Troopskill 200 Boko Haram terrorists

...towards a better life for the people

**

VOL. 25: NO. 62234

ONLINE | www.vanguardngr.com

N150

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 18, 2014

2015: PDP governors endorse Jonathan 8

Troops kill 200 Boko Haram terrorists Kingsley Omonobi, Ben Agande, Abdulsalam Muhammad, Luka Binniyat, Ndahi Marama & Mayen Etim

•Recover armoured tank, arms and ammunition •Gunmen attack college, kill 15 students in Kano A •Colonel feared killed during Boko Haram attack on Michika —P.9

BUJA—NO fewer than 200 members of the Boko Haram Islamic sect, were reportedly killed, yesterday, in a battle with soldiers of 7 Division, Nigerian Army when the sect members in their hundreds attempted to launch attack on Konduga Local Government Area of Borno State.

Also, more than six vehicles including an armoured tank with Arabic inscription; Rocket-Propelled Launchers, antiaircraft guns, assorted number of AK-47 rifles

Continues on Page 5

Nightmare as Apapa Oshodi Road gridlock returns 6

Mr & Mrs RECOVERED—Soldiers displaying one of the armoured vehicles recovered from insurgents in Maiduguri, yesterday, after repelling an attack in Konduga, Headquarters of Konduga LGA of Borno State. INSET: Maiduguri residents hailing the soldiers over their victory, yesterday. Photo: NAN.

COLUMNISTS: Jonathan's billboards and sycophancy incorporated •P.17 C M Y K

An open letter to the CBN Governor •P.19

Prof. Soyinka's 'Saint Davies' •P.19

SYNAGOGUE: Death toll rises to 80 9

2—Vanguard, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 18, 2014

Vanguard, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 18, 2014 — 3

4—Vanguard, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 18, 2014

Vanguard, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 18, 2014—5

POCKET CARTOON

KANO ATTACK—An officer of the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) and a porter gather personal effects abandoned by students on the premises of the Federal College of Education, Kano, yesterday following an attack by Boko Haram gunmen. Photo: AFP.

Troops kill 200 Boko Haram terrorists Continues from Page 1 with ammunition were recovered from the terrorists by the troops.

Konduga is South-east and about 42 kilometres drive from Maiduguri, the state capital which had witnessed series of deadly attacks in the past. Last Friday, more than 100 insurgents, who attempted to invade the town, were killed by the troops in a gun battle before seizing many of their vehicles, arms and ammunition.

A statement by the Director of Army Public Relations, Brigadier-General Olajide Laleye said: “In an attempt to regain the momentum they lost in Konduga last week, Boko Haram terrorists

again attacked Konduga on Tuesday night. However, the terrorists were denied their objective by vigilant and gallant Nigerian Army troops. During the fight, several terrorists were killed and those fleeing Konduga with gunshot wounds were being pursued.

“Also, three Hilux vehicles with mounted machine and anti-aircraft guns, one Mowag Armoured Personnel Carrier and assorted arms and ammunition have been recovered.

“Troops’ morale and combat efficiency remain high. Further details about the engagement are being awaited. It must be noted that the renewed morale, fight-

LIFEWORDS

BY PASTOR ITUAH

Your success this year is dependent on your cooperation between you and your God. You will do what you need to do for God to do what He has to do.

TAKE HEART

BY ELLA RANDLE

The ability to be in the present moment is a major component of mental wellness — Abraham Maslow

W

HEN we live in the past and don’t let go of painful experiences, perceived wrongs, or difficult times, we condemn ourselves to a present and future of the same. We cannot change the past. We can, however, come to terms with it, know that it’s over, and move on.

Living in the moment means letting go of the past and trusting in the future. When we are positive and optimistic in the present, we open the possibility of a positive and promising future. We owe it to ourselves to make every moment count - now!

Learn to train your mind to focus on the current activity. Engage in, and feel what you are doing.

Enjoy the process. Take notice of your surroundings - sights, sounds, smells, and ambiance. Listen attentively to the conversation of others in silence.

Feel more gratitude and enjoyment of life.

ing spirit and combat efficiency of troops have been boosted by new strategies devised by the Armed Forces of Nigeria and the support of well meaning members of the public.

“Therefore, the Nigerian Army implores the public to continue to support the military and other security agencies engaged in the on-going operation to rid Nigeria of blood-letting insurgents and ruthless religious extremists."

It was learnt that the incident started at about 6pm on Tuesday, just some few minutes after traders had closed from their businesses at the Konduga Main Market.

The Konduga attack A resident of Konduga, who is also a member of civilian JTF, Mallam Ali Usman Bulama told Vanguard that hundreds of dead bodies of the attackers still littered the streets and bushes around Konduga as at yesterday, while many of them fled into Sambisa Forest with bullet wounds.

Another civilian JTF member in one of the sector commands in Maiduguri, Abubakar Babagana said: “When I was at my duty post/ checkpoint, I saw our soldiers bringing in many vehicles and other items seized from the terrorists in Konduga attack today (yesterday)”.

Also, dozens of suspected insurgents that laid ambush for motorists and passengers along

Maiduguri-PotiskumKano road, yesterday, met their waterloo when the detachment of troops along that route engaged them. Many were killed, while several others fled with bullet wounds.

Meanwhile, Defence spokesman, Major-General Chris Olukolade in a text message to Vanguard on the update on Konduga raid said: “Konduga is still under attack again now at 6:24pm.

Currently, troops are engaging another large number of heavily armed terrorists trying to enter the town.

The troops are determined to frustrate the desperate efforts of terrorists against Konduga."

Kano school attack: 15 killed, 34 injured In a related development, an Improvised Explosive Device, IED, thrown into a lecture hall at the Federal College of Education, Kano, yesterday, claimed the lives of 15 students while 34 others sustained injuries.

According to an eyewitness, lecture was going on when two terrorists walked in and threw two objects that exploded within seconds. The blast was accompanied by sporadic gun shots as some of the gunmen, who were stationed outside the lecture hall,opened fire on some of the students who tried to escape from the scene.

The incident that occurred around 2.00pm at the school’s new site located at Gadon Kaya triggered pandemonium as students, lecturers and visitors to the school scampered for safety.

Also in the neighbourhood, residents locked up their houses, while shop owners in the vicinity hurriedly closed businesses as confusion reigned.

The prompt response of security agents at the nearest check point however saved the day as they engaged the gunmen and shot two of them to death.

Addressing newsmen at the scene of the incident, the Kano Commissioner of Police, Adenrele Shinaba confirmed that “15 died, while 34 were injured”.

Shinaba disclosed that two among the dead were the attackers gunned down by his men in an exchange of fire, explaining that those injured have been taken to a government hospital in the city.

The police boss said: “We have recovered two

AK-47 assault rifles from the assailants”, pointing out that the command has launched a massive manhunt to track down other fleeing suspects.

Meanwhile, President Goodluck Jonathan has assured the people of Kano State and all Nigerians that the Federal Government was doing everything possible to increase the capacity of the nation’s security services to prevent attacks on innocent citizens by terrorists.

Jonathan condoles with victims' families In a statement on the attack on students, the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Dr Reuben Abati quoted the president as commiserating with the families of those who lost their lives while praying for the quick recovery of those who sustained injuries.

The statement read in part: “President Jonathan commiserates with citizens and residents of Kano State on the loss of lives during the attack by terrorists on the Federal College of Education, Kano.

“President Jonathan’s sympathies and best wishes for a speedy recovery are also with all those who suffered injuries in the dastardly attack.

“The President commends the officers and men of the Nigerian Police Force who took prompt action to confront the attackers and minimize resultant casualties.

“He urges them to be even more alert and proactive in the future to stop terrorist attacks in Kano and other parts of the country.

“President Jonathan reassures the people of Kano and all Nigerians that the Federal Government continues to do all within its powers to further enhance the ability of the Police, Armed Forces and other security agencies to prosecute the war against terrorism to

a successful conclusion and provide greater security of lives and property across the country”.

Fulani gunmen kill 32 in Kaduna villages Also, after what looks like a brief respite, suspected Fulani gunmen have again attacked three communities in Sanga Local Government Area, in the Southern part of Kaduna State, killing 32 villagers, after killing a soldier and injuring four other soldiers in an ambush. This was disclosed

by Mr Bezard Wuyah, National President, Ninzom Development Youths, NPY. Spokesman of Kaduna State Police Command, DSP, Amuni Lawan, who confirmed the attack, however said he was yet to get the full brief of the latest incident at press time.

Speaking to Vanguard on phone, Bezard said: “We heard before now that Fulanis were planning to attack us again.

They came last night around 1am, and attacked Fadan Karshi, Karshi Daji and Unguwan Ganye which were close to one another in Sanga LGA. “They first ambushed a military patrol van that was crossing a bridge from Fadan Karshi to Karshi Daji. They fired at the soldiers and killed one, and four were injured. But the soldiers repelled the attacks. The Fulani men then moved in three groups. One went to Fadan Karshi, where they killed 12 people, burnt down 20 houses and injured scores. They moved to Karshi Daji, killed 20 people and burnt down several houses. Those that attacked Unguwan Ganye are still in the place, so we can not tell you the casualty figure now. But among those killed in Fadan Karshi was the wife of a very respectable retired clergyman, Rev. Jacob Aku. His wife was burnt to ashes in the attack."

6—Vanguard, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 18, 2014

52-yr-old man accused of N2m visa scam

Couple docked over 16-yr-old maid's rape

L

AGOS— A 42-yearold man, Ezechima Patrick and his 37-year-old wife, Uzoima, were yesterday charged before a Yaba Chief Magistrates’ Court in Lagos over alleged rape of their 16-year-old housekeeper.

The couple, who reside at 14, Iyajesha St., Amikonle in Alagbado, a Lagos suburb, are facing a threecount charge of conspiracy, child defilement and rape.

The prosecutor, Assistant Superintendent of Police Godwin Anyanwu, told the court that the accused committed the offences between June 1 and June 4 at their residence.

He said: “Patrick conspired with his wife to defile the 16-year-old girl.

Uzoima had overpowered the girl for the husband to rape her.”

He said the offences contravened Sections 137, 258 and 409 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011.

In her ruling, the Magistrate, Mrs Yewande Aje-Afunwa, granted the accused bail in the sum of N100, 000 each with two sureties each in like sum and scheduled further hearing in the case for September 22.

... woman, over false information

M

ARARABA ( N A S A R AWA STATE)— THE police, yesterday, arraigned a 35year-old businesswoman, Patience Egbo of Kabayi, Mararaba, Nasaraw State, before a Chief Magistrates’ Court, Mararaba, for giving information with intent to mislead.

Patience is facing a twocount charge of alleged cheating and giving false information to public officer with intent to mislead.

The prosecutor, Inspector Joseph Ahua, told the court that Cecilia Fred of the same address with the accused, reported the matter at Mararaba ‘A’ Division Police Station on September 11.

He said after a matter between the complainant and the accused was settled, the accused still went to the police and falsely alleged that the complainant stole her N15,000.

L

TRAFFIC: Tanker drivers caused traffic gridlock on Mile 2-Oshodi-Apapa Expressway, Lagos, yesterday. PHOTO: AKEEM SALAU.

Nightmare as Apapa, Oshodi gridlock returns

By Ikenna Asomba & Ediri Ejoh

L

AGOS— BARELY a month after road users thought the Oshodi-Apapa Expressway had been freed from the perennial traffic gridlock, tanker drivers heading to tank farms operating at the Mosheshe Avenue, Kirikiri Town of Lagos to load petroleum products, blocked the road, disrupting human and vehicular movement for hours.

The gridlock, which extended from the Kirikiri/ Mile2 to the Cele-Ijesha axis forcing commuters to trek long distances, Vanguard gathered, was caused by the large number of tanker drivers who stormed the private tank farms in Kirikiri Town, in search of petroleum products.

The tankers were said to have converged at the axis because they could not get the product from the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, depots as the workers are currently on industrial action over pension issues.

NNPC and Department of Petroleum Resources, DPR, workers under the aegis of Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria, PENGASSAN, and Nigerian Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas workers, NUPENG, had downed tools to protest the demand by the National Pension Commission, PenCom, for the unions to stop in-house pension fund management system and adopt the open pension system.

Hoodlums take charge

Vanguard also gathered that hoodlums hijacked the unfortunate situation, yesterday, dispossessing motorists and other road users of their monies and valuables.

One of Vanguard’s Editors, who was robbed on his way to the office said: “It is rather unfortunate that hoodlums could successfully rob me and other motorists of monies and other valuables along the Mile2 axis today (Wednesday).

“During the attack, there was no presence of security operatives on the road. So the hoodlums had a field day.

Something urgent must be done by the state government to avert this unfortunate situation in future.”

Meanwhile, when Vanguard visited the Kirikiri Town, which houses the five tank farms operated by Techno

Oil, IndexPetrolube Africa, Swift Oil, Fatgbems Oil and Bovas Oil, tanker drivers were seen leaving the tank farms in droves, but got stuck in front of the Nigerian Maritime Resource Development Centre, NMRDC, Kirikiri.

Tanker drivers’ tales

“The horrible situation here is the cause of the traffic gridlock,” said a driver simply identified as Haruna.

Another driver, Mumuni Alao, who said he had been waiting since Tuesday to load, said: “There is no good reason for this gridlock other than the strike embarked by NNPC and DPR workers.

“Because they are on strike and their depots are not opened for business, most tanker drivers had no option but to come to Kirikiri for petroleum products.”

AGOS— A 52-year-old man, Udosi Eke, who allegedly obtained N2 million on the pretext of securing travel documents for a woman was, yesterday, charged before an Apapa Magistrates’ Court, Lagos.

Eke, who resides at Iganmu area of Lagos, is facing a two-count charge of conspiracy and obtaining money under false pretences.

Prosecutor Kingsley Jackson told the court that the accused committed the offences on July 10 at 14, Navy Barracks, Ajegunle, Apapa.

He said Eke, with others still at large, collected N2 million from the complainant, Mrs Patience James, with a promise to secure travel documents for her.

Jackson said the accused converted the money to his personal use.

The prosecutor said the offences contravened Sections 312 and 409 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011.

Section 312 prescribes a 15-year jail term for obtaining money under false pretences, while Section 409 stipulates two years sentence for conspiracy.

The accused pleaded not guilty to the charges.

The Senior Magistrate, Mr. Mukaila Fadeyi, granted the accused bail in the sum of N200,000 with two sureties in like sum and adjourned the case till October 17 for mention.

... as fuel-laden tankers kill 3 in Calabar

By Emma Una

C

ALABAR—THREE persons were burnt to death, yesterday afternoon, when two tankers laden with petroleum products crashed into one another at the 146 Army Battalion gate, popularly called Welcome to Calabar, in the outskirts of Calabar, the Cross River State capital.

An eyewitness, Mr. Sonie Eworo, an engineer and a lecturer at the Cross River State University of Technology, said his car and his building were also burnt in the inferno that resulted from the crash between the two articulated vehicles.

Eworo said: ‘’The trucks,

laden with fuel, were heading out of town and at the Army Junction, one of them attempted to overtake the other. Unknown to the driver, another stationary truck was on its track.

“He rammed into it, sweeping the stationery truck off the road while the impact ignited a fire that engulfed the two trucks.”

The driver and the conductor of the truck which rammed onto the stationery one, along with a labourer digging a hole for water pipe for the Cross River State Water Board, were burnt in the fire.

Three other vehicles, a 505 saloon car, Audi 80, and a Mazda 626, parked bedside residential buildings along

the road, were all burnt.

“My car and building were all burnt and I wonder what I will do now that the trucks were charred so that one cannot identify the owners,” Eworo added.

‘How church service saved me’

A resident of the building, Grace Ofana, who wept uncontrollably, said: “This is our house and usually I stay inside all the time. But just this morning my friend came and insisted we must go to church.

“I initially did not want to go but she insisted and if I had not gone with her, my daughter, Miracle and I would have been dead by now.”

Vanguard, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 18, 2014—7

Sierra Leonean human trafficker nabbed in Enugu zAs Immigration repatriates 98 illegal aliens E

NUGU—THE Nigeria Immigration Service, Enugu State Command, yesterday, said it nabbed one Mr. Koffi Hassan, a Sierra Leonean, who specialises in trafficking women out of Nigeria for prostitution.

The Immigration Comptroller, Mr. Bashir Ismail, disclosed this in Enugu.

He said that Hassan, the human traffic kingpin, who had been on their wanted list, was arrested following a tip-off.

His words: “Human trafficking has been a challenge in this part of the country.

“Just last month, we succeeded in arresting one notorious human trafficker called Koffi Hassan, who has been involved in trafficking of women for prostitution.

“We have been tracking him and finally, we were able to arrest the kingpin. We have now presented him for prosecution. After prosecution, we will definitely repatriate him.

“That’s a great achievement for us; we have been

challenged for this kind of things in this area.

“This warn those who are involved in human trafficking that the end is in sight.Victims that are with him confessed what he uses them for and NAPTIP has succeeded in reuniting them with their families.”

Ismail said the command had also embarked on the repatriation of irregular aliens in the state.

He said that such people had caused security breaches in the state and had become threats to their host communities.

“The service decided to embark on regular repatriation and removal of such kind of citizens that are among us.

“Between January and now, we have repatriated over 98 people out of Enugu.

We have to be on it and to be frank, we have been getting great support from Enugu State government.

“We also get people referred to us due to our synergy with other security agencies.

Whenever they have such kind of people arrested among other criminals, they do refer them to us, then we take action.

“We are very happy with that because the synergy has been working very well.

That’s why we were able to repatriate such high number of illegal aliens.

“Most of the nationals are from Niger Republic, Togo and Mali and a few Beninois and the Cameroonians,” he said.

He added that citizens from West African countries were entitled to stay in any member state under certain regulations backed up by prescribed documents.

Ismail said that those without the required documents would be vulnerable to manipulation and could commit offences without records.

Police arrest man, 25, for raping 3-yr-old in Ogun

By Daud Olatunji BEOKUTA—THE Police operatives attached to Ayetoro Division of the Ogun State Police Command, have arrested a 25-year-old man, Kayode Akanni, at Pedepo village in Ohunbe, Yewa South Local Government Area of Ogun State for defiling a three-year-old girl.

The Police Public Relations Officer in the state, Muyiwa Adejobi, disclosed this in a statement, yesterday.

Adejobi said the parents of the victim reported the case to the police when they

A

noticed that there were bruises on her private part before the police eventually arrested the suspect.

According to him, during police interrogation, it was discovered that the suspect tricked the young girl into his room and had unlawful carnal knowledge of the girl.

He said the suspect had confessed to the crime, adding that the victim has been taken to a hospital for treatment and to get medical report of the case.

“The Commissioner of Police, Ogun State, Ikemefuna Okoye, has

ordered that the case be transferred to the Department of Criminal Investigation, Eleweran, Abeokuta for thorough investigation.

“The Commissioner of Police has condemned the act and promised to carry out thorough investigation and perfect prosecution of the matter as such will detar people from engaging in such barbaric act.

“He stated further that the command will always put in place measures that will reduce crimes and social vices to the barest minimum, and urged parents to keep watch on their children and wards,” he said.

Bus conductor docked for biting passenger's ear over fare

L

AGOS—A 32-yearold bus conductor, Taiye Ajayi, was yesterday, charged with biting off the ear of a passenger at an Ejigbo Magistrate's Court, Lagos.

Ajayi, whose address is unknown, is being tried for unlawfully inflicting wounds.

The prosecutor, Corporal Oluwafemi Adeleye, told the court that the accused bit off the ear of one Kabiru Olugbemi for allegedly refusing to pay his fare.

Adeleye said the

accused committed the offence at MicCom Bus Stop, Egbeda, a Lagos suburb, on August 23, at about 8.30 p.m.

He said: “The passenger boarded a bus from Oshodi to Egbeda and informed the conductor about the little money he had on him as fare.

“The accused demanded for the balance of the fare when he got to the bus stop and thereafter a fight ensued.

“In the process, the accused bit off Kabiru’s

ear.”

Adeleye said the offence contravened Section 244 (a) of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011.

The accused may be sentenced to three years imprisonment on conviction.

The accused, however, pleaded not guilty to the offence.

The Magistrate, Mr P.E. Nwaka, granted him bail in the sum of N50,000 with one surety in like sum.

The case has been adjourned till October 6, for trial.

Corpses of twin babies, toddler found in Edo sum of N300,000 after sendBy Simon Ebegbulem

B

ENIN CITY— RESIDENTS of Benin City, yesterday, found the corpses of three dead babies dumped along Second East Circular Road, off Sakponba Road.

Two of them suspected to be twins were wrapped in clothes and kept inside a carton under a palm tree while the third was a toddler of about 18 months.

The two babies, believed to be twins, were already decomposing when they

were found while the girl was dressed in white shirt and purple skirt.

Residents of the area said they saw the bodies at the early hours of yesterday.

Policemen were seen taking photographs of the bodies but they were yet to be removed as at press time.

Meanwhile, the Edo State Police Command has confirmed the arrest of two teenagers, Monday Gideon and Ebhomen Junior who obtained the

ing threatening text messages to some persons.

Monday was said to have used part of his share of the money to purchase a bicycle while his accomplice was planning a birthday party before they were arrested.

The suspects aged 14, were said to have threatened to kidnap and kill a businessman and his two children based in Ekpoma, Esan West Local Government Area of Edo State if he refused to pay N300,000.

8 — Vanguard, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 18, 2014

2015: Lamido absent as PDP govs endorse Jonathan

By Henry Umoru

A

BUJA—AHEAD of his formal declaration for the 2015 Presidential election, governors elected on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP yesterday unanimously endorsed President Goodluck Jonathan as the sole Presidential candidate for the election.

Reading a Communique after a meeting of the Governors held at the Akwa Ibom Governor ’s Lodge, Asokoro, Abuja yesterday, Governor of Akwa Ibom State and Chairman, PDP Governors’ Forum, Chief Godswill Akpabio urged all members of the party across the country to ensure that they work to ensure the emergence of President Jonathan as the sole candidate.

With this development, Jonathan is likely to be the sole Presidential candidate at the party’s Presidential Convention fixed for December 6th, just as Governor Sule Lamido of Jigawa who is being rumoured to be having presidential ambition was absent, but his deputy was present at the meeting.

The meeting which started at 4 pm, ended at 7.45 pm.

Present at the meeting were Godswill Akpabio (Akwa Ibom); Sullivan Chime (Enugu); Jonah Jang (Plateau); Seriake Dickson (Bayelsa); Theodore Orji (Abia); Ibrahim Dankwambo (Gombe); Idris Wada (Kogi); Liyel Imoke (Cross River); Emmanuel Uduaghan (Delta).

Others are Ramallan Yero (Kaduna); Gabriel Suswam (Benue); Babangida Aliyu (Niger); Saidu Dakingari ( Kebbi); Ahmadu Fintiri and Umar Garba (acting governors of Adamawa and Taraba respectively); Mahmoud Gumel, Abdullahi Faskari and Mukhtar Shagari, Damishi Luka, deputy governors of Jigawa, Katsina, Sokoto and Nasarawa respectively.

NNPC WORKERS’ STRIKE: Nigeria stops gas supply to Ghana

By Michael Eboh, with

Agency Report

T

HE ongoing strike action embarked upon by staff of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC has started to take its toll on the economy of the country, as well as other economies in West Africa, as the West African Gas Pipeline Company Limited (WAPCo), yesterday, stopped gas supply to Ghana.

Also, NNPC depots and facilities as well as facilities of its subsidiaries were under lock and key as staff failed to turn up for their duties.

When Vanguard visited NNPC depot at Ejigbo in Lagos, the facility was deserted with only few security personnel available to prevent entry into the premises.

No member of staff was seen at the premises.

Meanwhile, the stoppage of gas supply to Ghana is expected to lead to the shutdown of the country’s Asogli Power Plant, jeopardising about 180 megawatts of electricity, thereby, worsening the power situation in the country.

The Asogli Power Plant was augmenting Ghana’s energy needs with an average of 180 megawatts (MW).

WAPCo is owned by Chevron West African Gas Pipeline Limited, with a 36.9 per cent; Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, with a 24.9 per cent stake; Shell Overseas Holdings Limited — 17.9 per cent; Takoradi Power Company Limited — 16.3 per cent, Societe Togolaise de Gaz —two per cent and Societe BenGaz S.A. — two per cent.

WAPCo’s main mandate is to transport natural gas from Nigeria to customers in Benin, Togo and Ghana in a safe, responsible and reliable manner, at prices competitive with other fuel alternatives.

A Ghanaian news medium

PDP GOVS ENDORSE JONATHAN: Chairman, Peoples Democratic Party, PDP Governor's Forum and Akwa Ibom State Governor, Godswill Akpabio with other PDP Governors addressing press men on their adoption of President Goodluck Jonathan as PDP's sole candidate for the 2015 Presidential Election in Abuja yesterday. Photo by Gbemiga Olamikan.

quoted a source at the country’s Ministry of Energy and Petroleum as saying that information about the stoppage of supply was communicated to the Ministry authorities of the Nigerian government.

Already, Ghana’s power supply situation has over the past weeks been faced with challenges because its other power plants are operating below capacity due to maintenance schedules, delay in crude oil supply and other factors, a source told the news medium.

The source said, “The Nigerian authorities communicated this bad news to us this afternoon. We are working out emergency measures to forestall adverse effects on individuals and industry.

“What the stoppage of gas flow to Ghana means is that the Asogli Power Plant will shut down because it runs only on gas.

“This is certainly not good because other power plants are operating below capacity due to maintenance schedules, delay in crude oil supply and other factors.”

The report said the suspension of gas supply from the West African Gas Pipeline will aggravate an already precarious power situation, especially as water level in the Akosombo Dam keeps dropping while power plants in the country continuously operate below capacity.

The source, however, stated that despite the challenges, work was on schedule to tie the Atuabo Gas Plant to the Floating Production Storage and Offloading (FPSO) vessel, which is being operated

by Tullow Oil Plc. He further explained that thermal plants in the country are also expected to be powered by the gas which will flow from

MUTINY: Agbakoba, Gen Ikponmwen seek review of sentence

By Innocent Anaba, Simon Ebegbulem & Gbenga Olarinoye

F

ORMER President of Nigerian Bar Association, NBA, Dr. Olisa Agbakoba, SAN, yesterday, said that the decision of the Brig-Gen B.T. Ndiomuled Court Martial, sentencing 12 soldiers to death for mutiny was unconstitutional, as the army was the investigator, prosecutor and judge, all rolled into one.

