednesday morning.

And immediately he went to take his bath. After that he headed to the shop where he was an apprentice barber . The shop is located about 500 metres away from our residence.

“About 30 minutes later, pandemonium broke out when a land speculator, Mutairu Owoeye, and his thugs invaded the town in company of some policemen.

They came purportedly to enforce a court judgement on Oke Ore land. They beat up our people, and turned the town upside down. When they were leaving, the thugs and policemen started shooting sporadically. My son who was trying to cross the road was hit by stray bullets and he died. I am appealing to both the state and Federal governments to let justice take its course on those who have been arrested so far on the matter. My son should not die in vain.”

In his remarks, the Chairman, Community Development Council, Oke Ore town, Kunle Amosu, told our correspondent

When they were leaving, the thugs and policemen started shooting sporadically

that Owoeye had been a thorn in the flesh of the community, and was bent on dispossessing them of their land. He alleged that Owoeye accompanied by some of his supporters arrived the town at exactly 11am and unleashed mayhem on the people. The Chairman said their forefathers had for over 300 years settled in the area made up of communities as Oke Ore, Ajibawo, Onse-Olose, Kajola-Iboro and Olorunda/Olowu.

He alleged that Owoeye and his men had been terrorising and

harassing the community for sometime, until the latest one in which Bidemi was killed. He said: “For the past 23 years, the Akinboyede family of Ota has been threatening us on this land.

“Alhaji Mutairu Owoeye and his cohorts have been used on many occasions to terrorise our communities with the purpose of dispossessing us of our inheritance. Some of our people had suffered illegal arrests and detention at the instance of Owoeye.

“We prayed that we will get

justice. I am praying that nobody by whatever name would tamper with this case. That everybody that is concerned must not tamper with it”.

When asked whether the community was responsible for the burial expenses, he answered in the affirmative, saying the community was indeed responsible for the mortuary expenses, the casket, the burial rites and other expenses. Also speaking after the burial, the Iyalode of Oke-Ore and Gbalefa community, Olufunmilayo Idowu described the incident as a great loss.

She said: “It is Mutairu Owoeye that is disturbing us in Oke-Ore; he wants to take our land away from us. Though we did not resist him when he came to paste a court judgement, their action led to the death of a secondary school leaver who did not offend him.

“The boy just finished eating and came out when the bullet hit him and killed him. The Police are now denying this. We want the government to come to our aid and ensure justice is done.

“They are looking at every means to bail Owoeye out of the detention. Chief Obasanjo should come to our help.” Idowu, who decried the incident, pleaded with the state government and security agencies to come to the aid of the residents. Police spokesman, Olumuyiwa Adejobi, who confirmed the incident, said preliminary report indicated that Owoeye and his boys stormed the community.

Corporate Social Responsibility: Banks donate buses to OAGF

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HE Accountant General of the Federation, Alhaji Ahmed Idris, has canvassed for a process to encourage and promote seamless synergy between the public and private sectors, adding that this will certainly bring about the much desired “change agenda “ in service delivery to Nigerians.

He said this while expressing appreciation to managements of some commercial banks which presented staff buses to his office as a demonstration of their corporate social responsibility and support for the government.

The buses were presented by the managements of Access Bank, Zenith Bank and United Bank for Africa, UBA, during their separate courtesy visits to the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation. Access Bank and UBA each presented a 32-seater coaster bus, while Zenith Bank presented two 14-seater staff

bus. The banks assured that as partners and stakeholders in the treasury activities,they would continue to support the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation in other areas such as capacity building and infrastructural development. They also reiterated their commitment to support the present administration of

Implementation of TSA will facilitate compliance with sections 80 and 162 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria

President Muhammadu Buhari towards revamping the Nigerian economy.

Alhaji had used the opportunity of the banks’ visits to once again reassure the public that the implementation of the Treasury Single Account policy will boost revenue collection, block leakages, ensure transparency and timely disbursement of funds to beneficiaries. According to him, compliance to the Presidential directive on the implementation of the TSA would promote effective management of public resources, thereby ensuring cost effectiveness and accountability.

Speaking further, the AGF noted that the implementation of TSA will facilitate compliance with sections 80 and 162 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as it paves way for the timely capture and payment of all revenues into appropriate accounts of government.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 17, 2015 — 21

FG sites integrated transport facility in Enugu

By Godwin Oritse

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L-R: Regional Head, Global Markets, West Africa, Standard Bank, Mr. Kayode Solola; Faculty member, Lagos Business School and Guest Speaker, Dr Doyin Salami; and Chairman, Stanbic IBTC Holdings PLC, Mr. Atedo Peterside, at the 2015 Standard Bank West Africa Investors’ Conference in Lagos. Photo: Joe Akintola

Stockbrokers urge govt to develop retail capital market

By Peter Egwuatu, with Agency report

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HE Council of the Chartered Institute of Stockbrokers (CIS) of Nigeria has urged the Federal Government to develop the retail aspect of the capital market to help raise capital to fund government projects.

The President and Chairman of the council, Mr Oluwaseyin Abe, gave the advice in Abuja on Tuesday while speaking with State House correspondents after he led members of the council on a courtesy visit to the Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo.

115.55

0.05

$3,283.00

45.00

$11.55

0.15

48.80 1.05

45.69 CURRENCY CENTRAL DOLLAR

196 POUNDS 302.1144 EURO 221.8916 FRANC 202.2286 YEN 1.6384 CFA 0.3187 WAUA 275.8032 RENMINBI 30.7611 RIYAL 52.2444 SDR 276.458 KRONA 29.7348

1.10

BUYING 196.5 302.8851 222.4577 202.7445 1.6426 0.3287 2765068 30.84 52.3777 277.1633 29.8107

197 303.6558 223.0237 203.2604 1.6467 0.338 277.2104 30.9189 52.5109 2778685 29.8865

CBN Exchange Rate as at 09/ 09 /15

C M Y K

Abe said that raising the funds would derive from the participation of more companies in the capital market and the resulting boost in investors’ confidence.

According to him, “ Since the fall of the (capital) market in 2008, we realised that the retail investors ran away from the market, which is why our market wakes up and falls every now and then.

From the regulators’ point of view, a lot of strategies have been put in place. From the operators’ point of view, a lot of strategies have been put in place.

“All we want to do is to take the market to the people for them to see the market as their own. And the earlier we develop the retail aspect and encourage more companies to list in the market the more confidence will come to the market.

We have said to the government that we want to see more companies come to list on the capital market; we want to see the participation of the stockbrokers and the entire capital market community in financing some of the government projects

Also we realise that funding of government activities will not be sustained by the orthodox monetary institutions, such as the banks. Most of these (public) projects are long-term in nature and that is what capital market is meant to achieve, rather than the money market.”

Abe spoke of the need for more companies to be listed in the equities market to deepen the sector and help grow the economy. “We have said to the government that we want to see more companies come to list on the capital market; we want to see the participation of the stockbrokers and the entire capital market community in financing some of the government projects. And if you do this we can enrich and deepen the depth of the market in general. The market is not there and so we need to evolve policies that will involve everybody, especially the retail aspect of the market: the regulators, the operators; we must all work together to achieve this.

“We have seen that the government is refocusing the economy entirely from oil to other areas. So this cuts across people in the commodity exchange, the stock exchange, the OTC (Over-theCounter) market, the bond market and so everybody must work in the same direction to make sure that we have a very formidable market” he said.

Abe also said that the visit was to inform the vice president of the willingness of the capital market community to work with the government to develop the capital market especially its local content.

N a bid to further boost trade between Nigeria and landlocked countries, the Federal Government has concluded plans to site three key transport infrastructure in Enugu State as a strategy to decongest the seaports, promote export and create more corridors for transit trade between Nigeria and her landlocked neigbouring countries of Niger and Chad.

The projects are Truck Transit Park (TTP), Inland Container Depot (ICD) and Transshipment Cargo Terminal at the Akanu Ibiam International Airport, Enugu. The Enugu State government last week, allocated 68 hectares of land at Obollo Afor town in Udenu Local Government Area of the State for the Truck Transit Park.

These projects are expected to complement the Free Trade Zone (FTZ) already sited at the 9th mile area of the state, attracted by former governor of the state, Sullivan Chime.

Speaking during a courtesy visit to the Governor of Enugu State, Hon. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, the Executive Secretary of Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC), Bar. Hassan Bello, observed that the projects when actualized will reposition Enugu as a transhipment hub in West Africa subregion, explaining that the visit of NSC management team to the state was to discuss how the TTP, ICD and transhipment air cargo terminal being promoted by the Council could meet some aspirations of the state government. The projects are being undertakEN under Public Private Partnership (PPP) among the State, private investors and the Federal Government.

Private investors According to Bello, TTP is a modern state of the art facility situated just off the Highways, designed to provide a temporary rest location where truck drivers can conveniently park their vehicles in a healthy environment, get accommodation, fuel, food, drinks, rest rooms, showers and other basic supplies like oil and spare-part as well as servicing of their vehicles. The parks are primarily intended for short-term safety breaks and also long-term parking services in high-use corridors.

Explaining that the NSC as a regulatory agency for the projects, is facilitating the development of TTPs at eight locations across the country, with Obollo Afor inclusive, he noted that in line with the decisions of the 13th National Council on Transport (NCT) in November, 2013 in Lagos, state governments interested in the development of TTPs could either do so separately or in collaboration with the Federal Government.

Kogi State, he added, had allocated over 45 hectares of land for the establishment of a pilot TTP project at Ohono village, along the Abuja-Lokoja way, while the Kaduna State government is finalizing arrangements for the development of its TTP project at three locations across the state.

22—Vanguard, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 17, 2015

Humble entrepreneurs understand that mistakes and pitfalls will occur, and their ideas won't become successful overnight

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BUSINESS

,

Traits investors seek in entrepreneurs

F

EW companies get up and running without a bit of private capital giving them an extra boost. Attaining that capital means impressing seasoned investors and convincing them that your business, more than any other, is worthy of their time and money.

Investors also consider factors such as personality traits of the entrepreneurs. They realise that an entrepreneur with the wrong personality can ruin the chances of a brilliant business on paper, much in the same way that an entrepreneur with a perfect personality can breathe life into a merely decent idea. These are some of the personality traits that set entrepreneurs apart in the eyes of investors.

Sincerity If you come off like a snakeoil salesman desperate to get his hands on capital, you’ll immediately turn investors away. These are wealthy, involved people, and they’ve already been approached by some of the best swindlers and smooth-talkers in the business.

If they feel that they’re being misled, or that you are presenting yourself as someone that you’re not, your reputation could be instantly ruined. It’s far better to honestly admit some of your shortfalls and concerns than to try to cover them up, and it’s far better to act like your true self than to adopt a fake personality.

Fake personality To put it bluntly, investors have a great BS detector, so stay sincere and honest throughout all your interactions.

Charisma Charisma is an intangible quality with multiple definitions, but essentially, it’s a level of likability or charm that attracts other people. Initially, you might not consider “likability” as a key trait for running a business - after all, a business owner needs to make objective, emotionless decisions for the benefit of the business before any human interest considerations. But at the same time, entrepreneurs are leaders.

Entrepreneurs are responsible for building and maintaining the team of employees who will drive the business forward, and responsible for attracting a first round of initial clients.

To do this, they need some

level of charisma, and investors look for this quality in potential investments.

Passion If you come to an investor meeting and simply run down the numbers in a monotone voice, your investors won’t be impressed. However, if you come in visibly excited about your idea, to the point where you almost can’t calm yourself down, they can’t help but contagiously “catch” some of your enthusiasm. Passion makes people work harder and more satisfied in the process of pursuing their goals. Without passion, entrepreneurs are far more likely to give up when trouble hits, and are far less willing to take essential risks to keep the business moving forward. Never be afraid to demonstrate your enthusiasm.

Humility

Entrepreneurs need to be grounded with humility for several reasons While charisma and passion can sometimes be associated with obnoxiousness or even arrogance, a level of humility is important to investors as well. Entrepreneurs need to be grounded with humility for several reasons.

First, they need to be willing to listen to outside opinions. As an entrepreneur, you aren’t going to know everything, and you’re going to make mistakes.

Being humble enough to listen to outside insights is imperative to improve the business.

Secondly, they need to understand that not everything is going to be perfect. Humble entrepreneurs understand that mistakes and pitfalls will occur, and their ideas won’t become successful overnight. This humility leads to greater longterm thinking, and more rational responses in a crisis. *Culled from Entrepreneur.com

NAIRA EXCHANGE RATES (15/09/15) Currency DOLLAR STERLING EURO FRANC YEN CFA WAUA RENMINBI RIYAL KRONA SDR

Buying(N)

Central(N)

Selling(N)

196

196.5

197

302.1144 221.8916

302.8851 222.4577 202.7445 1.6426 0.3287 276.5068 30.84 52.3777 29.8107 277.1633

303.6558 223.0237 203.2604 1.6467 0.3387 277.2104 30.9189 52.5109 29.8865 277.8685

202.2286

1.6384 0.3187 275.8032 30.7611 52.2444 29.7348 276.458

Commod Light Crud

Natural G Sugar Coffee Cocoa

Accessing BoI's agric processing fund

By Yinka Kolawole, with agency report

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GRICULTURE is the main stay of the Nigerian economy, with agricultural produce abounding in every state of the federation, but with limited capacity for processing and preservation, resulting in huge losses and wastages.

This prompted the Bank of Industry (BoI) to establish the Cottage Agro-Processing (CAP) Fund to support the establishment of cottage agroprocessing plants to produce food products and raw materials for industries within and outside the Staple Crop Processing Zones (SCPZs) across the country.

Transaction structure The Fund ensures that anticipated risks are dimensioned and mitigated by its transaction structure. It enhances goodwill by supporting agricultural production and rural

development and create employment.

Objective: Mr. Rasheed Olaoluwa, Managing Director of BoI, said at the launching of the N5 billion CAP Fund in September 2014, that the bank plans to finance about 1,000 projects under this fund. “It is targeted at Small and Medium Industries at the low-technology, labour intensive end of the agroprocessing spectrum. And inclusive growth is our primary consideration.

The fund is designed to enable BoI, being Nigeria’s leading development finance institution, play its catalytic role of paving the way for other financial institutions to follow,” he said.

The fund will provide loans to beneficiaries to establish small scale plants or mini mills to process agric products

Olaoluwa added that the fund will provide loans to beneficiaries to establish small scale plants or mini mills to process Nigeria’s agricultural products.

Primary consideration His words: “The Cottage Agro Processing (CAP) fund will provide loans to beneficiaries to establish small scale plants or mini mills to process Nigeria’ s agricultural products such as cassava , oil palm, paddy rice, groundnut, yam, maize, cocoa, sheanut ,plantain, cashew, hides and skin, meat, chicken and fish. These products are grown all over the country and have been selected to ensure an even distribution across Nigeria’s 36 states.”

Target market: Those that can access the Fund are limited liability companies, enterprises and cooperative societies engaged in the processing of agricultural products either into finished food products or raw materials for industry or for the export market. The products include: cassava, oil ralm, rice paddy, groundnut, yam,

Vanguard, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 17, 2015 — 23

,

& YOU

dity de

Gas

COMMODITIES (16/09/15) Last 47.09

Change ($) +2.50

% Change +5.61

2.68

-0.05

-1.69

11.47

+0.07

+0.61

115.55

+0.05

+0.04

3,275.00

+37.00

+1.14

maize, sorghum, aquaculture, livestock, cocoa, shea nut, plantain, cashew, tomato and all their derivatives.

Projected impact: The Fund is being deployed for the supply and installation of equipment for an estimated 1,000 cottage mills across the country, a minimum number of 20-30 mills per state, including the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). Projects are to be located in the areas with comparative advantages in terms of the available agricultural raw materials within each state. This is expected to create a minimum of 20,000 jobs for Nigerians 5,000 direct and 15,000 indirect jobs.

The CAP Fund provides agro-processors with access to finance and technology to convert agricultural products to economic prosperity.

Economic prosperity The Fund is disbursed at a single digit interest rate (9 percent); 5 year loan tenor; 6month moratorium; guaranteed working capital and; speedy processing.

Procedure: Customers must meet all conditions precedent to draw down, including a deposit of 20 percent equity contribution into designated account. BoI disburses the 70 percent loan in tranches direct to approved contractors and suppliers in line with agreed milestones.

Upon completion, MSMEfriendly partner bank provides 10 percent working capital. Customers are responsible for running of the plant and full repayment.

Requirements: The first phase of the scheme is to facilitate the processing of the top three (3) major crops in each state of the federation and the FCT. BoI Zonal Offices will market the product program as well as focus on agricultural

products and their derivatives on the basis of comparative advantages and in alignment with the SCPZ nearest to them.

The Zonal Offices will also identify the producers of each of the derivative items within their jurisdiction in building effective deal flow.

Access to market: As part of the requirements, each applicant is to provide the following: Identification of the basic agricultural raw material(s) to be used, the location where the raw materials will be sourced from and the annual volume available in that location.

Parties to the Fund BoI – To provide the longterm loan and manage the scheme. Where it becomes absolutely necessary for BoI to provide working capital, it shall be done on a case-bycase basis and the partnering commercial bank shall be carried along.

Partnering bank - To provide working capital for the customer. The partnering bank shall sign a tripartite agreement with BoI and the customer to sweep loan repayments to BOI’s account based on the Loan Amortisation Schedule.

