ARREST OF 486 SUSPECTED INSURGENTS: Wanted terror kingpin among suspects — DHQ

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...towards a better life for the people VOL. 25: NO. 62168

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ONLINE | www.vanguardngr.com

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WEDNESDAY, JUNE 18, 2014

Ekiti Commissioner faces terror 11 charges today

Iran's coach mocks 33 Eagles

ARREST OF 486 SUSPECTED INSURGENTS:

Wanted terror kingpin among suspects — DHQ •Says he has been taken into custody •Screening of remaining suspects on-going •Sagay lauds military, says it's a welcome development

BY ABDULWAHAB ABDULAH

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BUJA—THE De fence Headquarters disclosed, yesterday, that one of the most wanted terror kingpins of the Boko Haram group was among the 486 susContinues on page 5

COLUMNISTS:

Dora Akunyili's last dance •P.19

Dr. Abel K. Ubeku, 1936-2014: In memoriam •P.19

Mr & Mrs

MEETING ON EDUCATION—President Goodluck Jonathan (4th left)welcoming the Founder, Safe School Initiative, Mr. Gordon Brown, while the Borno State Governor, Kashim Shettima (second right); Yobe State Governor, Ibrahim Geidam (second left); Finance Minister, Mrs. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala (right) and the Supervising Minister for Education, Nyesom Wike (left) watch during a meeting at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, yesterday. Photo: Abayomi Adeshida.

FAAC: FG, states, LGs Nigeria to lose LNG market share N683.9bn for May as new entrants emerge 9 4

2 — Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JUNE 18, 2014

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JUNE 18, 2014 — 3

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4 — Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JUNE 18, 2014

CBN to publish list of ‘bad debtors’

BY EMMA UJAH, Abuja Bureau Chief

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BUJA— THE Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, is to publish a list of unscrupulous banks’ debtors who take loans and refuse to pay, the Director of Banking Supervision, Mrs. Tokunbo Martins, announced, yesterday.

Mrs. Martins, who briefed the press at the end of the Bankers' Committee 316th meeting in Abuja, disclosed that the apex bank had worked extensively on the list and would soon publish it.

A similar list of those owing N5 billion and above, which was published by the bank in 2012, caused a great public outcry, especially among those listed.

She said: “Blacklisting of debtors is something that we need to do gradually. You remember that in 2012 we issued a circular on borrowers who had borrowed N5 billion and above from banks and those loans went bad and ended up in AMCOM; they were blacklisted.

“What we are doing right now is that we are moving that threshold down. We are working out the modalities. It is not something that is finished, but it is something that I can assure you will be concluded very soon.

“The industry and the whole country will know those that are no longer entitled to borrow from banks because they had defaulted in some loans in the past.”

INAUGURATION: From left— Chief Billy Ofessi, the donor; Alhaji Abduljelili Adesiyan, Minister of Police Affairs; Mr. Mohammed Abubakar, Inspector-General; Senator Paulinus Nwagwu, Chairman, Senate Committee on Police Affairs, and DIG Grace Okudo, Force Medical Officer, during the inauguration of a police hospital donated buy Chief Ofessi at Dei-dei, Abuja, yesterday. NAN PHOTO.

POLYMER NOTES SCAM: EFCC may charge Soludo, NSPMC MD to court zSays Senator Bukola Saraki under investigation zCan’t stop Fayose's guber ambition over graft probe

BY SONI DANIEL, Northern Region Editor

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B U J A — INDICATIONS have emerged that the former Central Bank Governor, Professor Charles Soludo and the former Managing Director of the Nigerian Security Printing and Minting Company, NSPMC, Ehi Okomoyon, may be charged to court over their roles in the printing of polymer notes.

Already, the embattled former MD, who was forced to resign from the company over missing N1.2 billion printed notes, has been found to have a case to answer by a team that investigated him over the polymer notes scam.

At a briefing in Abuja, Monday, the Head of Media and Publicity, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Mr. Wilson Uwujaren, confirmed that the former Managing Director had been indicted by the panel that probed him and his activities.

He said all those found to have played roles in the scam would be charged to court.

On the participation of former Ekiti governor, Ayodele Fayose, in the forthcoming gubernatorial election when he was facing graft charges from the commission, Uwujaren said the agency did not have the power to stop him from contesting the poll.

He said as a body bound by laws, the agency would continue to assume that every

accused is innocent until declared otherwise by the court.

The commission said it was wrong for Nigerians to accuse it of not stopping the former governor from running in next week’s poll, saying that it was left for the Independent National Election Commission, INEC, to decide if its laws permitted it to stop accused persons from contesting elections.

That notwithstanding, Uwujaren declared that the trial of Fayose would continue despite his entry into the Ekiti governorship race.

Aviation scandal

On when the former Aviation Minister, Princess Stella Odua, who was removed in the wake of the controversial acquisition of bullet proof cars worth N225 million, Uwujaren said the commission was still

FAAC: FG, states, LGs share N683.9bn for May

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BUJA—THE Accountant General of the Federation, Mr. Jonah Otunla, said N683.9 billion was shared among the Federal Government, states and local governments as revenue for the month of May. Otunla made this known when he briefed newsmen on the outcome of the Federation Accounts Allocation Committee, FAAC, meeting in Abuja, yesterday.

He said: “The distributable statutory revenue for the month is N582.9 billion, which is more than the N533.7 billion that was

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shared for the month of April .

“Also N35.5 billion is proposed for distribution under the SURE-P Programme.

“So the total revenue distributable for the current month, including Value Added Tax, VAT, of N65.4 billion is N683.9 billion.”

Otunla said the Federal Government received N271.3 billion, representing 52.68 percent; states, N137.6 billion, representing 26.72 per cent; while local

governments got N106.11 billion, representing 20.60 percent.

He said that N52.8 billion, representing 13 percent derivation revenue was also shared among the oil producing states.

On VAT, he said the gross revenue collected in May was N65.42 billion as against N65.43 billion distributed in April, representing a decrease of N11 million.

The AGF said the mineral revenue collected for May was N507.19 billion, more than the

N474.9 billion realised in April, showing a difference of N32.3 billion.

He said that non-mineral revenue collected during the period under review was N336.8 billion.

The figure, he said, showed an increase of N227.6 billion from the N109.3 billion that was collected in April.

He also said that N159.7 billion, out of the excess nonoil revenue for the month was also proposed for distribution.

investigating the woman and asked Nigerians to await the outcome.

He said: “Princess Stella Odua’s matter has not been closed. She was not the only person invited for interrogation.

“Other officials of aviation parastatals came along and were duly quizzed by our officers. Nigerians will get to know what we are doing about the case soon.”

Uwujaren said that the former Kwara State governor, Bukola Saraki, who is now a Senator, was being investigated over the way he ran the defunct Societe General Bank of Nigeria Limited and the management of loans he obtained from banks during his tenure as governor.

Foreign media on alleged CBN scam

It will be recalled that an Australian newspaper had reported that a currency company, Securency, paid N750 million in bribes to some officials of CBN between 2006 and 2008 to secure the contract to make polymer notes for Nigeria.

The report stated that the company channelled the bribes through two British businessmen for onward delivery to the beneficiaries.

Apart from the former CBN boss, many officials of the Finance Ministry and a former president were named as beneficiaries of the bribes for the polymer notes, which are being phased out

by CBN. The apex bank now claims the polymer notes are not as durable as the paper notes.

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JUNE 18, 2014—5

POCKET CARTOON

INSPECTION—From left: Sen. Jack Tilley-Gyado; Commissioner for Works, Mr Chris Hassan and Gov. Jonah Jang of Plateau State, during the inspection of roads and housing projects in BarkinLadi Local Government Area of the state, yesterday. Photo: NAN.

Wanted terror kingpin among suspects — DHQ Continues from page 1 pected insurgents arrested last Sunday on the Enugu-Port Harcourt Expressway. They were arrested by soldiers from the Asa Military Base, 14 Brigade, Ohafia Barracks, Abia State.

The suspects, who claimed to be on their way to Port Harcourt in

search of work were said to be moving in a convoy of 33 Hummer buses when they were intercepted by the soldiers between Arungwa Junction on the expressway and Imo Gate, the Abia State and Rivers State boundary.

Following their arrest, the security agents were

LIFEWORDS

BY PASTOR ITUAH

G. K. Chesterton said: ‘There are two ways to get enough. One is to accumulate more and more. The other is to desire less and less.’

TAKE HEART

T

BY ELLA RANDLE

HE gifts of divine love sometimes come in un expected ways...a loving heart learns to recognize with gratitude the blessings within any situation— Ella Randle Your illumination is always fuelled by joy and laughter allows yourself the joy of beautiful expressions and feelings at all times. I trust my heart to live from this loving awareness consciously and of course it always comes with extra radiance and success in all that I do.

This much is true from my personal understanding and experiences of life. If your heart can hear the whispers of the wind which is the voice of divine love, if your eyes can see the shaft of light kiss the rays at dawn or watch a rose bud unfold in full beauty, if your heart still smiles at life even though you could cry. If you can say a soft word to illuminate another’s heart and let the shine through. If you can watch the creative process cut a pathway in the river of your heart. If you can say, thank you always! You will awaken what lies within, and open your heart to a greater reality of divine love.

said to have screened the suspects where it was discovered that a Boko Haram terrorist who has been on the wanted list of security agencies was among them.

The Defence Headquarters in a statement signed by the Director of Defence Information, Major-General Chris Olukolade said: “A terror kingpin on the list of wanted terrorists of security forces in Nigeria has been detected in the ongoing screening of the 486 suspects nabbed while travelling in over 33 Hiace Hummer buses at night along EnuguPort Harcourt Expressway last Sunday.

“So far, other security agencies, including the para-military, have joined the screening exercise to ascertain the status of the remaining suspects. Those identified as possible security risk or illegal immigrants are expected to be identified for further action.” The identified terror kingpin has been taken into custody.

Sagay hails military Meanwhile, reacting to the insurgents’ arrest,

Constitutional lawyer, Prof. Itse Sagay (SAN), commended the military.

He urged them to conduct a thorough investi-

gation to ascertain if those arrested were actually members of Boko Haram or they were just wandering about.

Prof Sagay argued that the investigation would enable Nigerians know the identity of the arrested suspects and their mission in Port Harcourt.

According to Sagay: “If actually the arrested suspects are members of the outlawed sect, the normal punishment that applies to terrorists should be meted to them without delay.

“The military needs to be praised for being alert. They have demonstrated some qualities we have not seen for sometime. One is reassured that there is still some alertness and we are happy about that.

“But the major question that comes to my mind is

what evidence do we have to prove that they are Boko Haram? Yes, they are suspicious people because how can young people of that age be moving around in almost 40 buses?

“I think there is need for more investigation to know exactly who they are and what they were planning to do in Port Harcourt. It is good they were stopped. It is equally good they are in custody.

“If they are Boko Haram members, the normal steps that apply to those planning terrorism should be applied against them. If they are not, I think they should be sent back because at this period, it is too critical to have people wandering about without purpose,” he said.

NLC crisis deepens as NASU raises alarm on constitution amendment

BY FUNMI KOMOLAFE

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AGOS—THE inter nal crisis rocking the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) deepened with an affiliate of the body lodging a petition against the leadership.

It accused it of “illegal and fraudulent insertions into the constitution” of the central labour organisation.

The Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions, (NASU), in a petition to the Registrar of Trade Unions dated June 6, 2014, drew the attention of the Registrar, the Minister of Labour , other affiliate unions and state councils to the alleged insertions.

It stated: “Article 19 under the heading: General Secretary, a new sub section 3(1) was inserted thus, “the General Secretary shall (i) be appointed by the NEC and shall be the administrative head of the National

Secretariat.

"Article 35, under the heading: Payment of Dues “ a new subsection (3) was inserted thus: “To prevent bulk payment of affiliation dues towards the Delegates Conference in order to obtain more delegates.

Any payment by a union in excess of its ordinary and normal monthly dues of the preceding years from the last conference, shall not apply for the purpose of determining delegates”.

It added: “This is something which, if done by government or any other organization, we in the labour movement will protest against and call such a fraudulent act”.

NASU in its petition signed by its general secretary, Mr. Peters Adeyemi said: “The insertions were not the product of the constitutional amendments discussed and approved at the 10th Delegates Conference of the NLC held

on 1-3rd March, 2011.”

It advised the registrar “not to oblige the NLC leadership with the registration of the congress constitution with the two subsections that have been inserted contrary to the general wishes of delegates”.

Several attempts to speak with the acting general secretary, Comrade Chris Uyot on phone, yesterday, were unsuccessful as he did not respond.

NASU, which had earlier sued the NLC for N100 million added “ we hereby wish to place it on record that the insertion of these two new and strange subsections by the leadership of the Congress is neither accidental nor a mistake.

Clearly, they are a continuation of the plot by a few elements to destroy the very foundation and engine room of the trade union movement in the country”.

6 — Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JUNE 18, 2014

One missing, 9 rescued as boat capsizes in Lagos

EAGLES/IRAN MARCH:

Man machetes Ghanaian for mocking Eagles in Lagos •2 die of electrocution in Bauchi

BY MONSURU OLOWOOPEJO

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AGOS — AT least one person drowned and nine others rescued as a passenger boat capsized in Lagos.

This came barely a month after a passenger boat capsized under Bonny Camp bridge, Victoria Island axis of the state on May 18, killing one of the nine passengers on board.

Vanguard gathered that the Coconut Island-bound boat capsized at about 4:00 pm on Monday between Ojo and Tin Can Island, Apapa Local Government Area.

An eyewitness explained that all passengers on board the ill-fated boat wore life jackets. But immediately the boat capsized, one of the passengers, a male, drowned and his life jacket immediately floated.

He noted that they could not determine the cause of the incident, saying the boat was certified okay before leaving Tin Can shores.

It would be recalled that the state government, few months ago, received the report of the committee to investigate causes of boat mishap on the state waterways.

Confirming the mishap, Information Officer of the National Emergency Management Agency, NEMA, Mr. Ibrahim Farinloye, said the identity of the missing person was yet to be known, adding: “The body of the missing person is yet to be recovered. But I can assure you that we are still searching for it.”

On the cause of the mishap, Farinloye explained: “From my interview with the survivors, waves from four bigger boats that passed beside the boat at that time caused it to lose balance, and the passengers began to panic. This further caused the boat to capsize.”

BY EVELYN USMAN & SUSAN EDEH

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AGOS — A MILD drama un folded Monday night at Ilasan area of Lekki, Lagos, during the barren World Cup match between Nigeria and Iran, after a drunk went berserk and macheted some viewers for mocking the Super Eagles.

One of the viewers, a Ghanaian, was said to have sustained deep cuts while others managed to escape from the viewing centre.

Reports said the drunk, identified as Sunday Usman, was in a bar which also served as a viewing centre alongside other football lovers, when the Ghanaian identified simply as Kofi, started booing the Super Eagles over their failed attempts to score a goal.

At that point, an eye witness said: "Usman staggered to his feet and warned Kofi to stop showing solidarity with Iran. But Kofi continued, saying he had every right to support whichever team he liked. Some viewers, who were also not satisfied with the Super Eagles performance, supported Kofi.

"Usman left the bar, threatening to deal with Kofi . We all thought he had gone to sleep. But to our surprise, he came at the tail end of the match, dangling a cutlass which he used on anyone at sight.

Kofi could not escape. He had the deepest cut.

"We all fled for our lives and by the time we summoned courage and disarmed the drunk, Kofi was found on the ground in a pool of his blood."

Kofi was reportedly rushed to an undisclosed private hospital,

where Vanguard was told he was responding to treatment.

2 die of electrocution in Bauchi

Also, tragedy struck, yesterday, after two persons were electrocuted, while eight others were unconscious at Turum viilage in Bauchi Local Government Area.

Vanguard learnt that the incident happened when 12 persons in a room were watching the World Cup match and suddenly, a live wire fell on the ground and triggered a spark.

It was gathered that boys who were watching the match in the room were terrified by the heavy

spark and decided to run for their dear lives.

As the victims were running away, they mistakenly stepped on the wire and were electrocuted.

An eyewitness, who wished to remain anonymous, said two people watching the match were electrocuted when they mistakenly stepped on the live wire.

He said: "The incident took place around 11.15 pm after the Nigeria-Iran match. I heard a spark from afar but did not know what happened. It was later that people started shouting that two people were elec-

INSPECTION: Representative of the Executive Secretary, Plateau State Emergency Management Agency, Mrs Juni Dabin (right), with other officials of the agency inspecting havoc caused by rainstorm at Tudun-Wada in Jos, yesterday. Photo: NAN.

Teacher jailed 14 years for raping student in Delta

BY AUSTIN OGWUDA

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SABA — A 33-year-old Fine Arts teacher, Godwin Onoyiwa, attached to Delta Career College, Warri in Delta State has been sentenced to 14 years imprisonment with hard

labour by an Effurun High Court for raping a female student of the school.

Sentencing the teacher, Justice P. Onajite-Kuejubola said the court found him guilty on a one-count charge of rape preferred against him.

The judge stated: "This act

is a dastardly act that must be discouraged and it must not go unpunished. Male teachers whose parents entrust their wards in their care must desist from such act. I hereby sentence you to 14 years imprisonment with hard labour.”

Commercial sex workers panic over rumoured death of soldier

BY SAMUEL OYADONGHA

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ENAGOA — FEAR has gripped commercial sex workers operating around the popular Hospital Junction in Yenagoa, the Bayelsa State capital, following reports that a soldier attached to the Joint Task Force, JTF had been stabbed to death by a prostitute over his alleged refusal to pay for services rendered.

The soldier (names withheld)

trocuted.”

"From what I saw, eight others were affected, but they were unconscious as a result of the shock. The dead and the injured were taken to the hospital.”

State Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Haruna Mohammed, said two persons were confirmed dead at the scene while eight others were receiving treatment at the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa Teaching Hospital, Bauchi.

He said corpses of the victims had been deposited at the mortuary in the hospital while the Police had commenced investigation into the incident.

was reportedly stabbed twice in the belly by the commercial sex worker, said to be from Edo State.

But a security source dismissed the claim that the soldier is dead, saying: “He is receiving treatment at an undisclosed hospital.”

It was learnt that the incident, which occurred about 4 a.m., Sunday, caused pandemonium around the popular Hospital junction shanties on

the DSP Alamieyeseigha Way, in Yenagoa.

Trouble, it was learnt, started when the soldier allegedly refused to pay the commercial sex worker for services rendered.

This led to heated argument as the infuriated sex worker was said to have grabbed a knife and stabbed him in the belly, causing his intestines to gush out.

Most of the customers that

passed the night with other prostitutes in the area, were said to have fled the scene for fear of being identified by onlookers, who thronged the place in the wake of the confusion.

Contacted, the state Commissioner of Police, Mr. Hilary Opara, confirmed the incident and said the “culprit has been arrested and is facing investigation.”

Prosecution had, in proving its case, told the court that the offence was committed on September 23, 2008 after the usual extra lessons organised by the school for its students had closed for the day when the victim who was searching for her missing school bag was lured inside the teacher ’s office. She was thereafter defiled by the randy teacher who overpowered her.

The rape victim (name withheld) in her evidence in chief told the court: "When I told him (teacher) that I was looking for my school bag, he asked me to wait in his office for him to get the keys to the classroom where my bag was.

As I was waiting, he came and covered my mouth with his hands to prevent me from shouting and raped me. I even bit his hands.”

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JUNE 18, 2014 — 7

Abducted Covenant varsity student, sister return home

BY LAJU ARENYEKA

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AGOS — EXACTLY nine days after their kidnap, two female students abducted from their home in Karmo, Abuja, have been reunited with their family.

The sisters — Ejura, 23, and Unekwu, 19 — whose father, Dr. Samson Opaluwah, is a Director at the Federal Ministry of Works were said to have arrived home yesterday morning.

The girls were abducted Sunday, June 8, from their home during what began as a robbery incident. Five unidentified gunmen had come to rob their house, but were reportedly dissatisfied with the items and money they had stolen and took the girls away in the booth of their blue Honda car in the hopes of getting a ransom.

The abductors called the next

day to demand a ransom of N200 million, which was later reduced to N150 million. A representative of the family had in an earlier report said they could not afford the sum. Other sources said that no ransom was paid eventually.

Speaking to Vanguard, an uncle of the girls, Mr. Amadi Opaluwah, refused to go into the details of the girls’ release, but said the family is glad to have "the trauma behind us. We are very thankful to God that they are back safe and sound. We want to thank everyone who stood by us, including the media for their coverage."

Ejura is a student of Medicine at an undisclosed South American university, and Unekwu is a student of Economics at Covenant University, Ota.

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The freed sisters and their parents, yesterday.

NURTW barricades Ajegunle link road over deplorable state •It’s beyond the council — LG Chairman

BY IKENNA ASOMBA

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AGOS — COMMERCIAL activities were yesterday brought to a halt, as members of the National Union of Road Transport Workers, NURTW, Oregie Unit, barricaded the major road linking Ajegunle community and Oshodi-Apapa Expressway, to protest its deplorable state.

In what they described as the insensitivity by the Lagos State Government, the protesters, whose action forced residents to trek long distances, vowed to continue the barricade until their demands were met.

Some drivers, who spoke to Vanguard, lamented that the bad state of the road had forced many of them out of business.

Speaking on the matter, Chairman of NURTW, Oregie Unit , Alhaji Sulaiman Lawal, said: "It is unfortunate that this road has been deplorable for over 14 years and government has not done anything to fix it. Our union over these years has been providing palliative measures to ease the movement of danfo buses and other motorists. But this time, the road has gone so bad that we don’t have the financial strength to fix it. We don’t feel government's presence in this community.

"We are tired of fixing this road ourselves. We spend over N1 million every year on this road. The funds are from levies paid by drivers. When the road is in good condition, danfo drivers will ply this route, but if it remains in this deplorable state, they will avoid it and ply other routes outside the community.

"Some of them whose vehicles are not worthy to ply distant routes have been forced out of business.

They have parked their vehicles

UTME: Prison official lauds performance of inmates

The bad road linking Otto Wolff Bus-Stop on Apapa-Oshodi Expressway with Ajegunle His words: "There is nothing that are now in a deplorable Debis said: "We are confused the council can do about this state with no money to carry out as to whose responsibility it is road.

It is good that members of repairs." to repair this road. We don’t the NURTW and danfo drivers know if it is the federal or state are protesting the deplorable Residents groan government. This road is a nostate of this road. As I have algo-area for car owners like us, ways said, the state’s Ministry Festus Omedo, a motorist said: including commercial motorof Works is aware of this road, "I am yet to come to terms with ists, who incur a lot of repairs because we have written it sevwhat is delaying the state gov- plying this road." erally. Even the Commissioner ernment from doing a major refor Works, Mr. Obafemi Hamzat, pair on this road. I don’t mean It's beyond the had visited here to have firstpalliatives, but a major repair, council hand information. But I still don’t because whenever rubble is laid know what is delaying the reon this road, it is washed away When Vanguard contacted pairs. whenever it rains. the Chairman, Ajeromi/ "You can ask the NURTW mem"Aside that, this road is de- Ifelodun Local Government bers, the council had severally plorable and causes mechani- Area, Mr. Kamal Bayewu, said collaborated with them to procal damage to the vehicles; resi- the implication of carrying out vide palliative measures on this dents are being robbed regu- a major repair on the road is road, but it is not enough. Whenlarly here. We are at the mercy beyond the financial strength ever there is a downpour, it of armed robbers who capital- of the council. washes away the rubble. The ize on the deplorable state of this He further revealed that the council does not have the finanroad to ambush commuters in council had written several letcial strength to do a major repair the evening and early in the ters to the state's Ministry of on this road, so we are waiting morning. " Works without any fruitful reon the state government to come Another resident, Michael sult. to our aid."

AGOS — AN official of Ikoyi Prisons, Mr Olanrewaju Bamidele, yesterday, described as excellent the performance of inmates who wrote the just concluded 2014 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME).

Bamidele, a Deputy Controller of Prisons in-charge of Ikoyi Prisons, told the News Agency of Nigeria in Lagos that 14 inmates wrote the JAMB's Computer Based Test on May 19.

According to him, 11 of the 14 inmates scored 150 and above, while two others had 148, while the remaining candidate scored 147.

He said: “I am indeed happy with the performance of the inmates. In fact, it shows that if given an equal opportunity, the sky will be their limit. This performance is indeed an excellent and encouraging performance, going by the circumstances under which they enrolled, prepared and sat for the examination.

"It may also be of interest to know that the inmates were attempting this examination on the CBT platform for the first time.

“Of this number too, only three or four of them are convicted, while the others are awaiting trial for one offence or the other. And with what they have done, I believe they have a lot to offer and must be encouraged to reform them further, and get them integrated into the society to start a new life."

Motorcyclist, saw-miller arrested for robbery in Ogun

BY DAUD OLATUNJI

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BEOKUTA — Men of Vigilante Service of Ogun State, VSO, yesterday, arrested a saw-miller, Yemi Salau, 30 and a motorcyclist, Samuel Olukoya, 27 for robbery at Cele area, off Ejinrin road, in Ijebu-Ode area of the state.

The duo were accused of terrorising people in IjebuOde and its environs in the last three months.

Va n g u a r d g a t h e r e d that men of the VSO who acted on a distress call from some people, stormed the area and arrested two of thesuspected robbers with stolen items.

8 — Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JUNE 18, 2014

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JUNE 18, 2014 — 9

Nigeria to lose LNG market as new entrants emerge zLoses $2bn over indecision on Brass

BY CLARA NWACHUKWU, Moscow, Russia

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XCEPT Nigeria fast tracks the development of its two new Liquefied Natural Gas, LNG, plants— Olokola and Brass— in addition to the existing one, it risks losing out from more LNG markets like it did in Europe and America, as more new exporters enter the arena.

This is because by 2020, the LNG market is expected to change drastically with the entrant of new players.

The development becomes more worrisome as Vanguard investigations reveal that about $2 billion have gone down the drain for indecision on Brass, while Chevron Nigeria Limited and other venture partners try to find new equity buyers without success.

The Group Executive Director, Gas, Nigerian National Petroleum

Corporation, NNPC, Dr. David Ige, said Brass was off limits for discussions with him when approached on the subject, while Chevron refuses to admit it cannot find new buyers to relief it from OK LNG. A former Chief Financial Officer, Nigeria LNG Limited, Mr. Victor Eromosele, who spoke with journalists on the sidelines of the ongoing World Petroleum Congress, WPC, in Moscow, Russia, expressed fears about the impact of the new entrants not only to Nigeria, which has only one LNG plant in operation, but also on the LNG price at the international gas market.

He said: “We should expect changes in prices, which is what I tried to articulate. Prices will trend Southwards to around $9.

“We have six exporters; people with licences in the

US and I expect that will continue going forward. This simply means that the market will change and prices in America, I expect, will go up and that creates new opportunities actually.”

Nigeria’s survival

He noted that in the light of the new entrants, Nigeria may not be able to survive these changes using the strategies it adopted about two to three years ago by diverting LNG cargoes to the Far East to places like Japan, China, and India, as current developments demanded more serious approaches.

He said: “Two, three years ago, when the trend started on disparate prices, Nigeria still survived because we were selling most of our LNG products in Japan instead of in the Atlantic Basin in Europe and America.

“Do not forget, getting to

Japan is three times the distance of getting to Europe. So it will cost you more but at the end of the day, we found the strategy worked.

“It is significant because a few years ago, 20, 30 or more cargoes of LNG were sold to the Far East. So that trend will continue going forward.

“The real question is what will you do going forward when you find a situation where markets closer to the Far East like Mozambique and Australia (Australia will probably be the largest exporter by 2017) start trading in that arena?”

Accordingly, Eromosele urged Nigeria to stop playing politics with taking final investment decisions.

He, however, said that there is some good news for now as the NLNG will remain competitive even in the distant future because it is old capex and not new capex.

INTERACTIVE MEETING:

From left— Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor, President, Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN; Most Rev. Oche Job, M e t h o d i s t Archbishop of Abuja, and Malam Ibrahim Sayyadi, Preacher, Barnawa Central Mosque, Kaduna, at the Christian/Muslim interactive meeting on Peace, Unity and Justice in Abuja, yesterday. NAN PHOTO.

Keyamo, 22 others shortlisted for SAN rank

BY IKECHUKWU NNOCHIRI

A

BUJA—LAGOS-based lawyer, Mr. Festus Keyamo and 22 other senior lawyers were, yesterday, shortlisted for elevation to the rank of Senior Advocates of Nigeria, SAN, by the Legal Practitioners’ Privileges Committee, LPPC. In a statement it issued yesterday, LPPC, through its Secretary and Chief Registrar of the Supreme Court, Mr. Sunday Olorundahunsi, said it had already fixed July 8 and 9 to interview intending SANs with a view to ascertaining their suitability for the rank.

The rank confers certain

privileges on the holder, among which are sitting in the front row of any court in Nigeria and judges ensuring that cases involving SANs are called up first.

Meanwhile, LPPC, yesterday, maintained that members of the public are at liberty to comment on the integrity, reputation and competence of any of the applicants, adding that such comments should be submitted to it on or before July 7.

Aside Keyamo, other lawyers shortlisted for the rank yesterday were: Mr. Gerald Godwi Ezeuko, Samuel Otseilu Zibiri, Dr.

Joshua Olatoke, Dr. Adewale Olawoyin, Olusola Idowu, Chukwudi Obieze, Kelvin Nwufo, Chief Wale Taiwo, Dr Theophilus Onigbinde, Teslim Busari, Olatunde Adejuyigbe.

Others are Mr. Richard Akintunde, Sylvanus Ogwemoh, Adeqale Adesokan, Tawi Tawo, Andrew Igbokwe, Chike Onyemenam, Fredson Alexander, Dr. Amuda Kannike Abiodun, Oluwakemi Balogun, Ahamefula Ejelan and Hakeem Olatunde.

However, Paragraph 22(1) of the LPPC guidelines permits the withdrawal of the rank from its holder, if such

person is adjudged by the LPPC to have conducted himself in a manner incompatible with the dignity and honour of the rank.

Likewise, if the person is found guilty of professional misconduct by the Legal Practitioners’ Disciplinary Committee, or convicted by a court of law for any offence, which in the opinion of the LPPC is incompatible with the honour and dignity of the holder of the rank, such as an offence relating to breach of trust, theft or other offences involving fraud or dishonesty, the rank can be withdrawn.

Why Nigeria's not winning corruption war — EX-ICPC BOSS

BY SONI DANIEL, Northern Region Editor

P

IONEER Chairman of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, ICPC, Justice Mustapha Akanbi, has blamed Nigeria’s inability to win the corruption war on structural defects in the laws guarding anti-graft agencies’ operations.

Akanbi noted the nonrevision of the law demanding that ICPC can only arrest someone who had committed a crime if a report is made against the culprit by way of petition.

The former Appeal Court President said the existence of such law coupled with the requirement that the antigraft agencies must pass through the Attorney General in prosecuting corruption cases had tended to draw back corruption fight in Nigeria.

Besides, the former ICPC boss lamented the reported corruption in the judiciary, which has made it possible for corrupt but powerful persons in the society to escape punishment.

Akanbi said: “I have the feeling that it should be possible for ICPC to investigate any case once it has information from any source, whether it is reported or not.

“But that notwithstanding, I believe that where there is political will, where there is the determination to fight corruption, the much that we have in the law will assist us to do better.

“As far as the issue of delay is concerned, the courts themselves have to study the underpinning philosophy of the anti-corruption law and must be part of the body that will ensure that we fight corruption to the hilt in this country.

“So, let us get it clear.

The law is one thing, the application or implementation another. And that is largely due to those who man the courts.”

10—Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JUNE 18, 2014

Court adjourns trial of ex-gov Nnamani

BY INNOCENT ANABA

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AGOS—A Federal High Court sitting in Lagos, yesterday, again adjourned till November 3, the trial of former Enugu State governor, Chimaroke Nnamani, who is facing a 105 count of money laundering.

Nnamani is standing trial alongside Sunday Anyaogu, Rainbownet (Nig) Ltd, Hillgate (Nig) Ltd, Cosmos Fm, Capital City Automobile (Nig) Ltd, Renaissance University Teaching Hospital and Mea Mater Elizabeth High School.

The accused are being prosecuted by Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC. At the resumed hearing of the case, yesterday, counsel to Nnamani, prayed the court for another adjournment, on the grounds of ill health of accused, informing that his client was still unfit to go through the rigours of trial, due to the fact that he had just undergone a Quadriple by-pass (open heart surgery), which had recently caused him chronic chest pain.

Counsel argued that although there was relative success with regards to the surgery, the accused has had to embark on a slow and tideous recovery process, and had suffered setbacks in his health.

Passage

T

HE death has been announced of Chief Patrick Onochie of Ogbowele Town in Ibusa Local Government Area of Delta State.

Chief Onochie died on 25th May at the age of 72.

He is survived by wife, children, grand children and great-grand children.

Burial arrangements will be announce by the family, in due course.

.Late Chief Onochie

Okada mechanics storm Fashola's office, protest seizure of motorcycles

BY MONSUR OLOOOPEJO

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AGOS—ACTIVITIES at Alausa Secretariat, Ikeja were yesterday pralaysed by commercial motorcycle (okada) mechanics protested Police arrest and impoundment of no fewer than 1,000 motorcycles from their workshops.

The mechanics claimed the policemen, while enforcing the Road Traffic Law 2012, would storm workshops where motorcycles were being repaired and impound any okada they see.

The state government enacted the Road Traffic Law 2012, aimed

at returning sanity to roads in the state.

The protesters, under the aegis of Federal Motorcycle and Generator Mechanical Association of Nigeria, FEDMGMAN, stormed the Governor’s Office at about 4:00 pm, chanting several anti-government songs to express their displeasure over the action of the law enforcement officers in the state.

The artisans displaying placards with inscriptions such as “Enough of police harassment”; “Police leave us alone”, “we are doing our legitimate business”; “repairing okada is our legiti-

mate source of income” among others.”

The protesters in a letter to state governor Babatunde Fashola, signed by the National President of FEDMGMAN, Ganiyu Jimoh, said “following the ban on okada in Lagos, officers of the Nigerian Police, Lagos State Command have been arresting my members and impound any okada found within their workshops.

“We understand that okada riders are banned from plying some specific roads in Lagos but certain roads were exempted by the law. Okadas plying these ex-

empted roads go through wear and tear, hence they need repair.

When these Okadas are brought to our workshops for repair, policemen come to the workshop and impound any okada found within the premises.”

Secretary of FEDMGMAN, Jimoh Sulaymon said they embarked on the protest to expose the illicit act of the policemen, saying “we are tired of daily arrest and impoundment. Many of our members are today indebted because of this illicit act of the law enforcement officers.”

The solicitor to FEDMGMAN, Mr. Segun Ayodele, lamented that several motorcycles had been impounded by Policemen in workshops under the pretence that they were enforcing the road traffic law 2012.

Speaking to the protesters, Superintendent Wale Ajao, who addressed the protesters, urged them to come back in another fortnight to meet with the governor.

Atuche: Court reserves ruling till Sept 30

BY INNOCENT ANABA WORLD BLOOD DONOR DAY: From left; Dr. Adetoun Agbe-Davies, Chairman, Lagos State Blood Transfusion Committee; Mr. Afolabi Oladapo, a blood donor receiving appreciation plaque from Mrs. Azizat Tijani, wife of Commissioner of Energy and Mineral Resource representing First Lady of Lagos and Dr. Tokunbo Dabiri, Special Assistant to governor on Lagos State AIDS Control Agency, LSACA, during the World Blood Donor Day in Lagos. Photo by Bunmi Azeez.