Similarly, former Provost Marshal of the Nigerian Army, Brig.Gen. Idada Ikponmwen, said it will be catastrophic for the country and the nation as a whole, if President Goodluck Jonathan fails to intervene urgently on the death sentence passed on 12 soldiers.

Also, Youths Initiative for Global Peace based in Osun State, has charged the Federal Government and Nigeria

military to reverse the judgment, pleading that the killing of the soldiers, who have made personal sacrifice to combat the evils of terrorism that has besieged the country should not be the last option.

Agbakoba, in a letter to the Chief of Army Staff, Lt Gen Kenneth Minimah, said “I write to draw attention to the unconstitutional decision of the Court Martial in which 12 soldiers were sentenced to death. This is without prejudice to the offence alleged to have been committed.

“We fully understand that Military discipline is based on obedience to superior orders and that mutiny is a serious offence, yet the Nigerian Constitution guarantees a right to fair hearing to every Nigerian.

“The manner, procedure and process by which these condemned soldiers were

sentenced to death is contrary to the Nigerian Constitution.

The reason is because the Army was investigator, prosecutor and judge all rolled into one. This is contrary to the rules of natural justice as consecrated at Section 36 of the 1999 constitution.

On his part, Idada said though the offence committed by the soldiers carries death penalty but, it will be wrong to kill the soldiers when it was alleged that the top hierarchy of the military was not transparent as regards the up- keep of the military, adding that the nation may risk “serious unrest in the military and the nation as a whole if junior officers in the military sense that they are being used as scape goats.”

The retired General, who had participated in several court marshals, such as the trial of three Admirals in the Missing MP African ship, said “firstly, mutiny is a very serious crime

in the military. There is no military establishment that is truly so that can afford to toy with the issue of mutiny. It is therefore, not surprising that the court marshal that tried these soldiers meted out the harsher punishment that is deserved by this nature of offence ordinarily.

“But having said that, this can only be justified when every thing is normal, when the standard of the military itself, the transparency and the dedication of the overall government are all in place. In particular, when the military had to purge itself of a lot of things that are becoming associated with it, it becomes necessary to take a second look. Otherwise the impression may be given that the junior ranks are being made the scape goats. The truth of the matter is that the military itself requires to carry out very urgently, self reappraisal in terms of loyalty, dedication and transparency.''

Vanguard, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 18, 2014 —9

PDP to pick presidential candidate Dec 6

By Henry Umoru

A

BUJA—NATIONAL leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP disclosed yesterday that its presidential primary to nominate its flag-bearer for the 2015 presidential election will be held on December 6.

According to PDP National Publicity Secretary, Chief Olisa Metuh, the party ’s National Assembly and governorship primaries will hold on November 22nd and 29 respectively.

The National Caucus of the party has already approved the dates just as the Board of Trustees, BoT of the party at the end of its meeting would also approve. The National Executive Committee (NEC) will meet today to ratify the dates and guidelines.

In line with this, the party will release the guidelines tomorrow (September 19), publish the timetable for the primaries and write the independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on its planned congresses on October 9 and commence the sale of forms for all primaries on October 10.

As the PDP governors met last night to look at these issues, a source said “it is however expected that public servants, appointed people and elected party officials with political ambition will resign 7 days before the commencement of ward congress. Such people are expected to resign by October 20.”

Meanwhile, in a document titled: “Timetable of activities leading to Primaries” as obtained by Vanguard yesterday, the party would conduct the South West zonal congress on October 11; Zonal rallies for South-South and SouthWest, September 20 and 27 respectively.

According to the document, National Chairman’s Fund raising dinner is fixed for October 15.

Purchase and return of forms for Ward Congresses where 3 Ad- hoc delegates would emerge according to the document will take place between October 27 and 28; ward Congresses, November 11 and appeal is fixed for November 3.

Synagogue reluctant to release names of victims zAs death toll hits 80 zNo plan to confiscate site until..., says Lagos govt

By Evelyn Usman

L

AGOS—SIX days after a five-storey building used as guest house by the Synagogue Church of All Nations, SCOAN collapsed, killing scores of persons and injuring several others, the church was yet to produce names of lodgers in the building.

Although the South African government had Tuesday claimed that 67 of its citizens perished in the collapsed building but rescue operators are faced with the challenge of identifying the nationalities of the dead and

survivors, owing to what they alleged as reluctance from SCOAN to produce the names.

Besides, indication emerged that some countries, among which is Australia, have been calling in to ascertain the plight of their citizens feared might be victims.

Death toll now 80

This is as the death toll rose to 80 yesterday with the recovery of additional 17 victims comprising 12 women and five men, with the number of survivors still 131.

Fielding questions from newsmen on the contradiction in

the number of death between rescue operators and President Jacob Zuma of South Africa, the South West spokesperson for the National Emergency Management Agency, NEMA Ibrahim Farinloye, maintained that as at Tuesday, when Zuma came up with his figure, the death toll was 63.

Farinloye said, “I don’t know where President Zuma got his information from. He is not on ground here but we are. So, we presume he is operating based on information made available to him. We are working on what we

got based on operation. As I speak, we have record of 80 persons dead and 131 rescued alive. The figure rose to 80 because we recovered two bodies by 11pm on Tuesday and another two at about 3am today (Wednesday) and the rest between 10am and 4pm. We will continue working until we get to the last level of excavation because it is possible that more bodies are still trapped underneath the rubble.

On list of victims

However, a member of the church, who spoke on condition on anonymity to Vanguard, assured that SCOAN was likely to come out with the list today.

The worker said: ''We were overwhelmed by the incident. And we were fully involved in the rescue. I assure you that we will come out with the list by tomorrow (today) because there is no way you can hide the corpses, as some of them need to be flown to their respective countries”.

We won't confiscate site just yet—LAGOS

MEETING: The Etsu Nupe, Alhaji Yahaya Abubakar (left) with Emir of Birnin-gwari, Alhaji Subairu Jibrin III at the northern traditional rulers council meeting in Kaduna yesterday. Photo by Olu Ajayi.

Colonel feared killed during Boko Haram attack on Michika zArmy compulsorily retires Major-General

By Kingsley Omonobi

ABUJA— A colonel of the Nigerian Army serving in ‘Operation Zaman Lafia’ which is the military operation to flush out Boko Haram insurgents in Adamawa, Borno and Yobe states was feared killed in a daring attack by the terrorists in Michika, just as the Army High Command ordered the immediate and compulsory retirement of a MajorGeneral for professional misconduct.

The General, according to Vanguard investigation, is from the South-Eastern part of the country and served as a General Officer Commanding 81 division of the Army in Lagos.

The offences for which the General was ordered retired were said to have been committed while he served as the commander of one of the brigades

in the South-South part of the country.

Several petitions were said to have been written against him to the Army High Command early this year, prompting the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. General Kenneth Minimah to institute a board of inquiry that was headed by another General.

After completion of its assignment, interrogating the senior officer, interviewing witnesses and gathering evidence, Vanguard was told that the Army High Command had no choice than recommend the officer for compulsory retirement.

When the Army Council headed

by President Goodluck Jonathan sat over the recommendation of the Army High Command, Vanguard was told the council had no difficulty approving the compulsory retirement.

When Vanguard sought to know

if the General was in a position to appeal the order, it was gathered the officer was lucky to escape outright dismissal or demotion in rank following the outcome of the investigation.

Meanwhile, sources have told Vanguard that a Colonel of the Nigerian Army serving in ‘Operation Zaman Lafia’ which is the military operation to flush out Boko Haram insurgents in Adamawa, Borno and Yobe states was feared killed in a daring attack by the terrorists in Michika.

The colonel, (names with-held) who hailed from one of the states in the North-West, was said to have been killed during the onslaught by the terrorists on the town.

The Colonel, who was said to be in charge of frontline sector of that axis, was attacked when the

Meanwhile, the Lagos State Government has stated that it had no plan to confiscate the site of the collapsed building until investigation into its cause was concluded.

In a statement yesterday by the Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, Olutoyin Ayinde, it said; “Government does not arbitrarily take over properties when investigation is still ongoing. The state government is conducting a preliminary investigation into the cause(s) of the collapse and would leave no stone unturned. If there is any violation of relevant planning law, residents are assured that government would take appropriate action.''

He said that ‘there are no plans to take over the collapsed structure site until thorough and detailed investigation as to the cause(s) of the collapse has been concluded.

“A team of engineers from the ministry and other government agencies are taking samples from the foundation and materials from the wreckage of the building for detailed analysis and testing to ascertain the structural integrity of the building”.

On the “Strange Plane Theory”, alleged to have dangerously flown low over the building minutes before its collapse, Ayinde disclosed that the ministry had submitted the video clips, as provided by the church to the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) with the co-ordinate of the collapsed site for investigation and professional comment.

10 — Vanguard, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 18, 2014

BRT VANDALISM: Female soldier set first bus ablaze — WITNESS

By Olasunkanmi Akoni

A

WITNESS at the on-going Tribunal of Enquiry into the July 4th, 2014, road traffic accident and subsequent destruction of Bus Rapid Transit, BRT, buses, looting rioting among others, yesterday, claimed how a female soldier set the first bus ablaze.

Governor Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State following the incident, had set up a threeman tribunal of enquiry, led by Justice Ebenezer Adebajo (rtd.) to investigate the incident and submit its findings to the government within 60 days.

Speaking at day three of the public hearing in Alausa, Mr. Rasak Mustapha, a tow truck driver, said a female military officer set the first bus ablaze.

Earlier position by the Army was that none of its officers was involved in violence and wanton destruction of BRT buses and others, claiming hoodlums set the buses on fire.

On how the first bus was set ablaze, Mustapha said: “The buses were parked bumper-tobumper. Immediately the first bus was set ablaze at the Palm-Grove bus shelter, it later ignited others.”

Though Mustapha was unable to state the exact time the bus was

set on fire, he insisted “this single act led to the burning of two BRT buses and one LAGBUS at the Palm-Grove BRT bus shelter.”

He claimed the female officer who appeared from nowhere had a plastic bottle filled with Petrol Motor Spirit, PMS, poured the content on the vehicle and ignited the fire.

According to him: “I received a call from my boss, who said Bus M063 had broken down at the Palm-Grove end of Ikorodu Road, and as it is the practice in LAGBUS Asset Management, any officer who lives closer to the point where any bus has broken down, would be deployed to see

to the issues affecting the bus before the maintenance team arrives.

“When I got to the scene at about 5:30 am, I saw a motorcycle beside the bus. When the maintenance team arrived and asked that I start the ignition that was when I saw the corpse of the military officer. That was when I raised alarm.

"At 7:30 am, a Lagos State Waste Management Authority, LAWMA officials alerted some soldiers that their colleague had an accident on July 3rd night and his corpse was still lying on the ground. It was these officers who contacted others who arrived the scene in a

Toyota Hiace vehicle and vent ed their anger on the buses.”

Corroborating the Mustapha's claims, Mr. Adedapo Adejuwon, monitoring officer of LAGBUS, claimed he heard army officers threatening to destroy any BRT bus that passed through the route that day.

Adejuwon who sustained injury while trying to avoid the confusion in the ensuing melee added: “Immediately I heard this, I ran to other BRT and LAGBUS buses to alert them of the military officers’ intention. The rest is history.”

EBOLA: WHO, Port Health plan containment strategy at Seme anonymity, noted that the agency was working out strategies to contain and possibly eliminate the spread of the disease.

WHO official explained that the move to identify these illegal routes was also part of the strategy to further contain the spread of EVD. The official called on the media to ensure that they got the correct information before publishing stories on Ebola issue.

By Monsuru Olowoopejo release of the girls by the women leader of According to him: “We the Action Congress of Nigeria, APC. must identify the illegal IFE OF Lagos State Governor, According to her, “There is no alternative routes and put one or two Mrs. Abimbola Fashola, yesterday, to the rallies and campaigns held for the persons there to monitor said the endless wait for the safe return of release of the girls so far. We really did not human traffic. We plead Chibok girls, 156 days after their abduction need to let their voice down than to with you journalists, to give

by Boko Haram, had subjected the girls, continue to pray and beg God to look for the correct information; if their parents and loved ones to solution for us.” you are in doubt, please, indescribable trauma and apprehension. cross check, information on At a briefing ahead of the National health issues is very Women Conference organised by the sensitive and your reports Committee of Wives of Lagos State can cause panic.”

Officials, COWLSO, in Alausa, Mrs. The official commended Fahola, however, urged women to show the Lagos State more interest in politics ahead of the 2015 Government for the election, saying, “they should aspire for exemplary leadership

By Monsuru Olowoopejo political office and vote during elections.” exhibited since the outMrs. Fashola who is also the chairman break of EVD in Lagos.

OVERNOR BABATUNDE Fashola of COwLSO, lamented the non-rescue of He claimed if Mr. Patrick of Lagos State, yesterday, raised the Chibok girls had become a national Sawyer (the Liberian) had embarrassment, saying COWLSO had alarm that fraudsters were using his name been taken to the General been in the forefront in the quest for the on a facebook account to dupe residents of Hospital, the situation release of the girls, explaining that the the state. would have been worse Fashola in a statement by his Special group was involved in the rallies for the than it was now.

Adviser on Media, Mr. On non-closure of the Hakeem Bello, said the Seme border by the conmen had through Nigerian government, the Facebook, been urging official said: “We cannot citizens to apply for some close the border because NE OF the largest process of changing the existing government there is no instruction to facilities or utilities meant to that effect.” technology and face of industry.

A licensed Customs The new technology was benefit the public that the consumer electronics distributors in Africa, unveiled to the public in agencies of government agent based in Seme, Alhaji Mikky Okunola, Mitsumi Nigeria Limited, Lagos on how video were managing.

The statement called on said border could not be has entered into conferencing had helped to citizens of the state to be closed because it would be partnership with Polycom “defy distance."

Speaking at the events, wary of a Facebook scam a breach of the Economic on video collaboration to help defy distance between Chris Prowse, Polycom where some unscrupulous Community of West colleagues, clients and Regional Sales Director, persons were using the African States, ECOWAS, North Africa, Saudi Arabia photographs of Governor treaty which allowed for suppliers in Nigeria.

Polycom involved in and Levant, said, “Video Babatunde Fashola, free movement of persons fictitious within the sub-region. unified communications conferencing will help ascribing A Port Health Service, and collaboration, is out for achieve business goals and statements to him on fake transforming how people defy distance within Facebook accounts to PHS, official, who also defraud innocent citizens. spoke to Vanguard, said collaborate and is in the organization.”

A

By Godwin Oritse

S THE dreaded Ebola Virus Diseas, EVD continues to ravage some West African countries, World Health Organisation, WHO, in collaboration with Nigerian Ports Health Services, PHS, in Seme border, have mapped out new strategies to contain the virus.

Some of the strategies reached at a meeting between both organisations included increase of the Ebola testing equipment, increase in the number of health personnel and increase in surveillance at identifiable illegal routes.

An official of WHO, who spoke to Vanguard on condition of

Fashola's wife laments trauma of Chibok girls

W

Fraudsters using my name in Facebook —Fashola

G

BHS Iwo old students hold reunion, AGM

O

there were currently only 12 infra-red thermometers being used use at the border.

The official claimed

additional 30 thermometres would be needed to adequately take care of the high human traffic at the border.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 18, 2014—11

I assisted Daniel to claim Ogun indigeneship —Amosun .It’s an insult — Daniel

By Daud Olatunji

A

BEOKUTA — GOVERNOR Ibikunle Amosun of Ogun State, yesterday, said he was part of those that aided his predecessor, Otunba Gbenga Daniel to claim indigeneship of Ogun State in 2003.

According to Amosun, Daniel was an indigene of Isoko in Delta State, but, requested for assistance from him and some other unnamed persons to get a family house in Sagamu ahead of his 2003 governorship ambition in the state.

Amosun spoke yesterday, at Odeda Local Government in continuation of his local government tour which began on Tuesday.

The governor was reacting to allegations levelled against his administration by Daniel when the latter was at Odeda penultimate week.

Daniel had accused Amosun of selling off all the farmlands in the area to other states, claiming Amosun’s administration had short-changed the people of Odeda.

According to Amosun, “when

they came into power, the farmlands were over 60, when we came in, it remains only five.

Our forefathers will never forgive them and the generations coming will also curse them.

They thought we were like them, we are not.

"We are not bastards from Isoko. They came to us then, we are the one they ran to and we helped them to get where they are claiming today as their home.

Although, it was not time for political campaign, yet, I will not hesitate to respond to Daniel’s allegations which he levelled against my administration here in the same Odeda Local Government.

“He is envious of our achievements and successes recorded within the past few years. We need to let them know that we are not thieves like them.

They will not be able to stand and campaign for vote here in Odeda by the time I start exposing them. They are treasure looters. If not for the type of the country we are, they ought to have covered their heads in shame rather than boast around the town.”

In a swift reaction, former

governor, Otunba Gbenga Daniel described the statement credited to Amosun on his nativity status as diversionary.

Daniel in a statement by his media aide, Ayo Giwa said: “It is now glaring that the clock is fast ticking towards electoral defeat hence his attempt to stand history on its head by reverting to the same scenario that played itself out some 12 years ago. The statement that Otunba Gbenga Daniel is not from Sagamu is an insult on the entire good people of the historical town of Sagamu as well as a taboo and effrontery on the traditional institutions in the land especially the thrones of the Akarigbo of Remoland as well as the Ewusi of Makun in Remo Kingdom.

“Precisely on Saturday 23 February, 2002, Otunba Gbenga Daniel was made the Aare Asoludero of Makun Sagamu with traditional rites performed by the Late Ewusi, Oba Efuwape Ogunsowo, Inanuwa II. To all

intents and purposes, Oba Ogunsowo declared that Otunba Daniel was a freeborn of Makun in Sagamu and of the Ojelobaye family origin. Prominent among those who were present on that occasion was the former Governor of Lagos State and the leader of the APC, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu."

“Has he quickly forgotten that Otunba Daniel also holds the traditional title of the Arole of Remoland as well as many across the state? If he has respect and honour for traditional authorities and customs how dare he challenge such authorities? That Otunba Daniel sold all the state’s patrimony is in itself cheap blackmail. Is concession not different from outright sale? What has happened to the companies since he came to power some three and a half years ago and why did he not attempt to revive them if they are viable? The outburst from the incumbent is belated and immature."

Fayose accuses Fayemi of diverting workers' salary

.We know nothing about such —Govt Gbenga Ariyibi

DO EKITI — EKITI State Government and governor-elect, Ayodele Fayose, yesterday, traded words over alleged diversion of workers' salaries to pay government contractors.

While Fayose claimed Governor Kayode Fayemi was diverting workers’ salaries to pay contractors, Fayemi on his part, said he knew nothing about such diversion because government would not give priority to contractors over workers.

Fayose in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Idowu Adelusi, in Ado Ekiti, claimed workers in the state were being made to suffer unjustly as the state government was diverting funds meant to pay their salaries for the payment of contractors and severance allowance political appointees by Fayemi.

According to the statement: ‘’The governor does not need to rob Peter to pay Paul. He owes workers in the state backlog of salary arrears and he has not paid them. Instead of paying workers, the administration is focusing on paying government contractors. The word of God says a labourer is worth his wages and those who are working for the state must not be denied their dues.

“The government must not waste further time in paying these hapless workers and save their families from hunger. If the government is using statutory allocations and other revenue to pay contractors and the severance benefit of the governor’s appointees, then what stops the state from paying workers?

Reacting through the Commissioner for Information, Tayo Ekundayo, Fayemi said it was not aware of any contractor being given top priority insisting that the government would ensure that it paid according to availability of funds.

According to him, “We have said it several times that we have paucity of funds because of dwindling money from the Federal Government. Beside, the arrangement we had with banks to pay salaries was thwarted by the Peoples Democratic Party. But I can assure you that we will pay according to the available funds at our disposal.”

A

BHS Iwo old students hold reunion, AGM

T

HE ANNUAL General Meeting of Baptist High School, Iwo Old Students Association comes up on Saturday, September, 20, 2014, at the school premises, Adeke, in Iwo town, Oyo State.

A statement by the association’s Assistant National Secretary, Pastor Jide Orisaleye, enjoined all Adekites to endevour to be present at the meeting as vital decisions would be taken on next year ’s Diamond jubilee of the school.

JOGS 74/79 meeting

T

HE MONTHLY meeting of Ijebu-Ode Grammar School Old Boys Association, JOGS, 1974/79 set, takes place on September 21, 2014 A release by general secretary of the association Mr. Adeola Adelana, said "venue is No. 3, Antioch Church Avenue, Off Regal College Road, GRA extension, Sagamu, Ogun State, and host is Dayo Ayanjoke, Chief Executive Officer, Dabak Nigeria Ltd."

Mama Ojo is dead

M

AMA GRACE Oladoja Ojo is dead, aged 88.

A respected teacher and devout Christian of First Baptist Church, Broad St, Lagos, Mama Ojo's Christian wake-keep will be held on Thursday, September 25 at New Estate Baptist Church, Adisa Bashua Street, Surulere, Lagos.

Burial ceremony will hold on Friday, September 26 at First Baptist Church, 24A Broad Street, Lagos, while interment follows immediately at Ikoyi Cemetery.

Reception will later hold at Eagle’s Club, Adeniran Ogunsanya Street, Surulere, Lagos.

Late Oladoja Ojo

12—Vanguard, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 18, 2014

C M Y K

Vanguard, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 18, 2014—13

Bayelsa shuts Agip facility over oil spill

By Samuel Oyadongha

Y

ENAGOA—THE Bayelsa State Government, yesterday, ordered Nigerian Agip Oil Company, NAOC, to temporarily shut down its facility in Ayamabele and Kalaba communities in Orkordia clan of Yenagoa Local Government Area of the state over rising cases of oil spills in the area.

It also announced the setting up of a rapid response team to handle spills related cases in the communities.

According to the state Commissioner for Environment, Mr. Iniuro Wills, the decision was to allow a special investigative team to tackle spills in the state.

Wills said: “The grave consequences spillage portends for the people and communities have necessitated the setting up of the team.

Following the recent gas spillage, which occurred on September 4, at a facility operated by NAOC in the two communities, the ministry has asked the company to temporarily shut down operations in the facility.”

Meanwhile, the state government has announced that a meeting between the leadership of the impacted communities, the officials of the state government and NAOC has been called to

discuss the incidence of spillage with a view to

improving environmental standards in the state.

OGBEMUDIA @ 82: Edo unveils statue

By Simon Ebegbulem

B

ENIN— EDO State Government has immortalised Dr. Samuel Ogbemudia, the former governor of the defunct Mid-West and Bendel States, by unveiling a statue in his honour at the state’s stadium, in celebration of his 82nd birthday, describing him as a living icon.

While unveiling the statue,

yesterday, Governor Adams Oshiomhole said: “This statue, I believe, captures the genuine feelings of Edo people; a small token of formal recognition of Ogbemudia’s unparalleled service to our people.”

Earlier, Dr. Ogbemudia commended the governor for his wonderful performance in Edo State and for setting a pace for all to follow.

PDP dares Amaechi on LG polls

By Jimitota Onoyume

P

ORT HARCOURT— PEOPLES Democratic Party, PDP, in Rivers State has challenged Governor Chibuike Amaechi to test the popularity of his All Progressives Congress, APC, in the state by conducting local government elections.

While swearing in chairmen of the newly constituted caretaker committees for local governments in the state, Governor Amaechi had said that the council elections will hold after 2015 national elections.

PDP, in a statement by the media aide to the state Chairman of the party, Mr. Jerry Needam, said the delay in conducting the council elections was largely due to the governor’s fear that APC will be defeated.

It said: “We are on ground and ever prepared to engage Amaechi and his APC in a free and fair electoral contest any day and are sure of coasting home with a landslide victory because we are genuine, caring, articulate and purposeful.”

Delta PDP chair backs Obuh for guber

T

HE Delta State Chairman of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Chief Peter Nwaoboshi, has said that for the sake of equity, an Anioma son or daughter should emerge as governor of the state in 2015.

Chief Nwaoboshi, who spoke when a governorship aspirant, Mr. Tony Obuh, paid him a consultation visit, said the race for the governorship position was open and stressed the need for Anioma sons and daughters to aspire for the top seat.

He said he was in support of what God has destined, noting that Obuh was eminently qualified, like every other Anioma son, to vie for the position of governor.

He said though the political terrain was known to be tough and rough, he believed in Obuh’s ability to weather the storm.

14—Vanguard, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 18, 2014

Uduaghan reassures security agencies of support

Kashamu faults ACF on Jonathan, insurgency

T

HE Chairman, Mobilisation and Organisation Committee of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Prince Buruji Kashamu, has berated Arewa Consultative Forum, ACF, for blaming the security challenges bedevilling the North Eastern part of the country on President Goodluck Jonathan, saying terrorism was a global phenomenon.

In a statement in Lagos yesterday, Kashamu said what was expected was for all Nigerians to rally round the current administration in its efforts to end insurgency in some parts of the North.

He said: “I note with dismay the attempt by ACF to heap the blame of the security challenges bedevilling the NorthEast on President Goodluck Jonathan as if they were his creations.”

UK group unveils oil spill monitoring tool

By Samuel Oyadongha

Y

ENAGOA—A United Kingdom, UK-based environmental monitoring group, the Stakeholder Democracy Network, SDN, has unveiled a state-of-the-art mapping and tracking website tool to monitor and gather data on oil spills in the Niger Delta region.

According to SDN, the website tool is already being used by the Nigerian Government, National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency, NOSDRA, in its six zonal offices of the country and has replaced their previous database of oil spill data.

The website tool, submitted by the SDN for the public assessment on the Active Innovation Competition and monitored in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, was described by the group’s Executive Director, Mr. Joseph Hurst-Croft, as a digital mapping project.

C M Y K

A APPOINTMENT: From left— Mr. Waziri Bintube, Chief Financial Officer; Mr. Rumundaka Wonodi, Chief Executive Officer, both of Nigeria Bulk Electricity Trading Plc, NBET; and Mr. Yinka Sanni, Chief Executive Officer, Stanbic IBTC Bank, during the appointment of the bank as provider of payment management services to NBET in Abuja, yesterday.

PDP can't question Edo govt expenses— APC

By Simon Ebegbulem

B

ENIN— THE All Progressives Congress, APC, in Edo State, yesterday, accused the Chief Dan Orbih-led Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in the state of lacking the moral justification to question Governor Adams Oshiomhole’s expenses.

The party said the memo which contained the alleged travel expenses of the governor as read by Orbih was an indication that the expenditure was authorised from the Appropriation Law as passed by the Edo State House of Assembly.