Customer – To provide 20 percent equity contribution, operate and manage the project from the point of disbursement through operation of the plant and ultimate repayment of the loan.

Accredited supplier - To be responsible for the supply, installation and commissioning of the equipment. The supplier is to provide a 2-year warranty for the equipment, execute a 3year Equipment Maintenance Agreement with the customer and provide a standard factory layout plan that will accommodate the equipment to be supplied.

Organisations should prepare their budgets based on the strategic plan of the entire organisation

,

Is budgeting drowning strategic planning in your organisation?

This insight does not intend to undermine the importance of budgeting in organisations.

I am also in support of the fact that all organisations must be realistic about their financial limitations; it would be organisational suicide not to take financial resources into consideration. However, allowing your planning decisions to be dictated solely by budget may not be in the best interest of the organisation.

By ‘Uju Onwuzulike

“The budget is not just a collection of numbers, but an expression of our values and aspirations”…Jacob Lew

W

E can hardly see any organisation that does not have a well outlined budget in place.

Organisations often rely on their budgets to guide them.

It is not out of place to have a budget, but it is not enough to rely only on budget in driving the vision of the entire organisation.

Most organisations have missed it. How? They have allowed the budget to drive the organisation’s vision. Such organisations have worked day and night to develop a well outlined budget but may not have realised the need to develop a strategic plan first.

For the purpose of clarity, your organisation’s vision and the strategic plan are what drive your budget, and not vice versa.

Planning effectiveness Organisations that are reactive in their operations have a low level of planning effectiveness. They allow the budget alone to drive the plan for the entire organisation.

They also view planning as synonymous with financial objectives alone.

Some other organisations are traditional in their planning effectiveness, and surprisingly are even better than the reactive organisations.

The proactive organisations have a higher level of planning effectiveness, as they have a comprehensive strategic plan that is conducted for the entire organisation.

The proactive organisations also start out right at the beginning with a clearly – defined, organisation-wide, shared, and integrated vision.

Proactive organisations allow their strategic plan to drive the

BY ‘UJU ONWUZULIKE

budget.

The budget must be seen as the means to securing the plan. If your plan exceeds your budget capabilities, then it will be necessary to find ways to secure additional funding or reallocate funds to carry out your plan.

If this is not possible, then you will have to revisit, review, and recalibrate all of the initiatives planned for your next budget cycle and shift some initiatives to the next quarter or year planning cycle, if your immediate quarter or year ’s budget cannot provide the resources for your initial plan.

Organisations that are reactive in their operations have low level of planning effectiveness

Points to ponder Organisations should prepare their budgets based on the strategic plan of the entire organisation. The strategic plan should always drive the budget. The budget should not be a stand alone.

Organisations should allocate an appropriate amount of time for both the planning process and the integration of planning into budgeting.

Final note: The strategic plan primarily should be a guide for the entire organisation. One of the key reasons for strategic planning is to create tension and conflict between your future vision and the resources you need to complete key tasks to achieve it, versus your current way of allocating your budget.

This tension and gap between resources is what can motivate you to make the hard choices of how you spend your budget; either on past, obsolete activities or futureoriented priorities.

We should avoid the temptation of not giving adequate time for both the planning and process and integration of planning into budgeting. As organisations and leaders, we should not rush too fast into budgeting and leaving planning to hang loose.

For views or perspectives: Email: uju@hainescentre.com Mobile: 09091142093 www.hainescentre.com C M Y K

24 — Vanguard, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 17, 2015

C M Y K

Vanguard, THURSDAY,

SEPTEMBER 17, 2015

—25

By Dayo Adesulu, Tare Youdeowei, Kelechukwu Iruoma, Glory Ekwenuya, William Covenant & Bolaji Awoyale

I

N a bid to prepare students for life after school, aside waiting for white collar jobs or paid employment, the federal government has made entrepreneurial studies in higher institutions compulsory.

According to the former Minister of Education, Mallam Ibrahim Shekarau, the promotion of entrepreneurship in the 129 universities will tackle insecurity challenges facing the c o u n t r y .

The Minister, who disclosed this while declaring open the annual National Entrepreneurship Week, ANEW, said: “The introduction of Entrepreneurship Education as a compulsory unit under the General Studies, GST, programme in Nigerian universities places emphasis on the nation’s yearning to assist youths gain economic i n d e p e n d e n c e .

Entrepreneurship education "It is my pleasure to inform you that Entrepreneurship Education is compulsory in all 129 universities in Nigeria. Some universities offer entrepreneurship education at the undergraduate and postgraduate levels, today, the course has been adopted as one of the strategies of producing functional graduates.”

Following this declaration on November 2014, tertiary institutions without entrepreneurial studies as a course were forced to upgrade.

The questions begging for answers are: Are tertiary institutions still equipping their students to be independent? Are the students gaining from the imposed course?

Speaking, a student of Samuel

Rape, sexual harassment in Nigerian ivory towers PG. 27

Nigeria literacy rate hits 51.1%, says UNICEF PG. 27 C M Y K

Flasback: Jobless Nigerian graduates at the Abuja Stadium for interview to fill vacancies in the Nigerian Immigration Service.

Mixed reactions trail delivery of entrepreneurial studies •Students lament poor course delivery •Seek cooperation of organisations in tutelage •Call for extension of I.T duration Adegboyega University Ogwa, Edo State, Eboigbe Anita, who stated that her school still teaches the course as a compulsory subject said; “Entrepreneurial studies, as we were told, was introduced to stand as a support pillar to help undergraduates stand out in the crowd when they are not employed after tertiary education. It is believed

by many that employment today is based on political influence and paper qualification rather than intellectual knowledge, so it is necessary we get this.

Presently, while on campus, I am learning to do tie and dye and I got the motivation from my entrepreneurship class.”

On the other hand, Ifeoma Chidera from University of

Benin, while lamenting the poor delivering of the course in her school, noted that she has not been benefitting from the lecture.

She said: “We were given a big book to read and asked to draw a business plan and proposal which we presented and were graded. We were not advised appropriately; we were not corrected as to where we might

have gone wrong in our plan or where we needed to improve.

The groups that cooked for the examiner as part of their presentation got high marks.

"Our lecturer was one of the oldest in the school, instead of using business plans or thriving businesses to illustrate he kept reading from the text. If anyone Continues on Page 26

‘UTME varsity requirements missing in new curriculum’

By Dayo Adesulu

N

OT many critics of the education sector who believe that some things are definitely wrong with the sector can proffer solutions to the decadence bedeviling the sector.

Dr. Adebayo Oyeyemi who lectured Mathematics in the tertiary institution for years and also an administrator of Good Shepherd Group of Schools, Lagos, is not one of them.

He has pointed out some confusions and solution in the implementation of the new curriculum, lamenting that the university requirements through UTME is missing in the new curriculum. ”Nigeria is one of the countries that has the best educational policies but the problem is inconsistency and implementation as well as

aligning what is happening at the grass-root.

"The new national curriculum is very good because it aligns with global practices as it focuses on specialisation right from the onset. For example, if a child is going to become a medical doctor, right from the primary school, he

Nigeria is one of the countries that has the best educational policies but the problem is consistency and implementation

should be having the tendencies that are directed in that way, then narrow it down when he gets to JSS and eventually to SS1, where he can focus on sciences."

According to him, the curriculum does not align with university requirements in Nigeria. "There are some schools that follow this new curriculum like our school and at the end of the day, cannot gain admission to the university."

He noted that the university requirements through UTME are different from what we have in the new curriculum. For instance, if a child is going to study engineering, the new curriculum tells us he does not need Biology and Chemistry.

In the new curriculum, he said, we have five basic subjects that are compulsoryn then a student has to pick three subjects from his area of specialization making

it eight. Thus, we have English, Maths, Trade, Civic and Computer. In the old curriculum, Computer was compulsory, in the new curriculum , Computer has been removed.

"Due to your area of specialisation, you need three subjects or four and then take one elective across the four divisions.

Others are Humanities, Business, Science, Mathematics and technology."

He maintained that both Business and Technology are having problems. In the new curriculum, it is not compulsory for them to do Biology, Chemistry, and Physics adding that there are other subjects that are related like Basic Electricity, Basic Electronics, Food and Nutrition , Technical Drawing and so on.

He argued that if a child

Continues on Page 26

26—Vanguard, THURSDAY,

SEPTEMBER 17, 2015

‘UTME varsity requirements missing in new curriculum’

CONFERENCE: From left, Lucky Idike, General Secretary, Kings College Old Boys Association (KCOBA); Leke Osunniyi, Vice President, and Segun Olukoya, exco member, at a press conference to announce the activities of the 106th founder’s day anniversary of the college in Lagos.

Mixed reactions trail imposition of entrepreneurial studies Continues from Page 25 lamented or asked questions he would call the person an evil spirit. That’s my experience with entrepreneurship studies, there was nothing to learn. Whatever experience I have gathered is from my willingness to improve myself.”

Meanwhile, the Executive Secretary, Lagos State Vocational and Education Board, LASTVEB, Engr. Gasper Olawunmi opined that undergraduates should be allowed to participate in industrial training for at least six months, adding that it will give them the opportunity to be employed after graduation.

He explained that the six month can be broken to three month each. According to him, the school holiday when students are usually allowed to go for industrial training programmes is too short for exposure to the industry.

Within the six months, he maintained that the students would have gotten used to the culture of the industry as they will encounter practical aspects of most things taught or read in the classrooms.

Required experience Olawunmi who noted that every undergraduate must be exposed and know what is happening in the industry said: ‘’It will help employers have confidence in them when such students approach the company for employment after graduation.’’

Besides, he warned students that while undergoing training, their aim should not be after making money, but getting the required experience that will boost their academic performance. ‘’Instead of working for money, they should rather be grateful to the company where they are attached for the knowledge acquired,’’ he said.

He, however urged the Federal Government to come up will a policy that will give industrial training undergraduates access to TETFund.

Suggesting what can be done to improve delivery and student output based on his experience from taking the course while in Wellspring University, Benin, Iferi George said: “There is need for entrepreneurship centres in universities to add to the curriculum, incentives that would

motivate students in showcasing their entrepreneurial skills. Mandatory assignments on how to develop their skills and presenting them should be given to allstudents. "Universities should, however, not offer only exams that students will write and pass without imparting how their entrepreneurial skills can be developed.

Akinpelu Emmanuel, a student of Samuel Adegboyega University expressed his delight on how the course has helped him in becoming a photographer. “It should be known that universities are like factories, they are expected to produce quality products or risk closure.

"Every university should continue to aptly deliver the course to build graduates not only in certificates but graduates that can stand out and showcase their entrepreneurial skills to the people out there.”

On his perceived effect of industrial attachment on students, Dr. Daniel Ekhariafo, a lecturer in University of Benin said; "Industrial attachment gives them a better idea about work place; the politics in offices, challenges, opportunities and a chance to take individuals as their mentors and role models. "As for the duration, i believe six months is fine however, some organisations need to allow their industrial trainees touch equipment, to practice what they have been taught. There is a tendency among experienced individuals to disparage the gifts of the students hence they frustrate them from learning."

The introduction of Entrepreneurship Education as a compulsory unit under the General Studies, GST, programme in Nigerian universities places emphasis on the nation’s yearning to assist youths gain economic independence

Continues from page 25 should follow that into-to, he will not get admission to the university because the universities still base their requirements on the old curriculum which says if a child wants to study Engineering, he should have Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics, now that is the problem.

His words: “It is a serious problem as Physics and Chemistry are no more a Technology requirement. They are under Science and Mathematics for those studying Medical Sciences and General Science. So, if we should follow the new curriculum, it is perfect.

That is why I said, by policy, it is excellent, but by implementation, no communication. There is a gap.

“Till date, many schools do not know what to do as far as implementation is concerned. Though, we nearly fell victim when they gave us the curriculum and told us that we should simply follow the curriculum. However, the government needs to sit down and bring professionals together.

“It is not just copying what happens in America, what happens abroad, but is also to customise our curriculum and when we customise it, we should communicate how to implement it to educators.

"The Ministry of Education should go to the field and get feedback on what is happening on the field. What is happening on the field is different. In fact, it is like we are gambling with the lives of these children.

“On the part of WAEC, they came up with Civic education, thereby mixing both the new and the old curriculum together.

“For Lagos state government, it said Biology is compulsory. Everybody is now bringing ideas. You do not run a curriculum like that. You sit down and figure out what your goal is? What do you want to achieve with these children?

Then, you set what will take them there.

All ideas should be gathered together in a single document of the curriculum.

“If the Federal Government says that technology students do not need Physics and Chemistry from the curriculum, why should somebody now rise up, and say they still need Chemistry, Biology? There should be a uniform document.

“Now we have to see how to manoeuvre ourselves, so that we will not fall victim, because some children did not gain admission. They removed Economics from Commercial, they put it under Humanities. Universities still require economics for Commercial students.

“In some schools, it was when the UTME requirements came that they started doing Economics, and those students failed woefully. However, the new curriculum is perfect, to me, It is what I have been soliciting for. In fact, because of the old curriculum, there were some vocational things we put in our school, like IT. “I embrace the new curriculum because you do not need to bother students with what they do not need.

Bring in general subject that will give them general knowledge then let them specialize. Civic education, English, Mathematics and Trade are general.

Then let every child specialize in the area where he has his own gift and his own inclination.”

Physics and Chemistry are no more a Technology requirement, they are under Science and Mathematics for those studying Medical Sciences and General Science

20-yr old Nigerian emerges best student in CS in US Varsity

By Marie-Therese Nanlong OS—A Nigerian student who studied in the University of Michigan, Flint, United States of America, Tobi Adebisi has graduated with a first class in Computer Science.

Adebisi, a 20 year old graduate who got 4.0 GPA came top in his department joining others from other departments as best graduating student in 2015 in the USbased institution.

He said dedication, work ethics and professional approach to issues led to his outstanding academic performance and urged Nigerian youths irrespective of where they find themselves to trust God and work hard to distinguish themselves in their chosen career.

Tobi Abebisi who hails from Aiyetoro Abede in Kogi state, Nigeria is the son of Dr. Joseph Adebisi, the Director-General, Nigerian College of Accountancy, Kwall, Bassa in Plateau State.

Speaking with journalists in Jos, the USbased Computer guru said, “My favourite

J

quote is ‘The harder you practice the luckier you get.’ Once I found what I loved doing, I worked as hard as I could at it. It is not enough to be mediocre. The goal is to try and be the best if you truly love what you’re doing, you want people to see why you love it.”

Tobi Adebisi got a GPA of 4.0 and also excelled in character as his Mentor in the University, Mr. Tang said, “He is honest, sincere, respectful, welcoming and very importantly has a commendable attitude.

“Students can learn a lot from Adebisi by taking time to explore and step out of their comfort zone. Tobi did not just want to receive knowledge, but wanted to explore and experiment and it has gotten him far.”

Among the extra curricula activities he was engaged in was being, “President of the Association of Computing Machinery, Vice President of African Students Association and Member UM - Flint Student Government and Intervarsity Christian Fellowship.”

Vanguard, THURSDAY,

CONFERENCE: Amelia Dafeta, head of school, Corona School Ikoyi; Maureen Ihonor, director of education, Corona Schools Trust; Olufunto Igun, CEO; Ngozi Ebo, strategy & development manager; Ifueko Thomas, director, Corona Teachers College, and Omotayo Akin-Adelekan, director, finance & administration, Corona Schools Trust, at a press conference to announce the 60th years anniversary celebrations of Corona Schools in Lagos.

Rape, sexual harassment in Nigerian ivory towers

By Amaka Abayomi, Tare Youdeowei & Kelechukwu Iruoma HEN Shola, who was a 300 Level student of Business Administration in University of Ibadan, was propositioned by one of her core course lecturers, a professor that students dreaded failing his course, little did she know what fate had in store for her.

Shola said: “I was surprised when he made his intentions known to me because I was like normal everyday kind of girl who didn’t dress provocatively. When I rejected his advances, he made it clear that it was either I gave in to him or spend an extra year in school.

W

Intelligent students “I stood my grounds and had made up my mind to spend the extra year despite being one of the intelligent students in the department. When he saw that I was adamant and he knew he couldn’t defend failing me in the exams, he scored me 40 despite my efforts.”

Today, Shola runs a successful human capacity training business. She is among the lucky few who escaped the clutches of randy lecturers and higher institution staff, especially as most students spend extra years till they give in to these demands.

Who’s at fault? Sexual harassment is bullying or coercion of a sexual nature, or the unwelcome or inappropriate promise of rewards in exchange for sexual favours. It is unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favours and other verbal or physical harassment of a sexual nature.

Nigerian ivory towers have moulded intellectuals that have shaped the destiny of this nation and have spawned icons, who are contributing their quota to national and global development. But these citadels

of academic and moral excellence have, pathetically, become havens for randy lecturers, who specialize in sexual harassment, sexual gratification and, in most cases, rape.

That the internet is full of stories and images of how some lecturers, who were bent on sleeping with students before they would allow them graduate, were set up by would-be victims and their friends, have not deterred others from engaging in such acts. The question then is who is at fault for the rise in this malaise— the female students or lecturers.

‘The students’: A mother of two undergraduate and a postgraduate student, Mrs. Kate Oragui, emphatically lays the blame at the doorsteps of female students, who dress scantily and provocatively, especially those who she described as ‘academically and morally bankrupt’.

