CONFAB REPORT:FEC okays immediate implementation

...towards a better life for the people

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VOL. 25: NO. 62365

ONLINE | www.vanguardngr.com

N150

THURSDAY, MARCH 19 , 2015

Abuja firm yet to print 500,000 PVCs for INEC —JEGA 9

Aisha Buhari opens up on how Tinubu helped her 16 husband

CONFAB REPORT:

FEC okays immediate implementation

By Ben Agande

A

•It's an act of desperation —APC

BUJA — THE Federal Executive Council, FEC, yesterday set the stage for the restructuring of the country by approving immediate and full implementation of the recommendations contained in the 2014 National Conference Report.

Minister of Culture, Tourism and National Orientation, Chief Edem Duke, disclosed this to newsmen after the FEC meeting.

The move was immediately ridiculed by the All progressives

Continues on Page 6

Mr & Mrs OATH OF OFFICE: LEFT—Minister of State for Health, Fidelis Nwankwo; Minister of State for Defence, Col. Augustine Akobundu; Minister of State 1, Nicholas Ada and Minister of Information, Senator Patricia Akwashiki. (RIGHT): Minister of State for Foreign Affairs 2, Senator Musiliu Obanikoro; Minister of Labour, Joel Ikenya; Minister of State for Trade and Investment, Kenneth Kobani and Minister of State for Niger Delta, Mrs Hauwa Lawan, taking oath of office as ministers of the Federal Republic before President Goodluck Jonathan during the Federal Executive Council meeting, in Abuja, yesterday. Photos: Abayomi Adeshida

COLUMNISTS: Defeating Boko Haram with mercenaries •P.17

Join the troops; say ‘never again!’ (2)

•P.19

Nigeria has no reason to be broke •P.19

COUNTING THE VOTES: INEC 44 changes the rules

2 — Vanguard, THURSDAY, MARCH 19, 2015

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POCKET CARTOON

DECORATION: From left: Director-General, Goodluck Jonathan Campaign Organisation, Chief Ahmadu Ali; National President, Fulani Sociocultural Association, Miyatti Allah Kauta Hare, decorating President Goodluck Jonathan as Life Patron of the association at endorsement of the President during a visit to the State House, Abuja, yesterday. Photo: State House.

Confab report: FEC okays immediate implementation Continues from Page 1 Congress, APC, as an act of desperation by the administration bent on winning votes by any means just two weeks before the election.

The APC said the implementation of the report was practically impracticable given constitutional amendments required.

Duke, who was joined by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, SGF, Senator Anyim Pius Anyim, said the cabinet members hailed the report and commended delegates to the conference for a job well done.

Among the recommendations of the National Conference were the adoption of regional governments, delisting of the 774 local governments from the c o n s t i t u t i o n , establishment of state

police, abolition of state independent electoral commissions, SIECs among others.

Expatiating on the decision of the council, Anyim noted that the council specifically approved the modalities for implementation of the report.

Members of the National Conference did not only make recommendations but also set out modalities for the implementation of the report.

Anyim noted that the approval of the report by FEC was the “first of concrete steps” towards implementation of the confab report, just as has been demanded and expected by Nigerians.

Modalities of implementation Anyim explained

further that the

TAKE HEART

BY ELLA RANDLE

Everyone’s future is, in reality, an urn full of unknown treasures from which all may draw unguessed prizes —Lord Dunsany.

Even when you are totally psyched up about achieving a goal, your motivation can be affected by a number of factors, including disappointment in others, the loss of a loved one, hitting a plateau after a huge accomplishment, becoming overwhelmed, and failure to reap immediate rewards for your hard work.

Further, the condition of your personal surroundings, fear, and personal insecurities, unhealthy relationships that sap your positive energy, current projects, and even fatigue can drain valuable motivation.

Spend at least two hours this week in a motivating environment or engage in an inspiring activity.

Then use that energy to work on your worthwhile goal.

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modalities of implementation will include the Justice Minister compiling the recommendations of the report that require constitutional amendments and forwarding same to the National Assembly, which will in turn work with state assemblies to effect the implementation.

The recommendations that deal with just policy matters will be referred to the relevant ministries and departments of the Federal Government as well as state and local governments for a p p r o p r i a t e implementation.

It's not campaign gimmick —Anyim The SGF dismissed insinuations that the timing of the FEC approval was politically motivated since the general elections are due in two weeks.

He insisted that Jonathan had from day one been consistent in his resolve to implement the report, saying the approval by FEC could not be regarded as a campaign gimmick or a result of pressure mounted on him.

He said: “It is not an overnight thing but the journey has started.

Certainly, there is no issue of pressure; he is keeping to his promise."

It's an act of desperation —APC

APC spokesman, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, however, described the decision as an act of desperation by a government, he said, would do anything to win votes.

“They are free to do so.

They believe that Nigerians are stupid.

Have they made the report public? They are getting so desperate and so obsessed with winning. That is what they could have done two or three years ago, they are now rushing to do just two weeks to election.

“It is fraudulent and an act of desperation because you cannot implement these constitutional reforms that involve two-thirds of the two houses of the National Assembly and the majority of 24 state Houses of Assembly just two weeks to the election?”

Highlights of the report zDelisting of the 774 local governments from the Constitution, turning Nigeria into a two-tier federation; z Introduction of regional governments; abolition of State Independent Electoral Commissions, SIECs; zState police; z Creation of 18 additional states; z Three years guaranteed tenure for local governments; z Mayoral status for

Abuja; zRemoval of immunity for president and governors.

Others are: z Five per cent of Consolidated Revenue Fund to be used for exploration of solid minerals; zEach state to have its constitution; z Conclusion of all electoral petitions before the inauguration of elective office holders;

zDiaspora voting; z Federal and state governments to stop sponsorship of pilgrims; z Legislators to lose seats on defection from political parties on whose platform they won election; z Retention of minimum of 13% as derivation proceeds and Onshore/Offshore dichotomy abolished in the interpretation of oil revenue.

Chibok parents task Jonathan on 2 LGs still held by B'Haram

By Emma Ujah

A

BUJA— MEMBERS of the Chibok community, yesterday, sent a delegation to President Goodluck Jonathan to urge greater government efforts at retaking the remaining areas of Borno State still held by Boko Haram, with the hope of rescuing their daughters who were abducted from the Government Girls Secondary School , GGSS, Chibok, last year.

The delegation was led

by Malam Dunamo Mpur Chibok, Chairman of the Parents-Teachers Association, PTA, of the Government Girls Secondary School, GGSS, Chibok.

“We are concerned that the military said that they have not got information about our daughters in the areas they have recaptured. We want the Federal Government to expedite action to clear the remaining two local government areas as we hope and a wait the rescue of our daughters, “Malam Chibok said.

The PTA chairman disowned reports that the community rejected the reconstruction of GGSS Chibok and other schools destroyed by Boko

Haram in the area.

The media, last week, reported a group claiming to represent Chibok as saying that the community wanted the girls rescued not reconstruction of burnt schools.

But the parents, who were received by the Coordinating Minister for the Economy and Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, said those who addressed the press in Maiduguri rejecting the reconstruction of burnt schools did not represent the grieving parents of the Chibok girls.

He noted that many other schools in the area had been destroyed by the insurgents and that the community welcomes steps being taken by the Federal Government to rebuild them in order to ensure children in the area resumed studies.

He said: “Our prayers are with our daughters and we hope and pray to see them very soon. We need them home and soonest, but this will not stop us from agreeing with the fact that we need our school rebuilt as we hopefully await their arrival home. Within the community have children that are redundant at home who have not been able to go to school.”

Vanguard, THURSDAY, MARCH 19, 2015—7

Aisha was never my lover, says murder suspect

By Evelyn Usman

T

HE man arrested over the death of 25-year-old Silverbird staff, Aisha Noble Mustapha, weekend, in Ogudu Government Reserved Area, Lagos, has denied that he was her lover.

The suspect, identified simply as Chima, also denied having a hand in the murder. He claimed to have gone for the deceased’s rescue when he heard her shout for help penultimate Saturday.

However, accusing fingers were pointed at the 21-year-old suspect, following claims by a resident that he saw the suspect stabbing late Aisha.

This claim was corroborated by owner of the building with an undisclosed identity, who claimed to have rushed out of his flat when he heard a bang at the gate, only to meet the suspect and the deceased inside the drain in front of the building. The landlord, Vanguard gathered, was also arrested by the police.

Also, the deceased’s iphone was said to have been recovered from the suspect.

When Vanguard visited the flat occupied by late Aisha at 25, Salaudeen Akano Street, GRA, Ogudu, the gate was under lock.

The laundry store and eatery in front of the one-storey building were also locked, indicating that the owners could have fled for fear of being arrested in connection with her murder.

There were, however, bloodstains on the floor where late Aisha was said to have struggled with her assailant before falling inside the gutter.

The Chima we know—NEIGHBOUR

A resident, who eventually spoke with Vanguard after much persuasion, revealed that the late Aisha, who hailed from Auchi, Edo State, was the only daughter of her aged parents.

He said the suspect once lived in the same compound as the deceased.

According to the resident, “Aisha was an amiable person.

She was not a noisy person. We were all stunned when we heard she was murdered in cold blood.

“Chima (the suspect) was living with his elder brother in one of the flats in the same building with late Aisha. But he had a misunderstanding with his brother and was chased out of the house.

“His brother complained that Chima was mismanaging his business. He beat up Chima and drove him out of his house.

We were so shocked to discover he was connected with the murder because he left his brother ’s house three weeks ago.

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“But from what we gathered, Chima said he came around that day to beg his brother for forgiveness. How he was found with the deceased right inside the drain remains a mystery to be unravelled by the Police.

“A man that rushed out to see what was happening said even when he attempted to bring the deceased out of the drain, Chima held on to Aisha, preventing the man from dragging her out.

“Again, someone claimed to have seen Chima hitting late Aisha. The man said he never knew he was stabbing her, until news later filtered in. These people have all made statements at the police station.”

Family mourns

Meanwhile, her aged parents, who reside in Auchi, are reportedly yet to come to terms with the death of their

only daughter.

Her aunt, Mrs Aisha Haruna, who late Aisha lived with before moving into her apartment, was crying at SCID, where the case was transferred.

Her husband, Mr. Abubakar Haruna, emotionally described late Aisha as a peace-loving fellow, expressing hope that police would be able to unearth the actual circumstance that led to her death.

34-year-old graduate killed in crossfire

By Esther Onyegbula

O

PERATIVES at the homicide unit of State Criminal Investigation Department, SCID, Yaba, Lagos, are currently investigating the circumstances surrounding the murder of a 34-year-old graduate, who was reportedly shot dead by hoodlums at Abule-Nla, Apapa Road, Ebute Metta, Lagos.

The victim, identified as Rotimi Egunjobi, from Ekiti State, while returning from work, was allegedly caught in crossfire between two warring factions in the area.

Vanguard learned that Rotimi just completed his National Youth Service Corps, NYSC, programme.

It was learned that police officers from Iponri Divisional Police Station, stormed the area after receiving intelligence report on the ongoing crisis in the area. The hoodlums took to their heels on sighting the officers.

One Idris Rilwane was arrested at the crime scene, but he denied knowledge of the crisis. Police also apprehended one Friday Onuwa, a member

Late Rotimi Egunjobi. of the Tortoise Boys, a faction of the hoodlums terrorizing AbuleNla and its environs.

Onuwa said: “I am a member of Tortoise Boys. I was not involved in the feud that killed him.

“On that fateful day, I went to

Badagry to visit my mother. The leader of our group is Job Ojo, alias Kako.”

Vanguard gathered that the case, which was transferred from Iponri Police Division to SCID, would soon be charged to court.

Lunatic stops Rivers traffic officials from impounding vehicle

By Davies Iheamnachor

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ORT HARCOURT—IT was a comic relief, yesterday, as a lunatic stopped officials of Rivers State Road Traffic Management Authority, TIMA-RIV, from impounding a vehicle at a bus-stop in Mile 1 Market, Port Harcourt.

The car was parked along Ikwerre Road and kept in the madman's watch.

Popularly called No Shaking or Barracks No Easy, he chased away the officials.

The officials said the car was wrongly packed, arguing that the bus stop was meant for commercial vehicles alone.

Asked why he was preventing the traffic officials from getting close to the car, Barracks No Easy said in pidgin English: “I no go gree. Na my motor. You will not carry it. Barracks No Easy. You cannot enter it.

You are mad for coming to carry my motor.”

He insisted that he would not allow the officers impound the car placed in his care and complained that TIMA-RIV had always made people to spend unnecessarily.

Vanguard gathered that the owner of the car, who was watching the whole drama from a distance, rewarded the lunatic with N1,200 for his courage.

Soldiers shoot at Professor Ango Abdullahi in Bauchi

By Suzan Edeh

B

AUCHI—SPOKESMAN of the Northern Elders Forum, NEF, Professor Ango Abdullahi, was yesterday shot at by some soldiers in Bauchi on his way to Gadau.

Vanguard gathered that the former Vice Chancellor of Ahmadu Bello University, ABU, Zaria, was attacked by the soldiers as his driver attempted to overtake a military convoy.

Professor Abdullahi told newsmen in Bauchi that he was going for an official assignment at Bauchi State University, Gadau, where he is the chairman of the university’s governing council, when the incident happened.

zWe’re transporting sensitive materials—OFFICER He said: “I was travelling to Gadau in my official car for a meeting. We had just passed the Awala Hotel roundabout, when I saw a military convoy moving very slowly.

“I was trying to catch up for the meeting, so my driver overtook the military convoy.

The next thing I knew they opened fire on us, spraying the car with bullets.

“The bullets damaged the engine of the car, so we had to park by the road side. The soldiers came out and were shouting angrily at us.

“They were demanding to know why we wanted to

overtake them, asking if we did not know that the soldiers were exporting sensitive materials.

“They just left us there and continued their journey. I have never seen such a reckless act.

Apologies

“I called Mr. Ibrahim Mohammed, the state Commissioner for Higher Education and told him. He called the security agency chiefs to inform them of what happened.”

He said the Army later sent a captain, who apologized and promised to investigate the

matter.

When contacted, Mohammed confirmed the attack on Professor Abdullahi by soldiers, but expressed happiness over the quick response of the service chiefs, saying they had apologized.

He said: “They all apologized to the professor and he was happy at their response, but he was traumatized because his driver said a bullet nearly hit the professor.

“The car was riddled with bullets. But thank God no one was hurt. The car was badly damaged.”

8 — Vanguard, THURSDAY, MARCH 19, 2015

POLLS: Anybody responsible for violence‘ll be held accountable —UN ...Says Nigerian situation not same with Côte d’Ivoire's

By Joseph Erunke

A

BUJA—AGAINST the backdrop of some pockets of crises being witnessed across the country ahead of the forth coming general elections, the United Nations,UN,yesterday, warned that it would hold perpetrators of post-election violence accountable.

This was even as it dismissed fears that the security situation may get to the level witnessed in Côte D’Ivoire during its general elections.

The United Nations UnderSecretary-General for Political Affairs, Jeffrey and the SecretaryGeneral’s High-Level Representative to Nigeria, Mohammed Ibn Chambas, gave the warning at a press conference in Abuja, after rounding off a twoday visit to the country.

“Given the important role Nigeria plays in the region and globally, the international community is closely watching the elections in Nigeria and that any persons responsible for violence will be held accountable,”Mr Jeffrey Feltman said.

Also speaking, Mr Chambas dismissed fears that Nigerian security situation preparatory to the elections was getting similar to that of Côte D’Ivoire and expressed optimism that the country would not go through such experience The global body then “urged the political actors, particularly the candidates, to resolve any electoral

By Soni Daniel, Regional Editor, North

A

CAMPAIGN: From left; Rivers State Peoples Democratic Party, PDP governorship candidate, Mr Nyesom Wike; Rivers State PDP Chairman, Felix Obuah; Mrs Patience Jonathan; Rivers State PDP Deputy governorship candidate; Dr Ipalibo Harry and Cross River State First Lady, Obioma Imoke acknowledging cheers from the crowd yesterday at the Liberation Stadium during PDP presidential campaign in Rivers State by the First Lady of the Federation Dame Patience Jonathan. Photo by Nwankpa Chijioke. disputes through existing legal and constitutional means.”

“I encourage the political, electoral and security actors to continue working together to create an environment conducive for the holding of violence-free and credible elections, and ensure that all eligible Nigerians can freely exercise their constitutional right to vote, including those displaced by violence in the North East,” Feltman stressed.

He commended President Goodluck Jonathan and General

Buhari for their commitment to implementing the Abuja Accord and encouraged them to work with the National Peace Committee,NPC, political parties and civil society to ensure its implementation at state and federal levels.

It noted that INEC had “made noteworthy progress in the preparations for the elections, including the distribution of Permanent Voters Cards (PVCs) and the testing of card readers, despite the tight schedule and logistical challenges.”

Financial institutions not lending to indigenous oil firms — OPERATORS ...They lack good governance — BANKS

By Clara Nwachukwu, Michael Eboh & Grace Udofia

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BUJA—INDIGENOUS and independent oil companies, yesterday, derided banks and financial institutions in the country for their reluctance to lend to local operators in the sector.

However, a representative of one of the banks debunked the claims, blaming the indigenous operators’ inability to put in place good governance practices as the reason for their inability to attract funding from the banks.

Speaking at the ongoing 2015 Nigeria Oil and Gas (NOG) Conference and Exhibition in Abuja, Mr. Ademola Adeyemi-Bero, Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, First E&P Limited lamented that the paucity of funds is hindering independents from growing their production capacity.

According to him, the limitations placed on banks’ lending to the oil C M Y K

NLC housing developer in EFCC net over N3bn failed scheme

sector by the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, is seriously hindering the companies from the much needed funding for their operations.

He said, “We need funds to grow our production capacity, taking these funds from foreign banks will not make good dynamics. Government should look at the policies it is putting in place especially in the area of banks’ lending to the sector. We need government to walk us through this tight rope of financing.”

He, however, commended the ban ks for their support to the sector over the years, stating that over the last couple of years, Nigerian banks had been able to provide 70 per cent of the about $10 billion spent by indigenous operators in acquiring oil assets.

Speaking in the same vein, Mr. Seinye Lulu-Briggs, Executive Vice Chairman, Moni Pulo

Limited, disclosed that despite the successes recorded by indigenous oil and gas operators, finance has remained a major challenge.

Lulu-Briggs who was represented by Mr. Kayode Thomas, General Manager, Operations and Engineering, lamented the fact that majority of the banks are only interested in providing funds for producing assets, stating that no bank wants to fund exploration.

He said, “If you go to the banks asking for funds to finance your exploration activities, the banks will tell you to go and return after the field has started producing.”

However, Mr. Herbert Wigwe, Group Managing Director Access Bank Plc, said that Nigeria banks have always been willing to lend to the oil sector, especially as the banks have over the years, shored up their capital base, putting them in a better position to advance huge funds to the sector.

“We believe that that these efforts should help to build confidence in the electoral system among the Nigerian voters and pave the way for the holding of credible and inclusive elections,”he said.

Mr Feltman condemned the attacks being carried out by the Boko Haram in the North East just as he backed the military onslaught against the dreaded Islamist sect.

“On the situation in the northeast of Nigeria resulting from continuing brutal attacks by Boko Haram against civilian populations, I reiterated the Secretary-General’s message that no cause or grievance can justify such crimes.

“The Secretary-General has expressed support for Nigeria and other countries of the Lake Chad Basin Commission (LCBC) and Benin as they fight the insurgency and welcomed the positive steps taken by them, with the support of the African Union, towards operationalizing the Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF) to counter the threat posed by Boko Haram in the subregion, in line with international human rights, humanitarian and refugee law,”he added.

“I recalled the SecretaryGeneral’s message that, while security measures are essential, an exclusive reliance on a military approach would not suffice to counter the Boko Haram insurgency.

“Countering Boko Haram effectively and permanently should be based on a multidimensional approach that addresses human rights concerns and promotes good governance and economic and social development,”he said.

BUJA—BARELY a week after being declared wanted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, in connection with the controversial Nigeria Labour Congress N3 billion Housing scheme for workers, the man behind the failed project has been detained by the operatives of the antigraft agency.

Vanguard gathered from competent sources in the commission that the Chief Executive Officer of Kriston Lally EPC Nigeria Ltd, Mustapha Umar Madawaki, turned himself in to the operatives of the commission on yesterday morning and was immediately taken in for questioning by a crack team of interrogators on all that he knows about the fail project, which has cost workers N3 billion of their hard-earned income.

A top source in EFCC, who confirmed Madawaki’s questioning by the commission’s agents, said he was not likely to be released until later in the week.

The source said: “It is true that the man who was declared wanted last week, turned in himself today and our men are currently interrogating him on the failed housing scheme.

“We are not likely to free him today but may consider his bail application later in the week,” the source, who pleaded anonymity, said.

Last Thursday, EFCC spokesperson Wilson Uwujaren, confirmed that the commission was in was in pursuit of Madawaki over his role in a controversial housing provision contract.

It will be recalled that both Madawaki and the immediate past Nigeria Labour Congress President, Abdulwahed Omar, had in 2013 signed a contract to build thousands of houses for Nigerian workers.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, MARCH 19, 2015 — 9

By Ikechukwu Nnochiri

A

BUJA—WITH about 10 days to the scheduled presidential election, the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, yesterday, said it was yet to print only 500, 000 copies of the Permanent Voters’ Card, PVC. Chairman of the Commission, Professor Attahiru Jega who made the disclosure at a dialogue session he had with the Nigeria Civil Society Situation Room in Abuja yesterday, said the contract for printing of the remaining PVCs was awarded to an indigenous firm that is based in the Federal Capital Territory.

Prof. Jega explained that the inability of the Abuja firm to print and deliver the voter cards on time was due to the fact that it ran out of “blank cards” for the production.

The INEC boss described the development as regrettable, even as he assured Nigerians that all the PVCs that will be used for the impending elections will be ready for distribution before Sunday.

Besides, Jega who noted that as at February 14 when the presidential election was initially billed to hold, only 67 per cent of the PVCs were ready for use, said that as at yesterday, INEC had achieved 81 per cent success with regards to the production and distribution of the cards.

He stressed that the cards in the last phase of the production will be distributed at the polling unit level.

He said: “I want to further assure Nigerians that anybody who has registered and has the PVC will be allowed to vote. We have done our best to look at every aspect and angle. We have tried to see what improvements that can be brought about so that the 2015 election will be free, fair and credible. Though our deadline would have expired

by Sunday, we have concluded plans for targeted distribution of the remaining PVCs. All the new cards that are taken in this last phase are to be distributed at the polling unit level”, he added.

Jega said that INEC was able to surmount challenges it met in the distribution of the PVCs, especially in Jos and Owerri North, adding, “As I am talking to you

Abuja firm yet to print 500,000 PVCs for INEC — JEGA ...‘Network malfunction won’t affect card reader machines' today (yesterday), all outstanding cards for Edo state would have been distributed”.

On the feasibility of all eligible voters getting their PVCs before the March 22 deadline for collection, Jega said the commission has considered the idea of further extending the deadline, “but we are still holding back in the meantime because if we go ahead and make that announcement now people will relax. That is why we decided to still peg the deadline at Sunday. However, when push comes to shove then we can make announcement of the new date”, Jega said.

He noted that there has been remarkable improvement on the issue of security within the North Eastern part of the country, saying that information within his disposal showed that only three Local Government Areas in Borno state are still within the grip of insurgents.

Meanwhile, the INEC Chairman warned that the commission would not allow Governors, Ministers, Senators and other highly placed public officers to parade the streets with armed security men on the election days in the guise that they are monitoring the electoral process.

“This is an area that we really want the security agencies to do a better job than they did in 2011 and all the subsequent elections we have had in this country. No public officer should be accompanied to the polling unit by armed security men.

“The Governors while going to the polling units to vote may be accompanied by two unarmed security men on plain clothes.

Some of the breaches we had in previous elections were from high profile people. We want the security agencies to be more diligent in ensuring that the

guidelines are complied with this time around”.

While reacting to questions pertaining to the workability of the card reader machines, the Director of ICT at INEC, Mr. Chidi Nwafor, said the machines were programmed to work with all the terrestrial networks in Nigeria, “like MTN, Glo, Airtel and Etisalat, using dedicated lines”.

He said: “It is a known fact that Nigeria is not covered 100 per cent by the network providers, however, the unavailability of network will not stop the card readers from carrying out the authentication and verification of voters on the election days”.

Nwafor said that though the accreditation is supposed to stop by 1:30pm on the election day, he said that the card readers can still continue the accreditation of voters till 6pm.

“The machines are not

programmed in such a way that it stops accreditation at 1:30pm.

People tend to get us wrong on this issue, we are not saying that once it is 1:30pm then nobody should be accredited again, no!

The process will continue until the last man on the line is accredited to vote”, he stated.

Jega gave instances that could lead to the postponement of election in any given polling unit.

He said: “If a card reader fails to function at all at a polling unit, we agreed with all the political parties that it should be replaced.

However, if it fails and is not replaced before 1pm on the election-day, we agreed that the election in such polling unit should be postponed till the next day. We have learnt from Ghana where such incidences occurred”.

He said that INEC is currently in possession of 182, 000 card

13 PARTIES ADOPT BUHARI: National Chairman of PDM and Chairman of Coalition of Progressive, Political Parties, Bashir Yusuf Ibrahim (left) discussing with All Progressives Congress, APC Presidential Campaign Coordinator and Rivers State governor, Rotimi Amaechi (2nd left); APC Presidential candidate, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (2nd right) and National Chairman of APC, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun during adoption of General Buhari as the presidential candidate for Coalition of Progressive 13 Political Parties in Abuja. Photo by Gbemiga Olamikan.

NSE: Investors lose N428.7bn in three days

By Peter Egwuatu

I

NVESTORS in the Nigerian stock market have lost over N428.7 billion in three days’ trading as the market capitalisation of the Nigerian Stock Exchange, NSE further declined yesterday by 0.40 per cent.

The market capitalisation represents the total value of shares traded on the exchange.

The NSE market capitalisation, which opened at N10.250 trillion on Monday dropped by N428.768 billion to close yesterday at N9.822 trillion.

Capital market operators C M Y K

stated that the bearish sentiments continued to dominate equities trading for the three days trading on the floor of NSE as another stock market performance indicator, the All Share Index , ASI fell by 0.40 per cent to close at 29, 434.46, making it three days of losses in a row. The Banking stocks index declined by 2.28 per cent as the sub sector continued to come under selling pressure.

The Consumer Goods index followed as it shed 0.93 per cent and closed the day lower.

Meanwhile, the Industrial index appreciated by 0.88 per

readers, adding that 400 of the machines were dead on arrival as they could not boot after several attempts.

“We are comfortable with the credibility of the card readers and in all the tests we have conducted none of the card readers failed”, he said.

Jega revealed that INEC will use the International Conference Center, ICC, in Abuja as its collation center.

“If there is any result that we feel lacks integrity, we will not hesitate to cancel that result. Likewise, wherever a ballot box is snatched, we will cancel election in that place. We will work together with the police towards making sure that we prevent snatching of the card readers. If people target the card readers and start snatching them, it will constitute a sufficient reason for us to cancel the election”, Jega added.

cent.

The losses recorded by ET1, Fidelity Bank , Zenith Bank, Access Bank, First Bank Nigeria Holding, FBHN, Diamond Bank, and GTBank contributed significantly to drag down the Banking sub sector.

Specifically, ETI dropped by 4.99 per cent to close at N17.15, followed by Fidelity Bank which dropped by 4.90 per cent to close at N1.36.

Zenith Bank declined by 4.51 per cent to close at, N17.15 followed by Access Bank which nosedived by 3.34 per cent to close at N6.36. FBNH

shed 1.74 per cent to close at N7.90 followed by Diamond Bank which dropped by 1.00 per cent to close at N3.95 and GTBank declined by 0.81 per cent to close at N22.01.

The poor performance of the Consumer Goods was attributed to the losses recorded by Dangote Flour which declined by 4.76 per cent to close at N3.20, followed by Unilever which declined by 3.86 to close at N33.65.

Nestle dropped by 2.44 per cent to close at N800.00 followed by NASCON which dropped by 2.03 per cent to

close at N6.27 and PZ Industries shed 1.60 per cent to close at N26.50.

Meanwhile, gains recorded

by Dangote Cement propelled

by Industrial sub sector as it garnered 1.87 per cent to close at N152.80. Operators opined that buyers were obviously absent from the market as the value traded amounted to an uninteresting N1.62 billion ($8.17 million). The main highlights of yesterday ’s proceedings were the cross deals consummated on GT Bank: N561 million ($2.83 million) and some flows recorded in Nigerian Breweries worth N188 million.

Nestle recorded N161 million and Zenith Bank N108 million.

10— Vanguard, THURSDAY, MARCH 19, 2015

Fashola commissions Lagos cardiac, renal centre

By Chioma Obinna &

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Olasukanmi Akoni

AGOS—“MAY the infirmities of all those who are brought into this centre be fully cured.” These were the parting words of the Lagos State governor, Babatunde Fashola as he commissioned the first Cardiac and Renal Centre in Nigeria and West Africa at large.

With the centre in place, the agony of Nigerians with heart and renal related ailments has now come to an end as the state government also promised to provide free medical treatment for indigent Nigerians at the centre.

The commissioning of the centre yesterday, by the governor will reduce the rate at which Nigerians are sent abroad for cardiac and renal care.

The 67-bed facility which is an extension of the state teaching hospital situated at the Gbagada General Hospital is already open to the public for services, apart from offering specialist care to patients locally.

Fashola said: ‘’It will help in reversing human capacity flight from Nigeria thereby turning a brain drain into a brain gain.’’

He said the centre will provide a comprehensive healthcare solution and services to patients suffering

from cardiac and renal diseases at an affordable cost and also reduce the rate at which Nigerians travel abroad for medical care.

The centre which was conceived five years ago has three floors and provides a state-of- the-art cardiac care and

renal centre with eight specialised out-patient clinics.

To ensure confidence in the services at the centre, Fashola said the state has already engaged the services of a multi dimensional consortium of Nigerian and American doctors and nurses, Renescor Team, who are cardiac and kidney

specialists from America.

“They have also assured me that there will be no strikes in this hospital because critically ill people will never be left alone.

They also have in their agreement; an accommodation for a quota of poor people who the state will refer to them to treat for free and when that quota is exceeded the state will pay.”

Lawyer asks court to stop planned Police strike

By Innocent Anaba

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AGOS—AN activist and lawyer, Mr Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa, has asked a Federal High Court sitting in Lagos, to restrain officers of the Nigerian Police Force, from embarking on strike from March 28, 2015 a day scheduled for the presidential election.

He is contending that if the police should down tools and go on strike, their action would hinder or frustrate the exercise of Nigerians civic duty to participate in the elections, since they would become apprehensive and anxious about their safety.

According to Adegboruwa, elections were usually characterised by violence in some areas, therefore, allowing the police to embark on strike could scuttle the elections.

He is arguing that being categorised as part of those rendering essential services, the police cannot go on strike, since the Police Act makes it mandatory for them to offer protection for life and property.

Respondents in the suit are the Inspector-General of Police Suleiman Abba and the Nigeria Police Force.

Adegboruwa is praying the court to declare that the respondents, their officers, employees and all policemen and policewomen under them, being within the rank of those who are rendering essential services of offering protection for the life and properties, amongst others, are not entitled to disengage from or withdraw such service, under any guise whatsoever.

LECTURE: From left: Professor Yetunde A. Aken'ova, Head of Department of Hematology, University of Ibadan, UI, and guest speaker, HRM, Igwe Alfred Achebe, Obi of Onitsha, Sanator Olabiyi Durojaiye, Mr. Rasheed Olaoluwa, MD/CEO, Bank of Industry, and Prof. Isaac Adalemo, during the Board of Trustees, BoT, of the Stephen Oluwole Awokoya Foundation for Science Education's 20th annual lecture, award of honours & post graduate scholarships at MUSON Centre, Lagos. Photo: Diran Oshe.

....Condemns anti-tax campaigners at Ipaye's book launch

By Abdulwahab Abdulah & Onozure Dania

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AGOS—LAGOS State governor, Mr Babatunde Fashola, yesterday condemned politicians who campaign against the payment of taxes by Lagosians, calling them enemies of development.

Speaking as a guest during the public presentation of a book by the Lagos state Attorney General, Mr Ade Ipaye in Lagos, Fashola said such politicians are out to score cheap political gain, adding that tax payment cannot be taken for granted in any egalitarian society.

The title of the book is: “ Nigerian Tax Law and Administration, A Critical Review.”

According to Fashola; "Payment of tax, cannot be taken for granted. Any politician that says he will cancel payment of tax is telling you lie. There is no way government can achieve the implementation of laudable projects without revenue from taxes.”

Fashola who specifically mentioned the governorship

candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Mr. Jimi Agbaje, for promising to withdraw or cancel payment of taxes in the state, advised Lagosians to disregard such promises as it is only a way to lure their votes.

In his tribute, Prof. Itse Sagay saluted the author’s courage for coming out with the book.

According to him, Ipaye has

Alao's N2.6bn subsidy scam case stalled

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By Onozure Dania

AGOS— THE on going trial of Abdullahi Alao, son of late Alhaji Azeez ArisekolaAlao, an Ibadan businessman, over alleged N2.6 billion fuel

subsidy fraud before a Lagos high court sitting at Igbosere was yesterday stalled as the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission EFCC could not produce any witness

Why we want to free Lagos from Tinubu —Adeniji-Adele Discussion on the State of Lagos their ancestral homes to Lagos

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By Ikenna Asomba

AGOS—FORMER Lagos State Commissioner for Youths, Sports and Social Development, Prince Ademola Adeniji-Adele, yesterday, said he has formed a revolutionary movement, the Free Lagos.org (FL.org) in order to free the state from the alleged control of the national leader of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu.

Speaking at a Round Table

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been “extremely reliable, efficient, intelligent and proactive. It has been a pleasure meeting him. I have benefited much from our relationship.”

The author said he was inspired to write the book based on his experiences both at the classroom as a teacher as well as the tax special assistant to the Lagos state former Governor, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu.

