Only security chiefs can guarantee polls' date

...towards a better life for the people

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VOL. 25: NO. 62345

ONLINE | www.vanguardngr.com

N150

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 19 , 2015

Military kills 300 Boko Haram terrorists, liberates 11 communities

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Only security chiefs can guarantee polls' date

—JEGA

• Appears in Senate, insists on card readers; plans mock tests •Defends high PVC collection in North-East; says INEC ready

MILITARY ASSAULT ON SAMBISA FOREST

By By Emman Ovuakporie, Johnbosco Agbakwuru, Joseph Erunke & Levinus Nwabughiogu

A

B U J A — CHAIRMAN of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, Prof. Attahiru Jega, yesterday, told the Senate that only the service chiefs could guarantee the sanctity of the rescheduled polls in view of the security Continues on Page 5

OKRIKA APC RALLY:

IG orders probe of gun attack 14

Mr & Mrs BOKO HARAM—Above: Arms and ammunition recovered from Boko Haram in Sambisa. Below: Suspected Boko Haram members.

Photos: DHQTRS. More photos on Page 16.

COLUMNISTS:

Bukola Saraki can criticise President Jonathan but...

•P.17

C M Y K

Eight years later, OBJ surrenders •P.19

Coming of a great depression

•P.19

Naira to exchange 9 at 197/$ Lagos Govt retains death penalty 10

2 — Vanguard, THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 2015

Vanguard, THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 2015 — 3

C M Y K

4—Vanguard, THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 2015

POLLS: Agbakoba urges Nigerians to denounce hate speeches, campaigns

By Innocent Anaba

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AGOS — FORMER President of the Nigerian Bar Association, NBA, Dr Olisa Agbakoba, SAN, has warned Nigerians not to support the hate speeches and campaigns by politicians, noting that the ordinary masses will lose more if the country goes up in flames as a result of the desperation of political class to cling power.

Agbakoba in a statement in Lagos, yesterday, said: “Day by day, hour by hour, there is increasingly a palpable fear amidst a clash of hate language by the politicians, about the general elections.

We feel called upon to warn of the looming dangers and the need to avoid the potential cataclysmic eclipse. Our politicians are exploiting our diversities to satisfy their lust for power.

“We encourage Nigerians to disregard their greed and lust for power and do all to ensure the preservation of Nigeria. We are inspired by the recent statement of Omar Bagure, a patriotic Sierra Leonean, who has a warning for Nigerians, based on lessons drawn from the 11 year civil war of his country: “I don’t think you (Nigerians) know what you are playing with. You can call each other names and laugh about it now but when you end up inciting hate and a real civil war starts in your country you will regret what you are doing now.

"Your religious and political leaders are trying to divide you between religious lines and you are helping them do that rather than standing up and say we are all Nigerians, never mind our tribe, region or religion. That’s the only stand that will save your blessed nation.

"The foreign powers pushing the government to take certain decisions will abandon you when you start killing one another and reject you from running to their countries so be careful.

"Our 11 year war in Sierra Leone was not even based on religious or tribal difference and see what we did to our country. The worst conflicts are those based on tribal and religious differences. See Central Africa, Bosnia and Rwanda. Stand as one and save your nation together because you have only one Nigeria that has the potential to lead Africa.”

“No Nigerian can afford to ignore Omar’s warning. We can only do so at our peril."

C M Y K

Military kills 300 B-Haram terrorists; liberates 11 communities

By Kingsley Omonbi & Ndahi Marama with agency reports

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BUJA — THE Defence Headquarters, yesterday, said the military killed over 300 Boko Haram terrorists and liberated 11 communities in the north east zone in the last two days.

The Special Forces prosecuting the war on terrorism liberated the communities in seven local government areas out of the eight hitherto attacked by Boko Haram terrorists in Adamawa State.

The local government areas fully liberated so far are Mubi North, Mubi South, Hong, Gombi, Maiha, Ganye and Michika while the only local

zRecovers 5 armoured vehicles, anti-aircraft gun, others z30 civilians killed by bomb from unknown aircraft z2 soldiers killed,10 others wounded

government yet to be fully liberated is Madagali.

About 30 civilians were also killed when an unidentified aircraft dropped a bomb on a Nigerian border village, military sources based nearby in Niger said yesterday.

Two military officials in the town of Bosso, where soldiers from Chad and Niger are massed in preparation for operations against Boko Haram, said the incident occurred in a village across the border in the Abadam area of Borno State.

“We don’t know whose plane it was. We understand that the victims are residents who were gathered for a ceremony but were mistaken for terrorists.

Around 30 people perished,” said a military source.

This was even as the National Emergency Management Agency, NEMA, said it had set up a committee to carry out assessments and determine the immediate needs of people displaced by insurgency who were returning to their communities after the restoration of peace and order by the military.

300 terrorists killed However, in a statement signed by the Director of Defence Information, Major General Chris Olukolade, five different types of armoured vehicles, an anti-aircraft gun as well as 50 cases of packed bombs were recovered during the operation which led to the death of two soldiers and the wounding of 10 others.

The statement entitled, "Terrorists incurred heavy casualties in the two days of military operations to clear 11 communities," read: "Mopping up operation of some of the communities where terrorists have been cleared in the course of ongoing air and land

MOU: From left: Director, Resource Mobilization, National Agency for the Control of AIDS, NACA, Dr. Emmanuel Alhassan; Legal Director & Company Secretary, Airtel Nigeria, Gbenga Rotimi; Chief Executive Officer & Managing Director, Airtel Nigeria, Segun Ogunsanya; Country Director, UNAIDS, Dr. Bilali Camara and Chief of Office, UNICEF, Sarah Beysolow-Nyanti during the signing ceremony of a memorandum of understanding between UNAIDS and Airtel to eliminate mother-to-child transmission of HIV in Nigeria, in Lagos, yesterday. operations against terrorists has indicated massive casualty inflicted on them within the last two days of the counter terrorists operations.

"Over 300 terrorists were killed while a few were also captured. Several weapons and equipment were also captured and some destroyed.

5 armoured vehicles, anti-aircraft gun, others recovered "It has been confirmed that that five different types of armoured fighting vehicles, an anti-aircraft gun, about 50 cases of packed bombs and eight different types of machine guns, five Rocket Propelled Grenades, RPGs, 49 boxes of various types and calibres of ammunition as well as 300 motorcycles were destroyed in the fighting.

"A total of six Hilux vehicles including those mounted with anti-aircraft guns were also destroyed. However, two soldiers lost their lives while 10 others were wounded in the course of the operation.

"The cordon and search operation is continuing along with aggressive patrols by troops who are now dominating the cleared communities.

"The various phases of the highly coordinated air and land operations is also ongoing in the designated

theatres being handled by contingents involved in the renewed counter terrorism campaign in and outside Nigeria."

NEMA to provide relief materials Also, the Director General of NEMA, Muhammad Sani Sidi, who set up the committee, said that the agency would follow up with immediate provisions of relief materials to assist towards their rehabilitation.

He said the committee had moved into the communities liberated from Boko Haram insurgents in Adamawa State.

Meanwhile, at a meeting with the Commander of 28 Task Force Brigade in Hong, Adamawa State, Brigadier General Victor Ezugu briefed members on successes recorded during the recent military operations in the state.

Ezugu said that Nigerian troops had secured the local government areas and were firmly on ground, providing security, adding that people displaced by the insurgency were beginning to return to their communities.

Furthermore, leader of the committee, Musa Zakari, said his team would visit all the affected local government areas to assess the needs of the people for the humanitarian support, even as truckloads of relief materials have been deployed

to some of the areas.

Zakari said his committee had commenced the assessment at Gombi Local Government Area with a boost from the Minister of Youths Development and former governor of Adamawa State, Mr. Boni Haruna, who accompanied the team on the exercise.

The committee had previously paid a courtesy visit to the Lamido Adamawa, Dr. Muhammadu Barkindo Aliyu Mustapha at his palace in Yola.

Some of the returned residents expressed appreciation for the restoration of peace in their communities and urged government to ensure sustainable security in the communities.

They appealed to the government for more support to rebuild their damaged homes.

US to help Cameroun army secure military hardware The United States will help Cameroon’s army secure equipment to fight Boko Haram, its embassy in Cameroon said, yesterday, as it deepened its commitment to countering the Boko Haram which had killed and kidnapped thousands in a sixyear insurgency in Nigeria and are stepping up cross-border attacks on neighbours despite a major regional offensive against them.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 2015—5

POCKET CARTOON

JEGA AT SENATE—Senate Questions Jega: INEC Chairman Prof. Attahiru Jega addressing newsmen shortly after interactive session with senators at the Senate Chamber, National Assembly, Abuja, yesterday. Photo: Gbemiga Olamikan.

Only security chiefs can guarantee polls' date Continues from Page 1 similar consultation was by All challenges facing the blocked Progressives Congress, country.

Jega, who was grilled APC, lawmakers who for about four hours by now outnumber those of the Senate on INEC’s the PDP. Opposition by Senators preparedness for the elections as well as the Odion Ugbesia (PDP, Heineken effectiveness of the use of Edo)and Lokpobiri (PDP , Bayelsa) card readers for the to the introduction of the accreditation of voters, affirmed that the card reader on the claim commission was ready to that it is unconstitutional conduct credible, free, was rejected by Jega who fair and transparent insisted that there was no elections.

He, going back on it.

He premised his nevertheless, confessed insistence on what he that the postponement of described as solid legal the election had offered the commission the advice, pointing out that opportunity of extra the development would help produce a credible preparation.

Meanwhile, a move by process. He added that some members of the the commission would Peoples Democratic conduct a mock election Party, PDP, legislators in with the use of card the House of readers before the main Representatives to election to calm frayed summon Jega for a

TAKE HEART

BY ELLA RANDLE

Be accountable for your life, your decisions and actions. Understand your role in creating results — Take Heart Quotes

Y

OU cannot dodge responsibility for how and why your life is the way it is. If you don’t like how your life is going, then take the steps to do something about it. Find the courage yourself, and help from well-meaning friends and loved ones, but most importantly find it from within.

The undesirable circumstances you’re experiencing are enough incentives and catalyst that can propel you to move for a better change. You are accountable for your life. If you are not happy, you are accountable. You are creating the situations you are in and the emotions that flow from those situations.

Don’t play the role of victim, or use past events to build excuses. It guarantees you no progress, no healing, and no victory. You will never fix a problem by blaming someone else. Whether the cards you’ve been dealt are good or bad, you’re in charge of your life.

nerves.

According to him, INEC was prepared to face any litigation that might arise from the use of the card readers.

He also said that politicians, who were stealing, cloning or buying the Permanent Voter Cards, PVCs, from people, were wasting time as the card readers would not recognise such cards during accreditation.

While fielding questions on the sanctity of the March 28 and April 11 dates for the elections, Jega said that it was not the duty of INEC to provide security and that the commission would not risk the lives of about 700,000 ad-hoc staff to be used during the exercise by sending them to the field without security protection.

He said: “I kept saying consistently that INEC is not a security organization. We are an election management body. So, we rely a lot on security to be able to ensure that things are done well and that there is no disruption of the electoral process.

“We have been working very closely with the Inter-Agencies Consultative Committee on election security and that is why for us, if the service chiefs say that we can’t guarantee security, give us more time, what is the alternative security arrangement?

“We are going to use close to 700, 000 ad hoc staff. We can’t send

people to the field in that kind of a situation. Our hope and prayer is that in the next six weeks there will be significant improvement in the security situation for us to be doing elections all over this country in a very secured environment.

“There are certain questions that we are not really competent to answer.

Certain questions should be directed to the military, and they can answer it better.

“I must say that every Nigerian knows that we want elections to hold within the constitutional time-frame. We should be fair also to the military.

Soldiers are also patriotic Nigerians. Let us give them the benefit of doubt.

Six weeks extension

“I don’t see how anybody will contemplate any extension beyond these six weeks. There are no constitutional grounds upon which you can do that. It will only have to be unconstitutional. I don’t see how anybody will contemplate any unconstitutional means.

For us, we work by the constitution, by the law and as far as we are concerned, that is what is guiding us and we should all put the interest of the nation at heart.

“On February 8, after additional broad consultation with key stakeholders, the commission decided to accede to the strong advice of the National Security Adviser, NSA, and the Service Chiefs to reschedule the elections to March 28 and April 11.

“On February 15, the commission met again, reviewed the new development and took a decision on how best to utilise the six weeks extension to add value to our operational and logistical preparations for the election."

He said that the commission will hold a meeting of the interagency committee on election security on February 24, to discuss security arrangement for the rescheduled election and another on March 4 with the Resident E l e c t o r a l Commissioners, RECs, to review progress of additional things done to finalise arrangement for the March 28 and

April 11 elections. He said INEC had prioritised areas of focus before the elections, including the collection of PVCs which had been an area that had attracted wide public commentaries because of the unsatisfactory collection rate by many Nigerians.

“I am pleased to say that as at yesterday (Tuesday), the collection rate nationwide has averaged 75 .94 per cent.”

Mock tests

He also said that the commission was planning to organize mock tests of the card readers in each geopolitical zone and the ICT department in conjunction with the voter registry and that the electoral operations department had been mandated to immediately draw up plans for the mock test.

Jega also said: “Our decision is to now use this opportunity and identify polling units and do a mock test of the card readers particularly in each of the six geopolitical zones.

Already we have conducted some specialised tests with partners in Texas USA and the card reader has passed all the 13 test categories conducted in terms of durability and versatility.”

He further said that the commission wants additional training for ad-hoc staff, especially those who would handle the card readers, adding that its electoral institute had already been mandated and provided with the methodology and budget for doing that.

“We believe that the period of extension has offered us an opportunity to further perfect the electoral process for the delivery of free, fair credible and peaceful elections to the

satisfaction of the yearnings and aspirations of Nigerians.

“The use of the PVCs and the card readers for the conduct of the 2015 election, we believe are in accord with the provisions of the Electoral Act 2010 as amended.

“They were also introduced, pursuant to the powers granted to the commission by the 1999 Constitution (as amended). INEC is empowered by Section 16(4) of the Electoral Act 2010 to 'Wherever it considers it necessary, replace any voter card for the time being by voters.

“The decision of the commission to replace TVC with PVC is in accordance with the provisions of the Electoral Act as amended. An election is said to be validly conducted if it meets certain basic requirements including accreditation of voters."

On constitutional contentions concerning the use of the card reader against the prohibition of an electronic voting machine, he said: “The use of the card reader for the purpose of accreditation of voters is one of the innovations introduced by the commission to improve the credibility of the electoral process, in particular, the accreditation process. It is not offensive to the electoral act or to the constitution. It adds value to the desires of Nigerians to have a credible election in line with international best practice.

“Whereas Section 52 of the Electoral Act prohibits the use of electronic voting, the card reader is not a voting machine and it is not used for voting, it is merely an electronic device introduced to improve the integrity of the voting process. It Continues on Page 50

6—Vanguard, THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 2015

25-yr-old woman docked for N1m theft from Shoprite

Spiritual attack forced my son into robbery— MOTHER “I started with prayers, but there were no results. I took him to various native doctors and prayer homes for deliverance but nothing changed.

“Rather, he got worse by the day. He was not like this, which is why I strongly believe this is the work of the enemy to render my son useless in life.

“I have never collected anything from him because I know that the source of anything that comes through him is not clean. Even when he buys a gift for me, I reject it because I am strongly against his way of life.”

By Bartholomew Madukwe

A

25-year-old woman, Titilayo Ogunse, has been arraigned before an Ikeja Magistrate’s Court in Lagos for allegedly stealing N1 million cash, property of Shoprite.

Ogunse was alleged to have committed the offence on January 20 at Alausa area of Ikeja.

The accused was arraigned by the police on a one-count charge of stealing, but she pleaded not guilty.

According to the police prosecutor, ASP Eranus Nnamonu, the offence is punishable under Section 285 of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State of Nigeria, 2011.

Magistrate Abimbola Komolafe granted the accused bail in the sum of N500,000 with two sureties, who are to be blood relations and must have paid tax for three years.

The magistrate ordered that N50,000 be deposited with the Chief Registrar and adjourned the matter till March 12 for mention.

How he was arrested

From left: Akeem Raji, Segun Ogunlodo alias Sangbere, and Taiwo Oluwole. PHOTO: Esther Onyegbula.

By Esther Onwuegbula

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middle-aged mother of four, Madam Oluwole, yesterday, broke down in tears on hearing of the arrest of her son, Taiwo Oluwole, for alleged armed robbery, saying he could not ordinarily have been an

armed robber but for spiritual attack.

She said: “He went into robbery after a spiritual attack.

As a mother, I have done all I could to make sure that Taiwo will be useful to himself.

“After his father died, I tried my best with the little I had to

ensure that he completed his secondary school education.

“After that, I enrolled him in a printing outfit as an apprentice.

He was attached to his boss for about a year and six months after he stopped. That was when I began to notice these despicable behaviours of his.

Ogun LP Senatorial candidate dies NIS arrests 50 aliens in Ogun

By Daud Olatunji

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B E O K U TA — T H E operatives of Nigeria Immigration Service, NIS, Ogun State Command, has arrested 50 aliens.

State Comptroller of NIS, Mrs Victoria Isang, disclosed this while briefing newsmen in Abeokuta, yesterday, saying they were arrested at different locations in Odeda Local Government.

Isang said the command was able to achieve this feat due to its zero tolerance for illegal entry into the country.

While giving a breakdown of the number according to their nationalities, Isang said 29 were Beninoise; 11 Nigeriens, and 10 Togolese.

She said they would be repatriated to their countries within 24 hours.

zAssociates mourn, accuse opposition

By Daud Olatunji

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BEOKUTA—A candidate of the Labour Party in Ogun West senatorial district, Professor Solomon Olamilekan, has reportedly died mysteriously.

Olamilekan, a pharmacist, died yesterday morning in a private hospital, three days after he was hospitalized, following complaints of a stiff neck.

Vanguard gathered that the deceased had complained to his political associates of a stiff neck on Sunday and was later rushed to a private hospital at Adigbe, Abeokuta, where he passed on.

The Secretary of the party in the state, Sunday Oginni, who disclosed the news, described it as shocking.

Oginni explained that the deceased excused himself from the Senatorial meeting held on Monday because of the sickness.

According to him, Professor Olamilekan had been complaining of a stiff neck and when we did not see him at the senatorial meeting we asked of his whereabouts and were told he was in hospital.

Oginni said: “This morning (yesterday), we were told that the man is dead. It is a great calamity to the party

because he was one of the very strong candidates we have in the party.

“He had assisted Labour Party to gain more popularity and acceptance, especially in the rural areas and many of the residents in rural areas have promised to vote for him.”

Chairman of the party in Ogun West Senatorial district, Jimoh Edun, while reacting to the death of the candidate, pointed accusing finger at the opposition parties, claiming that the popularity of the deceased prompted the opposition to attack him spiritually.

Madam Oluwole is the mother of 30-year-old Taiwo Oluwole who was arrested by eagle-eyed anti-robbery detectives in Lagos State.

The suspect and one Segun Ogunlodo, alias Sangbere, 26, and Akeem Raji were alleged to be members of a five-man armed robbery gang said to be terrorizing Ebute-Meta, OkoBaba, Oyingbo and its environs.

The arrest of Taiwo Oluwole at the scene of a robbery operation at about 2am reportedly led to the arrest of the other two suspects, while efforts are on to apprehend other members of the gang.

Vanguard learned that Taiwo Oluwole was accosted by men of the state Criminal Investigations Department, SCID, Panti, Yaba, who were on routine patrol and a locallymade pistol and three live cartridges were recovered from him at the scene.

Confession

Confessing to the crime, Taiwo Oluwole said: “I am an armed robber and I have participated in several robbery operations.

“I started out as a pick-pocket, later I started breaking into people’s houses and stealing their valuables.

“Thereafter, I graduated into full-fledged armed robbery two years ago. I bought the gun from Segun Ogunlodo. He sold the gun to me for N18,000.

“I cannot explain why or how I went into robbery, because after my secondary education I went to learn printing for a year and six months, but did not complete my apprenticeship.”

Another security guard killed in Benin

By Gabriel Enogholase

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ENIN—A security guard at Mission Road in Benin, simply identified as Ernest Ukpom, was yesterday morning found dead in a pool of his blood.

He was allegedly shot in the head by thieves, who looted

beverages and wine shops along Mission Road.

It would be recalled that last week, a security guard at adjacent Lagos Street was stabbed to death by thieves who looted three bureaux de change offices.

It was gathered that security guards at commercial centres

around the Kings Square are prone to attacks and maiming by thieves and hoodlums, who raid shops in the vicinity.

Owners of the affected shops in yesterday’s robbery declined to speak to newsmen, but some who spoke on condition of anonymity, said their shops were always looted

by criminal gangs in the locality.

Police spokesman, DSP Joseph Edogiawerie, confirmed the killing, adding that police had beefed up security around commercial centres.

He said one expended cartridge was found at the scene of the crime.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 2015—7

Indian stages own kidnap, demands N10m ransom

By Austin Ogwuda

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NUGU—AN Indian national, identified as Mr. Vishwanath Mishal, has been arrested in Enugu for allegedly arranging his own kidnap and demanding N10 million ransom from his employers.

The suspect was said to have travelled to Enugu, where he sent distress calls to his employers in Lagos from someone else’s phone, claiming

that he was held hostage in Enugu.

Following the negotiation for his release, the ransom was reduced from N10 million to N7 million, which he personally went to cash from a new generation bank along Okpara Avenue.

However, he was swiftly nabbed by police operatives, who laid siege to the bank before his arrival. Also arrested was a commercial tricycle

operator who brought him to the bank to cash the money.

On interrogation, the Indian confessed that he actually hatched the plan because he needed some money to urgently sort out some pressing issues.

Men of Enugu State Police Command had also, this week, arrested one Madueke Ahamuefula from Egbema in Bayelsa State in the same bank for scam.

Rainstorm wreaks havoc in Imo State Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, Mr. Ebere Amaraizu, said the suspect had earlier withdrawn N700,000 believed to have been swindled from unsuspecting members of the public, leading to the placement order.

He said luck ran out of the suspect when he allegedly came back to withdraw another money from his account, not knowing that there was a placement order.

Immigration deports 82 illegal aliens

By Evelyn Usman

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N an apparent move to checkmate aliens from voting in the forthcoming general elections, the Nigeria Immigration Service, NIS, last weekend raided parts of Lagos, arresting 82 illegal immigrants.

Vanguard reliably gathered that majority of the arrested migrants were discovered to have temporary voter's cards.

zAliens found with temporary voter's cards Briefing journalists shortly before the Nigeriens were repatriated, the Comptroller of Immigration, Lagos State Command, Mrs Justina Ahmadu, warned all foreigners residing in the state to stay away from the country’s elections.

She said the arrest of the illegal immigrants followed

massive raids around Lagos metropolis, stating that the command would continue with the raid until every illegal immigrant was flushed out of the state.

Ahmedu advised those who employ the services of aliens to ensure they procured the necessary documents that

The aliens on parade.

Osokogwu murder trial stalled by defendant's ‘illness’

By Onozure Dania & Tayo Ogundipe

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AGOS— THE ongoing trial of four suspects in the murder of Cynthia Osokogwu before an Igbosere High Court was, yesterday, stalled as the second defendant’s counsel, Michael Ajayi, informed the court that his client’s condition had not changed since the last adjourned date.

He said the second defendant was still having a severe stomach pain, adding that the prosecution called to ask after the health of the defendant and also to know if they were ready for the matter.

The suspects are Okwumo

Nwabufor, Olisa Chidera, Orji Osita and Ejike Ifechukwu They are accused of the July 22, 2012 murder of their Facebook friend, Miss Cynthia Osokogwu, 24, a postgraduate student of Nassarawa State University, at Cosmilla Hotel, Lake View Estate, Festac Town, Lagos Justice Olabisi Akinlade, who expressed displeasure at the way the matter was being handled, said she spoke to the warder who brought the defendant to court at the last adjourned date, adding that the warder said the illness was not a serious one and that he was being taken care of.

When the judge asked the

defendant, who was limping to the dock when the matter was called about his health, complained that he was still feeling a serious stomach pain.

Justice Akinlade said: “I am going to give you this last time. I am not going to grant any further adjournment based on health, all this pain. The court will no longer indulge you.”

When the judge asked a warder, I. M. Jimoh, if he was aware of the second defendant’s illness, he said no.

The first and third defendants' counsel were not in court.

The matter was further adjourned to April 15, 28 and May 5, for continuation of trial.

would guarantee their legal stay in the country.

She said: “All foreigners residing in Lagos should know that the forthcoming elections are for Nigerians. As such, they should not meddle in it.”

In an interaction with some of the aliens, it was discovered that they had succeeded in registering for voter's cards.

They told Vanguard that they were yet to get their Permanent Voter's Cards before their arrest.

One of them, who simply identified himself as Mohammed, said: “I have been in Lagos for close to four years. I came into the country in a truck conveying cows.

“We posed as Northerners because our names sound like theirs. Some of our friends told us we should get the cards, that we would be given money during elections.

“Unfortunately, we were unable to get our Permanent Voter's Cards because we were afraid to visit the designated points, owing to the regular visits of immigration officers.”

Others, who gave their names as Idris, Kanaide, Mohammed, Musa and Shuaibu, corroborated Mohammed’s claim, revealing that they had been living under the bridges and shanties in different parts of the state before their arrest.

By Chidi Nkwopara & Chinonso Alozie

O

WERRI—THE third rain of the year, yesterday, visited parts of Imo State with flooding, destroying property worth millions of Naira in the process.

The rainstorm, which was accompanied by thunderstorm, started in the early hours of the day and continued in Owerri metropolis till about 6.15am.

Our correspondent, who later monitored the incident when the rain subsided, noticed that parts of Douglas Road, Christ Church Road and some of the adjoining streets in Owerri municipality were completely taken over by flood.

Residents of parts of Egbu, Owerri North Local Government Area and some other streets close to the Relief Market were not spared the trauma of seeing their personal effects floating in the flood.

A trader, who simply gave her name as Mama Caro, lamented that “some traders in the Main Market and Relief Market, especially those that never envisaged the rainfall, suffered serious economic setback, following the destruction of their wares.”

Similarly, politicians' billboards and posters were not spared, as the ferocious wind that accompanied the rain equally pulled a lot of them down.

Some buildings in Owerri and most communities that experienced the storm, suffered varying degrees of damage.

A resident of Owerri, Mazi Rufus Chika, blamed the flooding of part of the municipality on what he called “the abandonment of the monthly clean up exercise since the present state administration came on board.”

Judge threatens to send dismissed DPO back to prison

By Onozure Dania & Tayo Ogundipe

L

AGOS—JUSTICE Olabisi Akinlade of an Igbosere High Court, yesterday, threatened to send a dismissed Divisional Police Officer, DPO, CSP Segun Fabunmi, back to prison if the defence counsel failed to file its final written addresses on the next adjourned date.

Fabunmi, a dismissed DPO of Pen Cinema Police Station, Agege Lagos, is standing trial for the alleged murder of one Ademola Daramola, killed at the Yaya Abatan Junction, Ogba, Lagos, during the fuel subsidy protest on January 9, 2012.

She said the defence counsel, T. J. Odeshola, who appeared for the defendant, was taking the court for granted because Fabunmi was on bail.

8 — Vanguard, THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 2015

Vanguard, THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 2015—9

Naira to exchange at N197/$

By Omoh Gabriel, Babajide Komolafe & Peter Egwuatu

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AGOS — THE Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, yesterday, in a bid to salvage the Naira from speculators scrapped the official window where it sells dollar to end users through banks twice a week.

The Naira will now be sold at the ruling inter-bank market rate indicating an implicit devaluation of the currency. The Naira yesterday at the inter-bank market sold for N197 to the dollar.

Financial Market Dealers Quote, FMDQ, a group comprising Nigeria’s main commercial banks and the central bank, said commercial banks have also been banned from re-selling CBN dollars to other banks, another attempt to end speculation in the naira.

The CBN had at the liberalization of the economy opened the Whole Sale Dutch Auction but later replaced it with the Retail Dutch Auction System where banks bid for foreign exchange on behalf of their customers.

Scrapping its window of direct sale of foreign exchange

The CBN in scrapping its window of direct sale of foreign exchange to end users said all foreign exchange needs are to be sourced from the inter-bank market whose rate is N197 to a dollar.

This implies that Nigerians who need foreign exchange will now approach their banks and buy at the ruling rate. There had been about three different markets for purchasing foreign currency in the country.

These are the CBN window called the Retail Dutch Auction System, where the CBN sell dollars to end users twice a week at a much cheaper rate, the interbank where banks sell foreign exchange independently sourced by them at a higher rate, the bureau de change which margin is slightly higher than that of CBN, and the open market where small retailers sell forex on the streets at a more higher rate.

The existence of several markets has always given the impression that the Naira is over valued and some form of subsidy where those who buy from CBN sold at higher rate at the interbank market called round tripping.

The apex bank in a statement signed by its Director of Communication, Mr Ibrahim Mu’azu, yesterday said: “The managed float exchange rate regime, which the bank had adopted following the liberalisation of the foreign exchange market, has for the most part been successful in ensuring exchange rate stability

zAs CBN scraps bi-weekly sale of dollars zOperators commend CBN's move

Microsoft adopts first international cloud privacy standard

By Emeka Aginam

L

DEPARTURE: President Goodluck Jonathan (2nd right); former Minister for Niger Delta Development, Elder Godsday Orubebe (left); Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Chairman, Mallam Adamu Mu'azu (right); FCT Minister, Senator Bala Mohammed (2nd left) and Chief of Staff to the President, Chief Jones Arogbofa during departure formalities for the President at the Presidential Wing, Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, yesterday. Photo: Abayomi Adeshida Such firms will experience cost in line with its mandate. and further to $53.0 billion in increases of up to 20 per cent.

“In recent times, however, with 2008, but owing to the crash in "This will also impact on sales the sharp decline in global oil the international price of crude performance, profit margins and prices and the resultant fall in the oil in 2008 and the aftermath of ultimately capacity utilization of country ’s foreign exchange the global financial crisis, the manufacturing firms. Import earnings, the bank has observed reserve declined to $42.4 billion duty and other port charges a widening margin between the in 2009 further declined from which are computed as a rates in the inter-bank and the $38.138 billion at the end of percentage of import costs will RDAS window, thus engendering April 2014 to $33.04 billion in also increase. This implies undesirable practices including February 2015. additional pressure on operating round-tripping, speculative costs for erstwhile beneficiaries demand, rent-seeking, spurious Reactions of the CBN RDAS forex window. demand, and inefficient use of Reacting to the development, Firms funding requirements (in scarce foreign exchange resources market operators welcomed the naira) will increase as firms will by economic agents.

CBN action, saying it is long need to source more funds in the “This has continued to put over due. banks to fund their forex needs. pressure on the nation’s foreign Mr. Bismarck Rewane, On his part, Razia Khan, exchange reserves with no visible Managing Director/Chief Managing Director, Head, economic benefits to the Executive, Financial Derivative Macro Global Research, productive sector of the economy Company Limited said: “This Standard Bank said: “With and the general public. means that the Naira is now Nigeria foreign reserves under “In view of the foregoing, it has priced at its fair value. It is one pressure, and amid growing become imperative that of the best moves the CBN has concern that a wide RDAS-interappropriate actions be taken to made in terms of stopping this bank spread would encourage avert the emergence of a multiple nonsense that is going on at ‘round-tripping’, the CBN will exchange rate regime and RDAS or no RDAS. It is now now stop RDAS auctions, preserve the country’s foreign time to price the market at its effectively discontinuing its exchange reserves. fair value and take away all the foreign exchange subsidy for middlemen and round tripping. certain categories of demand.

RDAS/WDAS closed "So this is the true value of the This is positive news, and “Consequently, we wish to currency, the speculators are out should help create more inform all authorized dealers and of business. Hitherto, products transparency in the Nigerian the general public that, with effect were not priced at RDAS market. However, with oil prices from the date of this press release, window. For example airline currently at levels where foreign the Retail Dutch Auction System tickets have been priced at reserves will be difficult to (RDAS/WDAS) foreign exchange N202 per dollar for the past six replenish, the CBN’s appetite for window at the CBN is hereby weeks. So what are we talking continued support of the interclosed. Henceforth, all demand for about? As a matter of fact, bank foreign exchange rate will foreign exchange should be because the price is now high be closely monitored. channelled to the Interbank the demand will reduce and the Kunle Ezun, a currency Foreign Exchange Market. For currency will now have some analyst said: “This is implicit the avoidance of doubt, all respite. devaluation. There won’t be any authorized dealers and the Speaking for the organized change in the inter-bank market general public should note that the private sector, Director General, rate because since last week, this CBN will continue to intervene in Lagos Chamber of Commerce is what the CBN has been the inter-bank foreign exchange and Industry, Mr Muda Yusuf doing. Also this is what the market to meet genuine/legitimate said: “The closure of the RDAS market actually advised them to demands. foreign exchange window has do. They advised the CBN, you Nigeria’s foreign exchange the following implications: It will can’t keep subsidising the naira reserves, which was $5.4 billion result in the escalation of in RDAS, why don’t you put in 1999, rose to an overwhelming production costs for firms that everybody on the same level of $51.3 billion at end of 2007 had access to this forex window. platform."

AGOS— POISED to strengthen privacy and compliance protections for its customers in the cloud, the global information technology ecosystem has recorded a major milestone as Microsoft has become the first major cloud provider to adopt the world’s first international standard for cloud privacy.

The new development ensures that enterprise customers can move with confidence to the Microsoft Cloud.

According to Brad Smith, General Counsel & Executive Vice President, Legal and Corporate Affairs, Microsoft, the announcement follows verification by independent auditors that Microsoft Azure, Office 365, Dynamics CRM Online, and Intune are aligned with ISO/IEC 27018, a standard which was developed by the International Organization for Standardization, ISO, to provide a uniform, international approach to protecting Personally Identifiable Information, PII, in the public cloud.

He said: “All of these commitments are even more important in the current legal environment, in which enterprise customers increasingly have their own privacy compliance obligations.

“We’re optimistic that ISO 27018 can serve as a template for regulators and customers alike as they seek to ensure strong privacy protection across geographies and vertical industry sectors.

“Today’s news is just one way we’ve been working to help strengthen privacy and compliance protections for our customers in the cloud.

Last spring, we received confirmation from European data protection authorities that Microsoft’s enterprise cloud contracts are in line with ‘model clauses’ under EU privacy law regarding the international transfer of data.

“And last fall, Microsoft became one of the first companies to sign the Student Privacy Pledge developed by the Future of Privacy Forum and the Software & Information Industry Association to establish a common set of principles to protect the privacy of student information."

10— Vanguard, THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 2015

Lagos govt opts to retain death penalty L

By Olasunkanmi Akoni

AGOS—LAGOS State government, yesterday, said it would retain the death penalty in the state's common law to serve as deterrence against violent crimes, such as murder and armed robbery.

The government in a statement issued by the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Ade Ipaye, added that its decision was based on a survey carried out in the state.

He said: “Following several abolition campaigns and international advocacy which were addressed to Lagos State government in particular as the pace setter in justice sector reforms, the State Executive Council considered the proposition to abolish or retain the death penalty in Lagos State Common Law. “In taking its decision, the state commissioned an empirical research that surveyed the perception of Lagos residents and elicited their opinion on the abolition debate, including the question whether they believe death penalty currently deters violent crime.

“The objective and outcome of the survey is, therefore, to inform the development of a state policy on capital punishment that relies on empirical evidence and is based on consultation with citizens and justice sector stakeholders.

“The survey was undertaken in two categories: public survey (random selection of 2,000 members of the public) and the experts’ survey (selected 100

persons who have close contact with the criminal justice process and systems). ” Over half of the respondents (51.1 per cent) advised Lagos State government to execute convicts on the death row, while only 38. 5 per cent maintained otherwise. 9.7 per cent were undecided while 0.8 per cent did not proffer any opinion.

“While 61.9 per cent of the respondents believed that the death penalty is a necessary retributive tool, as much as 59 per cent opined that the death penalty does not bring a sense

of happiness to the family of the victim(s). A majority of the respondents (67.2 per cent), however, recommended that Lagos State should retain the death penalty.”

According to him, the study found that gender, age and religion play important roles in understanding the orientation of Lagos residents on the issue of capital punishment.

“Hence, while majority of the people support death penalty across the socio-demographics, more males, older people and less religious people support the

death penalty.

“Majority of the respondents surveyed supported the use of the death penalty in Lagos State. The survey also revealed that over 54 percent of the respondents advised the Lagos State Government to execute convicts on death row.

“A large number of respondents also believed that the death penalty is a necessary retributive tool and a majority of the respondents recommended that the stateshouldretaindeathpenaltybecause it serves positive retributive and deterrence purposes,”Ipaye said.

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By Olasunkanmi Akoni

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AGOS—A group, Support Group for All Progressives Congress, APC, governorship candidate in Lagos, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode, yesterday commenced a road show in 20 local government areas of the state to sensitize the grassroots on the candidate’s manifesto to the voters.

The road show is also to be taken to local Councils Development Areas, LCDAs, in the state.

Chairman of the group, Mr. Demola Seriki, who disclosed this at the flag-off of the road show at the group’s secretariat in Ikeja, said it was part of efforts to complement the task of the candidate’s campaign team in engaging voters on issues-based campaign through direct interaction with the people.

Airtel empowers 7 startup entreprenuers

By Providence Obuh

L BUDGET REVIEW: Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola (middle), his Deputy, Mrs. Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire (right) and Commissioner for Finance, Mr. Ayo Gbeleyi, during the 2014 4th Quarter Budget Performance Review Session at the Banquet Hall, Lagos House, Ikeja, yesterday.

Fashola begs Lagos doctors, nurses to shun strike

By Chioma Obinna AGOS—AS Lagos doctors in the employ of the state government begin a three-day warning strike today, Governor Babatunde Fashola has appealed to doctors and nurses in the state to reach a consensus to end strikes in the health sector.

Fashola, who made the appeal during the 2015 State Council on Health meeting in Lagos, said such consensus would enable the health professionals fulfil their core responsibility of saving human lives.

The governor presented the performance scorecard for Lagos State Ministry of Health, noting that the incessant strikes in the health sector will continue to be an impediment to provision of excellent health care delivery in the state.

Fashola, who was honoured with three awards; “High Achievers Award for Healthcare; Governor of the Republic Award and Healthcare Man of the Year Award

by Healthcare Communications Limited, expressed his gratitude to Dr. Bola Olaosebikan, Chief Executive Officer of Healthcare Magazine, for the awards,

Ambode group embarks on road shows in LGs

attributing his endeavours in health care delivery to team work by Lagos State Health Family.