Recalling that the World Bank had hailed Oshiomhole’s administration as regards its transparency in award of contracts and other government expenditure, the state chairman of APC, Mr. Anslem Ojezua, said Orbih should credit Oshiomhole for being transparent “by putting up a memo which he claimed he saw unlike his PDP that did not follow due process when it comes to expenditure.”

According to Ojezua, “Orbih is making a mountain out of a mole hill because from the documents he exhibited,

you could see that the document was a memo emanating in accordance with the public service rules, indicating compliance with the law as relates to public expenditure.

“It is also evident that the expenditure itself was

Ebola: Rivers schools may not resume yet z340 still under surveillance

By Jimitota Onoyume

P

ORT HARCOURT— RIVERS State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Sampson Parker, yesterday, said schools in the state may not resume the same time with those in other states because of Ebola Virus Disease, EVD. Parker said at the moment, there were about 340 persons under surveillance in the state, adding that the state will want to be very certain of the situation before schools are allowed to resume.

Meantime, Deputy Managing Director, Total E&P, Port Harcourt district, Mr. Nicholas Brunet, has described the outbreak of EVD in some West Africa countries as a huge challenge to the world.

Council boss tasks firms on CSR

C

HAIRMAN of Udu Local Government Area of Delta State, Mr. Raymond Edijala, has urged corporate organisations to make the development of their host communities an important part of management policy.

He spoke at the commissioning of an ultramodern town hall built by Don-Mac Nigeria Limited, through its Managing Director, Mr. Donald Amadi, for Opete community of

authorised from the appropriation law from Edo State House of Assembly.

“At all times, it is expected that governance carry cost attached to it. That is the reason provisions are made for various items in the budget.”

Urhedjor, a sub-clan in Udu Kingdom comprising of Opete, Okpaka, and Enerhen communities, in Udu council.

The acting PresidentGeneral of the community, Mr. Francis Ovi, commended the company, adding that Don-Mac had also roofed the community’s market structure, constructed a kilometre-long road linking the community to Enerhen Waterside, employed youths and women, among other empowerment projects.

Brunet spoke while donating an ambulance and two pickup trucks to the government on behalf of the oil company.

By Festus Ahon

S A B A — GOVERNOR Emmanuel Uduaghan of Delta State, yesterday, reassured security agencies of the state government’s continued support in the fight against crime in the state.

Speaking when the new state Police Commissioner, Mr. Alkali Usman paid him a courtesy call at Government House, Asaba, Uduaghan said the state government had barred secret cult activities, enjoining the new Police boss to keep a critical watch on cultism in the state.

Expressing worry that election matters could lead to security challenges, he said the government was determined to ensure a peaceful elections in the state in 2015.

Usman said: “I am here to do police business. I am well informed of the security challenges here and I am here to make the state crime-free by making it possible for people to move about freely.”

Vanguard, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 18, 2014 — 15

EBOLA: Anxiety mounts in Enugu over schools' resumption date zAs teachers vow not to resume on Monday

By Austin Ogwuda & Francis

Igata NUGU—ANXIETY looms in Enugu State over the directive from Federal Government to Nigeria Union of Teachers, NUT, to reopen schools next Monday as the union executive members are insisting that there would be no resumption until they got clearance from the national body for a go-ahead and necessary precautionary measures put in place.

Schools nationwide had been shut, following the outbreak of Ebola Virus Disease, EVD,

E

prompting the Federal Government’s decision to postpone the resumption date as a measure of preventing possible spread of the virus.

But Enugu State government has assured residents, especially parents and students, of its preparedness to ensure that measures necessary to ward off the

dreaded disease were in place.

Speaking to Vanguard in his office yesterday, Commissioner for Health, Dr. George Eze, said: “As a ministry, we have been invited to come and train them on how to get around with the disease, raise index on suspicion, to stall any suspected case of Ebola. So, we will show them the gadgets needed for this like the thermometers, personal hygiene techniques etc.

“It is now left for the Education Ministry to make efforts to ensure that our advice, equipments and training are put to use. We, in the Ministry of Health are ready to collaborate with Education Ministry. We have been proactive in the State.

“You must have heard about how we reacted swiftly to isolate the suspected Ebola incident in the state. It would have been a disaster if we did not within six hours isolate the case that came to Enugu. That shows you that we are very proactive. Our index for suspicion has been activated to a high level."

Onitsha South LG councillors accuse House Leader of non-accountability

N

By Chimaobi Nwaiwu

N E W I — COUNCILLORS in

Onitsha South Local Government Council Area have accused the House leader, Mr. Fredrick Ezenwa, of engaging in undemocratic practices in running of affairs the council.

The aggrieved legislators are particularly raising alarm over alleged lack of accountability on Internally Generated Revenue, IGR, of the council, which they said the House leader was conniving with a former council boss to sideline them in the day-to-day running of the local government.

Briefing newsmen on the development immediately after their sitting at the council chambers, Deputy House Leader, Emeka

Akanegbu, told newsmen that the House leader had been running the House without regards to rules and had made it ineffective.

“Our agitation is for the House to be allowed to perform its statutory functions. the House leader has been a cog in realization of its objective by sabotaging the House through his conduct,” Akanegbu said.

But the House leader, Mr. Frederick Ezenwa, said there was no crisis among legislators in the local government, adding, however, that three members were being used by a member of the State House of Assembly to cause trouble among the councillors.

No alternative to Jonathan in 2015 —Ekwunife

By Chimaobi Nwaiwu

N

NEWI—A member of the House of Representatives, Mrs. Uche Ekwunife, said yesterday that there was no alternative to President Goodluck Jonathan in next year’s presidential election.

Ekwunife, who represents Anaocha/ Dunukofia/ Njikoka federal constituency in the House, is also an aspirant to Anambra Central senatorial seat on the platform of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, having recently dumped her former party, All Progressive Grand Alliance, APGA. Addressing PDP stakeholders from the zone during a special prayer session organized by the party, Mrs. Ekwunife said: “Nigeria has never witnessed the ongoing aggressive development and transformation that the present administration of President Jonathan embarked.”

OSHIOMHOLE UNVEILS STATUE TO HONOUR DR SAMUEL OGBEMUDIA @ 82 IN BENIN, YESTERDAY PIX: BARNABAS UZOSIKE

Governor Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State, unveiling the statue of Dr. Ogbemudia at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium to mark his 82nd birthday in Benin City.

From left: Mr. F. Amadasun, Prince Rich-Arisco Osemwengie, and Chief Solomon Edebiri.

C M Y K

Dr. Samuel Ogbemudia (2nd left), cutting his birthday cake with his wife, Clara (left), Samuel Ogbemudia, Jr, son and his wife, Yetunde, to mark the elder Ogbemudia's 82nd birthday, at his residence in Benin City.

From left: Dr. Pius Odubu, Deputy Governor, Edo State, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, Edo State Governor, Dr. Samuel Ogbemudia, celebrant, and his wife, Mrs. Clara Ogbemudia.

Brig. Gen. Idadah Ikponmwen, rtd, (right ), and Gen. Godwin Abbey (rtd), at the event.

16 —Vanguard, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 18, 2014

Vanguard, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 18, 2014 — 17

W

E must thank DAILY TRUST for the investigative piece of Thursday, September 11, 2014, titled "161 pro-Jonathan billboards in Abuja". The nut and bolt of the piece was that Abuja has literally become swamped in a surfeit of billboards "praising President Goodluck Jonathan's achievements and urging him to seek re-election in 2015".

The tally compiled by the newspaper showed that the Transformation Ambassadors of Nigeria (TAN) not surprisingly, had the largest number of these billboards, at least 63; TAN is followed by the bizarrely named GEJITES with 50 of those boards. Leaders of the Goodluck Initiative for Transformation (GIFT) said they have placed 30 billboards in the city; while another group, Youth Development Transformation and Sustainable Peace in Nigeria (YODETSIN) placed two billboards; The Alliance for National Transformation (ALNAT) contributed one billboard just like the Niger Delta Youth Leaders Council for Jonathan 2015 and The Goodluck Support Group who also placed one each. And to show how pride in their effort, the leaders of TAN contacted

President Jonathan's billboards and sycophancy incorporated for their "Transformation Agenda" of sycophancy to be streamlined!

The August 31, 2014 edition of SUNDAY TRUST had carried a cover story on the Transformation Ambassadors of Nigeria (TAN), as its train was moving around Nigeria in zonal rallies to collate signatures endorsing President Jonathan ahead of the 2015 elections.

While TAN claims to be a nonpolitical, non-governmental body, it is instructive that top leaders of the government

,

There is far more money to make and a greater opportunity to peddle influence or get recruited into the inner recesses of power, by taking up membership in one of the many groups that Professor Alkali is now devoting his professorial abilities to coordinate

by DAILY TRUST said they have up to 100 pro-Jonathan billboards in the city. And these billboards cost a tidy sum and are placed strategically in an in-your-face manner all over the FCT: Maitama, Asokoro, Garki, Utako, Wuse, Life Camp, Gwarimpa and many areas of the city centre.

In a country where millions of able-bodied, educated young people cannot find gainful employment, the sycophantic Jonathan 2015 campaign is becoming the biggest industry in Nigeria. The TAN crowd proudly announced that millions of Nigerians have been mobilized for Jonathan. Not that they have secured employment and are participating in the development of the nation's productive forces. No! They have become part of a motley crowd, the political flotsam and jetsam, that is in the real sense, hopeless about the Nigerian condition and their place in it, but are cynically exploiting Goodluck Jonathan's political ambition as their own platform to get a cut of the Nigerian cake.

Everybody is aware that the electioneering period offers the best opportunity to make unearned money! And so serious has the business of sycophancy become, that the President's Special Adviser on Political Affairs, Professor Rufa'i Alkali, has now been given the duty of coordinating these disparate groups. On Tuesday this week, these groups that should better be collectively known as " S Y C O P H A N C Y INCORPORATED" took over the Eagle Square in Abuja, ostensibly because they were in town from all over Nigeria,

,

regularly attend its rallies.

These include the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Anyim Pius Anyim; Finance Minister, Ngozi Okonjo Iweala; Works Minister, Mike Olomemenen and Nyeson Wike. Anyim's physical presence in these rallies underscores the strategic place of TAN in the political agenda of the Jonathan administration.

Similarly, Diezani Allison

Maduekwe, the powerful but controversial Petroleum Minister, is described as one of the powerful forces behind TAN, along with Ifeanyi Uba, the young Anambra businessman, described as "one of the financial backbones of TAN"; Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu; Emeka Ihedioha, Deputy House Speaker; Emeka Wogu; Prof. Chinedu Nebo; Prof.

Onyebuchi Chukwu and former FRSC Boss and new Aviation Minister, Osita Chidoka.

The Northern Nigerian wing of sycophancy is also well-oiled, having individuals like the ubiquitous Jerry Gana (who has rightly earned the Nigerian COPYRIGHT for Sycophancy) and Senator Saidu Kumo, who are both visible as leaders in VITALDI. And if there was an initial doubt about the Northern detachment of " S Y C O P H A N C Y INCORPORATED", not anymore, because proJonathan groups have similarly mushroomed rapidly in our neck of the wood too: Old man Tanko Yakasai has his Northern Elders Council, ever willing to battle the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) and the Northern Elders Forum (NEF), on Jonathan's behalf.

There are also in place: Northern Youth Coalition for Jonathan; Mothers of Vision Initiative; Northern Youths for Jonathan 2015; Friends of

Jonathan.

And to reflect the "Federal Character of Sycophancy", there is also the Yoruba Coalition for Jonathan; there are Liberal Eagles and the Green White Green Vanguard.

Nigeria has been suitably transformed by the Transformation Agenda in a most uniquely Nigerian manner: the economy is not creating decent jobs; but there is sycophantic job aplenty in the land. Those smart Alecs know Nigeria better than most Nigerians dedicated to building a livelihood based on hard work within settings of workplaces; members of " S Y C O P H A N C Y INCORPORATED" have no business with the hunt for earned livelihood. There is far more money to make and a greater opportunity to peddle influence or get recruited into the inner recesses of power, by taking up membership in one of the many groups that Professor Alkali is now devoting his professorial abilities to coordinate! They will put up with the small inconveniences that come with the territory, including the near-fatal collapses of podiums as witnessed in Minna, Niger State at the weekend, when the locomotive train of sycophancy rolled into town for the North Central rally.

Luckily, the ample frame of Anyim Pius Anyim was not rolled over! And its in the

General Benjamin Adekunle: Authentic hero

of a tragic historical period G ENERAL Benjamin Adekunle, who died at the weekend, was one of the authentic heroes of the most tragic phase in Nigerian history, the Nigerian Civil War, 1967 to 1970. He was the Commander of the Third Marine Commando which played arguably, one of the most central roles, in the defeat of the Biafran secessionist project. As controversial as they come, Adekunle was nevertheless recognized by his contemporaries as a brilliant military commander, dedicated to the unity of our country when it was at the brink. He was a colourful character by all accounts, and I think General Gordon Alabi Isama's recent book is a very good platform to understand the place of the Third Marine Commando and General Adekunle in the war effort and by extension, the politics of the period. It seemed obvious that there was a generous dollop of the showman in the Adekunle

persona; he was full of surety about his own intellectual capacity, military knowledge and prowess. It seemed that his success and visibility as a war commander would become the basis of his eventual fall from grace and early retirement from the Nigerian Army.

It must have been a most painful outcome for a man who certainly was far more capable than a lot of the people who eventually became lionized in the aftermath of the war and who would cream the most important positions and privileges into the future of Nigeria. General Benjamin Adekunle certainly did not get the rewards that his labour for the nation deserved. I noticed that General Alani Akinrinade, who also served in the Third Marine Commando, said that General Benjamin Adekunle died an unsung hero; not even a national award was given to the man and he literally lived in penury and away from the

limelight that he enjoyed so much as a flambuoyant war commander.

General Adekunle lost out in the internecine battles within the military elite that dominated Nigeria from the Civil War, up to the transition to Civil Rule in 1999. It was shameful that those vicious rivalries and internecine battles blinded them to the extent of refusing to reward the man's contributions to the making of Nigeria. It is a pity that he died unsung, unrecognized and unrewarded by a country that seems to enjoy trampling upon its very best; and who can deny that General Benjamin Adekunle was one of the best of his times? He gave his best for the preservation of our country's unity but was denied a significant place in the pantheon of heroes of his generation and was not rewarded as he should have.

He nevertheless was an authentic hero of a tragic phase in Nigerian history!

nature of the beast we are dealing with, that even the Niger State Governor, Dr. Aliyu Babangida, the Chief Servant (once described as the "most microphone addicted governor in Nigeria", by Garbadeen Muhammed), saw a "divine" side to the collapse! He was reported to have described the collapse as an indicator of Jonathan's acceptability by Nigerians!

Now, can any line be a better summary of the credo of sycophancy?

S Y C O P H A N C Y INCORPORATED suffered a major faux pas last week, when an absurd hash tag #BRING BACK JONATHAN 2015, was issued to parody the #BRINGBACKOURGIRLS campaign. The disgust that was triggered spread around the world, including the international media and the social media network.

Nigerians were appalled that such a crude level of insensitivity could issue forth from those in the camp of sycophancy; a very embarrassed Goodluck Jonathan was forced by the outcry to request that the offensive advertisement hash tag be pulled down.

Nevertheless, Abuja continues to literally sink under the weight of the pro-Goodluck Jonathan billboards. As DAILY TRUST reported: "The Unity Fountain in Maitama could be mistaken for the campaign headquarters of President Goodluck Jonathan, given the number of wheeldriven campaign posters.

About 50 of such banners are displayed round the fountain, as well as an electronic mobile outdoor advertising vehicle stationed there, all sponsored by a group known as the 'GEJITES'". What must not be forgotten is that the Unity Fountain has been the scene of the peaceful #BRINGBACKOURGIRLS campaign, long regarded as an embarrassment by the Jonathan administration and its security forces and thugs they sent to try to break the campaign. When they did not succeed, they decided to flood the place with the Jonathan billboards.

The campaigns and billboards project are an elaborate effort at sidestepping the Electoral Law, which disallows political parties from campaigns before November. With TAN and its sister organizations, S Y C O P H A N C Y INCORPORATED, has given President Jonathan a head start against other candidates.

They are exploiting visibility and imposing their candidate on the Nigerian consciousness, mischievously walking the blind alleys of law.

Unfortunately, as they pound the country for 4 more years of freebies under President Jonathan, the Chibok Girls have spent over 150 days in captivity; the people of Borno and the Northeast continue to bleed; Nigeria loses huge swathes of territory to the Boko Haram insurgency; over Two Trillion Naira went down the "Defense" drain while our troops remain badly provisioned and hundreds of soldiers "tactically maneuver" away from fighting! For S Y C O P H A N C Y INCORPORATED and sponsors, the only game in town is Jonathan's 2015 ambition. Nigeria May go down under for all they care. THEY DON'T GIVE A DAMN!

18 — Vanguard, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 18, 2014 ONE of the low points in the war against the Boko Haram terrorists in the north east was the mutiny of some army personnel on parade in Maiduguri on May 14 th 2014.

The General Officer Commanding (GOC) the newly created 7 th Division of the Nigerian Ar my, Major General Ahmadu Mohammed, was shot at by some rebellious officers, who were apparently angered at the number of dead colleagues who fell to a Boko Haram ambush.

This incident created a lot of anxiety in the populace because it cast several shadows on our military’s readiness to face the challenge of routing the insurgents.

News soon came of an impending court martial of eighteen army officers over the sad event. On Monday, 15 th September 2014, the court martial, with Major General CC Okonkwo as its president, handed down several sentences ranging from death for twelve of the officers, 28 days of hard labour for one officer and an acquittal for five others.

There are several lessons arising from this incident. Foremost of these is that the war against the Boko Haram terrorists has degenerated to a civil war of sorts, since

Lessons F rom The From Arm rial Armyy Mutin Mutinyy TTrial the rebels have now seized territories and proclaimed a separate entity. These insurgents grew from a band of rag-tag armed agitators to become one of the most fearsome Islamists in the world. This was only possible due to insider abuses both in the gover nment and the military, whereby information, funds and equipment meant for the defence of the territory and people of Nigeria were divulged to the enemy by saboteurs.

Fifth-columnists’ activities unsettled the usual cohesion and discipline for which the Nigerian Armed Forces are renowned, and which made them among the most effective fighting forces in the world.

Intolerable acts of indiscipline and unprofessionalism in the rank and file deteriorated to the point where wives and family members of military personnel deployed to carry out their job of defending the fatherland barricaded gateways into barracks in Maiduguri to prevent them.

This did not portray our armed forces in good light, as it emboldened the enemies to start seizing territories.

We hope the trials allowed each of the convicts fair hearing and that their rights of appeal would be respected. We, however, plead for amelioration of the sentences as executing the convicted men could lead to great loss in morale among the men in the field of war. Bloodshed, except in clearly proven cases of barefaced sabotage and loyalty to the enemies, cannot be to our best interest now.

The military is a serious institution. It is not a place for playing partisan or religious cum sectional politics. The Nigerian military is the lynchpin for guaranteeing the unity and territorial integrity of Nigeria. We are solidly behind all necessary measures taken to strengthen the armed forces.

OPINION

By Obi Nkem

D

EMOCRACY is popularly defined as the government of the people by the people and for the people. This presupposes that the generality of the eligible electorate is in charge of the election of their leaders. The leaders thus emerge through general, popular, free and fair election and not a process of discriminatory, irrational, dubious and devious selection.

The transparent electoral process of democracy is why it is regarded as the best form of government, hence the popular saying that the worst democracy is better than the best militocracy or autocracy. The beauty of democracy arises from the fact that it is a true representation of the people. Some people have even argued that democracy is the government approved by God because it is voice of God going by the Latin axiom “Voice populi voice dei” meaning voice of the people is the voice of God. In essence the voice, will, wish and vote of the majority of the people represent the voice of God and voice of the people is therefore superior to the voice and will of the minority.

The evidence of the presence of the voice of God in the voice of the majority is manifested in the developed countries of the world where true democracy is practiced.

All the advanced countries in North C M Y K

Danger of rotationalism

godfatherism and in democracy

America and Western Europe practice true democracy. Even the developed countries in Asia such as Japan, Malaysia and Singapore practice true democracy. But examine Africa where democracy is elusive and relatively utopian, there is hardly development because the voice of God, which in this context is the voice of the people through democracy, is not allowed.

To get out of this dark wood of underdevelopment in Africa, Nigeria and Delta State in particular must resort to true democracy devoid of godfatherism, rotationalism and selectivism. The beauty of true democracy does not lie in selection or rotation along ethnic, racial, religious or geographical line.

Democracy lies in the election of credible candidates based on their credibility, capability, potentials and the pragmatism and feasibility of their manifestoes. If democracy were to go along the line of zoning, selection or godfatherism, the cherished President Obama of the United States could not have become president and the great and ever green Nelson Mandela could not have become the president of South Africa.

Nigeria and Delta State in particular should live beyond the democracy of rotationalism and godfatherism. Such

democracy is antithetical, divisive, disruptive, under developmental and utterly destructive.

As Delta state, a highly sensitive state in Nigeria moves into the 2015 general election, it should avoid the mistake and evil of zoning the governorship position and every other elective position in the state. For instance, at the federal level majority of Nigerians have risen up to condemn the call for zoning of the presidency, same should be applicable at the Delta state level.

The call for the zoning or rotation of the governorship position between the South, Central and the North senatorial districts is a lousy agitation that can only create and entrench pathological and ethnic hatred. It also reflects a sitting government's inordinate propensity to perpetuate itself in power by proxy. This can not be for the good of the people. It can only lead to socio-economic and political underdevelopment of the state and the good people of the state.

As a result Deltans should resist the democracy of imposition, selection, godfatherism and rotationalism. The candidates in the different political parties should emerge through democratic and transparent primaries and not selections or zoning. Let the people vote those they want to be their

leaders and not the government of the day or some assuming powerful but unpopular and destructive elements selecting the leaders. Once there is no transparent primaries, the electoral process would be totally compromised.

The government of the day should hands off on who becomes the next governor of the state and allow free and fair election right from the primaries to the main elections. The Delta state government should emulate the examples from America where Obama defeated the ruling party, from UK where David Cameron defeated the ruling opposition, from Ghana and Senegal, both in Africa where the seating presidents were defeated and finally from Ekiti state in Nigeria, where a seating governor was defeated this year. These examples are what bring into democracy the spirit of sportsmanship and consequently lead to harmony, development, satisfaction and happiness.

The culture of the disruptive and destructive goodfatherism, rotationalism and selectivism must therefore be totally eschewed in the Delta state electoral process beginning from the primaries to the actual elections in 2015.

Mr. Nkem, commentator, Delta State

a public affairs wrote from Asaba,

Vanguard, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 18, 2014— 19

, O

UR illustrious Nobel Laureate, Professor Wole Soyinka, waded into the controversy spawned by Dr. Stephen Davis and left cloud of confusion in his wake.

Remember that Davis, the Australian negotiator, claimed he spent four months in the lair of Boko Haram. He said they told him that a former governor of Borno State, Alhaji Nmodu Sheriff; former Chief of Army Staff, Lt General Azubuike Ihejirika and an unnamed top figure in the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) were their sponsors.

He made an immediate impact.

The gullible among his audience swallowed it hook, line and sinker, probably because it came from a foreigner and white man.

The All Progressives Congress (APC) went to town because such a disclosure was good ammunition to their gun in their political shootout with the ruling People’s Democratic Party (PDP) over which side is responsible for the birth and nurturing of the Boko Haram. But the curious and skeptical, like yours sincerely,

decided to look beyond the surface to ask probing questions, knowing that there is more to it than meets the eyes and ears.

Soyinka, who also claimed to have been busy on the subject of nosing around for Boko Haram sponsors, affirmed there were “overwhelming evidence” against Sheriff, who, he demanded, should be prosecuted for criminal culpability. Of the unnamed CBN official, the foremost playwright said President Goodluck Jonathan has been furnished with the name and details of his involvement. It is now up to him to abandon his “letting the law take its course” to “galvanising the law to take its course”, and whenever he decides to do so, he (Soyinka) will gladly supply the hombre’s name.

Where he left you and me flat, just like (so it seems) his friend, Davis, was on the case of Ihejirika. Just like his Aussie buddy, Soyinka did not openly accuse Ihejirika. While Davis told us that Boko Haram told him of Ihejirika’s purported involvement (without providing

,

any shred of evidence to back it up) Soyinka merely said, and I quote the THISDAY story (Monday, September 14th, 2014, page 6): “Soyinka added that in the case of Ihejirika, he had his own theories as to how he might have come under Davis’ searchlight and ended up on the list of the accused”.

W

hile Davis implicated Ihejirika based on alleged Boko Haram hearsay, Soyinka is asking for his investigation based on his own “theories”. None of these highly placed intellectuals and activists could proffer a prima facie evidence to support their hearsay or trumped up “theories”. Meanwhile, the Directorate of State Services (DSS) Nigeria’s equivalent of the American Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI) has already cleared Ihejirika of culpability, describing the false accusation against him as “wicked”. No word describes the whole sordid affair better.

Here was an army general who flushed out Boko Haram from the

An Open le tt er tto o the CBN Go lett tter Govvernor ernor,, Mr iele Mr.. Godwin Emef Emefiele

D

ISTINGUISHED First Banker: Barely 41 days ago, this column carried the piece titled “Bank Charges As Criminal Overkill”. In that piece, we showed enough excitement at the prospect of one of our own attaining the enviable position of Governor of the apex bank in the land. In earnest, that article was intended to aid agenda-setting for your high office.

Understandably, you were too new in office and too busy to be distracted by any journalist inclinations; hence it has now become necessary to adopt a more direct approach in revisiting the same issues with a few modifications based on recent developments.

The CBN has just decided to re-introduce the Automated Teller Machine, ATM, withdrawal charge or fee, which was scrapped a few months ago by your predecessor, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi.

For one thing, it is bad politics to go into office and immediately begin to dismantle the policy thrusts of your predecessor. For another, it would be recalled that Sanusi did not just embark on that policy. Rather, it was foisted on him by the Senate and House of Representatives Committees on Banking and Currency. In the circumstance, it is doubtful if you can face an impending war against the entire people.

It is, however, not too late in the day to beat a retreat from the repugnant decision before the National Assembly releases its claws on you.

Kwame Nkrumah (1909-1972) shows by happy illustration that the best way of looking at the future is to keep an eye on the past. It is instructive that your immediate past predecessors – Prof. Charles Chukwuma Soludo and Mallam Sanusi Lamido Sanusi – were men of very strong character and independent judgment. You cannot be different. Neither can you allow your

colleagues at the commercial banks to destroy your future by permitting them to push you around with their shylock profitmaximization ploys. After all, you have the rest of your life to live with yourself.