2015, themed: Revamping Lagos State, organised by FL.org, held at Yard 158, Oregun-Ikeja, Lagos, AdenijiAdele said: “Our doing Free Lagos is a movement that has no partisan inclination. Our focus is to maintain the prosperity of Lagos. The free spirit that made Lagos thrive even before the advent of colonial rule. The free spirit that makes non indigenes leave

and still make it. Our fore-fathers and fathers fought so hard for Lagos to be free and remain on its own from the West. That battle was fought and won, so it will be a betrayal to them to allow one man have Lagos in his pocket.”

Also speaking at the event, founder of Nigerian Advance Party, NAP, Dr Tunji Braithwaite, described Lagosians as very refined and accommodating people.

before the court.

At the proceedings, yesterday, the EFCC counsel, Anslem Ozioko, urged the court to adjourn the matter as the two witnesses expected to testify before the court are indisposed.

Ozioko said that he was planning on recalling two witness who have earlier testified before the court.

He said that one of the witnesses he is recalling is one Mr Lawal Ahmed who is in another court for cross examination on a matter, adding that he was not aware that the matter will be fixed for that date as he is not a lawyer.

He also said that the second witness, Tolulola Olanubi is outside the country on an official assignment and will return next week.

Justice Olabisi Akinlade who was not pleased with the antigraft agency's counsel for not being able to produce a witness before the court, said if she had known that the matter will not go on, she would have taken other matters, as she specifically fixed that date for that matter.

Earlier, the defendant was rearraigned before Justice Akinlade over an amended charge of alleged N2.6 billion fuel subsidy fraud.

The defendant was arraigned on a six count charge bordering on obtaining money by false pretences, forgery, alttering and use of false documents, filed against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, MARCH 19, 2015 —11

Non-remittance of deduction from workers pay criminal, says Odunsi A

By Charles Kumolu

B E O K U T A — GOVERNORSHIP candidate of the Social Democratic Party, SDP, in Ogun State, Senator Akin Odunsi yesterday described the alleged non remittance of deduction from workers salary by the state government to appropriate cooperative societies as a criminal act.

Odunsi, who said this at an interactive session with members of the Trade Union Congress,TUC, in Abeokuta, pledged to run a labourfriendly government if elected governor.

His words: ‘’It is most unfortunate that a government would deduct workers salaries and not remit same to the appropriate bodies thus preventing them from getting their dues.This is wicked and unacceptable.

"Ogun State government under my watch would open doors of communication and with a worker friendly atmosphere, all issues that

can lead to unrest would be nipped in the bud.”

He further explained that under his watch, government would not renegotiate

minimum wage at the expense of the people.

“I, Akin Odunsi will not make loud promises. What I say is what I mean. Labour is

very key to our manifesto. If you do not not care for Labour, you are not taking care of the wealth of the nation,’’ he added.

SESSION: From left; Ondo State Governor, Dr. Olusegun Mimiko, Vice President Namadi Sambo, Chief Imam, Owo and Secretary General, League of Imams and Alfas in the South West, Edo and Delta, Sheik Ahmed Aladesawe, and Chief Imam of Ekiti, Sheik Bello Keulere, at an Interactive Session between the vice president and some Muslim leaders from the South West, Edo and Delta states in Akure, yesterday.

Atiku supporters endorse Jonathan

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By Dayo Johnson

KURE—CHIEFTAINS of the All Progressives Congress, APC, who are supporters of Alhaji Abubakar Atiku, AAA, collectives/Peoples Democratic Movement, PDM, in South West yesterday endorsed the re-election of President Goodluck Jonathan for a second term.

They hinged their support for the President on his promise to implement the recommendations of the last national conference if re-elected.

Speaking at a press conference in Akure, their coordinator, who is a former member, House of Representatives, Hon Bode Ajewole, said they also took the decision because of the process and outcome of the party Presidential Primaries which left much to be desired.

Ajewole who is the South West Coordinator said members of the group cut across all political parties.

He pointed out that the group has decided to align with the yearnings of the Youruba People on the restructuring of the country to have true federalism.

APC remains antidote ....They're not to PDP's misrule —Aregbesola, Oyinlola our members —PDM

By Gbenga Olarinoye O l a g u n s o y e

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S O G B O — GOVERNOR of Osun State, Mr Rauf Aregbesola, has reminded the people of the state of the urgent need for change as the only necessary antidote to the nation’s political and socio-economic hardship.

In a statement by the Director Bureau of Communication and Strategy, Mr. Semiu Okanlawon, the Governor was quoted as speaking in a round-off campaign for the All Progressive Congress candidates from presidential to the State House of Assembly positions.

The governor accompanied by the former Governor of the state, Prince

Oyinlola, on Tuesday traversed several towns and local governments in Osun Central Senatorial districts flanked by three senatorial candidates in the state, nine Federal House of Representatives and 28 House of Assembly candidates.

Some of the towns the campaign train visited include ObaIle, Oba-Oke in Olorunda Local Government; EkoEnde, Eko-Ajala in Ifelodun Local Government and Ore, Agbeye, Ekosin in Odo-Otin Local Government.

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HE PDM, in a swift reaction, however, denied those involved in the endorsement saying; ‘’Our attention has been drawn to a press conference, addressed by some aggrieved members of APC who defected to the party from PDM last year, at which they endorsed the candidature of President Goodluck Jonathan in the forthcoming presidential election. The press conference was held on Monday, March 16, in Akure, capital of Ondo State. ‘’We wish to make it categorically clear that members of the group that addressed the press conference in question are not members of PDM. They defected from our party in June last year to pursue their aspiration in APC and are no longer members of our party.’’

I'm not in Jonathan's campaign team A statement issued avoidance of doubt and record —Olu of Ilaro yesterday by the that he was not aware of such

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LARO—THE Olu of Ilaro and Paramount Ruler of Yewaland in Ogun State, Oba Kehinde Olugbenle, has denied a media report that he is among traditional rulers who are being mobilized to reach out to the electorate on behalf of President Goodluck Jonathan.

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Personal Assistant to the King, Mr. Bolaji Leigh, said it was wrong to include his name among people working for the President’s reelection without his consent.

“The Paramount Ruler of Yewaland hereby clarifies for the

assignment and in fact has never met with the royal Fathers claimed to be in the same team with him in his life.

“It is very untraditional in Yorubaland and not in the character of the very revered and respected Olu of Ilaro to accept assignment on the pages of newspaperorbytextmessagesfrom faceless characters," Leigh said

12—Vanguard, THURSDAY, MARCH 19, 2015

RIVERS CP REPLIES AMAECHI: Don’t reduce security to comic entertainment

By Jimitota Onoyume

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ORT HARCOURT— RIVERS State Police Commissioner, Mr. Dan Bature, has advised the state government not to reduce security issues in the state to comical entertainment.

The state police boss who spoke, yesterday, in reaction to allegations of bias levelled against him by Governor Rotimi Amaechi, wondered how cult related killings in the state suddenly became attack on members of All Progressives Congress, APC, in the state.

Bature, in a statement, dismissed the allegations by the governor that the Police arrested several members of the APC in the state, adding that the allegation by the governor that he re-deployed policemen attached to the state governorship candidate of the APC, Dr Dakuku Peterside, was untrue.

He said: “We are constrained to respond to the spurious and wispy allegations against us and false alarm raised by Governor Amaechi, to the effect that the command exposes Dr Peterside, the Rivers State APC governorship candidate to danger by withdrawing policemen attached to him, unsubstantiated killings and plan to arrest supporters of his party.

“We should be mindful of the fact that security issues are not matters for comical entertainment.

It is strongly believed that the vituperations are frustrating signs of the state government’s inability to pressure the command to release hardened criminals involved in heinous cases of murder, deadly cult activities, unlawful firearms possession, kidnappings and sundry acts of

lawlessness that ordinarily would have been charged to court but for the industrial action of the Rivers State Judiciary workers.

“It is on record that since my assumption of duty as the commissioner of Police six months ago, I have remained focused and committed to performing my constitutional duties and responsibilities of protecting lives and property amongst others. I have refused to be provoked or drawn into unnecessary responses to the avalanche of unsubstantiated allegations, in most cases wild imaginations, that are predicated on falsehood that seem to be the penchant of the state government.

“However, while I do not intend to dignify the false alarms raised in the recent press briefing by the

state government, it is necessary to put the records straight.

“Redeployment of C4i Policemen from Peterside to their traditional duties of fighting violent crimes and their immediate replacement with the elite Special Protection Unit, SPU, has now been attributed to withdrawal of the policemen attached to him.

“Cases of cultists related clashes that sometime resulted in deaths have suddenly been attributed to killing of political party supporters. The alleged killing of seven supporters of a political party is unfounded as the command has not received any such report.

“Arrests made in respect of cases of unlawful possession of firearms, robbery, cultism and

murder are now attributed to politics. Six suspects arrested and charged to court for unlawful possession of firearms have now become over 400 supporters of a political party in our custody. The allegation of the purported plan to arrest 307 leaders of a political party is nothing but a ruse to whip up public sympathy. The command has no plan to arbitrarily arrest anybody. Anyone who is not planning to cause or foster violence or breach of public peace has no cause to fear or raise false alarm.

“The Command remains focused in its mandate to serve and protect the people and overall interest of the state. No amount of distractions would deter us from performing our constitutional assigned roles."

OIL AND GAS CONFAB: From left: Dr. Alirio Parra, Chairman, CWC Group, and Mr. Alfred Okoigun, Group Managing Director, Arco Petrochemical and Engineering Company Group, during the 15th edition of Nigeria Oil & Gas conference and exhibition in Abuja.

POLLS: Anioma backs Jonathan for president

By Emma Amaize

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SABA—THE Asagba of Asaba, Delta State, Obi Chike Edozien, has declared the support of Anioma ethnic nationality, Delta North senatorial district in the state, for President Goodluck Jonathan.

He said in a statement by the spokesman of Anioma Congress, Sir Dan Okenyi, that the vote of Anioma people was hinged on the president’s promise to implement the report of the national conference, especially on restructuring the federal system of the country.

Prof. Edozien, who is the paramount monarch of Asaba Kingdom, said Anioma people have implicit confidence that Jonathan will eliminate the structural imbalances

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introduced in the federal system of government by the prolonged years of military rule in Nigeria.

“The various nationalities in the country which have been clamouring for a restructuring of the federation have every reason to support the work

which the delegates to the conference have started.

“The energy and resources expended to host such a landmark conference should not be allowed to be wasted by voting into power a political party that does not align its campaign with the yearnings

of the people.

“As a people, we should not create the impression that we do not know what we want or that all is well with this federation called Nigeria, after the unfortunate intervention of the military junta,” he said.

Ndokwa leaders rally support for Jonathan, others Okowa, and Delta North senatorial candidate of the S A B A — N AT I O N A L party, Chief Peter Nwaoboshi, President of Ndokwa in the March 28 and April 11 Leaders Forum, Rear Admiral elections.

Ojinka Onah, yesterday, called Speaking at an enlarged on the people of Ndokwa meeting of the group and nation at home and in the members of the PDP in Diaspora, to cast their votes for Ndokwa West Local President Goodluck Jonathan, Government Area, Onah Delta State Peoples Democratic explained that the meeting Party, PDP, governorship was informed by the need to candidate, Senator Ifeanyi change the strategy of the

By Festus Ahon

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party in the area in choosing the leadership for the Ndokwa nation.

According to him, the group was out to garner massive support for the PDP and urged those yet to collect their Permanent Voters Cards, PVCs, to do so without further delay.

He said that the power for them to vote candidates of their choice was in the PVCs.

Christian Elders Forum wants Nigerians to vote for liberal democracy

By Gabriel Enogholase

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ENIN—AHEAD of the forthcoming elections in the country, leaders of the National Christian Elders Forum, NCEF, have called on Nigerians to vote for liberal democracy that guarantees level playing ground for adherents of every religion and not dual ideology sympathizers, who give preferential treatment to one religion over and above others.

The body also advised Nigerians to vote for a national ethic that promotes national unity and national integration with the common law made up of the “reducible minimums” of all religions and culture inspired by the “golden rule: Do unto others, as you will want them to do to you.”

Chairman of NCEF, Mr. Solomon Asemota, SAN, in Benin, Edo State, yesterday, enjoined Nigerians to vote for the survival of Christianity and any other religion that exists in Nigeria.

UNIPORT alumni endorse Jonathan

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HE University of Port Harcourt Alumni Association, yesterday, in Lagos, said that President Goodluck Jonathan has the required qualities to move Nigeria to a new era of greater possibilities if he was reelected. The body reached the decision at a town hall meeting in Lagos, for political sensitization with the theme: The Role Of Alumni Association in Political Socialisation.

In his address, National President, Mr Sampson Ngerebara noted the importance of the meeting which, he said, was important because of its relationship with the forthcoming elections as the outcome will define the life of the nation and invariably the lives of the people.

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16 — Vanguard, THURSDAY, MARCH 18, 2015

Senator Remi Tinubu's book launch

From left, Sen Babafemi Ojudu,book reviewer; Dr. Oluranti Adebule, Deputy Governorship Candidate; Hon. Adeola Solomon Olamilekan, Hajia Aisha Buhari, Mrs. Oludolapo Osinbajo, Dame Abimbola Fashola,Lagos State 1st Lady, and Senator Oluremi Tinubu, APC Candidate, Lagos Central senatorial district, during the unveilin;g of the book: Stewardship Report: A Collection Of Town Hall Speeches From left, Hon. Lola Akande, Mrs. Omolara Fashola, (2011-2014) by Senator Remi Tinubu at the 14th Edition of Lagos Central senatorial district Town Hall Chief Abba Folawiyo and Chief R.F. Balogun.

Meeting, in Lagos, yesterday. Photos: Biodun Ogunleye

From left, Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu, APC National Leader; Senator Oluremi Tinubu, APC Candidate, Lagos Central senatorial district/Author of the book, and Hajia Aisha Buhari, wife of APC Presidential Candidate.

Cross section of party members, others.

Aisha Buhari opens up on how Tinubu helped her husband

By Gbenga Oke

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AJIA AISHA Buhari, yesterday, opened up on the personal sacrifice made by Asiwaju Bola Tinubu towards her husband’s presidential aspiration, affirming that Tinubu’s support has brought Muhammadu Buhari’s ten-year presidential quest to near actualisation.

Aisha spoke as Tinubu declared that President Goodluck Jonathan’s time in office was up, lampooning the administration for having a morbid phobia for election upon what he claimed was years of missed opportunities and misgovernance.

The two spoke at the 14th town hall meeting of the Lagos Central senatorial district hosted by Senator Oluremi Tinubu (APC senatorial candidate), an occasion that drew some of the leading lights of the Lagos political crowd.

Mrs. Tinubu, at the occasion, blasted the ruling Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, of building castles in the air with what she described as economic gains that did not distil to the populace.

The 14th edition of Lagos Central senatorial district townhall meeting, tagged, 'Treading the Path to Prosperity,' also saw the launch of a book, 'Stewardship Report: A collection of Town Hall Speeches (2011-2014)' by Senator Oluremi Tinubu.

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Among those present at the event were Mrs. Dolapo Osinbajo, wife of Professor Yemi Osinbajo, APC vice-presidential candidate; Lagos State First Lady, Dame Abimbola Fashola, Senator Babafemi Ojodu, among others.

Mrs. Buhari said Asiwaju jettisoned personal interest to ensure that Professor Yemi Osinbajo emerged as vicepresidential candidate to her husband.

“My husband, General Muhammadu Buhari has been contesting presidential elections for over a decade now, but this particular election is unique because our leader, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu jettisoned his personal interest for the sake of Nigeria.”

In his remarks, Asiwaju Tinubu said the damage the PDP had done to Nigeria is enough, and the party should as such be voted out.

PDP’s time is up — Tinubu He said the PDP is afraid of elections and that was why they had been objecting to the use of PVCs for the forthcoming elections.

“In my life, I have never seen an incumbent President that is afraid of elections and PVCs before. ...The PDP is afraid, and it is because they don't have have people."

Extolling the virtues of his wife, Tinubu stressed: “That my wife is a senator today was not a

programme I supported. They collected the form and told me if I am not running, then release your wife to run. Today, I am really proud that she is a senator because she has made the Lagos Central senatorial district a better place.

PDP reduced Nigeria to a state of anarchy — Oluremi Tinubu In her remarks, Senator Oluremi Tinubu said the PDP rule has reduced the nation to a state of anarchy while the economy is weakening due to over-dependence on oil and excessive importation.

She said: “Although the Nigerian economy is projected as the largest in Africa, this has not translated into visible wealth per household, and there is a progressive failure in Nigeria under the watch of the ruling PDP. “As elections draw close, I urge us to be resolute in the choice of our leaders. The future is not about me, but it is about our children and the legacies we want to bequeath to them. ” Speaking of her activities, she said the town hall meetings she introduced in 2011, is a means of feed-back process and mechanism for accountability and responsibility to constituents.

“In the days ahead, if I am reelected, I intend to continue on the path that we have chosen to walk through knowing it leads to nation building. I intend to take

on matters relating to youth, public health, widows, prohibition of violence and environment. I will sustain empowerment schemes such as Petty Traders Empowerment Capital Scheme, PETECS, Elderly Citizens Assistance Scheme, ECAS, Youth Empowerment and Skills Acquisition Scheme, YESAS, Good Boys and Girls Empowerment Scheme, GBGES, Widows Economic Empowerment Scheme, WEES, and distribution of GCE forms as well as sponsorship of the Muniru Muse under-15 football competitions for boys and girls.”

Remi Tinubu is an achiever par excellence — Prince Olusi In his speech, a leader of the APC in Lagos State, Prince Tajudeen Olusi said Mrs. Oluremi Tinubu has performed well and beyond expectation. He described her as an achiever par excellence, who has exceeded her predecessors.

The book is a reflection of selfless service of Tinubu – Ojudu Reviewing the book, Senator Babafemi Ojudu said the book, 'Stewardship Report: A collection of Town Hall Speeches (20112014),' is a book that talks about the accountability and stewardship of the woman many considered a woman of excellence.

He said: “Senator Tinubu is an unrepentant progressive without any pretence and the book talks about how she has brought governance to her people and her achievements so far.

"The book also talks about some of the committees she participated in the Senate, which include trade and investment, women affairs, education and development goals and some of her programmes in the Senate.”

Other personalities at the event included: running mate to the governorship candidate of APC in Lagos State, Mrs. Oluranti Adebule, former Minister of state for defence; Demola Seriki, Hon. Wale Osun, Hon Aro Lambo, Iyalode General of Lagos, Alhaja Folashade Tinubu-Ojo, Hon. Adeola Olamilekan, Hon. Musiliu Folami, Hon. Lola Akande, Alhaja Omolara Adeyinka Fashola, Chief Abba Folawiyo, Hon. Abayomi Daramola, Alhaji Tunde Balogun, former deputy governor of Lagos State, Mrs. Sarah Sosan, Chief Teju Philips, Hon. Alabi Macfoy Also present were wife of former Minister of Federal Capital Territory, Mrs. Hadiza el-Rufai; Hajia Salamatu Al-Makura, Nasarawa State governor's wife; Mrs. Alayingi Sylva, former Bayelsa State governor's wife; Mrs. Regina Akume, former Benue State governor's wife, among many others.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, MARCH 19, 2015 — 17

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ET me first start, that like all Nigerian patriots, I feel happy that in a few weeks, the Nigerian Army and allies from Chad and Niger, inflicted backbreaking blows on the Boko Haram insurgency. As a result, many communities hitherto occupied by the terror organization have been liberated, including the complete liberation of Adamawa and Yobe states.

And by early this week, Bama, Borno state’s second largest city, was freed; Chief of Army Staff, General Minimah, told reporters that only three local government areas remained to be freed in Borno state. Unlike the situation before,the fighting capacity of Boko Haram has been near fatally degraded.

From a stragtegic perspective, we can safely say that momentum has decisively shifted to the Nigerian Army and its allies.

There is a spring in the step of our officer corps and the Chief of Defense Staff, Air Marshall Alex Barde expresses more confidence today. He seemed far removed from the soldier who couldn’t avert the humiliating Boko Haram takeover of his village, all those months ago. Even a new slogan was launched: #NeverAgain, promising that the Nigerian Army will no longer be humiliated by a ragtag insurgency!

Yet, something just didn’t add up in the string of successes being touted by the military and political hierarchies. While our top officers lapped up the plaudits, it seemed that the most decisive blows were dealt, by the Chadian Army.

Instructively, it was while liberating Dikwa, that Chadian forces were said to have sighted Abubakar Shekau; this was confirmed by the Chadian President, Idris Derby Itno, himself.

Disparaging remarks It was then alleged that Nigeria stopped Chad from pursuing, capturing or killing the Boko Haram leader. The prominence received by the Chadians has rankled the Nigerian side, especially when officers from Niger, were reported to have made disparaging remarks against their Nigerian counterparts.

Early this month, on March 3rd, Defense Spokesperson, Major General Chris Olukolade, condemned “the attitude and activities of segments of the society who are still hell bent on undermining the morale of our fighting forces by deliberately playing down the operational successes so far achieved…this group of people have been mischievously…exaggerating reporting the supportive roles of foreign allies to the detriment of our operational success in the fight against terror”.

Olukolade went further to narrow down to “some foreign media and their local collaborators”. The following day, a group of “sponsored” youths under the aegis of “Citizens in Defence of Integrity of Nigerian Military”, numbering about 30, staged a protest at the HQ of DAILY TRUST newspapers. With

Defeating Boko Haram with mercenaries an NTA crew in tow, these “patriotic youths” carried several placards some of which read: “DAILY TRUST newspaper, Stop Your Hostility Towards Nigerian Military” and “Stop Bad Press Against Our Gallant Military”!

The narrative of an “enemy media” has become central to the military hierarchy’s perception of reportage of the counter insurgency.

Media reports: But the most disturbing narrative is related to the entrance of South African mercenaries into the Nigerian counter insurgency war.

President Goodluck Jonathan had told an interviewer recently, that there were foreign technical experts teaching Nigerian soldiers how to use newly procured war material.

But recent reports in the international media are indicating clearly, that Nigeria has imported at least a hundred ex-members of a notorious unit of the former apartheid South African Army, the Koeverts, as “advisers” in the war against Boko Haram. The report came out in the open, when one of them, Leon Lotz, was killed in what was described as “friendly fire”, in the war against Boko Haram.

The Koeverts units were actually some of the most vicious of the apartheid regime’s counter-insurgency groups, used to hunt and kill fighters of the liberation struggle in Namibia, South Africa, as well as participating in the destabilization efforts against Angola, Mozambique and Zimbabwe. Adam Nossiter, writing for THE NEW YORK TIMES, quoted a senior Western diplomat, who confirmed that the South African mercenaries were playing “a major role”,

If war used to be the monopoly of the state and its army, the new world order of triumphant, neoliberal capitalism has opened up war as a realm of private investment, with opportunities for profit

particularly at night. “Equipped with night-vision goggles, the mercenaries ‘are whacking them in the evening hours”. According to the unnamed Western diplomat, by “the next morning the Nigerian Army rolls in and claim success”.

These mercenaries “are doing the heavy lifting”.

Soldiers atop armoured vehicles The report said “photographs showing white soldiers atop armoured vehicles, on what appears to be a major road in Maiduguri have been posted on Nigerian Twitter feeds”; while a NEW YORK TIMES correspondent in Maiduguri “identified the location as the Baga Road”, even some of the South African mercenaries were seen “jogging around Maiduguri airport, now closed, where they are encamped”.

The war against Boko Haram just underlines the seismic shift that has taken place on the Nigerian political subsoil, in attitudes towards the use of mercenaries in wars. During the Nigerian Civil War (1967-1970), mercenaries fought on the Biafran side and there were casualties amongst these soldiers of fortune.

By 1975, the Angolan war of Independence saw the widespread use of mercenaries

by UNITA and FNLA. Many of these were captured by the MPLA, and an international tribunal, which included the Nigerian late Justice Adesiyun, tried these mercenaries, who were seen as fighting against the interest of Africa.

Angola executed many of those mercenaries. One of the most notorious mercenaries ever to prowl in Africa was Colonel “Mad” Mike Hoare, who had attempted to overthrow the radical government of President France Albert Rene in the Seychelles, at the behest of the pro-West, former President James Mancham. It led to a widespread condemnation of the activities of mercenaries in Africa. The fact that they had often been recruited to support unpopular causes in our continent made mercenaries widely loathed in Africa.

But the post-communist world of imperialist triumphalism, from the 1990s, has seen a more widespread use of private contractors like Blackwater from the USA, employed by the United States in Iraq as well as Executive Outcomes of South Africa, which was used in the war in Sierra Leone. The emergence of these

new mercenary outfits fitted the frames of outsourcing wars to private contractors, within the ambits of the relentless search for profit, by modern, neoliberal capitalism.

If war used to be the monopoly of the state and its army, the new world order of triumphant, neoliberal capitalism has opened up war as a realm of private investment, with opportunities for profit. The private contractors in Iraq made tons of money, while it is reported that the Koeverts mercenaries helping Nigeria’s war against Boko Haram, are paid $400 per day! Those who are in the know, have always underlined the huge sums of money that an alliance of top military officials, politicians and

foreign arms contractors have continued to cream off, in the struggle against Boko Haram.

The South African mercenaries are just the latest group getting their slice of the Nigerian counterinsurgency cake!

In the final analysis, Adam Nossiter quoted another official who frankly admitted that: “It’s not the best option for a nation to compromise her sovereignty by bringing in mercenaries”. But the Jonathan administration was under tremendous political pressure.

It had for long “underrated” Boko Haram, according to President Goodluck Jonathan himself. But even worse, it seemed that the administration allowed the insurgency to fester, believing it was the handiwork of his Northern enemies, and was therefore available to exploit for political advantage. But it boomeranged! The resort to the use of mercenaries became a desperate last throw of the dice, for electoral advantage.

And in turning to mercenaries to fight the counter insurgency war, the Jonathan administration has put to naught a principle that Nigeria has always held to very firmly: no mercenaries in African conflicts! When the Boko Haram dust finally settles, the Nigerian Army’s capacity would still have to be rebuilt. There is no other way!

Sir Lucky Omoluwa: Another garland for the intrepid businessman

L

AST Thursday in New York City, USA, Sir Lucky Omoluwa, the CEO of Pinnacle Communications Limited, was invested as the first Nigerian member of the International Trustees of the World Council of Religions for Peace organization.

This international organization prides itself with its slogan: Different Faiths, Common Action; it is dedicated to helping to stop wars; assists in building communities; works to end poverty and also has a green agenda, of helping to protect the earth.

The 35 person International Trustees has memberships from Kenya, Morocco, Japan, Australia, United States, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, India, Italy, Norway and United Kingdom, with Sir Lucky Omoluwa, becoming the first Nigerian member of this distinguished international body. Lucky Omoluwa, a devoted catholic, is a papal Knight.

I have written about Sir Lucky Omoluwa on this page, several times, and I feel happy that his devoted work as a sociallyresponsible businessman; a philanthropist and devoutly religious man, has received the deserved international recognition of membership of an organization, devoted to using the multiplicity of faiths to help heal our world. They couldn’t have chosen a more appropriate person as their first Nigerian International Trustee. This is because in his life, business practice as well as in religious devotion, Lucky Omoluwa exemplifies respect for diversity that the world must notice. He is

from Delta state, but was born by a mother from Ebirra land, in Kogi state. Omoluwa grew up in Lagos, but made business success, living in Kaduna, the heart of Northern Nigeria.

He speaks many languages and has an extensive network of friends all over Nigeria and around the world. Because I have seen him in close quarters, and in the midst of people from different backgrounds, I have always wondered where he found the capacity to be as generous as he is. He is one successful businessman, who seems happiest, when he is able to assist other people to find success in their own endeavours too.

And in the realm of broadcast procurement that he works in, and which I know very intimately, as a broadcaster, he has done a lot to entrench very ethical business practices, which have made his company, a leader in the field. A naturally self-effacing man, nevertheless, those who are close to him attest to his rich sense of humour; incredible compassion and respect for the diversity associated with a multi religious and multi ethnic society, such as Nigeria.

His close friends call him many aliases: Chairman, Kabiyesi and Capo! He takes all in his strides without allowing the adulation, or his tremendous business success, to get to his head. Sir Lucky Omoluwa, intrepid businessman, philanthropist and devoted family man, congratulations on your investiture as a member of the International Trustees of the World Council of Religions for Peace organization.

18 — Vanguard, THURSDAY, MARCH 19, 2015 FOR the third time in four years, a stowaway ‘flew’ Arik Air, the largest commercial airline in Nigeria. In October, 2012, the lifeless body of a stowaway was found in the hold of Arik’s Lagos-New York flight. Many wondered how he made it to America in that manner.

September 2013, 14-year-old boy, Daniel Oikhena, stowed away in an Arik Air Benin City-Lagos flight. The boy, who hid in the tyre compartment, miraculously survived the flight and became an instant sensation.

According to him, he thought the flight was America-bound, and had hoped to fulfill his life ambition of a trip overseas. His misadventure ended on a positive note: the Edo State Government awarded him a scholarship. Some had argued then that the treatment accorded Daniel could motivate more to risk a repeat of his “wonder” flight to America. Could that be the case? Or are there success stories of stowaways that sustain these ambitious adventures?

A major surprise the other week was the discovery of another unidentified dead body

Arik Air – The Stowaway Sagas in the hold of yet another Arik Air flight to New York. The intense attention to the elections could have denied the matter more media space. We wonder why it had to be Arik again. What loopholes encourage stowaways to target Arik? Why have the regulatory authorities watched askance over these incidents? What are the contributions of the authorities to these incidents? Are they unaware of their implications?

The two dead persons could be blamed for their death, but it does not detract from the fact that between the airline and the regulatory agencies a lot of work is not being

done. Whether through negligence or criminal collusion, something is gravely wrong with a security system that stowaways can beat. For the incidents to continue for this long is absolutely intolerable. Nigeria’s heightened security creates more worries around these incidents. Unless immediate actions are taken to arrest the ominous security laxity at the airports operations, the mind boggles at what could happen to lives and property of innocent travellers one ugly day. The issue is not about a particular airline, it is about all-round airport and airlines operations security and safety.

Law enforcement agencies and the aviation regulators should swing into action, identify the lapses, and address them. Apart from the danger to the lives, public and private property, these incidents do not augur well for the safety rating of Nigerian airlines. Arik must make a thorough check of its systems.

It is impossible for anyone to make the tarmac without appropriate security clearances. The priority of the authorities should be to deal comprehensively with layers of criminality that feed these incidents.

OPINION

By Martin Eze

I

N 1991, the administration of Major General Ibrahim .B. Babangida created additional states including Abia State, God’s Own State. Administrators were appointed to run the state’s affairs until 1993 when Dr. Ogbonnaya Onuh became the first democratically elected Governor of the state. He couldn’t complete his term because of ministry intervention.

Abia State is divided into three electoral political zones, Abia North, Abia Central and Abia South. Since the creation of the state nobody from Abia South has ever Governed the state either as an administrator or as Executive Governor.

In 1999, the north through Dr. Orji Uzo Kalu governed from 1999 – 2007 and Chief T.A. Orji from Abia Central took over, but by May 29, 2015 his administration comes to an end and a successor must emerge. The question is from which zone?

That is the issue of the moment. Zoning, though not written in our constitution is one of the major factors that will influence the electorate come April11, 2015.

When it was time for aspirants to emerge,a man from Abia South, Dr. Okezie Victor Ikpeazu indicated interest on the platform of People Democratic Party, PDP. After a well conducted and contested primary with other aspirants from all the zones in the state, Victor emerged, a first stage in the race of Government House.

As we enter the next phase which is the general election were other political parties will present their candidates, C M Y K

Analysing Ikpeazu's

the chances of candidature

surely the issue of zoning will likely play a major role in the voting of the electorate.

It is unlikely that Abians will vote for a candidate from the same zone with the present Governor Chief T.A. Orji, that equally extends to any candidate from Abia North.

Although, Abia State is largely a people democratic party state but there are some other parties with some presence such as the PPA which is a poster & billboard party.

In All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, with less than forty days to general election, the electorate is not sure who the governorship candidate is. Some people say it’s Alex Oti while others mention the name of another candidate. If it’s Alex Oti, where is he from, is he from Arochukwu (Abia North) or from Aro-Ngwa (Abia Central). Some say he was born in Arochukwu but grew up in Ngwa while

Ikpeazu is the only candidate that is sure of a hundred percent vote from a political zone, the Abia south

others claim he was born in Ngwa but grew up in Arochukwu, with this ambiguity, either way, he is certainly not favoured by the zoning permutation.

Secondly, the performance of the present administration which is a PDP government should have some bargaining chip for its candidate. Many are of the view that with Chief T.A. Orji, who also doubles as Chairman of the Eastern Governors forum , Abians have had a good taste of real dividends of democracy. All the previous government carried out the business of State from Temperance government House while the new Government House he started is almost near completion. He also built a modern state secretariat for office complex unlike his predecessors who made use of scattered rented building as offices which was siphoning the state money. The roads, education, health care, spots etc, all got the attention of the government space will not allow me to enumerate all.

In fact, he ended the reign of kidnappers and robbers thereby making the state a safe haven for private investors from within and outside the country. Ikpeazu as a PDP candidate will likely benefit from these legacies of Ochendo.

The third determinant factor will be the position of the political stake holders in the state. It is not in doubt that almost all the

political bigwigs in Abia State are members of the People Democratic Party.

Some of these bigwigs influence the voting pattern of the electorate from their constituency because of their past achievements. In Abia Central, we have the likes of Chief Onyema Ugochukwu, former NDDC Chairman who presented a formidable opposition during 2007 election. Ngozi Okonjo Iweala, minister of Finance and co-ordinating minister of the economy is also from the central. Some families are benefiaries of the scholarship scheme of some of the bigwigs. Some got employment through their assistance, widows are equally catered for. Some built boreholes and other developmental projects.

The fourth index that could crown it all is the pedigree of the candidates. For Dr. Alex Oti, he is relatively new in the politics of Abia, nothing much is know about him accept that he is a retired banker. His political platform APGA is unpopular in the state. His candidature is still been contested for by another candidate. This crack will certainly affect him negatively.

Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu is the only candidate that is sure of a hundred percent vote from a political zone, the Abia south.

He has held political positions in the past and impacted the life of many citizens, built bridges across all strata. He is not a new entrant into Abia political firmanent.