His words: “I thank all our

health workers for refusing to give up, you have been very resourceful. This award belongs to all of us. People all over the nation choose our healthcare not

for the quality of our services alone but also for our free health care services. Indeed, our policies and laws have set us apart."

Ex-NIMASA boss asks court to stay proceedings ALLEGED N1.5BN CONTRACT SCAM:

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By Innocent Anaba

AGOS—THE former Director General of Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, MIMASA, Raymond Omatseye, has asked a Federal High Court sitting in Lagos, to stay further proceedings in his trial over alleged N1.5 billion contract scam offence.

Omatseye is praying the court to stay proceedings, pending the outcome of an appeal he lodged against the judge’s ruling in which his no case application was dismissed.

Hearing in the application has been adjourned till February 26.

The trial judge is Justice Rita Ofili-Ajumogobia.

Justice Ajumogobia, had dismissed Omatseye’s application over his failure to

discredit the evidences adduced by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, during trial.

The judge held that she did not find any difficulty in agreeing with the prosecution that the counts in question were properly drafted in accordance with the provisions of the Public

Procurement Act, PPA. Omatseye, however, appealed the ruling, praying the appellate court to set aside the decision of the lower court.

He also asked the appellate court to dismiss the charges brought against him at the lower court in its entirety and also be discharged and acquitted of the alleged offences.

AGOS—AIRTEL Nigeria has empowered about seven entrepreneurs with exceptional apps and business startup ideas with N1 million each.

In a statement issued in Lagos yesterday, the company said he gesture was to support entrepreneurship initiative, empower application developers and startups as well as integrate them into the Airtel network.

According to the company, this is to enable them operate effectively and efficiently in their various businesses.

Speaking during the ‘Catapult-a-Startup from Garage to Boardroom’ held in Lagos, Vice President, Data and Product Services, Airtel, Mr. Nitin Anand, said the initiative was to encourage young entrepreneurs to develop their businesses through applicationapps.

He added that the platform was gearedtowardsinspiringinnovation and assisting start-up mobile app developers towards actualizing their business goals and dreams.

Lagos records 83% budget performance in 2014 The state's Year 2014 budget had retained the budget size for 2014

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By Monsur Olowopejo

AGOS—GOVERNOR Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State yesterday said the state’s 2014 budget recorded 83 per cent performance, two percent less than the cumulative record for 2013.

The state in a bid to sustain the tempo of infrastructure provision,

which was N489.69 billion for the current year.

Fashola, who disclosed this at the fourth quarter budget Performance Review Session held at Alausa Secretariat, Ikeja, added that in the year under review, the state budget recorded 77 per cent in its fourth quarter performance.

performed 76 per cent in the first quarter,106 per cent for second quarter, while the budget recorded 84 percent performance in the third quarter of year 2014.

He said the impact of the budget, especially in the fourth quarter, would be seen in the completed court buildings at Epe and Ikeja, among others.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 2015 —11

Amosun raises alarm over fake 600,000 voters' cards

By Daud Olatunji

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BEOKUTA—GOVERNOR Ibikunle Amosun of Ogun State, yesterday, raised the alarm that no fewer than 600,000 fake Permanent Voter Cards, PVCs, had been uncovered in the state.

Amosun, who held a closed door meeting with officials of Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, in the state, including the Resident Electoral Commissioner, Timothy Ibitoye, later addressed newsmen, saying, over 600, 000 PVCs are currently lying fallow in the state.

He explained that 625,000 PVCs which carried the state code but the photographs on the cards did not match the faces of registered residents in those wards where the cards were displayed.

Amosun specifically mentioned Ward 11 Ita-Eko, where former President Olusegun Obasanjo and the governor belong, that a lot of PVCs brought there for distribution had the state code but no one could identify the images on the cards.

Suspecting foul play in the distribution of PVCs in the state, the governor expressed shock at the slow distribution of the cards in the state by INEC. Amosun said that initially, about 1.8 million people registered during the exercise but INEC removed over 500,000 people for double registration and other reasons.

He noted that after the registration exercise was reconducted, about 450,000 registered but Amosun noted that only 159,000 PVCs had been brought and distributed.

He said that currently only 40 per cent of the 1.8 million people who registered have got their PVCs in the state.

The governor alleged that some one in Abuja was behind the slow distribution of the cards.

“In the last election, we had about 1.8 million, they came back to say after post AVIS, removing what they call double registration and a lot of anomalies they said they took away about 500,000 and

reduced Ogun State to about 1.3 million and we said ‘no problem, if you said there will be opportunities for people to re register, which they did, when they did that, from their record, it was almost 450, 000 of the new registration and if you add that to the 1.3 million, it takes us back

‘APC association of bad losers'

to about 1.8 or thereabout.

“But as we speak, the cards they brought originally, we have two or three issues now.

The first one is that the 1.1 million in November, on my honour, about 600, 000 of those cards do not belong to Ogun State, and that is the problem."

MEETING: Governor Ibikunle Amosun of Ogun State, fielding questions from journalists after a closed door meeting with the state Resident Electoral Commissioner, Mr. Timothy Ibitoye over poor distribution of permanent voters' cards, PVCs, by INEC in Abeokuta, yesterday. Photo: Wumi Akinola.

Ekiti residents hail Fayose's A-Court victory

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By Gbenga Ariyibi

DO EKITI—RESIDENTS of Ado Ekiti and other parts of Ekiti State, in their thousands have celebrated the victory of the state governor, Mr Ayo Fayose at the Court of Appeal.

Upon hearing the judgment of the Court of Appeal, sitting in Abuja, most of the residents in the state capital, Ado Ekiti, Ikole, Ijero ,Afao and Ikere Ekiti came out in large numbers dancing and jubilating over the court’s

judgment, which they described as welcoming, accurate and fantastic.

The All Progressive Congress, APC in Ekiti State had dragged Fayose to court, challenging his victory in the June 21,2014 governorship election in the state.

Fayose who was at the popular Fajuyi Park, Ijigbo Roundabout, Ajilosun area and the Kayode Oluyemi Stadium, was hailed by his enthusiastic supporters, who expressed satisfaction with the verdict of the court.

Mr Adeniran Alagbada, a

Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, House of Assembly candidate in the coming polls, said that the confirmation of the governor’s victory by the courts further proved that truth cannot be suppressed.

“I hope the APC and their leaders would have seen their folly now. The voice of the people is the voice of God and I know that the people’s resolve to support and identify with Governor Fayose has been strengthened,” he said.

Yoruba monarchs allay fears over OBJ, Jonathan fued

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By Ola Ajayi

BADAN —YORUBA Obas Conflict Resolution Committee, has said that Nigerians should not panic over the face-off between

President Goodluck Jonathan and the former President Olusegun Obasanjo, noting that it would fizzle out with time.

The monarchs after their meeting at the palace of their Chairman, HRH Oba Frederick Akinruntan, Alakia, Ibadan, said the two of them were friends and knew how to settle such differences.

Akinruntan said “You know we don’t dabble into politics. They have been friends for ages. They would settle themselves. If you see them fighting on

pages of newspapers, it doesn’t mean they are enemies. If any of them has any event now, don’t be surprised to see them turning up.”

He said the desire of the committee was to witness a very peaceful election.

On the progress the committee has made so far in the resolution of the conflicts among Yoruba Obas, he said the committee had succeeded in checking provocative utterances that could further fan the ember of disunity among them.

By Gbenga Olarinoye

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SOGBO—MINISTER of Police Affairs, Alhaji Abdul Adesiyan, yesterday, described the opposition All Progressives Congress, APC, as an association of bad losers, that thrives on lies and propaganda.

Reacting to the call for his removal by the APC over the alleged Ekiti State rigging audio clip, the minister said through his Chief Press Secretary, Wale Akinola, that rather than call for his removal, the party should have told the whole world how they intended to subvert the people’s will in Ekiti before they were resisted by the good people of the state.

Adesiyan said he wouldn’t have dignified APC with any more comments on the issue but for the purpose of history and to put the record straight.

“Ordinarily, I wouldn’t have dignified APC with any comment on this issue any more but because the APC whose stock in trade are lies and propaganda can easily explore their propaganda machineries to turn black into white for people to take black as white."

Ondo students get N348m scholarship, bursary awards

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By Dayo Johnson

KURE—A sum of over N348million has been disbursed by the Ondo State Government as 2014 scholarship and bursary awards to indigenes of the state in tertiary institutions across the country.

About 38 students of the state are presently enjoying foreign scholarship.

Addressing newsmen in Akure, yesterday, the state Chairman of the Scholarship Board, Dayo Awude, said N100million was for the scholarship while N248million was for the bursary awards.

Awude added that N38m will be paid to Medical students and another N12million for students in the law school.

Fifty physically challenged students of the state origin are to receive N10million at N50,000 each, The chairman said payment to deserving students would be in phases added that payment would start from Federal University of Technology Akure, FUTA and spread to other parts of the country.

12—Vanguard, THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 2015

Delta Police Command accuses Force Chaplain of promoting religious war

By Esther Onyegbula

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ELTA State Police Command, yesterday, alleged that the Parish Priest and Chaplain of the Force in Asaba, Rev. Fr. Pius Onwuegbuzie, has embarked on a campaign of calumny capable of promoting religious war if not checked.

The command in a statement by its spokesperson, Celestin a Kalu, was reacting to allegations by the chaplaincy that there were threats to his life following a ban on church activities beside the police headquarters in Asaba, Delta State.

On the circumstances that led to a face-off with the chaplaincy, the command said it was a case of illegal construction of a Catholic Church building project on an undeveloped Police land beside the Command Headquarters in Asaba.

She said: “It is pertinent to state that all administrative procedures employed by the Command to prevail on the officer to stop the illegal construction of the church yielded no positive result. He deliberately remained adamant in complying with such directives. This act is deemed not only to be unbecoming, but also an attempt to undermine the progressive policing style of the current management team in general and the InspectorGeneral of Police, in particular.

Furthermore, it is also presumed that as a priest, the officer is expected to maintain a high level of discipline and show a leading example to his followers.”

Recalling what happened, she said: “The then Commissioner of

Police, Ikechukwu Aduba, received a report that there was a construction of a massive structure at the undeveloped parcel of land and enquiries revealed that the structure believed to be a church was being constructed by the Roman Catholic Church in conjunction with the Police Chaplain.

“The building occupies one acre of land while another acre was also cleared for future use as car park for worshippers, Parish Priest house, toilets etc. However, based on the available facts as contained

in the master plan of the command headquarters, a memo was raised by the command that the church building was not in the command’s master plan for the land, as the master plan only provides for church building inbetween the State CID and the Department of Operations, which had already been built for serving members to worship and that the area was proposed for State Works, Transport/Works department, Transit Camp."

“The allegations raised by the officer that he was sent out of the

conference and called unprintable names by the State Police boss is unfounded. Rather, he was advised not to adopt confrontational attitude he showed to the immediate past Police boss and his second in command. He was further questioned on why he flagrantly disobeyed directives and continued with the construction project of which he offered no cogent reason. The Police boss also advised him to stop conducting services at the said church and restrict his activities to the existing Chapel within the headquarters complex.”

VISIT: Olorogun O'tega Emerhor (3rd left); Prof Yemi Osinbajo, APC presidential running mate; UPU factional President General, Tuesday Onoge and other chieftains of UPU, during Prof Osinbajo's solidarity visit at Onoge's residence at Ekpan, Warri, Delta State.

Delta community rejects APC's running mate slot

By Festus Ahon

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SABA—THE people of Emu, in Ndokwa West Local Government Area, Delta State, under the aegis of Emu Political Elders and Leaders, yesterday, rejected the running mate slot offered to one of their sons, Mr Vander-Puya Abannum, by the All Progressives Congress, APC. The people, in a statement by Chief Godwin Iwegbue and 23 others, said: “We feel embarrassed and disturbed that after the collective decision of Anioma people, comprising Aniocha, Ndokwa, Ika and Oshimili, not to accept deputy governorship position in 2015 in deference to the campaign for a governor from Delta North, the APC surreptitiously offered the position of its governorship running mate to some Ndokwa and Isoko persons and eventually gave it to one of our sons, Ogbuefi Abannum.”

Reacting, however, Abannum

described those behind the statement as political jobbers, saying: “The entire Emu people are behind me. I can tell you that there is nothing like Emu declaration on this matter.”

Abannum said he met his king recently and he never told him to step down from the race, adding that it was the machination of the

Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in the state who were afraid of the wave APC was making in the state governorship race.

Continuing, the people said: “Although, Ogbuefi Abannum is free to make his political decision, Emu people and in particular the political leaders, elders, women and youths of Emu Kingdom were

neither consulted nor in support of his present political voyage as we have since resolved to join our kiths and kins in Delta North and other well meaning Deltans to give our maximum support to Senator Ifeanyi Okowa as governor and Dr Goodluck Jonathan as President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria in the forthcoming elections."

A-IBOM GOV RACE: Eket endorses Emmanuel as sole candidate

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HE people of Eket federal constituency, Akwa Ibom State, under the aegis of Ekid Peoples Union, have endorsed Mr Udom Emmanuel as their sole candidate in the April 11 governorship race.

The apex socio-cultural organisation of Eket federal constituency, said it had studied carefully and compared the manifesto of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, governorship candidate with those of other contenders, and

concluded that Emmanuel's programmes are the best for the state.

In a resolution by the national president of Ekid Peoples Union, Professor Asindi Asindi, the people of Eket said their support for Mr Emmanuel was based on his track record and capacity to improve upon the achievements of the current administration.

Also speaking, the Atta of Ekid and Clan Head of Idua, Obong E. Abia, said Mr Emmanuel deserves their support not just

because he is their son but largely because of his pedigree and competence as deduced from his blue print for the state.

Emmanuel, while appreciating the endorsement by his kinsmen, promised to live up to expectations when elected into office.

He reassured the people that his administration will implement an industrialization policy that will generate employment and create wealth for the people of Eket senatorial district and the entire state.

POLLS SHIFT: Ex-militants pledge support for INEC

By Gabriel Ewepu

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BUJA—FORMER militants in the Niger Delta have pledged support for the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, and security agents in the region in the rescheduled general elections slated for March 28 and April 11.

Third Phase ex-militant's national leader, Tam Odogwu, in Abuja while speaking on polls shift by INEC, where he called on youth in the Niger Delta to remain calm and support the electoral process, said there was no need to be violent before, during and after the elections. He expressed optimism that there will be no violence in the forthcoming polls in the region.

He said: “We the exagitators and youth in the Niger Delta can assure of our support and cooperation with INEC and security agents in the March 28 and April 11 general elections."

Bayelsa judicial workers suspend strike

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By Samuel Oyadongha

ENAGOA—THE Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria, JUSUN, Bayelsa State chapter, yesterday, suspended its six weeks old industrial action following the decision of the state government to fully implement the provisions of the 1999 constitution as amended with respect to the funding of the judiciary.

Chairperson of the union, Mrs Selepreye Koin, disclosed this in Yenagoa while briefing newsmen on the agreement reached between JUSUN and the state government.

Koin flanked by executive members of the union, said the union only agreed to suspend the strike action for 30 days following the inauguration of a committee comprising representatives of JUSUN, the Nigerian Bar Association, NBA, the government amongst others with a view to resolving the issue of increased wages for its members.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 2015—13

APC stage-managed attack on Okrika rally —BIPI

By Jimitota Onoyume

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ORT HARCOURT— MEMBER representing Ogu/Bolo state constituency in Rivers State House of Assembly, Mr Evans Bipi, has accused the All Progressives Congress, APC, in the state of allegedly stage managing the attack on its rally in Okrika on Tuesday.

Bipi, in a statement yesterday, in Port Harcourt, wondered why the governorship candidate of the APC, Dr. Dakuku Peterside, and Governor Rotimi Amaechi would link him with the attack, saying he was in Bayelsa State commiserating with families of the 11 women, who lost their lives in an auto crash on their way back from a visit to the First Lady, Mrs Patience Jonathan, in Okrika.

He said: “Let this be a warning to Governor Amaechi and Dakuku to leave the First

Lady and the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP governorship candidate, Chief Nyesom Wike, and myself, including the PDP, out of their series of stage-managed attacks as their frequent blackmails will always remain dead on arrival.”

Condemning the attack, Bipi said he was going to drag the governor and Peterside to court for linking him with the ugly incident of Tuesday, adding that their allegation was the height of irresponsibility.

“The statement credited to Peterside, the governorship flagbearer of APC, along with Governor Amaechi, accusing me of leading gunmen to attack their rally in Okrika on Tuesday, is most unfortunate and above all, the height of irresponsibility on their part and the APC. I was outside the state when the report of the ugly incident got to me.

“While I condemn the said

attack in its entirety, I challenge Peterside, Amaechi and the APC to produce the evidence of their spurious

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E N I N — ANOTHER Prince of the Benin royal family, Prince Ekpen Erediauwa, has resigned his appointment as Executive Director (Government House) barely 24 hours after he alleged that Governor Adams Oshiomhole harassed and threatened his life over a parcel of land he acquired from the Federal Government some years ago.

Meanwhile, the Edo State Government, yesterday, denied the allegation.

Prince Erediauwa said he will also institute a legal action against the governor over the alleged harassment and threat to his life.

This is coming on the heels of the recent demolition of official residences of some staff of the University of Benin by the governor, as the dust raised by that action is yet to settle.

According to Prince Erediauwa, “There is a parcel of land at OkoroOtun Avenue, GRA Benin.

It is a Federal Government property based on investigations I conducted a few years ago. I made some contacts and acquired the land.

“Last week, the governor invited me and asked about the property, I said yes, I

C M Y K

owned it and that some people were working on the land and I stopped them. I told him that the land belongs to me, and he asked me to stay away from the land.

“He said if I don’t stay away from the land, he would arrest me. He said if I send anybody there, the person will be physically manhandled. My lawyers are looking into the matter.”

The state Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Mr Louis Odion, in his statement on the issue, said: “Our attention has been drawn to a wild allegation made by Ekpen Erediauwa that Governor Oshiomhole, was after his life over a parcel of land.

“This is nothing but an amateurish attempt at blackmail. The truth is that the young man had taken to a career of land speculation, engaging armed thugs to harass hapless developers all over town. He was enjoined to desist from these nefarious activities.

or else I will take necessary lawful and legal actions against them and their party,” he said.

VIOLENCE: Mr Charles Eruka, Channels TV reporter and victim of the violence at Rivers State APC governorship rally in Okrika, when the Rivers State chapter of the Nigeria Union of Journalists visited him at the Braithwaith Memorial Hospital. Photo: Nwankpa Chijioke.

Oba of Benin's son resigns from Oshiomhole’s govt, alleges threat to life

By Gabriel Enogholase

allegation against me, the first Lady and the PDP governorship candidate, Chief Wike, within the next 24 hours

“It would have made sense if the young man had provided proof of ownership of the land he is laying claims to.

“Truly, these are political times when idle hands would push anything for bread and butter. I think it is quite instructive that the young man permitted himself the liberty to tell these funny lies yesterday in company of Edo PDP Chairman, Mr. Daniel Orbih.”

Meanwhile, the Edo State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has condemned what it called the forced acquisition of Prince Erediauwa’s land by the governor and described the action as an abomination in Benin Kingdom.

State chairman of the party, Chief Orbih, who addressed newsmen on the matter, asked commissioners from Edo South to resign their appointments if within seven days the governor fails to handover the disputed land to Prince Erediauwa.

14— Vanguard, THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 2015

IMPEACHMENT:

Nyako accuses CJ of bias

zAlleges his case file was withdrawn two days to judgment

By Ikechukwu Nnochiri

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BUJA—THE former governor of Adamawa State, Admiral Murtala Nyako (rtd), yesterday, accused the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, Justice Ibrahim Auta, of frustrating the suit challenging the legality of the process that led to his impeachment from office.

Nyako said he was shocked to discover that it was the CJ that personally withdrew his case file from Adamawa division of the high court, a few days to delivery of judgement by the trial judge, Justice Bilikisu Aliyu.

The ousted governor, who spoke to newsmen through his counsel, Mr. Olukoya

Ogunbele, in Abuja yesterday, urged Justice Auta to respect the tenets of justice and immediately release his case file and send it back to the Yola division of the Federal High Court to enable the trial judge deliver the suspended verdict.

Ogunbele maintained that withdrawing a case file a few

VISIT: From left: Mr. Saka Arisekola, Special Duties Manager, Ports & Cargo Handling Services Limited, operator of the Terminal 'C', Tin Can Island Port, Apapa, Mr. Mohamed Ibrahim, Senior Traffic Officer, Nigerian Ports Authority, NPA, and Hajia Aisha Ali-Ibrahim, chairperson, Women in Logistics and Transport, WILAT, during the association's working visit to the terminal in Lagos.

days to judgement date by any judicial officer not only amounted to judicial corruption, but also an action in bad taste that should not be condoned.

CJ denies allegation

In a swift reaction, the Chief Judge refuted the allegation that he withdrew and confiscated Nyako’s case file a few days to the judgment date.

Reacting through the Chief Registrar, of the Federal High Court, Mrs. Rosemary Dugbo Oghoghorie, Justice Auta accused Nyako of lying against him.

Mrs. Oghoghorie stated that a counsel in the suit, Mr. Festus Keyamo, who represented the Chief Judge of Adamawa State, Justice Ishaya Banu, had petitioned the trial judge, Justice Bilikisu Aliyu on ground of denial of fair hearing and forwarded same to the Chief Judge.

She said it was on the strength of the petition that the Chief Judge called for the case file to ascertain the veracity of the allegation of denial of fair hearing and also forwarded a copy of the petition to the trial judge for her response.

Police IG orders probe into Okrika shootings

By Kingsley Omonobi

A

B U J A — T W E N T YFOUR hours after the shooting incident at a political rally organized by All Progressives Congress, APC, at Okrika, Rivers state, the Inspector-General of Police, Suleiman Abba, has ordered a full-scale investigation into it.

At the campaign rally, one policeman was killed, while three others were injured.

The IG, in a statement issued by Force headquarters, directed the Assistant InspectorGeneral of Police in charge Zone 6 Calabar, AIG Johnson Tunde Ogunshakin, to take over the investigation and promptly bring to book all the perpetrators, conspirators and sponsors.

He further directed a judicious prosecution of suspects arrested in connection with violence across the country.

NASS approves life pension for president, vice in new Constitution

By Johnbosco Agbakwuru & Joseph Erunke

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BUJA—THE National Assembly, yesterday, completed the amendment of the 1999 Constitution with approval of life pension for anybody who has held office as President or Vice President, Senate President or Deputy Senate President, Speaker or Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives.

But beneficiaries of this gesture must be occupants who successfully concluded their terms in office without removal or impeachment.

The amended constitution, which was presented as motion, to the floor of the Senate by the Chairman, Senate Committee on the Review of the 1999 Constitution,

Senator Ike Ekweremadu, for onward transmission to the president for assent, also made it mandatory for the president to appear once a year before the joint sitting of the National Assembly to deliver an address in respect of the state of the nation.

But the president, in the expected constitution, loses the power to solely assent to bills passed by the National Assembly.

The same applies to state governors.

The amended Clause read: “Any person who has held office as President or Deputy President of the Senate, Speaker or Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, shall be entitled to pension for life at a rate equivalent to the annual salary of the

incumbent President or Deputy President of the Senate, Speaker or Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, provided that such a person was not removed from office by the process of impeachment or for breach of any of the provisions of this Constitution.

“The president shall attend a joint meeting of the National Assembly once a year to deliver an address in respect of the state of the nation. He may attend any joint meeting of the National Assembly, either to deliver an address on national affairs including fiscal measures, or to make such statement on the policy of government as he considers to be of national importance.”

POLLS: Court

fixes Feb 22 for fresh suit seeking to stop Jonathan

A

By Ikechukwu Nnochiri

BUJA—JUSTICE Ishaq Bello of an Abuja High Court sitting at Maitama, yesterday, fixed February 22 to commence hearing on a fresh suit challenging the eligibility of President Goodluck Jonathan to seek a reC M Y K

election on March 28.

The court earlier directed the service of the Originating Summons on President Jonathan to enable him respond to the legal action which was instituted against him by four plaintiffs, Prof. Tunde Samuel, Dr. Junaidu Mohammed, Mr. Rasak

Adeogun and Yahaya Ezeemoo Ndu. The President was served through substituted means, to wit; by publication of the court processes in a national newspaper.

The plaintiffs, through their counsel Mallam Yusuf Ali, SAN, told the court yesterday that they have complied with the order for service.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 2014 — 15

Why we built Ohiya Central Bus Terminal — ORJI

By Anayo Okoli

U

MUAHIA—ABIA State Governor, Chief Theodore Orji, yesterday said his administration constructed the Ohiya Central Bus Terminal to instill discipline in transport motor business in the state, commending motor unions for complying with government directive to move into the new park.

The Governor who spoke while receiving a delegation of Drivers Welfare Association, Umuahia, explained that the decision was also to give comfort to the drivers and their passengers.

According to him, the governor was interested in the welfare of the drivers which prompted him to empower them with vehicles, and urged them to collect their permanent voters cards that would enable them to vote for in the coming elections.

Governor Orji however advised the management of Okigwe Motor Park to accommodate the Abia Transport Corporation until the government was able to get an alternative space for them to do their business and charged them to maintain peace at all times.

Earlier, the leader of the delegation, Chief Nnamdi Balogu, assured the governor of the unflinching support of the drivers for the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, especially the governorship candidate of the party, Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu.

He appealed to the

Igbo have no preferred presidential candidate – OHANEZE NDIGBO ELDERS

By Vincent Ujumadu

A

WKA—CHAIRMAN of Ohaneze Ndigbo Elders Advisory Committee and first republic minister, Chief Mmabazulike Amechi, yesterday directed Igbo electorate to vote according to their individual choice because Ndigbo had no preferred presidential candidate for the March 28, 2015 general elections.

Addressing reporters at his Ukpor, Nnewi South Local

Government area country home, Amechi, who is among Igbo elders challenging the adoption of President Goodluck Jonathan

by Chief Enwo Igariwei–led Ohaneze Ndigbo, said the advice to Igbo voters was because the two leading presidential candidates, Jonathan of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP and General Muhammadu Buhari of All Progressives Congress, APC, failed to reckon with the Igbo nation.

He said: “The caretaker committee of Ohaneze Ndigbo

E

N U G U — INDEPENDENT National Electoral Commission, INEC, newly posted Resident Electoral Commissioner, REC, in charge of Enugu State, Professor Chukwuemeka Onukaogu, yesterday announced that the Commission, had commenced distribution of Permanent Voters Card, PVCs, in the 260 wards in the state.

Prof. Onukaogu, at a briefing in Enugu, said “We have at the moment distributed 77 percent of PVCs in the state. We have C M Y K

and implementation of the recommendations of the Justice Oputa panel.

“Apart from the four cardinal issues, there are other vital aspects of government and governance which should have been discussed before Ndigbo would be committed wholesale into one basket of support for one candidate or other. ''As at this moment, the Presidency is headed by the South-South; the judiciary is headed by a Northerner; the two arms of the legislature are headed by Northerners; the Armed Forces and security agencies are headed by Northerners and non-Igbo. There is no Igbo in any of these arms of government in a federation that should reflect true federal character according to constitution. These are issues that ought to have been discussed with the presidential candidates.

BAYELSA TRAGEDY:

Obiano's wife condoles with Mrs Jonathan TRAINING: Mr. Akunna Sampson, Credit Control Manager Vanguard Newspaper; his left, Mr. Kayode Shobajo, CEO/Chief Technopreneur, HiiT Plc; Alero Atsimene, Deputy Advert Manager, Vanguard (5th right); Kenny Ojo, Head, Marketing and Client services, Adplus 360 (6th left); and other Vanguard and Adplus 360 staff, during the HiiT Plc (Adplus 360) Operations Media House Certification Course for Vanguard Staff, in Apapa, Lagos, yesterday. Photo by Bunmi Azeez.

Okorocha condemns explosions, gunshots at APC Okrika rally

O

WERRI—CHAIRMAN of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Governors’ Forum and Imo State Governor, Rochas Okorocha, has condemned the reported explosions and gunshots at the

venue of APC’s governorship rally in Okirika, Rivers State, describing the ugly development as primitive and as an act borne out of frustration.

Governor Okorocha, who spoke at a briefing on the unfortunate

INEC commences distribution of PVCs in 260 Enugu wards

By Francis Igata

has issued an advice to Igbo voters everywhere to vote according to their individual conscience. This is because none of the two principle Presidential candidates has come to discuss the four cardinal issues so fundamental to the interest of Ndigbo. These are security for Ndigbo and their properties during and after the election particularly in the North; the callous neglect of Igbo territory since the end of the civil war; reparation for atrocities committed against Ndigbo over the years and during the civil war;

commenced distribution in 260 wards in the state daily. INEC has ensured that mistakes of logistics experienced in Anambra State during the last election will not repeat itself.

Sensitive material will be distributed to the 17 Local Government Areas in the state on Wednesday presiding Saturday for the elections. We will provide a level playing ground for all political parties to ventilate their political aspirations.

“We have ensured that the role of Inter Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security,

ICCES, is optimal. The Police alone could not appreciate and address the overwhelming human phenomenon of security.

The ICCES comprises of Police, Immigration, the State Security Services, the Nigerian Prison Services, the Nigeria Customs, the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, the Nigeria Army and the Nigeria Road Safety Corps. ''The idea is to instill confidence on the electorate, eliminate flash points and ensures that possible miscreants who can cause violence during elections are eliminated.”

incident, lamented that several explosions had before now, disrupted the APC rallies in the state; describing the latest incident as explosion too many, and should be condemned by all well meaning Nigerians who loved the nation’s democracy, irrespective of their political affiliations.

While calling on President Goodluck Jonathan to make a categorical statement condemning the Okirika attack, Governor Okorocha noted that Nigerians of goodwill had continued to preach for politics without bitterness and emphasizing on the need for politicians to play the 2015 politics according to the rules of the game to avoid leading into a major crisis.

He said political parties and the politicians should be conscious of the electoral act both in their conduct and in their utterances and should also respect the peace agreement signed by representatives of the political parties.

W

IFE of Anambra State governor, Mrs Ebelechukwu Obiano, has extended her condolences to the wife of President Goodluck Jonathan, Mrs. Patience Jonathan on the death of some wives and daughters of Bayelsa State who lost their lives in an auto crash while returning from a courtesy visit to her on Saturday, February 14, 2015.

Mrs. Obiano said she felt greatly saddened that the First Lady, her household and the good people of Bayelsa were struck by such tragic loss at this period when Nigeria needed her best and brightest to continue its quest for a stronger nationhood.

According to her “I received with sadness and great regret, news of the fatal accident that plucked the lives of these great daughters of Bayelsa State. I am saddened by this terrible loss which came at a time our country needs the input of her best and brightest in the quest for nation-building.

On behalf of my husband, the Governor of Anambra State, Chief Willie Obiano, our women folk and the people of Anambra State in general, I extend my deepest condolences.

Our thoughts and prayers are with the families of all those who died in the mishap and the people of Bayelsa State in this moment of grief. We stand by you at this hour of sorrow and ask you to take heart in the fact that the time of our death is determined only by God.''

16 — Vanguard, THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 2015

Oshiomhole blames NLC leadership for botched election

THE ONSLAUGHT AGAINST BOKO HARAM

…Fresh election to hold on March 12

By Victor Ahiuma-Young & Johnbosco Agbakwuru

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OVERNOR Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State and immediate past President of Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, yesterday blamed the leadership of NLC for the botched conference to elect officers to lead the body for the next four years.

A fresh election will now hold on March 12, 2015, at the Eagle Square, Abuja.

Oshiomhole, who spoke while addressing members of the National Executive Council, NEC, insisted that constitutional means must be followed to restore the dignity and integrity of the Congress.

Recall that the 11th National Delegates Congress, NDC, of NLC which commenced on Monday, February 9, 2015, was Thursday, aborted during voting to elect a new set of leaders to run the affairs of the Congress for the next four years, because of alleged multiple voting, multiple ballot papers with some candidates names appearing two or three times, while some candidates’ names did not appear in some of the ballot papers.

A source at the meeting told Vanguard that the respected former labour leader told NLC leadership that it ought to have consulted stakeholders and put things in proper perspectives to avoid the problems and embarrassment for the movement.

Oshiomhole was said to have faulted the reopening of the nomination at the floor of the conference, saying it contributed immensely to the failure of the conference.

According to him, when things were not done properly, errors were bound to arise as seen in the ballot papers, urging the leadership to be bold enough to accept its mistake and apologize.

President of NLC, Abdulwaheed Omar, was said to have apologized to the house.

The Edo State Governor was said to have however told them that they now had the

opportunity to correct the problem, insisting that constitutional means must be followed to restore the integrity and dignity of the Congress.

Oshiomhole contended that the overall interest of the labour movement should supersede individual interest.

It was gathered that besides Oshiomhole, other elders of the Congress like Comrades Hassan Sumonu and Aliyu Dangiwa, pioneer President and General Secretary of NLC, Ali Ciroma, John Odah also attended the NEC meeting and played a major role in calming frayed nerves emanating from the botched election.

Meanwhile, NEC has rescheduled a fresh election for March 12, to conclude the aborted 11 NDC. Other decisions reached at the NEC, Vanguard gathered, were that while the Credentials Committee, CC, would still conduct the election, the two presidential candidates would send two representatives each to the CC. President of the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers, NUPENG, Igwe Achese, who stepped down for Joe Ajaero, to contest for Deputy President, would also sent a representative to the CC. The General Secretary of NLC, Dr. Peter Ozo-Eson, will be the secretary of the committee.

Speaking after the meeting, Comrade Oshiomhole said that what happened was not an attempt by anybody to manipulate the election, but error caused as a result of the last minutes decision to reopen nomination and accommodate hitherto disqualified candidates.

He said the development did not erode the integrity of the labour movement and its commitment in participatory democracy as it was an error.

One of the past leaders, Alhaji Hassan Sumonu said that they were embarrassed as past leaders over what happened.

The terrorists' lair.

A soldier manning a checkpoint.

MISAPPROPRIATION OF PUBLIC FUND: Ebonyi House summon Elechi, son, LP gov candidate

By Peter Okutu

A

BAKALIKI—EBONYI State House of Assembly, yesterday summoned Governor Martin Elechi, his son, Onyekachi Elechi, Labour Party, LP, Governorship candidate, Sir Edward Ekwegu, and some other government officials to answer questions of alleged misappropriation of public funds since the commencement of the present administration.

Among others summoned were a staff of the Ministry of finance, Linus Nwambam, Commissioners for Justice and Attorney General, Dr. Ben Igwenyi and Local government and Chieftaincy Matters, Hon. Celestine Nwali .

This came as the Minority Leader of the House, Hon. Enyi C. Enyi threatened to move an impeachment motion against the governor, if the allegations of the alleged financial impropriety were found to be true.

Members of the assembly in a plenary adopted five petitions against the governor and other key actors in the state, C M Y K

over alleged financial misappropriation and embezzlement of public funds.

The petitioner, Clement Odaah accused Elechi of gross economic and financial irregularities, which the governor allegedly acted with “unscrupulous private individuals and corrupt elements within the government” in the case of Ebonyi Cement company limited, where the directors of the company were the state Ministry of Finance, one Chief Linus Nwamba and one Edward Nkwegu, representing EDON Nigeria Ltd. Odaah alleged that the directors also doubled as sole shareholders with each having 50 million, 25 million and 175 million units of shares respectively.

The other petition involved the abandonment of the contract for the construction of the Ebonyi Trade Center located at Presco junction, at the capital city of Abakaliki and diversion of the contract sum to private ventures by the contractor, Edward Nkwegu.

A light tank of the terrorists being destroyed by troops.

Some high calibre ammunition recovered from the terrorists.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 2015 — 17 The press, radio, television and other agencies of mass media shall at all times be free to uphold the fundamental objectives contained in this chapter and uphold the responsibility and accountability of the government to the people- Section 22 of the Nigerian 1999 Constitution.

T

WO weeks ago, I wrote on this page, a piece titled: “LET US COLLECTIVELY SAVE THE EMIR OF ILORIN’S PALACE”. It had come about because the Bukola Saraki government in Kwara State had sold the Kwara State Legislative Quarters in Ilorin, just as the regime had sold PRACTICALLY EVERY government residence in the Kwara state capital.

I reminded our people that the Juma’at Mosque and the Emir’s Palace were gradually becoming the only public institutions that the Saraki regime had not sold. Allah protects His mosque, the way He protected the Eid Praying Ground from the grand plan to sell it. But we have to collectively “shine our eyes” otherwise, we could discover that the Bukola Saraki government has sold that piece of our history.

Shopping complex I said that seriously! As I write these lines, the government has parceled out and sold the land INSIDE the premises of Kwara State Television Service; and the latest story is that decision has been taken to handover what remains of the Kwara State Civil Service College to SHOPRITE. It was the College’s land that was initially carved out for the shopping complex. And an important reminder is that Bukola Saraki took a loan in Kwara’s name to build SHOPRITE but the story today is that it does not belong to Kwara State, but Bukola Saraki’s “private sector”!

In response to my article,

Bukola Saraki can criticise President Jonathan but he must not be interrogated in Kwara Abdulwahab O-O-Oba, Governor AbdulFateh Ahmed’s Press Secretary, had stuttered through eight paragraphs of drivel, paraded as a rejoinder. O-OOba, who on his appointment, had vowed to uphold government’s accountability, was angry that I dared to insist upon same, in pointing out the absurdity of the Bukola Saraki regime’s unending penchant to SELL EVERY government residence and land (instead of opening up new, serviced layouts within Ilorin); or its refusal to fulfill obligations after spending billions of naira of our money for undelivered projects.

Instead of defending the issues, he went personal, talking about the alleged change of my names; and he attempted the blackmail so central to Bukola Saraki’s hegemony in Kwara, that my “anger (arose) from a failed request to equip Kwara Television and Radio Kwara during …Saraki’s government till date…”

I will answer the blackmail frontally, to show the regime for what it really is: a DANGER to the well being of Kwarans!

Concerning my names, I don’t owe O-O-Oba any apologies.

Someone said that the chap studied history. That ordinarily should have equipped him to understand a bit of Ilorin’s complex history and the multiplicity of our identities. I am a direct descendant of Sheikh Alimi; I am cousins with the Belgores and come from the scholarly Kawu family. Authentic children of Ilorin know what these lineages mean. I cannot be compared to their ‘leader” and “tin god”, who started coming into Ilorin only in 2002, and didn’t even have a Muslim name until he was to run for governor!