Morning shows the day. What should be of interest to Nigerians now is to hear that you are fighting relentlessly to reinvigorate the value of the Naira by arresting its gradual glide into worthlessness; addressing the inflation in the economy by pulling it down from the rooftops where it currently resides; and ensuring that the ATM centres function efficiently instead of the comatose machines that now litter everywhere.

The banks are giving us a raw deal in every direction. Admittedly, the Commission On Turnover, COT, is as old as the banking industry itself. Over time, the COT has become a major source of revenue to the banks. We are, however, worried that “Vat on COT” is also a debit on the customer at the end of the month.

COT is a revenue source for the banks; while, like any other tax, Vat on COT is revenue to the Government. The banks collect COT from their customers and also pass the tax burden on this revenue to the same customers. This is double jeopardy. It is also stealing by trick and the very height of economic injustice. This is one issue that Mr. Governor will do well to address very quickly.

As the repression continues, the customer might soon begin to challenge the rationale behind the COT, particularly when in the course of the month, he pays for virtually every service rendered to him by the bank – he pays for inter- and intra-bank transfers, stamp duty, statement of account, alert charges, etc.

Elsewhere, cheque books are given to customers as inducements. But Nigeria remains perhaps the only country where

cheque books are acquired at exorbitant costs.

Even where secondary and t e r t i a r y institutions of learning are able to offer those bulky answer papers free to their students, our banks still charge heavily for those pieces of paper called cheques.

,

Prof Soyinka’s “Saint” Davis

Even as a youth he has always spoken what he believes to be the truth, often to great personal pains. But the Prof is still human and can make mistakes.

He just did

major cities of northern Nigeria, such as Suleja, Abuja, Okene, Kano, Maiduguri and other parts of Borno, Yobe, Adamawa, Bauchi, Kaduna and Gombe States. He pinned them into the Sambisa Forest and Lake Chad areas before he was retired after an extended, merit-based service. Ihejirika ended the frequent suicide bombings in Abuja, Kano and Kaduna. The terrorists only made their comeback to Nyanya, Abuja and Kano after his retirement.

Muhammadu Buhari once made a plaintive call for the Army under Ihejirika to stop killing Boko Haram fighters since the Niger Delta militants were not killed that way. While Ihejirika fought Boko Haram, Professor Ango Abdullahi, a vitriolic attacker of President Jonathan and ranking official of the Northern Elders Forum (NEF), wailed that Jonathan had “declared war” against the North.

Former Governor Murtala Nyako wrote a poisonous letter to his fellow Northern governors, saying that Jonathan, an “Easterner”, was “depopulating” the North.

The NEF actually threatened to sue Ihejirika before the International Criminal Court (ICC) for alleged “genocide”.

I am wondering aloud: was it while Ihejirika was crushing Boko Haram that he was also “sponsoring” them? Or was it before or after? When the international panel that Professor Soyinka is calling for is finally assembled, will they be investigating both Ihejirika’s sponsorship of Boko Haram and his emasculation of their terror network? That would be one hell of an investigation! It will be the first of its type, and Nigeria will achieve a feat in empanelling a

The banks collect COT from their customers and also pass the tax burden on this revenue to the same customers. This is double jeopardy. It is also stealing by trick and the very height of economic injustice

,

How much fairness would the bank customer expect when policy issues affecting banks/customer relations are considered in the Bankers’ Committee where he has no iota or representation? A cursory look at the composition of the Bankers’ Committee shows that it is indeed the sellers’ market: the CBN Governor is chairman; each Commercial Bank is a member; Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation, NDIC, (member); Chartered Institute of Bankers (member); Financial Institutions Training Centre, FITC, (member); and Banking Supervision Department of CBN (Secretary).

E

quity demands the quick inclusion of the Association of Bank Customers of Nigeria on the Bankers’ Committee.

probe to approbate and reprobate at the same time.

The Boko Haram I know is not an idiot. They have tended to be smarter than the government thinkers fighting them from the other side of the battle line. They have remained a step ahead of government forces. This Boko Haram will not disclose their sponsors to any bloody white mercenary “infidel”. They are jihadists, and could easily turn on Stephen Davis and behead him with a video for the world to see. If they ever named Ihejirika, it was a ploy to put him in trouble for what he did to them and their fighters.

The Boko Haram elements that may name their sponsors are not within the reach of Stephen Davis.

Only those in the custody of the security forces undergoing interrogation may be forced to do so. Abubakar Shekau will not want to sabotage his coveted Islamic Caliphate where he will become a Sultan. He will not divulge his sponsors while he is a free man.

I want the international panel that Professor Soyinka is advocating for to be established, and everyone implicated in the sponsorship of the insurgency in Nigeria should be arraigned. But unless a prima facie evidence is established to show that Ihejirika has been a sponsor of Boko Haram, the hero of our war on terror must be left alone to enjoy his welldeserved retirement.

Professor Soyinka’s views are respected worldwide, not just because he is a Nobel Laureate.

Even as a youth he has always spoken what he believes to be the truth, often to great personal pains.

But the Prof is still human and can make mistakes.

He just did.

We are also not in a hurry to forget the aspect of corporate prostitution, which has become a way of life for many of the new generation banks, so called. Mr. Governor, wouldn’t you like to be remembered as the man who abolished this obnoxious practice?

There is still another evil lurking around – the open sale of new Naira notes on our streets. The banks have become places for morbid, tattered and deformed notes, fit only for cremation. The crisp Naira notes called variously by such names as mint, chassis, etc, have since migrated to the street corners and other social gatherings, where they are sold to “sprayers” at exorbitant prices, without the least consideration for the embarrassment and infamy it brings on the nation.

Come to think of it, what are the possible implications of this nefarious practice for inflation? Into which category of banking do we place it? These should be of interest to Mr. Governor.

From every standpoint, the law-abiding citizen in Nigeria is on his own. Nobody cares for him; and this easily lends credence to the thinking that crime pays. Most civil society organizations exist to protect criminal elements – from the point of arrest to the court; down to the prisons and even post incarceration arrangements for rehabilitation!

Mr. Governor, Sir, history beckons at you.

These are some of the societal ills plaguing our financial world, which if checked, will not only make yours a most successful tenure, but also put you permanently on the path of righteousness, depicting the true meaning of your name – Do not misbehave!

Please accept our best wishes.

20—Vanguard, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 18, 2014

Veg diet and anti-stress breathing I

NTERVIEW with Sonja Kordac, an origin from Croatia, is a teacher of the progam ‘Art of Living Foundation’ since 14 years.

She will give relaxation classes at the upcoming Lagos Veg Fest, 10-12 October at Freedom Park, Lagos Island What does state of mind and veg food have to do with each other?

Sonja Kordac: Food is a constituent part of us. We are what what we eat. Food transforms and builds our cells and also influences our mindset.

So if you eat meat you bring an aggressiveness into your mind and you become a more stressed and aggressive person. This might not be your personality but it comes through the meat food.

There is food that increases life energy in your system. This is vegetarian food. Contrary, there is food that takes life energy out of your system.

That is meat, fish, poultry and also eggs. So it is better to avoid these animal products because it gets you in a state of mind you don’t want to be in. If you want to develop yourself as a person you must take care of your food. Food and the mind are very much connected.

Apart from veg food, how do you help people with a less stressed state of mind?

Hakeem Jimo’s

Ve ggie Victory

veggienaija@gmail.com Sonja Kordac: At ‘Art of Living’ we teach an anti-stress program based on breathing techniques.

This knowledge is coming from two sources. One is very ancient vedic knowledge, knowledge from India, enriched and combined with modern psychology. This combination is very useful for a modern life which often comes with a lot of stress like it is very obvious here in Lagos.

Sonja Kordac.

Where does this stress comes from?

It comes actually from the mind and from there to the body into our entire system. The tendancy of the mind towards stress is natural for all human beings regardless of culture or region. In our system ‘breath’ is that link between the body and the mind.

Because you cannot change the mind through the mind.

Breath is very powerful. It is the first sign of life. The first action we do when we are born is breathing as it is also the last action when life comes to an end. There are two aspects of breathing: 1. Inhale is ‘energising’ and 2.

Exhale is ‘cleansing’. We increase both of these actions during our ‘Art of Living Happiness Program’ – meaning we increase the ‘energizing’ and ‘cleansing’ process in our bodies via some specific ways and rhythms of breathing.

The Chief Medical Director, Lagos University Teaching Hospital, LUTH, Prof. Akin Oshibogun, receiving the ISO Accreditation Certificate from Chairman, Board of Directors, PathCare Laboratories, Prof. Ibironke Akinsete, recently in Lagos.

M&B tasked on pharmaceutical sector sector and the nation, he pointed

By Providence Obuh HE Minister of Health, Prof.

Onyebuchi Chukwu, has called on May & Baker Nigeria Plc to strive towards positioning the country’s pharmaceutical sector for greatness.

Chukwu, who spoke during the pharmaceutical company’s 70th anniversary in Lagos, urged it not to relent in advancing the development of the nation’s pharmaceutical sector. The future is ever promising; therefore the expectations are even higher.”

In recognition of the vital role played by the company and other indigenous pharmaceutical companies in the development of the health

T

out that the Federal Government have taken measure in order to ensure the sustenance and growth of the sector.

The Managing Director/CEO, Mr. Nnamdi Okafor, described 70 as a landmark that deserves to be celebrated. “This company has during these long years, saved the lives of millions of Nigerians through its quality, medicines and third, is that this is the time May & Baker has turned full circle – moving from a distributor of products imported from its principals, to a local manufacturer of quality medicines for the Nigerian market and now to a world class manufacturer of quality specialised medicines, ready for the global market.

COMMON SEXUAL PROBLEMS AND THEIR NOVELTY BASED SOLUTIONS (ADVERTORIAL)

M

Y husband and I have been together for twelve years now. Last year, I found out that he was having an affair with his secretary. I confronted him about it and we discussed the matter for a long time.

Eventually we decided that we can have a threesome with a woman of our choosing every once in a while.

That way, we can both satisfy our fantasies of having something different, without cheating on each other and we can save our marriage. I believe that most women are bisexual anyway, including myself, so a threesome can be fun for everybody. We have only had this threesome a few times and I was very nervous in the beginning. Even though I don’t want your approval, I just want to know what you think because you are someone whose opinions are widely respected – Ann Dear Ann, if you were totally convinced that this is a good idea, you wouldn’t have written me. So in a way, you are seeking approval. Anyway, this is what I think. In some circles, a threesome is generally perceived as one of many new age answers to the limitations of monogamy. While it can be exciting, it comes with its own risks as well. In addition to violating the sanctity of marriage, you are also at a greater risk of contracting a sexually transmitted disease. Condoms cannot prevent everything. Also what if you get tired of a threesome one day and your husband continues having sex with these other women behind your back? It happens all the time and you will not like it. Thirdly, what if your husband starts enjoying sex with these other women more than he enjoys sex with you? Jealousy will creep in and believe me, jealousy is a powerful emotion capable of destroying anything in its path. And what if your husband decides to divorce you entirely and marry one of these women instead? The dangers of a threesome are too many.

It is normal for sex between two couples in a long term relationship to get boring. That is why men and

women explore the adult products we talk about weekly in order to create variety in their lives. But thinking that you can save your marriage by exposing it to greater dangers is not a solution. Many relationship councilors will tell you the same thing – Uche I am taking X Again Platinum Enhancer for my weak erection and even though I am loving the results, I just started hearing of this other new supplement called Kangaroo. Should I switch? Stanley Stanley there are many supplements in the market. Since X Again Platinum Enhancer works for you, stick with it.

Of course you can explore other options for the sake of variety but still continue with the one that has worked for you, except you find something better. Kangaroo is just as good as X Again Platinum Enhancer – Uche I bought the Liquid Sex Vagina Tightener and Encounter Orgasm Gel. I wanted to use both of them on Saturday but I got confused as to how to use them – Margret First you apply the Vagina Tightening Gel all the way inside the vaginal tunnel, five or ten minutes before intercourse. After that, you then massage the orgasm gel on the clitoris alone and then intercourse can proceed – Uche Please which vibrator is better? The Vibrating Make up Brush or the Shane’s Sophomore Bunny? I need it delivered today. Thanks – Jumai Let us put it this way. If you are looking for a small and cheap vibrator that does basic clitoral stimulation, then go for the Vibrating Make Up Brush. But if you want a big vibrator that does EVERYTHING, Shane’s Sophomore Bunny is by far the better option – Uche That is all for today. The names of the people featured here have been changed for their privacy. Adults in need of these treatments/novelties can call 07086754515 or 08051924159 or any other number here to order or they can order online at www.zeevirtualmedia.com. Zee Virtual Media delivers to you wherever you are in Nigeria. For enquiries, send your emails to custserv@zeevirtualmedia.com - Uche Edochie, MD, Zee Virtual Media.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 18, 2014 — 21

CITN tasks NASS on passage of PIB •••Opposes taxing of religious organisations

By Clifford Ndujihe

T

HE Chartered Institute of Taxation of Nigeria (CITN), has urged the National Assembly, which resumed from its two-month vacation, yesterday, to ensure speedy passage of the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB), to accelerate development of the oil sector to boost the country revenue.

Making the call, CITN President/Chairman of Council, Chief Mark Anthony Dike, said the PIB had been delayed for too long, a situation he said was hurting the country revenue wise and the oil producing areas in terms of development. “For good or bad, let us pass the bill and thereafter, we can fine-tune it,”he urged.

Dike spoke during a visit to the Lagos corporate head office of Vanguard Newspapers with a team of CITN officials.

Noting that the Institute, by virtue of CITN ACT Cap C10 Law of the Federation of Nigeria 2004, is charged with the duty of encouraging, promoting and co-ordinating research for the advancement of taxation in Nigeria, Dike said the body had been at the vanguard of fashioning investment friendly tax system for the country by contributing towards tax reforms and economic policies of government at all levels in last 30 years.

Stressing the need for the citizenry to pay taxes, he also said the government must ensure judicious use of taxes to improve their welfare through provision of amenities and welfare packages.

Dike said the people of the Nordic countries like Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Fin-

land and Iceland, who are being celebrated as the happiest people on earth, pay heavy taxes with income tax taking about 60-80 per cent of annual icome of average tax payer.

“Butthey do not complain because the government is there for them. They provide free healthcare, education, care for

From left: Victor Abassah, Senior Manager, Office of the Executive Chairman, BUA Group; Paul Orhii, Director General of National Agency for Food Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) and Mrs Yetunde Oni, Director, Administration and Human Resources (NAFDAC), during BUA’s donation of two Nissan vehicles to NAFDAC in Lagos as part of BUA’s contributions to the fight against sub-standard food and pharmaceutical products in the Nigerian market.

Unilever charges Nigeria on Post-2015 Development Agenda

By Franklin Alli

U

NILEVER, an AngloDutch multinational company which50 percent of its global business is domiciled in Nigeria has called on the government to integrate Post2015 Development framework on the country’s development agenda in order to facilitate poverty reduction, boost job creation and sustainable environment.

Post -2015 is a proposed set of sustainable development goals (SDGs) that will replace the current Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) at the end of next year.

Paul Polman the global Chief Executive Officer of the parent company of Unilever Nigeria Plc, made the call in Lagos during a business meeting with Nigeria’s Minister of

the elderly, etc. If the government provides for almost everything, what do you need money for? So, the people are willing to pay,” he said.

Consequently, he said the CITN is propagating good tax behaviour for governments and individuals in Nigeria.

“While we encourage people

Finance /Coordinating Minister for the Economy, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala.

Polman, who was one of the high level eminent persons that advised UN SecretaryGeneral Ban Ki-moon on the post-2015 development agenda, said, “A bigger picture of why we are here is to encourage the Nigerian government to put the Post- 2015 Development Goals into their development agenda.

“It is absolutely a must that this country is involved in the post 2015 development goals and I must say the country is blessed to have a minister like Okonjo -Iweala.

Polman, further disclosed that Unilever is investing an additional €1 billion over the next six years to expand its business in Nigeria.

“We are pleased with Mr.

President on some of the progress that he has made in the areas of Port reforms and some of the reforms in the aviation, power and telecom sector. As we continue, we see the country is growing in the right direction. The investment climate has continued to be very attractive. There are not many countries in the world that are having 6.54 percent growth, not in Africa or Europe,” he stated.

Nigeria’s Finance Minister said “We are delighted to have Polman here and his team. The fact that the global CEO is here at this time is remarkable in itself because as you know people are saying they will not come to West Africa for business meeting because of Ebola but Paul in his usual characterisitic way is here to show that Nigeria is safe for business

to pay taxes, we also question the government if they are not using it well,” he added.

He continued: “We are the conscience of the societychecking government and the society. People must empower government through their taxes to provide facilities they cannot provide on their own like roads, healthcare, water, pwer, etc. If people pay tax, they expect government to be responsible. If people don’t pay ax, they cannot challenge and old government to accout.

So taxation is important in the life of any nation.”

Speakig on the controversies thattrailed debates on the taxation of churches and mosques at the just concluded National Conference, he said the controversies arose because members of the CITN were not represented, hence the confab was not properly guided on the issue.

According him, being nonprofit organisations, religious bodies by law are not to be taxed if they get donations and offerings. However, if they invest the donations in profits making venture, the profits should be taxed.

Among other things, Dike suggestd autonomy and professinalism in revenue collection, employment of professionals in the system of tax administration at all levels, raiing a standing House Committee on taxation and resolving the security challenges to boost investments and development in the country.

people to come to.

“If we have a global 1.0 178.3 CEO of such a company visiting us here and 3,079.00 +22.00 he also came for the World Economic Forum 13.58 -0.09 at a time when we have Boko Haram attacks to show that he stands with us. So we are de99.24 +1.36 lighted to welcome him 94.75 +1.83 again as friend of Nigeria, and we welcome his team and including CURRENCY BUYING CENTRAL SELLING the managing director DOLLAR 154.75 155.25 155.75 of Unilever Nigeria.

250.7724 251.5826 252.3929 “It is important and STERLING EURO 200.3394 200.9867 201.634 we believe the Nigeri- FRANC 165.7385 166.274 166.8095 an economy will re- YEN 1.445 1.4497 1.4544 0.286 0.296 0.306 main resilient and that CFA 231.3531 232.1006 232.8481 people are going to in- WAUA RENMINBI 25.1773 25.2591 25.3409 vest in this economy, it RIYAL 41.259 41.3923 41.5256 is not just about today, KRONA 26.9079 26.9948 27.0818 they see potentials in SDR 232.156 232.9061 233.6562 the long term.

CBN Exchange Rate as 17 /09 / 2014

22—Vanguard, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 18, 2014

,

You are more likely to reach your potential if you keep your eyes on your goals and remember why you're chasing them

,

Things that limit potential W

ilma Rudolph, the Olympic track and field champion of the 1960s, said, “Never underestimate the power of dreams and the influence of the human spirit.

We all have potential.

But why do so few people actually realise all of their success potential? There are many variables that affect our ability to succeed in life. The following four things can keep you from reaching your potential.

Choices can limit you Decisions have consequences. And some decisions have more damaging consequences than others. If you’re not reaching your potential, the first thing you should do is examine your past choices. A poem says: “There is a choice you have to make, in everything you do. So keep in mind, that in the end, the choice you make, makes you.”

Your choices do make you.

,

But if you’ve made bad choices in the past that have kept you from reaching your potential, the good news is that every day holds new opportunity.

You can make right choices today that move you in the right direction. Make the right decisions, no matter how hard. Then manage those decisions daily.

Impatience with the process “Are we there yet?” If you’ve been on a road trip with a child, you’ve probably heard this question more than once.

That’s because it’s normal for a kid to be impatient. The problem occurs when we become adults, and we’re still unwilling to wait.

Every good goal usually is more difficult, takes longer, and costs more than we anticipate. When we rush or abandon the process, we often keep ourselves from reaching our potential.

Teddy Roosevelt said: “Nothing in the world is worth having or worth doing unless it means effort, pain, difficulty… I have never in my life envied a human being who led an easy life. I have envied a great many people who led difficult lives and led them well.” Expect the process of success to take time, and

NAIRA EXCHANGE RATES

embrace it. You’ll free yourself to reach your potential.

Failure to pay the price For everything you gain, you give up something. In life you’re either paying or playing. If you play now, you’ll pay later. But if you choose to pay now, you’ll be able to play later. But no matter what, you always have to pay.

Have you counted the cost of achieving your goals?

Have you been paying the price, or did you hope you could avoid it? Charles Schwab said, “When a man has put a limit on what he will do, he has put a limit on what he can do.” We all need to be willing to do the work necessary to reach our potential.

Failure to think creatively when problems arise Problems will arise. It’s a

Every good goal usually is more difficult, takes longer, and costs more than we anticipate

BUSINESS

,

“when,” not an “if.” Like expecting a process to take time, anticipating problems allows you to prepare for them. Then you’re able to be proactive in your approach to them, instead of just reacting emotionally when they occur.

Value problem-solving more than problem-spotting.

Go beyond just an awareness of a problem, seek at least three possible solutions. The discipline of looking for more than one solution to any problem makes you recognise options that you wouldn’t otherwise see.

If you anticipate problems, you can prepare a reaction ahead of time. And even when they catch you by surprise, searching for more than one solution means you’ll think more strategically and react in a way that takes you closer to, not farther from, your goals.

The “seed of greatness” exists in each of us. You are more likely to reach your potential if you keep your eyes on your goals and remember why you’re chasing them. The more valid reasons you can list for pursuing your dream, the greater the chance that you will achieve it.

Source: JohnMaxwell.com

Date 16/9/14

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

Buying(N) 154.75 250.7724 200.3394 165.7385 1.445 0.286 231.3531 25.1773 41.259 26.9079 232.156

Central(N) 155.25 251.5826 200.9867 166.274 1.4497 0.296 232.1006 25.2591 41.3923 26.9948 232.9061

Selling(N) 155.75 252.3929 201.634 166.8095 1.4544 0.306 232.8481 25.3409 41.5256 27.0818 233.6562

BY YINKA KOLAWOLE, with agency report

S

nail farming, or heliciculture, is the process of farming or raising land snails specifically for human consumption. Snail farming is a money spinning enterprise. About 300 000 tons of snail meat is consumed annually around the world.

Snail meat is in high demand all over the world.

Studies have shown that snail meat is high in protein (12 – 16 percent), iron (45 – 50mg/kg), vitamin A, calcium, magnesium and has very low fat. So for improved health, people are now substituting beef and livestock with snail. A recent study also revealed that the glandular substances in edible snail meat could be of value in fighting a variety of ailments, including whooping cough. Snails can also be helpful to Asthmatic patients.

Snail farmers are making huge profit as the global demand for the delicacy increases. In Nigeria the price of raw, matured snails goes for between N250 to N600 depending on the size.

Snails reproduce rapidly, capable of producing more than 300 eggs at once, which hatch into snails. It typically takes three to six months for a snail egg to hatch and grow into a full-sized adult. It is possible to produce 1,000,000 snails worth more than N20 million twice a year. This is made possible because of the availability of very highly prolific Achatina Achatina species of snails, also known as the giant tiger land snail, a species of very large, air-breathing land snails. This type of snails which is easily found in Nigeria, is commercially profitable because of the volume of eggs it lays at once - lays 300 to 500 eggs at a time in clutches, three times a year.

Benefits

Get rich from snail farming Better than red meat : Snail meat is low in fat, sodium and cholesterol, and high in protein, iron, calcium and phosphorus content. Doctors and dieticians recommend it to their patients and the public.

Highly reproductive : Snails are hermaphroditic in nature - each snail has both the male and female reproductive organs. As a result of this, they reproduce rapidly, so there is no need to replenish stock. One snail can lay eggs 6 times a year.

Low mortality rate : Unlike other livestock, snail farming records the lowest disease outbreak and mortality rate. With proper attention and care, chances of mishap are reduced to less than 1 percent.

Cheap housing: The cost of materials for construction of a snailery (snail pen) is reasonably cheaper than other livestock. A snail pen does not require much space as it can be built conveniently in one’s backyard. A 6m by 3m space can accommodate more than 700 snails to maturity.

Low capital: Unlike other livestock, snail farming in

Nigeria is a low capital investment - low expenditure and very little labour input yet yields high results. For example, findings reveal that you can set up and run a snail farm with N200,000 and be making profit of over a million naira at the end of the year. Snails feed on leaves and fruits (e.g. cassava leaves, pawpaw leaves, cocoyam leaves, tomatoes, banana, eggplant, cucumber, etc).

Ready market: There is a ready market for snail, the potential is inexhaustible, locally and internationally.

There is regular demand for supply of snails by hotels, fast foods eateries, restaurants (especially Chinese restaurants), barbecue operators, snail traders and regular people.

International trade in snails is flourishing in Europe, Asia and North America. The United States imports more than $5million worth of snails annually from all over the world, including Nigeria.

France is the world’s highest consumer of snails, requiring about 30,000 metric tons of the delicacy annually. The annual demand for snail in Nigeria is about 7,500 tons.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 18, 2014—23

,

When we engage in strategic review, we should endeavour to make it holistic enough so that it would provide a complete roadmap for the coming year

& YOU

,

COMMODITIES (17/9/14) Commodity Light Crude

Last 94.18

Natural Gas

4.01

+0.01

+0.35

Sugar

13.45

-0.10

-0.74

Coffee

179.20

-1.40

-0.78

Cocoa

3,151.00

+81.00

+2.64

,

How to set up snail farm Environment : Snails are easily dehydrated, and wind increase the rate of moisture loss in snail which in turn leads to the dryness of the animal. To prevent snails from losing water so quickly, the snaileries (snail house) must be located in an environment that is protected from wind.

Planting plantains and bananas around the snail farm can help prevent the impact of wind.

Soil: Snail’s major habitat is soil, which contains some of the components and chemical substances that it needs to survive. However, not all soils are suitable for snail rearing. The shell of the snail is mainly calcium and it derives it mostly from the soil. Snail also lays its eggs on the soil and drinks water out of the soil. Suitable soil for snail farming must not be water-logged, not too dry, and must not be acidic. The most desirable soil for snail is sandy-loamy soil with low water holding capacity. Clay soil and acidic soil must be avoided.

Sources: To start up a snail farm, it is advisable to get snails directly from the forest instead of buying from the market after they have been exposed to sunlight and have dehydrated. This is because snails drink a lot of water, so are easily dehydrated and this stresses them out and reduces their fertility capacity.

Feeding: Snails, especially

Achatina, mainly feed on green leaves and fruits though they can utilise other ranges of foods. They feed on leaves, such as cocoyam leaves, pawpaw leaves, okra leaves, cassava leaves, eggplant leaves, cabbage and lettuce leaves. Snails can also be fed with fruits like mango, eggplant, pawpaw, banana, tomatoes, oil palm fruits, pears. and cucumber.