*Mr. Eze, a political analyst, wrote from Umuahia, Abia State.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, MARCH 19, 2015— 19

Join the troops; say ‘never again!’ (2)

B

EFORE I go on with the concluding part, let me appreciate my readers for the rush of support for our Armed Forces in their reactions to the first part of this article. You are all great patriots indeed. Gemit ille qui dolet se mortui, qui deridet suae super mortuum cadaver. “He who mourns the dead mourns himself, but he who laughs at a dead body derides his own corpse”. Some of you even started something like #Never Again threads. That is our war cry to finish off Boko Haram and never allow them to come near our people ever again.

But a lot depends on us, the people. Let us decide that never again shall any true Muslim see Boko Haram or any other violent or extremist group as soldiers of Islam, or develop any modicum of sympathy or support for them.

It was this misguided attitude that lured many angry and frustrated youth to volunteer to fight for them only to lose their lives as suicide bombers or gunmen and women. It was this misleading idea that led even some of our soldiers to betray

their colleagues and their country by providing easy passage for the terrorists to invade our military installations and help themselves to our heavy fighting equipment, including armoured personnel carriers.

Now the mistake we must never make again is to see our army as an “occupying force” as some members of the opposition portrayed them when President Goodluck Jonathan requested for the extension of emergency rule.

Nigerian armed forces can never be an “occupation army” within our own constitutional, territorial sovereignty. Anyone who says so is an enemy of this country who is threatened by the presence of the military.

The Nigerian military may have their bad days and their own share of bad eggs, but it is one of the most respected institutions of its peer in the world. Certainly, there is nothing to be compared to it in Black Africa, in terms of pedigree and success stories both at home and abroad. I am sad that this

same army that now I extol was once used to decimate the Igbo population during the pogroms in Northern Nigeria and inside Igbo heartland during the civil war. But still, if there is any merit to the fact that Nigeria’s dismemberment was stopped, it was this Army that did it.

From now on, let us look at the Nigerian Armed Forces with a new light in our eyes. The other day, I watched the Nigeria Air Force take delivery of some sexy looking, brand new military helicopters and fighter planes.

Clad in full combat gear, the Chief Air Staff, Vice Admiral Adesola Amosu, walked up to the camera after demonstrating capabilities of the equipment, and said: “This is your Air Force at work for you”.

Nigerian armed forces can never be an “occupation army” within our own constitutional, territorial sovereignty.

Anyone who says so is an enemy of this country

Nigeria has no reason to be broke

A

T creation, God blessed Nigeria. All the necessities of life, He gave to us freely and in abundance – the precious air we breathe; the water we drink; and the expanse of fertile land – were just there.

Where the terrain was difficult, He tucked underneath the earth, the wherewithal for its development.

This explains why, in the beginning, agriculture formed the mainstay of Nigeria’s economy. Before the advent of the oil boom of the 1970s, the nation’s economy was largely dependent on revenue from this sector.

We recollect, with nostalgia, that Nigeria’s palm oil seedling was adjudged the best the world-over and that was when Malaysia and other countries came to collect the seedlings as the nucleus for their own production. In whichever direction we turned, we were blessed – the groundnut pyramid of the North; the cocoa, rubber and timber of the West; and the palm produce of the East – all of which have today gone virtually into extinction. Nigeria has never had any reason to be broke.

Then came the oil regime, which was supposed to bring greater prosperity and enhanced economic boom; but which has ended up spelling doom for us. As it were, this was the opportunity to abandon our original pursuits in agriculture and we then put all our eggs in a single basket – the oil basket.

In the new frontier, we met easy money.

Things became so rosy to the extent that money was not our problem but how to spend it. We quickly imbibed the habit of throwing money around the world. In perspective, one is reminded of a quick sequence: God made man; man made money and money made man mad.

And this is the point at which we have

C M Y K

been fixated for some decades now. This point has since become the natural habitat of everything evil – laziness, stealing, corruption, unemployment, growth and development retardation, crime and criminality; and so on. That’s where we have found ourselves, no thanks to the discovery of oil.

In the process, the system has thrown up a few fat cows, who besides being richer than the country; are also intent on continuously bullying the rest of us with their part of the loot from our common wealth.

Contrary to natural expectation, Nigeria is today skint at every bend. On Wednesday, 11 March 2015, an international rating agency, Standard & Poor’s, warned that Nigeria’s economy was in “clear and present danger”.

What makes the situation more confounding is that in the face of this damning report, the National Bureau of Statistics, NBS, also revealed that “On annual basis, the total exports of Nigeria stood at N17.204 trillion at the end of 2014, representing a rise of N2.959 billion or 20.8% over the level of 2013”, even when the nation’s budgetary outlay for 2014 was less than N5 trillion.

Where will the impending fight against poverty begin? We earn so much money and

We really have no reason to be poor. With a bit of honesty and diligence, we can turn this economy around.

Yes, we can!

Yes indeed. After all, the guys wearing the military gear joined the forces from among us. When they retire they will come back to us. Their tools of work were provided for them with the tax you and I pay. They are our “boys” and “girls”. They have sworn to put their lives in danger to defend our country and make us safe. We owe an obligation to respect, support and assist them in whatever way we can. We have no business distancing ourselves from them. We cannot afford to leave them to their own devices. Their success or failure depends upon us to a very large degree. An army that looks back and sees itself abandoned by those they are dying to defend will be demoralised, then enraged.

The terrible consequences of that will bounce back on the people.

The inevitability of seamless synergy between the military and the people for the success of a war campaigns has been richly demonstrated by the sagacities of the war in the North East. The military was a lone ranger and suffered huge losses in terms of manpower and equipment in the face of Boko Haram booby traps in Maiduguri and Kano until the lovely incidence of Civilian Joint Task Force (C-JTF) was hatched in Borno State. Brave young men and local hunters volunteered to form daredevil vigilantes to assist the army in recce and intelligence work. They knew the terrain and they also knew the terrorists, while most of the soldiers were total strangers to the areas.

Today, the success story of our armed forces against Boko

yet we are perpetually broke. This is perhaps another good case of a man who lives inside water but has no water to drink. This is where corruption and other associated evils have led us. It is a sad affair.

The presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Alhaji Muhammadu Buhari releases the first salvo by asserting that if elected, he was not going to spend time looking at the misdeeds of past leaders. Rather, he would wage the war against corruption with effect from 29 May 2015.

This is perhaps in accord with modern practice – that leaders must be forward and not backward looking. And coming from a man who has been hounded, harassed and abused over his draconian past; and who has vowed publicly that he is a “born again democrat”, his current statement could be taken for a goodwill message.

Beyond that point, Buhari should know that the new change must come into play.

The task of deciding what happens to the stolen or misappropriated trillions is collectively for Nigerians.

The new change reminds us that there are institutions on ground that decide such questions. In essence, if we must move forward, there is hardly a way we can completely divorce the future from the present and the past.

We see a holistic fight in which the Executive branch of government, the legislature, the judiciary, the political parties and the citizenry will all come into the equation to play their little roles that ultimately form the whole. Democracy removes it all from the purview of a oneman-show.

The concentration of too much power in

Haram could not be told without the efforts of the C-JTF taking a pride of place in it. The C-JTF has proved my assertion that the army and the people are two sides of the same coin in any successful war campaign.

We must resolve that, when the war on Boko Haram has been successfully concluded, the military-civilian cooperation must be sustained. That we defeat Boko Haram does not mean that another, perhaps even more deadly terrorist group will not come up. The defeat of Mohammed Omar Taliban regime by America and her coalition partners in the early 2000’s could not prevent the emergence of Osama bin Laden, and his elimination could not prevent the rise of Islamic State in the Levant (ISIL). Northern Nigeria is still a fertile ground for all shades of experimental Islamic dogmas.

The advent of suicide bombing in Nigeria, the introduction of explosive device-making knowledge, easy access to Jihadist websites and the escape of many Boko Haram fighters from the cordon of the military in the North East call for extreme vigilance by all of us.

We must all pay keen attention to suspicious individuals and activities within our vicinities and act as soon as we notice them. The security agencies must also turn a new leaf and move in to nip matters in the bud when they are reported. If we do not cement our civilian bonds with our military, we will be back to another war against terror sooner than later.

We must never again allow that to happen. #Never Again!

the hands of a single individual or in a single institution is a direct invitation to tyranny.

The journey for our return to a healthy economic state must start in earnest. All that is required is the discipline and the political will to push through.

For one thing, the diversification of our economy must not be in abstraction, it must be real. While not discarding the oil sector totally, we must quickly beat a retreat to agriculture. The land is still there; let’s till it!

For another, the attempt to separate the office of the Accountant-General of the Federation from that of the AccountantGeneral of the Federal Government must be fast-tracked. For too long, we left our fate in the hands of the Federal Government who used the Federation Account and the excess crude account as veritable sources of slush funds of every description, including electioneering campaigns and other sundries.

Again, the War against Indiscipline and Corruption must be quickly reinvigorated. We must go to equity in clean hands. For example, there is a subsisting Supreme Court order, which declared the Excess Crude Account illegal. Close that account and transfer its balance to the Federation Account.

Luckily, the good Lord who created us and endowed us bountifully with the good things of life is still very much around. We really have no reason to be poor. With a bit of honesty and diligence, we can turn this economy around. Yes, we can!

20—Vanguard, THURSDAY, MARCH 19, 2015

Vanguard, THURSDAY, MARCH 19, 2015 — 21

DPR lists threats to gas network code

By Ediri Ejoh

T

HE Department of Pe troleum Resources, DPR, has said that lack of funding, infrastructure, transitioning of legacy agreements and commercial framework are major obstacles to the implementation of the Nigeria Gas Transportation Network Code, NGTNC. The Director, DPR, Mr. George Osahon, who disclosed this at a stakeholders meeting in Lagos, also said that the Network Code will enable new ways of doing business in the Nigerian Domestic Gas Market. The Network Code is a set of rules that is supposed to guide the use of gas transportation system in the industry.

According to Osahon, represented by his Deputy Director, Gas, Mr. Antigha Ekaluo, “We are at the current pace of inadequate trunklines (one owner), natural monopoly, limited or no third party access, no hubs, bundled system, dominant producers (export oriented IOCs), government interventions and no network code.”

He said the gas industry craves for a sector where there are multiple pipelines (many owners), no inherent natural monopoly, open access, hub/ traders, separation of commodity and infrastructure, alternative producers, free market driven by willing buyer/willing seller, and a guided network code.

He said “The Code enables a contractual framework between the Network operators and the users that provide open and competitive access to gas transportation infrastructure. It ensures common set of rules to promote fair competition, creating a platform on which a competitive Nigerian gas industry will evolve as well as covering the EscravosLagos Pipeline System (ELPS) & Oben–Ajaokuta networks (code also to cover other net-

works).

“The code features some benefit in the gas industry, these are non-discriminatory basis, ensure system security, reliability and safety to be assured, tariffs to reflect the costs of service, rules to be clear, unambiguous and comprehensive. It should also allow free market solutions to develop, provision of mechanisms to handle disputes, modification rules, passed implementation of necessary IT infrastructure

to support electronic transactions and enhance operations.”

Also speaking, The Managing Director, Nigerian Gas Company Limited, NGC, Mr .

Dafe Sejebor, hinted that the code comprises two distinct parts, which include; the transmission (trunk lines), of 1,800 km of high-pressure transmission pipelines and the distribution (spur lines) with capacities ranging from 2.50 billion standard cubic

feet, BSCF and present demand of approximately 950mmscf/d.

Dafe maintained that the code is a framework between the transportation system operator, TSO, and shippers which specifies the terms and guidelines for operation and the use of the gas transportation network.

Thus, the network code provides for a non-discriminatory open access to gas transportation infrastructure, and is usually developed by the TSO in consultation with stakeholders and approved by the regulator.

FROM LEFT: President, Nigerian-American Chamber of Commerce, NACC, Chief Olabintan Famutimi; Group Managing Director/CEO, Access Bank Plc, Mr. Herbert Wigwe and United States Commercial Counsellor, Lagos, Mr. Brian McCleary during the March 2015 breakfast meeting of the chamber, sponsored by Access Bank in Lagos.

World Economic Forum announces 187 leaders of the future

T

HERE are 187 entrepreneurial leaders, under the age of 40, that have been selected to become Young Global Leaders (YGLs) of the World Economic A statement released by the World Economic Forum on its site said “The new class of YGLs signals an optimistic future of global leadership: diverse, innovative and committed to make a positive impact on society”.

Over the last 10 years, the Forum of Young Global Leaders has endeavoured to build the foremost platform for young leaders to engage in global affairs to shape a more positive, peaceful and prosperous society. The community is made up of the world’s most outstanding next-generation leaders. Bold, brave, action-oriented and entrepreneurial, these individuals commit both their time and talent to make the world a better place.

According to the forum, “Each year, we select the very best candidates from thousands of nominations worldwide to join the community. This year’s class of Young Global Leaders(YGLs), comes from 66 countries and equally represents the public and private sector. Out of 187 YGLs C M Y K

honoured, half are women.

The selected leaders are under 40 who are shaping the future of industry and society.

Unfortunately, no Nigerian youth featured in the 187 selected this year.

A third of the new class of Young Global Leaders (YGLs) comes from Asia and about half come from emerging economies. The list of YGLs has a strong representation from women leaders and is split 50-50 between business and non-profit sectors, academia, arts and culture, civil society, policy and

Bold, brave, actionoriented and entrepreneurial, these individuals commit both their time and talent to make the world a better place.

government, media and social entrepreneurs.

The class of 2015 joins a community which has been growing in significance since it began 10 years ago. Current and former YGLs include 11 heads of state and government, 10 heads of Fortune 500 companies, 15 UN Goodwill Ambassadors, six Guinness World Record holders, four Oscar winners, three Olympic gold medallists, two Nobel Prize winners and an astronaut.

“The YGLs include the world’s most pioneering, next-generation leaders who have developed in their journey to produce positive, tangible impacts in their countries, industries and societies,” said John Dutton, Director and Head of the Young Global Leaders Community at the World Economic Forum.

“The class of 2015, together with the community over the past 10 years, shows how the future of business and public leadership is becoming more genderequal, more geographically diverse, more varied in its expertise and is challenging established ways to get things done.”

$131.45

-2.50

$2750.00

-38.00

$12.71

-0.11

CURRENCY

BUYING

DOLLAR POUNDS EURO FRANC YEN CFA WAUA RENMINBI RIYAL KRONA SDR

196 289.2176 208.25 195.6478 1.6166 0.2963 267.6821 31. 3591 52. 2541 27. 9019 269.01

$53.95

0.44

$42.51

-0.95

CENTRAL 196.5 289.9554 208.7813 196.1469 1.6208 0.3063 268.3649 31.4396 52.3874 27.9731 269.6963

197 290.6932 209.3125 196.646 1.6249 0.3163 269.0478 31. 52 52.5207 28.0445 270.3825

CBN Exchange Rate as at 18/3/15

22—Vanguard, THURSDAY, MARCH 19, 2015

,

The lowest APR doesn't always provide the best financing option when you take into account the loss of time spent elsewhere

,

Avoiding small-business financing mistakes W

hen taking on financing as a small business, the correct course of action always hinges on answering this question: what am I trying to accomplish?

The thing is, financing decisions don’t exist in a vacuum. Small businesses often miss the vital details when assessing whether to borrow or not, such as the full financing cost, the drain on their time, the opportunity costs and bakedin fees.

The right financing option varies for every company. Here are the common pitfalls and the best ways to avoid them so your small business can choose the best option at each stage of your company’s growth.

Be aware of your real interest rate - Surprisingly often, people who think they

Small businesses often miss the vital details when assessing whether to borrow or not

know how to calculate interest rates often don’t. For example, if you borrow N1,000,000 and pay N1,100,000 back over three months on weekly instalments, your interest rate wasn’t 10 percent, as simple mathematics would dictate.

Taking a closer look at the time frame for the note and your average principal outstanding reveals that it’s actually closer to 80 percent. That’s a difference of 70 percentage points in your financing cost.

This mistake happens because most businesses simply calculate APR as total fees divided by the amount borrowed, rather than calculating the interest based on the amount outstanding at every point in time (i.e. the amortized amount). The difference is massive for small businesses as financing mistakes are compounded. In the example above, the actual annual rate is eight times higher than the optical.

Pay attention to hidden fees - When taking out financing you must take into account origination fees. Many

lenders charge origination fees of 3-4 percent, which are deducted from the loan amount. Depending on how quickly you pay that loan back, that fee can have a large impact on the true interest rate you’re paying.

A N30 fee on a N1,000 loan is really a 3 percent fee upfront that will significantly skew your real APR, especially for short-term loans. It’s very similar to ATM fees that seem like a small amount, but can cost you big over the long-run.

When borrowing money, be aware of the fees that accompany the capital infusion: administrative fees, application fees, contract fees, due diligence fees and more.

These fees are sometimes hidden in the fine print, so comb through everything carefully before moving forward.

Treat opportunity cost like a real cost - Banks routinely take up to two weeks to review a loan application and, if approved, another 1560 days to fund the loan. For executives running a business, that’s time they could have spent generating sales and growing the company. The lowest APR doesn’t always provide the best financing option when you take into account the loss of time spent elsewhere.

The adage that time is money still holds today. Look for lenders, online and off, that can move at the speed of today’s business and expedite the application process so you can spend your time making money, instead of jumping through hoops to borrow it.

People are financing without knowing it Financing occurs far more often than we realize. Giving your customers a 2 percent discount for paying within 10 days rather than 30 days is really a 2 percent finance charge equivalent to a 73 percent APR. In another scenario, if you’re offering your customers a 10 percent discount to pay immediately or pay full price on Net-30 terms, you may have a better alternative. The alternative would be to get financing which may cost you 4 percent for the month and then receive the full payment in 30 days. In this case, financing saves the company 6 percent. This is how thinking about discounts as financing will pay off in the long run.

BUSINESS NAIRA EXCHANGE RATES (18/03/15) Currency DOLLAR STERLING EURO FRANC YEN CFA WAUA RENMINBI RIYAL KRONA SDR

Buying(N)

Central(N)

Selling(N)

196

196.5

197

289.9244 207.8972 195.2775 1.6176 0.2986 268.3312 31.4603 52.2569 27.8698 268.6572

287.6564 208.4276 195.7756 1.6217 0.3086 269.0157 31.541 52.3902 27.9409 269.3426

288.3883 208.9579 196.2738 1.6258 0.3186 269.7002 31.6217 52.5235 28.012 270.0279

Commod Light Crud

Natural G Sugar Coffee Cocoa

Analyze your start-up before take-off

By Yinka Kolawole, with agency report

B

uilding a startup is like falling in love. You find the “perfect one”, lose all sense of reason, judgment flies out the door.

You’re head over heels, and you’re likely to make mistakes.

The problem with the startup culture is this irrational blindness, which leaves a trail of wrecked startups. Everyone knows that building a startup is tough, but many entrepreneurs are not analyzing their own startups with enough objectivity. If you don’t want to waste your money on a failed startup idea, then there are some pertinent issues to consider.

Financial backing - How far will your money take you?

Take a longview with your funding strategy. Your capital should include a sufficient

amount to take you to a comfortable point in the possibly distant future - beyond the marketing phase.

Capital requirement Capital requirements are a big issue that you need to tackle early on. Ideally, you can build a scalable business with no funding. But, if your idea requires funding, then it’s necessary to create a model that does not necessitate huge amounts of money. Although heavy-investment startups get all the attention, it’s often the low capital requirement companies that craete scalable and profitable companies faster.

Exit strategy - Every investor wants to know how to move out of the opportunity if it starts to smell funny. As you shape your business plan, be sure to devise an exit idea for the investors. They’re going to be looking for it.

Interested investors Investors like to put their money into industries that are already big and already

growing. Once the market is glutted with startup money, investors become less eager to pour in their money. Choose your industry cautiously.

Distinguishable product/service - Why does the world need your product?

If it’s not somehow different or better than the next widget, no one is going to look at it.

Innovative product/ service - When smart investors look for their next funding project, their eye is trained to identify first movers - products that sparkle with innovation. These are the kinds of products or services that explode into industries with unshakeable power.

Innovation may be a buzzword, but it’s still important.

Are there better products/services? - If you are entering an arena with highly developed and/or superior products or service, tread carefully. New kids on the block have to be cooler,

Vanguard, THURSDAY, MARCH 19, 2015 — 23

,

& YOU

dity de

Gas

COMMODITIES (18/03/15) Last 42.26

Change ($) -1.20

% Change -2.76

2.87

+0.01

+0.42

12.74

-0.08

-0.62

132.00

-1.95

-1.46

2,730.00

-58.00

-2.08

faster, or better-looking in order to succeed. If you don’t have some trick up your sleeve that will allow you to outshine the competitors, you’re sunk.

Problem-solving product/service Successful products and services solve real problems.

Huge investment funds have gone into the alternative energy industry, precisely because there is a big energy problem in the world. Look for problems to solve, not just appetites to satisfy.

Entry barriers - The barriers to entry are any obstacles that make it hard for a startup to enter the market.

Startup entrepreneurs know that the going will be tough. It’s important to consider how easy it is for others to replicate your product, mimic your idea, or steal your intellectual property. The worst thing that can happen is to pour your life energy into an idea only to have it stolen, copied, and sold - whisking market share right from underneath your feet.

Choose a niche in which the barriers to entry will form a strong defense against future competition.

Marketing plan or idea Not only do you have to possess a killer product, but you also need to have a killer plan for marketing your product. Your product is not ready for the market, unless you have a marketing plan that is guaranteed to turn heads.

Ready market - Some

The best startups are those that require very little human capital

markets, like the outer space travel, may not be ripe for entry. If you find a market, do some testing in order to understand its receptivity to the product or service.

Cost of customer acquisition One overlooked cost among startups is the cost of customer acquisition. When you look at your market, be sure to factor in this amount.

Too many startups have failed because they haven’t accounted for this jawdropping cost.

Real, scalable business model - The heart of a business it its business model, and that business model must be scalable. You need something that has a real revenue plan. To really ensure its success, have a scaling plan as well.

E m p l o y e e compensation Compensation is one of those sticky areas in a startup that can lead you into trouble.

Most employees will not continue simply based on passion, drive, and excitement. Future sellouts or stock value doesn’t have much appeal when your nose is to the grindstone, your stress level is high, and you don’t see any rewards for your labour.

Employees must be compensated competitively if you want to keep them from walking out.

Affordable and available talent - The best startups are those that require very little human capital. Because human capital is expensive and unreliable. Systems and processes can help to eliminate reliance on talent and personnel. You’ll have to hire some people; make sure that their talents exist in the marketplace - and that you can afford them.

The more work you do at the beginning of the startup phase, the more heartache and grief you’ll save in the long run.

Clear holistic targets should include measuring employee satisfaction that contributes to customer satisfaction

,

Is your organization's strategic planning a waste of time and resources? (3) challenge is Goal #2—the implementation of the plan accounting for 40 percent of successfully achieving desired results. Goal #3, building and sustaining a high performance organization to achieve results over time, accounts for the remaining 40 percent.

By ‘Uju Onwuzulike “Luck is not a factor. Hope is not a strategy. Fear is not an option”...James Cameron

This week’s insight will be the part three of the series.

By now, the part one and two of this insight will definitely guide every CEO or business leader in answering the above question. But the truth of the matter is that most of organizations strategic plans are being hit by SPOTS Syndrome (Strategic Plans On Top Shelf). SPOTS Syndrome is big evidence that an organization’s strategic plan has been a waste of time and resources.

Whenever a strategic plan is not agreed upon, acted upon and implemented, it is a mere waste of time and resources.

In continuation, we are going to look at three key areas that will continue to make a mess of organizational strategic planning if not dealt with.

They are: C O N D U C T I N G BUSINESS AS USUAL AFTER DEVELOPING THE PLAN One of the most common errors in Strategic Planning occurs when the team approaches planning with a “business as usual” mentality, going through the motions only, creating the illusion that it has done Strategic Planning. Such a team isn’t willing to identify, much less implement, needed changes. Their focus is “working in the business,” neglecting the need to “work on the business.”

Solution: Use your plan as a springboard for change Why plan if you want to maintain the status quo or don’t want to bring about change? During the preplanning phase, it is essential to identify the key issues that the planning process needs to address. In addition, it is vital to establish a Senior Leadership Team who will be responsible for the

BY ‘UJU ONWUZULIKE

Why plan if you want to maintain the status quo or don't want to bring about change?

implementation of the plan down through and across the organization. They need to set up a Strategic Management Process to keep the plan on track over time.

A new mindset needs to be put in place—the need to “work on the business” as well as “in the business” in order to bring about the needed changes and desired results.

SEEING THE DOCUMENT AS AN END IN ITSELF Another common misconception is to regard the planning document as the end goal. Such plans develop the SPOTS syndrome, Strategic Plan on Top Shelf (gathering dust). Having a well thought out plan without using it is like drawing up a blueprint to build a house, and then ignoring it in the construction phase.

Solution: Use your document as a road map Developing your plan or blueprint is only the first goal of the process contributing 20 percent of success towards achieving your desired future. The greatest

NOT HAVING A SCORECARD TO TRACK PROGRESS Unless methods for measuring organizational success are clearly defined, progress will be virtually impossible to determine.

Without Key Success Measures/goals in place, you will be tempted to measure what is easy, instead of what is important and strategic.

Another common mistake of many plans is limiting its Key Success Measures to only financial performance measures.

Solution: Measuring what is important It is vital to measure what is important rather than activity measures or what is easy. Clear holistic targets should include measuring employee satisfaction that contributes to customer satisfaction that in turn contributes to financial and operational goals as well as measures of the organization’s intended contributions to society.

Clear targets are essential to enable an organization to continuously improve its performance results towards its intended goals on an ongoing basis. Whenever I talk to CEOs or business owners, they end up agreeing with me that the financial results they are yearning for will only come first and foremost through employee satisfaction and customer satisfaction.

Call or email us for your views, perspectives or requests.

Email: uju@hainescentre.com Mobile: 09091142093 www.hainescentre.com

C M Y K

24 — Vanguard, THURSDAY, MARCH 19, 2015

Security operations centre needed to combat electronic fraud

By Jonah Nwokpoku

A

financial expert and President, Information Security Society of Africa, Mr David Isiavwe has called for the establishment of Security Operations Centre, SOC to facilitate a centralised and coordinated approach to fight electronic fraud in Nigeria.

Isiavwe, who is also the General Manager of Union Bank Plc, made the call while making a presentation at this year’s Nigeria electronic Fraud Forum held in Lagos.

He said, “As the world has become a global village with no boundaries to communication, banks in Nigeria are not an exception as they become attractive targets to cyber-attackers.

A very effective security strategy is required in order to consolidate these security solutions so as to optimize their productivity and the efficiency of users managing these solutions.”

He explained that a Security Operations Centre which will serve as a centralized unit can be used “to manage information, applications, database, internet security to provide continuous prevention, protection, detection and response capabilities against myriad of modern internet attacks.”

He added: “A SOC within a building or facility is a central location from where staff supervises the site, using data processing technology, protecting sensitive data, complying with industry rules and serving as Command and Control

Center for anti-fraud/anti-cybercrime and security operations and centralized collation and monitoring of all information security events.”

Isiavwe further noted that the establishment of a Security Operations Centre will among other things benefit the banks in Nigeria through “the consolidation of security tools which operate in silos within the bank into a single unit to provide effective response capabilities against threats, correlation of security events across various security tools for prompt detection of anomalies/malicious activities and response to security events,” adding that, “SOC provides complete visibility into all security activities across the bank’s IT/E-business infrastructures, including external/internal threats such as malware, hackers, data breaches/ infiltration etc, that could result in security breach and consequence downtime.”

He said that Security Operation Centres will also “aid the efficiency of forensic investigations as all relevant information is

available at a single location, ease the process of standardizing and monitoring security practices within the bank, help to monitor configuration changes across critical systems within the bank and make it easy to consolidate data and generate reports for an effective security management programme ” Continuing, he said, the Security Operations Centre will “aid a proper vulnerability management system while providing a platform for proactive and robust vulnerability management for prompt confidentiality, integrity and availability of the bank’s network and ease the process of monitoring and managing malware and advanced persistent threats.”

According to him, “Designing, building, and managing a shared Security Operations Centre can dramatically improve Nigeria’s financial industry’s ability to rapidly recognize and respond to malicious information security events across member banks/institutions.

Executive Director & Head of Global Subsidiaries Group, Citibank Nigeria Limited, Mrs. Nneka Enwereji (standing) at an interactive session with the students of Aunty Ayo Girls’ Comprehensive Senior Secondary School in Lagos to celebrate Global Money Week and Financial Literacy Day 2015.

Fidelity Bank restates commitment to deepen economy

F

idelity Bank Plc has said it would not relent in its efforts to promote financial literacy amongst the youths as part of it’s commitment towards deepening the economy. Towards this end, the Bank has expressed its readiness to partner with the Central Bank of Nigeria to introduce financial literacy as a subject in the curriculum of schools across the country.

Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Fidelity Bank Plc. Nnamdi Okonkwo stated this at the weekend while speaking with newsmen during the Financial Literacy Day programme organized by the Bank in conjunction with the Junior Achievers, Nigeria for the students of Day Waterman College Abeokuta, Ogun State.

Okonkwo, who was represented by the Chief Compliance Officer, Fidelity Bank Plc. Adeboye Ogunmolade commended the CBN for mobilizing stakeholders towards ensuring that financial literacy becomes part of the curriculum of schools in the country and assured the regulatory agency that Fidelity Bank would make it’s input in making the project a reality.

According to him, as a commercial bank with physical presence and Automatic Teller Machine (ATM) in many educa-

tional institutions, the Bank naturally must take interest in projects which have the objective of teaching students financial education and literacy.

“As far as we are concerned in Fidelity Bank and in the industry, we are willing and prepared to partner with the CBN to go the whole hog. As I said earlier, our products for students are second to none and we know there is hardly any higher institution in Nigeria where we don’t have our physical presence and even our ATM galleries. So, we know the importance of this programme and as I’ve said we’ll partner with the CBN, apart from the things we are doing, we’ll also support

As far as we are concerned in Fidelity Bank and in the industry, we are willing and prepared to partner with the CBN to go the whole hog

them in every aspect to make sure that this project is a success,” Ogunmolade said.

He said that the financial literacy day would enable the students to learn and imbibe early in life the culture of saving for the future.

The Fidelity Bank chief compliance officer noted that being students should not exclude the younger ones from having deep knowledge about banking, investment and finance.

He stressed that the bank has a range of banking products for school age children.

The Principal, Day Waterman College, Linda Potticary said it was imperative that children were educated about finances and saving culture at a tender age..

Potticary added that the youth as the future leaders of the country who would manage the nation’s economy in the near future should be financially literate.

She added: “Absolutely, every person throughout your entire life, probably by the age of ten, you need to know about money because the whole world runs on money and if you are not able to manage your own money and understand the importance of it, then you are not going to have a secure future. It’s really key. ”

BRIEFS

Citibank educates students on financial literacy

C

itibank Nigeria Limited has com memorated the annual Global Money Week by holding an interactive session on financial literacy at Aunty Ayo Girls’ Comprehensive Senior Secondary School, Lagos.

Titled “Growing Your Money”, the program focused on educating Nigeria’s youth about the economic environment whilst impressing upon them the importance of saving, entrepreneurship and financial value creation. The event was organized in partnership with Junior Achievements of Nigeria (JAN), a financial education non-governmental organization.

Executive Director and Head of Global Subsidiaries Group, Citibank Nigeria Limited, Mrs. Nneka Enwereji was at the event to deliver a lecture on financial education. While speaking at the occasion, Mrs. Enwereji encouraged the students of Aunty Ayo Girls’ Secondary School to be accountable for their financial health by prioritising their needs over their wants. She also stressed the necessity for the students to be financially aware and empowered to save and make monetary decisions.

Also present at the occasion was Junior Achievement’s Program Officer, Ms. Efe Adefulu who further reiterated to the students on the importance of saving. In addressing the girls, Ms. Adefulu expounded on the significance of financial literacy to the fiscal independence and economic sustainability of Nigeria.

GTBank’s Training Academy gets CIBN accreditation

T

he Guaranty Trust Bank Training Academy for pre-entry level staff was accredited by the Governing Council of the Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria (CIBN) as a School of Banking Excellence in recognition of the quality of the entry level programme which takes fresh graduates through an intensive Four-month pre-career course.

The criteria for endorsing the GTBank’s Academy for Basic Banking by the Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria (CIBN) focused on evaluating the level of alignment of its curriculum with the professional papers of CIBN and the Competency Framework of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

CIBN, the sole accreditation agency for the Banking and Finance industry in Nigeria, set up a panel of eminent Scholars and seasoned Bankers in September 2014 to assess the curriculum and learning facilities of the academy.

At the end of the evaluation, the panel applauded the high learning standards of the academy as well as the foresightedness of the Bank to set up a credible institution that prepare participants for a professional banking experience whilst recommending the academy as a School of Banking Excellence.

Part of the accreditation is the exemption of trainees who are successful at the GTBank Entry Level Training programme from 9 courses in the Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigerian (CIBN) Professional Certification examination.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, MARCH 19, 2015 — 25

*Mrs Nneka Enwereji, Executive Director, Citibank Nigeria with students of Aunty Ayo Comprehensive Secondary School, Ikoyi, after a mentoring session on Growing Your Money on Financial Literacy Day, to celebrate Global Money Week.

AFTER UTME RIGOUR: Will candidates still be

subjected to post UTME?

By Dayo Adesulu

T

HIS week Saturday, all things be ing equal, candidates of the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination, UTME, would have rounded off the examinations which started on March 10, 2015. With that, 11 days would have been expended on the conduct of the tertiary examination.

A day after the examination, candidates started receiving their results in batches.

However, the question being asked by many stakeholders in the education sector is; Having subjected these candidates to untold rigour in their quest for tertiary education, is there going to be a postUTME for candidates?

Some stakeholders based their argument for abolition of post-UTME on the grounds

that UTME was written by the candidates without any form of examination malpractice. Besides, they say, since tertiary insti-

Many students in the rural area do not even know what the computer is like and then telling them to travel to a local government where there is computer to write the exams would not help them

tutions in the past have subjected candidates to post-UTME to test their credibility, will it be necessary with the Computer-Based Test, CBT? In some quarters, people are calling for a total scrap of JAMB saying that it has over-stayed its usefulness as the same examination it conducted will be repeated by the various institutions of candidate's choice.