As for the blackmail that I was angry because of failure to be given Kwara TV and Radio Kwara contracts, that is a figment of OO-Oba’s imagination. I NEVER ever asked for Radio Kwara/ KWTV contracts. But even if I did, it IS MY RIGHT as a bona fide son of Kwara and without sounding immodest, one of its MOST EXPERIENCED media professionals. I was a pioneer member of staff of Radio Kwara; wrote a Master’s degree thesis on THE HERALD newspapers (after writing articles and editorials for the papers for many years) and I was pioneer GM of KWTV. I own a multimedia

APC presidential and governorship campaigns in Borno

T

HE General Buhari Presidential Campaign and Kashim Shettima Gubernatorial Campaign landed in Maiduguri on Monday this week. It was an incredible sight to behold. Approximately one million people received the campaign in Borno.

It was remarkable that there was no bombing and the incidents that were witnessed were directly related to the effort to control the unprecedented crowd. If the APC’s slogan of CHANGE has been genuinely taken to heart in one part of Nigeria, it would have to be in Borno State.

The insurgency of the past couple of years has affected the lives and livelihood of the people of that state and into the future, even after Nigeria might have defeated the insurgency, Borno will still have to deal with the consequences of a distorted demography.

This is because a lot very young people, especially young men between teenage and the early thirties, have been decimated in

C M Y K

the insurgency and counterinsurgency war. The fact that for a long time, the Federal Government at the centre did not adequately understand the insurgency and framed it within a partisan perspective, as an act of its enemies, just deepened the alienation of the Borno people from the federal administration.

Heroic efforts I think one of the most interesting outcomes of the developments of the past couple of years, is the way that Governor Kashim Shettima and his administration made very heroic efforts to strengthen relevance with the Borno people.

The government was always there in moments of loss and deaths and it was always focused about delivering on social and infrastructural services. These seemed sometimes to be impossible given the way that the insurgents deliberately went out to destroy government

institutions and social services that could serve the interest of peoples in communities. Even in the dangerous situation associated with killings in Borno, I have continued to travel there back and forth, so I can honestly report the efforts at giving succor to people and never forgetting the development agenda by the government.

What the Borno people look forward to more than anything else, is the peace that will follow the defeat or substantial degradation of the insurgency, for them to go back to re-creating their thousand year old history.

It is the affirmation of faith and hope for development, which underlined the near-million man outing last Monday for the General Buhari and Kashim Shettima campaigns in Maiduguri. I think the resilience of the human spirit even in the worst adversity was played out in Borno state last Monday.

It was simply incredible to behold the multitudes that were longing for an improvement in their lives!

company that works in media, research and consultancy. When I was GM, we had a 30KW Harris Transmitter, which allowed our broadcasts to be watched up to the outskirts of Abuja and in neighbouring states, like Niger, Osun, Ekiti, Kogi and Oyo. What did Bukola Saraki do at KWTV? His government dismantled and sold the 30KW transmitters; it gave out a contract close to half a billion naira. The contractor supplied two 5KW (Taylor) Transmitters (From 30KW Harris!), for Ilorin, and two, TWO-KW Transmitters for Kaima and Lafiagi.

Collective patrimony The transmitters in Lafiagi and Kaiama packed up three years ago, while those in Ilorin are not transmitting up to three kilowatts today and KWTV can hardly be watched within Ilorin metropolis!

If I had sought to equip KWTV, where I was pioneer GM (and in whose service I had an accident that almost claimed my life but shattered one of my legs), I won’t have sold the state a dud! I NEVER asked a contract when Bukola Saraki was running (and subsequently ruining!) Societe Generale Bank, because that is his family’s business. But Kwara state is our collective patrimony and I will not be blackmailed into silence because I allegedly asked for contracts! This is the same

He lost out with oil subsidies under President Goodluck Jonathan, and that was the basis of his anger and criticism of Nigeria’s president

Kwara state, where Bukola Saraki brought another sidekick and indigene of Ondo State, Tope Daramola, from Intercontinental Bank, to be DG of Lands Department, and after community outcry, he was PROMOTED as DG of the Kwara Investments Holding Company. I will NEVER keep silent about atrocities committed against our state! Abdulwahab O-O-Oba said Bukola Saraki is a major stakeholder in Nigeria, and there’s nothing I can do about that.

Fair enough; but I am also a stakeholder in Kwara and I have a right to ask questions. The questions I have repeatedly asked are constant. Why has the Bukola Saraki government from 2003 till date, spent billions of naira on water contracts and we cannot get water to drink?

Why has it chosen to SELL ALL government houses to cronies and friends? Who owns all companies and institutions like Zimbabwe farm in Shonga; the Aviation College in Ilorin; Diagnostic Centre in Ilorin and SHOPRITE? They were built with our monthly allocations and/or loans taken in the name of Kwara State. They should make FULL DISCLOSURE about OWNERSHIP!

Newspaper pages The last time the KWSG bought newspaper pages to do a rejoinder to my writing in 2014, an educated man, Dr. Akorede, wrote a relatively civil piece. He didn’t go personal like O-O-Oba. It is no surprise. Since his appointment, O-O-Oba has only regularly written obituaries not serious articles of government.

His rejoinder last week was actually beyond his remit.

My position remains that my duty as a journalist is to hold government accountable to our people, as the Nigerian Constitution obliges me.

I will not stop asking questions until there is CHANGE! That is the empty slogan that Bukola Saraki mouths today; but we know that it is meaningless under his hegemony in Kwara. Bukola Saraki regularly criticises President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration. He uses as excuse the so-called exposure he did of oil subsidy scams in Senate.

But he NEVER mentions the waivers he got for his various companies, when he (Bukola) and his partner, James Ibori, were the most influential power and influence peddlers between 2007 and 2009, under the late President Umaru Yar’adua.

He lost out with oil subsidies under President Goodluck Jonathan, and that was the basis of his anger and criticism of Nigeria’s president. He can severely criticize President Jonathan, but he must not be interrogated in Kwara State.

Well, I am true to my professional responsibility, and seek accountability about the financial resources and assets of Kwara State! Facts are stubborn things. Abdulwahab O-O-Oba should be directed to face the facts of my interrogations!

18 — Vanguard, THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 2015 MOBILE telecommunication services, which Nigerians have relied on for the past 14 years, are probably at their worst state since the teething problems. The lingering issues of dropped calls, unsolicited messages, voice clarity and access to certain parts of the country have tasked subscribers’ patience.

Several things have been blamed for the situation. The telecommunication companies say poor infrastructure and vandalisation of their equipment are responsible for poor services. Consumers blame the companies for selling more services than their infrastructure can support. The regulator, the Nigerian Communications Commission, NCC, tries to tackle these issues, but wider collaborations are important.

At least all parties agree services are deteriorating. The disagreement is over the extent of the challenges and possible solutions. Internet services are also involved, even ones from providers other than the mobile telephone operators. The issues are wider than the Senate Committee on Communications accepts. Without a proper dissection of the situation, proposed solutions would not work. Senator Gil Emeka Nnaji, Chairman, Senate Committee on Communications, once asked GSM operators to leave the country if they would not improve

Ignoring GSM Challenges services.

The position is not a solution. Challenges exist in the industry, which the senator surely knows. Years of dismissing the issues got us where we are. The legal framework under which the companies operate, gave them too much latitude. In the haste to embrace mobile telecommunication, Nigeria made many concessions to the operators. Tough questions about the future were not asked.

Moreover, basic infrastr ucture like electricity has worsened with increased

demand. Expenses on provision of electricity (generators, diesel) have been rising. Further expenses on security have not stopped vandalisation of base stations, a major cause of poor services in many areas. We are paying the price for piece-meal treatment of issues and years of delusion that the country could develop without investments in infrastructure.

Many of the complaints mobile operators make are genuine. Government has failed in its responsibilities in many areas; it is not in a strong position to enforce regulations.

Beyond imposing penalties on the companies for poor services, what would government do?

Suppose the companies pay the fines, but refuse to improve their services?

The National Assembly is part of the problem. Its public hearings are perfunctory. They do not get to the root of problems they are meant to solve. What investments did government make since 2001 to support mobile telecommunication? Can government, if it is not playing its part, ask others to play theirs? GSM services have become part of our lives.

Their contributions to improved commercial and social transactions are well documented.

The authorities should tackle GSM challenges –and other issues - with more profundity than empty threats.

OPINION

By Michael Ovienmhada

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OT since the days of Awo and the Action / UPN has Nigeria witnessed the level of enthusiasm that we see these days when Buhari shows up for a campaign rally. I was at the Lagos rally of the APC at the Teslim Balogun Stadium. What I saw and experienced was nothing short of euphoria and a revolution in the making. How do a people turn around full-cycle from a man they embraced in 2011, when he told the nation ——I had no shoes——to a man who up until now had been tagged unelectable?

Let me attempt to explain it In 2011, Nigeria was looking for a breath of fresh air. We had just emerged from the dark days and intrigues of the cabal surrounding late President Umaru Yar’ Adua. The nation was disgusted that a small group of people could attempt to hold the nation to ransom and they took a good look at his deputy. The man had his bag packed ready to go home if things did not work out in his favour. He did not lift a finger to attempt to grab power. It was his constitutional right but he was not going to go to war over that. His self effacing attitude and humility endeared him to the nation.

The National Assembly eventually rose up to the challenge of those dark days and declared the doctrine of Necessity. Goodluck Jonathan became our President. Thus, the 2011 election was a foregone conclusion.

Goodluck Jonathan, a minority from the tiny village of Otuoke won in a very impressive election adjudged by local and international observers as free and fair. Until he did it, it was an inconceivable idea. Nigeria

Buhari in the public eye had been the playground of the HausaFulani, the Ibos and the Yorubas, the three major tribes. The rest of us, minorities across the country had been condemned to collecting crumbs from the masters’ table.

Jonathan’s victory could only be compared to Obama’s. African Americans constitute only 12% of the American population. How could a black man ever think of becoming President of the United States of America?

President Bush had run America to economic ruin. A recession had set in; unemployment had risen to 15% in some communities across the United States. The nation was involved in two major wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

The result was young men and women coming back in body bags, severed limbs, and PTSD—Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.

The American people were tired. Enters Obama——There is no Red America, there is no Blue America, there is the United States of America. Who is talking, the people asked?——He is a skinny African American fellow from Chicago. Who does he think he is to want to change America? The Tsunami was long gone. The train had left the station.

The horse had left the stable. Hillary Clinton was left gasping for air. For Hillary, she thought, the 2008 election was hers to be

How did he blow a hole in his Emotional Bank Account?

had. She underestimated the opposition.

That was her undoing. Super Tuesday came and she had run out of steam. Young people across America of all colours had joined the Obama train—The mantra—Yes we Can rent the air not only in America but across the globe. Ordinary folks and minority people across the world began to believe that their minoritiness was no longer a handicap. Joko Widodo came from the slums of Indonesia and upset the establishment. In India, Modi did the same. The gates became wide open for anyone who would dare.

It is from this prism that I want to look at what is happening in Nigeria. How did we get here? How did a man who had so much goodwill manage to use up all his capital?

Jonathan had so much emotional capital going for him. His account on emotional capital was full and overflowing. The people embraced him. The people loved him. The people were hopeful that a man who was just like them would understand and make life better for them. According to Daniel Goleman, (2002), Emotional Capital is the sum total of positive feeling that a leader has built up over time. You can draw against it when you really need it. You build it through resonant leadership styles. Without emotional capital, you will find that when there is a crisis or an emergency, no one is standing behind the leader. People desert you when the chips are down but if you have built the capital by making deposits in it they will stand by you and go the extra mile.

How did he blow a hole in his Emotional Bank Account?

Stella Oduah was an issue. When the scandal blew open about the BMW purchases, the President had a chance to act swiftly. He lingered. I understand why he lingered because I understand where he comes from and the basic characteristics of his people.

The Ijaws are fishermen by culture and orientation. They are patient people. A fisherman goes out to sea and must wait and wait and wait. If you watch the President in interviews, you will find that he listens and listens and waits for the interviewer to talk.

Even when they overdo it like Mo Abudu did in her chat with the President, he rarely gets angry. If I were one of his handlers, I would have advised him to defuse the Stella Oduah situation immediately by advising her to resign to save the Presidency. I would have gone on to spin it as a victory for the FOI bill.

If the President had not signed that Bill, what Stella did would never have become public knowledge.

In my opinion, many may disagree, Stella was one of the stars of the administration.

She had done a phenomenal job. I can understand why Mr. President was reluctant to let her go.

At 73, Buhari is the least likely candidate that Nigerians need in 2015 but a nation in search of a moral compass it would appear, can look no further. Will Goodluck Jonathan use the next six weeks to build up his emotional bank account or will the APC blow the momentum? It is on this pinhead that the 2015 elections will turn. *Mr. Ovienmhada, a public affairs analyst, wrote from Lagos.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 2015— 19

Eight years later, OBJ surrenders

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FRIEND of mine who has read Brigadier General Godwin Isama-Alabi’s book: The Tragedy of Victory: On-The-Spot Account of The Nigeria – Biafra War In The Atlantic Theatre, has a mischievous way of calling or sending me text messages any time General Olusegun Obasanjo dances in the public square.

Isama-Alabi, the Chief of Staff, 3rd Marine Commando of the Nigerian Army during the Biafra War, completely dunks the selfpraising accounts tabled by Obasanjo in his book: My Command and other autobiographical reads.

Isama-Alabi describes Obasanjo as “clueless”, “coward”; a commander whose incompetence led to the loss of 1,400 Nigerian soldiers on his first day as the reluctant Commander of the 3rd Marine Commando at the Owerri front.

The author sensationally disclosed that Obasanjo once got shot in the buttocks while running away from the battlefield near Port Harcourt.

Observes Isama-Alabi: “A general will be shot in the chest, not on the buttocks”.

Now, because of this, my friend

recently text me thus: “Any time the Biafran bullets in Obasanjo’s buttocks begin to disturb him, no one needs to tell you!” How else would you describe the antics of a man who has led his country twice and, at 79 (though he confessed recently that he does not know his real age) has made himself a regular object of ridicule both at his home front and the open arena? This is a man whose son, Dr Gbenga Obasanjo, once publicly accused him of sleeping with his wife and demanded a DNA test to determine the real father of his (Gbenga’s) children! Rather than opt for the test to clear his name, Obasanjo conveniently allowed elders to intervene and sweep the matter under the carpet. Just a little over a year ago, his daughter, Senator Iyabo Obasanjo-Bello, wrote an open letter, accusing him of frequently beating and abusing their mother. She publicly disowned him.

Senator Iyabo was responding to the first of Obasanjo’s public stinkers directed at President Goodluck Jonathan. One of the accusations he laid against GEJ was that he had 1,000 “political enemies” under close security

watch, and was training snipers to go after them. When this letter made its explosive public outing, President Jonathan directed the Attorney General of the Federation, Alhaji Mohammed Adoke, to have the allegations investigated. Later on, the National Human Rights Commission, NHRC, waded into the matter to unravel it. Just a week ago, its Chairman, Professor Chidi Odinkalu, disclosed that Obasanjo refused to respond to entreaties on him to provide evidence to support his allegations.

The public destruction of his Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, card again got tongues wagging.

People were aghast that a man

The tearing of the PDP membership card amounts to a surrender by Obasanjo; a public acknowledgement that his carefully planned schemes to lead the PDP for life and control the Presidency from his stupendously opulent home is dead

Coming of a great depression

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N normal climes, many would be disappointed that, for the second week running, public discourse in Nigeria is still largely dominated by considerations around the desirability or otherwise of the election postponement.

By now, we should be talking less of the forest and more of what we did with the trees.

Even in the most democratic dispensation, full disclosure is not always necessarily desirable – not everything known to our security chiefs and the nation’s top leadership should be known to all of us. There comes a time when the security chiefs should be given the benefit of doubt. This presupposes that at times they have a right to “speak in tongues” to the citizenry with the full realisation that the insurgents are also listening. After all, the security chiefs are citizens first, and security providers after that.

While we wait for March 28 and April 11, there can be no better opportunity to begin a deep reflection on how we got to this sorry state. Evidently, failing to plan is planning to fail. We saw it coming. For the past 16 years, we were led through an adventure of reckless squandermania, which openly suggested that there would never be an end to the utility and flow of the black gold. Even if there is now a clear distinction between stealing and corruption, courtesy President Goodluck Jonathan, we allowed ourselves to be consumed in the twin evils.

While we watched helplessly, our economy was plunged into deep recession and from there we are gradually gliding into the Great Depression – perhaps the type never experienced anywhere in the world. We have argued elsewhere that except something is done, and pronto too, the Naira may not be worth the paper on which it is printed.

As recent as 1982/83, the Dollar exchanged for some 80 kobo but we hear that in the parallel market, it has attained the

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giddy height of N205 and still climbing! The Nigerian economy currently appears to be in a “liquidity trap” or a situation where no amount of monetary policy can stimulate it back to full health.

Perhaps, oblivious of the fact that to the unemployed, the rate of unemployment is 100 percent, we easily abandoned our youths who streamed out of schools annually to their fate. They roamed the streets of our cities endlessly in search of non-existent jobs.

In the prevailing circumstance, crime and criminality soon reached a crescendo. The situation started with militancy in the Niger Delta until it degenerated into other crime areas like armed robbery and kidnapping.

Up North, particularly in the North East, the fear of the insurgents is today the beginning and the end of wisdom. They now call the shots in a manner that easily suggests the absence of a sitting government.

In a depressed economy, it is not unusual for government to bail out ailing organisations in order to avoid job losses and the concomitant effect of the organisations going under. We have watched the Federal Government investing multi-billion Naira in bailing out some ailing banks; while such banks still went ahead with their staff retrenchment exercises.

Even in the most democratic dispensation, full disclosure is not always necessarily desirable – not everything known to our security chiefs and the nation’s top leadership should be known to all

who presided over the affairs of this country on the platform of PDP would invite a crowd of onlookers and perform a comic show that is totally unbecoming of a man of his age and status.

As a close watcher of this Obasanjo phenomenon, that event was significant but not because he tore PDP’s card.

Obasanjo has the right to belong to any political party. He is entitled to withdraw his membership without apologies to anyone. If he chooses to do so in the public, it is a matter of personal style. After all, some people willfully defecate in the market square, not minding the onlookers. There are people who are beyond shame.

The tearing of the PDP membership card amounts to a surrender by Obasanjo; a public acknowledgement that his carefully planned schemes to lead the PDP for life and control the Presidency from his stupendously opulent home is dead. Obasanjo has now publicly given up his claims to political power.

When Obasanjo won his second term in 2003 he immediately made a bid for third term. When his convoluted plots were routed on the floor of the Senate on May 16, 2006, he resorted to Plans “B” and “C”, which would enable him to control the Presidency from his bedroom. For President, he brought out an ailing and softspoken Governor Umaru Yar’ Adua of Katsina State, who was the younger brother of his trusted late Deputy, General Shehu Yar’ Adua. Knowing that President Yar’ Adua was terminally ill, Obasanjo paired him with Governor Goodluck Jonathan of Bayelsa State, whom he saw as a humble and easily controllable substitute when Yar’ Adua was no more.

In the name of privatisation, we have sold our hard-earned assets to our friends and cronies while still continuing to fund such assets.

For instance, we have balkanized and auctioned out our power sector companies into smaller pieces, ostensibly for greater efficiency and effectiveness. The penultimate week, the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, still announced multi-billion Naira loans to the electricity distribution companies. Not everyone in Nigeria can suddenly become an economist; some of the transactions we engage in certainly make no economic sense whatsoever.

The economy has become thoroughly mangled, leading to major downswing in the business cycle characterised by virtually extinct industrial production, serious declines or complete cessation of growth in construction activity and great reduction in international capital movements. One thing is certain: the bad economic climate spares no one.

For example, the pride of the Black race; the greatest employer of labour in this country; and hitherto the richest African on mother earth, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, is currently in the eye of the storm. As we write this piece, news came that he has just lost US $12.6 billion because of the economic downturn in the country. It would appear that half of his wealth has been wiped off the books, no thanks to the country’s maladministration. This is one man that President Jonathan has been holding out to the entire world as the epitome of Nigeria’s success story.

Oil remains the mainstay of our economy.

What we cannot comprehend is the awkward situation in which day after day, a

But Yar’ Adua, during his short reign, refused to knuckle under his oppressive demands. In fact, Yar’ Adua cancelled many of the public assets sold by Obasanjo and quashed some of the questionable contracts he awarded. Yar’ Adua understood power, and when Obasanjo noticed this, he kept a low profile. But as soon as the President died, Obasanjo jumped into the fray to demand, not only Jonathan’s full presidential empowerment but also his election in 2011 as President.

Obasanjo found out, soon enough, that even Jonathan would not give up his powers to a man he openly acknowledges as “father and mentor”.

When Obasanjo wrote his first public stinker in January 2013, GEJ went on to disclose, in his own reply, that Obasanjo was behaving like a “goat seller who after selling his goat refuses to release the rope”. Obasanjo declared war and started lobbying some of the governors he supported into office to become rebellious against the Party and the President. He was the brain behind the break-away five PDP governors who have now teamed up with the opposition All Progressives Congress, APC. He also mobilised his former ministers who could not get jobs under Jonathan (such as Nasir el Rufai, Oby Ezekwesili and Charles Soludo) to fight the President. His recent endorsement of General Muhammadu Buhari, the presidential candidate of the APC was one of his final acts of surrender, after his push for interim government was resoundingly rejected. He has finally given up trying to rule Nigeria again.

Obasanjo says he now wants to be a “statesman”.Hmm. Mr Ibu also wants to be a statesman.

substantial quantity of our crude gets stolen, with the pipelines vandalised. Yet, we pride ourselves with having a sitting government; a living military manned by able-bodied soldiers plus a permanent navy and air force.

Meanwhile, we have migrated to churches in search of salvation, perhaps totally obvious of the fact that God helps only those who help themselves. And some pseudo men of God have taken over government with negative and divisive messages, with the attendant commercial connotation. For some time now, they have been spreading the vainglorious message that “this election is between light and darkness; and between Christians and Muslims… a vote for Jonathan is a vote for Jesus…”.

This is a government by committees in which it has been one probe after another.

The reports of these probes have never been made public, talk less implement the recommendations and decisions. This is wasteful and undermining of faith in the entire system.

Without any iota of shame or guilt, these people are still running round in circles in their desire to come and continue their misrule. Need we reiterate here that superior performance is the antidote for electoral success?

In sum, government is about human needs, the satisfaction of which is the sole justification for government. And, in a system where just people are imprisoned unjustly, the only just place for the unjust and non-performers is also the prison!

20 — Vanguard, THURSDAY THURSDAY,, FEBRUARY 19, 2015

Endless search for PVCs: The confusion continues

By Bose Adelaja

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T is no longer news that the long-awaited general elections slated to kick-off with the Presidential and National Assembly elections have since been postponed by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC. The Commission had cited among other reasons for shifting the elections the security challenge occasioned by the terrorist activities of the Boko Haram in the North Eastern parts of the country. Another key reason it advanced for this, was the failure of many prospective voters to collect their Permanent Voters Cards, PVCs, from the designated INEC offices nationwide.

Indeed, the seeming apathy being displayed by many Nigerians towards the collection of the PVCs has been a source of concern to INEC and the various political parties presently campaigning for the elections. This is even as there have been conflicting claims on the part of these bodies as why this is the case.

INEC, for instance, has severally been criticised by both the leading political parties, the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP and the All Progressives Congress, APC, of not living up to expectation in ensuring a hitch-free PVC collection exercise. This followed reports that many prospective voters are having a hard time collecting their PVCs in their various areas of registration.

Areas of registration Indeed when Vanguard Metro, VM, visited some of the PVC distribution centres in Oyo, Lagos and Ogun states last week, it was observed that not only is it that many are yet to collect their PVCs, but are also in the dark on how the process works.

A good example is Mr Adeoyo Fidelis who resides in Ibadan but works in Lagos where he registered for the election. Finding it difficult to collect his PVC in Lagos, he had gone ahead to reregister in Ibadan. But the snag is that having been fingerprinted in Lagos during his first registration, this automatically voids his second registration, thus denying him the right to vote.

This situation applies to many who may still be going around in search of their PVCs, according to a finger print analyst Mr Paul Olufemi who served in the finger print department in the Central Criminal Registry CCR, Alagbon, Lagos.

Another observation was that INEC may have set its priority wrong since many PVCs were

*A long queue of prospective voters waiting to register taken to unknown locations thereby misleading several of those seeking registration. An example is Mr Dayo Adeosun who surfed the internet and discovered his PVC was taken to a different location from where he was supposed to collect it. On account of this, he rushed to the collection centre on February 2, 2015 only to find the place locked up and INEC officials unavailable to discharge their duties.

VM discovered some unclaimed PVCs at the distribution centres during the visit as many registrants may have relocated, died or faced other challenges such that they may not bother to show up.

To Madam Adedeji Temiloluwa, who once lived at Ketu Alapere but relocated to Ikorodu in year 2011, collecting

He rushed to the collection centre only to find the place locked up and INEC officials unavailable to discharge their duties

the PVC is a difficult task. In the process of trying to register, she visited a centre in Ikorodu for weeks, leaving her home 5am daily for the centre. But each day, she ended up not getting registered because her number was usually close to 300 and the machines are only able to capture

100 persons daily. In her desperation, she had swapped position on the queue with a sympathetic neighbour. But since the PVC has her own features but another person’s name, the registration was voided.

During VM’s visit to Alagbole Akute in Ifo local government,

Odogbolu local government, Ogun State and Eleyele, Ibadan, Oyo State in the past one week, there were long queues of people awaiting to collect PVCs with only few INEC hands attending to the mammoth crowd of prospective voters.

For IDPs in Abuja, relief at last, courtesy of FG

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RESH respite has come the way of Internally Displaced Persons, IDPs, in Abuja as the Federal Government at the weekend distributed assorted relief assistance to them. The IDPs at the camp are made up of those displaced from Chibok and Askira/Uba of Borno State following persistent Boko Haram attacks.

Flagging off the relief distribution in Kuje, a satellite town in the FCT, Finance Minister, Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala affirmed the commitment of the President, Dr Goodluck Jonathan to support the displaced persons while expediting efforts towards the restoration of security in their communities to enable them return home soonest.

The Minister who was accompanied by the Director General of the National Emergency Management Agency, NEMA, Muhammad Sani Sidi said government was also concerned about the education of children affected by the security challenge in the North east therefore has concluded arrangement to move some of them to various Unity Schools in the country under its Safe School Initiative.

She assured the IDPs from Chibok of continual humanitarian supports of the Federal Government through NEMA, noting that other displaced persons including those living in the FCT are already benefitting from similar gesture.

Responding on behalf of the IDPs,

Spokesperson of Chibok community in the FCT Mr Gapani Yagana appreciated the Federal Government for the continued supports given to them.

The distribution of relief to the displaced persons from Mousa community of Askira/Uba Local Government of Borno State was done in Orozo, a suburb of Abuja where they had assembled and the National Emergency Management Agency delivered the government supports to them. The Director General of NEMA Muhammad Sani Sidi who was represented by the Abuja Operations Coordinator of the Agency Ishaya Isa Chonoko advised them to remain law abiding and also assure the concern of the Federal Government to their plights.

The items distributed to the IDPs were food and non-food items including bags of rice, grains, sleeping materials, clothing and sanitary items.

Speaking on the IDPs in the FCT, Chonko said though they were not living in any formal camp but with friends and relations, NEMA has been distributing supports to them upon their discoveries and requests for assistance.

It will recall that many of the IDPs affected by the security challenge in Borno, Yobe and Adamawa States are presently living in various camps in Yola and Maiduguri.

Although, most of them are also living with relations and friends in host communities. The Federal Government through NEMA has been responding to their plights in the continuous deployment of relief supports that are distributed to them.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 2015 —21

Shippers’ Council moves to reclaim 300,000 metric tonnes of transit cargo

By Godwin Oritse

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HE Nigerian Shippers” Council, NSC has commenced moves to reclaim over 300,000 metric tonnes of transit cargoes that were hitherto were lost to port of neighbouring countries.

These cargoes Vanguard ngathered were lost over a period of time.

Speaking to Vanguard in Lagos, the Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Shippers” Council Mr. Hassan Bello said that the plans to reclaim lost transit cargoes were beginning to yield result as some landlocked countries are ready to transit their imports through Nigerian ports.

Bello also said that since efficiency was returning to the Nigerian ports, the confidence of importers in landlocked countries was also gradually returning.

The Council boss explained that. importers in landlocked country know that it is more cost effective to transit their caqrgoes through Nigerian seaports.

He further explained that before the ports in Nigeria were concessioned, a lot of inefficiency bedevilled the Nigerian port industry as importers from landlocked nations had to look else where for better efficiency.

He also commended the management of the Nigeria Customs Service, NCS, for its support to reclaim lost transit

cargoes adding that the return of these transit cargoes will create jobs, and increase revenue to government coffers “We have always emphasized the issue of competition and efficiency, so transit cargoes are won and lost through efficiency of a port.

“Long before Nigerian ports were concessioned, the Nige-

rian ports were really inefficient and some landlocked countries that patronized Nigerian ports had to resort to neighbouring countries to transit their cargoes.

“Even though the movement of their cargoesthrough ports of neighbouring countries does not make sense to them in term of proximity and cost and other economy scale, it is

preferable that they have their goods imported through Nigerian ports.

Nigerien importers are ready to start using Nigerian ports, about a year or so ago, the Nigerian Shippers’ Council led a trade delegation to Niger Republic together with terminal operators and some shipping companies where Nigerian ports were marketed”.

Local meter manufacturers seek 5% of FG’s Intervention fund

By Ediri Ejoh

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HE Electricity Meter Manufacturers Association of Nigeria, EMMA, has called on the Federal Government to make available five percent special intervention fund for local electricity meter manufacturing to strengthen its production capacity and compete with counterparts across the world.

The Executive Secretary, Electricity Meter Manufacturers Association of Nigeria, EMMA, Mr. Muyideen Ibrahim who made this known recently, said that the association will not relent in contributing its quota to improving power supply and create jobs for the teaming unemployed people.

He stated that the association is mandated to provide integrated services to the enhancement of power industry; adding that there is need for the government to hark to the 5 percent plea of the special intervention fund as an incentive to boost the local electricity and AGREEMENT: From left: President, Nigerian Bar Association, NBA, Mr. Augustine power manufacturing industry.

Alegeh; President, Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria, ICAN, Mr. Chidi Ajaegbu He explained that the basis and President, Chartered Institute of Stockbrokers, CIS, Mr Albert Okumagba, at the signing of the 5 percent special interof colloraboration agreement with NBA, ICAN and CIS, in Lagos. vention fund is for government to create a special fund for their members. “This is a sort of a soft landing for manufacturers, so that it can be used to produce meters, because as it is now we are having a lot of competitors

BY BABAJIDE KOMOLAFE Deposit taking financial institutions especially from the Chinese. count holder or next-of-kin for shall continue to monitor accounts revalidation of such accounts.

“They bring in their meters that The CBN said that the purThe Central Bank of Ni- pose of the guidelines among show tendencies of inactivity and into the country because it is geria (CBN) has banned other things is to: Curb possiwhere necessary, initiate actions for well supported in their country banks from charging cus- ble abuse in the coperation of their activation or protection from and the government also gives tomers for revalidation of dormant accounts; Ensure that wrong usage; Once dormant ac- incentives for such. So, it is on $155.40 -7.80 dormant accounts. counts exceed a six year period, they that basis that we made that dormant account funds are This is one of the high- identified and channeled shall be reported to the CBN along demand to give our members $2,991.00 -22.00 lights of the draft guide- through appropriate instituwith efforts made by the obligor bank lines for the management tions to make it more producto locate the owners or their personal same playing ground so that of dormant accounts by representatives; Three months to the they can also produce and sell tive to the economy; and elim$14.96 0.08 banks in Nigeria released inate the possibility of banks end of six years indicated in above, to DISCOs at a very competiyesterday by the apex converting dormant accounts both the account holder and the next- tive price” bank. The CBN also said balances to income. of-kin shall be notified; He further stated that the inthat banks must continue Revalidation of inactive/dormant ac- terest rate of any loan given to Among other things the $61.02 -0.38 to pay interest rate on dor- guidelines differentiated becounts shall not attract any charge to the manufacturers should not be mant accounts, and make tween an Inactive Account and the account holder as the banks would efforts to contact the ac- a Dormant Account. It stated, $51.70 -1.08 have made ample use of the idle funds; more than five percent. “You Dormant account balances shall con- know if you go to bank to seek “A bank account is classified tinue to be reflected in the books of for loan, the interest rate is as inactive if there has been no Revalidation of CURRENCY BUYING CENTRAL banks as deposit liabilities until they about 24 to 25 percent dependcustomer or depositor-initiated inactive/dormant are eventually withdrawn by the ac- ing on your negotiation power. transaction in it for a period of DOLLAR 167 167.5 168 count holders or disposed of on their But with these fund requested six (6) months after the last cusaccounts shall not POUNDS 256.8293 257.5983 258.3672 instructions; tomer or depositor-initiated EURO 190.6806 191. 2515 191.8224 attract any charge transaction; A bank account Dormant accounts balances shall, of, it would give us a good level FRANC 179. 3179 179.8368 180.3736 therefore, be regarded as deposits and playing ground, then it will to the account shall be classified as dormant if YEN 1.4081 1.4123 1.4131 shall be covered

by Deposit Insurance; empower us to create more there has been no customer or CFA 0.2715 0.2815 0.2915 holder as the banks “In the case of government- market that would result in a depositor initiated transaction WAUA 236.3885 237.0963 237.804 would have made in it for a period of six (6) years owned inactive/dormant accounts, competitive price”.

RENMINBI 26. 7242 26. 8047 26.8852 after the last customer or deHe however urged governbanks shall notify the relevant ample use of the RIYAL 44.5108 44.644 44.7773 positor-initiated transaction. ment to liberalise the metering government agency of their KRONA 25.6084 25.6851 25.7617 idle funds.

The apex bank stated that, gap that will enable these prodexistence, with periodic returns of SDR 236.3885 237. 0963 237.804 “Accounts shall retain their insuch notification sent to Banking ucts get to the final consumers. terest earning status during the CBN Exchange Rate as at 17/2/15 Supervision Department. period of dormancy in the bank;

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CBN ban charges for revalidation of dormant accounts

22—Vanguard, THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 2015

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Learn from both your wins and your mistakes, and take credit and responsibility for both

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‘Effect of customer service on businesses’

By Providence Obuh

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CUSTOMER service expert has identified six areas businesses could suffer losses arising from failures in customer service delivery, calling for better employee engagement The six areas include: Loss of current customers; loss of potential customers; loss of future customers; loss of reputation; loss of employee and loss of profit/sales.

Vice President, Customer Service, Airtel Nigeria, Mr. Ajay Bakshi, identified this in his paper titled: •"Managing Customer Service Impact on Reputation and Bottom line", during a CEO Breakfast Forum of the International Association of Business Communicators (IABC), Nigeria chapter.

Bakshi, who described customer service as not just a fad but also a critical business tool that could make or break a company, said, •"customer service is at the heart of every

business, the reason experts across the world have declared 2015 the Year of Customer Service.

•"Companies must pay closer attention to employee engagement and retention, one wrong communication from an employee could cost companies to lose customer goodwill.

Employees are critical pillars of customer service.

•"For me, the engaged employees are the most important because they are the frontline staff who interface with customers and thus bring in the profit. So everything should be done to keep them happy and to make them understand the vision and mission of the company to be able to reflect that in their dealings with customers."

The IABC Breakfast Forum is a thought leadership platform that enables communication professionals and business leaders share ideas and interact to enhance leadership communication and stakeholder engagement.

Inspirational business tips for entrepreneurs

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O ensure your venture stays strong, successful and firing on all cylinders, take note of these six inspiring tips.

Bring happiness and satisfaction Whether you•fre interacting with the public, a client, an investor or anyone associated with your business, ensure that you•fre always upbeat and positive. Offering a superior product is great, but bringing joy and satisfaction through cheerful interactions will ensure that you leave a positive mark wherever you go.

Focus on creating masterpieces Being innovative and creative is another way to sustain a successful business. Invest time in inventing ways to stay ahead of the game. Your innovations become masterpieces that will translate into concrete results.

Focus on marketing and making While many rely on marketing to keep their business strong, be sure to focus equally on making the most superior products and creating the most premium services on the market. When you show pride in everything you create, your customers remain appreciative, loyal and

excited.

Take responsibility As an entrepreneur you craft your own destiny, and this means that all your successes and failures lead straight back to you. Learn from both your wins and your mistakes, and take credit and responsibility for both. Accountability rather than excuses will fuel your success.

Focus on strengths, outsource weaknesses Too many business owners try to wear many hats. You have a special set of skills unique to you, so use these skills, and outsource the tasks you•fre not as good at.

Have a business coach, mentor or partner Many soloists struggle to stay motivated. Having a business coach, mentor or partner can help to keep you on track and stay accountable.

By spreading warmth and joy in all your interactions, being innovative, remaining accountable, focusing on your strengths and creating superior products and services, you ensure that your entrepreneurial venture will go from strength to strength.

BUSINESS NAIRA EXCHANGE RATES (17/02/15) Currency DOLLAR STERLING EURO FRANC YEN CFA WAUA RENMINBI RIYAL KRONA SDR

Buying(N)

Central(N)

Selling(N)

167

167.5

168

256.9128 190.8643 179.4348 1.4056 0.2715 236.3885 26.6952 44.5143 25.6362 236.5555

257.682 191.4358 179.9721 1.4098 0.2815

258.4512 192.0072 180.5093 1.414 0.2915

237.0963

237.804

26.7756 44.6476 25.7131 237.2638

26.8559 44.7809 25.7898 237.972

Commod Light Crud

Natural G Sugar Coffee Cocoa

How to grow small businesses

By Yinka Kolawole, with agency report

A

LL entrepreneurs desire business growth but most don't know how.

It is one thing to start a business but growing a business is where the real challenge lies. The big question is how do you grow a small business with little or no money?

Focus on the business mission •"The thing I really care about is the mission; making the world open" – Mark Zuckerberg.

The first strategic step to growing a small business on a lean budget is to focus on fulfilling the business mission.

The reason is because the business mission is where the entrepreneurial spirit dwells. It is the heart of the business, the core.

The business mission is the reason why the business exists.

You might grow your small business to a substantial size but if that growth does not help fulfill its mission, the business growth will be short lived. So stay true to your business mission; it's the first prerequisite to growing a business

successfully.