FG to train 28,800 youths on ICT under Naijacloud initiative

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AGOS—THE Ministry Communication Technology is to train 800 youths in each of the 36 states, on Information and Communi-

cation Technology (ICT).

The Minister, Mrs Omobola Johnson, gave the assurance yesterday in Lagos at a meeting with the NigerianBritish Chamber of Com-

Lagos CJ frees 75 prisoners from Kirikiri

BY WAHAB ABDULAH & BARTHOLOMEWMADUKWE

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AGOS—LAGOS State Chief Judge, Justice Ayotunde Philips, yesterday released 75 inmates from the Kirikiri prisons, majority of who were awaiting trial.

The 75 who breathed air of freedom made up brought the number of inmates so far released by Justice Philips since she assumed office as Chief Judge last two years, to742.

This present gesture was part of activities lined up as a prelude to her retirement from service this July.

The Chief Judge released 71 of the inmates from the medium section of the prison, while three and one were released from the maximum and the female prisons re-

spectively.

In releasing them, the Chief Judge acted upon the powers conferred on her under Section 1 (1) of the Criminal Justice Release from Custody Act, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2007.

Speaking, Deputy Comptroller of Prisons, DCP, in charge of the Kirikiri female prisons, Mrs. Leticia Isioma Onwuli, lamented the poor state of health facilities in the prison.

She said the Kirikiri female prison clinic lacked adequate equipment to deal with the increasing challenge of female inmates especially the pregnant and nursing mother inmates.

She urged the newly freed inmates to be of good behaviour as they return to the society.

merce.

Johnson said that the training, to begin soon, was initiated by the ministry under its Naijacloud programme.

She said that about 28,000 youths nationwide would be trained under the programme. The Naijacloud initiative was inaugurated in March, 2013, to create jobs in micro work, e-lancing and programming.

L

AGOS—A Federal High Court sitting in Lagos, yesterday, adjourned till September 30, to rule on the address filed by counsel, in the charge against Francis Atuche and Charles Ojo, who are being prosecuted over alleged N125 billion fraud.

Atuche, a former Managing Director of defunct bank PHB, is standing trial alongside Ojo, a former Managing Director of defunct Spring Bank Plc on an amended 45-count charge bordering on the offence.

Trial judge, Justice Saliu Saidu, adjourned the case for ruling after the prosecution and defence counsels, had adopted their written addresses before the court, on the issue of practice direction.

Blast at Nigerian football viewing centre — Residents, Police

BY ADEKUNLE ALIYU with agency report

A

N explosion ripped through a football viewing centre in Damaturu, Northern Nigeria, yesterday, police and residents said, as fans gathered to watch the World Cup. The blast at the Crossfire venue, in the Nayi-Nawa area of the state capital of Yobe, happened shortly after tournament hosts Brazil kicked off against Mexico at 8:00 pm.

There were no immediate reports of deaths but hospitals were reporting casualties being brought in, medical sources said.

Sanusi Ruf’ai, Police Commissioner for Yobe State, said: “There was an explosion outside a soccer viewing centre here in Damaturu at around 8:15 pm.

“Our men have deployed to the scene but it’s too early for us to give details.”

One resident said the area had been cordoned off as police and soldiers were sent to the scene.

The blast comes after at least two states banned viewing centres on security grounds following previous attacks blamed on Boko Haram militants, whose five-year insurgency in Northern Nigeria has claimed thousands of lives.

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY JUNE 18, 2014—11

Scores injured as APC, PDP supporters clash in Osun BYGBENGAOLARINOYE

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SOGBO—SEVERAL peo ple were yesterday wounded when supporters of the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, and its main rival, the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, clashed in Iwo, Osun State, during the re-election campaign of Governor Rauf Aregbesola.

According to reports, trouble started when some suspected supporters of PDP allegedly attacked a bus carrying market women on their way to the campaign ground.

In a reprisal attack, some supporters of APC were said to have traced the leaders of the attackers to their hideout where a freefor-all ensued, leaving many people wounded.

At least, one of the wounded was said to be on danger list at an undisclosed hospital.

Governor Aregbesola was said to have frowned at the development when briefed and ordered security operatives to ensure adequate security of lives and property on all campaign grounds.

When contacted, the Police Public Relations Officers PPRO, Mrs Folashade Odoro, said she was yet to be briefed on the development, Meanwhile, Aregbesola urged his supporters not to be intimidated by the presence of soldiers and police officers at polling centres during the August 9 governorship election in the state.

Addressing his supporters during the campaign rally in Iwo, Aregbesola stressed that the sol-

BY DAUD OLATUNJI

A

AGM: From left — Mr Emeka Emuwa, GMD, Union Bank Plc; Mrs Oyinkan Adewale, COO/ ED; Mr Udoma Udo Udoma, Chairman and Chief Mrs Nike Akande, Director during the bank's 45th Annual General meeting at Oriental Hotel, Lagos yesterday. Photo by Shola Oyelese. diers had no right to send electorates away during elections.

According to him “If soldiers attempt to shoot you, do not run away from them. They can’t kill all of you. In fact, any soldier that kills will be killed.”

Aregbesola also encouraged his supporters not to leave the polling centres until the election results were announced.

Don’t sell your voters' cards – Speaker

In a related development, ahead of August 9 gubernatorial election in Osun State, Speaker of Osun House of Assembly, Mr Najeem Salaam, yesterday appealed to the electorate not to sell their voter’s card, saying “it is

their only right to vote.”

Salaam spoke while addressing community leaders and APC members at the palace of Timi of Ede, Oba Munirudeen Lawal, in Ede, Osun State.

He said they should not allow any politician to deceive them into selling their voter’s cards ahead of the election in the state.

The speaker said the electorate should guard their cards and ensure that they vote massively for the party during the election.

Salaam also urged the electorate to re-elect Governor Rauf Aregbesola, saying “I want to plead with you to ensure that Aregbesola is re-elected for the continuity of developmental projects

in the state. He has performed absolutely well during his first term and I believe if you elect him again, he will perform more than before.”

... as INEC displays list of Osun guber candidates Meanwhile, Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, in Osun State announced that it had displayed the list of candidates participating in the August 9 gubernatorial election in the state.

The announcement is contained in a statement issued by Mrs. Nike Tadese, the Chief Public Affairs Officer of the electoral body in Osogbo.

Terrorism: Ekiti Commissioner, 11 others for arraignment today

BY IKECHUKWU NNOCHIRI

A

BUJA—EKITI State Commissioner for Integration and Inter-Governmental Affairs, Funminiyi Afuye and eleven others will today appear before Justice Evoh Chukwu of the Federal High Court in Abuja to answer to terrorism charge preferred against them by the Federal Government.

The commissioner and others are facing a three-count charge brought against them by the Inspector-General of Police.

The arraignment is sequel to their alleged complicity in a violent clash by political party supporters in Ekiti, which was said to have led to the death of one Mr. Peter Akin.

Kashamu's campaign posters resurface in Abeokuta

Afuye had earlier dragged the Police in Ekiti State to court, alleging that he was physical assaulted by a mobile police commander in the state, Mr. Gabriel Selenkere.

In the suit, which is pending before the state High Court in Ado Ekiti, the commissioner is asking for N1 billion as damages for physical assault on his person and unlawful detention.

But, the Police in a swift reaction arrested and charged Afuye before the high court in Abuja.

Others charged before the court over the Ekiti incident are Idowu Aladejebi (68 years), Afuye Jide (30), Anisulowo Kayode (46), Azeez Suleiman (19), Ajayi Idowu (18), Babadi

Ajayi (35), Abiodun Omoniyi (68), Oyedapo Olaoluwa (29), Sunday Olalere (27), Dapo David (26) and Akinyemi Tayo (25).

They are accused of conspiring with one another to commit an act of terrorism at Ijeg-

bo Round About to wit: “Using dangerous weapons/devices at Oluyemi Kayode Stadium, which resulted in destruction of properties and the death of one Peter Akin (M) and injured several other persons.”

Ajimobi appoints 5 high court judges

BY OLAAJAYI

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BADAN—FIVE new judg es have been appointed by Governor Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo State into the state High Court.

This was contained in a statement signed by the state Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Adebayo Ojo. According to him, the names

of the newly_appointed judges are Mrs. Bolaji Abosede Sikeade, a Deputy Chief Registrar in the state High Court and Mr. Ganiyu Lateef Adebayo, Director, Litigation and Advisory Services II in the state Ministry of Justice.

Others include Mrs. Mojisola Idayat Sule, acting Director, Citizens Mediation Centre, State Ministry of Justice, as well as Mr. Kamorudeen Babatunde Olawoyin and Mrs. Adeyemi Omolara Sherifat who are legal practitioners based in Kano and Ibadan respectively.

The statement said that the appointment was sequel to the recommendations of the National Judicial Council, NJC.

BEOKUTA—FOR the second time in one month, the posters of the financier of the Peoples Democratic Party PDP, and Chairman, Organisation and Mobilisation, of the party, South West, Prince Buruji Kashamu, yesterday, dotted many parts of the state, especially Abeokuta, the state capital, announcing his governorship ambition.

The poster has inscription as “Ogun 2015: Prince Buruji Kashamu for governor ” with green background and PDP logo.

But, in a swift reaction, Kashamu, distanced himself from the posters sighted at Oke-Ilewo, Post Office, Pankseke, Omida, Kuto, Oke-Mosan and Abiola Way, all in Abeokuta.

Oyo to benefit from N2bn fund

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BADAN—GOVER NOR Abiola Ajimobi, of Oyo State State, yesterday said that the state would soon benefit from a Central Bank intervention fund worth N2 billion.

Ajimobi said this at a one-day synergy conference held at Lead City University (LCU), Ibadan.

The governor said the gesture would support the growth of small and medium enterprises investors in the state.

Represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Olalekan Ali, Ajimobi said the fund was being processed by the state, adding that CBN would soon disburse the money.

...As Ogun completes 2 new bridges

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HE two flyover bridges being constructed by Ogun State Government at Itoku and Sapon in Abeokuta have been completed.

Commissioner for Works and Infrastructure, Olamilekan Adegbite, who disclosed this in Abeokuta, also said the two bridges would be opened to traffic soon, bringing to three, the flyover bridges completed by the Governor Ibikunle Amosun government so far.

12 — Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JUNE 18, 2014

EPZ: Omaghomi cautions Ijaw, Itsekiri groups over media war W

ARRI—PRINCIPAL Consultant to Environmental Restoration Foundation of Nigeria, ERFON, Mr. David Omaghomi, has cautioned Ijaw and Itsekiri groups engaged in media war over ownership of the land on which the Export Processing Zone, EPZ, project is located in Warri South-West Local Government Area of Delta State, to desist forthwith to avoid fresh crisis in Warri and its environs.

Omaghomi, a chieftain of People’s Democratic Party, PDP, said in Warri that the call had become imperative, following the spate of recent media offensive between groups such as the Gbaramatu Council of Chiefs, Warri Ijaw Peace Majority Group, WIPMG, Itsekiri Patriotic Alliance, IPA, Itsekiri Consolidated Movement, ICM and some individuals from both ethnic nationalities.

Speaking through his media aide, Ebipade Omatseye, in Warri, Omaghomi, said: “There is need for all stakeholders across ethnic divides to be extremely cautious in their conduct and utterances, so as not to abort the legacy of EPZ project as well as plunge Warri into a fresh

round of senseless crisis over contentious claims.

“It is unfortunate that pockets of Ijaw and Itsekiri groups will patronise pages of newspapers to create deliberate disharmony between our ethnic nationalities which suffer the same regrettable environmental and development challenges because of a legacy project that President Goodluck Jonathan has thought wise to bring to

Delta State to open up the coastal communities to global standards.

“Everyone must be very careful, especially against the backdrop of the fact that crises in the past between the Ijaw, Itsekiri and Urhobo in Warri area had often been triggered by media vituperators.”

Omaghomi said that rather than brawl for petty mor-

sels in the EPZ project in the name of community or ethnic beef, all stakeholders should close ranks and work together towards the actualisation of the project, “because its benefit in terms of job creation, industrialisation and infrastructural development are so monumental,” that every Niger Deltan will be a proud beneficiary.

VISIT: Governor Seriake Dickson of Bayelsa State (left), and the head of the delegation of the Institute of Security Services, Department of State Services, DSS, Dr. Abdulwahab Wali, during a courtesy visit at Government House, Yenagoa.

Azinge blames hindrances in justice system on rivalry, poor funding

BY SIMON EBEGBULEM

B

ENIN—THE Director General of the Nigerian Institute for Advanced Legal Studies, NIALS, Prof. Epiphany Azinge, SAN, has lamented that unhealthy rivalry among the various institutions in the justice system and poor funding were the major factors militating against effective administration of justice in the country.

Azinge, in Benin City, Edo State, in his key-note address at the Nigerian Bar Association, NBA, Benin Branch, 2014 Annual Law week, said that for the country to have an effective justice system, issues of corruption and inadequate funding must be effectively resolved.

He noted that the lack of synergy amongst institutions that make up the justice system in the country coupled with the issue of appropriateness of existing framework have hindered the performance of Nigeria’s justice system, adding that these factors pose severe challenges to the administration of justice in the country.

He said: “It is important that institutions comprising the

justice system in Nigeria always work together towards achieving justice. At the moment, this is an idea that is largely missing in the country.

What obtains is a situation where the various institutions in the justice system engage in unhealthy rivalry, viewing each other as opponents rather than partners in the discharge of re-

sponsibilities.

“In the atmosphere of such institutional rivalry, it is certain that no serious progress can be achieved in the administration of justice.

“Given the significant role played by the courts in the administration of justice, it is very important that they are properly funded. The

position, however, is that many courts face infrastuctural challenges which hamper their activities. The inadequacy of the courts and judicial personnel deriving from the low allocation of funds to the judiciary has been identified as partly responsible for delay in the administration of justice in the country.”

UPC hails Oru's ministerial nomination

BY FESTUS AHON

U

GHELLI—THE Urhobo Political Congress, UPC, has commended President Goodluck Jonathan and Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan of Delta State for the nomination of Dr. Steve Oru as a minister.

UPC, in a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Dr. Ebenezer Okorodudu, said they were “happy with the nomination of Dr. Oru to the Senate for screening as a minister by President Jonathan.

“We received the news with great joy and express our gratitude to the President and Governor Uduaghan for bringing joy to Urhobo nation through the appointment.”

Meanwhile, UPC has appoint-

ed Chief Tom Amioku as its acting National Chairman, following the resignation of Obarisi Ovie Omo-Agege from that position.

Okorodudu, in the statement, said: “It was unanimously agreed that the Deputy National Chairman, Chief Amioku, should act as the National Chairman until a new National Chairman is elected."

Chief Amioku, in his acceptance speech, expressed appreciation to the leadership and members of the congress for their commitment and understanding.

He promised to put in his best in carrying out necessary reforms in accordance with the provisions of the guidelines that gave birth to

Jonathan urged to extend Amnesty programme

D

ELTA State chairman of Phase Three amnesty programme, Mr. Preye Ekpebide, has appealed to the Federal Government to heed the advice of Senator James Manager, for the extension of the amnesty programme.

The ex-militant leader noted that with the increase in oil production, which is the mainstay of the country’s economy, due to the declaration of the amnesty programme, the Federal Government and Nigerians should be grateful to the ex-war lords for laying down their arms.

He said: “Due to the vastness of the Niger Delta, it was quite impossible for the Federal Government to develop the region within the stated period of the amnesty, but to sustain the peace in the region alongside development, the amnesty needs to continue beyond 2015.

“Senator Manager, being an indigene of the region and in his position as the Senate Committee Chairman on the Niger Delta, has a better knowledge of the region and for him to call for the extension of the amnesty programme speaks volumes for Nigeria.

“We called on the state governors of the region to appeal to President Goodluck Jonathan to listen to the people of the region and allow the programme to continue until the reasons for the Niger Delta struggle are fully realised.”

the congress.”

Prof. Enahoro passes on at 85

T

HE Enahoro family has announced the death of Professor Henry Enahoro, former Dean of the Faculty of Engineering, Universiy of Lagos. He was aged 85.

A family spokeman,, Mr. Chris Enahoro, said in Lagos that the late Enahoro was an Alumnus of King's College, Lagos.

He commenced his academic career at the University Collegel Ibadanl Oyo State and later at the University of Manchester,, England.

He will be remembered for his proud record in tennis and cricket at which he represented his country. He was also a keen golfer. He is survived by two children and two

grand children.

Late Professor Enahoro

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JUNE 18, 2014 — 13

Leave Edo govt out of Assembly crisis, APC tells PDP

BY SIMON EBEGBULEM

B

ENIN—THE All Progressives Congress, APC, in Edo State, has described as untrue and an attempt to misinform the public, the allegation by the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in the state that the crisis in the state House of Assembly was being fuelled by the state government.

State chairman of the party, Mr. Anslem Ojezua, in a statement, explained that the three suspended members of the House of Assembly had ap-

proached a Federal High Court sitting in Benin City, wherein they sought and obtained an exparte order, restraining the Speaker and the House from declaring their seats vacant and/ or suspending them pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice which they also filed in the same suit.

“The said motion on notice was subsequently argued and on June 6, 2014, Justice A. Liman of the Federal High Court, whilst granting an injunction restraining the Speaker and the House from declaring the seats of the applicants vacant, however, re-

fused the prayer for an injunction restraining the applicants from being suspended from membership of the House.

“On June 9, 2014, the Edo State House of Assembly, acting within their powers duly recognised by Justice Liman in the ruling earlier referred to, suspended four of its members for an indefinite period for the offence of misconduct as provided for under Order 38 of the Rules of Procedure of the House.

“Upon the failure of the said members to comply with

LG poll: Ward chairmen assure on PDP's victory in Oshimili

BY VICTOR AHIUMA-YOUNG

P

EOPLES Democratic Party, PDP, in Oshimili South Local Government Area, Delta State, yesterday, assured that members were working toward total victory for the party in the forthcoming council elections.

Ward chairmen in the council gave the assurance when they visited the council's party chairman, Evangelist Ebielim Maduemezie, to pledge their loyalty to the hierarchy of the party at both the state and council levels.

C M Y K

The chairmen pledged their loyalty to Maduemezie and the state PDP Chairman, Chief Peter Nwaoboshi, promising to work for the success of the party in all elections.

Spokesman of the chairmen, Chief Obi Essumai, explained that the visit was to appreciate the leadership of the party for the successes recorded, especially in forging unity among party members in the council.

They said that the council PDP chairman had ensured that party members were carried along, adding that the initial wound that was inflicted on members as a result of bad leadership

had healed.

Noting that PDP in the area had stood firm under the leadership of Evangelist Maduemezie, the PDP ward chairmen expressed appreciation to Chief Nwaoboshi for his interest in ensuring that there was no discrimination in PDP and assured him of their loyalty and readiness to carry out party directives.

the suspension order and their acts of forcible entry into the premises and chambers of the House of Assembly, Principal Officers filed a suit at the Edo State High Court on June 11, 2014. The court granted an order restraining the said four suspended members from forcefully gaining entrance into the premises.

“Despite the service of the processes including the order of injunction on all the parties, the suspended members have continued to create tension and chaos in the House of Assembly and its environs by forcibly entering into the premises and chambers of the House of Assembly aided by thugs and officers and men of the Nigeria Police Force.

“We were informed that these contemnors claim, rather erroneously, that they can act in defiance and disobedience of the positive order of court on the ground that they are pursuing an appeal against the order," he said.

Edo MWAN holds girl child empowerment programme

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HE Medical Women’s Association of Nigeria, MWAN, Edo State branch, is to hold a girl child empowerment programme tagged Healthy Adolescent Forum, for adolescent females from secondary schools in Benin City.

Issues to be discussed at the event include puberty and development, avoiding sexually transmitted infections and unwanted pregnancies, time management and proper use of social media, avoiding sexual assault and rape.

National President of MWAN, Dr. Valerie Obot, said the session will afford adolescents the opportunity to bare their minds on issues bothering them. It is hoped that participants will go back to their various schools to share and disseminate the information gathered.

14— Vanguard , WEDNESDAY, JUNE 18, 2014

Defend yourselves against herdsmen, group tells Taraba natives

BY OLASUNKANMI

AKONI ALINGA—A sociocultural group, the Jukun Development Association, JDA, has called on the people of Southern Taraba to defend themselves against external aggression.

It also demanded the immediate evacuation of all Fulani herdsmen from Southern Taraba, claiming that the presence of violent herdsmen driven from Plateau, Nasarawa and Benue states was responsible for the rising cases of bloodletting in their homeland.

The group, however, threatened that if the herdsmen refused to leave their homeland, they would take up arms against them.

J

Police demolish buildings belonging to kidnap suspects in Anambra O

GIDI (ANAMBRA)— THE Police in Anambra State yesterday demolished two structures belonging to suspected kidnappers at Ogidi and Ojoto communities in Idemili North and South Local Government Areas respectively.

The Commissioner of Police in the state, Mr. Usman Gwary, led the demolition squad, accompanied by Mr. James Nwafor, the Commander of the state’s Anti-Robbery Squad, SARS. Gwary said the demolition followed the arrest and subsequent parade of 17 suspects before newsmen.

“The suspects have kept about 14 kidnap victims, while they have earned over N100 million through their victims. ”In line with the provisions of the law of Anambra State, the Governor, Chief Willie Obiano, has revoked the certificates of occupancy and has equally ordered its demolition.

“Any building used for any form of crime or built with the proceeds of crime in the state must be demolished” Gwary said.

The paraded suspects were accused of kidnap, armed robbery, hijacking of goods and faking of vehicle number plates and licences.

The commissioner gave the names of the three suspects as Ndubuisi Udokoro, Lawrence Nweze and Moredays

Chukwuma.

“They were diverting trailer loads of toilet tissues, refrigerators and chemicals.

“Their modus operandi was to arrest the owners of such vehicles, tie them and blindfold them while they made away with their goods,” he said.

According to him, two other persons dealing on ammunition, Chigozie Ezeora and Chukwudi Ugwu, were equally arrested with a large number of ammunition.

Also, Nnaemeka Ugonna and Onyeka Okoli were nabbed in the commercial city of Onitsha for alleged motorcycle robbery.

....Detain 6 union leaders over Oko crisis

BY VINCENT UJUMADU

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WKA—THE crisis rocking the polytechnic town of Oko in Orumba North local government area of Anambra State has taken a dangerous dimension with the arrest and detention of six youths belonging to the youth wing of Oko Peoples Union, OPU. A team of heavily armed policemen from Nnewi Police Area Command led by a senior police officer stormed the community and arrested the six executive members of Oko Youth Movement, following an alleged petition filed against

them by the President General of Oko People Union, OPU, Mr. Cyprian Nwamuo and one Mr. Chukwudi Nwankwo.

The petition was said to be in connection with the April 19, violent protest in the town during which soldiers fired at one of the masquerades during the community ’s annual Afia Olu festival.

The six affected youths were among the 13 people from the town excommunicated by Igwe Ekwueme for allegedly supporting the Rector of the Federal Polytechnic, Professor Godwin Onu.

It was gathered that the six youths have already been charged for armed robbery, attempted murder and arson.

They had been arraigned in court and were remanded in prison custody.

Following the development, members of Oko Youths Assembly yesterday, petitioned the Inspector General of Police, Mr. Mohammed Abubakar, alleging humiliation, infringement on their fundamental rights, frame up and compromise by the Nnewi Area Command of the Nigerian Police.

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY,JUNE 18, 2014 — 15

FG 'll use PPP to devt N/Delta —Minister

FG moves to protect schools from terror attacks

BY FAVOUR NNABUGWU &

RETNA TOHOMDET

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BY CHRIS OCHAYI

BUJA—DETERMINED to fast-tract infrastructure development in the Niger Delta, the Federal Government yesterday unveiled plans to involve Public Private Partnership, PPP, models to meet the developmental challenge confronting the region.

The government specifically said it would adopt the Build Own, Operate, BOO, model of PPP to address the gigantic infrastructure required in the region.

The Supervising Minister of the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs, Mr. Darius Ishaku, who disclosed this at the 2014 National Technical Conference of the Institute of Appraisal and Cost Engineers in Abuja, noted that annual budgetary allocations alone could not address the problems of infrastructure shortage in the Niger Delta.

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BUJA—THE Federal Government yesterday commenced implementation of a plan to protect schools from terror attacks in three northeastern states now under emergency rule because of an Islamist insurgency.

Minister of Finance and Coordinating minister for the Economy, Dr Ngozi OkonjoIweala who disclosed this in Abuja said the government will spend an initial 1.6 billion naira ($9.8 million) to safeguard schools and wants to raise an additional $100 million from donors.

“There is nothing more important than that girls and boys should be able to go to school without fear,” former British Prime Minister, Gordon Brown, who is the United Nations Special Envoy for Global Education and is seeking international support for the plan, said at a joint news conference with OkonjoIweala.

Another $10 million was

pledged by the Nigerian business community for the safe-school plan, Brown said.

The money will be spent on improving communications, water and sanitation, and building better accommodation for teachers who live in schools.

“We are not trying to turn our schools into armed camps, what we are trying to do is enhance the atmosphere and security of schools,” OkonjoIweala said.

Dr. Okonjo-Iweala said that strategies that had worked elsewhere would be adopted

in the initiative.

Her words: “There are very specific measures that have been tried elsewhere and have worked that are going to be recommended and that is what the money will be spent on. The goal is to aim for an initial fund of $100 million just to start off."

MEMORIAL SERVICE: From left: Princess Iviagbonse Eweka, Prince Festus Eweka, Mr. Harris Igiehon and Princess Ehi Eweka, during the memorial service for late Princess Agbama Eweka, at the First Baptist Church, Festac Town, Lagos. Photo: Diran Oshe.

CHARTERED JETS: NNPC, PPMC shun Reps c'ttee

BY EMMAN OVUAKPORIE BUJA—THE Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, and the Petroleum Prices Marketing Corporation, PPMC, have reportedly written to the House of Representatives Committee on Public Accounts declining to honour the invitations extended to them to appear before it over the N10 billion allegedly spent on chartered jets by the Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs. Diezani Allison-

A

Madueke.

Both government agencies in separate letters addressed to the Chairman of PAC, Solomon Olamilekan, said their decision not to appear before the committee was based on the fact that the matter was before different courts of competent jurisdiction.

They contended that it would be prejudicial for them to appear before the committee, since all the information being requested from them were already subjects of

litigation The minister was said to have also vowed not to appear before PAC until the matters pending before the courts were adequately resolved.

In the wake of the crisis, the minister had approached three different courts to seek perpetual injunctions to stop the probe.

While Justice Ahmed Mohammed of the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja refused to grant the request to stop the probe and fixed hearing for tomorrow, two other courts are yet to take action on the matter.

IGBO LEADERS TO INSURGENTS: If attacked, our reaction ‘ll be unpredictable

BY CLIFORD NDUJIHE

I

GBO LEADERS have warned those they accused of trying to fasttrack the disintegration of Nigeria by unleashing insurgency on Igboland to have a rethink, saying they would do everything possible to thwart the plans of Jihadists, who believed the easiest way to bring down Nigeria was to attack the South-East, which is the bastion and citadel of Christianity in Africa.

Reacting to the planting of three improvised C M Y K

explosive devices, IEDS, in the Living Faith Church (Winners Chapel), Owerri, last weekend and the arrest of 486 suspected terrorists in Aba, Abia State, the leaders urged Governor Theodore Orji, Abia State governor and chairman of South-East Governors’ Forum “to work assiduously with his colleagues to ensure that this long foretold Boko Haram attack on Igboland does not happen with casualties as the reaction of the Igbo people will be unpredictable and

prophetic.”

In an interview with Vanguard, yesterday, Deputy Secretary of the Professor Ben Nwabuezeled Igbo Leaders of Thought, ILT, Evangelist Elliot Uko, commended the people and government of Abia State for their vigilance in noticing the nocturnal movements of 35 buses around 2 am and Governor Orji for putting in place security structures that made it possible for the citizenry to be alert and conscious of their environment.

16— Vanguard , WEDNESDAY, JUNE 18, 2014

Wukari varsity shut over killing of 22

BY PETER DURU AND

JOHN MKOM

J

ALINGO—THE Federal University, Wukari has been closed down following the disturbances which led to the killing of no fewer than 22 persons in the area.

The crises also led to the imposition of a 24 hour curfew in the town on Monday by the state government.

This was even as no fewer than 32 persons with varying degrees of injuries from the crisis-torn Wukari in Taraba State were yesterday evacuated to the Federal Medical Centre, FMC, in Makurdi, the Benue State capital, for treatment.

However, the closure of the university was confirmed by the Director of Communications in the institution, Mr. Jerry Amah while speaking in an interview with Vanguard in

Wukari.

Amah said that the suspension of activities in the university, became imperative following the volatile situation in Wukari and environs which led to the imposition of curfew on the area. ‘’Some of our students and staff are inside Wukari town and they may not be able to come to school because of the curfew. ‘’People who were displaced by the crisis have taken over the university facilities and there is no way we can send them out of this place. It is also not possible for the university to allow the students to mingle with the refugees on campus for security reasons,” he said.

Most of the students who were desperate on how to get vehicles to their various places told Vanguard that they might not return to the school again. ‘’The crisis here is too

much and I may not continue with my studies.

"It is always one crisis today or another tomorrow.

I am tired of running for my life” one of the students said in an interview yesterday.

Meanwhile, Vanguard gathered from some of the victims of the crisis in Makurdi, that they were allegedly attacked while in their Church for the Sunday service.

According to Kisani Alad, who sustained bullet wounds on his leg, “we were at the Christian Reformed Church of Nigeria, CRCN, around 6:30am on Sunday when some armed Hausa Muslims, attacked us with guns and other dangerous weapons in the church premises.

“Before anybody would understand what was happening, the invaders opened fire and started shooting sporadically at worshippers."

Niger Assembly suspends minority leader

BY WOLEMOSADOMI

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INNA—THE Niger State House of Assembly has suspended its Minority Leader, Muhammad Nuradeen Umar representing Kontagora 1 Constituency for what the members described as false allegations against members.

Besides the suspension, the House has also directed

its Committee on Ethics, Public Petitions and Privileges to further investigate the matter.

Yusuf Kure representing Paikoro Constituency in a motion brought under matters of urgent public attention said the suspended colleaque granted an interview to a national newspaper, alleging that members were bribed by the Executive to impeach two former Speakers of the

House last year. Kure described the allegations as ‘’false, malicious and capable of tarnishing the image of the House.

“I also want to put it on record that since the inauguration of the 7th Legislature, there had never been any Bill sponsored by the minority leader as he claimed and the one he also claimed on the Public Private Partnership was sent in by the Executive,” Kure explained.

PHN-led health intervention targets 3m women, children

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AGOS—IN line with its commitment to save one million lives, the Private Sector Health Alliance of Nigeria, PHN, led by Aliko Dangote, Jim Ovia, Muhammad Ali Pate and other private sector leaders has led its strategic partners towards an innovative mobile health intervention to mobilise about 3,000,000 women and children to health facilities in high-burden states through the use of geo-location based targeted mobile health messaging-SMS and voice in local languages.

The partners include SOML, VAS2NETS, GSMA, UNICEF, Access Bank, Stanbic IBTC, Te l e c o m m u n i c a t i o n companies, states and others.

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The intervention, which is in its first phase, was implemented as part of the Maternal Newborn and Child Health Weeks, MNCHW, campaign, a biannual national mass campaign that seeks to mobilise women and children across the country to health facilities to access free primary health care services and life-saving commodities.

Ovia

Aliko Dangote, founding patron of the Private Sector Health Alliance, said: “This is the largest mobile health demand creation intervention of its kind in the country and we are pleased that PHN is playing a catalytic role in convening private and public sector partners to serve millions of underserved women and children in Nigeria.”

Dangote

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JUNE 18, 2014—17

C M Y K

18— Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JUNE 18, 2014 NUMEROUS assurances that Saturday’s gubernatorial election in Ekiti would be free and fair, are not enough to address fears that malpractices could mar the election. The serial failure of the police and Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, in stopping electoral malpractices has reached a point where their assurances elicit indifference.

Both organisations have mandates to deliver free and fair elections. They have on all occasions failed. Excuses, some too incredulous to contemplate, are available to absolve them from their responsibilities.

INEC, in more than 15 years of handling different elections, repeats its mistakes. At general elections, the general excuse for late arrival of electoral materials is the enormity of the logistics involved.

The challenges persist, with more money, more personnel, more vehicles. During the 2012

Ekiti: Another Attempt At Free, Fair Poll governorship election in Edo State, materials arrived hours late to polling booths in Benin City, the distribution points for materials. The use of helicopters, vaulted as answer to late delivery of materials, made no difference.

Added to these are allegations that INEC staff facilitate rigging.

Soldiers and the police were in the streets in their numbers in Edo. They did not stop violence. They allegedly contributed to it. How would Ekiti be different? When would INEC be tired of its experiments with run-off and oneoff elections like this?

The police on their part boast about deployment of hi-tech security equipment, surveillance

helicopters, armoured personnel carriers, patrol vans and other law enforcement gadgets to Ekiti State for the gubernatorial election, as if these had in anyway improved security.

Elections are becoming more “militarised”. The deployment of three surveillance helicopters, 40 armoured personnel carriers, a reinforcement team of police personnel, amphibious vehicles and other high-tech security gadgets would only frighten the voters. “ We have one of the highest numbers of men deployed more than in any other State because we must look at history ,” Inspector- General of Police

Mohammed Abubakar said, referring to the 1983 elections.

“Every one of you will be given his due and, I do not expect you to do anything stupid,” he told his men.

INEC says it has customised election’s result sheets; a cure for rigging, the permanent voter ’s card is the panacea for names missing from voters’ register.

Elections are high budget items.

Large deployments of men and materials are to justify budgets than ensure credibility of the election.

Keys to malpractices; free election are contestants who rein in their supporters, security personnel who do not “do anything stupid”, and INEC punishing offenders for election malpractices.

Without the punishments the Electoral Act provides, assurances from INEC and police merely sustain impunity. Ekiti would be different if people know they would be held responsible for malpractices.

OPINION

BY TAYO OGUNBIYI

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ESPITE initial fears and doubts about the preparedness of Brazil to host the 22nd edition of the FIFA World Cup ,the soccer world was, on Thursday June 12, treated to a colourful and spectacular opening ceremony at the 65,000 - seater Arena Corinthians Stadium in Sao Paulo, Brazil , thus signaling the successful kick off of the 2014 World Cup. On the field, the impressive opening ceremony was followed with a tantalising but controversial opening match that pitched Brazil, the host country and five times winners, against Croatia in a fierce soccer battle . The outcome of the match only goes to authenticate the credential of Brazil as front runners in the on-going ‘war’ for global soccer supremacy.

Since Uruguay hosted the first edition of the World Cup in 1930, during the era of revered FIFA President, Jules Rimet, the competition has continued to grow in leaps and bounds. From a 13-team event, with which it started in 1930, it grew to become a 32-team affair during the1998 edition, which was hosted and won by France. Today, the World Cup remains the most important sporting event all over the world, commanding a global TV audience in excess of one billion.

Beyond remarkable changes on the field of play with regards to rules governing the game as well as other technical matters, the World Cup has equally recorded enormous growth in financial terms. For instance, World Cup sponsorship increased from $2000 in 1984 to $16,000 in 1996. The most prominent sponsors are Coca-Cola, McDonalds and Adidas. In the United States, where the 1994

World Cup: The 'war', the wealth and waste World Cup took place, 65% of the entire money that was spent on sponsorship was in sports.

Additionally, 63% of the sponsorship in Germany , which hosted the tournament in 2006, was in sports while 80% of money spent on sponsorship in South Africa, the World Cup host in 2010, was equally in sports.