Farming season : Snails can be available all year round. However, snail business thrives in Nigeria between the months of April and November each year.

Peak months are June, July August and September (rainy season). But note that flooded lands are bad for snail farming, because excessive water in the soil does not allow for reproduction or snail eggs to hatch.

Start-up capital A backyard snail farmer can start the project with about N50, 000 at a small scale, N100,000 to N200,000 for medium and possibly large scale.

Profit Potential Snail farming has potentials for very good returns on investment. A unit of matured giant snail can reproduce itself under a conducive environment at least 20 times in a year. One million snails after a year or two sold at the rate of N50 each (highly reduced price) will give about N50 million.

Also, a unit of giant snail of average cost of N100 can appreciate in value to N250 (a margin of N150) after 3 - 4 months with enough feeding.

This means that supplying a stock of 500 pieces (investing N50,000) will give N75,000, yielding a profit of N25,000 or 59 percent returns at the least. Abroad, 1kg of snail meat is sold for up to $105 (about N16,800).

Apart from snail meat, there is also a growing market for snail caviar - snail eggs and snail livers – in Europe and the US. Snail eggs cost more than $4,000 (about N640,000) per kg.

% Change -0.74

How effective is your organisation's annual strategic review, update? II BY ‘UJU ONWUZULIKE

“What’s the use of running if you are not on the right road”…German proverb Continued from last week

H

old a one-day review meeting of your Strategic Planning Team to finalise your update strategic plan, especially the annual strategic action priorities for the next year.

Then, require all your key department managers to develop their annual plans within the context of your core strategies as the organising principles and goals for every department.

This is very important.

Following this, hold a one- to two-day large group collective management team Annual Plan Review Meeting to ensure all department plans are correct and in sync with each other. This is the best way we have ever seen to turn a silo-oriented, vertically functioned organisation into a strategyoriented, integrated horizontal customer-focused organisation.

Develop strategic budgets. Reenergise the Strategic Change Leadership Team (CLT), Continuous Improvement Team and Strategy Sponsorship/ Project Teams.

The annual strategic review and update is key to being a high performance learning organisation with sustained superior performance.

Without a strict adherence to this part of the process, you won’t need to worry about how long your change effort is taking because you simply won’t have one. This yearly renewal process is based on

the Systems Thinking Law of Entropy, which shows that as soon as the strategic plan is developed and implemented, its consequences and environmental changes quickly indicate a need for a redesign. Hence, the key concept of the strategic plan as a “living, breathing document” is crucial.

Rigidity to the plan is as bad as no plan at all. The ideal Strategic Management System is an inexact, adaptive-learning, ideal

,

,

A unit of matured giant snail can reproduce itself under a conducive environment at least 20 times in a year

Change ($) -0.70

Annual strategic review and update is key to being a high performance learning organisation with sustained superior performance

,

seeking system. Flexibility and agility are paramount.

Points to ponder: Have you had an independent audit of both your organisation’s strategic management system and its results?

Are you c o m m u n i c a t i n g organisation-wide with each planning update session?

Does your organisation has a Strategic Change Leadership Team— led by the top— to guide and control the annual review and update of your strategic plan? Do you have an internal support cadre to manage your update? Have you created a yearly map for the next year, showing a specific, “by the numbers” implementation plan? Have you allocated the proper resources for it? Are there Strategic Sponsorship Teams in place for championing

your core strategies for the next year?

Are you continually tracking progress on your Key Success Measures and Goals?

Did your organisation’s senior management lead this review and develop individual Personal Leadership Plans? Are you building individual and team commitment to your plan with an effective performance and rewards system? Is your organisation firmly committed to an Annual Strategic Review and Update, just as it is for its yearly independent financial audit?

Final note: To build and sustain a high performance organisation, we must not see our strategic plans as ordinary documents that will just be gathering dust on top of the shelf (SPOTS Syndrome), without step by step implementation. We must see them as documents, when implemented will bring about our desired organisational success.

When we engage in strategic review, we should endeavour to make it holistic enough so that it would provide a complete road map for the coming year. Our desire is for every organisation to drop the ‘SPOTS’ syndrome prevalent in today’s business and run with the ‘SPAIN’ mentality in 2014. That means ‘Strategic Plan Actively Implemented Now’.

It is when strategic plans are actively implemented that the yearly financial auditing will make more meaning to the shareholders.

For your views or perspectives.

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

24 — Vanguard, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 18, 2014

Vanguard, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 18, 2014 — 25

•Nigerian students in anticipation of September 22 resumption.

EBOLA: What we've done ahead of resumption —Commissioners, Principals

By Amaka Abayomi, Gbenga Olarinoye, Dayo Adesulu, Daud Olatunji, MarieTherese Nanlong, Ikenna Asomba & Tare Youdeowei

B

ARELY five days to the September 22 resumption date fixed by the Federal Government in consensus with the 36 states Ministries of Education, including the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, for primary and secondary schools in the country to resume for academic activities, several state governments, as well as school administrators, have expressed readiness to resume, pointing out that they have put adequate measures in place to contain any possible outbreak of the deadly Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) in schools.

Those who gave assurances of their preparedness were the

Commissioners for Education of Anambra, Edo, Ogun, Rivers and Lagos states, as well as Principals of Caro Favoured College, Awodi-Ora, Lagos, Kings College, Lagos Island, Lagos, Hope Waddell Training Institute, Calabar, Cross River State and the Proprietor, Topfield College, Ajegunle, Lagos.

Singular directive

virus. However, based on expert information from the Ministry of Health, after an emergency meeting with State Commissioners for Education

T

HE Rivers State Government has organised a one day training and sensitization programme on the Ebola Virus Disease, EVD for teachers and school administrators in public and private schools in the state. The Ministry of Education in collaboration with the Ministry of Health put up the programme to sensitize teachers ahead of

resumption for the 2014/15 academic session.

The Permanent Secretary Ministry of Education, Minabelem Michael West, said the essence of the program is to put up measures to prevent the spread of EVD in the state. He stated that the government has placed so much value on education and will work hard to protect it. Michael West also said that the children’s health will not

RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT

Cheery news for breast cancer victims Pg.

Shekarau, who noted that all unity colleges should also adhere to the new resumption date, assured that measures put

Continues on page 26

Rivers govt holds Ebola sensitization, training for teachers

By DAYO ADESULU

Recall that following the outbreak of the deadly EVD, with the arrival of the late American-Liberian, Patrick Sawyer, the Federal Government had, on August 26, postponed resumption of private and public primary and secondary schools to October 13, 2014, as a precautionary step against the spread of the

in Abuja on Friday, September 5, the Minister of Education, Ibrahim Shekarau, reviewed the resumption date to September 22, 2014.

be compromised and that the ministry will ensure that adequate measures are put in place to stop Ebola from entering any school in Rivers State. He stated that officials of the Ministry of Health and World Health Organization, WHO, will continue the training in the three senatorial zones of the State so as to contain EVD in Rivers State. On the preventive

Continues on page 30

SUCCESS RECIPE 29

How state universities ruin the career prospects of youths

Pg. 28

Staying positive in a negative world Pg. 27

26 — Vanguard, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 18, 2014

From left: Provost College of Medicine, Professor Folasade T. Ogunsola.; Registrar and Secretary to Council, Dr. (Mrs) Taiwo F. Ipaye, MNIM; Vice-Chancellor, Professor Rahamon A. Bello, FAEng.; Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic & Research), Professor Babajide Alo, FAS during a Senate meeting held in honour of late Emeritus Professor Jacob Festus Ade Ajayi in UNILAG.

EBOLA: What we have done in place to curb the spread of Ebola are still intact.

According to him, “any state Ministry of Education that has not appointed desk officers on Ebola should do that before resumption and should ensure that, at least, two staff from all schools are trained by appropriate health workers on how to handle any suspected case of Ebola.

Also, the former Kano State Governor directed the ministries to, as a matter of urgency, embark on sensitization of teaching and non-teaching staff in schools on preventive measures, noting that the training must be concluded before schools resume.

High preparedness Speaking to Vanguard Learning, the Edo State Commissioner for Higher Education (Secondary, Tertiary and Technical), Barr.

Washington Osifo said government’s directive for schools to resume September 22 has been wholeheartedly accepted by the state government.

He said: “Yes, the September 22 resumption date is not a fluke and the judgement was based on expert information given us by those saddled with the responsibility of certifying that schools are safe to resume.

“Having critically ascertained that the virus is now 99.99 per cent under control, the ministries of Health and Education directed that schools across the federation can resume September 22. So, if those saddled with the responsibility have done so, what are we waiting for?”

Speaking further, Osifo said the state government has organised sensitisation workshop for private and public

school teachers in the state from September 11th to 13th.

“Although Edo State hasn’t recorded any case of Ebola, the workshop is also to keep them abreast of other contagious diseases that go with improper hygiene common among children.”

Similarly, the Anambra State Commissioner for Education, Prof. Kate Omenugha affirmed the state’s readiness to tackle the scourge even before the directive by the Minister of Education on September 5.

Omenugha said: “Even before the meeting with the Minister of Education, we have

provided N500,000 each to schools for the acquisition of sick bays. Schools with high population have also been identified and government has directed the MDGs unit to build toilet facilities and sink boreholes in these schools.”

Aware that these measures may not be completed before resumption, Omenugha said government has made provisions for make-shift taps like drums, soaps and water in schools, as well as inculcating the habit of hand-washing among the children.

Also prepared for resumption is Ogun State as the state

We have also provided instructional materials to schools and town unions and the state government has provided N500,000 each to schools for the acquisition of sick bays

,

Continues from page 25

been proactive in preventing the virus from gaining entrance into the state. At the moment, we have trained 1,044 Head Teachers of primary schools, 21 Education Secretaries, as well as 256 secondary school principals. We have also met with officials of the Ministry of Health on how to further train about 5,000 teachers this weekend.

“As a state committed to combating the scourge, we have also provided infra-red thermometers for schools, as well as come up with resumption communication that have been sent across to churches and town leaders, that no parent must allow any of the sick child to resume for academic activities. The same has been passed across to schools in the state, so, any child who has malaria fever or any other sickness will not be allowed into schools come Monday.

“We have also provided instructional materials to schools and town unions and the state government has

,

government said the ebola sensitisation workshop for teachers commenced on Tuesday and would end today (Thursday).

This was disclosed by the Ogun State Commissioner for Education, Segun Odubela, who said that arrangements have been made to ensure the safety of all students in the state when they resume.

“The Ogun State government commenced Ebola training for teachers on Tuesday and will end today. The training was held in four centres.”

On her part, the Commissioner for Education, Rivers State, Dame Alice Lawrence-Nemi has threatened to shut down any school that fails to provide pipe-borne water for its students.

Speaking at a sensitisation workshop for teachers on how to prevent and manage the EVD, on Monday, LawrenceNemi said: “Potable water would ensure that the teachers, pupils and students washed their hands regularly with soap

so as to reduce the chances of contracting the virus.”

Also, over 8,000 teachers in Plateau State have been trained on the prevention, control and containment of the EVD. Speaking at the opening ceremony of the two-day workshop for teachers, the State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Fom Dakwak, said though the state has not recorded any case of the virus, funds have been released by the state government for life support ambulance, utility vehicles, personal protective equipment, among others to ensure a timely intervention in case of any eventuality.

In the same vein, the Lagos State Government has expressed its support for the September 22 resumption date announced by the Federal Government.

Speaking through the Special Adviser to Governor Babatunde Fashola on Information and Strategy, Alhaji Lateef Raji, the state government said: “Although this resumption date is advisory, as education is a concurrent matter to be regulated by the respective federal and state authorities, Lagos State Government considers it eminently justifiable, in view of the fact that there is currently no known carrier of EVD in our state.

"Furthermore, the last individual suspected to have been exposed to the virus will be discharged from observation on September 18, 2014, if he tests negative for the virus. All public and private educational institutions in the state are therefore directed to schedule their resumption accordingly.

“Considering the current situation report, it is clear that the risk of infection with EVD in Lagos State has been significantly reduced and health professionals working on the outbreak have agreed that there is no reason why schools should remain closed beyond September 22.

“In spite of the foregoing, the state government has developed and will deploy all resources necessary to sustain the capacity to promptly take into custody any person suspected to be infected with EVD, as well as safely test, monitor and isolate such person(s) for treatment as may be found necessary without endangering other members of the public.

“In spite of the foregoing, the state government reiterates that the health of all its residents is a matter of utmost importance and if any reason for a reconsideration of the school resumption date arises, a well-considered decision will be taken and the general public will be informed accordingly.”

Meanwhile, principals of public schools from the six education districts as well as Education Secretaries and Head Teachers of public schools in the state were sensitized on

the management of the risks associated with the virus 17th September while private schools’ proprietors were sensitized on Thursday, September 18.

The state Commissioner for Education, Mrs. Olayinka Oladunjoye said the sensitization meeting also dwelt on the provision of running water and soap and the encouragement of frequent hand washing among students and pupils and the arrangement of prompt referral of any sick person to the nearest health institution for treatment.

Still undecided about the resumption date for both primary and secondary schools students is Osun State as the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Education, Osun State, Mr. Lawrence Ademola Oyeniran, stated that government was still making consultations with all the stakeholders in the education industry in the state.

“The state government is still consulting with all the relevant stakeholders in the industry in the state. It is after the consultations that we will be able to arrive at when our pupils and students will resume.”

Principals' readiness Meanwhile, the Principal, Hope Waddell Training Institution Calabar, Cross River State, Mr. Edet Iyang, says the Presbyterian Women have come to their aid by drilling more boreholes to support water from the water board to increase water supply.

“We are going to put sanitizers everywhere, have decongested the dormitories to at most 10 boys in a big hall and we are working on decongesting the class rooms but that has more technicalities like employing more teachers.

We have fumigated and are awaiting temperature guns from the government though we will get ours, but our main plan is to occupy the boys so they will have minimal physical contact.”

Also ready for resumption are the Principals, Kings College, Ikoyi, Lagos, and Caro Favoured College, Awodi-Ora, Lagos, Otunba Dele Olapeju and Mr. Mark Okoh, who both said adequate training has been given to their teachers who attended training organised by the National Association of Proprietors of Private Schools, NAPPS, Lagos State, adding that running taps, as well as hand sanitisers have been provided in strategic locations in their schools.

For the Proprietor, Topfield College, Ajegunle, Lagos, Chief Agbolade Onasanya: “We are ready to resume on September 22, and have provided running water, soaps and sanitisers in strategic areas in the school.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 18, 2014 — 27

28 — Vanguard, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 18, 2014

How Vivian got the only national scholarship slot in UK How state universities ruin career prospects of youths

DAYO ADESULU

H

Education means the instruction of youth in certain rules of conduct by which they will be able to support themselves when they come of age..

Robert Coram, 1761-1796. (VANGUARD BOOK OF QUOTATIONS p46).

I

•Vivian Nwofor...Out of the other first class holders that wrote the examination, I emerged first.

“I owe Novena University a lot because I gained a lot from there. My lecturers went a long way to contribute to what I am today," she said.

Going down memory lane, Vivian said: “When I wanted to study medicine at a federal university, I recall that they were asking for money before they could offer me admission.

"Before that time, I always had the notion that a private university is where you can just go and buy a degree and that

,

Before that time, I always had the notion that a private university is where you can just go and buy a degree and that was not what I wanted for myself

Before this time, she had applied for Presidential Scholarship scheme and University of Westminster Scholarship but was not shortlisted.

She said: “I did not believe that any of those applications will not be successful because I met their requirements.

I believed that with my result and with God, it will work out for me. Thus, I came out successful in the Dr Murtala Scholarship scheme.”

Vivian whose father is a retired civil servant said that what she actually wanted to study for second degree was Biotechnology. But when she saw the Metropolitan University advert which specified courses it gives out for the scholarship, she had to opt for Biomedical Science.

,

was not what I wanted for mys e l f . ”In the long run, I met a friend who was a Mass Communication student at Novena University. She called me and I asked if I needed to pay before getting admission into the institution and she said I was not to pay anything.

"She added that if my WAEC result was okay, it was enough for me to gain admission. “Then I submitted my JAMB and WAEC results and I got admission into Novena University.”

Vivian noted that if anyone has ever heard that private schools give out marks or results, Novena is exceptional, “they only give students what they work for, if you work for your first class, you will be

given the degree due for you.

It is a school I am proud to associate with any time any day.”

Looking forward to what lies ahead, she said: "After my second degree, I hope to apply for more scholarships because I still hope to have a master's degree in Biotechnology after which I will proceed to do my Ph.D to enable me lecture.

"I like lecturing because I love to impart knowledge. As a woman, probably marriage along the way.

Novena university While my stay in the United Kingdom lasts, I hope to make my country and alma mata proud as I aim to have the best result in the school.”

Dr Andrew Ekakitie who was her Head of Department (HOD) at Novena University while speaking with Vanguard on phone, pointed out that Vivian was an outstanding girl while in school.

According to the HOD, she was someone who knew the reason why she was in the university.

“In her class, she was the only student that made a first class in Biochemistry."

Ekakitie who disclosed that Vivian had earlier represented the institution in an international science quiz competition in South Africa said Vivian performed brilliantly.

F what Robert Coram, wrote over two hundred years ago is true, and it is substantially correct, then Nigerian uni versities, by and large are not discharging their responsibilities to the youth. Everyday, we are confronted with the fact that our universities generally are turning out graduates who are unemployable. The answers to the question, why, are numerous, but one or two are the most prevalent.

If Federal and State government-owned universities were private enterprises, most of them, as well as an increasing number of private universities should have been hurled into various courts for operating 419 outfits. They seldom deliver what they claim in their publications or at the time they are founded by the governments which establish them.

Plateau State University, situated at Bokkos, can serve as an example for the infractions of virtually all the State Universities in Nigeria, as well as most Federal and private institutions. The university which had been admitting students for various courses, since its inception, and is now poised to graduate some students, has failed to obtain accreditation for any of the courses offered. Most people might consider this a minor issue; but, that is because they don’t know the implications of the statement they just read. So, let me briefly explain.

First, graduating from any university, and collecting certificate for a course which had not been accredited by the National University Commission, NUC, means that all the students have received, after years of education and at great expense to themselves and parents, is a worthless piece of paper. They cannot be admitted to the National Collecting certificate for a Youth Service course which had not been Corps, NYSC, neither can they accredited by the NUC, be considered means that all the students graduates of a university. If that have received ...is a worthis not 419, perless piece of paper haps a lawyer can tell me what is.

Meanwhile, the inability to be admitted to NYSC service has broader implications for the unfortunate graduates. Let me quickly list a few. Life time of unemployment, or if they are fortunate, under-employment, is their lot.

No major company in the oil, banking, ICT, food and beverages, conglomerates and services will ever employ them without an NYSC discharge certificate. Certainly, none quoted on the Nigerian Stock Exchange will touch them. For that matter, no large indigenous company will accept them as graduates.

Any employment offered to them will be on the basis of School Certificate holders because that is the only legitimate certificate they hold.

Post- graduate education is also closed to them – except in the same university which awarded the bogus undergraduate degree in the first instance. It is virtually impossible for any graduate of a university parading a degree from an institution whose courses were denied accreditation to proceed to Masters or Doctorate degree programmes in the front line universities at home and abroad. The reason is not difficult to discover. It is risky, if not inadvisable, to build a solid upper story on a shaky foundation – which is what the university education offered to youths in most of our state universities are.

Most universities, especially state universities, are in this predicament because the governors who first proposed them are transient occupants of Government House. They think shortterm and many of them are only interested in establishing a university in their own home town or village – as a trophy from their tenure of office. Invariably, the costing, present, short and long-term, is wrong. Too many politicians are under the very erroneous impression that having the funds to start a university is all that is needed to establish one and make a success of it.

They lack everything. Nothing could be further from the truth.

More than ten thousand times what was spent to establish the University of Ibadan must have been spent to operate it.

,

OW can we best de scribe a person who made a First Class honours in a course of study and also repeated the same performance in a national contest? If not genius, then the best nomenclature suitable for such a person is 'exceptional'.

This explains the performance of Miss Vivian Nwofor, 27, a first class Biochemistry graduate of Novena University, Ogume, Delta State who applied for a national scholarship scheme where just one person emerges as a winner yearly.

Speaking with Vanguard Learning, Vivian said: “While conducting some research online, I stumbled on the Dr Murtala Mohammed Scholarship scheme and applied. The scholarship is for just one Nigerian who meets the required academic qualifications.”

It is done in memory of the late General Murtala Mohammed, who ruled Nigeria from 1975 to 1976 before his asassination.

The scholarship covers full tuition to study in London Metropolitan University, United Kingdom.

According to her, some of the requirements are; a first class degree, a score of seven and above in International General Certificate of Secondary Education ,IGCSE, English language and be a Nigerian.

"When I wrote the IGCSE examination, I scored 7.5. Out of the other first class holders that wrote the examination, I emerged first,” she said.

,

Vanguard, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 18, 2014 — 29

Cheery news for breast cancer victims Stories By EBELE ORAKPO with Agency Report

B

REAST cancer, the most common type of cancer in women, is often seen as a death sentence by victims and their families especially in the third world. The reason is that many sufferers present very late and at that point, there is pretty little or nothing medical science can do to save them and so they die. Experts are all agreed that early diagnosis of breast cancer is the key to increased survival rate. They believe that with early diagnosis, survivial rate which has been put at 10 per cent for Africa, could go as high as 90 per cent.

To help early detection of breast cancer, two researchers in the Department of Chemical and Biomolecular

*Using a silicone model of a breast and embedding objects representing lumps, scientists have successfully tested an electronic skin that can accurately “feel” and image lumps much smaller than those detectable by manual exams.

Image: American Chemical Society Engineering, University of Nebraska at Lincoln, USA, Ravi F. Saraf and Chieu Van Nguyen have come up with what they call Electron-

ic skin, "a thin-film tactile device that has the capacity to detect and produce clear images of small lumps in breast tissue that fingers may

not be able to detect.

Presently, the most common method of screening for breast cancer is mammography which delivers incorrect results occasionally and it is said to be ineffective for young women or women with dense breast tissue.

Another commonly used method is Clinical Breast Examination (CBE) by health care professionals.

Although it is radiation-free, inexpensive and can be performed outside the hospital, the downside is that physicians most times, are unable to detect lumps until they are 21mm long.

Other methods such as Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) and ultrasounds, are sensitive but expensive.

The good news is that the electronic skin made from nanoparticles and polymers, can successfully detect lumps and accurately determine their shape when they are less than 10 millimeters in length and this could lead to increase in cancer survival rates by over 94 per cent, according to the report published in the journal, ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces.

"Knowing the size and shape of a lump could allow

for earlier identification of breast cancer, which could save lives," the researchers said.

The electronic skin has been formulated to operate with an optimum level of sensitivity in order to provide quality imaging without a level of pressure that would create discomfort as experienced in manual breast exams.

To test their device, the scientists placed lump-like objects within a piece of silicone to simulate breast tissue. They subsequently "applied the device to their model with the same level of pressure that a clinician would use in a manual exam.

"During this testing, the device was able to successfully identify lumps as small as 5 mm and as deep within the silicone as 20mm - measurements that would typically be very difficult to detect for even an experienced clinician."

Detecting lumps and determining their shape when they ’re less than half that size improves a patient’s survival rate by more than 94 per cent.

Saraf says electronic skin could also be used to screen patients for early signs of melanoma and other cancers.

Risky behaviour linked to brain structure

DYON commends Education Minister on EVD spread

B

EING risk-averse or riskprone is a function of the brain, researchers at the Yale School of Medicine have discovered.

They show that "the volume of the parietal cortex in the brain could predict where people fall on the risk-taking spectrum."

In the study which combined neuroanatomy with neuroeconomics, researchers found out that people with a larger volume in the posterior parietal cortex (PPC) are willing to take more risks, especially risks involving money.

In the study led by Ifat Levy, professor of Comparative Medicine and Neurobiology at Yale School of Medicine, the team found that those with larger volume in a particular part of the parietal cortex were willing to take more risks than those with less volume in this part of the brain.

"If these results are validated for other populations, it may be possible to make accurate estimations about the risktaking distributions of people just from analyzing millions of existing brain scans," said Levy.

“In the past, people thought that function was the best window into the person’s mind, but lately, it has been shown that on top of functional studies, neuroanatomy has a

By Vera Samuel Anyagafu

T

*Those with a larger volume in a particular part of the parietal cortex were willing to take more risks than those with less volume in this part of the brain.

Image: serendip.brynmawr.edu growing role in explaining people’s perception and behavioural traits,” said Sharon Gilaie-Dotan of the Institute of Cognitive Science at the University College London.

According to the report published in Neuroscience, the researchers sought to examine the link between brain structure and economic preferences.

Participants included young adult men and women from the northeastern U.S. and they made a series of choices between monetary lotteries that varied in their degree of risk, and the researchers conducted standard anatomical MRI brain scans. The results were first obtained in a group of 28 participants, and then confirmed in a second, indepen-

dent, group of 33 participants.

“Based on our findings, we could, in principle, use millions of existing medical brains scans to assess risk attitudes in populations,” said Levy, adding: “It could also help us explain differences in risk attitudes based in part on structural brain differences.

“We don’t know if structural changes lead to behavioural changes or vice-versa,” she said.

In a previous study, the team had shown that risk aversion increases as people age, and scientists also know that the cortex thins substantially with age. “It could be that this thinning explains the behavioural changes; we are now testing that possibility,” said Levy.

HE Dynamic Youth Organisation of Nigeria (DYON) has called on teachers and non-teaching staff in the schools to comply with the measures adopted by the Federal Government to help contain the spread of Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) in the country.

In his keynote address, DYON’s national president, Chief Elvis Obiekwe, expressed support for the Minister of Education, Mallam Ibrahim Shekarau for the quick decision to safeguard the nation and her future leaders from being infected by the deadly disease.

He said this is imperative following government's resolution to reopen schools in mid-September against earlier decision to postpone resumption of schools nationwide to 13 October for fear of spread of EVD. “Following the outbreak of the deadly Ebola Virus Disease, the world is on guard to prevent their citizens from contracting the virus and countries where the virus has manifested are putting measures in place to help contain

the spread of the disease hence, the reason DYON is in support of the decision of the Ministry of Education to train teachers and non-teaching staff on measures adopted by the Federal Government to help contain the spread of the deadly disease especially in schools,” Obiekwe said.

He also told Vanguard Learning that Shekarau has displayed unalloyed sensitivity to the plight of Nigerians, especially youths who are leaders of tomorrow.