Reacting to the aforementioned, Professor Flourence Obi, Dean of Faculty, Department of English, University of Calabar UNICAL said:”The idea of computer based test is good’, but we are putting the cat before the horse, as government has not thought about these people.’’

Before making CBT compulsory for candidates, she insisted that the Federal

Ministry of Education, should have made computer available to all secondary schools Nigeria.

She said both rural schools and urban schools should have access to computers.

In her village, she noted, they don’t have electricity consequently there is no computer business centre in that place. “I am just wondering what would have happened to them, perhaps they would have been cut off completely from university education. Now that it is computer based I don’t know how they will compete with others. ‘’In the first place, many students in the rural area do not even know what the computer is like and then telling them to travel

Continues on page 26

How to salvage our crisis-ridden education sector, by Adamolekun

By Amaka Abayomi

LASU VC explains why some students are yet to get refund of fees Pg. 27

Give counsellors their core role in schools, say dons Pg. 28 C M Y K

W

ORRIED about the worsening cri sis rocking the Nigerian education sector, an independent scholar and former Dean, Faculty of Administration, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Professor Ladipo Adamolekun, has proffered some solutions to help reposition the sector for global recognition.

Giving reasons why saving the education sector should be top priority, Adamolekun said; “Because of the great value attached to education globally, crisis in the sector must be considered a serious cause for concern as education is almost everywhere considered as the key to economic prosperity and a vital instru-

ment for combating disease, tackling poverty, and supporting sustainable development."

Citing the many successes recorded with the Universal Primary Education, UPE, of the then Western Nigeria and the lessons that can be learnt from it, Adamolekun said after a decade, by 1965, primary education completion rate was between 80 and 100 per cent throughout Western Nigeria and the launch of the UPE was accompanied by rapid expansion of post-primary education: five-year secondary/grammar schools and three-year modern schools.

The latter were introduced to provide post-primary education for the hugely increased primary school leavers who could not gain admission to Secondary

or Grammar Schools. Simultaneously with the launch of UPE, teacher training was significantly scaled up through the expansion of colleges responsible for training teachers for primary and postprimary education.

Evidence of crisis Reminded of the lost era of educational excellence when in late 2000s, a taxi driver who drove him and who only completed Modern School education in the ‘old’ Western Nigeria, was more articulate in spoken English than some current first degree holders, the Professor of Public Administration listed some evidence of the decline and decay in sector to include low enrollment and low quality of teachers in Continues on page 26

26 — Vanguard, THURSDAY, MARCH 19, 2015

How to salvage our crisis-ridden education sector

*Executive Director, Personal Banking, Access Bank Plc, Victor Etuokwu (4th right); Head, Corporate Communications, Access Bank Plc, Olubusola Osilaja (2nd right); with students of Greensprings School, Anthony Campus, Lagos during the Financial Literacy Day in commemoration of the 2015 Global Money Week recently

After UTME rigour: Will candidates still be subjected to post-UTME? Continues from page 25 to a local government where there is computer to write the exams would not help them. ‘’Many parents can’t even afford the money for these children to travel, even when they can, the children have not seen a computer and don’t know what to do even when they are given one. ‘’I think we still have a long way to go. When we talk about Nigeria educational system, we like to experiment things that will not really work out very well.’’ ‘’Based on the afore mentioned, I will concur that there should still be post-UTME. Who says that with computer based test, candidates would not have opportunity to ask friends questions on difficult subject?

She asked: “Who are the persons invigilating them, can not invigilators tell the children what to do. For the universities to be sure that these students actually did CBT themselves, they will want a post-UTME. However, she noted that if post UTME will not going to be necessary, the universities will have to get together to talk about it. They still have to weigh the merits and demerits of the post-UTME before they agree to say there will not be need for that again.

Speaking in same vein, Prof Oyesoji AREMU from the University of Ibadan said: “The post-UTME test which has become a norm in most universities in Nigeria is a reflection of not-too-much faith in some public examinations (UTME inclusive) in Nigeria. ‘’It means therefore, Nigerian universities are not leaving any chances to ensure quality assurance. Facts driven empirically have shown that candidates who are subjected to post-UTME tests are much better prepared for university education than those who do not. It should however, be quickly noted that this may not translate to better performance at the end of their degree programmes. “What determines class of degrees is a function of other factors which are multifaceted and dynamic. Given this, subjecting candidates to another round of screening (post-

UTME) is a welcome development. ‘’Although this does not go well with JAMB and has also been debated by the National Assembly in the past. Nevertheless, it is the best intervention to do in order to re validate the UTME scores. “In some cases, candidates with high sounding UTME scores were found not to pass through the proverbial needle of universities’ post-UTME assessments. ‘’While those who averaged in UTME scores were found to do well. In effect, universities are at liberty to organise post-UTME tests in the spirit of autonomy and quality assurance. “That said, JAMB’s UTME is still a veritable tool of pre-university admission assessment. The challenge here, among other things is for JAMB to continue to re-appraise the reliability of its assessments in

Many students in the rural areas do not even known what the computer is like and then telling them to travel to a local government where there is computer to write the exams would not help them

all subjects. Doing this, will further give credibility to UTME scores by universities in Nigeria.”

Besides, on whether or not JAMB has outlived its usefulness, Aremu averred: “I don’t subscribe to the idea of scraping JAMB. JAMB as an agency still intervenes significantly in the process leading to university admission. Scrapping JAMB is like going back to pre-JAMB years when candidates made efforts to apply and sit for many universities’ entrance examinations. JAMB still regulates admissions to Nigerian universities.”

Meanwhile, Professor Ngozi Osarenren from the Department of English, University of Lagos said: ‘’PostUTME and UTME CBT are two independent things.

Post-UTME is conducted by each institution and UTME is done by JAMB. It is too early in the day for us to start speculations because the results of the UTME CBT are yet to be known, so I don’t want to do that, the universities decide on Post-UTME after they have received the results.

Reacting further,Edem Akpan, Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba Akoko said: ‘’The argument that engendered the emergence of post UTME in Nigeria stemmed from the fact that Nigerians had lost faith in the integrity of results issued

by JAMB to its candidates.

Also, examination malpractice was endemic spiced with corruption among the JAMB official.

Now that the process is transparent and the question of exam malpractice has automatically been settled, it is a common sense that post UTME should be a thing of the past, except if the uni-

Continues on page 29

Continues from page 25 basic education as Nigeria has over 10.5 million children of school-going age who are not attending school – one of the highest in the world while enrolment of children into schools is as low as 12.0% in some states.

Poor performance of secondary school students as evidenced by the percentage of students’ results who obtained five credits, including English and Mathematics in the May/June WAEC over the last five years: 23 percent (2008), 26 percent (2009), 24 percent (2010), 31 percent (2011) and 39 percent (2012).

NECO wasn’t any better as the failure rate was 98 percent (2008), 88 per cent (2009), 89 percent (2010), 92 percent (2011), and 68 percent (2012), while the percentage of students who scored 200 and above (out of 400 total) in JAMB in the last four years ranged between 36 percent (2010) and 46 percent (2009) – overall average of 42 percent. In 2012, only 3 of 1,503,93 candidates scored above 300 and only 5 percent scored 250 and above.

Universities are not left out as instead of having no less than 80 percent of the academics with PhDs, only 43 percent are PhD holders, and instead of 75 percent of the academics to be between Senior Lecturers and Professors, only about 44 percent are within the bracket. The staff mix in some varsities is alarming as almost all the varsities are over-staffed with non-teaching staff. There is an average of four abandoned projects per varsity, with negative consequences for classrooms, laboratories, students’ hostels, and staff accommodation. Poor infrastructure adversely affects teaching, research, learning and students’ health and safety.

Adamolekun listed three major causes of the crisis in the education sector as over-centralisation, implementation failure and deemphasising the value of education and decline of the teaching profession.

Possible remedies On how to reposition the sector to compete with its global counterparts, the former Lead Public Sector Management Specialist at the World Bank proposed five possible remedies: devolving educational development, increasing funding for education, ensuring reliability of education statistics, leapfroging the use of Information and Communication Technology, ICT, in education, and enhancing university autonomy.

Devolving educational development: After years of implementing the Universal Basic Education Act, enrolment in primary education falls far below MDG target. It is advised that the UBE Act be repealed and the share of national revenues hi-jacked for the purpose by the FG should be shared among

the states and local governments.

Also, in the absence of empirical evidence to support the facile assertion regarding the usefulness of the so-called unity schools for promoting national integration, federal government should either transfer the schools to state governments together with the annual budgetary allocation (pending the adoption of a new revenue allocation formula) or embrace the public private partnership for running the schools that was adopted during president Obasanjo’s final year but abruptly abandoned under president Yar’Adua.

Increasing funding for education: It is important to point out that Nigeria has sufficient financial resources for ensuring adequate financing of education at all levels as according to reports, between 2006 and 2009, Federal government Ministries, Departments and Agencies failed to remit about N4 trillion to the Federation Account.

To this end, government’s education expenditure is grossly inadequate and needs to be significantly increased. According to the Report of the Committee on Needs Assessment of Nigerian Public Universities (2012), state governments also underfund education.

Ensuring availability of reliable education statistics: An important dimension to the crisis in the education sector is the weakness of the statistical underpinnings of the national education system, as according to the report of the Presidential Task Team on Education “that data (both hard figures and soft explanations) are virtually non-existent and unuseable in the education system is an undisputed truism.”

Appropriate incentives State governments need to provide appropriate incentives to local governments to ensure that they keep comprehensive data on childhood and primary education as government needs to acknowledge that it can’t achieve quality education without robust education statistics.

Leapfroging the use of ICT in education: Despite the low ICT penetration, its role in helping to enhance teaching and learning has been embraced in several states as some states have provided laptops for students and teachers in secondary schools.

The progress towards digital education in the US and South Korea are: around 30% of all college students are learning online – up from less than 10% in 2002 new online Western Governors University [founded in 1997 by 19 Governors] costs less than $6,000 a year, compared to $54,000 at Harvard and students can study and take their exams when they want, not when the sabbaticals, holidays and scheduling of teaching staff allow.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, MARCH 19, 2015 — 27

PZ Chemistry winners on facility tours

Why some students are yet to get refund of fees —LASU VC

By Dayo Adesulu

T

HE Vice Chancellor, Lagos State University, LASU, Professor John Obafunwa has disclosed that the over N209 million which was released by the state government as refund for excess school fees paid by students, is yet unclaimed by some students due to certain factors.

While speaking with journalists in Lagos, he noted that the initial delay was necessitated by the due process involved in getting the money out of the state’s treasury.

He said: "We had to go through the Ministries of Education, Economic Planning and Budget, and Finance before the money could be released.

"Initially, when it was discovered that the N209million was made available, students were instructed to go to their faculty to put down their names, matriculation numbers and indicate how much each of them was entitled to based on what they have paid. The students were also told to include their account details so that the refund could be paid by way of bank transfer without signing a cheque."

Obafunwa who lamented that in spite of this arrangement some students who did not have a bank account or who probably paid their school fees through some business centres are having problem collecting their refunds.

He noted that for those with such problem, the institution has concluded plans to issue cheques to them.

Opening of accounts

Recalling his discussion with the school Bursar, Obafunwa pointed out that part of the problem is that some students' bank could not receive such large amount of money based on the conditions in which such accounts were opened. He explained that there were some bank accounts that could not transact N100,000, adding that to pay such money in bits will also create problems

*Professor John Obafunwa to the university. For such students, he advised them to either go to the bank to upgrade their account unit or the institution has to sign a cheque for them.

Obafunwa added; ‘’We also have another group of students who gave us the bank account that was used to pay the money, after signing, they later came back to say we should not pay it into that account because the account belongs to their parents.

They want it paid to another account they can access without the knowledge of their parents.

To that we refused. These are some of the situations we are confronting," he explained.

In distributing the initial N209m, Obafunwa who said the money could not go round stated that a sharing formula was employed. His words: ‘’Because we have a large population that came in 2012/2013 who were in 200 level in 2014, we first of all took care of those ones. After that we moved on to 300 level students who came in last year as 200 level direct entry students.

When we receive additional money from Alausa, we will refund the rest of them their money.

"For the 400 level students who feel we do not want to pay them, it is because their number is few.

However, I have signed for about N10m to be paid to some 400 level students. I have also

recently signed for 200 level students to be paid.

"We took a decision from the beginning that we are not going to ask students for school fees if we have not refunded the excess school fees. The plan of LASU is to refund the money to them in full. So that we will have the moral right to ask them for school fees when due.

On the allegations that the school is owing staff salary, Prof Obafunwa said, “Is LASU owing salaries?

The answer is no. Because salaries are being paid as at when due. What they are referring to is not salary that being owed.

Before, I became vc, there was a time that government increased the salaries and backdated it. It is the 18 months arrears that they backdated they are referring to salaries owed.

"The government paid one month from the 18 months.

Looking at the finances of the university, the 17 months amounted to about N2.2b. After our discussion with the state government when I came on board, the state decided to pay 1.1billion while LASU will pay 1.1billion. I must give credit to the state government for changing its positions because initially it said it is not owing LASU. The 50 per cent from the state government was spread over a period, just as LASU also started paying in instalments.

The first was 20 percent, then 20 percent was paid. After some time, another 15 per cent was paid. Making 55 per cent. The remaining 45 per cent amount to 500 million. Why were we able to pay that money instalmentally? We were able to pay because of the school fees.

Now, we are back to schooln fees of N25,000.

By Amaka Abayomi

I

n fulfilment of part of its commitment to nurture students’ interest in industrial chemistr y, PZ Cussons Nigeria has organised facility tours for winners of the second edition of the PZ Cussons Chemistry Challenge, PZCCC, at its factories at Ilupeju and Ikorodu.

The four finalists, Justin Ifeanyi Nwaoha of ISOLOG College, Ojodu, winner; Jamiu Abayomi Animashaun of Federal Science and Technical College, Yaba, first runner-up; Azeez Balogun of Kingston High School, second runner-up; and Jeremiah Onu of FESTAC Senior College, third runner-up, were accompanied respective chemistr y teachers, Mr. Mayowa Adeoti, Mrs. Ann Ajisafe, Mr. Obiora Onyilagha and Mr. Oluwaleke Animashaun.

Welcoming the students, the

Chief Executive Officer, PZ Cussons Nigeria, Christos Giannopoulous, said “I welcome you all here today and congratulate you on your success at the chemistry challenge. The company is focused on chemistry because of its importance to the society. I particularly salute your courage and enthusiasm to study chemistry and I hope in the nearest future you will be working in the corridors of this organisation and making an impact.”

The group was received at the PZ Cussons Group training centre by the Head of Research, Development and Innovation, Pieter Stroek, who took them around the laboratories, while the Head, Talent Management, Stanley Eluwa, expressed readiness to train the four finalists when they eventually embark on their internship with the company, as part of their winning package.

Red Cross donates furniture to schools

By Olayinka Latona

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IGERIA Red Cross Society, Ado-Odo/Ota Local Government Division, Ogun State, has donated 200 chairs and lockers worth millions of naira to Ansar-Ud Deen Practising School, Ota and Local Government School III, Sango-Ota in Ogun state.

Chairman of the society, Ogun State branch, Comrade Yinka Fashina who said the donation was an accomplishment of a long time vision to positively affect peoples’ lives, enjoined various stakeholders in the country to contribute towards improving the standard of education in the country and also to guarantee the future of Nigerian youths.

While presenting the

furniture to the benefiting schools, Comrade Fashina revealed that the project was sponsored by The America People through the Ambassadorial Special SelfHelp Project, SSHP, 2014/2015 window.

He also called on the schools' management to ensure that they put in place maintenance mechanism that will promote durability of the chairs and lockers, as well as teach the children the culture of maintenance and appropriate public property management.

Responding, Head Teacher of Ansar-Ud Deen Practising School, Mr. Odunaro and Local Government School III & IV, Sango-Ota, said they were happy that the project became a reality and were considered out of numerous schools in the local government.

28—Vanguard, THURSDAY, MARCH 19, 2015

Schools urged to adopt innovative methods in teaching Maths

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By Dayo Adesulu

ROPRIETORS and head teachers of primary schools in Nigeria have been urged to implement Abacus in their schools in order to lay a solid foundation for the progress of their students.

Abacus, said Alhaji Jimoh Aare, Chairman of the Lagos Chapter of Mathematics Association of Nigeria, MAN, has the potential to empower students and help improve the pass rate in Mathematics.

Speaking at the seminar on the topic, Tackling Maths Phobia in your school, organised by EduSoft Associates for leading schools in FESTAC area of Lagos, Aare stated that understanding Mathematics by rote has not helped students and this is indicated in the failure rate

in general examinations. “The foundation of Mathematics has to be revisited. Abacus is one of the first steps in the process for calculation. Mathematics is a special subject and should be uniquely handled. Teachers of Maths should be given preference and higher pay.”

He added that since schools are judged and ranked based on their general performance in Maths and English, priority should be given to the subjects.

The seminar to educate schools on how to improve their students’ aptitude in Mathematics.

In its maiden edition, the seminar will be organised in other regions of the country to showcase the unique role Abacus has to play in the education process and how schools can implement the solution to

enhance the pass rate of their students in general examinations.

Phobia in Mathematics, said Varrier Devesh, Director of Training, EduSoft Associates, starts at an early age when the subject is taught in a manner that is not very engaging. “Teachers should know the capacities of their students and how to present learning."

From research, students are not afraid of Mathematics but the numbers. The ability to make students think, ask questions as to the why, the need, and the use of learning is crucial to laying the foundation for a high aptitude in Mathematics,” said Mr Devesh.

Once the relevance of the subject matter has been ascertained, the students will be engaged, he added.

Dons seek core roles for counsellors role in schools

By Dayo Adesulu

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ROFESSOR Florence Obi, Dean of Education, University of Calabar, Dr. Taiwo Folasade Ipaye, Registrar and Secretary to Council, University of Lagos UNILAG, Professor Ngozi Osarenren, a lecturer at UNILAG and former Commissioner for Education, Edo State, have unanimously called on schools to give student counsellors a paramount place in schools to do their core job.

They lamented that it is disheartening to employ councilors for students and at the same time engage them in teaching other subjects, adding that it will destroy the essence of counseling in schools.

Speaking at the 2015 Counselling Association of Nigeria Lagos State Youth Jamboree held

Prof Ngozi Osarenren leads Counseling Association of Nigeria, CASSON on march during 2015 youth jamboree held at UNILAG

at UNILAG, the Chairperson of Counseling Association of Nigeria CASSON, Professor Ngozi Osarenren said: “There is need for our schools to have counsellors and have young people as their target.”

Blind, deaf students empowered with skills

By Gabriel Olawale HE schools for the blind and deaf have recently acquired saving and investment skill as part of activities to commemorate 2015 Global Money Week.

The financial empowerment seminar which took place at the Wesley School for the Deaf and Pacelli School for the Blind and Partially Sighted Children, witnessed huge participation as a non-governmental organization, Financial Literacy for All, FLA, equipped the students with the knowledge of how to save and spend wisely.

The programme witnessed the heartfelt joy of the blind students as most of them condemned the frequent change of Nigeria's currency which took them time to master and urged banks to prepare some forms in Braille to help

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them read before making decision. They also called for embossment of ATM machines to enable them know the number they are pressing.

Speaking shortly after the empowerment talk and presentation of books to the students, the Project Director, FLA, Laja Shoniran, said that the students' inability to see or hear does not reduce their capability and effectiveness but lack of appropriate knowledge can do it.

“As part of the society, being blind does not separate them from what is happening around them because they also need to make some decisions about money too.

Being blind does not separate you from what is going on in the market, you can be cheated like every other person but the more you know, the better you have the chance to protect what you have worked for.

According to her, CASSON's focus is on the youth, as most people believe that young people have gone astray, adding that counsellors believe that nothing is completely bad. “We are seeing the youth from the positive point of view, we are the ones to ensure that we have a safe environment, to ensure that the environment and the society will be a supportive and a secure one,” she added.

The Chairperson who noted that the functions of counseling is clearly stated in the national policy on education, said that ignorance of young people and adolescence about their problems, call for urgent need for counselors in schools. The trained counsellors, she maintained, understand the problems associated with the period of adolescence and are able to manage it effectively.

She said: “If the student is socially not well adjusted, the academic performance will be affected. It is wrong for a counsellor to say he is only interested in academic improvement of the child. “ On her part, Professor Florence Obi who also advocated for counsellors in schools said that schools should draw a time table, maybe twice a week, when the counsellor meets with students during break for 30 minute interaction.

FG approves new private universities: Matters arising (1) SUNDAY PUNCH, March 1, 2015.

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OR over 18 months, since the first articles about Nigerian universities were published, I have been announcing that close to 25 new private universities are on the way. The announcement on March 1, 2015 of the approval of nine new private universities did not come as shock to me. There are several other private universities racing to enter what was once a lucrative market but is now already glutted. Add to these, the Asaba University, which a gateman had misled me into believing that it is government-owned, and the known new universities now total 10. I apologise to our readers for the error on the Asaba University.

Next time, no matter how pressed for time, I will ensure to obtain the facts about ownership from a responsible official of the university.

That said; let me start to address some of the matters arising from this sudden influx of new private universities into the Nigerian market. The development portends both positive and negative consequences for the country. Permit me to start with the positive, if not for any other reason than that the owners of the new universities should be commended for taking the plunge into the now turbulent waters of providing education at the tertiary level.

To adopt the professional language of economics, the market has moved suddenly from an oligopoly (a market shared by few suppliers) to a free market (a market where pure competition exists.

More choices are now available and fees should start coming down.

Furthermore, competition improves standards. Innovation and quality service delivery will henceforth be the key to success.

When Babcock, Igbiniedon and Madonna universities blazed the trail in 1999, each of the universities, on account of geographical location, Ogun, Edo and Anambra states respectively, enjoyed almost total monopoly in its domain. Today, with the From the stand exception of the Northwest, Northeast and some parts of the point of the Northcentral, no private university situated anywhere in principles of Nigeria is now free from direct Marketing, is competition. The Southwest, especially Ogun State, is there any leading the transition from substancial gentle rivalry to what will later become cut-throat competition. difference It is doubtful if any of the universities had included between Marketing of Services in their marketing beer plans. Yet, that is what will be needed for them to survive for and education? long.

Before going on about the new universities, let me explain the importance of Marketing to the owners of the new universities and how indispensable it had suddenly become to universities – public and private – by asking a question.

From the standpoint of the principles of Marketing, is there any substantial difference between marketing beer and education? The surprising answer is: None. Both satisfy the needs of a segment of society and are subject to the basic economic forces which determine the survival of organisations – irrespective of whether they are universities or breweries. As it turns out, one of the new universities is situated almost on the same premises which used to belong to a brewery. The Michael and Cecilia Ibru University, at Orode, Delta State, now shares a boundary with SUPERBRU — the brewery which once marketed SKOL lager beer. I was once privileged to conduct a Sales Training Programme, lasting one week, for the staff of the brewery as a Senior Lecturer/Consultant at the Nigerian Institute of Management, NIM – after a successful career as Marketing Manager/Director in three different breweries. I have also visited the new Ibru University and readers should excuse me if no comments are made about it – except one.

The Ibru University illustrates the point made earlier about the competition facing private universities. Lined up against it are Novena, Western Delta, Asaba, and Eagle Universities – all private.

In addition, it must contend with state and federal universities; not to mention one or two illegal institutions. Compared with private universities in Ogun State, the Ibru University is actually on easy street. The approval of Chrisland, Christopher, Hallmark and Mountain Top universities has brought them into competition with Babcock, Bells, Redeemers, Anchor, South-western, Crescent, Samuel Adegboyega and Mcpherson universities now operating in the state.

Let me end this first part by listing the nine new universities which will soon be competing with others for everything from students, to staff to resources and recognition. They are: Augustine University, Ilara, Lagos; Chrisland University, Owode, Ogun; Christopher University, Mowe, Ogun; Hallmark University, Ijebu Itele, Ogun; Kings University, Ode-Omu, Osun; Michael and Cecilia Ibru University, Orode, Delta; Ritman University, Ikot Ekpene, Akwa Ibom and Summit University, Offa, Kwara.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, MARCH 19, 2015—29

Research & Development Professor Peter Azikiwe Onwualu is the former DirectorGeneral of Raw Materials Research and Development Council (RMRDC) and currently, a visiting professor at the National Universities Commission (NUC) where he looks at research and innovation in Nigerian universities. In this chat with Vanguard Learning in Abuja, the former chairman of Committee of Directors of all research institutes in Nigeria, speaks on the country's abundant raw materials, why industries are not being set up in Nigeria and says that from research, 'we can come up with ideas on how to add value to our raw materials.

Excerpts:

By Ebele Orakpo

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IGERIA'Smajorproblem: While serving as the Director-General of RMRDC, I was also the chairman of the Committee of Directors of all research institutes in Nigeria which enabled me to work and interact with the chief executives of all the research institutes within the Nigerian innovation system.

"Over the years, I have been involved in quite a number of research programmes and these have resulted in a number of very useful technologies.

At inception, there was a lot of emphasis on agriculture and solid minerals in Nigeria, but with the discovery of oil, the country moved away from those natural resources to crude oil and we have seen the price of oil going down.

Natural resources "In 1987, the Federal Government established the RMRDC and when I joined that council in 2005, I found that we had a lot of work to do in the area of adding value to our natural resources. The major problem in Nigeria is the near absence of technologies required to add value to our raw materials; the inability of the Nigerian economy to support industries that add value to raw materials.

"We are supposed to be producing a lot of rice, cassava, yam, tomatoes, fruits etc but we import these things in either semi-finished or finished forms. A good example is tomato.

People sell fresh tomatoes from Jos, Kano etc. But if you go to our markets and supermarkets, you see a lot of canned tomato puree, ketchup, juice etc., from the same tomato that we are producing and allowing to rot away.

Same thing with rice; Nigerian markets are flooded with import-

Research/Innovation surest way to grow economy

*Prof. Onwualu ...I know you can make 500 products from cassava; each of these 500 products can actually become an industry

— Prof Onwualu ed rice, yet we have communities in Ebonyi, Kebbi, Sokoto and Benue states producing a lot of rice. So why is it that we are producing these things and at the same time importing the semifinished products? It cuts across all sectors. The problem is that industries within Nigeria, especially small and medium enterprises, are almost non-existent in the area of taking a raw material and transforming it into different products. And if you look at the areas where we have succeeded, you find that the main driver of the success in value addition is technology.

National database of raw materials: We first came up with these technologies so that people can adopt them for processing. We identified the raw materials and did a comprehensive data collection which ended up in what we call the National Database of Raw Materials in Nigeria. In 2011/12, we commissioned the National Raw Materials Resource Centre.

The centre has documentation on Nigeria's raw materials. So at the click of a button, you have state by state, all the agricultural products and minerals in each state. We have another database that gives you all the raw materials in the 774 local governments in Nigeria.

We also showed the raw materials in the wards, over 9,000 wards. We have all these wards delineated and the raw materials all listed. In the main database, you can even get additional technical information on each of these - like production level; type of raw material, if it is mineral for example, the quality.

These are the kinds of information that investors need. If you are preparing feasibility studies, these are the basic information you need and they are in a data-

So at the click of a button, you have state by state, all the agricultural products and minerals in each state

base, in electronic form. "We have also published booklets that show t h e s e things and we think that this is a very valuable resource material that industrialists need. It is also on RMDRC's web site."

Why people are not setting up industries: "The next phase was to find out why people were not setting up industries. That resulted in a number of research that showed the problems anybody will encounter if he wants to set up a resource-based industry. That research ended up in a compendium of over 1,000 businesses that you can engage in from making toothpicks to processing cassava, fruits into fruit juice and fruit juice concentrates. That document gives you what we call pre-feasibility studies so that if you are interested in setting up such an industry, you have an idea of the kind of in-

vestment you need to make to be able to break even. It also gives you an idea of how long it will take you to recover your investment if you invest a certain amount of money, and the problems you may encounter, the profits you can make etc. " Machines: "Beyond that, we know that in processing these raw materials, you require machines and techniques because if you don't process them properly, you will not get the expected products. As result, we set up a number of research groups that work on developing technologies for different raw materials."

Flash drier: "For example, the high quality cassava flour developed at Federal Institute of Industrial Research, Oshodi and IITA Ibadan. Part of the problem

with that idea is that after you've done the research work in the laboratory and you've come up with the idea of mixing 10 - 20 per cent of cassava flour with wheat flour. We have developed some of the machines required for processing cassava from tubers to the high quality flour.

"Through research, I know you can make 500 products from cassava. Each of these 500 products can actually become an industry so if people can invest and buy the technology for processing cassava, you can immediately have 500 industries.

Each of them will grow to employ people. We casn actuaqlly have a diversified economy. Presently, we depend solely on rent from oil,. The gas we flare can be converted to fertilizer and other things through technology.

"We came up with flash drier which is now being used. We taught many fabricators how to use the flash drier and even how to fabricate it. Before now, such machines were not available in Nigeria but now, they are available locally.

After UTME Rigour: Will candidates still be subjected to post-UTME? Continues from page 26 versities take solace in making money from the venture.’’

Cousin Brother said: ‘’P-UTME is needed so as to remind us all that Nigeria is a failed state. It is easier for Nigerian children to get admission into European and American schools than into Nigerian schools. WAEC is a fraud, so we must write UTME. UTME is a fraud so we have to write post UTME. ‘’Meanwhile, there is no body to fight for the suffering youth whose lives have been mortgaged by our so called leaders. By the way, JAMB made over six 6 billion naira from this year’s exam and the fact they would not want to share this loot with the universities is the compelling reasons for the universities to organize their own exam.

After all, who else would they exploit if not the super dormant Nigerian youths?’’

Esesien Ita, Cross River University of Technology, Calabar said: ‘’I have once written that JAMB should be scrapped because, as far as I am concerned, they are a clog in the wheel of children gaining admission into tertiary institutions. ‘’Let the schools conduct their own exams, so the children can have the choice of applying to as many as they want, and go to the one they

want, if taken in more than one.

JAMB is simply a way of delaying them, and that is unfair. I was surprised to read in the net that admission into Nigeria’s higher institutions is highly competitive.

And that is the truth. Let the authorities take away this burden from our children, please.’’

Pius Odiaka said: ‘’I am of the strong view that NUC should allow universities to conduct their respective entrance examinations, while JAMB should be scrapped. post UME now UTME examination was introduced by the universities when it was discovered that many new students who scored over 300 at the JAMB organised examinations could not write their names. The situation has not changed with the newly introduced computerbased examination which was introduced to curb endemic malpractice.

It is believed that corruption among university lecturers and registrars denies many young Nigerians of poor background from gaining admission into the tertiary. Perhaps, true; but the situation has been too bad since the advent of JAMB. The corruption has rather spread beyond the varsity offices. It is better to confine it to where it was so that the university can explain why they

continue to produce unemployable graduates. Proscribe JAMB for quality and competitive tertiary education.’’

Mr Matthew said: ‘’Emphasis should be place on ensuring that the Joint Admission Matriculation Board (JAMB) overcomes fundamental problems affecting its Computer Based Test for the conduct of the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) such as poor network, infrastructural defects and insufficient CBT centres to cope with the teeming number of candidates for the examination.

"Attaining this threshold would have, to a larger extent, addressed the issue of skepticism that the tertiary institutions are raising about the JAMB results which warranted the introduction of the post UTME. "Therefore, one would think that subjecting prospective candidates to further test such as the post UTME by the tertiary institutions would not only amount not only to exploitation but unduly putting prospective candidates through excruciating experience. ‘’The foregoing is attainable with the JAMB working in synergy with all stakeholders in the education and communication sectors.’’

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Unavailable PVC, ground to annul election — Uwazurike ‘Governors are emasculating the judiciary’ Chief Goddy Uwazurike is lawyer with many years of practicing experience. He was a member of the judiciary committee at the recently concluded national conference where he represented the South East zone.

In this interview, he spoke on the issue of unavailable PVC, deployment of soldiers during elections, judicial autonomy, court congestion and other related issues.

Excerpts:

By Bartholomew Madukwe

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HE issue of unavailable PVCs for prospective voters in some part of the country is still a challenge to the general elections. How do you think this should be addressed?

There is one local government in Imo State called Owerri North, as at February 14 nobody had got a Permanent Voter Card. Now INEC has said it has taken care of one million PVCs left. It is INEC’s job to ensure that these PVCs get to people.

Excluding eligible voters in an election is a ground for annulling it. If I contest an election and you win by sixty thousand votes, meanwhile there are still about one million PVCs uncollected, that is a ground for annulling the election.

Presence of soldiers So it is better to do it right. We should not have the election in a haste and mess it up.

What is your view on the usage of soldiers in securing movement of election materials and INEC officials?

Well, assuming I live in Lagos and I see soldiers on regular basis patrolling, it gives us more confidence. So if on Election Day I want to go and vote and I am afraid that the area boys are going to attack us, what would I do? I will look forward to soldiers being there.

I am yet to see somebody go to the tribunal to say that he or she was intimidated by the presence of soldiers. Moreover, soldiers stay at a distance that is the position of the law. You cannot take away the power of security from the soldiers and doing that means

amending the constitution.

Are you trying to say that until soldiers guarantee security in all parts of the country, then elections should not hold?

The military must be consulted whenever we have security issue. Let me put it this way, every governor has what is called state security council, made up of all armed forces. The state security council send their report to the federal government every time they hold a meeting, which gets to the National Security Adviser (NSA).

So if there is a security problem, the NSA writes a report to Mr. President informing him of security issue in the country.

So if the area is not clear and calm, believe me, there will be no election. I can’t see any person’s child going to conduct election in a troubled area like Bornu or Adamawa State.

Away from election matter, at the beginning of this year, courts all over the country were under lock and padlock as a result of JUSUN strike, demanding for autonomy. What is your reaction to that?

I was at the national conference and I was in the judiciary committee, we endorsed separation of power and self accounting as provided by the constitution for the judiciary.

And we interacted with chief judges, some of who were our members, supreme court justices and so on, by the time we finished, we realized that the problem is that the governors were emasculating the judiciary.

Let me give you a graphic example of what is going on. If a state chief judge is to do some work or buy some cars, you have to take an application to see the governor to approve the money

for you. And when you are going you wait like other people, even as a chief judge. So the party chairman will pass and say ‘chief judge, how are u?’ and pass. He is exposing you. And when you (CJ) go in to see the governor, he will tell you to come next month that there is no money.