The US ‘94 edition of the World Cup was spiced with several innovations. For the first time in the game’s history, football matches were hosted in various cities across the country. In terms of economic benefits, the US ’94 edition equally marked a huge turning point in the history of the event. In Los Angeles, where the final match between eventual winner, Brazil and Italy took place, the city’s economy benefitted to the tune of $623 million . The cities of New York, San Francisco and Boston equally made a combined revenue of one billion and fortyfive million dollars in the course of the US '94 World Cup. In terms of job creation, over 1,700 part-time jobs were created in the city of California alone during the preparations and duration of the tournament.

The 2006 World Cup hosted by Germany was also a massive economic success. For instance, German tourism sector reportedly recorded a revenue increase in excess of over $400 million in the month of the World Cup alone. Similarly, an additional $3 billion was further injected into the German economy in merchandise such as jerseys and other stuffs regarding the Cup. Equally, over 500,000 new jobs were created before, during and after the competition. Hotels, restaurants, tourists centres and bars were full to capacity

at all hours of the tournament, while over 15 million more spectators arrived in Germany than was initially anticipated.

Without doubt, football has become a money spinning sport across the globe. The organisation and management of football in Europe, for instance, is a multi million dollars venture with all the teams running other sports-related businesses. Indeed, all sorts of professionals: doctors, physiotherapists, psychologists, grass men, scouts, etc, are employed by the various teams in their drive for soccer glory. Football in Europe has gone beyond the mere recreational activity that it is in Nigeria. As a result of the excellent manner it is managed in Europe, youths across the continent have found in football a means through which they could use their talents to escape poverty. Players such as Wayne Rooney, Cesc Fabregas, Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi, among others, thanks to football, have become multi millionaires before they clocked the age of 21.

However, some critics have labelled the World Cup as a misplaced event that showcases unnecessary opulence in the face of abject poverty across the globe. In Brazil, for instance, opponents of the World Cup are of the views that the over $11.5 billion so far spent by the country to host the World Cup could have been used to address the country's growing problems with poverty, education, healthcare and transport. A recent survey reveals that 61 percent of Brazilians believe that hosting the World Cup is a "bad thing because it takes money away from public services." Only 34 percent see it as a "good

project because it creates jobs."

In a book titled Soccernomics, which was published in 2009, famous Professor of economics and sports consultant, Stefan Szymanski and Ugandan-born British author, Simon Kuper, assessed the economic impact of hosting the World Cup and concluded that it is more of a waste. For instance, they revealed that Japanese and Korean governments anticipated that the 2002 Korea /Japan World Cup, which they co-hosted, could enhance their economies by a stunning $26 billion and $9 billion, respectively. However , after the event, there was slight mark of any such increase.

Szymanski and Kuper, therefore, concluded that hosting the World Cup and, indeed, any other sports event does not really translate into prosperity for the people. The reasons, according to them, is that the infrastructure needed to host a grand contemporary sports show is colossal, and it does not generate enough money to pay for itself. Rather, fortunes are often spent to maintain the facilities, which in some places often give way to decay.

This coupled with several allegations of shady deals between FIFA officials and soccer administrators from countries bidding to host the World Cup, cast serious doubt on the credibility of the competition as a people oriented event. However, from whichever way it is viewed, the World Cup and indeed, football in general, remains a major rally point for youths across the globe. *Mr. Ogunbiyi works with the Features Unit of the Ministry of Information & Strategy, Lagos State.

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JUNE 18, 2014— —19

, the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control, NAFDAC. It was the era of counterfeit drug production or I should say that Akunyili brought to the fore the fact that the Nigerian drug industry had almost been entirely taken over by quacks. She made the world know that by far more Nigerians were dying from ingesting fake drugs than they were from the diseases that the drugs were meant to cure.

Her brief appearance at the Jonathan Conference in Abuja a few weeks ago after about two years absence from the national stage was therefore a farewell call on Nigerians that had admired and appreciated her duty call in the years she made fake drugs the main issue of public discourse as DG of NAFDAC. There is no doubt that the ignoble trade in fake drug production had been going on for God knows how long before Akunyili berthed at NAFDAC. But she made Nigerians and the rest of the world realise what rot we had all been sitting on. Even though the kingpins of the multibillion Naira trade in counterfeit drugs were believed to

battle against them. It was a battle that brought hired killers on her trail and almost cost her her life as lethal shots missed her skull by mere whiskers. Yet she did not stop, literally putting her life on the line for the sake of Nigerians. Her passion for her job was unmistakable and the call of duty was for her clearly stronger than the call of blood and allegiance to kin interest. Having lost a dear sister to the menace of counterfeit drug she became the scourge and nemesis of the merchants of this killer trade.

Dora Akunyili had both the brain and drive for her job as DG of NAFDAC, a position that seemed tailor-made for her. Hers was one of the best and flawless appointments of the Obasanjo years and arguably one of the best ever public appointments in Nigeria. Whatever reservations Nigerians may have about Obasanjo or his presidency, he had a knack for recognising real talent and he scored a bull's eye with his appointment of Akunyili. She proved you didn't have to be a minister, governor or president to make an impact. She also proved that having the total support of one's boss and the free hand to operate is

,

central to success in a public office.

Akunyili enjoyed both from Obasanjo. She was one of several women that defined the face of the Olusegun Obasanjo administration and gave that administration a sense of purpose. Her death in India where she had been taken for medical care over a week ago is surely a national loss.

Her reputation as a thoroughbred technocrat and a very honest one at that had preceded her to her position as director. Thus her appointment by Obasanjo was entirely earned and based on pure merit.

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lthough Obasanjo appeared to be making a conscious statement in the manner he appointed women into prominent positions in his administration but the appointment of Akunyili must have been one of those not influenced by political affiliation even if her name had come to Obasanjo's ears through a political associate who had himself been a former minister and politician, Dr.

Dr u, 1936-20 14: Dr.. Abel K. Ubek Ubeku, 1936-201 In memoriam N Saturday, June 14, from far and near to his hometown of Araya 2014, the remains of Dr Abel Kprogidi in Isoko South Local Government which O Ubeku, former Managing Director of came to a standstill for his burial. I hope I Guinness Nigeria PLC, were returned to Mother Earth. Although better known to Nigerians, especially those for whom alcoholic beverage is synonymous with the dark stout he turned into the most popular beer in the country -- "black thing good ooo!"

-- he was also a sound scholar and notable politician. His book, Principles of Personnel Management in Nigeria, I am told, was (and, I hope, remains) required reading on the subject of labour relations and human resource management.

But it is in his role as a principled politician who at a time represented the best hope of the Isoko people, a Niger Delta minority mindlessly exploited and "ostracized" from Nigeria, to aspire to the presidency, or even be "considered" for a ministerial position, that he is more justly celebrated in Isokoland.

When news broke of Ubeku's death after a long but brave battle against the debilitating effects of a stroke, I had published an online tribute in which I seemed to have wrapped his still-warm body in a cloth woven almost entirely on an ethnic loom. I had tended to take too much local pride in Ubeku as politician and pillar of the community of Isoko people. I am happy to report that I was promptly reprimanded by my good friend and comrade, Denja Yaqub, of the Nigeria Labour Congress who accused me of diminishing Ubeku in death. Indeed, Yacub it was who first informed me of the indispensability of Ubeku's book to students and scholars of labour relations and personnel management in Nigeria.

Yet, at the risk of perpetuating the error for which I was justly rebuked, I find it is Ubeku the politician that occupies my thoughts four days after many thronged C M Y K

will be forgiven, as I have recently been thinking politics to the point of deciding to run for office in order to play a more direct role in the gargantuan effort to salvage our stunningly misgoverned and plundered country. All politics is local, it is said, and to me this is an indisputable fact. In the local is the universal, which is why I have elected to run for a seat in the House of Representatives, an office that visibly combines the local and the universal (national, if you will): representing the Isokos who happen to be in a single federal constituency and being a federal legislator with the entire country as his constituency.

In any case, so many glowing tributes have been paid to Ubeku since his death that there is clearly nothing more I can say to brighten further the shine and lustre of the gilded stool on which he now sits in happy communion with the departed ancestors of his ilk. Perhaps my current cast of mind, which I suspect is the same one I have had since hearing the news of his death, is primarily due to the appalling state of the Isoko nation. I have lately added my voice to the anguished cry of the Isokos over their extreme and spiteful marginalisation to the point of ostracisation from Nigeria. The particulars of this plaint, this unanswerable claim of oppression and injustice, are many: the exploitation of their oil and gas wealth with zero returns by way of development; the absence of federal presence in their land beyond decrepit police stations and moribund post offices; the fact that no Isoko son or daughter has been deemed worthy to be a minister, chairman of a board or headship of a ministry, department or agency (even of those set up to address the

h i s t o r i c grievances of the Niger Delta); the sore matter of their having only two local governments whereas they are the most populous ethnic group of the three 'I's -Itshekiri, Ijaw, Isoko -- in Delta State, among others.

,

Dora Ak un yili's last dance Akun unyili's ORA AKUNYILI first gained be people primarily from the Eastern national attention after she part of Nigeria from where she came, D was appointed Director General of Akunyili took no prisoners in her

Dora Akunyili came to the conference in a conscious attempt to bid Nigerians a final farewell even as the night drew perilously near; to tell us all not to forget what she stood and fought for

Onaolapo Soleye.

Dr. Soleye, a Yoruba man, had been struck by the story of this woman who was reported to have returned the unspent balance of money meant for her medical expenses while holding a public office. When Obasanjo sent out informal searchers for Nigerians with the right professional, technical and moral pedigree to help his fledgling administration it wasn't long before Akunyili's name came to his hearing. She had beauty. She had brains. But above all she had the courage of her conviction. Which is very much unlike the third rate female team that has so far besmirched the Jonathan administration. When one compare the women in the Obasanjo administration to those of the Jonathan administration, when one thinks of these women including one or two that first found their way into public office through Obasanjo, one realises just how far we have fallen. There is a clear and unmistakable difference in quality, a difference due in no small measure to the personal attributes and experience of the individuals to whom these women were/are answerable.

Even Akunyili's last call to duty in Abuja, the Jonathan conference was of a far lower quality and calibre than the kind of responsibilities that had brought her deserved national attention.

The only thing that hinted of failure in Dora Akunyili's sterling credentials was her foray into politics, the nemesis and waterloo of the most gifted and most dedicated Nigerians. Her loss couldn't have been personal but that of the people denied the privilege of her contribution.

Perhaps driven by a desire to impact on her immediate community Akunyili contested in

Ubeku marks the end of visible and credible Isoko leaders that the rest of Delta State, in particular, and Nigeria, in general, could take seriously

,

As is invariably the case in a dispassionate exercise of this kind, my ruminations on the agony of the Isokos led me to one conclusion: the dearth since the death of the immortal James Ekpre Otobo of principled, visionary and courageous leadership in their land. As Shakespeare had Cassius remind Mark Antony in his great tragic play, Julius Caesar, "the fault" is sometimes "not in our stars but in us that we are underlings."

F

or it seems to me safe to say that Ubeku, with the exception of perhaps only Senator Okpozo, marks the end of visible and credible Isoko leaders that the rest of Delta State, in particular, and Nigeria, in general, could take seriously. If this is an outlandish claim, I would be more than happy to be corrected. In the meantime, I have been

2011 for the position of senator in her native Anambra State on the platform of the All Progressives Grand Alliance. She lost perhaps on account of the platform she contested on or the candidate she contested against. Her effort to overturn the verdict was bogged in controversy. It was her last major act on the public stage before she re-emerged several weeks ago in Abuja.

Far from the ebullient figure that oozed vitality, the picture that greeted Nigerians was of a much depreciated Akunyili. She looked weak physically. But hers was a conqueror's spirit, stubborn to the very end in the affirmation of her conviction. Nigerians were rightly shocked by the sight of her. Her head-turning looks now much ravished by illness attracted far more comments from Nigerians than her contribution on the floor.

Her presence at that conference was an act of courage that could only have come from a woman that personified courage like Dora Akunyili. Even when she quelled questions about her health, admitting she had been ill she assured us all that she was getting better.

In retrospect one can say that Dora Akunyili came to the conference in a conscious attempt to bid Nigerians a final farewell even as the night drew perilously near. To tell us all not to forget what she stood and fought for. We are the worse for it for since she left NAFDAC all seems quiet at that end. It's as if the counterfeit drug lords have had their career terminated. But we know Akunyili's exit from NAFDAC didn't and couldn't have put paid to the activities of killer drug makers. Dora has come. She has seen and has conquered. It's our call what we make of her legacy.

engaging in a thought experiment: what would Ubeku have wished -- his human failings or imperfections notwithstanding -- that the Isokos do as 2015 approaches? Continue with the current state of things in which a few individuals, so few they can be counted on one hand, boast of their absolute dominion over all and sundry in Isokoland? In which they brag of their ownership of the communal yam, together with the knife to share it, and so of their imperial right to decide who and who gets a piece and how big or small that piece must be? What might he, a man of exacting, even vexing, principles -- to say nothing of a high self-esteem bordering on hubris -- have said of the state of our civic life and public health, so deplorable that the invasion of our streets and main roads by heaps and heaps of refuse speaks loudly and foully of the state of health of our local polity? What kind of "progress" would he have thought we have made since we attained the status of municipal self-governance from the Urhobos to whom we were earlier on a mere appendage?

I have a good guess: had debilitating illness not denied him the strength and vigour of his irrepressible spirit, he would have railed against it and gone on to DEMAND AN IMMEDIATE CHANGE of the kind of selfserving and corrupt leadership that has turned Isokoland into a laughing-stock even within the already laughable Nigerian nation.

Adieu, Dr Ubeku. May your best dreams inspire us to a new awakening for change in our long-suffering land.

20 — Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JUNE 18, 2014

We are breeding future terrorists

BY EBELE ORAKPO Nigerians live in poverty and for most “ MANY people, the only hope of getting out of

*A flooded neighbourhood in Abakaliki. INSET: Top-Persons displaced by flood, Below-Nguzu Edda gully in Afikpo South

Flooding: Succour at last for disaster-prone Ebonyi communities D

ISASTER-prone com munities in Ebonyi State now have reason to heave a sigh of relief following the intervention initiative of the Federal Government through the World Bank supported Ebonyi State chapter of Nigeria Erosion and Watershed Management Project, NEWMAP, which was officially launched at the Women Development Centre, Abakaliki, last weekend.

It could be recalled that during last year’s rainy season that lasted between April and September , about 332,938 persons were displaced by flood in communities which cut across the 13 local government areas of the state.

Also, in the past few years, erosion and gullies arising from this seasonal flooding have increasingly caused untold adversity to the state, including loss of lives, sack of villages and offices, destruction of homes, farmlands and public infrastructure. Indeed studies showed that the total economic loss caused by flooding and erosion problems in the last five years in the state ran into billions of Naira, excluding loss of lives.

It is worthy to note that the emergence of NEWMAP came about as a result of the baseline survey of critical impact of erosion in Nigeria which showed that the South Eastern part of the country was in imminent danger. Gully ero-

sion, it has been revealed, contributed to environmental degradation and other associated damages estimated at millions of dollars annually.

The Nigeria Erosion and Watershed Management Project, NEWMAP development objective, aims to reduce vulnerability to soil erosion in targeted subcatchments. This eightyear innovative, multi-sectoral project will finance state-led interventions to prevent and reverse land degradation, initially fo-

,

BY PETER OKUTU, Abakaliki

The state faces erosion and flood; these hazards have led to inestimable loss of lives and property

,

cusing on gully erosion sites that threatened infrastructure and livelihoods in seven states: Abia, Anambra, Cross River, Ebonyi, Edo, Enugu and Imo. It will subsequently scale out to other states nationwide.

Speaking during the official launch of NEWMAP in the state and the entire South East geopolitical zone, Ebonyi State Governor, Martin Elechi, reiterated that the World Bank Nigeria office response to Federal Government’s demand for grants to checkmate the challenges of gully erosion and envi-

ronmental insecurity in the country was what gave rise to NEWMAP. He said: “We are here today not only to officially flag-off this transformative NEWMAP intervention, but also to open a new chapter of expected development partnership with the World Bank. The launch today symbolises our compete resolve as affected and also benefiting state to deal with the menace of erosion and other environmental hazards in a concerted manner with the support of World Bank. ”At this juncture, let me use the opportunity of this flag-off to thank the World Bank for making available the sum of $2 million for the commencement of the projects in the state. I understand that the fund is replenishable on draw down for the sustainability of the programme.

“I have equally been briefed that out of five priority projects selected by our state, one is ready for procurement award while the remaining four will follow shortly.”

In a remark, Ebonyi State NEWMAP Project Coordinator, Dr. Philip Echiegu expressed delight over the inauguration and establishment of NEWMAP in the state, adding that the development would go a long way to providing both immediate and future solutions to the problems posed by flooding and erosion across the state.

The State Commissioner for Environment and Chairman, State Steering Committee, David Egbu thanked the state government for

providing the enabling platform for the realisation of the project in the state. ”The state by its peculiarity faces this challenge in two major prongs: erosion and flood. The largely low lying nature of the soil and the predominantly shell formation in the north and central parts of the state, impair quick permeability of water and easy run off after rains, resulting to water logging and flooding. While the inherent characteristics of weak cemented sand grains predisposes the southern part to intense gully erosion. These hazards led to inestimable loss of lives and property”.

The Task Team Leader, NEWMAP, Dr. Amos Abu enjoined all the benefiting states to ensure that they meet up with the qualification criteria so as to participate in investment activities provided by NEWMAP. “The participating states must qualify to benefit from NEWMAP investment activities. All participating states will be eligible to participate in institutional capacity and technical assistance activities, as these will contribute to meeting qualification criteria to participate in investment activities.”

Reacting to the launch, the Chairman of Afikpo South local government area of the state, Ogbonnaya Orji expressed optimism that the launch of NEWMAP in the state would reverse the menace of erosion and flood and turn the erstwhile areas from sites of hazards to points of assets in the near future.

poverty is through quality education.

Unfortunately, that opportunity to get a good education is fast slipping through the fingers of the poor,” commented Joshua this Monday morning in the Mile 2-bound commuter bus as a newscaster said something about the crisis in the Lagos State University.

Said Nike: “My brother, that is just the truth and that is why I am pained that our leaders are toying with the future of the Nigerian youth by their complacent attitude towards education. They think that nothing will happen, but in a few years time when the consequences of their actions and inactions begin to manifest, I pray they will be here to face the music. They will then realise that the Boko Haram insurgency is a child’s play.”

“I wouldn’t be surprised if some go into armed robbery or even join Boko Haram guys just to raise money to pay fees because unlike in some countries where students easily get employment or student scholarship, it is almost impossible here. We’ve heard that Boko guys pay their recruits up to N500,000,” noted Chioma.

“Our leaders are gradually but steadily ruining our youths and we stand idly by and watch and play dirty politics instead of calling them to order,” said Tony.

“This is what Nigerians should rise up against.

When it comes to demanding accountability from elected officials, we behave like the ostrich, sticking our heads into a hole, believing that we are safe.

The LASU students are trying sha! Look at Brazillian currency, Real, exchanging for two per dollar while the Naira goes for N160 to a dollar yet we feel we are better than South American countries,” stated Joshua.

“Of course! What did you expect? By the way, what products does Nigeria export apart from oil?

What industries do we have? So how do you expect to have a strong currency in an import-dependent economy? Brazil produces steel, cement, television sets, automobiles, refrigerators, computers, aircraft, processes petroleum and so much more. So tell me why their currency will not be strong,” stated Tony.

“It’s all corruption. Our leaders are too corrupt!” said Chioma.

Replied Nike: “We are always quick to condemn.

Are you not corrupt in your own little way?”

Continuing, she said: “But to tell you the truth, Nigerians are in for more trouble if the education sector is not handled carefully. Dr. Frederick Fasehun has said it all. He said the increase in tuition fees at LASU will discourage education and increase unemployment in the long run. An idle mind is the devil’s workshop and I daresay that a frustrated person is a ticking time bomb. So don’t be surprised if these same people in a few years, will begin to haunt them. Don’t ever strive to be the only rich man in your community because the poor will not allow you to enjoy your wealth in peace.”

“Shebi the Igbos have a saying that the child that says its mother will not sleep, neither will it sleep. Again, whoever is holding another on the ground is holding himself too,” said Chioma, adding: “I only pray they will come to their senses and reduce the school fees.”

“But truth be told, quality education does not come cheap so you don’t blame the government for hiking the fees,” said Tony.

“Yes, but not 1000 per cent hike? Haba! Don’t they have conscience? Where do they expect the parents and guardians to get the money from? They should have looked for alternative means of funding, like cutting down on the amount they spend on the executives and legislature,” suggested Joshua.

“Hmmm! I no dey house ooo. Those guys will not sit back and allow such to happen,” said Chioma.

Continues next week.

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JUNE 18, 2014 — 21

PayPal expands payment services to Nigeria, 9 others

By JONAH NWOKPOKU with agency report

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NLINE payment firm, PayPal has said it has concluded plans to extend its services to ten new countries this week, including Nigeria, providing online payment alternatives for consumers via mobile phones or Personal Computers.

Rupert Keeley, the executive in charge of the Europe Middle East and Africa, EMEA region of PayPal, disclosed this in an interview yesterday.

PayPal had excluded Nigeria from access to its services citing fraud concerns. The expansion would bring the number of countries PayPal serves to 203.

Keeley said: “Starting on Tuesday, consumers in Nigeria, along with nine other markets in sub-Saharan Africa, Eastern Europe and Latin America will be able to make payments through PayPal. PayPal has been going through a period of reinvention, refreshing many of its services to make them easier to use on mobile phones, allowing us to expand into fast-developing markets.”

Once the services go live, customers in the ten countries with access to the Web and a bank card authorized for Internet transactions will be able to register for a PayPal account and make payments to millions of sites worldwide.

Initially, PayPal is only offering “send money” services for consumers to pay for goods and services at PayPal-enabled merchant sites while safeguarding their financial details.

This is free to consumers and covered by fees it charges merchants.

“We think we can give our sellers selling into this market a great deal of reassurance,” noted Keeley, adding that, “PayPal does not yet cover peerto-peer transactions, which allow consumers to send money to other consumers. It has not yet enabled local merchants in the new markets to receive payments, nor is it offering other forms of banking services.”

A total of 80 million Internet users stand to gain access to PayPal global services this week, including those in five European markets - Belarus, Macedonia, Moldova, Monaco and Montenegro, four in the African nations of Nigeria, Cameroon, Ivory Coast, and Zimbabwe, as well as Paraguay. Internet usage figures are based on research by Euromonitor International.

PayPal counts 148 million active accounts worldwide.

This is coming just a week after MasterCard Inc, the world’s secondlargest debit and credit card company, and a PayPal rival in payment processing, said it was working with the Nigerian government on a pilot to overlay payment technology on a new national identity card.

From left: Chief Executive Officer, Nigerian Stock Exchange, Mr. Oscar Onyema; Chief Executive Officer, FBN Holdings Plc, Mr Mohammed Maccido and Group Managing Director, FirstBank Nigeria Limited, Mr. Bisi Onasanya at the FBN Holdings ‘Facts Behind the Figures’ at the NSE.

US beats China’s oil demand growth in 2013 — BP

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IL demand in the United States grew at the fastest pace in the world in 2013, outstripping China for the first time since 1999 as the globe’s top economy reaped the benefits of a shale boom, Oil Company BP said. In its annual review of energy statistics unveiled in Moscow, BP also raised its global oil reserves estimate by 1.1 percent after revising U.S. reserves upwards by more than a quarter.

Global natural gas reserves were cut for a second year as lower provisions for Russia and Qatar offset a significant uptick in U.S. estimates. BP also said the United States recorded its largestever annual rise in oil production for a second year in a row with a 13.5 percent increase to above 10 million barrels per day (bpd).

The annual review, first published in 1951 and considered an industry benchmark, showed U.S. oil consumption in 2013 grew by 400,000 bpd to 18.9 million bpd, the sharpest gain in the world, followed by China’s rise of 390,000 bpd to 10.8 million bpd.

The consumption growth was led by an expansion of the U.S. industrial sector as the world’s top economy emerged from the 2008 financial crisis, BP Chief Economist Christof Ruhl said.

At the same time, a Chinese slowdown was driven mainly by lower consumption of diesel and gasoil, which traditionally reflect the rate of economic growth.

“It is easy to understand the U.S. - If

you have a lot of cheap domestic oil that feeds into the industry, it will show up eventually in GDP growth numbers. It’s not that easy to reconcile the slowdown in Chinese energy numbers,” Ruhl said.

China’s economic growth hit a 14year low in 2013, a decline that accelerated in the first part of this year as Beijing leads a wide drive to reform the country’s economy.

Overall, China’s energy consumption growth slowed to around 4.7 percent in 2013 from a 10-year average of 8.4 percent despite the fact that Beijing officially reported a 7.7 percent rise in gross domestic product last year, Ruhl said. “There is a lot of tension between the official growth numbers for China and the official energy consumption numbers for China,” he said.

Global oil production - up 560,000 bpd, or 0.6 percent - failed to keep pace with growth in oil consumption. Output disruptions from Libya, Nigeria and Iraq due to political strife were almost entirely offset by growth of 1.1 million bpd in U.S. output, BP said.

“The huge investments seen in the U.S. have been encouraged and enabled by a favorable policy regime. And this has resulted in the U.S. delivering the world’s largest increase in oil production last year.

Indeed, the U.S. increase ... was one of the biggest annual oil

production increases the world has ever seen,” Ruhl said.

This balance also explains oil price stability over the past three years, with the lowest volatility since the early 1970s, he said.

BP raised its estimate of global proved oil reserves by 1.1 percent to 1,687.9 billion barrels at the end of 2013, enough to meet 53.3 years of current global production.

173.15

-0.55

3,118.00

-4.00

16.93

0.09

112.82 0.36 106.76

-0.15

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

154.73 262.592 209.6592 172.056 1.5173 0.3006 237.1243 24.8414 41.2547 28.0914 237.8664

155.23 263.4408 210.3367 172.612 1.5222 0.3106 237.8905 24.9221 41.388 28.1821 238.6351

155.73 264.2894 211.0142 173.168 1.5271 0.3206 238.6568 25.0028 41.5214 28.2729 239.4037

CBN Exchange rate as at 17/06/2014

22 — Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JUNE 18, 2014

Nigerian insurance industry’s performance remains below potential as only 800,000 adults have insurance policies

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INSURAN

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Top-paid CEOs get 400% raises, you’ll get 2.9% 1978, compared with a whopping 272.9-to-1 in 2012, and CEOs now earn 202.3 times more than the typical hile many companies worker, compared with 26.5 times in doled out seven-figure 1978. CEOs are even raking in loot raises for their top brass, at a far faster rate than very highly they were far stingier with the rest compensated professionals (those of their employees — as they have earning more than 99.9% of other been for decades now. A report wage earners). In the ‘50s, ‘60s and released last week by executive ‘70s, CEOs made 1.62 times more compensation and corporate than ultra-high earners, but in 2010 governance data firm Equilar finds that ratio was 3.08 times more. that 44 of the 50 top-paid global Meanwhile, the 99 per cent is CEOs were paid more in 2013 than struggling — and has been for 2012 — these 50 CEOs saw a 21.7 decades, according to several studies. per cent increase in median pay — A report by the Census Bureau found and two of them got raises in excess that the real median income of of 400 per cent, and in one case in Americans — $51,017 — is virtually excess of 500 per cent (pay includes unchanged from the late 1970s and salary, stock, options awards, cash early 1980s. And a study by the bonuses, perks and other incentives). Economic Policy Institute released And some CEOs did especially well last year found that the median last year: the highest-paid CEO, worker has seen wage growth of Anthony Petello, of Nabours about 5 per cent between 1979 and Industries, raked in $68.2 million, up 2012, even as productivity grew 74.5 per cent over that 246 per cent “The wage from 2012; the From 1978 to 2012, period. and benefit growth of second highestCEO compensation the vast majority, paid CEO, rose 875 per cent — including white-collar Leslie Moonves and blue-collar of CBS, got a rise that was workers and those $65.6 million, “substantially with and without a up 9 per cent; greater than the college degree, has and the thirdpainfully slow 5.4 stagnated, as the highest-paid, of overall R i c h a r d per cent growth in a fruits growth have accrued Adkerson of typical workers’ disproportionately to Freeportcompensation over the richest McMoRan households,” the Copper & Gold, the same period study authors got $55.3 conclude. million, up 294 Even workers who per cent. The do get raises typically CEO with the don’t see anywhere biggest pay jump was number-fournear the massive pay hikes that ranked Stephen Kaufer of some CEOs get. Workers who were TripAdvisor, whose pay jumped 510 among the highest-rated employees per cent to $39 million, followed by in a company got raises of an Sandeep Mathrani of General average of 4.3 per cent in 2013, an Growth Properties, whose pay of increase of just 0.2 per cent from a $22.1 million was up 424 per cent. year earlier, according to the “The biggest driver for change in seventh annual Compensation pay for 2013 vs. 2012 was the stock Planning Survey by Buck award, the equity given to the Consultants. And according to a executives,” says Aaron Boyd, the survey by Towers Watson, the director of governance research at highest performers got an average Equilar — which, because the stock salary bump of 4.6 per cent in 2013, market had such a good year, compared with 2.6 per cent for boosted their pay significantly. average employees.

And What’s more, 2013 is not a fluke: employees shouldn’t expect their CEOs have been quietly (and some employers to make it rain anytime not so quietly) ratcheting up higher soon: According to Towers Watson, and higher paychecks throughout employers are planning on doling the past few decades. From 1978 to out average raises of just 2.9 per 2012, CEO compensation rose 875 cent for salaried, non-management per cent — a rise that was employees — virtually unchanged “substantially greater than the from last year. “With the job market painfully slow 5.4 per cent growth remaining relatively soft, most in a typical workers’ compensation companies aren’t feeling pressure over the same period,” according to to raise salaries by much more than a study released last year by the the rate of inflation,” said Laura Economic Policy Institute .

Sejen, global practice leader for Furthermore, the CEO-to-worker rewards at Towers Watson . compensation ratio was 29.0-to-1 in

BY CATEY HILL, MARKETWATCH

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C M Y K

By ROSEMARY ONUOHA

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ommissioner for Insurance, Mr. Fola Daniel, in this interview stated among other issues that the rebasing of the economy places enormous responsibility on the insurance industry. Excerpts.

Rebased economy The recent rebasing of the economy now makes the Nigerian economy the largest in Africa and 26th largest economy in the world. This has placed enormous responsibility on the insurance industry. With the old based economy, the sector barely contributed 0.7% to GDP. With the rebasing, the contribution of the sector to GDP has been further weakened. This therefore calls for more dynamic strategies to enable the sector make meaningful contribution to the GDP.

GAINERS FOR EQUA Company

2014-05-03 Closing Price(N)

Continental Mansard AIICO custodians

1.03 2.41 0.81 3.50

2012-06-02 Closing Price(N) 1.07 2.50 0.82 3.53

LOSERS FOR EQU Company

2014-05-03 closing price(N)

NEM

0.82

2012-06-02 closing price(N) 0.81

Insurance sector needs dynamic strategies to make meaningful contribution to GDP

Market Development and Restruc turing Initiative, MDRI The Commission introduced the Market Development and Restructuring Initiative (MDRI) in 2009 to among others enforce compulsory insurances and eradicate fake insurances in the country. This initiative has been vigorously pursued by the Commission across the six geo-political zones of the country.

I am glad to let you know that even though the N1 trillion target is yet to be attained, considerable progress has been made given available statistics.

There has been massive awareness about the compulsory insurances within and outside the industry. This is evident in the number of policies written by companies under this class of insurance between 2009 and 2012 which rose sharply from 72,180 to 152,181 a whopping increase of 111%.

Considerable progress was equally recorded in the volume of premium written under this class of insurance dur-

– NAICOM

ing the period. It rose sharply from N14.93 billion in 2009 to N28.68 billion in 2012, an increase of 92 per cent. Equally encouraging is the fact that the underwriting companies appear to have risen to their responsibility of claims settlement under the compulsory insurances’ scheme. This is evident from the impressive rise in the volume of claims paid during the period. Going forward, the Commission would consolidate on the gains made so far and ensure proper implementation of these compulsory insurance products to be able to enhance the industry contribution to GDP. Government interest in MDRI An emerging fact under this class of insur-

Insurance, tool for wealth cr …holds public lecture today

BY NAOMI UZOR

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hairman, NEPAD Business Group Nigeria (NBGN), Chief Chris Ezeh has described insurance as tool for wealth creation and a key to economic transformation of the country.

Speaking ahead of a public lecture on insurance being organised by the Group, slated for today at the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry, (LCCI), Ezeh said the lecture, will focus on ‘Insurance as a Tool for Wealth Creation and Sustainable Economic Growth’ with a view to deepening insurance culture among Nigerians, particularly the vast poor and rural dwellers in conjunction with government and other stakeholders.

According to him, with a population of over 150 million, Nigeria is far from fully maximizing its huge insurance potential.

“The insurance sector has the key to the transformation of the entire economy as it presents vast opportunities for citizens, the industry and the financial services sector. There would be no real growth or development unless the insurance industry is strong, reliable, and plays its role as a major mover of the economy” he said.

He disclosed that Managing Director of AIICO Insurance Plc, Mr. Edwin Igbiti, will be guest lecturer at the event and argued that the country would be able to attain rapid and sustained economic growth if it deepened its insurance

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JUNE 18, 2014 —

ALITIES Gain (N)

0.04 0.09 0.01 0.03

% change

3.88 3.73 1.23 0.86

UALITIES Loss (N)

% change

-0.01

-1.22

ance is the interest currently being shown by various governments. It will interest you to know that a group of underwriters have come together to enforce the Motor Vehicle Third Party Liability Insurance in Imo State in collaboration with the State Government and the scheme is working very well. Another group of 19 underwriters are enforcing the Occupiers Liability Insurance in Enugu State in collaboration with the State Government. And the Commission is working to get more states to embrace these models.

Developing retail insurance We recognised the need to develop the retail insurance market which has remained grossly untapped considering the vast population of the country. And as part of the Commission’s strategy of Fi-

nancial Inclusiveness, the Micro Insurance Scheme and the Takaful Insurance were launched late last year. Every effort is being made to ensure they make the desired impact in the industry. I am please to let you know that on April 23, 2014, the Commission formally launched the Delta State Micro Insurance Scheme at a colourful ceremony in Asaba, the State Capital.

Efforts are being made to replicate this model in other states. The Commission has set up an industry steering committee for Micro Insurance under the chairmanship of Mr. O. S. Thomas, Director General (DG) of the Nigerian Insurance Association (NIA).

The Takaful Insurance project is also being pursued with great vigour. A good number of companies have indicated their interest in this line of insurance. A recent survey reveals that Muslims in the country are willing to buy Takaful products and are in dire need of such alternative to conventional insurance. This is an indication that there is a ready market for this line of insurance business and the Commission is determined to bring such Muslim faithful within the financial community in line with its financial inclusion strategy. Let me re-emphasize that as a regulatory body, our primary responsibility is to protect policyholders and safeguard investments.

reation —NEPAD penetration whereby more members of the population buy one or more of the available insurance products.

“Despite the current reforms and innovation

by National Insurance Commission (NAICOM) and operators, Nigerian insurance industry’s performance remains below potential as only 800,000 adults have insurance policies,” he stated.

He disclosed that NEPAD Business Group Nigeria was formed in response to the need to galvanize the private sector to support and actively participate in the implementation of the programmes of the New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD) at national, regional and continental levels, adding that, key objectives of NEPAD include promotion of sustainable growth and development, eradication of poverty and ending the marginalization of Africa in this era of globalization.