Develop a challenging vision The need to grow a business is usually prompted by circumstances and such circumstance can help forge a vision for the business. The kind of vision you develop depends on how fast you want your growth rate to be and the level you want to grow. Set challenging goals that will force you out of your comfort zone.

Challenging vision Don't develop a vision you are comfortable with, develop a business vision that forces you to use your critical thinking skills. A challenging vision should force the entire business team to come up with creative growth strategies that enable the business grow faster than the average industrial growth rate. So don't settle for average; set a challenging business goal and go for it.

Reposition your business team •"Bringing together the right information with the right people will dramatically improve a company's ability to develop and act on strategic business opportunities" – Bill Gates

To grow your business, the right people have to be in the right position, that is, reposition your business team. Analyze the strengths and weaknesses of your business team and delegate duties to them according to their strength. If there is a weak chain in the business management team; consider bringing someone in to fill the gap. A strong business management team is essential to business growth.

Strengthen the business internally: •"The most important •espeed•f issue is often not technical but cultural. It is convincing everyone that the company•fs survival depends on everyone moving as fast as possible" – Bill Gates Most entrepreneurs are always in a haste to grow externally

To grow your business, the right people have to be in the right position

Vanguard, THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 2015 — 23

,

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

& YOU

dity de

Gas

COMMODITIES (18/02/15) Last 53.19

Change ($) -0.34

% Change -0.64

2.76

-0.00

-0.07

15.15

+0.01

+0.07

155.15

-0.50

-0.32

3,008.00

+18.00

+0.60

because it•fs more obvious and gives the entrepreneur a sense of prestige. But more important than external growth and expansion is the internal growth.

Businesses have failed because of too much success. They grew big but couldn't sustain the pace; so they shrank and collapsed.

Internal business growth entails strengthening your bottom line, improving your employees' effectiveness and machines' efficiency. It may also mean automating your business processes. Once a business effectively grows internally, growing externally will be seamless.

Mind the cash flow: •"The most important word in the world of money is cash flow. The second most important word is leverage" – Rich Dad Cash flow is the life blood of business. Growing on a lean budget, every kobo has to be accounted for. You must know your numbers and above all, you must know your financial position at all times.

Customer care is key While growing internally, you can instigate external business growth by taking care of your customers and encouraging word of mouth. Customers are the reason you are in business so make sure they are not ignored during your growth process.

Find as much customers as you can and keep as much as you can. Most importantly, allow your existing customers help your business find more customers by encouraging them to talk about your company. Word of mouth was the way Amazon grew to become multi-billion dollar companies.

Regular employee performance evaluation Maximize every resource at your disposal, leaving no room for inefficiency and waste. You must also evaluate your employee•fs performance rate at regular intervals and any employee that doesn't meet your

standard should be fired.

•"Generally I like other people to fire because it•fs always a lousy task. But I•fve fired many people" – Donald Trump

Seek strategic alliance

•"Our success has really been based on partnerships from the very beginning" – Bill Gates Forming strategic alliance is an effective way to grow big, while still remaining small. Look within your neighborhood first for opportunities to form strategic alliances and if you can't find any; create one.

Focus on the core; outsource the rest If there is any secret to growing a small business from scratch on a lean budget; then it's definitely outsourcing. Outsourcing helps businesses grow internally (with increasing profit); yet remain small to the outside world. With the rate at which business is changing, it's now possible to operate a million dollar company from just a small office using the power of outsourcing. Every business has a core. So find your core, focus on it and outsource the rest.

Re-invest the profit: Growing on a lean budget requires you re-invest every single profit into the business. Re-investing profits is essential to business growth.

Stick to the process: The last but not the least step to growing a small business is to stick to the process. Building a successful business is not an overnight process; it•fs a process that takes time and requires persistence. To stick it through to the end of the process, you need to see the big picture of where you are heading to; you need to envision the end point of that process.

Starting the growth process of a business is easy but keeping at it is difficult because with growth comes the need for constant change. If you are in the same entrepreneurial journey of growing a business with me, I encourage you to stick it through and keep moving forward. I will see you at the top.

,

How fast is your organization adapting to the changing world?

By ‘Uju Onwuzulike "I can’t change the direction of the wind, but I can adjust my sails to always reach my destination..."

Jimmy Dean

W

ITH the rate of change in the business world of today, it is not advisable for any organisation to still have the "air of invincibility" or "too big to fail" mentality? It is not safe for organisations to think that they are invulnerable to failure or losing marketplace positioning.

Whenever I share with leaders on Change or Transformation issues, I always let them know that Change is a shift in the external world and not from the internal. If those shifts in the external world are not managed strategically in the best interest of the organisation, there might be a looming danger.

A general case for all organisations is that change happens to all of them. But the speed of adapting to the change differs from one organisation to the other.

The right thing for any forward looking organisation to do is to drop the title of being "too big to fail" or "too young to lead". Since the business world is changing by day, not adapting fast (not just adapting) to the changing world can lead to a catastrophe.

Potential to survive Do you know that a new bank or business that pays attention to the changing world has the potential to survive faster than the big banks that are resting on their laurels? A real life example is Industrial & Commercial Bank of China (ICBC).

As at December 31, 2009, ICBC holds the 11thposition of the biggest banks in the world in terms of total assets (1.726 trillion dollars). Having taking a systems approach and adapting fast to the changing world, ICBC became No. 1 biggest bank in the world in total assets in 2012 (with 2.953 trillion dollars).

The lesson here is that, it is not what your organisation is today that matters, but what it can continue to be tomorrow – having adapted fast to the changing world.

The challenge for

BY ‘UJU ONWUZULIKE organisations has been to be able to scan the future/external environment in order to key into the changing world. Many organisations have not known how to do this. Environmental scanning is the foundation for strategic thinking and planning. True scanning breaks out of the internal focus and limiting paradigms that keep us from seeing and understanding the driving forces in the environment.

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

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

by Haines Centre). This will enable the executives to identify, evaluate, and correlate relevant dynamics relating Socio-demographic to K(C) ompetition to Economic and Ecological factors and Political nuances touching Technology, Industrial, and Customer: SKEPTIC! It is best to have each scanning team assigned based on SKEPTIC. It also helps if you get a senior management sponsor for each

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

team, using the natural roles that the different functional executives play, i.e., S (socio demographics) to the VP, HR, E (economics) to VP, Finance, P (political) to VP, Legal, T (technology) to CIO or Head of IT etc. In addition, ask for volunteers to assist them. The idea is for each team to scan the environment and come up with what is changing in the world that can affect or alter the way business is being done.

They should report to the CEO at least on quarterly basis.

Points to ponder: Before now, does your organization have a way to identify and report the changing world as to how it affects your business? Don't confuse this with SWOT analysis. SWOT analysis is more of today's issue and not more for the future.

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

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

Regardless of the size of your organisation, institutionalising Future Environmental Scanning team (using SKEPTIC tool) that will report to the CEO about the changing world is a way to start. Assign scanning tasks to several members of the organisation: form 3-to-6-member teams who do this as part of their normal job.

The roles of leaders in organisations are to lead, manage and navigate the change in a way that will yield sustainable results for the organisation. Lastly, your organisation may not be able to predict the future, but should be able to be prepared for one.

C M Y K

24 — Vanguard, THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 2015

CBN imposes six year limit on resolution of complaints

By Babajide Komolafe

T

HE Central Bank of Ni geria (CBN) has imposed a limit of six years for the resolution of consumer complaints in the banking industry.

The limit was announced by Mr. Kelvin Amugo, Director, Financial Policy and Regulation Department, via a circular tiltled, Time Bar for Resolution of Customers’ Complaints.

The circular stated, “The Central Bank of Nigeria has in recent times experienced increasing challenge in ensuring the timely resolution of complaints from consumers of financial services against financial institutions under its purview, due to non availability or delay in receiving documentary evidence from both parties.

“The situation has underscored the need for a time bar policy for complaints management in the financial services industry.

Consequently, after due consultation with relevant stakeholders in the financial services industry and in line with provisions of the limitation legislations; Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act 2013; and CBN Anti-Money Laundering and Counter Financing of Terrorism (AML/CFT) Regulations for Banks and Other Financial Institutions in Nigeria 2013, the CBN, in exercise of the powers conferred on it by the CBN Act

2007 and the Banks and Other Financial Institutions Act (BOFIA) 20004 as amended, hereby introduces a time limit of six (6) years for the resolution of consumer complaints from the date of transaction.

“The limitation will however not apply to the following: Fraud cases; Complaints already lodged with the Financial institutions and the CBN; and International electronic payment transactions whose

records are not retained beyond 180 days on the dispute resolution application (Arbiter).”

Last year the CBN had indicated intention to introduce a six year time bar, based on recommendations from stakeholders on timely resolution of customers’ complaints.

This was disclosed in circular to banks and other financial institutions on Exposure of Draft on Recommendation for Time Bar on Consumer Complaints

PRESENTATION: From left: Mr. Abubakar Suleiman, Executive Director, Finance & Strategy, Sterling Bank Plc; Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Kayode Aderanti and Chief Security Officer, Sterling Bank Plc, Mr. Igba Austin Iwar at the presentation of Police truck and other security equipment by Sterling Bank to the Lagos State Police Command.

NEPC, NIPC synergize to stimulate investments in export trade E

FFORT to attract Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) into the non-oil export sector got a boost yesterday as the Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC) and the Nigerian Investment Promotion Council (NIPC) agreed to deepen their collaboration to promote trade and investments in the sector.

The partnership is sequel to the Signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between both agencies of government. The event was held in the conference room of NIPC Head office, Abuja.

The Executive Director/CEO of NEPC, Mr. Olusegun Awolowo while commending the Executive Secretary of NIPC for the initiative noted that the partnership would provide a platform for synergy with other relevant stakeholders in the sector.

The platform will proffer strategies for diversifying the nation’s productive base from

issued by the apex bank. The circular stated, “Pursuant to the inputs received from stakeholders, study of what obtains in some other jurisdictions, some regulatory agencies in Nigeria and the provisions of relevant Nigerian Legislations in respect of document retention and commencement of legal action, a time bar of six (6) years from date of transaction was recommended, after which complaints against FSPs would not be entertained. The proposed time limit does not preclude the right of a complainant to seek redress in the court of law.

oil to non-oil particularly in the wake of dwindling revenues from the former.

Mr. Awolowo stressed that there was need to direct the FDIs to the manufacturing sectors as it is the only way to create wealth and employment adding that the Council was working on a tripartite agreement between the Council, NIPC and Nigerian Export Processing Zone Authority (NEPZA) that would stimulate investments and industrial production clusters for export.

“All these partnerships are targeted at easing the process of export as well as attracting investments in the sector. Now more than ever, it is critical for both agencies to fast track the diversification of the economy in line with the Nigerian Industrial Revolution Plan,” he added.

The NIRP, he said identifies 13 National Strategic Export Products (NESPs) that will replace oil while it will be

supported by two key NEPC initiatives – the One State One Product (OSOP) and Nigerian Diaspora Export Programme (NDEX).

The NESPs are grouped under three categories: · Agro Industrial – Palm Oil, Cocoa, Sugar, Rice and Cashew; Mining related – Cement, Iron ore/metals, Auto parts/cars, Aluminum;Oil and gas industrial products – Petroleum products.

All these partnerships are targeted at easing the process of export as well as attracting investments in the sector

FertilizeUrea, Petrochemical and Menthol Awolowo pointed out that the aim of OSOP is to identify and develop in each State of the Federation, one non-oil product across its value-chain for export adding that the initiative takes cognizance of the country ’s comparative advantage in terms of the vastness of its natural endowments.

On NDEX, he disclosed that the project had two components – the Nigerian Heritage City and the Nigerian Cuisine beyond Borders. According to him “this programme is to leverage on the large population of Nigerians in Diaspora as a means of introducing the best of Nigeria to their host countries and communities just like China Town in USA”.

Awolowo lamented that the challenges before our exporters and competitiveness of exportable products in the international market are issues of poor quality, standards, high cost of doing business as a result of inadequate infrastructure, technical expertise among others.

Paga rewards agents

By Jonah Nwokpoku

M

OBILE payment service, Paga has rewarded Mr. Charles Nnamdi of ShowDeck Audio Visual System as its highest performing agent in 2014.

Paga said, it chose Nnamdi who runs a Paga outlet in Oshodi, Lagos, because of his consistent high performance throughout the duration of the promo.

The promotion which ran from August to December 2014 was designed to encourage agents on Paga’s network to boost their transaction volumes and values; increase their commissions and stand the chance to win monthly prizes.

At the end of the promotion a grand prize winner was selected.

Nnamdi whose prize included a top of the line electronics package and a full branding makeover for his outlet said: I am thankful to God and to Paga for giving me the opportunity to provide vital services to my community and grow my business. Winning one of the monthly prizes during promotion inspired me to work harder than ever and I am excited that my hard work is being acknowledged today in such grand fashion. To have the Founder and Co-founder of Paga here today means a lot to me because it shows that they do appreciate the hard work we agents put in and that they are personally committed to helping us to succeed. That is just one of the many reasons I will keep up the good work, and continue to apply integrity to my Paga business to build acceptance for mobile payments within my community.”

Also speaking, Paga’s Founder/CEO, Tayo Oviosu while explaining Paga’s decision to reward its agents said: “With over 7000 agents, driving over 6.6 million transactions; the agent network remains a vital part of Paga’s mission to transform lives by delivering innovative access to payments anywhere in the country. That is why our primary focus is on empowering our agents by letting them discover firsthand the potential access to payments has not only to transform the lives of people in their own communities but also their businesses. The Do More Earn More promo served as a catalyst to help them explore and build on these profitable opportunities within their various communities.

I extremely excited to be here to witness the culmination of hard work and determination shown

by Mr.Nnamdi.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 2015 — 25

*Lagos State Commissioner for Rural Development, Mr Cornelius Ojelabi (middle), in a group photograph with the community chiefs and Corps medical personel during a health programme held at Ese-Ofin, LCDA.

ua

POLLS: What is in store for education sector?

By Tare Youdeowei

F

OURTEEN political parties are currently presenting to Nigerians, presidential candidates to be elected come March 28. Nigerians will vote for a president who is expected to carry out his or her party’s manifesto and meet the needs of the teeming populace.

Manifestos cover a large spectrum of the party’s perceived needs of the nation as regards the ills of the nation. The education sector has continually been said to be declining or in need of policies that are implemented to revamp the sector in correspondence with changing times.

Of the voting populace, education stakeholders are also going to be affected by the policies of the party that comes into

NOA, UNIABUJA sign MoU on ethics, civic education

or remains in power. Here, high points of policies targeted at the education sector, within available party manifestos, have been brought to the fore and the notice of stakeholders.

Kowa Party is fixed on compulsory education for all, as a solution to the ills of the sector and the future of the nation as a whole. All Progressive Congress, APC, is after implementing provisions of the Universal Basic Education Act with emphasis on gender equity in primary and secondary school enrolment whilst improving the quality and substance of our schools.

People’s Democratic Party, PDP, promises to integrate into the formal education system, the political education of the citizenry with emphasis on the provision of the Constitution, the state and democratic principles, as well as ultimately

From Turkey comes boost for education Pg. 27 C M Y K

Each party has touched key aspects of the sector

UNESCO World Book Capital School: Commissioner tasks pupils, teachers

By Dayo Adesulu

Pg. 26

provide free, functional education at all levels. While United Progressive Party, UPP, has declared that it would make education the first charge on the income of the nation to stem the ill-treatment of teachers and students.

Each party has touched key aspects of the sector, however, the onus is on parents,

guardians, uncles, aunts, siblings, grandparents, teachers, educational institution administrators and students themselves, to research the manifestos further, as they are available to all and pick that which best meets their needs, at the moment, for the future and generations to come.

Kowa Party, stating its diagnosed ills in the sector, provides thus; “The limitations of our educational curriculum, especially its failure to accord the necessary attention to instruction on civics and the sociopolitical history of the nation, has diminished our respect for our own cultural identity as well as for our languages and our original national values.

Honing on compulsory education as remedy; “KOWA believes in education as a fundamental human right crucial to the advancement of the nation. We will promote compulsory education up to the senior secondary school for every Nigerian child and increase government investment with a view to broadening access to education for all and improving quality at all levels, including higher education, teacher training and adult education. The Continues on page 26

T

HE UNESCO World Book Capital Model Primary School, Aggrey Road, has opened for academic activities after the Rivers State Government moved pupils from Banham primary school to the new edifice at Moscow Road, Port Harcourt.

The UNESCO World Book Capital school is one of the newly constructed 20 classroom block

built across the state to expand the pupils access to education. The state government had on 16th January 2015 commenced the movement of pupils from old schools to the newly constructed one storey 20-classroom block. The school is well equipped with the State-of-the-art facilities like the sick bay, Library, music class, science laboratories, ICT etc.

The Commissioner for Education Rivers State, Dame Alice LawrenceNemi during her visit to the school,

charged the pupils and teachers to take advantage of the facilities in the school to improve the quality of teaching and learning in the State.

Alice Nemi also said that the State will host a Parent Forum before the end of this administration. "The essence of the Parent Forum is to intimate the parents of their responsibilities in raising their children." As the commissioner noted

Continues on page 26

26 — Vanguard, THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 2015

Polls: What is in store for education sector?

Continues from page 25 promotion of research will be one of the cornerstones of our educational policy.”

Focusing on the Universal Basic Education Act, All Progressives Congress states its policies thus; “Fully implement and enforce the provisions of the Universal Basic Education Act with emphasis on gender equity in primary and secondary school enrolment whilst improving the quality and substance of our schools.

Substantial investments •Pupils of Banham Primary School, Port Harcourt during a practical training in the use of computer at the ICT Lab.

NOA, UNIABUJA sign MoU on ethics, civic education

By Caleb Ayansina

A

BUJA — The National Orientation Agency, NOA and the University of Abuja, UNIABUJA, have signed a Memorandum of Understanding, MoU, to partner for a certificate course in patriotism, ethical and cultural value education in Nigeria.

The Director General of NOA, Mr. Mike Omeri and the Vice Chancellor, UNIABUJA, Professor Michael Adikwu, represented by the university’s Registrar, Mrs. Riflkatu Swanta signed the document at the presentation of the report of the Joint Action Committee of NOA and UNIABUJA on Ethics, Values, Civic Education and

Cultural Re-orientation.

Speaking at the signing ceremony, Mr. Omeri described the MoU as a patriotic effort at entrenching solutions to the problem of indiscipline in the country; to produce patriotic, disciplined and values driven graduates.

He said the Agency was hopeful to see the introduction of Ethical and Civic Education, as a General Studies course at the university and expressed the commitment of NOA to the full implementation of the report within the limits of the Agency’s capacity.

The Vice Chancellor, UNIABUJA, expressed delight at the quality and speed of work done by the committee and was

optimistic that with the signing of the MoU, the nation would benefit from the introduction of training on the nation’s core values as a compulsory course in the university.

He added that the university was open to partnering further with NOA on other areas to boost the provision of patriotism training to the nation.

The programme will begin as a certificate course in the university while approval will be sought from the National Universities Commission, NUC, for a possible upgrade to a degree course in the future.

Olashore Schools introduces GL assessment

By Amaka Abayomi

R

estating its commitment to raising leaders for Nigeria and preparing her students for the new knowledge economy and a highly competitive world, the Principal of Olashore International School, Mr. Derek Smith, has announced the introduction of GL assessment across the school.

Smith, who disclosed this at a special forum in London to round up its series of educational road shows, said; “This is an internationally recognized series of standardized tests measuring progress, ability, potential and attitudes that will allow the school to fullfill its mission statement commitment to ensuring each child is nurtured to their full potential. It will also help further improve the school’s outstanding results

which currently stands at around 95 percent.

Also speaking at the forum, Chairman, Board of Governors of the school, Prince Bimbo Olashore, highlighted the school's increased investment in leadership programmes and social responsibility activities.

“We place a great deal of emphasis on raising leaders because leadership will always be the biggest issue facing

We rounded up our educational road show and parents’ interaction this year in London to help Nigerians in diaspora

mankind. The need for great leaders never goes out of fashion”, Olashore said.

Continuing, Olashore provided; “We rounded up our educational road show and parents’ interaction this year in London to help Nigerians in diaspora as well as the international community to appreciate the quality of education from Nigeria and the perfect blend of Nigerian culture with an international flavour that Olashore School provides in a unique manner.”

He said the introduction of additional vocational courses is to encourage the spirit of entrepreneurship among the students as individuals require more knowledge and skills to survive in the competitive society.

Reinstate the now abandoned Teacher Training Colleges to train teachers. Target up to 10 percent of our annual budget for this critical sector whilst making substantial investments in training programmes at all levels of the educational system. Create elaborate incentive schemes to attract the best and the brightest to teach in our schools.

Declaring their objectives for education in Nigeria, People’s Democratic Party’s manifesto says; “Education is an important social instrument for national unity amongst the diverse peoples of Nigeria. The party in government shall: ensure that the educational system is improved upon; ultimately provide free, functional

education at all levels; integrate into the formal education system the political education of the citizenry with emphasis on the provision of the Constitution, the state and democratic principles; foster and expand education all levels and fields of knowledge; and encourage private and voluntary organizations to establish schools subject to compliance and adherence to existing government policies.”

Stating the ills of the sector as the ill treatment of teachers and students, United Progressive Party, UPP, has declared that it would make education the first charge on the income of the nation thus; “It is clear what has gone wrong in the last 30 years.

The control of educational funding and educational decision-making were centralised in the hands of military men who did not really care. Their decision did not merely impact, as they thought, on the classroom and the teacher.

They impacted also, on the development of the adaptive, skills of the nation, on our competitiveness in a fast-moving global market place, on the propagation and growth of our humanity and the maintenance of the sanity of our world. So important is education that it ought to “be as of right’ the first charge on the income of the nation.”

UNESCO World Book Capital School:

Commissioner tasks pupils, teachers Continues from page 25 that parents are major stakeholders in education management and development.

Meanwhile, pupils of Banham Primary School cannot contain their joy after seeing the facilities at the UNESCO World Book capital school. The Head Teacher of the school Mrs. Ibiene Ereme said that she was short of words to described the kind of facilities in the school.

Kind of facilities She said that the teachers and pupils can now settle down to learn as the conducive environment provided by the State Government will make teaching very easy and fun.

Mrs Ereme also commended the State Government for providing such edifice and promised that the teachers will do their best in bringing up educated children.

Pupils of the school also lavished praises on Governor

Rotimi Amaechi for providing a conducive learning environment for them. They said that the new school cannot be compared to where they were coming from.

The Chairman of State Universal Basic Education Board SUBEB, Sir Ali Oruitemeka said the reason for moving the pupils to the new structure is because the environment is conducive for learning.

He stated that the upsurge in the enrolment of pupils into government owned schools in the state necessitated the construction of 20 classroom blocks across the State.

Besides, Port Harcourt being named the World Book Capital City, WBCC, the schools are well equipped with books and e-books.

The State Government is using the medium to promote reading culture among pupils and students.

Every school has reading period and pupils are made to pick a book. Each pupil will summarize the book during book reviews at the end of the period.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 2015 — 27

SUCCESS RECIPE WITH UDEME ARCHIBONG successrecipe2009@gmail.com www.worldlightbearesint.com 08035095243

From Turkey comes boost for education

By Charles Kumolu

Symptoms of unforgiveness

W

ITH Nigeria reportedly losing over N1.5 trillion annually to foreign educational institutions, many are alarmed that the craze for foreign university certificates has been on the increase.

While the decline in the quality of education in the country may not be in dispute, this continuous preference for foreign certificates especially with the advent of private universities of world class standard, doesn’t make sense to so many people.

Indeed, some world class institutions that are located across the six geo political zones, often come to mind each time the craze for overseas certificates is being discussed.

These institutions are believed to provide students with opportunities of quality university education that would bring out the best in them.

One of such schools Vanguard Learning learnt, is the Nigerian Turkish Nile University.

Located in Abuja, the school which started in 1998 as Nigerian Turkish International College with 23 students, metamorphosed into a degree awarding institution in 2009.

Tremendous success To the founders and management of Nile University, as the school is also known as, the institution has so far recorded tremendous success within its short period of existence.

On hand to expatiate on Nile University ’s story was its Registrar Mr. Kamil Kemanci, who said the university visualizes itself as becoming a vanguard institution that gains the respect of the world through academic excellence.

This vision, he said would be actualised by providing the highest quality university education for students from around the globe. ‘’The University was established in 2009 in Abuja.

We have the primary, secondary and university. The result of the high demand of parents who send their children to school, informed the reason for establishing the university as a continuity from primary and secondary. It is a dream actualised in 2009. We have faculty of science, engineering, management and social sciences,’’ he stated.

Still on the expansion the school has witnessed since its humble beginning, Kemanci added thus: ‘’Now we have started the faculty of law. Next session we will start the faculty of medicine. We already have

O

From left: Mr Kamil Kemanci, Registrar; Mr Cemal Yigit, Sole Media Partner and Mr Orhan Kertim, Principal NTIC during a visit of executives of the Nigerian Turkish International College Vanguard Newspapers, in Lagos. Photo: Biodun Ogunleye.

a private hospital functioning and we can convert it to a teaching hospital. The school is open to every body. We have international students and international lecturers. We aim to be an international institution that is not only limited to Nigeria and West Africa. ‘’We are trying to set up the kind of quality that gives your children the best. Apart from that, we have hostels but it is not compulsory you stay in the hostels. We have good sports facilities. We are lucky that we are in Abuja, which is the centre of unity where anyone can come to. Actually, we have students from the 36 states of the federation.’’

Asked if the operating environment has been instrumental to Nile University’s growth, Kemanci responded thus: ‘’Of course it has been fantastic. Nigeria is a good environment. If you are focused and patient, you will get good results from what you are doing. We have had two graduations. Now we are starting the post- graduate programme. It is owned SURAT Nigeria Ltd. The company owns the schools and the hospital. The company started in 1997, so we know what the

As part of our coporate social responsibility we do charity work and offer scholarships; about 20 per cent of our students are on scholarship

challenges are. There is a big demand from parents that makes us reasonably stable to do our best for the community.’’

Apart from its core focus of providing quality education, Kemanci said the institution is also committed to improving the living condition of its host environment.

This, he explained is being realised through the performance of its corporate social responsibility. ‘’We do a lot of community work as part of our corporate social responsibility. We do charity works and offering of scholarships. The scholarship is unique. About 20 percent of our students are on scholarships. It could come through academic performance.

Academic performance It is a continuous scholarship.

Any best student of any school from any part of the country, can be given a scholarship. There are some other opportunities that could come through JAMB and WAEC. We are always ready to give a chance to good students.

In social responsibility, we partner with some organizations to do that.

We are also involved in interfaith dialogue and inter cultural dialogue.’’

Since attending private a university in Nigeria, appears to be the exclusive privilege of the wards of the rich, he noted that: ‘’.Apart from scholarship, our fees can be paid by individuals if they wish. We are truly Nigerian. We are not part of any university. We are originally Nigerian and licensed by the National University Commission,NUC. Of course we have collaborations with international institutions but that is some kind of Memorandum Of Understanding. But we are 100 percent Nigerian.’’

nce upon a time, there lived a man whose hands were crippled with arthritis, he could hardly use them. His hands were so bad that he could not open a car door neither could he shake hands. However, amazingly on a fateful day his hands were perfectly normal. He was able to use his hands to do anything he wanted to. Someone who knew how his hands were previously and seeing that his hands had been transformed was surprised and asked, “Man, what in the world happened to you?”

“Well, it’s an interesting story”, the man replied. “Several months ago, you were talking about unforgiveness. You were speaking on how it keeps God’s power from operating in our lives, and how it keeps our prayers from being answered. As I listened, I began to ask God to show me if I had any areas of unforgiveness and resentment in my life.

Anger and resentment And God began to deal with me. He brought to light several situations that had happened to me down through the years in which people had done me great wrong. I didn’t even know it, but I still had anger and resentment in my heart toward people. That’s the odd part; I didn’t realize I was carrying it around. But as soon as I saw it, I made a decision to forgive them and totally let it go. And then the most amazing thing began to happen. One by one, my fingers started straightening out.

One week went by and this finger would get healed. The next week this finger. As I continued to search my heart and eliminate all that bitterness and resentment, God brought complete healing back to me, and now look at my hands. I’m perfectly normal.” Wow! Who can fathom the power of forgiveness?

Joyce Meyer reveals, “Staying

Staying angry at someone who has hurt you is like taking poison and hoping that your ememy will die

angry at someone who has hurt you is like taking poison and hoping that your enemy will die.

Our unforgiveness hurts us more than it does anyone else.”

Unforgiveness always keeps record of offenses. Unforgiveness is revealed when you keep two records: the record of your good works or qualities and the record of the bad behavior of others. It is the “holier than thou” mentality that esteems oneself above others. It is comparison with others; counting all their faults and counting all your goodness. It is keeping score in a relationship. However, a genuine love does not keep record of its good works neither does it keep record of the bad behaviours of others. Therefore, forgiveness takes no account of what others do to you or what you do for them.

Unforgiveness critically judges others. Boasting of one’s good works boosts pride and makes one void of mercy towards others.

Saying to one’s self, “If I were the person I would never have behaved that way or made that silly mistake” that thought is an indicator that unforgiveness may be lurking in the recesses of the heart.

Looking at the weaknesses Being merciful and looking at the weaknesses of others through the eyes of compassion is a sure sign of greatness and makes Life lavish love upon our destinies.

Remember, we get out of life what we put in it; whatever we sow, we will reap.

Unforgiveness complains.

Whenever you complain, you compound the pain.

Complaining about people does not change them but rather compounds the problems leaving you in a mental state of anger that breeds unforgiveness.

Forgive people you are angry at.

When you show an unbroken unconditional love towards others, it frees them and you influence them positively to change their behavior.

Unforgiveness breeds disunity.

Unforgiveness lives in separation from others. Divided minds lead to dissolution of purposes.

Mental separation of oneself from others makes one to live in the cage of misery locked up from enjoying everyday life.

Unforgiveness erects a mental monument for the offense.

Monuments are erected for remembrance. Therefore, a person that harbours unforgiveness keeps hurtful memories alive by consistently thinking and talking about old offenses in conversations to anyone who will listen.

28—Vanguard, THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 2015

My post-graduate experience at the UK — Edeh, distinction graduand

By Amaka Abayomi

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hHIRTY-year-old Obinna Edeh has done Nigeria proud by graduating with distinction from University of Northampton, England, where he obtained a Master of Law in International Criminal Law and Security.

Edeh, who hails from Enugu State, graduated with a Second Class Upper Division from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, UNN, where he studied law. He attended the Nigeria Law School and was called to the Nigerian Bar in 2010.

Speaking on his move to the UK and his experience at the Northampton University, Edeh, who is the last of two children, said: “The choice to study abroad either for an undergraduate or a postgraduate degree is one that requires huge sacrifice and investment. For someone like me, without any sort of external funding, studying abroad was a decision that required careful thinking and planning.

Thinking and planning “My parents were civil servants and it was very difficult to raise the funds for the studies. But through the help of family members, I was able to pay the fees. I worked as a facilities manager for the University of Northampton which enabled me to take care of my living expenses during the programme.

“At the completion of my degree programme and training course at the Nigeria Law School, I decided to acquire more experience in research and study of Law. I had to choose the particular area of Law that attracted me and the varsity in which I could get the best of research and teaching in that area.

“I am hugely attracted to principles and ideas of criminal law and have always loved the scientific process of thoughts deployed in criminal cases.

Since I had some of the best criminal law lecturers at UNN, I was already abreast with the Nigerian criminal law and procedure, so I decided to study international criminal law and security.

C M Y K

Disappointed with local varsities “The next challenge was the choice of varsity to study this course. I read the profile of most Nigerian varsities but was disappointed because, with the security challenges facing the nation, I thought the study of crime and security would be on the front burner.

“I could not find any school with a very strong research background in international criminal law and security and most of the law schools in Nigeria have not resorted to the use of research to find solutions to the parlous security situation in the country.”

Giving the peculiar challenges facing Nigeria as one of the reasons for his interest in the particular research area, Edeh said: “One would agree that the study of criminal law and security is not a course that attracts a lot of young people as most would rather go into oil and gas or corporate law studies.

“For a country like Nigeria, which is in dire need of solutions to end the security challenge, it is necessary that some persons take up the task of researching on how to use law to solve the nagging problem. I took up the gauntlet and hope to deploy my knowledge and skills in this area.

“I chose to study in the UK because of the incessant delays such as ASUU strikes, students’ unrest and other administrative delays in graduating post- graduate students from Nigerian varsities.

One very interesting aspect of this programme was that in all the discussions in the plenary and group sessions, the security challenge in Nigeria always took centre stage

their security challenges.

Obinna Edeh on his graduation day “Also, most varsities in Nigeria do not yet possess the research competence or erudite instructors and researchers in the area of international criminal law and security.

Nigeria’s obsolete law modules “I must say that Nigeria has a very long way to go in research and development as some of the modules taught to law students do not have any relevance to solving our problems as a country.

“Again, the process of teaching and learning in some Nigerian varsities still focus on theories, memorizing case laws and statues, and regurgitating them during exams. This process is very unhelpful to the students who are not allowed to maximize their thinking abilities and find solutions to problems.”

During the course of his study, Edeh had the opportunity to attend a summer course at the prestigious Hague Academy of International Law in the Netherlands, where he had the very rare opportunity to meet with judges of both the International Court of Justice and the International Criminal Court.

He also took courses that provided broader insights on issues pertaining to International Criminal Law and Security. One very interesting aspect of this programme was that in all the discussions in the plenary and group sessions, the security challenge in Nigeria

always took centre stage even as he compared notes with friends from Israel and the Arab nations who proffered suggestions on how they have handled

My Vision My first desire is to get into the academia as that would give me freedom of thought to impact ideas and also learn from the students. I would love to partner with the government in the area of security and crime prevention which have advanced beyond the use of force, and with Nigerian and African governments on how to develop a more effective and far reaching solution to the problem of insecurity.

“It is also my intention to be in the classroom to join others who are desirous of changing the mode of teaching, learning and research in Nigerian varsities because there is the dire need to restructure and reorientate the teaching and non-teaching staff for our varsities to

begin to receive global attention.

“I have compared the Nigerian Terrorism Act with those of other countries and discovered several loopholes in ours. As I argued in my Master's thesis, the current system of using force to counter terrorism may not be very effective. There is need to also have a socio-political cum cultural arrangement with the aim to correct and prevent those issues that give rise to terrorism.

I have visited several countries, interacted with experts in the area of security, read books on security and I believe that it is possible for Nigeria to overcome terrorism using more of a non-coercive model of conflict resolution and prevention.

Evergreen varsity begins with seven faculties

By Boluwaji Obahopo, Lokoja

E

VERGREEN University in Etutekpe, Olamaboro Local Government area of Kogi State owned by the God’s Care Mission Church is to commence operation with seven faculties, its founder has said.

The founder, Evangelist Sunday Oguche who made this known during the ground breaking ceremony of the institution, named Faculty of Arts; Social and Management

Sciences; Natural and Applied Sciences; Education; Law; Environmental Sciences; Engineering and Technology; and College of Health Sciences as the faculties the School will run.

Oguche who said the projects will cost N2billion solicited for the contribution of the state government and other individuals in order to fast track the earlier commencement of school activities in the university.

“The rough estimates of

the project after consultations with professionals stands at N2billion. Out of the amount, N800million is required to complete the stage one of the project; which will make full school activities to commence.

“I appeal to the state government under the leadership of Capt. Idris Wada to support the institution in the area of issuing the Right of Occupancy, extension of electricity to the University site and other financial support that government may deem fit”.

Our Principals must use their wealth of experience to transform our children — Commissioner

By Ikenna Asomba HE Anambra State Commissioner for Education, Prof. Kate Omenugha, has tasked Principals of schools in the state to use their intelligence and wealth of experience to influence their students positively, noting that it will drive the process of transforming Anambra State with education as the key enabler.

Professor Omenugha, who gave this charge when

T

the new Executive Committee members of the All Nigeria Confederation of Principals of Secondary Schools (ANCOPSS), Anambra State chapter, paid her a courtesy call, assured that the state government will continue to encourage schools with remarkable improvements in the results of their external examinations.

She said: “Governor Willie Obiano has demonstrated his administration’s commitment to encourage

hard working Principals and improving our schools, through approval for the release of funds to be used by the School Based Management Committees for the day to day maintenance of schools’ infrastructure.

“The improved performance would be the yardstick for determining what each school gets. Ten per cent of the fund accruing to each school would be added to any school with remarkable improvement in external examinations.”

Vanguard, THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 2015—29

Don sues for qualitative education in Nigeria

By Ebun Sessou

A

nglican Communion has challenged both public and private school owners to consider qualitative education as hallmark for a sane society.

Speaking during the 60th anniversary of the school, Chairman, Board of Trustees of the school, Prof. Mopelola Omoegun called on parents and guardians to focus on the empowerment of the girl child through qualitative education.

Omoegun who commended the Anglican Communion for its forthrightness in giving quality education in all ramifications said, the communion has come of age in providing quality education at affordable rates for the society.”

The erudite scholar who a head of department and lecturer at the University of Lagos, corrected the notion that education offered by

Christian bodies is expensive.

According to her, when compared with the facilities these churches put in place outside government efforts, it is not in any way expensive.

“Let me correct that notion, education offered by religious institutions is not expensive.

“By the time you compare private schools and those owned by churches, you will know it is not expensive.

“They have to break even because it is business, they have to pay the lecturers well, and on time, so that there will be commitment. They also have to procure equipments and make sure the learning environment is conducive for the students to meet up with international standards.

Therefore, the fees charged must be commensorate with estimates required to run the school properly,” she said.

She however, condemned churches that run universities with members’ tithes and offerings and yet cannot

provide affordable education for the member's children or wards. “If they used the tithes and offerings of the people to build the schools, there should be concession. That is my grouse, if you have used tithes and offering of the people, there should be consideration.”

In her remark, the principal of the school, Mrs. Mercy Akin-Ajayi, commended the effort of the Anglican Dioceses, who are the owners of the school, for making the school a conducive place for the students.

Akin-Ajayi said, the state of the school before it was returned to the mission was appalling. “Since the school was returned to the original owners about 12 years ago, there has been commendable effort at revamping it. It is a pity we cannot bring back the pictures of how it was in those days. This place was a house for miscreants," she said.