She said “when I started my post-graduate programme at the University of Lagos, I was shocked to see female students wearing cloths that barely covered their nakedness and I wonder how they would not be sexually harassed or raped by men who can’t control their libido.

“It is boldly written at the school’s entrance that the way you dress determines how you would be addressed. So I wonder why female students can’t respect and cover their bodies. A good number of the victims are either morally or intellectually bankrupt and are willing to do anything to score high grades.”

Blaming the female students, a Combine Arts student of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, who did not want her name in print, said: “The victims actually play a part in their predicament through their provocative dressing or manner of approaching the male lecturers.

“In cases where such lecturers make promises of good grades, I

don’t think I would still consider that as rape. Be that as it may, these ‘good grades’ hardly turn out to be an ‘A’. Rather, it’s usually something less, degrading the self-worth of such a lady that succumbs to such sexual approaches.”

‘It’s lecturers, students, authorities’ Condemning the act in the strongest terms, a lecturer at the University of Benin, Dr. Daniel Ekharefo, blamed the lecturers, female students and school authorities for feeding this monster.

He said: “I wonder the level of perversion of the individuals in such cases. Young people should avoid short cuts to success as many lecturers, who sleep with students, ride on the promise to give good grades to students but end up taking advantage of them.

“Unfortunately, the students, more often than not, are prepared to offer their bodies for marks.

What is required therefore, is for students to read hard and stand firm. No lecturer can take advantage of a brilliant and intelligent student. “Lecturers need a moral re-awakening to the ethics of their profession and their place in nation building, and school authorities should open channels of communication where students can ventilate their grievances and report the unethical behaviour of their tutors.”

Victims speak up A third year student of UNN (names withheld), who was sexually harassed by a lecturer, said she did the right and most moral thing by turning down the lecturer despite being promised a good grade.

She said: “It is just a mechanized way by randy male lecturers to satisfy their sexual urge. Some of them are just empty promises and those that go ahead to rape the students should be critically followed up by law enforcement agencies for appropriate punishment.

“It is a devilish act which should be stopped. I believe that students have the right to be listened to when such complains come up in a school environment. And female

SEPTEMBER 17, 2015—27

students should speak to the right persons about such harassment and avoid such lecturers.”

She suggested that ad hoc committees or councils be set up in every tertiary institution to specifically protect students and mete out punishments to offending lecturers or any offender, for that matter.

Another victim of sexual harassment, a National Diploma, ND, II student of Library and Information Science, Federal Polytechnic, Oko, Anambra State, who pleaded anonymity, noted that sexual harassment and rape are not new because they happen everyday in schools.

Recounting her experience, she said: “Most lecturers feel they can intimidate and threaten female students because, at the end of the day, they are the ones that would score them. So, they see this as a tool to achieve their evil plans. I was lucky because the lecturer involved wasn’t taking us on any core course. So I knew the consequences of calling his bluff would not be so bad.

“So serious was he about having his way with me that he even gave me money to go pay for a hotel room and wait for him at an appointed time. It was like telling the sheep to go wait for the butcher at the slaughter house. Being a sharp Lagos girl, I disappeared with the money after giving him false hope that I would be waiting for him.

“When he eventually saw me after some weeks, I gave one lame excuse and he said I was the first Lagos girl he came across that wasn’t loose as evident in my decent cloths. I guess he just wanted to try his luck with me.”

Nigeria literacy rate now 51.1%, says UNICEF

By Dayo Adesulu

U

NITED Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund, UNICEF has put the total adult literacy rate in Nigeria at 51.1 percent, making Nigeria one of the worst performing countries in the world in this area.

With net primary school enrolment across the country at just 65.7 percent, Nigeria’s illiteracy epidemic looks set to be a major issue for decades to come.

Poor literacy affects many aspects of an individual’s life, increasing the likelihood of poverty and the risk of experiencing both social and economic strife. On a national level, there is a significant corresponding negative impact on long-term prosperity. In Nigeria, these issues have been recognised and some work has already begun to meet the challenge that illiteracy poses to the country’s specific goals of economic self-sufficiency, poverty reduction and sustainable development.

Reacting to UNICEF's figures, Muhtar Bakare, Pearson’s Managing Director in Nigeria who charged the Buhari administration on total education,

says reversing the country’s illiteracy trend should be at the heart of the President’s new education agenda.

Speaking with the Media in Lagos, he said: “It is difficult to progress in other areas of education when our population is not reading and writing at basic levels. There is no easy solution to Nigeria’s literacy challenge – a long-term commitment is needed to address illiteracy amongst all age groups and in all areas of the country. We need to not only ensure 100% enrolment of children in school, but also ensure that these children remain in school and are learning while they are there.

With around 40 million adults

The work of the project includes the collection of data and statistics regarding the world’s literacy status

illiterate in Nigeria, teaching adults how to read and write must also be a priority”.

Tackling illiteracy on a global level is a key pillar of Pearson’s social impact commitment, with Project Literacy launched earlier this year. Project Literacy will bring together a diverse global cross-section of people to make significant and sustainable advances over the next five years so that by 2030, no child will be born at risk of poor literacy. The project will leverage Pearson’s expertise in education with financial support from the company, with the aim of accelerating improvements in literacy throughout the developing world. The project’s website offers easily accessible tools for parents and educators so that they can make incremental improvements to literacy in local classrooms and communities.

The work of the project includes the collection of data and statistics regarding the world’s literacy status, identifying where literacy initiatives are most needed. Programmes rolled out as part of Project Literacy will tackle widespread illiteracy by educating thousands of school age children. Reversing illiteracy amongst adult populations will also be a focus of the project.

28—Vanguard, THURSDAY,

SEPTEMBER 17, 2015

How much will be paid for university education PROGRAMME: From left: Mr. Adegbola Abiodun, JAN Regional Programme Coordinator ; Anthony Wisdom Okoro, Kings College Lagos; Joseph Opareke, Oracle Deal Manager; Ifeanyichukwu Chisom Constancia, Caro Favored College; Adepegba Oduntan, Programme Manager Oracle; Moradeyo Olaitan, Fountain Heights Secondary School; Ebube Ojinnala, International School Lagos; Olumide Kusimo, Technology Presales Consultant, Oracle and Ijeoma Nwoke, Presales Consultant SaaS Competency Center, Oracle after the 2nd STEM Innovation Camp programme held in Lagos.

UNILAG students build electric car

By Tare Youdeowei

A

GROUP of students of the Faculty of Engineering, University of Lagos, under the leadership of Olukoya Olusanya in the Project Dove Initiative, have constructed an electric car tagged DOVE P1, which was launched and exhibited to students, government functionaries, vehicle marketers and the general public at Julius Berger Hall, Faculty of Engineering, University of Lagos.

The light weight single seat passenger vehicle with a total weight of 200kg, is a four wheeled vehicle with rear wheel drive and electrical Powertrain of up to 35km driving range, built

by Material Engineer, Mohammed Adelakun; Body scultpure, Opetunde Oluwaseyi; Mechanical Research, Ademola Adekunle; Design and Analysis, Maduka Smart; Admin services, Peace Omoruyi, Public Relations, Ebenezer Christopher, Odumosu Adebayo and Olukoya Olusanya.

With a gear ratio of 1.6, 1 inch by 1 inch square steel pipes, 2mm cross sectional thickness, steel reinforced central tub and total weight 30kg, DOVE P1 promises to be an avenue for wealth and job creation.

Expressing his delight at DOVE P1’s completion and success, while providing the goals of Profect Dove, Olusanya said; “Feb 9th 2014 was the day I received the inspiration to begin this project. I prayed to Godask-

ing what I was going to use my gift forand I heard a voice telling me to build a car. At this point, I was quite surprised because I had never taken on any project similar to this and I was relatively in-experienced. The only thing I had was the passion and as I have discovered, that’s really all you need, because passion is the strongest thing that can make one to go and get the experience needed to complete a goal.

“I threw my free time and basically my whole life into the de-

velopment of the P1 but when it became obvious that this wasn’t still enough, I looked for people who believed in my goals to join me.

“It was during this period that I discovered that Universities are full of tons of geniuses just looking for a platform to showcase their gifts. A lot of us who were working on the car weren’t doing so because we had experience on cars but because we saw an opportunity to showcasing our gifts and think differently in order to achieve the set aim.

Faculty of clinical sciences wins Unilag debate competition

By Kelechukwu Iruoma

I

T was an arena of euphoria at the main auditorium of the University of Lagos, Akoka, Lagos as faculty of Clinical Sciences emerged winner Unilag 2015 debate competition. Ndifon Minka, a student of Medicine and Surgery and Adewale Jeremiah, a student of Physiotherapy helped the faculty of Clinical Sciences defeat Faculty of environmental, engineering and education at the finals, to emerged winners of the competition.

The winners argued aainst Nigeria dialoguing with Boko Haram in order to end insurgency in Nigeria in the topic “this House Will Dialogue With Boko Haram”.

Rather, they argue in support of the federal government combating Boko Haram to end insurgen-

cy.

The winners were however awarded with techno phones each, N50, 000, accolades and certificates. While the representatives of Faculty of Environmental who came second were awarded with techno phones each, N20, 000, accolades and certificates. While representatives of Faculty of Engineering came third and were awarded with phones, N20, 000 and certificates.

On why the topic was chosen for the debate, the Vice Chancellor of the University, Prof. Abdulraheem Bello said, “the debate happens to be a means of creating a culture of intellectual stimulation of the studentship and what it does is to be able to prompt them into thinking fast and proffering solutions.”

“There is no such thing as when very few homes had television and only a handful a free lunch.” Anonymous.

Back in September of 1964, read newspapers, we were I found myself in the United full of rumours about AmeriStates of America, as one of ca which had emerged from the fortunate fifty Nigerian World War II as the most powboys and girls who bagged a erful nation in the world. Descholarship from the African spite the desperate efforts American Institute. The pro- of our British colonial masters gramme was titled African to dissuade us from embracScholarship Program for ing American education, as American Universities, AS- well as its way of life, there PAU. It was originated by the was sufficient information President Kennedy, 19 - about America provided by 1963, administration. It was their movies from Hollywood, also a part of the Peace Corps to convince us that a new inProgram under which Ameri- tellectual champion had arcans were sent to developing rived on the global scene and countries like Nigeria, to pro- the British represented the vide additional manpower for past. Today, that decision their development. Inciden- made in the 1960s by huntally, our own National Youth dreds of Nigerians who asService Corps, NYSC, was pired to obtain the ASPAU based on the US Peace Corps scholarship had proved accuparadigm.

Most Peace rate. Even the British no longCoppers went into teaching, er contest global leadership hospitals and other social with America, and they have services where Nigeria, at the even gone lower. Today, once Great, Britain time, lacked must queue bethe manpower hind the US, Chito manage the I discovered na, Japan, Gerprogrammes on my own many and Rusand projects. sia. One of the that good/ The ASPAU rumours about excellent scholarship America which was strictly education was busted, at based on mercosts money, least for me, was it. The written the prevalent one loads of it examination that university was sent to the education was United States for marking and free. I arrived at my universionly the best were later invit- ty campus, was shown to my ed for interview. Neither the room (courtesy of the US GovPrime Minister of Nigeria, ernment, then under Lyndon nor the Premiers of the four Johnson, 1908-1973) and regions of Nigeria (East, Mid- found that my room mate was west, North and West) could absent. He arrived four days get their kids on the list of re- later because his parents were cipients; not to talk of Minis- trying to raise the funds to pay ters. Eventually fifty Nigeri- the university.

When I an boys and girls left for the asked John Babin why? His US in 1964, on ASPAU. I was answer was the first lesson in one of the fortunate fifty. Apart economics delivered to me. from the ten from Igbobi Col- He said “In America, there is lege, there were others from no such thing as a free lunch.”

Kings College, Lagos, Gov- For someone who had never ernment Colleges (Ibadan, Ughelli, Umuahia), Christ School, Ado-Ekiti, Christ the King College (Eastern Region), Stella Maris, St Patrick College, Calabar and Barewa College, Zaria among others. But, not a single one of us was the son or daughter of a “dignitary” in 1964. We were all children of relatively unknowns who just happened to have brains; nothing else.

Like most Nigerians, in those days

taken a course in economics, he made no sense. How could it? There I was enjoying free tuition, board, food, books, clothing allowance and pocket money from Uncle Sam, as the US government is called and this, at the time, obviously funny fellow, was telling me that nothing is free in America.

Soon enough, I discovered on my own that good/excellent education costs money, loads of it, and anybody, in or out of government, promising cheap sound education is either a politician or an incurable liar – or both. My “free education” in the American university was provided by the American taxpayers.

To be continued

Vanguard, FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 17, 2015—29

Fishing in troubled waters: The Odumakin example RIGHT OF REPL Y REPLY

By Kehinde Adetayo

M

R. YINKA ODUMAKIN, author of the piece, “Finishing well: The Osoba example”, is a "change fiend". At one point he belonged to the Afenifere camp. Later he switched allegiance to the Afenifere Renewal Group, which was and is not in good terms with the parent Yoruba socio-cultural group. Today, he is back in the old Afenifere. At a point, he fought the then President Goodluck Jonathan to a standstill.

But just before the 2015 general election, he espoused the virtues of Jonathan to the heavens. He was a prominent figure in the quest of the current President, Muhammadu Buhari, to lead the nation in 2011. Today, he is a budding critic of the Buhari administration. Like a bolt from the blue, Odumakin now sings the praise of Chief Olusegun Osoba. We pray to God to grant Osoba good health and long life so he may be in a position to form the right opinion about Yinka.

Given this background, I hardly had time for anything written or said by Odumakin, until the very latest assault on my home state.

Not even Joseph Goebbels of the Nazi Germany was capable of the propaganda spin introduced by Odumakin in the article published in the Vanguard of September 1st, 2015.

Tribunal option More worrisome is the timing of his write-up. The SDP, for all you care, is no longer in any public space in Ogun State. Even the ruling APC in the state has been quiet, concentrating on governance. It’s only the PDP that is already preparing for 2019, albeit by subterfuge. I agree with a commentator who says Isiaka has no case but only chose the tribunal option in order to court public opinion ahead of 2019. But at the level of political mischief, Ogun State has not been silent, as the opposition hacks outdo themselves in their mission to discredit Governor Ibikunle Amosun. And there are no blinkers in their obsession with "Pull Him Down", hence the campaign of calumny also directed against his family. So, why did Odumakin choose this time to launch this malevolent propaganda?

According to Yinka, “They (the Osoba camp) moved to the unknown SDP and campaigned like never before in all nooks and crannies of Ogun State. There wasn’t much electoral dividend to all the efforts given the sham nature of our electoral process...”

Odumakin was totally wrong when he blamed the woeful performance of SDP on what he termed “the sham nature of our electoral process.” Well, he is not C M Y K

Gov Amosun from Ogun State, so I assume he does not know the level of political consciousness of our people. Yes, the SDP “campaigned like never before in all nooks and crannies of Ogun state”. Yes, they spent money like water. Yet, they were overwhelmingly rejected by the electorate because the party was seen as anti-progress and antipeople. From within and without, they did everything possible to sabotage all the pro-masses policies and programmes of the Amosun government. Our people saw all the machinations and punished SDP commensurately at the polls.

Indeed, it was sheer happenstance that made my cousin drive along Itoku market in Abeokuta during the SDP campaign. If the party could not command a modicum of respect in what should ordinarily be the jurisdiction of its leader despite the name, money and well-oiled propaganda against Amosun, I wonder how it should have fared elsewhere. And when the votes were counted at the polling booth of Osoba, news went round that SDP recorded just thirty-six (36) votes as against APC's one hundred and sixty-nine (169) votes; PDP got twenty-four (24) votes. It was apparent the electorate had taken side with the APC even right to the doorsteps of Chief Osoba. If the poll was rigged as Odumakin tried in vain to establish, was the election also rigged at the polling booth in front of Osoba’s house, where majority of the voters were his neighbours?

Haba! Odumakin! Tell us something else!

Yinka was equally economical with the truth when he insinuated that the Amosun government owed salaries before the elections.

From the facts available in the

The political battle between Chief Osoba and Senator Amosun remains a tragic interlude in the political evolution of Ogun in this generation

Ex-Gov Osoba media, Amosun did not owe salaries, before, during and after the elections. The problem, according to some workers that I know personally, has to do with co-operative deductions, which was caused by the financial problem in the country. And I read in the papers recently that the deductions in question amounted to only one month salary of workers. So if Amosun owes just a month salary at a time many state governments owe up to nine or thirteen months, how does that imply the governor won elections without winning power?

However, let me say that I have no sympathy for Amosun on this matter of wages. I remember when the Minimum Wage problem began some years ago, I was on a radio programme where I cautioned A m o s u n a g a i n s t implementing the increase across board.

My argument was that somebody cannot sit in Abuja and decree what the states must pay their workers. We need money for c a p i t a l projects. The cost of living in Lagos, Rivers, Abuja etc is higher than that of Ogun, yet Amosun decided to pay above the Wage, citing as excuse the need to motivate workers for productivity.

He did not stop there, he implemented the percentage increment up to the highest level in the civil service which ballooned the

salary bill to twice the figure he inherited from the previous government. Up till today some states have not implemented the minimum wage.

Many that did so only stopped at the level of junior staff.

When the going was good, we did not hear the voice of Odumakin and by the time the governor will sort out the deductions, no external voice will be needed.