Obiekwe applauded the minister for seeking the assistance of the Subsidy Reinvestment and Empowerment Programme, SURE-P in the intervention for training of teachers for improved quality of education and national development when Shekarau paid a courtesy visit to the Chairman of SURE-P, Gen. Martin Luther Agwai (rtd) and other committee members of SURE-P in Abuja recently.

Lamenting lack of professional training for teachers in the country as non-beneficial to students, he said; “...there is no public school in Nigeria today that is not 300 per cent over its capacity."

C M Y K

30 — Vanguard, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 18, 2014

Nigerian students, good ambassadors — Onwuliri

By Favour Nnabugwu & Raphael Izokpu

C

*Grace High School, Lagos in an exchange programme with Singapore students.

Proprietress advocates leadership training for educators

By DAYO ADESULU

E

DUCATORS need to be ex-posed to quality leadership training so that they can manage the human and material resources of a school in the best way possible, the proprietress Dartforte International School, Ahnadiyah Lagos, Princess Titilade Ijiwole has said.

According to Princess Ijiwole, many schools are being mismanaged because of inadequate exposure to leadership training among teachers and school owners. Speaking on Her experience at a leadership training conference she attended at Cambridge University in London, Ijiwole disclosed that virtually all the proprietresses at the conference agreed that leadership training

enhances the performance of teachers and college administrators. She added that participants at the conference were drawn from owners and administrators of public and private schools from Africa, Asia and the Middle East. She said that the leadership training program is usually an annual event floated by the university for educators and educational administrators all over the world. About 600 participants attended the conference this year, she said, adding that proprietors that appreciate the importance of leadership training are allowed to attend.

The proprietress also observed that there is a need to expose our politicians to leadership training. Her words: "We want quality leadership in this country but we are not pre-

pared to spend on training.

This is the reason we have bad leaders all over the place. We need to expose our politicians to quality leadership training so that they can perform better."

She noted that bad leadership has been the bane of governance in this country and leadership training is the panacea. Princess Ijiwole said as a result of the leadership training she attended, Dartforte International School will henceforth organise annual leadership and management training for all the teachers at the Secondary School.

On the poor security situation in the country, the proprietress said the school has installed CCTV camera in the school premises so as to provide adequate security for the children.

House Committee lauds Yabatech’s Rector

By Destiny Eseaga

H

OUSE of Representa t i v e s Committee on Education has described the management and contributions of the Rector of Yaba College of Technology, Dr. M. K. Ladipo on infrastructure development, internally generated revenue and staff welfare which have transformed the college within a short period, as unquantifiable and exemplary.

Chairman of the committee, Hon. Aminu Suleiman was in Lagos recently when he led other members of the committee on a working visit to the cradle of higher learning in Nigeria as part of its oversight functions. “We are on a working visit to Yabatech to see for ourselves the good works of the C M Y K

rector and management team of this great college which are unprecedented and as part of our oversight function, identify challenges in order to make necessary recommendations.”

‘Indeed, we are impressed with what we saw, provisions of infrastructures for a conducive learning, improved internally generated revenue, execution of viable projects funded internally and more in spite of dwindling budgetary allocations.”

In her address, Dr. Ladipo thanks the Chairman and members of the House committee on Education for their visit which demonstrates the proactiveness of the committee and its genuine concern for educational development in Nigeria. She said: “Our vision is to be the

leading higher educational institution in Africa by providing first rate academic, professional and entrepreneurial education to our students, who are empowered to make positive impact in the technological and socio-economic development of the country.”

She further enthused: “The College is structured into eight schools and thirty four academic departments with a total of sixty four accredited programmes which cut across diverse disciplines offering National Diploma, Higher National Diploma(HND), postHND certificates and degree programme in the School of Technical Education in affiliation with University of Nigeria, Nsukka.”

ONTRARY to the per ception that Nigerian students do not represent the country was overseas, the Minister of State I, in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Prof. Viola Onwuliri has said that Nigerian students are good ambassadors.

The minister who was proud of Nigerian students, argued that she has travelled wide hence knew what students from other countries do outside of their home country.

Onwuliri during a courtesy visit by the National Executives Council of the Alumni Association of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, led by their national president, Barrister Andrew Oru in Abuja last week, disagreed with the view that Nigerian students dent the image of their home country when they are in other countries.

Prof. Viola said, “It is a sweeping statement to say that our graduates are not employable. I take an exception to that, because those of us in foreign affairs have been moving around and we know that our students have been making us proud in institutions outside the country.

“And when l also went to some

other countries, I engaged some of the institutions out there and you continue to get kudos about Nigerian students.”

On scholarship for first class graduates: “We are getting them enrolled in the best universities in the world and they are doing us proud. Many of them have been employed in different international organisations. Even in international oil companies, you get Nigerians being listed as the best staff of the year in different countries.

“I don’t agree that they are not employable, it is just that, perhaps, our former leaders do not put proper plans in place, you know, to absorb the products of Nigerian universities. In years gone by when there was ban on employment, the universities did not shut their doors. They were still graduating students and the system did not make any arrangement for employment of those students.

“But today, we have the SureP programme, You Win and other programmes under entrepreneurship that the President has put in place so that everybody does not have get in to the civil service. If other leaders had done all that, I am sure that today, we would have had a huge network of these entrepreneurs that are employing other Nigerians.”

Ebola sensitization for teachers Continues from page 25 measures to be adopted in schools, Dr Doris Nria insisted on regular washing of hands with soap and clean water.

She called on principals to ensure steady supply of water in their various schools. She also demonstrated how to wash hands properly with soap and water, how to put on the Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), and how to make use o f thermometers.

The chief educator advised teachers to report any suspected case of Ebola to the nearest health centre or the State E b o l a Emergency Centre.

She listed t h e symptoms of the disease as high fever, severe headache, Muscle p a i n , Diarrhea

Vomiting and Abdominal pain An official from the WHO, Dr Gaya Gamhewage, commended Rivers State Government and the Federal Ministry of Health for their response in containing the disease in Nigeria. She said that the efforts of the government has proven that Nigeria can conquer challenges that comes its way.

She also pointed out that proper personal hygiene should be maintained.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 18, 2014 — 31

32—Vanguard,THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 18, 2014

Ex-servicemen decry unpaid benefits since 2010 W HEN will the pa thetic issue of unpaid benefits of public pensioners end in Nigeria.

From civil servants, Para-military to ex-servicemen, the sad tale of unpaid benefits is the same. The other day, it was retired Nigeria Postal Service, NIPOST, workers, yesterday, it was retired senior civil servants and today it is retired military pensioners protesting among others, against the non-

payment and non-harmonisation of their pension arrears since 2010.

September 10 protest by the ex-servicemen was visible mainly in Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, and Benin city, the capital of Edo state.

The Abuja protest, it attracted retired military personnel from different parts of the country and they were marching to the Presidential Villa to register their grievance before they were stopped

by security operatives at the villa junction by the Federal Secretariat.

The ex-servicemen tied black bands on their left arms, saying it was to mourn their fallen colleagues, who paid the supreme price.

The pensioners had protested against the non-payment of the arrears in August. Chairman of Ex-Servicemen Welfare Association, Retired Warrant Officer Adona Abbas, said the protest was over unpaid bal-

ance of 53 per cent approved for retired military pensioners since 2010.

Abbas lamented that 33 per cent of the 53 per cent was paid in August 2013, leaving a balance of 20 per cent.

He said the leadership of the National Assembly Committees on Defence had promised the money would be paid in August 2014 when they protested early on August 6, saying “We have not been paid hence we have come to protest because our

members are dying, we have become beggars in this country, the country we fought to unite. Why should we become beggars? Our children cannot go to school. People are enjoying. If we had not fought to unite the country, these people cannot enjoy what they are enjoying now.”

Chief of Staff to the President, retired BrigGen Oladehinde Arogbofa, and Minister of State for Defence, Sen. Musiliu Obanikoro, met with

the representatives of the protesting pensioners.

Speaking after the meeting, Obanikoro assured that the grievances of the pensioners were being addressed, adding that government appreciated what they were going through.

Spokesman for the pensioners retired Lt.-Col. Innocent Nas, said they took the promise made the chief of staff to the president, and the Minister of State for Defence, seriously. He however, threatened that they would resume the protest by on October 1, if government reneged on its promise to pay them.

Threaten ‘guerilla warfare’ The ancient City of Benin, Edo State capital, the aggrieved ex-servicemen threatened guerrilla warfare if their demands were not met.

The protest, led by the National Secretary of Association of Military Pensioners, AMP, Patrick Okpaiyo, lamented that after they fought for the survival and unity of the country, they were neglected by successive governments, warning that if the implementation of the consolidated military salary for the exservicemen was not paid soon, they would resort to unconventional means to fight for their benefits.

The retired military personnel said: “We are here to call the attention of the Federal Government to our plight. We have been deprived of our rights, we fought the civil war at our youthful age but today, this administration has forgotten us, our people are dying, so we have been pushed to the wall.

In 2010, we were given 53 per cent of pension increment and it was not until we protested last year in Abuja that we were given the salary and the arrears have not been paid till date and this year, we are sure that the arrears is budgeted for but we have not been paid and the year is running out. We need the money except they want us to go to the bush and begin a guerrilla war but we believe in the Nigeria project but if they push us to the wall, we may have to do that.”

C M Y K

Vanguard, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 18, 2014 — 33

C M Y K

34 — Vanguard, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 18, 2014

Vanguard, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 18, 2014 — 35

C M Y K

36 — Vanguard, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 18, 2014

C M Y K

Vanguard, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 18, 2014 — 37

C M Y K

38— Vanguard, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 18, 2014

Vanguard, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 18, 2014 — 39

40

C M Y K

— Vanguard, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 18, 2014

Vanguard, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 18, 2014— 41

42 — Vanguard, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 18, 2014

C M Y K

Vanguard, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 18, 2014 — 43

C M Y K

44 — Vanguard, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 18, 2014

C M Y K

Vanguard, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 18, 2014 — 45

46 — Vanguard, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 18, 2014

VANGUARD, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 18, 2014—47

48—VANGUARD, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 18, 2014

VANGUARD, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 18, 2014—49

LIM HOLDS SESSION

50 —Vanguard, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 18, 2014

WEDDING: From left, Former governor of Cross River State and Chairman of the occassion, Mr. Donald Duke; mother of the bride, Senator Florence Ita-Giwa; her daughter, Kokoeka and the bridegroom, Chimaobi Obioha during the traditional wedding ceremony held at Princess Villa, Diamond Hills, Calabar on Saturday.

WORKSHOP: From left; Chairman, Conference 57 of Lagos State, Mr. Hakeem Sulaiman; Secretary, Mr. Hakeem Bamgbala; former Force Public Relations Officer, Mr. Frank Mba; and Command Officer, 9 brigade, Lagos State, Brig-Gen, GB Dalubo, during the opening of a 2-day workshop on Security Re-Engineering, Grassroots Awareness and Information Management for the 57 Local Governments/Local Council Development Areas of Lagos State at Oriental Hotel, Lagos.

PROMO: Nine of the 11 reward winners of one million naira each in the just-concluded Peak Super Eagles promo, from left; Olusegun Toyin (Abuja), Nwankwo, K (Lagos), Okpe Joseph (Abuja), Moses Amechi Anoh (Ondo), Enobong Umoh (Lagos), Adegbuyi Margaret Mayokun (Lagos),Sunday Ekpong Agbe (Abuja), Chiazor Ugochukwu Martins (Lagos) and Ifreke Robert Afia (Port Harcourt) at the FrieslandCampina Wamco head office in Lagos.

VISIT: From left; Arc. Sonny Echono, FNIA, 3rd Vice President, Nigerian Institute of Architects, NIA and Arc. Waheed Brimmo,FNIA, President representing NIA; Alh. Lawal Idirisu, Chairman, West African Ceramics Ltd, and Mr. Bhaskar Rao, General Manager during a courtesy visit to NIA national secretariat in Abuja.

DRAW: From right: First City Monument Bank, FCMB, Zonal Head for Owerri, Mr. Okey Ogelle; winner of a television at FCMB’s 30th Anniversary Promo in the South-east/South-south regional draw; Mr Idemudia Airuoyuwa and the Edo State Commandant of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corp, Mr. Mr. Haruna Idris, at the draw held in Benin City.

BRIEFING: From left; Mr Tilewa Adebajo, Chairman, Stationary Stores FC Lagos; Uche Mojekwu, Head, Corporate Communication, F.C.M.B; Mr Samson Adamu, CEO, Kinetic Sports and organiser of COPA Lagos and Kunle Shin-aba Head, Corporate Affairs Manager 1960 Bet during the Press briefing on the forthcoming 2014 COPA Lagos Intl beach soccer competition to be held in Lagos. Photo by Ovadje Elliot.

PRESENTATION: From left: Marketing Communications Manager, Thermocool, Ms. Nsa Yellow-Duke; Winners: Mr. Victor Ndigwe, Ms. Mayowa Nicolas, and Marketing Director, Thermocool, Mr. Vikramjeet Singh at the presentation of Thermocool Freezers to winners of the 2014 Elite Model Look competition co-sponsored by Thermocool.

PRESENTATION: Assistant Manager, StarTimes Lagos, Mr. Thomas Ajimavo; winner of the 4th Toyota Yaris 2014 model Star Time Extra Time Promo, Mr. Dada Holmes and brand manager, Star Time, Mr Sumoye Habeeb, at the presentation of Toyota Yaris Star Price to Holmes in Lagos. Photo by Akeem Salau.

LAUNCH: From left; Head Research and Development, PZ Cussons Plc, Mr. Peter Strock; Managing Director, PZ Cussons Plc, Mr. Alex Goma; Public Relations Officers, Da Viva, Mrs Carol Arhere and Marketing Manager, PZ Cussons Plc, Mr. Roy Ekekwe, during the Canoe detergent media launch in Lagos.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 18, 2014—51

AU SUMMIT:

PACAW raises alarm over primary education

Labour Minister explains Transformation Agenda

By Demola Akinyemi

I

LORIN— THE Founder of Pan African Children Advocacy Watch, PACAW, a United States of America, USA-based non-profit organisation, Dr. Adetokunbo Ayeni, has decried the poor primary education system in Nigeria.

He traced it to acute shortage of infrastructural materials and the needed manpower in the government-owned primary schools, saying it has the potential of destroying the country’s future.

An indigene of Koro-Ekiti in Ekiti Local Government Area of Kwara State, Ayeni pleaded with parents and other stakeholders to rescue the situation before it is too late by ensuring that they make the supreme sacrifice of giving and ensuring that Nigerian children have good education to save the future of the country.

He spoke at the commissioning of a renovated library and computer complex and equipping of the two centres with books and computer sets in Koro Community Primary School, Koro Grammar School in Koro-Ekiti.

Bank holds reading session

A

S an integral part of its corporate social investment initiatives, Stanbic IBTC Holdings Plc, a member of Standard Bank Group, has organised a book reading session for students in Lagos as part of the World Literacy Day. Manager, Events and Corporate Social Investment, Stanbic IBTC Holdings, Ame Okwudi, who conducted the reading sessions, said the initiative was a further demonstration of the organisation’s focus on laying a solid foundation for the breeding of a future generation of Nigerians.

She said for corporate social responsibility initiatives to have the desired transformational impact on the lives of the people, stakeholders must collaborate and move beyond rhetoric, to matching lofty words and plans with action.

M SUMMIT: From left— Professor Rufa'i Alkali, Special Adviser to the President, Political Affairs, and National Coordinator, Goodluck Support Groups; Senator Pius Anyim, Secretary to the Government of the Federation, representating President Goodluck Jonathan; and Governor Godswill Akpabio of Akwa Ibom State, at the first national summit of Goodluck Jonathan Support Groups in Abuja.

PDP has impoverished Kogi says APC z‘Only workers can pay tax’

By Boluwaji Obahopo

L

OKOJA— ALL Progressives Congress, APC, in Kogi State, has said the state will continue to wallop in poverty and underdevelopment as long as Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, remains in power.

Speaking through one of its leaders, George Olummoroti, the party claimed that the PDP-led government has no clue on how to harness the abundant potentials in the state to improve the living condition of citizens, lamenting that the government had inflicted high level of poverty and collapse of infrastructure on the state.

Olumoroti, who spoke in Kabba, during a Sensitisation and Empowerment programme for people of the Western senatorial axis, said: “We have been talking and tackling the poverty rate of our people through our personal empowerment programmes because the rate of poverty is high.

“And the reason is lack of infrastructural development in the state; a situation that has also collapsed the economy of the state. Also, the PDP government has failed to look inward and generate revenue to address the plights of the people.

“All they do is to wait for the monthly allocation from the Federal Government; most of which is mismanaged or embezzled.”

… says APC is hope

He, however, said there

was hope for the state if APC was voted into power saying “the APC leadership theory is that all elected officials under the party must remember that they have a responsibility to the people.

“APC has a robust knowledge on how to bring opportunity to farmers and businesses to revamp the economic sector of the state.

The manifesto and system of the party make their governors and elected official under the party accountable to the people.”

He also said the party was not only out to take over power from PDP, but poised to change the economy of the state,

noting that “there is a blueprint from the party on what to do to change the state's status.

On natural resources

“Presently, there are 21 untapped natural resources in the state. When APC comes on board in 2015, we shall explore the resources to create job for the people and also make gain for the state.

“When people have jobs you can then ask them to pay tax.

Someone who is not employed cannot pay tax.

“It is from tax that we will develop infrastructure, revamp its economy and the people can be rescued from poverty.”

... as Nat'l Planning Minister preaches unity in Kwara PDP

By Demola Akinyemi

I

LORIN—MINISTER of National Planning and Deputy Chairman, National Planning Commission, Dr. Suleiman Olanrewaju, has advised members of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Kwara State to bury their differences and unite to be able to win the 2015 general elections.

He spoke at the palace of Emir of Ilorin Alhaji Sulu Gambari, where he went to pay homage to the traditional ruler ahead of a PDP reception in his honour in Ilorin.

He said: “This is the first time Kwara State, as a government, will be in the opposition to the political party at the centre in the last

20 years, and we should take advantage of this golden opportunity.

“We all know that there is nothing as good as being with the party at the centre.

We should therefore not miss 2015; we should, therefore, put our house in order and win Kwara State for PDP in the coming elections.”

Olanrewaju also cautioned that no member of PDP in the state should engage in politics of bitterness capable of causing breach of peace in any part of the state and also solicited for prayers of the royal father for peace in the state.

The emir expressed happiness over the appointment of the Minister and prayed for his success.

INISTER of Labour and Productivity, Chief Emeka Wogu, has said that the Transformation Agenda policy of the administration of President Goodluck Jonathan is geared towards growing Nigeria’s economy with corresponding increases in people’s welfare and job creation.

The Minister, who was represented by the Permanent Secretary Federal Ministry of Labour and Productivity, Dr. Clement Illoh, spoke in Abuja while declaring open the meeting of stakeholders to adopt Nigeria’s Report on Employment, Poverty Eradication and Inclusive Development for presentation at the Extra Ordinary Summit of the African Union Heads of States and Governments.

He said: “It is instructive to note, however, that the administration of President Goodluck Jonathan has taken bold steps which are deliberately geared towards growing Nigeria’s economy with corresponding increases in people’s welfare and job creation.

“Nigeria has not only demonstrated a high level of political commitment to employment promotion among African memberstates, but has consistently submitted her reports to the African Union.”

Chief Wogu noted that i n c r e a s i n g unemployment and underemployment, rising cost of living and poor working conditions had impacted negatively on most nations’ economies.

He said the challenges of pursuing national growth and development among others, prompted AU Heads of State and Governments ExtraOrdinary Summit, held in September 2004 at Quagadougou, Burkina Faso, to pledge to put employment at the centre of their economic and social policies.

52 — Vanguard, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER18, 2014

Vanguard, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 18, 2014—53

EBOLA: Senate tells schools to take precautions ...urges ECOWAS, AU to create regional containment zWants Adadevoh immortalized

By Johnbosco Agbakwuru & Joseph Erunke

A

BUJA — THE Senate, yesterday, advised both private and government schools to put in place precautionary measures to curtail the spread of Ebola as schools resume next week.

It also concurred that enough efforts had been made for resumption of schools.

The Senate equally urged the Economic Community of West African States, ECOWAS, and the African Union, AU, to create regional and continent-wide containment programme to avoid further spread of the EVD from one country to another.

These were part of the resolutions from the motion, titled “The Ebola Virus Disease in Nigeria”, sponsored by Senator Ifeanyi Okowa and co-sponsored by 106 other senators.

But Senate President, Senator David Mark, cautioned that precautionary measures should be put in place by both private and government schools as the students and pupils go back to school on Monday, despite the efforts of government in tackling the virus.

Senator Mark also commended the commitment and dedication of the Federal Government and, indeed, the entire country in uniting to frantically tackle the EVD, to ensure that the virus did not spread beyond control.

According to Mark, the dedication of Nigerians in the fight against Ebola “only goes to show that if we are determined and if we mean it, we can rise to any occasion in this country and it is a good lessons for all of us.

“Individually, people were dedicated, they put in their best and collectively we were able to work together to stem further spread of the epidemic. There are lessons that have come out and I hope that we have taken them on.

“Environmental sanitation is very important, personal hygiene is very crucial and communities must get together whether they are schools or colleges or universities or small communities and be able to organize themselves in

such a way that with little assistance from government, they can avoid the spread of Ebola epidemic and indeed any other epidemic.”

On the call for the immortalization of Dr. Ameyo Adedevoh who paid the supreme price with her life by ensuring that the Liberian diplomat, Patrick Sawyer, did not spread rapidly, Mark said the patriotism was worthwhile and should be rewarded.

He said: “I think we can’t thank Dr. Adadevoh enough because she went out of her way beyond anybody’s expectation to control Patrick Sawyer, who would have otherwise done havoc much more beyond our imagination and I think the nation will do well to honour her and indeed other workers in the health industry who sacrificed their personal lives just to make sure that most of us are alive.

“We certainly need to commend

the Lagos State Government because they have done a lot and the Federal Government who also did a lot to ensure that we don’t allow this to spread beyond what we have seen.

“I agree entirely with you that the way we carry on is as if everybody in this country now is infected with Ebola, we should give ourselves the kudos for doing well and not paint us black before the eyes of the world.

“There are debates going on whether schools should resume or not resume, the private schools and government schools also should make sure that they take precautionary measures before we get all our children back to school, But I think that we have done enough but with a little more efforts the schools should be allowed to resume and making sure that when they resume we don’t let down our guards.

“It is not over yet, but I believe

VISIT: From left, Deputy President of the Senate, Sen. Ike Ekweremadu; NBA President, Mr. Augustine Alegeh; Senate Leader, Sen. Victor Ndoma-Egba, and NBA National Secretary, Mazi Afam Osigwe, during a courtesy visit by the newly elected executive of the NBA to the Deputy Senate President's office in Abuja, Tuesday.

I can't stop supporting Jonathan — Clark zSays he worked to make him Yar'Adua's V-P

By Henry Umoru

A

BUJA — FORMER Federal Commissioner for Information and South-South leader, Chief Edwin Clark, yesterday, vowed not to relent for a second in defending and supporting President Goodluck

Jonathan.

Clark, who said he had adopted the President for the 2015 presidential election, said he made him the vice presidential running mate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, to the late President, Alhaji Umaru Yar’Adua.

Halt sentence on soldiers, Ubani, ex-Ikeja NBA chairman tells Jonathan

By Onozure Dania

L

AGOS — FORMER chairman of Ikeja branch of Nigerian Bar Association, NBA, Monday Ubani, has urged President Goodluck Jonathan to stop the execution of soldiers sentenced to death on Monday by the Army, through the power bestowed on him as Commanderin-Chief of Nigeria’s Armed Forces.

Ubani said that though mutiny was a criminal offence in the

that we have done enough to avoid any further spread of the Ebola virus disease.”

The senate had in a seven point resolution which included a oneminute silence for the late Dr. Adadevoh and other health workers that had lost their lives as a result of the Ebola outbreak, commended President Goodluck Jonathan for the leadership provided and the prompt response in tackling the spread of the Virus in Nigeria.

The senators also commended Federal Ministry of Health, Minister of Health Prof. Onyebuchi Chukwu, the government of Lagos and Rivers States and other State governments for the steps taken thus far and urged the Federal Government to immortalize the heroes and heroines, especially Dr. Adadevoh, who lost their lives in their service to their fatherland and humanity.

military, the convicted soldiers, however, had a right to appeal the decision at a higher court.

He also appealed to the military authorities to tamper justice with mercy and consider the circumstances that led the soldiers into shooting at their GOC. Ubani stated that the fact that President Jonathan had asked for money to procure new equipment to prosecute the war showed that the soldiers were justified when they claimed they were illequipped.

Ubani said: “The issue of mutiny is a criminal offence under the military law. And if they have succeeded in proving all the ingredients of the offence, and they have convicted them at the tribunal, I think they have a right to appeal and exhaust their appellate rights at a higher court.

“But this is where tampering justice with mercy comes in.

Because we must take into cognizance the circumstances in which they have to fire at their boss."

According to him, when the late President consulted with him with a list of possible vice presidential candidates, like former Governors Peter Odili; James Ibori, Donald Duke and others, he refused.

He explained that his recommendation of President Jonathan was the reason Yar’Adua was silent on his name in his speech, even when Peter Odili stood with the late President with very high expectations of being announced as running mate.

Clark, who spoke when he recieved the PDP South South Zonal Executive Committee, led by the National Vice Chairman, PDP South South, Dr. Cairo Ojuogboh, at his Asokoro residence, Abuja, noted that the speech had Odili’s name but was removed later.

The Ijaw leader disclosed that he rejected the list and asked that Jonathan’s name be put there as a replacement, adding that the decision was taken in his suite s at Transcorp Hilton Hotel, Abuja on a Sunday.

NASS ‘ll give accelerated attention to bills on justice sector reform — Ekweremadu

By Joseph Erunke

A

BUJA — DEPUTY Senate President, Ike Ekewremadu, has said that all bills on justice sector reform pending before the National Assembly would be given accelerated attention.

He also tasked the Nigeria Bar Association, NBA, to actively support the judiciary in its war against corruption in the sector.

He observed that justice sector reform was not just about making new laws or amending existing ones, but also about guarding the integrity of the sector and ensuring strict application of laws.

Ekweremadu, who spoke when the newly elected National Executive Committee, NEC, of the Nigeria Bar Association, NBA, visited him in his office in Abuja, insisted that the National Assembly would not fail in ensuring that all bills aimed at reforming the justice sector were passed.