Canada's Ridley College woos Nigerian parents

By Chris Onuoha

I

n a bid to reach out to parents whose wards make up the international students resident in Ridley College of Eastern Canada, a team of representatives from the college, comprising the executive Director of Advancement Dr. Andrew T. Weller, Director of Admission and Financial Assistance Julie Cameron and others in collaboration with GEC Education Counselors, Lagos held an interactive parley and film show for Nigeria parents in Lagos to showcase the school’s activities and woo more parents

to the school.

The well attended forum by Nigeria Ridley parents and would be parents at Federal Palace Hotel, Victoria Island, Lagos, witnessed an atmosphere of enthusiasm and fulfilled expectations from the visiting team. The event was graced by the Deputy High Commissioner of Canada to Nigeria Marcello Difanco, with some members of the diplomatic corps.

In a chat with Dr. Andrew Weller, he said, “My job is travelling round the world and meeting Ridley parents which is in line with our advancement programmes. I am just overwhelmed with the progress

of things in Nigeria especially with the speed of construction and infrastructural development since my last visit to the country four years ago, and Ridley is keen in identifying with such progress. Ridley school levels start from junior kindergarten, four years old, grade six, up to high school.”

Continuing, he said, “The unique thing about Ridley school is it’s an international school with a difference, created to help build a successful career, boost the child’s international experience and confidence to communicate with others while in the University.

RCCG uplifts sick bay in Lagos school

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he sick bay of Agidingbi Senior Grammar School, Ikeja recently received a facelift as Redeemed Christian Church of God, RCCG, Israel Assembly through its Corporate Social Responsibility, CSR, programme refurbished and equipped the near-collapsed bay to manage remote health challenges of the students.

The sick bay had been abandoned for years.

However, the church totally refurbished the school’s sick bay and turned it into a clinic.

Today, the sick bay can comfortably attend to students who need its services to treat

common illnesses such as malaria.

Some of the works done by the Church include; installation of new electrical fittings and plumbing, as well as new ceiling. Also put in place are clinic furniture, medical consumables, simple medical equipment like sphygmomanometers for Blood Pressure, BP, measurement, digital thermometers and nebulizer machine for emergency asthma treatment.

These provisions and an abridged drug formulary developed in the clinic, according to Pastor-in-Charge,

RCCG, Israel Assembly Zone, Pastor Dapo Awosika were done with the aim to manage cuts and bruises, sprains and mild injuries, fevers, headaches, sudden ill health like diarrhoea, emergencies like breathing problems, allergies among others.

Speaking at the handover of the clinic to the school, Awosika said that the gesture is in fulfilment of one of the cardinal point of the church and the General Overseer, Pastor Enoch A. Adegboye, which is to minister not only to the spiritual needs of their immediate communities, but also their

Enters Asaba State University “The more things change [especially in Nigeria] the more they remain the same.”

Anonymous.

J

UST when I was developing a mental block about what next to write about, an advertisement in VANGUARD on Monday, February 16, 2015, caught my attention. It announced the opening of Asaba State University, at its temporary site along the Benin-Asaba expressway. Prospective students were asked to apply for admission to study courses on offer. Classes will start in March, that’s right, next month. Before going into my misgivings about the starting date, let me quickly bring to the attention of our readers that, at least two other universities are racing to fling open their gates for admission of students.

The two others are DOMINION UNIVERSITY situated on the Lagos-Ibadan expressway – but closer to Ibadan. The other is the PAN ATLANTIC UNIVERSITY situated along the Lagos-Epe expressway – but closer to Epe. Before you start wondering how I got to know about these universities, let me confess that Gay Talese, the author of THE KINGDOM AND THE POWER, a book written about the NEW YORK TIMES must have had people like me in mind when he described journalists as “restless voyeurs” and journalism as “the opiate of the restless”. I travel a lot and would go anywhere for information. I would love to visit the universities in the war zones of Nigeria — if there is a sponsor.

Lately universities have become my passion. So, I am on the look-out for them at all times. I pass by DOMINION and PAN ATLANTIC more often than ASABA STATE. But oddly enough, I found myself in front of the university just three weeks ago, on another restless trip to the East covering nine states. I was amazed by the rapid pace of physical development from the last time my trips took me in that direction. Granted, there was insufficient time to enter and see the entire premises; still, the little seen was impressive. Based on the physical infrastructure alone, the university is already one of the best in Nigeria and would be highly recommended to prospective students and their guardians or sponsors.

Unfortunately, there the endorsements end. The university is offering education to Nigeria youths from everywhere. The vital interests of those kids, defined by acquisition of sound university education, which will enable them to compete globally is paramount. There is certainly more to a university than mere fine buildings and good landscaping.

Three of those variables which need to be addressed before the kids are

Starting a university in March is very odd indeed, because it runs contrary to the global cycle

drawn into uncertainties will now be discussed.

Starting a university in March is very odd indeed, because it runs contrary to the global cycle.

My fear is that the university was rushed to completion, at least physically, because the present state administration does not want its successor to claim credit for it. While that might be

acceptable in politics, it might end up creating several insurmountable problems if the university starts without absolute preparedness to provide the standard of education required of a university in modern times. Other universities which had been opened before it have ended up “graduating” students who cannot be admitted for the National Youth Service nor gain employment with reputable organizations. For instance, the 40 million unemployed people in Nigeria today include medical doctors graduated from unaccredited medical schools. Two reasons account for this.

The first is staff strength and composition. The National University Commission, NUC, had mandated that lecturers in Nigerian universities must possess a minimum of Doctorate degree in a discipline. Most universities, if not all, flout this requirement for two reasons.

30— Vanguard, THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 2015

85 clinch first class as UNN graduates 14,015

By Kelechukwu Iruoma, Unn

I

T was indeed an arena of euphoria at Ekpo convocation arena, as University of Nigeria conferred degree awards to 14,015 students in which 85 of them clinched first class.

In his address, the Vice Chancellor of the University, Professor Benjamin Ozumba expressed his joy to have presided over his first convocation ceremony.

According to him, “It is with delight mixed with radiant joy that I welcome you to today’s event which marks the 44th convocation ceremonies of the University of Nigeria.

Today’s event is the first of two ceremonies dedicated to the conferment of First Degrees and Certificates on our graduands.

“As an important part of its mission, the University of Nigeria is graduating an avalanche of candidates who have

worked very hard to change their status, thereby deserving the degree of this institution.

The number is quite unprecedented. We have a total of 14,015 first degree graduates made up of the following classifications: 85 First Degrees Honours; 3,717 Second Class Honours Upper Division; 7,275 Second Class Honours Lower Division; 2,294 Third Class Honours and 227 in the pass category.” He noted.

Encouraging the

students, Prof. Ozumba said, “To our graduating students I do not have too many words. I will give you the inevitable fatherly advice which I would like you to adopt as a maxim that will resonate new meaning to your life.

“You have been found worthy in character and learning and we hope you will be good ambassadors of the University.

Our character is basically a composite of our habits."

By Tare Youdeowei

D

IAMOND Bank PLC has restated its commitment towards the intellectual development of children in the country.

Mr Victor Ezenwoko, Executive Director, Lagos and West Businesses, Diamond Bank PLC, who spoke during the public presentation of 60 finalists between ages 9 to 12 at the 2015 edition of the Vision of the Child competition, which were drawn from 35 schools in Lagos including public and privately owned institutions, stated that the Bank’s support for the

Diamond Bank makes case for child development competitive programme was in recognition of the importance of children to the future of the country.

“Diamond Bank is a sponsor of the Vision of the Child, which is a live painting and literary arts competition for children, which forms part of activities commemorating the Lagos Black Festival of Arts and Culture. Nigeria’s future depends not only on our children but also on the investment we make on them. It is in recognition of this that Diamond Bank supports the Vision of the Child Competition. As a responsible corporate institution, we will continue to support this initiative because it is our little contribution towards the wellbeing of the Nigerian Child.” He said.

Ezenwoko further emphasized the need to nurture and develop the intellect of children from an early age. In doing this, he noted; “The children will grow up to become intellectually sound adults and in the long run stem the incidence of unemployable adults which is currently a national malaise.”

NGO takes art devt to secondary schools

By Faith Olatide

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Lagos based NGO called Youth Empowerment through Contemporary Art, YECA, has embarked on a training course for secondary school students in Lagos State.

The training programme is a mentorship program targeting the youth population in communities in Lagos through art courses, mentorship, and exhibition opportunities with the aim to provide vocational training, the acquisition of livelihood skills, and a solid extracurricular outlet for youths in secondary schools and to position art as a viable career path.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 2015 — 31

32 — Vanguard, THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 2015

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34—VANGUARD, THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 2015

POLLS SHIFT: Govt should not toy with Nigerians' sensibilities — Bankole Professor Bankole Sodipo is a lawyer of international repute and a don. He is a Dean, School of Law and Security Studies, Babcock University, BU, Nigeria. He was a member of the committee that drafted the Copyright Act of 1988.

In this interview, he spoke on the postponed February general elections, judiciary, legal education and other related issues.

Excerpts:

By Bartholomew Madukwe

H

OW come you have not been conferred with the rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN)?

There are rules that do not favour some of us, in the sense that you need Supreme Court cases and most of our cases have been won and lost at the High Court. We have, probably, the largest variety of intellectual property, in entertainment law cases for instance.

But basically, within six months or one year, they (cases) are won or lost for settlements. In fact, for mostly settlement. You get an injunction against somebody and the matter is settled, they don’t go on appeal. Sometimes we will appeal and the client says they don’t want to appeal, they seek for commercial settlement.

Commercial settlement So the rules to look for other cases, I think I have put my dues in this profession than to be looking for cases because I have done a fair and bit of pro bono (free cases) in this sector that I should start looking for cases in other sectors. It has nothing to do with competence.

What is your reaction to INEC’s decision to postpone the February general elections to March and April?

There could be times when an agency like INEC can postpone elections, either because they are not ready or there could be incidents that, in law, could be called ‘Act of God’. For instance, if there is an earthquake or tornado, there is nothing INEC can do other than to postpone.

But that they have postponed because there are some of our brothers and sisters in the northeast that they fear will be unable to exercise their rights, so it makes

some sense. However, the situation in the north-east did not start in January, like tornado or earthquake that just comes surprisingly. The situation has been on ground for several months and even year.

And it is one which the government itself, we cannot say, has done sufficiently enough to curtail that. And there is a suspicion that it is part of a ground design by the government to hold on to power. And what appears to give credence to it is the fact that the situation did not occur yesterday, like in the case of a natural disaster. I am doubtful that the situation in those troubled states can be curtailed in six weeks.

So if we reason with them and agree that there is this situation, it is very unlikely that this situation will change in six weeks.

Logically in six weeks time, they will probably call on us and say that they are not ready to go ahead with the elections and that will be catastrophic because it is already the feeling that they want to hang on to power. It is not worth it!

Prof Bankole Sodipo hold. They are kept on hold until after the election which was to take place in February. They have now asked all of us to postpone those business decisions for six weeks.

This morning I spoke with an associate about a proposed mining company in Nigeria. But he said that they are not going to look at Nigeria until after the elections. So we have held our breath thinking that by February the elections will be over. So if we should hold our breath again till the time they have told, we may not be able to hold our breath

Hanging on to power Nigeria is more important for anybody to hold on to power under any guise. It is like when it is nine months for a baby to come, God should not say because you don’t have money or because you just lost your job the baby should not come out.

The baby should come out and whatever the situation is, let us now put heads together and still move ahead. We have already excused the six weeks, but I think we should send a message that we are not going to excuse another six weeks. Mostly, because everything in Nigeria is now on hold.

A lot of business decision and business strategy decision are on

Testing the interpretation

Some people want the government to continue, some don’t want the government to continue. So, both sides are at boiling point

Lawyers seek further amendment —PG.36 of electoral laws C M Y K

beyond that time, that means you want to suffocate us or just kill us. So we are calling on INEC to just go on with the elections as rescheduled.

In line with Section 26 of the Electoral Act, 2010 some lawyers have argued that postponing an election can only be done in places where there seem to be trouble or security issues- what is your position?

That is what I would have expected them to do this time around, as against postponing the national elections. But the difficulty with that also is that it means those parts of the country will not be counted for the federal elections, particularly on the Presidential election.

That, I think, will be the issue.

And INEC has better be careful because June 12 is still fresh in our memory. We don’t want a situation where people start testing the interpretation.

If they do, and a judge gives a judgment and it is being appealed, cases will be on for another six or eight months and we will not have elections. So we need to be very sensitive to this because people are agitated.

Some people want the government to continue, some don’t want the government to continue. So, both sides are at boiling point. Forget the interpretation of the law per se now; let us do what is proper.

Like you’ve just pointed out,

don’t you fear that this could result to a form of interim government?

Well, the Attorney General has come out to argue that there is no provision for interim government.

But I think the government should not toy with our sensibility and our sense of responsibility. The law is good if we use it lawfully.

Law can be used as an instrument for fraud. And where that is done, the jurisprudence that we inherit suggests that there can be kiosk.

Nigeria has witnessed war and we cannot have that any longer. I was in Kenya just before the 2007 elections and I saw what happened.

Issues to resolve They survived it, but I am not sure Nigeria can. Whatever counsel that Jonathan is receiving or maybe INEC, they should realize that it’s not worth it. If he does election, he may win.

If he does election, he loses and does not contest it; he will have a name and become even more popular because the person who wins will be ruling a country that has lots of issues to resolve.

And if you don’t resolve the issue within six months, people will be tired of that government and call the immediate past to come back. What happens after the elections, in terms of peace or calmness, is what you and I and our children and our families will thrive on and that will be what

Continues on page 35

Accurate national register of voters —PG.37 panacea for free, fair polls

VANGUARD, THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 2015—35

changed to retirement, which shows that there was a problem even in that system. But there is no corrupt judge if there is no corrupt lawyer, and there is no corrupt lawyer if there is no corrupt society. It is very unfortunate that there are corrupt lawyers and corrupt judges because it is against the ethics of our profession. Today, judges in most part of the world are well paid. It is disappointing to know that some of them do not work as hard as they should, and some turn a blind eye to justice because of bribe.

But there is also a system we have in place where people petition judges as against the decision of judges. It is not every decision from a judge that emanates from a corrupt mind.

Some are derived from a poor understanding of the issue placed before them.

The America Bar Association is also complaining that the standard of law has fallen. So it is not just the Nigeria society.

And what it means is that so many things have changed, the society is so dynamic.

Standards have fallen because we have not reviewed certain things. The other day the National University Commission (NUC) came to our faculty and requested for the laws of the federation. I told them that I have them on my system and they said no that they do not recognize that. That means that the NUC standard should be reviewed.

Will you like to tell us about yourself and your background?

My name is Bankole Sodipo.

I am a professor of law. I practice and teach law. I am a Dean of School of Law and Security Studies, Babcock University (BU). I am also a partner of a law firm in Lagos known as G.O. Sodipo & Co. I was at Government College Lagos for my secondary school.

Decision of judges

Intellectual property

‘There'll be no corrupt judges without corrupt lawyers' Continues from page 34 will sustain Nigeria. It is not just about A or about B. Corruption in nation’s judiciary has been attributed to unnecessary adjournments in courts, what is your take on this?

Well, the legal system is fraught with many difficulties. The courts have changed their rules in the last two years to ensure that cases move faster. But there are still other things that can help cases move faster. In other countries, governments are trying to build courts that will conduct trials close to the prisons because they found out that the more the Black Maria or vehicles to bring prisoners to court for trials, the better cases move faster.

So when you have close by courts, there won’t be scarcity of Black Maria or vehicles to move prisoners to courts for trial. It is when you create a system where there is scarcity that corruption will thrive. Some years ago there was no fuel in England and white men were beating themselves, they were fighting just like Nigerians would fight to buy petrol.

Issue of corruption That is human. We need to spend more money on the prison system or court system. If we have done this, the issue of corruption will be reduced. If the Black Maria comes and can only take 20 people, out of 40 people, then in my desperation I will want to offer a bribe so as to be among the 20. But if I will not even need to think of bribing somebody to be taken to court because the court is just a stone throw, then the issue of corruption is being curtailed. I am of the view that we need to improve the whole criminal procedure and adjudication system.

Over the years judges have been sent off the Bench following issues of corruption, what is your perception of the judiciary?

Some judges have been removed and some are contesting their removal. One or two has a good case, in the sense that their sack have been

EDITORIAL TEAM Innocent Anaba ( Head) Wahab Abdulah Ikechukwu Nnochiri Dayo Benson (Supervising Editor) 08056180119 dayobenson@yahoo.com

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Some lawyers do not articulate the issues properly. A judge who collects bribe should be dealt with because the court is the hope of the common man.

So should experienced lawyers from the Bar be appointed as Supreme Court judges?

We have traditions. It has happened before and when it happened the persons called to the Supreme Court did not fail, they were outstanding. So it is not unreasonable to call for it.

Similar things have been done in all parts of the world.

And so if we have done it before in Nigeria and it worked, if they are doing it in other parts of the world and it worked, there is no point in we trying it here.

But we also know that there is a Nigerian factor. And that is why care should be taken. But not withstanding the Nigerian factor, it does not mean we should not do what other parts of the world have being doing and we have done it before.

As a don, how would you assess the standard of the legal education in Nigeria?

Generally, there are complains of fallen standard of education.

•Sodipo, the legal system is fraught with many difficulties

The people who come to Universities are these days compared to yesteryears. It will appear that the standard too has fallen. So it is not the fault of the

It is not every decision from a judge that emanates from a corrupt mind. Some are derived from a poor understanding of the issue placed before them

University. I am not sure whether it is the fault of the primary or secondary school. Maybe it is the internet. Maybe it is the challenges of today. The English we send by SMS is beginning to enter some dictionaries. We are creating new vocabulary. But I must tell you that the Council of Legal Education is doing a lot about this.

It has insisted that all faculties of law should review their syllabus and introduce what is called clinical legal education.

Many faculties of law have introduced that. The idea is that it won’t just be at the law school that you will be taught ethics.

Ethics is about your believe.

If your believe is to take a bribe, going to law school for one year will not change that. So they should teach it from year one.

They should ensure that students are introduced into the practical side of law.

We are beginning to do that at many faculties of law. I hope that there would be a change in the next few years.

I was at the University of Ife, now Obafemi Awolowo University for my LLB, which I got in 1985. I did my Masters in Unilag in 1988 (LLM) and I have a PhD. from the University of London, Queen Mary, in 1995.

And I have been involved in some teaching. From 1989-1991, I was a Houston Guest Lecturer, an intellectual property of the Nigerian Law School- I was on three sections. And from 1991 onwards, I was a tutor in parttime and some other courses and also at University College, London.

And I have been a visiting lecturer at Pan African Lagos Business School. Now, my abode is Babcock. And I have also had a long stint, I was a managing partner, but in the last six years I have been in the classroom at Babcock. I have served in various capacities in various organizations. I was a member of the committee that drafted the Copyright Act of 1988. And I have been active in the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) and in the Christian Lawyers Fellowship of Nigeria, also in some specialist law organizations.

36—VANGUARD, THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 2015

Owerri NBA holds law week

Court invalidates estate surveyors expulsions

By Abdulwahab Abdulah

J

USTICE Evelyn Anyadike sitting in a Kaduna Federal High Court has declared as null and void the five-yearold expulsion of Emmanuel Osita Okoli and Daramola Olutoye from the Registered Trustees of the Nigerian Institute of Estate Surveyors and Valuers, on ground that the institute did not followed due process.

Justice Evelyn Anyadike also set aside the March, 2011 purported expulsion of both Emmanuel Osita Okoli and Daramola Olutoye by the Annual General Meeting of the institute.

The Judge also held that it is only the council of the Registered Trustees of the Nigerian Institute of Estate Surveyors and Valuers that is empowered to discipline and or expel members of the institution, adding that the institutes’s AGM acted in excess of its constitutional powers by expelling Okoli and Olutoye.

The Judge subsequently restrained the Estate Surveyors and Valuers Registered Board of Nigeria from withdrawing the licenses of the plaintiffs (Emmanuel Osita Okoli and Daramola Olutoye) and/or closing down their offices or doing anything howsoever in furtherance of the purported expulsion of 1st and 3rd and plaintiffs or the request on notice served on it by the 1st Defendant (the Registered Trustees of the Nigerian Institute of Estate Surveyors and Valuers).

Purported expulsion The trio of Emmanuel Osita Okoli, Mrs Cecilia Bola Okoli, and Daramola Olutoye had dragged the Registered Trustees of the Nigerian Institute of Estate Surveyors and Valuers to court, alongside the Estate Surveyors and Valuers Registered Board of Nigeria, Mr. Bode Adedeji, and Mr Rowland Abonta (National Secretary) as co-defendants in their case.

Justice Anyadike had said in her judgement that the attitude of lawyers to the defendants was nothing but to frustrate the entire proceedings from the inception of the case.

“I must comment on the attitude of the defence counsel. The only thing I gather from their behaviour is that the three (3) of them are acting in concert to frustrate the hearing of this case from inception till now.

“The record of court speaks for itself. If the court wrongly joined the 3rd and 4th Defendants, what was the business of the 1st Defendant if I may ask? If the defence think that their clients acted properly in expelling the plaintiffs, why shy away from hearing. No wonder they refused to file any written addresses because honestly they have nothing to canvass”, the judge observed.

According to the Judge, “Between the time the suit was filed in 2011 and the time hearing commenced on December 9, 2013, there were 27 adjournments and three interlocutory rulings,” adding, that at the hearing the plaintiff called two witnesses and the defence all together called a total of four (4) witnesses.

The trial Judge said that it was on court’s record that the plaintiffs were members of the Institute until the 12th day of March, 2011 when the 1st and 3rd Plaintiff were expelled at the Annual General Meeting of 1st Defendant. Prior to the expulsion, the 3rd plaintiffs’ had instituted suits

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against the 3rd Defendant both at the Magistrate and High Courts, 1st Plaintiff was not a party to the said suits.

The Annual General Meeting of the institute held on March 12, 2011 one Samuel Ukpong the DW1 moved a motion seeking to expel the 1st and 3rd Plaintiffs from the institution of 1st Defendant on ground that they were responsible for filling several suits against the institution.

The 1st and 3rd Plaintiffs were not given opportunity to respond or defend the allegations against them in the motion.

Contrary to the extent constitution of the 1st Defendant, the Annual General Meeting on that 12th day of March, 2011 expelled the 1st and 3rd Plaintiffs from the institution and consequently caused their names to be published in several newspapers to that effect and also requested the 2nd Defendant to close their respective practice offices.

The defence, having joined issues with the plaintiffs also said the 1st Plaintiff instigated the 3rd plaintiff to institute suits against the 1st and 3rd Defendants due to his inordinate ambition to become the president of 1st Defendant. They also initiated other suits against the 1st Defendant and its officers.

Between the time the suit was filed in 2011 and the time hearing commenced on December 9, 2013, there were 27 adjournments and three interlocutory rulings

The Nigeria Bar Association, NBA, Owerri Branch, Imo State, held its law week, recently.

From left: Chairman NBA Owerri branch, Mr. S. Opara, Chairman NBA Owerri branch, Mr. Stanley Chidozie Imo Alternate Chair Law Week Committee, Mr. Jude Ogamba.

L-R: Chief Judge of Imo State, Justice P. Njemanze (rtd) left and former Deputy Director, Nigerian Law School, Enugu Campus, Prof. Ernest Ojukwu.

Lawyers seek further amendment of electoral laws

T

HE Nigeria Bar Association, NBA, Owerri Branch has called for further an amendment of electoral laws on election suits.

In a communiqué at end of its law week, the association regretted that pre-election cases and election petitions drag on for too long. “Pre-election matters have been known to survive election petitions. Electoral laws should, therefore, amended to prescribe a time frame for the trial of preelection matters as they need to be treated with the same level of dispatch as the post election matters.

“To raise or build strong institutions to conduct free, fair and credible elections in the country, the electoral umpire must be independent of the control of the executive or any political class,” it said.

The communiqué was signed by the branch chairman Stanley Chidozie Imo; Secretary Chris Ihentuge and Chairman, Law Week Committee, Dr Amaechi Nwaiwu, SAN. The branch said there exist no conflicts between the provisions of sections 285 (6) and (7) and 36 of the Constitution as both sections complementary.

It noted that Section 285 (6) and (7) merely provide parameters for the exercise of the right to fair hearing, while Sec-

tion 285 (6) and (7) places more stringent requirements on the petitioner than on the respondent with respect to the time allowed to the parties to file and exchange pleadings.

“Section 285 (6) and (7) should be amended to provide a time frame within which the respondent should file his processes. It should be amended create exceptional circumstances that could warrant a deviation from the 180 days and 60 days rule as the rigid application of the sections could lead to grave injustice,” it said.

The branch said this year’s elections place responsibilities on lawyers to embark on massive sensitisation of the electorate on the need to elect credible repre-

The battle against terrorist activities in the country must be fought with united strength

sentatives.

“They should ensure that they give proper advice to their client before proceeding to court. They must be willing to choose mediation or negation where necessary and avoid unnecessary litigations.

“Judicial officers on the other hand are enjoined to ensure that their courts do not become dumping sites for frivolous processes. They should adopt bolder interpretations of the provisions of the law that will meet the justice of the cases before them,” the communiqué said.

On insecurity and insurgency, the NBA branch said unemployment and lack of opportunities for the youth are factors that has not only birthed “this monster” but encouraged its growth and spread.

“The battle against terrorist activities in the country must be fought with united strength. We, must therefore, put aside all our political, ethnic and religious differences and confront these insecurities.

“As we approach the 2015 general elections, politicians and their supporters should refrain from making statements that could heat up the polity.

“We therefore call upon politicians to comply with the contents of the Abuja Declaration Accord signed by all the presidential candidates for the 2015 presidential elections,” the communiqué said.

VANGUARD, THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 2015 —37

Accurate national register of voters panacea for free, fair polls

By Emeka Umeagbalasi

W

E have insisted that the Nigeria’s National Register of Voters; Nigeria’s ground foundation for its democratic elections, is grossly tainted and sectionalized under the midwifery of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC headed

by Prof Attahiru Jega.

The National Register of Voters is tainted because it lacks purity and accuracy of data and administrative management. It is also filled with names and objects that are foreign and alien to the Constitution of Nigeria 1999 and the Electoral Act of Nigeria 2010 such as under-age registered voters and illegal immigrants registered as voters.

This gross sharp practice is common and arbitrary in the Northwest and the Northeast geopolitical zones.

Numerical strength On the other hand, the referenced Voters’ Register is grossly sectionalized because there is a deliberate policy put in place by the headship of INEC designed to oust and cripple the voting numerical strength and rights of some federating partners in the Federal Republic of Nigeria so as to give others strategic advantage.

This includes capturing as much Northern population as possible as registered voters including under-aged and suppressing as much Southern Igbo and other minority populations as possible as disenfranchised and un-registered voters.

From blatant refusal of the headship of INEC to capture and incorporate millions of Igbo IDPs resident in the North, who fled to the South; into ongoing IDPs voting policy of INEC or Voters’ Cards Transfer; to suspicious, ran-

dom and arbitrary deletion from the National Register of Voters of a large number of referenced Igbo residents in the North in the form of double registrants.

Others are clear unwillingness and inability of the Commission to capture as much adult Igbo citizens as possible as registered voters during various continuous voters’ registration exercises across the country and deliberate policy across the country by INEC and criminal third parties designed to deny Igbo citizens and other minority populations access to their Permanent Voters’ Cards (PVCs) through INEC’s data loss; defacing, stealing, destroying, impersonating and hoarding by criminal third parties in collaboration with malicious INEC staff, of PVCs belonging to Igbo citizens; as well as stringent procedures put in place by INEC designed to frustrate Igbo citizens and other minority populations from accessing their PVCs alongside other Nigerians.

After the referenced general voters’ registration exercise car-

Owing to the closeness of the 2011 general elections held in April and other related factors, the unprocessed figure of 73,528,040 registered voters was allowed and used

Prof Attahiru Jega ried out by INEC under Prof Jega, the Commission announced a provisional registration of 67.7million Nigerians as provisionally registered voters subject to full electronic certification and other processes. On Thursday, 3rd of March 2011, INEC released another raw figure of 73, 528, 040 as total registered voters. This figure remained raw and unprocessed, except Cross River State, which subjected its raw figure to automated fingerprint identification system and brought it down from 1.7m registered voters to 1.14m registered voters then.

Owing to the closeness of the 2011 general elections held in April and other related factors, the unprocessed figure of 73,528,040 registered voters was allowed and used.

After the general polls of 2011, the commission subjected the referenced figure to automated fingerprint identification system (AFIS), which brought the figure down from 73, 528, 040 registered voters to 70, 383, 427 post AFIS registered voters. It is important to remind that the latter figure has

Nigeria Bar Association, NBA, President, Mr Augustine Alegeh, SAN, Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria, ICAN President, Chidi Onyeukwu and Chattered Institute of Stockbrokers, CIS, President, Mr Albert kumagba at the collaboration Agreement Sign-Off event between the NBA, ICAN and CIS at the ICAN Secretariat, Victoria Island, Lagos.

been in official use by INEC as Nigeria’s post AFIS registered voters (70, 383, 427 ) until November/December 2014. In other words, the total number of post AFIS registered voters for the country as at 2014 was 70, 383, 427.

For the avoidance of doubt, AFIS or Automated Fingerprint Identification System is a demographically configured computer application meant to identify and weed out registered voters who conscionably or unconscionably engage in multiple registrations and other sharp registration processes. When AFIS process is successfully applied, the figures usually go down after the unwanted figures are weeded or cleaned up.

It is in view of the foregoing that we decided to take a second forensic look into the National Register of Voters managed by INEC particularly as it concerns the

marked inexplicable difference between the Commission’s 2014 figure of 70, 383, 427 registered voters and the early 2015 figure of 68, 833, 476.

The referenced difference is 1, 543, 961. Part of our thorough investigation is to also find out the number of newly registered voters captured by the Commission during recent continuous voters’ registration exercises across the country and their State-by-State representation. The ground intent behind our noble enquiries is to ensure open, transparent, credible and non sectional or tribal management of the National Register of Voters by the Independent National Electoral Commission.

In the second part of this publication of ours, it will be revealed statistically how Prof Jega led INEC deleted in two months (November/December 2014) a total of 3, 796, 767 registered voters from the National Register of Voters.

These INEC tagged “pre AFIS double/multiple registrants.”

We also discovered that a total of 2,130,502 registered voters were captured by the commission across the country in 2014 during its continuous voters’ registration exercises. The Commission’s claims that the affected deleted registered voters were deleted from the National Register of Voters following its 2011 post automated fingerprint identification system were found by our thorough investigation to be grossly unsubstantiated, illogical and contradictory.

Mr Umeagbalasi is chairman of International Society for Civil Liberties & the Rule of Law.

38—Vanguard, THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 2015

Selma lessons hunt enemies of Nigeria’s democracy

By Prisca Sam-Duru

A

LTHOUGH the much publicised première in Nigeria of award-winning movie, Selma, finally hit the wide screen at the House on The Rock church premises, Lekki, Lagos, penultimate Sunday, its lessons will continue to hunt enemies of Nigeria’s democracy and development.

Selma, a 2014 American historical drama film, chronicles the true life story of late Dr. Martin Luther King jr. which depicts the struggle against racism and inequality, culminating in the emancipation of Black Americans, was screened to the delight of Nigerian audience. It came courtesy of House on The Rock in partnership with the Embassy of the United States of America, to promote non-violent struggles in Nigeria.

The movie which is quite timely, comes as a tool to sensitise Nigerians on the need to embrace the non-violence method in their quest for free and fair elections, especially with the

rising tension across the country.

Selma which was directed by Ava DuVernay and written by Paul Webb and Ava DuVernay, features British-born Nigerian international movie stars, David Oyelowo, and Carmen Ejogo, who starred as Reverend King and Coretta King (Rev. King’s wife); Oprah Winfred, Musician John Legend and other Hollywood Stars.

Before its première in Lagos, Selma had four Golden Globe Award nominations, including

Selma comes as a tool to sensitise Nigerians on the need to embrace the non-violence method in their quest for free and fair elections

•L-R- Senior Pastor, House On The Rock, Paul Adefarasin; US Ambassador, James Enwistle, David Oyelowo, Carmen Ejogo and Chief Emeka Anyaoku at the movie premiere in Lagos.

Best Motion Picture – Drama, Best Director, and Best Actor, and won for Best Original Song. It also garnered nominations for Best Picture and Best Original Song at the 87th Academy Awards.

The première was organised in furtherance of the House On The Rock’s efforts to continually promote peace during and after Nigeria’s 2015 general elections.

It helps Nigerians to reflect on Dr. King’s life now that the polity has been heated up due to careless utterances by individuals who are supposed to be elder statesmen as well as fear of impending anarchy during and after the elections.

Dr. King rose to national prominence in 1955 after Rosa Parks, an African-American seamstress, refused to give up her seat to a white patron on a public bus in Montgomery, Alabama. Throughout 1955, Dr. King led the peaceful boycott of Montgomery buses. In the decade that followed, he became a leader and spokesperson for the civil rights movement, as millions of people struggled peacefully for equal treatment in all aspects of American society.

As the situation became tougher with strong resistance from King and his followers, many were verbally abused and

Jegede’s New Horizon debuts in Lagos

By Japhet Alakam FTER its successful hosting of 2014 MUSON festival and in line with one of its core mission of developing talents and giving them a platform to express themselves, the Musical Society of Nigeria (MUSON) is set to dazzle its teeming fans, especially lovers of jazz, chambers, classical and pop with a new concert series titled ‘New Horizons’.

The concert series which is the brain child of the new Artistic Director of the MUSON, Tunde Jegede, who assumed office last year will be a four- part series concert that will run through the first half of the year with the sole objectives to showcase the multitude of talents available at the MUSON choir, present classical music with an access point to the society and act as a meeting point between Africa music world and the western music world.

A

New Horizons is a brand new concert series which gives taste of Tunde’s operatic, jazz and chamber music, with a difference. The series seeks to harness gifted singers and musicians and create a platform for powerful musical expression. It promises to be months of entertaining and rich music for all music lovers out there.

These were disclosed by the General Manager of the MUSON, Mr. Gboyega Banjo and Jegede,while addressing Art writers in Lagos. Banjo disclosed that Jegede, who arrived last year shortly before the MUSON Festival of Arts, witnessed the display by abundant talents is set to create a platform to bring them up hence the concerts.

For the world- renowned composer, cellist and kora virtuoso, Tunde Jegede who is bringing his over 20 years of experience to Nigeria, the

•Artistic Director of MUSON, Tunde Jegede (m) thrilling fans during the last MUSON festival

concert was designed to give a platform to some of the talents already at the MUSON and in Nigeria.

‘New Horizons’, according to him, embraces jazz, classical, opera and African music and will feature some of the world’s leading international artists including African-American opera diva, Laverne Williams, Argentinian singer and flautist, Diana Baroni, the Samadhi Ensemble and the MUSON Choir. The series will open with the first concert on Sunday, February 22 , which is an exploration of jazz and its African connections. Featuring leading spoken word artist, Dike Chukwumerije, singer/ multi percussionist, Venus Bushfires, Age Beeka, Imoleayo Balogun and the Art Ensemble of Lagos.

The second concert is scheduled to hold on Sunday, March 29 tagged ‘African Messiah’, a contemporary opera written and composed by Jegede. The fusion of African and baroque music narrates the story of the messiah in parallel to the historical trials and tribulations of African people through millennia. It features the MUSON Choir and the Samadhi Ensemble, conducted by Sir Emeka Nwokedi.

It will be followed by the third ‘After the Dream’, an opera of celebrated arias put together by s oprano soloist Ranti Ihimoyan, will be presented during the third concert on Sunday, April 19. It will feature Laverne Williams and some of Nigeria’s finest opera singers including Guchi Egbunine, Fatima Anyekema and Chika Ogbuji.

physically assaulted. Some of them were killed.

In March 1965, Dr. King undertook to lead a peaceful march from Selma to Montgomery, Alabama. As shown in the film, although the protestors are peaceful, many of the police and bystanders are violent, and as a direct result, Congress takes up and passes the Voting Rights Act of 1965.

Dr. King speaks at this moment, stating that “Voting is the foundation stone for political action.”

David Oyelowo who said he was proud that the film is here in Nigeria to impact their people added, “There is no greater reward for an artist than to have your work meet up with what society generally needs. … somehow, the movie theatres and cinemas have become the new churches and the industry that I work for churns out a lot of bad stuff that are not edifying.

Political persuasion The Senior Pastor of the church, Paul Adefarasin said “Peace and harmony is important to us all.

Regardless of our ethnicity, religion or political persuasion, our country Nigeria must remain united and peaceful. We also seek to remind individuals with the Selma movie première event that regardless of any differences or grievances we may have, violence is not the answer, thus non-violence must continually be our stance.”

The US Ambassador James Enwistle stated that, “I urge all Nigerians who are eligible to vote to do so. Vote. It’s one of the most powerful weapons in the world. Vote."

Having seen African Americans attacked in the streets and now, fifty years later, having the privilege of working for an African American President of the United States, I am convinced that genuine change through the democratic process is absolutely possible. Dr. King taught Americans, and as he taught the world, “nonviolence means avoiding not only external

Vanguard, THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 2015 — 39

Prof. Adebayo Yusuf Cameron Grillo is one of the founding fathers of contemporary Visual Art in Nigeria. A visit to his Ikeja, Lagos home and studio indicates that the octogenarian and famous Master of Masters is still very much agile, full of life and ready at all times to discuss contemporary art.

Grillo is one of the most influential figures in Nigerian art, a member of the Zaria School, better kniown as the Zaria Rebels and the founding president of Society of Nigerian Artists (SNA).

He is one man whose love for art has not wane. He draws, paints, executes commissioned works and projects including stained glass work. The former Head of the Department of Art and Printing at Yaba College of Technology, still works like a young studio artist.

When many people could have retired from active practice, at 80, Grillo exudes certain strength of an artist who seems not to have gotten enough just for the love of art. The household name who has inspired the very best in visual art in the country today, talks about how it started, governments role and in all says that Art is his life and that’s what he will do till ….

By Chris Onuoha

L

OOKING at the growth of Contemporary Art in Nigeria from your time till date, what is it like?

If you try to compare art in my time to now, there’s absolutely nothing one should say. In the late 1950s to early 1960s around independence, it didn’t exist. You can only talk about Aina Onabolu, Ben Enwonwu, Akin Olalesekan in the periphery and there’s hardly any other. There were some talented people who exercised their God given talents then, but if you are talking about serious practice of visual art, there was practically nothing when we started.

So there’s no basis for comparison, but we can talk about the tremendous growth over the time, because without claiming any undue position, those of us who started art practice in the sixties could be regarded as the fore-runners of contemporary visual art in the country.