The Tinubu/Osoba 'war': But the most tragic aspect of Odumakin's piece was his reference to an incident that did not happen on the day Amosun was inaugurated in 2011. From the two public events that I attended and some that I viewed on television, Amosun always recognised Chief Osoba as “our leader” before recognising ex-governor Bola Tinubu or any other leader.

Interestingly, I relate with a couple of ACN chieftains on another level. They agreed that Odumakin is a good "fiction writer". According to them, there was no single ACN chieftain that

was not aware that Asiwaju Tinubu would not attend the inauguration ceremony early that day as he was billed to honour other ACN governors, with a promise to attend Amosun's postinauguration lunch, which he did.

Therefore, the idea of tagging a seat next to Amosun for Tinubu instead of Osoba was a criminal lie, a complete fabrication and distortion of history. Where again is honour in this land, Mr Odumakin?

As I stated earlier, based on the political trajectory of Yinka, I am not sure his publicity stunt for Osoba is with good intentions.

Another aspect of his piece does a disservice to Osoba. If Osoba knew the former governor of Lagos was a "rogue" as Odumakin alleged and related with him very closely for years, having their houses beside each other, eating and drinking together, wearing the same clothes to private and public functions, logic teaches that it is either the two of them are "rogues" or the former Lagos governor is not a "rogue".

The political battle between Chief Osoba and Senator Amosun remains a tragic interlude in the political evolution of Ogun in this generation. If it’s all about the electorate or public service, then the voters have spoken, and loudly too. And it is commendable that both Osoba and Amosun have since moved on with their lives.

•Chief Kehinde Adetayo writes from Ifo, Ogun State

30—Vanguard, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 17, 2015

‘Voluntary blood donation beneficial to donors’

By Chioma Obinna

I

H

AVE you donated blood before? Do you know that blood donation benefits more than just those who receive blood but advantageous for the giver as well? These and more were at the forefront of a blood donation campaign held last week where over 100 members and friends of Rotary Club Palmgroove Estate donated blood for onward submission to the Lagos State Blood Transfusion Service.

Studies have shown that donating blood will refresh your white blood cells and bone marrow.

Blood donation boosts the production of red blood cells. Ignore the number of red blood cells in the blood. The bone marrow immediately begins to replenish the lost cells. As a result, the blood of a donor is refreshed every time they donate because of the increased production of new blood cells.

Blood donors have a lower risk of developing life-threatening diseases. It also reduces the risk of heart attacks and strokes.

Researchers in a study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, found that participants, ages 43 to 61 had fewer heart attacks and strokes when they donated blood every six months. Also, the removal of oxidative iron from the body through blood donations means less iron oxidation and reduced cardiovascular diseases. The reduction of iron in the body while giving blood can reduce the risk of cancer.

Gapdoc refines treatment abroad

VOLUNTARY BLOOD DONATION: Cross section of members of Rotary Club of Palmgroove Estate during its voluntary blood donation camp recently in Lagos.

Blood donation

Speaking during a voluntary blood donation exercise by Rotary Club of Palmgroove Estate , President of the Club, Rotn Pradeep Pahalwani who disclosed that the club plans to the Lagos State’s blood bank with 400 pints of blood, stressed the need for Nigeria to increase awareness on voluntary blood donation and its benefits.

He said the club embarked on blood donation camp as part of their service projects to educate and create awareness on the benefits of blood donation as well as save lives of accident victims, pregnant women and patients needing surgical procedures.

“Lack of knowledge about blood donation is a big problem. People do not know what they stand to benefit. Proper education will increase number of donors in the country.

In this project our mission is also to educate people on the advantages of donating blood. More campaign should be directed towards advantages of donating blood because a pint of blood can actually save three lives when the blood is broken into different blood components. If a person knows the importance, he or she will donate.”

Narrating his experience, a first time donor, Rotn. Ravindra Kamat described it as a pleasant experience.

N a move to bring appropriate information to the doorsteps of Nigerians seeking treatment broad, Gapdoc has unveiled a platform called Gapdoc.com, aimed at simplifying medical travel by providing all information needed to secure the most efficient and affordable treatment.

Chief Executive Officer, GapDoc, Maskara Saurabh said Gapdoc.com is an internet portal where one can research on various procedures in various parts of the world such as India, Singapore, Thailand, among others.

Saurabh noted that in 2014, an estimated 30,000 Nigerians headed abroad for medical tourism, an industry currently clouded by quacks who arrange for appointments to travel, adding that Nigeria paid US$ 1 billion in terms of forex for medical tourism last year and it is estimated that about 40 per cent of that goes to India, according to reports by KPMG. Saurabh said over 50 nations including India, Singapore and Malaysia identify medical tourism as national industry.

He said majority of people travel for four major areas including cardiology, orthopaedic, renal dialysis issue and cancer. Reeling out some of the information Gapdoc.com would be putting in the public domain, he said: “India issues M type visa for medical tourism where most Nigerians head for affordable high quality health care. “India requires you to have an Oral Polio Vaccination certificate along with yellow fever certificate, except for infants below the age of six, for travelling to India.

COMMON SEXUAL PROBLEMS AND THEIR NOVELTY BASED SOLUTIONS (ADVERTORIAL)

M

Y wife and I are having all sorts of problems and part of it is sexual. It all started after we lost our first son in an accident two years ago. We are seeing a family therapist but it is still early days so not much has changed. Her depression is even affecting me more – David Dear David, I am very sorry for your loss. Nothing is worse than losing a child. I hope you find the strength to get through it. Seeing a therapist is the absolute best way to start healing each other because his death hurt both of you mentally and emotionally.

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I suggest you continue with your therapy and please be patient with your wife. I know it is hard not having a sex life but it is even harder for her. Carrying a child for nine months before birth creates a bond like no other. The death of a child is a lot more difficult for women to deal with – Uche I have a problem of quick ejaculation. I came across your products in the newspaper and I am so interested in them. How can I get them? I live in Jos – Nigeria – Samson Premature ejaculation can be handled with a desensitizing ointment, a penis sleeve or a supplement.

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Sometimes the only way of knowing that is through trial and error. G Female is strong – Uche And that is it for today. Adults in need of these treatments/novelties can call 08171912551, 08027901621 or 07086754515 for help or visit www.zeevirtualmedia.com. Zee Virtual Media delivers all over Nigeria. For enquiries email us at custserv@zeevirtualmedia.com

Vanguard, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 17, 2015—31

Osagie joins Onobrakpeya, others at Olambe exhibition

By Prisca Sam-Duru

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IGERIA’s master print maker and greatest experimental artist, Bruce Onobrakpeya is 83. And as part of activities held to celebrate the renowned and well-documented icon, a group exhibition opened at the prestigious Princess Theresa Iyase-Odozi’s GreenHouse Art Empowerment Centre in Olambe, Ogun State.

The exhibition tagged “Nigerian Visual Artists and Politics, opened on Saturday, September 12 and will run for two months.

The official opening ceremony of the group exhibition, was complemented by paper presentations and the presentation of the maiden edition of the GreenHouse Art Journal by Professor Onobrakpeya.

The well attended exhibition which featured installations, painting, watercolour, textile, ceramics/pottery, mixed-media, sculpture and photography, was led by Prof Bruce Onobrakpeya, and featured works of 12

celebrated artists. They include: Sam Ovraiti, Princess Theresa Iyase-Odozi, Dr. Mabel Oluremi Awogbade, Ato Arinze, Stella Awoh, K.K.Olojo, Juliet Ezenwa Pearce, Bolaji Ogunwo, Stella Ubigho, Oke Ibem Oke and of course the debut photographer, Evelyn Osagie.

From being one of the fresh voices promoting artistic collectives and their crafts through her insightful pieces, culture journalist Evelyn Osagie, who is also a performance poet, made her debut as she joined the

Osagie's displays spotlight issues such as politics, tourism, culture/ art, artistic and religious expressions, hope, peace and unity

league of individuals documenting Nigeria’s rich cultural and a r t i s t i c heritage through photography. * One of the works by Evelyn captured at Osogbo festival Inspired by two renowned female artists, Lauren Greenfield as a journalist, feature images down a hill with a friend, the and Elisa Paloschi, Osagie brings showcasing places like Idanre serene town resting in between her experiences covering the arts/ and Osogbo; artists/poets like mountains or the embrace of two culture sector to bear in her Prof Wole Soyinka, Odia iconic poets, each image is a photography at the exhibition.

Ofiemun, Chief Muraina memory of diverse tales in man’s In line with the exhibition’s Oyelami of Iragbiji, the late existence. Capturing these theme, “Nigerian Visual Artists Suzanne Wenger; religion; unspoken scenes in a flash is and Politics”, Osagie showcased children, and 2011 and 2015 what excites me as a journalist and artist. The most exciting of a body of work, featuring nine elections. pieces in coloured and Osagie who disclosed that her all, which I consider beautiful, is monochrome in varying sizes. choice of subject stems from the that each of those moment s are Her displays spotlight issues desire to share in the stories that kept alive in photographs.” She such as politics, tourism, culture/ unfold around her, also noted that said.

Born in Lagos, Osagie’s foray art, artistic and religious she sees photograph as an artistic into photography dated back to expressions, hope, peace and self-expression of reality; thus, her undergraduate days at the unity, among others. she uses her camera to unearth Her body of work explores the and explore the world around her. University of Benin, where she in poetry interaction between people, their “I have always imagined engaged performances, creative writing art, their environment and their photograph as unspoken attendant power-play. The pieces, memory garnished with and other artistic endeavours. spanning eight years of her career experience. Whether it is a walk

Jamiu unravels untold story of MKO Abiola, June 12

By Japhet Alakam

T

HE office of the president of any country is not a post people get at easily, especially a country like Nigeria, the giant of Africa, little wonder many do all sorts of things in order to be there.

But what becomes the fate of a person who was freely elected by the entire country to be there and all of a sudden , somebody who felt that he was powerful came up and declared the election annuled.

This was the case of late business mogul, Bashorun MKO Abiola, acclaimed winner of the June 12, 1993 Presidential election, declared by international observers as the fairest and freest election ever conducted on the Nigerian soil.

And of course, he did not give up, though his struggle to reclaim his mandate eventually claimed his life and that of one of his wives, Kudirat Abiola.

Who is this man called MKO, What was his growing up like, how did he surmount the obstacles surrounding his poor background to become one of the wealthiest man in Nigeria. How did he enter into the presidential race and how did his friends and even the international community react to his ordeal when the election was annulled.

These and other untold informations are what Alhaji Abdul Jamiu Abiodun Abiola, one of his sons has come out with in what can be described as the first family account of the birth-

to-death biography of the late presidential aspirant of SDP whose election was annulled by the military junta of General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida in his new book titled “The President Who Never Ruled”.

In his usual way, -Jamiu Abiola, a multi-linguist and businessman who has authored two other books in the 197 pages book published by Arab Scientific Contractors Inc, Lebanon disclosed that the reasons for writing the book was to correct some terrible insinuations about his late father whom he described as a ‘valuable vessel of democracy in Nigeria’ and also as his own way of immortalizing a man who meant a lot to him.

Did he actually achieve these, yes as Jamiu Abiola in the 44 chapters book divided into three parts rightly corrects the wrongs or half-truths and assumptions by many about his late father.

Self made billionaires In the first part, which covers from chapters one to 16, Jamiu chronicles the birth and rise to grace of one of Africa’s self made billionaires and Are Ona Kakanfo of Yoruba land, Bashorun MKO Abiola. In it, he takes the reader to the background of the the late Chief MKO Abiola, the circumstances before his birth, his foray into business at an early age, how he fared in his firewood business, before going into music where he

The President Who Never Ruled; Jamiu Abiola, Arab Scientific Contractors Inc, Lebanon; 2015; PP. 197

formed the band known as Kashy Mambo Orchestra which took over the music business in the town. One important attribute of Abiola, the author revealed, was that he combined the business with his education and still come up with good grades. In this part, the author narrates the various stages in his father’s life, how he graduated as an accountant and he finally secured a job at ITT, a job that later changed the fortunes of his life.

The author here also tried to clear the air on people’s perception about his late father and the ITT job. The late MKO Abiola according the author, really worked hard and long as a trained accountant and as an astute

businessman, to attain the height he reached and made the money in ITT and he never stole any money from it. From ITT, the man formed other businesses like the Wonder Loaf, Abiola farms, Abiola Airlines, Concord Newspaper, Abiola Bookshops and many others.

Part two also examines the presidential aspiration of the acclaimed winner of the 1993 general election. How he suffered a crushing defeat at the party’s convention in Benue while under the banner of NPN, but he did not give up. How he later got the nod from his friend IBB to contest and finally won the presidential convention of SDP held on March 27, 1993.

The schemings that followed on

Jamiu chronicles the birth and rise to grace of one of Africa’s self made billionaires and Are Ona Kakanfo of Yoruba land, Bashorun MKO Abiola

who to be his running mate and how he finally picked Alhaji Baba Gana Kingibe, against Atiku Abubakar, who was the choice of Yar Adua team and Pascal Bafyau, the President of the Nigeria Labour Congress, who the then Head of State, General Ibrahim Babangida wanted to be Abiola’s running mate. Here also, the author who was an insider gives step by step analyses of how Abiola won the election, and how Ibrahim Babangida annulled the election.

The protest that forced IBB to step aside, the coming in of the interim government led by Chief Ernest Shonekan, the take over of government by Abacha, the betrayals by his close friends and other, are also documented. The reign of late General Sani Abacha, the assassination of Kudirat Abiola, the great Epetedo declaration and incarceration of Abiola were also captured. The dogged and unforgettable role played the woman of valour, Late Kudirat Abiola for the actualisation of her husband’s mandate were also captured.

Written in very simple English for easy understanding, apart from some technical errors noticed, the author has through this work brought to the fore again, the June 12 incident that nearly teared the country apart.

A good novel for every home, especially younger ones who need to know about the man MKO and the June 12 which form part of Nigeria’s history.

32 — Vanguard, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 17, 2015 YOUR LUCK TODAY

LEISURE

By Joshua Adeyemo Phone 08056180139 TAURUS: Your creativity quotient is enhanced today and if you demonstrate this within your working arena, you’ll earn success and consolidate on your recent progress.

GEMINI: As mercury goes on backward motion today, it is important you don’t take things for granted. Watch carefully what you agree to do. But this is a good day for lovers.

CANCER: Better than yesterday. Others will be willing to give you the needed co-operation both at home and within your working arena. This is a good day for lovers.

LEO: Those of you who are more enterprising will have much to show for your efforts. The more co-operative you are, the better for you. Don’t neglect love.

VIRGO: Mercury starts going on backward motion today; therefore, you will need to re-examine both your personal ideas and advice given to you by other people. Be family minded.

LIBRA: Provided you don’t allow others to mislead you, things will not go wrong. The more willing you are to take the initiative, the better for you. Take your love life more seriously.

THOUGHT FOR TODAY

By Richard Eromosele

R

IGHT from ages man has continued to look for ways of clothing his nakedness. Nakedness does not just mean not wearing clothes alone. It includes covering our evil deeds,

God is watching wicked acts, ways and sins etc.

As it was the days of the biblical Adam and Eve, so it is today.

When we commit heinous crime, we run for

TERROR MUDA

cover under the stone, under the water and under the dark, hoping and praying that we will not be caught.

We live a lie. We forget that air bear wit-

in “Scavenger Elite”

ness to our cruel act; the sun by our shadow takes our photograph, and our conscience convicts us daily.

Beware, God is watching. Your sins will find you out.

Think about it!

By Lanre Kehinde

SCORPIO: This is your day. Although you will need to be as secretive as you can, your success will attract others’ attention to you to the betterment of your cause. Be ambitious.

SAGITTARIUS: People who more influential than you will be willing to support your cause but you will need to make the necessary move. The more self assertive you are, the better.

CAPRICORN: Challenges of yesterday will, today, bring you good opportunities along your career/business lines to the betterment of your finances. Seek supports of powerful ones.

AQUARIUS: Think of the best way to improve on your working pattern in order to enhance your career prospects. If you listeen to your creative self, things’ll work out fine for you.

Be more loving.

PISCES: Success is boldly printed on your cards today.

Think of both immediate and far future while you are savouring goodies offered you by mother nature.

KAPTAIN AFRIKA

in “HEY’

By Andy Akman

ARIES: You should not have it tough while trying to win the needed supports of others. Take good advice from some of your friends who are creatively gifted.

ASTROLOGICAL COUNSELLING Send yyour our dat th ttoo the As tr ological datee and place of bir birth Astr trological Counselling, PP.M.B .M.B 1100 00 7, Apapa, Lagos 007,

What June has for me ?

Dear Joshua, I have an important transaction to be carried out come June 2007. Kindly look into my horoscope and tell me what to expect in June.

Dominic, Maiduguri.

Dear Dominic, You have three important periods ahead of you between now and October 2015. Thus you are advised to study them and make good plans accordingly.

VIRGINIA

dadadekola@yahoo.com

This is a positive period for you. Your luck will shine. Major or good progress will be made, especially through MONEY The major challenge here is some people may be willing to move you out of where you are now to plant their stooge on one hand, on the other hand you may be forced or voluntarily embark on short distance journey capable to bring you disappointment. The last two weeks will bring more challenges at the same time they will make you VICTORIOUS in many ways.