Reps move to include referendum in constitution

By Emman Ovuakporie

A

BUJA — THE House of Representatives, yesterday, started moves to amend Section 9 of the 1999 Constitution to provide for referendum in the enactment or alteration of a new constitution for Nigeria.

This move may be connected with the controversy surrounding what to do with the report of the recently concluded national conference convoked by President Goodluck Jonathan.

The bill has already been listed to be debated and may be given accelerated consideration.

Entitled, 'Á bill for an act to amend section 9 of the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 to make provision for referendum in the alteration or enactment of a new constitution.'

The bill is sponsored by Raphael Nnanna Igbokwe, PDP, Imo.

54 — Vanguard, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 18, 2014

World Literacy Day... Imo authors mentor young talents

By PRISCA SAM-DURU

T

HE Association of Nige rian Authors (ANA), Imo State chapter joined writers across the globe to celebrate the World Literacy Day last Monday, 8th September. The celebration featured a lot of activities aimed at deepening literacy and literary appreciation amongst primary, secondary and tertiary school students and their teachers in Imo State.

World Literacy Day, usually held on September 8, 2014, is a day set aside by UNESCO to celebrate literacy with the aim of eradicating illiteracy globally.

The ANA Imo celebration themed, ‘Literacy for the Eradication of Disease’ coincided with the state chapter’s annual convention which held the following day, Tuesday, September 9, at the Arts Theatre Auditorium, Alvan Ikoku Federal College of Education, Owerri.

The event kicked off with a rally held within the college premises to create awareness about World Literacy Day, and its significance to modern civilization. Students, ANA members and other invited guests went round the college with a banner proclaiming the day and the singular message, ‘Readers Are Leaders: Are You A Reader?’.

Interestingly, at the end of the rally, at the entrance of the theatre hall were placed, two water dispensing containers and soap for hand-washing; sanitizing tissues were also issued out as precaution against the dreaded Ebola virus disease. Although

there is no known case of the disease in Imo State, the writers were cautious enough not to leave anything to chance, as it is usually easier to prevent a disease than cure it. Everyone gladly embraced the hand-washing and sanitizing culture before moving into the hall for the main events.

‘Literacy for the Eradication of Disease’ was in consonance with the Ebola disease ravaging parts of West Africa. And to emphasise more on prevention of Ebola, a play, The Traffickers written by Dr. Sam Madugba of Imo State Ministry of Health, was staged.

The play narrates the atrocious operations of a trafficking gang that specialises in kidnapping women for ritual purposes. At its climax, the object of attracting victims -ring is smashed and in-

fluential members of society are exposed as brain behind the dastardly act, with some rotten elements in the police as accomplices.

Dr. Madugba , spoke on how literacy helps to eradicate diseases, saying, “Today, Nigeria suffers from poor reading habit, especially of novels. But I tell you, women are the best educators; educate them to lift up the country from illiteracy. Educating a country helps to prevent diseases.”

Chairman of the chapter, Mr. Chidozie Chukwubuike who was visibly appreciative of the turn out of pupils, students and other lovers of literature, encouraged the pupils and students to take reading seriously. His words, “Literacy and those who are literate rule the world. Those who

can document history rule the world. The Israelites documented their history and today they rule the world even in western societies, the Israelis still rule; they are the most successful. We, at ANA Imo, take literacy seriously and encourage people to read. We appreciate those who buy what we write and encourage students to start writing. Those who read and write will control the future.”

The primary and secondary school students were later mentored on the genres of literature as well as how one can become a successful writer.

Emmanuel Inedu mentored the students on the short story subgenre of prose fiction while a lecturer at Alvan Ikoku, Mr. Gabriel Uka, mentored on the art of writing the novel. Nwokedi Nwa Nwokedi spoke on elements of drama writing.

•ANA members during the rally in Imo State

Sexual Violence...BHC holds art/fashion exhibition

By Prisca Sam-Duru & Vera Samuel Anyagafu

B

RITISH High Commis sion in Abuja took a step further in its campaign towards ending sexual violence in conflict all over the world, when it organised an art exhibition cum fashion show.

The art exhibition and fashion show which took place on Thursday 11 September 2014 at the embassy in Abuja, was organised in support of the international campaign to end sexual violence in conflict.

The event showcased three

fashion designers displaying different styles on the runway, all of the collections were made with the Preventing Sexual Violence in Conflict fabric which was specially commissioned for the campaign.

The exhibition of art works specially produced to highlight and support the campaign to end sexual violence in conflict, were on display during the show.

In his opening remarks, British Deputy High Commissioner, Simon Shercliff said, “Ending conflict-related sexual violence is of fundamental im-

portance to international peace and security. All too often, a culture of impunity exists around sexual violence in war.

The stigma for such crimes usually rests with the victims.

Sexual violence in armed conflict disproportionately affects women and girls, preventing their full political, social and economic participation. It also affects men and boys. The overwhelming majority of survivors of sexual violence in conflict never see justice. The use of sexual violence as a weapon of war often condemns the victims to lives of poverty, slowing na-

tional economic development.”

He said further that “we want to create an irreversible movement towards ending the use of rape and other forms of sexual violence in conflict. We want to agree practical agreements that bring together and focus the efforts of the whole international community, including governments, the UN and other multilateral organisations, NGOs and civil society in an ambitious and cohesive programme for change that supports wider efforts to address current and active conflict situations around the world.”

Women in network on stage for King of Kings I

By PRISCA SAM-DURU

TS heart warming how the appreciation art is receiving is growing by the day. The industry has evolved so much that, diverse sectors in the country have begun utilising art as a vital tool with which to reach

out to heterogenous audience across the globe. The religious not wanting to be left out of the crave to utilise different genres to preach, have also made concerted efforts towards spreading the gospel through art.

Penultimate week at the grand finale of the 2014 Women

A scene from the women performance

Convention of the Divine Palace Church, Festac Lagos, the women ministry known as Women in Network, engaged guests with a variety of performances that not only gave glory to God, but spoke loudly of the need to breed a crop of selfless and caring Nigerians.

The programme was tagged “The Woman Her Generation Cannot Forget” It was an activity filled convention that attracted worshippers from other denominations who joined the women to celebrate. The stage opened with a drama presentation on the popular Biblical story, the Good Samaritan. The women who displayed an encouraging acting talent, preached the essence of offering help to the helpless irrespective of the person’s identity.

The drama emphasised the

need for Nigerians to render helping hand to others whenever the need arises irrespective of the person’s tribe or race as by so doing, one would have done what God expects of his people.

The dance featured women glowing in colourful traditional costumes from the East. Their dance steps were those typical of traditional women dance groups in Enugu state. The well executed performance had songs fine-tuned to praise God for his mercies and benevolence.

Interestingly and surprisingly too, there was comedy that spiced up the convention. The comedian, one of the women, Mrs Happiness Anele rendered rib cracking jokes that got the audience laughing all through.

In all, it was a show that gave women the opportunity to showcase their talents as well as

learn more skills to enable them excel in a difficult nation such as Nigeria. One of the participants attested to this when she confessed to have surprisingly noticed that her stage fright had been dealt with.

Speaking on the essence of the convention, Pastor Mrs Ijeoma Maduekesi, said that the variety of programmes were put together to help women learn how to “Manage their homes, our relationship with our husbands, how we can live a better life and affect people in our generation as well as people that will affect Nigeria positively. Most importantly, raise children that won’t be a problem to the nation but rather children that will affect their generation positively.” "The women engaged in dance, drama and music with the objective of helping them discover their talents." She said.

VANGUARD, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 18, 2014—55

Many participants at confab were there for the money— Agbakoba, SAN DR. Olisa Agbakoba, SAN, is a former President of the Nigerian Bar Association, NBA. In this interview, he speaks on his experience at the just concluded national conference, the politics in the country and the forth coming general elections. Excerpt:

BY BARTHOLOMEW MADUKWE

O

N the outcome of the national conference, will you say that issues affecting the country were exhaustedly dealt with?

When we started the conference, we just could not move forward. We did not go indepth, time was against everything. So the quality is not as sharp as it ought to be. I thought that the national conference was really on how to forge a new Nigeria. I did not see us coming to discuss on how to eradicate corruption or how to make the Port Authority more effective, so I wrote a paper called “core-issues.”

Many people came to the conference with pre-conceived motions. The core-issues were defeated. A lot of us came there just for the money. So the longer we stayed, the better.

dent Goodluck Jonathan for putting it together. Other presidents had used it for their own agenda, which was not the case with this one. As far as I could see, I just knew that the discussions were allowed to flow.

The issue of resource control generated ripples at the confab, what was the final conclusion on the matter?

The issue of resource control was bracketed. First of all, when we started the conference, Lamidi Adamawa made his remarks which made him popular. Therefore, it was felt that a smaller group of wise men should go and set the tone. I was part of it. So we came back with reliefs. One of the reliefs was that we will fight to achieve consensus and I agree with that. Consensus was the right thing to do. We agreed that difficult questions would be bracketed. That

Even though the time was not enough, we knew where the shoe was pinching.

What I think is left for us now is for the President to deal with some of these challenging problem, like the resource control problem

,

,

We were so widely spread and the kind of debates that I thought would come out did not come out at all.

The conference should have been a game changer. Something that you do and be excited that ‘ yes,’ this is a new Nigeria because it had people who knew the issues. I must be honest, I was very disappointed and I am happy that I did not accept the money. My conscience is clean. The conference ought to have produced better results. But we still have to appreciate Presi-

means, when we come to a point that we do not agree, we will put it in bracket and continue. So we bracketed the issue of resource control. The frame work for a special fund such as Boko Haram was a challenge, it was bracketed as well and sent to the Federal Government.

Will you say that the conference had too many issues at a short time, therefore it did not achieve its objective?

People may say that the conference failed. But if you step back and look at troubled are-

Members will benefit from NBA Insurance scheme — Okeke

•Dr. Olisa Agbakoba, SAN, former President of the Nigerian Bar Association, NBA. as around the world, I would say it is good thing that we had a chat. One thing that happened with the chat was that we knew how sick we are. If you go to a doctor, you will know how sick you are. Even though the time was not enough, we knew where the shoe was pinching.

Challenging problems What I think is left for us now is for the President to deal with some of these challenging problems, like the resource control problem. I will suggest that the best the president

— Pg.57

should go is to do what Obama did when the Republican congress wanted to frustrate the Obama Care, he appealed directly to Americans. The difference is that there the people responded, but here, the response is poor. But I will still appeal to the president to get Nigerians to support his programmes. There is no broad conclusion on the viability of the conference.

What role would you say civil society played in ensuring that the ational conference held?

Civil society had wanted to organise a sovereign national conference. It was in my view,

which was later accepted by some of my colleagues like Femi Falana SAN, that we should take the space we have and go for the national conference. What is in the name?

So, we approached the government, with the Secretary to the Government, to set up a presidential retreat on creating a peoples' constitution.

That discussion was the foundation for the national conference. Even though there was long time lag, which I pointed out to the Secretary of the Federal Government. So, civil society will want to take credit for sustaining the pressure on

Valedictory court session for former Lagos CJ

Continues on page 56

—Pg.57

56—VANGUARD, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 18, 2014

Many participants at confab were there for the money Continues from page 55 government to have the confab because people must talk.

He did the various regions see Nigeria’s problems?

Well, if there was enough time for the conference and if we had narrower issues, we would have dealt with them in deeper ways. Generally, the North did not see it as a constitution conference. The South saw it as a ground breaker. The North saw it as advisory, that the president did not authorise us. On many occasions, we had to go back to the president’s speech. And we said that the president himself said he is expecting that we will be able to create a new constitution for him to look at. What happened was that people saw the same issue in different colours- one green, one yellow. The various geo political regions saw the Nigeria challenge in different ways. And how to narrow that was a difficult task itself.

I understood why Lamidi Adamawa said what he said.

I understood why Lagos did

•Olisa Agbakoba, SAN everything is working, why will I care if its an Igboman that is in government? I realised from the conference that I was deceiving myself and

,

Our politicians are not interested in issues. A candidate wishes to win the governorship race, but he does not take issues to the people

,

not want regionalism, I understood why Ebonyi was not interested in regionalism. It is important that we understand our problems. Even Nelson Mandela said that the fact that he understood why his jailers jailed him was enough to understand how to overcome the enemy. So, I now understand Nigeria better.

And I am sure most of the participants understand Nigeria and the problems better. Nigeria is seriously ill. If you bring an issue, everybody will speak according to his own tribe. A country thrives when the best guys are there, not whether the person is his brother or not. If I am getting light, water, education and

EDITORIAL TEAM Innocent Anaba ( Head) Wahab Abdulah Ikechukwu Nnochiri Dayo Benson (Supervising Editor) 08056180119 dayobenson@yahoo.com

that makes me happy that I didn’t collect money to attend same.

Having attended the confab, what is way forward for Nigeria?

The only way Nigeria can work is to create autonomous regions. The Nigeria problem has to be confronted frontally. Unless we all understand the division, we cannot solve the problem. We are absolutely divided by many things.

And like I said before, there is no big reason why we must be together. If we cannot be together, let us part in peace.

Prof Ben Nwabueze, in one of his books, found that when you tell people you can go, nobody goes.

I do not know if you have heard of the Catalane, there are at least six separate entities in Spain, none see eye to eye. Spain was originally colonised by the Moros, they came from Morocco. So, there is a lot of Islamic influence on Spain that are called the underlusions. Then we have the fascists who do not want to be in Spain, they formed their own Boko Haram called ETA. Then the people around Real Madrid as related to the French, they are called the CASTILS. It is the Castile whose group dominates the Spanish life, but the Catalance (Barcelona) are the ones who supplied 30 percent of the revenue. But the Castils in 1675, subjugated the Catalance. Till today, there is that big argument among the Castils and the Catalance. So, the answer was to create autonomous regions.

The President of the Catalance becomes in charge of all the Catalonian. So, saying he is the President of the South East, he is in charge of all the issues of the South East.

As the 2015 general elections get closer, how will you assess the political environment at the moment?

It is a great disappointment that the clap seems to be happening with one hand. I do not see two hands. When it is only one hand, the clap will not be good. President Jonathan is not facing opposition. He needs to face opposition. He needs to be challenged by issues. All Progressive Congress, APC is simply not a party, it is a party waiting to take power. And that is the truth.

That is why Nuhu Ribadu can cross from APC to Peoples Democratic Party, PDP. When I was abroad and read it, I did not believe it. How can you be in APC and you cross to PDP? How do you cross-party? So, the president is clapping with one hand, and he needs strong opposition. So, the call will be for the principle of multi-pluralism to take place in Nigeria because when you have two strong teams, you are likely to have a strong result.

Strong result As I see it, I do not see the opposition. The APC is in tatters, they are fighting each other. There is a clear South West APC, there is a North APC. I do not know if the South West wing of the APC and the North wing of the APC will work together. I do not see that happening. But the PDP, with all its challenges, seem to be the only one in town and that is terrible in a country of 160 million people. That is terrible because the result of 2015 elections is almost for me predictable.

There is so much poverty in the country despite its abundant resources and assets, what do you think is wrong?

What is wrong is that a lot of our resources and assets are not properly deployed.

Our politicians are not inter-

ested in issues. A candidate wishes to win the governorship race, but he does not take issues to the people. So, Nigerians are still not part of the equation. We are not counting in elections.

Our politicians do not create the issue which will excite the populace. I am sure you know why? It is because the populace votes do not count.

Some activists have accused the civil society of losing interest in the issues of Boko Haram and the abducted Chibok girls. What is your reaction to this?

I regret that we in the civil society, we have lost some of our bites. But do not blame us because our strength is in confronting the military. I wish we have a way to challenge the politicians.

Business as usual There are so many governors there who are there because your votes did not count. That will be very insightful for 2015. In view of the fact that PDP is clapping with one hand, even though there are no issues, the result is going to be business as usual.

On the Boko Haram thing, I think our first task is to look around and ask whether what we see happening in Islamic State in Iraq and part of Syria, whether what we see happening in Yemen and else where, whether our Nigerian intelligence and military structure is doing well.

Speaking for myself, if I was the Command-in-Chief, I will dismiss the Chief of Defence Staff. How can Nigerian soldiers carry our equipment to Cameroon and run away? It tells you that the army is degraded. The only thing that can solve the Boko Haram problem is by a resolute decapitation. IS declared a caliphate in Iraq and look at the response of the Iraqi authority, including the United States and the West, but Boko did it here and we are licking ice cream, that is rather sad.

VANGUARD, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 18, 2014—57

LIM HOLDS SESSION

Members will benefit from NBA Insurance scheme — Okeke

if done well.

This is because it will remove a lot of the risks, including that of travelling and money involved, it will indeed be a wonderful development and if we start it with the branches, by 2016 when another election will come, almost everybody will be used to the e-voting system and as lawyers, we will albe able to lead the society in this kind of reforms. We shouldn’t be going backwards, electoral reforms, if it comes from us, then the lager society and other organisations will learn from us. If all these other organisations are able to learn from what the NBA has successfully done, then Nigeria will be a better place for it.

The President announced a significant reduction in conference fees during his tenure, how do you think this will impact our conferences positively?

Yes the President announced that there are a lot of corporate bodies that are willing to sponsor the NBA programmes, so it is really going to affect whatever conferences that may be run by the NBA. If these organisations have an understanding with the NBA and they are able to come up with good packages to run the conferences and sponsoring of the conferences, I don’t think that these reduction in conference fees will be an obligation on the part of members.

MR. Ogochukwu Okeke is the immediate past chairman of Nigerian Bar Association, NBA, Nnewi branch. He was Chairman of the Security Committee of the Technical Committee on Conference Planning at the just concluded NBA annual general conference in Owerri, Imo State.

In this interview, he speaks on the challenges facing NBA branch chairmen, lawyers' expectations from the new leadership of the national NBA among others. high indeed, I have

By Innocent Anaba always known Mr. Alegeh as a man of S a former branch chair his words, I sincereman, what do you conly believed in his sider the greatest challenge in manifesto during the branch administration in the campaigns. If you recountry? call, during the camBasically, upon taking office, paigns, he was a lot of people, members will called a stranger to feel that there are some ecothe Bar, so I always •Mr. Ogochukwu Okeke nomic gains to be made. But teased him whenevactually, there are not because er he wanted to do something you basically accept a position to do it like a stranger, to show edly paid by every lawyer, a pect from an association we of leadership, a position where that he is not that orthodox lawyer in Lagos who probably have as members.

Mr Alegeh, SAN, anall you need to do is to protect NBA politician that is bound by has the advantage of charging the interest of your members. the way others had done it. This high fees pays the same prac- nounced in his inaugural So, it is a question of selfless is a new era and you can see it ticing fees with a member who speech that one of his major service to the people and the manifested in his inauguration probably practises in another focus is to reform the NBA electoral process. What is your Bar. speech. He has made a lot of state where he may not have And when there is an issue changes within this short time the advantage to charge such reaction to this?

It is indeed a wonderful dein the branch, you begin to run and by time he spends two fees but at the end of the day, from here to there and from pil- years in the office, the NBA is nobody actually gets the bene- velopment in view of the fact lar to post. You attend branch going to see a complete revo- fits for actually paying those that it is extremely difficult now meetings, National Executive lution to the advantage of the fees, but with the Insurance to contest for the office of the scheme introduced by Augus- NBA President. Remember Committee, NEC, meetings members of the Bar. what I said before about traamong others and your private Given the performance of tine Alegeh, for once, membusiness will always suffer. But the immediate past leadership bers are going to have some- versing the entire 109 branchbecause you are at the helm of of the NBA, how do you think thing in return for the practic- es of the association in the affairs in the branch, you don’t this administration can connect ing fees they pay and that is a name of campaign, then you have an option other than to members back to their associ- plus for us, that is wonderful will appreciate the fact that evoting is an absolute solution show leadership. ation with maximum benefit to and is the kind of thing we exIt has really nothing to do Nigerian lawyers? with economic gains, but a lot The President will always say Inaugural sitting and hearing of the Tribunal of Inquiry into the people don’t see it that way but that the Okada riders have a road traffic accident and subsequent arson and vandalisation of Bus for me that is one of the prob- union and the first reason for Rapid Transit, BRT buses at Palm Grove, on Ikorodu Road, Lagos. lems you normally have with their coming together is their members who do not under- welfare. If one of them dies, stand the actual workings of the there is a contribution made by leadership of the Bar at the other Okada riders within the branch level. association to make sure that What are your expectations the corpse is sent home. What from the Augustine Alegeh, has the NBA done for its memSAN, leadership of the NBA? bers, practicing fees are expectMy expectations are very

A

Valedictory court session for former Lagos CJ

BY Bartholomew Madukwe A VALEDICTORY court session to honour the immediate past Chief Judge of Lagos State, Justice Ayotunde Philips, holds on September 23 at the State High Court Foyer, Igbosere, Lagos.

Chief Registrar of Lagos State High Court, Mrs I. Akinkugbe made the disclosure in a statement announcing the commencement of the new legal year.

It will be recalled that the court has been on vacation since July 16, 2014, during which time Justice Olajumoke Atilade succeed her blood sister (Ayotunde) as the Chief Judge of the state.

Ayotunde occupied the position until her retirement on July 26, 2014,

when she attained the statutory retirement age of 65 years.

The 62-year-old Atilade is the 15th Chief Judge of the Lagos State and the fifth female to occupy the position.

She was called to the bar 38 years ago and will oversee the administration of the Lagos State judiciary till the next three years.

In a statement by the spokesperson for the Lagos State Judiciary, Mrs Grace Alo, the legal year service will hold at the Cathedral Church of Christ, Marina and the Central Mosque respectively on Monday September 22, 2014.

Other activities lined up for the new legal year include a stakeholders summit on Child Right Law/Domestic Violence Law at the City Hall on Thursday 25, 2014.

From left: Mr Jude Ignanior: Chairman of the tribunal, Justice Ebenezer Adebajo and Mr Nuruden Ogbara.

From left: Prof Bolaji Owasanoye and Chairman of Ikorodu branch of the Nigerian Bar Association, NBA, Mr Dotun Adetunji.

58—Vanguard, THURSDAY, SEPTEMPER 18, 2014

THERE is a groundswell of pressure on President Goodluck Jonathan to declare his intention to seek re-election in 2015.

By Clifford Ndujihe & Henry Umoru

A

Eight million signatures The rallies, according to the organisers are meant to get the views of Nigerians on whether or not they want the president to continue in office beyond 2015.

On this score, the organisers claim that they have collected about eight million signatures of people, who want President Jonathan re-elected.

Following the pressure, Secretary to the Government of the Federation, SGF, Senator Anyim Pius Anyim, promised the over 7,000 support groups calling on the president to declare and the PDP to nominate him as its candidate that Jonathan would not disappoint them.

He said President Jonathan would weigh their demands in the overall interest of the country and since Nigerians were genuinely asking him to recontest, he would not let them them.

•President Jonathan

2015: The up-welling

pressure on Jonathan Speaking on Tuesday at the National Summit of Goodluck Jonathan Support Groups organised by the Special Adviser to the President on Political Affairs, Professor Rufai Ahmed, Senator Anyim promised to tell Jonathan that Nigerians were genuinely calling on him to continue, noting that participants paid their ways to Abuja and defiled the rains to plead with the President to continue.

The SGF , who was the special guest of honour and stood in for President Jonathan at the event that took place at the Eagle Square, amid heavy downpour said, “I will tell Mr. President that Nigerians are genuinely determined to go with him in 2015. The desire of Jonathan to continue is no longer a matter of PDP but for all Nigerians.”

Massive crowd Saying that he was seeing such a massive crowd for the first time, Anyim added: “Even the rain cannot stop us; men cannot stop us; women cannot stop us. I’m particularly excited today because I’ve never seen a gathering like this. Nigerians have defied the rain. From the morning, nobody has left, nobody has asked for food or water. What they are asking for has been Goodluck Jonathan.”

Members of the National Working Committee, NWC of the PDP in line with their position that the support groups should

count them out, were absent at the summit.

Meanwhile, over 7000 groups defiled the heavy rains in Abuja which started at 12.35 when the Special Adviser to the President, Prof. Rufai Ahmed Alkali was reading his welcome address and asked that the President must declare for 2015 election and endorsed his candidature.

The group, at the end of its first summit, said they had reviewed the performance of President Jonathan and resolved that he has performed well, and on that note, there must be continuity of governance.

The resolution, which was signed by leaders, patrons and directors of Goodluck Support Group (GSG) was read by Alkali and presented to Anyim at 2.59 pm for onward presentation to the president.

It read: “We, the leaders, patrons and sponsors of over 7, 000 Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) and support groups that make up of the Goodluck Support Group, after a careful review of the performance of President Jonathan and the current development condition of our country hereby resolve as follows: That President Jonathan has performed very well; that it is in the interest of Nigeria and all Nigerians that his Transformation Agenda should continue beyond 2015; that President Jonathan should step forward and contest for 2015 presidential election; that the

PDP should nominate Dr. Jonathan as its Presidential candidate for 2015 Presidential Election; That as Leaders and Representatives of the over 7,000 organizations with over 80 million membership, do hereby affirm our loyalty and unqualified support for President Goodluck Jonathan and undertake to deliver him.’’

Speaker after speaker at the

,

PART from a motley crowd of over 7000 support groups, the pressure is also being mounted by governors elected on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), leaders of the ruling party across the six geo-political zones of the country and leaders of some opposition parties.

Notable persons who want the president to seek re-election and to declare so without further delay include former National Chairman of the PDP, Dr Ahmadu Ali; Akwa Ibom State Governor and Chairman of PDP Governors’ Forum, Godswill Akpabio; former Anambra State Governor, Mr Peter Obi; former Information Minister, Professor Jerry Gana; and former Deputy Senate President, Senator Ibrahim Mantu among others, who are traversing the length and breadth of the country making a case for Jonathan’s return.

A host of these people have attended the zonal rallies of the Transformation Ambassadors of Nigeria (TAN) held in the SouthSouth, South-West and NorthCentral, etc.

of social justice, activator of the railway; driver of the transformation agenda, mobilizer of goodwill, advocate of human governance and the energiser of the private sector, stressed that it has become imperative for Nigerians to support Jonathan for 2015 because of his achievements.

The People have spoken, Jonathan should speak without further delay – Mantu former Deputy Senate President, Senator Ibrahim Mantu who noted that the voice of men is the voice of God, urged President Jonathan to declare now without further delay since the people have spoken.

Nigerians must shun tribalism, sectionalism and re-elect Jonathan – Akpabio Governor Akpabio, who spoke for the PDP governors urged Nigerians to shun tribalism and sectionalism and bring unity back into the country.