Back then art was not being taught in schools, it was through some of us from Zaria, that even Government colleges, like kings college and so on, began to have art teachers in their staff list. Aina Onabolu was like an itinerant teacher teaching from one school to another.

Itinerant teacher In the morning he will be at Baptist Boy’s High School, in the afternoon at Kings College and we were like that. Hardly did any of the pupils in schools then offer art in the Cambridge school certificate examination. It was just like something to expand their scope and for us as art teachers, we really enjoyed it.

Currently, so many universities in the country offer art, Zaria is there, University of Lagos, Nsukka, Benin, Ife and even in Ibadan that has something which is like ancillary to visual art in the institute of African Studies, not to talk of Yaba college of Technology which was one of the first tertiary institution that offer art. It’s so glaring that we have thousands of art graduates in the country today.

You have never welcomed the word Master of Masters by your

•Pa Yusuf Grillo explaining some works at his studio

Art is my life, it's what I will do till I die — Yusuf Grillo protégés despite published books and journals to that credit?

It is their prerogative. They take responsibility for it. There’s nothing wrong placing you in high esteem but another group of people can counter that and call you rubbish. It is subjective.

Unless there are criteria to measuring that which I know does not exist in art. The university evaluates you as having satisfied their requirements to be awarded a degree or Ph.D in art through your research, contributions and other creative works but not so in art assessment. So the question of been called a master rest on an individual.

I don’t think you can talk about being strong or weak when you are talking about an artist. An artist is an artist. It is subjective and not objective, you cannot analysis art the way you analysis mathematical problem or equation. Art, which come from the soul of the artist, is him as a person. Ben Enwonwu is Ben Enwonwu and that’s him. You cannot say somebody is a stronger artist or weaker artist. To me, I say you cannot be a master

Without claiming any undue position, those of us who started art practice in the sixties could be regarded as the fore-runners of contemporary visual art in the country

where there’s no evaluating authority which can pontificate on it. In art who pontificates, who says one artist is better than the other.

Every artist is unique in his own style and content.

At 80, what is it like after retirement?

I retired from teaching and not from visual artist. I am an artist and will die an artist. I still paint, I still do glass works, I don’t do much sculpture now because of physical demands of the job, but I still do what I do as an artist. Can anything stop Wole Soyinka from writing? You can stop teaching but a serious writer will come from inside you. You have to define yourself. I thank God for my life today having sustained and seen me through my achievements which is the essence of life.

Does govt place material considerations over and above art?

Yes they do. But it depends on the greater material benefit that accrues from it.

When it comes to the visual art, we talk about the spiritual and intrinsic benefits which government overlooks. There’s a poor artist in the

studio, either sculpting or painting, and what does he do with it, just to have an exhibition, art patrons comes around to purchase some of his works or maybe get occasional write up about him in the journals and he is happy, but what material benefit comes in is the question.

Popular level Obviously, as art has improved in the country today, we still have not gotten to the realm of reproducing work of artists which could be sold on the popular level and if the work is famous like Monalisa or some works of Van Gogh, Da Vinci, et cetera, people all over the world will buy. At that, we will have a print version of those works. We haven’t gotten to that but even if, the total revenue

accrued to it is still very limited in comparison with the entertainment industry. So that’s the reason. It’s a question of material consideration over and above spiritual or intrinsic considerations.

And what can government do to encourage Art ?

Government can do a lot by taking a leaf from what countries in Europe and America who have diversified are doing or have done to encourage this spiritual art. First of all, having competent people at the helm of affairs who recognise the different between the serious art and other revenue generating craft or entertainment can change things because art goes deep into all these different areas. Take for example, cartoon which you see on televisions and cinemas, greeting cards, decoration arts and graphic designs are done by artists.

A strip of cartoon can be very lucrative. It is a question of having somebody who will recognise that these ones should be promoted because they can bring revenue to increase the economy of the nation.

Acoustic Night with Diana and D'Expressions

T

he BC Garden Café of Omenka gallery located at 24 Ikoyi Crescent is set to thrill its numerous fans with a music night known as Acoustic Night. The night which is organised by Revilo music is scheduled for February 21, and will feature Diana Bada and D’ expressions, the upcoming artiste would be performing live at the BC Garden Café from 7pm to 10pm.

Diana Lolade Bada is a multicultural ‘Afro-soul’ singer who has made her stance in the creative arts and the music industry.

She is a performing and a recording artiste who mashes up Hip-Hop, Jazz and Reggae.

Diana was part of the 2008 edition of MTVBase/Zain advance warning that had artistes like M.I, Kel, Terry G, Durella, Waje and Terry Tha Rapman among others.

She was also part of the Gimme Shot Crew touring in Europe as well as the lead vocalist for the Tripanation Band.

Revilo is a multi-platform media company with a focus on contemporary African visual culture, entertainment and lifestyle. Revilo produces, publishes and distributes compelling content across media channels as diverse as TV, mobile, digital, audio, and print to a broad network of partners, affiliates and clients. ewly established Revilo Music is involved in the development, sale and distribution of quality music. The label specializes in various genres like Neoclassical African music, Afro Pop, as well as fusion of Jazz, Hip Hop and Reggae.

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40—Vanguard, THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 2015

understands who his boss is and the boss should also understand who the secretary to the government is. I’ve always believed that you don’t impose these two positions on any person.

From 1999 to date, you see that not one federal minister has come to Isoko. Mrs. Omu was there as a senator for just four years, 1999 to 2003.

Thereafter till today, Senate has never come to Isoko; in short no federal position is in Isoko land.

Federal position

•Macaulay: Delta State is a PDP state

Why Urhobo should be patient — Macaulay COMRADE Ovuozore Macaulay is the Secretary to the State Government in Delta State since 2011.

Macaulay, in this interview, gives an insight into the agitation of the Isoko nation for equity. Excerpts:

By Hugo Odiogor

W

OULD you say the political atmosphere in the state today is convivial?

In every crisis situation, once the leader is matured, he does not degenerate. And the maturity in this case means leaders should be ready to sacrifice, leaders should be ready to play down issues instead of playing them up.

They have to do so because a true general is a general that goes to war and comes back with his team.

It’s not the general that goes to war and lose his men.

Immediately after the primaries, I called a meeting

of my people and I told them I was not ready to shed any youth’s blood because of position.

The first thing I must make clear is that it has nothing to do with me as a person. The winner of the primaries was free, even if it was zoned to Isoko to pick anybody of his choice.

Imposition of deputy governor I’ve always told people there are two positions you don’t impose on the governor or anybody who wants to become a governor, his deputy which is what we call a running mate,

because this is a person that must be a man of his heart. In normal circumstances, it must be someone close to him that he can confide in, he understands and two of them can even use signs to talk and government will run smoothly.

The second person you don’t impose on a governor is his secretary to government because if he does not have the confidence of the secretary to government, there’s no way there can be peace in that state.

Even if they pretend to be peaceful, the government cannot run smoothly because the secretary to government should be somebody who’s ready to take the bullets on behalf of his boss and the state at any time.

It should be somebody who can do it and damn the consequence and who has the confidence of his boss as well.

It should be somebody who

You will recall that after Oloibiri in 1958 where oil was discovered, the next place oil was discovered was Isoko land.

And we have remained a main onshore oil producer in this country till date.

This is a tribe or a nationality that till this moment does not enjoy a significant federal appointment. Not a reputable board or a minister of state, not an ambassador to the Isoko people. That was why they were agitated, so they are justified. But I will not tell them they are justified to the extent of going to the streets and bringing the youths out to spill their bloods, instead let us dialogue. Politics is about dialogue.

What do you think are Okowa's chances in the forth coming election?

I’m not God, but I think all the indices are in his favour. It’s not just because he’s Dr Okowa.

It will be a miracle for PDP to lose election in Delta State.

Delta State is a PDP state. And any day any time, PDP will win. PDP is doing local government to local government rallies; the oppositions are doing what you call senatorial rallies.

So for me, the Urhobos should just be patient. In eight years, Okowa would have been through

At times when people want to judge, they will say see the crowd that went for the rally of the other party the other day.

But you forget that that party is doing one for the whole eight local governments in central and you are comparing it to the man who is doing it in eight places.

That is a wrong judgment.

But I can tell you that PDP will win Delta state any day any time. That is why you always see that PDP’s struggle is always on the primaries, because once you get the primaries, you are as good as already the elected governor because it’s a PDP state. I don’t have fear about that.

How can the Urhobo be assuaged to drop their threat to vote against the President and PDP in Delta State?

The game of politics is played more informally. We are talking to ourselves, people are talking to people. For me I will continue to appeal to my brothers in the central. I’ve always told them whenever I had the opportunity of speaking publicly especially during the 2007 campaign in which I was really prominent.

Second fiddle I told that there is no doubt you are the elder brother, you have the population but you cannot continue to dominate the scene, you must give the other people a room to also taste so that we can have a peaceful state where everybody has a sense of belonging and want to work to contribute to it.

Because if I see that I’m always a second fiddle, of course you don’t expect me to be that productive.

If now Okowa from Delta North becomes the governor by God’s grace this year, eight years just now is over.

So for me, the Urhobos should just be patient. In eight years, Okowa would have been through. James Ibori was the first governor for eight years, he left and we fought for power shift and it came to south and Dr Uduaghan was fortunate to have it.

Just now, his eight years is coming to an end. After him, if Okowa now has it, eight years after Okowa is through, they can now make a case that it is now the turn of Urhobos to start again.

What do you see as your own political future after being SSG for four years?

For me, I’m somebody who lives life everyday giving thanks to God. In have a history that those who contend with me can only contend with God. God has my future and He has always played it the way He wants to play it.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 2015—41

DELTA: Where

the UPU erred

— Ewherido FRANCIS Ewherido, is a member of the Otega Emerhor Campaign Organization. In this interview, he speaks on the chances of Emerhor and why he should be the next governor of Delta State. He also bares his mind on the Urhobo Progressive Union (UPU) and the Uvwiamughe Declaration.

By Fredrick Okopie

H

OW are the campaigns going?

The campaigns are going on well. A lot of ground has been covered; there is still work to be done. Our people need to be engaged personally and at close quarters because there is a lot of misinformation.

Did the postponement of the elections affect your plans?

Definitely, but I personally see it as a double edged sword. It means additional expenses, but at the same time, it gives you additional time to cover more grounds, dot your “i’s” and cross your “t’s.”

Why should Deltans vote Emerhor governor?

Deltans should make Emerhor their next governor because he is the best of the pack. He is equally more diversified in terms of experience, traversing banking, insurance, shipping, real estate and mortgage among others. He is also a great manager of men and has the uncanny ability to bring the best out of people, polishing rough diamonds and making them superstars.

Assembling of great teams I have seen him do this time and time again. He is also adept at assembling great teams and turning around sick institutions.

Emerhor understands systems and processes and he will bring private sector efficiency into governance. He is just tailormade for the position at this time.

What are his chances with the endorsement of Great Ogboru by the Urhobo Progressive Union?

The chances of Olorogun Otega Emerhor remain very bright.

Honestly, I like to refrain from talking about other candidates and concentrate on my candidate, Emerhor. I also would rather not talk about the crisis in the UPU because I had my misgivings with the Uvwiamughe Declaration from the beginning because of its divisive nature and the UPU’s ability to faithfully implement it. But to answer your question, what will be, will be endorsement or no endorsement.

It is God who gives power.

I am with Emerhor all the way to the end. With all due respect, The Chief Joe Omene-led UPU committed a fundamental error and in the process meted out great injustice to Emerhor. You

do not lay a foundation and go ahead to put a different superstructure on it. You must first of all pull down or amend the foundation, if not, you create structural problems. The Uvwiamughe Declaration, the basis of which the purported endorsement of Chief Great Ogboru was made, stated that all Urhobo sons should contest on the platforms of major parties.

Labour Party, Ogboru’s platform, is anything but major.

Apart from Delta State and maybe Ebonyi, I am not aware of any other place where it has any reasonable presence. The former highest political office holder, Governor Segun Mimiko, his federal and state legislators and the national chairman left Labour Party sometime ago.

Currently, the only two major parties in Nigeria are the APC, Emerhor’s party and the PDP. The Uvwiamughe Declaration states that any major party that gives its governorship ticket to an Urhobo is the party UPU will support from the presidential to house of assembly elections.

Based on the Uvwiamughe Declaration, the Omene-led UPU should in fact have endorsed Emerhor which the Chief Tuesday Onoge-led UPU has done. But you can see that the Omene UPU has abandoned its own declaration with all the endorsements it has so far made.

If the Omene UPU felt the political equation has been altered by the emergence of Ogboru and Labour Party, the honourable thing to do would have been first of all shred the Uvwiamughe Declaration and then come up with a fresh declaration accommodating

Labour Party. To build on that initial foundation and come with endorsement of Ogboru is defective and very unjust to Emerhor.

Going into a governorship race is a very weighty decision. You do not just wake up and tell somebody who has entered the race with conviction and a mission to drop his ambition and queue behind somebody else.

That is insensitive and disrespectful. The UPU is like a father with many children. You need great wisdom and tact to manage your affairs and avoid unnecessary acrimony and bickering.

Uvwiamughe Declaration Abandoning the spirit of Uvwiamughe Declaration and behaving as if nothing happened is like a referee shifting the goalpost after the football match has started without consulting the teams. Look at the mess that has been created. The Omene UPU has portrayed itself as a body that cannot walk the talk and that is not good enough for the umbrella body of the fifth largest ethnic group in Nigeria.

Divided house Chief Omene said the UPU took the decision because it did not want Urhobo to go into the elections with a divided house.

But the house is already divided.

Some of Senator Okowa’s staunchest supporters are Urhobos.

Since after the declaration, how many Urhobos have left Emerhor’s and Okowa’s camps in compliance with the UPU

Declaration

order? Many factors determine political affiliation, so you cannot legislate on this matter. That is partly why I was never comfortable with the Uvwiamughe Declaration in the first place. Also, the level of political uncertainty is high; these endorsements are hasty and not well articulated. I just feel personal interest, rather than the Urhobo interest, informed these endorsements.

I also have issues with this whole idea of anointing candidates by UPU. It did it in 2006 and the candidate they endorsed was not even in the top five when the PDP governorship primary was held. The UPU is a socio-cultural umbrella body of the Urhobo Nation, representing Urhobos across political divides.

Even if they want an Urhobo son as governor, they should come up with more ingenious ways, so that the UPU does not get too sucked into party politics.

The way things are going the UPU will suffer a lot of collateral damage and its stature diminished.

But having produced governor twice, don’t you think the Urhobos should allow the Aniomas produce the governor this time around?

Sorry, I do not believe in ethnic politics, especially when it comes to the top office. Let the best man win. My support for Emerhor has nothing to do with our common ethnicity.

I believe he is the best and most competent man for the job; that is why I support him.

DELTA: Why we’re yet to adopt a gov candidate — Idawene, SDP chairman MR Oke Idawene is chairman of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) in Delta State. In this interview, he explains why his party is yet to adopt a governorship candidate in Delta State but he, however, expresses optimism that the SDP will win seats in the State House of Assembly. Excerpts:

By Dapo Akinrefon

M

Deltans should make Emerhor their next governor because he is the best of the pack.

He is equally more diversified in terms of experience

•Ewherido: I was never comfortable with the Uvwiamughe

IXED reactions greeted the six weeks postponement of the general elections, what is your position?

The postponement is the right step towards the right direction.

You don’t do sensitive things like general elections in a country like Nigeria, in a hurry.

I commend the NSAand INEC for the postponement. I appeal to the security forces and INEC to meet up with the six weeks for us to have a resounding general election.

The opposition is accusing the PDP of plans to use the six weeks to perfect rigging, how do you see this?

That is a big lie. When you say the opposition, I strongly put it that it is the APC. They believe in propaganda and falsehood.

That assumption is not true. We should go back to our parties and work to win election, not to raise unnecessary issues.

Do you think. INEC is ready for the elections?

Before now I didn’t think the commission was ready, but for the postponement INEC will perfect

•Idawene all aspect and give us a good general election.

Continues from page 42

42—Vanguard, THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 2015

I 'll provide leadership for Edo North after Oshiomhole’s exit — Momoh MR Abubakar Momoh, member representing Etsako Federal Constituency is the Social Democractic Party, SDP, Edo North senatorial candidate in Edo State. In this interview, he bares his mind on many issues, including why he is to lead Edo North at the Senate.

Excerpts:

By Abdulwahab Abdulah

W

HY did you decide to contest on the platform of the SDP? There is injustice in both the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and until they start to do what is right, the parties will continue to witness exodus of members to other political parties. As a matter of fact, these two parties have been doing all the injustices because of the belief that there are no alternative parties.

There is need for alternative parties so that acts of impurity perpetuated by these parties will reduce. If you take a look at the PDP in particular, you will notice that the leaders are not interested in the party ’s winning any election.

APC is made up of people who take delight in playing the godfather instead of allowing the people to choose. This is why we have decided to bring a third force, alternative that will allow the people to choose who should represent them.

What is the level of acceptability of your new party especially in Edo North?

The people are quite happy and enthusiastic with the development and the situation on ground. Before now, there

•Momoh were some persons who said they will not vote during the coming election because of what had happened during party primaries but as soon as I came, they felt satisfied, they felt that the burden on them had been

There is injustice in both the All Progressives Congress, APC and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and until they start to do what is right, the parties will witness the exodus of members

DELTA: Why SDP is yet to adopt a gov candidate — Idawene Continues from page 41 Though your party is not fielding a governorship candidate, but do you think it can win seats in the National Assembly and State House of Assembly?

Yes, our party will win House of Assembly in Ika South, Uvwie, Warri South Ughelli North, Udu, Ndowkwa West, in the House of Assembly, then for Reps, Isoko, Okpe, Uvwie and Sepele then for Senate, Delta South. Mark my words, we may win even more, but these are sure bets.

What does the SDP stand to

bring to Delta State considering the fact that it is a new party?

The SDP will bring the long awaited transformation and progress for the common man in Delta State.

Is it true that there is crisis in SDP Delta State?

No. We are intact, fully ready for the election.

We have not adopted any candidate for governorship nor any other position.

In due time, we shall let Deltans know where we stand for the governorship after consultation and permission from SDP national headquarters.

removed and that they now have alternative party to identify with.

By the grace of God, today, the people have come to accept the situation on ground and are determined to make the use of it.

Can you enumerate your achievements in office and your chances at the poll?

I will say, with all sense of responsibility that I have never disappointed the people. For the past three and a half years that I have been in the House of Representatives, I have executed a good number of projects and programmes that have touched the lives of the electorate.

For example, in the 32 wards that make up Etsako Federal constituency, I was able to influence more than seventy six (76) functional projects. I also sponsored six bills and eight motions which have been processed to law and resolutions in the House of Representatives.

It is theses projects that will definitely speak for me.

With this situation on ground, I am hopeful that the people will appreciate what is going on and that they will do the right thing by supporting and voting for me.

They should determine who, among the three of us, has the requisites experience and the qualification to lead the people of Edo North, who among the three of us enjoys the confidences and trust of the people of Edo North, who among us can say, yes, and stands by it.

Laudable qualities These are the issues I want our people to look at with the view of determining who they will vote for. As a matter of fact, I am the one that posses all these laudable qualities which some one aspiring to lead Edo North should have.

Also, I want our people to know that the constitutional mandate of our comrade Governor, Adams Aliyu Oshiomhole will expire next year (2016). At his leaving office , there will definitely be a leadership vacuum in Edo North as the highest elected officer in the zone will be the senator. I have the needed and relevant qualification, experience it takes to fill the leadership vacuum of Edo North.

Is it true that the traditional rulers and opinion leaders in Edo North across party divide has indicat support for your candidacy?

It is not for me to speak on their behalf. But just to thank them for the confidence they reposed in me. And I believe this will translate to vote in the forthcoming election.

THE VOTING PROCESS

•Card reader

CARD READER: The batttery issue

By Emmanuel Aziken, Political Editor and Jude Opara

T

HE card reader is the latest innovation into Nigeria’s electoral process and was introduced to minimise rigging of the voters register.

The card reader, is an input device that reads the data in a medium or card, in this case, the Permanent Voter Card, PVC to the purpose of verifying if the data in the card corresponds with the data captured by INEC during the registration exercise ahead of the 2011 elections.

Remarkably, the introduction of the card reader has sparked controversy with the two major parties, the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP and the All Progressives Congress, APC taking opposite positions on the issue. The PDP is demanding that the card reader be discarded with some of its officials alleging that it is unworkable.

The APC on the other hand is demanding for the strict use of the device on the premise that it is the best antidote to the rigging of the voters roll.

What makes the device purchased by INEC unique is that after inputting the device into the card reader. Once the card is inserted if it is genuine, the picture of the owner would pop up to affirm that the card is genuine.

The next step is to confirm if the presenter of the card is the owner of the card. He or she is now expected to match his fingers on the card reader to show if the finger print would match the original data captured during the

registration exercise. If it matches, then the person is passed on to vote.

“If the finger print of the person agrees with the finger print on the imbedded chip and it will say ‘Verified’ and that means the person is free to go and vote and if it is not the same it says ‘Not Verified’ and it says it loud for everybody to hear. If it says that, party agents are there, observers are there, voters are there and an INEC staff says go and vote and everybody keeps quiet,” Mr. Kayode Idowu, chief press secretary to the INEC chairman told Vanguard.

INEC's defence Mr. Idowu affirmed that the adoption of the card reader has significantly minimised rigging of the electoral process.

According to him, it would take conspiracy of all human elements at the polling unit to enable a wrong person to vote as the card reader would audibly pronounce the eligibility or otherwise of a potential voter.

"The way INEC has designed the Card Reader, it will only take a community conspiracy for the system to be manipulated and if that happens there is nothing anybody can do about it and it will not be the fault of INEC because it is designed in such a way that it is unique. Number one it has a voice prompt which will speak out loudly from the speaker if a voter is accredited or not the moment the finger print is placed on it."

Vanguard, THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 2015—43

Itsekiri group bemoans UPU crisis W

ARRI—AN Itsekiri pressure group under the aegis of Iwere Progressive Forum, has pleaded that the crisis rocking the Urhobo Progress Union, UPU, be quickly nipped in the bud for Delta State to be liberated from the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP. In a statement released to newsmen in Warri, the group,

through its convener, Mr. Elijah Egberekomi, expressed worry that a disunited Urhobo land will only serve the purposes of PDP to keep Delta State under its clutches for another eight years if not more to the detriment of the masses.

According to Egberekomi, “We the Itsekiris, having been completely humiliated by the PDP, have been hoping for a

HIV: Airtel partners UNAIDS to tackle mother-to-child transmission

T

HE Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS and leading telecommunications services provider, Airtel Nigeria, have partnered to support the National Agency for the Control of AIDS in an initiative to ensure that no child is born with HIV in Nigeria.

The UNAIDS and Airtel partnership sealed through a Memorandum of Understanding will allow the Telco’s subscribers to benefit from information on how and where to access prevention of mother-to-child transmission of HIV services in Nigeria. The

C M Y K

information shall be disseminated through innovative and regular text messages.

In July 2011, a global plan towards the elimination of new HIV infections among children and keeping their mothers alive was launched at the United Nations General Assembly meeting on AIDS. On its part, Nigeria unveiled a National Operational Plan in 2014 focused on eliminating motherto-child transmission of HIV and accelerating the implementation of similar efforts in the country.

united Urhobo front with a truly detribalized Deltan that we can all rally round for the liberation of our state.

Whereas we have no right to tell Urhobos who their leader should be, we are proud to say that O’tega Emerhor of All Progressives Congress, APC, is a detribalized Deltan we feel quite comfortable with and are willing to vote in as our next governor.

“We, therefore, find it to be quite traumatic that the UPU, hitherto the most united sociocultural body in Delta State appears to have been infiltrated by PDP with the last hope of Deltans reclaiming our state from PDP slipping away.”

ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS: Comptroller of Immigration, Lagos State Command, Mrs Justina Ahmadu( 1st l) briefing arrested illegal immigrants shortly before they were deported yesterday, while the command's spokesman, Supritendent Muyiwa Odunubi and other Immigration officers look on.

Triumphant Baptist Church holds Heavenly Dew

T

RIUMPHANT Baptist Church will on February 21 hold its monthly programme, Heavenly Dew. The programme holds in the church auditorium at 19,

Olufemi Ojo Street, Shasa Road, Akowonjo at 7am.

The theme of the programme is God will redeem you from all troubles.

The church Pastor, Dr

Sunday Olayiwola Oladejo said the programme provides opportunity for people to pray and seek divine intervention concerning their challenges.

44—Vanguard, THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 2015

having to travel away from loved ones at home.

The Centre also launched the Foundation for Cancer Care in West Africa (FCCWA) to provide cancer care for the less privileged in Nigeria and across West Africa.

He said the Foundation is focused on fostering collaboration between government agencies, corporate organizations, various medical facilities and advocacy groups. Philanthropic donations are always welcome and much appreciated for the care of cancer in West Africa.

Oral B provides free oral care

T

OWARDS World Oral Health Day, leading oral hygiene brand, Oral B, has rolled out a pan-Nigeria oral care programme through its mobile dental clinic to offer free dental services to Nigerians.

The mobile dental clinic, which avails Nigerians opportunity to get free dental check-up from practicing dentists, as well as counseling on how to achieve and maintain complete oral hygiene, is touring key Nigerian cities over the next 12 weeks.

Consumers can participate on Facebook, Instagram & Twitter - by voting for a location that they will like the mobile dental clinic to visit. The location with the highest votes will be visited by the professional Oral B dentists each week.

Brand Manager for Oral B, Folarin Ojo said the activation aims to promote healthier, stronger teeth and drive oral health awareness in the build-up to World Oral Health Day on March 20th. The WOHD is an international day to celebrate the benefits of a healthy mouth and to promote worldwide awareness of the issues around oral health and the importance of looking after oral hygiene to everyone old and young.

It is a day for people to have fun - a day that should be full of activities that make us laugh, sing and smile.

Ojo also stated that the "Smile for Life" theme for this year's World Oral Health Day (WOHD)aligns with Oral B's purpose of transforming oral health and beauty to help Nigerians confidently engage in life - with healthy smiles.

• From left, Prof Eric Metima of the University of Nairobi, Kenya, Mrs. Stella Denloye, Director Laboratory Services and Dr Paul Orhii, Director General NAFDAC during the meeting between NAFDAC and the International Atomic Energy Agency on the NAFDAC Food Laboratory Pre-Selected as Africa Regional designated Centre, held recently in Lagos. PHOTO: Biodun Ogunleye.

Lakeshore tackles cancer among indigent patients

T

By Gabriel Olawale

OWARDS improving cancer outcomes and offering palliative care for cancer patients in Nigeria, Lakeshore Cancer Centre recently started operations even as it pledged support for indigent cancer patients.

The Centre is solely designed, by a team of global experts on surgical and radiation oncology, for high quality prevention and treatment of cancer. Affiliated with Roswell Park Cancer Institute in Buffalo, NY, USA

-the oldest cancer centre in the world, LCC has been offering skeletal services since July 2014 in Nigeria.

Speaking at the formal opening of its Centre in Lagos, Chief Executive Officer and Medical Director of the Centre, Dr Chummy Nwogu, who is also a Cancer Epidemiologist and Thoracic Surgical Oncologist, said that, LCC is committed to providing cancer patients with tools for early detection, diagnosis and consultation with excellent oncologists without

Nordica holds IVF forum

I

N line with its resolve to offer the most advanced fertility treatment services to Nigerians, Nordica Fertility Centre, Lagos, Asaba and Abuja, holds an enlightenment programme tagged “IVF & You” where participants will be equipped with better information on infertility management.

The event which holds February 21, 2015 at the Nordica headquarters in Ikoyi, Lagos as well as other Nordica centres nationwide, is expected to answer all infertility related questions and set a pace for a beautiful beginning for families challenged by infertility.

Among issues to be addressed are whether infertility is curable, what is egg preservation and if the quality of a man's sperm can be enhanced.

Other questions include the following: Are babies born through IVF normal children? Can I really select the sex of my child? Do I have a chance of having a child after age 38? How many IVF cycles do I need to go through to be successful among others.

COMMON SEXUAL PROBLEMS AND THEIR NOVELTY BASED SOLUTIONS (ADVERTORIAL)

G

OOD day sir. On Valentine ’s Day, I discovered that my fiancée was cheating on me. It was so painful and it shattered me. Maybe she was not satisfied sexually. I don’t know why or what I could have done to prevent it from happening…I just …I am totally shattered and I just feel like killing myself – Nwokoma I am sorry about this incident Nwokoma. First of all, don’t hurt yourself. You are feeling terrible now which is normal but you will get through it. If you ask me, I will say that you weren’t meant to be together. It is unfortunate that you found out this way but like they say, better late than never.

The truth about cheating is that there is no single reason why people cheat; neither can one predict other people’s behaviour. There are lots of men and women today who are sexually satisfied and still cheat. Sometimes people cheat out of loneliness, anger, revenge, emotional neediness or just for fun’s sake.

So don’t blame yourself. As for the pain you feel, just take things one day at a time. When you wake up in the morning, prepare for work as usual and go to work. When you are not working, distract yourself by doing things that give you joy. With time the pain will end and a new beginning is always around the corner. Sorry again – Uche I am 64 years old and I used to have a very active sex life until a few years ago. I will not say that my libido is no longer there. I still have the urge for sex but it is difficult to get an erection now and when I do, sometimes it disappears before sex or it is j ust too weak to be useful – Mr Abaga What you are experiencing now is age-induced erectile dysfunction and it is typical for men your age. It cannot be reversed but there are supplements that can help you perform. A good example is X Again Platinum Enhancer. Hard Times Supplement is also good – Uche

I am using Stud Extender now and it really does make me look bigger and my woman likes it. But it is covered at the mouth. My wife and I are trying to have a baby.

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Vanguard, THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 2015—45

PDP, Wike deny involvement in shooting at Rivers APC rally R

IVERS State Chapter of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, and its governorship candidate, Mr Nyesom Wike, have denied involvement in the shooting at the campaign ground of the state All Progressives Congress, APC, in Okrika.

State Chairman of PDP, Mr Felix Obuah, in a statement by his media aide, in reaction to allegations by the state governor, Mr. Rotimi Amaechi, the APC governorship candidate, Dr. Dakuku Peterside and the APC, that the PDP had a hand in the incident, said: “How will Amaechi associate the First Lady, Dame Patience Jonathan, who is currently mourning the death of Bayelsa State women who lost their lives in a motor accident with the shooting at Okrika? It shows the degree of hate Amaechi has for the first family. The First Lady is currently going about consoling the bereaved families, and cannot be part of violence. She deserves

Jonathan remains best candidate in presidential poll —OLEJEME

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EPUTY Chairman, Finance Committee of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Presidential Campaign Organisation, Dr. Ngozi Olejeme, has described President Goodluck Jonathan as a sound leader with a vision to develop Nigeria further.

Olejeme told newsmen in Abuja, yesterday, that President Jonathan will continue to put democracy on top of his agenda with a view to strengthening the tenets of good governance.

“President Jonathan is a democrat and a passionate defender of human rights.

He believes in servant leadership. For him, public service is a calling, and he will continue to serve the country from that perspective, carefully, with humility and with a servant’s heart,” she said.

Olejeme who is also the Chairman of Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund, NSITF, praised President Jonathan for his leadership qualities and his efforts at expanding economic opportunities for Nigerians.

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sympathy at this sad moment.”

He described Wike as an advocate of peace, nonviolence and a God-fearing man who cannot be a party to violence.

“Wike was at the time of the incident campaigning to

market women in Port Harcourt, Port Harcourt Local Government Area and Eleme, in Eleme Local Government Area and had no time to contemplate instigating violence.

“The PDP, therefore,

dissociates the party, Dame Jonathan and the Rivers PDP governorship candidate, Wike, from the crisis in Okrika. We advise the APC to settle its internal crisis and leave us alone,” he added.

BURIAL: Chief Richard Oma Ahonaruogho, Past President, University of Benin Alumni Association (middle) with Ifeoma Oganufa, Jennifer Amurum-Oganufa, Arch. Chukuyenum Oganufa and Mr. Chioma Oganufa at the burial of their late father, Chief Sunday Azuka Patrick Oganufa, a past Chairman of the Warri Branch of the University of Benin Alumni Association, in Ogume, Delta State.

Emerhor faults Urhobo youth leaders' ultimatum to Osinbajo

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TEGA4GOVERNOR C a m p a i g n Organisation has faulted a statement credited to Coalition of Urhobo Nation Youth Leaders and Stakeholders, CUNYLS, calling on the All Progressives Congress, APC, presidential running mate, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, to disassociate himself from the Chief Tuesday Onoge faction of the Urhobo Progress Union, UPU. Director of Media and Political Communication of the campaign organisation, Dr. Fred Oghenesivbe, said that Anighoro was fully aware that the Uvwiamuge Declaration document does not have room for the Labour Party, LP, rather it was an offer to the two national parties, the APC and the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, for which APC accepted the UPU offer and gave Urhoboland the governorship candidate in the person of Olorogun O’tega Emerhor.

Oghenesivbe added that if Anighoro, UPU and Chief Omene were sure that LP was part of the bargain ab-initio and wanted Chief Great Ogboru of the Labour Party to fly the Urhobo flag during the

elections, they ought to have presented him (Ogboru) the very first time they struck a deal with Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan and the PDP, adding that if David Edevwie had won the PDP primaries, then of course,

Chief Ogboru would have been rejected by the UPU, Chief Omene and Anighoro’s group.

He stated that Anighoro’s group lacked the moral and legal justification to issue such ultimatum on Osinbajo.

....As Urhobo Youth Council blasts CUNYLS over ultimatum

By Perez Brisibe

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GHELLI—THE leadership of Urhobo National Youth Council, UNYC, has described the seven-day ultimatum issued by the Coalition of Urhobo Nation Youth Leaders and Stakeholders, CUNYLS on the All Progressives Congress, APC, presidential running mate, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo as an insult that should be retracted immediately.

UNYC, in a statement by its National President, Oyeghe Monday, yesterday, said that no individual or group has the right to declare any Nigerian or political party persona non-grata within or

outside the boundaries of Urhoboland.

He said “Osinbajo is a Nigerian and has the right to visit any part of the country he chooses to visit. It is the height of obduracy and youthful exuberance for anybody to threaten him for associating with the Chief Tuesday Onoge led-Urhobo Progress Union, UPU, who in his wisdom has held on to the original Uvwiamuge declaration.

“Having lost out in the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, primaries, APC became the only option for the Urhobos and the Urhobo people will stand and vote for all APC candidates at the national and state levels respectively.”

N-Deltans must unite for Jonathan, says Odje

By Festus Ahon

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S A B A — FACILITATOR of Niger Delta Democratic Union, NDDU and lawyer, Dr Akpo Mudiaga-Odje, yesterday, said that the people of the Niger Delta should set aside all their differences and unite by voting en-masse for President Goodluck Jonathan in the March 28 presidential election.

Odje, in a statement, said: “This is a time in our collective history and existence as ethnic nationalities of the Nigerian state, which has benefited immensely from oil resources, to unite behind one of our own as we reach out to our brothers and sisters from other geo-political zones of our dear country.

“It is no longer news or new to say that it is the Niger Delta that is the economic live-wire of Nigeria."

Group kicks against Commissioner's nomination

By Gabriel Enogholase

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ENIN—A group, Edo Unity Movement, has expressed dismay over the renomination of Mr. V. A. Olabimtan, from Ekiti State and whose tenure had expired since August 29, 2014, as the C o m m i s s i o n e r representing Edo, Ekiti and Ondo states in the Federal Civil Service Commission, to the Senate for re-confirmation.

The group, in a statement in Benin, Edo State, yesterday by Ifedayo Ogah, appealed to President Goodluck Jonathan to immediately withdraw the name of the nominee and replace it with an Edo person, whose turn it is to produce the next Commissioner.

It blamed the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, of being allegedly behind the substitution of the name of an Edo indigene already sent to him with that of Mr. Olabimtan.

46—Vanguard, THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 2015

Ndokwa politicians lament UPU crisis

NLC ELECTION: Wabba’s eligibility suit begins at NIC

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By Victor AhiumaYoung

group of politicians of Ndokwa extraction has called on Urhobo monarchs and elders to immediately wade into the crisis currently rocking the Urhobo Progress Union, UPU, urging them to ensure that Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, does not succeed in splitting Urhobo votes in the forthcoming elections.

The politician, in a statement by Felix Osakwe and Sam Eke, expressed fear that once PDP succeeded in splitting Urhobo votes, Delta would be lost once more to PDP for another eight years.

According to them, “we simply cannot afford another eight years under PDP, a party with only empty promises in Delta State.

“We desperately need the Urhobo to be united and to deliver their bulk votes as usual to ensure that genuine change comes to Delta through O’tega Emerhor of All Progressives Party, APC. “Even though we are not Urhobo, as neighbours, we consider it to be most unfortunate that our own brother is now the very one acting out a script that can only lead to PDP pocketing our state once again.

“We are not fools and O’tega Emerhor remains our candidate for liberation from PDP’s bondage.”

B U JA — N AT I O N A L Industrial Court, NIC, Abuja Division, will today commence hearing in the suit challenging the eligibility of the President of Medical and Health Workers Union of Nigeria, MHWUN, Mr. Ayuba Wabba, to contest the

presidency of Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC. Aggrieved members of MHWUN had dragged Mr. Wabba and four others to the NIC, seeking an order restraining him from contesting the presidency of NLC. The claimants, George Kaiserye, Tubotamuno Abalibo, MHWUN, Akuku-

Toru Local Government Area of Rivers States, Branch and MHWUN Degema coucil branch, are claiming among others, that Mr Wabba, is ineligible to seek for elective position in the National Delegates Conference, NDC, because his two tenure as President of the union ended in 2013.

Other defendants are MHWUN, NLC, Minister of Labour and Productivity and Registrar of Trade Unions.

APC accuses PDP of economic sabotage in Enugu

By Francis Igata

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NUGU—ALL Progressives Congress, APC, in Enugu State has accused Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Enugu State chapter, of deliberate efforts at sabotaging the growth of indigenous businesses operating in the state.

Speaking, Chairman, Enugu APC, Dr. Ben Nwoye said: “It is consistent with Enugu PDP to trample on indigenous companies and patronize their elitist cronies from Anambra and Abia states.

“That is why we have a Chief of Staff presently from Abia

State serving in Governor Sullivan Chime’s administration. It is unheard of.

“It will tell you what the next PDP government will do if elected; just the same way the present one hires Arab contractors instead of indigenous ones.”