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CE & YOU

With the rebasing, the contribution of the sector to GDP has been further weakened. This therefore calls for more dynamic strategies to enable the sector make meaningful contribution to the GDP

23

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10 easy ways to make money

BY JENNIFER WATERS, MARKETWATCH

Y

ou have heard it before: Resolutions are for quitters. So do not burden yourself with a list of useless declarations about not spending money.

You are not likely to keep them anyway, according to the University of Scranton, which has found that of the 45 per cent of people who make resolutions, a mere 8 per cent actually achieve them. Instead, embrace tiny habits that may not necessarily help you lose weight, learn Mandarin or get organised but, with little to no effort, will fatten your bank account.

Track your spending.

It is easy if somewhat arduous to jot notes on a smart phone or tablet every time you put fuel in the car or stop for a coffee, but if you do, you will be amazed at how quickly money can slip through your hands. There are sites you can turn to for help, like Mint.com, Quicken or Geezeo, that will do the math for you. Most banks offer tracking and budgeting services through sites like these too.

Once you really see where the cash — and credit card transactions — are going, it will be easier for you to identify and cut wasteful spending.

Balance cash in, cash out.

Now that you are seeing where the money is going, chart it against your other expenses. We are talking about everything from housing, food and clothing to movie-going, dining out and getting manicures and pedicures.

It is pretty simple to calculate if you are spending more than you are bringing in. Now you can see just how, where and why you are doing it. Acknowledging the problem is the first step to solving it.

Be realistic.

If you absolutely do not see yourself brewing your own coffee every day — despite the estimated N500,000 in annual savings — limit the java stop to once a day, rather than twice, or to a lessexpensive coffee shop. Do the same with savings and paying off debt. Socking away N200 a week is psychologically easier than N5000 a month, though the result is the same. Paying off a N2,500 credit-card bill can be done in N500 increments.

Automate it all.

Raise your hand if you promised yourself that you would transfer

From right: Principals of Lagos State Model College, Badore (senior and junior secondary schools), Mrs. Z. I. Abdulkareem (1st left) and Mr. F. A. Lawal (2nd left) alongside the Managing Director and CEO of Citibank Nigeria Limited, Mr. Omar Hafeez (right) at the ribbon cutting ceremony for the renovation of the school’s library by Citibank Nigeria Limited during Citi’s ninth annual Global Community Day event which held at the school’s premises in Lagos. money from one account to a savings account and, oops, just forgot. Or planned on paying that bill by the due date but that too slipped your mind. Automate those duties so you do not end up making excuses when you do not get to it yourself.

Aim to be fee-less.

Interest fees, late fees, ATM withdrawal fees, checking-account fees — heck, any banking fees can be avoided by choosing the right financial institution and products, and automating bill payments. And if you are lousy at balancing your accounts and do not have a cushion

account to cover you, make sure you have overdraft protection on your accounts.

Cut the cord.

Cable TV can be a costly proposition and there are a number of ways you can cut the cord without missing out on “Homeland” or replays of “Breaking Bad,” though live sports can be an issue. But you do not even have to give up the cable to cut the bills. Cable companies, which are losing customers are willing to negotiate to retain customers. Just take the time to call them, or send them a tweet.

Wiggle to take up NIA mantle of leadership

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anaging Director of Linkage Assurance Plc, Mr. Godwin Wiggle will soon be sworn in as the new Chairman of the Nigerian Insurers Association (NIA).

The event is the Association’s 43rd Annual General Meeting which will hold on 26th of June, 2014 in Lagos.

According to the Director-General, DG, of the Association, Mr. Sunday Thomas, the occasion will avail the outgoing Chairman Mr. Remi Olowude, the opportunity to address the general assembly of insurers of his stewardship and developments in the insurance sector.

He said that the representatives of member companies of the Association will also be electing a new Deputy Chairman and other principal officers of the governing

council.

According to Thomas, the general assembly will also consider presentation of Chairman’s statement and report of the governing council; consideration and adoption of the audited accounts for the year ended 31st December 2013 and treasurer’s report thereon; appointment of new auditors; as well as election of officers to fill vacant positions in the governing council.

The governing board will also consider and if thought fit, approve the following as a special resolution to alter the Articles of Association of the Nigerian Insurers Association: that a new Article 6 (4) be inserted as follows: “The governing council meeting shall be held on the last Thursday of every month except the month of December of every year.

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24 — Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JUNE 18, 2014

FBN Holdings grows earnings by 20% in 5years NKIRUKA NNOROM

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BN Holdings Plc has disclosed that it recorded 20 percent growth in gross earnings for the five year period with the figure growing to N396biilion in 2013 from N194 billion in 2009.

The bank’s profit before tax also grew by 66 percent to N91 billion in 2013 from N12 billion recorded in 2009.

Also, the deposit base rose to N2.9 trillion from N1.3 trillion in the five year period, while the total assets at N3.9 trillion in 2013 was 15 percent growth over N2.2 trillion reported in 2009.

Addressing stockbrokers at the bank’s facts behind figure on the Nigerian Stock Exchange, NSE, the Managing Director/ CEO, Mr. Bello Maccido, said the bank recorded an estimated N32.5 billion revenue loss in 2013 as a result of regulatory headwinds.

He, however, stated that the bank has put measures in place to drive down cost and enhance its revenue in the coming years. Consequently, he said the bank has slowed down opening of new branches, while some unprofitable branches have

From left: Chairman, Reckitt Benckiser Nigeria Limited, Chief Olu Falomo; Marketing Director for West Africa, Reckitt Benckiser, Silivrili Oguzhan; Second National Vice President, Nigerian Medical Association, Dr. Barthy Okorochukwu and Managing Director, Reckitt Benckiser Nigeria Limited, Mr. Rahul Murgai pledging their support to the ‘Save 10 Million Children’ Campaign at the Dettol Walkathon held in Lagos.

Afriland Properties grows revenue by 2,495%, pays N100m dividend A

friland Properties Plc, a real estate development company, has announced the payment of a dividend of 10 kobo per share for the 2013 financial year. The Chairman of Afriland Properties Plc, Erelu Angela Adebayo, announced the dividend, which amounted to N100 million at the Annual General Meeting (AGM)of the company in Lagos.

This is the first AGM held by the company since it spun off from UBA Plc and merged with Heirs Real Estate Limited in December 2013. The merger aligned the long-term interests of both companies and leveraged on their complementary strengths to expand operations and expertise.

Addressing the shareholders, Adebayo said the company recorded an operating income of N595 million for the year ended December 31, 2013, showing a growth of 2,495 percent above the N22.945 million posted in the 2012. Profit before

tax (PBT) rose by 1,177 percent from N33.26 million in 2012 to N424.75 million in 2013.”In keeping with the promises we made during the merger, your board of directors is implementing a five-year strategic plan, through our management team, that has further engaged the company in development projects. This is a progressive move away from facilities management into the construction of largescale commercial and residential properties in Lagos and Abuja.”

According to her, the malls and estates the company plans to build will not only enhance the lives of ordinary Nigerians, but reflect great opportunities for our company and our shareholders.

“We are now in the second year of implementation, which will consolidate Afriland Properties’ unique position in Nigeria’s property industry and establish a foundation for our expansion to other parts of the country,” she said.

Portland Cement, pricing and building collapse T

HE process of making Port land cement involves heating crushed limestone and clay up to 1500 degrees Celsius. The materials sinter and aggregate into spherical balls known as clinker.

The clinker is cooled and ground to a fine powder and the resulting product is ordinary Portland cement which is the most commonly used cement in civil engineering and building works all over the world.

Recently, there were indications that for operational reasons Portland cement would not be readily available from the cement manufacturers. Thus, the price for a 50kg bag of Portland cement rose from N1800 at the end of March 2014 to N2400 by the end of April 2014 and was back down to N1800 by the end of May 2014.

There was drama surrounding the price movements. During the period when the price per bag was at N2400, the Standards Organisation of Nigeria, SON, placed newspaper advertisements indicating that the ordinary Portland cement we have been using on major construction all these years is only good for plastering works in buildings. The result was that the Portland cement manufacturers released more cement into the market and a price crash followed.

This is enough indication that the Portland cement manufacturers have their strategies for keeping prices at high levels.

Blocks made from sand/Portland cement mixtures are used for building construction. The 230mm thick (9inch thick) blocks were selling for about N150 per unit in the Lagos area before the rise in Portland Cement prices. During the period of higher Portland Cement prices, I came across a block maker who had two different standards of 230mm thick block units for sale.

The first standard was for one bag of Portland Cement plus the appropriate sand quantities to be made into 30 block units selling for a higher price of N180 per unit.

The second standard was for 35 block units to be made from one bag of Portland Cement plus an appropriate sand quantity with each block unit selling for the regular price of N150. One can readily see why we are far from getting homes at affordable prices for our population.

I recall that about 40years ago, shortly after the civil war, I was involved in projects in which 20 block units were being made against each bag of Portland Cement. If 30 block units per bag is what is now affordable, we have clear signs of our diminished economic circumstances or we are

paying too much for a 50kg bag of Portland Cement.

The European Commission introduced a harmonised standard for cement in 2001 and it appears that the SON is about introducing a Nigerian standard using the same nomenclature as the EC standard. The notation for the main types of common cement in Europe are CEM I, CEM II, CEM III, CEM IV and CEM V. The main constituent of all these cements is the ordinary Portland Cement clinker and the coding indicates the identity of the second main constituent and its proportion.

Thus, CEM I consists of ordinary Portland Cement clinker plus up to 5% of minor additional constituents. CEM II has ordinary Portland Cement clinker plus up to 35% of other single constituents.

CEM III comprises ordinary Portland Cement clinker and higher percentages of blast furnace slag, CEM IV comprises ordinary Portland Cement clinker plus higher percentages of pozzolana while

,

By PETER EGWUATU &

been closed down in a bid to drive down cost.

He noted the bank has redefined its public sector engagement model such that it no longer focuses on government and its agencies, adding that it now pays more attention to value chain banking to hedge expected loss emanating from industry policy changes.

According to him, the bank is sweating its existing assets and leveraging alternative distribution channels to provide superior services to customers, while unlocking additional revenue streams.

He explained that FBN Holdings is also introducing transaction banking to aggressively drive fee-based income.

In his opening remark at the fact behind the figures presentation by FBN Holdings, Mr. Oscar Onyema, Chief Executive Officer of the NSE, said, the bank has consistently delivered superior returns to its shareholders since its adoption of the holding structure and listing in 2012.

“In the twelve-month period ended December 31, 2013, FBN Holdings’ Gross Earnings increased by 7.0 percent to N395.9 billion. Its financial results till date reflect the effective execution of several key initiatives and the restructuring of its businesses,” he said.

Cement types are further identified by standard strength classes, the compressive strength at 28 days being the primary reference

,

CEM V is ordinary Portland Cement clinker and higher percentages of blast furnace slag and pozzolana or fly ash. CEM I and CEM II are the types produced in Nigeria.

Cement types are further identified by standard strength classes, the compressive strength at 28 days being the primary reference.

Thus 32.5 class can have 28-day compressive strength between 32.5 Newtons per square millimetre, N/ mm2, and 52.5N/mm2; 42.5 class can have 28-day compressive strength between 42.5 N/mm2 and 62.5 N/mm2 while 52.5 class has 28-day compressive strength above 52.5 N/mm2. Cements are also tested at ages of 2 days or 7 days to establish a code for early strength, N for normal early strength and R for rapid early strength.

TO BE CONTINUED

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JUNE 18, 2014—25

DIARY

UWAJE'S 50 YRS OF ICT PRACTICE:

z World congress on computational intelligence

My contributions, fears for the sector

International Convention Center Beijing,China

06 Jul - 11 Jul 2014

z Cisco Connect Sun City, South Africa Nov. 2 - 4, 2014

H

Preview

,

New inventions shaping life and living

A

The Earin buds weigh 5 g (0.17 oz) and feature a plastic casing with a silicon tip on the end that is designed to create a snug, noiseisolating fit inside the ear. Measuring 14 mm (0.55 in) in diameter and 20 mm (0.78 in) in length, they are a similar size to your typical earbuds and use Bluetooth 3.0 and 4.0 to wirelessly stream audio from a paired device.

I N S I D E C

C M M Y Y K K

Winlot app: Your mobile phone can rake in millions

•Uwaje

is name resonates in the ICT sector with deafening precision.

His words are almost law in the sector; little wonder he is called the ORACLE. When he roars, somebody in authority must listen.

He is Chris Uwaje. In over 50 years, he has led a revolution that brought positive developments in the Nigerian ICT sector, having led several Nigerian ICT groups, including the Information Technology Association of Nigeria, ITAN, Nigeria Computer Society, NCS, Computer Professionals (Registration) Council of Nigeria, CPN and lately, the Institute of Software Practitioners of Nigeria, ISPON .

But just recently, the ORACLE bowed out as the President of ISPON and Hi-Tech had the opportunity to peep into his world of ICT activism.

The encounter was very engaging as the veteran spoke on a number of industry issues, including slow pace of integrating IT in governance, his pioneering role in IT policy and why Nigeria should not be allowed to remain predominantly an ICT consumer nation.

Excerpts:

Early foundation was born and raised in Lagos. My Father was a Nurse and my mother, a meticulous, confident and hardworking small scale entrepreneur in the Tobacco industry.

I am from a polygamous home, the third in a family of eight from my mother ’s side.

My father had two wives, and raised 14 children; all, living in competitive harmony due to the humility and d i s c i p l i n e inculcated into us by our father.

For the family, education was mandatory. And in the good old Lagos, attending Saint Finbars College, Akoka made education a big fun and a significant roadmap for the future. We had s u p e r l a t i v e infrastructure and committed teachers under Rev. Father

I

team of engineers has developed what they are claiming is the world's smallest wireless earbud. In creating Earin, the vision of the team, led by mechanical and design engineer Olle Lindén, was to produce earbuds that not only did away with the messy wires and cables, but fit unobtrusively in the ear to provide a high quality listening e x p e r i e n c e .

BY EMEKA AGINAM

Cashless policy gets $5m boost

Unless we take the bull by the horns now, to prepare a strong IT foundation for the survivability of our digital natives, global competitiveness will remain a mirage Dennis Slattery Principal.

, as

Childhood dreams As a child you dream of being many things but reality is that everybody has a hidden destiny that would unfold someday, in most cases, outside his dreams.

Interestingly, I wanted to

Use internet to solve national issues, NiRA challenges FG

become a Pilot. I love the sky and still do today. I always think the sky holds the key to the puzzle of the future of humanity and still do.

The sky is and remains a mystery in itself and the twinkling little stars makes the unknown the more interesting to explore. It is perhaps the crystal ball of human innovation, creativity, productivity and development – all in one.

Being a Pilot in those days, makes you set sail for the United States of America. At that time, I was focused and aimed to be at Embry-Riddle Aeronautic University in Daytona Beach, Florida.

Today, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University provides instruction through more than 150 locations in the United States, Europe, Canada, and the Middle East, and through online learning. Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, teaches the science, practice, and business of the world of aviation and aerospace.

Foray into IT profession After my secondary school education at Saint Finbars College, in 1970, I worked at the Federal Ministry of Justice, Marina-Lagos to Continues on page 28

26 — Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JUNE 18, 2014

Interswitch rolls out SmartMove card system at MMA2

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an-African integrated payments company, Interswitch Transnational, has launched its new SmartMove solution at Murtala Muhammed Airport Terminal 2 (MMA2). SmartMove debuted at the airport as a fully automated multistorey car park management system that utilizes payment cards.

The payment cards will be provided by Verve,on its new product, Verve Breeze, a contactless card variant. This product will work with SmartMove to provide users with quick and easy payment in car parks, on mass transit and on toll roads.

SmartMove can be deployed to cover mass transit buses, trains, cable cars, tolling systems in both street and off street parking. The system has been designed to provide a smooth and seamless travel experience and is the result of collaboration between Interswitch and Skidata, one of the largest vertically integrated supplier of access for the future technologies, applications and systems.

Mr. Mitchell Elegbe, Group Managing Director, Interswitch Transnational Holdings, said: “The launch of SmartMoveTM is an ambitious step for Interswitch into a new high growth sector in Nigeria. As our economy continues to expand we need new solutions to efficiently manage growing numbers of people getting around by car and on public transport. With our technical partner, Skidata, we have developed a transport management solution for a 21st century Nigeria.”

Also celebrating at the launch of the automated multistory car park management system, Mr. Christophe Penninck, Chief Executive Officer, Bi-Courtney Aviation Services Ltd (BASL), the managers of Murtala Muhammed Airport Terminal 2 (MMA2), said: “The deployment of SmartMoveTM at the MMA2 car park will provide our customers with a convenient payment solution and allow our car park managers to continuously monitor parking operations to ensure we are providing the very best services .”

WITIN showcases i-Camp benefits at Edmark expo

BY LAJU ARENYEKA

W

omen in Technology in Nigeria, WITIN, has given graphic presentation of benefits of it's up coming 6-week work-at-home complementary online summer camp for adolescents between the ages 9-18 at this year's Education market exhibition event tagged Edmark Expo in Lagos Co ordination of WITIN, Mrs Martha AladeOmoekpan, while addressing participants at the expo, said that the purpose of the i-Camp was to ‘help young minds discover their innate ICT talents, provide digital opportunities by exposing them to high profile software that will advance and aid learning beyond the walls of classroom settings as well as inspire innovative tendencies in them. It will keep kids positively and efficiently engaged on the PC as children who spend several hours daily on frivolous activities, would be able to direct that same energy on creativity and innovation while still having fun.’

The iCamp is designed to supplement participants’ normal physical activities during summer holidays as it is online. They can participate from anywhere in the world and learn courses such as Graphics, animation, digital storytelling, entrepreneurship, project management etc. Registration could be on individual or school basis, at www.witin.org/ icamp.

The camp will teach children how to embrace creativity and innovation, expose their inherent creative skills during play and learning, encourage innovation and prepare them to solving future challenges.

Winlot app: Your mobile phone can rake in millions

L

agos state government seems poised for additional revenues but this time around it is doing so, ensuring that mobile phone users who happen to be game lovers, can attract millions of Naira to themselves.

It begins with Winlot lottery which last week launched an online lottery mobile app as part of the activities designed to generate more revenue to the g o v e r n m e n t .

The app which can be downloaded to the mobile via the link w w w. m y w i n l o t . n g / mobile gives game lovers the opportunity of playing Winlot in their mobile phones.

The app has three categories, Winlot Gold Coast, Winlot International and Winlot Jackpot, respectively.

CEO of Winlot Lottery,

Mr Nimish Bhatnagar, said that since everything is going mobile, it wouldn’t be a bad idea for game lovers to play games at their convenience and in the comfort of their own homes.

He said, “We are happy to have this enriching experience to launch this interesting lottery mobile app with Glo and MTN that will enrich our gaming profile within the region. Most important of all, it can provide players with more convenient channel to enjoy our services”.

However, the Chief Executive Officer, Lagos State lottery Commission, Mr Lanre Gbajabiadi noted that

revenues from the lottery commission are used to finance other sectors of the state; health, education, infrastructure and environment sector.

These remitted revenues from the operation of lottery commission he stated are used by the Lagos State government to benefit the citizens of the state. He expressed hope that the new online lottery mobile app will make it easier for people to play lottery games in the comfort of their homes. Gbajabiadi described the app as a new distribution platform targeted at people as opportunities are created by the lottery board to improve the standard of living of Nigerians. He said statistics show Nigeria has the potential to become the largest social media user in the African continent.

Only improved connectivity’ll bring Internet of Things to Nigeria

BY PRINCE OSUAGWU

T

hose who base their mobile power on the strength of voice penetration, are living technology from the rear end.

Much as revenue from voice genre of mobile business has turned many economies around, facts are emerging everyday, that data seems to be the future.

Nigeria, as one of the countries which ubiquitous voice penetration spurned its history from a pariah telecommunications nation to one of the frontline mobile economies of the world, seems not oblivious of this fact.

Even in the euphoria of being recognised as one of the fastest growing telecom markets in the world, the sector was also thinking of ways to sustain the tempo and at the same time leapfrog to the future, in the ever dynamic technology world.

That, brought about the broadband Nigeria campaign and subsequently the National Broadband Policy, championed by the Ministry of Communications Technology and the industry regulator, the Nigerian Communications Commission, NCC. Clean bill of health on broadband policy interestingly, world renowned data and content analysts, International Data Corporation, IDC has just given the policy, a clean bill of health, describing it as capable of increasing data adoption rate, if well implemented.

However, the company’s latest insights in the Nigerian market, revealed that the uptake of machine-to-machine (M2M) and Internet of Things, IoT

technologies is currently limited in Nigeria. Although the report is upbeat that improving datatransfer speeds will play a key role in driving future adoption of the concepts, it however added that it could also depend on how well the National Broadband Policy is implemented.

M2M and IoT are similar but slightly different. While Machine to Machine refers to automated exchange of information between machines, vehicles and a central control centre, Internet of things is used to denote advanced connectivity of devices, systems and services beyond machine-tomachine communications due to the fact that it covers a variety of protocols, domains and applications. It’s a near magical scenario in which objects, animals or people are provided with unique identifiers and the ability to automatically transfer data over a network without requiring human-to-human or human-tocomputer interaction.

Meanwhile, IDC’s Annual Enterprise Communication

Survey, shows that only 30% of enterprises in Nigeria have implemented M2M technology in some form or other. Even at that, just machines like security monitoring, fleet management, and point-of-sale machines currently account for the majority of M2M connections in Nigeria.

Advanced M2M applications such as smart metering, payas-you-driveinsurance, and intelligence building are said not to be widely used in Nigeria.

Reasons adduced to this lag are connectivity issues and the complexities involved in implementing and managing such technologies.

Hope rising However, there seems to be hope.

In its latest “M2M, IoT, and Voice Trends and Priorities in Nigeria, 2013 report” IDC anticipates strong growth in the M2M/IoT market as data-transfer speeds improve in the country. It said: “Connectivity in Nigeria is currently not very reliable, and even the country ’s telecommunications regulatory body – the Nigeria Communications Commission (NCC) – has raised concerns about the quality of service levels among operators. However, with the regulator keen on implementing a national broadband policy, IDC expects voice and data connectivity to improve considerably over the coming years and thereby facilitate greater uptake of more complex M2M/IoT technologies”.

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JUNE 18, 2014 — 27

Cashless policy gets $5m infrastructure boost from Grand Towers

BY EMMANUEL ELEBEKE

T

he cashless policy of the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN has once again received a major boost, with Payment Terminal Service Provider, Grand Towers Limited, promising to inject over $5 million on payments backbone infrastructure, in July, when it would commence services in the country.

The planned roll out of the services, will see to the first pilot phase that would take off from Abuja and Lagos.

According to the company, this is part of its efforts to support Nigeria’s move to adopt the nationwide use of electronic channels for cash transactions.

Announcing this at a media

chat with Journalist in Abuja, the Managing Director, Grand Towers Holdings – South Africa, Mr. Udo Botha and Managing Director, Grand Towers Asset, Nigeria, Mr. Ugocohukwu

D u r u said, Grand Towers’ integrated strategy will focus

Digital tech, part of Nigeria’s everyday life —Ericsson

BY RICHARD UDOFIA

C

ountry Director of Ericsson, Nigeria, Mr Kamar Abass has evaluated technology activities in Nigeria and concluded that digital technology is fast becoming part of everyday life in the country. He said that this has led operators, government, and an array of entrepreneurs in the region to constantly look for ways to develop services and products that meet the needs of the growing ICT user data base in Nigeria. Abass said that mobile broadband is becoming prominent in Nigeria as the country grows more reliance on mobile devices and society embraces mobility.

However, he foresees a challenge for stakeholders and operators, particularly in providing affordable mobile services. According to him, there is always a consumer attitudes trend towards telecoms offerings. “Greater percentage of mobile users believe that mobile data is cheap and more accessible than fixed line internet and since Nigeria market is a relatively price sensitive market, for mobile services to fully flourish, costs must be minimized” he said. “Today, the current trend is that low cost smartphones and tablets have flooded the market, acting as a catalyst for the growth of diversified mobile content. Apps help to tackle consumer entertainment, communication, utility and productivity needs”` However he said that the

way the rapid global and regional uptake of smartphones have changed the way people communicate and use the internet, the sector has transformed all other industries. At least, today, consumers are increasingly able to Personalise the content they access across all field of life” he added. On mobile subscription, Abass said that Africa is predominantly a prepaid market. He stressed that with mobile data traffic and population coverage, 20x growth rate is expected in mobile data traffic between 2013 and 2019, while 75% of mobile subscription in sub sahara Africa will be 3G/4G by the end of 2019.

He quoted Ericsson mobility survey to record that in 2013, there was 2 billion mobile broadband subscription globally even as 9.3 billion subscribers is targeted globally in 2019. He maintained that on the market projection, 5G would be in the rollout plan soon and could be achieved before 2019 while in 2019 6G will be in the making as 5G would have been achieved.

He recommended that for improved competitiveness in the market, Fibre connections in the cities must be fortified, a good base station must be enforced all over the state, education of the public on maintenance of infrastructure facilities and encouragement of collocation among firms in communities among others, must be sustained.

on providing dedicated front end technical service solutions to the Market through multiple e-payment and mobile payment s o l u t i o n s .

Botha said the huge investment in the backbone infrastructure was necessitated but the company ’s resolve to offer seamless services, part of which are services which will be rendered using the best and robust IT solutions and equipments that are efficient, cost effective and user friendly.

He highlighted the collaboration with NIBSS and select commercial banks which he said his company was relying upon to provide support and maintenance services to, merchants using POS terminals and devices.

On his part, Duru, said that all parties were confident that the intended roll out, will be backed by dedicated technical, administrative &

training support and maintenance experts.

The company said, that investing in the country was part of carving a niche for itself to be a leader in the Nigerian market.

Recall that the Central Bank of Nigeria on September, 2011 licensed five companies to act as Payment terminal service providers, PTSP’s for the next two years.

The companies are: ValuCard; Etop Nigeria Limited; Paymaster; ITEX and Citiserve.

These companies are to use their services to enhance the new cashless transaction policy, which stipulates a ‘cash handling charge’ on daily cash withdrawals or cash deposits that exceed N500,000 for Individuals and N3,000,000 for Corporate bodies.

The new policy on cash-based transactions (withdrawals & deposits) in banks, aims at reducing but not eliminating the amount of physical cash (coins and notes) circulating in the economy, and encouraging more electronicbased transactions for payments for goods, services, transfers.

Use internet to solve national issues, NiRA challenges FG Nwakanma said that governance cannot be separated from the resident Nigeria internet as they both i n t e r n e t function and r e g i s t r a t i o n complement each other association, NIRA, in achieving a set goal.

Mrs Mary Uduma, has She argued that many challenged Nigerian countries of the world government to including South Africa, embrace internet as a Ghana, America, Britain, global vehicle to drive Holland, France among e-governance. others, have achieved This is also as she tremendous leap in their urged the Nigerian economies through youths to always think internet governance.

•Mrs Mary Uduma e governance in She however noted that everything they do, though no government being the leaders of tomorrow. Uduma in the world has ever provided citizens at this year ’s Nigeria Internet with everything needed in life, but the Government Forum, NIGF organised for Nigerian government can do better than youths and other stakeholders in the it was doing at the moment if it marries industry in Lagos, said that countries all governance with internet. over the world that have good In his goodwill message, President of governance and better economies have Association of Telecoms Companies of either in one way or the other, at a given Nigeria, ATCON, Engineer Lanre Ajayi point, introduced internet as a means of said that rather than youths surfing the solving national issues. According to internet for pleasure and relaxation, they her, no nation can attain greatness should focus on addressing issues of how without the introduction of positive states are being governed, principles internet activities that will be result surrounding good governance and evaluation of visible policies that will oriented.

Taking a look at why Uduma’s afford the modern day youth to suggestions may prove difficult, Goggle participate in governance through the representative to Nigeria, Miss Nnenna application of internet apps.

Nwakama said that internet bundle in He urged youths to be up and doing in Nigeria is quite expensive, and most the area of leadership training, as mantle times users do not seem to use them for of leadership can fall on them anytime positive things. soon. He challenged the youths to get She however advised the youths, mainly, acquainted with the findings released in to desist from using bundle plans on the final report on the next generation unprofitable things, but to always put directorate service, an e-government them into judicious use. manual.

BY RICHARD UDOFIA

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28 — Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JUNE 18, 2014

smart minds behind)at many levels of IT knowledge engagement and functionality.

However, credit should be given to the government of former President Olusegun Obasanjo for listening and engaging stakeholders in the IT Ecosystem. It was his listening approach that led to the establishment of a long overdue Federal Ministry of Communications Technology.

Now, the new Ministry In all sincerity, the new ministry of Communications Technology has done well and by all standards the lady, in charge of the ministry, should be commended. She engages the IT Professionals, Industry and Stakeholders as best as she can and this has help to some of her land mark achievements.

However, the same cannot be said of the nation. No doubt, our ICT Ecosystem has grown over the years, but it has not developed.We are still predominantly an ICT Consumer Nation.

This is sad and a bad omen for Africa! There is a

Continues from page 25

Experience in computer field I spent nine eventful years, engaging the Computer Science World, related electronic technologies and the logic-adventure of systems analysis, operations research, software development and policy construct. That helped and prepared me with the significant platform for pioneering the National IT Policy for Nigeria.

Between, 1975-1980, I graduated as Systems Analyst from Control Data Institute of Information Technology, Frankfurt, Germany and Operations Research at the British Institute of Engineering Technology UK; Certificate in On-line studies, 1980, in Communication Technology from the International Correspondence School, Glasgow, UK. Role in National IT Policy.

My background experience, working for Deutsche Fachfalag in Eschborn, Germany, was instrumental to firing up my interest in technology policy matters.

There, I assisted in proof reading hundreds of pages of policy processes, procedures and standards. Moreover, I had access to very informed United Nations documentations on Information Technology on my return to Nigeria in the 80s.

But above all, it was another dreamy and passionate adventure when I was challenged to lead the Information Technology Association of Nigeria (ITAN) as its President in 1999.

Having written and published a paper titled The need for a National

My contributions, fears for the ICT sector

,

save some money for my Pilot dream. However in June, 1972, I headed to West Germany, after attempts for the US Student Visa at that time, was not forthcoming.

That was another directional life-wind at that time. My plan at that time was to get to Germany as a by-pass of landing in the US. But I was caught between two very tempting and powerful infection - the emerging computer Profession and the life-encounter with a very charming, intelligent and beautiful lady who today is my wife and life. The two positive time-bugs were so tempting and exciting that the Pilot dream had to temporarily wait and later gave way.

However I later tried to enrol in an Aviation school in Hamburg but was compelled to enrol into a German Language school as part of the education requirements to become a pilot.

Meanwhile, this was also when Europe was retooling her economy and Human capital, so I enrolled at Control Data Institute of Technology in Frankfurt, Germany.

My father had two wives, and raised 14 children; all, living in competitive harmony...

,

Informational Technology Policy for Nigeria in 1998, all that was left was to design the Framework and transform it into a national initiative and ITAN afforded me the platform and opportunity to lead the advocacy.

As ITAN President, in 1999,I hosted the 1st International Conference and Exposition on IT Policy at the International Conference Centre, in Abuja.

It was a huge success. It attracted many eminent personalities, such as the then Senate Committee Chairman on Science and Technology – Senator Wahab Dosunmu, Minister of State for Science and Technology, Mrs. Pauline Tallen, Panellists and delegates from Nelito Systems, India, Educational Institutions from Nigeria, Ghana, Ethiopia, and a speaker from UK, among others.

Low adoption rate of egovernment Let me say that there has been a wide disconnect between Government, Academia and the Industry with respect to IT. The only

time this gulf was abridged a bit was in 1999 when Chief Ebitimi Banigo was Minister of Science and Technology.

Government was alive, at home and up to its responsibility to the nation.

Banigo was from the private sector and the rare light in the tunnel. Indeed, I can state without any fear of contradiction that he was the bedrock of Nigeria IT revolution. He was the National IT development engine room that set Nigeria’s IT-mind running and heading for success.

Many Governments all over the world have been slow to catching-up with the IT evolution and revolution. And every country has reacted differently on how it should engage the challenging impact, due to the fact that it was and is still a relatively new technology. Those who saw the light early were able to articulate strategies and policies that have worked for them. Other nations such as ours preferred to consume rather than innovate and create! Many factors led to the above confusion: First, the science and Technology Culture is not well rooted in the background of the late comer countries. Secondly, their investment profiles in Research and Development is either very low or nonexistent.

Thirdly, the intellectual culture of merit capacity and knowledge processes are deeply beclouded and flawed by political consideration, ethnicity, nepotism and corruption – throwing up light-weights and leaving

fundamental difference between growth and development in nation building.

What the government doesn’t seem to understand is that software is the nearest thing to magic that mankind has invented. It’s pure thought stuff, means that it enables ingenious or gifted people to create wonderful things out of thin air. All you need to change the world is imagination, programming ability and access to a cheap PC. Microsoft and Facebook are typical examples.

Nigerians can do the same if empowered. You don’t need much capital or material resources or adult permission.

Tim Berners-Lee and a tiny group of colleagues created the web out of nothing more than vision and programming skill.

Why I conceptualized NCS’s Women in Technology First, I am extremely proud and happy to be the father of three Princesses who can engage and have significantly demonstrated the ability and capability to engage the world and succeeded on their own by exploring Information Technology. Yes, I pioneered and promoted the concept of Women in IT as a Council Member of the Nigeria Computer Society, NCS. It was designed as a fundamental concept to accelerate technology development process, with central focus on the intervention and affirmative action for empowering women to excel in mastering Information Technology skills, application, and support

services. Today, relevant studies have shown that this is a logical, economic and costeffective model for leapfrogging and diffusing IT process delivery, especially for the developing countries.

Indeed, it has become a common knowledge that women involvement in IT activities is central to the attainment of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).

50 years in active ICT practice For the records, I have cumulatively given 50 significant and extremely productive years of IT service delivery to the Nation, and I thank God for his mercies.

I wouldn’t say whether that’s an unbeaten record. But the right judges are posterity and the stakeholder community. I served the Information Technology (Industry) Association of Nigeria (ITAN) as General Secretary and President - 1997-2004), Served as founding member, 1st VicePresident and President of the Institute of Software Practitioners of Nigeria (ISPON) (1998-2014).

Concurrently, I also served as Council Member, representing ISPON, at the Nigeria Computer Society, from 1999 2014; and at Computer Professionals (Registration) Council of Nigeria CPN, Representing ISPON as elected member between 20012013.

My book - e-Knowledge: Time is running Out! Oh! That was part of my endless passion for IT in digital expression. It was a wake-up call to Nigeria. The book represents a harmonization of some of my recent and earlier writings on the subject of Information Technology as it relates to and affects my fatherland, Nigeria.

Yes, it was published as a wake-up call on the unconscious and layback attitude of our leadership and policy makers to critical issues on the role of Information Technology to national development and nation building. In particular, the book aims to share my missioncritical concern on the state of IT-Nigeria and shape of things to come, within the context and possibility of 21st Century Digital colonization of nations.

Some of my fears in the book have started to emerge, going by the revelation of Wikileaks’ Edward Snowden. Time may therefore be running out on future generations of Nigerians, who may though as Digital Natives, have been sentenced to live in a Digital Colony.

Unless we take the bull by the horn now, to prepare a strong IT foundation for the survivability of our digital natives, global competitiveness will remain a mirage.

Can you give the industry more 50 years?

For now, I will love to go on holiday, have a good rest and after a while, put on my thinking cap. But count me in, on the emerging Mobile Technology race.