That humiliation is there. It is not a favour that the governor is doing to the chief judge asking for money which has been appropriated for the judiciary. It is that separation of functions, in other words, give to the judiciary from up what is due to the judiciary. In the federal, the money given to the judiciary goes straight to it and does not pass through the President. So the Chief Justice of Nigeria does not go to the President cap-in-hand

I am yet to see somebody go to the tribunal to say that he or she was intimidated by the presence of soldiers.

Moreover, soldiers stay at a distance that is the position of the law

Lagos Environmental Sanitation Law:

What the Constitution says C M Y K

Chief Uwazurike

— Page 37

to beg, but they do so in the states.

But some governors have publicly said they are not the problem and they cannot tie down money meant for judiciary, so where do you think the problem lies?

I am disappointed in the governors, including those who are lawyer, who know the problem and who should take the lead.

Soon some of them will leave and they will begin to pontificate.

JUSUN strike This is where I am angry. For example, there is nothing that stops Governor Fashola from taking the lead. He was a practising lawyer before he went to government. When he leaves office he will go back to his chamber. One day, he will be the one telling the chief judge why is the building not done like this or like that and the chief judge will ask him what he did when he was the governor.

I know that Lagos is a special thing because the Chief Judge of Lagos State is comfortable and not subjected to this type of treatment. But he (Fashola) should take the lead. We supported the JUSUN strike and we will always support them.

What is your position on elevation of Appeal Court judges to the Supreme Court rather than experienced lawyers from the Bar? I do not support promotion from the Bar. When Obasanjo was military head of state, he appointed the then Attorney General of the Federation,

Nnamani, as justice of the Supreme Court. Many lawyers were not happy; not that he did not merit it but many of us felt it is destroying the hierarchy in the judiciary. In the judiciary, we like stability and following procedure.

So in this case, a High Court judge move to the Court of Appeal and a Court of Appeal judge can move to the Supreme Court.

How do you react to the separation of the office of the Attorney-General of the Federation from that of Minister of Justice, as contained in the constitutional amendment?

That was part of our recommendation at the national conference. We said there is no way you will have Attorney General and Minister of Justice appointed by Mr President, he sits everyday with him, and you expect him to go against him? We said no; Attornery General of the Federation should be the people’s lawyer.

Minister of Justice is the one who discusses justice, everyday he attends the federal or state executive council. We also said that the office of the Accountant General of the Federation and Accountant General for the Federation should be separated.

Law is dynamic and we will always support positive changes.

Let us talk about delay of cases in our courts, as a lawyer with many years of practicing experience, what would you say is the major cause?

Delay of cases is not in Nigeria alone but all over the world. There must be delay in any place where you have observance of rule of law and right to fair hearing. And it

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President has right to determine operational use of armed forces — Emukpoeruo — Page 39

VANGUARD, THURSDAY, MARCH 19, 2015—37

LAGOS ENVIRONMENTAL SANITATION LAW:

What the constitution says

By Dayo Benson & Bartholomew Madukwe

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INCE the Lagos State Environmental Sanitation Law came into effect in year 2000, citizens are expected to clean their environment onlast Saturday of the month. For three hours, 7-10am that the exercise last, Human and vehicular movements are restricted except those on essential duties.

However, those who insist on breaching the movement restriction order, always find themselves on the wrong side of the law. They are usually arrested by men of the Environmental Sanitation task force and summarily tried in special court named the “Special-Offences Court” established to try such offenders. These are sanitation policemen, who assist regular policemen to enforce the environmental laws.

Enforcing environmental laws No doubt, unlike Mr. EbunOlu Adegboruwa, a rights activist, many persons arrested and arraigned in the SpecialOffences Court for violating the state’s Environmental Sanitation Law, find themselves in prison, especially when they cannot bail themselves.

Like a common criminal, these offenders are hurriedly herded into waiting blackmaria where their ilks are kept.

However, Sections 41 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria states that: “Every citizen of Nigeria is entitled to move freely throughout Nigeria and to reside in any part thereof, and no citizen of Nigeria shall be expelled from Nigeria or refused entry thereto or exit therefrom.” Also, Section 35 of the same constitution stipulates that: “Every person shall be

EDITORIAL TEAM Innocent Anaba ( Head) Wahab Abdulah Ikechukwu Nnochiri Dayo Benson (Supervising Editor) 08056180119 dayobenson@yahoo.com C M Y K

entitled to his personal liberty and no person shall be deprived of such liberty....”

There is no law in force in Lagos State by which any citizen could be kept indoors compulsorily

Armed with these inalienable provisions of the constitution, Adegboruwa had instituted a suit before a Federal High Court sitting in Ikoyi, wherein he prayed the court for a declaration that the monthly sanitation exercise is illegal and obnoxious.

Explaining why he instituted the suit, Adegboruwa said his decision was sequel to his arrest on June 29, 2013 by security operatives while he was on his way to Channels Television to honour an invitation to feature on a live programme tagged “Sunrise.”

He contended that the restriction of movement that comes with the sanitation on every last Saturday of the month runs contrary to the provisions of the above Sections

of the Constitution.

The lawyer equally argued that such restriction of movement violates Article XII of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights (Ratification and Enforcement) Act, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.

Adegboruwa’s position on the restriction of movement during the Environmental Sanitation was upheld by Justice Mohammed Idris who nullified the monthly environmental sanitation policy of the Lagos State government. According to the judge, there is no law in force in Lagos State by which any citizen could be kept indoors compulsorily and the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria grants freedom of movement to every

citizen.

Justice Idris held that such freedom cannot be taken away by executive proclamation, in the absence of any law to that effect.

The Lagos State Government, had in response, argued that section 41 of the 1999 Constitution permits government to make laws that may derogate from the right to freedom of movement and that the Environmental Sanitation Law of Lagos State, 2000, is an example of such derogation.

It further argued that the practice of keeping people at home for three hours only on the last Saturdays of the month was meant to keep society and environment clean and safe, adding that there were classified exceptions to the restriction, including emergencies and ambulance services and those on essential services.

Meanwhile, the Lagos State government has indicated its intention to appeal the judgment.

Unavailable PVC, ground to annul election — Uwazurike Continues from page 36 is that right to fair hearing that is the mother of all laws. If you charge me to court I have right to my lawyer who will come and ask for my bail, proof of information and others, which will call for an adjournment. So that is a form of delay in our justice system. For example, at the magistrate court, I am a complainant and the matter was charged to court.

On that first day of arraignment, I am in court. Then the defendant’s lawyer brings an application for bail and thereafter prepares for his defence. The court cannot shut him out, so the defendant’s lawyer would be given time. Me, the complainant, I will not be happy.

Ruling of the court

Chief Uwazurike

The next time we will come to court, the prosecutor will now request for time to go and study the bail application of the defendant. The 3rd time we are coming to court to take a date or hear the ruling of the court on bail, thereafter we take a date.

The 4th and 5th time the complainant will come to court, the court is congested or the court did not sit, the complainant will stop coming. Maybe, after one year of not seeing the complainant, the matter will be struck out.

So what do you think should be done?

It is the nature of civilized justice that there must never be hurry justice. Just like we have execution (capital punishment) we are still hearing them because it may turn out eventually that the man was innocent. What

justice is it then for executing an innocent man, is it not better that you wait for a trial to take time in court than for one innocent man to be convicted or executed?

Delay and justice go side-byside. Though they say justice delayed is justice denied but not in all cases.

Some lawyers have canvassed for the abolition of Senior Advocate of Nigeria, SAN, what is your position on this?

Anybody who merits it, should be conferred with the rank, it does not stop anybody from aspiring. So let it continue. It is something most of us met and we are still going with it.

It is not everybody that will be SAN and it is not everybody that will be a professor.

Let us now look at the standard of legal education in the country,

are you satisfied with it?

It is a subjective opinion. If I have a case and my lawyer goes and wins, I will think he is the greatest. If I lose, I will think he

is the worst. So there is really no measurement to say how to know a good lawyer or bad lawyer. And law is not one plus one.

But talking about our legal education system, every education is organic; it keeps growing. Law is something you practice and it goes with you. As long you keep reading you are alive, the day you stop reading you are dead as a lawyer.

Over the years, we have seen some judges sent off the Bench and some suspended following issues of corruption, has it made any impact in the judiciary?

Let me give credit to the immediate past Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Aloma Mariam Mukhtar, for not tolerating corruption. Many judges felt she ruined their career.

Many of us outside felt she sanitized the judiciary.

Sanitization of the judiciary is a continuous thing. She has done her bit and moved on.

We have good judges, we have bad judges. Just like among the apostles we still had a bad follower of Christ, so we have bad judges who are corrupt.

Anambra CJ to honour Obiano, Iguh, others

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HE Chief Judge of Anambra State, Justice Peter Umeadi, will on Friday in Awka, venue of the 4th edition of the Annual Chief Judges’ Dinner and maiden edition of the Award’s Night, honour the Governor Chief Willie Obiano of f Anambra State, Governor Theodore Orji of Abia State, Pioneer Chief Judge of the present Anambra State, Justice Anthony Iguh (JSC) rtd, the Pioneer

President of the Customary Court of Appeal of the Present Anambra State, Justice Chinwe Amechi, Chief Ladi Williams, SAN and nine other exemplary staff of the Anambra State Judiciary.

Governior Obiano will be the guest of honour while Chief Williams will be the guest speaker. The theme for this years’ edition is “Enhancement of the legal profession, the Role of the Bench and the Bar.”

38—VANGUARD, THURSDAY, MARCH 19, 2015

NAJUC holds annual lecture

Dakas scores Jonathan’s govt high on human rights protection

By Ikechukwu Nnochiri

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UNIVERSITY teacher, Professor Dakas Dakas, SAN, has scored the administration of President Goodluck high in the area of protection of fundamental human rights compared to his predecessors.

Dakas who is the Dean, Faculty of Law, University of Jos stated this in a key note address he delivered at the annual lecture of the National Association of Judiciary Correspondents NAJUC, Abuja chapter with the theme “Role of the Media in Human Rightd Protection.”

While reviewing the human rights regime under the administration of President Jonathan, Dakas noted that the present administration has done so well.

He added that the domestication of the African Charter on Human and Peoples rights by the Jonathan’s administration was a pointer of his determination to ensure the protection of the rights of every Nigerian citizen as enshrined in Chapter IV of the 1999 Constitution.

He said: “In the past, rights to press and freedom of speech is trampled upon.

Human rights did not fare well during military regime.

“During the Obasanjo regime, he tried but left a tremendous gap for improvement in human rights issues,” he stated.

Professor Dakas, however, noted that the amendment and signing into law of the

The secrecy surrounding governance will be unmasked in the interest of the country if the opportunities provided by the FOI Act is adequately explored by journalists

National Human Rights Commission NHRC Act by Jonathan was a plus to the administration’s drive towards protecting human rights.

He added that the human rights commission has lived up to its expectation, especially in its decision on the Apo killings where it invited security operatives and other stake holders for interrogation.

He further commended the commission for the on going public hearing in the case of unlawful demolition and eviction in some parts of Abuja.

“We need to commend the commission for its continual intervention in the North Eastern part of the country. We should however stress here that there is room for improvement,” he added.

He, however, challenged reporters to make use of the opportunities provided by the Freedom of Information Act, recently signed into law by President Jonathan.

“The secrecy surrounding governance will be unmasked in the interest of the country if the opportunities provided by the FOI Act is adequately explored by journalists,” he said. Another credit to Jonathan’s administration according to Dakas, was the ratification of the Kampala convention. Besides, he urged the Federal Government beyond ratification of the convention and domesticate it to create an environment for people to enjoy their social political rights.

Earlier, the chairman of the association, Tobi Soniyi noted that journalists have responsibility of exposing rights violation for victims to get redress.

“Journalists should remain objectives while reporting human rights violation.

Journalists should give facts but not in a manner or with the purpose of creating sensation and to arouse sentiment of the people. Language should be decent and civilized to avoid adding insult to injury.

“As citizens we need to down play the good things the government has done. In my view, the administration of Jonathan has done well in terms of upholding human rights. I concede though that challenges remain,” he added.

The National Association of Judiciary Correspondents, Abuja, NAJUC, held its annual lecture on the Media in Hunan Rights Protection in Abuja.

From left: Mr. Reuben Buhari of Leadership Newspapers and Dean of Faculty of L a w University of Jos, Prof D a k a s D a k a s , SAN.

From left: Chairman of Abuja NAJUC, Mr. Tobi Soniyi, and his deputy, Mrs Omowumi Obabori.

A cross section of participants.

Lawyers, judges bid farewell to an upright judge

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RIDAY last week has come to stay as one of the memory days in the annals of our legal history, when lawyers, colleagues, relations, friends and well wishers from Edo, Delta States and beyond, converged at the Edo State High Court premises to pay their last respect in a valedictory Court Session to one of the greatest legal minds that have traversed the Nigerian legal terrain, late Justice Josiah Oki, former Chief Judge of the defunct Bendel State.

It was indeed a rain of eulogies and encomiums as speaker after speaker extolled the sterling qualities of the late Jurist and legal icon who passed to the great beyond on March 13, 2015 at the age of 89.

In her speech, the Chief Judge of Edo State, Justice C. Idahosa, said: “ Today, Edo State and Delta State Judiciary mourn the exit of the former Chief Judge of Bendel State, His Lordship, Justice J. Oki, a quintessential jurist who expanded the frontiers of liberty and justice.

“Even as we mourn, we celebrate the fulfilled life which His Lordship lived, being favoured by God to have attained the age of 89 years and the privilege of being the father of six loving children and Grand father of 14 beautiful grand children. A man who stands for nothing will fall for anything.

A cross section of lawyers at the event.

“For the great legal icon in whose honour we are here gathered, he imbibed and exhibited the principles of truth and truthfulness, justness and justice, firmness and fairness. Indeed, His Lordship’s contributions to the development of law and the sustenance of a viable judiciary in the defunct Bendel State in particular is so immense, the finality of death cannot draw a curtain on his contributions.

In a chat, Mr. Paul Oki said of his father : “ He lived a life that is worthy of emulation, he set many examples, he set very high standards for

his children, fellow Judges , legal practitioners and indeed everybody that had one thing or the other to do with him when he was alive. He had one simple philosophy which was honesty, integrity, focus, hard work diligence those timeless values were hi values.

“He inculcated them in each of his children, in all the lawyers that appeared before him and everybody who came in contact with him in all his 89 years on earth. He was somebody the this country was really proud of, he was indeed a rare gem, not because he was my father, but because of the values he represented.”

On why he and two others embraced the legal profession out of the six children of the late Judge, Oki said: “Well, we are six children and three of us are lawyers, myself and my two sisters, naturally you cannot grow up in our house and not love the law.

Right from my childhood, I loved the profession, it all about simple things the way my father spoke, his eloquence, the way he read, his patience in listening to people, his carriage and his skill at resolving disputes even within the house, everything about him just inspired us to just be like him."

VANGUARD, THURSDAY, MARCH 19, 2015—39

President has right to determine operational use of armed forces — Emukpoeruo MR. Robert Emukpoeruo is a Lagos based lawyer, called to the Bar over two decades ago. He is the principal partner of a thriving law firm.

In this interview, he examined the law on the President’s power to deploy military for election purposes, the usage of PVCs as well as the law enabling principal officers of the National Assembly to earn pensions till end of time.

Excerpts:

By Abdulwahab Abdulah ONSIDERING the recent judgment of the Court of Appeal in Ekiti governorship election petition, do the armed forces have any role to play in the country’s elections ?

First, the pronouncement of the Court of Appeal will appear not to have taken into consideration all of the relevant provisions of the constitution and the armed forces Act that deals with the issue.

The pronouncement of the Court did not take cognizance of the fact that the president as the commander-in-chief of the armed forces is vested with the power by the constitution to determine the operational use to which the armed forces of the federation may be put to anywhere in Nigeria.

That right that is conferred on the president is a right that is conferred by the constitution to determine the operational use of the armed forces as the commander-in-chief.

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Operational use of armed forces The power itself is not vested in the judicial arm of government to determine how the president is going to determine the operational use of the armed forces.

Now, under the armed forces Act, there are specific provisions that now elaborates on how the president is to determine the operational use of the armed forces and those provisions make it very clear that the president in determining the operational use of the armed forces may deploy them in aid of civil authorities and civil activities to maintain peace within Nigeria and certainly I think that should not need much of a rocket science to know that without peace and order there cannot be a free and fair election.

So there is nothing illegal or unconstitutional in the president deploying the armed forces to secure the country during the period of the election.

The armed forces have always been actively involved in providing security and there is nothing contrary to the provisions

Emukpoeruo of the constitution or the armed forces Act in so doing that says the police are to be deployed for the conduct of the elections, there is nothing that says so even in the Police Act, there is nothing that says Police should be deployed for the conduct of the election but everybody knows that police are there to maintain law and order and that function is also conferred on the armed forces in the operational use to which the president is explicitly empowered to put the Army.

What is the position of the electoral Act on who to provide security during elections?

The Electoral Act itself does not deal with who is to provide security during elections, the Electoral Act certainly will not make such a provision. All that the Electoral Act specifically provides for is the presence of police men at each polling unit.

They are the only security agency that are specifically allowed to receive polling units results, copies of each should be given to them, it is not as if they are specifically mandated to provide security and most certainly there is nothing in the electoral Act that provides that it is the police that must exclusively be in charge of security.

The introduction of PVC by INEC has raised some dust, is this in line with the electoral Act, especially on issue of e-voting?

Well, I suppose the point of views may be more than one of those issues but, once we take voting in its definition by judicial authority that voting is not limited to the actual act of casting the ballot but involves the entire electoral process mainly accreditation and everything then it means that there may well be a problem in the introduction of the card readers by the INEC because the electoral Act expressly prohibits electronic voting in very clear terms.

Because the truth of the matter is that the foundation of any election is accreditation, without accreditation, you cannot have any vote because the voters need to be accredited and when you’re talking about accreditation, it is the process of ascertaining that any person who present himself to a presiding officer or to a poll clerk is to be registered to vote, he has a voters card with which he can identify himself and his name is ticked on the voters register that is the process of accreditation.

Now if you want to take that process that is more or less a foundation of the voting process and introduce an electronic device which is going to take over the process of accreditation because that is what is going to be used to ascertain that this person is duly registered voter who is entitled to be given a ballot paper to go and cast his ballot then it is evoting.

I know there are cases pending in court concerning the use of PVC because the essential requirement for voting is that you are a duly registered voter and any person who is a duly registered voter whose name is on the voters register in truth there should be no basis from disenfranchising that person to cast his vote which is essentially what INEC has done by bringing in the PVC and there is going to be a card reader, if you have a temporary voters card you cannot vote regardless of the fact that your name is on the register as a duly registered voter.

Mr. Femi Falana, SAN, recently said President Goodluck Jonathan is committing breaches against Section 419 of the Police Act by employing military as his Aide-de Camp instead of a senior police officer not below the rank of superintendent. What is your take on this?

Now section 419 of the police Act that you have mentioned with

Electronic voting Now, if you take voting in its narrow sense of dropping your ballot in the box we may say that is what the electoral Act prohibits, but with regard to judicial authority that has defined voting to include the act of accreditation and that voting is a process that is not limited to merely casting your ballot, then it means that the introduction of the card readers may constitutes a clear infraction of the provisions of the electoral Act that prohibits electronic voting.

The Electoral Act itself does not deal with who is to provide security during elections, the Electoral Act certainly will not make such a provision

regards to the ADC to the president all that that section says is: “Subject to the approval of the president, the Inspector-General of the Police may appoint a superior officer to act as ADC to the president”. There is nothing in this provision that makes it compulsory for the president to appoint a police as his ADC in fact, there is nothing in this Act that makes it compulsory for the IG to appoint any superior officer as ADC but, more importantly is that the section itself starts with subject ‘to the approval of the president’, in other words, there is a power conferred on the president, the appointment of the ADC is subject to his approval, if he does not approve, certainly there can’t be appointment.

Member of the police The other leg of it is that the section itself specifically talks about the IG may appoint so it is not mandatory for the IG to appoint. If the IG does not appoint then what happens? In order words there is no duty imposed by this section on the IG to appoint, it is entirely discretionary, what all these suggest is that it is not compulsory all these words ‘May ” means that it is not mandatory that the ADC of the president must be a member of the police, there is certainly nothing in this section that says so.

Thirty three of the 36 states legislatures voted in support of the alteration of Section 84 of the constitution to insert a new subsection 5A admitting senior members of the parliament in Nigeria to pension for life equivalent to the annual salary of the incumbent senate President. What is your reaction?

Well, I view it as unnecessary burdening the tax payers of this country more especially when you look at it within the light of the fact that while members of these legislatures are there holding forth, they are entitled to stupendous amount as allowance, housing, etc. Now they have stopped rendering any kind of service and after stopping rendering any service to this country they still believe that they should burdened the treasury and the tax payers.

I think that is most unfortunate, most regrettable, because as it is, very many people are already complaining bitterly about the huge expenditure spent to maintain members of the National Assembly and indeed to maintain this presidential system of government and this amendment only fuel people’s fear and concern. I think at the end of the day it is going to be really counterproductive because what it means is that the jostling for these positions will now become more intense as everybody will see it as a means for securing life, to be a legislature is supposed to be a part time assignment why do you now want to give them pension?

40—Vanguard, THURSDAY, MARCH 19, 2015

Foundation to power free medical screening in Ekiti Etop Ekanem

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GBOLE Ekiti, a town in Ido/Osi Local Government Area of Ekiti State, will on Saturday host the Babatunde Femi Owolabi Memorial Heart Foundation, as the foundation is set to facilitate a public lecture and organise free diabetes and hypertension screening for the people in the locality, as part of activities lined up in its campaign for the prevention of cardiovascular diseases and other related conditions.

These and more, were revealed at a press briefing held at the Hotel 1960 Prince of Anthony, in Anthony Village, Lagos. While explaining the rationale behind the activities of the foundation, the President of the foundation, Mr. Tope Tosin Owolabi, said ignorance on the part of citizens and the lack of access to medical facilities in many parts of the country are major factors contributing to the rising cases of noncommunicable diseases like diabetes and hypertension in Nigeria.

However, he stated further, that his desire to immortalize the memory of his late brother, Babatunde Femi Owolabi who lost his life to a cardiovascular disease was the motivating factor, behind the establishment of the foundation.

In his words: “Diabetes and hypertension are silent killers but these diseases can also be prevented if discovered early. Our objective is to

give Nigerians opportunity to know their health status and to educate them on how to prevent cardiovascular diseases’. Speaking further on the mission of the foundation, Mr Tope Tosin Owolabi said there is a need for concerted effort, geared towards arresting the rising cases of illness and death from needless and preventable diseases. This he said led him to commence the fight against these diseases, through awareness programmes, health education, promotion, screening, treatment and administration of drugs.”

Access Bank donates to fresh medical students at CMUL/LUTH

By Esther Onyegbula

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HE College Provost University of Lagos College of Medicine , CMUL, has said that there is a huge deficit in the health sector, pointing out that Nigeria health indicies is one of the lowest despite her rich oil wells.

Speaking during the official presentation of thousands of laboratory coats to fresh students in the College of Medicine by Access bank Plc which cosided with the 2014/2015 freshman orientation of the College, the Provost, Dr.Folashade Ogunsola said

• R-L: Group Managing Director, Access Bank Plc, Herbert Wigwe; Provost, College of Medicine, University of Lagos, Prof. Folashade Ogunsola; Executive Director, Business Banking Division, Access Bank Plc, Mrs. Titi Osuntoki and College Secretary, Barrister Oladejo Abdul-Azeez during the presentation of Lab. coats to fresh students of the College by Access Bank Plc in Lagos.

compounding these inadequacies in the healthcare sector is the deficit in workforce.

“About 50 percent of all we train migrate to other countries. This is why it is imperative to improve the healthcare sector to ensure adequate workforce, “she stated.

She however urged the students to have an open mind about what life would offer them in the field of medicine.

Presenting thousands of laboratory coats to the new students, Group Managing Director Access Bank PLC, Herbert Wigwe assured the College that the Bank will continue to partner with the school in adding value to educational development of students in the college.

He said the presentation was part of activities to improve the standard of education and encourage medical students”. Wigwe told the students that their education has just begun, adding that, “Our major goal is to teach you all you need to compete favourable with what obtains in other climes.

Advising the students to study their books and shun examination malpractice, Wigwe noted that the college of medicine is very important in the training and development of the workforce in the health sector. He also charged the students to be hard working, determined to succeed as the time for work is now because you represent the future of this country irrespective of the issues facing the nation now.

COMMON SEXUAL PROBLEMS AND THEIR NOVELTY BASED SOLUTIONS (ADVERTORIAL)

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Vanguard, THURSDAY, MARCH 19, 2015—41

The relevance of TAN in this democracy

By Ayo Akinola

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NFORMATION dissemination is key in any democratic dispensation. Lack of it creates rumour and disenchantment. This is why the media is a partner in progress, in any meaningful democracy. If government is doing what is expected of it, it is through effective dissemination of information that the citizen is made aware and if the reverse is the case, then, the government would be on its toes to redeem.

One thing which is unique with the Goodluck Jonathan administration is its unwritten rule of “do much, say little”. This is what is guiding the government and upon which critics and the opposition rest their accusation that the government is not doing much.

But this is not the case based on indices that will be enumerated.

The Transformation Ambassadors of Nigeria, TAN, has taken it upon itself as a national patriotic mission to rebrand our President the way none has done for any President in Nigeria or elsewhere before.

This is where a big kudos is due to the Patrick Ifeanyi Ubah-led team in TAN.

Material resources This organization has devoted both human and material resources to the re-branding of the President Jonathan’s government and has made this government more popular. The task before TAN is not to say what is not, but what really is. TAN has superlatively succeeded in this regard.

Today, investors, home and abroad are aware of the transformation agenda and roadmap of the present government, which hitherto were not made manifest due to bureaucratic bottlenecks as well as undue partisanship. They took advantage by investing into virtually all sectors of our economy, culminating into what now led to Nigeria’s economy becoming the largest in the whole of Africa.

Goodluck Jonathan could be described as a well tutored and well- rounded political player who had gone through the mills from a lower rung of the political leadership to the highest in the land. Having started as a deputy governor, to being a governor and to the vice presidency and then to the presidency, shows the uniqueness in his ascendancy and a hand of God. Also unique in GEJ is the fact that all through his political journey, he is always on hand whenever a vacuum is created either through manmade problem (of his governor-

boss) or death (of his presidentboss). In each of the cases, divine purpose has always played out.

S i n c e assumption to the presidency, Goodluck Jonathan has embarked on Map of Nigeria unprecedented transformation agenda which I competitive exchange rate and call a quiet revolution in nearly help to reverse the declining all sectors of Nigerian economic, trend of our international social and political lives. The reserves”, Jonathan declared.

Agricultural revolution: President had on several occasions reiterated the Apparently piqued by the commitment of his administration country’s spending of well over to make Nigeria a better place N1.3 trillion per annum on the and a global economic power, importation of foodstuffs which it using the 2012-2015 Medium could produce locally, President Term Fiscal Framework (MTFF) Jonathan is determined to end the and Medium Term Expenditure importation of rice. “We must stop Framework (MTEF) as the the importation of rice. There is linchpin. Apart from setting up no reason Nigeria should be clear-cut guidelines for the four- importing rice. We have all that year fiscal regime, the economic is needed to grow enough for blueprint also recommends domestic consumption and have prudent management of the a surplus we can export to other nation’s wealth to free up more countries,” And true to this funds for infrastructure projects assertion, the Agricultural sector and other developmental has been identified as a huge purposes. Finance minister has success.

Dr Jonathan handed the consistently reiterated government’s resolve to keep Minister of Agriculture, Dr. Ayo fiscal deficit under three per cent, Akinwunmi Adesina, the task and the tool with which to transform in the coming years.

While delivering the one of his the sector, guarantee food security administration’s budget proposals and reduce decreasing the to the national assembly, country’s embarrassing food President Jonathan had assured imports.

The agenda also involves that his administration has found the magic wand.

“My making agriculture, together with government is determined to manufacturing, the lynchpin of pursue policies that will ensure a the Nigerian economy. As a stable macroeconomic commitment to his mandate, Dr. environment through a strong Adesina then declared that his and prudent fiscal policy, ministry has come up with a new manageable deficits, sustainable strategy for achieving a hungerdebt-GDP ratio of no more than free Nigeria through an 30%, and single digit inflation, agricultural sector that drives thereby promoting real growth. income growth, accelerates We believe that these measures achievement of food and would engender a stable and nutritional security, generates employment and transforms Nigeria into a leading player in global food markets.

According to him, the government is focusing on the agriculture value chain where Nigeria has comparative advantage. “We will focus on collaborating with state and local governments; inter-ministerial collaboration, private sector, Nigeria’s farmer groups transport sector and civil society as well as has shown signs targeting the that the reforms youth and women for initiated by the equitable federal growth,” the minister said. government over And this he did the years have to the admiration of started yielding all. fruits T h e

President Jonathan transformation from rustic farming to mechanized agriculture which requires empowering local farmers to adopt modern and costeffective technologies is now vigorously pursued. The Ministry of Agriculture has worked towards engendering improved quality and distribution of fertilizers; marketing reforms; innovative financing and developing commodity exchange; research and development; competitive exchange rates; and development of storage infrastructure. These new measures have worked to liberate the country from food insufficiency and making it a major food exporter in the nearest future.

Agricultural revolution The government is also assisting companies to raise funds from banks to finance input purchase with about N30 billion earmarked for the programme. In addition, government has agreed to pay 10 per cent achievement fees for companies meeting 100 per cent of supply of seeds and fertilizers to farmers.

Dr Adesina, other ministries, departments and agencies are equally contributing to the success of the agricultural revolution project. “We are going to produce an agricultural scorecard in which we will look at the progress we are making and not just the Federal Ministry of Agriculture but a lot of ministries that are critical to making that sector work; the issue of power, water and roads, so we

are going to come up with a plan in which there is will be accountability at all levels,” he said.

Transport sector revival: Lately, Nigeria’s transport sector has shown signs that the reforms initiated by the federal government over the years have started yielding fruits. This follows marching orders by the federal government for the completion of all ongoing projects as a matter of urgent national priority. The projects include the dual-carriage Abuja-Abaji-Lokoja road; construction of Oju-LokoOweto bridge linking Nassarawa and Benue states; dual-carriage Kano-Maiduguri road; construction of the 2nd Niger Bridge in Delta/Anambra states; rehabilitation of the ShagamuOre-Benin dual carriageway; and the rehabilitation of the OnitshaEnugu-Port Harcourt dual carriageway, and so many more which this space will not allow.

Since the vast Nigerian media empires chose to look the other way due to opposition control and other diabolical reasons, TAN has come to the rescue, making prudent use of available human and material resources.

The coming of TAN and its array of radio, television, print, as well as outdoor media onslaught has deeply highlighted many of these achievements of GEJ’s administration in all critical sectors of the economy. Road shows home and in the Diaspora have been well coordinated to achieve this same objective.

Akinola a social and political commentator is based in Lagos

42—Vanguard, THURSDAY, MARCH 19, 2015

•Patience: Kept her cool at Ilorin Airport

•Aisha: Convoy attacked in Ilorin

AISHA AND PATIENCE: Style and sophistry in Ilorin WITH their husbands embedded in last minute strategy schemes, the wives of the two major presidential candidates, Mrs. Patience Jonathan and Aisha Buhari are moving round the country in mobilisation schemes to bring out the votes

By Emmanuel Aziken, Political Editor and Demola Akinyemi

I

LORIN, the town where two of the country ’s major cultural streaks, Hausa-Fulani and Yoruba melt into one was the host to two of the country’s major political icons this week.

Aisha Buhari and Patience Jonathan, the wives of the two major presidential candidates, passed through the town leaving behind tell-tale signs of how the two women could carry on as First Lady after Nigeria’s next presidential inauguration.

Remarkably, news of Aisha’s visit to Ilorin on Monday did not catch attention until news of the attack on her convoy by a group of yet unidentified hoodlums. Patience’s visit the following day, however, was not a hidden affair as it was broadcast on nationwide television.

The two women were in Ilorin as they have been going round the country to sensitize the womenfolk ahead of the presidential elections due on March 28.

The style, strategies and sophistry employed by the two women were clearly evident in Ilorin.

Mrs. Buhari was accompanied to the town by her new best friend, Mrs. Dolapo Osinbajo, the wife of the vice-presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo.

Given the punch and power that Patience has brought to the campaign it was not surprising that once she arrived Ilorin last Tuesday that she took on Aisha, her perceived challenger, who in her view is shadowing her movements.

Governor Adams

Oshiomhole had intervened last week when the two women took the same day to speak to women at the state owned stadium. Oshiomhole had to cancel shelve Aisha’s engagement despite his claim that the APC made the first booking.

Against the background of the avoided confrontation in Benin, Mrs. Jonathan was quick to spew: “Before I went to Edo State, the APC was there, all to make trouble. I have always been telling them that they like to make trouble.

I wanted to go to Edo; they were there. Why? To make trouble.

“I wanted to come to Kwara; they were there. Why? To make trouble. As I was coming today at the airport, they were also coming so that there will be trouble but I told my security people that I am Mama Peace, so let them go

in peace. We wives of political leaders should not make trouble. Even if they come to you to make trouble, don’t fall for their trick,” she said in her address to women at the Ilorin Township Stadium.

The style, strategies and sophistry employed by the two women were clearly evident in Ilorin

Charging the crowd, she said: “I don’t kill, I don’t stone people, I preach peace, let them go with their problems because my God has fought my battle. Should someone who has won fight? She asked, and the crowd said no. We don’t need to fight because we have won.”

Giving some touch of spiritual approval of her husband’s pursuit, she said: “My God that I serve has told me that they will fail. So, don’t be deceived, don’t listen to their lies. Kwara is PDP. They only stole the mandate because the Government House they are occupying today is in the name of PDP. We shall take it over.”

“Everyday they change from one name to another and very soon, they will change to Ebola and then, death will come”. ‘’They are shouting change, when they fail finish, they will change their name. Do not be afraid, we are going to win this election. My God that I serve has told me that we will win this election. The person wey don win, no dey fight, wetin we go take fight do, let them go with their problem”.