Similarly, an employee of one of the indigenous transport companies, Mr. Uche Ezema, said: “The decision of the party to patronize an Anambra State transport company is pathetic.

It will mean capital flight to Anambra State.

“We have indigenous

transport company owners in Enugu State. In the country today, Peace Mass Transit, PMT, is a leading transporter. He hails from Nsukka in Enugu State.

“We equally have Royal Mass Transit, Globis Mass Transit, Ifesinachi Mass Transit, Romchi Mass Transit.

“All of them are from Enugu-North senatorial zone of the state where Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, the governorship candidate hails from.

“All these indigenous transport companies have at least 1,000 vehicles in their fleet.”

Abia reviews anti-kidnapping, terrorism laws

By Anayo Okoli

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MUAHIA—ABIA State Government has begun a process of reviewing its antikidnapping and terrorism laws with a view to strengthening and making it more efficient, even as the state anti-child trafficking law is being amended to give it more bite.

Government has prepared some executive bills,

including the anti-kidnapping and anti-child trafficking, for transmission to the state House of Assembly.

Commissioner for Information, Dr. Anthony Agbazuere, while briefing journalists on the outcome of the cabinet meeting, said the new law would include revoking, sealing or demolition of property use for kidnapping and child trafficking.

He said: “Any building or home used for the sale of children would be sealed, revoked and, where necessary, demolished.”

Agbazuere also announced that the government had awarded contracts worth N1.4 billion for the execution of some projects in the state.

The projects include the reconstruction and resurfacing of roads in the state capital and its environs.

By Bartholomew Madukwe (08102479985) nwamad@yahoo.com

PEOPLE SPEAK

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HIS administration has catered for the youths. Innovations such as Sure-P, youwin, rentto-own and so on, are all testimony of the good works Mr. President is doing. Nigeria is blessed to have someone like GEJ as President. — Mr. Marvelly Chibuzor, Worker.

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The claimants are seeking an interim injunction restraining the first defendant, whether by himself, his agents, servants, proxies or privies or otherwise howsoever, from presenting himself for or otherwise contesting the election in to the office of President of NLC at the National Delegates Conference of the NLC earlier scheduled to hold from February 9 at the International Conference Centre, Abuja, or at any other date or place whatsoever until the determination of the motion on notice in this suit.

President of NIC, Justice B. A. Adejumo, had fixed the hearing for today after directing that parties to the suit be put on notice.

The Judge gave the order upon reading the application and affidavit in support of the exparte motion herein sworn to by George Kaiserye of primary health care unit, Akuku Toru Local Government Area in Rivers State of Nigeria.

After hearing the counsel to the claimants, Sola Iji, the Judge held: “I have gone through the motion ex-parte; I have perused the affidavit in support, I have digested the written address and listened to the submissions made by learned counsel.

“I am of the candid view that justice of the matter demands that the defendants be put on notice of the pendency of this matter.

“In arriving at this decision, I have considered and weighed the balance of fair hearing. It is therefore my order that the defendants be put on notice of the pendency of the motion on notice herein.”

He said the second to fifth defendants are hereby ordered to take in to consideration the fact that a motion on notice is filed in respect of the subject matter on February 3, which is pending before the court.

What's the future of Nigerian youths?

cannot see any im provement that this administration has brought to the country.

Nigerians still suffer from power outages, over billing, even when the light is not steady. Roads are still bad, so what have they done?—Miss Blessing Emmanuel, Chorister.

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REAT job, our Presi dent. Long live Nigeria, long live Nigerian youths. Youths can now own homes without waiting till old age like our fathers. Nigeria is experiencing transformation indeed. —Mr. Anyambuba Innocent, Student.

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HIS is not the way to run government business and not the way to encourage investment that could create job opportunities. In Nigeria of over 170 millions, 60,000 applicants are for mortgages and somebody is celebrating 33 people. —Mr. John Marseil, Bricklayer.

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ERY true. A lot of improvement has been recorded in the agriculture sector through SURE-P. I learned that youths are getting rich through YOUWIN. I think this government should be commended for its good work so far.—Miss Amamchi Okoji, Banker.

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T least 33 Nigerians benefited from the Federal Government’s housing programme under the mortgage refinancing scheme. It is an opportunity for young people to own a home and each house built creates jobs. GEJ is trying.—Mr. Abayomi Usman, Student.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 2014 — 47

Only 70% of electricity supplied to us paid for — AEDC

Ex-councillors back Jonathan's re-election bid

By Abdulsalam Muhammad

By Boluwaji Obahopo

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OKOJA—THE Abuja Electricity Distribution Company, AEDC, has denied making more money under estimated bills, saying that only about 70 percent of the electricity supplied to the company by the market operator was actually being paid for.

AEDC Head of Public Relations and Media, Ahmed Shekarau, stated this yesterday in Lokoja while reacting to outcry over epileptic power supply and estimated billings in the area.

Ijaw youths condole with Kekemeke

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HE Ijaw Youth Development Association (IYDA) has condoled with the family of former Secretary of Ondo State Government, Hon. D.I Kekemeke for sudden departure of his wife, Mrs Tamarauemi Kekemeke.

In a statement by National President of IYDA, Fiyebo Eperetei, the Ijaw youth group described the untimely death of Mrs Kekemeke as very sad and unfortunate which came to it as rude shock.

“She was a very humble and caring woman,but no one can question God who is the giver and taker of life. May her soul rest in perfect peace”, the group said, while praying that God grants the family the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss.

LAUNCH: From left; Globacom’s Regional Chief Marketing Officer, Mr Ashok Israni; Brand Ambassador, Sammy Okposo; Head, Gloworld, Mrs Titi Ebinisi; Head Corporate Sales, Mr. Kamaldeen Shonibare; Brand Ambassador, Helen Paul and Brand Ambassador, Sani Danja at the launch of Glo Postpaid Smart Plans at Mike Adenuga Towers, Lagos on Tuesday.

NANS wades into UNIJOS, management crisis

By Marie-Therese Nanlong

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academic activities had been scheduled to commence on Monday 23rd February, 2015 but the NANS intervention was to iron out some grey areas.

He added that “Management had investigated the immediate and remote causes of the protest which led to the closure of the school and have taken measures to avoid a recurrence.

“With the intervention of NANS and other well meaning stakeholders, we have decided to

OS—IN a bid to achieve amicable resolution, the National leadership of the National Association of Nigerian Students, NANS has waded into the crisis between Management and students of the University of Jos which led to the closure of the institution since November, 2014.

The NANS leadership led by its National President, Tijani Usman and the institution’s Management led by the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Hayward Mafuyai at the end of a six-hour meeting held on Tuesday at the Senate Chamber of the institution agreed to shift their

By Wole Mosadomi positions so that academic INNA—THE forum of activities could resume. former National Addressing journalists separately at the end of the Assembly Members, Niger State meeting, the Vice-Chancellor, chapter has expressed fears over Prof. Hayward Mafuyai said the utterances of some politicians

Ex-lawmakers in Niger decry politicians' unguarded statements

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NASS: ‘Why we must vote Mrakpor'

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SABA—THE support by stakeholders, politicians, community leaders across the Aniocha/Oshimili Federal Constituency for the People Democratic Party, PDP, candidate and House of Representative hopeful for the constituency in the coming election, Hon. Onyemaechi Mrakpor has been attributed to her outstanding track records and commitment to the overall development and welfare of the people and the area over the years.

Speaking in an interview in Asaba, the Director-General of Onyemaechi Mrakpor 2015 Campaign Organization, Hon. Austin Chikezie, described the House of Representatives’ candidate as most qualified,

bend over backward which is not a sign of weakness but strength.

The students have been forgiven but sanctions must be apportioned.

“Leading protest and destroying public property are offenses and the SUG leadership must face disciplinary committee who will look into the issues and determine the next line of action.”

However, the NANS President, Tijani Usman who lamented the wasted period due to the closure also appealed to the Management to tamper justice with mercy as the students have learnt their lessons from the mistake.

ANO—COUNCIL of Former Councillors of Northern Nigeria, CFCNN, has thrown its weight behind the second term ambition of President Goodluck Jonathan.

This was contained in a communiqué jointly signed by the Chairman of the association, Umar Aliyu and Secretary, David Duniya at the end of its crucial meetings in Kano yesterday. They said that they would ‘’devote our democratic efforts to support President Jonathan’s return to office in 2015.”

The former councillors also called on politicians to desist from utterances and actions capable of truncating democracy in the country, even as they urged the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to ensure that all Nigerians receive their Permanent Voters Cards, PVCs, before the general elections.

“After consultations, we have come to the conclusion that we will devote all our democratic efforts at supporting President Jonathan’s return to office in 2015 to continue with the programmes and projects he is now spreading across the nation.

“Nigerians are already familiar with the rapid transformation going on in the education sector.

adding that there was need to elect not only a personality that has vast experience in legislature but also one that can bring effective dividends of democracy to all.

Chikezie stated that the numerous achievements of Hon Mrakpor in her two term as a representative of Aniocha South in the Delta State House of Assembly are there for all to see and assured that if she is elected, there is no doubt that more dividends of democracy will accrue to the area.

Others who spoke include a pioneer chairman of Oshimili North PDP, Hon Felix Ndukwe, a woman leader Mrs. Justina Ahueze among others who jointly

stated that the House of Representatives candidate deserved to be elected as she has all it takes to represent the people.

especially elder statesmen in the country which it observed were capable of destabilising the country at this sensitive period of national development.

It said rather than engage in unguarded utterances, they were expected to be engaged in guiding the country in areas that would ensure unity and national cohesion.

Baba Shehu Agaie, former House of Representative member for Agaie, Lapai, Katcha federal constituency, spoke on behalf of his colleagues at a news

Kwara lawmaker, Sunaboro is dead

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HE Chairman, House Committee on Finance and Appropriation of the Kwara House of Assembly, Alhaji Suleiman Sunaboro is dead.

Sunaboro died yesterday.

The Speaker, Mr Rasak Atunwa who made this known at plenary said Sunaboro died after a brief illness.

Atunwa in his remark described late Sunaboro as amiable and committed member whose absence would be felt by his

former colleagues.

The Speaker further described the contribution of the late Chairman to the progress of the House as immense especially in the passage of the annual budget of the state.

He prayed God to grant the deceased eternal rest and give his family the fortitude to bear the loss.

The House later observed a minute silence in honour of the departed member.

conference in Minna yesterday pointing out that the elder statesmen should inspire peace as the next general election is drawing nearer.

Apparently referring to former President Olusegun Obasanjo who tore his party membership card on Monday, the spokesperson of the forum called on elders as well as leaders of both the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, and All Progressives Congress, APC, to avoid actions capable of undermining peace in the country.

Agaie said the forum was worried over tension in the polity on account of activities of persons who were expected to show the light for others to follow.

He said the tension in the country had already escalated adding that the country was on the brinks of bloody revolt along ethnic and religious divides.

“Even in the First Republic, we did not witness the kind of politics being played by today’s politicians. Our major concern is the utterance of our elders. It is instructive to intimate our elders that we need peace and they must realize that Nigeria will still exist after the next general elections,” he stressed.

48—Vanguard, THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 2015

CONDOLENCE VISIT: Bayelsa State Governor, Hon. Seriake Dickson (middle), his wife, Rachael (left), and Secretary to the State Government, SSG, Prof. Edmond Oguru, during a condolence visit to the SSG over the demise of his wife, late Mrs Elizabeth Oguru in Yenagoa.

From right: G o v .

Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State, Dr. Wale A h m e d , Commissioner of Special Duties, and Mr Ayodele A b a f i , Commandant Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corp, Lagos State, during a visit to the governor in I k e j a , yesterday. .

Photo: Bunmi Azeez

CONVENTION: Mr. Alexis Vovk,MD, Total Nigeria (left), presenting first prize to the winner of Top Dealer nationwide for White products to Alhaji Abdulmunab Yunusa, during the AAA Challenge/ Dealers Convention in Abuja SWEARING IN: Mr. Charles Emetulu (left) and Sir Tony Obuh, taking the Oath of office as Commissioners in Delta State at Government House, Asaba yesterday. Photo: Henry Unini.

CAMPAIGN: From left: Alhaja Safurat Abdulkarim, Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, deputy governorship candidate for Lagos State, Alhaja Sherifat Hassan, House of Representatives candidate for Kosofe federal constituency, Mr. Jimi Agbaje, governorship candidate, Mr. Tunji Shelle, state Chairman, and Archbishop Mustaph Benjamin, founder, Resurrection Praise Ministry Worldwide, during the party's campaign rally in Kosofe, Lagos.

PRESENTATION: From left: Republic Du Benin’s Minister of Culture, Monsieur Jean-Michel Abimbola, Angelique Kidjo and AFRIMA Country Director, Republic du Benin, Monsieur Richmir Totah, at the presentation of AFRIMA trophies won by Angelique Kidjo, at the Ministry of Culture, Republic du Benin.

DONATION: From left: Baale of Langbasa, Chief Fatai Pelujo, his wife, Pelujo, Pastor in Charge of Province, RCCG, Lagos Province 23, Gbagada, Pastor Brown Oyitso, Pastor Ade Omokorede, and Pastor Bola Koku, during the commissioning and donation of storm-water drainage system to Langbasa community, Eti-Osa Local Government, Lagos by RCCG Lagos Province 23.

WORKSHOP: From left: Comarde Popoola Ajayi, Secretary, Board of Trustees, Oodua Liberation Movement, Gbenga Awosode, Akindele Akinnoye, and Joke Sholaja, during a stakeholders' workshop on 2015 Election and Yoruba Nation, organised by Oodua Liberation Movement and Network of Yoruba Alliance in Lagos. Photo: Kehinde Gbadamosi.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 2015 — 49

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50—Vanguard, THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 2015

VISIT—Bayelsa State Governor, Seriake Dickson (L), with the General Superintendent, Deeper Life Bible Church, Pastor William F. Kumuyi (M), and the governor’s wife, Dr Rachael Dickson (R), during a courtesy call on the Governor by the cleric, at Government House, Yenagoa.

Only security chiefs can guarantee polls' date Continues from Page 5 First, once the card reader is configured, it should be remembered can only read PVC issued that Sections 78 and 118 by INEC at the polling of the 1999 Constitution unit that it has been grant INEC powers to configured. register voters and to “It reads the embedded conduct election in chip card, not the back Nigeria. code. Third, it enables “We have done some authentication of the few tests and the result identity of the voter by we have is about 90 per matching his or her cent successful. We feel finger print with that comfortable that the card code on the chip of the readers can be used and card and keeps a tally of add value to the electoral all cards read and all process. It cannot be cards verified or perfect. It may not be authenticated with all able to read every finger, their details including and that is why we agree the time when this was with political parties. done.

“We bought 182, 000 “This information can card readers. Some of be sent to a central them did not work, that server using an SMS, is what we call dead on the stored information on arrival. Of the total the server will enable number of card readers INEC to audit results that we ordered and from polling units as well configured, only 503 had as do arrangement of failed to work. That is statistical analysis of the 0.03 per cent of the total. demographics of voting, “The agreement is that something INEC has if a card reader fails never been able to do during accreditation, effectively. then, we will try and “The ward collation repair it within the time officer can use this of accreditation which is information to audit between 8:00 and 1:00 polling unit result sheets pm. If a card reader failed and to determine around 10am, before whether accreditation 1:00pm, we will do figures have been everything possible to altered.” replace it but if we are He said if a card unable to do so, the time reader fails when a lost will be added to the person had been verified accreditation period and and his finger print extended.” cannot be authenticated, spares will be deployed Advantages of card before the end of the reader accreditation at 1pm.

Explaining the He also said: “If we advantages of the Card cannot replace before the reader, he said: “Using end of accreditation, then the card reader has the election in that enormous advantages.

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particular point will be postponed to the following day when a new card reader will be provided for election and we agreed with political parties to do this because if you say if a card reader fails we go back to manual voting, we are worried that everywhere we will revert to manual because there are many people who don’t want card readers to be used.

“If a voter’s PVC has been read and the details have been verified but his finger print cannot be authenticated or he or she has no fingers, an incidence form will be written by the presiding officer at the voting point and the voter will then be accredited.

“Party agents and observers will be there to testify to this. In the next six weeks, the commission hopes to utilise the period of extension to organise more public enlightenment programmes on the use of the card reader, but we have already done a number of tests.

"We have tested these card readers in a pilot scheme here in the FCT and some of the states.

We have sent national commissioners to supervise the distribution of PVCs and they went with technical officers and the card readers and wherever they went as people were collecting their cards they were also checking to see whether the cards

could be read. In general, we are satisfied with the result."

The INEC chairman said that anybody can go to court to challenge the use of the card reader, but, “we believe we have not done anything wrong. We didn’t ask for an amendment to the Act because we thought it was not unnecessary.”

He said the PVC is permanent and could last for at least 10 years and as such it could be used in 2019 election, adding, “ we hope as we move towards 2019, we will get funding so that we will make PVC truly a continuous process.”

High rate of PVC in North East

On the issue of high rate of PVC collection in three states under emergency rule, Jega said: “Why should anyone blame me for that? There is need for us to have clarity on this matter. In Yobe, only two local government areas are under emergency rule and the state is in the second phase in the distribution of the PVC. “In Yobe along with about 11 other states, we distributed cards as far as July, 2014. So if the rate of collection has gone very high, I don’t see why that should be seen as a problem. The same thing in Adamawa, only four local government areas are inaccessible and we devised a system where

cards can be distributed to IDPs. “So, as many as had been displaced but who had registered have been able to collect their cards.

But when you look at the way newspapers do their analysis, they tend to project as if there is regional slant in the distribution of the cards.

“When we designed the distribution of cards, we did it in such a manner that we took two states each from each geo-political zone to make a phase and we did it in three phases just to avoid being accused of this regional slant in the distribution of PVCs. “It will be wrong to assume that Yobe or any other state has higher rate of collection. If people come out to collect and other people did not, why should we be blamed for that?"

The deputy leader of the PDP caucus in the House, Leo Ogor had at yesterday ’s session raised a motion calling for Jega to be summoned.

The motion was, however, defeated by the majority of members of the House at the session who belong to the APC. The distribution of House members and their party membership shows: APC (182); PDP (155) other parties (23).

The House has 360 members.

Deployment of military

will today debate the legality or otherwise of the deployment of the military during elections.

This motion is proposed by the APC leader in the House, Femi Gbajabiamila, APC Surulere Federal C o n s t i t u e n c y.

Gbajabiamila at the hearing today is expected to cite video and audio evidence of the involvement of military men during the 2014 governorship election in Ekiti State.

Last August, INEC backed an amendment to the Electoral Act which constitutionally limits the role of Armed Forces in elections.

The commission in a position paper presented by its chairman, Attahiru Jega backed the amendment of Section 29(1) of the Electoral Act which inserts a new paragraph(b) that limits the role of the military to “securing the distribution and delivery of electoral materials”.

The new paragraph (b) reads in part: “The commission shall be responsible for requesting for the deployment of relevant security personnel necessary for elections or registration of voters and shall assign them in the manner determined by the commission in consultation with the relevant security agencies.

Meanwhile, the House

Bayelsa crash: Dep Gov to work out memorial modalities with families of victims

By Samuel Oyadongha

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ENAGOA— GOVERNOR Seriake Dickson of Bayelsa State, has said that a state memorial service will be held in honour of Bayelsa women, who lost their lives in the Saturday tragic road accident along the Ahaoda axis of the East-West Road in Rivers State.

The governor, who described the accident victims as eminent women who played significant roles in the politics of the state, said the government was working out modalities for their interment.

He spoke as the Ijaw National Congress, INC, announced the postponement of the Ijaw Day celebration indefinitely in honour of the victims of the auto crash.

Dickson spoke when INC, its youth wing, the

Ijaw Youth Council, IYC and the Bayelsa State Traditional Rulers Council paid him a condolence visit at Government House, Yenagoa.

Dickson, delegated his Deputy, Rear Admiral Gboribiogha Jonah to liaise with the bereaved families concerning the funeral rites of the departed.

He said: “The deputy governor, representing the state government will interact with the various families to discuss the modalities for the interment and what needs to be done from our end.

“We are thinking of organising some kind of state memorial service and I want to plead with all people of goodwill and our leaders to attend the service that we intend to hold in their honour before interment.

“The way and manner the interment will go will

be essentially determined by the families.”

Expressing gratitude to sympathizers within and outside the state for their show of concern over the tragedy, the governor urged all people of goodwill to support the families affected by the incident.

He said on the part of the state government, “we are trying to console the families of our departed sisters, mothers and wives, all of them very eminent women in their own rights who were playing very important roles in the politics of our state and particularly in their communities and families.

“It is a very tragic and painful loss to our people, but in the end, it is also a huge personal loss to the families; spouses, children and to all their loved ones that have been left behind.”

Vanguard, THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 2015 — 51

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52 — Vanguard, THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 2015

Vanguard, THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 2015 — 53

I'll propose a Niger Delta Empowerment Bill —Ben Murray Bruce

By Our Special correspondent

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HE Peoples Democratic Party's, PDP, candidate for Brass East Senatorial District Ben Murray Bruce had in the four weeks preceding the February 14 presidential and National Assembly elections campaigned vigorously across land and sea to position his 10-point agenda for the next session of the National Assembly. He insists that the time has come to address the issue of resource empowerment in the Niger Delta, and a Marshall Plan for the North East.

Election campaigns can be highly unpredictable in a fledgling democracy such as ours. However traversing the creeks and islands of Brass East Senatorial District, Ben MurrayBruce brought possibilities quite predictable.

Real estate businessman Perhaps Murray-Bruce’s background, experience and position as a media mogul and real-estate businessman is exactly what Bayelsa needs. He has brought something new to the table…a campaign-filled with messages relatable to not just the people of Baylesa but the nation as a whole.

Let there be light”, MurrayBruce’s wake up call to his Senatorial District or zone comes with a highly defined clarity. For a region flowing with crude oil beneath the land and sea, infrastructure development needed for minimum comfort and living remains a mirage. Which is why the candidate is pushing to raise one Billion dollars to power Nigeria, if he is voted to the Senate on March 28…

First and foremost, he explains, his would remain an issue-based campaign with minimum or no room for tirades and abusive language. For Ben , his robust goodwill, which happens to be the driving force of his success, must not be sold on a mission of

running his opponents down just to garner votes. Most importantly, he explains the work he has to do given the enormous poverty, sickness, disease and backwardness afflicting his district. According to him, it is a travesty of justice that the people see their natural resources transformed into a fortune that rather than elevate their well being has only succeeded in degrading the environment, bringing enormous hardship to generations yet to be born if the intractable problems in the area are not tackled headlong now.

“Illegal refineries have been the bane of the Niger Delta region and are responsible for environmental degradation, pollution and crude oil waste because they cannot be harnessed in their proper form.

The consequences of these have led to fires, violence in the community and even starvation because people will be unable to fish due to the pollution. Millions is spent on security in trying to stop illegal refineries operating, however we can turn this to job/ wealth creation for government and local communities.

Wealth creation If only we could push for proper licensing and regulation, would stop being a problem but a solution to the problems within the Niger Delta.”

It seems setting up illegal refineries is a culture that has continued to rapidly grow, and my argument is that if we legalize this illegality then our environment would be safer. After all, it is a simple business module, by refining the products, providing this service in the community to Nigerians who are trying to make a living from what we consider an illegal activity would be given a chance to make a living and prove themselves to be business worthy. Since they have a business module, we can create an environment where they can borrow money from the

Some supporters of Ben Murray-Bruce at a rally.

Ben Murray-Bruce and PDP chieftains during a campaign rally.

bank to set up modular refineries.

That is the message of MurrayBruce as he made his whistle-stop campaigns to the major communities of his Senatorial District—Brass, Nembe, Akasa and Ogbia.

The people must be partakers of their wealth not spectators.

Believing that every step of success must be anchored on dialogue, Murray-Bruce’s approach is that of forming a coalition across party lines to drive his point home and get the right results. For example, he argues, it is commonsensical disposition to convert illegal refineries to legal corporate outfits and get the owners to pay a corporate tax based on what revenue they generate. The NNPC should be able to allocate crude oil to them while the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) which has funds for the establishment of modular refineries can help power such projects.

But Ben is not just an ideafloater; he is a man of action with positive to-do-attitude. That means he has infused energy into what he thinks and believes and in the fullness of time these same ideas will acquire wings and produce the right results. The Peoples Democratic Party Senatorial candidate with 10 bills waiting to be sponsored and for presentation to the National Assembly will specifically be looking at the needs of his people.

Yet the Murray-Bruce we know is not just an individual to be boxed into a tiny location in the Nigerian map. He is looking broadly at the geography and demographic

Ben Murray-Bruce introduced as party candidate.

spread of the polity. So while pushing for a Niger Delta Economic Empowerment Programme using Brass East as a testing ground, he is also insisting the much devastated North east needs a Marshal Plan that will pull the zone to a modern state filled with the right infrastructure, institutions that will turn the citizens into an educated elite with the right skills needed for jobs in the industry and more importantly build such relevant industries that will help to turn around the living standards of the citizens.

His recurring mantra: “We will ask those who drill our oil to cede 40% ownership to the people. I am referring to those wealthy Nigerians who received gifts of oil blocks and marginal fields through their oil companies or in collaboration with their foreign partners.

Industrial network

While pushing for a Niger Delta Economic Empowerment Programme using Brass East as a testing ground, he is also insisting the much devastated North east needs a Marshall Plan that will pull the zone to a modern state

Also as a Senator of the Federal Republic, I will introduce a bill to the National Assembly for the creation of a Marshall Plan for the North east to fast track its economy devastated by war to a modern development oriented region or zone. The idea is to help the zone keep pace with the other more economically developing states of the federation. We must put together a package that seeks to grow a scarcely developed industrial network, develop its poor educational institutions and equip them with modern methods and skills of learning.

The Northeast must be ridden of disease through the establishment of world class

hospitals; it must cease to be a region of poverty through education, the establishment of a huge industrial village, and a growing business district and skill development for the teeming youths.”

The days the cankerworm has eaten have left so much despondency in the land. In Murray-Bruce’s country home, Akassa, infrastructure-roads, good homes, electricity and the good things of life are few, stretched and far between. Okada machines minister to the poor and rich most of whom hardly come home considering the high cost of living that accompanies it.

Pleasurable experience Willie Murray-Bruce, an accountant and former Air Force Pilot remembers he had just made his sixth or seventh visit to Akasa reminding him of those days when a boat came from Nembe with chilled drinks and snacks making a boat ride a pleasurable experience. All that is gone and the oil companies only build roads that guarantee a walk and an okada ride. “What these companies have done to the community!” laments one indigene, “is left to the Almighty.

They dig your oil and leave you impoverished in a conspiracy nurtured by our own people.”

In the health sector, the various communities in Akassa suffer a draught of medical personnel and infrastructure, so much so that the only doctor who was supposed to be in-charge of a clinic in Sangana was said to have returned to Yenagoa for undisclosed reasons.

54—Vanguard, THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 2015

Niger gov hands over to Speaker, heads for vacation

By Wole Mosadomi

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I N N A — GOVERNOR Babangida Aliyu of Niger State has handed over to the Speaker of the state House of Assembly, Adam Usman, as the acting governor instead of his deputy, Ahmed Ibeto, as he proceeds on vacation.

Ibeto, who rode to power with him on the platform of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, recently defected to All Progressives Congress, APC, after losing the governorship primaries in PDP. However, Ibeto described the development as laughable and unconstitutional as he remained the deputy governor of the state.

In a letter yesterday, Mu’azu said: “I wish to inform Mr. Speaker that I intend to travel to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to perform the lesser Hajj between February 19 and 26.

“In my absence, the Honourable Speaker, Niger State House of Assembly, Adamu Usman, will oversee my schedules as acting governor.”

Earlier on Wednesday, the governor had ordered his deputy out of the weekly state executive council meeting and vowed not to have anything to do with him again.

Mr. Jimi Agbaje, Lagos State Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, governorship candidate (middle); his wife, Bisi (left) and his running mate, Alhaja Safurat Abdulkarim, at a Valentine lunch date in Lagos.

APC writes Jonathan, Jega on using military for elections

By Levinus Nwabughiogu

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BUJA—DETERMINED to make the Federal Government comply with court judgment on elections, All Progressives Congress, APC, yesterday wrote a letter to President Goodluck Jonathan and the chairman of Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, Professor Attahiru Jega, asking him to give heed to the judgment barring the involvement of soldiers in elections.

The letter, dated February 16, emanated from the Director, Legal Services of APC Presidential Campaign Council, ChukwumaMachukwu Ume (SAN).

Though it was addressed to

Jega, copies of the letter were also made available to President Jonathan, the National Security Adviser, the Chief of Defence Staff, the Chief of Army Staff, Chief of Naval Staff, Chief of Air Staff and the National Chairmen of APC and the PDP. APC, in the letter, called the attention of the Federal Government to a judgment delivered on January 29 by Justice R. M. Aikawa of the Federal High Court, Sokoto and another by the Court of Appeal, Abuja, on February 16, which overruled the use of military in elections.

The letter read: “I am sure all well-meaning Nigerians share your deep seated concern on the militarization of our elections.

Afenifere Forum urges Yoruba in North to vote for Jonathan's re-election

By Marie-Therese Nanlong

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OS—THE Afenifere Forum in the 19 Northern states has called on Yourba living in the north to vote massively for President Goodluck Jonathan during the March 28 presidential and National Assembly polls.

Afenifere stressed that no amount of threats and intimidation would make them change their minds from supporting Jonathan and Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in the forthcoming general elections.

In a statement in Jos yesterday by its Chairman, Chief Toye

Ogunshuyi and Secretary General, Tunde Oladapo, the group condemned reports credited to the Afenifere Renewal Group, led by Olawale Oshun in Ibadan, purporting that the Yoruba would opt out of Nigeria if the current democratic dispensation failed, regardless of the cause.

It read: “Afenifere North distances itself from statements calling for the balkanization of Nigeria, but remains in alliance and steadfast with the national leader of Afenifere under Reuben Fashoranti, which preaches one nation and peaceful coexistence among all

citizens irrespective of religion, political, geographical or tribal differences.

“We urge the INEC Chairman, Attahiru Jega, to redouble efforts and ensure that all eligible citizens obtain their Permanent Voter's Cards, PVC, before the extended period for the polls elapsed.

“We call on our members not to succumb to any inducement or monetary gains for exchange of their PVCs. We call on the Yourba, who are planing to relocate to the south-west because of fear of possible violence, to have a rethink and continue to pray for free, fair and transparent elections devoid of any crisis.”

“It is, therefore, imperative that your good offices and commission ensure, henceforth, and until there is an enabling Act of the National Assembly, the court orders are obeyed and armed forces personnel are never again deployed in any form of security supervision of our elections.”

Justice Aikawa of the Federal High Court in his judgment on the suit, among others, restrained the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and INEC “from engaging the service of the Nigerian armed forces in the security supervision of elections in any manner whatsoever in any part of Nigeria, without the Act of the National Assembly.”

Justice Abdul Aboki, in his lead judgment in the Ekiti State Governorship Election appeal on February 16, held that “even the President of Nigeria has no powers to call on the Nigerian armed forces and to unleash them on peaceful citizens, who are exercising their franchise to elect their leaders.

“Whoever unleashed soldiers on Ekiti State, disturbed the peace of the election on June 21, 2014, acted in flagrant breach of the constitution and flouted the provisions of the Electoral Act, which required an enabling environment by civil authorities in the conduct of elections.”

Telecom provider showers post-paid subscribers with incentives

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AT I O N A L telecommunication company, Globacom, has unveiled a new package tagged Smart Postpaid Plan under which postpaid subscribers on the network will enjoy up to 50GB data, up to 50 hours of free voice calls and up to 5,000 free Short Messaging Service, SMS. Speaking during the launch of the new plan in Lagos on Tuesday, Globacom’s Regional Chief Marketing Officer, Mr. Ashok Israni, stated that the new offer is the best package for postpaid subscribers in Nigeria, as it gives more value for money.

According to Mr. Israni, a subscriber, who buys into a plan of N50,000, would get 50GB data, 50 hours of free voice calls and 5,000 free SMS instantly.

Similarly, a subscriber, who is on a plan of N5,000, will instantly get 5GB of data, five hours of free voice calls and 500 free SMS, while N10,000 plan would give the customer 10GB data, 10 hours of voice calls and 1,000 free SMS. He added that N25,000 plan would give the customer 25GB data, 25 hours of free voice calls and 2,500 free SMS.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 2014 — 55

ING: Plot to stop Jonathan’s re-election, say former Ministers, Abacha, others

By Henry Umoru

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BUJA—FORMER Ministers, Ambassadors, son of late Head of State, General Sani Abacha, Mohammed Abacha under the aegis, National Solidarity Alliance, NASA yesterday described the subtle campaign for an Interim National Government by some persons as moves to stop President Goodluck Jonathan’s re-election bid.

Addressing newsmen yesterday in Abuja, Chairman of NASA and former Minister of Sports and Social Development, Saidu Samaila Sambawa called on the Chairman of Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, Professor Attahiru Jega to ensure free, fair and credible elections on March 28 and April 11 respectively.

Flanked at the briefing by former Minister of Information, John Odey; former Police Affairs, Caleb Olubolade; Assistant Secretary, Conference Proceedings of the 2014 National Conference, Akilu Ndabawa, former Nigeria Ambassador to Spain, Amb. Yusuf Mamman, Mohammed Abacha, among others, Sambawa who asked INEC to use the postponement of the elections to understand the circumstance and adjust, stressed that 23.71 Million Nigerians would have been disenfranchised if the polls took place last Saturday, February 14 because of non collection of Permanent Voter Cards, PVCs. He said, “Another issue of concern that NASA deliberated on is the on-going subtle campaign for an interim government in order to deny President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan of his anticipated victory in the March zs” Presidential election. The concept of interim government is unknown to 1999 constitution as amended.

Therefore, on no account shall this

unconstitutional interregnum be acceptable to our fellow Nigerians.

“We therefore call on all wellmeaning Nigerians to resist any attempt to subvert our democracy.

NASA invite all well-meaning Nigerians, the international community and civil society organization to cooperate with INEC and the security agencies to ensure a credible, free and fair election come March 28th and April 11th, 2015.

“23 million voters had not collected their PVCs, as shown in INEC’s figures due to shoddy preparations. As at Feb 17th INEC had released new figures for the

I

voter apathy is high. NASA believes that the Commission did not make available enough literature in both print and electronic explaining the new voting process of using the PVC and VCR in various Nigerian languages. Yet Jega said “we are ready for elections.”

On Internally Displaced Persons (lOP’s), NASA said, “The North East states of Adamawa, Borno and Yobe where the dastardly activities of Boko Haram insurgents have created several thousands of Internally Displaced Persons (lDPs) has not been addressed by INEC with all the seriousness it deserves.

MEETING: All Progressives Congress, APC governorship candidate for Kaduna State, Malam Nasir el-Rufai with the minority leader, Kaduna State House of Assembly, Hon. Mohammed Ali and Alhaji Tijjani Ramalan at the APC Kaduna State council meeting in Kaduna, yesterday. Photo by Olu Ajayi.

ASH WEDNESDAY: Buhari exhorts Christians

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RESIDENTIAL candidate of the All Progressives

Ministry conducts 2nd phase of G-WIN project training to alleviate poverty through the N furtherance of the transformation agenda of the Federal Government, the Federal Ministry of Water Resources has conducted training for the 2nd Phase of the G-WIN project in Kebbi, Delta and Taraba states.

The pilot phase was conducted in DankoWasagu, Aniocha and Takum LGAs of Kebbi, Delta and Taraba states respectively.

Minister of Water Resources, Mrs. Serah Ochekpe, in addresses read on her behalf in the three states, re-stated the determination of her ministry towards raising the standard of women in the country.

She said the reason behind the ministry ’s project, ‘Girls and Women Initiative in Nigeria’, was to create employment and income

collection of the PVCs which indicated that 52.23m or 75.88 percent have now collected their PVCs. This means that 16.6m registered voters representing 24.22 percent are yet to collect their pvcs. It is worth noting that the postponement had enabled 6.4m more registered voters to collect their pvcs. If the feb 14 election were held, these Nigerians would have been disenfranchised.”

On Voter Education, the group said, “INEC grossly neglected its responsibility to carry out adequate voter education especially in a country like ours where literacy level is low and

provision of water schemes, water kiosks, and public sanitation facilities to build the ability of women and girls in the rural areas to effectively and confidently own and manage these facilities.”

The training programme in the three states was implemented by African Themes Limited.

Also speaking on the training program, the Managing Director of African Themes (lead consultants), Mrs Annabelle Adeyemi-Johnson, commended the administration of President Goodluck Jonathan for continuing his drive to empower women.

She stated that with the training alone, the participants had been empowered to take their destinies in their own hands.

Congress, APC, General Muhammadu Buhari has urged Christians to be spiritually fortified as they commenced Ash Wednesday yesterday which marks the beginning of the Forty Days Fasting period for all Christians worldwide.

In a statement signed by Mr Dele Alake, Director of Strategic Communications of APC campaign organisation, he said, “on this most evocative spiritual occasion of Ash Wednesday, I bring you warm felicitations and prayer that the Almighty God shall accept all our supplications to him in this holy season.

Lent is the central aspect of the Christian life, the most important period in the Christian calendar and definitely the high watermark in all the injunctions to the faithful. It is instructive that the Holy Bible teaches that it was after Jesus Christ had observed his fast for “forty days and forty

nights” that the Devil came to tempt him.

However, having been fortified by the period of self-denial and sacrifice, he was able to withstand the wiles of the Evil One and to establish for mankind the eternal message of salvation called Christianity.

According to him, “While the people who manipulated the postponement of the election might have had other intentions in mind, it is doubtful that they adverted their mind to the efficacious utility of the intervening period which now falls, almost entirely, within the period of Lent for the renewing of our faith.

“The central message of Lent is spiritual renewal and Change! It is my hope and prayer that this period of fasting shall enable us all, to be spiritually fortified to face the challenge that will be presented to us on March 28just one week to Good Friday!

ARISE News receives Emmy nomination

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EW YORK— ARISE News Television channel has been nominated for the 58th Annual New York Emmy Awards by the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences.

The documentary “Game Changers: How the Harlem Globetrotters Battled Racism” produced by ARISE News was recognized in the Nostalgia Program category.

According to the coexecutive producer and chairman of ARISE, Mr Nduka Obaigbena, “ARISE News is a different kind of 24/7 news & entertainment channel,” we provide coverage and perspective on global events seldom given airtime.

“This ARISE News Special takes an historical look at the early days of professional basketball and how the Harlem Globetrotters not only dealt with racism, but helped change the world of sports.