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JUNE 18, 2014 — 29

C M Y K

30—V anguard 30—Vanguard anguard,, WEDNESDAY, JUNE 18 , 2014

THE MINORITY QUESTION:

Thoughts on identity, justice and politics of incorporation in Nigeria

Jonathan is the solution, not the cause of Nigeria’s woes! (2)

By E. M. UKAH

By JOHN EDOZIEN

The first part of this discourse was published in Vanguard last Friday

T

attendance.

Obasanjo Regime 1999-2004: In January 2000, the Governor of Zamfara State Ahmed Yerima introduced the Sharia legal system in his state. Since then, several Northern States have followed suit. This has led to several riots and destruction of lives and property both in the North and in other parts of the country.

OBJ the then president did nothing to stop this violation of the Constitution which forbade the making of any religion a state religion.

The Presidential Election 2011 – with Goodluck Jonathan on the Lead: As the early results of the presidential election showed that Goodluck Jonathan a Christian was leading, Islamists went on the rampage attacking Churches, Christians and Muslims who they perceived supported Jonathan.

In Kaduna State, tension grew when the Muslim Governor was elevated to the Vice-Presidency of the country after the death of President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua in 2010, and the then Christian Deputy Governor of Kaduna constitutionally became

,

Though the Muslim Governor was appointed as the Vice-President of Nigeria, Islamists didn’t want a Christian to become the Governor in Kaduna State

In January 1990, Christians in four northern towns protested against the marginalization of Christians in the country. Protesters carried placards with inscriptions such as: “We reject OIC”, “Islamization of the country is totally rejected.” “We are ready to buy our rights with our bloods”. Christians were now determined either to fight for their rights or defend themselves whenever they were abused or attacked. Such preparedness was acted out in what came to be known as the Bauchi Riot.

Kano Riot (October 11, 1991): The Kano religious riot, 1991, was a case of an inter-religious conflict. A group of Muslim youths attacked people in Sabongari and the Fagge area of the metropolis. The attack was a protest against the religious crusade organized by the State Chapter of CAN with a German Christian preacher, Reinhard Bonke, in

,

the Governor. Though the Muslim Governor was appointed as the Vice-President of Nigeria, Islamists didn’t want a Christian to become the Governor in Kaduna State. Against their wish he became the Governor and went ahead later to win a highly polarised election in 2011. Later he died in a helicopter crash to the open jubilation of Muslim youths who rejoiced that power has returned to a Muslim.

Since Jonathan, by divine intervention became President, the menace of Book Haram came to the fore targeting churches, shooting worshippers and carrying out suicide bombings. Several churches have been attacked, many Christians have been killed and hundreds injured. For example, Boko Haram claimed responsibility for a series of bomb blasts in Jos, Plateau State, which occurred on Christmas Eve of 2010, and

claimed at least 80 lives. The Islamist group also carried out the 2011 Christmas Day bombing of St. Theresa Catholic Church at Madalla, Niger State in central Nigeria in which 44 people were killed and many injured (two other churches were also attacked on the same day). A suicide bomb attack on COCIN Church Headquarters in Jos on February 26, 2012 left three dead and 38 injured.

Eleven people died in another suicide bomb attack targeting St. Finbarr’s Catholic Church in Jos on March 11, 2012. On April 29, 2012, Boko Haram militants stormed the campus church services at the Bayero University Kano (BUK) with bombs and guns, leaving nineteen students and one professor dead. Boko Haram also claimed responsibility for carrying out a suicide bomb attack on Harvest Field of Christ Church in Bauchi State on June 3,2012, where 21 people were killed and 45 others injured.

Muslim holiday On June 17, 2012, Boko Haram carried out simultaneous attacks on three Churches in Kaduna State: two in Zaria and one in Kaduna metropolis, killing over 50 people and wounding 131 others. Around the Muslim holiday of Eid Al-Adha holiday on October 28, 2012, a Boko Haram suicide bomber rammed a vehicle into St. Rita’s Catholic Church in Malali, Kaduna metropolis, killing fifteen people and injuring many others.

Again, the sect carried out twin bomb attacks on Church in Jaji military complex near Kaduna on November 25,2012, which claimed eleven lives and injured 30 others.

Christians in northern Nigeria have learned from previous years that Christmas is a time for extra vigilance. In spite of that, in 2012, Christmas was marked in a low key manner amid increased measures all over northern and central Nigeria. Nevertheless, Boko Haram managed to carry out attacks on Christmas Eve in Potiskum in Yobe State and in Maiduguri, the Borno State Capital, in which twelve Christian worshippers were killed.

To be continued

bility, peace and inclusive growth and development that only fairness, justice, equity and good governance can bring, addressing burning national issues such as the minority question, widespread injustice, identity and incorporation problems which have serious implications for our nationhood is most desirable. Thirdly, what better choice to do justice to these vexed issues in our national life than a proven motivational speaker, a forthright, principled, objective and credible Nigerian, well respected across religions, regions, sectors, groups etc, a person no other than His Lordship, Mathew Hassan Kukah, the Catholic Bishop of Sokoto Diocese.

But then it is not by sheer coincidence that Asdev was able to put this programme together.

The Club has as its members very brilliant and active minds across disciplines and has been in the forefront of promoting projects and ideas that have over the years served to move Asaba their main constituency forward.

They have been good partners in progress to His Royal Majesty, the Asagba of Asaba and other Asaba governance struc-

HERE appears to be a feeling that a leadership is diminished when it recognises, honours and accords the rightful place in history to its predecessor. Nothing can be further from the truth, because, rather than diminish the leadership, such a recognition enhances its stature and public perception as it is seen to be confident and selfless! Evidence, however, abounds of the leadership honouring itself while in office perhaps out of the fear that once out of office no one will remember their contributions. And so it remains a story of our life as a country that we fall into that trap of history which in the wisdom of the Sage, George Santayana asserts that “those who do not study the past (or ignore it) are bound to make the same mistakes”!

Today our history is replete with missed opportunities to celebrate our true heroes past and present who should serve as role models. Instead charlatans and mediocrity are celebrated in ways that assault our collective intelligence and distort our true values! To- I knew Chief Dennis Osadeday, the number and spread of bay. It was always an awe inawards giving spiring experience for me to agencies are fast outpacing drive down Osadebay Way in the number of GRA Benin City to my office as desirable manufacturing com- Deputy Governor, Bendel State panies that should be estab- tures. Over and above this, the lished to provide jobs and grow Club boasts of members who our economy! Most of these today occupy very important awards violate the basic caution positions at State and National

by St. Francis of Assisi “You levels. From these vantage poshould never praise anyone sitions they pursue the Club’s until you see how he turns out ideals of excellence. Their orin the end”! ganisations and indeed NigeAsdev ’81 Club of Asaba, by ria as a whole have been the instituting this lecture series in better for it! honour of Chief Dr. Osadebay, I knew Chief Dennis Osadehas taken the bull by the horn bay. It was always an awe inand done the right thing by fill- spiring experience for me to ing a long yawning gap. I con- drive down Osadebay Way in gratulate and very sincerely GRA Benin City to my office as thank the Club for this bold and Deputy Governor, Bendel State. desirable initiative. Indeed by I regarded the name with conorganising this event you have siderable awe and respect. He not just killed two birds with the was a conviction, forthright and proverbial one stone, you have principled politician who never indeed killed several birds with spoke from both corners of his one stone! It has served as a mouth. I recall visiting him at wake up call to both the Feder- his modest home in Asaba in al and State Governments that 1991 from Benin City as Depuin the matter of honouring a de- ty Governor with the then Miliserving Nigerian, Chief Os- tary Governor of Bendel State, adebay, there is an unfinished Col. John Yeri. We were struck business! Put point blank, Chief by the highly modest life he led Osadebay deserves to have a and were very pleased and hobefitting national monument noured to provide him and his named after him! Anioma is family with some assistance. The waiting, Delta State is waiting, relationship continued when indeed Nigeria is waiting to see with the creation of Delta State the right thing done. in 1992, I moved over to Asaba Secondly, the choice of the as the capital of the newly cretopic cannot be more apt! With ated Delta State. our country reeling with instaTo be concluded bility and longing for the sta-

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AS noted by Matthew Kukah, “although there was no evidence of hostility visibly shown by the visit of the Archbishop to Kano, it was not accidental that the site where he laid the foundation stone for the building of the new Church became the scene of the violence that erupted in Kano six months after the visit. The violence was targeted at Christ Church in Fagge, Kano Metropolis” The Buhari Regime Religious Crises (1983 -1985): The Buhari regime which overthrew the Shagari-led civilian administration did not do much to allay the fears of non-Muslims, especially given the peculiar nature of the composition of his government and their policies. All the members of his Supreme Military Council were Muslims - either Northern Muslims or Muslims from the South. This fact made Christians very uncomfortable. It is doubtful if his mindset against Christians has changed, for it is difficult for a leopard to change its skin.

The Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC) Crisis (January 1986): During the Babangida regime, information filtered out to the public that Nigeria had sought admission into the Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC). This raised a lot of anxiety among Christians who now believed that the federal government was systematically engaged in the process of Islamizing the country.

Being the opening remarks of Chief John Edozien, OON, former Deputy Governor of Delta State at the 1st Late Chief Dennis Osadebay Memorial Lecture organised by Asdev 81 Club of Asaba

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WEDNESDAY, JUNE 18, 2014 — 31

S

TEPHEN Keshi looked unruffled after the colourless outing of the Super Eagles against an Iranian side they had boasted to riddle with goals. But on the night, there was no difference between the Iran team and the Eagles.

Keshi explained ‘’My boys wanted to finish the game in 20 or

25 minutes. But when that was not happening, frustration set in. The Iranians did not come out to play and that made it difficult for the players to penetrate their defence”.

When reminded that his boys opted for high balls against the taller Iranian defenders, Keshi retorted;

Sighs, hisses as Mikel wins M VP

C

HE LSE A boy, Mi kel Obi came out from a flop py pla y aga ins t debutants Iran to emerge the Most Valuable Player of the night but the award did not go down well with the horde of World Journalists who covered the game.

The FIFA offi cia l wh o announced the award that was greeted with sighs and hisses explained that the award was voted by fans.

Pre vio usl y, it wa s

Jou rna list s wh o cov ere d matches that voted for the MVP but this time, fans picked Mikel for the award.

Speaking after collecting the award, Mikel admitted that the Eag les we re equ ally disappointed for not winning the match but attributed that to the packing of the defence by the Iranians’ Team Melli. ‘’Th e Ira nia ns had goo d kno wle dge of wh at the y wanted to do. They packed buses in the defence and we pus hed the m har d. The y

didn’t come out to play. It was so frustrating trying to break them”, he said.

However, he said that the Eag les wo uld go bac k to training to map out a strategy tha t wo uld be mo re rewarding in the matches against Bosnia Herzegovina and Argentina.

Bosnia lost its first match 2 -1 aga ins t Arg ent ina but were the better team as they rattled Messi and their glut of stars endlessly.

‘’We didn’t play up balls. I am not happy but we should also give respect to the Iranians.

These things happen in football. Some days you play well and some days are like that. We’ll go back to training and see what we can do”.

32— Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JUNE 18, 2014

Osaze didn’t play role I asked o pla eshi ffires ires playy, K Keshi him tto

TOP MAN . . Super Eagles goalkeeper Vincent Enyeama (on top) grabs the ball ahead of Iran's forward Ashkan Dejagah (bottom) during their Group F match of the Brazil 2014 FIFA World Cup at the Baixada Arena in Curitiba.

Match ended goalless.Photo; AFP.

T

HE no-love-lost relationship between Stephen Keshi and Stoke City wonder-boy Osaze Odemwingie that saw him nearly miss the World Cup is still very much in the team.

Osaze had apologized to Keshi before he was recalled to the national team and to the World Cup but Keshi sacrificed Ike Uche, another redhot Nigerian attacker who scores goals with eyes closed on charges of being ‘technically indisciplined”.

And on a night that Keshi’s team were rudderless except for Osaze who brought vim and vitality to the attack, Keshi still threw potshots at Osaze for not playing to instructions.

A journalist had complained about the blunt attack of the Eagles but singled out Osaze for bringing fire to the attack when Keshi bared his fangs on the Stoke City player. ‘’No. No, No. Osaze didn’t play well. What he played was not the role I asked him to play”, he said leaving many journalists bewildered.

On a night that Emmanuel Emenike was a shadow of himself and instead of being the point man, decided to be playing wide from the wings coupled with wrong passes from Mikel and Ogenyi Onazi, the introduction of Osaze at least brought a sparkling ray of hope.

At one instance, he fired a ferocious shot that got everybody standing on their feet as the ball narrowly missed target. He passed balls accurately but Keshi would not have that credit go him.

We will correc mistakes, says S

HUSSLER . . .

Super Eagles midfielder Ogenyi Onazi (L) fights for the ball with Iran's forward Ashkan Dejagah during their Group F match.

Photo:AFP

UPER Eagles , Ogenyi Onazi has said that the Super Eagles will look to correct their mistakes in their next game against Bosnia following Monday’s draw with Iran The Lazio player who was one of the bright lights in the encounter said that they need to go back and restrategize.

“It wasn’t a bad game but we know we were supposed to do more, even though our opponents sat back to defend,” Onazi told Goal.

“We tried to get a goal but it was difficult for us,” he said.

However, the 21-year-old said that the team is

optimistic dusting off Monday’s disappointment and play better in subsequent matches.

“The [team] spirit is still intact, we’re trying to encourage ourselves and look forward to the next

Nigerians want criticize me — Ke

S

TEHEN Keshi bared his fangs on Nigerians on Monday after his team played one of the most annoying games of the World Cup in Brazil. ‘’I’m always criticized. Even if I win or draw, they will always criticize me. We don’t have the patience in my

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JUNE 18, 2014 — 33

Iranian coach mocks Keshi, Eagles •Football is not about having players play in best clubs, it’s about attitude

B

EFORE the game, veteran coach Carlos Queiroz said that Iran would use the match against Super Eagles to send a message to the World on Iranian football.

And moments after the barren draw, Queiroz mocked Stephen Keshi that he has no player who plays in Chelsea, CSKA or Liverpool noting that Iranian players played with concentration, love for their country and good attitude. ‘’We remain one nation that came to the World Cup without the conditions of others. We have no big names in big clubs but we play with determination, concentration and good attitude”, he said at the post match conference.

He said that he was satisfied with his team’s performance against African Champions Nigeria and a team that is loaded with big names playing in big clubs. ‘’I am happy with the players especially my defence line. I know that many people are not happy because they are used

ct our s Onazi game,” he said.

“We apologize [to Nigerians] for the draw but in the next game we’re going to step up and make sure we get the three points.

“We believe we will qualify for the next round,” he

concluded.

Nigeria have a must win fixture against BosniaHerzegovina on June 21 before their final group match against Argentina on June 25.

to win at all cost, they love to eshi country. In every outing, they want to win at all cost. It does not make any difference when am criticized”, he told the world in a post match conference., Keshi’s outburst is not new. When he won the African Cup of Nations in South Africa, he said that he

came from a country where everybody was a coach. Not only that. He resigned his job in one of his interviews with foreign journalists but swallowed his words and denied it when top Government officials stepped in.

N

IGERIA and Iran became the first sides to draw at the 2014 World Cup as they played out a turgid 0-0 draw in Curitiba on Monday.

In stark contrast to the attacking nature of the tournament so far, neither side showed much creativity and the final whistle was met by a cacophony of boos from the mainly Brazilian crowd.

However, their disenchantment didn’t cut much ice with Iran coach Carlos Queiroz.

“I must praise my players, they more than deserved this draw,” said the 61-year-old, who guided his native Portugal to the 2010 World Cup finals.

“The most important thing is that everything is now open to us.”

After a bright start from Nigeria, it was Iran who forced the only meaningful save of the afternoon from Vincent Enyeama as the Lille goalkeeper parried Reza

to seeing many goals. But us in Iran, it is better to go home happy with one point obtained from African champions that are blessed with players in the best clubs. But one thing I assure you is

for

that in eight years time, Iranian football will not be the same again.

I don’t want to think about the next two games involving Iran and Argentina and Bosnia. Let me savour this point. Step by step, I will come up with strategies on how to handle them. For now, we are happy. We are fulfilled”, Queiroz said.

Nigeria, Iran stalemat e lea stalemate leavves Brazilians unimpressed

•Nigeria fans Ghoochannejad’s headed effort.

A point apiece leaves both sides tied for second place in Group F with Argentina leading the way thanks to their 2-1 win over Bosnia and Hercegovina on Sunday.

Nigeria started by far the better of the two sides and had an effort on goal

inside three minutes as Victor Moses’ low shot was comfortably held by Alireza Haghighi.

The African champions had the ball in the net moments later, but Ahmed Musa was adjudged to have fouled Haghighi as they challenged for a high ball before Ogenyi Onazi

slotted inches wide with Nigeria’s best opening of the half.

The intensity from Nigeria then dropped as they were forced into a change midway through the half when former Everton defender Joseph Yobo replaced the injured Godfrey Oboabona.

34— Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JUNE 18, 2014

•CONTEST . . .

Ivory Coast's forward and captain Didier Drogba (L) runs with the ball during their Group C match against Japan at the Pernambuco Arena in Recife. Ivory Coast won 2-1.

Photo: AFP.

•Muller

Knockout stage in sight for Ivory Coast, Colombia A S two of world football’s underachieving nations, Ivory Coast and Colombia will be desperate not to let slip a rare chance to qualify for the knockout stages of

the World Cup when they meet in Brasilia tomorrow Both teams opened Group C with victories, meaning another in the Brazilian capital will almost certainly

guarantee a place in the last 16.

“It’s looking a little bit like a final of the group,” Ivory Coast coach Sabri Lamouchi said, “(and) I’m pretty sure the winner will be qualified

Our mistakes cost us dearly - Appiah

G

HANA coach Kwesi Appiah was left to rue his team’s missed chances as Ghana succumbed to a 2-1 defeat at the hands of the United States in their opening Group G encounter last Monday night.

USA were up after just 32 seconds as Clint Dempsey stormed into the box, cut inside and finished brilliantly past Adam Kwarasey in the Ghana goal.

After sustained pressure, Andre Ayew finally found the equaliser for the Black Stars on 81 minutes, yet their joy was short lived as American substitute John Brooks headed

home with just four minutes left on the clock.

Appiah acknowledged that his opponents were a tough nut to crack, yet felt his side gave it their all throughout the 90 m i n u t e s .

“What I can say is that it was a very tough game,” the Ghana manager said at the post-match pressc o n f e r e n c e . ”Playing at this high level, any little mistake can cost you dearly. ”We didn’t deserve the first goal against us and, as for the game itself, we did possess and create a lot of chances.

Appiah was left bitterly disappointed at his side’s failure to convert just one of their 21 attempts at goal.

for the next phase.”

That would be a first for the Ivorians, who failed to get out of difficult groups in 2006 and ’10 — their only previous appearances on the world’s biggest stage.

Loew praises Mueller, hints at changes

G

•The Black stars

ERMANY coach Joachim Loew poured praise on make-shift striker Thomas Mueller after his hat-trick in Monday ’s 4-0 rout of Portugal at the World Cup, then hinted at making changes.

Germany became the first country to reach the milestone of 100 World Cup matches and marked the occasion by thumping Cristiano Ronaldo-led Portugal.

Mueller bagged the Germans’ seventh World Cup hat-trick in total — more than any other nation — with Argentina second on four.

“Thomas did really well up front and he constantly tore holes in the defence,” enthused Loew after the Group G clash.

“He is a very

unorthodox player and you can’t really predict his lines of running, but he has one aim and that is ‘how can I score a goal?’

“That makes him so dangerous, especially in the box.”

A decisive first-half saw Germany race into a 3-0 lead in Salvador as Mueller converted a penalty, then fired home their third on the stroke of half-time after Mats Hummels scored with a header.

Mueller, who normally plays as a winger or attacking midfielder for Bayern Munich, wrapped up his hat-trick with a scrappy effort in the dying stages as Ronaldo endured an afternoon to forget.

“The whole team played incredibly compactly and hardly gave anyway any

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JUNE 18, 2014—35

36—Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JUNE 18, 2014

office as your governor, Benin City has not remained the same. It has changed positively and continues to change.”

So, ahead of the 2015 presidential election, the control of the state has turned into a vicious battle as contending forces zero in for the control of the state.

Though the state went the way of the PDP in the last presidential election, it was then assumed that Oshiomhole saw himself as an Independent Candidate who came to power on the platform of the then ACN and did not see much of his future in the party.

However, given the effort by the PDP to rubbish his legacy and perhaps his own thoughts for tomorrow, Edo State is increasingly now turning into a political battle ground between Jonathan’s men and the governor.

2015 shadow boxing

BY EMMANUEL AZIKEN, POLITICAL EDITOR

EDO

W

ITH sprawling business interests in PortHarcourt, Rivers State and regular political circuits to run in Abuja, it was unusual for Chief Dan Orbih, the Edo State chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to stay in the state for two weeks at a stretch. However, for three months up to early June, Orbih remained in Benin. It was not for nothing as recent developments in the state have now shown.

In what could have once been seen as impossibility, the PDP, hitherto considered as dead on account of the impressive infrastructure development

strides of the Adams Oshiomhole led All Progressives Congress, APC, administration has arisen, even contemplating the impeachment of the comrade governor.

The PDP under Orbih’s command has been able to win back some of the grounds it lost to the APC in the state pulling five of the 19 members of the Edo State House of Assembly from the APC. The developments in Edo State are significant given that until last November, it was the only state under the control of the APC in President Goodluck Jonathan’s South-South geopolitical zone.

The defection of Governor Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers State

THE ISSUES

•In Ekiti, the PDP waived Ayo Fayose’s past to be able to build a popular opposition to Governor Fayemi •In Edo, despite impressive infrastructural strides, the PDP is now putting Oshiomhole on the defensive •In Kano, Dr. Jonathan is now contending with a hostile governor and hostile emir

to the APC last November may have added to the sense of panic in the PDP. Mutual friends of the president and Amaechi have been trying unsuccessfully to reunite the two. However, the carrot and stick measures to woo Oshiomhole seem to have faltered leaving the popular Edo governor beholden to the APC whose top hierarchy had in the past not been too much infatuated with him.

Any plan to woo Oshiomhole from the APC would have also collapsed following the removal from office of Chief Michael Ogiadomhe as chief of staff to the president. Ogiadomhe, PDP officials in Benin had complained in the past was an Oshiomhole apologist in Abuja and was instrumental to the derailment of the PDP’s plans to scupper a smooth ride for Oshiomhole’s re-election in 2012.

Besides, Oshiomhole who was not too long ago regarded as not being too warm towards his own APC has become something of a darling in some quarters in the party.

Despite the early adoption of Chief Tom Ikimi by the Edo State chapter of the party for the office of national chairman, Oshiomhole did not come out

to openly fight the choice of Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, who eventually won the opposition.

It is even imagined in some quarters that with his impressive performance in office and nationwide name recognition Oshiomhole could be thrown in as a contestant in the 2015 presidential contest or come in as a running mate.

Speaking when he visited Benin for a youth programme

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The 2015 presidential election is months away but the figment of what is to come is playing out in some states.

EKITI The emergence of Mr. Ayodele Fayose as the gubernatorial candidate of the PDP took many people by surprise. Why would any serious party determined to make a good showing pick as its gubernatorial candidate, a man who was chased away from the Governor’s Mansion less than 10 years ago and who is still facing corruption charges in the courts?

The answer undoubtedly had to do with the presidency’s secret surveillance on ground that Ayo Fayose, the former governor of the state had the greatest chance of the 14 or so aspirants screened for the job to shake the incumbent Governor, Dr. Kayode Fayemi.

While Governor Fayemi’s performance has largely been hailed, his posture as elite as

,

Ahead of the 2015 presidential election, the control of the state has turned into a vicious battle as contending forces zero in for the control of the state

last January, Governor Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State said as much.

“If Governor Adams Oshiomhole decides to run as President of this country, he will have my vote. He is the kind of leader that Nigeria needs. I say that because I have spent five memorable years of my life in Benin City as an undergraduate and as a youth corps member and they are very fond memories that I hold dear in my heart today.

“I am always looking forward to coming here each time I am invited. The excitement to come here is at an all time high.

Since my brother assumed

opposed to Fayose’s street boy carriage has turned into an advantage that the PDP is bent on using to remove Fayemi from office.

Though President Jonathan won Ekiti in 2011, that cannot be taken for granted any longer. Abuja it seems, believes that Ekiti with Fayose could be the easiest of the five Southwest states under the control of the APC that it can take from the opposition party ahead of the 2015 presidential election.

The party has also fielded a “street-boy” candidate in the person of Senator Iyiola Omisore for the Osun State

Continues on page 37

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JUNE 18, 2014—37

Boko Haram has made Jonathan’s re-election a walkover — Addo MR. Emmanuel Addo, a Public Affairs analyst and PDP chieftain, in this interview, says the attempt by the North to use insurgency to weaken the President Goodluck Jonathan administration has failed and will make the President win the 2015 election with ease.

W

HAT is your take on the state of affairs in the Nigerian polity?

As things stand today in Nigeria, especially with insurgency, there is no doubt that things are bad. We have big challenges on our hands. It is not just about Bring back our girls or Boko Haram because we have kidnapping in the South-East, we have piracy in the SouthSouth, armed robbery and religious crises in the North and so on. We don’t have respect for one another and the problem continues. But my take is that we cannot in any way treat things in isolation. We have to take time to diagnose the problems and take a holistic approach to fix the problems inherent in the system.

But my worry is that all times Nigerians prefer quick fixes to their problems.

Some think that once the girls are brought back and we contain Boko Haram, our problems are over but I say no, it is not. For me, there is no quick fix for the insurgency. It is also a wake-up call to fix our police, fix our civil service, fix our army, fix our immigration, customs and all the apparatus of government to enable the country run effectively as a nation.

The fear of some Nigerians is that this government has been

too slow in responding to the challenges facing the nation.

No, I don’t think so. I have heard people describe President Jonathan as clueless, incompetent and so on. I don’t believe a PhD holder, who has been deputy governor, governor, Vice President and President is clueless. The problem we have in Nigeria is that most people want quick fixes. I have read about insurgency in Pakistan,

,

BY SONI DANIEL, NORTHERN REGION EDITOR

at weakening the Jonathan administration so that the President does not seek a second term?

Now, unfortunately, I would say that in all the political statements I have so far heard, I think the most unfortunate of them, which has also placed the north in a very bad situation was that credited to certain Lawal Kaita in 2011 that the North was going to make the country

,

The perception that the northern insurgency is targeted at Jonathan has framed the question for the 2015 election

Columbia, Afghanistan, Iraq and Thailand, to name but a few and none was resolved overnight.

Like the civil war that Nigeria fought, by the time Obasanjo and Col Effiong signed the ceasefire agreement, we had the last shot fired and peace returned to the country. Today, the war that is being unleashed on the country

by Boko Haram is such that nobody knows who the members of Boko Haram are, their sponsors and what they really want. It is not possible to catch all members of the sect and their known and unknown sympathizers. Until you do that you cannot say that the war has been won.

How do you react to the claim in certain quarters that the insurgency is actually targeted

ungovernable if Jonathan won the election. I have not heard him deny that statement till date.

Unfortunately, it is a statement that is going to really hurt the North because the perception now is that the Boko Haram insurgency is targeted at the government of President Jonathan and the pattern of attacks has been made very clear: it comes any time the President is trying to carry out some political engagements.

You would remember that it was during his visit to Kano that the first Nyanya blast was unleashed. He was going to Ekiti when the Jos bomb blast occurred and when he was about to go to Yola for a political event, the second Nyanya blast went off and so on. So, everything in life is

•Addo about perception and we cannot run away from it.

Truly, what is happening is targeted at Jonathan’s administration and the perception is very clear. Now the danger is that even if Jonathan is defeated, we are going to have a big problem in the Niger Delta and unfortunately for us, whether we like it or not, it means that Nigeria is not going to sell even a litre of oil not to talk of a barrel.

Whether the president is defeated fairly or unfairly, people are going to assume that it is because some persons from the North had sworn to make the country ungovernable for the President and he has been defeated through a combination of orchestrated factors.

They may decide to go their separate ways. That is why I have been saying that the 2015 election will not be based on performance but on personalities.

Even though Mr. President has performed creditably despite distractions, I want to say that the election will be won and lost because of the personalities. The perception that the northern insurgency is targeted at Jonathan has framed the question for the 2015 election. I am saying so because, election, like, religion is an emotional issue. I have met people who are now saying they are going to vote for Jonathan because they believe that the insurgency is deliberately targeted at him.

And now, for the North itself, it is a problem for them. Assuming that anyone in the North is able to come out and contest the Presidency, it is going to be difficult for the North to support such a person for him to win. Why is it that the North is in crisis today? For us, it is not good because enlightened self interest tells me that the North needs help. But the north should help itself first by accepting other minorities of the North and we must help them to achieve that.

throne, Sanusi as governor of the CBN, and even after he was suspended by President Jonathan, was seen as playing the game of the APC to undermine the administration of President Jonathan.

His accusations of corruption levelled against the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC were fanned by the APC and other critical elements in the society.

Beyond the allegations of being a closet member or sympathiser of the opposition, was the moral burden on the president of congratulating a former government official, who was few months ago kicked out of office on the allegation of corruption.

That the installation of Sanusi was bad taste for the presidency was seen in last weekend’s unusually foul exchange between the

presidency and Governor Rabiu Kwankwaso of Kano State, who played a large role in the emergence of Sanusi as the emir of Kano.

That bad feeling was also conveyed in the grounding of Governor Amaechi’s plane in Kano and the instruction by aviation authorities that private planes were banned from landing and taking off from Kano.

Though President Jonathan lost Kano State in the 2011 PDP presidential primaries and in the subsequent general elections, he suffered that fate under the hands of a friendly emir in the person of late Alhaji Ado Bayero. Now with a hostile emir and a hostile governor in the person of Kwankwaso, the chances of the president winning Kano or getting 25 per cent in the general election have been greatly dimmed.

Orchestrated factors

2015 Shadow boxing Continues from page 36 gubernatorial election but party officials admit that their brighter chance is in Ekiti where they believe that Governor Fayemi can be successfully brought to the ground.

A day after President Jonathan led senior party officials to flag off the gubernatorial election, VicePresident Namadi Sambo, who stayed back, reiterated the urgency in the party hierarchy to the chieftains of the party.

Sambo, it was learnt, again harped on the need for unity especially among the party chieftains who had been divided over the conduct of the gubernatorial primaries.

Dr. Jonathan on his part is doing all he can to support unity among the once intractably divided party in the state.

He was quick to adopt the nomination of Prince Adedayo Adeyeye as minister to represent the state. Adeyeye was one of the gubernatorial nominees, who despite his political structure on ground were quick to accept Aso Villa’s instruction for nominees to accept Fayose.

The battle of wits between the presidency and the APC over control of Ekiti State will fully crystallise this Saturday when the people vote in the gubernatorial election.

Kano After Sanusi Lamido Sanusi emerged as the next emir of Kano penultimate weekend, media houses waited anxiously to see the words and context President Jonathan would couch his congratulations to the second most influential traditional ruler in the North.

The wait has stretched beyond hours to days and now weeks.

No congratulation has come.

Aso Villa sources, in fending off the assertion that Dr. Jonathan is sulking by not sending a congratulatory message, point out that it has not been the practice for the villa to congratulate monarchs on their ascension to the throne of their forefathers.

Political undertones But as almost everyone knows, Sanusi’s ascension to the throne was itself laced with political undertones. A strong contingent of the APC led by its national leader, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu waited in the city and reportedly lobbied seriously until Sanusi was named emir.

Before his ascension to the

38 — Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JUNE 18, 2014

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JUNE 18, 2014— 39 just got married and was already having a little baby by that year. So, after weighing the options, instead of going to Abuja, I just went to Leith’s School of Food and Wine in London. I felt cooking would be better for me if I had to concentrate on motherhood.

What was your experience at Leith like?

It was not easy as I thought.

They were v e r y thorough, v e r y precise; t h e y checked everything.

It was one

Every year, I handle the catering of the Africa Conference of Bishops. I also baked former president Obasanjo’s 70th birthday cake.

Where did the inspiration for Muse Academy come from?

Many mums have been coming to me to have one-onone with their children that are having cooking challenges in marriage. Some of the children have been sent packing in marriage. We started classes in February, 2014, with children because while I was setting up the place, a lot of children came, saying they wanted to be part of the school. So, we have children from ages 11 to 15, and then our advanced cooking classes.

Has accessing credit been easy with you?

Remember former Lagos State military governor, Captain Gbolahan Mudashiru? This delectable lady, despite being his only daughter, doesn’t seem to live in that elation in any way. Mrs Openifoluwa Tejuosho is independent, industrious, dynamic and creative.

Little wonder she was able to turn one of the Academic Staff Union of Universities-ASUU’s industrial actions into gains for herself, by embarking into the baking business. That stint has forever decided her destiny as today, though trained as a lawyer, Openifoluwa has found her place in the catering business and abandoned the wig and gown. This gave birth to Opindos Bakery which is today serving the creme de la creme of the society. Wondering if she never had a training?

Openifoluwa did train at Leith’s School of Food and Wine, UK, and has worked as a chef at the L’Meridien Hotel, Victoria Island, Lagos. Recently, she officially opened The Muse Academy, a vocational school with focus on cooking. Here, she speaks on her journey into business, how her mum set the tone for her destiny and more. Excerpts:

BY JOSEPHINE IGBINOVIA

W

HO has been your greatest influence?

My mum is responsible for everything I am today. My mum did not spoil us but made sure we were grounded in domestic chores.

She always said she would be the last person to train other people’s children- house helps, and have useless children.

Hence, she ensured I swept, cooked and cleaned.

Back then, I didn’t know I would be a caterer. I thank my mum for the upbringing that I had because you cannot be a caterer and just sit there and be giving command; you have to be able to do it yourself.

I’m aware you studied Law, but why the switch to catering?

My journey into catering began several years ago, while still at the university. Actually, it was born out of one of the strikes by the Academic Staff Union of Universities-ASUU when universities were closed.

This prompted my friends and I to look for something else to

do. We started going for cooking classes, computer classes and some others, basically to keep us busy. Back at school after the strike, I still took up cooking jobs. That was how the business started informally. I started saving and buying one equipment after the other. This was when my first company, Opindos Limited, was born. Opindos later gave birth to the Muse.

You mean ASUU strike which is dreaded by many turned into a blessing for you?

Of course. It afforded me opportunity to learn unofficially and one-on-one with caterers.

Getting somebody that was ready to release their trade secret, so to speak, was a huge challenge though. But I kept trying a couple of people who took me on board.

During that srike, I learnt fruit cake, I learnt how to make yoghurt, and how to bake bread as well. After By the time I finished from the University of Lagos, the Law School had been moved to Abuja and we were going to be the first set. I had

•Mrs Openifoluwa Tejuosho

of the toughest classes I ever had. You talk about the digestive system, you have to know about the science behind each ingredient, you have to know the classes of food and more. You also have to know how to cater for people based on their health conditions. It was a fantastic experience and great exposure.

I saw ingredients that I had never heard of.

I am a versatile person. So, all I learnt there, I always find a way to convert infuse into our techniques here.

How did you feel when you made your first million from cooking?

I still remember the day I got my first big cheque and when it cleared; there was great happiness in knowing that I worked for it. I actually made my first big cheque through catering.

I don’t want things that will put me under pressure. So, any profit I make, I plough back into my business. That way, I don’t have to rely on accessing credits. I know how difficult it is and how capital has been a challenge to many who want to go into business. But I think no one should be afraid of starting small. I haven’t tried getting loan from the bank but I have heard that they give you a huge list of what you need to bring. That can be a challenge in Nigeria.