"The airport wey dey here, na we PDP wey do am, wetin dem don do, nothing, dem just they shout change, change’’..

Mockery of the change of name Mrs. Jonathan’s mockery of the change of name of the rival parties that formed the opposition APC was itself the issue that brought Mrs. Buhari and her entourage to Ilorin.

The matter of mobilising women and the rural folks to understand the symbol of the party on the ballot paper was at the core of Mrs. Buhari’s message last Monday.

Mrs. Buhari’s education was significant given the fact that Buhari contested the past two presidential elections on two different political platforms and the coming election would still be on another platform.

"It behoves on women political leaders to go out and educate women on party activities and logo bearing in mind that, many APC candidates particularly, the party ’s presidential candidate, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari has moved from ANPP to CPC and finally to a mega party called APC”.

“Thus, there is dire need to register the name of the party and logo on the minds of our rural women to avoid confusion on the day of the polls since our women are the masses”.

During her visit to Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed, Mrs.

Continues on page 44

Vanguard, THURSDAY, MARCH 19, 2015—43

ELECTION: Debate gives candidates wider reach — Omole VETERAN broadcast journalist and Director-General of the Nigerian Television Authority, NTA, Sola Omole is also the chairman of the Broadcasting Organisation of Nigeria, BON. In that capacity, he is also the chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Nigeria Election Debate Group, NEDG. Ahead of the forthcoming elections, Mr. Omole paid a courtesy call on Vanguard Media Limited, Lagos, during which he spoke on issues pertaining to the debate. Excerpts:

By Jacob Etim

A

S the DG of NTA would you say that your station has been fair to all sides given that the network is sustained by the public treasury?

I would say we have been fair, but today my conversation today is specifically on the bases of Nigeria Election Debate Group because I don’t want to really mix messages.

Another day we can sit and talk about it. So, today, my main agenda is to promote the activities of the Nigeria Election Debate Group being a member of the board of trustees and that is what I like to do.

I like to talk about this controversy which I don’t really see because, I mean we put four people on stage and we ask each four, same questions. It’s an opportunity for you to tell Nigerians through live radio and television what your programmes are irrespective of whatever anybody believes.

There is the fear that the questions would be leaked to one party?

Let me explain to you that as I am sitting here, I as the

chairman of the debate group, I have not seen the questions that are going to be asked maybe till the day of the event itself. This is because we have almost five thousand questions coming from different parts of the country and different parts of the world.

We have a debate format committee that works on setting the questions. What we do is that we send to all the candidates, all of the political parties, what areas that are going to be discussed.

at the debate and we have seen some excellent performances at the debate, so it is an opportunity for you to let Nigerians see who you are, what your programmes are, and how you respond to them.

What efforts have you made to win over those who have raised objection to the involvement of NTA in this debate?

That is part of why we are here today, we are not going to be naming names I don’t think it is necessary to do that but I have personally spoken to a lot of people and I have visited a number of entities.

This is the main interest, the

•Omole: Come and sell your ideas

Mathematical question Anybody who is following Nigerian events, would tell you what it’s all about. You just talk about power, that could be an area. So basically we send the documents to all the political parties and say here are the areas that we are going to be looking at as we do this debate.

It is really not a mathematical question (and) it’s just to take the stage and express yourself. We have seen hopeless performances

I have not seen the questions that are going to be asked maybe till the day of the event itself. This is because we have almost five thousand

larger interest of Nigeria, so let’s set aside, petty bygones that might have existed in the past. Let’s do this together in the interest of the Nigerian electorate. That’s my main interest. Just a year ago, I was in Chevron. I spent 25 years in Chevron before I retired. I was just minding my own business when they said I should come and do this and only a few months ago I was elected as the chairman of BON, the Broadcasting Organisation of Nigeria, BON and the chairman of BON is automatically the chairman of the board of trustees of the Nigeria

Election Debate Group.

Buhari has complained about the documentary on him broadcast by the NTA and his camp has demanded to be given a right to reply?

I tell you if they give it to me, I would broadcast Would you say that the documentary done on Buhari was professional?

They put it as advertisers’ announcement and once you put sponsored there, that is to say ‘I didn’t produce this.’

So who sponsored the documentary?

I don’t know, I can’t know?

Do you know everybody who advertises in your newspaper?

Spice this democracy with equity, justice and fairness

By Erahodu Oseghale

C

OUPLE of days ago, one of the national newspapers published what it headlined: S’South Got Lion’s Share Of PTF Projects Under Buhari, struggling as it were to give an account of the stewardship of former head of state and Presidential candidate of the All Progressive Congress, retired General Muhammadu Buhari in his four years as Chairman of the defunct Petroleum (Special) Trust Fund.

Perhaps to prove that the general parades the appropriate credentials to lead Nigeria and one that qualifies him as a detribalised and unbiased individual, that report described in a jiffy how the South-south geo-political zone got the Lion share of the PTF projects.

It would have been a modest and sincere reportage of the circumstance that informed the circumstances that favoured the South-South over and above other geo-political zones if the report had told its readers that the geographic zone referred to as South-south Nigeria produces more than 90 per cent of the revenue of this country through crude oil which gushes from the region.

That report equally failed to inform its readers that since 1958 when petroleum was discovered in commercial quantity in Oloibiri in present day Bayelsa State, that the country has earned trillions of dollars from petroleum products and the zone in spite of the cosmetic 26.6 per cent projects executed during the PTF, its people still account for some of the poorest persons in this country.

Their poverty, both human and material was as a result of the many years of neglect borne out of a conspiracy suffered in the hand of the Nigerian nation and its exploitative western oil exploration and exploitative companies.

If truth must be told, the prize that the people of the South-south zone and their neighbours have had to pay is that they have lost the most cherished clean and natural habitat that other regions enjoy, and their people for as long as oil exists underneath their grounds, must live in an atmosphere of pollution and degradation with little or no chance of enjoying the wealth from their land.

It is on the basis of this lopsidedness in wealth and political distribution that this country must ensure that equity, justice and fairness are the

ground norm upon which this democracy is established. And this is the reason for which the unspoken demand is made that the presidential mandate of Goodluck Jonathan is an essential balancing act which this country desires most just to remain sane and for once give the minorities a sense of belonging.

The various sections of this country must demonstrate an utmost sincere acknowledgement that the South-south zone which has paid an enormous price in ensuring that the economy of the country serves to make life more meaningful to all and sundry deserve a paltry two terms as president of this country.

That retired General Buhari as chairman of PTF allotted more projects to the South-south during his tenure is stating the

obvious. It would have been criminal, unforgiveable and sheer infantile if the former head of state has done contrary.

In the same manner, while a son of the South-south zone became President of the country by divine providence, again, equity, justice and fairness demand that those which have ruled this country for most part since independence, make conscious effort to support a scion of the minority, if only to make them feel cared for and loved.

Indeed, Nigeria’s democracy must be beautifully arrayed with justice, equity and fairness if it must serve the purpose of both the majority and minority and sustain the hope which the country’s founding fathers fought so assiduously for.

•Erahodu Oseghale wrote from Benin.

44—Vanguard, THURSDAY, MARCH 19, 2015

Why PDP is still afraid of card reader — Rep Ayeola HON Abayomi Abdul-Kabir Ayeola is a member of the House of Representatives representing Ibeju-Lekki Federal Constituency on the platform of the All Progressive Congress,APC. In this interview, he expresses optimism that his party will win the presidency. He also speaks on issues relating to the forthcoming elections among other things.

By Ebun Sessou

P

DP members have accused your party of defacing their billboards and posters?

It’s all lies. They are the one defacing our posters particularly in Ibeju-Lekki constituency 11, they destroyed my posters but I instructed my people not to touch theirs.

What is your reaction on the use of the card reader?

The card reader machine is the best that can happen to this country. It is only those who are afraid of the elections that are kicking against it. This is an era where individual vote must count. We are advocates of the card readers. Instead of the ruling party to be advocating for card reader, they are kicking against it.

Let it be on record that PDP has not won any election on merit in this country. It is always through rigging and now they can no longer continue their deeds.

I am happy that INEC came up with such technology. The day the card reader was tested, I listened to commentary all over the country and I was impressed.

The minimum period that an individual spent was 10 seconds which means that six people will vote in one minute.

But, this same card reader does not recognize thumbprint of some individuals?

The secret of that is that there are some elements in some

•Ayeola: The card reader machine is the best individual’s body, such that, it will be difficult for the card reader to detect the thumb. But, those are exceptional cases, it might be one out of 10 people. It is an individual problem not machine fault.

There are also worrisome expression that people might be disenfranchised if they are unable to get their PVCs as there are allegations that INEC officers are no longer coming to the centres?

That is totally untrue.

Originally, there was a stipulated

Instead of the ruling party to be advocating for card reader, they are kicking against it

period for accessing these PVCs and some people have collected theirs.

Although, some data that were wrongly captured, while some persons might have traveled abroad, some might have died and some students might have relocated to their states, all these are genuine cases.

While, some persons decided not to collect their PVCs at the time it was slated.

But, I am optimistic that people will get their PVCs before the elections date. But, for those who genuinely will not get theirs, I am sure INEC would work out modalities. Don’t forget that there were multiple registration during the first registration exercise, now that is no longer an issue.

Yearnings of Nigerians PDP are only putting up propaganda not to allow elections hold because it is glaring that they have lost the elections. They are going to loss because they have not satisfied the yearnings of Nigerians.

Why is the chamber of the House of Representatives almost always rowdy?

Before now, some people were imposing their ideology on others because PDP was dominating the House, today, APC is in the majority.

The recent uproar in the House was due to the fact that the matured speaker, Rt. Hon. Aminu Tambuwal was not on seat and by the constitution, his deputy took over.. The motion that day was that the card reader must be used. But because of the game plan of PDP. They kicked against it. The Deputy Speaker also insulted the minority leader and we walked out on him.

But, we came in immediately.

There are many ways to tender one’s grievances. We are not Jesus Christ who will turn his other ear to be slapped. We were provoked and we cannot pretend.

AISHA AND PATIENCE: Style and sophistry in Ilorin Continues on page 42 Buhari applauded the political chemistry that has worked in Kwara State that has for the first time seen an incumbent governor supported by a godfather get a re-election ticket without bickering.

According to her, Kwara State is lucky to have such a system which ordinarily in some other places would have

inspired much political rivalry and internal dissension on account of the friction between an incumbent governor and the political godfather.

While Mrs. Buhari pursues her objective with tact and seeming lack of interest, Mrs. Jonathan is carrying out a bold and aggressive campaign to protect a legacy she has inspired which according to her could be undermined if

Buhari is elected.

Despite claims by Muhammadu Buhari himself that he would pursue female gender participation in his government, Mrs. Jonathan was unsparing of him citing his record as military head of state when according to her he, Buhari did not appoint women into the highest ruling organ.

•Ballot boxes on display before voting in a past election

COUNTING THE VOTES: INEC changes the rules

F

OLLOWING the observations of Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs) and Political Parties and the inputs of its Legal Services Department and the Commission’s Consortium of Lawyers, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has issued a corrigendum in respect of the Guidelines and Regulations For The Conduct of 2015 General Elections and The Manual For Election Officials 2015 as follows: At the close of voting, the Presiding Officer shall: (a.)Cancel all unused ballot papers by crossing them; (b.)Sort the ballots at 2 levels as follows: (i.)Sort all wrongly deposited ballots and transfer them into their appropriate ballot boxes; (ii.)Sort out the ballots by party and thereafter loudly count the votes scored by each party in the presence of the polling agents and observers.

2.8.2 Sorting Procedure There shall be 2 levels of sorting namely: (a.)Sorting for wrongly deposited ballot; and (b.)Sorting by party (A.)Sorting for Wrongly Deposited Ballots The Presiding Official (PO) shall: Step 1. Starting with the House of Representatives, sort out all wrongly deposited ballots; Step 2. Transfer the ballots deposited in the wrong box, to their appropriate ballot boxes; Step 3. Return the other ballots into the ballot box.

Repeat steps 1, 2 and 3 above for the Senatorial and Presidential Elections (B.)Sorting by Party The Presiding Officer (PO) shall: Step 1. Starting with the House of Representatives, sort out the ballots into separate piles for each party and one pile for rejected ballots.

Step 2. Sort out the ballot papers by party and thereafter loudly count the votes scored by each party in the presence of the polling agents and observers.

Step 3. Write the word “REJECTED” on the front of every rejected ballot.

Step 4. Show all rejected ballots to the Polling Agents and Observers present.

Step 5. Where any objection against such a rejection is raised by a Candidate or Polling Agent, write the word “Rejected but objected to” on the front of the ballot.

Step 6. Count and record the quantity of the rejected ballots and their serial numbers on Form EC 40B. Step 7. Put all rejected ballots in envelop EC 50A. Step 8. Count and Record the quantity of Tendered ballots on Form EC 40F. (Tendered Ballot Statement) Step 9. Put all Tendered Ballots in the envelope provided.

Follow steps B(1)-B(9) above in the case of the Senatorial and Presidential Elections.

Follow the same procedure above for sorting and counting of ballots for the governorship and house of assembly elections, beginning with the House of Assembly Elections.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, MARCH 19, 2015—45

Education without jobs'll produce graduate armed robbers —OGBORU

By Egufe Yafugborhi & Perez Brisibe

W

ARRI—LABOUR Party, LP, governorship candidate in Delta State, Chief Great Ogboru, has expressed concern over the number of graduates churned out into the society without commensurate employment arrangements for them, noting that the lack of jobs will lead to the society producing graduate armed robbers.

Speaking at a town hall meeting with professionals and leaders in the state, Chief Ogboru, who reiterated the importance of education, health care and housing in every society, said that the three areas would form the cornerstone of his administration if elected.

Ogboru, who was with the Delta Central senatorial candidate of the party, Obarisi Ovie Omo-Agege and other candidates of the party, said his administration, through the Local Government Development Initiative, will make provisions for every local government area to sustain itself.

He said: “Education is the

Group drums up support for Emerhor

W

ARRI—A sociocultural group in Delta State, Deltans United Against Political Jobbers, has adopted Olorogun O’tega Emerhor of the All Progressives Congress, APC, as its candidate for the governorship election.

Addressing newsmen in Ubeji, Delta State, yesterday, its Chairperson, Augustina Agbajoh, commended Emerhor for the clear vision he has so far espoused, noting that a man of his pedigree and disposition can be relied upon to minister to the welfare of all Deltans regardless of tribe, gender or background.

Agbajoh lamented that a vast majority of Deltans in the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in the state, had claimed that the party’s entire structure has been hijacked by a handful of people to the exclusion of the Itsekiris, Isokos, Ndokwa/Ukwanis, Aniocha/Oshimili and

C M Y K

first step in actualising the dream of a developed council.

This will be followed with job creation because if we are encouraging education without jobs, we will end up producing graduate armed robbers.”

On his confidence to emerge victorious at the poll, the LP governorship candidate said:

“Though we have been cheated in previous elections, it is better to be cheated than being a cheat. Things have changed. Our foes of yesterday are now our friends today. I am not someone who likes going to court, but I have been forced to, so that I can defend the mandate of the people of Delta State.”

Groups present at the meeting include the Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, Nigerian Medical Association, NMA, Nigerian Bar Association, NBA, Warri Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture, WACCIMA, Pharmaceutical Association of Nigerian, PAN, among others.

FUNERAL SERVICE: From left: Former Deputy Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Mr. Nsima Ekere; governorship candidate of All Progressives Congress, APC, Mr. Umana Umana and Board of Trustees member of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Atuekong Don Etiebet, during the funeral service for Ezekiel Asuquo, father-in-law of prominent politician and businessman, Chief Sunny Ibanga, at Abiakpo, Abak.

Ex-militant leaders give FG 7-day ultimatum over alleged marginalisation

By Onoja Innocent

B

OMADI—NIGER Delta ex-militant leaders under the umbrella of Coalition of Urhobo/Isoko Ex-Militant Leaders, have given a sevenday ultimatum to the Federal Government over what they termed “marginalization of exmilitant leaders of Urhobo/Isoko ethnicities in the issuance of pipeline surveillance contracts to Niger Delta ex-militant leaders.

Speaking after their meeting in Ughelli, Delta State, they resolved that the Federal Government under President Goodluck Jonathan, should correct the wrongs done to them without delay by including the them in the pipeline surveillance jobs in their areas, noting that failure to do so would portray the Jonathan government as biased against youths of Urhobo/Isoko ethnicities.

In a resolution by Chairman of the coalition, Mr. Oghenetega Ebirie, they pointed out that over 65 percent of oil/gas pipelines in Delta

State runs through Urhobo/ Isoko lands and that marginalising ex-militant leaders from the area in pipeline surveillance jobs was injustice to them, where over 65 ex-militant leaders are currently in the amnesty programme.

“We are not happy about this ill-treatment. We are made up

of Phases One, Two and Three ex-militants and we are calling on President Jonathan, Chairman of the Amnesty Programme, Mr. Kingsley Kuku, Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Dr. Steve Oru and Minister of Petroleum Resources Mrs. Allison Madueke to address this issue within seven days," he said.

Bayelsa communities bemoan poor PVCs distribution

By Emem Idio

Y

ENAGOA—SOME communities in Kolokuma/Opokuma Local Government Area of Bayelsa State, yesterday, bemoaned the poor distribution of the Permanent Voter Cards, PVCs, by the Independent Electoral Commission, INEC, in the communities.

Vanguard gathered that in Kaiama Wards 4 and 5, most registered eligible voters were yet to receive their PVCs even as the deadline for the collection draws closer.

A community leader in one of the affected communities, King Timi Amraran, regretted that many registered voters in his wards and units have not been able to collect their PVCs and therefore, stand the risk of being disenfranchised, stressing that INEC officials have been giving excuses and promises to provide their PVCs. Amraran wondered why the electoral body has not been able to provide PVCs for some units in the area and expressed fear that some politicians may have sabotaged the PVCs distribution process in the area.

Omene rallies support for Jonathan's re-election

A

FORMER governorship aspirant in Delta State, Chief Ogheneovo Omene, has urged all Nigerians to vote for President Goodluck Jonathan in the coming general elections.

Ogheneovo, who addressed newsmen in Sapele, Delta State, stressed the need for Nigerians to re-elect the president for the continuity of the transformation agenda.

He said that President Jonathan has done well for the country by delivering on his mandate of a better Nigeria, adding that the president has transformed all sectors of the economy, from agricultural, health, transportation, education, power, security, adding that in recent times, Jonathan has promised to create more states in the country.

My worst political mistake, by Edo APC senatorial candidate

A

N All Progressives Congress, APC, senatorial candidate for Edo North in the March 28, general election, Major Francis Alimikhena, has described his years in the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, as his worst political mistake due to his maltreatment in the party and the self seeking leaders who were determined to pin down the glory of up coming politicians.

Narrating his ordeal in the PDP, he said he was rigged out at different senatorial primaries of the party for an unpopular candidate in order to please the party's godfathers.

“I invested my time and resources in the party without result until God brought me out of political darkness into APC,” he added.

He spoke at his Igiode residence in Agenebode, when he played host to a coalition of women and student groups including the National Association of Etsako Students from various institutions in the state who came in support of his senatorial ambition.

46—Vanguard, THURSDAY, MARCH 19, 2015

UPIO vows to fight for restoration of polling units in Urhoboland

I, cabinet members 'll declare assets if elected—BUHARI

F

E

By Austin Ogwuda NUGU—PRESIDENTIAL candidate of All Progressives Congress, APC, General Muhammadu Buhari (retd), has promised to declare his assets and liabilities once elected and sworn into office.

Other members of his cabinet

OLLOWING the judgment delivered in favour of Urhobo Peoples Integrity Organization, UPIO, against the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, on Sapele Constituency 11 last Wednesday, National President of the group, Dr. Ebenezer Okorodudu, has vowed that the group will work towards the restoration of all constituencies and polling units in Urhoboland and ensure that a Federal constituency was created for Uvwie.

He said for the organization, the judgment was an evidence of the reign of rule of law in President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration.

He also expressed appreciation to Orodje of Okpe Kingdom, Ohworode of Olomu Kingdom, Ovie of Uvwie Kingdom, Chief Thomson Okpoko (SAN), and others that supported the organization in its fight.

and appointees, he said, would be asked to toe the same line.

Buhari spoke through APC spokesman in South-East zone, Mr. Osita Okechukwu, yesterday after a road show in Enugu to sensitize the people on how he intended to run a transparent government.

He added that Buhari would

inaugurate the National Council on Procurement as stipulated in the Procurement Act. He also assured Igbo nation that he stood by his pledge to revamp coal in Enugu, if elected as President, noting that his word was his bond.

He said: “Buhari is very passionate to create jobs for our youths and strongly feels that the best way to

By Vincent Ujumadu

A

WKA—GOVERNOR Willie Obiano of Anambra State has urged judges in the state to devote four of five sitting days in a week to cases involving suspected kidnappers as a way of reducing the number of such pending cases.

The governor spoke while swearing in eight new high court judges approved for the

state by the National Judicial Council, NJC. The new judges were among the 16 whose names were forwarded to NJC for appointment. Only eight of them were successful.

According to him, devoting more time to treat kidnap cases will also help to de-congest the courts and reduce the incidence of kidnapping.

He assured the judiciary of his administration’s continued

assistance to make the work of the judges and magistrates easier.

The new judges are Arinze Chidozie Akabua, Theophine Oguji, Michael Okonkwo, Irene Ndigwe, Raphael Onunkwo, Dennis Maduechesi, David Onyefulu and Fidelis Aniukwu.

All the new judges had their official quarters and cars ready as they emerged from the swearing in ceremony.

By Jacob Ajom

T

HE Nigerian High Commissioner to Tanzania, Ambassador Ishaya Majanbu, has commended Sir Emeka Offor Foundation’s Education Initiative, following the donation of 22,000 books to schools in Bagamoyo region of Tanzania by the foundation.

Over 1,500 students, representing six secondary schools, gathered to receive the books shipped to the region by the Foundation, in partnership with Books for Africa, a US based NGO. A similar effort, the foundation said, had been

RIUMPHANT Baptist Church, Akowonjo, will hold a four-day revival on The Glory of this Present House, to commemorate the annual Triumphant Congress.

Chief Host is Rev. Dr. Sunday Oladejo, while Dr. Gabriel Kehinde of First Baptist Church, Oyo State, will minister. It will hold from March 22 to 25 in the church auditorium.

extended to about 19 other African countries, including Nigeria.

Ambassador Majanbu, who was present, applauded Sir Emeka Offor and the Foundation for the exemplary act of altruism and support for academic enlightenment among Africans.

He noted that such philanthropic gestures by the Foundation ought to be emulated by other privileged Africans.

Since 2010, the Foundation had distributed over $18 million worth of books and computers to school libraries on the continent, according to

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WKA—FORMER Head of State, General Yakubu Gowon (retd), is to deliver this year’s convocation lecture on Nigerian Civil War: No Victor, No Vanquished, at the Anambra State-owned Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University, COOU, on March 25.

According to the Vice Chancellor of the university, Professor Fidelis Okafor, it is significant that Gowon will be speaking about the civil war in the university named after his rival during the war.

Okafor said Senate President, David Mark, would be awarded honorary doctorate degree during the convocation, while the defunct Biafra warlord, Dim C h u k w u e m e k a Odumegwu Ojukwu, would receive posthumous honorary doctorate degree.

About 3,000 persons will receive their certificates during the ceremony.

its founder, Sir Emeka Offor.

He said: “Education opens the door for Africa’s development and we are proud to support this cause.

Without education, people cannot create their own solution.

“My Foundation believes in that and it is why we are working hard to ensure that every child within our reach in Africa have the opportunity to read and write.”

He said the Foundation had ongoing partnership with other international NGOs for the elimination of river blindness in SouthEastern Nigeria.

By Bartholomew Madukwe (08102479985) nwamad@yahoo.com

PEOPLE SPEAK

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By Vincent Ujumadu

Ambassador lauds Emeka Offor Foundation’s education initiative

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do not see anything wrong in it if used judiciously. I mean, if the purpose for which it was introduced is followed with all sincerity. To be honest, from the look of things INEC, the electoral body, is not fully ready. They do not have plans.—Mr. Olayinka Williams, Worker.

Gowon to deliver Civil War lecture at Ojukwu varsity

Obiano wants 4 days devoted to kidnap cases

Revival

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create jobs in this region is to revamp Enugu coal, which has been abandoned since the civil war.”

On the issue of insurgency and insecurity, Okechukwu said Buhari served the country meritoriously in the military to the highest level, and recalled how he crushed the Maitasine insurgents, a violent rabid sect like Boko Haram and chased away Chadian Army.

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IGERIA is the only country where we know the truth and yet run from it. It is so obvious that the card reader is the best.

INEC has demonstrated this, so what else do we need? What more is there to prove? That is just my view on this matter.— Mr. Dare Omogbai, Businessman.

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On use of card readers

think it is a good de velopment, but I am sceptical about its successful application. This is because INEC seems illprepared for this election and might likely bungle the whole process. INEC should have tested the card readers long ago.—Mr. Timothy Bamgboye, Worker.

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believe it is a good im provement because it will prevent double voting. I cannot say for sure how prepared INEC is.

They postponed the election by six weeks because of security issues.

I believe it is being taken care of by the military.

—Mr. Ugochukwu Ogbonna, Self-Employed.

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HE problem here is not about card reader, our problem is INEC officials. From the look of things, they may not be able to handle the card reader efficiently. We are talking about free and fair election, so INEC must put everything in order.—Miss Nwazota Udeaku, Entrepreneur.

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NEC is prepared. The number of those who have received the voter's cards has been put at above 70 percent. Security seems to be better and the INEC chairman said they are ready. Except some persons have hidden plans, election must hold.—Mr. Ben Onyekachi, Graduate.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, MARCH 19, 2015 — 47

APC protests relocation of INEC collation centre to Yuguda’s farm

By Suzan Edeh

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AUCHI — THE All Progressives Congress, APC, in Bauchi State, has kicked against an alleged relocation of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, collation centre for Bogoro, Dass and Tafawa Balewa from Tafawa Balewa to a farm allegedly owned by the state governor, Mallam Isa Yuguda. at Dajin.

In a statement by APC Publicity Secretary in the state, Auwalu Jallam, yesterday, the opposition said it smelt foul-play in the relocation of the collation centre to Dajin.

However, the INEC described APC’s allegation as untrue, saying that the decision to relocate the centre to Dajin was taken by all the stateholders and not the commission. ‘’The decision to choose Dajin as a collation centre was not made

by INEC but the stakeholders so it will be unfair to accuse INEC of citing the collation centre at Dajin because it was the decision of the stakeholders,’’ INEC added, The APC stated: “The issue of relocation and ultimate decision on Dajin was maliciously taken to assist one party at the detriment of others including APC. “In taking the decision, INEC will put all parties and stakeholders into consideration for peaceful and harmonious living in the area or the success of the election,” and asked INEC to involve and listen to major stakeholders before taking vital decisions on the polls.

It, also suggested that “it will be more appropriate to move the centre to Gital town if there is such need and not to the farmland of any aspirant or major stakeholder

of one party.”

According to the opposition party, if there is any need for INEC to move the collation centre from Bununu, the headquarters of Tafawa Balewa Local Government Area, it should “drop the idea of Dajin

for Gital, if at all INEC must move the centre from Bununu otherwise if there is any breach of peace in that volatile area INEC will be held responsible.”

Reacting, INEC Public Affairs Officer in the state, Aliyu Abubakar, absolved the body of

VISIT : Abia State Governor, Theodore Orji, receiving a merit award of 'Icon of Education' from Professor Mkpa Agu Mkpa on behalf of the Abia State Council of Alumni of Tertiary Institutions and Colleges, during their courtesy visit on the governor in Umuahia. With them are, Chairman of the council, Deacon Sunny Agomuo (1st left) and other patrons of the council.

Anxiety as Adamawa House directs govt to rehabilitate all IDPs

By Umar Yusuf YOLA — ANXIETY enveloped Adamawa State, yesterday, following a resolution by the state House of Assembly, directing the state government to as a matter of urgency start evacuating all the Internally Displaced Persons, IDPs back to their respective homes.

The House at Monday ’s plenary also directed the state

government to ensure that all the IDPs were provided with shelter and other necessities of life for them to start life afresh.

Already, the state government has distanced itself from the resolution, saying that it cannot send its citizens in IDPs to the war front apparently without security clearance.

The resolution has however, come under heavy criticisms as some people have alleged that it was a ploy by desperate politicians

TAN secures services of over 5m volunteers

By Jonah Nwokpoku

THE TRANSFOR- MATION Ambassadors of Nigeria, TAN, has said it has secured the services of more than five million Nigerians ahead of the 2015 general elections.

According to a statement made available to Vanguard by TAN’s Director of Media, Afam Ilounoh, the volunteers cut across 13 states of the federation and have pledged to man the 8,812 political wards in the country following the partnership between the TAN and the Peoples Democ- ratic Party Presidential Camp- aign Organisation, PDP-PCO. The statement said the figure is derived from the number of volunteers who indicated interests in Abia, Akwa-Ibom, Benue, Borno, Gombe, Imo and Niger states.

Others are Oyo, Rivers, Sokoto Taraba, Zamfara and Kogi states.

Reacting to the response, Ilounoh said: “Although we, at C M Y K

any blame in the selection of Dajin as the collation centre, explaining that all stakeholders, including APC, decided on Dajin as the collation centre for Bogoro, Dass and Tafawa Balewa, before the party turned round to deny such knowledge.

TAN, had expected a huge response from the public as we partnered PDP Presidential Campaign Organisation to reach the grassroots with political footsoldiers, the volunteers, whose mandate are to showcase the achievement of President Goodluck Jonathan and the PDP,

the massive scrambling for forms by members of the public to participate in the volunteer scheme has indeed humbled us.

“Nigerians are demonstrating their commitment to President Goodluck Jonathan and the PDP as well as her candidates in the forthcoming elections."

to capitalise on the situation and perpetrate electoral fraud.

“The action of the law makers is to say the least callous, unfortunate and in bad taste. It is an attempt to sacrifice the few individuals that escaped from the claws of Boko Haram.

“No political gimmick will make us relocate to our towns because our lives are nor secured and we will not harken to the demands of politicians to be used as guinea pigs during the next general polls.” a resident of Michika, James Zira said.

The opposition against the lawmakers’ resolution came against the backdrop of reports that some politicians mainly from Madagali and Michika local government areas were in possession of a large chunk of Permanent Voters’ Cards, PVCs, which they intended to use defeat their opponents in the elections.

Omene slammed over UPU crisis

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ARRI—LAWYER and public affairs commentator, Jesutega Onokpasa, has taken a swipe at Chief Joe Omene on what he claimed is Omene’s objectionable posture in the lingering crisis currently plaguing Urhobo Progress Union, UPU. According to Onokpasa, Omene’s conduct amounted to the repudiation of some of the core values Urhobos across their various kingdoms and clans, hold in common as what kept the entire ethnic nationality together.

Addressing newsmen in Warri,

yesterday, Onokpasa queried: “Why does Omene keep writing petition after petition to authorities that absolutely lack the capacity to grant him the undeserved remedies he seems so desperate to grab to the detriment of the greater Urhobo cause?

He keeps writing to all manner of law enforcement agencies alleging wrongful removal from office, usurpation of his role, conduct likely to breach the public peace, as if any genuine Urhobo man is hungry at this point in time to claim to be Joe Omene of all people!”

Onokpasa claimed that Omene was never qualified to be UPU President, having never been properly nominated in order to be qualified for election to the post.

He said: “We never trusted him and never wanted him as our leader. In fact, he was never even qualified to lead us. Most of us were more amused than impressed when he started trumpeting the Uvwiamuge Declaration, but decided to adopt a wait and see approach knowing full well that we could always sack him should he deviate from the right path."

Group supports Jonathan's re-election

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NITIATIVE FOR North Central Development, INCD, has thrown its weight behind the re-election bid of President Goodluck Jonathan, saying it is confident that six states in the North Central zone would vote the president as a show of appreciation for the government’s continued development of the zone.

President of INCD, Prince Mark Elayo, spoke shortly after the meeting of INCD in Abuja, yesterday, saying that the zone had not abandoned the President in support of the All Progressives Congress, APC, candidate as insinuated by the Paul Unongo Forum, which according to him, ‘’only exists on the pages of newspapers.

The meeting, which was convened to work out strategies for the house to house voter mobilisation in the zone for the President attracted members from the 18 senatorial zones and some delegates from Taraba, Kaduna and Gombe states.

KEDCO to distribute 500,000 free pre-paid meters By: Luka Binniyat

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ADUNA — K A D U N A Electricity Distribution Company, KEDCO, yesterday, assured its customers that it would distribute 500,000 free prepaid meters to its Kaduna State customers.

The Head Corporate Communications for the company, Malam Abdulaziz Abdullahi spoke during a courtesy visit to members of the Kaduna State Correspondents chapel of Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ, in Kaduna.

According to Abdullahi, the distribution programme would span a period of five years with 100,000 given out every year.

His words: “We have already signed a Memorandum of Understanding, MoU, with a company in Egypt that will supply the prepaid meters and our customers are not expected to pay a kobo for them.

48—Vanguard, THURSDAY, MARCH 19, 2015

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Vanguard, THURSDAY, MARCH 19, 2015—49

S/Africa, Tanzania shine at Etisalat prize for literature award

By Prisca Sam-Duru

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T was a moment of glory for South Africa and Tanzania’s literary industry as two writers, Songeziwe Mahlangu and Neema Kombe, representing the two countries, emerged winners of the Etisalat Prize For Literature and the Flash Fiction Prize respectively.

Out of the three shorlisted writers, the panel of judges chaired

by Nigerian writer and academic, Sarah Ladipo Manyika; award winning British/Sudanese writer Jamal Mahjoub, and writer and filmmaker, Tsitsi Dangarembga, adjudged Songeziwe Mahlangu’s Penumbra, the winning entry for the 2014 Etisalat Prize For Literature.

In a grand ceremony which held on Sunday at the prestigious Intercontinental Hotel, Victoria Island, Lagos organised by Etisalat Nigeria, amidst all the glamour and ambience befitting of an award of such magnitude, Africa witnessed the grand finale of the 2014 edition of the Etisalat pan African Prize for Literature along with the Flash Fiction Prize.