ARISE News CoExecutive Producer Alan J. Weiss added that “The story of the Harlem Globetrotters mirrors the Civil Rights struggle in America. It’s important that these often overlooked heroes lionized around the world, but treated as second class citizens at home - receive the recognition they deserve.”

Hosted by ARISE News anchor Julian Phillips, the documentary includes interviews with former Globetrotters: Wilt Chamberlain, Meadowlark Lemon, Marques Haynes, William “Pop” Gates, Gene Hudgins, Andy Johnson, Charlie Hoxie and Carl Green.

This is the first nomination for ARISE News since its soft launch in 2013.

ARISE news will be formally launched this year.

.Nduka Obaigbena

56 — VANGUARD, THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 19 , 2015

Ukraine troops pull back from key town as truce falters T HE Ukrainian Presi dent says his forces are making an “organised” withdrawal from the embattled town of Debaltseve.

Petro Poroshenko said 80% of Ukraine’s troops left on Wednesday morning after several days of fierce fighting.

Russia said Ukrainian forces had tried to fight their way out of the city after being encircled but Mr Poroshenko insisted they were never surrounded.

The rebel advance on Debaltseve, which came in spite of the recent ceasefire agreement, has been widely condemned.

Nato chief Jens Stoltenberg said the rebels’ offensive had put the wider peace agreement at risk and urged Russia to “use all its influence on the separatists to make them respect the ceasefire”.

Pope Francis caresses a young girl as he arrives for his weekly general audience, in St. Peter’s Square, at the Vatican, Wednesday, Feb. 18, 2015.

(AP Photo/Andrew Medichini)

Pope walks in Ash Wednesday procession

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Ukrainian servicemen ride on a military vehicle as they leave area around Debaltseve, eastern Ukraine near Artemivsk, yesterday

Kurdish forces repel ISIS offensive in Iraq

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FTER hours of heavy fighting, Kurdish fighters in Iraq have repelled an assault

by ISIS fighters southwest of Irbil, Kurdish officials have said.

Kurdish commanders say ISIS fighters had threatened to overrun Kurdish defensive positions in the area for a while, and the two sides were so close that air-

strikes were not possible.

But by 3 a.m. local time yesterday, the Peshmerga had succeeded in forcing ISIS back, allowing airstrikes to begin.

OPE Francis walked in a solemn Ash Wednesday procession between churches on Rome’s ancient Aventine Hill, calling on people to humbly remember their human limits as faithful began their annual penitential Lenten period.

Francis, carrying his pastoral staff, chanted prayers along with other participants during the few minutes’ walk down the street. He wore a purple cloak, in keeping with the somber Lenten mood as Catholics spiritually prepare for Easter, which falls on April 5

this year.

The pope lowered his head so a prelate could dab ashes on his head during the ceremony inside St. Sabina’s Basilica, a church which dates to the early 5th century.

The ashes symbolize mortality.

Then Francis, along with other churchmen, sprinkled ashes on the foreheads of other faithful, motioning the sign of the cross with their fingers as they did so.

The ritual of the ashes was a “reminder of the truth of human existence,” Francis said in his homily.

S/Leone hunts for infected Ebola patients S IERRA Leone launched a door-todoor search yesterday for “hidden” Ebola patients as the head of the United Nations announced the world was at “a critical turning point” in the crisis.

Dozens of healthcare workers fanned out across remote parts of Port Loko district, east of the capital Freetown, after a spike in cases attributed to unsafe burials and patients being hidden from the authorities.

“Teams of health workers backed by security personnel are trekking into outlying areas and knocking on doors of houses... to check whether people are telling us the truth about not hiding sick people,” Morlai Dumbuya, a coordinator of the operation, told AFP. “So far we have not met any resistance and people are co-operating.”

The two-week operation follows a larger exercise in December, dubbed the “Western Area Surge”, when hundreds of volunteers knocked on doors across the west of Sierra Leone.

The nation of six million has seen more than 11,000 cases and 3,400 deaths during the epidemic which has raged in west Africa for more than a year.

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon told the Security Council in New York that proactive leadership by the presidents of Sierra Leone, Liberia and Guinea was behind the retreat of the epidemic.

“Today, we face a critical turning point. The pattern of the Ebola outbreak has changed,” he said.

“2015 has seen a significant decline in the number of new Ebola cases in the three affected coun-

tries.”

Sierra Leone President Ernest Bai Koroma had pointed to a “steady downward trend” in new cases on January 23 as he lifted country-wide quarantines affecting half the population, declaring that “victory is in sight”.

People walking past a billboard with a message about ebola in Freetown, Sierra Leone.

Anger in Zimbabwe over ‘obscene’ Mugabe 91st birthday at a time the used instead to fix infrabirthday bash economy is on a downturn. structure such as hospitals.

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IMBABWE’s main op position party yesterday

denounced as “obscene” a planned bash to celebrate President Robert Mugabe’s

Zimbabwe’s President Robert Mugabe

Mugabe turns 91 on Saturday and each year his ZANU-PF party lays on a lavish party using funds raised through public donations.

This year a belated feast is set for February 28 at a hotel in the prime resort town of Victoria Falls where guests will be served with game meat donated by a local farmer.

But the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC), the country’s main opposition, wants the funds raised for the party to be

“All the money that has been collected to bankroll this obscene jamboree should be immediately channeled towards rehabilitating the collapsed public hospitals, clinics and rural schools in Matabeleland North province,” Obert Gutu, spokesman for the MDC party said in a statement. Victoria Falls is in Matabeleland North province where public facilities such as clinics and roads are in a state of disrepair for lack of funds — as elsewhere in rural Zimbabwe.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 2015 — 57

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58—Vanguard, THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 2015

How leadership failure fouled up NLC delegates conference

PROTEST: NLC Vice-President, Comrade Issa Aremu, appealing to short-changed NLC workers protesting non-delivery of houses by the NLC-Kriston Lally EPC Affordable Housing Scheme paid for since 2013.

By Funmi Komolafe, & Victor Ahiuma-Young

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OR Labour Vanguard that has had the privilege of attending Nigeria Labour Congress delegates conferences for over 20 years, the last one was anything but a “big shame” as the first General Secretary of the NLC, Aliyu Dangiwa described it.

This edition of Labour Vanguard reflects on the whys and hows behind the failure of the conference. Dangiwa in his assessment of the botched conference, told Vanguard: “It’s a big shame….. Moreover, on the part of workers, we have to be more articulate and objective. Apparently, we must look at ourselves. There are people working against us, people working for our adversaries in our midst. Whoever is responsible for this should be traced by Nigerian workers for appropriate action”. He said it all.

Unprecedented marks The issue is, was the National Delegates Conference, NDC, designed to fail? If so, who did it and for what purpose? What happened in Abuja last week had many unprecedented marks and ended up unprecedentedly.

First, is the manner the leadership of the NLC handled issues of the conference before and during the meeting.

NLC president , Abdulwaheed Omar used his position as presiding officer to comment on virtually every speech made by delegates on the basis that it “touched on his person” which was not quite healthy for his position.

The issue of the bloated number of delegates was the first signal that the conference was a time-bomb waiting to explode.

The number of delegates

from two unions — Medical and Health Workers Union of Nigeria(527), and the National Union of Electricity Employees (471), were unprecedented. Both unions attributed this to increased membership and increase in wages.

Yet, the (NLC) constitution has provisions preventing bulk payment for the purpose of allocation of delegates for the election. However, one cannot blame the two unions because NLC's secretariat accepted their explanation and so it became a reality.

Re-opeing of nomination As if that was not enough, the organ of Congress that constituted the Credentials Committee, owes workers a “full explanation.” Why did the committee not inform the National Union of Road Transport Workers, NURTW, and the Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria, MWUN, that there were gaps in their nomination forms which needed to be filled?

Also, the leadership of NLC is aware that one of the candidates would retire this year but because he is in the current National Administrative Council, he was allowed to contest.

Perhaps the most important is that certain individuals in the committee were of questionable conducts.

The insincerity of some members of the credentials committee resulted in the reopening of nomination on the floor of the house on Tuesday, which again, was unprecedented. Those who called it Democracy in Action should tell others if Democracy is also a process without rules.

With this, the conference was thrown into confusion when they failed to listen to the words and

More NLC workers protesting the NLC-Kriston Lally EPC Affordable Housing Scheme. Photos: Gbemiga Olamikan.

wisdom of elders of the labour movement including its pioneer president, Alhaji Hassan Sunmonu, who warned the delegates against the danger of throwing the labour movement, and indeed the conference, into chaos.

Having re-opened nomination, it meant that anyone was free to contest. What took many delegates, journalists and others aback was the magical process of printing ballot papers.

President of the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers, NUPENG, Igwe Achese, withdrew from the contest for NLC presidency on Tuesday and threw the weight of his supporters behind Joe Ajaero of NUEE. By 5 p.m. on Wednesday, President of NURTW, Najeem Usman Yasin, PresidentGeneral of MWUN, Tony Nted, and Achese’s names were on the ballot paper as candidates for the posts of deputy president, vice president and deputy president respectively.

Delegates were never informed that NUPENG, NURTW and MWUN had filled nomination forms for new posts. No time was given for them to fill and submit fresh forms.

Failure to dissolve NAC: Perhaps, the worst thing that happened at the conference was failure to dissolve the National

What took many delegates, journalists and others aback was the magical process of printing ballot papers

Administrative Council, NAC, before a fresh election.

This point of order was raised

by Ismaila Bello of the National Union of Textile, Garment and Tailoring Workers, NUTGTWN, but an NLC Deputy General Secretary, Emma Ugboaja, who was a General Secretary of an affiliate of the NLC, said “it is not in our constitution.” To put it mildly, many delegates knew nothing could be farther from the truth because it is the norm. In the interest of peace, delegates accepted.

Incumbent president Consequently, voting for a new president and other officers was on while the incumbent president was still in office.

The question is, had the election succeeded, would there had been two presidents of the NLC at the same time?

Kriston-Lally/ NLC: One cannot, but commend delegates that brought up the issue of NLC/ Kriston-Lally failed housing project that did not produce houses for workers and in some cases refunded devalued money to depositors.

The real disclosure came from Achese, who confirmed that "yes, N2.5 billion is safe" as disclosed by the Treasurer , Ayuba Wabba, but Achese insisted not all the money was safe.

The question is, where is the financial report? Out of 3,119 delegates at the conference, not more than 50 saw the report, yet, some moved for the adoption of a report that was not seen. Omar called for a vote by standing up, and without counting, he declared the report accepted. This to some delegates confirmed that the executive had something to cover.

The onus is on workers to elect an executive that will be transparent with this particular

issue because workers' hardearned money is involved.

Fraudulent consultationTwice, the leadership was engaged in what could best be described as "fraudulent consultation".

Omar, called for votes on whether or not to reopen nomination, before he consulted pioneer leaders of the movement who were seated right before him.

Secondly, on the issue of the dissolution of the House, the pioneer leaders were seated there and were not consulted or were consulted after Ugboaja had announced that “ it is not in our constitution” as if that was the first conference of NLC or any industrial union for that matter.

Sectoral Division: Had the conference gone on smoothly, it would have created a wound that would take a long time to heal.

Workers appeared to be divided along private and public sector unions, though many were silent and could have voted for the candidate of their choice.

One would have thought that as usual, they would be divided along ideological lines or some kind of principles but this was not so.

Turn of the private sector While some argued that it was the turn of the private sector, others insisted the public sector must have it. For the records, the president of the NLC could have come from any sector.

The issue however is the fact that the movement under Omar had degenerated so much that the ideological focus has been thrown to the dogs.

It is in this era that union leaders now fly First Class while travelling on official assignments. For those who do not know, a first class ticket to London which is six hours flight is about One Million Naira or more , depending on the airline.

Some of these leaders who now distance themselves from KristonLally travelled to Greece, the headquarters of the company on these expensive tickets.

There are remote and immediate causes for the failure of the Abuja 2015 conference but in all of these, the leadership, indeed the secretariat, must take responsibility for a failed conference.

Now that the National Executive Council, NEC is to decide a new date for the election, isn’t there a need to appoint new and experienced hands to organize the conference ? Wouldn’t the legality of the new conference be a subject of litigation if the ‘ leadership’ presides?

Isn’t it also time to put in place a responsible and committed leadership at the secretariat?

All of these are questions awaiting answers. The struggle continues.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 2015—59

NASU raises alarm over non-remittance of deducted funds Stories by Victor AhiumaYoung

N

ON-ACADEMIC Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions, NASU, has warned that rising cases of non-remittance of deducted funds remains the greatest danger to the survival of the Contributory Pension Scheme, CPS. Since inception of CPS following the Pension Reform Act, PRA, 2004 as amended, issue of non-remittance has been the greatest challenge facing the scheme.

In a bid to address this problem, National Pension Commission, PenCom, engaged the services of recovery agents to recover non-remitted funds from employers.

NASU position was contained in a motion to the 11th National Delegates Conference of Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC. The motion was seconded by the Nigeria Union of Pensioners, NUP. According to NASU, “The 2004 Pension Reform Act, PRA,

which was further reviewed in 2014 sought to, among other things, address the chronic under-funding of pension entitlements of workers especially in the public sector.

The introduction of the contributory scheme, which ensured that both employers and employees take collective responsibility for contributing to retirement savings account of workers has added one of the perennial problems associated with payment of pension enti-

*Members of Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions, NASU, at a rally

The pension reform act recently underwent some new reform including criminalization and punishment of up to 10 years imprisonment for fraud

tlements of workers.

Though, the continuing lack of clear provision in the new PRA for gratuity, has made employers especially in the private sector, to hold to the false notion that there is no room for gratuity payments by employers under this scheme.

Despite advances which the reforms have brought to our pension administration in this country, some actions, omissions and commission by some government agencies have threatened to undermine the progress that had been made in this sphere. This includes delay and/or non-remit-

tance of deductions from workers’ salaries especially by parastatals and many state governments.

"After ten years of operation, the pension reform act recently underwent some new reform including criminalization and punishment of up to 10 years imprisonment for fraud involving workers’ contributions. The 2014 amendment also marginally increased the contributions of employers to a worker’s RSA from 7.5% to 10%, while that-of employees was increased from 7.5% to 8%

Non-unionisation of pensioners in Contributory Pension Scheme worries NUP

N

IGERIA Union of Pensioners, NUP, has expressed concern over nonunionisation of pensioners of the Contributory Pension Scheme, CPS. NUP is therefore seeking the support of Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, to engage the National Pension Commission, PenCom, to unionse the affected pensioners.

The union in a motion to the 11th National Delegates Conference, NDC, of NLC, seconded by Radio, Television, Theatre and Arts Workers Union, RATTAWU, recalled that by Decrees No. 21 and 22 of August 1978, the Federal Government recognized and registered Industrial Unions.

According to NUP, “We are aware that the contributory Pension Scheme was established by the Pension Reform Act of 2004 and that this Act was later amended comprehensively in 2014 to correct and overcome most of the inadequacies of the old pension Scheme.

"We are equally aware that the Pension Reform Act 2004 (as amended in 2014) makes no provision whatsoever for the unionization of pensioners under the contributory pension

of monthly pay.

According to the union, while commending the government for the marginal increment in the contributions to the RSA, as well as taking steps to block identified loopholes in the pension fund administration, NASU however expressed worries that some agencies and employers had “started the unwholesome action of unremitted deductions from workers’ wages, which can easily result in the failure of the scheme over time.”

The union expressed concerns “that the total contribution, especially the employers’ contribution is still far from meeting the expectation of a minimum of 2:1 ratio of employers’ contribution to workers’ contribution."

Workers' contribution

*Members of Nigeria Union of Pensioners, NUP, at a protest rall over unpaid benefits

scheme.”

The union noted that it is worried that “pensioners under this new Scheme, (contributory Pension Scheme, CPS) are already facing serious problems which include non-remittance of their savings to pension Fund Administrators (PFAs), by their employers, non-payment and non-remittance of their own percentage by employers thereby resulting in non-payment ; shortpayment, or delay in payment

of entitlements of many pensioners under the CPS. We are also concerned that when faced with any of these serious challenges, these pensioners have no union they can legitimately run to except the NUP; and to which, in fact, they have been coming for assistance.”

Consequently, NUP asked that the congress-in-session mandates the leadership of NLC and NUP within the first year of the incoming Congress to collaborate with and engage in serious discussion

with PenCom to ensure unionization of Contributory Pensioners. Similarly, NUP being the only registered and recognized union for all pensioners, the congress-in-session should mandate the leadership of NLC and NUP within the first year of the incoming Congress, to work out the modalities for incorporating Contributing Pensioners with the NUP with all the rights, privileges and responsibilities attached thereto.”

It pleaded that the "Congressin-session mandates the leadership of NLC to gather information from affiliated industrial unions of all employers who have failed to remit deductions they made (plus their own matching up contributions), and forward these information to PenCom for necessary sanctions and compliance.

"NLC should work with the Nigerian Union of Pensioners, NUP, and others in the public and private sector with case of delayed payment of pensions resulting from the old non – contributory scheme, and ensure that Government and other employers involved in unpaid pensions ort out the issues and pay pensions as and when due.

"The leadership of NLC and industrial unions should initiate a new campaign to ensure that government and other employers of labour increase employers’ contribution to RSA of workers to at least twice the contribution of the worker. This effectively means an increase in the existing 10% to 16%.”

60— Vanguard, THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 2015 YOUR LUCK TODAY

LEISURE

By Joshua Adeyemo Phone 08056180139 PISCES: Your creativity quotient is enhanced today and if you demonstrate this within your working arena, you’ll earn success and consolidate on your recent progress.

ARIES: As mercury prepares to go on backward motion it is important you don’t take things for granted. Watch carefully what you agree to do.

TAURUS: Better than yesterday. Others will be willing to give you the needed co-operation both at home and within your working arena. This is a good day for lovers.

GEMINI: Those of you who are more enterprising will have much to show for your efforts. The more cooperative you. Don’t neglect love.

CANCER: You will need to re-examine both your personal ideas and advice given to you by other people.

Be family minded.

THOUGHT FOR TODAY

By Richard Eromosele

Ewants to be the champion in our VERYONE of us

field of endeavour.

However, not everyone wants to undergo the painful process that could make the

To Be The Champion championship stuff.

The mystery of life is that we must give something in order to get something.

For example, to be the champion we

TERROR MUDA

need to realise the position of the champion is not vacant and it will not be voluntarily vacant except we forced it to be

in “Never say goodbye”

vacant. Simply put, we must be ready to dethrone the current champion if we must become the champion.

Do you want to be the champion?

Then be prepared to bet the current champion.

By Lanre Kehinde

LEO: Avoided you don’t allow others to mislead you, things will not go wrong. The more willing you are to take the initiative the better for you. Take your love life more seriously.

VIRGO: Although you will need to be as secretive as you can, your success will attract others’ attention to you to the betterment of your cause. Be ambitious.

LIBRA: People who more influential than you will be willing to support your cause but you will need to make the necessary move. The more self assertive you are the better.

SCORPIO: Challenges of yesterday will today bring you good opportunities along your career/business lines to the betterment of your finances seek supporters of powerful ones.

SAGITTARIUS: Think of the best way to improve on your working pattern in order to enhance your career prospects if you listen to your creative self, things will work out fine for you. Be more loving.

CAPRICORN: Success is boldly printed on your cards today. Think of both immediate and far future while you are savouring goodies offered you but mother nature.

KAPTAIN AFRIKA

in

“Pretty Lunatic’

By Andy Akman

AQUARIUS: You should not have it tough while trying to win the needed supports of others. Take good advice from some of your friends who are creatively gifted.

ASTROLOGICAL COUNSELLING Send yyour our dat th ttoo the As tr ological datee and place of bir birth Astr trological Counselling, PP.M.B .M.B 1100 00 7, Apapa, Lagos 007,

What does future have for me?

Dear Joshua, I don’t want you to publish my data. However, I want to know how the planets lined up when I was born.

And which day of the week was I born, would I record success in life ? When would my success come?

Roland, Enugu Dear Roland, You were born on a Jupiter ruled day - Thursday.

You’ll succeeded earlier than you think.

Your Horoscope Data DAY OF BIRTH: THURSDAY SUN SIGN = PISCES: SUN IN 25TH DEGREE OF PISCES MOON SIGN: PISCES: MOON IN 21ST DEGREE OF PISCES MERCURY IN 28TH DEGREE OF AQUARIUS VENUS IN 28TH DEGREE OF ARIES MARS IN 7TH DEGREE OF CANCER JUPITER IN ZERO DEGREE OF AQUARIUS SATURN IN 27TH DEGREE OF CAPRICORN URANUS IN 22ND DEGREE OF LEO NEPTUNE IN 11TH DECREE OF SCORPIO PLUTO IN 6TH DEGREE OF VIRGO NORTH NODE IN 6TH DEGREE OF PISCES CARDINAL AND MUTABLE STAR SIGN HOSTED THREE PLANETS EACH, FIXED AND WATER FOUR EACH, FIRE EARTH AND AIR HOSTED TWO EACH. PUSHFUL INFLUENCE = 40% NON-PUSHFUL INFLUENCE = 60% HIGHLY HIGHLIGHTED STAR SIGN = AQUARIUS FINAL DISPOSITOR = SATURN ANALYSIS OF THE HOROSCOPE DATA Saturn as the final depositor-the most influential planet at home when you were born, pointed to you as an ambitious person who must have a well developed career. You are a disciplined person with higher degree of leadership quality in yourself.

Although, you can be emotional, you are stable and reliable. Less than 50 per cent of push-full influence in you is an indication of your being an amiable person.

Both your natal sun/moon in Pisces and Aquarius are indications of characteristic of star signs are highly pronounced in your inner-self Having your hands on public pulse will always bring you unexpected success and fulfilment.

VIRGINIA

HOME & ABROAD

dadadekola@yahoo.com

By Lawrence Akapa

Vanguard, THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 2015 — 61

Amuneke carpets Eaglets’ performance against Guinea E

•Blatter

Blatter slams Sacchi, Capello sparks new row

J

OSEPH Blatter was outraged by the highly controversial comments made by Arrigo Sacchi.

The Italian exmanager had emphatically argued against what he saw as the excessive number of black players currently in Italy ’s youth teams.

The FIFA president was quick to react, posting his reply on social media: “Pride and dignity is not a question of skin colour.

Shocked by Arrigo Sacchi’s comments.

Stop it”.

This is just as former England manager Fabio Capello used a word associated with homophobic abuse in a radio interview in which he also defended racist comments made by Sacchi.

Capello had been asked if he thought criticism of current La Liga champions Atletico Madrid for an overphysical approach was justified and he replied: ‘I don’t agree that they are violent. Football is not for mariquitas.’

Keshi Continues from BP Guinea.

Runners-up in the 2013 finals in South Africa, the Stallions crashed out in the group stage of this year ’s tour nament, which was won by Ivory Coast.

Keshi is currently without a role, having been unable to agree a new deal with Nigeria following the failure to qualify for this year ’s Nations Cup. The 53-year-old is hoping his previous successes with Nigeria,

C M Y K

winning the 2013 Nations Cup title and reaching the second round of the 2014 World Cup in Brazil, will help him clinch the post.

Rajevac steered Ghana to the final of the 2010 African Cup of Nations and the last eight of the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.

Rohr took Gabon to the quarter-finals of the 2012 Nations Cup on home soil and also managed Niger at the 2013 edition but failed to get them out of the group stage.

MMANUEL Amuneke, Golden Eaglets’ Head coach, has described the team’s first half performance in the pulsating 1-1 draw against Guinea here at the 11th African U-17 Championship as the worst since he took over the reins of the team almost a year ago.

The lads seemingly collapsed in the first stanza as the young Syli Nationale had better initiatives and deservedly went into the lead after Nigeria conceded a soft penalty in the 11th minute.

Captain Kelechi Nwakali later got the equalizer albeit through a spot kick towards the end of the match much to the relive of Nigerians at the stadium.

Speaking at the post match conference, Amuneke said “Frankly, this was our worst performance and the worst I have seen from these boys because we

Golden Eaglets captain Nwakali (r) and a team mate challenge an opponent. lost the initiative and composure of the game to the Guineans, “he explained. “

Eaglets Continues from BP goal difference despite having the same number of points (four) with the Guineans.

The fifth game of the tournament kicked off on a high tempo with the young Syli Nationale dominating the first 10 minutes of play by forcing the Golden Eaglets into their own half. A minute later, Nigeria conceded a penalty after defender Lukman Halilu brought down the skillful Yamodou Toure in the box and Sam Diallo dispatched the ball behind goalkeeper Akpan Udoh.

Thereafter, it was the Guineans that showed better initiatives in the attack forcing the Golden Eaglets on the defensive time and again.

Abdoulaye Jules Keita was a handful on the left flank In the 22th minute, Victor Osimhen thought he had got the much needed equalizer but his powerful header off a cross form Samuel Chukwueze was disallowed by referee Jean Jacques Ngambo

Almost at the stroke of half time, Halilu almost cost Nigeria a second goal after he spilled the ball again on the path of Ibrahima Camara whose faint-hearted shot was cuddled by Akpan.

Coach Emmanuel Amuneke brought in Ebere Osinachi for Christian Charles to add more bite to the attack.

The permutation seemed to have paid off as Osinachi troubled the opposing team. In the 55th minute, he laid a pass for Kingsley Michael who saw his shot over the bar. Three minutes after, goalkeeper Udoh stopped what could have been a second goal for Guinea as he touched away Jules Keita’s volley.

But with the game five minutes away from stoppage time, the rough Guineans were punished for a foul in the box and Nwakali picked his angle; and fired the ball into the net. The Golden Eaglets last and decisive game would be played against Zambia on Saturday at the Municipal Stadium in Niamey.

50 journalists to attend CISA 2015 CISA edition, in Bamako

I

N parallel with the 9th edition of the Africa International Sports Convention (CISA), the seminar for African sports journalists, will break all records this year Scheduled from March, 11 to 12, 2015 in Kigali (Rwanda), the Seminar will be attended by around fifty African sports journalists coming from about fifteen countries.

Initiated in the 2012

(Mali), the seminar allows the African sports journalists to upgrade their skills.

This year’s theme will focus on how to manage a sports newspaper and make its service profitable; Professional Ethics of sports journalist; and coverage of major multisports event. Reporting and video montages techniques, as well as collection and treatment of statistical data will also be discussed.

50 coaches apply for Rwanda job

T

HE Rwanda FA has announced that close to 50 coaches have applied to take up the national team coaching position.

Olivier Mulindahabi, the FA’s Chief Executive Officer revealed to MTNFootball.com on Wednesday that they have received the applications and the shortlist will be made by end of the month.

The position fell vacant after the resignation of Englishman Stephen Constantine last month.

The FA’s Technical Director Lee Johnson is currently the interim coach.

Former Sierra Leone coach Johnny McKinstry

who guided the West African nation to their highest Fifa ranking – 50th last year is in the running for the top job as well as former Azam and Sofapaka coach Stewart Hall who is currently in charge of the Tanzania U17 and U-20 national sides.

Top local coaches including AS Kigali coach Eric Nshimiyimana, Andre Cassa Mbungo of Police FC, APR interim coach Vincent Mashami and former Amavubi assistant coach Jean Baptiste Kayiranga have all refused to apply for the job.

62 — Vanguard, THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 2015

Champions League:

Chelsea have minimal advantage —Mourinho A FTER their one-all draw with Paris Saint Germain in the UEFA Champions League match played on Tuesday 17 February from 2245hours, Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho has said they have minimal advantage.

The Blues had taken a 35th-minute lead courtesy Branislav Ivanovic head before the home side drew level shortly after the break through Edinson Cavani.

Speaking to the club’s official website, Mourinho said their away goal gave them minimal advantage.

“I think the first half was our half. Paris gave us the ball and played defensively with a low block. They did not put pressure on us and we

CELEBRATION . . . Chelsea’s Serbian defender Branislav Ivanovic (L) celebrates after scoring against Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) during their UEFA Champions League round of 16 match at the Parc des Princes stadium in Paris. Photo: AFP

were comfortable with the ball.

“The second half was different; they were losing and they put pressure on us. They were aggressive, they played very direct and it was their half. I think 11 reflects one half for Chelsea and one for Paris, but if you go on chances created and goalkeeper’s performances, we have to be honest and say if any team came closer to winning it was Paris.

“The advantage is minimal. Obviously a twolegged game is now a onelegged game. Everything is decided at Stamford Bridge but 1-1 is 1-1, it’s not a 3-0 victory where the game is over,” he said.

Juventus can reach Robben calls for Champions League team improvement final — Marchisio B

J

•Marchisio

UVENTUS can aim as high as the Champions League final this season, according to their midfielder Claudio Marchisio.

The Bianconeri last reached the quarterfinals two years ago, when they were beaten by eventual winners Bayern Munich. Last season they were knocked out in the group stage, before qualifying for the last 16 behind Atletico Madrid this tePix: Marchisiorm.

Juventus are bidding for their first continental crown since 1996 and Marchisio is convinced they have nothing to fear going into their last-16 clash with Borussia Dortmund next week.

Only Bayern Munich and Real Madrid worry the 29-year-old, who says the pair can wait until the final in Berlin.

“We want to aim higher than in recent years in Europe,” Marchisio told Sky Sport Italia.

“We want to reach the final. We can be a match for Borussia Dortmund because, apart from Bayern and Real, we are a match for anybody.”

Marchisio’s confidence comes not only from Juve’s continued domination of Serie A, but from an increased focus on Europe during the winter.

“We dedicated a lot of time in January to being ready physically for the Champions League,” Marchisio continued. “We can’t neglect the league, but we do have our minds on Dortmund.

It’s important that we do well in the home leg.”

Juve host Dortmund next Tuesday with the return leg three weeks later in Germany, on March 18.

AYERN Munich winger Arjen Robben said poor finishing was to blame for the scoreless draw at Shakhtar Donetsk in the first leg of the Champions League fixture.

Dominant in the first half but scrappy and ineffective in the second, Bayern Mun i c h ’ s progress now relies on a better result in Munich.

The Bavarians had the best scoring chances and allowed only one shot on goal from their opponents but did not make their dominance count, lacking the final pass in front of goal.

It was a criticism Robben was quick to concede.

“Now it is clear. We have to win in Munich.

Nothing else will do,” said Dutch winger Arjen

Robben. “ W e had a good first half and

w e had o u r •Robben chances.

Y o u need to u s e them when y o u have •Robben them. ”It is a shame because it would have been easier. We did it all ourselves.”

The German champions were effective in shutting out Shakhtar, playing their first game in two months, and closed the corridors which their opponents repeatedly tried to use for counter-attacks.

C M Y K

Vanguard, THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 2015 — 63

FIFA WWC: Okon cries for quality friendlies ...invites Portsmouth goal poacher

By Ben Efe

J

UST as the Super Falcons are set to resume camp for the All African Games qualifier against Mali on Sunday, coach Edwin Okon has pleaded with the Nigeria Football Federation to give his team grade A matches ahead of the FIFA Women World Cup starting June in Canada.

The Falcons are yet to kick start their push for the world cup even as their tough opponents in group D, USA, Sweden and Australia have been

training in camp and playing friendly games.

“We need top flight friendly matches to prepare adequately for the challenges at the World Cup,” said Okon who led the team to gold at the African Women Championship in Namibia last October.

“I thought we would’ve several matches during the qualifying campaigns prior to the World Cup but now it has been narrowed down to just a country the side will be happier with many top grade friendly matches.”

The Super Falcons will be away to Mali on March 22, while the return leg is expected two weeks later in Abuja for the All Africa Games qualifier. And later on May 9 both sides will clash again for the Olympics 2016 slot. The return leg will be decided on May 16 in Bamako.

Meanwhile coach Okon has invited Portsmouth FC ladies forward, Ini Umotong(21) to camp in preparation for the game against Mali. Umotong has scored 20 goals from 12 matches this season.

D e s i r e Oparanozie ...

Falcon striker

Wenger pledges co-operation with NFF N FF President Amaju Pinnick held what was generally described as an “extremely positive and encouraging” meeting with the Manager of English Premiership side, Arsenal FC, Mr. Arsene Wenger on Tuesday.

The legendary manager met with the NFF supremo in his office at Arsenal FC’s training ground where a wide range of issues were discussed, including the rising stock of Nigerianborn players at the club players like Chuba

Akpom and Semi Ajayi.

After the meeting, the NFF President, who was accompanied by the new Special Envoy for the Federation on International Affairs, Tunde Adelakun, said: “As we had always known, Arsene is very knowledgeable; vast in his knowledge and appreciation of Nigeria as a footballing country, and widely philosophical in his general approach, “ he said, assuring that, contrary to what is reported about some clubs in Europe trying to steer their players to play for the countries where they

live, Wenger was emphatic on what should be.

“He told me that he has never stopped any player from opting for whichever national team he wants.

Siasia, Okocha, West to play Nollywood stars against Kidney disease

F

ORMER Nigeria inter national and Coach Samson Siasia will lead a team of ex Super Eagles players to blow the whistle on kidney disease, which is crippling an estimated 30 million Nigerians.

Siasia will lead former stars including legends like

Augustine Eguavoen, Taribo West and Austin Okocha against a Nollywood team led by Fred Amata and featuring comedy genius AY. The match is organized under the auspices of the Bow Tie Club’s Kidney Trust Fund, a fund set up by the club to raise N200m to support kidney victims in Nigeria.

Managed by CSL Trust-

ees Limited, a member of the FCMB Group, this initiative is in memory of Mrs Ganiyat Ogunfoworin, a 56 year-old grandmother who recently passed away in India after losing a gallant battle against kidney disease.

Part of the proceeds would be sent to her family to help them offset outstanding hospital bills in India as well as help secure the release of her body

from the Indian authorities who have held on to it as a result of non payment.

Both sides will be joined by two corporate football teams to challenge for the first Titilayo Ogunfoworin Cup which is scheduled to be played for annually.

Campos mini stadium, Lagos will be the venue of the event and date is 21st March. Music will be supplied by a mystery internationally acclaimed DJ.

African Junior: Danagogo tasks Nigeria at the meet billed for athletes March 4-8.

By Ben Efe

S

NFF President, Amaju Pinnick and Arsenal Manager, Arsene Wenger

PORTS Minister and chairman of the National Sports Commission, Tammy Danagogo and President of the Athletics Federation of Nigeria, Solomon Ogba have tasked Nigerian athletes preparing for the African Junior Championships in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia to put up their best performance and behavior to bring glory to the country

The athletes resumed camping for the championships last week in Shagamu, Ogun State.

Dr. Danagogo assured the athletes that he was concerned about their welfare and he will ensure that all that they need to excel will be provided.

He added that he was sure the road to discover new athletes in the mold of Mary Onyali-Omagbemi, Falilat OgunkoyaOmotayo, Innocent Egbunike, the Ezinwa

•Danagogo brothers, sprint sensation and African champion Blessing Okagbare, was on and will be anchored by the AFN. C M Y K

Vanguard, THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 2015

Golden Eaglets delay World Cup ticket W

•Play 1-1 with Guinea •Still top Group A

•Keshi •Gernot

•Milovan

B/Faso job: 2'obstacles' for Keshi F

ORMER Super Eagles coach Stephen Keshi is in the running to become Burkina Faso’s coach after being named in a three-man shortlist for the post.

The Burkina Faso Football Federation (FBF) is also considering

ex-Ghana coach Milovan Rajevac and ex-Gabon and Niger coach Gernot Rohr.

“German Rohr, Serbian Rajevac and Nigerian Keshi have been selected by the Commission,” read an FBF statement.

“The FBF plans to

name the successful candidate within three weeks.”

Burkina Faso are looking for a successor to the Belgian Paul Put, who left the post after a disappointing Africa Cup of Nations campaign in Equatorial Continues on Page 61

O R L D

champions, the Golden Eaglets yesterday forced their Guinean counterparts to a 11 draw at Stade Général Seyni Kountché (SGSK) at the on-going African U-17 Championship in Niamey.

Captain Kelechi Nwakali yet again rescued Nigeria with a vital equalizer in the second half from the spot kick after Sam Diallo had scored the curtain raiser in the 11th minute through a penalty kick.

With the result, Nigeria still top Group A on a better Continues on Page 61

•Blatter slams Sacchi, Capello sparks new row P.61

•50 coaches apply for Rwanda job — P. 61 QUICK CROSSWORD

TODAY'S

PUZZLE

YESTER DAY'S YESTERDAY'S

ANSWERS

ACROSS 3 Foot-wear (5) 9 Poured (6) 10 Fester (6) 11 Shy (5) 12 Kiln (4) 15 Liberated (4) 17 Erased (7) 20 Sailor (3) 21 Eater (5) 23 Consider (4) 25 Trail (4) 26 Stormed (5) 28 Individual (3) 29 Scrap (7) 33 Detail (4) 35 Air (4) 36 Change (5) 38 Eatable (6) 39 Sooner (6) 40 Laymen (5)

DOWN 1 Endured (5) 2 Spree (5) 3 Favourite (3) 4 Revised (6) 5 Parched (4) 6 Youth (3) 7 Border (5) 8 Drain (5) 13 Green (7) 14 Not ever (5) 16 Oriental (7) 18 Plunged (5) 19 Obtain (3) 22 Respond (5) 24 Insane (3) 27 Amuse (6) 28 Lubricated (5) 29 Weird (5) 31 Anything (5) 32 Disparage (5) 34 Excuse (4) 36 Every (3) 37 Beam (3)

YESTERDAY'S SOLUTIONS ACROSS: 1, Decamp 5, Dearth 9, Elder 10, Spouse 11, Instal 12, Haste 14, Onus 17, Day 18, Rite 20, Taste 22, Miner 23, Erupted 24, Debar 26, Newer 29, Edam 30, Wet 32, Rate 33, Faded 35, Torpid 36, Paddle 37, Remit 38, Denied 39, Debris.

DOWN: 1, Despot 2, Chorus 3, Mesh 4, Plead 5, Deity 6, Erne 7, Retain 8, Helper 13, Sampled15, Naked 16, Steam 18, Rider 19, Tenet 22, Err 22, Men 24, Dented 25, Barren 27, Wander 28, Recess 30, Waded 31, Tepid 33, Fire 34, Date.

How to Play Sudoku

P

lace a number (1-9) in each blank cell. (No line can have two of the same number).

Each row (nine lines from left to right), column, (also nine lines from top to bottom) and 3 X 3 block within a bold block (nine blocks) contains number from 1 through 9. This means that no number can appear twice in any block, column or row.

No mathematics is involved – no adding, subtraction, division or multiplication, just plain logic and your imagination.

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