This is a period that will prove both lucky and peaceful. Genuine LOVE, satisfaction over youngster and real good luck will be yours. Here is a period one can win something like love or LOTTERY . Major warning here is you must learn to put some money away for raining days coming in your immediate future Yes the raining days are here. HEALTH and LAW related challenges indicated . Family issues are making you uncomfortable. Practical approach to health, your being SPIRITUAL and willingness to play ball with those who want high bribery games are important here or else they will want to place higher degree of restrictions on you, financially especially. Yes you have to be more hard working and exhibit maturity. After all your efforts if they prove difficult, then you have to leave them to their conscience; as they will eventually fail, but you must show maturity first.

HOME & ABROAD

By Lawrence Akapa

Vanguard, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 17 , 2015—33

Council of chiefs re-affirms sanctity of Wilson Eboh's Ototaship, regency Ask Police to probe alleged burglary at Eboh's Warri office

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ARRI—THE Traditional Council of Chiefs of Okere Urhobo Kingdom in Warri, Delta State, has re-affirmed the sanctity of the Ototaship and regency of Chief Wilson Eboh.

It also called on the Police to investigate alleged burglary in the office of Chief Eboh along Okumagba Avenue Road, Warri.

The council in a statement signed by the Egbe of Okere Urhobo Kingdom, Chief Paul Okumagba, and two others, was reacting to a press conference addressed by Chief Gideon Okumagba and others, which sought to disrespect the authority of the regent and Okere Urhobo Kingdom.

The statement read: ‘’We have read with dismay the above report published in the Guaradian Newspaper of September 1, 2015, and Fresh Angle Newspaper online version. The said report which emanated from a mischievous press conference held by Chief Gideon Okumagba and his likes in a room in Palmgrove Hotel, Warri, was aimed at dragging the name of our respected Regent/Otota in the mud is borne out of hatred and jealousy. ‘’We would have ignored the said report but for the deliberate falsehood contained in it, having known the antecedents of Chief Gideon Okumagba, Mr. John

Edgar Eranvor who claimed to be prince, all of a sudden, and Chief Victor Okumagba’s lack of respect for constituted authority of the kingdom and also to correct the errorneous impressions created by the misleading report for the benefit of the reading public. ‘’We wish to reiterate that Chief Gideon Okumagba, Chief Victor Okumagba and Chief Eseoghene Eshatomi are not chiefs of Okere Urhobo Kingdom and as such, cannot attend the meetings of the Traditional Council of Chiefs of the kingdom meant exclusively for chiefs of Okere Urhobo

Kingdom for them to know the inner workings of the council. ‘’It is our belief that since they have chosen to disrespect constituted authority of the kingdom, they do not want to be led but they want to lead others, hence their false claim of being representatives of ruling houses when, in fact, they only represent themselves and no one else as they have always done. ‘’We consider their attack on the person of the Regent/Otota, Chief Wilson Eboh, as an act of brigandage, disrespect and overreaching the yet-to-be heard case

by them. ‘’It is untrue that the Regent/ Otota is parading himself with false toga when they have, in fact, served under him in different committees/capacities of the kingdom as indigenes by virtue of his vintage position as the Regent/Otota. ‘’The fact remains that Chief Wilson Eboh is the Regent in the absence of an Orosuen (king) by virtue of his position as the Otota (Traditional Prime Minister) of Okere Urhobo Kingdom."

VISIT: Cross River State Governor, Senator Ben Ayade (right), with service commanders, at a portion of the 260km Calabar-Katsina-Ala Super Highway where work is ongoing ahead of President Buhari's visit for the ground breaking ceremony on Monday, September 21.

Delta NLC wants Buhari to review labour laws

By Victor Ahiuma-Young

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ARRI—NIGERIA Labour Congress, NLC, Delta State Council, has called on President Muhammadu Buhari to strengthen Nigerian Labour laws and upwardly review the salary structure of workers to be more productive and contribute actively to the resolve of his government to bring about the Nigeria of everybody’s dream.

The council commended the President’s effort to recover the nation’s stolen wealth to boost the economy and assured him of total support of Labour in Delta State, advising government to factor in salary review for workers as part of the war against corruption Factional Chairman of NLC in the state, Mr. Williams Akporeha, in a statement, in Warri, Delta State, said: “Beyond Mr President’s relentless effort in pursuing stolen funds around the globe, he should initiate a reform process in the labour sector to provide a solid basis not only to institute best labour practices in the country, but also secure acceptable remuneration structure for workers in both private and public sectors including government security agencies. Congress believes that if we get the issue of poor

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remuneration right, it will go a long way to curb corruption and secure economic stability.

"We condemn a situation where oil multinationals continue to take undue advantage of the unemployment situation in the country to subject Nigerians to perpetual slave labour. It is about timeforgovernmenttotakeacriticallook

DELTA GOV POLL:

atourlabourlawswithaviewtostrengthen the weak areas so that defaulters can face justice.

"The five-year review set for the Nigeria minimum wage is no longer realistic due to rapid inflationary rate and obsolete labour policies. It is therefore envisaged that the government of

Ogboru closes case at tribunal

By Chukwudi Amarachi

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SABA—THE Labour Party, LP and its gubernatorial candidate in the April 11, 2015 governorship election in Delta State, Chief Great Ogboru, yesterday closed its case at the resumed hearing

of the state governorship election petition tribunal sitting in Asaba, saying they had established cases of over voting.

The Labour Party, LP, and its gubernatorial candidate in the just concluded governorship election, Chief Great Ogboru, is challenging

APWEN holds national confab

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President Buhari should not hesitate to consider an upward review of workers’ salaries to grow a motivated workforce in all sectors for the overall development of both human and capital resources for the country’s economy.”

By Onozure Dania

ARRI—APPROPRIATE Technologies for provision of portable water and reliable power system in Nigeria will be the thrust of the conference of the Association of Professional Women Engineers of Nigeria, APWEN, taking place in Warri, Delta State.

Holding alongside the Annual General Meeting, AGM, 2015, the conference, according to

APWEN President, Nnoli Akpedeye, would attract key stakeholders in the power and water sectors who will make presentations.

He added that the Opening Ceremony and Awards Night would be chaired Ademola Isaac Olorunfemi, President Nigerian Society of Engineers, while Mrs. Onyeche Tifase, Siemens Nigeria Managing Director, will deliver the keynote address.

the election victory of Governor Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa at the polls.

Closing his case yesterday, after calling his last two witnesses, Mr Tuner Ogboru and Mr. Efe Duku, the lead counsel to the petitioner, Mr. Dele Adesina, SAN, noted that after calling 16 witnesses they are very sure that justice will be done in the case.

Addressing newsmen outside the tribunal, counsel to Chief Great Ogboru, Mr. Dele Adesina, SAN, said: “We are very confidence that justice will be done on this matter because we believe we have put our facts across to the tribunal.

"Our case we very simple, the petitioner case is that there was over voting in the governorship election of April 11, 2015 in Delta state."

APPOINTMENTS:

Be patient, Urhobo group tells Buhari's critics

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By Lucky Oji

FFURUN—THE Urhobo Nationality Council, UNC, yesterday, slammed critics of President Muhammadu Buhari in the Niger-Delta over his recent appointments, urging them to be patient and watch how the development would unfold.

The group in a communiqué issued by its President, Comrade Joel Ileleji , National Secretary, Comrade Progress Omo-Agege and the Publicity Secretary, Mr. Ejiro Etaghene, after a review on the recent appointments made so far by the President, condemned in its entirety, some Niger-Delta groups criticizing him of being sentimental in his appointments.

Thecommuniquéwhichcalled on all Nigerians to support Buhari’s administration, said the president’s action so far was aimed at cleaning up the mess left behind by the 16 years of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, government, emphasizing that not until corruption was thoroughly wiped out, Nigerians wouldn’tseetheneededchange.

Anele, Idiodi for security symposium

By Oboh Agbonkhese

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AGOS—SEASONED scholars, Professor John Idiodi, University of Benin; Professor Douglas Anele, University of Lagos, and Dr. Hussaini Abdu, will be discussants at the Rosicrucian Order, AMORC’s symposium on national security for a better world and national reorientation for sustainable development at Lagos Airport Hotel on Saturday, September 19 by 9a.m.

The symposium, which is part of activities lined up for the Annual Celebration of Virtues and commemoration of the Building of the great pyramids ofEgyptover3,367yearsago,will have Dr. Kenneth Idiodi, Grand Administrator and Director, SupremeBoardoftheRosicrucian Order, AMORC, as special guest of honour, with Professor Isaac Alaba, a renowned consultant on culture and languages, moderating.

34— Vanguard, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 17, 2015

Aisha Buhari distributes supplements to pregnant, nursing mums

CORRUPTION WAR: Ohanaeze tasks Buhari

on Confab report

By Francis Igata

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By Anayo Okoli

NUGU—PERTURBED by the delay in the implementation of the National Conference report,the apex Igbo socio-cultural group, Ohanaeze Ndigbo has urged President Muhammadu Buhari to adopt the outcome of the conference as an

U

MUAHIA—AS part of measure to ensure that pregnant women, especially in the rural communities lead healthy lives during pregnancy, the wife of the President, Hajia Aisha Buhari, Tuesday, distributed nutritional supplements to women in some hospitals in Umuahia.

According to Mrs. Buhari, the supplements would help boost their health during pregnancy and the period of exclusive breast-feeding.

Distributing the items at the Federal Medical Centre and State Diagonistic Centre, Hajia Buhari urged them to judiciously use the nutritional milk, Frisomum Gold, and to obey other titbits of the medical personnel for adequate growth of their babies and safe delivery.

Represented by the Abia State governor's wife, Mrs. Nkechi Ikpeazu, Mrs. Buhari stressed the need for every pregnant woman and nursing mothers to enjoy quality health.

She called on stakeholders in the health sector to join hands with government in sensitizing the grassroots people on the benefits of good medication and good nutrition for pregnant women and nursing mothers.

Responding on behalf of the beneficiaries, Mrs. Ogechi Chinasa and Ezinne Harbour thanked Mrs. Buhari for the gesture.

anti-corruption template.

Ex-President Goodluck Jonathan had convoked the Confab at the twilight of his administration to address multiple structural imbalance plaguing the nation.

In a chat with Vanguard at his residence yesterday, former Secretary General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Chief Nduka Eya,

lamented that having spent colossal funds to convoke the sovereign national conference Nigerians had been yearning for, the ‘change’ mantra adopted by the present administration will be tantamount to nothing without the implementation of the Confab report.

Eya said: ”There was need as every Nigerian has identified, to

We're reviewing concessions granted coys —IMSG

By Chidi Nkwopara

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WERRI—IMO State government says it is currently reviewing the activities of the companies granted concessions to manage Adapalm Plantation and Imo Transport Company, ITC, with a view to ascertaining whether they should continue or not.

Government’s position, which was made public, yesterday, during an interview, by the governor ’s Chief Press Secretary, CPS, Mr. Sam Onwuemeodo, necessitated ceaseless agitation from organized labour and Adapalm land owners.

“Government is at the moment reviewing the activities of the companies granted the concessions to manage Adapalm and ITC to see whether they could be allowed to continue to enjoy the concession or not,” the CPS said.

Onwuemeodo explained that what the government did in the case of Adapalm and ITC, was to grant concessions to two companies to manage the two establishments, pointing out that the action was taken in the best interest of the state and her people.

“Concession neither means privatization nor outright selling of the two government

establishments. The Imo State government has neither sold nor privatized any government property or parastatal since 2011 when it came to power, till now,” Onwuemeodo said.

Answering a question, the CPS said the explanation became necessary following the falsehood being spread at the moment, in some quarters that the administration had sold or privatized some government owned outfits.

“Government’s property or parastatal could not be sold in the dark or without documents, and we challenge those behind these false claims to publish or make their facts public,” Onwuemeodo said

2015 PRESIDENTIAL POLLS: Ndigbo'll never regret decision —Ohanaeze

By Ugochukwu Alaribe

A

BA—OHANAEZE Youth Council, OYC, says Ndigbo will never regret her decision on the March 28, 2015 presidential election where it backed former President Goodluck Jonathan.

In a statement by its National President, Mazi Okechukwu Isiguzoro and Secretary, Mazi Okwu Nnabuike, the youth group reacted to a recent interview credited to Imo State governor,

Rochas Okorocha in which he blamed Igbo for being the cause of their exclusion in recent appointments made by President Muhammadu Buhari.

According to the statement, “Gov. Rochas Okorocha lacks the locus standi to speak for Ndigbo and has no mandate of Ndigbo to speak on their behalf. We wish to remind him about the role he ought to play since he is comfortable with Buhari’s neglect of Ndigbo in the appointments he made so far.

"Gov. Okorocha should know that Ndigbo will never regret the political decision they took on the March 28th Presidential election because the implementation of National Confab which would have addressed the glaring imbalances in the Nigerian federation, among other issues of national interest, determined the decision of Ndigbo.

“Okorocha should concentrate on how to make Imo better through prompt payment of salaries and pensions to workers,

uhari, I support you on this one, all the money (governors) kept in foreign banks, they should use it to pay salaries. GEJ did not deny any governor their monthly allocations and they were lying to their people. -Mrs. Chichi Enyi- Businesswoman

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and improve the lot of the Imo citizenry rather than dabbling into the affairs of Ndigbo.”

The youth group accused the governor of being in the group which allegedly caused Ndigbo to lose the SGF position when

they refused to speak with one voice, and urged him to channel his energy towards drawing Buhari’s attention to adhere to the federal character principle in appointments.

By Bartholomew Madukwe (08102479985) nwamad@yahoo.com

PEOPLE SPEAK

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sit down and discuss on how we are going to live. Most segments of the country are complaining.

What brought about the Biafran war? It was inequality, unfair play and injustice.

“Some people think they own this country. These challenges were what the Confab addressed.

These challenges were generating a lot of mistrust among ourselves.

Jonathan took the bull by the horn and was able to convoke the Confab where all shades of people came together to discuss the way forward.

“A section of this country never wanted the Confab because they are benefiting from the lopsidedness of the structure. The Confab built a bridge over the rivers of division in this country of how this country can go on and everybody was happy.

“Jonathan vowed to implement it. The All Progressives Congress, APC, thought the Confab was political and that was why they kicked against it. Now, we are almost six months down the line in the life of this administration and nobody is talking about it.

“The Confab report is a structural reconstruction of the country towards equity, justice and fairplay. These recommendations are what will help the fight against corruption.”

On Presidency's order on salary payment

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he labour bill of a state is not more than N2 billion, yet they collect allocation every month and fail to pay workers who work hard for them.

A good leader is supposed to pay his workers first, before thinking of his own. -Mr. Jonah Enea, Worker

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here are thousands of ghost workers in all tiers of government whose salaries and pensions are shared monthly. Our leaders must have eagle’s eyes to combat these anomalies. -Mr. Tanko Kokwain, Civil Servant

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isbursement of funds from the central pot has never and will never be enough. The position of governor will be less attractive if the state in question relies on internally generated revenue.

Miss Udeaku Nwazota, Communicator

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overnment should spend money on creating enabling environment for SMEs to thrive. SMEs not only create employment, they also boost government's revenues by way of taxation. -Mr. Jaiyeola Timmy, Freight-forwarder

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hose, who flagrantly trample on the basics for human survival, need to reconsider their motive for seeking public office.

They ought to ascertain why they want to occupy such exalted positions in the first place. -Miss Alice Udoyoh, Student

Vanguard, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 17, 2015 — 35

Govs Ortom, Ishaku commended over cross-border security initiative

By John Mkom

J

ALINGO—SPEAKER of Taraba State House of Assembly, Peter Abel Diah, has commended the governor of Benue State, Samuel Ortom and his Taraba counterpart, Darius Ishaku, over their efforts to end the longstanding insecurity along the Benue/Taraba states border.

The speaker gave the commendation while briefing journalists in his office in Jalingo, the state capital, yesterday.

Governors Ortom and Ishaku had on Monday in Makurdi, Benue State, announced the setting up of a joint militarypolice patrol team from the two states to intensify security surveillance and stem the unending crisis at their borders.

The governors also agreed to establish a joint Benue-Taraba Peace Committee to monitor potential threats to peace in the affected areas, following security breach at the border of the two states which has lingered for some time.

Vanguard gathered that the move to constitute the Benue/Taraba peace committee was initially started by the administration of Governor Gabriel Suswam of Benue and Acting governor Garba Umar of Taraba State, but could not

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ADUNA—GOVERNOR Nasir El Rufai of Kaduna

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INAUGURATION: From left; Colonel FC Onyeari, Navy Captain Emmanuel Anakwe, Acting Commandant, Nigerian Army College of Logistics, Brigadier General Olusola Oni, guest lecturer and former GOC, 1 Division of the Nigerian Army, Major General Kamorudeen Role (rtd) and Colonel Mark Mamman, Acting Deputy Commandant, Nigerian Army College of Logistics during the inauguration of the college's Logistics Management Course 13 in Lagos. see the light of the day.

The speaker described the efforts of the two governors in bringing their people to talk peace face to face without following the path of past governments who only set up committees with their resolutions not implemented, as a step in the right direction.

“I advise the people of the two states to follow the agreement by the two governors by

State has ordered the immediate closure of two churches, a seminary and a church-owned hospital and

Mohammed blasts Northern leaders over call for fresh confab

By Gbenga Oke

S

ECOND Republic lawmaker, Dr. Junaid Mohammed, yesterday slammed Northern leaders calling on President Muhammadu Buhari to convene a fresh National Conference.