But with catering business, it’s okay as an SME. This one you have a cooker in your house and a pot. Don’t say I need an industrial oven; start with the one that you have and don’t spend your profits on shoes, bags , clothes and whatever. You have to be willing to sacrifice.

If you know you can’t make sacrifices and you’re not disciplined, just move away. Go and get a job where you can be paid salaries.

40 — Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JUNE 18, 2014

Pilgrimage was quite rewarding —Tunde Akinnoye, MTN-sponsored pilgrim TUNDE Akinnoye, one of the 21 persons sponsored to Jerusalem by ICT and telecommunications company, MTN for this year’s pilgrimage, in this interview with ETOP EKANEM, narrates how God through the company gave him a platform to attain an important spiritual obligation in his Christian voyage. Excerpts:

H

*Tunde Akinnoye Market. He repeated the news and directed me to one of the MTN offices closer to me in Ibadan. When I got there, I was congratulated again. From that moment on, I was already seeing myself in Jerusalem.

How did you feel stepping into Jerusalem?

Sincerely, I felt great. It was a whole new beginning, in fact a new perspective to life.

I felt a kind of spiritual explosion and fulfilment. It was a very big opportunity given to me by God through MTN to travel, not just out of the country, but having the privilege of visiting places, I only read about in the Bible.

What places or sites did you visit?

We visited the tomb of Je-

sus and the Wailing Wall---a place where when you have any agonising problem, you go to pour your heart to God

,

OW did you emerge a beneficiary of MTN’s sponsorship to Jerusalem for this year’s pilgrimage?

It is the handiwork of God. Well, like every one of the sponsored customers, I was selected based on the MTN Value Added Services (VAS) I subscribed to. Some of us subscribed to daily devotionals, Bible quotes, sermons, songs, prayers and hymns, callertunez; and other spiritually up-lifting and faith enriching content.

How has this MTN VAS built your Christian faith and life?

First, it has kept me connected to my Maker, Jehovah God, on a daily basis. It has added spiritual value in the aspect of sending inspirational messages, and quotes from the Bible through SMS. Sometimes, I find myself in challenging situations and these quotes and inspirational messages boost my faith while encouraging me to be strong and stay positive to overcome such situations. The Bible quotes through SMS, always remind me of the promises of God towards my existence. This service draws me closer to God. How did you feel when you were told that you were among the beneficiaries of the sponsorship to Jerusalem?

At first, when the MTN customer care number called and told me I was among those the company will be sponsoring to Jerusalem for this year’s pilgrimage, I felt I was daydreaming. I could not believe it! I was later told by the customer care service that a staff of MTN would call me. Truly, I received a call from Tosin Agbelusi, Manager, Mass

It was a whole new beginning, in fact a new perspective to life. I felt a kind of spiritual explosion and fulfilment.

,

and He will answer your prayers. We also went to Bethlehem, to see the birth place,

Muoka rejects imposition of tax on churches, mosques •plans international crusade

G

ENERAL Overseer of The Lord’s Cho sen Charismatic Revival Ministries, Pastor Lazarus Muoka has kicked against the planned imposition of taxes on churches and mosques, describing it as unconstitutional and counter productive, reports OLAYINKA LATONA. Mouka made this declaration while briefing newsmen about the church's annual international crusade themed; “And the enemies submitted” scheduled for Saturday and Sunday at the church national headquarters, Ijesha, Lagos.

The man of God averred that all religious leaders and all profit-making organisations owned by their churches pay their taxes regularly.

On the insecurity challenges confronting the country, Pastor Mouka prayed that God will touch the hearts of Boko Haram members to put an end to incessant killing of innocent people and release the over 200 schoolgirls still in their custody.

Mouka said the crusade is expected to draw millions of participants from all over the world, adding that millions of souls will be won into God’s kingdom, impartation through the Word of God, healing, deliverance, restoration of lost glory amongst others. According to him, God has chosen the two days to divinely intervene in people's situation and give answers to as many as will come and present their needs.

In his words: “For sometimes now there has been series of challenges confronting all nations of the world not only Nigeria including kidnapping, killing, armed robbery, insurgency and other vices.

As we call upon God during the programme, God will answer us and have mercy on us as no human capacity or knowledge can stop these vices except through the power of the Almighty God. Commenting on the various persecutions confronting the church, the man of God said such trivial issues only advertise the church more.

Manger, where Jesus was born. We went to Mount Olives, the Garden of Gethsemane, where Jesus told his disciples to wait, while he went with Peter, James and John, to pray, before he was crucified. We were shown the spot where Jesus was praying. A church, called the Church of Agony, has been built on that spot to underscore its historical significance. We went to Nazareth, Mount of Transfiguration, River Jordan, where Jesus had his baptism, St. Peter’s Church, Mount Tabor, Mount Nebo, Jericho, the Sea of Galilee and other places time and space will not permit me to list.

Was the experience spiritually uplifting and fulfilling?

Yes, very fulfilling. As a Sunday school teacher, reading the Bible sometimes appears distant as one is not familiar with particular scenarios in it.

But now, I have direct knowledge of these places and this has created better understanding, makes me more familiar, enhanced my understanding of the Bible and ultimately made me a better Christian.

It is an unbeatable spiritual experience.

How do you intend to use the experience to reshape your Christian life?

Christianity is not a joke. If you want to make Heaven, you must be serious. So, I will have to impart this knowledge to my family, friends, Sunday school students and everybody around me, so that we can regenerate this experience.

Were your expectations met?

It was exceedingly met. I want to thank MTN which sponsored 21 of its Christian customers for an all-expense paid trip to fulfil a life-long desire; for this great and wonderful opportunity. If a man gives you civilisation, it will fade away; if he gives you a mansion, it will fade with time.

Christian customers The only gift that cannot fade away is a spiritual one. This is why I see this gift as a platform that will uplift my spiritual life and move me closer to God. It's a rare privilege and I appreciate it.

Were you able to remain in touch with your family and friends while roaming on the MTN network?

Yes! I made and received calls at an affordable rate while roaming through the MTN network. Our activities were fully loaded and we updated our friends and family on different social media platforms.

Pay more attention to the plight of IDPs, Usie pleads

By PETER DURU, Makurdi

T

HE Country Director, Christian Aid Nigeria, Mr. Charles Usie has called on governments at all levels to pay greater attention to the needs of persons displaced by crisis and natural disasters in parts of the country in order to mitigate their pains and sufferings.

Usie who spoke at the NKST Primary School, Ichwa in Makurdi, the Benue State capital, while flagging off the distribution of relief materials to victims of recent Tiv farmers/Fulani crisis, lamented the physiological pains and torture the Internally Displaced Persons, IDPs, were meant to suffer.

"I plead with churches, corporate organizations and public spirited individuals to augment government's efforts to meet the the needs of the IDPs by extending aids and assistance to them," Usie stated.

The country director said the Christian Aid in collaboration with its partners, the Anglican Diocesan Development Society, ADDS and Jireh Doo Foundation were distributing the relief materials to over 1,200 households in Makurdi, Tarka and Ukum LGAs in order to cushion the sufferings of the IDPs. In his remark, the Anglican Bishop of Makurdi Diocese, Rt. Rev. Nathan Inyon, represented by the Vicar General of the Anglican Diocese, Venerable Abraham Ayaka lauded the state government's efforts to stem the Benue farmers/ Fulani crisis and sued for its sustenance The Board Chairperson of Jireh Doo Foundation, Mrs. Rosemary Hua urged the state government to sustain its support for the IDPs given the challenges they face in the camps.

Speaking on behalf of the beneficiaries, chairman of the camp, Mr. Joseph Ugba decried the neglect of the IDPs by the Benue State government. He disclosed that "only few day ago an infant died in the camp while 20 other persons have been hospitalized in Daudu due to the outbreak of an ailment at the camp."

He stated that the state government had insisted that they returned to their ancestral homes, stressing however; "if they wants us to go back to our homes, adequate preparations should be made because at present, there are no facilities and houses to return to; even the security situation is horrible, even our women who went back are being raped by Fulani herdsmen."

VANGU ARD, WEDNESD AY, JUNE 18, 2014 —41 ANGUARD, WEDNESDA

She made me feel less of a man

I want to show this teacher I’m proud of her Dear Bunmi, I’VE fallen in love with my private lesson teacher but all she seems to be interested in is the love making. I turned 20 recently and my parents had arranged for private tutoring with the teacher so I could have better results when I resit my JAMB. I used to go to her place twice a week for lessons and instantly became attracted to her. She’s in her early 30s and a single mother. On my 20th birthday, she treated me to some glasses of wine after we had lunch.

The wine must have gone into my head because I told her, that I found her attractive.

She smiled, let me kiss her, then took my hand and led me to the bedroom. My eyes nearly fell out of my head when she started pulling off her clothes and we had the most fantastic love making. It was my first time and I’d always wanted it to be with someone special - and she was special all right! The experience was everything I’d ever dreamed of. She was amazed when I told her it was my first time and she said she would teach me everything she knew. We have been having it ever since, even now I no longer need her lessons as I made good grades in my exam.

Although making love with her is fantastic, I want more than just that as I’ve fallen in love with her. She is tiny and beautiful and doesn’t look her age, and I’m so proud to be

with her. I want the whole world to see how lucky I am.

She doesn’t take me seriously, however. She says a relationship is out of the question because of the difference in our ages, that we should just have fun together for as long as it lasts. I’m sure she has feelings for me because of the way she looks at me. So why hide me away? Surely, age doesn’t matter if two people love each other?

Maxwell, by e-mail.

Dear Maxwell, What you must know is that you are both at different stages of your lives and chances

are you have little in common other than love making.

You’re still maturing and she’s experienced enough to realize that you may feel differently about her in a year’s time - especially when you eventually get to the university. If you go public, she won’t have much in common with your friends and neither will you with hers.

She feels special to you because she’s the first person you’ve made love to and she’s happy to teach you all you need to have a good love life in future. You’d best accept there can be no future with her and enjoy what you have now.

My partner runs down my girl’s dad Dear Bunmi, I’m a single parent of a 10year-old girl in love with a considerate lover.

He gets on well with my daughter but they recently had a disagreement about her being rude and it ended up with my partner telling my daughter that it was all her dad’s fault for not being around to give her proper home-training.

My daughter was shocked and upset. I wanted to stick up for her but didn’t want to intervene, especially knowing my daughter was really annoying during their row, and he was right to tell her off.

How do I get the balance right?

Maureen, by e-mail

Dear Maureen, The two of you are currently working out a set of rules on dealing with your child, but you need to make sure your rules tally with your partner’s. So in this situation, where your partner did something out of order, talk through your feelings with him and ask for some changes. Once you’ve both agreed that mentioning your daughter’s dad is out of order, your partner almost certainly won’t do it again.

You also need to have a chat with your daughter - let her know how much your partner means to you and how it would make you really happy if both of them get along.

Is she dating us both in the same office?

Dear Emma, You have to make quick judgment here and get a grip on the fact that you have to keep your work and your love life separate.

It is unfortunate that you’ve fallen in love with this girl. A girl who strings two

,

Dear Bunmi, I work in the technical department in my office as I am an electrical engineer. Last year, I finally had the courage to approach one of the secretaries in my office and she agreed to be my girlfriend. We’ve been lovers since then and I’ve lavished a lot of time and money on her.

A colleague recently informed me that he had it on good authority that my girl is sleeping with her immediate boss, who also happens to be my boss.

I was obviously the last to know as many members of staff have confirmed this. Naturally, I am devastated. I love her but I don’t want to lose my job. What should I do?

Emma, by e-mail

men along in the same office is usually tagged a trollop and the earlier you gave her the push, the better for your peace of mind.

Office relationships are very difficult at the best of times without having to thread on your boss’ toes.

You’re still maturing and she’s experienced enough to realize that you may feel differently about her in a year’s time - especially when you eventually get to the university; if you go public, she won’t have much in common with your friends and neither will you with hers

,

Dear Bunmi, Why are some women so nasty and ungrateful? I was engaged to a girl I thought was my soul mate. She was my childhood sweetheart and I thought we’d be together for life. I worshipped her and did extra work to buy her the things she wanted. After we got engaged, I went into business to earn more money because I wanted us to start building on the plot of land an uncle gave me. Maybe I was too much engrossed in the future as she was always complaining I was not much fun again.

“We were invited to a close friend’s stag night, but I was so busy I allowed her to go with her friends. As luck would have it, I finished earlier than I thought and went to join her at the party. She was obviously drunk by the time I got there and was dancing provocatively with a total stranger, who clamped his hands around her boobs! She was not protesting in the least and when she saw me, she simply carried on with what she was doing. I was so angry I yanked her off the floor but she refused to come home with me.

When she showed up at the flat we shared the following morning, I was enraged, especially when she showed no remorse. We had a blazing row and she screamed at me that she’d been seeing other men since I was never around to give her a good time. She also said some horrible things about what a lousy lover I was until I went mad. I beat her

up before throwing her and her things out in the street.

Since that happened close to a year ago, I’ve had no shortage of girlfriends but as soon as they start to get serious, I push them away and try to hurt them like my ex hurt me.

My last girlfriend caught me in bed with two adventurous undergraduates I picked up at a party and the look on her face made me realize I’d turned into a cad, and I don’t like it. I have just started seeing someone else and I know I’ll end up hurting her too. I want to be happy with someone but can’t forget my ex’s heartlessness. How can I stop being Mr. Nasty and move on with my life?

Peter, by e-mail

Dear Peter, I doubt if you can move on until you decide once and for all to let go of your ex and the hurt she caused you.

You’re taking out the anger you feel on girls you meet even though none of this is their fault. You fear commitment because you’re scared of getting hurt again but, although rejection hurts, it is part of life and you must learn to deal with it.

Stop trying to cling to what you had and let the past go.

For the time being, stop having any form of relationship and purge yourself of the bitterness of the past. Don’t tar other girls with the same brush as your ex’s. In time I assure you, you should be able to look forward with optimism to a meaningful relationship.

Flirting is harmless fun Dear Bunmi, I am in my late twenties, extremely extroverted with a lot of friends, male and female. I have a girl who is the same age as I am and we have a good relationship.

Her problem really is excessive jealousy and she has threatened to dump me if I don’t stop flirting with other women.

Well, this is just the way I am and she can’t expect me to pretend not to know female friends when I run into them.

How do I make her see things my way?

Dolapo by e-mail.

Dear Dolapo, Being flirtatious is a way of expressing that you may fancy other women but that you

also want to be faithful and not threaten the relationship.

If a side of you is a bit flirtatious, but that’s as far as it goes, then you need to let your girl know this and accept it as just a part of you.

However, you also have to respect her feelings. You see, if your only personality is that of a charming flirt, then there is a problem and you might be better off on your own.

If you ignore your girlfriend every time you go out, and outrageously flirt with other women, everyone may eventually view you as an untrustworthy character. Your flirting is obviously hurting your girl and if you care so much about her, then you have to consider how she feels.

Share your problems and release your burden. Write now to Dear Bunmi, Vanguard Newspapers, P.M.B 1007, Apapa, Lagos. or bunmsof@yahoo.co.uk

42 — V anguard, WEDNESD AY, JUNE 18, 2014 Vanguard, WEDNESDA YOUR LUCK TODAY

LEISURE

THOUGHT FOR TODAY

By Joshua Adeyemo Phone 08056180139 TAURUS: THE Moon fluctuates as it moves out of your star . That is why you will need to guard against confusion likely to be caused by others.

GEMINI: THE Moon makes an ingress into your star sign and INFLUECES YOU TO BE COME AGGRESSIVE which is capable of bringing unnecessary argument and avoidable confusion. To before warned is to be fore armed.

CANCER: EARLY morning blues will affect many people today (yourself inclusive) but luckily for you, things will go according to your plans. And you will need to be more careful with money.

LEO: THE moon fluctuates early in the morning. And if care is not taken you would promise more than you can actually deliver to the resentment of others. Yet, you’ll win.

VIRGO: BEHIND-the-scene-activities are sources of avoidable trouble especially before mid-morning period when influence of the moon’s fluctuation will last. Avoid inordinate ambition.

By Richard Eromosele

I

F I may ask you which is the best way to advertise yourself today, I guess many people will be mentioning the different media through

The Best Advertisement which you do this. Some will even go beyond naming them to talking about their exorbitant prices.

However, I want

TERROR MUDA

to let you know that you do not need to pay money in order to get the kind of advert that can promote you.

How? Fine! Let

in “Never say goodbye”

me ask you a question: Who does Tiger Wood pay to get publicity? What of Ali Baba? Want to be advertised?

Just do s o m e t h i n g newsworthy no matter how little.

By Lanre Kehinde

LIBRA: IT’S important you don’t allow your thought for and/or about the future derail your plans for the present so that success will not elude you. Romantic attractions along your career/business lines may become stronger sooner than you think.

SCORPIO: EARLY morning blues will affect many people around you meaning that not everybody-morning period especially along your career/business lines.

SAGITTARIUS: MAKE sure you perfectly understand what you are doing within your working arena before midmorning period or else costly mistakes would be made. Be tolerant.

CAPRICORN: TOMORROW is your day. Therefore you are advised to leave some important decisions and/or action till tomorrow when the heaven will smile at you. Your love life is favoured.

AQUARIUS: TOMORROW will prove more challenging.

Thus, if there are things you should do now, you better don’t contemplate procrastination as you are likely to be fully stretched tomorrow. Watch with you tell others early in the morning.

KAPTAIN AFRIKA

in

“Pretty Lunatic’

By Andy Akman

PISCES: AS the moon fluctuates early in the morning some people may promise more than they can actually deliver. And if you take them for granted, you would be disappointed.

ARIES: CERTAINLY some people will get on your nerves yet you must not over-react at least because of the immediate future. Truly thus is the wrong time to gamble with love.

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,

How do I succeed?

Dear Joshua, KINDLY analyse my star and tell me about myself especially my luck. I want to know about my love life, social life and how to become successful in life. I have seen people who are close to me became big success without much struggle from them.

Would my own be like them too?

Olayinka, Epe. Dear Olayinka, You are different to those you said came by success: in your own case you will need to work hard and earn success. It is important you watch and take practical precaution about inability to hold on to your gains for long. Some times unexpected assistance use to come your way at 11th hour.

Your being friendly with the influential personalities especially WOMEN will help your finance greatly speculative (and) venture is not the best for you.

Your magnetic personality makes it difficult for members of your opposite sex to the betterment of your love life.

Luckily for you, you know how not to allow your rugged/ rigid personality to harm your love life; you are a sweet lover, although can be argumentative some times. Love happiness indicated for you.

If you can analyse both your environment and social situation, you will have more to gain from social activities more than it’s attendant pressure.

You will need to drop unnecessary rebellious approach when dealing with your social life; although what looks like radical approach can earn you a few number of friends who may not be in position to assist you.

Many people love your gentle approach and will be willing to assist you especially the more influential personalities. Once again women can be helpful here If you expect easy success, you would be frustrated because Saturn-the planet of delay, frustration but greater reward after much struggles, was with the sun (basic-self-hood) when you were born. Thus it will not allow easy success. And at the same time will not deny you whatever you deserve.

The same Saturn will reward you with RECOGNITION WOMEN, children and younger people can enhance your prospects. Colours RED, WHITE and pink are good for you.

Sleeping North/South axes with your head to the North is good for you.

VIRGINIA

HOME & ABROAD

dadadekola@yahoo.com

By Lawrence Akapa

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JUNE 18, 2014—43

Ilomuanya drags Okorocha to court again

BY CHIDI NKWOPARA

O

WERRI—THE e m b a t t l e d traditional ruler of Obinugwu in Orlu Local Government Area of Imo State, Eze Cletus I, Ilomuanya, has again dragged Governor Rochas Okorocha to an Owerri High Court.

The royal father is urging the court to, among other reliefs, declare the recent withdrawal of his certificate of recognition

by Okorocha illegal, unconstitutional, null, void and of no effect.

Ilomuanya also prayed the court, presided over by the State Chief Judge, Hon. Justice Benjamin Njemanze, for N500 million damages from the Secretary to the State Government, Professor Anthony Anwuka, for issuing the release that purportedly announced the withdrawal of his certificate of recognition and staff of office as a traditional ruler.

The monarch, through his counsel, Obiora Obianwu (SAN), contended that the provisions of Sections 12(1), 13(2) and 14(1) of Imo State Traditional Rulers and Autonomous Community Law No. 6 of 2006 and Section 36 of 1999 Constitution, as amended, did not give Governor Okorocha the power to unilaterally withdraw his certificate of recognition and staff of office.

Transition

DONATION: From left— Governor Theodore Orji of Abia State; his deputy, Sir Emeka Ananaba; Speaker of Abia State House of Assembly, Mr. Udeh Okechukwu and his deputy, Mr. Allwell Okere, at the distribution of laptops and exercise books to government primary and secondary schools in Umuahia.

VANDALS: Shoot at sight, Orji orders security agents

BY ANAYO OKOLI

U

M U A H I A — G O V E R N O R Theodore Orji of Abia State has ordered security agents guarding oil pipelines’ right of way in the state to shootat-sight any vandal found tampering with the pipes. He also called on parents to caution their children.

He tasked stakeholders in the oil industry to tackle the menace of pipeline vandalism, which he described as a source of untimely death for youths.

According to him, fighting the menace of pipeline vandalism should not be left in the hands of the state government alone, without input from stakeholders.

Orji, who spoke at an awareness campaign against pipeline vandalism at the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, depot, Osisioma, Aba, described those involved in the act as oil thieves.

Represented by the Commissioner for Petroleum and Solid Minerals’ Development, Chief Don Ubani, the governor said pipeline

vandalism must be stopped at all cost because of its adverse effect on both human and economic activities in the state and country.

He said: “Since the state government, with the help of the Federal Government, reactivated Aba depot of the NNPC, we have never left them to be on their own.

“Our eyes are there always and those found to be involved or intending to be involved have always been transferred out through the

instrumentality of the state government.”

Orji also urged oil marketers to desist from buying products from oil thieves to discourage them from the illegal act.

He said: “If the marketers stop buying such illegal products and the tanker drivers stop lifting them, it is one of the ways to stop the issue of pipeline vandalism, since if they do not get buyers they will stop vandalising the pipelines.”

‘Ndigbo can defend themselves'

BY CHIDI NKWOPARA

O

WERRI—GOVERNOR Rochas Okorocha of Imo State has warned all those planning to spill the blood of innocent people in the state to retrace their steps as Ndigbo knew how best to defend themselves.

The governor spoke even as former Speaker of Imo State House of Assembly, Chief Kelechi Nwagwu, decried the gradual spread of insurgency in the country.

Governor Okorocha read the riot act yesterday, when he played host to members of Imo

State Chapter of Ohanaeze Ndigbo in Government House, Owerri.

He said: “The perpetrators of the botched heinous act should retrace their steps now and in their own interest. They must realise Igbo know how to defend themselves when the need arises.”

While charging the leadership of Ohanaeze Ndigbo to ask themselves when an Igbo man will become the president of Nigeria, the governor also urged Nigerians to show interest in what someone can do in a particular position and not where he comes from.

‘FG budgets N3.4bn for Owerri/Elele road’

BY JOHNBOSCO AGBAKWURU

A

BUJA—DEPUTY Speaker House of Representatives, Chief Emeka Ihedioha, has promised that the ongoing dualisation of Owerri/Elele Road will be completed on schedule, saying N3.5 billion was earmarked for the road in the 2014 budget.

Ihedioha, who gave the assurance when he embarked on inspection of the site, frowned on the slow pace of work for the project which he attributed to funding.

He assured that the Federal Government was committed to the completion of the road.

He said: “This is one of the major projects that will link Imo State with other coastal states of the Niger Delta and, indeed, trigger economic development and therefore the Federal Government is committed to its timely completion.”

He urged the contractors to deliver quality projects and promised to continue his inspection visit until the project is completed.

FG gives deadline for collection of seized passports

BY KENNETH EHIGIATOR

M

RS. Mojisola Tinuola Okunubi, nee Sanya, aged 80, is dead. She died May 19.

A statement by Mrs. Olatokunbo Aroyehun, daughter, said burial arrangements will be announced later.

T

HE Federal Government, yesterday, warned Nigerians whose international passports were seized by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, ICPC, to collect them or be barred from overseas travel.

The government, through

the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Aminu Bashir Wali, also charged foreign embassies and high commissions to check the fraudulent activities of their staff who work in collaboration with touts to defraud visa applicants and, thus, give it and their embassies a bad image.

Chairman, ICPC, Mr. Ekpo Nta, who gave the warning in Lagos at the one-day seminar on curbing visa scam, organised

by the commission, said 372 passports were seized two years ago, of which 65 had been released to their owners.

According to him, failure of owners of the remaining 307 passports to collect them may compel government to blacklist them from travelling abroad.

He said: “I want to use this opportunity to invite Nigerians whose passports were seized from different agents by ICPC

to visit the commission’s headquarters in Abuja and collect their passports within two months.

“Failure to do so would result in ICPC handing over the passports to the Immigration Service for further necessary action, which might include blacklisting the bearers of these passports and barring them from travelling abroad until their status are verified.”

44—Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JUNE 18, 2014

Ex-militant leader raises alarm over killings on Bomadi-Ohoror Road

Agric Minister flags off distribution of birds to Rivers farmers

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OMADI—GOVERNOR Emmanuel Uduaghan of Delta State has been called upon to intervene in the killings carried out by armed bandits on the Bomadi/ Ohoror Road, which traversed Ughelli North, Patani and Bomadi local government areas of the state.

Former Niger Delta warlord and Delta State Chairman, Phase 2 of the Amnesty Programme, Mr. Kingsley Muturu, made the call in an interaction with newsmen in Ughelli, noting that the armed bandits operating on the road kill at will, with most of the victims being of Ijaw nationality.

He said for a long time Bomadi council had not been enjoying social amenities like other parts of the state, adding that electricity supply from the national grid, good medical services at the state General Hospital in Bomadi and higher educational facilities were nightmares.

He called on Uduaghan to quickly intervene by arresting the situation, noting that failure to do so

BY JIMITOTA ONOYUME

P

ORT HARCOURT— THE Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Dr. Akinwunmi Adesina, yesterday, flagged off the free distribution of Shika Brown layer birds by Total E&P to farmers in Egi communities, Ogba Egbema Ndoni Local Government Area of Rivers State.

Lauding the oil company for distributing 3,730 locally bred day-old chicks of Shika Brown to farmers in the area, the minister advised Nigerians to invest in the agricultural sector, saying it has the capacity to boost the economy.

The minister, who was represented by a Director in his ministry, Elder Ime Umoh, said the Federal Government had strengthened farming cooperatives in the state, adding that government had also evolved guidelines for poultry farmers to ensure they met acceptable international standard.

Earlier, Deputy Managing Director, Port Harcourt District, Total E&P Nigeria Limited, Mr. Nicolas Brunet, charged the farmers to make good use of the opportunity, adding that it would help diversify the economy of Egi people.

could reignite inter-communal crisis between communities, who point accusing fingers at one another over the ugly occurrence in the area.

He said: “I am appealing to the state government to take this seriously because it could spark inter-communal crisis among the communities.

‘NDDC committed to N'Delta devt’

BY FESTUS AHON

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GHELLI—THE Commissioner representing Delta State on the board of the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, Chief Tom Amioku, has said that the commission will continue with its mandate of transforming the Niger Delta region through community projects.

Amioku gave the assurance when he led members of his management team to inspect ongoing and completed NDDC projects in some parts of the state. He said the commission was poised to develop the region, especially the difficult terrains.

He said the board will not tolerate any contractor doing substandard jobs, and urged them to ensure that they

complete their jobs in record time for the use of the people.

Amioku also directed staff of NDDC office in Delta State to compile the list of completed projects to be sent to the commission’s

Y

ENAGOA—BAYELSA State Government has announced the donation of land to the Mobility Command of the Nigeria Air Force and the Nigerian Navy to enhance their operations in the state.

The donation followed the approval of an airstrip in the state by the Air Force,

expected to enhance security in the predominantly riverine state.

Governor Seriake Dickson announced the donation while receiving the Air Officer Commanding, Mobility Command, Air Vice Marshall Samuel Abosede and the Flag Officer Commanding, Central Naval Command, Rear Admiral Peter Agba in Yenagoa.

He said the airstrip, when

BY CHIOMA ONUEGBU

U

YO— SENATOR Helen Esuene has called on the Nigerian Society of Engineers, NSE, to come up with a lasting solution to the problem of building collapse in the country.

Esuene, representing Eket senatorial district, gave the charge when executive

completed, will service the military personnel in the state, pending the completion of the cargo airport under construction, to be completed by the end of next year.

He intimated the military officers of the progress of work on the N25 billion cargo airport project, which is a collaboration between the state and Federal Government.

members of NSE, Eket branch led by its Chairman, Mr. Thompson Manam paid a courtesy visit on her in Eket Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State, yesterday.

The lawmaker said the body and other building experts should stop the use of substandard materials in construction, which had been responsible for the regular collapse of buildings in the country, stressing that besides embarrassing the association that the menace of building collapse had led to loss of lives and property in the country.

She said: “Sustainable industrialisation is the key in any society and we do not want to build houses that will collapse the next year. That is not sustainable and anything that needs to be done must be done right.

“I urge you to do the right thing, at the right time and work as team because that is when you can get it right.”

By Bartholomew Madukwe

PEOPLE SPEAK

08102479985

headquarters for approval and commissioning.

He said the road projects will ease access to the hinterland and boost the socioeconomic life of the people of the areas.

Senator Esuene tasks NSE on buildings collapse

Bayelsa donates land to Air Force, Navy

BY SAMUEL OYADONGHA

“All lives are equal, but if some prominent indigenes are killed, there would be unpleasant situations between communities.”

(nwamad@yahoo.com)

On Super Eagles in Brazil

I

believe home-based players should make up at least 80 percent of the team. Only then can we truly begin to believe in this team again. I long for those days when home-based players used to make us believe that we can beat any team.— Ms. Fayire Ruth, Worker.

A

strong organised side! Not easy for our beloved Eagles at all. Iran had the best chance of grabbing a good start with three points. However, if the boys play with a winning mind, they are bound to do well in Brazil.— Mr. Tam-Tekena Akpofure, Businessman.

S

UPER Eagles should win their matches first, before looking at what they stand to get. I just hope that those in charge of their allowance will distract the players by delaying their payment.

With good motivation, Nigeria will do well.— Mr. Kingston Eke, Businessman.

M

ANY exinternationals are suffering today as a result of exploitation by the football federation. I strongly believe that it is high time that players’ welfare is addressed. If we love our players, then let us not treat them as slaves.— Mr. Matthew Ozenua, Self-Employed.

I

RAN have been boasting. It is everywhere on the web. It is a monumental disgrace that Eagles allowed them to get any point. Beware dear Eagles, this is not an empty threat. Bring your ‘A’ game; be wary of fast counter-attacks.— Mr. Okechukwu Nene, Personal Assistant.

N

FF should just watch the moves of every player, including the coach himself. With this, they would know who to drop after the World Cup and who to retain. I wish the players and the coach a successful outing at the Brazil World Cup.— Ms. Nkeiruka Ikwunne, Student.

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JUNE 18, 2014—45

Gulak denies defection to APC

Rights group urges FG to implement UN Human Rights Council 2013 proposals

BY HUGO ODIOGOR

F

BY INNOCENT ANABA

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ARTNERSHIP for Justice, PJ, a civil rights group, has called on the Federal Government to implement the recommendations formulated by observer states of the United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva, during the Universal Periodic Review of Nigeria in October 2013.

Managing Partner of PJ, Mrs. Itoro Eze-Anaba and Mr. Jude Ohanele, Programme Director, Development Dynamics, made the call in Lagos.

The group said that the Federal Government’s delegation led by the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr. Bello Adoke, SAN, had at the interactive dialogue during the presentation on Nigeria’s human rights situation report in Geneva, promised to implement the recommendations which included promotion and protection of women’s, children’s, economic and social rights.

According to PJ, many countries had raised concerns about the non-domestication of the Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination Against Women, CEDAW and urged the Nigerian government to fast track the process of its domestication.

PJ noted that Nigeria’s delegation, led by former Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Ojo Madueke, had promised to implement the recommendations at the 2009 meeting in Geneva, but nothing was done.

The group said the only way the Federal Government can guarantee stability in the country was to ensure that economic, social and cultural rights were justiciable.

“We urge the government to start without delay the process of fulfilling all the commitments made at the review with a view to enhancing the promotion and protection of women’s rights. In particular, the government should ensure the speedy passage of the bill on the domestication of CEDAW and the provision of a better legal framework to protect women from violence, and harmful traditional practices,” the group said.

C M Y K

PRESENTATION: Mr. Ubale Maska, Executive Commissioner, Technical Services of the Nigerian Communications Commission, NCC (left), and Dr. Victor Matthews, Lead Research Senior Lecturer, Electrical and Information Engineering Department of Covenant University, at the presentation of grant to the institution.

Ugborodo: Youths resist Navy’s efforts to return displaced indigenes

BY EGUFE YAFUGBORHI

W

ARRI—THE peace process in Ugborodo community, Warri South-West Local Government Area, Delta State, may have suffered a setback as youths in Aruton community resisted the Navy’s entry to ensure that those forced to vacate their homes during conflict in the area returned home in peace.

Youths in Aruton, where the Navy was to commence the escort of displaced persons back to their homes, however, denied the naval personnel entry, accusing the military of taking sides in the conflict in the area.

Justifying their action, Mr. Michael Lodge, a youth leader in the community, said: “We are not against peace. We are not against any displaced person

returning home. What we are saying is that we are tired of oppressive leaders and the Navy is not welcomed to our community.

“The Navy is taking side.

On January 5, they armed a boy from this town, our son, to shoot and kill his brother right in Aruton Waterfront. Since then, the Navy has been aiding the leaders we had rejected, to fight us. So we don’t trust them. We do not want a situation where they will come to plant weapons in Aruton and accuse us of gun running. We will deal with our problems ourselves.”

Commander, Nigerian Navy Ship, NNS Delta, Navy Captain Musa Gemu, who denied the allegation, said the situation was un-

healthy and that the Navy has a duty to ensure that anyone driven from his home returned safely without further violence.

He said: “I was surprised when I heard there was resistance from the youths as they did not allow our men to implement the peace process. When I heard of the development, I quickly called my men to withdraw so as not to escalate the situation if we employed force.

“I called their leader and he assured me that he would call them to order based on what had been agreed upon.

He has asked to be given one or two days, so my men will definitely return to ensure that displaced persons get to their homes safely. It is a mission that must be accomplished.”

Delta to train 150 youths in Barbados, Trinidad

BY FESTUS AHON

U

GHELLI—DELTA State Government has shortlisted 150 youths of the state origin for skill acquisition training in Barbados and Trinidad, as part of its efforts to address the unemployment problem in the state.

The youths, who were successful in the qualifying examination conducted by the state Ministry of Higher Education, will be trained in drilling, welding and fabrication, tourism and hotel management and agriculture with emphasis on food processing and horticulture.

Speaking during a three-day orientation programme in

Amukpe, Sapele Local Government Area of the state, Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan urged the participants to maintain a high degree of discipline before, during and after the training programme that will last 10 months.

The governor, represented by the state Commissioner for Higher Education, Prof. Hope Eghagha, said: “As ambassadors of Delta State and Nigeria, you should not do anything that will bring the image of the state and the country to disrepute.

“You will be showcasing Delta State positively if you

behave well over there.

Wherever you are going to be trained in Barbados and Trinidad, remember that you are our ambassadors and that you are the first seeds to be sown in this programme."