He said that Nigerians should re- elect Jonathan in 2015, adding that he believes the vision of the support groups for Nigeria.

According to him, they have brought solution to the nation’s challenges which will bring succour to the people of the country, stressing that for the transformation agenda of the president to be complete, Jonathan must be allowed to continue.

Akpabio commended the President for all infrastructural projects in the country, making petroleum products available, unfurling agricultural revolution and making Nigeria the biggest economy in Africa.

No vacancy in Aso Rock –

The rallies, according to the organisers are meant to get the views of Nigerians on whether or not they want the president to continue in office beyond 2015

event where former National Chairman of the defunct Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), Senator Rufai Hanga, defected to the PDP, showered encomiums on President Jonathan and urged him to contest.

Jonathan deserves a return journey- Ahmadu Ali Chairman of the Summit and former National Chairman of the PDP, Dr. Ahmadu Ali, who noted that the president has achieved a lot in all the sectors, urged the President to re- contest, adding that the security challenge would soon be a thing of the past.

Jonathan is hero of democracy – Jerry Gana Former Minster of Information, Professor Jerry Gana who described President Jonathan as the hero of democracy, defender

,

Haruna Minister of Youth Development, Boni Haruna who spoke for the Ministers said that with the crowd, it is obvious that there is no vacancy in Aso Rock.

Patrick Azadu who spoke on behalf of members of the House of Representatives, the PDP Caucus and other supporting parties including the Accord, APGA and LP, said some other members were dumping the APC because of Jonathan, adding that the President has sold himself to Nigerians and that God has sanctioned Jonathan to continue in 2015 and no power orgroup can stop it.

He added that “since God has sanctioned his continuation, anyone dissenting is doing so on its own.”

Vanguard, THURSDAY, SEPTEMPER 18, 2014—59

Abaribe revs up political machine

Abia 2015:

By Dapo Akinrefon

T

HE atmosphere in the polity is gradually hotting up with various aspirants contesting for elective political offices throwing their hats into the ring for the 2015 contests.

Though, some of the contenders have indicated their interest, others are still consulting with leaders and elders of their respective

Okey Emutchay, Mr Friday Nwosu, Hon. Acho Nwakanma, Chief Mark Wabara and Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe.

While a few aspirants have visited the state PDP secretariat in Umuahia to formally tell the party executives of their intention to contest for the state plum job, others have not been inclined to meet the people in the various zones and local

,

For the Abaribe, his appeal to PDP leadership in the state is to create level playing field for all its aspirants during the governorship primaries

political parties before declaring their interest.

In Abia State, the political lanscape has been ignited with all manner of consultations ongoing.

Already, the state is swarming with aspirants, particularly in the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Aspirants that have so far declared interest to take over from the incumbent governor, Chief Theodore Orji, in 2015, are the current Managing Director of Diamond Bank, Dr. Alex Oti, who though has denied it; Senator Nkechi Nwaogu, Mr. Uche Oga, Mr.

governments.

For Senator Abaribe, who represents Abia-South Senatorial District, political pundits posit that he has received the most rave review because of his political pedigree not only in the state but also nationally, where he has straddled the chambers of the Senate in the past seven years.

To many, Abaribe’s serial consultation visits to all nooks and crannies of the state have made and confirmed that the Senate spokesman remains the issue in Abia politics.

Analysts further opine that

NATIONAL Secretary of the Board of Trustees of the National Coalition for Jonathan and Sambo Presidency, NACOJSP, Dr. Benjamin Onoriode Irikefe, in this interview, spoke about the ongoing verification of the various groups rooting for the re-election of President Goodluck Jonathan by the Presidential Adviser on Political Affairs, Prof. Rufai Ahmed Alkali and chances of President Jonathan in the 2015 general election, among others sundry political issues. Excerpts:

W

HAT is your view on the verification of the n o n - g o v e r n m e n t organizations rooting for President Goodluck Jonathan’s re-election?

As a leader of the largest NGO rooting for President Jonathan for 2015, one can confidently say that Prof. Alkali did an excellent job.

The process was very thorough, transparent and inclusive.

What is the significance of the exercise?

With over 10,000 groups

,

the lawmaker’s consultations, which have taken him to all the three senatorial zones of the state and currently to all the local government areas, have showcased his grassroots mobilisation skill.

To actualise his ambition, Abaribe has set up the Alasaala Campaign Team (ACT).

This informed his visit to 10 local government areas of the state which included Ukwa East, Ukwa West, Obingwa, Isiala Ngwa North, Umunneochi, Isikwuato, Bende, Ikwuano, Aba North and Aba South.

When his consultation train berthed at Isikwuato local government area, the team was well received by the executives in the area who stated that his integrity stands him out among the lot.

The leaders, however, assured the Senator of their support and respect for zoning as announced by the state chapter of the PDP. Abaribe, who was deputy governor of the state from 1999 to 2003, is believed to have a track record which gives him an edge over others to succeed the outgoing governor.

Also, perhaps, what continues to endear him to people is his grassroots followership but his

•Abaribe popularity has also sent jitters down the spine of his perceived opponents, who have resorted to innuendoes and sponsorship of false publications apparently to slow down his wide acceptability in the state.

But the lawmaker ’s camp was quick to dismiss it saying it is just a futile tactic to play catch-up by other aspirants.

Observers believe that the contest will no doubt elicit national interest owing to the personalities involved.

Though it is speculated that the governor may have anointed his successor but

this position has been debunked by Governor Theodore Orji, who promises to ensure a level playing field to all contenders.

For the Abaribe, his appeal to PDP leadership in the state is to create a level playing field for all its aspirants during the governorship primaries.

In all, the heat is on and of course a frenzied apprehension is trailing every move, but the people of the state seem resolute in demanding a fair and level playing ground for all the aspirants.

2015: Alkali’s verification of pro-Jonathan groups in order — Irikefe

rooting for President Jonathan it is crystal clear that the victory of President Jonathan is already a self fulfilling prophecy come 2015.

I am very much aware that despite the fact that the process has wound down, thousands and thousands of groups are still going for verification.

These groups are from all the 36 states of the Federation and the Federal Capital Territory.

They are domiciled in the 774 local councils of the country.

With crises in most sectors in Nigeria, critics say President

•Irikefe Jonathan does not have a bright chance of being reelected...

President Jonathan’s victory

at the forthcoming election is a foregone conclusion. His victory will be landslide because he has done more than any Nigerian President before him.

Also, the opposition has no credible candidate that can march President Jonathan.

S o m e stakeholders are of the opinion that the pro-Jonathan groups are jumping the gun?

These thousands of groups rooting for President Jonathan are not political parties, rather they are genuine, freely associating groups angling for Jonathan to be President in

2015.

Nigeria’s constitution guarantees freedom of association.

The opposition contenders do not have genuine followers except hirelings and hangerson.

If they have true supporters they would have come out in the open to support their preferred candidates the way we are doing for Jonathan.

Do you have any worry about 2015?

I am worried about desperate politicians in the opposition who have been doing all sorts of things openly and covertly to heat up the polity and distort the security landscape.

Frankly, Nigeria will not have any meaningful future after 2015, if President Jonathan does not become President.

60—Vanguard, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 18, 2014

SCOTTISH REFERENDUM:

Scottish vote, options for Bakassi people

By HUGO ODIOGOR, Foreign Affairs Editor

W

HEN Britain and its allies supported Nigeria to concede the Bakassi Peninsula to Cameroon based on the 1914 Ango-German treaty, one would have expected that it would easily consent to the demands by the Scottish Nationalist Party (SNP) for an independent Scotland The same countries that encouraged the break-up of Yugoslav Federation, Union of Soviet Socialist Republic (USSR) have been involved in telling the Scots that their future is better secured in a United Kingdom.

The frantic effort being made by political leaders from the British main land and the monarchy to keep the United Kingdom exposes the double standards that is characteristic of the relations between countries of the Northern Hemisphere and their southern counterpart.

The next 24 hours would determine where the yes campaigners have prevailed over the pro-independence campaigners who want to exit from the United Kingdom. As expected the fear of the unknown have become the dominant theme as the vote opens tomorrow. British Prime Minister David Cameroon,

Kingdom.

The No vote could trigger off some pro-independent struggles in Northern Ireland as well. The people of Bakassi and Southern Cameroon could have a moral basis to kick up the campaign for a referendum to see the emergence of Ambassaonia Republic. The Union between Northern and Southern Cameroon, which was conducted before Nigeria’s independence in 1960, has not been ratified by Northern Cameroon and this has been a bone of contention between both parts of Nigeria’s most hostile neighbour.

Prince Ned Nwoko who raised the issue of Nigeria supporting the independence drive of Ambaazonia Republic told Vanguard that the last may not have been heard of the Bakassi issue because the Scottish referendum will provide another canon to revisit the issue.

According to Prince Nwoko, the fact that the Scots decided to revisit the Union treaty with England after 300 years means that the issue of Bakassi Peninsula is far from being settled on the basis of the 1914 Anglo German Treaty or the pronouncement of the International Court of Justice at the Hague. The displacement

,

The displacement of Bakassi people on the basis of the Green Tree Agreement signed by former President Olusegun Obasanjo and Cameroon’s President Paul Biya, have not settled the issue of Bakassi

Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg, Labour leader Ed Milband, former Prime Minister John Major and Gordon Brown have all been to Scotland, to shore up the “Yes” vote campaigners.

Queen Elizabeth II joined the campaign to save the Union between England Scotland yesterday as she used the opportunity of her visit to Belmopan castle, to rally support for the Yes vote campaigners.

The Royals have strong roots in Scotland and they hold some prominent titles from there.

From Edinburgh to Glasgow, from Inverness Scots are being asked to vote Yes, if they want the 300 year old union of Parliament of England and Scotland to stay or to say No if they want to exit from the Union. An exit vote would see Scotland become and independent country and an end to the Union jack the flag of United

,

of Bakassi people on the basis of the Green Tree Agreement signed by former President Olusegun Obasanjo and Cameroon’s President Paul Biya, have not settled the issue of Bakassi because the quest for Ambazonia Republic is strong and the sovereignty of people cannot be transferred by treaties and conventions.

The Scotltish drive for independence is the second most definite attempt at asserting the sovereignty of the territory where Britain gets its oil wealth in the North Sea. The most potent campaign that the Yes campaigners are using is the use of pounds sterling. In Scotland, they have their own Scottish pounds which is used only in Scotland. The Yes campaigners are arguing that Scots cannot use the British pounds once they opt out of the Union. Both the IMF and the other

•Queen Elizabeth II and Prime Minister David Cameron

Cameron dropped threats that Scotland will return to the dark age if they vote to exit. Cameron to Scottish people: “Vote yes and there would be no UK pensions to fall back on, no pound and no passports.” The currency question has been a key referendum battleground with Westminster party leaders repeatedly making it clear that Scotland would not be allowed to use the pound.

•Options before the people of Scotland.

General election

imperial institutions have been sending feelers to the proindependence campaigners that they would face bleak economic future once they vote to become a sovereign state.

Sinn Fein leader Jery Adam has hinted that Northern Ireland is watching the Scottish vote.

Argentina and Spain are also watching with keen interest what would provide them the armoury for the further dismantling of the British Empire. Britain and Argentina are contesting the Falklands which provoked a military action in 1982. There is tension between UK and Spain over the sovereignty of Gibraltar.

As stated earlier, the big nations are rallying against the “Nay” sayers, just to save Britain from dismemberment and a possible weakening of its global status and influence.

The campaign to save the Union has taken much of Cameroon’s attention from the global stage where the United States is mobilising countries around the world to stand up to the menace of Islamists in the Arab world and Africa. The beheading of David Haines by ISIS last week proved to be too much for Britain as Haines, 44, was an aid worker who had Scottish nationality.

With just 24 hours before the referendum, the latest opinion polls show the Yes and No campaigns are still neck and neck.

A Panelebase poll in the Sunday Times has the No vote at 51% and the Yes vote at 49%, while the Observer has 53% saying No and

While all eyes are Scotland, the UK as a whole is now only eight months from a general election.

The Scottish Parliament was created after a referendum on devolution of power in September 1997. The Scottish National Party (SNP) had done well in recent years as it gained more support to call for a referendum in 2013. The is the devolved national, unicameral legislature of Scotland, located in the Holyrood area of Edinburgh, the capital city. Its 129 Members of the Scottish Parliament (MSPs), are elected for four-year terms under the additional member system. The original Parliament of Scotland was the national legislature of the independent Kingdom of Scotland, and existed from the early 13th century until the Kingdom of Scotland merged with the Kingdom of England under the Acts of Union 1707 to form the Kingdom of Great Britain.

Consequently, both the Parliament of Scotland and the Parliament of England ceased to exist, giving way to the Parliament of Great Britain, which seats at Westminster.

The British Parliament retains the ability to amend the terms of reference of the Scottish Parliament, and can extend or reduce the areas in which it can make laws. Looking back in time, it is clear that the Scots may not have been complaining of marginalisation, but they are peeved by what they call “the Englishness of the English man who they see a being arrogant, over bearing and stupid”.

47% Yes, excluding those who are undecided.

The Queen has broken her silence on the Scottish referendum when she reportedly said “I hope people will think very carefully about the future.” Buckingham Palace issued a statement during the week saying the Queen would remain impartial on the subject.

According to the statement, “The sovereign’s constitutional impartiality is an established principle of our democracy and one which the Queen has demonstrated throughout her reign,” the statement said.

Closely watched referendum Queen Elizabeth II said she hopes Scotland will “think very carefully” about their decision on whether to become an independent country in a closelywatched referendum. There are worries that an independent Scotland will struggle to have any meaningful defence capability.

Armies, Navies and Air Forces... you can’t grow them overnight.”

The Yes campaigners are arguing that: “We are much better together.

Cameron said he would be utterly heartbroken if he was forced to ban Scotland from the British and Irish Lions, the British Olympic team and the British Isles.

He told the audience that the country was only called Great Britain “because of the greatness of Scotland.” England, Wales and Northern Ireland would still be waiting for outcome of this vote.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 18, 2014 — 61

C M Y K

62 — Vanguard, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 18, 2014

Akpabio Classics: N18m prize O money highest in World circuit D

ESPITE a review of the Prize money for this year’s Godswill Akpabio International Scrabble Classics, the total prize money of eighteen million naira is still the highest in the world.

The President of the Nigeria Scrabble Federation Mr Suleiman Gora said yesterday in Abuja, that despite a slight review of the prize monies the total amount of eighteen million naira is the highest in the world, far above the World Championship that carries a total prize money of less than $30,000 dollars.

The Scrabble President who was trying to justify why the Ebola virus scare may not grossly affect the attendance of foreign players said he was however happy to note that the star prize of $20,000 dollars equaling about N3.3 million naira for the star winner in the Masters category was still intact.

the third prize $3,030.

There are also ten winners in each of the Veterans and Open categories.

The Open winner will smile home with$6,667 dollars, runner up $3,636 and the second runner up$1,818 dollars same as the Veterans winners.

The second placed winner in the Masters category will earn $10,000 while the third place winner earns$7,272 up to ten winners.

In the Intermediate category, there will be ten winners with the first prize being $10,000, the second prize$5,454 and

7 expatriates apply for Ghana job He handled the Black

Stars between 2008-2010 and led them to reach the quarter-finals of the FIFA World Cup in South Africa four years ago.

Switzerland assistant national team coach Michel Pont is among the highprofile names who have applied.

He was assistant coach at Swiss top-flight side Servette FC.

T

HE Ghana Football Association has confirmed that seven expatriate coaches including Milovan Rajevac have applied for the Black Stars coaching job.

The Serbian trainer was interviewed last week when the Ghana federation was in search of a technical advisor.

But with the dismissal of Kwesi Appiah, the Ghana FA halted the process and decided to accept applications from prospective candidates.

Falcons Continues from BP Hotel where the team is camping ahead of the forthcoming African Women Championship (AWC) is said to have given the NFF till the end of this week to make some payment or risk a forceful ejection of the team.

A top staff of the federation who pleaded anonymity told our reporter that it is very unfortunate that the lingering crisis has resulted in the football house facing a difficult period due to the alleged withholding of subventions by the federal government.

“It hurts me that there is no money to manage the programmes of the federation now; instead some people are busy doing politics of who should come in and who should not.”

Ladipo Continues from BP Rafiu Ladipo says no fewer than 30% of the current squad have no business being in the national team.

Ladipo told journalists in Abuja yesterday that the Nigerian national team must do all that is necessary to ensure that the country defends the AFCON trophy which she won last year in South Africa.

He also said that the results of the last two games against Congo and South Africa have shown that the technical crew have no option than to invite some other players who are regulars in their clubs so as to make the national team more competitive.

“We in Nigeria know that football is one thing that keeps us united in this country, it is one thing that gives us joy so I am using this opportunity to tell Keshi and his technical crew that they need to open up the space for other good players to come in because presently more

than 30% of the players we are parading have no business in the national team. “ Those players who are doing well in their clubs must be given the opportunity to come in. I am talking about players like Ike Uche, Haruna Lukeman and Sunday Mbah who did so well in the 2013 AFCON. Coaches should not throw away the baby with the bath water”.

According to him every good coach must go for quality players that can win matches for him because a coach is as as good as his last match no matter what he may have achieved in the past.

Nigeria League results Bayelsa Abia Warriors Akwa United Crown FC Rangers Heartland Lobi Sharks Taraba Warri

3 2 1 3 2 2 0 1 1 1

Nembe Giwa Enyimba Nasarawa Dolphins Kaduna El Kanemi Gombe Pillars Sunshine

1 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 1 0

BAFEMI Martins was among the goals scorers as Seattle Sounders won a fourth US Open Cup on Tuesday after they defeated Philadelphia Union 3-1.

USA captain Clint Dempsey scored in the 101st minute with a leftfoot shot off Obafemi Martins pass.

The on-form Nigeria striker then scored in the 114th minute after

Obafemi Martins wins US Open Cup racing past Philadelphia Union defender Ray Gaddis.

Sounders coach Sigi Schmid was happy with Dempsey and Martins combo.

“They just find each other,” Sounders coach Sigi Schmid said about Dempsey and Martins.

“They know where

Adepoju Continues from BP to win a game during the first phase of qualifiers for the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations.

The Super Eagles played two games - against Congo Brazzaville and South Africa, but could only muster a point against Bafana Bafana after losing 2-3 at home to the Congolese.

And Adepoju, who represented Nigeria at

three World Cups says he’s worried.

“I am very worried about the whole situation because it doesn’t make for good reading,” he began.

“I don’t mean to disrespect the teams we played against but as African champions, one would have expected we got something out of those games, but we didn’t. It is very disturbing.”

Adepoju also spoke

each other is on the field at all times. The combination they have is fantastic.”

Seattle also won three straight titles from 2009 to 2011.

Seattle Sounders have earned one of the United States’ four spots in the 2015/16 CONCACAF Champions League.

about Stephen Keshi’s contract situation, the NFF crises and how it may have affected the team.

“The whole situation certainly calls for concern,” he says.

“First Keshi doesn’t even know whether he’s got a job or not, and there doesn’t seem to be anyone who could do anything about it because of the crises at the Glass House,” he said with a tone of regret.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 18, 2014 — 63

Gerrard praises Balotelli's effort S

TEVEN Gerrard has said more than the goal scored by Mario Balotelli in Liverpool’s Champions League win over Ludogorets, it was the work rate of the Italy international that most caught his eye, according to ESPN. Balotelli opened the scoring as the Reds played their first Champions League game since the 2008-09 season, only for Ludogorets to snatch a late equaliser. Gerrard’s penalty, in injury time, diverted the points to Anfield and after the match the captain as fulsome in his praise of the striker.

“You’ve got to give him credit - he’s come in and everyone’s waiting for him to get that first goal,” said Gerrard. “It never went his way for long periods tonight but the sign of a good goalscorer is to be relentless, keep going, keep going to the end because it only takes one chance.

“When you’ve got that ability, it only takes one chance,” he continued.

“But I think more important than the goal was his work rate. I think all the fans and me and the team were waiting to see how he’d fit in and I thought he worked his socks off. That will do for me.”

Allegri happy with Juventus C/League start

J

CONTEST....Mario Balotelli, right, makes his Champions League debut for Liverpool against Ludogorets. Photo: AFP

Flying start pleases Ancelotti R

EAL Madrid manag er Carlo Ancelotti admits he was delighted to see his side put their woeful La Liga form aside as they thrashed FC Basel 51 in the Champions League last Tuesday.

The Galacticos have already fallen six points off the pace in the league after winning just one of their

Arteta laments ‘sloppy’ Arsenal formance in the 2-0

A

RSENAL captain Mikel Arteta has criticised his team’s per-

•Arteta

Champions League defeat against Borussia Dortmund, ESPN has reported.

The Gunners fell victim to goals from Ciro Immobile and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang to start their group stage campaign with a defeat, Arteta pointing the finger at a loss of concentration as the first-half was coming to a close as part of the reason for the reverse.

“They put us under pressure, it was very sloppy from us to concede the goal with 20 seconds to go in the first-half from a long throw from the other side of the pitch and after you are 1-0 down, it’s very difficult,” he said.

“We didn’t perform well enough.

opening three games, losing the other two to Real Sociedad and city rivals Atletico Madrid.

However, the reigning European Cup champions got their title defence off to a flyer against Basel at the Santiago Bernabeu this week, opening up a 4-0 lead after just 36 minutes as they eventually cruised to the three points.

“The team’s reaction was good,” Ancelotti told the club’s official website.

“We played with intensity, we pressured them high up the pitch and moved quickly up front. Obviously not all the problems have been solved, but I liked the team’s reaction.

“I think the fans will be happy with the match. The team played well, we scored a lot of goals and tried to play as well as we could.”

CELEBRATION... Real Madrid's striker Garreth Bale celebrates his goal against Basel

UVENTUS boss Mas similiano Allegri was relieved to see his team open their Champions League account with a 20 win over Malmo.

The Italian giants created the better chances in Tuesday’s encounter in Turin but failed to break the deadlock until the second half.

The pressure finally paid off just before the hour mark when Carlos Tevez put Juve ahead, and the Argentine striker scored his second with a late free kick as the Turin outfit claimed all three points.

•Allegri

Mandzukic to have surgery on broken nose

A

•Mandzukic

TLETICO Madrid striker Mario Mandzukic will undergo surgery on his nose which was broken during the Spanish La Liga champions’ 3-2 UEFA Champions League defeat

by Greek side Olympiacos last Tuesday.

The 28-year-old Croatian

international was left with a bloody nose after clashing with Patjim Kasami after just three minutes, but completed the 90 minutes and even scored his third goal in six games since joining from Bayern Munich in July.

Mandzukic will almost

certainly miss Saturday’s La Liga encounter with Celta Vigo and could be out for as long as two weeks making him a doubt for Atletico’s now crucial second Champions League game at home to Italian side Juventus on 1 October.

VANGUARD, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 18, 2014

Falcons face ejection from hotel

BY JUDE OPARA, Abuja

T

HERE are strong indications that the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) is broke as feelers emerged

yesterday that members of the national female team, the Super Falcons could be thrown out by the hotel where they are staying any moment from now.

The Serob Legacy Continues on page 62

30% of Keshi’s players have no business in Super Eagles — Ladipo •Says coach must open door for other players

Adepoju: I’m Worried About Nigerian Football

F

ORMER Super E a g l e s midfielder Mutiu Adepoju has expressed concern about the future of Nigerian football, after the country failed

BY JUDE OPARA, Abuja

A

P PA R E N T LY angered by the rather poor start of the Super Eagles to the Morocco 2015 African Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers, President General of the Nigeria Football Supporters Club, Dr.

Continues on page 62

Obafemi Martins wins US Open Cup — Pg.62

Continues on page 62

7 expatriates apply for Ghana job — Pg.62

HAPPY DAYS: Super Eagles celebrate victory when they were really super

•Keshi

•Amadu

QUICK CROSSWORD

TODAY'S

PUZZLE

YESTER DAY'S YESTERDAY'S

ANSWERS

ACROSS 1 Free (6) 5 Seaman (6) 8 Wisdom (8) 9 Tardy (4) 10 Timid (3) 12 Slumber (5) 15 Decay (3) 17 Devil (3) 18 Wonder (3) 19 Hatchet (3) 20 Imitating (5) 21 Stretch (3) 22 Fate (3) 23 Help (3) 24 Defective (3) 26 Consumed (5) 29 Still (3) 33 Cease (4) 34 Breed (8) 35 Bomb-hole (6) 36 Offend (6)

DOWN 2 Attain (5) 3 Rip (4) 4 Motionless (5) 5 Fashion (5) 6 Laze (4) 7 Surpass (5) 10 Tolerate (5) 11 Cede (5) 12 Flood (5) 13 Eject (5) 14 Heathen (5) 15 Shrill (5) 16 Handle (6) 25 Speak (5) 27 Presage (5) 28 Boredom (5) 30 Praise (5) 31 Notice (4) 32 Dagger (4

YESTERDAY'S SOLUTIONS ACROSS: 1, Stir 4, Pad 6, Feat 8, Crisis 9, Tyrant 10, Tea 12, Adult 14, Messy 15, Vague 18, Revere 20, Fracas 24, Total 26, Terse 28, Wedge 30, Sky 32, Future 33, Entire 34, Seen 35, Dip 36, Drew.

DOWN: 2, Tired 3, Resolve 4, Pest 5, Data 6, Force 7, Amnesia 11, Emu 12, Air 13, Tar 16, Get 17, Eft 19, Execute 21, Raw 22, Alerted 23, Sue 25, Oak 27, Spurn 29, Gorse 30, Seed 31, Yelp.

How to Play Sudoku

P

lace a number (1-9) in each blank cell. (No line can have two of the same number).

Each row (nine lines from left to right), column, (also nine lines from top to bottom) and 3 X 3 block within a bold block (nine blocks) contains number from 1 through 9. This means that no number can appear twice in any block, column or row.

No mathematics is involved – no adding, subtraction, division or multiplication, just plain logic and your imagination.

Printed and Published by VANGUARD MEDIA LIMITED, Vanguard Avenue, Kirikiri Canal, P.M.B.1007, Apapa. Phone: Newsroom: 018773962. Deputy Editor: 01-4548355. Advert Dept Hotline: 014544821; Abuja: 09-2341102, 09-2342704. E-mail: editor@vanguardngr.com, news@vanguardngr.com, letters@vanguardngr.com. Advert:advertproduction@yahoo.com Website: www.vanguardngr.com (ISSN 0794-652X) Editor: MIDENO BAYAGBON. Phone: 01-7742861, All correspondence to P.M.B. 1007, Apapa Lagos.

C M Y K