He said the President should be left alone to transform the country rather than engaging in another round of fruitless conference.

Some prominent Northern leaders had rejected the implementation of the 2014 report of the National Conference convoked by former President Goodluck Jonathan, saying it did not address the key issues affecting them and called on President Muhammadu Buhari to convene a fresh conference that would take into cognisance the challenges facing them and proffer solutions.

But Mohammed said: “Calling for another National Conference is meaningless, cheap, fruitless and a useless distraction for the new government. Both the last Conference and another one that

Red Cross to improve response to humanitarian crisis

By Abel Daniel

embracing peace. ‘’I commend their bold steps and we at the House of Assembly are fully committed to support such move taken by the two governors to bring back our lost peace at the two states’ border.

“Governor Ishaku has put the past behind him and is ready to rewrite our history as a people.

We must stop opening the scar

of the healing wounds. Doing so would not take us to where we want to be. We must support his rescue mission,” Diah said.

He further encouraged the committee that was set up by Taraba State government to settle internally displaced persons, IDPs, to double its efforts by settling the people that returned to their homes, so they could return to their farms.

El Rufai shuts two churches, seminary, hospital

By Luka Binniyat

LAKE CHAD:

is being called for in unnecessary.

“I believe anybody who has anything tangible should send such report to the National Assembly because that is the only arm of government that has the power to amend the constitution rather than asking the President to waste tax payers' money again.''

secondary school, all at Saminaka, Lere Local Government Area of Kaduna State.

He said the closure was to avoid the eruption of violence among factions of the congregations whose leaderships’ positions he described as, “principally to preserve their personal interests, with little concern for the common good, and the peace and security of Kaduna State.”

A statement on behalf of the governor, signed by his spokesman, Samuel Aruwan, yesterday in Kaduna, named

the affected bodies as Theological Seminary of Northern Nigeria,TSNN, Shalom Comprehensive College, Assemblies of God Church, AGC, Nmbare all in Saminaka.

The rest are: Assemblies of God Church (Jerusalem) and AGC Evangelist Hospital, also in Saminaka.

The statement read: “Kaduna State Security Council at its 15th meeting, held on the 15th September, 2015, deliberated on the leadership crisis in the Assemblies of God Church, AGC, Saminaka District, Lere local government area of the state.

Customs seizes N54m goods, arrests eight smugglers

By Ifeyinwa Obi

A

NTI-SMUGGLING operatives of the Nigeria Customs Service, NCS, Federal Operations Unit, FOU, Ikeja, have seized N54.4 million worth of goods smuggled into the country.

The operatives, according to the Customs Area Controller, Mr Abdul Amade, also arrested eight suspects in connection with the goods.

The details of the seizures include 1,887 bags of parboiled rice valued at N12 million, 2,854 cartons of frozen products with

DPV of N26 million.

Others are four vehicles with DPV of N9.9million and 12 different seizures of new and used tyres, textile materials, vegetable oil, fruit juice, used shoes, among others.

Amade, who took over as Controller of the unit two weeks ago, told newsmen that going by the official record of the unit, the the seizures was remarkable and a milestone.

He added that the command would do everything possible to improve on the record, against the background of the new order which called for due diligence

and renewed commitment.

He stressed the determination of the command to degrade the activities of smugglers through aggressive patrol of all flanks and flashpoints.

“We will be very ruthless with these economic saboteurs because we have a responsibility to protect the nation’s economy in line with the expectations of the Federal Government of Nigeria.

“One cardinal aspect of my mission is to ensure that standards are not lowered in all areas of our operation and I have charged team leaders to justify the confidence which I reposed in them.

BUJA—THE Red Cross yesterday began a two-day regional meeting in Abuja to improve its coordinated response to the Lake Chad crisis.

Red Cross partners include the International Committee of the Red Cross, ICRC, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies and the National Societies of Cameroon, Chad, Niger and Nigeria.

The armed conflict in NorthEast Nigeria has created a massive humanitarian crisis with spillover effects on Cameroon, Chad and Niger.

The entire communities in all four countries have been uprooted.

Hundreds of thousands of people, forced to abandon their belongings, now live in host communities or camps.

This has created an additional burden on already vulnerable groups and has further strained infrastructure.

NIPSS produced 1,784 technocrats in 36 years — ONOJA

By Aliyu Dangida

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UTSE—THE President, Alumni Association of the National Institute for Strategic Studies, AANI, Major General Lawrence Onoja, yesterday disclosed that the Institute has produced over 1,784 top class technocrats and eminent personalities in its 36years of existence.

He made the disclosure in Dutse when members of the association paid a courtesy call on Governor Badaru Abubakar in his office, saying the graduands comprised people of proven integrity, mainly those who led the affairs of Nigeria with distinction.

Onoja, who explained that AANI as an association, has been an advocate of good governance through its number of research works that cut across all sectors of Nigerian economy, said: “If those research works are revisited, solutions on resuscitation of our moribund industries, economy, and security would be found in there.”

36—Vanguard, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 17, 2015

From left— Award recipient and President, Women Arise, Dr. Joe Okei-Odumakin; Project Coordinator, Mr. Kalu Emerson, and Executive Director, Dr. Larry Ayodeji, both of Centre for Conflict Resolution, during the presentation of National Golden Icon of Peace award to Dr. OkeiOdumakin by the Centre in Lagos, yesterday.

NBC: From left— Acting Dean, Faculty of Technology, University of Ibadan, UI, Professor Sunday Isehunwa; Head, Public Affairs & Communications, Nigerian Bottling Company, NBC, Uzo Odenigbo; Dean of Students Affairs, UI, Professor Titilayo Ajuwape; Senior Human Resources Partner, Manufacturing & Supply Chain Services, NBC, Mrs Yetunde Adesunloye; and Dean of Science, UI, Professor Biodun Onibule, during NBC's Campus Recruitment Drive.

VISIT: From left— Trade Manager, Nigeria, British Airways, Ademola Sanya; British Deputy High Commissioner, Ray Kyles; Country Commercial Manager, West Africa, Kola Olayinka, and Corporate Sales Manager, Nigeria, both of British Airways, Adetutu Otuyalo, during the British Deputy High Commissioner's courtesy visit to British Airways office in Lagos.

ANNIVERSARY: From left— Elegbe of Egbeland, Oba Asimiyu Adebowale Dadaota; Oba of Shasha Kingdom, Oba Babatunde Ogunronbi, and Oba Munirudeen Yussuf of Onigbongboland during the celebration of Oba Elegbe’s eighth anniversary in Egbe, Lagos.

VISIT: From left— Secretary to the Managing Director, Mrs. Nnenna Odizia; Administrative Officer, Mrs. Sanusi Aishat; Ilorin Airport Manager, Alhaji Abubakar Bibi; veteran television broadcaster, presenter and Nollywood actor, Mallam Sadiq Daba; Managing Director, Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, Engr Saleh Dunoma, and Personal Assistant to MD-FAAN, Mallam Dahir Maázu, during the actor’s courtesy visit to the management of FAAN, Ikeja, Lagos.

DONATION: From left— Executive Director, Mrs. Lina Eze; Brand and Corporate Communications Manager, Mr. Michael Joseph, both of Tenece Professional Services Ltd.; Headmaster, Bethesda Nursery/Primary School, Ikota, Mr. Henry Ibu, and Programme Director, Bethesda Child Support Agency, Mrs. Ijeoma Nwachukwu, during the donation of library books to Bethesda Nursery/Primary School, Ikota, Lagos.

OKEI-ODUMAKIN:

CTO COUNCIL: From left— 1st Vice Chairman, Mr. Cris Seecheran;

Secretary-General, Engr. Shola Taylor, and Chairman, Professor Umar Danbatta, all of Commonwealth Telecommunication Organization, CTO, at the executive meeting of CTO's Council in Nairobi, Kenya.

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OSUN/LABOUR: From left— Osun State Head of Service, Mr. Sunday Owoeye; Chairman, Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, Osun, Mr. Jacob Adekomi; and Chief of Staff to Osun State Governor, Alhaji Gboyega Oyetola, during the signing of memorandum of understanding, MoU, between labour and the Osun State on payment of workers' salaries, yesterday.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 17, 2015 — 37

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38—VANGUARD, THURSDAY,

SEPTEMBER 17, 2015

It is unconstitutional — Nkanga

By Chioma Onuegbu

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OES the DSS have the constitutional right to search a Government House?

There is no place in the constitution that has given the DSS the right to do what they did, the way they did.

Those that are familiar with the history of this country, even during the days of military government, there was no time any Government House was invaded the way they did.

If we may even look at it very well, what is the symbol that we are a state? What is the symbol of democracy? It is completely unacceptable and Nigerians should stand up and fight for democracy because if we don’t do it, in fact democracy will be sliding.

We expect the President to say something otherwise we will suspect that he knew about it. We expect that proper investigation will be done and the result of that investigation will be made known.

Proper investigation If this is not done, I expect the media to ask, what kind of democracy do we have?

It took Akwa Ibom elders almost a week to react. Why? We don’t have a time limit for that. In fact as I do know, we are expecting the union of journalists to condemn that but they have not even done that yet. This is for the whole country we must take it that way. But if you look at it from the contest of Akwa Ibom state they are different categories of people that have commented on this and condemned it. The elders may not necessarily be the first to do so.

The elders when they speak they should speak from the position of knowledge of strength, the position of maturity and responsibility. We have weighed all sides of the coin and we have seen that something very dramatic is happening, something so terrible is happening to this country.

Are you suspecting any kind of internal conspiracy and second, is it constitutionally right for foreign currencies to be stocked in the Government House?

We said in our address that if they find foreign currency in my house, I think it would have been even different but this is an allegation. We want SSS to speak up.

They have not said anything. All we are hearing are from people that suspect, we allege, we think.

At some point they said that the entire government house was filled with money.

If that was the case, we in Akwa C M Y K

INVASION OF AKWA

Unendi •Nkanga Ibom should be very happy because we have money for development there in government, but that is not the issue. They are talking of arms, where are the arms? Did they suspect that there was going to be explosion in Government House?

And foreign currency I don’t think they have said they found foreign currency, such were all rumour all over the place. But in any case there are laws governing this.

Right now if they check among individuals there are journalists that will have foreign currency on them. But that is not the issue now.

Do you think that what happened is linked to the ongoing case at the tribunal?

Well I said in the address that the hostility started since after the election. I don’t know what the

THE recent search of Government House, Uyo by operatives of the Department of State Services, DSS has elicited strong comments.

While the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP members are condemning it, opponents of the ruling party in the state mostly found in the All Progressives Congress, APC are

tribunal is saying, I have not gone to the tribunal, those that are investigating can link it if that is the case I don’t know, but we have had hostilities since after the elections and which are unacceptable.

In your opinion what steps should the DSS taken to resolve the issue?

It is very simple. The governor is the Chief Security Officer of this state, there is no body in Abuja that knows more than people here in Akwa Ibom state. To have invaded government house, there is nothing to suspect. If you suspect something in the villa in Abuja now, will you do the same thing? So if you suspected something, the Chief Security Officer of the state must know, if you wanted to do any investigation, he must be in the picture, because if anything goes wrong in this state he will be held responsible first and foremost.

It is completely unacceptable and Nigerians should stand up and fight for democracy because if we don’t do it, in fact democracy will be sliding

VANGUARD, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 17, 2015—39

No law bans search of Govt House — Ekpenyong BARRISTER Leo Ekpeyong, an Abuja based lawyer from Akwa Ibom State affirms that there is no law prohibiting security agencies from searching the perimeters of a Government House.

a crime by a lawful security outfit. The only buildings that are excluded from such activities by virtue of Geneva Convention are embassies and High commission. The guest House of Akwa Ibom state government is not a diplomatic building.

The immunity of the governor is only personal and it does not extend to a guest house owned

by Akwa Ibom state governor.

They did not access the official residence of the governor of the state. If you want you can extend the argument that the official residence of the governor could be covered by immunity but not a guest house owned by Akwa Ibom state government, for which intelligence was received about incriminating items therein. What is even crucial in this context is the security situation in Nigeria.

IBOM GOVT HOUSE:

Security situation

ng war speaking in favour of the alleged invasion.

Two leading partisans in the two parties, Otuekong Idongesit Nkanga, a former military administrator spoke in condemnation of the action of the DSS, Leo Ekpenyong, an Abuja based lawyer from Akwa Ibom State spoke passionately in favour of the action.

The immunity of the governor is only personal and it does not extend to a guest house owned

by Akwa Ibom state governor.

They did not access the official residence of the governor of the state

•Ekpenyong

T

HE DSS did not raid Akwa Ibom Government House. It did not raid the official residence of the governor of Akwa Ibom State.

It gained entry into one of the guest Houses of Akwa Ibom State Government.

To this extent, the action of the DSS was lawful in the sense that by virtue of the enabling act that created the DSS, it has the power to access any public building when there is intelligence information of an intention to commit crime.

The step and activities embarked upon by the DSS in Uyo were to prevent crime which are within the purview of the powers of the service.

The guest house of the state

government cannot be an exclusion from the purpose of preventing the commission of

There is a need for an overhaul of our criminal justice system and there is a need for an amendment of our laws in relation to security issues

If there is information about the commission or intention to commit crime where incriminating items were alleged to have been harboured in the guest house of the Akwa Ibom state government, is it out of place for the DSS to access such building lawfully for the purpose of prevention of the commission of a crime?

Security is a key factor in the collective responsibility of every Nigerian to ensure that Nigeria and its territory are safe.

Even the threat of terrorism is a novel issue in Nigeria.

Before the last seven years, was Nigeria categorized as a nation that is characterized by terrorism? No. there is a novel threat to the nation’s security and novel approaches must be adopted.

But fundamentally, there is a need for an overhaul of our criminal justice system and there is a need for an amendment of our laws in relation to security issues. It has become like an emergency situation which was never envisaged in the past and there is need for proactive measures to ensure that these anomalies are captured in our laws.

C M Y K

40—VANGUARD, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 17, 2015

Dep. Gov thanks PDP delegates for choosing Wada

By Kingsley Fanwo

K

OGI State Deputy Governor, Arc. Abayomi Awoniyi has expressed gratitude to the PDP delegates who voted massively to give victory to Governor Idris Wada, assuring them that the governor will work hard to deliver victory to the party.

Speaking exclusively to Vanguard in his office Monday, Awoniyi called for a “a concert and coalition of efforts” to ensure the party remains dominant in the state.

According to the Deputy

Governor, the PDP was not as divided as the media hype suggested prior to the primary.

He said they remained members of the same family.

“With the 709 votes that were cast to make Capt. Idris Wada the candidate of our party in the November governorship poll, you have once again expressed great support for the governor’s policies that have transformed the state. But the 139 delegates that voted against us have also sent a message: that our party needs to reach out to certain leaders of our great party to ensure that we

2015: KOGI DECIDES

•Awoniyi consolidate our transformation programmes.

“The government of Capt Idris Wada has helped to transform the

economy of the state. Our policies in the educational, agricultural and healthcare sectors have been applauded by

the people. In promising what we hope to do in the next four years if we have the mandate of the Kogi, we can also point to our various achievements.

“We have not addressed all the problems militating against our development as a people, but we can say we have laid a solid foundation for sustainable development. We hope to use the next four years to cement the place of this administration in the history of the state through radical infrastructural development.

“As a government, we have a clear knowledge of where we are coming from and where we want to be. I have no doubt that the governor will continue to focus on people-oriented programs that will push our economy forward”.

Also, Awoniyi assured residents of Lokoja of government’s commitment to make the city one of the most beautiful in the nation.

He said government is focusing on the tourism potential of the city and has invested heavily on ensuring a cleaner Lokoja.

In his words: “If you

...as former Dep Gov, Salawu emerges LP candidate

M

R. Philip Salawu, the immediate past Deputy Governor of Kogi State has emerged the candidate of Labour Party in a keenly contested primary in Lokoja, Tuesday.

Salawu, who scored 89 votes to beat his sole challenger, Mr. Akubo Adegbe said he is in the governorship race to rescue the state from further decline. Akubo scored 39 votes while one invalid post was recorded.Speaking after his nomination, Salawu promised to restore workers’ confidence in government through prompt payment of salaries, pensions and gratuities.”As a government of workers, we will ensure prompt payment of salaries and pensions.

It is unpardonable to owe workers wages when they have families to look after.

A Labour Party government will ensure wages are paid.

C M Y K

VANGUARD, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 17, 2015 — 41

Dr. Alex A. Izinyon, SAN

T

HE thematic scope of the topic I was given is the prosecutor’s perspective on the issue of counter-insurgency, the quest for human right, whether it is a distraction or sine qua non. At first I was jostled because I am sandwiched between two worlds. First as a defence counsel in respect of many criminal matters and as a prosecutor in some criminal prosecutions.

I then asked myself, where do I lie or stand? This scenario I found myself reminds me of the animal called bat, a nocturnal mammal capable of sustained flight with membranous wings between the fingers and limbs.

It has wings which make it function as an animal in the air territory and two functional legs as an animal on ground territory when on land.

When it was confronted with conflict by land animals arguing that it belonged to the air region, abode in the trees as it has extended wings, but on the other hand the air animals confronted it to go down to earth as it displayed its functional fingers and limbs each time it is in the air and so belongs to the land.