He said that 775 applicants applied for the training programme out of which 150 were selected based on their performance. He congratulated them and implored them to take the programme very seriously, adding that the programme was designed to transform their socio-economic status in line with the state government’s vision of Delta Beyond Oil.

ORMER Special Adviser on Political Matters to President Goodluck Jonathan, Alhaji Ahmed Gulak, has denied insinuations that he had defected to All Progressives Party, APC, to get the governorship ticket.

Alhaji Gulak, who left the Presidency in May, said he had no intention of dumping the ruling Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, from where he plans to join the fray for the governorship race.

In a tweet to Vanguard yesterday, Gulak said: “I can never defect to APC. You know that they are desperate for me to come over, but I can never join them.”

The former presidential aide, who was very critical of the defections that hit the ruling PDP from late 2013 to early part of this year, said: “I will stay in PDP and slug it out when the time comes for the governorship ticket of Adamawa State.”

Forget 2015, S-South exyouth leaders tell Jonathan

BY EMMA AMAIZE

A

SABA—THE Forum of Past Youth Leaders in the SouthSouth has asked President Goodluck Jonathan not to seek for re-election in 2015, “in view of the high neglect of the region.”

The youths, in a statement by the Coordinating Chairman and Secretary, Mr. Mumakahi Unagha and Mr. Ubong Ekpo, after its meeting in Asaba, Delta State, raised alarm over the current hunger in the region and vowed to “protest ceaselessly should he (Jonathan) declare his intention to run for presidency in 2015.”

They said that the people of the South-South were not happy with the abandonment of the Delta Steel Company, Ovwian-Aladja, neglect of Nigerian Ports Authority, NPA, Warri and Koko, by the Federal Government under President Jonathan and urged him to revamp them.

46 — Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JUNE 18, 2014

Jigawa earmarks N800m for procurement of drugs, consumables BYALIYU DANGIDA

D

UTSE —J I G AWA State government has set aside N800 million for the procurement of drugs and consumables under its Sustainable Drugs Supply System, SDSS programme.

State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Tafida Abubakar made this known in his opening address at the bid opening ceremony for the supply of drugs and consumables to JIMSO in Dutse, saying that this was in line with the increasing demand for drugs and other consumables by health institutions across the state.

Abubakar said that the government had ‘’made quality drugs available, accessible and affordable through the SDSS programme across the 587existing health institutions with some private clinics and PMVs patronizing the JIMSO programme.’’

We've dug 1,000 boreholes in 2 years, says Benue Commissoner

A

BUJA—BENUE State Commissioner for Water Resources, Mrs Esther Dzungwe, says 1,000 boreholes have been provided in communities in the past two years to ensure access to potable and basic sanitation.

Dzungwe told the News Agency of Nigeria, NAN, yesterday in Abuja that the boreholes were located in different local government areas of Guruku, Konshisha, Logo, Gwer and Buruku, among others.

She said that members of the communities had been trained on how to repair and service the hand pump and mechanised solar-powered boreholes to ensure effective service delivery.

The commissioner said the communities had also been sensitised on the dangerous effects of open defecation, adding that they were striving to achieve Open Defecation Free, ODF, status.

C M Y K

Bauchi education stakeholders lament high rate of ‘out-of-school' children

BY SUZAN EDEH

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AUCHI—EDUCATION stakeholders in Bauchi State have expressed concern over the UNICEF report that 6.5 million children in the northern part of the country were currently out-of-school.

They spoke at a one day dialogue to mark the 2014 Day of the African Child, Monday, blaming the state governments in the north for paying lip service to education.

According to them, concerted efforts should be made by all concerned to address the deteriorating standard of education in the region by making adequate budgetary provisions for the scetor.

The meeting came on the heels of a workshop organized by UNICEF -D Field Office Bauchi in collaboration with the Bauchi State Radio Corporation, BRC. At the workshop that showcased the presentation on the current situation of basic education in the 10 D Field states, the Chief of Field Office, Abdulai Kaikai said that prior to 2011, most attacks on schools in the north had targeted infrastructure and were carried out at night when schools were empty.

CIVIL SERVICE WEEK: From right; Head of Service, Kaduna State, Mr Habila Kyong, with the Perm Sec. Bureau for Religious Affairs, Islamic Matters, Alhaji Abdulrahaman Mahmoud and the Perm. Sec, Ministry of Finance, Alhaji Sani Kudan at the flag-off of the 2014 Civil Service Week celebration in Kaduna. Photo by Olu Ajayi.

Kaikai, who was represented

by UNICEF Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation Specialist, Dr Danjuma Almustafa said that since 2012, teachers and students were increasingly targeted by militants, resulting in killings, abductions and threats. ”Many schools were bombed, set on fire or attacked by militants in the north and increasingly mili-

tants turned their attention to students and teachers, according to the Global Coalition to Protect Education from Attack in 2013. ”Additionally, the Borno State Ministry of Education estimated that 15,000 children in the state stopped attending classes between February and May as a result of attacks,” he said.

The Managing Director of

BRC, Mohammed Ahmed Abdullahi and UNICEF D field education specialist, Mariam Dikwa facilitated the programme.

Dikwa said that the 2010 National Education Survey showed that literacy rate in the north-east among children between five and 16 years was relatively low with boys recording 8.7 percent while girls had 7 percent.

Plateau guber poll: We're not in support of zoning — SEN PWAJOK

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OS—SENATOR Gyang Pwajok (PDP-Plateau North) said yesterday that the people of the senatorial zone were not in support of zoning the governorship seat of the state in 2015.

Pwajok said this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria, NAN, in Jos. ‘’The people from the zone were not ready for a zonal governor. ''Plateau people want a `Plateau governor’, who will see the entire state as his constituency; we are not interested in someone who will see himself as representing his senatorial zone.’’

NAN reports that leaders of the north, south and central senatorial districts in the state had stepped up campaigns, with each claiming that it had more reasons to produce the governor in 2015.

Pwajok, however, called for ''absolute caution” on the issue, and urged the people to consider merit as against zoning. ''It is also pertinent that all aspirants should remember that they need each other to get to the seat because the entire state is the con stituency. ''I will equally advise that aspirants seeking to be governor on the grounds of zoning should not push it too far as every zone can find enough justification to seek the seat because all the zones have occupied it.

''We must also be sensitive in our choice of words; we must avoid pointing accusing fingers at zones that have not even declared for the seat because if we press that too far, we could provoke responses that may not be

good for party unit.’’

Pwajok also advised Dr. Haruna Dabin, the suspended Plateau PDP Chairman, who is seeking to be governor, to resign his position to ``enhance party unity and cohesion”.

''Since he (Dabin) has openly declared for the governorship seat, it is in the party’s interest that he steps aside because if he remains there, all his actions will be interpreted in the perspectives of his ambition.”

Otti, Teriba, Adeola join global experts for CSR confab

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ROUP Managing Director & CEO of Diamond Bank Plc, Dr. Alex Otti will join a number of Nigerian experts participating at the 2014 Africa CEO round-table and conference on Corporate Sustainability and Responsibility scheduled to take place from June 19-20, 2014.

Other confirmed participants include CEO, Lotus Capital, Hajara Adeola; Dr. Ayo Teriba, CEO, Economic Associates and Henrietta Onwuegbuzie, Academic Director, Pan Atlantic University.

Donald Kaberuka, President, Africa Development Bank Group will deliver the keynote address while Brian Kuwik, Senior Vice President and Africa Regional Head, Accion will serve as lead discussant.

These leading professionals will join an impressive list of carefully selected and invited speakers and experts at the fourth edition of this all-inclusive CSR and Sustainability management event

of the year and the first of its kind in Africa, with the theme: ‘The Intersection: Financial Inclusion, Economic Sustainability & Social Benefit’.

Other speakers at the event include: Duncan Onyango, Director, Acumen Fund East Africa; Issam Chleuh, Founder & CEO, Africa Impact Group; Prateek

Shrivastava, Co-Founder, Beyond Branches International; Leila Ben Gacem, Founder, Blue Fish, Tunis; Monaem Ben Lellahom, CoFounder, Sustainable Square Think-Tank; Prof. Kalu Ojah, Professor of Finance, Wits Business School, South Africa; Silvana Wanjiru, Certified Public Secretary, Capita Registrars, Kenya.

Yero re-opens Ikara food processing firm

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ADUNA—GOVERNOR Mukhtar Yero of Kaduna State yesterday re-opened the Ikara Tomato Paste company which was closed down over 20 years ago.

Yero, who spoke on the occasionalso, said the Makarfi Sugar Company, Kachia Ginger Processeng Company, Zaria Pharmaceutical Company and Kafanchan Flour Mills would also be re-opened soon.

The tomato firm, was howev-

er, leased to an Indian firm under Public-Private-Partnership initiative of the state government.

He asked the company to explore the value chain advantage of tomato crops, which was the main purpose forv establishing the industry.

The governor said the move to re-open the companies was part of his government’s commitment to continuity and actualization of all projects initiated by past regimes in the state.

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JUNE 18, 2014 — 47

2015: I'm yet to declare for any elective position —Gov Aliyu

Kogi spends N155m to train youths on entreprenuership

BY BOLUWAJI OBAHOPO

BY WOLE MOSADOMI

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L

OKOJA—THE Kogi State Government said it has spent N155 million on the training of youths under the Youth Advancement and Development Programme, YAD4KOGI, in the state.

Special Adviser on Youths and Women Development, Mrs. Temitope Sinkaiye, stated this at the closing ceremony of the Batch 7 of YAD4KOGI Volunteers in Kabba Local Government Area of the state.

Sinkaiye said a total of 8,000 YAD4KOGI volunteers had so far been trained on the vocational and entreprenuership arms of the scheme, with each batch training gulping N22 million, bringing the total to N155 million.

She also said the programme aside, providing employment had aided in fostering of unity in the state.

She said: ”Yad4KOGI programme is not just about equipping the youths for economic development but to rebuild their self esteem, and reinvent in them the dignity of labour, discipline as well as ethical and cultural values. ”This programme has been a veritable tool in fostering unity and promoting peaceful co-existence in the state, in addition to providing a rare opportunity for youths from different tribes, religion and background to interact with each other."

Also, Governor Idris Wada has asked the volunteers to make sacrifices and save enough from their monthly allowances to help them start their businesses at the end of the one year programme.

Wada, who said all businesses started in a smaller way, urged the volunteers not to relent until they become employers of labour, which was one of the purposes of the scheme.

Governor Rauf Aregbesola of Osun State (left) acknowledging cheers from the crowd at Iwo stadium, Iwo during reelection campaign.

RAMADAN: JNI warns Muslim clerics against inflammatory sermons K

BY LUKA BINNIYAT

ADUNA — THE Jama’atu Nasril Islam, JNI, has warned Muslim clerics against inflammatory sermons as Muslims prepare to start their one month’s Ramadan.

This and other decisions were contained in a communique issued by the JNI at the end of its pre-Ramadan National Conference which ended in Kaduna, Monday.

The communique was signed by the Secretary General of JNI, Dr. Khalid Abubakar Aliyu.

The communique read in part: “Diversity and heterogeneity should be seen as sources of strength by all Muslims rather than basis for mistrust and hostility. Hence, the appreciation to Allah, The Most High, for His guidance in closing the gaps. ”For peace to reign, and for Muslims to live in mutual trust, respect and dignity, leadership of all Muslim groups should imbibe the culture of healthy intellectual dialogue and exchange of goodwill. ”Muslim scholars should desist from all abusive statements and acts which are capable of causing disunity and disrespect among the Ummah. ”In discussing issues of reli-

Niger Correspondents’ Chapel elects new executives

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INNA — NIGER State Correspondents’ Chapel of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ, has elected new executives to run the affairs of the chapel for the next three years.

The election, which took place at the Ibrahim Babangida Pen House had Wole Mosadomi, the State Correspondent of Vanguard Newspapers as Chairman.

Others elected are Aidoloje Ojo, Vice Chairman, Mustapha Bin of Peoples Daily, Secretary C M Y K

and Samson Alfa as the Financial Secretary.

They were all returned unopposed except the post of Treasurer where John Adams and Obina Uneze of News Agency of Nigeria, NAN, contested for with Adams defeated his opponent with 16 votes to 14.

In his acceptance speech, the chairman, Mr Mosadomi, called on politicians to take a cue from the peaceful conduct of the election, especially with the approach of the Ekiti State election.

gion, scholars and their followers should always stick to the Islamic ethics of disagreement as expounded by the Quran and Sunnah and explained by pious Islamic scholars. ”In the forthcoming Ramadan, Muslim scholars are urged to consider the spirit of love, cohesion and compassion which Ramadan stands to teach, and use their Tafsir programmes to instill in their listeners the fear of Allah and the spirit of love, hard work and compassion towards others.

All those conducting Tafsir should strictly adhere to the Tafsir Guide-

line developed by the JNI and agreed upon by all members. ”Muslims and Nigerians in general, should follow the path of truth and justice for peace to be achieved in Nigeria. ”The Federal Government is urged to intensify efforts in tackling general insecurity in the country. ”Considering the universally acceptability of dialogue in resolving crises, insurgency and all other forms of insecurity, the Federal Government should also consider the dialogue option."

ICPC tasks local council officials on corruption

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BY SUZAN EDEH

AUCHI— THE Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, ICPC, has blamed what it described as the "retarded growth" of local government councils in the country on the payment of huge sums of money by local government officials to their local godfathers who influenced their appointments or elections.

The North-East Coordinator of the commission, Olusegun Adigun, made this known in Bauchi during a sensitisation lecture on corruption organised by the state government in collaboration with the ICPC at Jama’re Local Government Area of the state.

In his paper on the effects of corruption on the nation’s economy, Adigun also said lack of fiscal transparency remained one of the major factors accounting for inefficiency and retarded growth of local governments in the country today.

Adigun was represented on the occasion by his deputy, Alhaji Bulama Ali. He asked local government of-

ficials in the state to promote integrity and shun corruption for the state to sustain its present status of development.

The position of the ICPC was also the consensus reached by all the stakeholders at the sensitisation lecture.

According to Adigun, corrupt practices in the local governments had over the years rendered the local governments inactive and devoid of concrete developmental activities. ”Corruption is thriving in the local councils through inflation of prices, over-estimation of cost of project(s), ghost workers syndrome, award of contracts and subsequent abandonment and outright payment of huge sums of money to political leaders. ”Local government in Nigeria cannot achieve its aim of bringing development to the grassroots if the problem of systemic corruption was not curbed. ”The most critical challenge is not the autonomy issues or the financial allocation but the capacity of those entrusted with these things to deliver on their expected mandates."

INNA—GOVERNOR Babangida Aliyu of Niger State has said that he was yet to declare his ambition for any elective position in the 2015 general elections and appealed to the elecorate to allow him to concentrate on his present official duties.

Aliyu spoke when a delegation from Shiroro and Lapai Local Government Areas paid him a condolence visit over the death of Senator Dahiru Awaisu Kuta.

He also told the delegation that he had not discussed 2015 election with anybody. ”I have not told anybody what I want. I believe that as God did it for me in 2007, he will still determine what is good for me in 2015,” Aliyu said.

He called on the electorate not to sell their conscience ahead of 2015 by collecting money from politicians but voting for politicians who can deliver.

Pioneer Senior Prefect of Ebohgrams passes on

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HE Pioneer Senior Prefect of Ebohgrams, Barrister Samuel Ohimain, has passed on in the early hours of June 4, 2014 after a brief illness at the age of 79 years.

A native of Eme-Ora, Owan West L.G.A, Edo State, he attended the 62 years old Okotie-Eboh Grammar School, Sapele, Delta State 1952-1958.

He later studied law in England in 1961. Until his death, he was a partner in the law firm of Ohimain and Ogunniyi and co, in Lagos.

He was a devout Christian and a very dedicated and committed member of the school’s old boys association till his last days.

He is survived by his wodow, Mrs. Patience Ohimai, four children and eight grand children.

The late Ohimain.

Samuel

48— Vanguard , WEDNESDAY, JUNE 18, 2014

SIGNING: Dr. Pius Onobhayedo, Head of Design, Media, Professor AGM: From left: Mr. Olufemi Oguntade, MD/CEO, Mr. Larry Ettah, Chairman, and Emevwo Biakolo, Dean; both of School of Media & Communication, Mr. Adeleke Yusuf, Company Secretary, at the Annual General Meeting of Sandtex Pan Atlantic University, Abasiama Idaresit, CEO and Founding Partner, Portland Paints & Products Nigeria Plc., in Lagos, yesterday. Photo: Biodun Ogunleye. and Noel Douglas, MD, Africa, both of Wild Fusion Digital Centre, at the signing of Memorandum of Understanding between both parties in Lagos.

CONTEST: From left: Shina Oyetosho, Developer & Platform Evangelism Director, Anglophone West Africa, Microsoft Corp., Emmanuel Oluwatosin, West & Central Africa Partnership Manager, Oremeyi Akah, Country Manager, Verve International and, Tomi Davis, Patron, Mobile Monday Nigeria, at the Devcon Alpha Developer Contest in Lagos.

From left: Head, Communications, First City Monument Bank, FCMB, Ltd, Mrs. Uchenna Mojekwu, CEO, Needlekraft Couture, Mrs. Tese Onokola and Head, Consumer Liability Products, FCMB, Mr. Shamsideen Fashola, at the Needlekraft fashion show in Lagos.

TOURNAMENT: From left: 2nd Runner up, Mr. J.W Yo, Procurement Director, Diageo Brands Nigeria, Mr. Arthur Mamvura, and 3rd Runner up, Ms. Maureen Reece, during the prize presentation, at the second round of the Johnnie Walker Blue Label Trophy Amateur Golf Tournament series in Lagos.

SUMMIT: Association of Nigerian businessmen based in China, during a business summit in Beijing, China.

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DINNER: From left: Jeremiah Kneeland, Coach, Skidmore College, USA, Augustine Okoye, a finalist in the MTN Football Scholar, 2013, Mathew Kokoszka, Coach, Koski School, USA and David Egbo, another finalist in the MTN Football Scholar, 2013, at the MTN Football Scholar season 4 dinner with international coaches in Lagos.

PRESENTATION: From left: Mrs. Ediri Ose Ediale, Executive Secretary, Advertisers Association of Nigeria, ADVAN, author of the Book, Mr. Kolawole Oyeyemi and his wife, Mrs Adenike Oyeyemi, during the presentation of the Book, "Kill or get killed" by Mr Oyeyemi in Lagos. Photo: Diran Oshe.

DE-WORMING: Mr. Kishore S. Khiani, Kano Branch Manager, Dana Drugs, administering Wormidan tablets to pupils, at the flag-off of the Kano State/ Dana Drugs mass de-worming exercise in Kano.

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JUNE 18 , 2014 — 49

Bamidele to supporters: I’m still in the race •Disregard text messages against me STORIES BY GBENGA ARIYIBI

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ABOUR Party Governorship candidate, Mr. Michael Opeyemi Bamidele, has called on his supporters to disregard text messages announcing his withdrawal from the gubernatorial race.

He also stated that no amount of propaganda would make him withdraw from the contest.

According to a statement by his Media Aide, Ahmed Salami, he dismissed the information in various bulk SMS messages as fictitious

and misleading., His words: ‘’This is to urge our teeming supporters and Ekiti voters to desist from bulk SMS announcing the withdrawal of Michael Opeyemi Bamidele of Labour Party from the governorship race. There is no iota of truth in it. We are of the opinion that those behind this may have felt threatened by our growing popularity thereby making them to look for an easy way to victory come June 21, 2014 “The timing of this propaganda is very wrong if we had gone this far into the race in the last eight months without pulling out, nothing

will make us quit. Within this period, Labour Party has built structures around the state, leading to its candidate emerging as one of the three frontliners and most favoured in various opinion polls. ''No doubt, we are still in the race and we can confirm that those afraid of us are behind this failed attempt”, “We urge all true sons and daughters of Ekiti to stay committed to our collective struggle to bail Ekiti people out of the current socioeconomic captivity occasioned by maladministration of the incumbent. To them, we say that nobody wins elections

I’ll strengthen social security scheme — Fayose

BY GBENGA ARIYIBI

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•Bamidele

through malicious sms but through popular votes which will be cast on 21st June, 2014.”

HE Peoples Democratic Party ,PDP, Governorship Candidate in Ekiti State, Mr. Ayodele Fayose has pledged to strengthen the Social Security Scheme being implemented by the present government in the state He described the scheme being executed by the incumbent as “a deceit taken too far,” promising to implement “ real social

No plans to disenfranchise EKSU students from voting — Fayemi

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KITI State Government has dismissed insinuations that it had the intention of disenfranchising students of the state university in Saturday’s election.

It also advised the Labour Party,LP, Gubernatorial Candidate, Mr. Opeyemi Bamidele not to politicise the mid semester break declared by the Governing Council of the institution.

A statement by the Commissioner for Information and Civic Orientation, Mr Tayo Ekundayo, debunked claims that the students were forced to go home.

His words: ’’There was no plan to disenfranchise the students as most of the students were resident in the state and would therefore be able to vote during the

election if they were registered.''

“It is a common knowledge that the elections are around the corner. Every one knows that security is the number one issue in Nigeria today. I am sure the governing council of the university made up of seasoned administrators and caring parents must have held wide ranging consultations in arriving at its decisions . I know that they must have considered the fact that most of the students don’t live with their parents and they could easily fall prey to unscrupulous politicians who could negatively use them during the elections’’ “Why will government issue subtle threats ? Why will government forcefully eject students from their

•Fayemi

private residences knowing that most of them live outside the campus? How many

students have been forcefully ejected from their private residences? The Government of Ekiti State is student friendly and has no outstanding issue to resolve with the labour and student unions in EKSU, so why will it panic over the likely voting pattern of the students. All these allegations are not only baseless but are contradictions of logical reasoning.’’ ‘’The Labour Party candidate has again demonstrated that he is a master in the game of subterfuge and telling blatant lies just as he lied the other day that he had some members of the state executive council as his backers.''

...You have disenfranchised us — Ekiti students

BY DAPO AKINREFON

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EDERATION of Ekiti State Students Union, FESSU, has kicked against the closure of the Ekiti State University by the state government over Saturday ’s governorship elections.

In a statement by its National President, Comrade Abegunde Moses, the student body said the move was aimed at disenfranchising Ekiti students.

Moses sai: ”FESSU is totally against the closure of Ekiti State University and the C M Y K

compulsory three weeks holiday as this holiday has claimed the life of one of our students.

We see this as a means to disenfranchise Ekiti students.

It will be recalled that during the 2011 Ekiti federal and state assembly elections, students were allowed to vote, so why is the governor sending us home when we ought to exercise our civic right?”

The group also demanded the commencement of the payment of bursary and scholarship which had ceased for the past three years.

“We will mobilise and sensitize our students to vote massively against the second term of Dr. John Kayode Fayemi as he has done absolutely nothing to the student populace of Ekiti State origin.

The progress of Ekiti State is our concern and we are poised to bring that lofty ideal into manifestation with consistency of purpose and focus on our collective goal. ‘’We appeal to the state government to make provision for proper youth/ student development projects. With this, we believe

it will enable our youths/ students to focus on the need to be self dependent.

If the youths/students are the harbinger of development in any given society, all arsenals should be channelled towards achieving that.”

Furthermore, the association said, “ we are not tools in the hands of any politician. We have the mandate to be the voice of Ekiti students and be the trumpet of their concrete desire and as such eschew partisan politics in its entirety''.

•Fayose

security scheme.”

A statement by the Director General, Ayo Fayose Campaign Organisation ,AFCO, Chief Dipo Anisulowo, pledged to provide jobs for the youths.

“The best social security is the provision of gainful employments for the youths so as to be able to feed their aged parents, not a miserable N5,000 per month stipend,”he noted.

He further said it was wrong for an administration to have neglected the youths, while going about celebrating the payment of N5,000 monthly stipends.

“Our government won’t be celebrating payment of N5,000 stipend to a few aged people and provision of N10,000 per month jobs for graduates. Rather, we will provided gainful employment for our youths such that they will be able to take care of their aged parents,” Fayose added.

While describing the present administration as anti-people, Fayose said, “all the wrongs done to the masses of Ekiti State by Fayemi’s government will be corrected.’’ ''We will put a permanent stop to capital flight, which has impoverished Ekiti people.’’

50 — Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JUNE 18, 2014

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JUNE 18, 2014 — 51

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52—Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JUNE 18, 2014

Insurgency has affected business with Nigeria— Belgium Amb. Dirk Verheyen

BY VERA SAMUEL ANYAGAFU & PRISCA SAMDURU

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ELGIUM may rank as one of the countries that do not subject Nigerians to cumbersome visa processing, both in Abuja and Lagos. This is in sharp contrast to what many intending travellers go through in the hands of embassy officials as well as touts while trying to obtain visas to developed nations.

The above statement is based on the existing mutual relationship between Nigerians and their business counterparts in Belgium. Expressing his

country’s readiness towards ensuring that Nigerian businessmen and women obtain visas without stress, the Belgium Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr. Dirk Verheyen said, “it is easy for businessmen to obtain visa to Belgium for business transactions.

"As a matter of fact, it is easier for intending travellers who already have links, clients and contacts in Europe. They can indicate their financial statements through their clients and within a very short time, two to three weeks, they obtain their visas.”

Verheyen who spoke during the opening of the Belgium

Economic Mission to Nigeria organised by Flanders Investment and Trade and Port of Antwerp, added, “we issue visas not only to Belgium but also to other Shengen countries. Each year I organise a forum in Abuja where I explain the rules of getting visas and we are already putting plans in place to make visa issuance easier than what was obtainable initially.”

Commenting on trade relations between his country and Nigeria, as well as the importance of the Economic Mission to Nigeria event, Ambassador Verheyen, noted that the trade mission with about 60 delegates from Belgium

was aimed at promoting investment and trade between both countries. He said, “Belgium, through the Antwerp port, is one of the major European exporters to Nigeria and we export more than two billion Euro worth of goods annually and this trade mission will be a win-win situation. It is vital for Nigerian companies to discover the possibilities of Antwerp as an import hub for the nation.”

Verheyen said that Nigeria is the fifth trading partner with Belgium, stressing that Belgium is planning to make Nigeria the first with the mission. He also noted that the visit to Nigeria

would create lots of investment opportunities for both countries and also engineer going to do business in Belgium.

Boko Haram insurgency: Also speaking, member, Executive Committee, Financing Division Adviser, World Bank, Alexander Herring who was one of the delegates at the event, said “I have been doing business with Nigerians for 15 years now and have good partners whom we enjoy good corporation with and we expect more build up to boost each others economy.”

Herring added, “Boko Haram insurgency has affected doing business in Nigeria not just in terms of volume but mostly time.

For most of the companies who are already used to doing business in Africa, it is not an issue but problem of time. We realised that the companies have started lacking interest. They do not have a large budget to finance this whole problem of time.

Somehow, I can say it is a pity, because the whole of European based industries are mainly based on small and medium scale enterprise.

Medium scale enterprise “Our Chamber of Commerce here in Nigeria tries to encourage them to continue to do business in Nigeria by advising, providing adequate information and training members.”

Describing the mission as a multi-sectoral mission with about seven sectors represented in areas such as dredging, manufacturing, power, agro-allied, agriculture and infrastructure etc, Herring explained “we are a multi-sectoral economic mission from Belgium and our members are looking for new possibilities of doing business in Nigeria as well as exploring new partnerships and investments in Nigeria.

"We are looking for long term relationships and businesses because most of our members are looking for partnerships to explore other possibilities in Nigeria and to see what they can import to Belgium out of Nigeria. Nigeria is a major trade partner with Belgium although there are existing business relations between the two countries for years now, Belgians still try to open up new markets to suit the time.

"Our mission is to get new contacts within the Nigerian business community because we have delegates who are here for the mission who are representing various companies in Belgium who are looking to do business with Nigerians and those who are interested in investing in Nigeria."

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JUNE 18, 2014 — 53

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54 — V anguard anguard,, WEDNESDAY, JUNE 18 , 2014

BRIEFS

Pakistan army launches offensive against Taliban

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Iraq rebels battle for Baquba city S

UNNI rebels have briefly held parts of Baquba, the provincial capital of Diyala province, just 60km north of Baghdad before being repelled by government forces following a battle that left dozens dead.

Three police officers said on Tuesday that the police station in Baquba, which has a small jail, came under attack overnight by the Sunni fighters of Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant armed

group who tried to free the Sunni detainees, the AP news agency reported.

The officers said Shia gunmen, who rushed to defend the facility, killed the detainees at close

Sunni rebels also attacked a northern Iraqi village of Basheer inhabited by Shia ethnic Turkmen

range. A morgue official in Baquba said many of the dead had bullet wounds to the head and chest. All four officials spoke on condition of anonymity fearing for their own safety.

Al Jazeera’s Imran Khan, reporting from Baghdad, said at least 63 prisoners were reported killed by the Shia gunmen, according to local sources, but the government released a statement blaming ISIL for the killings in Baquba.

“So clearly there is an information war going on here as well as that battle for Baquba,” Khan said.

Sunni rebels also attacked a northern Iraqi village of Basheer, 15km south of Kirkuk city, inhabited by Shia ethnic Turkmens, police said yesterday.

UN condemns ISIL executions in Iraq

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HE UN’s human rights chief has said Sunni fighters in northern Iraq have “almost certainly” committed war crimes, following the publication of photos and videos of the purported execution of scores of captives.

Navi Pillay said on Monday that corroborated reports showed that soldiers, military conscripts, police and others who had sur-

•Ban Ki Moon, UN Scribe rendered or had been captured had been summarily executed by the Islamic

State of Iraq and the Levant and its allies.

“Although the numbers cannot be verified yet, this apparently systematic series of cold-blooded executions, mostly conducted in various locations in the Tikrit area, almost certainly amounts to war crimes,” she said.

Her comments came after a Twitter account sym-

pathetic to the ISIL posted pictures apparently showing their fighters killing captured Shia soldiers.

Masked fighters are shown loading the captives on trucks before forcing them to lie face-down in a shallow ditch with their arms tied behind their backs. The final pictures show bodies soaked in blood after being shot.

Israel detains 41 Palestinians amid search for missing teens itant offshoot of Fatah, surrounding a Jewish

I

SRAEL’s military has arrested 41 more Palestinians as it expands the search for three Israeli teenagers believed kidnapped in the West Bank.

The total number of people detained since the Jewish seminary students went missing last Thursday now exceeds 200.

Most of them are members of Hamas, which Israel suspects of involvement.

Meanwhile, Israeli warplanes bombed weapons manufacturing and storage sites in the Gaza Strip in response to rocket fire, the Israeli military said.

Soldiers also shot a Palestinian who tried to set fire to a fence

settlement in the West Bank, it added. Palestinian medics said he was being treated at a hospital in Ramallah.

‘Ticket to Hell’ The latest arrests took place in the northern West Bank city of Nablus.

Members of Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas’s Fatah faction were reportedly among those detained on Tuesday.

Several were Palestin-

ian security forces personnel who were previously active in a mil-

according to the Associated Press.

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Egypt orders release of Al-Jazeera journalist, Abdullah Elshamy

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GYPT’s public prosecutor has ordered the release of al-Jazeera journalist Abdullah Elshamy on medical grounds. Mr Elshamy has been on hunger strike for nearly five months to protest against his detention without charge. He was arrested last August when police broke up a protest by supporters of deposed president Mohammed Morsi. Earlier, a court in Cairo said it would deliver its verdict next week in the case of three other al-Jazeera journalists detained in December.

Former BBC correspondent Peter Greste and his colleagues Mohamed Fahmy and Baher Mohamed are accused of spreading false news and collaborating with Mr Morsi’s Muslim Brotherhood, which has been designated a terrorist organisation by the government.

UK: Law banning forced marriage takes effect

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RITISH legislation banning forced marriage has come into effect, with those found guilty of the largely hidden practice facing up to seven years in prison. The law applies not only within Britain but also makes it a criminal offence to force a British national into a marriage abroad, as many youngsters are flown out to weddings in their ancestral homelands, particularly in Pakistan, India and Bangladesh.

Nearly two-thirds of the cases dealt with by the government’s Forced Marriage Unit (FMU) relate to Britain’s South Asian communities.

Campaigners welcomed the new laws which came into effect on Monday as a “huge step forward”, while the government hopes they will protect potential victims.

US captures Benghazi raid ‘ringleader’

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HE suspected ringleader in the September 2012 raid on a US diplomatic post in Benghazi, Libya that left four Americans dead has been captured, the Pentagon has said.

Ahmed Abu Khatallah was taken into custody in a secret raid in Libya on 15 June.

He is now being held in a secure location outside the country, a Pentagon spokesman confirmed.

US Ambassador Chris Stevens and three others were killed in the attack.

“There were no civilian casualties related to this operation, and all US personnel involved in the operation have safely departed Libya,” Pentagon press secretary Rear Adm John Kirby wrote in a statement.

Kenya attacks: 12 Women abducted near Mpeketoni

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Israeli army

Ukrainian forces, rebels clash near Russian border BOUT 30 Ukrainian servicemen were wounded in fighting with pro-Russian separatists near Ukraine’s eastern border with Rus-

FTER months of dithering, Pakistan’s army has launched an offensive against Taliban insurgents near the border with Afghanistan but the tough terrain, a potentially hostile local population and the possibility of revenge attacks in heartland cities could be more difficult to conquer than the militants.

Pakistan announced on Sunday it was sending ground forces, artillery and helicopter gunships to the remote, mountainous tribal region of North Waziristan in a long-awaited military operation designed to eliminate the al Qaeda-linked insurgents.

sia early yesterday , the border guard service said.

It said separatist fighters had fired mortar bombs on government forces and border guards

during the night near the city of Luhansk. It gave no details of any casualties among the rebels, who oppose central rule by Kiev’s proWestern leaders.

T least 12 women were abducted during the latest attack on Kenya’s coast, which also left 15 people dead, residents have told the BBC. President Uhuru Kenyatta has blamed “local political networks” for the overnight raid on two villages near the town of Mpeketoni.

But Somalia’s al-Shabab group had earlier said it was behind the attack.

At least 49 people died in a separate raid on hotels and a police station in Mpeketoni on Sunday.

Al-Shabab said it was a revenge for the presence of Kenyan troops in Somalia and the killing of Muslims.Kenya sent troops to Somalia in 2011 to help the weak UN-backed government defeat the militants.

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JUNE 18, 2014 — 55

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56 — Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JUNE 18, 2014

*Pro-Biafran groups during a protest. INSET: Arrested members of BZF after the group tried to seize the Enugu State Broadcasting Service, ESBS .

Echoes of Biafra: Fresh fears over a recurring agitation F

ORTY-four years after the Nigerian Civil War ended and the Biafra Republic which was led by the late Ikemba Nnew, Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu collapsed, the agitation for the rebirth of the defunct republic has been kept alive in the minds of some diehard believers of the Igbo secession bid.

Their activities came to a climax recently when a splinter group in the struggle for the actualisation of Biafra republic, the Biafra Zionist Federation, made attempts to seize power in Enugu to stamp its authority and commence the administration of new Biafra. Their action was viewed as suicidal and they are now cooling off their feet in detention. But some Igbo leaders and stakeholders believe that they have genuine ambitions though pursued in a very wrong manner.

Many pro-Biafra groups had been formed by this class of people whose desire is to revive the defunct Biafra Republic. But in spite of their activities which gained more ground in the ‘90s, few years after Ojukwu’s return from exile, many Igbos believe that it is a worthless agitation that can never yield any dividend for Ndigbo.

These skeptics believe that at best, the campaigners could get fame that may attract some economic benefits to them and members of their immediate

families.