Book critics and academicians The event brought together high profile writers, book critics and academicians from Africa and beyond, who gave credence to the continent’s literary talents. Nobel Laureate Professor Wole Soyinka and wife, Prof. Remi Raji, Odia Ofeimun, Dele Olojede, Yewande Omotosho who was among the three shortlists in the inaugural edition, etc, were among eminent individuals who graced the grand occasion.

Songeziwe Mahlangu’s debut fiction Penumbra published by Kwela Books, Imprint of NB Publishers, edged out two other books; An Imperfect Blessing by Nadia Davids published by Random House Struik-Umuzi and Chinelo Okparanta’s Happiness Like Water published by Granta Publication, to smile home with the £15 000 prize money. In addition, he received an engraved Montblanc Meisterstück pen and will embark on the Etisalat fellowship at the University of East Anglia, mentored by Prof Giles Foden, author of The Last King of Scotland. This will afford him significant opportunities to network with other writers and publishers and time as well as resources to work on his second book. The two runners up also won a book tour and Etisalat will purchase 1,000 copies of all three books for distribution across the continent.

Songeziwe Mahlangu was born in 1985. He matriculated from Dale

College, in King William’s Town, before going for a business science degree at the University of Cape Town. He returned to university for a Masters degree in Creative Writing at Rhodes, Grahamstown, in 2011. Penumbra which is his first novel, is the end result of that degree.

Songeziwe currently lives in East London and works at a large accountancy firm. Penumbra which was shortlisted for the Sunday Time Fiction Prize last year, has a youth subject with a strong message on the need for every country to revive the youth sector.

While receiving his award, elated Mahlungu who thanked his publishers, God and his mother for allowing him pursue his dream, said he was honoured

Etisalat pulled a most thrilling surprise when at the end of announcing each shortlisted author and the book, actors and actresses stormed the stage and re-enacted an excerpt from the book

WINNER:Songeziwe Mahlangu winner, 2014 Etisalat Prize for Literature, (middle) flanked

by Chair of Judges, Etisalat Prize for Literature, Sarah Ladipo Manyika (left); and Chief Executive Officer, Etisalat Nigeria, Matthew Willsher at the award ceremony in Lagos.

by the award.

“I’m just blown away because Etisalat has just given me an opportunity to continue with my writing”, an excited Songeziwe said. “This is encouraging and I’m really happy with Etisalat for this award.” On what inspired him to write on the subject, the young author declared that “The book was written from personal experiences that I have gone through though spiced with fiction as well...some of the experiences come as mental breakdown, I was disenfranchised in Cape Town...” He further disclosed that “I will definitely be writing another novel since I will be going to the East Anglia university, but I will like to talk about the novel when I’m set. Penumbra means an area of shadow that is fully light and fully dark. A book by Ben Okri actually inspired the title.”

In the Flash Fiction category, Tanzania’s Neema Kombe won the Prize for Setting Babu on Fire.

She went away with a cash prize of £1,000 and a high-end device.

She enjoys the privileged of her published e-book promoted online and via digital media platforms.

The two runners up, Justin Irabor Ikhide (These Words I Do Not Speak), Chinua Ezenwa Ohaeto (How I Saved My Marriage), each received a cash sum of £500 and a smart device for their literary efforts.

The organiser of the cer emony pulled a most thrilling surprise when at the end of announcing each shortlisted author and the book, actors and actresses stormed the stage and re-enacted an excerpt from the book in question.

Starred in the performances were, Bimbo Manuel; Best actress at the recent AMVCA, Tope; Bimbo Akintola, OC Ukeje who also emerged best actor at the AMVCA etc. Scenes taken from Chinelo Okparanta’s book, were particularly humourous while those from Nadia Davids’ were entertaining especially with the old school dance

steps by the lone actress. If it were possible to award yet another prize to the contending authors based on the performances of the acts on stage, Songeziwe would have still taken the day. OC Ukejie was at his best. His intonation which was perfectly South African and his demonstrations, were like he was actually Mangaliso Zolo, the protagonist in the book.

The stunning acting prowess displayed by the actors, brought to life into the stories told by the authors.

Also, Grammy Award winning singer-songwriter, Angelique Kidjo, was all over the stage with her electrifying dance steps as soon as winners were announced.

The event also featured poetry performance by the Patron of the Prize, Kole Omotoso who performed to the rhythm of traditional drummings. Omotoso’s poetry rendition helped kill the anxiety that existed prior to announcement of winners.

Announcement of winners

iREP Film festival begins ••explores challenges of documentary filmmaking

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HE 2015 edition of the yearly iREPRESENT International Documentary Film Festival begins on Thursday, March 19 and will run through Sunday March 22 at the Freedom Park, the old Broad Street Prison on Lagos Island. The Festival is conceived and organised by the iRepresent Documentary Film Forum, an affiliate of the West African Documentary Film Forum (WDFF), and the Documentary Network Africa (DNA).

About 12 international guests from countries that include Germany, United States, United Kingdom, France, Cameroon, Gabon, South Africa, Kenya and others are expected at the festival, which will screen about 50 films in the course of its four-day duration. The festival also offers training sessions, workshops, seminars as well as Master Classes for young, aspiring and already practising filmmakers, which usually throng its programme in every edition since 2010 when it was birthed.

This 2015 edition marks the 5th anniver-

sary of the festival, which in its short lifespan has attracted the attention of world documentary film circuits including the People2People Festival in South Africa, the Munich-Germany based Dokfest; South Africa-based Discop; and Cameroon-based Ecrans Noirs.

The 2015 edition will explore the theme: REINVENTING DOCUMENTARY FILMMAKING IN A DIGITAL SPACE. Though conceived on the traditional iREP thematic framework of Africa in Self-conversation, the theme is premised on the reality that Digital media technology is expanding narrative possibilities and shaping audiences’ experiences of how realities are articulated.

According to the Festival Executive Di rector, Femi Odugbemi, “Documentary filmmaking is coming to terms with these new realities and continuously finding hybrid strategies to navigate the blurred lines crisscrossing verite and satisfying the ever changing temperament of the digital world that is hip, fun-seeking, chaotic, multi-tasking, and attention sapping”.

While guests still waited impatiently to know who would emerge top position, a short video on what a single word can do to change people’s life or a nation, was screened. The video clip underscored the importance of quality books to reviving a nation.

Chief Executive Officer Etisalat, Mr. Matthew Willsher in his opening remarks said, “we are here to celebrate literature, books and stories. Our expertise is not to tell stories but to serve over 14 African countries and we carry over 14 million stories…We care about stories at Etisalat because it’s impossible to talk for one hour without not telling a story.”

The Etisalat Prize for Literature is the first ever pan-African prize celebrating such first-time African writers of fiction. The prize aims to serve as a platform for the discovery of new creative African talent and to support the literary industry on the continent.

50—Vanguard, THURSDAY, MARCH 19, 2015

Arrest Buhari, associates over illegal radio station—PDP

By Henry Umoru

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BUJA—PEOPLES Democratic Party, PDP, Presidential Campaign Organization, PDPPCO, yesterday, demanded the arrest of the presidential candidate of All Progressives Congress, APC, General Muhammadu Buhari (retd), and his top associates over the existence of an illegal radio station called Radio Chanji.

Addressing journalists in Abuja, Director, Media and Publicity of PDPPCO, Chief Femi Fani-Kayode, cited Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Governor Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers State; former governor of Ekiti State, Dr. Kayode Fayemi and former Nigeria Ambassador to Spain, Ambassador Yusuf Mamman, as among the top associates to be questioned.

According to Fani- Kayode, it became imperative to arrest and question them because the radio station had been broadcasting what he described as falsehoods, propaganda and inciting comments, periodically

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over the last few days.

Fani-Kayode also accused APC of budgeting $2 million to produce a documentary entitled Nigerians... What is Going On? which he claimed was designed to, among others, discredit President Goodluck Jonathan, his ministers, aides, the government and the entire country.

Fani- Kayode also pledged President Jonathan’s determination to go after corrupt persons to ensure that every single one who stole the nation’s money would be brought to book.

On the alleged APC radio, Fani-Kayode called on the National Broadcasting Commission, NBS, to put its house in order by ensuring that its set rules were followed.

He sa id: “Our attention has been drawn to the existence of an illegal radio station called APC RADIO or RADIO CHANJI. “This radio station has been broadcasting falsehood, propaganda and inciting

comments, periodically over the last few days and since inception.

“We seize this opportunity to call on the Nigerian Broadcasting Corporation, NBC, to set its house in order while ensuring that its rules are followed.

“We call on them to use all means available to stop this illegal radio station from operating and if necessary to block its illegal transmissions.

“The person that is heading this operation is Ambassador Yusuf Mamman, an APC leader and stalwart, who has much experience in the world of special operations and disinformation and who has been given millions of dollars to start this illegal radio station.

“The objective of the radio station is to serve as a propaganda tool to fight the government after they lose the elections on March 28.

“The brain behind the operation is the former governor of Ekiti State, Kayode Fayemi, who equally founded Radio Kudirat during the days of NADECO, when the government of late General

Sani Abacha was being fought by a number of people in Nigeria.

“The opposition know that they would lose the election and after this happens, it is their intention to begin to use this illegal radio station to incite Nigerians against the government.

“They intend to use the radio station to incite the armed forces to mutiny. They intend to create a major division and utter chaos within the Nigerian state, using religion and ethnicity, and they will take that opportunity to either call for full blown military intervention or the establishment of an Interim National Government.

“It is through the auspices of this illegal radio station that they intend to announce members of their planned shadow and parallel government.

“The truth of the matter is that this will not work.

“However it is important for the security agencies to arrest Yusuf Mamman and question Kayode Fayemi, Bola Tinubu, Rotimi Amaechi

and the APC presidential candidate, General Muhammadu Buhari (retd) himself on the operation, illicit and dangerous agenda of this illegal radio station.

“We will not sit back and watch them achieve their objectives. We will not allow them to destabilize Nigeria and we will not allow them to create a parallel government after they lose the elections.”

Speaking further on planned documentary on President Jonathan, Fani- Kayode said: “It has been brought to our attention by members of the covert and special operations unit of this Directorate that certain unpatriotic steps are being taken by the opposition in an attempt to discredit not just the President, but also his government and indeed our entire country.

“As we are addressing you, a scurrilous and utterly baseless documentary and video has been commissioned and compiled by them.

It is entitled Nigerians…What Is Going On? “All manner of lies, deceit, fabrication, slander, falsehood and misrepresentation of the basic facts are in the documentary.”

Vanguard, THURSDAY, MARCH19, 2015—51

Chibok girls saga, big embarrassment for Nigeria—BUHARI

By Levinus Nwabughiogu

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BUJA—GENERAL Muhammadu Buhari (retd), yesterday, described the kidnap of the Chibok schoolgirls as the greatest embarrassment in Nigeria’s post-independence history, just as he threw a challenge to anyone to dispute his success in protecting the economy while he was Head of State.

Speaking at a security summit organized by his campaign team, the All Progressives Congress, APC, presidential flagbearer also lamented the failure of the administration to put the country ’s refineries in shape, saying his agenda in office would be to tackle insecurity, corruption and the destroyed economy.

Noting the administration’s strategy against insurgency, he faulted the absence of a comprehensive welfare policy or plan for soldiers in the battlefield, saying it was irrational to send soldiers to battle on an empty stomach.

He said: “I think the issue of the Chibok girls is really a great embarrassment to this country.

“Since independence, I do not think we have been reduced to such a position as a nation as the disappearance of 220 girls between the ages 14 and18 for almost a year and government could not do anything about it and this is the same government that says it wants to remain in place.

“I have said that APC as a party has identified three fundamental problems in this country. You cannot repeat them so often because everybody talks about them.

They are insecurity, the destruction of the economy and corruption.

“The state of insecurity, as we said when the election was extended by six weeks, is that if the government and the military could not tame Boko Haram for five years, what will they do in six weeks? But I think that some positive moves have been made, but we are still at it.

“The first thing they should have done is to make sure that you have a good plan on ground to take care of the welfare of the law enforcement agents.

“You cannot send someone on an operation for months, when his family is living in wants without medical care, no school and no good neighbourhood and you want him to serve the country.

“So, one gets disappointed now that soldiers on road block have started saying wetin you chop remain? as many of their colleagues were doing many years ago.”

Economy, naira devaluation, refineries

Buhari, who frowned at the fall of naira, stating that the managers of the economy were wrong in the devaluation of the currency.

He said there was international pressure on him as head of state then to devalue the naira and remove subsidy, but that he refused to succumb and instead worked to increase the capacity of the refineries.

He said: “Again, I think that the incompetence of the government in managing the economy, beside security, is what has led us to where we are.

“When we came into power in December 1983, we were approached by the world power at some stage to devalue the naira, remove petroleum subsidy and remove subsidy on flour, but we refused.

“The issue was that if we get plenty of naira, what are we going to do with it? We even stopped farming and the only thing we got money from them was oil and that was being paid in dollars.

“If you have excess of groundnut, cocoa, cotton or palm oil, you sell it in foreign exchange. If you devalue the currency, the naira will be affected and Nigerians will get their goods and services.

“I was told to remove subsidy on petroleum and because I had the honour of being in charge of petroleum for three and half years, I do not know in terms of Nigeria, who is subsidizing who.

“To the best of my knowledge then, it is Nigeria’s petrol and capital was used to develop the refineries up to the time I was there.

“We built the refineries from one of 50,000 bpd to four of 450,000 bpd, laid pipeline of over 3,000 kilometres, built more than 20 depots without borrowing a kobo for that development.”

... as Atiku says: I’m not going back to PDP

By Charles Kumolu

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ORMER Vice President, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, has dismissed reports that he has concluded plans to dump All Progressives Congress, APC, for Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, noting that APC was his final bus stop.

Reacting to claims that he would soon return to PDP, Atiku in a statement described the description of him as a core PDP person as laughable.

His words: “You know, it is funny how some people put politics and vacation in the same sentence. Let me assure you: politics is serious business, it is hard work, and for me at least, it is more than a full time job.

“I really do not know how you can

seriously think of taking a vacation, in a country like ours, with the politics we have.

“As a patriot and democrat, I am always seeking what is best for Nigeria. I did that when we built the great assemblage of the finest men and women under the umbrella of PDP to get rid of the generals.

“I did that when I left and returned to PDP, and I did that when I helped to turn APC into a serious opposition party.

“When I toured our country and listened to the hopes, fears and expectations of Nigerians from all walks of life, I said APC is the final bus stop, and that it is the end of the line.”

52—Vanguard, THURSDAY, MARCH19, 2015

DSS nabs 6 kidnappers, impersonator in Edo

Rector of Katsina-Ala College of Education kidnapped

By Peter Duru

By Simon Ebegbulem

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ENIN—MEN of the Department of State Services, DSS, in Edo State have nabbed six men said to be involved in the kidnap of a former local government chairman in the state, Mr. Anselm Adima.

The suspects were also said to be involved in the kidnap of a woman, who was raped in the presence of her daughter, with the pictures of the act taken.

The daughter, who was also a victim of the kidnappers, was, however, said to have been spared the trauma of the kidnappers’ raging libido.

Another suspect was said to have been a fraudster, who impersonated the Chief of Air Staff to hoodwink unsuspecting victims.

Parading the suspects before Governor Adams Oshiomhole yesterday, Director of the state command of DSS, Mr. Bello Bakori, said: “This group of criminals here paraded are those involved in fraud, kidnapping, car snatching and robbery.

“The group was involved in the kidnapping of the former Transitional Committee Chairman of Esan North East Local Government Area, Mr. Anselm Adima where N3 million was paid as ransom.

“One of these boys is a notorious fraudster, who goes about swindling members of the public and even impersonating the Chief of Air Staff.

“We have this one, Isaac Ogun, collecting money from the public using the name of one Mr. Balogun.”

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A K U R D I — U N K N O W N persons kidnapped the Rector of the College of Education, Katsina-Ala, Benue State, Mr. Hans Senwua, yesterday, sparking angry protest by students of the institution, who torched the personal residence of Governor Gabriel Suswam in the town.

Vanguard learned from a reliable source that the Rector

was forcibly taken away from his residence at about 9pm, while he was relaxing with his family in Katsina-Ala. The kidnap of the Rector ignited protest from angry students of the college, who, at press time, had taken over the town in protest of the kidnap.

The source said: “They matched to the Governor ’s personal house and started smashing everything within the premises; at the moment they have crippled the town

E

NUGU—RINGLEADER of a gang, Ndubuisi Orji, who allegedly specializes in stealing cars using a master key, has been arrested by operatives of No 3 Police Mobile Unit in Enugu.

The suspect, who hails from Awkunanaw in Nkanu-West Local Government Area of Enugu State, was C M Y K

have taken over the town, making bonfire, shooting indiscriminately and harassing anybody perceived to be a politician.”

The Governor said he had already briefed security operatives on the matter and charged them to ensure the perpetrators were apprehended and brought to justice.

When contacted, state Commissioner of Police, Mr. Hyacinth Dagala, who confirmed the incident, said no arrest had been made.

Teenage girl docked for N5m jewelry theft

WORKSHOP: From left— Mrs Elizabeth Omotowa, Director of Planning Research & Development, Ministry of Education; Professor Viola Onwuliri, Minister of State for Education, and Professor Offiong Offiong, Commissioner for Education, Cross River State, at the Reading Facilitators MDGs Workshop for primary school teachers in the south south geo-political zone, in Calabar.

Pregnant fake police officer remanded over alleged theft of N4.5m vehicle

By Daud Olatunji

A

BEOKUTA— AN Abeokuta Chief Magistrate's Court, sitting at Isabo has remanded a 35-yearold pregnant fake police officer, Iyabo Ojulari-Abideen, in prison custody over alleged theft of Honda Accord valued at N4.5 million.

The police prosecutor, Inspector Sunday Eigbejiale, told the court that the accused committed the offences on October 20, 2014, at Opic Roundabout, Oke-Ilewo, in Abeokuta.

According to him, the

accused stole one unregistered Honda Accord, Crosstour 2011 model car valued at N4.5 million, property of one Gbemisola Saburi.

He said: “Ojulari-Abideen approached Saburi, a car dealer at Oke-Ile, dressed in police uniform with the rank of Assistant Superintendent of Police and introduced herself as a policewoman with the intention to purchase a car.

“The accused told the dealer that she was sent by the Commissioner of Police and that a cheque will be forwarded to the dealer.

Police smash car theft syndicate in Enugu

By Francis Igata

even though the policemen are making frantic effort to dislodge them.”

Confirming the development, Governor Gabriel Suswam, who lamented the security situation in parts of the state, said the protest had taken a political dimension.

Suswam said: “The Rector visited my house in KatsinaAla two days ago, only for some criminals to abduct him last night.

“At the moment, students

apprehended following a tipoff as he allegedly tried to steal a Red Mercedez Benz with number plate AFK 300 AA, belonging to one Ugochukwu Chukwukeru.

Confirming the incident, Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Ebere Amaraizu, said the guards on duty at an old generation bank located at Okpara Avenue, arrested him while he was attempting

to steal the car with his master key.

He said: “Our men had been on his trail over sundry cars stealing in Enugu metropolis and beyond. The surveillance report we got paid off, which led to his arrest.

“The Suspect has confessed to the crime and will be prosecuted upon conclusion of investigation.”

“O j u l a r i -A b i d e e n absconded with the car to Ibadan and then later to Port Harcourt, where she was arrested by the Police.

“In the course of investigation, Police gathered that the accused had been convicted twice on the same charge in Kaduna and Osogbo.”

The prosecutor submitted that the alleged offences contravened Sections 516, 383 (2) (a), 390 (9) and 109 (a) (b) of the Criminal Laws of Ogun, 2006.

The accused, who has no fixed address and occupation, is facing a twocount charge of stealing and impersonation.

Ojulari-Abideen, whose plea was not taken by the court, was represented by Mr. Ganiyu Ogunsanwo.

The Chief Magistrate, Mr. Anthony Araba, ordered that the accused be remanded in prison custody, adding that she should be allowed access to medical facilities because of her condition.

He then adjourned the case to March 24 for consideration of bail.

By Bartholomew Madukwe, Victor Ogunsola & Echewodo Jane

A

teenager, Mary Ogah, was yesterday arraigned before an Ikeja Magistrate’s Court, Lagos, for allegedly stealing gold jewelry valued at N5 million.

This came as the police also charged a 27-yearold man, Okechukwu Okafor, before an Apapa Magistrate’s Court in Lagos for allegedly stealing from one Mr. Ugochukwu Ojukwu three printing machines, four registered vehicles, 42 pieces of bicycles, one refrigerator and one motor cycle, with a total valued of N4.1 million.

Ogah was accused by the police to have committed the alleged offence at Alausa Secretariat, Ikeja area of Lagos.

The accused was arraigned on a two-count charge of conspiracy and stealing.

However, when the charge was read to the accused before Magistrate Abimbola Komolafe, she pleaded not guilty.

Magistrate Komolafe granted the accused bail in the sum of N100,000 with a blood-related surety that must show evidence of tax and verifiable address.

The matter was adjourned to April 30.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, MARCH 19, 2015—53

I won't join issues with rascals —DAME JONATHAN

By Jimitota Onoyume & Gabriel Olawale

F

IRST L ady, Dame Patience Jonathan, yesterday, said she will not reply critics of the nation’s first family in Rivers State, describing them as rascals.

Dame Jonathan, who spoke, yesterday, at the Rivers State Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, women presidential rally at the Liberation Stadium in Port Harcourt, said those abusing the first family were not voted by the people.

National Woman Leader, Dr. Kema Chikwe, PDP Rivers State governorship candidate, Nyesom Wike, among others, also spoke at the event.

Dame Jonathan said: “I will not condescend so low as to join issues with them because they are rascals and I will not respond to them. Don’t let me open my mouth to talk about these rascals. The Rivers mono-rail will not be completed until hundreds of years. It will remain like that until my great grandchildren are born.

“We did not vote for these people. We in Rivers State voted Celestine Omehia but these people came and took our mandate away and today

they are abusing us. They don’t have respect for elders.

They are busy abusing me and my husband. I will not answer them.

“In Rivers State we respect elders but these rascals have no respect for their elders. We must vote them out in April.”

Mrs. Jonathan, who likened the All Progressives Congress,

APC, to the analgesic drug, APC, advised the crowd to vote out the party from the state, saying it had no programme for contemporary Nigeria.

“Vote out this expired drug called APC,” she said.

She added that as a military Head of State, General Muhammadu Buhari was a

dictator, stressing that he had not changed.

According to the First Lady, Buhari would be intolerant of opposition and contrary ideas if elected as President, stressing that he would throw more Nigerians into jail.

“Whenever he comes to you again, ask him what he did for Rivers State when he was Head of State,” she added.

G

OVERNOR Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State has called on the state Commissioner of Police to thoroughly investigate the circumstances that led to the death of Mr. Chibuike Edeh, staff of a 5-star hotel in the state, who was accused of theft and kept in their custody.

Meanwhile, the Police in Benin have absolved themselves of blame in the death of the deceased, as the state Police Public Relations Officer, Mr. Joseph Edoigiawerie, described the allegation as false and a calculated attempt to cast aspersion on the image and the professional manner the Police handled the issue.

He explained that following a report from the management of Protea Hotel that the late Edeh who was a cleaner in the hotel allegedly stole N48,000 from a guest of the hotel, the suspect was subsequently arrested and he confessed to the crime saying he hid the money between the fence of the hotel and NNPC Mega Station.

But speaking to the family and friends of the deceased who staged a protest to Government House to seek the C M Y K

By Samuel Oyadongha

Y

RALLY: From left: Mr Sonny Irabor, Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Minister of Finance; Dr. Joe Okei-Odumakin, National Co-ordinator, Nigerians Unite Against Terror, NUAT; Comrade Goodluck Obi, Co-ordinator, Campaign for Democracy, South-West, and others, during the 17th national rally against terror, organised by NUAT, at Tafawa Balewa Square, TBS, Lagos.

Photo: Kehinde Gbadamosi.

Oshiomhole urges police to probe death of hotel staff

By Simon Ebegbulem & Gabriel Enogholase

Bayelsa political leaders task INEC on provision of PVCs

governor ’s intervention, Oshiomhole, said: “Let me thank you for coming to Government House to lay your complaint in a very peaceful manner in spite of the pains in your heart over the gruesome murder of your son, your brother and our comrade. ‘’I read about this yesterday and the impression I got was that he was handed over to the police.

“Whether or not the young man was a thief, whether or not the money was found on him or he threw it across the wall, is not the issue. There is

law; there is a procedure to be followed to investigate alleged stealing, even alleged murder. ‘’The police can listen to complaint from anyone who has cause to complain or report theft or any crime or suspected crime to them. The responsibility of the police stops at arresting and investigating a suspect.

They do not have the right to kill, to maim, to brutalise or to murder anybody. That is not acceptable.”

Earlier, spokesman of the family, Mr. Tochukwu Edeh, said: “Some days ago, this boy

that was brutally slaughtered, Chibuike, went to work at the Hotel. He called around 5p.m. that he had been arrested for allegedly stealing N42,000. ‘’This is the same boy that has worked in the Hotel for two years now and they pay him N40,000 every month out of which N10,000 is removed every month as savings for them. They said the boy stole money yet they did not deduct the money from his savings with them which is over N200,000 instead they arrested him."

APC raises alarm over alleged plot to kill council boss

By Jimitota Onoyume

P

ORT HARCOURT— CAMPAIGN organisation of the governorship candidate of All Progressives Congress, APC, in Rivers State has raised alarm over alleged plot by the opposition political party in the state to kill the Caretaker Committee Chairman, Etche Local Government Area, Mr Charles Anyanwu.

The Caretaker Committee boss, Mr Anyanwu, at press time was in custody of the state Police command.

According to the state Police Public Relations Officer, Mr Ahmad Muhammad, Anyanwu was arrested along with others for illegal possession of firearms.

A Federal High Court sitting in Port Harcourt dismissed a suit against him by the Police for lack of competence and improper charge on Tuesday.

He was re-arrested same day at the court premises by the Police.

A statement by Greater Together Campaign Organisation of the APC governorship candidate said

there were alleged plots by the opposition to kill the council boss.

Director of Communications of the body, Mrs. Ibim Semenitari, described the alleged move of the opposition as sad.

She said: “The Greater Together Campaign Organisation has raised the alarm over plots by the opposition in Rivers State to kill the Chairman of Etche council, Mr. Anyanwu, an APC, chieftain. The prelude to the plot is his current illegal arrest, detention and frivolous charges slammed on him.”

E N A G O A — BAYELSA State political leaders, yesterday, tasked the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, on the provision of Permanent Voters Cards to eligible voters in the state ahead of the March 28 presidential election.

The state political leaders, under the aegis of Transformation Ambassadors of Nigeria, TAN, led by the state Coordinator, Werinipre Seibarugu, said though the rate of collection of the PVCs had improved, INEC should ensure that PVCs for all registered voters in the state were made available for collection to avoid anyone being disenfranchised.

Seibarugu disclosed that TAN would work with all critical stakeholders in Bayelsa State to ensure that President Goodluck Jonathan gets 100 per cent of the votes in the presidential election.

According to him, Bayelsans have no choice than to come out en masse and vote for President Jonathan, adding that voting for him was a duty every Bayelsan owes as a worthy Ijaw son and dauther.

On criticisms against the Jonathan administration, he said that the President had performed creditably well and deserved massive support from Nigerians irrespective of political affiliations.

He noted that when reelected, President Jonathan will place Nigeria within the top ten economies in the world.

He urged Bayelsans to take advantage of the extension of the collection of the PVCs and ensure that they collect their PVCs so as to vote for President Jonathan.

54—Vanguard, THURSDAY, MARCH 19, 2015

BITS Bits

NLC Confab: Power tussle splits the comrades

Aggrieved members plan parallel confab Friday, Saturday THE 23 aggrieved unions affiliated to Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, which Saturday rejected the outcome of Congress’ election have said plans are being concluded for this weekend special delegates conference to elect new leaders to lead NLC. While insisting on its resolved to reclaim the movement and dissociated themselves with the election and results of March 12, the aggrieved group said ”The entire process was not transparent and clearly designed to favour some particular candidates. As a result, some of the polling agents refused to sign the manipulated result sheets thus rendering them invalid. ''Precisely because of the flawed process that characterized this election and the malpractices that characterized it, we hereby reject the outcomes of the so called election in their unions two years after their tenure is due. We cannot subject ourselves to people who have retired only to come back to want to lead the NLC. We cannot subject ourselves to people who abandoned the movement and the struggles four years ago only to return back and want to assume leadership positions.

Obsequies for Labour Ministry Director's father

T

HE burial of Chief Johnson Kayode Olowookere, father of the Deputy Director (Press), Ministry of Labour and Productivity, Prince Samuel Olowookere, takes place this Saturday in Osun State.

Born on July 3rd, 1928 in Ipole-Ijesa in Atakumosa East Local Government Area of Osun State, Olowookere, aged 86, died on October, 16, 2014.

Between 1951 and 1953, Chief Olowookere attended Otta Teacher Training College and later proceeded to City of London College, where he obtained a degree in Shipping and forwarding.

.Late Chief Olowookere

Aggrieved members of Medical and Health Workers Union of Nigeria, MHWUN, and Nigeria Civil Services Union, NCSU, from South - East and South - South protesting their exclusion from the just concluded Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, 11th Quadrennial National Delegate Conference.

By Funmi Komolafe

F

INALLY, a new leadership has been elected at the just concluded delegates conference of the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC. It was the second attempt to elect officers to run the affairs of Nigeria’s main central labour organization but the dust has failed to settle.

To independent-minded observers of the NLC, the election and the decision of aggrieved affiliate unions to hold another conference and possibly elect and put in place a parallel leadership did not come as a surprise. Why? The answer should be traced back to the 2011 conference and the seed of discord sowed by the leadership that emerged, headed

by Abdulwaheed Omar of the Nigeria Union of Teachers, NUT. Ghost of 2011 conference: What is now a split in the NLC today is the result of the seed of discord sowed by that leadership. It would be recalled that in 2011, an affiliate, the Non- Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions, NASU, withdrew from NLC as a result of its grievances with the leadership on the conduct of the election which saw NASU losing the election.

Rather than take steps to reconcile aggrieved parties, the leadership which included the two major contestants to the post of NLC presidency in the 2015 election, Ayuba Wabba President of Medical and Health Workers Union of Nigeria, MHWUN, and Joe Ajaero, General Secretary of the National Union of Electricity Employees, NUEE, compounded

the issue with the untidy manner in which the immediate past General Secretary, John Odah was relieved of his post. It was clearly to spite NASU whose leadership was and is still very close to John Odah. There are other remote causes but for the 2015 conference, there had been a political realignment of unions for the purpose of winning election. However, it must be noted that never in the history of NLC has it witnessed a division along sectoral lines or ethnic affiliation.

Disagreement not ideological: In 1988, when the NLC had a split at its conference held at Saidi Centre in Benin, Edo State, the Takaya Shamang faction and the Chiroma faction were split along ideological lines of the “ Democrats" and "Progressives” respectively .

This time around, the issues which have split the union leaders unfortunately are not ideological hence it is doubtful if the average workers interest is paramount

The Shamang faction did not participate at the Saidi Centre election which had international observers; it simply held a parallel one at Ikpoba Hill in Benin, Edo State. This time around, the issues which have split the union leaders unfortunately are not ideological hence it is doubtful if the average workers interest is paramount.

The aggrieved unions insist that there was an agreement that after Omar’s eight-year tenure, it would be the turn of the private sector to produce the NLC president. Historically, this has not been the case. Comrade Hassan Sunmonu of then Civil Service Technical Workers Union of Nigeria, a public sector union was succeeded by Ali Chiroma of the Medical and Health Workers Union, another public sector union.

Following the dissolution of the NLC leadership by the Babangida regime in 1988, and the international outcry which heralded it, later that year, Paschal Bafyau of the Nigeria Union of Railwaymen; another public sector union was elected president. He was succeeded by Adams Oshiomhole, General Secretary of the National Union of Textile, Garment and Tailoring Workers of Nigeria, NUTGTWN; a private sector union. Another issue that has led to the current crisis is the issue of number of delegates allotted to each union.

S-East, S-South delegates excluded: Whereas, MHWUN had over 527 delegates, NUEE also had over 471 delegates, there was an allegation that MHWUN in collaboration with the leadership of the Nigeria Civil

Service Union, NCSU, excluded delegates from the South-east and South-south on the basis that those delegates would vote for Ajaero, from South east. Now, this is unknown in the history of the labour movement. Ayuba Wabba, president of MHWUN, speaking in a television news report justified his union’s action on the basis that the union’s rules permits that the delegation of the union could be made up of delegates closer to Abuja; venue of the conference. There was also an allegation that the Omar leadership allowed the president of the NCSU, Kiri Mohammed who is due to retire from public service anytime from now to contest the election. The issue of the Kriston-Lally NLC housing scam which Vanguard broke is also a contentious issue.

NUPENG President, Achese confirmed that the leadership has been economical with the truth about the state of workers investment which has produced no houses for workers.

Consequently, the split was inevitable. The response of the secretariat to the aggrieved unions falls short of what is expected for a leadership that seeks reconciliation. Perhaps, the secretariat has forgotten that affiliate unions make up the NLC; not the other way round.

Emergence of two factions : As it stands now, it is clear that two factions have emerged.

Holding another conference isn’t the solution to the current impasse, neither is it in the interest of the new leadership to sweep the issues under the carpet.

Should the leadership forge ahead, ignoring the aggrieved parties, then the NLC is sure to become more irrelevant, and an opportunity to redeem its very low public rating would be lost. Its activities, especially protests or strikes would not achieve the desired objectives without the participation of the aggrieved unions, many of which are in the strategic sectors of the economy.

If the issues remain unresolved, the average worker is the loser.

The government of the day on its part, may see it as an opportunity to once again intervene in the crisis though this will be unacceptable not just to workers but to the International Labour Organization ( ILO) which frowns at such intervention.

Organised labour remains a vital pillar of our democracy, therefore it is in the interest of the nation, indeed the working class, to resolve the dispute. Only a united labour organization will serve the interest of workers.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, MARCH 19, 2015 — 55

Nigerians in Diaspora hold mega rally for Jonathan

BORNO: Court orders INEC to recognise Lawal as PDP gov candidate

By Fredrick Okopie

By Ikechukwu Nnochiri & Ndahi Marama

V

A

B U J A — T H E Federal High Court sitting in Abuja, yesterday, declared Alhaji Gambo Lawan as the duly elected governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, for the forthcoming gubernatorial election in Borno state.