Extended fingers The bat had an answer already.

It retorted that, it knew the secrets of both sides and what each side should fight for, is how to make it not to use either its wings or its extended fingers and limbs which was not possible. So I belong to the two worlds, but I am not a bat. I propose to deal with this subject matter in this fashion: •Introduction, terminologies and scope of a Prosecutor •Constitutional safe guides on human rights in Nigeria.

•Dramatic illustrations •Balancing of rights vs. State interest.

•Neither detraction or sine qua non quo va dis •Epilogue There is no doubt that the topic is in the front burner in recent discourse following the insurgency and its allied catastrophes in Nigeria. The crux is where to draw the line between counter insurgency and the right of the accused persons in the process.

Permit me to narrow this down to the areas of prosecution and trials. This is because investigation must have been completed, viz obtaining the relevant statements and evidence now ready for the prosecution of the alleged offenders.

Insurgency: For our purpose, derived from the noun insurgent denote and connote rebel or revolutionary, adjectivally it means rising in active revolt, relating to C M Y K

Dr. Alex A. Izinyon, SAN

Role of prosecutor in human rights abuses rebels.

Counter: Simply put is a thing which opposes or prevents something else.

Prosecutor: A legal officer who represents the State or Federal

The Prosecutor is not a persecutor but a firm stickler to justice against those who foul the peace of the State

Government in criminal proceeding. Put in literary perspective, the focus of the topic would be opposing rebels or revolutionary or revolt against government order by the prosecution vis-à-vis, consideration of the human rights involved.

In this discourse, insurgency includes all such subversive actions, insurrection, renegade, agitators, revolutionist, anarchism, terrorism, freedom fighter, rebel, mutinous and seditions.

The Prosecutor has a duty to prosecute the case of the State.

He is not a persecutor but a firm stickler to justice against those who foul the peace of the State, with available evidence who must face justice according to law.

Time and space will not permit us to delve into the evolution of the State and the jurisprudential crescendo from Thomas Hobbes, (The Leviathan) (1651) where man to man is a wolf or animal, and rendering the life of man, “solitary, poor, nasty, brutish and short” through to John Locke to J. J. Rousseau all on Social contract theory. The aggregate of these theories is that the State is a human creation than result of

contract. However the “right” of “human right” which is traceable to divine origin has now been settled constitutionally by modern states and given legal imprimatur by the United Nations’ (UN) declaration on human rights.

PART 2 CONSTITUTIONAL SAFE GUARDS ON HUMAN RIGHTS IN NIGERIA The first underling principle of where to draw the line whether the quest for human right is a detraction, or sine-qua non is to consider the constitution of safe guards for the human rights and the scale of justice.

Scale of justice For relevance here on prosecution and trial are the provisions of Chapter 4, of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended). See Sections 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 43 & 44 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended).

These fundamental rights provisions especially Sections 37, 38, 39, 40 and 41 have restriction and derogation provisions.

Section 45(1): “Nothing in section 37, 38, 39, 40 and 41 of this Constitution shall invalidate any law that is reasonably justifiable in a democratic society The tension here is the agitation for strict compliance by the human rights agitators in the trial and prosecution of insurgency cases by the State and the States insistence that she must be allowed to use all the legal apparatus to institute, maintain and prosecute the alleged offenders without any qualms or detraction from the human rights trumpeters.

In this regards the human rights grouse is that all these constitutional safe guides must be applied insisting that justice rushed is justice crushed. Cicero, the 1st Century BC Roman statesman, orator and writer once said: “Extreme Justice” is Extreme Injustice”.

They always find umbrage in decisions of court to support this.

See the cases of OGLI OKO MEMORIAL FARMS LTD V. N.A.C.B LTD (2008) ALL FWLR (PT. 419) 400 AT 418 PARA. E (SC); ASHIRU V. AYOADE (2006) 6 NWLR (PT. 976) 405 AT 425 TO 426 PARAS G – A (CA).

On the other hand, the State as anchored by the Prosecutor will stick to the mandate, justice delayed is justice denied. Certainly they find support on this from decisions of superior Courts.

See the cases of AMADI V. NNPC (2000) FWLR (PT. 9) 1527 AT 1543 PARAS F. (SC); DAPIANLONG V. DARIYE (NO. 2) 2007 ALL FWLR (PT. 373) 81 AT 131 – 132 PARAS. E – A. (SC) This is the dilemma, the Sword of Damocles. This is the crux of this discourse.

Sword of Damocles How do the State discharge her prosecutorial responsibility without infringement on these entrenched rights in prosecuting the alleged offender, and how should the alleged offender see the State in this exercise without crying wolf when there is none all in guise to use human rights instrumentality under the guise that it is a sine qua non to human rights in the ongoing trial.

This safe guard theory reminds us of the re-echoing of those immortal words of Chief Justice Cardoso of the Supreme Court of USA when he said: “We must always take care to safeguard the law against the assaults of opportunism, the expediency of the passing hour, the erosion of small encroachments, and the scorn and derision of those who have no patience with general principles.”

The tension between freedom Continues on page 42

42 — VANGUARD, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 17, 2015

Role of prosecutor in human rights abuses Continues from page 41 of xx day in the city of xz leaving 50 persons dead, several persons injured, 10 policemen confirmed dead, 16 members of S.S.S. confirmed dead.

Act 1 Scene 2: Investigation commenced, arrest made, vital evidence recovered and obtained for the prosecution. Case ready for prosecution by the State.

Act 2 Scene1: Accused persons arraigned before the Federal High Court for the offence all bordering on insurgency.

Act 2 Scene 2: Accused persons pleaded not guilty, remanded in prison custody and case adjourned for trial.

Act 2 Scene 3: Defence counsel filed motions for bail and various preliminary objections on jurisdiction as well as quashing of the said count charges.

Act 2 Scene 4: Prosecution objected to these applications vehemently and filed relevant processes accordingly.

Act 2 Scene 5: The trial court delivered a considered ruling refused the bail applications but ordered accelerated hearing of the case and also dismissed the various preliminary objections.

Preliminary objections Act 3 Scene 1: Dissatisfied , defence counsel appealed against the Rulings of the trial court to the Court of Appeal and meanwhile applied for stay of proceedings at the trial court.

Act 3 Scene 2: Before the trial court could consider the application for stay, defence counsel are already at the Court of Appeal, informed the trial court that, appeal has been entered and produced appeal particulars, trial court inclined to stay proceedings and proceeding stayed.

Act 3 Scene 3: The Court of Appeal based on new Practice Direction on such cases as terrorism, treason etc however gave accelerated hearing and concluded the appeal within 2 years dismissing the appeal. Dissatisfied with the decision of the Court of Appeal, defence Counsel Appealed to the Supreme Court, meanwhile the case at the trial court is still in abeyance.

EDITORIAL TEAM Innocent Anaba ( Head) Wahab Abdulah Ikechukwu Nnochiri Dayo Benson (Supervising Editor) 08056180119 dayobenson@yahoo.com

A case of human rights abuse Act 3 Scene 4: The Supreme Court within another 2 years granted accelerated hearing to the appeal being criminal appeal, delivered Judgment dismissing the appeals and ordering accelerated hearing of the matter before the trial court.

THE END: End of the law movie, I hope you enjoyed it and leave the judgment on both sides of the divide to the viewers.

PART 4 AND 5 BALANCING OF RIGHT VS. STATE INTEREST: NEITHER DISTRACTION OR SINE QUANON QUO VA DIS From the above real trial has not commenced after about 5 years of legal imbroglio and procedural legal wrangles.

Here the prosecutor is put in a fix. He has all the listed witnesses and evidence to prove his case, yet he cannot jump the gun because of the right of the accused persons to fair trial within a reasonable time. See Section 36 of the Constitution. What about the witnesses? If they are not in protective custody, which have not be adequately addressed in this country some may be dead, assassinated, intimidated, blackmailed, all leading to the gradual collapse of the prosecution’s case. Is this part of fundamental right? The above scenario is common occurrence, in our criminal justice system. See the recent case of FRN V. BORISADE (2015) 5 NWLR (PT. 1451) 155.

The matter started in 2009, crossed over to Court of Appeal and Supreme Court. Judgment was

delivered on 30th January 2015 by the Supreme Court. It took a space of over 6 years on this short flight from trial court to Supreme Court, return leg. This is what happens when the law loses, as pointed by R.F. Kennedy when he said “Whenever men take the Law into their own hands, the loser is the Law. When the Law loses, freedom languishes”.

“Robert .F. Kennedy former U.S Attorney-General.”

There is therefore need to balance the fundamental human right of an accused person as prosecution counsel at trial and the justice of the larger society as the accused person is a part of the larger society. He is a microcosm of the macrocosm.

He is the 1/3 of the legal equation postulated by the famous Jurist Oputa, JSC in the celebrated case of GODWIN JOSIAH V. THE STATE (1985) 1 NWLR (PT. 1) 125 AT 141, PARAS. G -H where he said: “And justice is not a one-way

There is therefore need to balance the fundamental human right of an accused person as prosecution counsel at trial

traffic. It is not justice for the appellant only. Justice is not even only a two-way traffic. It is really a three-way traffic – justice for the appellant accused of a heinous crime of murder; justice for the victim, the murdered man, the deceased, ‘whose blood is crying to heaven for vengeance’ and finally justice for the society at large – the society whose social norms and values had been desecrated and broken by the criminal act complained of.”

Mercurial jurist The mercurial jurist Nnnami, JSC throwing his weight along this same line of thought pungently ethos thus: “The evidence on which the learned trial judge convicted the appellant, though circumstantial, was overwhelming and conclusive. The deceased was last seen alive with the appellant and this taken together with other facts led to the learned trial Judge to the conclusion he reached and which the Court of Appeal upheld. The facts of such overwhelming evidence it would have amounted to a travesty of justice to discharge and acquit the appellant.

I am reminded that it is not only the accused who demands or desires justice; the victim, sent to his death prematurely in some cases, and always unjustly demands and deserves that justice.”

(Underlining mine) (Page 133, Para. G – H) Therefore it is submitted that as a Prosecutor, the

human right of the accused person to fair trial within a reasonable time, remain inviolate and sacrosanct. He owes this duty to himself, the accused person, the State and the larger society.

Where however in quest to obtain these sublime objectives without infringement on the right of the accused person at trial such as insisting on trial within reasonable time and opposing all such legal obstacles placed by the defence counsel to stall or truncate the successful take off. or prosecution of the accused person by the accused person via counsel, all under the guise of human right in cases of insurgency when the larger society has been held spell bound and in siege, I submit such without any amphiboly is as whole scale detraction and not a sine qua non.

Preparation of defence It can only be sine qua non if the object of the insistence is to ensure speedy trial within a reasonable time, access to the accused person, facility for the preparation of his defence, etc., by the defence from the human rights angle. It is now settled that power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely.

Therefore where there is a clear violation of the right of an accused person to fair trial, necessary facilities for his defence and trial within a reasonable time, the human right bingo may be on strong wicket to clear these excesses and absolutism.

But where such is not the case but deliberate and calculated gimmicks to delay the trial, through unnecessary adjournments, bogus and spurious objections that lack legal focality and mere shambolism but aim to buy time and “kill the case”, I submit such human rights agitation therefore will be a ruse, distraction, simulacrum and a façade which should be condemned by all.

The Prosecutor must rise to the occasion and clear these obstacles.

It was once said: “The criminal trial today is - - - a kind of showjumping contest in which the rider for the prosecution must clear every obstacle to succeed.”

Robert Mark – British Police Commissioner.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 17 15 — 43 17,, 20 2015

Labour tackles employers over rising unemployment, casualization

By VICTOR AHIUMAYOUNG

S

ECTION 7 (1) of the Labour Act, Cap 198, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 1990,(as amended) provides that, “Not later than three months after the beginning of a worker’s period of employment with an employer, the employer shall give to the worker a written statement specifying the terms and conditions of employment, which include the nature of the employment and if the contract is for a fixed term, the date when the contract expires.”

For Organized Labour, today, the law is only obeyed in the breach and as nobody is willing to enforce the law; many trade unions are resorting to self-help in form of picketing and other industrial actions.

The growing abuse of this section of the labour law and what many consider as emerging global employment trend has become a serious concern to organized labour especially the National Union of Chemical, Footwear, Rubber, Leather and NonMetallic Products Employees, NUCFRLANMPE. Consequently, much of the discussions at its 2015 Annual Industrial Relations Seminar which took place in Benin City, Edo State, centred on this emerging trend that many see as non-pensionable employment.

Non-pensionable employment Welcoming participants to the seminar with the theme “Contemporary Challenges in Industrial Relations Practice: Chemical Sector Experience”, President of the Union, Mr. Boniface Isok, decried declining membership of the union and stressed the urgent task of expanding the membership base of the union.

According to him, the union is unrelenting in its effort on membership recruitment. It is difficult to keep existing members due largely to increasing casualization of workers, out-sourcing of workers and contract-staffing.

Employers in the sector have been advised to desist from flagrance disrespect for tenets of industrial relations and infringement on fundamental rights of workers while several meetings and efforts are going

SEMINAR: From left, Goke Olatunji, (Deputy President NUCFRLANMPE), Boniface Isok, (President), Douglas Adiele, (National Secretary), and Ishaku Usman (National Treasurer) at the Union's National Industrial Relations Seminar in Benin City, Edo State. on in a bid to minimize outsourcing, contract-staffing and casualization if it cannot be totally eradicated.

Union officers olluding with management: Isok argued that though there were several challenges facing the Chemical and Leather sector of the economy, but "the most disturbing one is the changing of employment status from conventional permanent to temporary employment in the form of casualization, out-sourcing and contract-staffing.

Casualization has been a major thorn in the union’s flesh due to economic reasons given by the employers. The companies in the sector are replacing their full time workforces with temporary, casual, outsourced and contract workers at a frightening rate. Employers now hide behind what they call the core value of their businesses to casualize over 70% of the workers in order to make huge profits annually at the expense of Nigerian workers. Sadly, most of the retrenchment carried out by the employers are aided and abetted by the Branch Executives.”

He said he found it unbelievable and described it as the height of betrayal for union officers elected by workers to fight for and defend the interests and rights of workers turning around to connive with management or employers to victimize the same workers.

According to him, “it has come to our notice that some of the branch executives are conniving with their management or employers to sell off their co-workers for

personal gains. Henceforth, any officer found wanting shall be sanctioned appropriately.”

While advising those involved in the ignominious practice to desist from the evil act as the union had put measures in place to fish out and deal such unscrupulous officers, he told Vanguard that though the management had been shielding some of officers involved, he reassured that the leadership of the union at the national level would soon catch up with the people engaging in the practice for personal aggrandizement.

He added that irrespective of any economic or political reasons these evil doers might have, it was not enough to sell off co-workers for personal gains.

Similarly, General Secretary of the union, Mr. Douglas Adiele, advised those involved to retrace their steps because management would always be management and that at the appropriate time, water would find its level, saying “if you think the employers love you because you are working with them to undermine your co-workers, you are making a very grievous mistake.

The employers know that if you can betray your coworkers today, tomorrow you can as well betray them (employers). So, after using you, they will leave you in the cold for you to lick your wounds. It is better to betray your employers before your coworkers, than betray your coworkers before your employers.”

Union leaders

The most disturbing one is the changing of employment status from conventional permanent to temporary employment in the form of casualisation, outsourcing and contractstaffing

Edo State Commissioner for Special Duties, Mr. Didi Adodo, who declared the seminar open on behalf of Governor Adams Oshiomhole, said he was not surprised that some unscrupulous union leaders collude with management to victimize workers, but said such union leaders always regretted at the end.

According to him, “ when some unscrupulous unionists join management to subvert union, such unionists will be subverted. Any person that does not have the union’s spirit should not join union.

That is why training and retraining is very vital for union leaders.”

Employers, labour on common agenda: He called

on labour leaders to restrategise to deal with casualization of workers, contract-staffing and outsourcing of workers and advised employers and organised labour to strategize and come out with a common agenda to be presented to President Muhammadu Buhari towards reviving closed factories and sustaining existing ones for jobs and wealth creation.

While urging employers’ body and organised labour to do so as soon as possible before politicians took over the president, he said the employers’ body either through the Nigeria Employers’ Consultative Association, NECA, or Manufacturers Association of Nigeria, MAN, and labour must collaborate to ensure bailout for industrialization and revival of the real sector of the economy as done by President Barrack Obama of the United States of America, USA, after the economic meltdown of 2008.

Adodo added: “Employers and labour should present a common agenda to the President for the revival of industries, for jobs to be created which will automatically create wealth.

Power supply Labour and employers should discuss with government on how to improve power supply, end smuggling of finished products into the country, and create other conducive environment for local production to strive.

There is also the need to strategize on how to end casualization, outsourcing and contract staffing of workers and other unfair labour practices. I honestly, advise employers to labour either as NECA or MAN to meet, strategize, and present a common agenda to President Buhari before politicians take over him.”

National woes: On the national level, NUCFRLANMPE President lamented that the worsening corruption, insecurity poor power supply among others, saying “for the past eight years, insecurity has resulted in wanton loss of lives and properties, discouraging smooth movement of goods and services from one part of the country to another.

The Northern part of the country is mostly affected while its negative effects cut across the country. It is a known fact that no sane person will invest in a crisis prone environment.