Birth of MASSOB and its modus operandi: Although some believers in the Biafran cause are optimistic that the secession bid by Ndigbo could still be realised in future, given the fear that Nigeria might disintegrate, majority view the agitation as one of the greatest deceptions of some gullible Ndigbo. The protagonists of the return of Ndigbo to Biafra have over the years, carried out their campaigns in a very peaceful manner without carrying arms against the Nigerian government. They executed their campaigns through the media and sometimes stage processions that are devoid of violence.

Sometimes they print posters and adorn T-shirts bearing the Biafran flag and insignia while some go the extent of circulating old Biafra currency, all in attempt to give their supporters a false hope that Ndigbo would soon reawaken the defunct Biafra Republic.

Ardent believers The campaign was principally orchestrated by the Movement for the Actualisation of the Sovereign State of Biafra, MASSOB, led by Chief Ralph Uwazuruike. But along the line, the group which commanded respect among the ardent believers in the Biafra cause, was factionalised with some of Uwazuruike’s close associates

like the London-trained lawyer, Benjamin Igwe Onwuka forming splinter groups. Onwuka formed the Biafra Zionist Movement, BZM, which later became Biafra Zionist Federation, BZF. His objective was to fasttrack the re-secession of Ndigbo and their former allies in the Eastern region from Nigeria.

Uwazurike’s alleged compromise: The splinter groups alleged that the MASSOB leader had begun to fraternise with the Federal Government. Unconfirmed reports had it that President Goodluck Jonathan through the widow of the late Biafra leader, Mrs. Bianca Ojukwu, who was a presidential aide and now Nigeria’s Ambassador to Spain, dialogued with Uwazuruike and pacified him to eschew violence and support his administration.

Uwazuruike was said to have accepted the President’s offer and advice as he directed his members to embrace peace. He then told his members that Biafra’s agitation is a thing of the mind and not by armed struggle.

Benjamin Onwuka, leader of the Biafra Zionist Federation, in particular, alleged that Uwazuruike was “highly settled” by the Federal government to drop the Biafra campaign which was why there was a lull in the tempo of MASSOB’s activities.

BZF’s declaration of Republic of Biafra: However, the distrust and crisis of confidence among the leaders of the group led to the emergence of splinter groups

like the Biafra Zionist Federation led by Onwuka which vowed to continue with the struggle for the rebirth of Biafra.

There are other groups like the Radio Biafra led by one Nnamdi Kanu, Biafra National Youth League, among several other groups both in Nigeria and in the Diaspora, all claiming to be working for the re-declaration of Biafra Republic.

But the leader of the BZF, Benjamin Onwuka, who returned to Nigeria from the United Kingdom where he studied law, pushed his group’s campaign to a dangerous level in the last three years. He

,

By TONY EDIKE, Enugu

on the mandate given to Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu on May 30th, 1967 in order that we the Biafra people can provide our people with security according to international law,” he stated in his address at the that declaration.

The group’s President said that it was clear that the Biafra people’s right to freely worship according to their Christian faith is no longer safe and guaranteed: “Therefore, we the Biafra people have resolved to opt out of Nigeria to freely worship their God without being bombed or killed according to the United Nations Convention on the freedom of association”. Onwuka claimed that God had given them right to re-claim the lost sovereignty stolen from them in 1914, adding that Biafrans were determined to build a country that would be democratic and transparent.

Invasion of Enugu radio station and Onwuka’s arrest Onwuka was declared wanted by the police. He could not be found by security agents until he walked into their hands on June 5, 2014 when his group attempted to seize the Enugu State Broadcasting Service, ESBS where they planned to make a broadcast about the rebirth of Biafra.

The State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Mohammed Abubakar, while parading the suspects alleged that they wanted to order the closure of businesses, schools and markets. He alleged further that they wanted to mobilise youths to destroy government property. “You can see

The agitations for the rebirth of Biafra by the several pro-Biafra groups would have been eliminated if the South East geopolitical zone was given its fair share in the distribution of amenities launched the Biafra Zionist Movement in 2012 and changed the name to Biafra Zionist Federation after re-declaring a new Independent Biafra Republic at a hideout in Enugu on November 6, 2012.

Onwuka had said while redeclaring Biafra Republic that it had become clear that the security of life and property of the Biafra people were no longer safe and guaranteed in the entity called Nigeria. “Therefore, we the Biafra people have resolved to re-declare our independence today November 5th, 2012 based

,

these people were in a mission of trying to overturn the government and it is something that we will never tolerate. They carried with them a lot of arms, machetes, 25 litres of petrol, 46 empty beer bottles and one Biafran Zionist flag and some CDs. The purpose of going there with petrol and bottles, you know when you put petrol inside a bottle and shake it and throw it into a building, it will inflame.

They went there also with guns because when the policemen confronted them, they shot a Continues on page 57

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JUNE 18, 2014

Echoes of Biafra: Fresh fears over agitation Continues from page 56

Another group emerges Following Onwuka’s recent arrest, another faction of the pro-Biafra movement known as Radio Biafra emerged under the leadership of Nnamdi Kanu. Kanu declared his readiness to continue with the struggle for the actualisation of Biafra, saying “Nigeria will cease to exist by December 2015”.

Kanu, who spoke at a gathering of members of defunct Biafra, including scores of its aged war veterans, vowed that he would not rest until the Biafra Republic is realised. The event, held at Ngwo, Enugu State, was the maiden commemoration of Biafran Day on May 30th, in remembrance of the events of 1967 when the late Igbo leader, Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu-Ojukwu declared the Republic of Biafra.

Kanu, the Director of Radio Biafra used the occasion to unveil a multi- million naira cenotaph built in memory of Biafran heroes killed during the civil war. He regretted that despite the declaration of the “no victor, no vanquished” after the Nigeria/Biafra civil war in 1970, successive governments, including the present Goodluck Jonathan-led administration had continued to deliberately marginalise and make life unbearable for the Igbo nation and its people.

He, therefore, called on all genuine Igbo people across the globe to rise up and join the crusade of putting in place the Biafran Republic, adding that it was time for the Igbos, to pull out of Nigeria, which he described as a failed nation, where nothing works.

Some Igbo leaders argue that the agitations for the rebirth of Biafra by the several pro-Biafra groups would have been eliminated if the South East geopolitical zone was given its fair share in the distribution of amenities by successive administrations in the country. They further argue that the various issues affecting the Igbo nation that forced Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu to declare the Biafra Republic in 1967 have not been addressed, insisting that Ndigbo in Nigeria deserve a better deal than what they get presently. One of the major imbalances commonly cited is the shortfall in the number of states and local governments allocated to the South East. They want an additional state for the zone in addition to the upgrading and provision of adequate infrastructure that would improve the living condition of the people of the zone.

Gen Gowon (rtd) accepting the Biafran surrender from the head of Biafran delegation Gen Philip Effiong at Dodan Barracks Lagos in 1970.

Why the Biafran spirit’ll hover for long

BY CHARLES KUMOLU

W

HEN then Head of State Gen Yakubu Gowon, rtd proclaimed the “No Victor No Vanquished”, slogan at the end of the Nigerian Civil Wa r o n January 15, 1970, the general assumption was that the Biafran question would be resolved with the post- war programmes that were expected to come with that proclamation. Although the Igbos were obviously vanquished , the declaration created some level of confidence amid overwhelming doubts and despair.

Specifically, the post-war programmes which were captured in the Reconciliation, Reconstruction and Rehabilitation,RRR, policy were initiated to heal the wounds created by the war on both sides.

Whether the Igbos were truly rehabilitated and reconciled with the other parts of the country is still debatable as the generality of opinion points to the argument that the RRR was a failed policy.

Failed policy The Easterners who were given 20 pounds each by the Federal Government, irrespective of whatever balance or asset they had prior to the war, gradually integrated into the society. Despite having found its feet economically beyond the pre-civil war status, the Biafran spirit has continued to hover across the country, especially in the South East geo-political zone.

With the 1999 formation of the Movement for the Actualisation of the Sovereign State of Biafra, MASSOB, reawakening the physical agitation for self determination, the nation was taken by the storm, as other pro-Biafran

groups have also emerged.

Though initially dismissed as posing no threat to the corporate existence of the country, the gradual spread and modus oparandi of the groups, have raised a lot concern.

Investigations by Vanguard Features, VF showed that while a section of the public finds the resurgence of the issue more than four decades after the war, disturbing, others, especially Igbos, are sympathetic to the pro-Biafran agitations.

Those compassionate with the cause believe that the Igbos were displaced in the Nigerian equation, economically and politically. They

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sergeant and killed him and in the process of trying to prevent them from setting the place ablaze, they also had a casualty, one of them was shot dead. About 13 of them were arrested, including the leader, Benjamin Onwuka,” he said.

Onwuka had three days after the siege on the Government House given reasons why his group attacked the seat of government in the state.

“This is to confirm the true report about what happened. You know very well that since January 12, 1970, the flag of Biafra has never rested on the Government House in Enugu which is the centre power of the Biafra people. What we did on the 8th is to reconfirm the independence of the Republic of Biafra which we successfully did.

We didn’t attack the Government House, but we captured it back for the Biafra people. We captured it for four hours and there was a battle between the Biafrans and the Nigerians and by 7a.m., we retreated because we didn’t have any weapons in our hand, to avoid any loss of life.

“The reason we did it was to show the Biafra people that the hope for Biafra is still alive and that nothing shall quench the aspiration of the Biafra people to be independent,” he said.

— 57

that those behind the latest proBiafran invasion of a Radio House in Enugu, were on their own. As far as he is concerned, they want to drag Ndigbo into Nigeria’s problems. ’’Those behind the Enugu invasion want to drag Biafra into the current problems in Nigeria.

We should not be dragged into Nigeria’s problem. We have nothing to do with them,” he stated.

Asked if the agitations of the major pro-Biafran group, MASSOB, were in line with the present collective aspiration of Ndigbo, Achuzia responded with a question. ”What does the OPC reflect?

What about Afenifere?”

Continuing, he said: “What these groups reflect could be likened to what MASSOB is doing. So long as MASSOB serves the interest of the Igbos, we acknowledge it.”

Leader of the All Progressive Congress,APC, in Lagos State, Chief Campbell Umeh agrees that the Biafra cause is still relevant. But he cautiously disowned the activities of proBiafran associations that are inimical to the interest of the state.

“Biafra is a child of necessity and today the necessity is still Ojukwuchampioned Biafra not because of greed but as a result the extermination of Igbos across the country. In Biafra, Igbos derived an identity,” Umeh argued.

He supported other arguments that failure of the RRR policy is responsible for pro-Biafran demands. ”After the defeat, the terms of reintegration was not followed. And the failure of that indicates that the war is still there. So that keeps Biafra alive,” Umeh added.

Going down memory lane, he remembered the contentious

We agreed on ‘One Nigeria’, but people are entitled to their aspirations. I don’t see myself following the path of war. That does not mean that the Biafran question is no more relevant

maintain that the psyche of Ndigbo was debased for losing the war.

But the question remains: Does the agitations reflect the collective aspiration of Igbos at the moment?

This poser does not ignore Gowon’s declaration outlawing Biafra. VF recalls that Gowon had in his speech titled: “The Dawn of National Reconciliation”, sounded a death knell on the Biafran question .’’The so-called ‘Rising Sun of Biafra’ is set for ever. It will be a great disservice for anyone to continue to use the word Biafra to refer to any part of the East Central State of Nigeria. The tragic chapter of violence is just ended. We are at the dawn of national reconciliation.

Once again, we have an opportunity to build a new nation,’’he noted on the day Gen Philip Effiong of Biafra surrendered to Gowon at Dodan Barracks, Lagos.

Speaking on the matter, a civil war veteran, Col Joe Achuzia told VF

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abandoned properties issue, saying: “When the war ended the abandoned properties matter was not properly handled. Today many people are still bitter about that. When you say no victor no vanquished, it should be real. You remember that every Igbo man was given 20 pounds each; that one is still a source of anger.”

The APGA chieftain however added thus: “We agreed on ‘One Nigeria’, but people are entitled to their aspirations.

I don’t see myself following the path of war. That does not mean that the Biafran question is no more relevant.”

Despite his affection for the Biafran cause, Umeh disowned the manner in which pro-Biafran groups are going about the matter. ”We can only caution the young boys doing this because their methods of operation are not acceptable. I am only asking the Federal Government to find a way of addressing the issues that triggered the formation of these groups,” he submitted.

58 — Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JUNE 18, 2014

Invasion of Enugu radio station— Police boss opens up officers and men of the command is also contributing to bringing crimes to its barest minimum.

Killings in Enugu-Ezike We have beefed up security in Enugu-Ezike. As I am talking to you, there is something we are doing there and we wouldn’t want to say it publicly but, within the weekend, you will see what is going to happen there. This is because we have gone underground to make sure that those criminals disturbing people are arrested and taken out of the place.

Clashes between Fulani herdsmen and some communities I want to use this opportunity to debunk in strongest terms, recent reports that Fulani herdsmen clashed with some people in Ezeagu L.G.A. of the state. Ezeagu is a very peaceful place, there is no problem with Fulani herdsmen. The chairman of the local government has constituted security committee made up of officials of the local government, the DPO, Fulani leaders and other community leaders including the local people. They have been meeting once every month to discuss security within the local government and there has never been any crisis between

•Denies security threats by Fulani RECENTLYy, a pro-Biafran group, Biafran Zionist Federation, BZF, led by Benjamim Onwuka, who allegedly attacked Government House, Enugu on March 8 struck again in the early hours of June 6 at the Enugu State Broadcasting Service, ESBS, in an attempt to seize the radio and television station for a broadcast. The move was, however, foiled by a team of Policemen.

At the end of a shootout that ensued, a Police Sergeant and a member of the group were killed while the Inspector that led the team was seriously wounded. The Police team demonstrated bravery by pursuing fleeing members of the group until 12 of them were rounded up with their leader. The suspects have since been flown to Force Headquarters, Abuja for further investigation.

Commissioner of Police, Enugu State, Adamu Mohammed who hinted that his men were on top of the situation even before they struck told Our Crime Editor, Emma Nnadozie, how the deadly operation was carried out and the after-effects. He also spoke on other security issues.

Excerpts:

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Breach of peace We have transferred them to Force CID. Abuja. We are nosing around, anybody associated with the group, no matter his position in society; we will not hesitate to pick him up and make sure that justice is done and prevent them from causing breach of peace in the country.

You know the membership cuts across the country. When they invaded Government House, Enugu, we arrested some of

their members.

During the failed attempt to make a live broadcast, we also arrested some, so it is a continuous exercise. We will be monitoring their activities, whenever we get reports that they are going to meet, we will get there and arrest them.

Between the Zionists and MASSOB I don’t have any problem with any other group except this Biafran Zionists. I have never had any confrontation with any other group.

Security situation in Enugu Enugu State is very lucky, the crime rate is low. However, from time to time, these boys waylay people but we always record low cost in loss of lives from those that snatch cars from people. But in 99% cases, we do recover the vehicles.

The magic wand There is no magic. As I told you, security is a collective responsibility. Everybody is involved. When members of the public see what is happening and tell us on time, we prevent it. Whenever a crime is committed and we are quickly informed, we mobilize our men within the area and we apprehend the people. We have cou-

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ZIONIST Movement e got information of their coming because we have infiltrated them before they could make a live broadcast.

After gaining access to ESBS, they went straight to the studio and met journalists on duty and wanted to force them to make live broadcast so that the general public could hear what they are saying.

They summarized what they wanted to tell the people in a paper. When they stormed the ESBS, they were well armed with machetes and guns which they used in killing a policeman and with 25 litres of petrol and beer bottles which they wanted to use as petrol bombs.

z CP Adamu Mohammed of Enugu State

rageous officers that are also dedicated to their jobs, they are willing at anytime to confront any group of criminals. So, the dedication of

people committing crimes are just common criminals and are not associated with any ethnic group. From time to time, cattle stray to people’s farms and any time the cattle eat crops from the farms, the Fulanis settle the matter with the farm owners by paying compensations and any time the local people kill any of their cattle, the local people pay compensation. So, they live harmoniously without any problem. If anybody ambushes any group of people along the road and dispossesses them of their telephones or properties, they are just common criminals, so the issue of Fulanis invading communities in Enugu does not arise.

The traditional ruler of the community has said that he did not tell anybody that there was crisis in his community. So also did the local government chairman. I want to assure you that we all are on ground, dealing with security issues in the state.

We have not seen any invasion of Ezeagu or any other community in the state by any group of people. There is no crisis between the Fulanis and Ezeagu community not to talk of carrying arms to the extent of terrorizing anybody. The annoying aspect of the report is that we were not even contacted to state our side of the story.

So, where did he get his report? And even if he wants to write on security issues, if he gets any information, he should have gotten to us before publishing. He never contacted the PRO nor myself or even the chairman of the local government and the traditional ruler and went to write something that can incite the community.

What he wrote can cause breach of peace.

Security implications When people from all over the country start calling to know what is happening in Ezeagu L.G.A. because they read about the crisis, you know it can cause

Fulanis should not be seen as people who are going to invade them and take over their communities. They should look at them as people who are coming around and willing to stay with them and operate mutually the Fulanis and local people and any other ethnic group in Ezeagu.

This week, I had a meeting with a larger group in the state just for the purpose of security.

I had meetings with all the Fulani in Enugu State, all the local government chairmen were there and the traditional rulers of all the communities were in attendance including all groups of people that rear cattle. We all brainstormed on the issue of Fulani attacking indigenes.

The real criminals It was concluded that the

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one ethnic group fighting against the other which will breach peace. People should discountenance any crime news associated with any ethnic group. Crime is crime, it should not be incited or be made to look like an ethnic group are criminals. People should always be vigilant. Fulanis should not be seen as people who are going to invade them and take over their communities. They should look at them as people who are coming around and willing to stay with them and operate muContinues on pages 59

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JUNE 18, 2014 —59

CONFESSION OF ARRESTED SUSPECT:

‘My mother vowed to curse me if I didn’t stop robbing’

BY IFEANYI OKOLIE

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WO members of a notorious armed robbery gang that specialized in breaking into Automated Teller Machines, ATM, in Lagos and other states in the South West, have been arrested by operatives of the Special AntiRobbery Squad, SARS, Ikeja Lagos.

The suspects identified as Oyefimide Tobi,23, and 29-yearold Olatunji Oluwagbemiga, met their waterloo when members of their gang attacked a branch of Fidelity Bank at Sabo, Yaba area of Lagos. Crime Alert reliably gathered that the gang met stiff resistance from some policemen on guard at the bank. The gang leader, identified as Dele Olanrewaju, a.k.a. Babalamu, was gunned down by the policemen during the operation and some documents found on him aided policemen in their investigations.

Police sources disclosed that the Commissioner of Police, Umar

Invasion of Enugu radio station Continues from 58 tually. Fulanis have lived in Igboland for so long that they don’t know where they come from. They are now being referred to as Igbo-Fulani, they even speak Igbo language. So, they are members of the communities. People should not use these kind of publications to create disunity.

Manko, ordered a full investigation into the case. According to our source, the Officer in-Charge of SARS, Abba Kyari, who took over the investigation, went on the trail of the robbers and it was gathered that a key member of the gang had traveled abroad. “We were looking for other suspects, while Oluwagbemiga had traveled abroad, we got an intelligence report that a gang of armed robbers that snatched a car at Ijebu-Ode wanted to sell it. When we got to the scene, the robbers shot at us and we retaliated. But, we ended up arresting two members of the gang and when we interrogated them, they turned out to be members of the robbery gang that specialized in ATM robberies.

Suspect opens up One of the arrested suspects, Oluwagbemiga told Crime Alert: “I became an armed robber in 2012 when my boss at the wood market chased me out of his shop. I really don’t know what I did but I discovered he was seriously angry with me when I impregnated my girl and he sent me out.

“Then, I met one Waheed, who specialized in burgling peoples houses. First, he was giving me money when he discovered I was jobless and later he asked me to join him. I was based in Shagamu and he used to take me to Ibadan to break into people’s shops. We did several jobs in Ibadan and he was paying me any amount he liked. I also discovered that his main targets were grocery stores and after the burglary, he would take the items for

sale and give me any amount he liked. I was content with it and I was managing. In late 2012, he decided to go alone and he was caught. I learnt he was lynched by a mob in the area where he went for burglary.

Bank ATM robbery

“Few weeks later, I met one Dele Olanrewaju, aka, Babalamu, at Shagamu and I told him that I was in need of a job. He then introduced me to his line of business which was ATM robbery. He told me that we didn’t have to kill anyone and all we had to do was to come to the bank at a designated time and strike by breaking into the bank’s ATM. He told me that he had all the equipment for the job and all he wanted was for me to be at the scene watching for intruders.

Our first operation “My first job with him was at Ondo State. I can’t remember the exact location and the name of the bank, but the village we went to was around Owo, and I discovered that the town was his home town. He called me on the day of the operation and asked that I should meet him at a spot with other members of the gang and we proceeded to the bank. He had all the equipment in his car and my job was to carry the gas cylinders and watch out for intruders.

He had an AK 47 rifle which we use and he was the one that carried it. “We didn’t meet any security man at the scene of my first operation and everything went well. My share after the opera-

ATM robbery suspects Oyefimide Tobi,23, and 29-year-old Olatunji Oluwagbemiga tion was N85,000.00 and I saved it. Few weeks later, he called me again and said that he has spotted another bank at Ijebu-Igbo.

After we assembled at the scene, we watched the security men leaving the bank at the close of work and we moved in.

“At the end of the operation, I was given N250,000 and I added it to what I had and bought a car at a price of N1.3million.

Things changed for me after wards, my mother learnt I was into robbery and she vowed to lay a curse on me if I didn’t stop.

I quickly sold my car and decided to travel abroad. I first secured a Nigerian passport from which I applied for a visa to Dubai because I was told I could get jobs easily in Dubai.

Trip to Dubai “While I was on this, I told my chairman, Babalamu about it and he became very angry. He asked me not to leave him because he

trusted my judgment and I told him that I had made up my mind to quit the job. Two days before I traveled out of the country, I got a call from a member of our gang, JK, who informed me that Babalamu has been killed in an operation and that the police were trying to trail members of the gang through a mobile phone that was found on him. “I quickly traveled to Dubai and I spent over 23 days and got a job as a waiter. I came back to Nigeria to renew my visa and I was having only N30,000.

I also needed N120,000 for my tickets and the only way I could achieve that was through robbery.

I called JK and one of our friends and we went to Ijebu-Ode and robbed a car. Afterwards, I called Toyin to connect me to some buyers. While Toyin was saying that buyers were on ground, I didn’t know that the police were trailing us and they arrested me and Toyin at the point of exchange,” he stated.

14-yr-old boy kills mum over N300 in Calabar

BY EMMA UNA, Calabar

A

14-year- old boy, Sunday John, recently in Calabar, Cross-River State, struck his mother, Eno Sunday John, to death with a pestle for allegedly failing to give him N300.

The incident which took place on a Sunday morning at IkotOkon-Nma in Akapbuyo Local Government Area, on the outskirts of Calabar, left the family distraught and confused.

The disagreement between mother and son, a source in the family told Crime Alert, started after the boy allegedly demanded N300 from his mother to enable him meet some financial needs but the mother was said to have pleaded with him for time to raise the money.

This however, did not go down well with the boy who felt his mum had the money but did not want to give him, and in a fit of anger, picked a pestle and hit the woman on the head while she was washing. “My mother was struck to death by my brother in my presence while washing her clothes outside last Sunday” Affiong Sunday, a daughter of the deceased narrated.

Attack with pestle

She said the brother attacked their mother with the pestle and as she tried to run away from the son, he pursued her around the compound and hit her on the head. “My brother pursued her around the compound with a pestle following her inability to give

•The suspect him N300 and before I came from where I went to call neighborus to come and stop him, he had killed her and also threatened to kill our neighbours with the

•His slain mother pestle,”she lamented.

The late Mrs Eno Sunday John was a subsistence farmer and petty trader in Ikot Okon-Nma, a village about three kilometres and

less than 15 minutes drive to Ikot Nakanda until she met her untimely death.

Reacting to the killing, a youth leader and Community Liaison Officer in Ikot Nakanda, Comrade Effiong Effiom, who said he knows both the deceased and her son said Sunday has been having psychiatric problems in the past. Effiom called on security and authorities to take immediate action by arresting and bringing the boy to justice or seeking psychiatric help for him “before he continues to kill innocent souls in the area.”

A source said the police from Akpabuyo Police Division have arrested and detained the killerteenager and will soon transfer him to the State Police Headquarters , Diamond Hill, Calabar, for further investigation.

60 — Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JUNE 18, 2014

Oboabona out of Bosnia match R

IZESPOR central defender Godfrey Oboabona has been ruled out of Nigeria’s clash with Bosnia and Herzegovina on Saturday at Arena Pantanal (Cuiabá, Mato Grosso).

And the 23-year-old is racing against the clock to be fit for the Super Eagles final Group F fixture against Argentina.

Despite insisting he remained on the pitch after a bad tackle by an Iranian, the ex-

Sunshine Stars skipper had to be substituted around the 30th minute when he could no longer bear the pain. ‘’Godfrey Oboabona is not okay. He is not going to play the next game with Bosnia. During the match with Iran, an Iranian player tackled him badly, used his hard studs to make contact with him. ‘’He has started his rehabilitation but will not train this evening with us, ‘’ Super Eagles media officer, Ben Alaiya, said on Tuesday afternoon.

•Oboabona

Eagles will improve — Rufai F ORMER Super Eagles goalkeeper, Peter Rufai has said that the national team campaigning at the Brazil 2014 World Cup should not be written off.

In a chat with Sports Vanguard, Rufai said the Eagles should not be judged from their performance against Iran. “It was their first match in the

Adeboye rallies support for Eagles

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HE special assistant to the governor of Lagos state on football matters, Anthony Adeyinka Adeboye expects the Super Eagles to qualify from the group phase of the World Cup despite the African champions lacklustre performance in their opening match.

Adeboye, who is currently in Brazil, stated that the Super Eagles would go ahead and qualify for the knock–out stages of the World Cup despite Monday ’s scoreless draw with Iran in Curitiba.

“Nigerians should continue to support the boys in their bid to correct their mistakes and qualify for the next stage” The former Obanta War riors and Kwara United team manager expressed satisfaction with the performance of the team while admitting that the African champions were nervous and should not be written off yet.

“A majority of the boys are playing in their first World Cup but I believe they would get over the draw against Iran and

improve against BosniaHerzegovina on Saturday.

The optimism is high in Brazil because the boys have realised their shortcomings. Now they know what they must do to qualify for the next stage” The Super Eagles will file out against Bosnia in their second match of the group phase on Saturday night while they face group leader, Argentina on June 25.

tournament. It is always difficult to play the first match and I believe, we have not seen the best of the Stephen Keshi team yet,” Rufai said.

He insisted that the Super Eagles will be different against Bosnia and Herzegovina because he expects the two teams to play an open game.

“Iran’s game plan was to stop the Eagles and they succeeded by not allowing our players to play. Against Bosnia it is going to be different,” he said repeatedly.

Rufai believes the Eagles will triumph over Bosnia-Herzegovina.

“The Eagles know their opponents, how they play and organise themselves.

But they(Bosnia) are yet to see the best of Eagles. It is going to be a big clash on Saturday.”

Eagles Continues from BP champions. Their victory hotel in Campinas is always filled with autograph seekers and their trainings have recorded massive turnouts by the Brazilians who have not hidden their love for Nigeria.

Before and during the match against Iran, the sporadic shouts of Nigeria pronounced ‘Nijeria, Nijeria, Nijeria” was deafening as they clapped, sang and whistled.

But when the Nigerian players showed their lack of technical potentials, making faulty

passes and the littlerated Iranians stood them toe to toe, the table turned. The Brazilians moved from Nijeria to Iran, Iran, Iran”.

The glut of stars in the Nigerian team had given the false sense that players they watch play for their favourite clubs would practically roast the debutants. Alas!

Questions have been asked by the few Brazilians who speak English while those who could not bear the disappointment of the Eagles dare show you signs of disappointment for your team.

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JUNE 18, 2014 — 61

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62 — Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JUNE 18, 2014

Bosnia, Argentina beatable — Keshi S

TILL smarting from the barren draw with Iran, Super Eagles Coach Stephen Kesh has waived off the challenges of Bosnia and Argentina saying that they are not unbeatable just as he said that he was not God to guarantee victory against the two remaining crack teams in Group F. ‘’Lets not give up hope. We all saw what happened in the match between Holland and Spain. Nobody expected that to happen. We also saw what happened between Germany and Portugal. That is football for you.

Anything can happen, so let us not rule out the possibility of beating Bosnia and Argentina and progress to the second round”, he preached.

Do-or-die battle for Cameroon, Croatia D

EFEATED 1-0 by Mexico in their 2014 FIFA World Cup opener in Group A in Natal on Friday, Cameroon are left with no choice but to win when they face Croatia in Manaus on Wednesday.

But to reach their objective, the Indomitable Lions will have to drastically improve their game after displaying a poor performance against ‘El Tri’.

Samuel Eto’o and his teammates struggled in all the compartments of

Eagles will bounce reach the second back—TAN toround.

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GREAT SAVE........Brazil’s goalkeeper Julio Cesar jumps for the ball during yesterday’s game against Mexico. Photo: AFP

RANSFORMATION Ambas-sadors of Nigeria (TAN) has called on Nigerians to continue supporting the Super Eagles who play Bosnia-Herzegovina in a must-win match on Saturday.

Eagles played a barren draw with Iran on Monday, a result that has not helped their bid

Olofinjana faults Keshi’s style •As Nigerians re schedule flight tickets back home

Speaking from Brazil yesterday, some of TAN’s ‘Fly Me To Brazil’ winners stated that hope was not lost despite the draw with Iran.

Solomon Onu said that the Eagles have the potential to do well in Brazil and called on Nigerians to continue to support the team.

“The draw may be a big setback for the Eagles but I am sure that the team still have the chance to qualifier,” stated Onu.

Spain must win —Torres

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ORMER Super Eagles player, Seyi Olofinjana has picked holes in the tactics employed by coach Stephen Keshi that saw the team play without bite in their barren draw with the Iranian national team on Monday.

Olofinjana who is running commentaries for OSMI said that playing two holding midfielders in Mikel Obi and Ogenyi Onazi contributed to the lack of attack for the team. ”That was a big mistake as the two players slowed down the supply of balls to the attack. Keshi should have replaced one of them with an attacker. It is alien to modern football to play two holding midfielders when you want victory”, Olofinjana complained at the Sports Media Centre in São Paulo yesterday.

A Columbian Journalist who said he had followed the Eagles for a long time said he was shocked with the performance of the

the game, never appearing in a position to unsettle their opponents.

Weakened by a recurrent knee injury, the Lions’ skipper clearly lacked his usual attacking flair and his participation in their battle for survival against the Croatians is hugely compromised.

However, Cameroon still believe in their chances to bounce back in the second encounter of their Brazilian campaign and to make it to the next round.

F HEADER.......Eagles defender Kenneth Omeruo (L) jumps to contest for the ball with Iran’sJavad Nekounam during their match in Curitiba on June 16.

It ended goalless.

PHOTO: AFP

Eagles. No, no”, he said.

“Nigeria did not play like Nigeria”, he said in his smattering English.

Nigerians who before this match had been loud boasting of the strength of the Eagles and how they

would stroll through the second round and zoom into the semi finals have started having doubts on the capabilities of the team surviving Bosnia and Argentina. Some of them have started changing

their flight schedules. ”Nna, I can’t wait till the last match against Argentina. To go to the venue in Port Alegre will take two days by road while the match against Bosnia in Cuiaba is 20 hours by

road. The match against Iran in Curitiba was 16 hours to and from São Paulo where most Nigerians are based. ”We can’t waste money and suffer like that for a team that has no attacking flair”, Chidi said.

ERNANDO Torres said yesterday that Spain are prepared to abandon their attractive playing style as they look to resurrect their World Cup title defence against Chile today.

“The important thing is that we win, hopefully in our usual style, at the high level that allowed us to win the World Cup and Euro 2012,” the Chelsea striker told a press conference in Rio de Janeiro on Tuesday.

“And if we can’t win like that, we have to win anyway, because otherwise we’ll have to go back home. All that’s important tomorrow (today) is that Spain play and win.”

Playing their characteristic tiki-taka possession football, Spain have won the last three major tournaments that they have qualified for, but they were humiliated 5-1 by the Netherlands in their opening Group B game on Friday.

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JUNE 18, 2014 — 63

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VANGUARD, WEDNESDAY, JUNE 18, 2014

RESULTS Belgium 2 Algeria

1

Brazil

0

Mexico

0

Today's Matches Australia Spain Cameroon

vs vs vs

Netherlands Chile Croatia

5 p .m.

8 p. m 11 p. m.

Olofinjana faults Keshi’s style — Pg.62 Eagles disappoint Brazilians

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INCE they landed in this samba country, Brazilians have shown great respect and warm reception to the African Continues on Page 60

Bosnia, Ar gentina beatable — Keshi P. 62 DIFFERENT STROKES: Coach Stephen Keshi (r) panics as Iran's coach Carlos Queiroz looks calm during Monday's match.

More stories on pages 31, 32, 33 & 34

LACKLUSTRE: Super Eagles forward, Ahmed Musa is tackled by an Iranian defender in their barren draw, Monday. Photo: AFP

QUICK CROSSWORD

TODAY'S

PUZZLE

YESTER DAY'S YESTERDAY'S

ANSWERS

ACROSS 3 Tempest (5) 9 Bigger (6) 10 Simpler (6) 11 Domesticated (5) 12 Sensible (4) 15 Step (4) 17 Began (7) 20 Youth (3) 21 Swift (5) 23 Cupid (4) 25 Row (4) 26 Wanderer (5) 28 Spring (3) 30 Guard (7) 33 Irritation (4) 35 Act (4) 36 Decoration (5) 38 Collect (6) 39 Burden (6) 40 Irritable (5)

DOWN 1 Sheen (5) 2 Stadium (5) 3 Fixed (3) 4 Dealer (6) 5 Stagger (4) 6 Insane (3) 7 Last (5) 8 Generate (5) 13 Try (7) 14 Mistake (5) 16 Whim (7) 18 Old-fashioned (5) 19 Illuminated (3) 22 Plunged (5) 24 Broadcast (3) 27 Meal (6) 28 Scorch (5) 29 Sharp (5) 31 Poor (5) 32 Bordered (5) 34 Present (4) 36 Encountered (3) 37 Ballad (3)

YESTERDAY'S SOLUTIONS ACROSS: 1, Indeed 5, Define 9, Waned 10, Suffer 11, Nether 12, Resin 14, Clad 17, Dim 18, Clan 20, Toyed 22, Wield 23, Biscuit 24, Strap 26, Newer 29, Char 30, Ore 32, Dire 33, Fiend 35, Lethal 36, Dangle 37, Repel 38, Dodged 39, Deftly.

DOWN: 1, Insect 2, Defray 3, Ewer 4, Dared 5, Denim 6, Eden 7, Inhale 8, Errand 13, Sincere 15, Loath 16, Debar 18, Cited 19, Alder 21, Dip 22, Win 24, Scaled 25, Ranted 27, Widget 28, Remedy 30, Oiled 31, Ended 33, Fare 34, Dale.

How to Play Sudoku

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lace a number (1-9) in each blank cell. (No line can have two of the same number).

Each row (nine lines from left to right), column, (also nine lines from top to bottom) and 3 X 3 block within a bold block (nine blocks) contains number from 1 through 9. This means that no number can appear twice in any block, column or row.

No mathematics is involved – no adding, subtraction, division or multiplication, just plain logic and your imagination.

C M Y K

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