In a judgment yesterday, the high court berated the PDP for sidelining the plaintiff who had emerged from a primary election the party conducted on December 11, 2014, and forwarded the name of one Alhaji Mohammed Imam to the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, as its consensus governorship candidate for Borno state, evev as the Shuwa Arabs believed to be the second largest ethnic group in Borno State are now mobilising support for him.

However, Imam has said that he remained the candidate of the party in Borno State.

Justice Ahmed Mohammed noted that whereas the plaintiff adduced evidence before the court that showed that the said primary election was held at Arewa Suites in Abuja owing to the security situation in Borno state, he said that the PDP on the other hand, failed to tender any evidence of the said meeting were the issue of nominating a consensus candidate for the state was decided.

Justice Mohammed maintained that the plaintiff had by way of documentary evidence, proved to the court that he contested and won the party’s primary election, adding that the result of the said primary poll was duly signed by both the National Chairman of the PDP, the National Secretary of the party, as well as the returning officer that conducted the poll.

WORKSHOP: From left; Assistant Director, MSMEDF, Central Bank of Nigeria, Tobin Jonathan; Project Manager, International Finance Corporation, IFC, Ubong Awah; Special Assistant to the CBN Governor on Development Finance, Olatunde Akande; Senior manager, Develoment Finance, CBN; Tin Onyenankeya and Executive Principal/Heads Banks Financial Institutions, Standard Chartered Bank, Oloruntimilehin George at the workshop on Micro, Small and Medium Enterprise Development Fund organized by Bankers Committee’s Sub Committee onEconomic Development Sustainability & Gender in collaboration with the Development Finance department of CBN, yesterday.

Yero wants Northern States Govs’ Forum split into 3 …Laments that Yoruba is taking over political control from northerners

By Luka Binniyat

K

A D U N A — GOVERNOR Ramalan Yero of Kaduna State, said Tuesday night in Kaduna that the north was ‘’losing political and economic power to the South West due to the high level of literacy of the Yoruba, and suggested the splitting of the Northern Nigerian Governors’ Forum, NNGF, in line with the three geopolitical zones in the area.

Yero spoke while fielding questions from some members of Civil Society Organisations, CSOs, shortly after an interactive in Kaduna Tuesday night.

Yero also lamented that wealthy northerners had refused to invest in the north, so that the people would not know about their walth, thus leaving the north without

NASS: Group endorses Agoda for

Delta Central

S

APELE—AN Urhobo sociocultural group, Urhobo Prestige Alliance, has endorsed Hon. Halims Agoda, All Progressives Congress, APC, senatorial flag bearer for Delta Central as its choice for the plum job.

Addressing newsmen in Sapele, yesterday, the group in a statement released to newsmen by its President, Anthony Egbonoje, insisted that Agoda is the right senatorial material for Delta Central in the present dispensation.

According to him: “Agoda is a veteran legislator and the only contender among all those currently vying for the post with an inestimable wealth of legislative experience eminently qualifying C M Y K

him for the post of a Distinguished Senator of the Federal Republic.”

While asserting that Agoda can never be accused of ever betraying his people or turning his back on Urhobo, Egbonoje said: “Agoda’s humility, understanding, approachability and public-spirited disposition to his fellow men stand him out as the sort of Senator each and every Urhobo man and woman can be proud of anytime any day.”

Noting that Agoda is recognized and acceptable across the length and breadth of Delta Central, the group insisted that the Urhobos will no longer vote for those who are only interested in themselves and their families to the detriment of the masses.

investments and as such rendering it economically barren to the detriment of future generations.

His words, “We must tell ourselves the truth, myself, the Yobe State governor and another governor had in the last northern governors meeting held in Kaduna came up with this idea that the meeting should be split into North West, North East and North Central (governors fora).

“This is because these three areas have different peculiarities. The peculiarity in the North West is different from the peculiarity in the North East, so also as the peculiarity in the North Central is different from the other two zones.

“The split of NNGF would bring effective control and management of the entire northern regions; where all the three zones would pool resources together and direct them to centre...

“The governors in the South East and South West have such meetings, and they are progressing because they have common peculiarities in their respective zones “We, northerners have completely destroyed ourselves; we have missed the road to investment, and South West, having been in control of education over the years... is gradually taking over the political power that the north used to control.

“This is because the people of south west are highly educated, but in the north, our boys are roaming the streets, smoking Indian hemp and

taking drugs without minding to go to school. But our girls are better, and I keep on saying that one day in the north, the female ones will go to the office, the male ones will go to the kitchen. This is the situation we have found ourselves in the north.

“Our elders continue to talk of the legacies of the late Sarduana, Sir Ahmadu Bello without contributing to the improvement on the legacies the Sardauna left behind many years ago. None of them want to invest in the north because they don’t want people to know that they have money.

“Many of the Sardauna’s legacies had gone comatose.

Look at New Nigerian Newspaper; northern governors do not want to invest in it because it is not situated in their states.’’

ARIOUS Nigerian groups from West Africa countries, yesterday, gathered at the Seme International border to drum support for President Goodluck Jonathan and Lagos State Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, governorship candidate, Mr. Jimi Agbaje and other candidates of PDP in the forthcoming election.

The organiser of the mega rally, Youruba Youth Initiative, YYI, South West, through its president, Mr Adejumo Ismail, said the YYI is bringing Nigerians in diaspora to register and collect their PVCs, so they can vote for the ruling party candidates at federal and various levels.

He explained that Yoruba youths want the reelection of President Jonathan because of his transformation agenda across the country, adding that; ‘’The development in the country for past four years speaks volume for itself, so we need this transformation to continue. That is why we throw our weight behind him.’’

Also speaking, the Governor-General of YYI, Alhaji Gbenga Fayemi, assured the Nigerians from diaspora and everyone, especially those resident in Lagos that they will deliver the state to PDP because those coming home has added to their numbers.

Alhaji Fayemi urged those who have not collected their PVCs to do so before the close of next week, because their vote is a show of supprot for the President's reelection, in other to continue his transformation agenda.

PDP Ward 11 Ward recalls axed members

By Ifeyinwa Obi

T

HE Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Ward II Ward Initiative has recalled some of its members expelled recently.

The group had on February 12 this year, expelled the members over their involvement in alleged antiparty activities.

“The general public is hereby notified that the under-listed individuals, who were earlier suspended from the organization for anti-party activities have been recalled to the organization,” the recall letter read in part.

Those recalled included Zainab Akwanga, Hajara

Husseini, Vivian Habilla, Thelma Nkanu, Waleed Taha, Mceva Temofe, Joan Hassan Hyatt and Elizabeth Ailkhomo.

The letter signed by Shekulomoso Kamal Karka, national coordinator and Ikechukwu Ojukwu, national legal adviser, assured of peaceful resolution of the crisis.

“This decision was taken by the board of Trustees of the organization after due consultations and it was decided that the suspension should be lifted in conformity with the principles and ideals of our great party the PDP, that conflicts or any misunderstanding should be resolved through dialogue and a peaceful process,” the letter read.

56—Vanguard, THURSDAY, MARCH 19, 2015

7-man c'ttee to resolve crisis in Oko Poly

By Vincent Ujumadu

A

W K A — AUTHORITIES

of Federal Polytechnic, Oko, Anambra State, have set up a seven-man reconciliatory committee to handle the misunderstanding between the staff and students.

The committee is headed

by Venerable Chukwudi Osondu, chaplain of the Chapel of the Light Church of the Polytechnic.

Other members of the committee were drawn from the Anglican, Pentecostal and Catholic churches, as well as Professor Uba Nwauba, a former rector of the institution, Mr. Ben Okechukwu, a former registrar and a representative of the Polytechnic Police Community Relations Committee, PCRC. The Rector, Professor Godwin Onu, while addressing staff and students, yesterday, sued for peace, in line with the directive of the Federal Ministry of Education.

Digital Africa to broaden Africa’s ICT capabilities

T

HE ORGANISERS of 2015 edition of the Digital Africa Conference & Exhibition, DA 2015, has said the forum would broaden Africa’s ICT capabilities Addressing newsmen in Abuja, Dr. Evans Woherem, Chairman of the Digital Africa Global Consult, organisers of the conference, said this year’s event, entitled 'Expanding African Capacity for Digital Technology,' will as usual serve as a vital platform for networking, sharing knowledge, and unveiling and launching latest innovations.

The aim, he said,was to specifically address a broad range of topics aimed at broadening Africa’s ICT. Woherem said: “Digital Africa Technology showcase is a platform for the display and demonstration of these new technologies that are trending across the globe,” he noted.

He further noted that this year’s event would attract iconic speakers and subject matter experts.

Bishop, founding fathers, others intervene in impeachment plot against Gov Elechi

By Peter Okutu

A

BAKALIKI—THE impeachment plot against Governor Martin Elechi of Ebonyi State has taken a new twist as Bishop of a Catholic church (name withheld), founding fathers of the state and notable key stakeholders have intervened to save the governor from any embarrassment.

Vanguard gathered that key stakeholders had pleaded with the state House of Assembly to give them one week to study the remote and immediate causes behind the impeachment plot before any action could be taken.

It was learned that the concerned Ebonyians, who pleaded with the House members to allow peace to reign in the state, stressed the need for reconciliation between the executive and legislative arms of government, even as they agreed to tow the path of justice.

The governor had two weeks ago, received an impeachment notice from the state House of Assembly, following allegation of gross misconduct and financial misappropriation.

According to a source close to the House, the case against the

governor borders mainly on constitutional breaches and the governor must answer to them or face the impeachment by the state House of Assembly.

“Bishop, founding fathers and stakeholders have told the House members to give them one week to resolve the matter. The

House members had to respect them but after next week, the world would be told the truth.

“The case against the governor is a clear breach of the constitution and the governor must answer to them. ‘’How can he give shares of government company to his family

members? This is corruption. He must reverse the appointment of the caretaker committee chairmen and development centre coordinators. The house will continue to pursue the impeachment process until the governor is impeached,’’ the source said.

CONFERENCE: ICAN President, Mr. Chidi Ajaegbu (right), with Chairman of the United Kingdom district of ICAN, Ms Flora Njoku, at the 2nd UK conference of ICAN, in the United Kingdom.

TREASON: Trial of Biafra group members begins today

By Austin Ogwuda

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NUGU — TRIAL in the alleged case of treason preferred against members of Biafra Zionists Federation, BZF, begins today at the Federal High Court Enugu with the prosecution expected to field its first witness to testify.

The trial is coming after several months of arrest, amid protest from their counsel, Mr. Olu Omatayo, who also is the zonal Director of the Civil Liberties Organisation, CLO, in the South

East zone, who initially instituted a N10 million suit against the Federal Government over their continued detention without trial.

The N10 million suit bordering on enforcement of fundamental human rights, was, however, withdrawn, following their formal arraignment on November 20 last year.

Facing trial is the leader of the group, Mr. Benjamin Onwuka, a lawyer by profession, and ten others, including Ndubisi Nnamushi, Kelvin Ekeh, Japhet Nwodo and Fidelis Nwonu.

Others are Paulinus Uzoegbu, Sunday Chukwuma, Uduma Uduma, Betrand Obiekwe, Abraham Ugwu and Ijaga Samson.

The charge read: "On or about June 5, 2014, in Enugu within the jurisdiction of the Federal High Court of Nigeria with intent to secede and make a live broadcast for secession of Biafra as a nation, you armed yourselves with dangerous weapons and attacked Enugu State Broadcasting Service, Radio House and forced the staff on duty to play on air a

CD (compact disc) containing Biafra jingles and speeches of late Odumegwu Ojukwu wih a view to secure or procure unconstitutionally the restoration of Biafran nation and to overawe the President and Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Dr. Goodluck Ebele Azikiwe Jonathan GCFR, thereby committed the offence of treason contrary to Section 37 (1) of the Criminal Code Act, LFN, 2004 and punishable under the same section of the same Act.”

Commuters stranded in Onitsha as commercial drivers campaign for Jonathan

By Chimaobi Nwaiwu

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NEWI — COMMUTERS were stranded in Onitsha, Anambra State, yesterday, as commercial vehicle drivers withdrew their buses from the roads to campaign for President Goodluck Jonathan and his vice, Namadi Sambo.

Over 500 commercial buses were withdrawn from the roads for the campaign.

Acting on the platform of South-East, South-South Commercial Drivers Welfare Association, SSCDWA, the drivers said their action was driven by the need for President Jonathan’s administration to continue with its Transformation

Agenda.

As early as 8am, members of the association, led by their President General, Chief Nnamdi Okafor, converged on

Niger Bridge Head, Onitsha, to receive their counterparts from Delta, Enugu and Ebonyi states.

From there, the drivers took

off to Ihiala where they received their members from, Imo, Abia, Cross Rivers, Rivers, Bayelsa and Akwa Ibom states.

Nigerian chairs UN Human Rights Council Advisory Committee

By Austin Ogwuda

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NUGU — PROFESSOR Obiora Okafor, a Nigerian born university don in Canada, has been appointed Chairperson of United Nations Human Rights Council Advisory Committee.

Before his latest elevation, Okafor held among other UN positions, Vice Chairperson/ Rapporteur Member of the

Bureau (leadership) of the Committee in charge of supervising the drafting of its documents and the preparation of the reports of sessions of the Committee.

Okafor teaches at the famous Osgoode Hall Law School of York University, Toronto Canada, Canada’s top Law Faculty and one of the leading global law schools in the world.

He is the first African ever to be promoted to the highest

academic rank of full professor at a Canadian University and has previously received many other honours and awards, including the Governor General’s Academic Gold Medal and Award of Excellence of the Canadian Association of Black Lawyers.

He is also the first African and black person to receive a top Canadian nation-wide award for academic excellence in legal research and teaching in Canada and around the world.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, MARCH 19, 2015 — 57

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58 — VANGUARD, THURSDAY, MARCH 19 , 2015

Germany riot targets ECB headquarters in Frankfurt

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Crimea annexation: Putin admits sanctions ‘damaging’ T

HE Russian Presi dent Vladimir Putin, on the anniversary of Russia’s annexation of Crimea from Ukraine, has acknowledged the harm caused by Western sanctions.

He said the measures, imposed on individuals and key economic sectors, were “not fatal, but naturally damage our ongoing work,” Interfax reported.

Thousands of Russians gathered for celebrations outside the Kremlin.The future of the sanctions is set to be discussed by EU leaders this week.

European Council President Donald Tusk will push for the measures to be linked explicitly to full implementation of the Ukraine ceasefire deal agreed in Minsk, Belarus, last month, a senior EU official has told the BBC. Mr Tusk wants the sanctions maintained until the end of the year, when Ukraine is supposed to regain control of its eastern border from pro-Russian rebels under the truce conditions.

•Mr Putin, yesterday told a crowd outside the Kremlin that Ukrainians and Russians were “one people” Crimea was taken over shortly after months of protests had led to the downfall of Ukraine’s President Viktor Yanukovych.

Within weeks, pro-Russian rebels had taken over cities in eastern Ukraine sparking a conflict with Ukrainian armed forces that has led to more than

6,000 deaths and the displacement of some 1.1 million people, according to the UN. To chants of “Russia, Russia”, Mr Putin told the crowd outside the Kremlin, estimated to be greater than 100,000 by state-run media, that Russians and Ukrainians were “one people”.

He blamed the February 2014 revolution in Kiev on extreme nationalism and hoped normal relations with Ukraine would soon resume. Russia would “of course overcome all the problems and difficulties they try to impose on us from outside”, he said.

OZENS of people have been hurt and some 350 people arrested as anti-austerity demonstrators clashed with police in the German city of Frankfurt.

Police cars were set alight and stones were thrown in a protest against the opening of a new base for the European Central Bank (ECB).

Violence broke out close to the city’s Alte Oper concert hall hours before the ECB building’s official opening.”Blockupy” activists are expected to attend a rally later yesterday.

In earlier disturbances, police in riot gear used water cannon to clear hundreds of anti-capitalist protesters from the streets around the new ECB

Iran, West likely to reach nuclear deal

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RAN and the United States are likely to reach an agreement in

Israel election: Netanyahu claims victory as main rival concedes

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ENJAMIN Netan yahu appears poised to keep his job as Israel’s Prime Minister, declaring victory yesterday following a bitter campaign punctuated by his last-minute appeals to right-wing voters.

For weeks, Netanyahu’s Likud party trailed in opinion polls to the

Zionist Union alliance that characterized him as a divisive leader not up to the task of making the lives of ordinary Israelis better.

Instead, the Likud party grabbed at least 29 of the 120 seats in the Knesset, Israel’s parliament, according to unofficial numbers from the Israeli

election committee based on 99% of the vote. That gives its leaders the first chance at forming a coalition government.

The Zionist Union came in second, with at least 24 seats.

“Against all odds, against all odds, we achieved this huge victory for Likud,” Netanyahu

headquarters.

Organisers were bringing a left-wing alliance of protesters from across Germany and the rest of Europe to voice their anger at the ECB’s role in austerity measures in EU member states, most recently Greece.

The bank, in charge of managing the euro, is also responsible for framing eurozone policy and, along with the IMF and European Commission is part of a troika which has set conditions for bailouts in Ireland, Greece, Portugal and Cyprus.

A spokesman for the Blockupy movement said the troika was responsible for austerity measures which have pushed many into poverty.

told jubilant supporters not long after the polls closed Tuesday. “We achieved the huge victory for our people. And I am proud, I am proud for the people of Israel that in the moment of truth, knew to make the right decision and to choose the real material things over immaterial things.”

talks over Iran’s nuclear program, a senior Saudi Arabian prince said yesterday.

“We are going to have a deal,” Prince Turki al-Faisal, a former intelligence chief, said in London.

“How good or how bad it is I don’t know because we haven’t seen the details.”

American and Iranian nuclear experts were discussing technical details of a possible framework agreement on curbing Iran’s nuclear program in talks in Switzerland yesterday.

Guinea opposition boycotts parliament in election row

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Gunmen storm Tunisian museum, kill 17 foreigners, two Tunisians

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UNMEN in military uniforms stormed Tunisia’s national museum, killing 17 foreign tourists and two Tunisians yesterday in one of the worst militant attacks in a country that has largely escaped the region’s “Arab Spring” turmoil.

Visitors from Italy, Germany, Poland and Spain were among the dead in the noon assault on the Bardo museum near parliament in central Tunis, Prime Minister Habib Essid said.

Security forces stormed the former palace around two hours later, killed two militants and freed other tourists held hostage inside, a government spokesman said. One policeman was killed in the police operation.

European Union foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini said “terrorist organizations” were behind the attack. “The EU is determined to mobilize all the tools it has to fully support Tunisia in the fight against terrorism,” she added.

Prime Minister Essid declared in a national address: C M Y K

•Police officers at the pavement outside parliament in Tunis yesterday as Gunmen in military uniforms stormed Tunisia’s national museum, killing 17 foreign tourists and two Tunisian

“All Tunisians should be united after this attack which was aimed at destroying the Tunisian economy.”

Television footage showed dozens of people, including elderly foreigners and one man carrying a child, running for shelter in the compound, covered by security forces aiming rifles into the air.

The attack on such a highprofile target is a blow for the small North African country that relies heavily on European tourism and

has largely avoided major militant violence since its 2011 uprising to oust autocrat Zine El-Abidine Ben Ali. Tunisia’s uprising inspired “Arab Spring” revolts in neighboring Libya and in Egypt, Syria and Yemen. But its adoption of a new constitution and staging of largely peaceful elections had won widespread praise and stood in stark contrast to the chaos that has plagued those countries.

UINEA’S opposi tion withdrew its lawmakers from parliament yesterday saying it would no longer recognise the election commission in protest over the timetable for presidential elections.

The vote is due to be held in the Ebola-hit nation on October 11, the commission said last week, following doubts over its timing.

“We decided yesterday... to suspend our participation in the work of the National Assembly and withdraw our 49 law-

makers until further notice and no longer recognise the national independent election commission,” said opposition leader Cellou Dalein Diallo.

The opposition has accused President Alpha Conde of using the Ebo-

DR Congo to expel foreign pro-democracy activists

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RO-DEMOCRACY activists from Senegal and Burkina Faso arrested in Democratic Republic of Congo on

Sierra Leone VP sacked

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IERRA Leone’s VicePresident Samuel Sam-Sumana has been sacked for seeking political asylum in a foreign embassy, the president’s office has said.

President Ernest Bai Koroma had dismissed him because he had “abandoned” his duties, it added. On Saturday, Mr SamSumana said he had asked for asylum in the US because his life was in danger.

It is unclear whether the constitution gives the president the power to dismiss his deputy.

la epidemic as an excuse to postpone elections and of refusing to enter into a dialogue over the timetable.

More than 10,000 people have died of Ebola, almost all in west Africa, since it emerged in Guinea in December 2013.

The BBC’s Umaru Fofana in the capital, Freetown, says there is no doubt that Mr Koroma’s decision is controversial.

Some people believe that the vice-president can be removed only through a parliamentary impeachment, but Mr Koroma said he had the “constitutional authority” to dismiss him.

The governing All People’s Congress had earlier expelled Mr Sam-Sumana after accusing him of fuelling violence, and trying to form a breakaway party in his home district of Kono.

He denied the allegations.

suspicion of planning to destabilise the country will be expelled and banned from returning, the government announced yesterday.

“They will be expelled from the country. They are also being declared persona non grata,” DR Congo government spokesman Lambert Mende told AFP. “It’s the best solution we could find.”

Militants from DR Congo, Senegal and Burkina Faso — as well as foreign journalists and US diplomat Kevin Sturr — were arrested at a press conference organised by pro-democracy activists on Sunday after a meeting in the capital Kinshasa.

The journalists and the US diplomat were released hours after their detention.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, MARCH 19, 2015 — 59

Mashaba invites academy players for Eagles B

AFANA Bafana coach, Ephraim ‘Shakes’ Mashaba, has invited five players from the Castle Academy to train with the South African national team.

Shakes and his technical team will be preparing Bafana for the upcoming friendly games against Swaziland and Nigeria later this month.

“The five players will be given an opportunity to train with the senior national team from Monday, 23 March Sifiso Nkosi, Bafana Dlamini and Tshepo Mokhabi from season 3, Deolin Mekoa who currently plays for Maritzburg United from the 2013/14 season and Rafiq de Goede currently with NFD side, Vasco da Gama,” a statement from Castle Academy stated.

SAB Sponsorship Manager, Errol Madlala, is pleased with the support academy is getting from professional teams and coaches.

“It gives us great pleasure in the support the academy is receiving from SAFA and the men’s senior national team coach, giving the five players an opportunity to train at the highest level with the national team will equip them with the experience that they will take back and use as motivation to work harder,”

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EVEN Paraathletes left Lagos on yesterday for Tunisia to take part in the 9th Tunis Inter national Meet, which holds March 20 to 25. The seven track and field athletes who made the trip are Onye Lauretha, Uwak Unyime, Esther Lawrence, Hannah Babalola, Rotawa Oluwasegun, Pat Nneji and Galadima Suwaibidu.

With The All Africa Games and Rio 2016 C M Y K

Monarch urges investment in tourism

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IS Royal Highness (HRH) Apa Peter Osigbemeh, Onwueweko of Okpekpe kingdom yesterday called on investors to take advantage of the thriving 10 kilometres road race in the community to invest in g u e s t h o u s e accommodations and tourism in the clan.

Since the maiden edition of the Okpekpe 10 kilometres Road Race brought the community into the limelight in 2013, it has not ceased being in the news.

Stories about the community have become legendary that tourists from far and near come there for site seeing . Some come on a mission to confirm whether Okpekpe

is a myth or a living legendary home to people.

But in a telephone conversation with Sportinglife yesterday, Osigbemeh noted although all investors have the opportunity to invest in hotel accommodations in Okpekpe, the pioneer investors will make a fortune from the retinue of visitors.

His words: “I am very grateful to the Comrade Governor Adams Oshiomhole and Mr. Mike Itemuagbor, who have lifted Okpekpe to prominence with the this annual road race. tourism in Okpekpe they will make appreciable profit from the risk.”

NFF supports Nigeria Pitch Awards

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Action recorded during a 2015 Nations Cup qualifier between South Africa and Nigeria in Cape Town. The match ended 0-0.

HE Nigeria F o o t b a l l Federation has again fully endorsed the Nigeria Pitch Awards, an annual awards

Onyedinma leads Super Falcons to Bamako

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HAIRMAN of the Nigeria Women League and member of the NFF Executive Committee, Chief (Mrs) Dilichukwu Onyedinma will be at the head of a 29-man delegation of the Senior Women National Football Team, Super Falcons to Mali

7 Para athletes off to Tunisia

BY EDDIE AKALONU

Okpekpe Road Race:

around the corner, it appears top officials have finally come to the realization that there is a job to be done.

Surprisingly, the National Sports Commission sent the seven athletes to Africa’s only IPC Athletics Grand Prix of the year without an accompanying coach.

Bisi Okubote, the ParaAthletics Federation secretary rather led the delegation to the event.

Former Paralympic medalist in power-lifting, Patricia Nneji entered to compete in the throws.

for an 11th All-Africa Games qualifying match on Saturday.

The African champions will take on the Senior Women National Team of Mali in the first leg of the only round of qualifiers for the Women’s Football Tournament of the AllAfrica Games, at the Stade Modibbo Keita in

Bamako on Saturday, with kick –off set at 5pm Mali time (6pm Nigeria time).

Officials confirmed on Wednesday that the Falcons delegation will include 18 players and nine technical/ administrative officials, as well as Assistant Director (Technical), Siji Lagunju.

•Onome

AFN shifts gear for IAAF world relays

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•Ogba

THLETICS Federation of Nigeria has set in motion preparations for the 2015 IAAF World Relays May 23 in Nassau, Bahamas.

To this end, the women and men 4x400m have been invited to camp, which begins in April. The athletes include Folashade Abugan, Omolara Omotoso, Rita Ossai and Tosin Adeloye (women).

Others are Noah Akwu, Orukpe Erakoyan, Fasasi Rilwan, Tobi Ogunmola, Isah Salihu (men). These athletes will be trained by Gabriel Okon.

Selection for the World Relays team is based on athletes performances at home and abroad. As part of the preparations, the 4x400m team will participate in the Kenyan National Relays taking place on April 2.

Nigeria won a bronze in the women 4x400m at the maiden edition in 2014.

However, the athletes have been instructed to train in their locality as some of them are in schools and also for the fact that presidential elections are due at the end of the month.

ceremony put together to reward great performers in all areas of the football pitch.

NFF President Amaju Pinnick said the new administration is totally in support of projects that seek to uplift Nigeria football in one way or the other, and the Pitch Awards is certainly one of those.

“We are in support of all noble projects that promote and present Nigeria football in positive light globally. I have met the organizers of the Nigeria Pitch Awards and I am convinced of their seriousness and the integrity they bring into the process.

“Integrity matters a lot in everything we do.

The credibility of the process enhances its nobility and acceptance to the general public.

The NFF will continue to support the Nigeria Pitch Awards to make it better.”

Meanwhile, Chief Executive Officer of Matchmakers Consult International, organizers of the Nigeria Pitch Awards, Mr. Shina Philips disclosed to thenff.com on Wednesday that this year ’s ceremony will now take place on Wednesday, May 6.

60 — Vanguard, THURSDAY, MARCH 19, 2015

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Vanguard, THURSDAY, MARCH 19, 2015 — 61

F/Eagles Continues from BP the onset.

For the first time, the Flying Eagles were exposed and were found wanting as the Ghanaians did not allow them to play their game.

By the quarter-hour mark, the Nigerians had yet to find their rhythm.

Midfielder Yaw Yeboah and lanky forward Benjamin Tetteh gave the Nigerian defence so much to worry about, but it was the diminutive Yeboah who remained their biggest threat.

On 10 minutes, Nigeria goalie, Joshua Enaholo, by far the busier of the half was forced to palm away Yeboah shot from a freekick at the edge of the penalty area.

But it was the Nigerians who broke the deadlock with a rare chance from a corner kick on 22 minutes.

Ifeanyi Matthew laid a cross that met the head of Obinna Nwobodo,

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and the ball will hit the post before rolling into the net for the opener.

On the half-hour mark, a three-man move by the Satellites saw Aboagye square to Tetteh, and he laid to Yeboah who fired a shot that flew across the face of goal to the relief of the Flying Eagles.

The same partnership will lead to yet another chance three minutes, with Tetteh at the receiving end of a Aboagye pass, but his shot missed target narrowly.

Ghana defender Patrick Asmah fell Ifeanyi for a penalty on 70 minutes.

Captain Musa Muhammed converted nicely past Ghana goalie Michael Sai to cushion the lead.

The Nigerians held on to cruise to victory and book their date against the winner of the other semi-final between Mali and Senegal today in the final on Sunday.

Beach Polo tourney: Fans to get good treat

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OLO Fans attending the first beach Polo tournament in Lagos being organise by Eko Atlantic in collaboration with Lagos Polo Club have been promised first class hospitality in a

luxurious setting.

Speaking ahead of the tournament which kicks off Thursday, David Frame, Managing Director, Eko Atlantic, said, “We are proud to be hosting the first beach polo tournament in Africa

Keshi Continues from BP football federation said.

Keshi was reported to be among the forerunners on the shortlist for the job until yesterday ’s announcement which put to rest all speculations surrounding his fate. He is in negotiations with the Nigeria Football Federation for a fresh contract.

This brings to four, countries that have snubbed the former Nigeria international since his contract with the NFF lapsed after the World Cup in Brazil.

South Africa, Ethiopia, Burkina Faso had all named him among those who were angling for a job

with their football federations but on each occasion other candidates were preferred at the end.

Giresse, a former France international was coach of the west African country from 2010 to 2012, taking them to a third-place finish at the 2012 African Nations Cup finals but quit soon after when he rejected new contract terms.

Giresse replaces another former World Cup player, Poland’s Henryk Kasperczak who parted ways after Mali failed to get past the first round at this year’s Nations Cup finals in Equatorial Guinea following a drawing of lots.

and look forward to the exciting games which lie ahead.” Polo fans attending can expect first class hospitality in a luxurious setting, while enjoying the ‘sport of kings’ He said the first beach Polo tournament will see participating teams playing in a round robin as every team will play one another during the tournament.

David Frame explained that a growing new audience has the ability to combine a day at polo with a day on some of the most beautiful beaches in the world while maintaining the glamour of the sport.

“The growing number of worldwide beach polo events have aided in the exposing the sport of polo to a new audience in a fun and exciting fashion. Eko Atlantic will be no exception.”

The tournament which is being hosted by Eko Atlantic in collaboration with Lagos Polo Club will

take place in an arena that will sit on approximately 42,000 square meters of land located directly off Eko Boulevard, a paved 8lane thoroughfare that is over a mile long and is the spine of the Business District.

The Managing Director of Eko Atlantic noted that the area that will host the tournament will also be used for guest parking throughout the event, adding that the area is the first to have street lighting installed which will improve security as well as mobility for guests at the end of festivities each day.

“Entrance to the Eko Atlantic Beach Polo Tournament will be strictly by invitation. An invitation will be printed for each day of play to ensure guest numbers are controlled and avoid overcrowding with a maximum of 1,000 invites being distributed for each day of play.

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Vanguard, THURSDAY, MARCH 19, 2015 — 63

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Vanguard, THURSDAY, MARCH 19, 2015

Mali job: Keshi loses out again T

AYC:

F/Eagles send Ghana packing •Book final ticket T

HE Flying Eagles beat Ghana 2-0 yesterday at the Leopold Sedar Senghor Stadium in Dakar, to reach the final of the 19th edition of the African U-20 Championship.

A goal in each half from Obinna Nwobodo and Musa Muhammed ensured Nigeria confirmed their place in the ultimate game of the championship.

Nigeria met their toughest opponent yet in a Ghana team that took control of the game from

HE dream of out of contract Nigeria coach, Stephen Keshi to return to Mali Eagles as coach has been terminated with the appointment of Frenchman Alain Giresse by the Mali Football Federation yesterday.

Giresse who is making a second stint as Mali coach is expected to sign a two-year contract today, that country’s

Continues on Page 61 Queen of Tennis... Serena Williams in her match against Sloane Stephens whom she beat 67, 6-2, 6-2 to reach the quarter-final of the Indian Wells

•Keshi

Monaco not worthy winners — Wenger, Pg.60

Continues on Page 61

QUICK CROSSWORD

TODAY'S

PUZZLE

YESTER DAY'S ANSWERS YESTERDAY'S

ACROSS 1 Decanter (6) 5 Box (4) 8 Drain (5) 9 Tree (3) 10 Frank (4) 11 Ballot (4) 12 Enquired (5) 13 Free (6) 16 Monotonous (4) 18 Flat (4) 20 Donkey (3) 22 Insect (3) 23 Lair (3) 24 Pace (4) 25 Joke (4) 28 Dog (6) 30 Put (5) 32 Wicked (4) 33 Snare (4) 34 Manage (3) 35 Bar (5) 36 Grasp (4) 37 Span (6)

DOWN 1 Alter (6) 2 Practise (8) 3 Ornate (6) 4 Idiotic (9) 5 Cut (7) 6 Poke (4) 7 Regretted (4) 8 Ocean (3) 14 Exposed (9) 15 Males (3) 17 Shelter (3) 19 Dared (8) 20 Consumed (3) 21 Upset (7) 26 Mood (6) 27 Cower (6) 29 Network (4) 30 Tablet (4) 31 Stray (3)

YESTERDAY'S SOLUTIONS ACROSS: 3, Dread 9, Cuckoo 10, Bureau 11, Table 12, Tender 15, Sett 17, Entered 20, Era 21, Demon 23, Lees 25, Lean 26, Raced 28, Asp 30, Rivulet 33, Used 35, Sate 36, Grief 38, Unison 39, Remiss 40, Testy.

DOWN: 1, Acute 2, Scent 3, Dot 4, Roamed 5, Able 6, Due 7, Tepee 8, Quota 13, Endless 14, Deter 16, Trinket 18, Defer 19, Col 22, Neguss 24, Sap 27, Divert 28, Augur 29, Peril 31, Latin 32, Tense 34, Erne 36, Got 37, Fey.

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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