44—Vanguard, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 17, 2015

Team Nigeria must compete in Swimming, Gymnastics, Fencing to win Games—Yakmut T

HE Director General of the National Sports Commission, Alhaji Alhassan Yakmut said Nigeria would strategize on three sports to boost the country’s overall performance at major games.

Yakmut, speaking to our correspondent on the telephone from Congo, noted that the country would have to double efforts to compete keenly in sports like Swimming, Gymnastics and Fencing.

The NSC DG stated that Egypt and South Africa benefitted from these sports to be on top in the overall medals table of the ongoing AAG. He said: “Egypt won 13

compete in these sports to bring out some youthful athletes who can represent the country in the next two to three AAG and the Olympics Games.”

Yakmut stressed that Team Nigeria athletes have generally performed well at the ongoing continental meet but have

been unlucky with results. “We have recorded 23 silver medals and if we had won 23 gold, we could have been up there. All the same we are happy with our placing and we expect to place third at the end of the events, “the DG added.

•Yakmut gold medals in Fencing alone while South Africa recorded over 20 in swimming alone. We have to challenge them keenly to reduce this advantage especially because we are also being challenged in our areas of strength.

“There is need for us to

Ben Efe reporting

Amusan wins women’s 100m hurdles gold

N

I G E R I A’ S Oluwatobiloba Amusan won the women’s 100 metres hurdles final gold at the 11th All Africa Games in Brazzaville, Congo.

The Nigerian sprinter ran a time of 13.15 seconds in the women’s event.

Amusan was off the starting blocks ahead of the field and her footspeed kept her just ahead of the chasing pack to the finish line.

The 18-year-old explained that her triumph on the tracks in the women’s 100 metres hurdles was down to the improvement in heats in the previous day.

“I am happy for this. It is an improvement in technique from the heats of yesterday,” Amusan, who ran a personal best of 13.11 seconds on Monday, responded when asked the strategy she applied to win gold.

Nigeria looked close to making it a one-two finish in the women’s 100 hurdles final as the athletes in second and third places ended up in an almost photo-finish.

But it was her compatriot, Lindsay Weyinme, who finished two places behind her to claim bronze in a time of 13.30 seconds.

Senegalese sprinter, Gnima Faye, finished in a season’s best of 13.28 seconds to win silver.

CELEBRATION...Team Nigeria's women's 100m hurdles athlete, Oluwatobiloba Amusan (r) celebrates with her compatriot after winning the gold in the 11th All Africa Games.

3 soldiers win medals in Congo

T

HE trio of Lance Corporal Kehinde Obareh, Lance Corporal Edith Agu and Private Caroline Linus of the Nigerian Army, representing the country in the Boxing event of the ongoing 11th All Africa Games have done the nation proud by winning Gold and Silver medals respectively.

This is coming as the Chief of Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar, charged officers and men of the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) to be in readiness

for deployment to the North East for the ongoing onslaught to bring Boko Haram insurgency to an end.

The Director of Army Public Relations (DAPR), Col. Sani

Siasia to shop for new players

N

ATIONAL Under-23 coach, Samson Siasia said he might be forced to search for new players after his team capitulated at the All Africa Games.

A win against Ghana, a

AFN to look inwards for new talents

C

ONCERNED Nigerian athletics officials have harped on the need for the Athletics Federa-tion of Nigeria to work hard and produce quality athletes, and thereby reduce the over dependence on individuals to raise the fortunes of

the country at international meets.

This is against the background of half hearted commitments by some Nigerian overseas based athletes, some of whom won at the trials in Warri Delta State, but failed to

Usman disclosed this yesterday, saying that the trio won the medals at this ongoing continental sports event at Brazaville,Congo Republic last Sunday, September 13, 2015.

show up at the All Africa Games. Also they wondered why an athlete like Blessing Okagbare should be in Brazzaville, but chose to sit out the event except of course the 4x100m relay, where she helped Nigeria to win the gold.

draw against Senegal and a shock loss to Burkina Faso are the team’s resume as they head into the third place match today against hosts Congo. Siasia said after the game against Burkina Faso that it has become expedient to reinforce the team ahead of the African Under-23 tournament in Senegal, if Nigeria were to qualify for the Rio 2016 Olympics.

“We would have to start looking at other players with the way things are now. We won’t get anywhere with this kind of display.

FIFA: Odegbami protests, frowns at NFF 1980 AFCON winner, Segun Odegbami has fired a protest lettertotheNigeriaFootballFederationoverthebody’sstance on his bid to contest for the looming FIFA Presidential Elections, where a new face will replace Sepp Blatter.

We hereby reproduce Odegbami’s letter (edited), addressed to the President of the NFF, Amaju Pinick.

HecopiedPresidentMuhammaduBuhari,FIFASec-Gen Jerome Valcke and CAF President, Issa Hayatou.

Dear Mr. Pinnick Amaju, A protest against the decisions of the Nigeria Football Federation [NFF] regarding my request for nomination to contest for the position of President of FIFA This is to formally register my protest against the demands made of me [and indeed any other Nigerian contestant] by theNigeriaFootballFederation[NFF],asconditions,inorder to be nominated to contest for the position of President of FIFA. This is also to suggest that the NFF should immediately withdraw these demands and that the NFF should quickly decide on the Nigerian to nominate to contest the FIFA Presidential elections in February 2016.

I refer to my letter of August 26, 2015, addressed to you, in which I humbly requested for nomination by the NFF to enable me contest for the vacant position of President of FIFA in the elections coming up on February 26, 2016. Whilst awaitingaformalresponsefromyou,itwaswithutterdisbelief and shock to read of the conditions [more of barriers] on a television programme that the NFF has set for Nigerian candidates.

I wish to remind you that long before I publicly announced my intention to contest for the election, I met with you to intimate you of my aspiration and intent. You had proposed then that I met with Dr. Amos Adamu [former member of the ConfederationofAfricanFootball[CAF]ExecutiveCommittee] and Mr. Issa Hayatou - the CAF President. At this meeting, I reminded you that the FIFA elections became necessary as a result of corruption charges against members of the current FIFA Executive Committee, and that both gentlemen that you suggested I meet have been an integral part of the FIFA establishment, and that engaging them at the initial stages may not be a good idea, particularly as I aim to align part of my campaign strategy and key messages alongside the change mantra and anti-corruption stance of the present NigerianGovernmentunderPresidentMuhammaduBuhari.

In my view, to achieve this, I stand a good chance if I distance myself from the present FIFA members.

I informed you also that I had already sent my official notification letter to the NFF and that I would be expecting a response.

However, I was perturbed and shocked to see you, the NFF president, reveal on a television programme - Sports This Morning - on Channels Television, on Monday September 14, 2015, that the NFF Executive committee had met and decided that Nigerians interested in contesting for the position of FIFA president should secure the following endorsements in order to be nominated; 1. Endorsement of their State Football Association 2. Endorsement of the National Sports Commission [NSC] – the government agency that supervises all sports in Nigeria 3. Endorsement of the Confederation of African Football [CAF].

I find the last two of these requests very bizarre, and a product of lack of familiarity with the guidelines for the FIFA presidential elections. It further appears to be a calculated attempt to pursue an entirely private agenda at the expense of national benefits cum interests.

Whatever the motivation behind or driving the NFF demands, the decisions by your Executive Committee are not in line with the requirements set by FIFA to contest the elections.Thistherefore,raisessomepertinentissues/questions; Kindly note again that your demands of me to seek endorsement by a government agency, and endorsement by CAFarenotrequirementsofFIFAforcontestingtheelections.

Therefore, once again, I am requesting that; 1 The NFF should immediately withdraw its demands for endorsementsfromCAForanygovernmentagency,asthese are not requirements of/for eligibility for the FIFA elections.

The individuals, with the support of the NFF, will seek the support of both important bodies [and more] not their official endorsements.

2. The NFF takes the proper decision to nominate any Nigerian that has formally requested for its nomination and that must be a Nigerian, eligible and of good character and integrity to contest the FIFA Presidential elections.

I look forward to your response and cooperation on this matterurgently!

Yours sincerely, Chief [Dr.] ‘Segun Odegbami, MON, fnim CC: 1. President Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR The President & Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, Federal Republic of Nigeria, Aso Rock Villa, FCT, Abuja.

2. The General Secretary, FIFA Zurich.

3. Alhaji Issa Hayatou, The President, CAF.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 17, 2015 — 45

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46 — Vanguard, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 17, 2015

Amokachi has not resigned – Ifeanyi Uba

BY JACOB AJOM

A

ll may not be well with the fledging FC Ifeanyi Uba of Nnewi, as allindicationspointtothefact that the dressing room has fallen flat. Only last weekend, reports were rife of the disagreement between Coach Dan

Amokachi and the President of the club, Chief Ifeanyi Uba. According to reports, Coach Daniel Amokachi had been ordered to stay away from the Nigeria Premier League side after what was described as a case of insubordination.

A latter report conveyed news of the purported resignation of the coach who was reported to have returned to his base in Kaduna. However, it is still not clear whether this ends Amokachi’s stint at the Nnewi club.

Against this background, Proprietor and President of

Siasia

Continues from BP disappointed Siasia disclosed that in his wildest imagination, he did not for once believed his team would lose tBurkina Faso,let alone by such a high margin.

Siasia said: “I never imagined losing to Burkina Faso, but then my midfielders played so well, my defenders and attackers let me down, can you imagine my attackers not being able to convert about eightchancesthatcametheir way?

“To make matters worse, the defenders were asleep on a day they should have been up and doing. Who told the central defenders to keep offside trap the way they did? I am totally

disappointed; we can’t play like this in Senegal and expect to qualify for the 2016 Olympics. No way!

“We were so bad that anytime the ball beat the defenders, even my goalkeeper could not stop any of the shots fired at him.

Footballisateamworkwhere errors are bound to occur, but it’s the ability of fellow team mates to cover for one another that makes a team great, that I didn’t see today.”

On the way forward, Siasia stated that he is happy that the worst has happened at the All-Africa Games and he has learnt his mistakes.

“We will make corrections after the All-Africa Games. I plan to travel to talk to some players I have already penciled down, then

hopefully, the team should be assembling in first week of October to prepare for the Africa U-23 Cup of Nations.

Certainly, some of the players I brought to Congo Brazzaville will have to give way.”

Siasia then apologized to Nigerians for letting them down by not qualifying for the All-Africa Games men’s football final and bringing home the gold medal. “I am not a man of excuses. I take all the blame for this collapse and will certainly make amends before the Africa U23 Cup of Nations.”

Unfortunately, Nigeria’s senior women’s team, Super Falcons, also in the semi final of the women’s football event, crashing 1-2 to Cameroon also on Tuesday.

the club, Chief Ifeanyi Uba told Sports Vanguard that he was not aware of the resignation of the chief coach, Daniel Amokachi as was widely reported.

“No, I am not aware of his resignation,” the businessman began. “I have an understanding with Amokachi and if he is saying to the press that he has resigned, has he shown them thecontract papers and a copy of his resignation letter? What if I also go to the

same press and say I fired him? I have not seen anybody who resigned at night.Ihavenoproblemwith him. He is my friend and I cannot truncate his career.

On our part, we have not fired him.”

The President of the club continued, “they (players and officials) were asked to return to base after the match in Port Harcourt. So what?

Was it the first time they were being asked to return after a match?” he asked with a tinge of anger in his voice.

“When you are working in

Igali Continues from BP AfricaattheAfricanGames in Congo Brazzaville.

He described his ordeal in the hands of the Congolese immigration officials as malicious, wicked and dehumanising. “I can’t imagine myself, an Olympian, a Nigerian lawmaker and President of a sports federation in Nigeria to have gone through such a wicked experience in a countryhostinganimportant event such as the African Games.”

Igali wondered why countries hosting such major events would not educate

their officials on protocol.

“It was an unfortunate incident, perpetrated by overzealous and wicked immigration personnel. I have put it behind me.

“I just hope such nonsense is not visited on other Nigerians.”

Happy that he has regained freedom, Igali said, “my wrestlers have started competingandI’vetakenmy position to guide them.

“I am here to motivate them to win medals to brighten our chances at the medals table. God willing we shall not disappoint Nigerians.”

a particular setting, you abide by the rules that guide that place. Above all, he has not met the target set for him.

The target was not for the entire season but for a number of matches and he has not met it,” the club President said without explaining what the target was.

Beckenbauer Continues from BP calendar year following the conclusion of this summer’s transferwindowonSeptember 1, according to Sports Business Group at Deloitte.

Beckenbauer, however, insists that better quality players reside elsewhere. On the strength of the Bundesliga, he added: ‘They don’thaveanyamongthebest in the world. We still have greatfootballersinGermany.’

He also praised winger MarioGotzeforstayingatthe club,despitebeinglinkedwith several moves away in the summer, including to Manchester United and Arsenal.

Beckenbauer revealed: ‘I recentlytoldhim(Gotze):you have to force your way through at Bayern. He does that now. I’m glad he stayed in Munich.’

Vanguard, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 17, 2015 — 47

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Vanguard, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 17, 2015

Igali regains freedom, narrates ordeal

Another Nigerian powerlifter breaks world record N

IGERIA’s Esther Oyema has also broken another world record in powerlifting in the ongoing 11th All Africa Games in Congo Brazzaville with a lift of 133 kg .

Her former record in a class of 55kg was 126kg.

With her new record in powerlifting, Nigeria has so farpicked four gold medals from the event .

FIFA: Odegbami protests, frowns at NFF — Page 44

P

RESIDENT of the N i g e r i a Wrestling Federation (NWF) Dr Daniel Igali who regained freedom on Tuesday after an 8 hour detention by Congolese immigration officials at the B r a z z a v i l l e International Airport has said that he was back in the saddle to lead his wrestlers to conquer Continues on Page 46

•Igali

Medals Table

GOLDEN GIRL: Esther Onyema displays her gold medal at the 2012 Paralympic Games in London. She set a world record at the African Games in Congo yesterday.

Siasia sulks over U-23’s loss H

EAD Coach of the U-23 National Team, Samson Siasia has

attributed the defeat of his team by Burkina Faso in the semi finals of the 11th All-Africa Games football tournament in Brazzaville to his boys’ profligacy in front of goal, and the defenders failing in their duties.

Speaking after Tuesday’s game, a

Ben Efe reporting

Continues on Page 46

•Siasia

Position 1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

8.

9.

10.

Country Egypt S/Africa Algeria Nigeria Tunisia Mauritius Congo Cameroon Kenya Senegal

G 56 38 30 25 17 5 5 4 3 3

S 45 34 27 33 19 3 2 2 5 4

B 47 28 27 25 27 4 12 10 4 10

Ronaldo, Messi can’t play in EPL — Beckenbauer

F

RANZ Beckenbauer believes that despite the huge revenue of the Premier League, the world’s best players still ply their trade outside of England’s top-flight.

The Bayern Munich legend told German sports newspaper Blid:

‘They can’t buy everyone.

Most importantly, they can’t buy (Lionel) Messi, (Cristiano) Ronaldo, (Zlatan) Ibrahimovic and our Thomas Muller.’

Premier League clubs broke the £1billion-mark for spending in a single Continues on Page 46

QUICK CROSSWORD

TODAY'S

PUZZLE

YESTERDAY'S ANSWERS

ACROSS 2 Passage (5) 7 Unfortunately (4) 8 Small (6) 9 Employees (5) 11 Hill (3) 13 Cushion (3) 15 Paradise (4) 16 Coal – scuttle (3) 18 Lake (4) 19 Uniform (7) 20 Fade (4) 22 Tug (4) 23 Frightened (7) 25 Plunder (4) 27 Defective (3) 28 Gull (4) 30 Fasten (3) 31 Expire (3) 33 Spree (5) 36 Edit (6) 37 Absent (4) 38 Flower (5)

DOWN 1 Spate (5) 2 Donkey (3) 3 Ocean (3) 4 Sprite (3) 5 Consumed (3) 6 Rid (5) 10 Whip (4) 11 Storm (7) 12 Supplant (7) 13 Read (7) 14 Wane (7) 16 Learnt (5) 17 Cheated (5) 18 Chart (3) 21 Moose (3) 24 Silent (4) 26 Pointed (5) 29 Emulate (5) 32 Gain (3) 33 Material (3) 34 Vehicle (3) 35 Ballad (3)

YESTERDAY'S SOLUTIONS ACROSS: 1, Fussy 5, Locker 8, Terse 10, Remote 11, Aped 14, Fedora 15, General 18, Nip 19, Tap 21, Test 23, Deter 24, Held 27, Den 29, Oaf 31, Rapidly 32, Crazed 34, Fine 35, Tether 38, Layer 39, Cudgel 40, Local.

DOWN: 2, Use 3, Stored 4, Yet 5, Leaf 6, Credit 7, Repast 9, Rebated 12, Pen 13, Dope 16, Ease 17, Later 20, Penalty 22, Soil 24, Hectic 25, Loaf 26, Dazing 28, Bistro 30, Fen 33, Dell 36, Eel 37, Era

How to Play Sudoku

P

lace a number (1-9) in each blank cell. (No line can have two of the same number).

Each row (nine lines from left to right), column, (also nine lines from top to bottom) and 3 X 3 block within a bold block (nine blocks) contains number from 1 through 9. This means that no number can appear twice in any block, column or row.

No mathematics is involved – no adding, subtraction, division or multiplication, just plain logic and your imagination.

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